cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acquiring language from speech by learning to remember and predict.

Classical accounts of child language learning invoke memory limits as a pressure to discover sparse, language-like representations of speech, while more recent proposals stress the importance of prediction for language learning. In this study, we propose a broad-coverage unsupervised neural network model to test memory and prediction as sources of signal by which children might acquire language directly from the perceptual stream. Our model embodies several likely properties of real-time human cognition: it is strictly incremental, it encodes speech into hierarchically organized labeled segments, it allows interactive top-down and bottom-up information flow, it attempts to model its own sequence of latent representations, and its objective function only recruits local signals that are plausibly supported by human working memory capacity. We show that much phonemic structure is learnable from unlabeled speech on the basis of these local signals. We further show that remembering the past and predicting the future both contribute to the linguistic content of acquired representations, and that these contributions are at least partially complementary.
The Wrongful Death of an Indian: A Tribe’s Right to Object to the Death Penalty

This Essay responds to the execution of Lezmond Mitchell, the only American Indian on federal death row. The execution was carried out on August 26, 2020 over the objection of both members of the victims’ family and the Navajo Nation. This Essay takes the clear position that because the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 requires tribal consent to seek the death penalty for murder, or felony murder predicted on robbery or kidnapping, that tribal consent should also have been required before the United States sought the death penalty in a carjacking case. The interpretation by the Ninth Circuit and the decision by the Executive to proceed with the execution undermine tribal sovereignty and are contrary to both congressional intent and statutory interpretation.
Postnatal IVIG treatment for persistent anaemia in neonate due to congenital parvovirus infection.

Congenital parvovirus B19 infection is a rare but serious condition that can result in hydrops fetalis and fetal death. Due to the virus’ cytotoxic effect on fetal red blood cell precursors, postnatal infection can cause a neonatal viremia and secondary pure red cell aplasia. Here, we describe a case of congenital parvovirus infection in a preterm infant complicated by hydrops fetalis and chronic anaemia that responded to postnatal treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin administered on day of life 44. After treatment, the anaemia resolved as the neonate exhibited interval increases in haemoglobin, haematocrit and reticulocyte count with no subsequent need for red blood cell transfusions.
Targeted wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on a University Campus for COVID-19 outbreak detection and mitigation.

Targeted wastewater surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been proposed by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Wastewater Surveillance System as a complementary approach to clinical surveillance to detect the presence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at high-density facilities and institutions such as university campuses, nursing homes, and correctional facilities. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of targeted wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA together with individual-level testing for outbreak mitigation on a university campus during Fall 2020 semester. Wastewater samples (n = 117) were collected weekly from manholes or sewer cleanouts that receive wastewater inputs from dormitories, community-use buildings, and a COVID-19 isolation dormitory. Quantitative RT-PCR N1 and N2 assays were used to measure SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid genes in wastewater. Due to varying human waste input in different buildings, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMV) RNA was also measured in all samples and used to normalize SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 RNA wastewater concentrations. In this study, temporal trends of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples mirrored trends in COVID-19 cases detected on campus. Normalizing SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations using human fecal indicator, PMMV enhanced the correlation between N1 and N2 gene abundances in wastewater with COVID-19 cases. N1 and N2 genes were significant predictors of COVID-19 cases in dormitories, and the N2 gene was significantly correlated with the number of detected COVID-19 cases in dormitories. By implementing several public health surveillance programs include targeted wastewater surveillance, individual-level testing, contact tracing, and quarantine/isolation facilities, university health administrators could act decisively during an outbreak on campus, resulting in rapid decline of newly detected COVID-19 cases. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 is a proactive outbreak monitoring tool for university campuses seeking to continue higher education practices in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Being Muslim the Chhipa way: Caste identity as Islamic identity in a low-caste Indian Muslim community:

This article adds to the emergent picture of caste practices among Indian Muslim communities through a focus on caste-based discourses and practices in the contemporary OBC Muslim Chhipa community ...
The Use of COVID-19 Vaccines in Patients with SLE.

Three COVID-19 vaccines obtained emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are widely used in the USA. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of evidence on the safety and efficacy of these vaccines in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), as these patients were excluded from all phases of vaccine development. Here we reviewed current data on COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AIIRD, with emphasis on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and provided a comprehensive update on the benefits and risks of vaccination. Patients with SLE have worse immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination than healthy controls. The efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines seems to be further reduced by immunosuppressive medications, such as glucocorticoids (GC), methotrexate (MTX), mycophenolate/mycophenolic acid (MMF), and rituximab (RTX). However, these data do not substantiate that AIIRD patients are at greater risk of disease flares or have a higher incidence of side effects following vaccination. There is no significant safety concern for the use of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with AIIRD. The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks in patients with AIIRD, including SLE. More data are needed to determine the necessity of a booster vaccine dose and appropriate adjustment of immunosuppressants around the administration of vaccine.
Evolution and Diversification of the Archonta in an Arboreal Milieu

This paper attempts to analyze three distinct but closely interrelated biological problems pertinent to the animals included within the Archonta. The tree shrews and relatives (Scandentia), the colugos (Dermoptera), and the archaic primates will be examined, primarily their tarsus, to pose and answer questions about their evolutionary history.
Adrenalectomy in the Shay rat.

Summary 1.ACTH, cortisone (CA) or desoxycorticosterone (DCA) had no beneficial effect upon the extent or severity of the ulcers seen in the forestomach of the pylorus-ligated rat. 2.DCA and, to a lesser extent, CA produced small increases in gastric secretion in pylorus-ligated rats with intact adrenals. 3.Adrenalectomy profoundly lowered the volume of gastric secretion and almost completely prevented ulceration of the forestomach in pylorus-ligated rats. 4.The administration of normal saline, normal glucose solution, ACE, CA, and DCA partially restored the volume of gastric juice in adrenalectomized pylorus-ligated rats. 5.Partial restoration, with adequate therapy, of the normal rate of gastric secretion after adrenalectomy had as its corollary that increasing amounts of forestomach ulcerations were present.
Restoring Tropical Dry Forest Communities: Effects of Habitat Management and Outplantings on Composition and Structure

We sought to increase the conservation value and ecological resilience of a disturbed woodlot on protected land in suburban Miami-Dade County, Florida, by restoring a local tropical dry forest community. These efforts included adding 26 “novel native” tropical hardwood hammock species in different SR and density treatments, and conducting regular habitat management actions including exotic biomass removal. We monitored a variety of community composition and forest structure variables over 2 years to assess the success of our restoration efforts and the relative roles of habitat management versus native outplantings in achieving those outcomes. Habitat management proved influential to changing forest structure, while both habitat management and outplantings impacted changes in community composition, at least in the short term. Habitat management and outplantings in combination, however, allowed us to successfully (1) increase the number of native species and decrease the number of exotic species, (2) increase the number of protected plant species on the site, and (3) alter the community composition and forest structure of the site from that of a highly disturbed woodlot to that of a typical Miami Rock Ridge tropical hardwood hammock. Our success in meeting these restoration goals in just 2 years is one such example where simple native outplanting and exotic control projects can produce large returns with minimal resources in the form of time, money, and manpower. Finally, restoring regrowth sites or other remnant habitats may prove an efficient and effective way to conserve biodiversity and basic ecosystem processes in close proximity to metropolitan areas.
Distributed control protocols for wavelength reservation and their performance evaluation

This paper describes distributed (or decentralized) protocols for establishing wavelength paths in point-to-point WDM networks. Distributed control improves reliability as well as scalability and reduces implementation cost of a network, but also presents major challenges in managing/allocating wavelengths efficiently. Two types of distributed wavelength reservation protocols are proposed and evaluated, namely forward and backward. The benefit of wavelength conversion is assessed first based on the evaluation of the forward reservation protocols, and it is found that wavelength conversion can result in a performance advantage in a distributed environment. For networks without wavelength conversion, a class of backward reservation protocols is studied and shown to generally perform better than their forward counterparts.
Property & Transitional Justice: The Collected Works of Prof. Bernadette Atuahene

Throughout history, there have been several instances where state or non state actors unjustly expropriated real property from one group and gave it to another. If the two groups were racially, ethnically, or religiously distinct, then this illegitimate property transfer could have produced deep outrage, enduring resentment, and thus could remain a politically explosive issue even today. Figuring out whether or how to address these past property rights violations is one of the most pressing issues facing many developing nations that are transitioning from repressive regimes to democracies predicated on justice and equality. This collection of work is devoted to unraveling and analyzing the various issues these transitional states must consider.
SELF-AFFINE FRACTAL SETS, III: HAUSDORFF DIMENSION ANOMALIES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

For certain self-affine fractals constructed recursively, the Hausdorff-Besicovitch dimension DHB takes a doubly “anomalous” value: it is a fraction and it is less than DBL. The question is raised, does this discrepancy point toward deep new developments, or does it cast doubt upon the special standing DHB has held until now in fractal geometry? The paper also comments on section dimensions for certain self- similar fractals.
Marketing Intelligent Design: Law and the Creationist Agenda

Recently a new battle has emerged between science and religion. The battle has focused on intelligent design (ID) and the numerous legal, philosophical and educational concerns surrounding it. Resolution of these concerns centers on two questions: Is ID science? And is ID religion? Despite the fact that ID does not meet the standards of scientific rigor, ID proponents have been able to create a remarkably well-designed marketing plan aimed at imposing a theistic naturalism in schools and scientific discourse. Both the ID movement and some of its most vociferous opponents have a vested interest in suggesting that science, especially evolutionary biology, and religion are incompatible. This book presents a philosophical and legal counterpoint by demonstrating the compatibility between religion and evolutionary biology and the incompatibility between ID and mainstream science.
A discrete-time adaptive nonlinear system

A new least-squares estimator with nonlinear data weighting is developed and used to adaptively control a simple discrete-time nonlinear system. A global stability result is obtained through Lyapunov analysis without assuming any growth conditions on the nonlinearities.
Peripheral cytoplasmic characteristics of leukocytes in monocytic leukemia: relationship to clinical manifestations.

The increased prevalence of tissue infiltration in some cases of monocytic leukemia may represent an enhanced ability of monocytes for tissue entry, continued cell proliferation, an increased life span in the tissues, or a combination of these three factors. Studies in this laboratory have shown that the normal myeloblast undergoes a process of cytoplasmic maturation that adapts it for marrow egress, tissue emigration, and particle ingestion. These include a reduction in surface negative charge density, increased ability to adhere to negatively charged surfaces, increased cytoplasmic deformability, more rapid motility, and enhanced phagocytic rate. In a subject with monocytic leukemia in whom tissue infiltration was a striking feature of the clinical disease, blood monocytes were broadly distributed in regard to their peripheral cytoplasmic characteristics. One portion of the cell population had a high surface negative charge density, was weakly adherent, weakly phagocytic, and poorly deformable, akin to blast cells. A second portion of the cell population had lower surface negative charge density, was adhesive, phagocytic, and readily deformable, akin to mature blood phagocytes. In five patients with myeloblastic leukemia in whom tissue infiltration was not prominent and in whom 92% of cells were myeloblasts, the blood leukocytes had a more homogeneous distribution of surface properties, and these properties were characteristic of immaturity. The increased prevalence of tissue infiltration in some cases of monocytic leukemia may be due to the presence of cytoplasmic maturation, which normally adapts the monocyte for tissue entry.
Rapid activation-inactivation of liver uridine diphosphate glucose-glycogen transferase and phosphorylase by insulin and glucagon in vivo.

Abstract Insulin administered in vivo activates dog liver uridine diphosphate glucose-glycogen transferase within 7 to 13 min. It also inactivates phosphorylase. Glucagon reverses these changes equally rapidly. Transferase I has an apparent Km for UDP-glucose which is calculated to be 17-fold lower than that for transferase D. Interconversion of transferase D and I activities in liver is suggested to occur and to be catalyzed by an enzymic system which may be similar to that in muscle.
Biosynthesis of prostaglandins in rabbit kidney medulla. Properties of prostaglandin synthase

A simple radioactive-substrate assay for prostaglandin synthase (EC 1.14.99.1), which uses t.l.c. to measure simultaneously different prostaglandins synthesized from one precursor substrate, was developed. Rabbit kidney-medulla prostaglandin synthase catalyses the formation of prostaglandin E2, prostaglandin F2alpha and prostaglandin D2 from arachidonic acid. Fractionation of crude homogenates indicated that the microsomal fraction possessed the highest specific activity of prostaglandin synthase, whereas the soluble fraction exhibited little enzyme activity but rather contained a heat-labile inhibitory macromolecular factor(s), which might be attributed to the serum albumin present in this fraction. The microsomal fraction possessed low intrinsic enzyme activity, but the actvity could be fully stimulated by the presence of both GSH (reduced glutathione) and a phenolic cofactor. Only cysteine could partially replace GSH, whereas other thiols were inactive and some were even inhibitory. A variety of phenolic compounds, including catecholamines, dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine), 5-hydroxytryptamine and quinol, were active in stimulating prostaglandin synthase. In all cases, the stimulation was reflected in the synthesis of all three prostaglandins with ratios not significantly altered by different phenolic cofactors. The synthesis of each of the different prostaglandins appeared to have similar pH optima. The enzyme system was not inhibited by thiol-group inhibitors or a variety of metal chelators except for cyanide and 8-hydroxyquinoline. Characterization of the kidney-medulla prostaglandin synthase system indicated that it exhibited properties similar to those of the enzyme system present in seminal vesicles.
Artificial neural network reduction through oracle learning

Often the best model to solve a real-world problem is relatively complex. This paper presents oracle learning, a method using a larger model as an oracle to train a smaller model on unlabeled data in order to obtain (1) a smaller acceptable model and (2) improved results over standard training methods on a similarly sized smaller model. In particular, this paper looks at oracle learning as applied to multi-layer perceptrons trained using standard backpropagation. Using multi-layer perceptrons for both the larger and smaller models, oracle learning obtains a 15.16% average decrease in error over direct training while retaining 99.64% of the initial oracle accuracy on automatic spoken digit recognition with networks on average only 7% of the original size. For optical character recognition, oracle learning results in neural networks 6% of the original size that yield a 11.40% average decrease in error over direct training while maintaining 98.95% of the initial oracle accuracy. Analysis of the results suggest oracle learning is especially appropriate when either the size of the final model is relatively small or when the amount of available labeled data is small.
Accepting the Unacceptable: Lessons from West Germany's Changing Border Politics

During the past two decades, scholars have critically examined the political role of space and territory and advanced our understanding of borders with dynamic concepts based on identities and narratives. The literature, though, is divided between works that emphasize domestic politics and those that concentrate on international norms. We seek to bridge this gap by developing a general theoretical framework to understand domestic recognition, or lack thereof, of new borders that result from war losses. We use the case of West Germany post–World War II—which went from non-recognition of its new eastern border along the Oder–Neisse line to full recognition—to develop a theoretical model explaining changing border policies. We conceptualize the interaction between foreign policy priorities, domestic constituency considerations, and international norms and find that when domestic border narratives and primary foreign policy goals of the political coalition in power both point to the same policy direction (acceptance or non-acceptance of the border) then such a policy is likely to be adopted by the leadership. If, on the other hand, foreign policy goals and dominant domestic border narratives differ, we are likely to see a continuation of the border policy. In those periods of silence, however, change still takes place through a stronger influence and gradual internalization of international norms. Over time, then, we may observe a change in the dominant narrative, which could be followed by a policy change.
34 Insulin-Like Growth Factor I Deficiency is Associated with Chronic Lung Disease of Prematurity.

Objective: Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is necessary for normal growth and development in infants. Recent research suggested that IGF-I deficiency is associated with the development of oxygen-induced retinopathy of prematurity (1). We hypothesized that low IGF-I levels might be a risk factor for oxygen-induced pulmonary damage in preterm infants, which leads to chronic lung disease (CLD) of prematurity.
Localization of enkephalin-like immunoreactivity to identified axonal and neuronal populations of the rat hippocampus

The distribution of enkephalin-like immunoreactivity in the hippocampal formation of the rat was analyzed. Two specific projection systems are described. The first emerges from the hilus of the dentate gyrus and appears to terminate with notably large boutons on the proximal apical and, to a lesser extent, basal dendrites of hippocampal regio inferior pyramidal cells. This projection corresponds in source, position, and character to the hippocampal mossy fiber system. The second axonal population enters the temporal hippocampal formation from the medial wall of the subicular complex and follows the hippocampal fissure to occupy stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the hippocampus proper and the distal third of the dentate gyrus molecular layer; this pattern corresponds to the distribution of afferent input from the lateral entorhinal cortex and/or perirhinal area. Lesions of the hilus or retrohippocampal area caused a selective depletion of immunoreactivity in the mossy fiber fields and molecular layers of the dentate gyrus, respectively. Enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was found within the somata of three types of hippocampal neurons: 1) granule cells of the dentate gyrus, 2) occasional pyramidal shaped cells of field CA1 stratum pyramidale, and 3) varied scattered interneurons. Of this last group, two types of interneurons were consistently seen. The first occupy the border between stratum radiatum and stratum lacunosum-moleculare and extend processes at right angles to the long axis of the pyramidal cell dentrites, whereas the second lie within stratum radiatum of field CA1 and extend processes in alignment with the long axis of the pyramidal cell dendrites. Cells containing enkephalin-like immunoreactivity were also observed in the subiculum and retrohippocampal region, most notably including layers II and III of the lateral entorhinal cortex-perirhinal area--the probable source of extrinsic immunoreactive input to the hippocampal formation. Intraventricular colchicine treatment intensified the immunoreactive staining of some hippocampal neurons but did not reveal any cell types not seen to be labeled in untreated rats.
Relationships of Cetacea (Artiodactyla) among mammals: increased taxon sampling alters interpretations of key fossils and character evolution.

Background Integration of diverse data (molecules, fossils) provides the most robust test of the phylogeny of cetaceans. Positioning key fossils is critical for reconstructing the character change from life on land to life in the water.
Principal component analysis of vehicle acceleration gain and translation of voice of the customer

Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to characterize the underlying structures of the acceleration gain surface (AGS) of 15 midsize sedans and to link them with customer preference. The AGS can be characterized by two principal components (PCs), the first PC representing the overall slope of AGS and the second PC representing the linearity of AGS. Findings indicate that customer preference is associated with the AGS linearity. PCA thus proves itself a valuable method for translating the voice of the customer as well as for setting effective and efficient vehicle acceleration gain targets.
Introduction to the special section on Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH).

This article provides background information and an overview on Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) a multisite intervention trial for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease designed to reduce caregiver burden and depression. REACH is the largest randomized controlled clinical trial to date, involving 1,222 caregiver and care recipient dyads recruited from 6 different sites in the United States. The authors describe the design of the study, summarize the interventions implemented at each site, and provide an overview of the 4 articles in this special section.
Turning points in interaction with computers

The development of interfaces by which humans and computers interact has brought about some of the most significant turning points in computing in the last 38 years. The work on interfaces in programming languages, office automation, and human factors has enabled more and more people to interact effectively with computers, but there is more work to do. The IBM Systems Journal has published many papers that reflect results of work in this area, and readers can see a representative selection of those papers in this section of this issue.
Consistency in clinicians' and clients' behavior in voice therapy: An exploratory study

Summary The primary purpose of this study was to investigate consistency in clinicians' behaviors during two voice therapy sessions. The secondary purpose was to examine relationships between ratings of clinicians' and clients' behaviors. Each clinician (n = 7) was observed working with two different clients. Two experienced evaluators, using the Adjective Checklist and fivepoint semantic differential scales, rated clinicians and clients. Results indicated that 6 of 10 aspects of therapy studied were found to be relatively inconsistent, with the pace of therapy being the least stable. Ratings of individual clinician traits (e.g., favorable, unfavorable, intraception) were the most stable.
Effects of variations in the duration of diffusible-tracer infusions on calculated values of global and local cerebral blood flow.

Using dual tracer quantitative digital autoradiography and iodoantipyrine (IAP), we compared local cerebral blood flow (LCBF) measurements using two different infusion times within the same animal. Rats were given concurrent infusions of14C-IAP and123I-IAP; one tracer was administered over 20 seconds and the other over 40 seconds. Pairs of autoradiograms, one representing predominantly123I and the other14C, were then produced from 20 micron-thick brain sections and images from each section were digitized and processed to produce pairs of digital images of LCBF. The corresponding LCBF images were compared quantitatively on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Global LCBF values were greater (28%) at 20 seconds compared to 40 seconds, consistent with the previously reported “falling flow” phenomenon. Perhaps more importantly, the actual pattern of LCBF differed in certain regions such as the cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum between the two time points. In other words, the quantitative patterns of calculated LCBF values were dependent upon the duration of tracer infusion, even when the infusion times were kept below recommended limits (45 seconds). Thus, errors in LCBF measurements may occur in certain structures even in brief experiments. Because these errors are spatially dependent rather than blood flow dependent, there is presently no model which can be globally applied to the brain to correct them.
D-fenfluramine induces serotonin-mediated fos expression in corticotropin-releasing factor and oxytocin neurons of the hypothalamus, and serotonin-independent Fos expression in enkephalin and neurotensin neurons of the amygdala

Abstract The neurotransmitters expressed by neurons activated by d -fenfluramine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) were identified in the hypothalamus, amygdala and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Induction of Fos immunoreactivity following d -fenfluramine injection was used as an index of neuronal activation. To test whether d -fenfluramine activated neurons by releasing serotonin from the serotonergic nerve terminals, rats were pretreated with fluoxetine (10 mg/kg, i.p.), a serotonin reuptake inhibitor that prevents the release of serotonin stimulated by d -fenfluramine, 12 h before d -fenfluramine injection. The approximate percentages of peptidergic neurons that contained Fos immunoreactivity after d -fenfluramine administration were 94% of corticotropin-releasing factor and 22% of oxytocin cells in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, 6% of oxytocin cells in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, 36% of enkephalin and 15% of neurotensin cells in the central amygdaloid nucleus, and 19% of enkephalin and 9% of neurotensin cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. Fluoxetine pretreatment blocked Fos expression in corticotropin-releasing factor- and oxytocin-expressing cells in the hypothalamus, but not in enkephalin- and neurotensin-expressing cells located in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and central amygdaloid nucleus. d -Fenfluramine did not induce Fos immunoreactivity in vasopressin-, thyrotropin-releasing hormone-, somatostatin- and tyrosine hydroxylase-containing cells in the hypothalamus, and corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing cells in the central amygdaloid nucleus and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. These results show that d -fenfluramine stimulates corticotropin-releasing factor- and oxytocin-expressing cells in the hypothalamus via serotonin release. The enkephalin- and neurotensin-expressing cells in the amygdala are activated by d -fenfluramine via non-serotonergic mechanisms. Induction of Fos expression by d -fenfluramine in restricted populations of cells suggests a selective activation of neuronal circuitry that is likely to be involved in the appetite suppressant effects of d -fenfluramine.
The value of education in a licensed profession: the choice of associate or baccalaureate degrees in nursing

Abstract This paper assesses the relative value to employers and Registered Nurses (RNs) of different types of basic education in nursing: the associate degree; the baccalaureate degree; and the nursing diploma. Using the National Sample Surveys of Registered Nurses the determinants of nursing wages are evaluated with a Tobit model. After finding that RNs do not expect to gain (financially) from obtaining the baccalaureate degree in nursing (BSN) the reasons why a prospective nurse would pursue a BSN are explored. Non-wage career objectives and personal circumstances when education begins appear to be more important determinants of the choice of RN training than financial returns.
Genetic differentiation in the intertidal zone in populations of the alga Enteromorpha linza (Ulvales: Chlorophyta)

Genetic differentiation within the intertidal zone was examined in six populations of the asexually reproducing alga Enteromorpha linza growing in the Long Island Sound, USA. Four of the five populations sampled in 1981 showed significant differentiation between high and low intertidal positions with respect to the GOT-2 locus. The pattern of differentiation was consistent for samples collected at several times during the year with some seasonal modifications. Four additional polymorphic loci, resolved in 1982, identified a total of 13 five-locus genotypes or clones. Four of the six populations sampled in 1982 showed significant differences in clone frequency between high and low intertidal positions. Laboratory experiments revealed differences in response to temperature among the clones. At 24°C a high intertidal associated clone showed an increase in growth, while low intertidal associated clones showed decreased growth compared to growth at 15°C. These results suggest that the microgeographic differentiation observed for E. linza in the intertidal zone may in part be due to the differential adaptation of clones to different intertidal environments. Additional demographic information is needed for individual clones in order to determine the role longevity, reproductive output, recruitment and interclonal competition play in maintaining the observed differentiation.
Acute Effects of COREXIT EC9500A on Cardiovascular Functions in Rats

These studies characterized cardiovascular responses after an acute inhalation exposure to COREXIT EC9500A, the oil dispersant used in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a single 5-h inhalation exposure to COREXIT EC9500A (average exposure level 27.12 mg/m(3)) or air. On d 1 and 7 following the exposure, rats were implanted with indwelling catheters and changes in heart rate and blood pressure were assessed in response to increasing levels of adrenoreceptor agonists. A separate group of rats was euthanized at the same time points, ventral tail arteries were dissected, and vascular tone along with dose-dependent responses to vasoconstricting and dilating factors were assessed in vitro. Agonist-induced dose-dependent increases in heart rate and blood pressure were greater in COREXIT EC9500A-exposed than in air-exposed rats at 1 d but not 7 d after the exposure. COREXIT EC9500A exposure also induced a rise in basal tone and reduced responsiveness of tail arteries to acetylcholine-induced vasodilation at 1 d but not 7 d following the exposure. These findings demonstrate that an acute exposure to COREXIT EC9500A exerts transient effects on cardiovascular and peripheral vascular functions.
Targeting oncogenic ALK and MET: a promising therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is the most common aggressive, highly glycolytic, and lethal brain tumor. In fact, it is among the most commonly diagnosed lethal malignancies, with thousands of new cases reported in the United States each year. Glioblastoma’s lethality is derived from a number of factors including highly active pro-mitotic and pro-metastatic pathways. Two factors increasingly associated with the intracellular signaling and transcriptional machinery required for such changes are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and the hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR or, more commonly MET). Both receptors are members of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, which has itself gained much attention for its role in modulating mitosis, migration, and survival in cancer cells. ALK was first described as a vital oncogene in lymphoma studies, but it has since been connected to many carcinomas, including non-small cell lung cancer and glioblastoma. As the receptor for HGF, MET has also been highly characterized and regulates numerous developmental and wound healing events which, when upregulated in cancer, can promote tumor progression. The wealth of information gathered over the last 30 years regarding these RTKs suggests three downstream cascades that depend upon activation of STAT3, Ras, and AKT. This review outlines the significance of ALK and MET as they relate to glioblastoma, explores the significance of STAT3, Ras, and AKT downstream of ALK/MET, and touches on the potential for new chemotherapeutics targeting ALK and MET to improve glioblastoma patient prognosis.
C-reactive protein: a nontraditional serum marker of cardiovascular risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is multifactorial in etiology. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as increased cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure, are used to assess CVD risk. Recently, better understanding of the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis has prompted many to propose the measurement of various inflammatory markers to better identify those who are at increased risk. C-reactive protein (CRP) is found in endothelial atherosclerotic lesions, and evidence suggests that it may play a role in atherogenesis. Of candidate serum markers that might add information to clinical risk assessment, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measurement has the most potential for clinical use for multiple reasons: (a) high hsCRP is associated with a twofold to a threefold increase in the prevalence of myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease, and it predicts incident cardiovascular events in those with and without preexisting CVD; (b) the increased risk associated with high hsCRP is independent of other established risk factors; (c) hsCRP augments the predictive capacity of the Framingham Risk Score; (d) hsCRP assays are standardized, and this analyte is biologically stable over time; (e) various risk-reducing interventions also reduce hsCRP, and research is underway to assess whether specifically targeting hsCRP reduces CVD risk. National guidelines regarding the clinical utility of hsCRP in primary and secondary prevention settings have been recently issued.
Voltage-induced metal-insulator transition in polythiophene field-effect transistors.

We have extensively studied the carrier transport in regio-regular polythiophene field-effect transistors (FETs) from room temperature to 4.2 K. At low temperatures, Zabrodskii plots ($d\mathrm{ln}﻿\ensuremath{\sigma}/d\mathrm{ln}﻿T$) demonstrate that the gate voltage and source-drain voltage combine to induce the insulator-to-metal transition at a carrier density of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{12}\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$. The carrier transport in the insulating regime is well described by phonon assisted hopping in a disordered Fermi glass with Coulomb interaction between the hopping charge carrier and the opposite charge left behind, as described by Efros and Shklovskii.
AMP-18 Targets p21 to Maintain Epithelial Homeostasis.

Dysregulated homeostasis of epithelial cells resulting in disruption of mucosal barrier function is an important pathogenic mechanism in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We have characterized a novel gastric protein, Antrum Mucosal Protein (AMP)-18, that has pleiotropic properties; it is mitogenic, anti-apoptotic and can stimulate formation of tight junctions. A 21-mer synthetic peptide derived from AMP-18 exhibits the same biological functions as the full-length protein and is an effective therapeutic agent in mouse models of IBD. In this study we set out to characterize therapeutic mechanisms and identify molecular targets by which AMP-18 maintains and restores disrupted epithelial homeostasis in cultured intestinal epithelial cells and a mouse model of IBD. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, a pro-inflammatory cytokine known to mediate gastrointestinal (GI) mucosal injury in IBD, was used to induce intestinal epithelial cell injury, and study the effects of AMP-18 on apoptosis and the cell cycle. An apoptosis array used to search for targets of AMP-18 in cells exposed to TNF-α identified the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1. Treatment with AMP-18 blunted increases in p21 expression and apoptosis, while reversing disturbed cell cycle kinetics induced by TNF-α. AMP-18 appears to act through PI3K/AKT pathways to increase p21 phosphorylation, thereby reducing its nuclear accumulation to overcome the antiproliferative effects of TNF-α. In vitamin D receptor-deficient mice with TNBS-induced IBD, the observed increase in p21 expression in colonic epithelial cells was suppressed by treatment with AMP peptide. The results indicate that AMP-18 can maintain and/or restore the homeostatic balance between proliferation and apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells to protect and repair mucosal barrier homeostasis and function, suggesting a therapeutic role in IBD.
Potential energy surfaces for the Ga2As + Cl etching reaction

Abstract Potential energy surfaces for the Ga2As + Cl reaction are computed to model halogen-etching reactions of III–V semiconductors. The complete active space self-consistent field followed by multi-reference singles and doubles configuration interaction methods was used to compute the potential energy surfaces. Our studies reveal two low-lying bound minima with substantially different geometries for the Ga2AsCl product.
Coordinating time-critical work with role-tagging

A Level-1 US trauma center introduced role-tags in their trauma resuscitation rooms to help team members identify respective medical functions, and to limit the number of people in the rooms to required staff only. We use this in situ experiment with a paper prototype to investigate the role-driven nature of coordination and to identify system requirements for computerized support of role-based coordination in time-critical work. While role information is useful in coordinating time-critical work, our findings show that the current low-tech solution did not provide significant improvement in team coordination. The situations that were most in need of role-identification were the least likely to achieve it because role-tags required work by trauma team members. Similarly, because role-tags allowed workarounds and misuse, they proved ineffective in controlling the number of people in the room. We suggest technological ways of identifying roles to help coordination in the trauma bay.
Maternal child-rearing styles and the social skills of learning disabled boys: A preliminary investigation

Abstract The etiology of social relationship deficits exhibited by some learning disabled children is unclear. This study represents an attempt to explore the extent to which certain aspects of maternal behavior are associated with certain social skills of their learning disabled sons. The study was done in two parts. First, the authors assembled an instrument to study dimensions of maternal behavior which appear to influence the development of children's social skills. This interview/observation schedule, the Home Environmental Process Inventory (HEPI), was administered in 15 homes. Next, two measures of social skills, role taking and interpersonal problem solving, were administered to each learning disabled child in each of those homes. The data were analyzed using correlational techniques. Some maternal behaviors, such as Press for Other-Centered Expectation, correlated highly with children's scores on the social measures.
Light Trapping in Silicon Nanowire Solar Cells

Thin-film structures can reduce the cost of solar power by using inexpensive substrates and a lower quantity and quality of semiconductor material. However, the resulting short optical path length and minority carrier diffusion length necessitates either a high absorption coefficient or excellent light trapping. Semiconducting nanowire arrays have already been shown to have low reflective losses compared to planar semiconductors, but their light-trapping properties have not been measured. Using optical transmission and photocurrent measurements on thin silicon films, we demonstrate that ordered arrays of silicon nanowires increase the path length of incident solar radiation by up to a factor of 73. This extraordinary light-trapping path length enhancement factor is above the randomized scattering (Lambertian) limit (2n2 ∼ 25 without a back reflector) and is superior to other light-trapping methods. By changing the silicon film thickness and nanowire length, we show that there is a competition between impr...
Langoxylon asterochlaenoideum Stockmans: Anatomy and relationships of a fern-like plant from the Middle Devonian of Belgium

Abstract Restudy of Stockmans' [Stockmans, F., 1968. Vegetaux Mesodevoniens recoltes aux confins du Massif du Brabant (Belgique). Mem. Mus. Roy. Hist. Nat. Belg. 159, 1-49.] Middle Devonian Langoxylon asterochlaenoideum clarifies many details of its anatomy. The main axis has a large multi-ribbed actinostele from which traces of two size classes depart in an irregular helix to decurrent lateral appendages. Most laterals are branch-like and supplied by major traces that are initially terete, expand distally, become bilaterally ridged, and then radially fluted just before appendage separation. Other minor traces supplied ultimate appendage- or leaf-like organs, which have smaller terete traces that fork and contract distally. Inner metaxylem of the main axis and branches consists mostly of apparent xylem parenchyma. Primary xylem is mesarch with two types of protoxylem strands. Protoxylem of the main axis appears to consist only of tracheids and occurs as several strands in each of the deeply cleft actinostele ridges (i.e., of the ‘radiating’ type). Protoxylem of lateral appendages occurs only at the tips of the xylem ridges (i.e., of the ‘permanent’ type) and has a core of parenchyma cells surrounded by protoxylem tracheids. This latter type has been called a peripheral loop (boucle peripherique) and shows minimal cell elongation. It differs from protoxylem lacunae of similar-appearing iridopterid taxa where parenchyma is absent and stretching of central tracheids results in their destruction to produce a vertical cavity. These multiple forms of protoxylem architecture might be useful for systematics of euphyllophytes. Where preserved, primary phloem is concentric. The cortex has inner parenchymatous and outer fibrous zones. Langoxylon bears only a superficial resemblance to Asteropteris and Asterochlaena , to which Stockmans compared his genus, and seems to be unrelated to them or to iridopterids like Ibyka , Arachnoxylon , Iridopteris , and Compsocradus , or the lignophyte Stenokoleos . Langoxylon compares with Middle Devonian archaeopterid progymnosperms like Actinopodium and Actinoxylon , but has a mixture of anatomical characters that were previously used to subdivide Euphyllophytina into Moniliformopses and Radiatopses types. Langoxylon is thus a ‘fern-like’ Middle Devonian euphyllophyte of uncertain phylogenetic relationship. Its most important contribution is to stimulate further investigations of the characters used to reconstruct early plant phylogeny.
Aerothermochemical studies of energetic liquid materials: 3. Approximate determination of some thermophysical and thermochemical properties of organic azides

Abstract Through either direct measurement or group additivity calculation, the densities, normal boiling points, latent heats of vaporization, limits of superheat, enthalpies of formation, combustion and decomposition, and adiabatic flame temperatures have been approximately determined for the mono- and di-substituted alkyl azides, which exhibit significantly enhanced droplet gasification rates and microexplosion events. Similar determinations have also been performed for some alkyl halides, especially alkyl bromides; the similarity of their properties with those of the organic azides are noted. Implications of the thermophysical and thermochemical properties determined herein on the potential of the organic azides and halides as jet fuels and/or jet fuel additives are discussed.
Increased inflammation in lysozyme M–deficient mice in response to Micrococcus luteus and its peptidoglycan

More than 70 years ago, Alexander Fleming discovered lysozyme and proposed that nonpathogenic bacteria fail to cause disease because they are very susceptible to destruction by lysozyme, an enzyme that is one of the principal proteins of phagocytes. Although much has been learned about the effects of lysozyme in vitro, its biological role in vivo has not been determined. We examined transgenic mice deficient in lysozyme M after challenge by the normally nonpathogenic and highly lysozyme-sensitive bacterium Micrococcus luteus. Despite partial compensation by newly expressed lysozyme P in macrophages, lysozyme M–deficient mice developed much more severe lesions than wild-type mice. The tissue injury was due to the failure of lysozyme M–deficient mice to inactivate peptidoglycan, resulting in an intense and prolonged inflammatory response. Our data indicate that tissue injury is normally limited by prompt degradation of bacterial macromolecules that trigger innate immunity and inflammation.