cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Split-seed: a new tool for maize researchers

Until recently, immature embryos have been a choice tissue for manipulation in culture for regeneration and production of transgenic maize plants. The utility of this explant has been compromised by low output, genotype dependence and time-consuming incubation in tissue culture. We have developed a new explant, the split-seed, which addresses these limitations by formally treating each seed as though it were a "dicot". By splitting maize seed longitudinally, three different tissues: the scutellum, the coleoptilar-ring and the shoot apical meristems are simultaneously exposed. The cells of these tissues can be made competent to enhance the regeneration, given that the molecular networks resulting from exposure of the split-seed to hormones is likely to be different from whole seed and, in turn, affects the in vitro response. Using this explant, callus induction frequency exceeded 92% and the regeneration frequency was 76%. The mean number of shoots regenerated via callus was 11 shoots per callus clump and 28 shoots per explant at first sub-culture. All of the regenerated plants survived and were 95% fertile. The large numbers of fertile plants produced were regenerated in 6-8 weeks. Finally, the incidence of regenerated plants varies as a function of growth regulator profile.
Embodying Anthropomorphism: Contextualizing Commonality in the Material Landscape

ABSTRACTThe status of anthropomorphism has changed in recent decades, allowing for in-depth consideration of its meaning and salience. Advocates of anthropomorphism have put forth a series of scientific and theoretical arguments to establish the concept's legitimacy. Nonetheless, while many advocates of anthropomorphism criticize the scientific worldview that objectifies nonhumans, their arguments still retain a cognitive perspective that implicitly reaffirms human–nonhuman hierarchies. This paper challenges these notions by accentuating the role of material factors in the formation and dissemination of anthropomorphic thought. These materials include human and nonhuman bodies, as well as the physicality of the external environment. This paper also examines the different ways in which social factors blend with these material factors to bring about anthropomorphic thinking. To clarify these issues, this paper examines an ongoing human conflict with harbor seals in La Jolla, California to illustrate these p...
Heritability of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in swine.

Three-hundred and eighteen female swine representing contemporary commercial swine breeds (34 Chester White, 43 Large White, 42 Landrace, 40 Yorkshire, and 159 four-breed crossbreeds) were used to evaluate genetic variation between and within breeds for levels ofplasma cholesterol and plasma triglycerides. Blood was sampled from all pigs after a 16-hr fast at 154 days of age. Plasma cholesterol was measured in all pigs and triglycerides were measured in 232 pigs. Paternal half-sib heritabilities ( h2) for plasma cholesterol and plasma triglycerides were 0.45 k 0.23 and 1.04 k 0.32, respectively. Breed differences were not apparent for either trait. Phenotypic and paternal half-sib genetic correlations between the two traits were 0.16 and 0.66, respectively. Neither body weight nor backfat depth were important in affecting the estimate of h2 for either trait. The relatively high h2 of total plasma cholesterol and of total triglycerides offers the possibility of developing, through selection, populations of hypercholesterolemic or hypertriglyceridemic swine useful as models for studies directed toward further understanding of human cardiovascular disease. 0 1986 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine.
Correlated Motion and Complex Formation of Lipid-Raft Components Analyzed by High-Resolution Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry

It is widely believed that certain membrane lipids and membrane-anchored proteins associate to form clusters with emergent function. While extensive data on phase diagrams are available for a range of lipid compositions, these are most commonly visualized by the partitioning of dyes between different phases. We have been developing the use of secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging to directly visualize molecules of interest within supported lipid bilayers (Lozano et al. JACS 2013). Specifically, we want to address the question which neutral membrane components associate with the well-known lipid-raft marker ganglioside GM1, which has a single negative charge, after GM1 is reorganized by an in-plane electric field on a patterned supported bilayer (SLB). NanoSIMS imaging was used to generate molecule-specific concentration profiles of several SLB compositions following electrophoresis: GM1/DOPC, GM1/CHOL/DOPC, and GM1/CHOL/PSM/DOPC. In a control SLB sample without GM1 it is observed that CHOL, PSM, and DOPC do not reorganize by membrane electrophoresis. However, NanoSIMS images clearly illustrate that PSM and CHOL associate with GM1 as it is transported toward the positive electrode while DOPC is displaced in the opposite direction towards the negative electrode. Further analysis of the concentration profiles for the co-diffusing components (GM1/CHOL/PSM) suggest the formation of a 4:2:1 PSM:GM1:CHOL stoichiometric complex. These results demonstrate that both cholesterol and sphingomyelin do tend to associate with GM1 and we might speculate that similar behavior would be observed for GPI or myristolyated proteins.
Aggregation of graph models and markov chains by deterministic annealing

We consider the problem of simplifying large weighted directed graphs by aggregating nodes and edges. This problem is recast as a clustering/resource allocation problem, and a solution method that incorporates features of the deterministic annealing (DA) algorithm is proposed. The novelty in our method is a quantitive measure of dissimilarity that allows us to compare directed graphs of possibly different sizes (i.e., the original and the aggregated graphs). The approach we propose is insensitive to initial conditions and less likely to converge to poor local minima than Lloyd-type algorithms. We apply our graph-aggregation (clustering) method to Markov chains, where low-order Markov chains that approximate high-order chains are obtained through appropriate aggregation of state transition matrices. We further develop a decentralized computational scheme to improve tractability of the algorithm.
Lateral word recognition: effects of unilateral and bilateral presentation, asynchrony of bilateral presentation, and forced order of report.

This experiment enquired: (1) whether right visual field (RVF) recognition superiority was greater in bilateral than in unilateral word presentation; (2) whether left field-favouring attentional or recall sets could be induced by presenting left visual field (LVF) words 20 msec prior to RVF words or by instructions to report LVF words prior to RVF words. Results showed: (1) all conditions studied yielded significant RVF superiority; (2) RVF superiority magnitude was significantly greater in bilateral than in unilateral presentation, suggesting the tenability of hypotheses that different mechanisms operate in these conditions; (3) neither earlier delivery nor earlier report of LVF words altered the pattern of RVF superiority in bilateral presentation, the later result demonstrating that differential receptive organization rather than differential recall of the two stimuli is responsible for RVF superiority in bilateral presentation.
Biogeochemical cycling of cadmium isotopes along a high-resolution section through the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a bioactive trace element in the oceans, with a nutrient-like distribution that closely matches dissolved phosphate. Seawater-dissolved stable Cd isotope ratios (δ114Cd) are a relatively new parameter, which show much promise for furthering our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of Cd in the oceans. Here we present a high-resolution paired section of dissolved Cd concentrations and dissolved δ114Cd from 21 open-ocean stations along the US GEOTRACES GA03 transect through the North Atlantic Ocean. Dissolved Cd concentrations along the section are strongly influenced by water-mass distribution and the cycling of Cd. The highest dissolved Cd concentrations (400–540 pmol kg−1) are associated with Antarctic-sourced water masses, whilst biological uptake in the surface ocean results in a strong vertical gradient in dissolved Cd towards the surface, reaching as low as 0.03 pmol kg−1 in western surface waters. Dissolved δ114Cd is also characterized by a vertical gradient from ∼+0.2‰ in the deep ocean to +2‰ to +5‰ in the Cd-depleted surface ocean (relative to NIST SRM 3108). This variability in δ114Cd can be ascribed to mixing of Antarctic and North Atlantic water masses, together with fractionation due to in situ biological uptake of light Cd in the very surface ocean. Subtle deviations from this overall pattern of dissolved Cd concentration and dissolved δ114Cd are observed within low-oxygen waters off North Africa, where a dissolved Cd deficit relative to phosphate is associated with higher dissolved δ114Cd values. Together with elevated particulate Cd and Ba, this suggests that Cd sulfide precipitation is occurring within the water column of the North Atlantic, constituting a potentially important sink for isotopically light Cd. Additionally, the first measurements of dissolved δ114Cd within a hydrothermal plume at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge show that Cd is scavenged from the dissolved phase, leaving the remnant dissolved Cd isotopically heavier. Constraining the significance of these marine sinks for dissolved Cd is important, not only for our understanding of the marine biogeochemical cycling of Cd in the modern oceans, but also for the successful application of the microfossil Cd/Ca proxy and the development of δ114Cd as a tracer for past-ocean biogeochemical cycling.
Purification and properties of rat-liver-mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase.

Mitochondrial ATPase from rat liver has been highly purified to a maximum specific activity of 110 in Tris-bicarbonate buffer at pH 8.0. Sedimentation velocity studies in the analytical ultracentrifuge show that the enzyme sediments as a single symmetrical peak with a sedimentation coefficient (so20, w), of 12.9 S. Molecular weight determinations by both high-speed sedimentation equilibrium and polyacrylamide gel chromatography indicate a molecular weight of 360000 ± 10000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the enzyme dissociated by sodium dodecyl sulfate reveals one major and three minor bands with molecular weights of 53000, 28000, 12500, and 8000–9000. A calculated molecular weight of approximately 365000 is obtained by assuming the presence of six subunits of molecular weight 53000 and one of each of the lighter subunits. Like the beef-heart enzyme, rat-liver ATPase activity is lost on incubation at 5°C and examination by high-speed sedimentation equilibrium at 5°C indicates that the molecule is extensively dissociated to components of low molecular weight. The enzymatic activities of both rat-liver-mitochondrial and beef-heart-mitochondrial ATPases are sensitive to the anion of the buffer used at pH 8.0 with activity decreasing in the following series: HCO3,− > maleate > chloride > acetate = sulfate. Sulfite, chromate and dinitrophenol stimulate the activity of either enzyme in Tris-sulfate buffer, but only sulfite increases the activity seen in Tris-bicarbonate buffer. Aurovertin decreases the enzymatic activity to approximately the same level, regardless of the anion(s) present. The enzyme is insensitive to oligomycin.
Human UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 mRNA Are Expressed In Primary Human Hepatocytes

It is widely believed that the UGT1A isoforms, UGT1A8 and -1A10, are expressed exclusively in extrahepatic tissues. In this work, human primary hepatocytes from six donors were analyzed for UGT1A8 and -1A10 mRNA expression by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. New primers to amplify UGT1A8 mRNA were designed and found to differ from those previously published. We demonstrated that UGT1A8 and -1A10 mRNA are expressed in hepatocytes. Although basal UGT mRNA levels were detected in untreated hepatocytes, significant up-regulation of the levels of mRNA for these isoforms were seen after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and rifampicin (Rif). RT-PCR products for all UGTs were sequenced and unambiguously identified as matching the corresponding cDNA. The discovery of these isoforms in hepatocytes is a novel discovery and will stimulate studies on the potential role for these isoforms in hepatic detoxification.
Board Certifying Examinations

Excerpt To the editor: Drs. Petersdorf and Beck (1) recently outlined a new procedure for evaluating the clinical competence of candidates for certification by the American Board of Internal Medici...
Sorting of a Constitutive Secretory Protein to the Regulated Secretory Pathway of Exocrine Cells

Exocrine cells secrete granule proteins by regulated or constitutive-like secretory pathways. It is thought that all secretory proteins can enter immature secretory granules in exocrine cells. To test this hypothesis, we expressed the constitutive secretory protein secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) in the exocrine cell line AR42J and compared its secretion to that of amylase, an endogenous regulated secretory protein. Secretion of SEAP and amylase were stimulated about 1.5-fold by substance P and 2-fold by barium chloride. In dexamethasone-treated cells, SEAP and amylase secretion were stimulated about 1.8-fold by substance P, 5-fold by barium chloride, and 4-fold by cholecystokinin-8. Cycloheximide reduced basal secretion of SEAP and amylase by 50%, increasing cholecystokinin-stimulated secretion to about 10-fold. Sodium butyrate induced expression of SEAP 2-fold but had no effect on stimulated secretion. These results suggest that SEAP is stored in secretory granules in AR42J cells.
Molecular analysis of Clostridium difficile strains isolated from 18 cases of recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Recurrence of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) occurs in 15 to 20% of patients after discontinuation of treatment. Arbitrarily primed PCR was used to investigate the epidemiology of recurrent CDAD in 18 patients. Reinfection with a new strain occurred in 6 of 18 patients (33.3%), while 12 patients relapsed with the original strain shortly after discontinuation of treatment. These data suggest that reinfection with exogenous C. difficile is a common problem and that not all recurrences are due to relapse.
The silicon-silicon dioxide system

Study of the silicon-silicon dioxide system as a junction between a nearly ideal semiconductor and insulator has aroused both scientific and technological interest. Surface phenomena associated with this system are influenced by contamination and imperfections in the oxide, impurity redistribution in the silicon near the oxide, and finally by additional electronic energy states at the oxide-silicon interface. Over the past few years, the MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) approach has been highly developed and is the principal tool for the investigation of silicon surface phenomena. The theory of the ideal MOS capacitor is reviewed followed by a study of its use in the analysis of surface effects. Finally, the three-way relationship of the effect of oxide formation conditions and heat treatment on the properties of the oxidized silicon surface, and the subsequent influence of the properties of this surface on semiconductor device parameters is reviewed.
Digital simulation of staining in histopathology multispectral images: enhancement and linear transformation of spectral transmittance.

Hematoxylin and eosin (HE the spectrum is estimated using M < N principal component (PC) vectors. The pixel's enhanced spectrum is transformed to the spectral configuration associated to its reaction to a specific stain by utilizing an N × N transformation matrix, which is derived through application of least mean squares method to the enhanced and target spectral transmittance samples of the different tissue components found in the image. Results of our experiments on the digital conversion of an H&E stained multispectral image to its Masson's trichrome stained equivalent show the viability of the method.
Myxedema, papilledema, and elevated CSF protein

Elevated CSF protein has been well documented in patients with isolated clinical hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis-associated encephalopathy.1–5⇓⇓⇓⇓ Researchers postulate this is caused by dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and protein exchange.1,4⇓ We report a patient with severe hypothyroidism associated with papilledema, elevated CSF protein, and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Her symptoms and signs improved with treatment of hypothyroidism. A 45-year-old woman sought treatment for a 2-year history of progressive bilateral blurred vision. Vision did not correct with glasses but did not interfere with activity. Other history included an intermittent dull bilateral frontal headache, low energy, and irregular menses. Her family reported she slept nearly the entire day and was less active. She completed 3 months of acetazolamide therapy for presumed pseudotumor cerebri without improvement in her vision or headache. Her only medical history was pernicious anemia treated with monthly B12 supplementation. Examination revealed a female with a …
Modeling effective transmission pathways and control of the world’s most successful parasite

Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) is a single-celled, intracellular protozoan responsible for the disease toxoplasmosis. The parasite is prevalent worldwide, and it infects all warm-blooded vertebrates. Consumption of meats in which this parasite has encysted confers risk of infection to people and other animals, as does ingestion of water or foods contaminated with environmentally resistant oocysts excreted by cats. Vertical transmission (from mother to offspring) is also possible, leading to disease risk and contributing additional means of ensuring perpetuation of transmission. In this work, we adopt a differential equation model to investigate the effective transmission pathways of T. gondii, as well as potential control mechanisms. Detailed analyses are carried out to examine the significance of transmission routes, virulence, vertical transmission, parasite-induced changes in host behavior, and controls based on vaccination and harvesting. Modeling and analysis efforts may shed insights into understanding the complex life cycle of T. gondii.
Effects of arachidonic acid supplementation on training adaptations in resistance-trained males

Background To determine the impact of AA supplementation during resistance training on body composition, training adaptations, and markers of muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trained males.
Mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene (WFS1) define a clinical entity of dominant low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective To describe low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) inherited as a dominant trait in 3 families and in 1 sporadic case. Design Longitudinal clinical study from 1968 to 2001. Setting Tertiary care hospital; field studies conducted by molecular genetic research laboratory. Participants Dominant LFSNHL families. Interventions Questionnaires, serial audiograms, and interviews, correlated with molecular genetic data. Outcome Measures Symptoms, age of onset, serial audiometric data, and hearing aid use. Results Low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss is typically diagnosed in the first decade and slowly progresses over decades; LFSNHL is often asymptomatic in young patients, few of whom use hearing aids. Speech perception becomes affected in later decades when patients develop high-frequency loss. Even children with a strong family history of dominant LFSNHL were not monitored routinely. Penetrance appears complete in that all individuals with a genetic mutation developed hearing loss. Conclusions Dominant LFSNHL is most commonly caused by mutations in the Wolfram syndrome type 1 gene ( WFS1 ). Mutations in WFS1 also cause a rare recessive syndromic form of hearing loss known as Wolfram syndrome or DIDMOAD (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness). Routine newborn hearing screening methods will not typically identify hearing loss affecting frequencies below 2000 Hz; thus, children at risk must be specifically monitored. Genetic counseling and genetic testing may be useful in the management of patients with this type of hearing loss.
Television uses and gratifications: The interactions of viewing patterns and motivations

This secondary analysis of television viewing motivations and patterns located two television user types: (1) users of the television medium for time consumption and entertainment; and (2) users of television content for nonescapist, information seeking.
Consumer's Specie Knowledge and the Values of Natural Christmas Tree Characteristics

Consumers' willingness to pay for natural Christmas tree characteristics are estimated. Differences in willingness to pay for characteristics by specie knowledge and lack of specie knowledge are tested. Differences in willingness to pay for characteristics by specie are also tested. The results suggests that willingness to pay measures differ by these separations of the sample and, ceteris paribus, sellers of natural Christmas trees could benefit by altering characteristics in accordance with the results of these sample separation tests.
The National Teacher Enhancement Program (K-8) coordinated by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

The National Teacher Enhancement Program (NTEP), focusing on teachers from grades K-8, is discussed. It calls for a three-week workshop to be conducted at each participating laboratory followed by in-service training and other activities during the year. The NSF/NTEP protocol dictates networking among the participating organizations and some of the teachers. An assessment effort is also an integral part of the program. >
Attitudes about palliative care: a comparison of pediatric critical care and oncology providers.

Introduction:Pediatric critical care and oncology providers care for patients who have life-threatening or serious illness, yet they receive little palliative care education.Objective:Compare oncology and critical care providers’ attitudes regarding palliative care.Methods:An electronic survey assessed respondents’ opinions of whether, when, and why palliative care should be utilized.Results:Response rate was 49%. Critical care physicians were more likely to incorporate palliative care for psychosocial support; oncologists for symptom control. Those with palliative care education were more likely to involve in palliative care, did so earlier and for reasons other than end-of-life planning.Conclusions:Oncology and critical care providers utilized palliative care for different reasons.
Effects of integrin signaling on mammary tumor cells adhesion to microvascular endothelium in vivo

To investigate the role of integrin signaling and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced microvessel hyperpermeability in tumor cell adhesion in intact microvessels, we used video microscopy to measure the adhesion rates of normal mouse mammary epithelial cells (Nmumg), mouse wild type (WT) and beta4 integrin signaling defective mammary tumor cells (1355T) in the post-capillary venules of rat mesentery in vivo. Individual post-capillary venule was perfused with cells (2-4 million/ml) at a rate of ~1000 mum/s 1) under conditions of normal and increased vessel permeability by 1 nM VEGF, and 2) after pretreatment of cells with antibody blocking alpha6 integrin. Our results showed that a) 1355T cells adhered 2.2-fold as much as the WT tumor cells under the normal permeability condition in ~60 mins. This indicates that beta4 signaling has differential roles in tumor cell adhesion and in its progression; b) 1 nM VEGF increased WT and 1355T cells adhesion by 1.9 folds and 1.4 folds in ~60 mins, respectively; c) pretreatment with anti-alpha6 antibody decreased the WT cell adhesion by 33%, 1355T cell adhesion by 55% under normal permeability condition, and by 36% and 47% under increased permeability by 1 nM VEGF in -60 mins; d) the increased permeability by VEGF and blocking alpha6 integrin have no visible effects on the normal cell adhesion.
Editorial: Enhancing English Language Arts Education With Digital Video

Although film is widely regarded as an important component of the English language arts, its importance and role in the teaching of English and in developing English language arts curricula has been debated for ages. The moving film image was first created around 1890 by scientific researchers such as William Dickson and Thomas Edison, who were primarily interested in using film to capture scenes of real moving images. Around the same time, the Lumiere brothers of France developed a similar technology that allowed them to record street scenes and the routines of daily life (e.g., see their 1895 film of Workers Leaving the Lumiere Factory on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYpKZx090UE). Interest in this new medium, however, quickly shifted to using it to present narrative action (Sobchack & Sobchack, 1994).
The first one Hundred University-Class spacecraft 1981 -2008

In April 2008 the one-hundredth "university-class" spacecraft was launched; 50 were launched in the past four years. A "university-class" spacecraft is defined as one whose mission includes the training of university students in spacecraft engineering. The success of these 100 missions has varied widely; one-fifth were lost to launch failures, one-fifth were deployed but failed almost immediately, while one-quarter of these student-built satellites were operational for at least three years. While none can deny the established fact of student-built spacecraft, there is little discussion in either the education or engineering literature about the merits of this fact. Should universities be in the practice of building and launching their own spacecraft? Given the tremendous costs of building and operating student-built spacecraft as measured in student/faculty hours, dollars, donations, and, especially, the 5-7 year process from concept to launch - are such spacecraft worth the cost? If so, what kinds of missions are best suited for university-class satellites? To answer these questions, this survey draws upon launch records, published reports, and project communications to create a statistical examination of these hundred student-built spacecraft, identifying correlations between reliability, size, and the types of schools building space hardware. In particular, there is a strong distinction between government-sponsored "flagship" universities and "independent" schools lacking strong external support - both in terms of mission relevance and on-orbit performance. Given that distinction, we offer suggestions for independent schools to improve their missions and their orbital success. This information was compiled from online sources, past conference proceedings, and author interviews with students and faculty at many universities, as noted in the references. The opinions expressed herein reflect this author's experience as both student project manager and faculty advisor to university-class projects. This author accepts sole responsibility for any factual (or interpretative) errors found in this paper.
Placental development during early pregnancy in sheep: effects of embryo origin on fetal and placental growth and global methylation.

The origin of embryos including those created through assisted reproductive technologies might have profound effects on placental and fetal development, possibly leading to compromised pregnancies associated with poor placental development. To determine the effects of embryo origin on fetal size, and maternal and fetal placental cellular proliferation and global methylation, pregnancies were achieved through natural mating (NAT), or transfer of embryos generated through in vivo (NAT-ET), IVF, or in vitro activation (IVA). On Day 22 of pregnancy, fetuses were measured and placental tissues were collected to immunologically detect Ki67 (a marker of proliferating cells) and 5-methyl cytosine followed by image analysis, and determine mRNA expression for three DNA methyltransferases. Fetal length and labeling index (proportion of proliferating cells) in maternal caruncles (maternal placenta) and fetal membranes (fetal placenta) were less (P < 0.001) in NAT-ET, IVF, and IVA than in NAT. In fetal membranes, expression of 5-methyl cytosine was greater (P < 0.02) in IVF and IVA than in NAT. In maternal caruncles, mRNA expression for DNMT1 was greater (P < 0.01) in IVA compared with the other groups, but DNMT3A expression was less (P < 0.04) in NAT-ET and IVA than in NAT. In fetal membranes, expression of mRNA for DNMT3A was greater (P < 0.01) in IVA compared with the other groups, and was similar in NAT, NAT-ET, and IVF groups. Thus, embryo origin might have specific effects on growth and function of ovine uteroplacental and fetal tissues through regulation of tissue growth, DNA methylation, and likely other mechanisms. These data provide a foundation for determining expression of specific factors regulating placental and fetal tissue growth and function in normal and compromised pregnancies, including those achieved with assisted reproductive technologies.
Reactivity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical System to Stressors in Normal Infants and Children

How children cope with stressful events is an important subject in child development and pediatric medicine. Although most work on childhood stress is behavioral,1 growing evidence that chronic stress is related to a variety of childhood illnesses2 makes it imperative that we understand the relations between children9s behavioral and physiologic responses. The focus of the research covered in this manuscript is activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system. Since Hans Selye9s3 initial formulations of the stress concept, activity of this neuroendocrine system has been viewed as almost synonymous with the term stress. The work on human adults and infrahuman species shows that this system plays a central role in stress resistance, although the mechanisms are not fully understood.4,5 With the exception of our own work, there has been little systematic hormone-behavior research on this system in healthy, normal children. However, the recent modification of radioimmunoassays to allow assessment of cortisol levels in small samples of saliva is altering this picture, and researchers are now including salivary cortisol level in their research as one of a number of indices of emotional distress. The results of this recent work indicate that elevations in cortisol appear to be part of the biologic cost of adaptive functioning, a conclusion consistent with previous work in animals and adults.3 Furthermore, increases in cortisol level frequently correlate with children9s active and appropriate attempts to cope with potentially distressing circumstances. DESCRIPTION, RATIONALE, AND MEASUREMENT Physiologic Significance Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid of the HPA system in humans. Organisms deprived of cortisol can survive in protected environments, but without replacement hormones they cannot tolerate even the normal physical and emotional perturbations of daily life.6
The educational effectiveness of problem-based learning discussions as evaluated by learner-assessed satisfaction and practice change.

Abstract Study objective To elicit attendees' opinions and perceptions of problem-based learning and to assess the ability of this format to influence practitioner behavior. Design Analysis of quality assurance material as part of the evaluation process of the Problem-Based Learning Discussion (PBLD) Committee of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). Participants Attendees of the 2002 PBLD Program and the annual meeting of the ASA, Orlando, FL. Measurements and main results Exit and 6-month post-PBLD evaluations of individual PBLD sessions were offered to attendees of the program. A total of 742 evaluations were completed and collected at the conclusion of the individual sessions. Of the participants, 98.2% rated their sessions either good or excellent, 98.5% of whom enjoyed the interactive nature and 98% expressing a willingness to participate in future PBLD sessions. There were 221 questionnaires (17% response rate) completed after 6 months. Actual changes in practice were few, but attendees reported an increased ability to anticipate problems and/or complications and an increased knowledge and awareness about issues regarding patient care. 95.4% considered PBLD a worthwhile learning experience. Conclusions PBLD remains a popular educational offering. Although 6 months may be too short an interval to gauge the ability of PBLD to change physician practices, attendees feel that it does confer increased knowledge and awareness about patient care issues.
Dietary magnesium and DNA repair capacity as risk factors for lung cancer

Magnesium (Mg) is required for maintenance of genomic stability; however, data on the relationship between dietary Mg intake and lung cancer are lacking. In an ongoing lung cancer case-control study, we identified 1139 cases and 1210 matched healthy controls with data on both diet and DNA repair capacity (DRC). Dietary intake was assessed using a modified Block-NCI food frequency questionnaire and DRC was measured using the host-cell reactivation assay to assess repair in lymphocyte cultures. After adjustment for potential confounding factors including DRC, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for lung cancer with increasing quartiles of dietary Mg intake were 1.0, 0.83 (0.66-1.05), 0.64 (0.50-0.83) and 0.47 (0.36-0.61), respectively, for all subjects (P-trend 60 years), current or heavier smokers, drinkers, those with a family history of cancer in first-degree relatives, small cell lung cancer and late-stage disease. These intriguing results need to be confirmed in prospective studies.
Implementation of a foveated image coding system for image bandwidth reduction

We have developed a preliminary version of a foveated imaging system, implemented on a general purpose computer, which greatly reduces the transmission bandwidth of images. The system is based on the fact that the spatial resolution of the human eye is space variant, decreasing with increasing eccentricity from the point of gaze. By taking advantage of this fact, it is possible to create an image that is almost perceptually indistinguishable from a constant resolution image, but requires substantially less information to code it. This is accomplished by degrading the resolution of the image so that it matches the space-variant degradation in the resolution of the human eye. Eye movements are recorded so that the high resolution region of the image can be kept aligned with the high resolution region of the human visual system. This system has demonstrated that significant reductions in bandwidth can be achieved while still maintaining access to high detail at any point in an image. The system has been tested using 256 by 256 8 bit gray scale images with a 20 degree field-of-view and eye-movement update rates of 30 Hz (display refresh was 60 Hz). users of the system have reported minimal perceptual artifacts at bandwidth reductions of up to 94.7% (a factor of 18.8). Bandwidth reduction factors of over 100 are expected once lossless compression techniques are added to the system.
State of stress in the Long Valley caldera, California

Earthquake focal-plane mechanisms and well-bore breakouts in the Long Valley caldera, California, indicate that the resurgent dome and caldera south moat are characterized by a northeast extensional stress field, consistent with geodetically determined extensional strain within the caldera. Similar data from the western caldera indicate that it is characterized by a markedly different, northwest-trending, extensional stress field. We hypothesize that this localized rotation of the stress field is possible because of near-lithostatic pore pressure at depth. Because an east-west extensional stress field appears to have existed in the western caldera at the time of emplacement of the Inyo volcanic deposits (500-1000 yr ago), the state of stress in the Long Valley caldera appears to be both spatially and temporally heterogeneous, most likely as a consequence of intracaldera processes related to magmatic resurgence.
Atomistic simulations of the solubilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes in toluene

Solubilization of the armchair, metallic (10,10) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in toluene is modeled using molecular dynamics simulations. Inter- and intra-molecular atomic interactions in the SWCNT + toluene system are represented using COMPASS (Condensed-phased Optimized Molecular Potential for Atomistic Simulation Studies), the first ab initio forcefield that enables an accurate and simultaneous prediction of various gas-phase and condensed-phase properties of organic and inorganic materials. The results obtained show that due to a significant drop in the configurational entropy of toluene, the solvation Gibbs free energy for these nanotubes in toluene is small but positive suggesting that a suspension of these nanotubes in toluene is not stable and that the nanotubes would fall out of the solution. This prediction is consistent with experimental observations.
A nearest-neighboring-end algorithm for genetic mapping

Motivation: High-throughput methods are beginning to make possible the genotyping of thousands of loci in thousands of individuals, which could be useful for tightly associating phenotypes to candidate loci. Current mapping algorithms cannot handle so many data without building hierarchies of framework maps. Results: A version of Kruskal's minimum spanning tree algorithm can solve any genetic mapping problem that can be stated as marker deletion from a set of linkage groups. These include backcross, recombinant inbred, haploid and double-cross recombinational populations, in addition to conventional deletion and radiation hybrid populations. The algorithm progressively joins linkage groups at increasing recombination fractions between terminal markers, and attempts to recognize and correct erroneous joins at peaks in recombination fraction. The algorithm is O (mn3) for m individuals and n markers, but the mean run time scales close to mn2. It is amenable to parallel processing and has recovered true map order in simulations of large backcross, recombinant inbred and deletion populations with up to 37 005 markers. Simulations were used to investigate map accuracy in response to population size, allelic dominance, segregation distortion, missing data and random typing errors. It produced accurate maps when marker distribution was sufficiently uniform, although segregation distortion could induce translocated marker orders. The algorithm was also used to map 1003 loci in the F7 ITMI population of bread wheat, Triticum aestivum L. emend Thell., where it shortened an existing standard map by 16%, but it failed to associate blocks of markers properly across gaps within linkage groups. This was because it depends upon the rankings of recombination fractions at individual markers, and is susceptible to sampling error, typing error and joint selection involving the terminal markers of nearly finished linkage groups. Therefore, the current form of the algorithm is useful mainly to improve local marker ordering in linkage groups obtained in other ways. Availability: The source code and supplemental data are http://www.iubio.bio.indiana.edu/soft/molbio/qtl/flipper/ Contact: [email protected]
The Black Cow's Footprint: Time, Space, and Music in the Lives of the Kotas of South India

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Richard K. Wolf Year: 2006 Pages: xv + 313 + CD Publisher: University of Illinois Press ISBN: 9780252031168 (hard cover). Prices: $85.00(hard cover).
The effects of religion and gender on well-being, substance use, and academic engagement among rural adolescents.

The effects of religious attendance, religious importance, and gender on well-being, substance use, and academic engagement were examined among early adolescents (N = 683) from rural schools. Results indicated that females viewed religion as more important than males, although the frequency of religious attendance did not differ for males and females. Hierarchical regression results revealed that religious importance was a more prominent protective factor than attendance against substance use even after accounting for parental support; however, no links were found between religiosity and depression or self-esteem. Adolescents who reported that religion was important in their lives reported lower school misbehavior and higher motivation, although those with high religious attendance had higher grades. Interaction effects indicated that religious importance was particularly salient for males compared to females in terms of enhanced school bonding and self-efficacy.
Prognostic significance of renal function in patients undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography

Background. Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is used for risk stratification of patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the prognostic value of DSE among the entire strata of renal function has yet to be determined. We assessed the prognostic value of renal function relative to DSE findings. Methods. We studied 2292 patients, divided into 729 (32%) patients with normal renal function [creatinine clearance (CrCl) >90 ml/min] and 1563 (68%) with renal dysfunction, classified as mild (CrCl: 60-90 ml/min) in 933, moderate (CrCl: 30-60 ml/min) in 502 and severe (CrCl < 30ml/min) in 128 patients. All patients underwent DSE for the evaluation of known or suspected CAD and were followed for a mean of 8 years. Results. New wall motion abnormalities during DSE and mildly, moderately and severely abnormal CrCl were powerful independent predictors for all-cause mortality, cardiac death and hard cardiac events (cardiac death and non-fatal myocardial infarction). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated that patients with normal DSE and renal dysfunction have greater probability for cardiac death and hard cardiac events compared to those with normal renal function. The warranty of a normal DSE in the presence of moderate renal dysfunction was 15 and 36 months for 10 and 20% risk for cardiac death and hard cardiac events, respectively. Conclusions. The presence and severity of renal dysfunction has additional independent prognostic value over DSE findings. The low-risk warrantee period after a normal DSE is determined by the severity of renal dysfunction.
On the privacy preserving properties of random data perturbation techniques

Privacy is becoming an increasingly important issue in many data mining applications. This has triggered the development of many privacy-preserving data mining techniques. A large fraction of them use randomized data distortion techniques to mask the data for preserving the privacy of sensitive data. This methodology attempts to hide the sensitive data by randomly modifying the data values often using additive noise. We question the utility of the random value distortion technique in privacy preservation. We note that random objects (particularly random matrices) have "predictable" structures in the spectral domain and it develops a random matrix-based spectral filtering technique to retrieve original data from the dataset distorted by adding random values. We present the theoretical foundation of this filtering method and extensive experimental results to demonstrate that in many cases random data distortion preserve very little data privacy. We also point out possible avenues for the development of new privacy-preserving data mining techniques like exploiting multiplicative and colored noise for preserving privacy in data mining applications.
Importance of Small Intestine in Diabetic Hypercholesterolemia

Numerous studies have demonstrated that poor glycemic control is asssociated with elevated plasma cholesterol levels in diabetic patients. Experiments have shown that cholesterol synthesis is increased in the small intestine of various diabetic animals. This increase is a generalized phenomenon occurring in all segments of the small intestine. Insulin therapy that normalizes blood glucose levels markedly decreases intestinal cholesterol synthesis in diabetic animals to a level similar to that observed in control animals. Studies have suggested that the hyperphagia that accompanies poorly controlled diabetes is the chief stimulus for the increase in intestinal cholesterol synthesis. However, the direct contact of the intestinal mucosa with nutrients is not the sole trigger for increasing cholesterol synthesis in the small intestine, suggesting that circulating and/or neurological factors play a role. The transport of newly synthesized cholesterol, most of which is in the chylomicron lipoprotein fraction, from the intestines to the circulation is increasedin diabetic rats. The sterols associated with these chylomicrons are rapidly cleared from the circulation and delivered to the liver. The increased transport of chylomicrons from the intestine to the circulation in diabetic patients could potentially result in several alterations in lipid metabolism that may increase the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Thermal Properties of Tissue Equivalent Phantom Materials

Thermal conductivity, specific heat, density, and thermal diffusivity were determined for standard RF and microwave phantom materials. Thermal conductivity data for seven phantom materials of varying aluminum content were analyzed using mixture theories. With the thermal diffusivity values obtained, worst case errors in SAR determination due to thermal conduction for adipose-muscle planar phantoms were estimated.
The Role of Textbooks in Teachers' Interactive Decision Making.

Abstract In this study 24 content area teachers’ decisions about what adjustments to make in their preplanned follow‐up discussion routines were examined in terms of how the textbook figured into those decisions. Transcriptions of videotaped lessons that focused on post‐reading discussions of regularly assigned content area material, teacher interviews, observer fieldnotes, and stimulated recall protocols gathered from post‐study viewing sessions were the primary data sources. A two‐dimensional content analysis of the resulting classroom interaction pattern revealed that differences existed among the content areas in terms of how the teacher used the text in making decisions about appropriate adjustments in their discussion routines. Some support was found for Clark and Peterson's (1986) revised model of teachers’ interactive decision making. That is, teachers in this study reported making decisions that were preceded by factors other than judgments about student behavior alone.
Therapeutic Day Treatment for Young Maltreated Children: A Systematic Literature Review

This review examines the literature on the effectiveness of therapeutic day treatment for young maltreated children (birth to 5-years old). Nine peer-reviewed articles reporting treatment outcomes were included. Two independent reviewers evaluated methodological quality. Programs focused on therapeutic, educational, and developmental goals, and services were multi-modal. Many programs offered ancillary services, such as parenting support. Although there were several shared components, there was no standard protocol that guided service delivery, which has implications for replicating and evaluating this treatment approach. Seven studies used a pre-post design, two were follow-up studies, and three included comparison groups. Given the range of problems attributable to early maltreatment and challenges to providing services for foster children, results suggest day treatment may be an effective approach in improving maltreated children’s social-emotional skills, behavior problems, and developmental delays. However, the methodological quality of the studies ranged from poor to fair. Suggestions for future research are discussed.