cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pax-5/BSAP: regulator of specific gene expression and differentiation in B lymphocytes.

The development of B lymphocytes (Fig. 1) from committed precursor cells to antibody-producing plasma cells proceeds through multiple stages defined by the expression of distinct sets of lineage-specific genes (Rolink and Melchers 1996). The early, antigen-independent stages of B-cell differentiation were largely defined by the status of the cell’s immunoglobulin (Ig) genes. In the scheme advanced by Rolink and Melchers (1996), pro-B cells are defined as cells that are committed to the B-cell lineage, but have not yet undergone any Ig gene rearrangements. At the early pre-B cell stage (pre-BI), cells activate their Ig gene recombination machinery including the RAG-1 and RAG-2 genes and commence rearrangements at Ig heavy-chain loci. Heavy-chain polypeptides associate with surrogate light chains encoded by the VpreB and λ5 genes and accessory polypeptides encoded by the mb-1 (Igα/CD79a) and B29 (Igβ/CD79b) genes to assemble the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR) on the plasma membrane. Following the productive rearrangement of κ or λ, light chain gene loci, mature membrane-bound Ig (mIg) appears on the plasma membrane of immature B cells as the B-cell receptor (BCR) for antigen. Encounter of specific antigen by a B cell results in intracellular signaling events that can promote further differentiation, including Ig heavy-chain class switch recombination, somatic hypermutation of Ig variable-region genes, and receptor editing. Ultimately, B cells can terminally differentiate to become plasma cells, which do not express Ig on the cell surface and secrete large quantities of antibody.
Early Confucian Virtue Ethics: The Virtues of Junzi

Confucius’ Analects (Lunyu 論語) provides an ample vocabulary for virtues or excellences of ethical character. Throughout the text, we find frequent occurrence of certain terms such as ren 仁 (benevolence, humaneness), li 禮 (rules of proper conduct, ritual, rites), and yi 義 (rightness, righteousness. fittingness), indicating Confucius’ ongoing concern with the cultivation of fundamental virtues. His remark that there is one thread (yiguan 一貫) that runs through his teachings may be cited as a partial support for ascribing a holistic perspective to his thought. However, we do not find a systematic scheme for conduct in the Analects. Also, throughout the history of Chinese thought and contemporary Chinese and Western writings on Confucianism, we find a great variance of interpretation of fundamental concepts such as ren (Chan 1955, 1975).
The Application of Petri Nets to the Modeling, Analysis and Control of Intelligent Urban Traffic Networks

This paper focuses on the development of Petri net models and tools for the control and performance analysis of signalized traffic intersections and networks of connected intersections. The potential for Petri nets as a single representation for multiple tools for addressing traffic network problems is discussed. These tools can contribute to the modeling, analysis, performance evaluation, control design and direct control code generation for urban traffic network control. A colored Petri net model of an urban traffic network for the purpose of performance evaluation is presented and discussed. The subnets for the network, the intersections, the external traffic inputs and control are each described. A six intersection urban network example is given to illustrate the subnets and a model step-through is given to show how the subnets work together. This net is used as the input to a simulation using POSES to evaluate the performance of various control strategies. Runs are made using different control strategies and statistics on intersection queue lengths and wait times are given. Conclusions and future research directions are presented.
Social parasitism as an alternative reproductive tactic in a cooperatively breeding cuckoo

Cooperatively nesting birds are vulnerable to social parasites that lay their eggs in host nests but provide no parental care1–4. Most previous research has focused on the co-evolutionary arms race between host defences and the parasites that attempt to circumvent them5–9, but it remains unclear why females sometimes cooperate and sometimes parasitize, and how parasitic tactics arise in cooperative systems10–12. Here we show that cooperative and parasitic reproductive strategies result in approximately equal fitness pay-offs in the greater ani (Crotophaga major), a long-lived tropical cuckoo, using an 11-year dataset and comprehensive genetic data that enable comparisons of the life-histories of individual females. We found that most females in the population nested cooperatively at the beginning of the breeding season; however, of those birds that had their first nests destroyed, a minority subsequently acted as reproductive parasites. The tendency to parasitize was highly repeatable, which indicates individual specialization. Across years, the fitness pay-offs of the two strategies were approximately equal: females who never parasitized (a ‘pure cooperative’ strategy) laid larger clutches and fledged more young from their own nests than did birds that both nested and parasitized (a ‘mixed’ strategy). Our results suggest that the success of parasites is constrained by reproductive trade-offs as well as by host defences, and illustrate how cooperative and parasitic tactics can coexist stably in the same population. Mixed-effects logistic regression modelling of a dataset of individual reproductive behaviours shows fitness pay-offs of cooperative versus mixed cooperative and parasitic reproductive strategies are approximately equal in female greater anis (Crotophaga major).
Assessment of the Suitability of Tree Rings as Archives of Global and Regional Atmospheric Mercury Pollution

This study investigated the methodology and utility of dendrochemistry in the assessment of spatial and temporal concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury. Tree cores from the Pinus species in California and Nevada, U.S.A. were collected from previously sampled areas to test the stability of tree ring concentrations over time. Cores were collected from 2 new locations to assess spatial variability among trees within and between stands located at two elevations in the same watershed. Results indicated that using 2 to 3 cores from ∼10 or more trees provided the best framework for understanding tree ring concentrations within a population of trees located in uncontaminated areas. At the least 2 sides of a tree should be cored to account for radially asymmetric variations associated with growing conditions or injury. An agreement of concentrations and trends measured in trees cored with previous research indicated that tree rings are suitable proxies for historical air mercury concentrations and that mercury concentrations have increased since the Industrial Revolution. Data collected demonstrate that tree rings record regional gradients in GEM concentrations. In addition, temporal consistency may vary within a geographic location due to differing biotic and abiotic factors influencing ring growth since trees are active samplers of atmospheric Hg.
Abstract TMP7: Acute Stroke Involving More Than 1/3 Mca Territory On Plain Ct Brain Is Not A Contraindication For Iv Thrombolysis.

Background and Purpose: Intravenously administered tissue plasminogen activator (IV- tPA) remains the only approved therapeutic agent to achieve arterial recanalization in acute ischemic stroke (AI...
On the decay properties of solutions to a class of Schrödinger equations

. We construct a local in time, exponentially decaying solution of the one-dimensional variable coefficient Schrodinger equation by solving a non-standard boundary value problem. A main ingredient in the proof is a new commutator estimate involving the projections P± onto the positive and negative frequencies.
LISA for cosmologists: Calculating the signal-to-noise ratio for stochastic and deterministic sources

We present the steps to forecast the sensitivity of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) to both a stochastic gravitational wave background and deterministic wave sources. We show how to use these expressions to estimate the precision with which LISA can determine parameters associated with these sources. Tools are included to enable easy calculation of the signal-to-noise ratio and draw sensitivity curves. Benchmark values are given for easy comparison and checking of methods in the case of three worked examples. The first benchmark is the threshold stochastic gravitational wave background ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Omega}}}_{\mathrm{GW}}{h}^{2}$ that LISA can observe. The second is the signal-to-noise ratio that LISA would observe for a binary black hole system identical to GW150914, radiating four years before merger. The third is the case of a monotone source, such as a binary that is far from merger.
By the skin of its teeth: Walrus ivory, the artisan, and other bodies

This feminist ecocritical study of an eleventh-century Anglo-Saxon walrus ivory pyx uncovers the object as a site where human and nonhuman, divine and earthly, feminine and masculine, and material and represented bodies cohabit and mingle. Using the work of feminists Karen Barad, Nancy Tuana, and Stacy Alaimo, the essay demonstrates how the various entities that make up the object evade clear categorization, blurring binaries. The pyx and the chalice depicted on its side function as containers for the divine body of Christ and as representations of the Virgin’s idealized womb. Complicating neat narratives, the essay presents the pyx as a site of interaction for multitudinous bodies.
Update of Residential Load Profile for WECC Load Composition Model Using Cross-Correlation Method

The Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) initiated development of a composite load model for transmission-level power system simulations. To more precisely utilize the model to represent the power consumption pattern for various locations of the WECC network, an up-to-date load composition dataset is required. The study in this paper updates the residential dataset of the load composition model (LCM) using latest survey or measurement data. The LCM residential dataset contains load profiles for 12 climate zones and 5 season conditions. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) launched a study to generate the load profiles for four climate zones in the Pacific Northwest. Based on the NEEA database, a component-wise cross-correlation-based approach has been developed in this paper to reconstruct the residential load profiles of the four Pacific Northwest climate zones and to populate the new load shape data into the other eight WECC climate zones.
Retroviridae: SIV and HIV-2

Abstract In the 1980s, SIV and HIV-2 were described as closely related viruses to HIV-1, the cause of human AIDS. Phylogenetic analyzes have revealed that HIV-1 and HIV-2 resulted from multiple cross species transmissions from monkey and ape SIVs. SIV naturally infects Old World African monkeys and apes with minimal disease, although SIV in Asian macaques causes a disease reminiscent of human AIDS. HIV-2 is found in West Africa and while sharing many biologic properties with HIV-1, it is less transmissible and slower to progress to disease.
Executive Function and Psychopathology: A Neurodevelopmental Perspective

Executive function (EF) skills are neurocognitive skills that support the reflective, top-down coordination and control of other brain functions, and there is neural and behavioral evidence for a continuum from more "cool" EF skills activated in emotionally neutral contexts to more "hot" EF skills needed for the reversal of motivationally significant tendencies. Difficulties in EF are transdiagnostic indicators of atypical development. A neurodevelopmental model traces the pathway from adverse childhood experiences and stress to disruption of the development of neural systems supporting reflection and EF skills to an increased risk for general features of psychopathology. Research indicates that EF skills can be cultivated through scaffolded training and are a promising target for therapeutic and preventive intervention. Intervention efficacy can be enhanced by mitigating disruptive bottom-up influences such as stress, training both hot and cool EF skills, and adding a reflective, metacognitive component to promote far transfer of trained skills.
Breastfeeding practices among childhood cancer survivors

This cross-sectional study compared breastfeeding outcomes among childhood cancer survivors to those of women in the general population and evaluated whether breastfeeding is adversely affected by cancer treatment or endocrine-related late effects. A self-reported survey ascertained breastfeeding practices and incorporated items from the questionnaires used in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) to allow comparison with the general population. Among 710 eligible survivors, 472 (66%) responded. The participants were predominantly non-Hispanic White (84%), married (73%), and had some college or less (60%). The mean maternal age at the time of birth of the first child after cancer treatment was 24 years (SD 24.3 ± 4.8). Fewer survivors planned to breastfeed than did IFPS II controls (67% vs. 82%, P < .0001), and fewer survivors initiated breastfeeding (66% vs. 85%, P < .0001). The median breastfeeding duration was shorter among survivors, with early undesired weaning occurring sooner in the survivor group (1.4 months, interquartile range (IQR) 0.5–3.5 months) than in the IFPS II group (2.7 months, IQR 0.9–5.4 months). A higher proportion of survivors reported an unfavorable breastfeeding experience (19% vs. 7.5%, P < .0001) and early, undesired weaning (57.5%, 95% CI 51–64) than did IFPS II participants (45.2%, 95% CI 44–47, P = .0164). Among survivors who expressed intention and chose to breastfeed, 46% endorsed disrupted lactation related to physiologic problems with high risk in those overweight/obese. Survivors are at risk of negative breastfeeding experiences; however, lactation outcomes were not significantly associated with cancer diagnosis, treatments, or endocrine complications. Prior research has not examined the association of cancer treatments and clinically validated late effects with lactation outcomes in a clinically diverse childhood cancer survivor cohort. Findings from this study suggest that childhood cancer survivors, especially those who are overweight/obese, are at risk of having negative breastfeeding experiences. Early undesired weaning, physiologic problems related to lactation and misconceptions about breastfeeding, especially fears of passing on cancer through breastmilk, highlight the need for counseling and specialized support to optimize lactation outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Virtual Reality and Visualization of 3D Reconstructed Medical Imaging: Learning Variations Within Detailed Human Anatomies

The emerging field of virtual reality has many promising new applications for the medical sciences. For example, by converting magnetic resonance and tomography-based images into 3D models, users can visually inspect individualized anatomic reconstructions at clinically useful high resolutions. Yet, adequate development of these tools will require a wide breadth of associated expertise to take advantage of current video game technologies while maintaining relevance for clinical use. Our laboratory has begun to implement such system approaches for the exploration of hearts, cadaveric specimens, and medical device-tissue interactions. We have created hundreds of anatomical scenes that were developed using physician feedback from conferences worldwide. We demonstrate several aspects of the potential applicability of virtual reality to serve both clinical science and education, and additionally discuss future prospects.
A quantitative model for the bipolar amplification effect: A new method to determine semiconductor/oxide interface state densities

We report on a model for the bipolar amplification effect (BAE), which enables defect density measurements utilizing BAE in metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors. BAE is an electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR) technique, which has recently been utilized for defect identification because of the improved EDMR sensitivity and selectivity to interface defects. In previous work, BAE was utilized exclusively in EDMR measurements. Although BAE EDMR improves the sensitivity of EDMR in studies of semiconductor/oxide interface defects, an understanding of BAE in both electrical measurements and EDMR has not yet been investigated. In this work, we develop a BAE theory based on a modified Fitzgerald–Grove surface recombination methodology, which, in theory, may be utilized to fine-tune conditions for EDMR measurements. BAE may also now be utilized as an analysis tool in purely “electronic” measurements. The model presented here may ultimately prove useful in the development of resonance-based theories of BAE EDMR.
Mapping Morality in Postwar German Women's Fiction: Christa Wolf, Ingeborg Drewitz, and Grete Weil

Christa Wolf (1929-), Ingeborg Drewitz (1923-1986), and Grete Weil (1906-1999) occupy very different positions in postwar German literature, yet all three challenge readers to consider how individuals understand their roles in history and how they negotiate their personal responsibilities based on those roles. These three are, of course, by no means the only German writers to have dealt with such questions in the wake of the Third Reich. But Wolf, Drewitz, and Weil ground their projects in the family, an institution often left out of such inquiries, giving them a different starting point for moral reflection. Before looking closely at the three writers' views of the individual's role and responsibility, the book devotes a chapter to the examination of individual and collective memory, then a chapter to how feminist ethicists view moral responsibility. Chapters on the three writers' literary approaches to the questions follow: Wolf enacts a process of historical and geographic triangulation; Drewitz constructs concentric historical and social circles; Weil seeks to repair the historical ruptures of the Holocaust, creating new historical narratives and exploring the limitations of traditional bourgeois morality. Each of the three attempts to map a geography of morals that begins within the structures of the extended family but interrogates individual responsibility in an increasingly globalized environment. Michelle Mattson is Associate Professor of German at Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.
Imaging of Specularly Reflected Phonons from a Crystal Boundary

The ballistic heat pulse technique has been used by several authors to study the reflection of phonons at crystal boundaries [1,2]. These experiments examine the temporal evolution of a heat pulse scattered internally from a crystal surface for fixed generator and detector positions. By use of a mobile heat pulse source, we present in this paper a measurement of the spatial, or angular, character of heat pulse reflection in sapphire.
Future scientists: How women's and minorities' math self-efficacy and science perception affect their STEM major selection

Current Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research has focused mainly on traditional cognitive outcomes, such as high school math and science test scores or Scholastic Aptitude Test results. Few studies have considered a social cognitive approach embedded within a career choice analysis. This research focused on students' perception of high school science levels of preparation and their math self-efficacy as means to measure the impact of social cognitive abilities on career choices. The study used a nationally representative sample taken from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002/06 (ELS: 2002). The aim of this study was tri-fold: (a) to investigate the influence of students' perception about their high school science preparation on their postsecondary majoring, (b) how students' math self-efficacy impacted their STEM majoring odds, and (c) how the influence of such perceptions and self-efficacies differ by students' race and gender. With a sample size of (n=4449) the multilevel Logistic Regression analysis revealed interesting findings. First, math self-efficacy and high school science preparation perceptions found to be significantly impacting all participants' odds of majoring in STEM. Although all female participants' chances of majoring in STEM were affected by math self-efficacy and perceptions about high school science preparation, subgroup analysis revealed an interesting finding. Female minority students' college choice decisions (majoring in STEM or not) seem to be impacted only by their math self-efficacy. These findings indicate that increasing minorities' and female minorities' math self-efficacy through K-12 interventions would increase their chances of majoring in STEM disciplines. Similarly, enhancing minority students' science preparation during high school years may result in such a desirable outcome.
Breaking‐out‐of‐the‐box in organizations: Structuring a positive climate for the development of creativity in the workplace

Purpose – The authors share the observations of a combined 70 years of consultation with organizations, and input from tens of thousands of worldwide employees, to explore conventional barriers encountered in the work environment and how to “break‐out‐of‐the‐box” to find more creative solutions to organizational problems.Design/methodology/approach – Narrative based on over 70 years of consultation with organizations on a wide variety of related managerial subjects.Findings – Certain behaviors must precede any attempts to create a fulfilling, stimulating, and freedom‐to‐think, creative work environment. Formulation and fulfillment of a psychological contract, especially on the part of the organization's leaders – but also including employees – seems to be an effective process for the development of an open, healthy climate which is encouraging and conducive to the development of creativity. In the larger view of the organization, such freedom which comes from clear understanding and expression of expectat...
Non-Urban Noirs: Rural Space in Moonrise , On Dangerous Ground , Thieves’ Highway , and They Live by Night

Despite the now-traditional tendency of noir scholarship to call attention to the retrospective and constructed nature of this genre— James Naremore argues that film noir is best regarded as a “mythology”— one feature that has rarely come under question is its association with the city (2). Despite the existence of numerous rural noirs, the depiction of urban space is associated with this genre more consistently than any other element. Even in critical accounts that attempt to deconstruct the solidity of the noir genre, the city is left as an implicit inclusion, and the country, an implict exclusion. Naremore, for example, does not include the urban environment in a list of the central tenets of film noir that he calls into question: “nothing links together all the things described as noir—not the theme of crime, not a cinematographic technique, not even a resistance to Aristotelian narratives or happy endings” (10). Elizabeth Cowie identifies film noir a “fantasy,” whose “tenuous critical status” has been compensated for “by a tenacity of critical use” (121). As part of Cowie’s project, to revise the assumption that noirs are almost exclusively male-centered, she cites character types, visual style, and narrative tendencies, but never urban spaces, as familiar elements of noir that ought to be reconsidered. If the city is rarely tackled as an unnecessary or part-time element of film noir in discursive studies, it is often the first trait identified by critics in the kind of formative, characteristic-compiling studies that Cowie and Naremore work against.
The Future Security Environment in the Middle East: Conflict, Stability, and Political Change

Abstract : Since the end of the 1991 Gulf War, threats to political security in the Middle East have increased. Tensions between states have long threatened to destabilize the region. At times these tensions have resulted in open warfare, disrupting political and economic security and creating humanitarian crises. Today, the threat of interstate aggression is manifested in new and more dangerous ways. The collapse of the Arab-Israeli peace process and the subsequent outbreak of violence have inflamed anti-Western sentiment throughout the region. the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has also raised the potential for conflict between rival countries. The exportation of Middle East terrorism around the world has contributed to the political and economic isolation of the region.
Fabrication, characterization and efficiency analysis of a piezoelectric (AlN) ring micro-resonator on Si for low-power resonant converters

Piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators on Si can be a potential candidate to replace discrete L-C components in series resonant converters. In this paper, ring shaped piezoelectric (AlN) micro-resonators on Si are reported. Having vibration in contour mode, these resonators can achieve resonant frequency as low as 87.28 MHz. Recently, we have fabricated high Q (>1000) piezoelectric resonator using a CMOS compatible fabrication process, and experimental characteristics of these devices are included in this paper. Contour mode AlN MEMS resonator with moderately low resonant frequency and motional resistance has been reported for the first time (the resonant frequency and motional resistance of the fabricated device is 87.28 MHz and 36.728 Ω respectively). Finally, an efficiency analysis of the series resonant topology has been performed using the equivalent electrical circuit model of the resonator.
Bayesian Registration via Local Image Regions: Information, Selection and Marginalization

We propose a novel Bayesian registration formulation in which image location is represented as a latent random variable. Location is marginalized to determine the maximum a priori (MAP) transform between images, which results in registration that is more robust than the alternatives of omitting locality (i.e. global registration) or jointly maximizing locality and transform (i.e. iconic registration). A mathematical link is established between the Bayesian registration formulation and the mutual information (MI) similarity measure. This leads to a novel technique for selecting informative image regions for registration, based on the MI of image intensity and spatial location. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the marginalization formulation and the MI-based region selection technique for ultrasound (US) to magnetic resonance (MR) registration in an image-guided neurosurgical application.
Sample Selection Bias in Estimating Housing Sales Prices

This paper explores the bias in estimates of housing price appreciation that arises because of problems of sample selection. As suggested by Haurin and Hendershott, sample selection potentially is ...
160Gb/s to l0Gb/s OTDM demultiplexing using a traveling-wave electroabsorption modulator

We demonstrate for the first time direct 160Gb/s to 10Gb/s demultiplexing using one electrically-gated electroabsorption modulator. No indication of an error floor was observed. The power penalty for the worst channel is less than 1.5dB. We believe that the current limitation of alternating polarization multiplexing can be removed if the quality of the transmitter pulse can be improved.
Wavelet descriptors for multiresolution recognition of handprinted characters

We present a novel set of shape descriptors that represents a digitized pattern in a concise way and that is particularly well-suited for the recognition of handprinted characters. The descriptor set is derived from the wavelet transform of a pattern's contour. The approach is closely related to feature extraction methods by Fourier series expansion. The motivation to use an orthonormal wavelet basis rather than the Fourier basis is that wavelet coefficients provide localized frequency information, and that wavelets allow us to decompose a function into a multiresolution hierarchy of localized frequency bands. We describe a character recognition system that relies upon wavelet descriptors to simultaneously analyze character shape at multiple levels of resolution. The system was trained and tested on a large database of more than 6000 samples of handprinted alphanumeric characters. The results show that wavelet descriptors are an efficient representation that can provide for reliable recognition in problems with large input variability.
A simple d.c. based method for monitoring transistor capacitance

Abstract A new methodology for measuring p n junction capacitance is demonstrated. The method is d.c. based making it suitable for use in automated high volume measurements. The validity of the technique is supported by both simulated and experimentally measured data.
Promising directions in plant phenotypic plasticity

Abstract A research agenda for the next phase of plasticity studies calls for contributions from a diverse group of biologists, working both independently and collaboratively, to pursue four promising directions: examining dynamic, anatomical/architectural, and cross-generational plasticity along with simpler growth traits; carefully assessing the adaptive significance of those plasticity patterns; investigating the intricate transduction pathways that lead from environmental signal to phenotypic response; and considering the rich environmental context of natural systems. Progress in these areas will allow us to address broad and timely questions regarding the ecological and evolutionary significance of plasticity and the nature of phenotypic determination.
Rayleigh-Ritz variational principle for ensembles of fractionally occupied states

The Rayleigh-Ritz minimization principle is generalized to ensembles of unequally weighted states. Given the M lowest eigenvalues ${E}_{1}$\ensuremath{\le}${E}_{2}$\ensuremath{\le}...\ensuremath{\le}${E}_{M}$ of a Hamiltonian H, and given M real numbers ${w}_{1}$\ensuremath{\ge}${w}_{2}$\ensuremath{\ge}...\ensuremath{\ge}${w}_{M}$g0, an upper bound for the weighted sum ${w}_{1}$${E}_{1}$ +${w}_{2}$${E}_{2}$+...+${w}_{M}$${E}_{M}$ is established. Particular cases are the ground-state Rayleigh-Ritz principle (M=1) and the variational principle for equiensembles (${w}_{1}$=${w}_{2}$=...=${w}_{M}$). Applications of the generalized principle are discussed.
FoxO1: A molecule for all seasons

The FoxO family of forkhead transcription factors is at the crossroads of many signal transduction pathways that are evolutionarily conserved. Such pathways have been co-opted in differentiated tissues for a variety of vital and specialized functions, such as differentiation, proliferation, and survival in cells as diverse as adipocytes, hepatocytes, β-cells, myoblasts, thymocytes, and cancer cells. FoxO metabolic functions are relevant to glucose metabolism, tumor suppression, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, and antioxidant defense. Among the FoxO isoforms, FoxO1 is a main target of insulin signaling and regulates metabolic homeostasis and organismal survival at many different levels. FoxO1 entered into the field of skeletal biology by a property that is unique among its functions in other organs. With the osteoblast as its target cell, FoxO1 not only acts on it to regulate bone homeostasis but also through it as a transcriptional modulator of the endocrine function of the skeleton in regulating glucose metabolism. Through its direct skeletal actions, FoxO1 promotes osteoblast proliferation by maintaining protein synthesis and redox balance. Through its endocrine actions on target tissues of insulin, FoxO1 acts by way of osteocalcin to suppress glucose production by pancreatic beta cells and hepatocytes and to decrease insulin production and sensitivity. These two parallel but opposing actions, one in favor of the skeleton and the other in disadvantage of glucose-regulating tissues, may signify an adaptive mechanism that integrates responses between different organs and is beneficial for whole-body physiology during stress and aging.
The independent and combined effects of physical and sexual abuse on health. Results Of a national survey

Abstract Background: Although physical and sexual abuse have been linked to health risk behaviors as well as mental health problems, it is unclear whether those young women who have experienced both physical and sexual abuse are at greatest risk. To examine the independent associations between physical, sexual, and/or both types of abuse and health status, mental health, and health risk behaviors among a national school-aged sample of girls. We hypothesized that the magnitude of risk would be highest for those reporting both types of abuse compared to those reporting neither or one type of abuse. Methods: In 1997, 3,015 girls in grades 5 through 12 participated in the Commonwealth Fund Adolescent Health Survey and responded to both questions inquiring about physical and sexual abuse. This sample was derives from a nationally representative cross-section of 265 public, private, and parochial schools with an oversampling of 32 urban schools to obtain ethnic diversity. Data were analyzed using chi-square and binary or multinomial logistic regression stratified by type of abuse (none, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or both). Results: About 8% (n = 246) of girls reported a past history of only physical abuse, 5% (n = 140) reported only sexual abuse, and 5% (n = 160) reported experiencing both physical and sexual abuse. Logistic regression controlling for demographic characteristics (grade level, ethnicity, family structure, and socioeconomic status) found those who reported both types of abuse as compared to those who did not report any abuse were significantly more likely to experience moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (OR = 5.1), moderate to high life stress (OR = 3.3), history of bingeing and purging behavior (OR = 4.4), regular smoking (OR = 5.9) regular drinking (3.8), illicit drug use in the past 30 days (RR = 3.5) and fair to poor health status (OR = 1.9). In contrast, lowered adjusted odds ratios (1.8–2.5) were seen for those reporting one type of abuse as compared to no abuse across most health outcomes. Conclusions: Those experiencing any type of abuse are at risk; however, those adolescent females who report both physical and sexual victimization are at much greater risk.
Progesterone downregulation of miR-141 contributes to expansion of stem-like breast cancer cells through maintenance of progesterone receptor and Stat5a

Progesterone (P4) has emerged as an important hormone-regulating mammary stem cell (MaSC) populations. In breast cancer, P4 and synthetic analogs increase the number of stem-like cells within luminal estrogen receptor (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancers. These cells gain expression of de-differentiated cell markers CD44 and cytokeratin 5 (CK5), lose luminal markers ER and PR, and are more therapy resistant. We previously described that P4 downregulation of microRNA (miR)-29a contributes to the expansion of CD44(high) and CK5(+) cells. Here we investigated P4 downregulation of miR-141, a member of the miR-200 family of tumor suppressors, in facilitating an increase in stem-like breast cancer cells. miR-141 was the sole member of the miR-200 family P4-downregulated at the mature miRNA level in luminal breast cancer cell lines. Stable inhibition of miR-141 alone increased the CD44(high) population, and potentiated P4-mediated increases in both CD44(high) and CK5(+) cells. Loss of miR-141 enhanced both mammosphere formation and tumor initiation. miR-141 directly targeted both PR and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (Stat5a), transcription factors important for MaSC expansion. miR-141 depletion increased PR protein levels, even in cell lines where PR expression is estrogen dependent. Stat5a suppression via small interfering RNA or a small-molecule inhibitor reduced the P4-dependent increase in CK5(+) and CD44(high) cells. These data support a mechanism by which P4-triggered loss of miR-141 facilitates breast cancer cell de-differentiation through deregulation of PR and Stat5a, two transcription factors important for controlling mammary cell fate.
Density and Growth Rate Measurements in a High Atwood Number Rayleigh-Taylor Mixing

A novel gas channel experiment is used to study the non-equilibrium development of high Atwood number Rayleigh-Taylor mixing. Two gas streams, one containing air-helium mixture and the other air, flow parallel to each other separated by a thin splitter plate. The streams meet at the end of a splitter plate leading to the formation of an unstable interface and initiation of buoyancy driven mixing. This set up is statistically steady and allows for long data collection times. Here, we describe initial measurements to determine the density profile and growth rate along the mix at low density differences (At ~ 0.05). The facility is however designed capable of large Atwood number studies (At ~ 0.75). Diagnostics include high resolution digital image analysis, which is used to determine the density profile across the mix. The growth parameter (α) is also estimated by a “moving window” calculation. The results are then verified with measurements of α made by a Constant temperature (CT) hot-wire probe and with the growth parameter obtained from small Atwood number experiments (At ~ 0.001). However, there were some inherent errors in the density profile measurements because of non-uniformity in the concentration of smoke. To verify that these errors were indeed measurement errors and not as a result of lack of statistical convergence, a detailed statistical convergence test was performed. It showed that convergence was a direct consequence of the number of different large 3D structures that were averaged over the duration of the run.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Characterization of Apt- cell lines exhibiting cross-resistance to glucocorticoid- and Fas-mediated apoptosis.

Apoptosis induction by staurosporine, ceramide, and Fas stimulation was investigated in the mouse thymoma cell line W7.2 and a panel of dexamethasone (dex)-resistant W7.2 mutant cell lines, Apt3.8, Apt4.8 and Apt5.8, and a Bcl-2 transfected W7.2 cell line (Wbcl2). While W7.2 cells were found to be sensitive to these apoptosis inducers, the Apt- mutants and Wbcl2 cells were shown to be resistant to some or all of the treatments. Specifically, all three Apt- mutants and Wbcl2 cells were found to be resistant to ceramide and Fas-mediated apoptosis, whereas, Apt4.8 and Apt5.8 were sensitive to staurosporine-induced apoptosis under conditions in which Apt3.8 and Wbcl2 cells were resistant. Measurements of caspase activity and cytochrome c release in cytosolic extracts of dex and staurosporine-treated cells indicated that the recessive Apt- mutations effect steps upstream of mitochondrial dysfunction. Steady-state RNA levels of apoptosis-associated gene transcripts showed that the observed differential resistance of the Apt- cell lines could not be explained by altered expression of numerous Bcl-2 or Fas related genes. Transient transfection of human Fas gene coding sequences into the Apt- mutants and Wbcl2 cells did not induce apoptosis, even though these same cell lines were sensitive to ectopic expression of the FADD and caspase 8 genes. Taken together, these data provide genetic evidence for the existence of shared components in the dex- and Fas-mediated apoptotic pathways in W7.2 cells.
Regulation of alveologenesis clinical implications of impaired growth

Summary During its development that begins in intrauterine life, the lung is transformed from a simple epithelial lined sac that emerges from the foregut into a complex arrangement of blood vessels, airways, and alveoli that make up the mature lung structure. This remarkable transformation that continues for several years postnatally, is achieved by the influence of several genes, transcription factors, growth factors and hormones upon the cells and proteins of the lung bud. A seminal event in this process is the formation of the air-blood barrier within the alveolar wall, an evolutionary modification that permits independent air-breathing existence in mammals. Molecular biological techniques have enabled elucidation of the mechanistic pathways contributing to alveologenesis and have provided probable molecular bases for examples of impaired alveologenesis encountered by the paediatric pathologist.
Postantibiotic Effect of DX-619 against 16 Gram-Positive Organisms

The in vitro postantibiotic effects (PAEs), the postantibiotic sub-MIC effects (PA-SMEs), and the sub-MIC effects (SMEs) of DX-619 were determined for 16 gram-positive organisms. DX-619 pneumococcal, staphylococcal, and enterococcal PAE ranges were 1.7 to 5.0 h, 0.7 to 1.8 h, and 1.2 to 6.5 h, respectively. The PA-SME ranges (0.4× MIC) for pneumococci, staphylococci, and enterococci were 5.2 to >8.6 h, 2.1 to 8.3 h, and 4.9 to >10.0 h, respectively.
Growth and characterization of type-II nonequilibrium photovoltaic detectors for long-wavelength infrared range

Growth and characterization of type-II detectors for mid-IR wavelength range is presented. The device has a p-i-n structure is designed to operate in the non-equilibrium mode with low tunneling current. The active layer is a short period InAs/GaSb superlattice. Wider bandgap p-type AlSb and n-type InAs layers are used to facilitate the extraction of both electronics and holes from the active layer for the first time. The performance of these devices were compared to the performance of devices grown at the same condition, but without the AlSb barrier layers. The processed devices with the AlSb barrier show a peak responsivity of about 1.2A/W with Johnson noise limited detectivity of 1.1 X 1011 cm X Hz1/2/W at 8 micrometers at 80 K at zero bias. The details of the modeling, growth, and characterizations will be presented.
DIFFERENTIAL CARCINOGENICITY OF BENZO[a]PYRENE IN MALE AND FEMALE CD-1 MOUSE LUNG

Abstract Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is known to induce tumors in lung, forestomach, and skin in experimental animals. Earlier studies have suggested that glutathione S-transferase n (GST pi) is involved in the detoxification of the “ultimate” carcinogenic metabolite of BaP, 7p, 8a-dihydroxy-9a, IO(x-oxy-7tBt9tIO-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE). The constitutive expression of GST pi in the liver of the male CD-1 mouse is higher than that of the female, and BHA has been shown to preferentially induce GST pi in the female as compared with the male mouse. The present studies were therefore designed to compare the susceptibility of male and female CD-I mice to the carcinogenic effects of BaP and the protective effect of BHA. Results of these studies show that the female CD-1 mice are more susceptibile to the carcinogenic effect of BaP than the males and that the attenuation of BaP-induced carcinogenesis by BHA appears to be restricted only to the females.
Triphenylcarbenium and tris(P-bromophenyl)ammoniumyl ion induced lactonizations of (ω-benzyloxy and ω-P-methoxybenzyloxy methyl esters

Abstract The title reaction leads to smooth generation of five and six membered lactones via direct nucleophilic participation of the carbomethoxy group in intermediates of type 3 .
Propagating belief functions in qualitative Markov trees

Abstract This article is concerned with the computational aspects of combining evidence within the theory of belief functions. It shows that by taking advantage of logical or categorical relations among the questions we consider, we can sometimes avoid the computational complexity associated with brute-force application of Dempster's rule. The mathematical setting for this article is the lattice of partitions of a fixed overall frame of discernment. Different questions are represented by different partitions of this frame, and the categorical relations among these questions are represented by relations of qualitative conditional independence or dependence among the partitions. Qualitative conditional independence is a categorical rather than a probabilistic concept, but it is analogous to conditional independence for random variables. We show that efficient implementation of Dempster's rule is possible if the questions or partitions for which we have evidence are arranged in a qualitative Markov tree—a tree in which separations indicate relations of qualitative conditional independence. In this case, Dempster's rule can be implemented by propagating belief functions through the tree.
Amylase synthesis and transport in the isolated, perfused liver

Abstract It has been demonstrated using the technique of perfusion in an isolated system that amylase is produced by the liver of the rat. In such experiments the plasma amylase level of the perfusing blood increased about twofold while the liver amylase level decreased slightly so that there was an overall increase in the total amylase of the complete system. Anoxia during perfusion, previous damage to the liver, puromycin and dinitrophenol were all shown to inhibit amylase synthesis by the perfused liver. Puromycin aminonucleoside, oxytetracycline and penicillin did not inhibit amylase synthesis. In experiments using dinitrophenol at certain concentrations an accumulation of amylase in the liver was seen even though amylase synthesis was markedly reduced. Such observations are interpreted as indicating that the normal transfer of amylase from the liver to the blood is an active process dependent on the formation of ATP.
INSTRUMENTAL AND EXPRESSIVE TRAITS, TRAIT STEREOTYPES, AND SEXIST ATTITUDES What Do They Signify?

College students rated the typical male and female student and themselves on 22 instrumental (I) and 16 expressive (E) items from the PAQ (Spence & Helmreich, 1978) and the BSRI (Bem, 1974), as well as on the BSRI items “masculine” and “feminine.” They also completed measures of gender stereotypes and sexist attitudes. Significant gender stereotypes were found on all but two I and E items in both genders. Significant gender differences in self-report were found on all the E items but on only 41% of the I items, confirming our hypotheses that societal changes have led women to develop more agentic self-conceptions. The pattern of relationships found between the self-report, stereotype, and attitude measures supports the utility of a multidimensional approach to gender. Responses to the items “masculine” and “feminine” confirm the implications of our hypothesis that these items primarily assess men's and women's basic sense of gender identity.
COOL SQUIRRELS TURN DOWN THEIR AKT

![Figure][1] Neurons are generally viewed as among the most sensitive of all cells when faced with hypoxia (periods of low oxygen) or anoxia (no oxygen), though recent studies have shown a wide variation in the capacity of neurons to tolerate hypoxia. Even the most vulnerable neurons are not
Homelessness as One Component of Housing Instability and Its Impact on the Development of Children in Poverty

The number of families with children living in poverty and experiencing housing instability and homelessness has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Current public policy decisions will lead to further increases. Understanding the impact of this instability on the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development of children is imperative. Few studies critically examine the effects of instability on both domiciled and homeless children. This research examined the effects of homelessness and housing instability on 133 children 8 to 12 years of age living in poverty. Results indicate that whether a child is currently homeless is not as significant as overall stability which may have a long ranging effect on a child's future development.
The Ethics of Counseling via the Internet

The Internet has become a popular andfrequently used toolfor many consumers. It is not surprising, then, that for-profit counseling services are being offered via the Internet. In this article, the...