cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual Regulation of Phosphorylation and Dephosphorylation of C/EBPβ Modulate Its Transcriptional Activation and DNA Binding in Response to Growth Hormone

The phosphorylation state of transcription factors is a critical determinant of their function. C/EBPbeta occurs in cells as the transcriptional activator liver-enriched activating protein (LAP) and in the truncated form liver-enriched inhibitory protein (LIP) that inhibits transcription. Analysis of C/EBPbeta phosphorylation by isoelectric focusing (IEF) shows that LAP is present in multiple forms, each with a different degree of phosphorylation in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts. Growth hormone (GH) treatment induces a new band near the negative pole, consistent with GH-promoted dephosphorylation of LAP. In addition, bands near the positive pole are rapidly and transiently induced, suggesting that GH also stimulates phosphorylation at some site(s) on LAP. C/EBPbeta contains a highly conserved MAPK consensus site that corresponds to Thr(188) in murine (m) LAP and Thr(37) in mLIP. Immunoblotting with antiphosphopeptide antibodies specific for Thr(188/37) of C/EBPbeta (anti-P-C/EBPbeta) shows that GH rapidly and transiently promotes phosphorylation of mLAP and mLIP on the MAPK site. MEK inhibitors prevent this GH-promoted phosphorylation of LAP and LIP, suggesting that such phosphorylation depends on GH-activated MAPK signaling. Mutation of Thr(235) to Ala in the homologous MAPK site of human (h) LAP (hLAPT235A) inhibits transcription mediated by the c-fos promoter in response to GH, indicating that phosphorylation at the MAPK site is required for LAP to be transcriptionally active in the context of GH-stimulated activation of the c-fos promoter. Complexes bound to the c-fos C/EBP site transiently contain C/EBPbeta phosphorylated at the MAPK site. As phosphorylation subsides, the binding of less transcriptionally active forms of LAP increases, consistent with the transient nature of c-fos stimulation by GH and other growth factors. Thus, both phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of C/EBPbeta, in response to a single physiological stimulus such as GH, coordinately modulate the ability of C/EBPbeta to activate transcription by modulating its DNA binding activity and its transactivation capacity.
Characterization of double pulse-doped channel GaAs MESFETs

The fabrication and characterization of a double pulse-doped (DPD) GaAs MESFET grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) are reported. The electron mobility of a DPD structure with a carrier concentration of 3*10/sup 18//cm/sup 3/ was 2000 cm/sup 2//V-s, which is about 20% higher than that of a pulse-doped (PD) structure. Implementing the DPD structure instead of the conventional PD structure as a GaAs MESFET channel, the drain breakdown voltage, current gain cutoff frequency, and maximum stable gain (MSG) increase. The maximum transconductance of 265 mS/mm at a drain current density of 600 mA/mm, a current gain cutoff frequency of 40 GHz, and an MSG of 11 dB at 18 GHz were obtained for a 0.3 mu m n/sup +/ self-aligned DPD GaAs MESFET. >
Innate immune response in CF airway epithelia: hyperinflammatory?

The lack of functional cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the apical membranes of CF airway epithelial cells abolishes cAMP-stimulated anion transport, and bacteria,...
The oyster enigma variations: a hypothesis of microbial calcification

Oysters, whose inner shell layer contains chambers, vesicles, and sometimes chalky deposits, often have extraordinarily thick shells of large size, prompting the idea that there is something unusual about the process of shell fPormation in these and similarly structured bivalves with the oyster syndrome. I propose the hypothesis that calcifying microbes, especially sulfate-reducing bacteria growing on organic substrates in fluid-filled shell-wall chambers, are responsible for shell calcification away from the shell-secreting mantle of the host bivalve. Other phenomena, including the formation of cameral deposits in fossil cephalopods, the cementation of molluscs and barnacles to hard substrata, the formation of a calcified intriticalx on the shell's exterior, and cementation of objects by gastropods on the shell for camouflage, may also involve calcifying bacteria. Several lines of inquiry are suggested to test these hypotheses.
The Contributions of James M.Buchanan to Public Finance and Political Economy

James M. Buchanan’s contributions to public finance and political economy are surveyed in six areas: (1) debt, fiscal illusion, and Keynesian criticisms; (2) London School of Economics cost approac...
High gradient magnetic separation: Effect of temperature on performance

A simple model is formulated to determine the effect of temperature on the filtering ability of HGMS devices. An optimum temperature range is observed to exist for which the capture of ash-forming minerals and inorganic sulfur in liquid coal is at a maximum. Model will serve as a framework for analyzing experimental data in future. In the past, some pertinent, independent variables such as particle size, slurry velocity and applied magnetic field which affect the performance of HGMS de-Vices, have somewhat been investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The effects of these important variables have been well established. A program is currently underway at the M.I.T. Francis Bitter National Magnet Laboratory to study the applicability of HGMS to products from coal liquefaction processes. As part of this program, the effect of temperature on the performance of filtering ash-forming mineral impurities and inorganic sulfur from liquefied coal is being explored. This introduces an additional variable- temperature -which is to be investigated among other relevant variables of the system. In particular, by varying the operating temperature the trade-off, between the lowering of the viscosity of the fluid as the temperature is increased and the attendant decrease in the magnetization of magnetic particles, is to be studied. In view of these considerations, a simple model has been formulated to predict the effect of temperature on the filtering ability of HGMS devices.
Instabilities of a baroclinic, double diffusive frontal zone

Abstract The linear theory of double diffusive interleaving is extended to take account of baroclinic effects. This study goes beyond previous studies by including the possibility of modes with nonzero tilt in the alongfront direction, which allows for advection by the baroclinic frontal flow. This requires that the stability equations be solved numerically. The main example is based on observations of interleaving on the lower flank of Meddy Sharon, but a range of parameter values is covered, leading to conclusions that are relevant in a variety of oceanic regimes. The frontal zone is treated as infinitely wide with uniform gradients of temperature, salinity, and alongfront velocity. The stationary, vertically symmetric interleaving mode is shown to have maximum growth rate when its alongfront wavenumber is zero, providing validation for previous studies in which this property was assumed. Besides this, there exist two additional modes of instability: the ageostrophic Eady mode of baroclinic instability ...
Association of early-onset otitis media in infants and exposure to household mould.

Summary Otitis media is one of the most common infections of early childhood. Children who first experience acute otitis media at an early age (before 6 months) are at increased risk for recurrent otitis media. This prospective study investigated exposure to measured levels of airborne household mould and the risk of early otitis media in the first 6 months of life among a cohort of infants at high risk for asthma. Between September 1996 and December 1998, women were invited to participate if they had at least one other child with physician-diagnosed asthma. Mothers were given a standardised questionnaire within 4 months of their infant's birth. Airborne mould samples were also taken at this time, and culturable fungi were categorised into four levels according to the report of the Commission of European Communities: 0 (undetectable), 1–499 colony forming units (CFU)/m3 (low), 500–999 CFU/m3 (medium), ≥1000 CFU/m3 (high). Infant respiratory symptoms were collected during quarterly telephone interviews at 6, 9 and 12 months of age. Of the 806 children in the study, 27.8% experienced otitis media before six months of age. Household levels of Penicillium and Cladosporium were modestly associated with the number of otitis media episodes (P = 0.056 and 0.081 respectively). After controlling for potential confounders, Penicillium and Cladosporium were not associated with early otitis media. High levels of ‘other’ mould (defined as total spore count minus counts for Penicillium, Cladosporium, and yeast) were associated with early otitis media (OR 3.49; 95% CI [1.38, 8.79]). We also found associations between day-care outside of the home and birth during the summer or fall season with early otitis media. This study is suggestive of a relationship between otitis media and mould that warrants further study.
Hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular risk reduction

Abstract Background: Elevated triglyceride (TG) levels are prevalent among the US population, often occurring in persons who are overweight or obese, or who have type 2 diabetes or the metabolic syndrome. There is evidence that elevated TG levels may be a significant independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly in women. Objective: This article reviews data on the epidemiology, associated risks, treatment, and prevention of hypertriglyceridemia, including recommended TG goals and available TG-lowering agents. Methods: MEDLINE was searched for articles published from 1990 through 2006 using the terms hypertriglyceridemia, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease, with subheadings for risk, statins, niacin, fibrates, thiazolidinediones, and omega-3 fatty acids. The reference lists of relevant articles were examined for additional citations. Publications discussing the epidemiology of hypertriglyceridemia, CHD risk, treatment guidelines for lipid management, clinical trials involving TG-lowering drugs, and outcomes for lipid-modifying therapies were selected for review. Results: Concern over the increasing rate of hypertriglyceridemia and its deleterious health consequences is reflected in the most recent National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines. Several lipid-lowering agents are available, including statins, fibrates, niacin, thiazolidinediones, and prescription omega-3 fatty acids. Clinical trials of these drugs have reported lowering of TG by 7% to 50%. Along with lifestyle changes, the use of combination pharmacotherapy to reduce lipid levels (including TG) may be an effective strategy in patients with dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Use of strategies to manage TG levels, along with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, is warranted to help reduce the risk of CHD.
Are there representational shifts during category learning

Early theories of categorization assumed that either rules, or prototypes, or exemplars were exclusively used to mentally represent categories of objects. More recently, hybrid theories of categorization have been proposed that variously combine these different forms of category representation. Our research addressed the question of whether there are representational shifts during category learning. We report a series of experiments that tracked how individual subjects generalized their acquired category knowledge to classifying new critical transfer items as a function of learning. Individual differences were observed in the generalization patterns exhibited by subjects, and those generalizations changed systematically with experience. Early in learning, subjects generalized on the basis of single diagnostic dimensions, consistent with the use of simple categorization rules. Later in learning, subjects generalized in a manner consistent with the use of similarity-based exemplar retrieval, attending to multiple stimulus dimensions. Theoretical modeling was used to formally corroborate these empirical observations by comparing fits of rule, prototype, and exemplar models to the observed categorization data. Although we provide strong evidence for shifts in the kind of information used to classify objects as a function of categorization experience, interpreting these results in terms of shifts in representational systems underlying perceptual categorization is a far thornier issue. We provide a discussion of the challenges of making claims about category representation, making reference to a wide body of literature suggesting different kinds of representational systems in perceptual categorization and related domains of human cognition.
Surgical and Trauma Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Tools to Evaluate Capacity

RESULTS: There were 867 adult patients with an emergency general surgery complaint. There were190 patients (21.9%) who presented with peritonitis, with a mean age of 32.6 20.3 years, and a male preponderance (62.6%). Mortality rates for patients with and without peritonitis are 20.0% and 8.6% (p<0.000), respectively. In patients with peritonitis, 139 (73.2%) had surgery, with small bowel perforation (23.6%) and appendicitis (23.6%) as the most common postoperative diagnoses. Delayed presentation, nonoperative intervention, and delayed surgery were significantly associated with mortality (p1⁄40.032, 0.018, 0.038). Logistic regression modeling showed an adjusted odds ratio of mortality for patients with peritonitis to be 2.87 (p<0.000, CI 1.77-4.66).
Scaling of Vorticity Flux and Entrance Length Effects in Zero-Net Mass-Flux Devices

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are used to examine the vorticity flux and slot entrance effects in zero-net mass-flux devices. The simulations allow us to extract a simple scaling law for the vorticity flux which provides insight into the relative importance of the various operational parameters. In addition to this, a semi-analytical model is proposed in order to determine the pressure loss across an orifice or slot for oscillatory flows. A key parameter in this model is the normalized entrance length and numerical simulations are used to determine the variation of this parameter with the jet Strouhal number.
Lead-exposure of neonatal rats through maternal milk : A confounded model.

Lead-exposed neonatal rats are frequently used as a model for plumbism in children. In most studies,PPb is administered to the dam, and it is assumed that the pups are exposed to Pb primarily from the dam's milk. Rat pups, however, are coprophagic and begin to consume the maternal feces in their second postnatal week. This experiment was designed to determine whether the maternal feces are a significant source of Pb in pups exposed via the lactating dam. Dams were administered Pb as lead acetate (PbAc), either through their drinking water (500 ppm PbAc) or through twice daily intubations (3 mg PbAc/Kg body wt) from postpartum d 1 (P1) to P21 (P0=day of birth). Control dams were administered deionized water. The dams were housed with their litters in stainless-steel hanging cages with wire-screened bottoms. Litters of exposed and control dams treated through their drinking water had access to either Pb-containing or Pb-free maternal fecal matter for 2 h/d during the late lactation period. Half of the litters from intubated dams had continuous access to maternal feces throughout the lactation period, whereas access was curtailed at P14 in the other litters. Lead content of the feces from Pb-exposed dams ranged from 1000 to 5000 μg Pb/g wet wt. At P21, Pb concentrations were 2–4 times higher in blood, brain, bone, and liver of pups that had access to Pb-contaminated feces than in pups that were exposed to Pb primarily through the mother's milk. When estimating exposure levels in pups receiving Pb through the lactating dam, coprophagy and the high content of Pb in the dam's feces must be taken into consideration.
Computationally Efficient Carrier Integer Ambiguity Resolution in Multiepoch GPS/INS: A Common-Position-Shift Approach

Integer ambiguity resolution is a challenging technical issue that exists in real-time kinematic (RTK) global positioning system (GPS) navigation. Once the integer vector is resolved, centimeter-level positioning estimation accuracy can be achieved using the GPS carrier phase measurements. Recently, a real-time sliding window Bayesian estimation approach to RTK GPS and inertial navigation was proposed to provide reliable centimeter accurate-state estimation, via integer ambiguity resolution utilizing a prior along with all inertial measurement unit and GPS measurements within the time window. One challenge to implementing that approach in practice is the high computation cost. This paper proposes a novel implementation approach with significantly lower computational requirements and includes a thorough theoretical analysis. The implementation results show that the proposed method resolves an integer vector identical to that of the original method and achieves state estimation with centimeter global positioning accuracy.
4: REGENERATIVE ASYNCHRONY IS A DRIVER IN CHRONIC INFLAMMATION IN AGING

Purpose of Study Age-associated chronic diseases are associated with a pro-inflammatory state. It has been challenging to determine cause and effect – do age-associated pathologies increase inflammation or does inflammation induce age-associated pathologies or both? We previously showed that disease-related regenerative asynchrony in repairing lung is the cause of chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Thus, we hypothesized that the aged lung is itself asynchronously regenerating leading to a pro-inflammatory pulmonary milieu. Methods Used Tracheas and intra-cardiac blood were harvested from C57BL6 mice in two age groups of both genders. Young mice were between 8 and 20 weeks of age. Aged mice were between 23 and 33 months of age. Tracheal epithelial progenitor cells were isolated and cultured for 6 days with continuous exposure to BrdU. Cellular regeneration was analyzed by flow cytometry for 7-AAD DNA staining in BrdU + cells. Concentrations of an initial screening set of cytokines in plasma and cell culture supernatants from days 2 and 6 of culture were measured using magnetic bead-based assays. Summary of Results Fewer airway epithelial progenitors underwent mitosis from the aged than the young mice (16.9±10.4% vs. 62.2±9.4% of the cultured cells at 6 days). The tracheal epithelial progenitors from aged mice were asynchronously distributed along the cell cycle (G 1 , S, G 2 /M: 44, 25, and 31%) compared to those from young mice (62, 14, and 24%). Plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and TGFβ were not significantly different between age groups. Concentrations of TGFβ were significantly different between age groups in supernatant from day 2 (aged=112.43±16.31 pg/mL, young=171.23±13.70 pg/mL; p Conclusions Our data support the concept that aging induces progenitor cell mitotic asynchrony. It is possible that this epithelial mitotic asynchrony contributes to the pro-inflammatory state associated with aging, as seen in other chronic inflammatory states.
Metabolic factors in surgery of peripheral nerves.

Respect for the metabolic changes within the neuron is critical in planning peripheral nerve surgery. Only by understanding the different metabolic responses of nerve tissue and supportive tissue can anastomosis be carried out in such a manner that the budding neuron stands its best chance of regenerating across a repair site. The normal metabolic state is described and the changes in metabolism which are seen with injury or disease are outlined. The normal and abnormal states are reviewed stepwise from central to peripheral along the various peripheral nerves.
An Introduction to Dynamical Systems and Neuronal Dynamics

1. Introduction 2. One Dimensional Equations 2.1. The Geometric Approach 2.2. Bifurcations 2.3. Bistability and Hysteresis 3. Two Dimensional Systems 3.1. The Phase Plane 3.2. An Example 3.3. Oscillations 3.4. Local Bifurcations 3.5. Global Bifurcations 3.6. Geometric Singular Perturbation Theory 4. Single Neurons 4.1. Some Biology 4.2. The Hodgkin-Huxley Equations 4.3. Reduced Models 4.4. Bursting Oscillations 4.5. Traveling Wave Solutions 5. Two Mutually Coupled Cells 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Synaptic Coupling 5.3. Geometric Approach 5.4. Synchrony with Excitatory Synapses 5.5. Desynchrony with Inhibitory Synapses 6. Activity Patterns in the Basal Ganglia 6.1. Introduction 6.2. The Basal Ganglia 6.3. The Model 6.4. Activity Patterns 6.5. Concluding Remarks References
Policy Shaping in Domains with Multiple Optimal Policies: (Extended Abstract)

In many domains, there exist multiple ways for an agent to achieve optimal performance. Feedback may be provided along one or more of them to aid learning. In this work, we investigate whether humans have a preference towards providing feedback along one optimal policy over the other in two gridworld domains. We find that for the domain with significant risk to exploration, 60% of our participants prefer to discourage the agent's exploration along the risky portion of the state space, while 40% state that they have no preference. We also use the interactive reinforcement learning algorithm Policy Shaping to evaluate the performance of simulated oracles with a number of feedback strategies. We find that certain domain traits, such as risk during exploration and number of optimal policies play an important role in determining the best performing feedback strategy.
Isolated Pulmonary Metastases from Carcinoma of the Prostate: A Case Report and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Analysis Using Flow Cytometry

AbstractWe report an unusual case of isolated metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma to the lung and compare the deoxyribonucleic acid content of the primary tumor to the metastases using flow cytometry.
THE ROLE OF STOCK DIVIDENDS IN DEFINING INCOME, DEVELOPING CAPITAL MARKET RESEARCH AND EXPLORING THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF ACCOUNTING POLICY DECISIONS

Allegations that stock dividends serve as a vehicle for deceptive financing, evasion of taxes, misleading financial reporting, and stock market manipulation resulted in legislation that prohibited their use in the United States in the latter part of the 19th century. In the 20th century, efforts of the Supreme Court to determine the economic substance and taxability of stock dividends catalyzed a pioneering effort by the Court to define income within the 16th Amendment. As early as 1930 market reactions to stock dividends were investigated; this may have been one of the earliest forms of capital market research. This paper examines the effects of stock dividends on the development of accounting.
Existence of Solutions

In this chapter, we describe and apply two boundary integral equation methods to solve the fundamental boundary value problems formulated in Sect. 1.2
Taking Action to Reduce Waste: Quantifying Impacts of Model Use in a Multiorganizational Sustainability Negotiation

We use a role‐play simulation to examine how using quantitative models influences the process and outcome of sustainability negotiations. Our experimental approach involved 74 teams of five parties negotiating the details of a pilot test to compost and/or recycle used paper coffee cups. Approximately half of these negotiation teams were given a quantitative model—a life cycle assessment (LCA). We measured both negotiation process and outcome variables, in particular identifying favorable agreements—the mutually exclusive set of agreements that either minimized carbon dioxide emissions or maximized the parties’ collective earned value. We found that most teams used a quantitative model; nearly half of those cocreated their own while negotiating. In our sample, teams that used a model, even those cocreating the model while negotiating, reached agreement more quickly than teams not using a model. Teams that cocreated the LCA reached a higher number of favorable agreements. We observed two dominant manners of model use: using the model to test alternatives while developing an agreement and verifying that a tentative agreement would sufficiently reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We conclude that using a quantitative model during a sustainability negotiation can help to increase the chances of obtaining a favorable agreement without lengthening the negotiation duration.
CYP2C9 Genotype-Dependent Warfarin Pharmacokinetics: Impact of CYP2C9 Genotype on R- and S-Warfarin and Their Oxidative Metabolites

Multiple factors can impact warfarin therapy, including genetic variations in the drug-metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9). Compared with individuals with the wild-type allele, CYP2C9*1, carriers of the common *3 variant have significantly impaired CYP2C9 metabolism. Genetic variations in CYP2C9, the primary enzyme governing the metabolic clearance of the more potent S-enantiomer of the racemic anticoagulant warfarin, may impact warfarin-drug interactions. To establish a baseline for such studies, plasma and urine concentrations of R- and S-warfarin and 10 warfarin metabolites were monitored for up to 360 hours following a 10-mg warfarin dose in healthy subjects with 4 different CYP2C9 genotypes: CYP2C9*1/*1 (n = 8), CYP2C9*1/*3 (n = 9), CYP2C9*2/*3 (n = 3), and CYP2C9*3/*3 (n = 4). Plasma clearance of S-warfarin, but not R-warfarin, decreased multiexponentially and in a CYP2C9 gene-dependent manner: 56%, 70%, and 75% for CYP2C9*1/*3, CYP2C9*2/*3, and CYP2C9*3/*3 genotypes, respectively, compared with CYP2C9*1/*1, resulting in pronounced differences in the S:R ratio that identified warfarin-sensitive genotypes. CYP2C9 was the primary P450 enzyme contributing to S-warfarin metabolism and a minor contributor to R-warfarin metabolism. In the presence of a defective CYP2C9 allele, switching of warfarin metabolism to other oxidative pathways and P450 enzymes for the metabolic elimination of S-warfarin was not observed. The 10-hydroxywarfarin metabolites, whose detailed pharmacokinetics are reported for the first time, exhibited a prolonged half-life with no evidence of renal excretion and displayed elimination rate-limited kinetics. Understanding the impact of CYP2C9 genetics on warfarin pharmacokinetics lays the foundation for future genotype-dependent warfarin-drug interaction studies.
A Review of Coelenterate Laboratory Culture

The laboratory maintenance of some Coelenterates was established in the latter part of the 19th century, Ashworth and Annandale published in 1904, “Observations on some aged specimens of Sagartia troglodytes (later identified as cereus pedunculatus) and on the duration of life in the Coelenterates.” They made observations on specimens of the Anthozoan which were at least fifty years old. These specimens were collected on the coast of Iran before 1862, Sixteen of the original specimens were living when Ashworth and Annandale made their observations. They were kept in a bell jar about 13 inches in diameter and 9 inches in depth. The specimens had been under constant observation from 1862 to the time of the recorded observations. The specimens were later transferred to the Edinburgh Zoo and lived until 1942.
Directions for high capacity optical backbone networks

The two protocols which will dominate the Internet optical telecommunications backbone in the future are IP, the Internet protocol, and ATM, asynchronous transfer mode. While there is much speculation about which of these two protocols will dominate, it is likely that both will be important, and fill complimentary roles. Both IP and ATM equipment have made a great deal of progress in the total data throughput and port speeds.
Phase Equilibria in the System FeO-Fe 2 O 3 -SiO 2

Liquidus data are presented for mixtures in the ternary system FeO-Fe2O3-SiO2 in equilibrium with a gas phase with O2 pressures ranging from 10−10.9 to 1 atm. Data obtained are combined with previously published data to construct lines of equal O2 pressures and lines of equal CO2/H2 mixing ratios along the liquidus surface. Courses of crystallization of selected mixtures under conditions of constant total composition, constant O2 pressures, and constant CO2/H2 mixing ratios are discussed.
Ethnic Politics and State Power in Africa: The Logic of the Coup-Civil War Trap

Why are some African countries trapped in vicious cycles of ethnic exclusion and civil war, while others experience relative peace? In this groundbreaking book, Philip Roessler addresses this question. Roessler models Africa's weak, ethnically-divided states as confronting rulers with a coup-civil war trap - sharing power with ethnic rivals is necessary to underwrite societal peace and prevent civil war, but increases rivals' capabilities to seize sovereign power in a coup d'etat. How rulers respond to this strategic trade-off is shown to be a function of their country's ethnic geography and the distribution of threat capabilities it produces. Moving between in-depth case studies of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo based on years of field work and statistical analyses of powersharing, coups and civil war across sub-Saharan Africa, the book serves as an exemplar of the benefits of mixed methods research for theory-building and testing in comparative politics.
Cross-cultural rating of satisfaction with cancer care.

e17613 Background: Accurate evaluation of patient satisfaction is an important dimension of quality of cancer screening and treatment. We applied ordinal logistic regression to assess uniform, non-uniform and total Differential Item Functioning (DIF) for the Patient Satisfaction with Cancer-related Care (PSCC) measure items in English vs. Spanish speaking cancer patients. Methods: The sample included 18 to 86 years old patients who completed the PSCC in English (N = 1067; 82.5% female) and Spanish (N = 229; 100% female 100%). We used total scale score and latent satisfaction estimate separately as matching variable to assess uniform, non-uniform, and total DIF for the PSCC items using ordinal logistic regression analysis. We used language as the grouping variable, i.e., the English speaking group is the reference group and the Spanish speaking group the focal group. Results: Using the total scale score (TSS), we found uniform DIF for 10 out of 29 PSCC items. For example, item 1 showed uniform DIF (χ2 = 5....
Genetically Engineered Vaccinia Viruses As Agents for Cancer Treatment, Imaging, and Transgene Delivery.

Despite advances in technology, the formidable challenge of treating cancer, especially if advanced, still remains with no significant improvement in survival rates, even with the commonest forms of cancer. Oncolytic viral therapies have shown great promise for the treatment of various cancers, with the possible advantages of stronger treatment efficacy compared to conventional therapy due to higher tumor selectivity, and less toxicity. They are able to preferentially and selectively propagate in cancer cells, consequently destroying tumor tissue mainly via cell lysis, while leaving noncancerous tissues unharmed. Several wild type and genetically engineered VACV strains have been tested both in preclinical and clinical trials with promising results. Greater understanding and advancements in molecular biology has enabled the generation of oncolytic viruses genetically engineered for safer and more efficacious treatment, including arming VACVs with cytokines and immunostimulatory molecules, anti-angiogenic agents, and enzyme pro-drug therapy, in addition to combining VACVs with conventional external and systemic radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other virus strains. Furthermore, novel oncolytic vaccinia virus strains have been generated that express reporter genes for the tracking and imaging of viral therapy and monitoring of therapeutic response. Further study is needed to unlock VACV’s full potential as part of the future of cancer therapy.
At the Crossroads: Carnival, Hybridity, and Legendary Womanhood in Nalo Hopkinson’s Midnight Robber

Nalo Hopkinson explores the transformative power of Carnival and the use of that power by the young woman Tan-Tan who embraces the persona of the Midnight Robber to rearticulate herself in response to systemic and familial oppression. The novel presents a saga of feminine growth and empowerment, where one girl dons the mantle of folkloric legend in order to destabilize the assumptions of social organization and the power differentials that marginalize against the backdrop of a futuristic world informed by the meeting of the cultures, language, and folklore of Earth’s Anglophone Caribbean.
Optimization of dynamic mechanical response of a composite plate using multi-field coupling with thermal constraints

Abstract We consider the problem of optimizing the dynamic response of a mechanically loaded, rectangular, electrically conductive anisotropic composite plate by applying an electromagnetic field, which exploits the electro-magneto-mechanical field coupling phenomenon. An important aspect of the formulated nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE)-constrained optimization model is the presence of a thermal constraint that prevents polymer matrix degradation in the composite material due to Joule heating produced by the electromagnetic field. A black-box optimization approach based on the active set algorithm is employed. A system of governing PDEs is solved using a series of sequential numerical procedures that includes the method of lines, Newmark time-stepping scheme, quasilinearization, integration of two-point boundary-value problems, and a superposition method followed by orthonormalization. Implementation in hyper-dual arithmetics facilitated automatic differentiation and computation of the gradient. Optimization results show that application of an electromagnetic field with optimal characteristics enables one to significantly reduce the amplitude of the plate vibrations while controlling for Joule heating.
Senile tremor. What is the prevalence and severity of tremor in older adults

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND/SETTING: It is well recognized that mild tremor is common among older adults, but the prevalence and clinical characteristics of this tremor have not been studied in detail. OBJECTIVES To examine a cohort of normal older adults to: (1) ascertain the prevalence of mild test-detectible tremor; (2) quantify the severity and functional impact of this tremor, and (3) determine whether age, gender and concomitant illness predict the severity of tremor. PARTICIPANTS 76 normal older adults >55 years of age (mean age = 73.7 years). DESIGN Healthy older adults were identified in a community-based case-control study of essential tremor in Washington Heights-Inwood, New York. All subjects underwent a medical interview and a videotaped neurological examination. The examination included six tests: arm extension, pouring water, drinking water, using a spoon, finger-to-nose movements, and drawing spirals with each arm. Two neurologists rated the severity of tremor using a 0 to +3 clinical rating scale and a total tremor score (TTS) was calculated (range = 0-36). Forward stepwise linear regression was used to determine the association between TTS and other variables. RESULTS Virtually all (75 or 98.7%) showed signs of tremor (TTS > 0.5). The mean TTS = 6.3 (range = 0-14.5), corresponding to a tremor that was either mild or intermittent. Twenty-eight of 76 (36.8%) received tremor ratings of +2 (clearly oscillatory tremor of moderate amplitude and usually present) during at least one of the six tests; a tremor rating of +2 was 2.1 times more likely to occur in the nondominant than in the dominant hand. Those who were aged 57-74 years had a lower mean TTS (5.8) than those aged 75-93 (6.8), but this was not significant. Only 2 patients (2.6%) answered 'yes' to the question 'do you have uncontrollable shaking in your hands?' None was taking medication to treat tremor. Gender, ethnicity, concomitant illness (diabetes, arthritis, heart disease), and medications were not associated with a higher TTS. CONCLUSION Mild but test-detectible tremor was present in almost all normal older adults, and in one-third this tremor attained a moderate amplitude during at least one activity. Characterization of this tremor would be of value to practitioners who care for older adults.
Motivation, Biological Clocks, and Temporal Organization of Behavior

As the preceding quotations illustrate, psychologists have been divided about the value of the concept of motivation. Widely different definitions of motivation abound (cf. Cofer and Appley, 1964); some view it as a “tendency of the whole animal to produce organized activity” (Hebb, 1966, p. 206) while others emphasize its energizing or drive functions, as in Young’s characterization of the study of motivation as a “search for determinants… of human and animal activity” (1961, p. 24). Hinde, in declining to define the term, identifies motivational phenomena as those in which changes in responsiveness to a constant external stimulus can be ascribed to the changing nature of the animal’s internal state (1970, p. 193).
Immunomodulatory drugs downregulate IKZF1 leading to expansion of hematopoietic progenitors with concomitant block of megakaryocytic maturation

The immunomodulatory drugs, lenalidomide and pomalidomide yield high response rates in multiple myeloma patients, but are associated with a high rate of thrombocytopenia and increased risk of secondary hematologic malignancies. Here, we demonstrate that the immunomodulatory drugs induce self-renewal of hematopoietic progenitors and upregulate megakaryocytic colonies by inhibiting apoptosis and increasing proliferation of early megakaryocytic progenitors via down-regulation of IKZF1. In this process, the immunomodulatory drugs degrade IKZF1 and subsequently down-regulate its binding partner, GATA1. This results in the decrease of GATA1 targets such as ZFPM1 and NFE2, leading to expansion of megakaryocytic progenitors with concomitant inhibition of maturation of megakaryocytes. The down-regulation of GATA1 further decreases CCND1 and increases CDKN2A expression. Overexpression of GATA1 abrogated the effects of the immunomodulatory drugs and restored maturation of megakaryocytic progenitors. Our data not only provide the mechanism for the immunomodulatory drugs induced thrombocytopenia but also help to explain the higher risk of secondary malignancies and long-term cytopenia induced by enhanced cell cycling and subsequent exhaustion of the stem cell pool.
Optic Nerve Gliomas and Meningiomas

Optic nerve gliomas are benign astrocytic neoplasms that primarily affect children. The ultimate prognosis for vision is poor. For lesions confined to the optic nerves, long-term survival is excellent, but with involvement of the chiasm and especially of the hypothalmus or third ventricle, prognosis falls significantly. For this group, no form of therapy has proven to be of any benefit. Optic sheath meningiomas are neoplasms arising from arachnoid cap cells. They primarily affect middle-aged adults. Like gliomas, the prognosis for vision is poor, but unlike gliomas, prognosis for life is excellent.
Methodologies of Economic Impact Analysis: An Overview

There are two basic ingredients to an economic impact analysis: an estimate of the exogenous or differential stimulus that serves as the direct impact, and a model of the regional economy that will produce estimates of the indirect effects.1 Perhaps due to increased demand for economic impact statements by various levels of government there has been a fairly dramatic increase in modeling efforts in recent years. Methodological innovations resulting from these research efforts have produced an almost infinite variety of models that resist categorization. Economic base multipliers are estimated with econometric techniques,2 input-output models are treated as econometric models,3 and hybrid models are constructed that may combine elements of economic base, econometric, and input-output models.4 There are aggregate and disaggregate models of all types so that even the level of aggregation cannot serve as an alternative classifying variable.5
Studies of Genetic Differences in Response to Opioid Drugs

Over the past few years, a rather impressive amount of research with opioids has been conducted using various inbred strains, most commonly the BALB/c, C57BL/6, C3H/He, and the DBA/2 mouse strains. Much of this work has been reviewed by Oliverio and Castellano (1981), Horowitz (1981), Horowitz and Dudek (1983), Shuster (1984a, b, 1986, 1989), Crabbe et al. (1985), and Frishknecht et al. (1988). These reviews should be consulted for a more complete picture of this area of research. Research with recombinant inbred strains is reviewed separately.
12 – Glucocorticoid-Related Osteoporosis

This chapter reviews the current understanding of the causes of glucocorticoids (GC) osteoporosis. In children, chronic exposure to GCs interferes with skeletal growth and maturation. GC-induced deficits in childhood bone mass largely reflect failure of normal skeletal acquisition occasionally compounded by bone loss. In contrast, GC-induced skeletal deficits in adults exclusively reflect bone loss, due largely, but not entirely, to a disruption of the normal relationship between the resorption and formation phases of bone remodeling. When adults are administered high doses of GCs for more than several days, rapid bone loss ensues. GC affect human mineral metabolism through functional alterations in the kidney, intestine, and skeleton. Least appreciated, but occurring within a few days of initiating therapy, is a direct inhibition of renal tubular calcium reabsorption, leading to hypercalciuria. Glucocorticoids interact with the skeleton at multiple sites. Steroids have been consistently shown to be potent inhibitors of osteoblastic maturation and activity. In addition, recent information on the developmental program of multipotent stem cells residing in bone marrow stroma indicates that GCs shift cell maturation away from an osteoblastic lineage toward development of other cell lines, particularly adipocytes. It also appears that glucocorticoids promote osteoblast cell death by apoptosis.
Glycogen depletion contributes to ischemic preconditioning in the rat heart in vivo

Ischemic preconditioning depletes the myocardium of glycogen, thus blunting lactic acidosis during subsequent episodes of ischemia. Preconditioning also protects against reperfusion arrhythmias and infarction. To test whether glycogen depletion is necessary for this ischemic tolerance, we preconditioned two groups of intact rats with a series of 3-min coronary artery occlusions. In one group, preconditioning lowered the glycogen concentration of the ischemic region by approximately 50% (24.9 +/- 2.5 to 12.5 +/- 1.8 mumol/g; P < 0.01). In the other, the heart was first loaded with glycogen via glucose-insulin infusion so that preconditioning merely reduced its glycogen concentration back to normal physiological levels. Compared with nonpreconditioned control rats, preconditioned rats with both normal and subnormal glycogen concentrations were protected from reperfusion arrhythmias after a 6-min coronary occlusion (incidence: control rats, 100%; normal glycogen rats, 11%; reduced glycogen rats, 11%). In contrast, only rats with subnormal glycogen concentration after preconditioning exhibited reduced lactate formation and infarct size after a 45-min coronary occlusion [infarct size (percentage of risk area): control rats, 53 +/- 10%; normal glycogen rats, 50 +/- 16%, P = not significant; subnormal glycogen rats, 18 +/- 10%, P < 0.01]. Thus, in the intact rat, myocardial glycogen depletion appears to be necessary for the infarct-limiting, but not for the antiarrhythmic, effects of ischemic preconditioning.
Unternehmenskultur als „Marke“ zum wirtschaftlichen Erfolg

2009 hat die Welt erlebt, wie egoistisches und geldgieriges Verhalten einiger Banken die groste Weltwirtschaftskrise nach dem 2. Weltkrieg erzeugt hat. Daher erwarten heute viele Mitarbeiter unserer Unternehmen eine grosere Betonung moralischer Werte. Eine ethische Unternehmenskultur zu pflegen, ist in den Corporate Principles von Phoenix Contact fest verankert. Dass dies nicht nur auf dem Papier steht, zeigte sich z. B. in der Krise 2009, wo das Unternehmen die schwierigste Situation in seinem achtzigjahrigen Bestehen erlebte. Was wurde konkret in der Krise gemacht? 1. Unternehmensleitung als Vorbild: Das Management verzichtete auf Teile des Einkommens 2. Durch standige personliche Informationen durch die Geschaftsfuhrung wurden die Mitarbeiter uber die aktuelle Lage auf dem Laufenden gehalten und ihnen Sicherheit gegeben. 3. Es wurde zugesagt, alles zu tun, um ihre Arbeitsplatze zu sichern. 4. Um den zuruckgehenden Kundenauftragen und der angespannten Kostensituation entgegen zu wirken, wurde Kurzarbeit eingefuhrt. 5. Mitarbeiter wurden um Unterstutzung gebeten, selber Einsparungen vorzunehmen. 6. Zuversicht in die Zukunft wurde signalisiert, indem verstarkt Neuheiten entwickelt, neue Markte erschlossen sowie Auszubildende eingestellt und ubernommen wurden.
Mother and child interactions about the mother's breast cancer: an interview study.

Purpose/objectives To describe mothers' reported methods of interacting with the mothers' school-age children about their breast cancer. Design Qualitative. Setting/sample 19 mothers newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Mothers received treatment for their illness in the Pacific Northwest. Mothers had at least one child between 7 and 12 years old at the time of diagnosis. Methods Case-intensive, in-home, semistructured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and inductively coded into four conceptual domains and 16 categories of behavioral strategies used by the mothers to interact with their children about the breast cancer. Main research variables Behavioral strategies used by mothers when interacting with the children about the breast cancer and when providing children with support. Findings Mothers used a number of methods to bring children into the mothers' breast cancer experience. The conceptual domains included talking about the breast cancer, explaining treatment and care, providing experiences, and doing things to help children cope. Conclusions The dominant pattern in the interview data was for mothers to assume a teacher/educator role with the children about the cancer, not an interactive, emotive-expressive parenting role. Most mothers used technical biomedical language; did not give evidence of systematically checking on the children's understanding of what they were told; did not elicit the children's concerns; and exposed the children to emotionally laden or potentially frightening images, words, or experiences. Implications for nursing practice Programs and materials need to be developed that help mothers work from a model of parenting that includes developmentally appropriate language, facilitates the children's expression of questions and feelings, links the mothers with the children's understanding of the illness, and assists the children to better manage what is happening related to the breast cancer.
1.24 Fluorescence and FRET: Theoretical Concepts 101

This chapter is an introduction to some basic theoretical aspects of fluorescence and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The similarities between fluorescence and FRET phenomena are discussed. Although the physical process of FRET has nothing directly to do with emitted photons, fluorescence is the usual experimental method for measuring FRET. The attempt is made to present the reader with sufficient background to be able to explore deeper into the different theoretical and experimental aspects of FRET and to be able to understand some of the new developments and applications. Short historical introductions are given for both fluorescence and FRET.