cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analysis of the Discriminatory Power of Holland's Types for Business Majors in Three Concentration Areas

Graduating seniors in the School of Business who were in either accounting, marketing, or behavioral studies and were seeking a career consistent with their area's concentration were compared for t...
Antigenic "Hot- Spots" on the TSH Receptor Hinge Region.

The TSH receptor (TSHR) hinge region was previously considered an inert scaffold connecting the leucine-rich ectodomain to the transmembrane region of the receptor. However, mutation studies have established the hinge region to be an extended hormone-binding site in addition to containing a region which is cleaved thus dividing the receptor into ᾀ (A) and β (B) subunits. Furthermore, we have shown in-vitro that monoclonal antibodies directed to the cleaved part of the hinge region (often termed “neutral” antibodies) can induce thyroid cell apoptosis in the absence of cyclic AMP signaling. The demonstration of neutral antibodies in patients with Graves’ disease suggests their potential involvement in disease pathology thus making the hinge a potentially important antigenic target. Here we examine the evolution of the antibody immune response to the entire TSHR hinge region (aa280-410) after intense immunization with full-length TSHR cDNA in a mouse (BALB/c) model in order to examine the immunogenicity of this critical receptor structure. We found that TSHR hinge region antibodies were detected in 95% of the immunized mice. The antibody responses were largely restricted to residues 352-410 covering three major epitopes and not merely confined to the cleaved portion. These data indicated the presence of novel antigenic “hotspots” within the carboxyl terminus of the hinge region and demonstrate that the hinge region of the TSHR contains an immunogenic pocket that is involved in the highly heterogeneous immune response to the TSHR. The presence of such TSHR antibodies suggests that they may play an active role in the immune repertoire marshalled against the TSHR and may influence the Graves’ disease phenotype.
Health and Illness in Close Relationships

Health and Illness in Close Relationships provides an integrated theoretical framework for understanding the complexities of health trajectories and relationship processes. It is the first volume to review and synthesize current empirical evidence and associated theoretical constructs from the literature on health and illness in close relationships across the social and behavioral sciences. In doing so, it provides a unique cross-disciplinary understanding of how health and illness redefine relationships. The volume also maps out an explanatory framework of how the pathways and processes of close relationships pose considerations for resilience and flourishing or, on the contrary, for relational and health decline. It will appeal to researchers and students across psychology, communication, and relationship studies, as well as to health professionals who are interested in understanding how health conditions can shape or be shaped by patients' close relationships.
Convolutional Dictionary Learning for Multi-Channel Signals

There has recently been a rapid growth in interest in the design of efficient algorithms for convolutional sparse coding, and in the application of these methods to signal and image processing inverse problems. Thus far, however, the design of algorithms and methods for multi-channel signals has received very little attention. In this work we extend our initial results in convolutional sparse coding and dictionary learning for this type of data, proposing new algorithms that scale well to signals with large numbers of channels, and demonstrate their performance in an application involving hyperspectral imagery.
Genome-wide promoter DNA methylation profiling of hepatocellular carcinomas arising either spontaneously or due to chronic exposure to Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) in B6C3F1/N mice

Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, play an important role in carcinogenesis. In a recent NTP study, chronic exposure of B6C3F1/N mice to Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) resulted in a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Genome-wide promoter methylation profiling on GBE-exposed HCC (2000 mg/kg group), spontaneous HCC (vehicle-control group), and age-matched vehicle control liver was performed to identify differentially methylated genes in GBE-exposed HCC and spontaneous HCC. DNA methylation alterations were correlated to the corresponding global gene expression changes. Compared to control liver, 1296 gene promoters (719 hypermethylated, 577 hypomethylated) in GBE-exposed HCC and 738 (427 hypermethylated, 311 hypomethylated) gene promoters in spontaneous HCC were significantly differentially methylated, suggesting an impact of methylation on GBE-exposed HCC. Differential methylation of promoter regions in relevant cancer genes (cMyc, Spry2, Dusp5) and their corresponding differential gene expression was validated by quantitative pyrosequencing and qRT-PCR, respectively. In conclusion, we have identified differentially methylated promoter regions of relevant cancer genes altered in GBE-exposed HCC compared to spontaneous HCC. Further study of unique sets of differentially methylated genes in chemical-exposed mouse HCC could potentially be used to differentiate treatment-related tumors from spontaneous-tumors in cancer bioassays and provide additional understanding of the underlying epigenetic mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis.
Sustained antigen release polyanhydride-based vaccine platform for immunization against bovine brucellosis

Abstract Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis and a significant source of economic loss and a major public health concern, worldwide. Bovine brucellosis, as caused primarily by Brucella abortus, is an important cause of reproductive loss in cattle. Vaccination has been the most effective way to reduce disease prevalence contributing to the success of control and eradication programs. Currently, there are no human vaccines available, and despite the success of commercial vaccines for livestock, such as B. abortus strain RB51 (RB51), there is need for development of novel and safer vaccines against brucellosis. In the current study, we report the fabrication of and immune responses to an implantable single dose polyanhydride-based, methanol-killed RB51 antigen containing delivery platform (VPEAR) in cattle. In contrast to animals vaccinated with RB51, we did not observe measurable RB51-specific IFN-γ or IgG responses in the peripheral blood, following initial vaccination with VPEAR. However, following a subsequent booster vaccination with RB51, we observed an anamnestic response in both vaccination treatments (VPEAR and live RB51). The magnitude and kinetics of CD4+ IFN-γ-mediated responses and circulating memory T cell subpopulations were comparable between the two vaccination treatments. Additionally, IgG titers were significantly increased in animals vaccinated with VPEAR as compared to live RB51- vaccinated animals. These data demonstrate that killed antigen may be utilized to generate and sustain memory, IFN-γ-mediated, CD4+ T cell and humoral responses against Brucella in a natural host. To our knowledge, this novel approach to vaccination against intracellular bacteria, such as Brucella, has not been reported before.
Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Emergency Care Research: A Primer for Researchers, Peer Reviewers, and Readers

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) are of increasing importance in clinical research because they capture patients' experience with well-being, illness, and their interactions with health care. Because PROs tend to focus on specific symptoms (e.g., pain, anxiety) or general assessments of patient functioning and quality of life that offer unique advantages compared to traditional clinical outcomes (e.g., mortality, emergency department revisits), emergency care researchers may benefit from incorporation of PRO measures into their research design as a primary or secondary outcome. Patients may also benefit from the ability of PROs to inform clinical practice and facilitate patient decision making, as PROs are obtained directly from the lived experience of other patients with similar conditions or health status. This review article introduces and defines key terminology relating to PROs, discusses reasons for utilizing PROs in clinical research, outlines basic psychometric and practical assessments that can be used to select a specific PRO measure, and highlights examples of commonly utilized PRO measures in emergency care research.
Abstract 74: Relationship Between Preeclampsia and Subsequent Stroke: A Secondary Analysis of the Framingham Heart Study

Introduction: Although prior studies have examined the later-life risk of stroke in women with a history of preeclampsia, they have relied on claims data or epidemiological studies with poorly deta...
Relationship quality and accuracy of detecting a romantic partner's fear of being single

Abstract How attuned are romantic partners to each other’s fear of being single, and is accuracy associated with relationship quality? In this study, 104 couples reported their fear of being single, perceptions of their partner’s fear of being single, and relationship quality. Partners had significant accuracy when judging fear of being single, but a tendency toward overestimation. Partners also were not systematically similar and did not project their own fears onto partners. Tracking accuracy was positively associated with some aspects of the perceiver’s relationship quality, but not with the target’s relationship quality. Mean-level bias was largely unassociated with relationship quality for the perceiver or target, except for lower investment from the target when the perceiver over-estimated their fear of being single.
Notas sobre el paganismo en Kierkegaard

This manuscript shows Kierkegaard's idea of paganism. We use the complete author´s work published during his life, including the one written under a pseudonym. In our analysis we discover that Kierkegaard used the term paganism in three different ways: The paganism of the one who lives in the world without God, the Christian paganism, and the paganism of Socrates. By showing the richness of Kierkegaard's approach to paganism we determine that this idea is not defined by its adherence to one particular religion or moment in history. Rather, it refers to the way of living one's existence and relationship with God. Therefore, the idea of paganism is not necessarily something negative for a 19th century Lutheran Christian. To the point that Kierkegaard says that what Denmark really needs, and this could be extended to Europe today, is a new Socrates.
COVID-19 is Not a Story of Race, but a Record of Racism-Our Scholarship Should Reflect That Reality.

Like more than two hundred thousand other Americans, George Floyd howled horribly for air before his death. But his breathlessness was not born from a virus. He was murdered with the burden of anti...
I Felt Like We Were Actually Going Somewhere: Adapting Summer Professional Development for Elementary Teachers to a Virtual Experience During COVID-19

In fall 2019, the National Science Foundation awarded Southern Oregon University a two-year Computer Science for All Researcher Practitioner Partnership grant focused on integrating computational thinking (CT) into the K'5 instruction of general elementary and elementary bilingual teachers. This experience report highlights the process of transitioning one essential component of the project an elementary teacher summer institute (SI) from in-person to online due to COVID-19. This report covers the approach the team took to designing the SI to work virtually, the challenges encountered, the experiences of the 15 teachers involved through observations and surveys, and the opportunities for refinement. This report will be of potential interest for other computer science (CS) education researchers who also may be working with elementary teachers to incorporate CS and CT activities into their instruction.
Vitamin D and iron status in children with food allergy.

Abstract Background Children with food allergy are at specific risk for nutritional deficiencies. Objective To retrospectively determine prevalence of vitamin D and iron deficiencies in children with or without food allergy (FA). Methods We compared the markers of vitamin D and iron status of 0 to 17-year-olds with cow’s milk allergy (CMA) (n = 77), those with other FAs (n = 70), and those with atopy without FA (n = 87) at an academic pediatric allergy practice. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the impact of CMA and other FAs on vitamin D levels and iron markers. Results Vitamin D deficiency was detected in one-fourth and insufficiency in one-third of children with CMA and other FAs and in those with atopic diseases but no FA, respectively. Vitamin D levels were associated with vitamin D supplementation and consumption of breast milk, cow’s milk, infant formula, or plant-based milk beverage, but not with CMA or other FAs. Older children with FA who did not consume any cow’s milk or alternative milk beverage were at highest risk for vitamin D insufficiency. Children with CMA have a higher rate of iron deficiency anemia (8%) than children with other FAs (1%) or those with no FA (5%, P Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency is common in children with atopy overall, but children with CMA are at higher risk for iron deficiency anemia. Intensive nutritional counseling and nutrient intake monitoring, specifically for vitamin D and iron in those avoiding cow’s milk, are necessary to optimize nutritional status.
Spall Response of Electroplated Gold Samples

In this work, we performed 1D plate impact experiments to examine spall responses of electroplated gold samples produced using constant potential (DC plated) and pulsed plating techniques. The spall response of these two types of electroplated samples were compared with that of a wrought gold sample, all of which were shocked to a peak stress of ~37 GPa. Our results show comparable spall strengths of 2 GPa for the electroplated and the wrought gold samples. Spall strength values obtained from our gun experiment are similar to spall strength obtained from explosively driven shock experiments, but they are significantly lower than those reported in laser-driven shock studies on thin gold samples. Overall, our results show that electroplating is a viable method for producing gold samples that have dynamic mechanical properties comparable to those produced by conventional techniques.
Brillouin scattering spectrum-based crack measurement using distributed fiber optic sensing:

Brillouin scattering-based distributed fiber optic sensing (Brillouin-DFOS) technology is widely used in health monitoring of large-scale structures with the aim to provide early warning of structu...
The Effects of 9/11 on the Airline Travel Industry

There are few events in modern history that can rival the immediate impact of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States and indeed the world economy. The airline industry was particularly hard hit because commercial airliners were the weapon used by the terrorists in the attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, the U.S. government grounded the commercial fleet for three days that resulted in a 31.6 percent reduction in travel volume in September of 2001 compared to that same month in 2000 and generated massive industry losses. The fallout prompted a swift congressional response to shore up the industry. Significant changes were also implemented by Congress to enhance transportation security. Specifically, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) within the Department of Homeland Security was created and charged with maintaining the security of all forms of transportation including the airline industry. Since its formation, TSA has federalized all security personnel, and instituted extensive security precautions on commercial airlines. Although these steps have thus far prevented another successful attack on U.S. soil, they come at a cost. Specifically, they increase the time cost of travel and hence they alter the optimizing calculus of potential travelers.
Abnormal subcellular localization of GABAA receptor subunits in schizophrenia brain

Inhibitory neurotransmission is primarily mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activating synaptic GABA type A receptors (GABAAR). In schizophrenia, presynaptic GABAergic signaling deficits are among the most replicated findings; however, postsynaptic GABAergic deficits are less well characterized. Our lab has previously demonstrated that although there is no difference in total protein expression of the α1–6, β1–3 or γ2 GABAAR subunits in the superior temporal gyrus (STG) in schizophrenia, the α1, β1 and β2 GABAAR subunits are abnormally N-glycosylated. N-glycosylation is a posttranslational modification that has important functional roles in protein folding, multimer assembly and forward trafficking. To investigate the impact that altered N-glycosylation has on the assembly and trafficking of GABAARs in schizophrenia, this study used western blot analysis to measure the expression of α1, α2, β1, β2 and γ2 GABAAR subunits in subcellular fractions enriched for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and synapses (SYN) from STG of schizophrenia (N=16) and comparison (N=14) subjects and found evidence of abnormal localization of the β1 and β2 GABAAR subunits and subunit isoforms in schizophrenia. The β2 subunit is expressed as three isoforms at 52 kDa (β252 kDa), 50 kDa (β250 kDa) and 48 kDa (β248 kDa). In the ER, we found increased total β2 GABAAR subunit (β2ALL) expression driven by increased β250 kDa, a decreased ratio of β248 kDa:β2ALL and an increased ratio of β250 kDa:β248 kDa. Decreased ratios of β1:β2ALL and β1:β250 kDa in both the ER and SYN fractions and an increased ratio of β252 kDa:β248 kDa at the synapse were also identified in schizophrenia. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that alterations of N-glycosylation may contribute to GABAergic signaling deficits in schizophrenia by disrupting the assembly and trafficking of GABAARs.
The Shouting Man

to be voices in the distance carrying on an argument just on the edge of a fight. He assumed there were at least two men and then he saw a man by himself shouting loudly and abusively at some apparently imaginary opponent. He was tall and thin, forty or so, and carrying two heavy shopping bags. Feeling well that day Robinson stopped and looked as the man walked by, and even wondered if he should call someone, hovering between amusement and concern. The man was obviously in trouble, but Robinson let him go by though he did carry a kind of ambiguous fear home with him. Strange crackups like that seemed so easy; just a little jog out of the normal?only raising your voice inappro priately?and there you were, locked up no matter how much you yelled. He mentioned the man to Barbara and she agreed the man was just crazy. The sight of the man haunted him that evening. Maybe the man was just drunk or had had a fight with his wife or was only talking to himself as many people do but in his case with the added eccentric variation of doing so at the top of his lungs. As the first fear of him faded the man became a brief private joke and another example to be avoided. All that fall Barbara always seemed across the room from him curled in a chair, reading or sleeping. The portable radio played and served as their point of contact. They decided together on the programs they would listen to. They had very little to say to each other once past their few shared memories, and the trick of conversation was something they had never quite learned or at least not yet learned. As a result there was a great deal of silence when the radio was off. There seemed no will in either of them to alter the silence. Even so he felt she invaded him. Each
Significance of melt inclusions

Publisher Summary This chapter presents an introduction to the volume Melt Inclusions in Volcanic Systems: Methods and Problems, stemming from the study: Volcanic Systems—Melt Inclusions, Methods, Applications, and Problems, held in Seiano (Sorrento Peninsula), from 26–30 September 2002. Silicate melt inclusions have been actively studied for nearly 150 years, although most of the early studies were simply descriptive, with little or no interpretation of their significance in terms of geological processes. During this same period, a parallel but much more intensive study was under way of aqueous inclusions. In contrast with the study of silicate melt inclusions, the aqueous inclusion studies almost immediately began to be interpreted, yielding data on many geological and economically important processes, first on the temperatures of hydrothermal ore-formation, and then on the compositions of the long-gone fluids that were actively involved in many environments. Similar studies of melt inclusions can, in theory, yield a similar wealth of information on the origin, nature, and evolution of the fluid (melt) that was trapped, and the processes that took place in the past.
A study of 104 cases of uterine fibroids associated with arterial hypertension

Abstract 1. 1. Presentation of 104 cases of uterine fibroids with hypertension, which were studied from two to eight years after operation. 2. 2. Presentation of effects of rest on blood pressure, and showing that it is not materially affected by operation, nor does operation prevent its later rise. 3. 3. Comparative study of symptoms, findings before and after forty years of age with deductions. 4. 4. Detailed study of endometrium and ovaries in cases where removed in relation to clinical cycle of menstruation and discussion, showing that in 21 per cent of cases after menopause there is evidence of continued ovarian function. 5. 5. Causes of deaths given at different periods after operation. 6. 6. Mortality and salvage in this series show that these cases when handled properly do not have greater mortality than the average major pelvic operations for age grouping, with satisfactory salvage.
DETERMINANTS OF EMERGING MARKETS' COMMERCIAL BANK STOCK RETURNS

Although banks are central to the economic development and growth of emerging markets (Benston, 2004), most studies have not investigated the determinants of stock returns of this sector in these countries. This study, contributes to the literature in finance by investigating and identifying factors that investors should be concerned about while deciding about their investments in commercial banks in emerging markets. Our results indicate that apart from fundamental risk factors like size and price to book, duration gap, bank concentration, corruption, debt servicing socio-economic conditions, and percapita GDP also influence returns of commercial banks in emerging markets. JEL: F3; G1; N2
Implications of Systems Analysis to Inland Navigation

The demands now placed upon inland navigation as a mode of transportation necessitates that the analyst be cognizant of the interrelationship of the system’s component parts. This pertains to navigation as a portion of the transportation system, as well as each lock, harbor and channel improvement as a component part of the system of navigation. One method by which this analysis can be accomplished is through the simulation of the navigation system. To properly conduct such a study, however, the analyst must accurately identify and represent the charateristics of the navigation system which he proposes to simulated. These characteristics must include: (1) the physical waterway itself; (2) the characteristics of the towboat industry; and (3) the waterborne commerce and towboat itineraries which are expected to utilize the waterway over the life of the project. Unless these factors are accurately represented, serious and costly errors in navigation construction could occur.
An integrated MRI and MRS approach to evaluation of multiple sclerosis with cognitive impairment

Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI/MRS) plays a unique role in multiple sclerosis (MS) evaluation, because of its ability to provide both high image contrast and significant chemical change among brain tissues. The image contrast renders the possibility of quantifying the tissue volumetric and texture variations, e.g., cerebral atrophy and progressing speed, reflecting the ongoing destructive pathologic processes. Any chemical change reflects an early sign of pathological alteration, e.g., decreased N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) in lesions and normal appearing white matter, related to axonal damage or dysfunction. Both MRI and MRS encounter partial volume (PV) effect, which compromises the quantitative capability, especially for MRS. This work aims to develop a statistical framework to segment the tissue mixtures inside each image element, eliminating theoretically the PV effect, and apply the framework to the evaluation of MS with cognitive impairment. The quantitative measures from MRI/MRS neuroimaging are strongly correlated with the qualitative neuropsychological scores of Brief Repeatable Battery (BRB) test on cognitive impairment, demonstrating the usefulness of the PV image segmentation framework in this clinically significant problem.
Vertical ecology of the pelagic ocean: classical patterns and new perspectives.

Applications of acoustic and optical sensing and intensive, discrete-depth sampling, in concert with collaborative international research programmes, have substantially advanced knowledge of pelagic ecosystems in the 17 years since the 1996 Deepwater Fishes Symposium of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Although the epipelagic habitat is the best-known, and remote sensing and high-resolution modelling allow near-synoptic investigation of upper layer biophysical dynamics, ecological studies within the mesopelagic and deep-demersal habitats have begun to link lower and upper trophic level processes. Bathypelagic taxonomic inventories are far from complete, but recent projects (e.g. MAR-ECO and CMarZ, supported by the Census of Marine Life programme) have quantitatively strengthened distribution patterns previously described for fishes and have provided new perspectives. Synthesis of net and acoustic studies suggests that the biomass of deep-pelagic fishes may be two to three orders of magnitude greater than the total global commercial fisheries landings. Discrete-depth net sampling has revealed relatively high pelagic fish biomass below 1000 m in some regions, and that gelatinous zooplankton may be key energy vectors for deep-pelagic fish production. Lastly, perhaps, the most substantive paradigm shift is that vertical connectivity among fishes across classical depth zones is prevalent- suggesting that a whole-water column approach is warranted for deep ocean conservation and management.
Mapping of the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance gene 5′-upstream region, and evidence of induction of transcript levels by antimalarial drugs in chloroquine sensitive parasites

The Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance gene, pfmdr1, has been shown to be involved in the mediation of the parasite's response to various antimalarial drugs. Previous studies of pfmdr1 expression have shown that transcript levels are increased in drug-resistant isolates. However, a detailed examination of the transcriptional regulation of this gene has not been completed. The aim of this study was to map the 5' UTR of pfmdr1, and to examine the transcriptional profile of the gene in sensitive parasites treated with four different antimalarial drugs. RT-PCR and 5'-RACE mapping showed that the 5' UTR has a length of 1.94 kb. A putative promoter has been identified via transient transfection. Northern analysis revealed a 2.1- to 2.7-fold increase in pfmdr1 expression in 3D7 parasites treated with 50 nM chloroquine for 6 h, confirming results from Serial Analysis of Gene Expression. 3D7 parasites were subsequently treated with experimentally derived IC50 concentrations of mefloquine, quinine and pyrimethamine. pfmdr1 transcript levels specifically increased 2.5-fold at 6 h in mefloquine-treated parasites and threefold in parasites treated with quinine for 30 min. There was no evidence of transcript induction in pyrimethamine-treated parasites. This is the first evidence of induction of pfmdr1 expression in sensitive cells; and suggests a novel method of transcriptional control for this gene.
Effects of medial geniculate lesions on click-evoked potentials in the cat

Abstract Primary, click-evoked potentials were examined in barbiturate-anesthetized cats. Electrolytic lesions were placed stereotaxically at various points in the medial geniculate nucleus 4 days to 3 wk prior to electrophysiological recording and the location and extent of destruction was evaluated histologically after physiological recording. Bipolar surface potentials were mapped in cortical areas AI, AII and Ep. Systematic changes in the evoked potential maps were observed which were specifically related to the location and extent of the medial geniculate destruction. The greatest effect on the evoked potentials was associated with ventral division lesions, and a much smaller effect was observed with medial and dorsal division lesions. In general, the results agree with those predicted from anatomical studies of the auditory thalamocortical projection system.
Nitroglycerin and nitroglycol exposure in an explosives plant.

(1959). Nitroglycerin and Nitroglycol Exposure in an Explosives Plant. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 45-49.
A note on mitral valve mechanics: a pre-stressed leaflet concept.

Abstract The mechanical properties of the mitral valve leaflets are reviewed. Stress-strain characteristics of both pre- and post-transitional elastic stretch are examined. Two models relating ventricular pressure to leaflet stress are presented in order to predict the onset of leaflet transition during early systole. A general biomechanical model of the valve leaflet is examined in order to explain the lack of detectable elastic stretch in radiographic data. The relatively large elastic stretch of the pre-transition phase of the mechanical model is neglected so that the predicted stretch can confirm to physiological data. A condition of continual tension in the valve leaflet which induces a post-transitional stress throughout the cardiac cycle is assumed to account for this condition.
Developments in children's persuasive message practices

Sixty children, enrolled in second, fourth, and sixth grade, responded to a series of tasks designed to measure six persuasive message practices: creating consensus about a problem, advocating a proposal, creating an impressive message, motivating the other to act, seeking credibility, and building the other's self‐concept. Except for message impressiveness and seeking credibility, there were systematic age changes in each persuasive message practice. The findings are interpreted with a conception of rhetorical competence, and implications for instructional practice are discussed.
Trametinib: A novel signal transduction inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous melanoma

Purpose The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, administration, cost, and place in therapy of trametinib for the treatment of metastatic melanoma are reviewed. Summary Approximately 40–60% of malignant melanomas have gene mutations at codon 600 of the BRAF gene that result in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Trametinib is the first-in-class mitogen-activated, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) inhibitor that targets a kinase in the MAPK pathway that plays a key role in oncogenic cell proliferation, survival, invasion, tumor angiogenesis, and escape from apoptosis. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in patients whose tumors express the BRAF V600E or V600K gene mutations. Moreover, trametinib is also indicated for use in combination with dabrafenib (a BRAF inhibitor). Trametinib is not indicated in patients who have received prior BRAF-inhibitor therapy due to poor response and possible cross-resistance. The most common adverse effects associated with the use of trametinib for both monotherapy and combination therapy are rash, diarrhea, peripheral edema, fatigue, and dermatitis. The recommended dosage of trametinib monotherapy is 2 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity occurs. With a daily dose of 2 mg, an estimated 30-day course of treatment would cost approximately $9135. Conclusion Trametinib, a novel MEK inhibitor, provides an alternative therapy for patients with BRAF V600 E/K metastatic melanoma as a single agent or in combination therapy for patients not previously treated with a BRAF inhibitor. More studies are needed to determine the safe and effective combination or sequencing of trametinib with other therapies.
Comparing item characteristic curves

Test items are often evaluated and compared by contrasting the shapes of their item characteristics curves (ICC's) or surfaces. The current paper develops and applies three general (i.e., nonparametric) comparisons of the shapes of two item characteristic surfaces: (i) proportional latent odds, (ii) uniform relative difficulty, and (iii) item sensitivity. Two items may be compared in these ways while making no assumption about the shapes of item characteristic surfaces for other items, and no assumption about the dimensionality of the latent variable. Also studied is a method for comparing the relative shapes of two item characteristic curves in two examinee populations.
The effect of the final state interaction on the decay of hyper-5He

The effect of the final state interaction on the decay of hyper-5He has been studied. It is found that the strong interaction between theα-particle and the proton produced in this decay plays a significant role in determining the energy spectra and the angular distributions of the final particles. With theα-p force taken into account as determined by the experimental phase shifts, a simplified calculation indicates that the pion is emitted in the energy range from about 21 to 30 MeV for approximately 90% of the events, and that the proton is scattered predominantly in the backward direction in theα-p center of mass system. These findings are in fair agreement with Hill’s analysis of recent experimental observations on the decay of hyper-5He.
Endosonography for differentiating benign from malignant intraductal mucinous tumors of the pancreas: is the jury out?

Endosonography for differentiating benign from malignant intraductal mucinous tumors of the pancreas: Is the Jury Out?
Searching for integrability

Abstract The self-dual Yang—Mills equations in four dimensions are integrable, for any gauge group, via the twistor transform. Integrability of the Yang—Mills equations proper in four dimensions with a finite dimensional gauge group cannot reasonably be hoped for. However, longstanding questions about the large N limit of QCD suggest that a new form of integrability might conceivably emerge in the limit of an infinite dimensional gauge group.
Doppler respiratory patterns in the femoral veins with pelvic vein obstruction

An appropriate Doppler response to valsalva in the common femoral veins has been described previously as excluding a more proximal venous obstruction. We describe our experience in three patients in whom an appropriate response to valsalva did not exclude a more proximal pelvic venous obstruction. Dampening of the Doppler waveforms on the affected side when compared with the opposite limb led to the diagnosis of proximal venous obstruction.
Changes of serum leptin and endocrine and metabolic parameters after 7 days of energy restriction in men and women

Circulating leptin decreases during fasting in rodents and humans; however, the mechanism of the decrease is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between decrements of serum leptin concentrations and changes of hormonal (insulin and cortisol) and metabolic (glucose, ketones, and fatty acids) parameters involved in the metabolic adaptation to energy restriction in normal-weight humans. Because there are marked gender differences in circulating leptin, both men and women were studied. The body mass index (BMI), percent body fat (% body fat), and serum leptin, insulin, cortisol, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate,(BOHB), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were determined in 11 men and 13 women (age, 20 to 41 years; BMI, 21.2 to 26.8 kg/m2) before and during 7 days of energy restriction (-68% +/- 1% of daily energy requirements). Weight loss averaged about 4% in both men and women. Leptin in men was 3.7 +/- 0.5 and decreased to 2.1 +/- 0.4 ng/mL (percent change [%delta], -36% +/- 6.0%, P < .0005) during restriction. Concurrently, insulin decreased from 7.2 +/- 0.6 to 1.8 +/- 0.3 microU/mL (%delta, -74% +/- 4%, P < .0001). In contrast, leptin was higher in women before (16.2 +/- 1.9 ng/mL) and after (6.0 +/- 0.8 ng/mL) restriction and decreased more than in men (%delta, -61% +/- 4%, P < .02 v men), whereas the decrease of insulin in women was less than in men: 10.1 +/- 1.9 to 6.1 +/- 1.0 microU/mL (%delta, -31% +/- 9%, P < .0025; P < .0005 v men), perhaps because glucose decreased less in women than in men. Overall, the changes of leptin during fasting were independently correlated with the changes of glucose (r = .53, P < .007), NEFA (r = .53, P < .01), and BOHB (r = .65, P < .001). In addition, the change of leptin correlated with a combined index of the parameters that reflect decreased glucose availability and increased lipolysis ([deltaglucose + deltainsulin + deltaNEFA]/3, r = .73, P < .0001) or a combined index of parameters that would be expected to limit glucose uptake by adipocytes ([deltaglucose + deltainsulin + deltacortisol]/3, r = .48, P < .02). We conclude that there are significant differences between men and women in the responses of leptin and insulin to energy restriction. Furthermore, decreases of circulating leptin during negative energy balance are related to changes of endocrine and metabolic parameters, suggesting that leptin secretion may be regulated by alterations of adipocyte glucose and lipid metabolism, ie, decreased glucose uptake and metabolism and increased lipolysis.
Language learning and the representational theory of mind

In J. A. Fodor1 we have a new and very up-to-date champion of the representational theory of mind (RTM), the theory that an organism's cognitive relations to the world are mediated by a system of mental representations. According to Fodor, Descartes and other 17th and 18th century philosophers were essentially correct in their approach to understanding the mind; it was in the details of their mentalistic models and in their preoccupation with epistemological problems that they went wrong. Originally the RTM was adopted, not because of its plausibility as an explanatory theory in psychology, but because it was able, prima facie, to meet the stringent demands of a foundationalist epistemology. On Fodor's view, however, the RTM can be dis associated from epistemology (see pp. 44-45) as convincingly as Kepler's laws can be separated from his fantastic views about the solar system. To salvage the laws in this way requires showing them to be part of a different and viable theory. In other words, Kepler's laws are not self-evidently acceptable but are acceptable only insofar as they are grounded in a viable theoretical framework. Kepler's mysticism about perfect geometric solids does not provide such a framework; New tonian physics, on the other hand, does. Likewise the RTM needs a new theoretical grounding. It has been argued, and Fodor seems to accept, that the foundationalist program has been discredited. (In any case, Fodor wants to turn his back on epistemological issues.2) With the loss of this original theoretical foundation, the RTM must be newly grounded. This is achieved, according to Fodor, in the work of contemporary cognitive psychology. But how does work in cognitive psychology provide a new and viable theoretic grounding for the RTM, a theory so appropriate for answer ing the "scope and limits" problem of knowledge? Fodor's argument is simple and straighforward (p. 27):
The inclusion of both physiological and acquired needs in a behavioristic system.

(1946). The Inclusion of Both Physiological and Acquired Needs in a Behavioristic System. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 87-97.
Hot‐bar Soldering of TAB Components with 0.150 mm OLB Pitch

Tape automated bonding (TAB) is a powerful technique for connecting fine‐pitch integrated components to the corresponding substrates. This paper describes the specific example of hot‐bar soldering TAB components with an outer lead bonding (OLB) pitch of 0.150 mm to FR‐4 printed wiring boards. The prerequisites to be taken into account, the outer lead bonding process parameters, the hot‐bar soldering results and recommendations are presented.
Mammal-Like Dentition in a Mesozoic Crocodylian

Crocodylian teeth are generally conical with little differentiation in shape along the tooth row. The mandible is incapable of any fore-aft movement, and feeding typically involves little or no intraoral processing. Complex, multi-cusped, mammal-like teeth differentiated along the tooth row have been found in a Cretaceous crocodylian from Malawi. The morphology of the teeth and mandible indicates that food items were processed by back-to-front (proal) movement of the mandible, unlike living crocodylians but as in some mammals and Sphenodon (the tuatara).
Theory of dipolar dc excitation and dc tomography in the rf quadrupole ion trap

Abstract A theory of dipolar dc excitation and dc tomography in the rf quadrupole ion trap is presented. The equation of motion for ions subject to a dipolar dc field is written in the form of a Mathieu equation with time independent inhomogeneity and solved analytically. Three cases are considered explicitly: application of continuous dipolar dc fields, application of dipolar pulses for translational excitation of ion motion, and application of dipolar pulses for selective ejection of ions. The effect of monopolar pulses and nonlinear fields is investigated by simulations of ion motion. It is shown that translational excitation of ions by dipolar dc pulses has a near linear response of oscillation amplitude to the voltage of the dipolar dc pulse and is nearly mass independent for a large mass range, provided the pulse width is chosen appropriately. Formulae are given for optimum choice of pulse voltage and width. Dc tomography, a technique which probes ion motion by selective ejection of ions due to the application of short dipolar dc pulses, is shown to be a feasible method for monitoring the secular oscillation of a coherent group of ions, sensitive to even small changes in ion position.
End-of-Life Care Preferences of Patients Enrolled in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Programs

Study objectives The study assessed the interests of ambulatory cardiac patients in advance planning and their willingness to participate in rehabilitation program-based end-of-life education. Design: Observational survey study. Setting Fourteen outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs in 11 states. Participants Four hundred fifteen subjects enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation. Measurements and results A questionnaire determined patient preferences for advance planning, completion of advance directives, completion of patient-physician discussions on end-of-life care, and effects of health status on patient acceptance of life-sustaining interventions. Seventy-two percent of patients wanted to direct their own end-of-life care, 86% desired more information on advance directives, 62% wanted to learn about life-sustaining care, and 96% were receptive to advance-planning discussions with their physicians. Seventy-two percent of patients had considered that they might require life-sustaining care in the future; acceptability of resuscitative care depended on health status and probability of survival. However, only 15% had discussed advance planning with their physicians, and 10% were confident that their physicians understood their end-of-life wishes. Physicians and cardiovascular rehabilitation programs were considered desirable sources of information on advance planning. Conclusions Cardiac patients enrolled in rehabilitation programs want to learn more about end-of-life care and need more opportunities to discuss advance planning with their physicians. Patients consider cardiovascular rehabilitation programs to be acceptable sites for advance planning education.
Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis : separate or one and the same?

The presence and severity of skin and joint symptoms in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis frequently do not correspond, a discrepancy that has raised the question of whether they represent two related but different disease processes. The fact that some agents seem to work preferentially in one state over the other reinforces this idea. However, there are also several agents with combined efficacy against cutaneous and articular inflammation that appear to support the existence of a common aetiology. Here we review the clinical, epidemiological and genetic evidence for and against a common pathogenesis for the two diseases. We then discuss the cellular and molecular targets of their selected therapies and how they potentially implicate effector pathways as a common immunopathogenic mechanism. Finally, we examine a recently proposed model of psoriasis pathogenesis involving type 1 interferon-producing plasmacytoid dendritic cells and how it may provide further clues to the aetiological links between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The other half of the universe

The history of astronomy has largely been concerned with the study of discrete objects: planets, stars, and galaxies. From such observations, we have discovered the nature and evolutionary histories of these objects. It is natural to ask whether these studies provide a comprehensive picture of the evolution of the universe, or whether large numbers of objects too faint to detect individually or intrinsically diffuse sources may be present. On page 732 of this issue, Zemcov et al. (1) present results from a study of near-infrared background light that reveal that as many as half of all stars have been stripped from galaxies in their many collisions and mergers over the history of the universe. At galactic distances, the stars are faint but can be detected in ensemble through the spatial variations in sky brightness caused by their spatial distributions. It is remarkable that such a major component of the universe could have been hiding in plain sight as an infrared background between the stars and galaxies.
The drag on oscillating flat plates in liquids at low Reynolds numbers

Liquid flow about oscillating flat plates, determining drag coefficient relationships to low Reynolds number and period parameter from graphical representation
Optimal Inventory Control Decision Rules for a Large Supply System

Mathematical decision rules for the control of inventories in a large supply system are derived. These rules allow the minimization of total system shortages where this minimization is subject to specified system expenditures. Alternatively, the rules permit the minimization of system expenditures for a given level of system shortages. The mathematical model used to derive these rules includes the features random demands, random lead times, set-up and order costs, interest costs, obsolescence costs, physical holding costs, item unit costs, relative essentialities of items, and a measure of shortage costs which takes into account the durations that shortages persist. Derivation of the optimal rules employs an iterative solution of a nonlinear programming problem. Comparisons with presently-used decision rules for a large supply system indicate that significant improvements in system effectiveness can be obtained by the use of the optimal rules.