cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Denaturalizing disaster: A social autopsy of the 1995 Chicago heat wave

L'A. porte son attention sur la vague de chaleur qui a frappe la region de Chicago en juillet 1995. Il presente les differentes theories des desastres. Il analyse l'evolution de la mortalite liee aux fortes temperatures survenues au long du mois de juillet 1995 dans cette region. Il montre que la mortalite variait en fonction des quartiers, qu'elle concernait principalement les plus pauvres et les personnes âgees isolees, vivant dans un appartement ne comportant qu'une seule piece. L'A. decrit de quelle maniere les hommes politiques locaux et les medias presenterent ce desastre. Il rappelle qu'a la fin du mois de juillet 1995 une autre vague de chaleur survint. L'administration locale mit en place un plan d'urgence qui permit d'empecher une nouvelle catastrophe
Methods for Using a Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Biosensor to Monitor Nuclear NAD

Free nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) serves as substrate for NAD+-consuming enzymes. As such, the local concentration of free NAD+ can influence enzymatic activities. Here we describe methods for using a fluorescent, genetically-encoded sensor to measure subcellular NAD+ concentrations. We also include a discussion of the limitations and potential applications for the current sensor. Presented in this chapter are (1) guidelines for calibrating instrumentation and experimental setups using a bead-based method, (2) instructions for incorporating required controls and properly performing ratiometric measurements in cells, and (3) descriptions of how to evaluate relative and quantitative fluctuations using appropriate statistical methods for ratio-of-ratio measurements.
Disparities in childhood overweight and obesity by income in the United States: an epidemiological examination using three nationally representative datasets

Overweight and obesity (OWOB) is a global epidemic. Adults and adolescents from low-income households are at higher risk to be OWOB. This study examined the relationship between income and OWOB prevalence in children and adolescents (518 years) in the United States (US) within and across race/ethnicities, and changes in this relationship from 1971 to 2014. A meta-analysis of a nationally representative sample (N = 73,891) of US children and adolescents drawn from three datasets (i.e., National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, & the Early Childhood Longitudinal Program) which included 14 cross-sectional waves spanning 1971–2014 was conducted. The exposure was household income-to-poverty ratio (low income = 0.00–1.00, middle income = 1.01–4.00, high income >4.00) with prevalence of overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥ 85th percentile) as the outcome. Children and adolescents from middle-income and high-income households were 0.78 (95% CI = 0.72, 0.83) and 0.68 (95% CI = 0.59, 0.77) times as likely to be OWOB compared to children and adolescents in low-income households. Separate analyses restricted to each racial/ethnic group showed children and adolescents from middle- and high-income households were less likely to be OWOB compared to their low-income peers within the White, Hispanic, and Other race/ethnic groups. Children and adolescents from low-income households who were Black were not more likely to be OWOB than their high- and middle-income counterparts. Analyses within each income stratum indicated that race/ethnicity was not related to the prevalence of OWOB in low-income households. However, racial/ethnic differences in OWOB were evident for children and adolescents in middle- and high-income households. Disparities in the prevalence of OWOB between low-income children and adolescents and their middle- and high-income counterparts have increased from 1971 to 2014. Income and OWOB are related in US children and adolescents. Racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence of OWOB emerge in middle- and high-income households. Disparities in OWOB prevalence are growing.
The Construction of Visual Reality

This chapter examines the standard definitions of illusion and hallucination. These definitions assume a standard theory of perception in which a goal of perception is to estimate true properties of an objective physical world. This standard theory of perception is usually justified on evolutionary grounds: Those creatures that see more truly are ipso facto more fit. However, a closer examination of perceptual evolution using the tools of evolutionary game theory reveals that this standard assumption is incorrect. Perception has not evolved to report truth, but instead to guide adaptive behavior within a niche. In this regard, our perceptions are much like the windows desktop of a computer, which serves to guide useful interactions with the computer while sparing the user from having to know the truth of its structure and function. This understanding of perceptual evolution requires us to replace the standard definitions of illusion and hallucination with new ones that better reflect the central role of perception as a guide to adaptive behavior.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Genotype, Not Circulating Catecholamines, Influences Cardiovascular Function in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis.

Background:Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting multiple organ systems of the body and is characterized by mutation in the gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductan...
Exploiting Latency and Error Tolerance of GPGPU Applications for an Energy-Efficient DRAM

Memory (DRAM) energy consumption is one of the major scalability bottlenecks for almost all computing systems, including throughput machines such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). A large fraction of DRAM dynamic energy is spent on fetching the data bits from a DRAM page (row) to a small-sized hardware structure called as the row buffer. The data access from this row buffer is much less expensive in terms of energy and latency. Hence, it is preferred to reuse the buffered data as much as possible before activating another row and bringing its data to these row buffers. Our thorough characterization of several GPGPU applications shows that these row buffers are poorly utilized leading to sub-optimal energy consumption. To address this, we propose a novel memory scheduling for GPUs that exploits latency and error tolerance properties of GPGPU applications to reduce row energy by 44% on average.
Abstract 614: Using Intact Trabeculae to Determine the Effect of Myosin-Modifying Drugs on Work, Power, and Mechanical Control of Relaxation

Background: Heart failure and especially heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are significant burdens on health. Intact cardiac trabeculae may reveal functional changes that cannot be see...
Light Species in Cosmology and Particle Physics

There are many reasons to believe that the Standard Model of particle physics is incomplete. Models of physics beyond the Standard Model usually invoke new degrees of freedom, many of which contain new light species that are efficiently produced in the early universe. In this chapter, we provide the connection between cosmological observables and these additional light relics predicted beyond the Standard Model. Apart from order-of-magnitude estimates for the constraining power of astrophysical systems and cosmology, we introduce the particle physics aspects of this thesis, discuss the main cosmological parameter capturing neutrinos and any other light thermal relics, and examine the possible signatures of these particles in cosmological observables.
The RPE Cell and the Immune System

The RPE cell plays a pivotal role in retinal immunity. In fact, the RPE cell orchestrates both innate and adaptive immunity and contains a plethora of factors to regulate the immune response. Many immunoregulatory activities of the RPE cell are accomplished through cytokine production, toll-like receptor (TLR) activation, complement regulation and antigen presentation. The RPE cells immune regulatory network plays an essential role in retinal immunity and autoimmunity, retinal infections and in a variety of retinal degenerative disorders. Understanding the immune regulatory properties of this cell may provide additional clues to disease mechanisms that may lead to future treatments for many human retinal diseases.
Efficacy of Methocarbamol for Acute Pain Management in Young Adults With Traumatic Rib Fractures.

Background:Rib fractures account for more than one-third of blunt thoracic injuries and are associated with serious complications. Use of nonopioid adjunctive agents such as methocarbamol for pain ...
Ultimate pH effects on dry-aged beef quality.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate pH effects on moisture loss and meat quality characteristics of dry-aged beef. Strip loins from six normal pH carcasses (pH = 5.47 ± 0.02) and dark cutting (DC) strip loins from six high pH carcasses (pH = 6.69 ± 0.09) were obtained. One strip loin from each carcass was dry aged and one was wet aged, giving four treatments: DRY, DRY-DC, WET, and WET-DC. Loins were aged for 42 d. Ultimate pH did not affect the rate or amount of moisture loss, trim loss, yield, or tenderness in dry-aged beef (P > 0.05). In general, DC steaks had the lowest lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) values, regardless of aging method (P
Housing and Community Environments vs. Independent Mobility: Roles in Promoting Children's Independent Travel and Unsupervised Outdoor Play.

Children’s independent mobility (CIM) has declined dramatically in recent decades despite its benefits in facilitating childhood development, promoting physical activity, and combating the obesity epidemic. This US-based study examines the impacts of housing and neighborhood environments on two modes of CIM—home-based independent travel to non-school destinations and unsupervised outdoor play—while considering personal and social factors. A bilingual parent/guardian survey was distributed to public elementary schools in Austin, Texas, asking about children’s travel and play, housing and neighborhood environments, and personal and social factors. A Google Street View audit was conducted to capture additional housing-related information. Logistic regressions were used to predict CIM. For second to fifth graders (N = 525), less than two-thirds of the parents would allow children’s independent travel to non-school destinations (62%) and unsupervised outdoor play (57.9%), with the majority limited to a short distance (five-minute walk) and a few destinations (e.g., friend’s/relative’s home). Stranger danger was a negative predictor and the presence of friend’s/relative’s home was a positive predictor for both modes of CIM. Quality of neighborhood environment was another positive correlate for independent travel to non-school destinations. Significant personal and social factors were also identified. Study findings demonstrated the impacts of physical environments on CIM and the potential of using relevant interventions to promote children’s health and development.
Subway Ridership: Accounting for Regional Variation across Land-Use and Socioeconomic Settings

AbstractAccurate forecasts of public transportation ridership are key components to a transit agency’s management program. These forecasts are used to develop revenue projections that are then impu...
Radiation-induced amorphization and recrystallization of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles

Abstract Hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, is considered as an important apatite-type material for the incorporation and disposal of actinides and fission products. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with different size ranging from 20 nm to 280 nm are synthesized via calcining the bovine bones under different temperatures and durations. The samples are irradiated with 1 MeV Kr2+ ions and 200 keV electrons to study the displacive and ionizing effects on the irradiation behaviors. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation shows hydroxyapatite nanoparticles can be amorphized by 1 MeV Kr2+ ions and the previously amorphized samples experience a rapid ionizing-radiation-induced recrystallization upon 200 keV electrons irradiations. A strong size effect on the displacive irradiation-induced amorphization and ionizing irradiation-induced recrystallization are observed. Under ion irradiation, a lower critical temperature (Tc) is observed for a larger sized sample, indicating enhanced amorphization tolerance. This result indicates excess interface energy resulting from the smaller sized hydroxyapatite nanoparticle, may lower the energy difference between the crystalline phase and amorphous state, degrading the radiation tolerance. Radiation-induced amorphization is attributed to the accumulation of oxygen vacancies upon ion irradiation and the glass-like structure formed by the rearrangement of displaced oxygen and phosphorus atoms. Whereas under electron irradiation, the recrystallization fluences decrease with the reduction of particle size since a higher density of dangling bonds exist in a smaller sized hydroxyapatite. These unstable bonds are relatively easy to break and reforming under ionizing electron irradiation, which drives the recrystallization process.
Some Select Aspects of School Health Education

(1978). Some Select Aspects of School Health Education. Health Education: Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 31-33.
Distributed Energy Storage Device integration with three phase distribution grid using a Transformerless Intelligent Power Substation

The advent of SiC devices has resulted in the development of 3-phase, Medium Voltage (MV) grid tied Solid State Transformers (SSTs). One such SST is the 100 kVA Transformerless Intelligent Power Substation (TIPS) based on 15 kV SiC IGBTs and 1200 V SiC MOSFETs which interconnects the 13.8 kV distribution grid with the 480 V utility grid. TIPS has an ac-dc-dc-ac multi-module configuration. The availability of 800 V dc and 480 V ac terminals in the system allows for the integration of Distributed Energy Storage Devices (DESDs) with the 13.8 kV MV grid. These DESDs store the energy derived from the renewable sources like solar, wind and wave. The complex nature of the overall system makes the power flow control very challenging during integration. This paper investigates the steady state and transient behavior of the TIPS system when integrated with a battery model representing the DESD. Complete system simulation is carried out using the switching model of the converters along with the dynamic model of the battery and a feeder model similar to IEEE-34 bus system. Experimental verification is done on TIPS prototype at scaled down voltage and power levels.
Factors Affecting the Perceived Helpfulness of Therapy with Stepfamilies

Abstract This article examines gender-related differences in clients' perceptions of the effectiveness of the therapeutic process in facilitating stepfamily adjustment. Data from the membership of the Stepfa-mily Association of America was analyzed to examine what 292 clients reported as helpful and unhelpful aspects of therapy by gender of client, gender of therapist, and gender pairings. Results of analysis of variance and chi-square analyses indicated no gender-related differences in clients' general assessment of the therapy experience. However, various gender-related aspects of therapy reported as helpful and unhelpful did differ, including the affective nature of the therapy experience and clients' perception of therapists' ability to facilitate clients' gaining specific skills.
Heart rate variability during dynamic exercise in supine position in sedentary subjects

The power spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed during dynamic exercises at different intensities while pedaling in both the orthostatic (O) and clinostatic (C) positions. In addition to a decrease in HRV, with increasing work load high-frequency (HF) peak shifts to higher frequencies in both the O and C positions, reflecting increased ventilation. With increasing exercise intensity, the low frequency (LF) peak decreases toward negligible values in the O position while it increases the C position. A combined effort of gravity and vasodilatation could be responsible for the disappearance of the LF peak in the O position. >
Three-dimensional flow visualization via reconstruction from successive two-dimensional vector velocity maps

A translation system has been assembled to assist in high speed acquisition of parallel planes of ultrasonic data from phantoms and human tissue. Using a previously developed system that measures two-dimensional velocities in real time by tracking speckle patterns, evenly spaced two-dimensional vector maps of flow in a free turbulent jet phantom were obtained. These vector maps were then combined using visualization software to produce three-dimensional representations of the flow. Results indicate that three-dimensional flow characteristics may be examined from the reconstructed images. >
Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Anticancer Agents: Contributions to the Therapy of Childhood Cancer

Strategies for treating pediatric malignancies have not only been successful (i.e., curative) for several disseminated childhood cancers, they have also served as paradigms for the therapy of many adult cancers. Initial strategies included combined treatment modalities (chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy) and combinations of different pharmacologic classes of anticancer drugs given in the appropriate schedules. Despite the currently successful therapy for some malignancies (e.g., 70% 4-year disease-free survival in acute lymphocytic leukemia), many children die without known reason. Recent advances in the clinical pharmacology of anticancer drugs have identified relationships between dose intensity and response (efficacy, toxicity). Traditional methods of measuring dose intensity (prescribed dose) have evolved to more sophisticated approaches in maximizing the intensity of treatment, with good response rates. Other methods of optimizing chemotherapy for individual patients include bone marrow support procedures and therapy with biologic response modifiers. Relatively few clinically useful new anticancer drugs have been discovered in the past several years. Fortunately, the potential to improve therapy with currently available agents has come about through enhanced knowledge of the biochemical and clinical pharmacology of anticancer drugs and biologic response modifiers, as well as improved understanding drug resistance biology.
Stochastic hyperfine interactions modeling library—Version 2

The stochastic hyperfine interactions modeling library (SHIML) provides a set of routines to assist in the development and application of stochastic models of hyperfine interactions. The library provides routines written in the C programming language that (1) read a text description of a model for fluctuating hyperfine fields, (2) set up the Blume matrix, upon which the evolution operator of the system depends, and (3) find the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the Blume matrix so that theoretical spectra of experimental techniques that measure hyperfine interactions can be calculated. The optimized vector and matrix operations of the BLAS and LAPACK libraries are utilized. The original version of SHIML constructed and solved Blume matrices for methods that measure hyperfine interactions of nuclear probes in a single spin state. Version 2 provides additional support for methods that measure interactions on two different spin states such as Mossbauer spectroscopy and nuclear resonant scattering of synchrotron radiation. Example codes are provided to illustrate the use of SHIML to (1) generate perturbed angular correlation spectra for the special case of polycrystalline samples when anisotropy terms of higher order than A22 can be neglected and (2) generate Mossbauer spectra for polycrystalline samples for pure dipole or pure quadrupole transitions.
Laser Processing of Thermal Sprayed Coatings for Thermoelectric Generators

Recent research has shown that thermal spray has the potential to fabricate thermoelectric devices at low cost and high volumes. An integral aspect of the device fabrication is laser processing of the various thermal sprayed layers, which is used to form electrically isolated regions and minimize heat loss to adjacent structures. In this article, experimental results are presented for the laser patterning of thermal spray samples ranging from 50μm to 2mm in thickness. The optimization of process parameters is important for successful electrical isolation and high-quality features. In this study results are presented several short-pulse lasers (nanosecond and picosecond) in which laser power, laser wavelength, type of focusing lens, processing speed, repetition rate, and pressure and flow of purge gas were varied. The optimum laser parameters were those that minimize the heat affected zone and delamination due to thermal damage while providing maximum material removal. The resulting laser patterns were characterized using both optical and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy, and by verifying electrical isolation between patterned regions using contact resistance measurements. Cut quality attributes including kerf width and edge profile were also studied, and their dependence on process parameters reported.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Teachers' Informal Collaboration Regarding Technology.

AbstractElementary school teachers in the present study reported informal collaboration regarding technology use as a more effective method of professional development than organizationally planned or sponsored activities. Despite the fact that teachers see their colleagues as valuable resources for learning how to utilize technology, the disciplined inquiry into informal collaboration is sparse. To answer the research question, “What is the nature of informal collaboration among teachers regarding technology use?,” a combination of questionnaire and interview techniques was utilized to generate five assertions concerning the constructs that govern teachers’ informal collaboration regarding technology use. These assertions include information pertaining to teachers’ perceptions of informal collaboration, factors that influence conversations, and with whom and for what purpose participants informally collaborate.
Ion transport in rat tongue epithelium in vitro: a developmental study.

Abstract The responsiveness of the rat gustatory system to monochloride salts changes during development. Neurophysiological recordings in the chorda tympani indicate that a) the taste responses to NaCl and KCl in early postnatal rats are small relative to NH 4 Cl, b) both salts become more potent stimuli as the animal matures, and c) the developmental increase is accompanied by an increase in sensitivity of the NaCl response to the sodium transport blocker amiloride. We measured ion transport properties of in vitro tongue epithelia from Wistar rats. When the tissue is mounted in an Ussing chamber, the short-circuit current responses to NaCl and KCl are small in the neonatal rat and increase during development in postweaning and adult animals. Amiloride sensitivity of the NaCl response also increases with age. This study confirms that increased sensitivity of the rat gustatory system to NaCl with age reflects changes in the peripheral membranes. The results support the hypothesis that the increased sensitivity is due to amiloride-sensitive membrane components being added or becoming functional.
Spin-Echo Studies of Conduction-Electron Polarization about the Impurity Atom in Fe-Rich Alloys

In this Letter some of the disagreement between previous NMR investigations of transition-metal impurities in Fe is clarified. A clear analysis of the experimental data is presented and its relation to the average unpaired spin density in several Fe alloys as measured by neutron scattering is pointed out.
Approximate Solution for Electrical Networks When These are Highly Oscillatory

The general solution to the slightly damped network is expressed in terms of the undamped solution by means of series expansions. The first part of the paper gives a method for evaluating the complex roots of the determinantal equation, and the second part shows how the expansions of the first part may be correlated with the Heaviside formula to form the complete approximate solution. An example illustrates the application to a simple network.
Paper-based super-capacitor using micro and nano particle deposition for paper-based diagnostics

In this paper, we present a flexible supercapacitor on paper substrate consisting of gel-based electrolyte sandwiched between two nanoparticle modified nickel-based electrodes. The inherent porosity of the paper provides a porous template for electrodeposition of nickel micro- and nano-particles through them, increasing the overall surface area of the electrodes. This results in high-density supercapacitor with exceptional energy density. Since the fabrication process can be conducted in ambient environment without a need for cleanroom using low cost materials such as paper, it is highly suitable for low-cost sensors and medical diagnostics. We characterize the supercapacitor using pulsed transient measurements. Results indicate that for a 17cm2 surface area, we achieve a capacitance of 10 Farads with just 6mΩ series resistance.
Spectroscopic comparison of the effects of CO2, Nd:YAG, and water-cooled Nd:YAG on tooth root

This in vitro investigation characterized the chemical structure of lased root surfaces using FTIR photoacoustic spectroscopy. Twelve disks, 6 X 2 mm, were cut from debrided root surfaces of extracted, unerupted human molars. Each specimen was exposed to either the CO2 Nd:YAG or water cooled Nd:YAG laser at these energy densities: CO2, 275; Nd:YAG without water 571; Nd:YAG with water 571 and 1429 J/cm2. Spectra were recorded using the photoacoustic cell attachment of an Analect RFX 65 FTIR spectrometer. Spectral contributions from protein occur at 1650, 1550, 1240 cm-1; mineral contributions at 1030 - 1060 cm-1, 600 - 560 cm-1, 870 cm-1. Specimens exposed to the Nd:YAG without water show a substantial reduction in the absorption bands attributable to protein and an additional band at 2015 cm-1. In the presence of water, the band at 2015 cm-1 does not appear at the lower energy density but is recorded at an energy density of 1429 J/cm2 when the surface is darkened. The spectra of the CO2 treated specimens, with the char layer present, show a significant reduction in the protein bands and additional bands at 2015 and 2200 cm-1, that are tentatively assigned to the cyanamide and cyanate ions, respectively (Dowker and Elliott, 1979). These results suggest a reaction of the organic matrix and mineral with laser exposure.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of glycine and glycine receptor antagonists on NMDA-induced brain injury☆

In postnatal day 7 rats, a unilateral intrastriatal injection of 12.5 nmol of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) reproducibly injures the ipsilateral striatum, adjacent hippocampus and overlying cortex. The severity of injury can be quantified by comparing cerebral hemisphere weights in animals sacrificed 5 days after the injection. Co-injection of NMDA and the glycine receptor antagonists kynurenic acid (KYN) or 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CKA) reduced the severity of NMDA-induced damage in a dose-dependent fashion. One hundred nmol of KYN with 12.5 nmol of NMDA reduced average % damage from 19.3 + 0.9% (n = 9) to 2.3 + 0.5% (n = 6), P < 0.001, ANOVA. Co-injection of 40 nmol of 7-CKA with 12.5 nmol of NMDA (n=6) reduced average % damage from 17.1 +1.6% (n= 15) to 3.0___0.6%, P<0.001, ANOVA. Concurrent injection of 1000 nmol glycine with 5 nmol NMDA did not increase the extent of NMDA-induced damage. Our results demonstrate that glycine receptor antagonists attenuate NMDAinduced brain injury in vivo. The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/channel complex includes the NMDA-selective glutamate binding site, a cationic channel, and a strychnine-insensitive glycine receptor which is closely associated with the receptor/channel complex [l]. In vitro studies have demonstrated that glycine is required for NMDA receptor activation [12] and potentiates NMDA responses [3]. Kynurenic acid and 7-chlorokynurenic acid (7-CKA) are competitive antagonists of strychnine-insensitive [3H]glycine binding [4, 5]. Intrastriatal injection of NMDA in postnatal day (PND) 7 rats produces reproducible damage to the ipsilateral striatum, adjacent hippocampus, and the overlying cortex [8]. The severity of brain injury can be quantified by comparing the weights of
Temperature effects on metabolism, ventilation, and oxygen extraction in a Neotropical bat.

Abstract We examined the relationship between ambient temperature (Ta), body temperature (Tb), oxygen consumption (V O 2 ), carbon dioxide production (V CO 2 ), evaporative water loss (ṁH 2 O), respiratory frequency (f), tidal volume (V t , minute volume (V i ), and oxygen extraction (E O 2 ) in the Neotropical bat Noctilio albiventris (mean mass 40 g). The factorial aerobic scope was 7.2 between Ta of 1–35°C ( V O 2 =0.119 and 0.0165 ml /( g · min ), respectively ). The respiratory exchange ratio (V CO 2 /V O 2 ) did not change with T and ṁH 2 O was constant between Ta of 10–35°C. Thermal conductance was minimal at 30°C and constant and low at Ta C . Between 10 and 35°C, Noctilio accomodated changing V O 2 with parallel and roughly equivalent changes in f, V t , and E O 2 . The change in V O 2 between 10 and 1 °C was accomodated mainly through changing f. Ventilation parameters in resting thermoneutral Noctilio are intermediate between allometric values for birds and mammals. Maximal E O 2 in Noctilio (35–40%) is higher than for other mammals but considerably less than maximal E O 2 in some birds.
Abstract B102: Fenretinide induces lethal autophagy via a novel ensemble of life and death regulators: dihydroceramide and sphinganine versus sphinganine 1-phosphate

B102 Fenretinide (4-hydroxyphenylretinamide, 4HPR) is a promising anticancer agent that is being evaluated in human clinical trials. One of the proposed mechanisms of action for 4HPR is to increase the biosynthesis of ceramide, an inducer of apoptosis. Using liquid chromatography, electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC ESI MS/MS) for “sphingolipidomic” analysis, we have found (H Wang et al., Mol. Cancer Ther. 7: 2967-2976, 2008) that 4HPR elevates dihydroceramides instead of ceramides due to the inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase, and also increases the amounts of sphinganine and sphinganine 1-phosphate. In exploring how these metabolites could mediate 4HPR cytotoxicity, we have additionally discovered that dihydroceramides induce autophagy, and whether this is cytotoxic depends on the relative amounts of sphinganine 1-phosphate versus sphinganine--a highly toxic compound due to its effects on multiple signaling pathways as well as being lysosomotrophic. These findings reveal new facets of sphingolipid biology and autophagy, and suggest that the efficacy of 4HPR_and presumably other inhibitors of dihydroceramide desaturase--might be increased by concomitant inhibition of sphingosine kinase. (Acknowledgement: Some of these studies were conducted in collaboration with Dr. Myles Cabot of the John Wayne Cancer Institute, and funded by the Lipid MAPS Consortium grant GM069338.) Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B102.
Polythioantimonate flux synthesis of the low-dimensional compounds A2AuSbS4 (A=Rb, Cs)

Abstract The reaction of Au with a molten mixture of A 2 S/Sb/S (A=Rb, Cs) produced the isostructural quaternary compounds A 2 AuSbS 4 . The yellow-brown crystals of Rb 2 AuSbS 4 ( I ) and yellow crystals of Cs 2 AuSbS 4 ( II ) are stable in air and water for several days and for over a month for I and II , respectively. The structure of Rb 2 AuSbS 4 crystallizes in the space group Pbcm (#57) and at 23°C a =6.804(3) A, b =20.127(4) A, c =7.195(4) A, V =985(1) A 3 , Z =8. Final R / R w =4.5/6.6%. This structure consists of one-dimensional [AuSbS 4 ] n 2 n − chains separated by A + cations. The chains are comprised of Au + cations linearly coordinated to [SbS 4 ] 3− tetrahedra. The compounds were characterized with differential thermal analysis (DTA), far-IR, Raman, and solid-state UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy.
Synthesis of polypeptides directed by the RNA of phage Qβ

Abstract Proteins synthesized in rifampicin-treated Escherichia coli cells infected with phage Qβ were compared with the proteins synthesized in vitro by an E. coli cell extract under the direction of Qβ ribonucleic acid (Qβ RNA). The polypeptides were characterized on the basis of their relative histidine contents, and their electrophoretic mobilities in two polyacrylamide gel systems. Of the four polypeptides synthesized in infected cells, three were found as products of the cell-free system. A large proportion of the coat protein synthesized in vitro was able to bind to Qβ RNA as revealed by centrifugation studies. Binding was also observed with the other in vitro products, and this binding is discussed in connection with the function of these polypeptides.
Rapid cycling affective disorders: a clinical review.

Abstract Different issues pertaining to the study of Rapid Cycling Affective Disorders (RCAD) are examined. RCAD's appear to be relatively infrequent, even though their clinical characterization does not differ from the conventional affective disorders. RC can be classified as early onset and late onset, according to time of appearance; spontaneous and induced (by pharmacological or nonpharmacological agents), according to causation; and ultra-rapid (48 hours) and classical (three days to 12 weeks), according to cycle length. Case reports seem to show that the ultra-rapid cyclers may have clear differences when compared with the classical rapid cyclers: elderly male patients seem to start their affective picture with RC, whereas younger female patients are predominantly classical rapid cyclers. The inducers seem to be far less specific and the response to treatment far less consistent in the ultra-rapid cyclers. The most widely accepted etiopathogenic theory ascribes an important role to thyroid hypofunction, probably precipitated by lithium treatment. The review, however, suggests that this theory may explain only a minority of cases. Treatment approaches remain tentative, inconsistent and even conflicting with the proposed etiopathogeneses. Clearly, terminological precisions, well defined clinical samples, neurohormonal and psychophysiological tests, and epidemiological designs, can and should help elucidate the key question of whether RCAD is an autonomous clinical condition or simply one end in the spectrum of cyclicity.
Preference heterogeneity, wage inequality, and trade

Abstract We consider individuals who value product variety, and who can be skilled or unskilled as workers. Skilled people prefer to consume skill-intensive goods. We show that under plausible conditions an increase in the relative size of the skilled population increases the relative wage of skilled workers, thereby increasing wage inequality. In our two-country model of trade, an increase in the relative supply of skilled labor in either country increases the relative wage of skilled workers, and hence increases inequality in both countries.
Atlantic hurricanes and natural variability in 2005

[1] The 2005 North Atlantic hurricane season (1 June to 30 November) was the most active on record by several measures, surpassing the very active season of 2004 and causing an unprecedented level of damage. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the tropical North Atlantic (TNA) region critical for hurricanes (10° to 20°N) were at record high levels in the extended summer (June to October) of 2005 at 0.9°C above the 1901-70 normal and were a major reason for the record hurricane season. Changes in TNA SSTs are associated with a pattern of natural variation known as the Atlantic Multi-decadal Oscillation (AMO). However, previous AMO indices are conflated with linear trends and a revised AMO index accounts for between 0 and 0.1°C of the 2005 SST anomaly. About 0.45°C of the SST anomaly is common to global SST and is thus linked to global warming and, based on regression, about 0.2°C stemmed from after-effects of the 2004-05 El Nino.
Electronically monitored adherence to medications by newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To describe patterns of adherence to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in newly diagnosed patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), and to examine demographic and disease-related variables as potential predictors of adherence. Methods Adherence to NSAIDs was monitored in 48 children with JRA (mean age 8.6 years) over 28 consecutive days using an electronic monitoring device. Measures of disease activity (active joint counts, morning stiffness) and demographics (age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status) were also obtained. Results Using an 80% adherence cut point, 25 (52%) patients were classified as adherent and 23 (48%) as nonadherent. There was considerable variability across patients, with full adherence (taking all doses on time) ranging from 0 to 100% of the monitored days. Logistic regression showed that active joint count and socioeconomic status were the only significant predictors. Both were positively related to adherence. The model correctly classified 70.5% of patients as either adherent or nonadherent (Cox and Snell R2 = 0.295, P = 0.0005). Conclusion Children newly diagnosed with JRA are more likely to adhere to an NSAID regimen if they have a greater number of active joints or their families have higher socioeconomic status. The former finding suggests that children's adherence is symptom-driven, while the latter suggests that families of lower socioeconomic status deserve special attention to address adherence issues.
Epileptogenesis: left or right hemisphere dominance? Preliminary findings in a hospital-based population.

The aim of this study was to determine if there is cerebral cortical hemispheral asymmetry in human epileptogenesis. We studied 75 epilepsy patients using electroencephalograms, neuroimaging, ictal semiology and physical examination to determine if epilepsy originates more frequently from the left or the right hemisphere. We considered epilepsy to be definitely-lateralized if one or more of these was abnormal unilaterally and there were no contradictory findings. Twenty-seven of the patients had lateralized epilepsy: 20 from the left hemisphere and seven from the right hemisphere (P< 0.05). These findings from our hospital-based ambulatory patient population suggest that the left hemisphere is more epileptogenic than the right. Further study of lateralization of epileptogenesis in a community population-based sample of incident new-onset cases seems warranted.
The Effects of Structural and Overlay Design Parameters of Membrane Switches on the Force Exerted by Users

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects on applied force of structural design parameters and of feedback conditions inherent in the aesthetic overlay of membrane switch touchpads. In...
Restless legs syndrome: a comprehensive overview on its epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment.

Purposes Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is underdiagnosed and poorly understood by clinicians and the general public alike; accordingly, a broad literature review with information most relevant to general practice is needed to help dispel misconceptions and improve level of care.
Pharyngeal dilator muscle contractile and endurance properties in neonatal piglets

Abstract Pharyngeal dilator muscles are critical for maintaining upper airway patency in the neonatal period. The present study examine in vitro the contractile properties of a pharyngeal dilator muscle, the sternohyoid, in 1–7-day-old piglets (n = 24). Isometric contraction and half-relaxation times were 36.7 ± 1.1 and 30.9 ± 1.2 msec, respectively. Twitch potentiation (‘staircase phenomenon’) and post-tetanic potentiation were noted following repetitive stimulation. During prolonged repetitive stimulation with a standard (40 Hz) fatigue test, muscle force declined gradually over time, with loss of half of the initial force occuring over 138 ± 11 sec, and a 2-min fatigue index (ratio of force at 2 min to initial force) of 0.52 ± 0.03. An additional 10 piglets were studied at ages of 14–20 days. Muscle from older piglets had comparable isometric twitch kinetics as that of younger animals. However, sternohyoid muscle from the older piglets had worse endurance than muscle from the younger animals, as indicated by a shorter time required for force to decrease by half (86 ± 10 sec, P
Objective Detection of Faking on Role-Play Tests of Assertion: Gender Differences:

The validity of role-play tests of assertiveness can be reduced by the effects of faking. Kern demonstrated that faking could be detected using assessors' global judgements. The present analysis is based on Kern's 1994 videotapes, examining the effectiveness of more objective measures. Undergraduates who were low in assertiveness and instructed to fake high assertiveness on the Idiographic Role-play Test (n = 23) emitted more statements indicative of social-evaluative concerns than the veridically highly assertive testees (n = 27). Significant gender differences in the detectability of faking were also obtained. Whereas 24 female fakers and nonfakers were differentiated via verbalizations of likability, 26 male fakers and nonfakers were differentiated via empathic-assertive statements. The implications and limitations of this method to detect faking are discussed.
Hydrogen atom transfer reactions of a ruthenium imidazole complex: hydrogen tunneling and the applicability of the Marcus cross relation.

The reaction of RuII(acac)2(py-imH) (RuIIimH) with TEMPO• (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical) in MeCN quantitatively gives RuIII(acac)2(py-im) (RuIIIim) and the hydroxylamine TEMPO-H by transfer of H• (H+ + e−) (acac = 2,4-pentanedionato, py-imH = 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole). Kinetic measurements of this reaction by UV−vis stopped-flow techniques indicate a bimolecular rate constant k3H = 1400 ± 100 M−1 s−1 at 298 K. The reaction proceeds via a concerted hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) mechanism, as shown by ruling out the stepwise pathways of initial proton or electron transfer due to their very unfavorable thermochemistry (ΔG°). Deuterium transfer from RuII(acac)2(py-imD) (RuIIimD) to TEMPO• is surprisingly much slower at k3D = 60 ± 7 M−1 s−1, with k3H/k3D = 23 ± 3 at 298 K. Temperature-dependent measurements of this deuterium kinetic isotope effect (KIE) show a large difference between the apparent activation energies, Ea3D − Ea3H = 1.9 ± 0.8 kcal mol−1. The large k3H/k3D and ΔEa values appear to ...
An implementation study of a TPACK-based instructional design model in a technology integration course

The purpose of this study was (a) to develop an instructional design model for preservice teachers’ learning of technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) in multidisciplinary technology integration courses and (b) to apply the model to investigate its effects when used in a preservice teacher education setting. The model was applied in a technology integration course with fifteen participants from diverse majors. Data included individual participants’ written materials and TPACK survey responses, group lesson plans, and the researchers’ field notes. The data analysis results revealed that: (1) the participants had difficulties understanding pedagogical knowledge (PK), which hindered their learning of integrated knowledge of TPACK and (2) their learning of TPACK was the combination rather than the integration of PK, technological knowledge, and content knowledge. Suggestions and implications for refining the model and future research possibilities are discussed.
What Does Brand Mean? Historical-Analysis Method and Construct Definition:

This article addresses the meaning of the term brand means by presenting a method of historical analysis and construct definition based on information in theOxford English Dictionary. The method’s use is demonstrated in an analysis of the original meanings that underlie the term’s usage both as a single word and in compounds such as brand competition, brand personality, brand reputation, and so forth. Literal (denotative) definitions and metaphoric (connotative) associations are examined to explain the use of brand to refer to a physical entity and/or a mental representation. The method is also theoretically grounded in the disciplines of philology (the history of words), poetics, rhetoric, and the philosophy of science. The historical-analysis method is applied to the meanings of brand, starting with its original usage about 1,500 years ago and culminating with the definitions used by authors in this special issue.
Biochemical and molecular biological evidence for the presence of type II iodothyronine deiodinase in mouse mammary gland.

Abstract In the present study we have obtained several lines of evidence indicating the presence of type II iodothyronine deiodinase (DII) in the mouse mammary gland. 5′-deiodinase activity in the mammary gland has an apparent K m value of 4.4 nM for T 4 and is inhibited by aurothioglucose but not by propylthiouracil. These characteristics are similar to those of DII in other tissues. We cloned a 1.4-kb cDNA, which contains the entire mouse DII coding region and has high homology with the rat DII cDNA, from the mammary gland and brain. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of 7.9 kb DII mRNA in the mammary gland and brain. The levels of DII activity and mRNA in lactating gland were significantly lower than those in virgin and pregnant glands, suggesting that DII is regulated at the pretranslational level. In addition, we found the low level of DII enzyme activity and transcript in various other mouse tissues.
Co-expression of α (1,3)galactosyltransferase and Bacillus thuringiensis PIPLC enhances hyperacute rejection of tumor cells

The use of α(1,3)galactosyltransferase (αGT) as a method of inducing hyperacute rejection of tumors has been gaining interest recently. However, the approach is based in part on the sensitivity of each tumor line to the effects of complement lysis. Tumors expressing complement resistance factors such as membrane cofactor (CD46), decay accelerating factor (CD55) and protectin (CD59) have been shown to be more resistant to complement mediated lysis. Anchored to the membrane by a glycosylphosphoinositol moiety (GPI-anchored), CD55 and CD59 can be cleaved by Bacillus thuringiensis phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC). Complement resistant A549 human lung carcinoma cells were engineered to express both the murine αGT gene and the B. thuringiensis PIPLC gene to alleviate complement resistance and enhance αgal-mediated cancer killing. The PIPLC native signal sequence was replaced with the human epidermal growth factor signal sequence, EGFssPIPLC, to induce secretion from A549. Expression of EGFssPIPLC resulted in complete removal of CD55 and CD59 while sparing the non-GPI-anchored CD46. Results demonstrated that A549 cells transduced with two recombinant retroviral vectors carrying the αGT and EGFssPIPLC genes expressed high levels of αgal epitope and exhibited a 5-fold increase in sensitivity to anti-αgal mediated complement lysis.
Specific DNA binding peptide-derivatized solid support

Abstract The basic region (amino acids 226–252) of the basic region/leucine zipper protein GCN4 has been synthesized and covalently attached to a column matrix. This peptide dimer-derivatized column binds to the AP-1 (5′-TGACTCA-3′) and ATF/CREB (5′-TGACGTCA-3′) DNA sites, which are the target sites of native GCN4.