cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimizing STING Activity in Prostate Cancer Pre-Clinical Models.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) We previously showed that radiotherapy (RT) combined with anti-PD-L1 induced abscopal response and prolonged overall survival in a pre-clinical mouse model of prostate cancer. We sought to optimize STimulator of Interferon Gene pathway (STING) activation in vitro and to enhance the abscopal response in our in vivo model. MATERIALS/METHODS We quantified STING-activator cytosolic dsDNA following RT in 5 prostate cancer cell lines - MycCaP, PC3, 22Rv1, DU145, and LN-CaP. We tested the effects of parameters such as dosing, time after RT exposure, and fractionation. We evaluated PD-L1 expression via Western blotting in parallel experiments. We repeated the published RT and ant-PD-L1 regimen that induced an abscopal response in vitro, but we tested whether anti-PD-L1 administered 1 week before or after RT affected survival. RESULTS With single doses of RT, the cell lines produced the most cytosolic dsDNA with doses between 12 and 15 Gy. Mathematical modeling of the combined cell lines showed peak production at 13.2 Gy. LN-CaP, the only androgen-sensitive cell line, produced 91-97% less cytosolic dsDNA than the other cell lines. Production of cytosolic dsDNA peaked 8-24 hours after RT and declined to baseline 72 hours after RT. RT doses of 8, 13, or 20 Gy were delivered at various frequencies including: once, once daily x 2 days, once daily x 3 days, every other day x 2 doses, or every other day x 3 doses. Cytosolic dsDNA production was not significantly different between the MycCap and PC3 cell lines. However, max production for MycCap cells occurred with 13 Gy delivered every other day x 3 doses whereas max production for PC3 cells occurred with 13 Gy delivered once daily x 3 days. PD-L1 expression was highest in MycCaP cells exposed correlated with production of cytosolic dsDNA throughout parallel experiments. Within the fractionation scheme, PD-L1 expression was consistently the highest with 13 Gy compared to either 8 Gy or 20 Gy, regardless of fractionation. Finally, median overall survival was unchanged in our mouse model with anti-PD-L1 administered either before or after RT. However, survival at 100 days was significantly different, with 40% vs 0% survival in the cohort treated with anti-PD-L1 before vs after RT. CONCLUSION We defined optimal dosing, timing and fractionation schedule for generating cytosolic dsDNA in prostate cancer. Cytosolic dsDNA is correlated with expression of PD-L1, adding evidence that STING induces PD-L1 expression in prostate cancer as similarly reported in other malignancies. Though median overall survival was similar regardless of timing of anti-PD-L1, a percentage of mice exhibited prolonged survival with anti-PD-L1 administered prior to RT. These results guide optimal STING activation in prostate cancer-related pre-clinical studies and will provide the basis for future mechanistic studies regarding STING activation in prostate cancer.
Relationship of glutamic acid and zinc to kindling of the rat amygdala: afferent transmitter systems and excitability in a model of epilepsy.

The seizure threshold in limbic structures is low, most notably in the amygdaloid nuclear complex. The susceptibility of the amygdala to epileptiform activity can be enhanced by several manipulations including repeated electrical stimulation (kindling) or repeated injections of certain chemical agents. The progressive change in electrical activity is characterized by gradual increasing afterdischarge, spread of seizure activity
The Kosovo Crisis: A Dostoievskian Dialogue on International Law, Statecraft, and Soulcraft

The secession of Kosovo from Serbia in February 2008 represents a stage in the unfolding of a revolution of "constitutional" dimensions in International Law that began with NATO's 1999 intervention in Kosovo against Serbia. NATO's intervention called into question the authority and viability of U.N. Charter system for maintaining international peace. Likewise, the West's decision in 2008 to support Kosovo's secession from Serbia dealt a further blow to the central post-War legal rules and institutions for controlling and mitigating Great power rivalry. Russia's later support for South Ossetia's secession from Georgia demonstrated the potential that the Kosovo precedent has for destabilizing the international legal order.This article takes the form of a five-act play, consisting of a series of speeches and exchanges between characters drawn from Fyodor Dostoievski's classic novel, The Brothers Karamazov. The dialogue moves on three levels. The first level is that of "normal" international law: the characters engage in a prolonged debate over the legality of Kosovo's secession that explores the usual modalities of international legal argument. The intention here is to demonstrate that when the conceptual resources internal to international law have been exhausted, they yield no decisive answer to the question of the legality of Kosovo's secession. The second level is an attempt to grasp the consequences for the international order of Russia's re-emergence as a Great Power (and even more basically, of the emergence of a "multi-polar" world). The third level is an examination of the basic, but usually unstated, philosophical and theological presuppositions of what can be called "the Western idea" and "the Russia idea." The speeches in this final act of the drama are directed to showing how these two rival understandings yield corresponding views of the international order, and more particularly of the proper scope and limits of international law.
Sisters in Motion: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Faith-Based Physical Activity Intervention

Objective To evaluate a faith-based intervention (“Sisters in Motion”) intended to increase walking among older, sedentary African American women.
Protecting Prisoners from Harmful Research

Abstract Improving the conditions under which incarcerated populations give “informed consent” is a desirable goal given prisoners' lack of autonomy; part of the Institutional Review Board's (IRB) procedures is the inclusion of representative voices from the prisoner population as a mechanism to reduce harms. The most recent review of the ethics of research on prisoners by the Institute of Medicine recommends an expanded role for prisoner involvement, outlining a collaborative research approach involving prisoners as active participants in all aspects of the research, including design, planning and implementation, not just at the IRB stage. In this paper, we briefly outline the existing state of IRB protections for prisoners selected for research, and focus on the effectiveness of prisoner representatives in this process. We suggest that there are weaknesses within the existing system such that representation may provide little more than ideological legitimation for the process. Moreover, we argue that wh...
The separation of clotting factors: II (Prothrombin) and IX (Plasma thromboplastin component) by isoelectric focusing

Abstract 1. 1.|Isoelectric focusing was used in an attempt to separate bovine clotting Factors II, VII, IX and X. Factors II and IX were recovered and separated. Poor recovery of Factors VII and X was obtained. These factors did not focus sharply at any particular pH. 2. 2.|Although immunologic studies revealed that the purification of Factors II and IX was incomplete, their separation as achieved by isoelectric focusing was of high enough resolution to allow studies on some of their characteristics. 3. 3.|Factor II was unreactive to 25% sodium citrate or to brain thromboplastin in the absence of serum. Factor IX was recovered in its inactive form. The isoelectric point of Factor II varied between pH 4.6 and 4.9, and that of Factor IX between 4.1 and 4.5. 4. 4.|Further modifications of the techniques used should achieve improved separation and recovery of clotting factors.
The Effects of Information Technology Project Complexity on Group Interaction

This study investigates the effect of varying project complexity on the group interaction processes of small information technology (IT) project teams. The projects included two complex tasks (i.e., LAN and WAN development tasks) and a less complex development task (i.e., a small business Web site development task). The study found that project complexity can affect the group interaction process. Participants reported significantly higher expectations, group integration, communication, and participation while working on less complex projects. Efforts to organize project personnel and define roles were more effective with less complex projects. Power struggles and noninvolvement remained a problem for teams regardless of project complexity. This study identifies and confirms key problem areas that can lead to project failure as IT projects become more complex. The results should interest both researchers and information systems managers, because the study is among the first to extend the common body of knowledge concerning group interaction and task complexity to IT projects.
Clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcomes of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by the activation of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The diagnosis of HLH in adults is challenging not only because the majority of the reported data are from pediatric patients, but also because HLH occurs in many disease entities. This study reports the clinical and laboratory findings and prognostic factors of adult HLH in a large cohort managed at a single medical center from 2003 to 2014. Seventy-three patients met the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria. The median age was 51 years (range, 18–82 years); 41 (56.2%) were male. Patients manifested fever, cytopenias, and elevated ferritin in >85% of cases. Likely causes of HLH were as follows: 30 (41.1%) infections, 21 (28.8%) malignancies, 5 (6.8%) attributed to autoimmune disorders, 1 (1.4%) primary immunodeficiency, 2 (2.7%) post solid organ transplantation, and 13 (17.8%) idiopathic. The median overall survival was 7.67 months. Patients with malignancy-associated HLH had a markedly worse survival compared with patients with non–malignancy-associated HLH (median overall survival 1.13 vs. 46.53 months, respectively; P 50,000 µg/L correlated with 30-day mortality. Survival after a diagnosis of HLH is dismal, especially among those with malignancy-associated HLH. The development of a registry for adults with HLH would improve our understanding of this syndrome, validate diagnostic criteria, and help develop effective treatment strategies. Am. J. Hematol. 90:220–224, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interference in Pisano’s Urinary Metanephrine Assay after Use of X-Ray Contrast Media

Certain radiopaque dyes ("Renovist" and "Renografin") contain methylglucamine salts of diatrizoate, which interfere in the Pisano cationexchange method for measuring urinary metanephrine. Methylglucamine is adsorbed to the resin and eluted with the metanephrines. It then consumes the periodate, preventing oxidation of the metanephrines to vanillin and leading to falsely negative results. The methylglucamine can be separated from the metanephrines by adsorbing the metanephrines on QAE Sephadex A-25 acetate at pH 11.2.
Analysis of continuous transverse stub (CTS) array by Floquet mode method

A continuous transverse stub (CTS) array antenna is a low-cost, low-profile, easy-to-fabricate, innovative two-dimensional aperture antenna invented by W. Milroy (1993) of the Hughes Aircraft Company. A CTS array is eventually an array of long slots (stubs) which are fed by a parallel plate waveguide. An analysis using one-dimensional periodic Floquet mode expansion and method of moments to solve the active reflection coefficient of the continuous transverse stub (CTS) array radiated to free space has been formulated and solved. A computer program based on this solution has been developed and validated by comparing the results with HFSS/Eminence model. This Floquet mode solution of the CTS array can take care of the two-dimensional scan coverage in arbitrary continuous scan angles, which is not possible for HFSS/Eminence model. The solution also incorporates the multiple-layer superstrate matching radome effect. By using this Floquet mode solution for active reflection coefficient of the CTS stub radiated to space and the solution of the E-plane waveguide tee junction, a scattering matrix formulation can be obtained for each stub section of the CTS array. Thus, the far-field patterns, beam pointing angles, the antenna gain (or loss), and the input VSWR of the entire CTS array can be predicted. Computer programs based on the above scattering matrix cascading formulations for the end-fed or center-fed series-feed CTS antenna arrays have been developed.
Identification of Insurance Models with Multidimensional Screening

This paper addresses the identification of insurance models with multidimensional screening where insurees have private information about their risk and risk aversion. The model includes a random damage and the possibility of several claims. Screening of insurees relies on their certainty equivalence. The paper then investigates how data availability on the number of offered coverages and reported claims affects the identification of the model primitives under four different scenarios. We show that the model structure is identified despite bunching due to multidimensional screening and/or a finite number of offered coverages. The observed number of claims plays a key role in the identification of the joint distribution of risk and risk aversion. In addition, the paper derives all the restrictions imposed by the model on observables. Our results are constructive with explicit equations for estimation and model testing.
British Conceptions of Ireland and Irishness in the Nineteenth Century

Debates over anti-Irish prejudice have become mired in contentious disputes over race and racial discrimination. This article argues for a new approach to the study of Irish identity based on a broader understanding of Irishness.
Comparing living donor and deceased donor liver transplantation: A matched national analysis from 2007 to 2012

A complete evaluation of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in the United States has been difﬁcult because of the persistentlow volume and the lack of adequate comparisons with deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT). Recent reports have sug-gestedoutcomesequivalenttothoseforDDLT,butthesestudiesdidnotadjustfordifferencesinrecipientselection.Fromalinkagebetween the University HealthSystem Consortium and Scientiﬁc Registry of Transplant Recipients databases, we identiﬁed14,282 patientsat62centerswhounderwent DDLT from2007 to2012 and715 patientsat35centerswhounderwent LDLT duringthe same period. Then, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching for 708 LDLTrecipients based on age, Model for End-StageLiverDisease(MELD) score,and pretransplantpatient status.Themedianfollow-up was2 years. ComparedwithDDLTrecipients,LDLTrecipientswere more likelytobewhite (84.5% versus72.2%)andfemale (41.1% versus31.7%),tohavelowerMELD scores(15 versus 19), and to be classiﬁed preoperatively as independent (65.3% versus 46.7%) and not hospitalized (91.3% versus78.4%). The posttransplant length of stay (LOS), in-hospital mortality, costs, and survival were similar between the groups, butLDLTrecipientswere more likely to be readmitted within 30 days (44.9% versus 37.1%, P50.001). After matching, the differencein 30-day readmission rates persisted (45.1% versus 33.8%, P50.001), but there were no differences in the LOS, costs, patientsurvival, or graft survival. This national report shows that LDLT is associated with higher readmission rates in comparison withDDLT, buttheresults are comparableforother keypatient metrics. Liver Transpl20:1347-1355,2014.
A technique for feature extraction and interpatient comparison of H-reflex conditioning curves.

Abstract A computer program which optimally estimates the main features of the H-reflex conditioning curve from experimental data has been developed. The features (Fig. 1) include: absolute refractory period, latency, and duration of facilitation, recovery time, and the ratio of response amplitudes during refractoriness and at peak facilitation. These numbers provide a sound basis for interpatient statistical comparison of H-reflex curves, particularly in the establishment of “normal” and “abnormal” findings for H-reflex conditioning studies.
In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of elemental ions released from different prosthodontic materials.

Abstract Objectives This study investigated the cytotoxicity of elemental ions contained in four fixed prosthodontic materials (gold, nickel–chromium, stainless-steel alloys and CAD–CAM ceramics). Materials and methods According to the determination of elements released from prosthodontic materials by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, similar amounts of elements Pd, Ag, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mo, Be, Fe, Al, and K were prepared as salt solutions. Wells with a tenfold higher concentration of the tested elements were used as positive controls, while a well without any tested element was used as a negative control. These salt solutions were tested for cytotoxicity by culturing mouse L-929 fibroblasts in the salt solutions for a 7-day period of incubation. Then, the percentage of viable cells for each element was measured using trypan blue exclusion assay. The data ( n = 5) were statistically analyzed by ANOVA/Tukey test ( p Results The results showed a statistically significant difference for the cytotoxic effect of the tested elements salt solutions. For the released element concentrations the lowest percentage of viable cells (mean ± SD) was evident with Zn, Cu or Ni indicating that they are the highly toxic elements. Be and Ag were found to be intermediate in cytotoxic effect. Fe, Cr, Mo, Al, Pd or K were found to be the least cytotoxic elements. Significance Zn and Cu released from gold alloys, and Ni released from nickel–chromium alloys, which are commonly used as fixed prosthodontic restorations, show evidence of a high cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cell cultures.
Quo vadis, chemometrics?

Assessing current trends in chemometric publications reveals that most projects utilize known methodologies and fall into the category “application.” There seems to be worrying little of true innovation unless one counts “fashions” assimilated from other fields. The field may have reached a crossroad: One path leads to chemometrics becoming a fully mature but stagnant tool for analytical chemists; the other path, that is, maintaining chemometrics as an active and widely recognized research field, requires opening new research areas for chemometricians. It is argued that hard modeling as opposed to the ubiquitous soft modeling may become such a new direction. Hard modeling would focus on investigating chemical mechanisms that give raise to measured data as opposed to empirically analyzing data.Furthermore, chemometricians in academia are responsible for preparing the next generation of chemometricians. Despite the need for chemometricians in the workforce, the number of young chemometricians is low and will remain low unless changes in chemistry curricula happen. This remains a challenge because there are fundamental issues that need to be overcome. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Gel electrophoresis and Raman mapping for determining the length distribution of SWCNTs

By combining gel electrophoresis (GEP) and simultaneous Raman scattering and photoluminescence spectroscopy (SRSPL), a new method (GEP-SRSPL) was established, both theoretically and experimentally, to characterize the length distribution of individualized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). With an individualized SWCNT sample prepared by sonication and ultracentrifugation, both atomic force microscopy (AFM) and GEP-SRSPL were applied for examining its length distribution. The results show good agreement, which validates the GEP-SRSPL method as a viable and easy-to-operate technique in characterizing the length distribution of SWCNTs.
Carbonate compositions in CM and CI chondrites, and implications for aqueous alteration

Carbonate minerals in fourteen CM chondrites and two CI chondrites have been analyzed by electron microprobe to provide a better understanding of the aqueous processes that affected carbonaceous chondrite parent bodies. Calcites in CM chondrites and dolomites and magnesites in CI chondrites display the compositions expected of stable phases formed at low temperatures. Dolomites in CM chondrites, identified here for the first time in five members of the group, have small amounts of excess Ca which may reflect metastable growth. The distribution of Fe between dolomite and coexisting serpentine differs in the two chondrite groups. If the distributions reflect an approach to chemical equilibrium, then the difference implies higher alteration temperatures for the CI group than the CM group in agreement with the results of previously published oxygen isotope thermometry and mineral solubility modeling of the alteration process. Dolomite Fe contents are relatively uniform in the two chondrite groups. Dolomite Mn contents, by contrast, vary widely. The variations may reflect transport-controlled coprecipitation of Mn resulting from a heterogeneous distribution of the element in the anhydrous precursor material. If this interpretation is correct, then the altering fluids were essentially immobile white hydration reactions proceeded on the meteorite parent bodies. The near closed-system character of the alteration process, long known from bulk chemical analyses of the meteorites, is a direct consequence of the limited mobility of dissolved species.
Applying Classical Ethical Theories to Ethical Decision Making in Public Relations: Perrier's Product Recall

Public relations professionals and educators have different views about the real-world relevance of theories to public relations practice. This article links ethical theories to the management of t...
Fatty acid composition of cholesteryl esters of human meibomian gland secretions.

Abstract Very long chain cholesteryl esters (CE) are a major group of lipids found in meibomian gland secretions (MGS, also called meibum). MGS are produced by the meibomian glands of human and animal eyelids. They are a critical part of the tear film which covers the exposed ocular surface and serves various physiological roles. The composition of CE of MGS is complex, and still remains poorly understood. Here, a liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry (LC–MS) procedure developed to analyze CE is described, and a detailed composition of human meibomian CE is reported. MGS were collected from donors, analyzed without any modifications by LC–MS in positive and negative ion modes (PIM and NIM), and quantified using lipid standards where available. CE comprised about 30% of human meibum by mass. More than 40 individual CE species were found and characterized. In PIM, CE were observed as spontaneously in-source generated product ions m/z 369. The signals of the proton adducts of intact CE (M+H)+ were of very low intensity. In NIM, all tested CE spontaneously fragmented in-source producing signals of their respective FA. By combining the LC and MS information, the most abundant CE were found to be based on FA ranging from C16 to at least C32 in the following order C26:0 > C25:0 > C24:0 > C27:0 > C24:1 = C18:1 = C20:0 > other CE. We conclude that the FA composition of CE can be successfully established in LC–MS experiments conducted in NIM. Meibomian CE have a large presence of both saturated and unsaturated FA with an average molar ratio of 4 to 1, respectively.
Surgifoam for needle track embolization after percutaneous lung biopsy and/or fiducial marker placement reduces the rate of pneumothorax and chest tube placement

Purpose: To expand on preliminary studies on the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation (MWA) of lung malignancies using a larger data set and longer term follow-up than previously published. Materials and Methods: 108 patients (42 female, 66 male, mean age 73 years) received outpatient CT guided percutaneous microwave ablation for a single lung malignancy. Patient data, including procedural reports, hospital and outpatient oncology clinical records, as well as follow-up contrast enhanced CT and PET scans, were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan-Meier modelling and logistic regression were used. Results: The odds of success are 11.1 times higher for o3 cm tumor vs 43 cm, 95% CI[2.97,41.1], p1⁄4.0003. Tumor type had no effect on technical success. The odds of complication of any kind were 2 times higher for 43cm tumors vs o3cm, though this trended toward significance, p1⁄4.09. For every mm increase in original tumor maximal diameter (OMD), the odds of not attaining success increased by 7%, 95% CI[3%,10%], p1⁄4.0002. Likewise, for every mm increase in OMD, the odds of one or more complications increased by 3%, 95% CI [.1%,5%], p1⁄4.04. The median time for tumor reoccurrence was 62 months, 95% CI [29,na]. Reccurrence was estimated at 22% 36% and 44% for 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. The median time of cancer-related death was 42 mo, 95% CI[38,na]. In addition, reccurrence was estimated at 31% at 13 mo for tumors 43cm and 17% for those o3cm. Medians could not be estimated due to low event rate for tumors o3cm, only the first quartile was estimated: 24 mo for tumors o3cm and 10 mo for 43cm; this difference trended toward significance, p1⁄4.0513. 54% of patients had one or more complications of various severities including: pneumothorax 32%, bronchopleural fistula 2%, hospital admission 28%, pain 20%, infection 7%, postablation syndrome 4%, and ARDS 4%. No relationship was found for pneumothorax with size or cancer type. Conclusion: This study further supports the safe and effective use of outpatient MWA for the treatment of lung malignancies. Details regarding tumor characteristics and procedural methods will help define appropriate patient selection and treatment technique. 4:06 PM Abstract No. 207
Model for impedance of a solid ionic conductor sandwiched between blocking electrodes

Abstract The simplest model for the impedance of an ionic conductor sandwiched between two blocking electrodes is a resistor in series with a capacitory (rc pair) representing the bulk material and the conductor-electrode interface, respectively, and a second capacitory parallel to the rc pair representing the electronic dielectric response of the system. In practice, to describe the experimental data satisfactorily, one needs to replace the interface capacitor with a constant-phase-angle (CPA) element and to add a non-Debye dielectric element parallel to the resistor to represent the local ionic movement. In this paper, some of the existing physical models for the CPA and non-Debye dielectric elements are discussed, and an example is presented for analyzing the impedance data using the resultant circuit model.
A Comparison of Second-Order Epiderivatives: Calculus and Optimality Conditions

Abstract The first-order theory of generalized derivatives is now well developed. Significant progress toward a second-order theory has also been made. Two types of second-order directional derivatives appear to be particularly promising for applications to optimization: parabolic epiderivatives, which are well suited for necessary optimality conditions and satisfy standard calculus rules for a large class of functions; and the second-order epiderivatives of Rockafellar, which lead to general sufficient optimality conditions that are close to being necessary. In this paper, the properties of these two types of epiderivatives are surveyed and contrasted. Special results for C1,1 functions are examined in detail.
Protein delivery with nanoscale precision

A novel assay of protein delivery to a surface with nanoscale precision was established. This was achieved by combining recent advancements in atomic force microscopy (AFM) and bioconjugation. We utilized a heterobifunctional photocleavable cross linker to functionalize an AFM tip with proteins. Upon irradiation, the proteins were released from the tip due to a photolytic reaction of the cross linker. These proteins bound tightly to their binding partners on a substrate. When tip functionalization is carefully controlled, proteins can be locally delivered to a desired area. Importantly, the result of protein delivery can be examined immediately by high-resolution imaging in the same area using the protein-free tip. Successful protein delivery was also confirmed by fluorescence imaging and was proved to be reproducible. The approach allows protein delivery and subsequent imaging to be performed in the same local area with the same AFM tip, thus opening up the possibility of monitoring protein functions in living cells in real time.
More neurons, less weight.

Treatment with a neuronal growth factor stimulates weight loss—and spurs the development of new neurons that help maintain reduced weight.
Creating In-Depth Learning Experiences by Using Rawls' “Veil of Ignorance”

Combining a variation of John Rawls' “veil of ignorance” mind experiment with role-playing and case studies allows instructors to create assignments that engage students in the full range of learning processes, encourage them to consider a wide range of viewpoints, provide them with opportunities to apply the cognitive and the affective components of learning, and make real for them world views competing for influence in the development of policies, regulations, and laws. This article presents three examples of this curriculum innovation in a graduate Human Behavior in the Social Environment sequence, followed by suggestions of its use in practice, research, and policy courses.
Cognitive Style and Visual Analysis in First Graders of High and Low Verbal Ability

Summary.-100 first graders were screened for verbal ability and sub divided into high and low quarriles with 25 children in each group. Field independence, visual analysis, and spatial visualization of these groups was investigated and their social communication skills were assessed. Since small age differences were observed on a number of the tasks, age was controlled as a covariate. As predicted, those of high verbal ability modified response latency under task uncertainty, performed better in spatial analysis, and showed greater social resourcefulness. They were more accurate in discrimination of similarities but did not differ from those of low verbal ability in accuracy on the Children's Embedded Figures test or in discrimination of differences. Intertask relationships and the influence of sex and age on performance were discussed. Currently there is disagreement about the relative usefulness of accuracy and latency measures of cognitive style. Children are consistent over time in their latencies, which tend to lengthen with age (Kagan & Kogan, 1970). Latency may not be as important in the application of children's problem-solving skills as accuracy. Block, Block, and Harrington (1974) reported preschool children's latency on the Matching Familiar Figures test predicted few differences in personality and behavior. Accuracy scores in perceptual matching were related to many important differences. Kogan (1976) in a recent review noted that though classification and scoring on both latency and accuracy was a promising research strategy, latency was a more reliable index of individual differences. In support of this view, Rollins and Genser (1977) reported that latency on Matching Familiar Figures but not accuracy was related to performance on a concept-attainment task. In their extensive study of differences among children, Zelniker and Jeffrey (1976) found that latency measures were stable over two versions of Matching Familiar Figures. However, errors on this test depended on specific demands of the modified task, attention to detail or global analysis. Latency measures are more internally consistent than accuracy in matching figures (Zelniker, Bentler, & Renan, 1977). The moderate negative correlations between accuracy and latency produce problems for analysis because errors are unreliable (Ault, Mitchell, & Hartmann, 1976). The relationship between accurate visual analysis and latency may change
Detection of biotic responses to urbanization using fish assemblages from small streams of western Georgia, USA

We examined relationships between stream fish assemblages and land use alteration associated with urbanization in 15 lower Piedmont watersheds along an urbanization gradient north of Columbus, western Georgia. Based on land cover data from 2002 Landsat 7 TM imagery aerial photos, streams drained watersheds that were largely urban, developing (suburban), agricultural (pasture), managed pine forest, and unmanaged mixed-forest. We quantified fish seasonally from 3 run-pool segments in each stream, and used a variety of metrics as response variables in analyses of relationships between fish assemblage structure and land use and natural basin variation. In general, Georgia-Index of Biotic Integrity (GA-IBI) values, Bray-Curtis faunal similarity of streams to mean conditions within reference streams, proportions of fish as lithophilic spawners, and fish lacking eroded fins, lesions, tumors decreased with increasing urbanization. Multiple regression indicated that assemblages were explained by a combination of land use and natural basin variables (basin size, average discharge, nearest distance to a larger downstream tributary [colonization source]), with land use variables being important predictors of summer assemblages and natural basin variables being more important in winter and spring assemblages. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordinations revealed strong separation between assemblages in urban watersheds and forested watersheds, whereas assemblages in agricultural and developing watersheds were intermediate between those in urban and forested watersheds. Our data suggest that fish are reliable indicators of anthropogenic disturbance at the landscape scale, at least seasonally, and may be used to forecast the magnitude of landscape-level changes in stream structure and function associated with the conversion of forests to urban/suburban land in the Southeast.
Application of ESEM to environmental colloids

Environmental colloids are toxic or radioactive particles suspended in ground or surface water. These hazardous particles can facilitate and accelerate the transport of toxicants and enhance the threat to humans by exposure to pathogenic substances. The chemical and physical properties of hazardous colloids have not been well characterized nor are there standard colloid remediation technologies to prevent their deleterious effects. Colloid characterization requires measurement of their size distribution, zeta potential, chemical composition, adsorption capacity, and morphology. The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) by ElectroScan, Inc., analyzes particle sizes, composition, and morphology. It is also used in this study to identify the attachment of colloids onto packing or rock surfaces in our development of a colloid remediation process. The ESEM has confirmed the composition of groundwater colloids in our studies to be generally the same material as the surrounding rock. The morphology studies have generally shown that colloids are simply small pieces of the rock surface that has exfoliated into the surrounding water. However, in general, the source and chemical composition of groundwater colloids is site dependent. We have found that an ESEM works best as a valuable analysis tool within a suite of colloid characterization instruments.
The Effect of Simulation Learning on Critical Thinking and Self-confidence When Incorporated Into an Electrocardiogram Nursing Course

Abstract Background The purpose of this comparative research study was to demonstrate the effect of simulation activities on critical thinking and self-confidence in an electrocardiogram nursing course. Method The treatment group (n = 70) received weekly simulation exposure in addition to lecture (500 minutes combined total), and the control group (n = 70) received weekly lecture (400 minutes total didactic instruction). Results Critical thinking and self-confidence measures showed no significant differences between the groups, except when controlled by semester level. The second-semester senior students scored significantly higher in both critical thinking and self-confidence measures. A pre- and postsimulation measure of self-confidence demonstrated statistically significant improvement following simulation. Conclusions Higher critical thinking scores were significantly related to higher self-confidence ratings, as was student employment on a telemetry unit.
Authority-related conformity as a protective factor against adolescent health risk behaviors.

This preliminary study demonstrates that authority-related conformity specifically toward parents teachers and religion is a protective factor against susceptibility toward various health risk behaviors among a primarily Latino and Asian sample of adolescents most of whom had immigrant parents. (excerpt)
Glucocorticoid Elevation of Dexamethasone-induced Gene 2 (Dig2/RTP801/REDD1) Protein Mediates Autophagy in Lymphocytes

Glucocorticoid hormones, including dexamethasone, induce apoptosis in lymphocytes and consequently are used clinically as chemotherapeutic agents in many hematologic malignancies. Dexamethasone also induces autophagy in lymphocytes, although the mechanism is not fully elucidated. Through gene expression analysis, we found that dexamethasone induces the expression of a gene encoding a stress response protein variously referred to as Dig2, RTP801, or REDD1. This protein is reported to inhibit mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Because autophagy is one outcome of mTOR inhibition, we investigated the hypothesis that Dig2/RTP801/REDD1 elevation contributes to autophagy induction in dexamethasone-treated lymphocytes. In support of this hypothesis, RNAi-mediated suppression of Dig2/RTP801/REDD1 reduces mTOR inhibition and autophagy in glucocorticoid-treated lymphocytes. We observed similar results in Dig2/Rtp801/Redd1 knock-out murine thymocytes treated with dexamethasone. Dig2/RTP801/REDD1 knockdown also leads to increased levels of dexamethasone-induced cell death, suggesting that Dig2/RTP801/REDD1-mediated autophagy promotes cell survival. Collectively, these findings demonstrate for the first time that elevation of Dig2/RTP801/REDD1 contributes to the induction of autophagy.
Image fusion methodology for efficient interpretation of multiband images in 3D high-resolution ultrasonic transmission tomography

With the critical innovations of using submillimeter transducers and multiband analysis of the first arrival pulse, a high-resolution ultrasonic transmission tomography (HUTT) system has been built and tested to produce multiband images of biological organs at submillimeter resolution. Since the resulting multiband images consist of frequency-dependent attenuation coefficients (relative to water reference) of transmitted ultrasound pulses, their contrast and sharpness depend on the specific frequency band(s) used for image formation. Even though this multiband representation provides a powerful tool for soft-tissue differentiation, it hinders visual inspection and limits the visual interpretation of image contents in a short time. To facilitate the visual interpretation of HUTT multiband images, this article presents an efficient image fusion methodology called local principal component analysis with structure tensor (LPCA-ST). The LPCA has been known as a feasible tool for the fusion of spectral data, since it utilizes the principal components of spectral data as a fusion-weighting vector of local area. Nonetheless, the LPCA-fused image often suffers from oversmoothness because of the redundancy of the spectral data. To prevent this problem, we propose a structure tensor as the metric used to select the most informative bands for subsequent LPCA fusion. Our preliminary studies have shown that the contrast of the LPCA-fused image improves dramatically only when multiband images whose values of the respective structure tensor are the highest are used in the LPCA fusion process. This is achieved in 3D without increasing the computational complexity of the fusion process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 19, 277–282, 2009
Impact of Missing Data on Person—Model Fit and Person Trait Estimation

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of missing data on person—model fit and person trait estimation in tests with dichotomous items. Under the missing-completely-at-random framework, four missing data treatment techniques were investigated including pairwise deletion, coding missing responses as incorrect, hotdeck imputation, and model-based imputation. Person traits were estimated using the two-parameter item response model. Overall, missing data increased the difficulty in assessing person—model fit for both model-fitting and model-misfitting persons. The higher the proportion of missing data, the larger the number of persons incorrectly diagnosed. Among the four techniques, the pairwise deletion method performed best in recovering person—model fit and person trait level. Treating missing responses as incorrect caused the examinees with missing data to not fit the measurement model, thus invalidating the person trait estimates.
Mapping sequenced E.coli genes by computer: software, strategies and examples.

Methods are presented for organizing and integrating DNA sequence data, restriction maps, and genetic maps for the same organism but from a variety of sources (databases, publications, personal communications). Proper software tools are essential for successful organization of such diverse data into an ordered, cohesive body of information, and a suite of novel software to support this endeavor is described. Though these tools automate much of the task, a variety of strategies is needed to cope with recalcitrant cases. We describe such strategies and illustrate their application with numerous examples. These strategies have allowed us to order, analyze, and display over one megabase of E. coli DNA sequence information. The integration task often exposes inconsistencies in the available data, perhaps caused by strain polymorphisms or human oversight, necessitating the application of sound biological judgment. The examples illustrate both the level of expertise required of the database curator and the knowledge gained as apparent inconsistencies are resolved. The software and mapping methods are applicable to the study of any genome for which a high resolution restriction map is available. They were developed to support a weakly coordinated sequencing effort involving many laboratories, but would also be useful for highly orchestrated sequencing projects.
Synthesis and characterization of a caged receptor ligand suitable for chemical kinetic investigations of the glycine receptor in the 3-microseconds time domain.

Here we report the development and characterization of a new photolabile protecting group for the carboxyl group of neurotransmitters, 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl. The synthesis and characterization of a photolabile derivative of beta-alanine, caged beta-alanine, are described. beta-Alanine can activate the glycine receptor, a major inhibitory receptor in the mammalian central nervous system; the 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl derivative of beta-alanine combined with a laser-pulse photolysis method makes it possible to investigate the chemical kinetic mechanism of the receptor in the 3-microseconds time domain. The derivative is photolyzed by a laser pulse to release free beta-alanine within 3 microseconds and with a product quantum yield of 0.2. In aqueous solution in the dark and at neutral pH, the compound is more stable, by a factor of approximately of 25, than the analogous derivative of glycine [Ramesh, D., Wieboldt, R., Niu, L., Carpenter, B. K., & Hess, G. P. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 11074-11078]. 2-Methoxy-5-nitrophenyl-beta-alanine hydrolyzes in aqueous solution at neutral pH with a t1/2 of approximately 1.5 h. Neither the 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl-beta-alanine nor the 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol photolysis side product activates, inhibits, or potentiates the response of glycine receptors in rat hippocampal neurons to glycine. Photolysis of 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenyl-beta-alanine by irradiation with a 600-ns laser pulse at 333 nm releases beta-alanine, which then activates glycine receptor-channels on neurons equilibrated with the caged compound, as detected by whole-cell current recording. Compared with the analogous derivative of glycine, in terms of quantum yield, photolysis rate, and stability, this new compound is not only a better candidate for use in chemical kinetic investigations of the glycine receptor, but can also be used in determining the location of glycine receptors in neuronal cells.
Against culture versus structure

Contemporary sociology is saddled with a culture–structure binary but the fault for its existence lies mostly with cultural sociology. This article is devoted to four related assertions: (1) There has never been any agreement on the definition of culture, making cultural sociology a field unable to define its central concept. (2) The binary ignores the fact that the proper explanation of social behaviour requires both structure and culture; culture cannot be its own cause. (3) Cultural sociology is soft and sentimental, avoiding conflict as well as politics. (4) It neglects policy and policy-relevant research even more than the rest of sociology. Structural sociology has some shortcomings as well, however, and the culture–structure binary should be abandoned.
1.55-μm optical phase-locked loop with integrated p-i-n / HBT photoreceiver in a flexible development platform

A monolithically integrated p-i-n r HBT photorecei er was successfully employed in a de elopment platform for hybrid optical ( ) phase-locked loops OPLLs . Despite loop delay compromises necessary for flexibility in component substitution, this OPLL de elopment platform has demonstrated a hold-in range of 1.558 GHz and possible locking frequencies from 1.00 to 20.75 GHz. Q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 15: 4]7, 1997.
Rust Layer Structure Analysis of Q235 Atmospheric Corraded in Tangshan Industrial Estate

Metallic materials are corraded unavoidably with deterioration of eviroment in heavy industry cities. Transformation of rust layer structure of Q235 atmospheric corraded in Tangshan industrial estate was analyzed with instrumentalities of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) , EDS and so on. The results showed that corrosion outcomes of Q235 transformed from FeOOH and Fe3O4 to FeOOH, Fe3O4 and FeSO4 through insolation in one year.
Interleukin-1 receptor blockade in perinatal brain injury.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent inflammatory cytokine that can be produced by a variety of cell types throughout the body. IL-1 is a central mediator of inflammation and response to infection and the role of IL-1 signaling in adult and pediatric brain injury is becoming increasingly clear. Although the mechanisms of IL-1 expression are largely understood, the downstream effects and contributions to excitotoxicity and oxidative stress are poorly defined. Here, we present a review of mechanisms of IL-1 signaling with a focus on the role of IL-1 in perinatal brain injury. We highlight research models of perinatal brain injury and the use of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) as an agent of therapeutic potential in preventing perinatal brain injury due to exposure to inflammation.
Institutional law and economics

Behavioral economics provides one of the foundation for institutional law and economics (ILE). Improvement in predicting the performance of alternative laws will be built on ILE insights into how distribution affects productivity of labor and realization of joint gains. Our understanding of obedience to law as well as other categories of failure to be opportunistic (such as in high exclusion-cost situations) will be better understood from an ILE perspective that investigates learning to supplement specific sanctions.