cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethical and legal issues in human embryo donation

Objective To identify main ethical and legal issues that arise with donation of embryos left over from IVF treatments of infertility or created from separate gamete donations. Design Analysis of ethical commentary, advisory committee reports, statutes, court cases, and legal commentary relating to gamete and embryo donation and assisted reproduction to assess their effect on donation of created or leftover embryos. Results Donation of surplus embryos or embryos created from separate gamete donations would help a subset of infertile couples to form families. A program undertaking embryo donation will have to coordinate the donation of embryos from its own patients or other programs or arrange for separate gamete donations to form embryos. The main ethical issues concern the effect on offspring, consent and counseling of donors and recipients, avoidance of mixing embryos or gametes from different sources, and payment of donor expenses. The main legal issues concern whether embryo donation is viewed as gamete donation or adoption; the rearing rights and duties of donors and recipients in resulting offspring; liability; and compensation issues; and the legality of monetary compensation for donors. Donation of embryos for research raises separate issues. Conclusion Human embryo donation is an ethically and legally acceptable way for infertile couples to form families.
Effects of compensation method on physician behaviors.

Objective: To examine physician and leader perceptions of the relationship between physician compensation and the productivity of physicians practicing in medical groups. Study Design: Key informant interviews identified subjects’ perceptions of factors influencing physician productivity and the behavioral effects of individual financial incentives. Interview transcripts were analyzed by a team of physicians, economists, and other researchers. Study Population: Physicians, medical leaders, and group practice administrators (n = 114) representing 46 medical group practices in California, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin were interviewed. Results: Five major themes emerged: (1) Most physicians reported that financial incentives did not substantially affect their own behavior, except for productivity. However, they suggested that specific compensation models do lead to certain seemingly undesirable physician behaviors. (2) By contrast, medical group leaders reported that financial incentives do affect a variety of physician behaviors. (3) Four productivity drivers emerged: financial incentives, demand-side factors, systems and infrastructure, and other individual or group attributes. (4) Physician compensation systems are evolving toward a blend of production-based and productionneutral incentives, plus new metrics aligned with the demands of managed care. (5) Culture, size, and specialty mix are significant determinants of group physician compensation systems. Conclusions: Compensation method is perceived to be a significant influence on physician productivity, particularly among group practice leaders. The changing context of medical practice represents another powerful “macro” lever on physician behavior. (Am J Manag Care 2001;7:363-373)
Avoiding Climate Change: “Agnostic Adaptation” and the Politics of Public Silence

What does it mean to adapt to climate change without talking about climate change? The term agnostic adaptation has emerged to refer to actions that address climate change’s effects without acknowl...
Border Thinking, Borderland Diversity, and Trump’s Wall

Donald Trump’s agenda to build a “big” and “beautiful” border wall continues to raise alarms for anyone concerned with social justice and environmental well-being throughout the Mexico–U.S. borderl...
Beyond White: The Emotional Complexion of Critical Research on Race

Exposing life in the academy while doing racially just work is difficult. For one, those who relay their experiences in the academy as a way to improve the professoriate are incorrectly labeled whistleblowers and are often met with resistance, passive aggressive bullying tactics, or find themselves and their scholarship constantly under scrutiny. Second, instead of listening and learning from the stories shared about academy life, administrators who do have the power to make changes belittle and minimize the stories as if they are just mere whines of a baby. To combat this, I share three essays that paint a picture of academy life while doing racially just work. I do so to share the trials, tribulations, and simple successes of this path so that professors and administrators can create more racially just educational systems that are inclusive to faculty of Color and scholars of race.
Estimating covariance matrices for two- and three-point correlation function moments in Arbitrary Survey Geometries

We present configuration-space estimators for the auto- and cross-covariance of two- and three-point correlation functions (2PCF and 3PCF) in general survey geometries. These are derived in the Gaussian limit (setting higher order correlation functions to zero), but for arbitrary non-linear 2PCFs (which may be estimated from the survey itself), with a shot-noise rescaling parameter included to capture non-Gaussianity. We generalize previous approaches to include Legendre moments via a geometry-correction function calibrated from measured pair and triple counts. Making use of importance sampling and random particle catalogues, we can estimate model covariances in fractions of the time required to do so with mocks, obtaining estimates with negligible sampling noise in ∼10 (∼100) CPU-hours for the 2PCF (3PCF) autocovariance. We compare results to sample covariances from a suite of BOSS DR12 mocks and find the matrices to be in good agreement, assuming a shot-noise rescaling parameter of 1.03 (1.20) for the 2PCF (3PCF). To obtain strongest constraints on cosmological parameters, we must use multiple statistics in concert; having robust methods to measure their covariances at low computational cost is thus of great relevance to upcoming surveys.
Role of Allergy in Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) presents with symptoms of aural fullness and pressure, muffled hearing, tinnitus, and otalgia. When severe, it can lead to many common ear disorders such as otitis media with effusion, tympanic membrane retraction/perforation, and cholesteatoma. These diseases are prevalent in both the pediatric and adult population and significantly impact quality of life. The pathophysiology of ETD in the absence of an obstructive lesion has long been debated but is thought to be related to functional obstruction (i.e., inefficient tensor veli palatini muscle) and/or nasal cavity and nasopharyngeal inflammation. In the acute setting, the most common cause of nasal inflammation is an upper respiratory infection. When symptoms become chronic, however, the inflammation is thought to be associated with nasal irritants such as nasal allergens, i.e., allergic rhinitis (AR). The purpose of this review is to summarize our current understanding of the relationship between allergy and ETD. Past studies are either lacking or have reported equivocal findings regarding the relationship between allergy and ETD, and the 2018 International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis has deemed the current level of evidence linking AR and ETD as low quality. A more recent study using a large adult population dataset did support an association between AR and ETD, but did not find that all cases of ETD are related to allergies. Furthermore, current evidence suggests that the use of medications that can decrease intranasal inflammation, such as intranasal corticosteroids or oral antihistamines, does not result in significant symptomatic improvement in patients with ETD. However, these studies included all patients with ETD, and evidence is lacking regarding the treatment effect of these medications on the subset of patients with concurrent AR and ETD. Current best evidence does support an association between AR and ETD; however, not all patients with ETD suffer from AR, and vice versa. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanism behind this positive association and to elucidate the cause of chronic ETD in patients without associated allergies.
ChEMIST Table: A Tool for Designing or Modifying Instruction for a Systems Thinking Approach in Chemistry Education

Recently, there have been calls to integrate systems thinking approaches into chemistry education in order to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding, build their problem-solving capabilities...
Sex-dimorphic moderate hypoglycemia preconditioning effects on Hippocampal CA1 neuron bio-energetic and anti-oxidant function

Hypoglycemia is a detrimental complication of rigorous management of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Moderate hypoglycemia (MH) preconditioning of male rats partially affords protection from loss of vulnerable brain neurons to severe hypoglycemia (SH). Current research investigated whether MH preconditioning exerts sex-dimorphic effects on hippocampal CA1 neuron bio-energetic and anti-oxidant responses to SH. SH up-regulated CA1 glucose or monocarboxylate transporter proteins in corresponding hypoglycemia-naive male versus female rats; precedent MH amplified glucose transporter expression in SH irrespective of sex. Sex-differentiating SH effects on glycolytic and tricarboxylic pathway markers correlated with elevated tissue ATP content and diminished CA1 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation in females. MH-preconditioned suppression of mitochondrial energy pathway enzyme profiles and tissue ATP in SH rats coincided with amplified CA1 AMPK activity in both sexes. Anti-oxidative stress enzyme protein responses to SH were primarily sex-contingent; preconditioning amplified most of these profiles, yet exacerbated expression of lipid and protein oxidation markers in SH male and female rats, respectively. Results show that MH preconditioning abolishes female CA1 neuron neuroprotection of positive energy balance through SH, resulting in augmented CA1 AMPK activity and oxidative injury and diminished tissue ATP in hypoglycemia-conditioned versus naive rats in each sex. It is unclear if SH elicits differential rates of CA1 neuronal destruction in the two sexes, or how MH may impact sex-specific cell loss. Further research is needed to determine if molecular mechanism(s) that maintain female CA1 neuron metabolic stability in the absence of MH preconditioning can be leveraged for therapeutic prevention of hypoglycemic nerve cell damage.
Pediatric pulmonary hypertension: insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 is a novel marker associated with disease severity and survival.

Background Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), and their binding proteins (IGFBPs), play a significant role in cardiovascular function and may influence the pathobiology of PAH. We determined the diagnostic and prognostic value of IGF1 and IGFBP2 in pediatric PAH. Methods Serum was analyzed by ELISA for IGF1 and IGFBP2 in pediatric PAH subjects from the NHLBI PAH Biobank (PAHB, n = 175) and a cohort of asthmatic subjects (n = 46, age 0-21 years) as a chronic pediatric pulmonary disease control. Biomarkers were analyzed with demographic and clinical variables for PAH severity. Results Serum IGF1 was significantly lower in PAH compared to controls, while IGFBP2 was elevated in PAH subjects compared to controls. In the PAHB, IGF1 was negatively associated with mPAP and PVR, while IGFBP2 was positively associated with PVR and negatively associated with cardiac output and 6-min walk distance. Higher IGFBP2 levels were associated with use of prostacyclin therapy. IGFBP2 was associated with death, transplant, or palliative shunt with a Cox proportional hazard ratio of 8.8 (p Conclusions Circulating IGFBP2 is a novel marker for pediatric PAH, which is associated with worse functional status, and survival. IGF axis dysregulation may be an important mechanistic target in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Impact Pediatric pulmonary hypertension is a severe disease, with poorly understood pathobiology.There are few studies looking at the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension only in children.The IGF axis is dysregulated in pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension.IGF axis dysregulation, with increased IGFBP2, is associated with worse clinical outcomes in pediatric pulmonary artery hypertension.IGF axis dysregulation gives new insight into the disease process and may be a mechanistic or therapeutic target.Fig. 1IGF1 AND IGFBP2 CONCENTRATION (NG/ML) IN PAH BIOBANK VERSUS CONTROLS.: a IGF1 concentration (ng/mL) in PAH Biobank versus asthmatic subjects. b IGFBP2 concentration (ng/mL) in PAH Biobank versus asthmatic subjects.Fig. 2ROC CURVE OF IGF1 AND IGFBP2 IN PAH BIOBANK VERSUS CONTROLS.: a ROC curve of IGF1 in PAH Biobank subjects versus controls. AUC 0.82. Cut point for IGF1 of 177 ng/mL gives a sensitivity of 73.9% and a specificity of 78.3%. b ROC curve of IGFBP2 in PAH Biobank subjects versus controls. AUC 0.80. Cut point for IGFBP2 of 185 ng/mL gives a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 80.4%.Fig. 3IGFBP2 CONCENTRATIONS IN PAH SUBJECTS BY MEDICATION COMBINATION.: a IGFBP2 concentration in PAH subjects on a PDE5 inhibitor, a PDE5 inhibitor and an ERA, a PDE5 inhibitor and IV/SQ PCA, or a combination of PDE5 inhibitor, ERA, and IV/SQ PCA. b IGFBP2 concentrations in PAH subjects on an IV/SQ PCA and any other therapy versus subject not on IV/SQ PCA and any other therapy.Fig. 4Kaplan-Meier curve showing time to death, transplant, or palliative shunt (Pott's shunt or atrial septostomy) dichotomized by the median IGFBP2 level.
Cleanliness is Next to Income: The Impact of COVID-19 on Short-Term Rentals

The short-term rental market provides a close to real time signal of how events of regional and national importance can affect the demand for housing. We use Airbnb data from Austin, Texas to empirically investigate the impact of the onset of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the short-term rental market. Specifically, we employ a machine learning algorithm to create an extensive cleanliness dictionary to detect whether an Airbnb unit is clean. We use a difference-in-difference specification to value the change in income related to reviewer perceived cleanliness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find the following results: first, available listings declined by 25% once the pandemic hit and those that remained lost 22% of their income and had occupancy decrease by 20%. Second, properties that were perceived to be clean increased their income by 17.5% and their occupancy by 16.5\%, mitigating the negative shock due to COVID-19. Third, rental prices for clean Airbnb listings did not increase after COVID-19.
EUGLYCEMIC DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS WITH COVID-19 INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES TAKING SGLT2 INHIBITORS.

Abstract Objective Diabetes mellitus is associated with poor outcomes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has also been reported to occur with this virus. A cluster of cases of euglycemic DKA (euDKA) was identified in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) who developed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods The cases were identified by the authors while providing clinical care, and details were collected. Results Five cases of euDKA, presenting with glucose levels Conclusion EuDKA has been seen in the setting of acute illness in patients using SGLT2is, but this cluster of cases suggests that there is a specific association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition to the known risk of euDKA with SGLT2i use, coronavirus disease 2019-specific mechanisms may include a direct toxic effect of the virus on the pancreatic islets, an accelerated inflammatory response promoting ketosis, and the diuretic effect of SGLT2i in conjunction with anorexia and vomiting. It is crucial to counsel patients to stop SGLT2is when sick, especially if SARS-CoV-2 infection is suspected.
Prevalence of gluteus medius weakness in people with chronic low back pain compared to healthy controls

Clinical observation suggests that hip abductor weakness is common in patients with low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this study is to describe and compare the prevalence of hip abductor weakness in a clinical population with chronic non-specific LBP and a matched sample without LBP. One hundred fifty subjects with chronic non-specific LBP and a matched cohort of 75 control subjects were recruited. A standardized back and hip physical exam was performed. Specifically tensor fascia lata, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus strength were assessed with manual muscle testing. Functional assessment of the hip abductors was performed with assessment for the presence of the Trendelenburg sign. Palpation examination of the back, gluteal and hip region was performed to try and reproduce the subject’s pain complaint. Friedman’s test or Cochran’s Q with post hoc comparisons adjusted for multiple comparisons was used to compare differences between healthy controls and people with chronic low back pain for both the affected and unaffected sides. Mann–Whitney U was used to compare differences in prevalence between groups. Hierarchical linear regression was used to identify predictors of LBP in this sample. Gluteus medius is weaker in people with LBP compared to controls or the unaffected side (Friedman’s test, p < 0.001). The Trendelenburg sign is more prevalent in subjects with LBP than controls (Cochran’s Q, p < 0.001). There is more palpation tenderness over the gluteals, greater trochanter, and paraspinals in people with low back pain compared to controls (Cochran’s Q, p < 0.001). Hierarchical linear regression, with BMI as a covariate, demonstrated that gluteus medius weakness, low back regional tenderness, and male sex were predictive of LBP in this sample. Gluteus medius weakness and gluteal muscle tenderness are common symptoms in people with chronic non-specific LBP. Future investigations should validate these findings with quantitative measures as well as investigate the effect of gluteus medius strengthening in people with LBP.
An Adaptive Blended Learning Approach in the Implementation of a Medical Neuroscience Laboratory Activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed existing gaps in the medical educational system that is heavily dependent on the presence of medical students and teachers in laboratory and class for instruction. This affects continuity in the implementation of the neuroanatomy component of the medical neuroscience laboratory activities during COVID-19. We hypothesized that pivoting wet laboratory neuroanatomy activities to online using an adaptive flexible blended method might represent an effective approach in the implementation of laboratory neuroanatomy activities during a pandemic. The current study describes an adaptive flexible blended learning approach that systematically mixes virtual face-to-face interaction activities with the online learning of brain structures, and the discussion of clinical cases. Learning materials are delivered through both synchronous and asynchronous modes, and Year 1 medical students learn neuroanatomy laboratory activities at different locations and different times. Student performances in the adaptive flexible blended learning approach were compared with the learning of similar activities during an in-person implementation of neuroscience laboratory activities. The results of using this adaptive flexible blended learning approach provided an autonomous independent learning, self-study approach that broadened student performance such that we have more students scoring between 80 and 89%, whereas the in-person learning resulted in most of the students scoring > 90% in the medical neuroscience laboratory activities. An adaptive flexible blended learning approach that combined virtual face-to-face instruction using digital technology with online learning of neuroscience laboratory activities provided a unique educational experience for Year 1 medical students to learn neuroscience laboratory activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current practice in robotic surgery among pediatric urologists: A survey study.

INTRODUCTION Since its introduction, robotic surgery has gained most traction among urologists. Pediatric urologists have been slower to adopt the technology compared to their adult counterparts. Our objectives were to understand current practice patterns for robotic surgery among pediatric urologists, to identify perceived barriers, and to identify factors associated with the use of robotic surgery. METHODS An anonymous online survey was administered using REDCap to members of the Societies for Pediatric Urology (SPU) including questions about provider demographics and personal practice patterns. Comparisons were made using Pearson's Chi-Squared analysis. RESULTS Of 351 SPU members surveyed, 95 completed the survey (27%). Fifty-five (58%) reported performing robotic surgery, 40 (42%) reported not performing robotic surgery. Twenty-seven (28%) reported receiving robotic training in residency, 26 (27%) in fellowship, 34 (36%) in a robotics course, and 30 (32%) with proctored surgery. Cited reasons for not performing robotic surgery were lack of training, referring to practice partners, and lack of benefit. Of those performing robotic surgery, most reported performing 0-1 or 2-4 per month. Thirty-one (56%) reported having selection criteria for use of the robot: 26 (47%) cited an age cut-off, 12 (22%) a weight cut-off, and 14 (26%) an abdominal size cut-off. Eighteen (33%) reported using hidden incisions endoscopic surgery (HIdES) approach, and 40 (42%) reported using an assistant port. Factors associated with using the robot included surgeon age, years in practice, practice setting, having robotic training, and having practice partners who perform robotic surgery. CONCLUSIONS Practice variation exists in the use and application of robotic surgery among pediatric urologists. The main self-reported barriers to performing robotic surgery are lack of training, referring to practice partners, and no perceived benefit to robotic surgery. Factors associated with performing robotic surgery were surgeon age, years in practice, practice setting, and having practice partners perform robotic surgery.
Extending the Scholar Baller Model to Support and Cultivate the Development of Academically Gifted Black Male Student-Athletes

Professional athletes and entertainers are often identified as the source of emulation for young males, especially Black males. With far less romanticized career representations than those in the a...
Transfer in a connectionist model of the acquisition of morphology

The morphological systems of natural languages are replete with examples of the same devices used for multiple purposes. At the most abstract level, this involves the tendency for languages to rely on the same type of morphological process for diverse grammatical functions. A language that uses prefixation for noun inflection is more likely to use prefixation for verb inflection than is a language that uses suffixation for noun inflection. For example, Turkish is a mainly suffixing language, while Swahili is a mainly prefixing language. Of course some languages are characterized by a variety of types of morphological processes, but even here, we may find common combinations of processes for diverse functions. Thus Semitic languages make use of template morphology, prefixation, and suffixation, but the combination of template and suffix is common to various syntactic categories in many of the languages.
A Variational Approach to Strand-Based Modeling of the Human Hand

This paper presents a numerical modeling technique for dynamically modeling a human hand. We use a strand-based method of modeling the muscles. Our technique represents a compromise between capturing the full dynamics of the tissue mechanics and the need for computationally efficient representations for control design and multiple simulations appropriate for statistical planning tools of the hand. We show how to derive a strand-based model in a variational integrator context. Variational integrators are particularly well-suited to resolving closed-kinematic chains, making them appropriate for hand modeling.We demonstrate the technique first with a detailed exposition of modeling an index finger, and then extend the model to a full hand with 19 rigid bodies and 23 muscle strands. We end with a discussion of future work, including the need for impact handling, surface friction representations, and system identification.
Does Older Age Confer an Increased Risk of Incident Neurocognitive Disorders Among Persons Living with HIV Disease

Objective: This study aimed to determine the combined effects of age and HIV infection on the risk of incident neurocognitive disorders. Method: A total of 146 neurocognitively normal participants were enrolled at baseline into one of four groups based on age (≤40 years and ≥50 years) and HIV serostatus resulting in 24 younger HIV−, 27 younger HIV+, 39 older HIV−, and 56 older HIV+ individuals. All participants were administered a standardized clinical neuropsychological battery at baseline and 14.3 ± .2 months later. Results: A logistic regression predicting incident neurocognitive disorders from HIV, age group, and their interaction was significant (χ2[4] = 13.56, p = .009), with a significant main effect of HIV serostatus (χ2[1] = 5.01, p = .025), but no main effect of age or age by HIV interaction (ps > .10). Specifically, 15.7% of the HIV+ individuals had an incident neurocognitive disorder as compared to 3.2% of the HIV− group (odds ratio = 4.8 [1.2, 32.6]). Among older HIV+ adults, lower baseline c...
Transcriptional regulation of the rat platelet factor 4 gene: interaction between an enhancer/silencer domain and the GATA site.

Abstract We used various segments of the 5' upstream region of the rat platelet factor 4 (PF4) gene coupled to the human growth hormone gene and heterologous promoters to identify domains which are critical for tissue-specific expression. Transient expression experiments with rat bone marrow cells and other cell lines revealed a complex interplay between a core promoter domain from -97 to the transcriptional start site and an enhancer/silencer domain from -448 to -112. The core promoter contains a GATA site at -31 to -28 whose mutation to TATA or AATA decreases tissue specificity and moderately affects expression in megakaryocytes as well as a positively acting subdomain from -97 to -83 whose removal decreases overall transcription without affecting tissue specificity. The enhancer/silencer domain possesses three positively acting subdomains from -380 to -362, -270 to -257, and -137 to -120 as well as a negatively acting subdomain at -184 to -151 which is able to reduce overall transcription but has no effect on tissue specificity. The subdomain from -380 to -362 is most critical in restricting gene expression driven either by the PF4 promoter or by a heterologous promoter to the megakaryocytic lineage. The subdomains from -270 to -257 and -137 to -120 function together with the subdomain from -380 to -362 to somewhat increase tissue specificity. Simultaneous mutation of the GATA site and deletion of either the whole enhancer/silencer domain or the subdomain from -380 to -362 or -137 to -120 reduce transcription in megakaryocytes by 10- to 30-fold. On the basis of the above-described results, we propose that the megakaryocyte-specific enhancer/silencer domain and the GATA site are responsible for high-level expression of the PF4 gene in a lineage-specific manner.
Biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans by cultured mastocytoma cells.

Biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans by several lines of cultured neoplastic mouse mast cells was studied by incorporation of [35S]sulphate (and in some cases [6-3H]glucosamine) into macromolecular materials found in both the cells and their growth media. Such intracellular and extracellular radioactively labelled materials (shown to be glycosaminoglycans by susceptibility to digestion with heparinase) were further characterized by ion-exchange chromatography and by digestion with testicular hyaluronidase and chondroitinase. All but one cell line produced chondroitin sulphate as the major sulphated glycosaminoglycan; the remainder of the glycosaminoglycan was heparin-like material. No [3H]hyaluronic acid was synthesized. Cells of a newly derived line, termed P815S, synthesized more glycosaminoglycan than the other lines. This glycosaminoglycan, found in both cells and growth medium, was almost entirely chondroitin 4-sulphate. No chondroitin 6-sulphate was found. The chondroitin 4-sulphate from the cells was shown by gel filtration to be smaller than the chondroitin 4-sulphate in the media of these cultures. This discovery of relatively high proportions of chondroitin 4-sulphate in these mastocytoma-derived cells is noteworthy, since mast cells have generally been considered to produce heparin as their major glycosaminoglycan.
Selenium Regulation of Classical Glutathione Peroxidase Expression Requires the 3′ Untranslated Region in Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Classical glutathione peroxidase (GPX) mRNA levels fall dramatically in selenium (Se)-deficient animals, but it is not known whether this mechanism is related to the mRNA 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) sequences that have been shown to direct Se incorporation. In this study, we used recombinant GPX constructs to investigate the role of the GPX 3'UTR in Se regulation of GPX mRNA levels in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The CHO cells were transfected with GPX (pRc/GPX), GPX lacking the 3'UTR (pRc/Δ3'UTR) or the pRc/CMV vector alone, and GPX activity and GPX mRNA levels were determined in stable transfectants grown in low Se basal medium with a range of added Se concentrations. We identified two pRc/GPX transfectants with significantly elevated GPX activity levels compared with pRc/CMV transfectants. The elevated GPX expression did not dramatically shift the amount of Se that was sufficient for GPX activity to reach the Se-adequate plateau level (100 nmol/L added Se). As expected, GPX activity was not significantly different when pRc/Δ3'UTR transfectants were compared with pRc/CMV control transfectants. Among the wild type and transfected CHO cells, Se-deficient GPX activity levels averaged 35 ± 5% of Se-adequate levels. Selenium-deficient levels of endogenous GPX mRNA as well as recombinant pRc/GPX mRNA averaged 54-58% of Se-adequate levels; 3-4 nmol/L added Se was sufficient for maximal GPX mRNA levels. In contrast, pRc/Δ3'UTR mRNA levels in the unsupplemented cells remained at Se-adequate levels and showed no distinct Se regulation. These studies demonstrate that the GPX 3'UTR is necessary for Se regulation of GPX mRNA levels in addition to its role in Se incorporation. J. Nutr. 127: 1304-1310, 1997.
Mimicking the alloantigenicity of proteins with chemically synthesized peptides differing in single amino acids.

Recent studies have shown that short chemically synthesized peptides very often induce antibodies which react with the cognate sequence in the intact folded protein. Since such antibodies react with known regions of proteins, they are of predetermined specificity and offer a precision not previously possible with immunological probes1. A basic concept emerging from the use of such antibodies in viral systems is that the differential immunogenicity of closely related proteins can be mimicked by short peptides which span the regions of sequence variation2,3. To generalize this concept, we have studied the two Thy-1 proteins which vary by only a single amino acid. Chemically synthesized peptides differing in only one out of 19 amino acids were able to induce allospecific antisera. Thus, single amino acid changes have similar effects on the immunogenicity of proteins and small peptides, even though the latter are free from constraints provided by neighbouring structures in the tertiary configuration of the intact folded proteins.
Pyramid nets for computer vision

Neural networks are applied to the computer vision recognition problem using a hierarchical approach. The object is categorized and then decomposed using a pyramid structure that proceeds from category to component level in successive steps. The method allows an improved recognition procedure by utilizing the global recognition capabilities of neural networks for separate visual segments. The pyramid structure creates a top down approach for the recognition process.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of predictions with measurements for a quiet supersonic tunnel

Navier-Stokes and boundary layer calculations were made to study the mean flow through the Montana State University Mach 3 supersonic wind tunnel. Two-dimensional results along the nozzle surface are found to be in good agreement with experiment. For the sidewalls a 3D solution was necessary because of a skew-induced secondary flow that produced significant crossflows in the sidewall boundary layer and thickening of the boundary layer near the sidewall centerline. Boundary layer stability calculations revealed Goertler instabilities in the nozzle producing N factors up to 6. Preliminary results for the crossflow instability on the tunnel sidewall show a maximum N factor of about 2.5 under test conditions for which laminar flow was observed experimentally.
A comparison of evolutionary and environmental theories of erotic response part II: Empirical arenas

Areas of empirical strength for socialization and sociobiology theories are critically reviewed. Sociobiology has little to say about erotic mechanisms that are uniquely human, though ethology has begun to address the question through cross‐cultural research. The areas of incest avoidance and connections between sex and aggression are viewed as unsubstantiated, either theoretically or empirically. A connection between sex and love is viewed as more likely, and survey, though not laboratory, research supports it. A classical conditioning theory of sexuality is presented, and its relevance to constructs of socialization theory is sketched. Empirical data relevant to sociobiological analyses of sex differences in sexuality are reviewed. Human size dimorphism is as yet not clearly interpretable. The research paradigms of aberrant hormone effects and response to novelty have not yielded clear or compelling data to date. Results from survey research about homosexual lifestyles and the details of sex differences...
The abundance and vertical distribution of the unknown ultraviolet absorber in the venusian atmosphere from analysis of Venus Monitoring Camera images

Abstract Observations of Venus using the ultraviolet filter of the Venus Monitoring Camera (VMC) on ESA’s Venus Express Spacecraft (VEX) provide the best opportunity for study of the spatial and temporal distribution of the venusian unknown ultraviolet absorber since the Pioneer Venus (PV) mission. We compare the results of two sets of 125 radiative transfer models of the upper atmosphere of Venus to each pixel in a subset of VMC UV channel images. We use a quantitative best fit criterion based upon the notion that the distribution of the unknown absorber should be independent of the illumination and observing geometry. We use the product of the cosines of the incidence and emission angles and search for absorber distributions that are uncorrelated with this geometric parameter, finding that two models can describe the vertical distribution of the unknown absorber. One model is a well-mixed vertical profile above a pressure level of roughly 120 mb (∼63 km). This is consistent with the altitude of photochemical formation of sulfuric acid. The second model describes it as a thin layer of pure UV absorber at a pressure level roughly around 24 mb (∼71 km) and this altitude is consistent with the top of upper cloud deck. We find that the average abundance of unknown absorber in the equatorial region is 0.21 ± 0.04 optical depth and it decreases in the polar region to 0.08 ± 0.05 optical depth at 365 nm.
Nonplanar Projections In Image Simulations

Many image processing applications (e.g., correlation guidance systems) require synthetically generated images to simulate the data obtained by electro-optical sensors. All currently available computer image generation (CIG) systems model only the perspective projection. Thus, there is a need for CIG systems that can simulate all sensors, including those that do not have a linear geometrical function (projection). In this paper, a system capable of modeling all projections is described, and three nonplanar projections (spherical, cylindrical and polar) are discussed in detail.
Shoulder motion during quadrupedal walking in Cercopithecus aethiops: Integration of cineradiographic and electromyographic data

This study describes the motion of the scapula and proximal humerus during walking in a vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops), and relates it to the activity patterns of shoulder muscles as revealed by electromyography. Cineradiography shows that the protraction and retraction of the forelimb during a stride is composed of a complex series of scapular and humeral movements, some unified, some disjoint. At the beginning of support phase, the greater tuberosity of the humerus is moved against the cranial lip of the glenoid, a configuration that we suggest constitutes a close-packed position. Throughout most of support phase, the glenohumeral joint remains in this configuration and the scapula and humerus move as a unit, confirming Rose's (1989) deduction. Major activity in the supraspinatus and infraspinatus during this period contributes additional stabilization to the joint. The first half of swing phase involves cranial scapular rotation and translation while the humerus is still being retracted. Humeral retraction is brought about mainly by the teres major and is part of the mechanism for lifting the hand off of the ground. Protraction of the arm to swing the distal end of the humerus forward does not begin until about the middle of swing phase. The trapezius and atlantoscapularis anterior are probably responsible for the motion of the scapula during swing phase, but the mechanism for swinging the humerus forward remains unclear.
Extensions of bitriangular operators

We prove that every one-dimensional extension of a bitriangular operator has a cyclic commutant. We also prove that ifT is an extension of a bitriangular operator by an algebraic operator, then the weakly closed algebraW(T) generated byT has a separating vector.
DYNAMICAL LOCALIZATION OF ELECTRONS IN AN APERIODIC SUPERLATTICE

We derive the analytical form of the time-dependent wave function for a single-band tight-binding model of independent conduction electrons within an aperiodic semiconductor superlattice, created by modifications in the composition of a single layer of an otherwise periodic superlattice. While the wave function for long times is known to feature both diffusive and localized behavior, the latter originating in the superlattice aperiodicity, we provide quantitative results for these features for all values of the time. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Analysis of high dimensional data using pre-defined set and subset information, with applications to genomic data.

Based on available biological information, genomic data can often be partitioned into pre-defined sets (e.g. pathways) and subsets within sets. Biologists are often interested in determining whether some pre-defined sets of variables (e.g. genes) are differentially expressed under varying experimental conditions. Several procedures are available in the literature for making such determinations, however, they do not take into account information regarding the subsets within each set. Secondly, variables (e.g. genes) belonging to a set or a subset are potentially correlated, yet such information is often ignored and univariate methods are used. This may result in loss of power and/or inflated false positive rate. We introduce a multiple testing-based methodology which makes use of available information regarding biologically relevant subsets within each pre-defined set of variables while exploiting the underlying dependence structure among the variables. Using this methodology, a biologist may not only determine whether a set of variables are differentially expressed between two experimental conditions, but may also test whether specific subsets within a significant set are also significant. The proposed methodology; (a) is easy to implement, (b) does not require inverting potentially singular covariance matrices, and (c) controls the family wise error rate (FWER) at the desired nominal level, (d) is robust to the underlying distribution and covariance structures. Although for simplicity of exposition, the methodology is described for microarray gene expression data, it is also applicable to any high dimensional data, such as the mRNA seq data, CpG methylation data etc.
Particle Deposition with Thermophoresis in Laminar and Turbulent Duct Flows

ABSTRACT A numerical simulation procedure for studying deposition of aerosol particles in duct flows including the effect of thermal force under laminar and turbulent flow conditions is developed. An improved model for thermophoretic force acting on small particles is presented. Perturbation based analytical expressions for velocity and temperature profiles are used in the analysis for the laminar duct flow. The Reynolds stress transport model (RSM) of the FLUENT code is used to evaluate the mean flow and temperature fields for the turbulent duct flow case. The instantaneous fluctuation velocity field is generated by the continuous filtered white noise model. Effects of Brownian diffusion, thermophoresis, lift force, and gravity are included in the computation. Ensembles of particle trajectories are generated and statistically analyzed. Particle dispersion from a point source in the presence of a temperature gradient field in laminar and turbulent duct flows is studied. For an initially uniform concentrat...
A sliding mode control based multi-functional power converter for electric vehicles and energy applications

In this paper, a sliding mode control based multifunctional power converter is presented for electric vehicles and renewable energy applications. The proposed power converter is a multi-functional converter, which has capabilities of buckboost, bidirectional functions and even fault tolerance. Each mode of operation of the proposed system were analyzed and to validate the system, a prototype test-bed is built and tested using a Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The results show that the proposed system could be applicable for energy (fuel cell/wind/solar) and electric vehicle application.
Thermal activation of diamond growth in carbon-hydrogen-halogen systems

Abstract Recent studies of diamond deposition at low temperatures (750-250 °C) with hydrogen-halogen-carbon mixtures indicate that a different diamond growth mechanism is operative in these systems, compared with the atomic hydrogen-methyl radical mechanism which is thought to be responsible for diamond growth in hydrocarbon chemical vapor deposition reactors. As is the case for the hydrocarbon system, the addition of small amounts of oxygen enhances the growth of diamond in the halocarbon systems. Diamond has also been shown to grow without apparent hydrogen in a carbon-sulfur-fluorine system.
The role of crop systems simulation in agriculture and environment.

Simulation of crop systems has evolved from a neophyte science into a robust and increasingly accepted discipline. Our vision is that crop systems simulation can serve important roles in agriculture and environment. Important roles and uses of crop systems simulation are in five primary areas: 1) basic research synthesis and integration, where simulation is used to synthesize our understanding of physiology, genetics, soil characteristics, management, and weather effects, 2) strategic tools for planning and policy to evaluate strategies and consequences of genetic improvement or resource management, 3) applications for management purposes, where crop systems simulations are used to evaluate impacts of weather and management on production, water use, nutrient use, nutrient leaching, and economics, 4) real time decision support to assist in management decisions (irrigation, fertilization, sowing date, harvest, yield forecast, pest management), and 5) education in class rooms and farms, to explain how crop systems function and are managed.
The KBr-CuBr and NaBr-CuBr phase diagrams

Abstract The phase diagram of KBr-CuBr has been reinvestigated. It consists of a peritectic and a eutectic. The peritectic is the formation of the intermediate compound, K 2 CuBr 3 . Its structure is orthorhombic and isomorphous with K 2 CuCl 3 with a = 12.546 (4), b = 13.183 (3) and c = 4.322 (1) A . A rationale for the structure formed is given. The NaBr-CuBr system contains a single eutectic and no intermediate compounds.
Parental exposure to ortho, para-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane impairs survival skills of atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus) larvae

Three behavioral assays were used to investigate the effect of parental exposure to ortho, para-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (o, p′-DDT, 2.0 or 10.0 μg per 100 g fish per day in the diet for 1 month) on the behavior of Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, larvae. Responses to separate visual and vibratory stimuli, as well as routine swimming activity, were quantified using motion analysis equipment. Eggs collected immediately after spawning from adults administered the 2.0 and 10.0 μg per 100 g fish per day doses of DDT contained 0.016 ± 0.002 and 0.049 ± 0.002 μg DDT per egg, respectively. Of the behavioral variables examined, proportion of larvae responding to a vibratory stimulus, burst and routine swimming speeds, active duration, and pause duration were most affected by parental exposure to o, p′-DDT. Mean and maximum burst speeds in response to the visual stimulus were higher for control larvae. The proportion of larvae responding to the vibratory stimulus was significantly higher for control larvae only after yolk and oil globule absorption. Effects of DDT exposure on routine swimming activity were only observed prior to complete oil globule absorption. Changes in these variables due to parental exposure may decrease a fish's chance of survival by increasing predation rates and/or decreasing feeding rates.
Altered Mental Status and End Organ Damage Associated with the use of Gacyclidine: A Case Series

Introduction Over the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the number of newly identified synthetic drugs. These new drugs are often derivatives of previously abused substances but have unpredictable toxicity. One of these drugs is gacyclidine, a derivative of phencyclidine (PCP). Gacyclidine has been studied as a neuroprotective agent in trauma and as a therapy of soman toxicity. There are no previous reports of its use as a drug of abuse.
Fieldwork in the Oligopoly: Protecting the Corporate Subject

Social scientists have discussed at length the protection of individual subjects but have paid little attention to collective subjects (for example, see Sjoberg 1967; Wax 1971; Diener and Crandall 1978). However, if researchers are to study the corporation and the corporate elite (Useem 1979), and if they are to "bring the firm back" into the mainstream of organizational research (Baron and Bielby 1980), they must also consider the protection of corporate research subjects. The need to protect collective subjects derives from the obligation to protect individual informants, but it also becomes a pragmatic issue in gaining access to study a large corporation. The common resort to pseudonyms is problematic, for the collective subject may be so distinctive that it can be identified in the first or subsequent studies (Vidich and Bensman 1958/59:4; Hicks 1977). The protection question applies specifically to qualitative fieldwork data, because methods for avoiding disclosure with quantitative data are already ...