cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abscisic acid, gibberellin and cell viability in cereal aleurone

The aleurone layer of cereals is a secretory tissue whose activity is regulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs). Whereas GA triggers enzyme synthesis and secretion and initiates a program that culminates in cell death, ABA prevents enzyme production and cell death. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key players in regulating cell viability and GA sensitizes the aleurone cell to ROS. Sensitivity of GA-treated cells results in part from a reduction in steady-state amounts of mRNAs encoding enzymes that scavenge ROS. mRNAs encoding catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase are almost undetectable in aleurone layers 24 h after incubation in GA. For layers incubated in ABA, however, the amounts of these mRNAs increase. Western blotting and enzyme activity assays confirm that GA but not ABA reduced the amount and activity of ROS scavenging enzymes (Fath et al., 2001b). Substantial amounts of ROS are produced by enzymes engaged in lipid metabolism, and by the electron transport chain in the mitochondria. Aleurone layers contain abundant stores of triglycerides and ROS are produced as these lipids are rapidly converted to sugars. We hypothesize that the ROS produced in GA-treated aleurone cells bring about cell death by disrupting the plasma membrane. Aleurone cells incubated in ABA, on the other hand, are better able to maintain redox balance. ABA does not initiate rapid triglyceride metabolism, and the activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes remain high in ABA-treated cells. We conclude that GA initiates a metabolic cascade in aleurone cells that results in death from ROS. ABA maintains viability by keeping ROS under control.
Teacher Ratings of Academic Skills: The Development of the Academic Performance Rating Scale

This study investigated the normative and psychometric properties of a recently developed teacher checklist, the Academic Performance Rating Scale (APRS), in a large sample of urban elementary scho...
Generation of Coherent and Squeezed Phonon Fields Using Femtosecond Laser Pulses

Squeezed phonon fields in KTaO3 and SrTiO3 are generated using femtosecond laser techniques. Coherent, first-order, phonon oscillations were observed in SrTiO3 at temperatures below its cubic-tetragonal phase transition at ≈ 110K. Time-domain data are compared with measurements of spontaneous Raman scattering.
Draft Genome Sequences of Escherichia coli Strains FP2 and FP3, Isolated from the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

ABSTRACT Draft genomes of two strains of Escherichia coli, FP2 and FP3, isolated from the feces of the Canada goose (Branta canadensis), were sequenced. Genome sizes were 5.26 Mb with a predicted G+C content of 50.54% (FP2) and 5.07 Mb with a predicted G+C content of 50.41% (FP3).
Free to Inquire: The Evolution-Creationism Controversy as a Test Case in Equal Time and Free Speech

The subject of free speech is once again in the forefront of culture and politics in both academia and the public at large, as commentators struggle to disentangle issues related to the First Amendment of the US Constitution, which prohibits the government from abridging the freedom of speech of citizens and those involving private organizations and institutions. These issues have been tested many times over the past century related to the teaching of evolution and creationism and the outcome of prominent court cases illuminate how we might think about free speech issues today.
Training in Geropsychiatry-Impact On Resident’s Subsequent Career

Graduates from a psychiatric residency program who had previously completed extensive training in geriatric psychiatry and were now in practice completed a questionnaire regarding their post-residency career choices. Results revealed that 4% of the graduates listed geriatric psychiatry as an area of specialization. Of the patients currently treated by the graduates, patients over age 51 accounted for 19% of their clinical practice. The impact of the training program in geriatric psychiatry on subsequent careers, and the applicability of this questionnaire for monitoring the career of graduates from other training programs, is discussed.
A Daily Check-In/Check-Out Intervention for Students with Internalizing Concerns

This study investigated the impact of a self-management intervention, known as “Check-in/Check-out” (CICO) on academic engaged time and internalizing problems of three elementary-level students identified with risk for internalizing behavior problems. A multiple baseline across three students’ research design was used to examine effects of CICO on student academic engagement. Classroom teacher ratings of student anxiety, depression, somatic complaints and overall internalizing problems were collected pre- and post-intervention. Participant perceptions of the intervention when applied to students with internalizing concerns were also gathered. Visual analysis of direct observation data and single-case effect size estimates indicated positive effect for one student, questionable effect for a second student, and limited effect on academic engaged time for the third student. Post-intervention teacher ratings of student behavior showed decreases in several problem areas including anxiety, depression, and overall internalizing problems. Finally, student and parent participants generally viewed the intervention favorably and school personnel were able to implement a majority of intervention components with fidelity. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Clutter Identification Based on Sparse Recovery and L 1 -Type Probabilistic Distance Measures

Cognitive radar framework has recently been proposed in radar signal processing to develope algorithms for target detection, tracking, and waveform design in the presence of nonstationary environmental (clutter) characteristics. In this framework, there are the three main steps: sensing the environmental changes, learning the new environmental statistical characteristics, and adapting the radar algorithms to the new characteristics. Here, we focus on the second step of the framework to identify the new clutter characteristics after a change is detected in the environment. We form a dictionary of various clutter distributions and identify the distribution of the new clutter data through matching pursuit using probabilistic similarity and distance measures under sparsity constraints. Specifically, we use inner-product as a similarity measure, and we apply three different L 1 -norm type probabilistic distance measures. We both numerically and analytically analyze their clutter-distribution identification performances and show that Kulczynski is the best distance measure for distribution identification.
Myasthenic crisis in the setting of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• A patient with Myasthenia Gravis (MG) on immunosuppressive therapy with underlying respiratory compromise may be more susceptible to infection with COVID-19 or severe manifestations of the virus. • It is theorized that patients with MG may be more vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections, due to respiratory muscle weakness and use of immunosuppressive medications. • It is critical for practitioners to be prepared for severe respiratory compromise in patients with MG and concomitant COVID-19 superinfection. • In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, MG patients should be encouraged to continue their current treatment regimens, but engage in extra vigilant social distancing.
Predictors and outcomes of LGB individuals’ sexual orientation disclosure to heterosexual romantic partners

LGB individuals coming out to heterosexual partners can be difficult in mixed-orientation relationships. This study examined the predictors and outcomes of LGB people’s sexual orientation disclosur...
Standardized Testing and Race: A Reply to Professor Subotnik

Professor Gilmore responds in disagreement to Professor Subotnik's article supporting standardized testing.
How Long Can they Stand it? Examining the Effectiveness of Reflexology and a Passive Relaxation Intervention in Improving Health Outcomes in Workers Who Stand

Many jobs require workers to stand for prolonged periods of time while performing their job duties. Prolonged standing at work has been linked to negative health outcomes, particularly musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS) and fatigue. Reflexology is a complementary and alternative medicine technique that may be well-suited to reduce musculoskeletal symptoms, fatigue, stress, and anxiety in workers who stand for prolonged amounts of time because it involves stimulating reflex points on the feet purported to correspond to different bodily parts, increases relaxation, and reduces stress. Additionally, general relaxation techniques applied to the feet and lower leg, combined with passive relaxation time, may also provide some relief. In the current longitudinal, mixed-method intervention study, participants are randomized to either a reflexology condition or a passive relaxation condition, and their self-reported levels of MSS, fatigue, stress, and anxiety are assessed for two weeks at pre-test, two weeks during the intervention stage, and two-weeks post-intervention along with qualitative responses about their experiences. Multilevel analyses reveal participants in both groups reported significant reductions in scores across all measures from pre-test through intervention, but the decreases did not vary significantly by condition for any outcomes except anxiety. In addition, results from qualitative thematic analysis substantiate findings regarding the prevalence of negative health outcomes in standing workers and provide support for the use of reflexology or relaxation in helping to alleviate those outcomes.
Early Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in COVID-19 with Bullous Lung Disease on Mechanical Ventilation: A Case Report

Author(s): Unold, Jason; Marshal, Brandon; Sonuyi, Tolupe | Abstract: Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been well described as a viable option for patients in need of temporary supplemental oxygenation when ventilator capabilities have failed to augment a patient’s condition. Less described is the potential use of ECMO for lung protection in the setting of gigantic bullae despite initially adequate oxygenation.Case Report: We describe how the early incorporation of ECMO in a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 and necrotizing pneumonia complicated by multiple large and gigantic bullae led to a favorable outcome.Conclusion: The decision to start ECMO early, despite room for ventilator oxygenation adjustments, may have helped to prevent potential, significant complications such as tension pneumothorax while on positive pressure, thus potentially optimizing the outcome in this patient.
Targeting Non-Canonical NFκB2 to Determine the Effects on Radiation Sensitization.

Purpose/objective(s) Homologous recombination (HR) provides repair of DNA double stranded breaks and lesion that block DNA replication. While non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) proficiency is commonly attributed to tumor cell resistance to radiation, HR also plays a role. This is supported by the observation that simultaneous disruption of both pathways makes cells more sensitive to radiation than either pathway alone. Thus, HR inhibition may improve radiation sensitization. Since NF-κB is known to influence HR gene expression, we hypothesize that targeting NF-κB signaling pathways, specifically non-canonical signaling, may cause radiation sensitization. Materials/methods The Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) was used to evaluated NFKB2 gene expression levels in various cell lines. Immunofluorescence, using an NFKB2 antibody (Santa Cruz sc-7386), was performed in several cell lines (including NHI-H650, A-172, MCF-7, and SK-N-BE2) to compare total NFKB2 protein expression level and nuclear protein expression level to CCLE data. Cells were irradiated using an irradiator at radiation doses between 0.0 Gy and 8.0 Gy. Cells were fixed 24 hours after irradiation and immunofluorescence was performed using NFKB2 antibody. We performed CRISPR-Cas mutagenesis to generate U2OS clones, which carry null mutations in either NFKB2 (encodes p100/p52) or Relb. We used U2OS cells with a safe harbor control locus for a control cell line. Surviving cell fraction was determined after a single fraction of radiation at 2.0 Gy by using a fixable viability staining kit. Results NFKB2 gene expression corresponds with total non-canonical NF-κB factor p52 protein expression and nuclear p52 protein expression at baseline when results from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) are compared to p52 immunofluorescent protein expression levels. We find nuclear protein expression of p52 increases with increasing doses of radiation from 0.0 Gy-8.0 Gy. We compared a CRISPR knockout of NFKB2 and Relb in a U2OS cell line to a U2OS cell line with a safe harbor control. We found that the surviving fraction of cells is decreased in the NFKB2 CRISPR knockout compared to the safe harbor control when given 2.0 Gy of radiation and examined 24 hours later (P = 0.034), but is not decreased in the Relb CRISPR knockout (P = 0.558). Conclusion NFKB2 total and nuclear protein expression increases as radiation dose increases. Knocking out NFKB2 causes radiation sensitization, suggesting that NFKB2 may be a useful target for future cancer therapies.
Amy Hildreth Chen. Placing Papers: The American Literary Archives Market. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2020. Paperback, 192p. $26.95 (ISBN 9781625344854). Hardcover, $90.00.

Literary archives are unruly things. They are often expensive, labor-intensive to prepare for public use, and scattered across multiple institutions. Yet they are crucial to literary and cultural scholarship, influencing which authors can be researched, how they’re written about, and what works can be discovered.
Gastric cancer: difficulties in recognition at laparotomy.

Summary Four cases of non-ulcerating gastric carcinoma, presenting unusually difficult problems from the point of view of diagnosis at operation are described. Three of them required second operations because of failure to identify the tumor at the first exploration, and the same situation could well have arisen in the fourth case. In two patients a second operation might have been unnecessary had the stomach been opened for inspection and palpation during the first laparotomy. Three of the carcinomas were located in the antrum. Two of these were superficial, i.e., occupying chiefly the mucosal layer. The early intramural location of the third is not known. The fourth tumor was a rather large adenoma malignum, attached to the posterior wall at the midportion of the stomach.
Activation of class I major histocompatibility complex gene expression by hepatitis B virus.

Abstract Normal hepatocytes express very few class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC I) molecules, but MHC I expression is elevated in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We report here that hepatoblastoma cells with replicating HBV genomes express three- to fourfold-higher levels of MHC I protein and mRNA than do parent cells without HBV DNA. Transient transfection assays demonstrated that the HBV X protein trans activated transcription from an MHC I promoter and allowed identification of cis elements important for trans activation.
Murine Virus-Induced Proteins Synthesized by Hamster Tumor Cells Transformed by, But Not Producing, Murine Sarcoma Virus

The 8303 hamster tumor cells transformed by Moloney strain of murine sarcoma virus (M-MSV), but which do not produce virus, do contain murine virus-induced proteins. The virus-induced proteins within the cell were identified either as free proteins or in association with membranous material, including the plasma membrane. In addition, some were excreted by the 8303 hamster tumor cells into the growth medium. Most virus-induced proteins were larger than 68,000 daltons, and they did not dissociate into components of smaller size in the presence of detergent and a reducing agent. A small amount of virus-induced protein with a molecular weight of less than 20,000 was also found in the hamster tumor cells. No virus-specific proteins with the identical antigenic specificity or size of the major internal group specific antigen (molecular weight about 30,000) of the murine leukemia viruses were present in these cells. There is a common cell surface antigen present in three other tumor cell lines, both virus-producing and non-virus-producing, identical in reactivity to that of the murine virus-induced antigen of the 8303 hamster tumor cell. This antigen is not present on the cell surface of normal mouse embryo cells.
Simvastatin Potentiates TNF-α-Induced Apoptosis through the Down-Regulation of NF-κB-Dependent Antiapoptotic Gene Products: Role of IκBα Kinase and TGF-β-Activated Kinase-1

Numerous recent reports suggest that statins (hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors) exhibit potential to suppress tumorigenesis through a mechanism that is not fully understood. Therefore, in this article, we investigated the effects of simvastatin on TNF-α-induced cell signaling. We found that simvastatin potentiated the apoptosis induced by TNF-α as indicated by intracellular esterase activity, caspase activation, TUNEL, and annexin V staining. This effect of simvastatin correlated with down-regulation of various gene products that mediate cell proliferation (cyclin D1 and cyclooxygenase-2), cell survival (Bcl-2, Bcl-x L , cellular FLIP, inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1, inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2, and survivin), invasion (matrix mellatoproteinase-9 and ICAM-1), and angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor); all known to be regulated by the NF-κB. We found that simvastatin inhibited TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation, and l-mevalonate reversed the suppressive effect, indicating the role of hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. Simvastatin suppressed not only the inducible but also the constitutive NF-κB activation. Simvastatin inhibited TNF-α-induced IκBα kinase activation, which led to inhibition of IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, suppression of p65 phosphorylation, and translocation to the nucleus. NF-κB-dependent reporter gene expression induced by TNF-α, TNFR1, TNFR-associated death domain protein, TNFR-associated factor 2, TGF-β-activated kinase 1, receptor-interacting protein, NF-κB-inducing kinase, and IκB kinase β was abolished by simvastatin. Overall, our results provide novel insight into the role of simvastatin in potentially preventing and treating cancer through modulation of IκB kinase and NF-κB-regulated gene products.
Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension Causes Significant Interventricular Spatiotemporal Dyssynchrony When Onset of Diastolic Flow Signals Are Assessed by Color M-Mode

Background: Color M-mode (CMM) has been useful in characterizing left ventricular (LV) relaxation as well as providing information regarding right ventricular (RV) filling dynamics and pressure gradients. The spatiotemporal resolution of CMM offers a unique opportunity to study the effect of chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH) on biventricular diastolic function. Methods: Propagation velocities of LV and RV diastolic flows were obtained from 20 individuals with normal pulmonary artery systolic pressures, designated Group I (mean age 50 ± 12 years and 32 ± 6 mmHg) and from 30 patients with cPH, designated Group II (mean age 55 ± 14 years and 81 ± 25 mmHg). Results: Group II patients not only had a significant difference between RV and LV onset of early (13 ± 55 vs. −223 ± 333 msec; P < 0.003) and late (−494 ± 467 vs. −125 ± 258 msec; P < 0.001) diastolic flows; but also had lower propagation velocities of the main RV (40 ± 10 vs. 28 ± 10 cm/sec; P < 0.0001) and LV (52 ± 11 vs. 37 ± 15 cm/sec; P < 0.0003) diastolic flows than Group I individuals. Conclusions: It appears that cPH disrupts not only RV and LV diastolic signal distribution but also their temporal occurrence as well as reducing the propagation velocities of the main diastolic signals in both ventricles. These results seem to imply that cPH causes significant interventricular diastolic dyssynchrony and further studies are now needed to correlate these findings with regard to symptoms and patient clinical outcomes. (Echocardiography 2012;29:653–660)
Willardiines differentiate agonist binding sites for kainate- versus AMPA-preferring glutamate receptors in DRG and hippocampal neurons

Concentration jump responses to 5-substituted (S)-willardiines were recorded from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and hippocampal neurons under voltage clamp. After block of desensitization by concanavalin-A, dose- response analysis for activation of kainate-preferring receptors in DRG neurons gave the potency sequence trifluoromethyl > iodo > bromo approximately chloro > nitro approximately cyano > kainate > methyl > fluoro > (R,S)-AMPA >> willardiine; EC50 values for the most and least potent willardiine derivatives, 5-trifluoromethyl (70 nM) and 5-fluoro (69 microM), differed 1000-fold. The potency sequence for equilibrium responses at AMPA-preferring receptors in hippocampal neurons was strikingly different from that obtained in DRG neurons: fluoro > cyano approximately trifluoromethyl approximately nitro > chloro approximately bromo > (R,S)-AMPA > iodo > willardiine > kainate > methyl. In hippocampal neurons EC50 values for the most and least potent willardiine derivatives, 5-fluoro (1.5 microM) and 5-methyl (251 microM), differed only 170-fold. Consistent with equilibrium potency measurements, in DRG neurons the kinetics of deactivation for willardiines, recorded following a return to agonist-free solution, were rapid for 5-fluoro (tau off = 43 msec) but slow for 5-iodo (tau off = 4.2 sec), while the opposite sequence was observed for hippocampal neurons, slow for 5-fluoro (tau off = 2.1 sec) and rapid for 5-iodo (tau off = 188 msec). The kinetics of recovery from desensitization showed comparable agonist- and cell-dependent differences. Structure-activity analysis for agonist responses recorded from DRG and hippocampal neurons suggests that for both kainate- preferring and AMPA-preferring receptors the binding of willardiines involves interactions with polar groups such that potency is related to ionization of the uracil ring, and hence the electron-withdrawing ability of the 5-position substituent. However, kainate-preferring receptors differ from AMPA-preferring receptors in possessing a lipophilic pocket that further enhances agonist potency by hydrophobic bonding of the 5-substituent. In contrast, AMPA-preferring receptors lack such a lipophilic site, and for 5-position substituents of the same electron-withdrawing ability, potency decreases with increase in size.
Regulatory role of regucalcin in heart calcium signaling: Insight into cardiac failure (Review)

Regucalcin was first identified in 1978 as a regulatory protein of Ca2+ signaling in liver cells. Regucalcin was shown to play a multifunctional role in cell regulation, such as maintainance of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and suppression of signal transduction, protein synthesis, nuclear function, cell proliferation and apoptosis in various types of cells and tissues. Cardiac excitation-contraction coupling is based on the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration by the Ca2+ pump in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of heart muscle cells. Regucalcin, which is expressed in the heart, was found to increase rat heart sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase activity and ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake and mitochondrial Ca2+-ATPase activity. Regucalcin was also shown to suppress Ca2+-dependent protein tyrosine phosphatase, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein phosphatase (calcineurin) and nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in the heart cytoplasm. Moreover, regucalcin was found to activate superoxide dismutase (SOD), which plays a significant role in the prevention of cell death and apoptosis in the heart. Regucalcin may be a key molecule in heart muscle cell regulation through Ca2+ signaling. Regucalcin may also play a pathophysiological role in heart failure. The aim of this study was to review the recent findings regarding the role of regucalcin in Ca2+ signaling in the heart.
In a long-term experimental demography study, excluding ungulates reversed invader's explosive population growth rate and restored natives

A major goal in ecology is to understand mechanisms that increase invasion success of exotic species. A recent hypothesis implicates altered species interactions resulting from ungulate herbivore overabundance as a key cause of exotic plant domination. To test this hypothesis, we maintained an experimental demography deer exclusion study for 6 y in a forest where the native ungulate Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer) is overabundant and Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) is aggressively invading. Because population growth is multiplicative across time, we introduce metrics that correctly integrate experimental effects across treatment years, the cumulative population growth rate, λc, and its geometric mean, λper-year, the time-averaged annual population growth rate. We determined λc and λper-year of the invader and of a common native, Trillium erectum. Our results conclusively demonstrate that deer are required for the success of Alliaria; its projected population trajectory shifted from explosive growth in the presence of deer (λper-year = 1.33) to decline toward extinction where deer are excluded (λper-year = 0.88). In contrast, Trillium’s λper-year was suppressed in the presence of deer relative to deer exclusion (λper-year = 1.04 vs. 1.20, respectively). Retrospective sensitivity analyses revealed that the largest negative effect of deer exclusion on Alliaria came from rosette transitions, whereas the largest positive effect on Trillium came from reproductive transitions. Deer exclusion lowered Alliaria density while increasing Trillium density. Our results provide definitive experimental support that interactions with overabundant ungulates enhance demographic success of invaders and depress natives’ success, with broad implications for biodiversity and ecosystem function worldwide.
ELECTROMYOGRAM SUPPRESSION DURING SLEEP, DREAM RECALL, AND ORIENTATION TIME

Five subjects had their nocturnal sleep monitored (EEG, EOG, submental EMG) for a total of 42 nights. A total of 196 awakenings to retrieve sleep mentation was distributed among three awakening categories: Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep before the EMG suppression heralding REM-sleep onset; NREM sleep immediately following the EMG suppression heralding REM-sleep onset; and early moments of REM sleep accompanied by EMG suppression. Suppressed-EMG NREM awakenings tended to be associated with lower dream recall frequency and lower Dreamlike Fantasy Scale ratings than did high-EMG NREM awakenings. Orientation times upon experimental awakenings were longer on suppressed-EMG pre-REM awakenings than on high-EMG pre-REM awakenings. A momentary “deepening” of sleep (in terms of less memorable and vivid mental content and of decreased reactivity to the awakening stimulus) thus appears to accompany the pre-REM suppression of neck and chin EMG potentials.
Superresolution of SAR images using Bayesian and convex set-theoretic approaches

The inherent poor resolution in several practical SAR image acquisition operations usually demands the processing of acquired imagery data for resolution enhancement before the data can be used for any target surveillance and classification purposes. Among the available restoration methods, super-resolution algorithms are primarily directed to re-creating some of the image spectral content (specifically the high frequency components that are responsible for the higher resolution) that is lost due to diffraction-limited sensing operations. While several different approaches for image super-resolution have been proposed in the recent past, iterative processing algorithms developed using statistical optimization methods have attained considerable prominence. In particular, a set of algorithms that attempt to maximize the likelihood of the image estimate by employing distribution functions that are simple to handle within an optimization framework have been shown to yield remarkable spectral extrapolation, and hence super-resolution, performance. Notwithstanding the powerful capabilities of these algorithms, a direct processing of SAR images with these could lead to generation of processing artifacts. Since the fundamental idea underlying the restoration and super-resolution processing is an intelligent utilization of a priori information (about the object or scene imaged), improved performance can be realized by incorporating constraint set modeling approaches in the maximization of the likelihood function. This paper will discuss the modeling of specific constraint sets and the design of processing algorithms using convex set models of the a priori information. The restoration and super-resolution performance of these algorithms will be described. We also discuss a few hybrid algorithms that combine the strong points of the Maximum Likelihood (ML) algorithm and the convex set based processing methods. Quantitative performance evaluation of these algorithms in processing SAR images is also given by application of these methods to MSTAR data.
EFFECTS OF LIGHT AND HORMONES ON REGENERATION OF CRASSULA ARGENTEA FROM LEAVES

Plantlet regeneration from leaf segments of Crassula argentea was studied under variable light and hormone treatments. The effects of two hormones (indole 3-acetic acid and isopentenyl adenine at 10-4 to 10-10 M) and photoperiods of 8 (short days) or 16 hr of light (long days) were examined. Exogenously applied hormones had little stimulating effect on regeneration but were consistently inhibitory at 10-4 M. Short days and continuous darkness caused the greatest promotion of regeneration. Prolonged short-day growth periods prior to culturing caused an increasingly greater regeneration response.
Racial Disparities in Renal Transplantation in Children

In an article in this month’s issue, Drukker et al1 from Jerusalem, Israel, are to be congratulated for writing a clear, precise, and provocative article concerning ethnic disparities in the selection of children for renal transplantation. Their article documents the remarkable finding that religious and ethnic biases do not affect access to transplantation in the midst of political upheaval. Their noteworthy article demonstrates that in Israel children are chosen for cadaveric renal transplantation regardless of ethnicity—(Israeli or Arab or religious status [Jewish, Muslim, Druse, or Christian faith]). This finding is reassuring not only to pediatric nephrologists, but to all physicians who care for children. The Jerusalem group deserves our admiration. In the discussion, the authors make a comparison between children in Israel, where there exists equal access to cadaveric kidneys for Jewish and Arab children despite a tense political situation, and children in the United States, where access for transplantation for members of minority groups has been and is problematic.2 While no direct comparison (numbers versus numbers) is made, Drukker et al cite several well-known studies of diminished access for minorities, especially blacks.2,3 Although these racial disparities are more demonstrable for adult conditions,4,5 they extend to children with renal disease.2,3 However, this type of comparison is not straightforward and the issue of access to renal allografts by children in the United States is not only complex, but requires careful examination. The article is somewhat one-dimensional when it compares the situation in Israel with the situation in the United States, where, as noted, racial disparities are documented and are a subject of intense scrutiny.2–5 This commentary is written to emphasize why such a comparison … Address correspondence to Russell W. Chesney, MD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, 50 N Dunlap, Room 306, Memphis, TN 38103. E-mail: rchesney{at}utmem.edu
Network similarity via multiple social theories

Given a set of k networks, possibly with different sizes and no overlaps in nodes or links, how can we quickly assess similarity between them? Analogously, are there a set of social theories which, when represented by a small number of descriptive, numerical features, effectively serve as a "signature" for the network? Having such signatures will enable a wealth of graph mining and social network analysis tasks, including clustering, outlier detection, visualization, etc. We propose a novel, effective, and scalable method, called NETSIMILE, for solving the above problem. Our approach has the following desirable properties: (a) It is supported by a set of social theories. (b) It gives similarity scores that are size-invariant. (c) It is scalable, being linear on the number of links for graph signature extraction. In extensive experiments on numerous synthetic and real networks from disparate domains, NETSIMILE outperforms baseline competitors. We also demonstrate how our approach enables several mining tasks such as clustering, visualization, discontinuity detection, network transfer learning, and re-identification across networks.
Laboratory Scale Separation of Coal Macerals

Abstract A laboratory scale procedure for separation of the maceral constituents of coal has been developed. This procedure is a modification and scale-up of our earlier density gradient centrifugation method. The technique enables us to separate larger quantities and to obtain higher density resolutions of individual coal macerals than was previously possible. The procedure involves an initial sink-float separation on finely ground chemically demineralized coal using a high speed centrifuge to obtain large quantities of single maceral groups (i.e., exinite, vitrinite, or inertinite). The maceral concentrate, 15–20 g in quantity, rather than the entire coal serves as the feed for the DGC separation. Efforts to apply continuous centrifugation techniques as an alternative to the sink-float separation to concentrate maceral groups were only partially successful.
Effect of gamma‐radiation on cellulose

Cotton and wood cellulose were irradiated with gamma rays within the dosage range 60 X 103 r to 2,300 X 103 r. A measure of the degradation was obtained from intrinsic viscosities obtained from viscosity determinations in cupriethylenediamine solution. The presence of water had no significant effect on the extent of radiation-induced degradation. Thus there was little or no difference between the results on irradiated samples of wood cellulose containing 3.3, 4.6, and 5.6% moisture. Cotton cellulose irradiated in the presence of excess water or 3.5% moisture was equally degraded. At lower moisture levels (0.26–0.32%) an aftereffect was observed in which the solution viscosities of the irradiated samples progressively decreased up to 30 days in storage. The duration of the effect was independent of the dosage levels studied. From the experimental results reported here and from recalculations of data in the literature the radiation threshold dosage for isolated celluloses appears to be in the range of 28.4 to 81.2 X 103 r. Cellulose is degraded at gamma-radiation dosages equal to or below those required for softening plant tissues such as apples, carrots, and beets. Therefore it seems probable that the degradation of this cell wall constituent is a major factor in the radiation-induced softening of plant tissues.
A convenient reverse-phase liquid chromatographic assay for epoxide hydrase.

Abstract A rapid, convenient assay for epoxide hydrase is described. The method is based on direct analysis of quenched incubation mixtures by reverse-phase liquid chromatography, and utilizes p-nitrostyrene oxide as the substrate. Simple syntheses of substrate and product are described. The nonenzymatic formation of diol product is nil under assay conditions, and the enzymatic formation of as little as 0.25 nmol diol/min can be detected under the assay conditions described. The assay is especially suitable for determination of epoxide hydrase activity in small amounts of crude preparations such as whole tissue homogenates, but is equally applicable to microsomal systems and purified enzyme preparations.
Clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of cinacalcet hydrochloride.

Cinacalcet hydrochloride (cinacalcet) is a calcimimetic approved for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis and for the treatment of hypercalcaemia in patients with parathyroid carcinoma. Following oral administration, peak plasma concentrations of cinacalcet occur within 2–6 hours. The absolute bioavailability is 20–25%, and administration of cinacalcet with low- or high-fat meals increases exposure (area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity [AUC∞]) 1.5- to 1.8-fold. Cinacalcet has no significant interaction with calcium carbonate or sevelamer hydrochloride, phosphate binders commonly used in the treatment of patients with CKD receiving dialysis. The terminal elimination half-life is 30–40 hours, and steady-state concentrations are achieved within 7 days. The pharmacokinetics of cinacalcet are dose proportional over the dose range of 30–180 mg. The pharmacokinetic profile of cinacalcet is not notably affected by varying degrees of renal impairment. The pharmacokinetics of cinacalcet are comparable between healthy subjects, patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism with reduced renal function (including those patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism receiving dialysis). Additionally, the pharmacokinetics of cinacalcet are similar in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism receiving haemodialysis and patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism receiving peritoneal dialysis. Mild hepatic impairment does not affect the pharmacokinetics of cinacalcet, whereas moderate or severe hepatic impairment increases the exposure (AUC∞) by approximately 2- and 4-fold, respectively. Age, sex, bodyweight and race do not notably affect the pharmacokinetics of cinacalcet. Cinacalcet is extensively metabolized by multiple hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (primarily 3A4, 2D6 and 1A2) with <1% of the parent drug excreted in the urine. Dose adjustments of cinacalcet may be necessary, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and serum calcium concentrations should be closely monitored if a patient initiates or discontinues therapy with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (e.g. ketoconazole, erythromycin, itraconazole). Cinacalcet is a strong inhibitor of CYP2D6; therefore, dose adjustment of concomitant medications that are predominantly metabolized by CYP2D6 and have a narrow therapeutic index (e.g. flecainide, vinblastine, thioridazine and most tricyclic antidepressants) may be required. Cinacalcet does not appreciably inhibit or induce the activities of CYP3A4, 1A2, 2C9 or 2C19. An inverse relationship exists between plasma PTH and cinacalcet concentrations. PTH concentrations are greatest before dose administration when the cinacalcet concentration is lowest (24 hours after the previous day’s dose). Nadir PTH levels occur approximately 2–3 hours after dosing.
Preferential fertilization in Plumbago: Ultrastructural evidence for gamete-level recognition in an angiosperm.

Abstract Gametic fusion patterns in the angiosperm Plumbago zeylanica were determined by using cytoplasmically dimorphic sperm cells differing in mitochondrion and plastid content and then identifying paternal organelles through their ultrastructural characteristics within the maternal cytoplasm at the time of fertilization. The virtual absence of plastids within the sperm cell that is physically associated with the vegetative nucleus allows paternal plastids to be used to trace the fate of the two male gametes after fusion. Such paternal plastids were present in the egg in >94% of the observed cases, indicating the preferential fusion of the plastid-rich, mitochondrion-poor sperm cell with the egg. In only one instance did the opposite pattern occur. Since the possibility of this result occurring as the consequence of chance in random fusions is <1 in 7000, this represents strong evidence for the presence of a final putative recognition event occurring at the gametic level.
Continuous glucose monitoring: long live the revolution!

Continuous glucose monitoring systems provide dynamic measurements of interstitial glucose levels, enabling patients with diabetes mellitus to act preemptively to reduce glycemic variability. The authors of this Viewpoint discuss the advantages of continuous glucose-monitoring systems over self-monitoring of blood glucose, as well factors that limit its availability and success.
Posthuman auto-rejects: From bacterial life to Clinamen

This article questions whether the philosophical category of the subject remains an adequate figure of thought for our contemporary posthuman condition. One might follow Derrida in ‘Il faut bien manger’: every being in the world is a subject of the law as he or she irreducibly stands before the law in some way. Posthumanism is not outside of such a world, and therefore the trace of the subject still remains. However, this article will argue that there are severe limits in thinking with the subject in relation to posthumanism. Another figure of thought, which subtends the subject, and which this article will call the ‘reject’, can give better political and ethical expression for posthumanism. The articulation of this ‘reject’ is thus critical if not necessary for the future of posthumanism.
Influence of Temperature and Diet on Attainment of Firm Diapause in the Boll Weevil

When maximum fat and minimum moisture content were used as criteria, adult Anthonomus grandis Boheman fed 11- to 15-day-old bolls and held at 26.7¼C attained firm diapause in 1 week; when the temperature was 21.1¼C during a 10-hr light period and 10¼C during a 14-hr dark period, the weevils took 3-4 weeks to attain maximum fat and minimum moisture. Thus, time required for these adult weevils to attain firm diapause was inversely related to temperature. However, the weevils held at 26.7¼C and fed 11- to 15-day-old bolls attained firm diapause more rapidly than those fed 1 to 10-day-old bolls or squares, and the diet did not influence the time to firm diapause when the weevils were held at the lower temperatures.
SU‐FF‐T‐148: IMRT Head and Neck Phantom Irradiations: Correlation of Results with Institution Size

Purpose: To analyze the results from 136 IMRT HN distance‐to‐agreement in the high dose gradient region near the OAR − ⩽4 mm. The failure rate of institutions that housed 3 or fewer megavoltage therapy machines was compared to that of larger institutions. Results: 41 irradiations failed to meet one or more of the criteria. 24 of the failures were dose discrepancies measured with TLD, 5 were dose distribution discrepancies measured with radiochromic film and 12 were disagreements in both TLD and film measurements. There was a 38% discrepancy rate in first‐time irradiations at the institutions with 3 or fewer machines and a 26% rate at the larger institutions. All of the institutions that failed multiple times were smaller institutions. Conclusion: Institutions of all sizes are capable of making mistakes in IMRT treatments. Sufficient physics coverage is an important aspect of IMRTquality assurance.Conflict of Interest: The investigation was supported by PHS grants CA10953 and CA81647 awarded by the NCI, DHHS.
The informativeness of price-level adjusted accounting disclosures

Abstract The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the variability of stock prices at the release of inflation-adjusted information disclosures relating to ASR No. 190. Theory suggests that price variability at the release of information is associated with the “informativeness” of that information. The hypotheses are constructed to examine whether inflation disclosures led to certain hypothesized changes in the information environment. Several different metrics are used to measure the variability of stock returns. The empirical results, based on daily, cumulative, and ratio-based analyses using relative stock returns variability metrics, indicate that the Securities and Exchange Commission's(SEC) mandated inflation-adjusted data are associated with increased stock returns variability. In addition, this finding is shown to be robust in the post-disclosure environment. Evidence also indicates that the increased stock returns variability is applicable to medium and large firms but not for small firms. The different behavior between large-medium firms and small firms may partially explain why previous studies failed to detect information content for the inflation-adjusted data. Interindustry analysis of the information content of the inflation data is also conducted. This evidence suggests that the informativeness of inflation-adjusted information differs across industries, and that these differences are not solely attributed to varying rates of inflation. The results of this study give some insight into how market participants react to policy changes relating to inflation-adjusted accounting information and how the required disclosures affect the information environment.
Women’s careers in Academia: understanding local constraints to the boundaryless career view

The paper aims to shed light on how contextual realities shape/ bind women’s career choices and career patterns in academia in the Arab Middle East. By doing so, this paper hopes to bring new insights to the current academic career literature debate and the career debate more generally in regards to the bounded/ boundaryless nature of contemporary careers. The study is qualitative and exploratory in nature. It draws on one-to- one interviews with 23 female academics in early, mid and late careers, working in research universities in the Arab Middle East region. Results show that the choice of academia as a profession is mainly driven by the subjective perception of an academic career as a calling, the attractiveness of the flexibility it provides in addition to many contextual factors such as the lack of attractiveness of alternatives and the encouragement of family members and professors. Moreover, the findings highlight both organizational (Lack of mentoring and university support) and cultural factors ...
Effects of n−3 and n−6 fatty acids on the activities and expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes in autoimmune‐prone NZB×NZW F1 mice

Menhaden fish oil (FO) containing n−3 fatty acids dramatically extends the life span and delays the onset and progression of autoimmune disease in (NZB×NZW)F1 (B/W) female mice as compared to those fed corn oil (CO) rich in n−6 lipids. As an inefficient antioxidant defense system has been linked to autoimmune diseases, the present study was undertaken to determine whether the protective action of n−3 lipids is mediated through their antioxidant defense system. Weanling B/W mice were fed a nutritionally adequate, semipurified diet containing CO or krill oil (KO) or FO at 10% level (w/w)ad libitum until the mice were 6.5 months old. All diets contained the same level of vitamin E (21.5 mg/100 g diet). We compared the effects of feeding n−6 and n−3 lipids on survival, kidney disease, hepatic microsomal lipid composition, peroxidation, and on the activity and mRNA expression of the antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in 6.5-month-old B/W mice. The results showed that when compared to livers from CO-fed mice, livers from KO- and FO-fed mice showed: (i) significantly higher (P<0.001) activities and expression of CAT, GSH-Px and SOD; (ii) significantly lower (P<0.001) arachidonic acid (20∶4n−6) and linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) and higher (P<0.001) eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22∶6n−3) levels in hepatic microsomes; and (iii) significantly lower (P<0.001) estimated peroxidation indices and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances generation. The data indicate that one of the mechanisms through which the n−3 lipids delay the onset of autoimmune diseases in B/W mice may be through maintenance of higher activities and expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes.