cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Positive Selection on Nucleotide Substitutions and Indels in Accessory Gland Proteins of the Drosophila pseudoobscura Subgroup

Genes encoding reproductive proteins often diverge rapidly due to positive selection on nucleotide substitutions. While this general pattern is well established, the extent to which specific reproductive genes experience similar selection in different clades has been little explored, nor have possible targets of positive selection other than nucleotide substitutions, such as indels, received much attention. Here, we inspect for the signature of positive selection in the genes encoding five accessory gland proteins (Acps) (Acp26Aa, Acp32CD, Acp53Ea, Acp62F, and Acp70A) originally described from Drosophila melanogaster but with recognizable orthologues in the D. pseudoobscura subgroup. We compare patterns of selection within the D. psuedoobscura subgroup to those in the D. melanogaster subgroup. Similar patterns of positive selection were found in Acp26Aa and Acp62F in the two subgroups, while Acp53Ea and Acp70A experienced purifying selection in both subgroups. These proteins have thus remained targets for similar types of selection over long (>21-MY) periods of time. We also found several indel substitutions and polymorphisms in Acp26Aa and Acp32CD. These indels occur in the same regions as positively selected nucleotide substitutions for Acp26Aa in the D. pseudoobscura subgroup but not in the D. melanogaster subgroup. Rates of indel substitution within Acp26Aa in the D. pseudoobscura subgroup were up to several times those in noncoding regions of the Drosophila genome. This suggests that indel substitutions may be under positive selection and may play a key role in the divergence of some Acps.
Identification of protein products encoded by the proto-oncogene int-1

The proto-oncogene int-1 is activated by adjacent insertions of proviral DNA in mouse mammary tumor virus-induced tumors and has transforming activity in certain mammary epithelial cell lines. The gene is normally expressed in the central nervous system of mid-gestational embryos and in the adult testis. We raised antibodies against synthetic int-1 peptides and used these to identify protein products of the gene in cells transfected or infected with retroviral vectors expressing int-1. Four protein species of 36,000, 38,000, 40,000, and 42,000 Mr were immunoprecipitated by antibodies against two different int-1 peptides and were not present in control cells. Partial degradation with V8 protease showed the four species to be structurally related to each other and to int-1 polypeptide synthesized in vitro. Treatment of the cells with tunicamycin prevented the appearance of all but the 36,000-Mr species, suggesting that the slower-migrating forms are glycosylated derivatives. The unglycosylated 36,000-Mr species migrated faster in polyacrylamide gels than the in vitro translation product of int-1 and has probably undergone cleavage of an amino-terminal signal peptide.
Integrating perceptual level of detail with head-pose estimation and its uncertainty

Immersive virtual environments with life-like interaction capabilities can provide a high fidelity view of the virtual world and seamless interaction methods to the user. High demanding requirements, however, raise many challenges in the development of sensing technologies and display systems. The focus of this study is on improving the performance of human–computer interaction by rendering optimizations guided by head pose estimates and their uncertainties. This work is part of a larger study currently being under investigation at NASA Ames, called “Virtual GloveboX” (VGX). VGX is a virtual simulator that aims to provide advanced training and simulation capabilities for astronauts to perform precise biological experiments in a glovebox aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Our objective is to enhance the virtual experience by incorporating information about the user’s viewing direction into the rendering process. In our system, viewing direction is approximated by estimating head orientation using markers placed on a pair of polarized eye-glasses. Using eye-glasses does not pose any constraints in our operational environment since they are an integral part of a stereo display used in VGX. During rendering, perceptual level of detail methods are coupled with head-pose estimation to improve the visual experience. A key contribution of our work is incorporating head pose estimation uncertainties into the level of detail computations to account for head pose estimation errors. Subject tests designed to quantify user satisfaction under different modes of operation indicate that incorporating uncertainty information during rendering improves the visual experience of the user.
Input-output pseudolinearization on controlled invariant submanifolds

The original notion of input-output pseudolinearization on equilibrium submanifolds is extended to general controlled invariant submanifolds for nonlinear systems. Input-output pseudolinearizing feedback laws render the input-output behavior of linearizations about nominal trajectories in the submanifold trajectory-independent and equal to that of a fixed linear time-invariant system, thereby facilitating the subsequent construction of control laws for stabilization and tracking. Sufficient existence conditions are derived that are weaker than the familiar relative degree conditions for nonlinear input-output decoupling that have come to be associated with exact input-output linearization. As with other work on input-state pseudolinearization, the study of a class of linear parameter-varying (LPV) systems provides valuable insight into the nonlinear problem.
Cation determinative curves for mg-fe-mn olivines from vibrational spectra

Infrared spectra in the region 4000-200 cm-1 have been measured for several a.nnlysed olivine minerals. Ten or more bands arc observed below 1000 em-•, the frequencies of wl1ich are composition dependent and move to lower energies witl1 increasing Fe and Mn in the olivine. Best-fit equations relating peak ma....Urna to olivine composition were computed for each of the three binary series and a triruJgular determinative grid constructed for Mg-Fe-Mn olivines. Deviations from linearity in certain determinative curves of Mg-Mn and Fe-Mn olivines correlate with Mn•• ordering in M(2) positions. The accuracy of an olivine composition determinative curve is inversely propor tional to the frequency shift. be!;ween end-member compositions. In the forsterite-fayali te eries, theo com­ positions estimated from bands 4 and 5 in the infrn.red spectra. are ru close to the true compositions as estimates based on established X-ray d spacings and cell parameter data.
Pragmatic warrant for frequentist statistical practice: the case of high energy physics

Amidst long-running debates within the field, high energy physics (HEP) has adopted a statistical methodology that primarily employs standard frequentist techniques such as significance testing and confidence interval estimation, but incorporates Bayesian methods for limited purposes. The discovery of the Higgs boson has drawn increased attention to the statistical methods employed within HEP. Here I argue that the warrant for the practice in HEP of relying primarily on frequentist methods can best be understood as pragmatic, in the sense that statistical methods are chosen for their suitability for the practical demands of experimental HEP, rather than reflecting a commitment to a particular epistemic framework. In particular, I argue that understanding the statistical methodology of HEP through the perspective of pragmatism clarifies the role of and rationale for significance testing in the search for new phenomena such as the Higgs boson.
Measured antenna factors in the range of 30 to 80 MHz of some tunable dipoles adjusted to their 80 MHz length

The long length of tunable dipoles at the lower frequencies results in undesirable mutual coupling effects, nonuniform illumination of the antenna at shorter measurement distances, and limitations on the antenna height-scan range for vertical polarization. In order to avoid these limitations and undesirable effects, some standards bodies recommend that for frequencies below 80 MHz, the length of the dipole should be fixed at the 80-MHz tuned length. Measured antenna factors of three tunable dipoles adjusted to their 80-MHz tuned length are compared with the antenna factor of a broadband biconical. The antenna factors of the shortened dipoles are shown to exhibit a strong frequency dependence below 80 MHz. The antenna factor of the broadband biconical, by contrast, is shown to be lower and exhibit less frequency dependence. >
Cytokine, activation marker, and chemokine receptor expression by individual CD4+ memory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis synovium

IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, LT-α, CD154, and TNF-related activation-induced cytokine (TRANCE) were expressed by 2-20% of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial tissue CD4+ memory T cells, whereas CD4+ cells that produced IL-2, IL-4, or IL-6 were not detected. Expression of none of these molecules by individual CD4+ cells correlated with the exception of TRANCE and IL-10, and TRANCE and TNF-α . A correlation between expression of IL-10 and CCR7, LT-α and CCR6, IFN-γ and CCR5, and TRANCE and CXCR4 was also detected.
Medical students as teachers: how preclinical teaching opportunities can create an early awareness of the role of physician as teacher.

Background: As future physicians, questions about when medical students realize they will have to teach remain under-explored.Aim: To understand when students serving in pre-clinical teaching roles make the connection between teaching and being a physician.Methods: Medical students involved in a peer instruction program included: (1) archived first-year student interview candidate data (n = 60/150); (2) focus groups of first-year students selected as instructors (n = 16/60); and (3) focus groups of second-year students (n = 16/24) who taught for the program. A modified extended-term mixed-method research design involved data from the pre-hire interviews and post-hire focus group.Results: Prior to teaching, none of the first year interviewees made an explicit connection between teaching and being a physician. The new instructors selected to teach minimally made a connection and only after prompting. The majority of the experienced instructors did make the connection; however, and did so spontaneously.Concl...
Analysis of Lightweight Deflectometer Test Based on In Situ Stress and Strain Response

The lightweight deflectometer (LWD) is gaining acceptance and popularity as an in situ spot-testing device for quality control/quality assurance of earthwork compaction. Little research has been conducted to investigate the stress–strain response within the soil during LWD testing. Similarly, little research has been performed to examine the appropriateness of using homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic half-space theory to estimate soil modulus (ELWD) from LWD results. With this aim, an array of vertical stress and strain sensors was placed within the soil to measure the stress–strain response during LWD loading. Measured in situ stress values matched well with stresses predicted using homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic half-space theory. In situ stress data revealed that the contact stress distribution between the soil surface and loading plate is a function of the soil type. Measured in situ strain values did not correspond well with strains predicted using homogeneous, isotropic, linear elastic elasticity. An exponentially increasing modulus function was required to match experimental with theoretical elastic strains. The results indicate that the commonly used form to predict ELWD is inappropriate if the goal is to extract constitutive soil properties. Analysis of strain data suggests the LWD depth of influence (measurement depth) is 0.9–1.1 times the plate diameter.
Tastes, ties, and time: A new social network dataset using Facebook.com

Scholars have long recognized the potential of Internet-based communication technologies for improving network research—potential that, to date, remains largely underexploited. In the first half of this paper, we introduce a new public dataset based on manipulations and embellishments of a popular social network site, Facebook.com. We emphasize five distinctive features of this dataset and highlight its advantages and limitations vis-a-vis other kinds of network data. In the second half of this paper, we present descriptive findings from our first wave of data. Subgroups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status are characterized by distinct network behaviors, and students sharing social relationships as well as demographic traits tend to share a significant number of cultural preferences. These findings exemplify the scientific and pedagogical potential of this new network resource and provide a starting point for future analyses.
Intensive, detailed, exhaustive

Arthur Jensen's bibliography is characterized as breathtaking and his scientific work as intensive, detailed, exhaustive, fair-minded, temperate, and courageous. Specific articles and books are targeted as must reading. I argue that Jensen's characterization of the influence of the Berkeley psychology department in the 1940's reflects his own intellectual biases rather than those of the department. Jensen's work is praised as an extension of the British Biological-Theoretical Tradition which attempts to integrate psychological, biological, social genetic, sociological, and cultura processesl in a coherent theoretical framework. A new definition of Jensenism, based on the Jansenist heresy, is provided.
An epigenomic approach to therapy for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer

Tamoxifen has been a frontline treatment for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast tumors in premenopausal women. However, resistance to tamoxifen occurs in many patients. ER still plays a critical role in the growth of breast cancer cells with acquired tamoxifen resistance, suggesting that ERα remains a valid target for treatment of tamoxifen-resistant (Tam-R) breast cancer. In an effort to identify novel regulators of ERα signaling, through a small-scale siRNA screen against histone methyl modifiers, we found WHSC1, a histone H3K36 methyltransferase, as a positive regulator of ERα signaling in breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that WHSC1 is recruited to the ERα gene by the BET protein BRD3/4, and facilitates ERα gene expression. The small-molecule BET protein inhibitor JQ1 potently suppressed the classic ERα signaling pathway and the growth of Tam-R breast cancer cells in culture. Using a Tam-R breast cancer xenograft mouse model, we demonstrated in vivo anti-breast cancer activity by JQ1 and a strong long-lasting effect of combination therapy with JQ1 and the ER degrader fulvestrant. Taken together, we provide evidence that the epigenomic proteins BRD3/4 and WHSC1 are essential regulators of estrogen receptor signaling and are novel therapeutic targets for treatment of Tam-R breast cancer.
The voter model with stubborn agents extended abstract

This is an extended abstract of our study in [1]. In the following, we will summarize our results on the dynamics of the binary voter algorithm with stubborn agents.
Color paper map segmentation using eigenvector line-fitting

This paper presents a color segmentation algorithm for paper-based United States geological survey (USGS) topographic maps. The algorithm uses an eigenvector line-fitting technique to overcome false colors introduced by the scanning process due to RGB misalignment. The RGB misalignment is caused by the optical characteristics of the scanner lens and is mostly evident in regions of color change. The resulting false colors render traditional color clustering schemes ineffective. The eigenvector line-fitting approach uses the color information of pixels in a 7 by 7 window to classify the color transitional pixels. This algorithm has been experimentally verified to be robust and accurate.
Medically supervised water-only fasting in the treatment of hypertension.

Background: Hypertension-related diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrially developed societies. Although antihypertensive drugs are extensively used, dietary and lifestyle modifications also are effective in the treatment of patients with hypertension. One such lifestyle intervention is the use of medically supervised, water-only fasting as a safe and effective means of normalizing blood pressure and initiating health-promoting behavioral changes. Methods: One hundred seventy-four consecutive hypertensive patients with blood pressure in excess of 140 mm Hg systolic, 90 mm Hg diastolic (140/90 mm Hg), or both were treated in an inpatient setting under medical supervision. The treatment program consisted of a short prefasting period (approximately 2 to 3 days on average) during which food consumption was limited to fruits and vegetables, followed by medically supervised water-only fasting (approximately 10 to 11 days on average) and a refeeding period (approximately 6 to 7 days on average) introducing a low-fat, low-sodium, vegan diet. Results: Almost 90% of the subjects achieved blood pressure less than 140/90 mm Hg by the end of the treatment program. The average reduction in blood pressure was 37/13 mm Hg, with the greatest decrease being observed for subjects with the most severe hypertension. Patients with stage 3 hypertension (those with systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mg Hg, diastolic blood pressure greater than 110 mg Hg, or both) had an average reduction of 60/17 mm Hg at the conclusion of treatment. All of the subjects who were taking antihypertensive medication at entry (6.3% of the total sample) successfully discontinued the use of medication. Conclusion: Medically supervised water-only fasting appears to be a safe and effective means of normalizing blood pressure and may assist in motivating health-promoting diet and lifestyle changes. (J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001;24:335-9) Key Indexing Terms: Fasting; Hypertension; Vegetarian Diet; Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Spinal palpation: The challenges of information retrieval using available databases

PURPOSE: This study addressed 2 questions: first, what is the yield of PubMed MEDLINE for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) studies compared to other databases; second, what is an effective search strategy to answer a sample research question on spinal palpation? METHODS: We formulated the following research question: What is the reliability of spinal palpation procedures? We identified specific Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and key terms as used in osteopathic medicine, allopathic medicine, chiropractic, and physical therapy. Using PubMed, we formulated an initial search template and applied it to 12 additional selected databases. Subsequently, we applied the inclusion criteria and evaluated the yield in terms of precision and sensitivity in identifying relevant studies. RESULTS: The online search result of the 13 databases identified 1189 citations potentially addressing the research question. After excluding overlapping and nonpertinent citations and those not meeting the inclusion criteria, 49 citations remained. PubMed yielded 19, while MANTIS (Manual Alternative and Natural Therapy Index System), a manual therapy database, yielded 35 citations. Twenty-six of the 49 online citations were repeatedly indexed in 3 or more databases. Content experts and selective manual searches identified 11 additional studies. In all, we identified 60 studies that addressed the research question. The cost of the databases used for conducting this search ranged from free-of-charge to $43,000 per year for a single network subscription. CONCLUSIONS: Commonly used databases often do not provide accurate indexing or coverage of CAM publications. Subject-specific specialized databases are recommended. Access, cost, and ease of using specialized databases are limiting factors.
Perceptions of health care communication: Examining the role of patients' psychological distress

Objective We sought to gain a better understanding of the relationship between patients’ serious psychological distress (SPD) and their perception of interactions with health care providers and their ratings of the health care quality. Methods We analyzed data from 6286 adult respondents to the 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey. We conducted cross-tabulations to compare sociodemographic characteristics between those with SPD and those without SPD. Using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression models, we assessed the association between psychological status and indicators of perceived health care communication and the overall health care quality after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results Patients with SPD were less likely to report that their provider “always” paid attention to their feelings and emotions, “always” ensured their understanding of the needed care, and “always” assisted them dealing with uncertain feelings. These distressed patients were also less satisfied with the overall health care quality. Conclusions Patients’ psychological distress is negatively associated with their perceived quality of communication with health providers. Further knowledge on the health care need of patients with SPD would be important in improving health service delivery and optimizing the psychological care of medical patients.
The Core Brain Region for Face Processing in Schizophrenia Lacks Face Selectivity

BACKGROUND Face perception impairment in schizophrenia has long been recognized. However, brain mechanisms underlying this socially important perceptual deficit are not well understood. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have shown that patients have altered structure in brain regions responsible for processing face information, but functional properties of these brain regions are not clearly determined. A key functional property of the face-processing system--face selectivity--has yet to be evaluated in schizophrenia. METHODS We used functional MRI (fMRI) to examine face selectivity of 3 core face-processing regions--fusiform face area (FFA), occipital face area (OFA), and superior temporal sulcus (STS)--in schizophrenia patients (n = 24) and healthy controls (n = 23). To disassociate face-specific processing from general perceptual processing, we compared cortical activations during performance of perceptually equated face and tree detection tasks. RESULTS Activation levels of the 3 putative face-processing regions during face detection did not differ between patients and controls, being similar for FFA and OFA and absent for STS. However, face selectivity, indexed by the difference in cortical activation between face and tree detection, was significantly reduced in patients for FFA, especially for low-contrast stimuli. FFA activation and perceptual performance during face detection were associated in patients. CONCLUSIONS These results show a lack of face-specific processing in the schizophrenic brain region presumably subserving face perception. This finding suggests boosting visual salience of face images as a potential therapeutic venue for improving face perception in this psychiatric disorder.
An Emerging Trend?: State Court International Human Rights Litigation

The brief symposium contribution explores human rights litigation in U.S. state courts under state law. Faced with higher hurdles to successfully asserting Alien Tort Statute claims in U.S. courts and reluctant to re-embrace more traditional international lawmaking, human rights advocates have begun to experiment with alternative strategies for redressing human rights violations. One strategy involves state court litigation. Some commentators believe that state courts may prove more amenable to enforcing and advancing human rights. This symposium contribution explores the parallels between the recent willingness to consider state court litigation to remedy human rights violations occurring abroad and other state court strategies, particularly those implicating environmental rights. After exploring the reasons behind the interest in state courts, the contribution explains why the move to state court litigation is unlikely to prove beneficial for the human rights movement. Over the long-term, relying on state courts will place human rights advocacy in a weaker position. State court litigation – similar to its federal analogue – is likely to prove a poor substitute for more traditional, multilateral, and collaborative international lawmaking.
Mechanism of NGF-induced formation of axonal filopodia: NGF turns up the volume, but the song remains the same?

The formation of axon collateral branches is a fundamental aspect of the development of neuronal circuits. Emergence of axonal filopodia from the axon is the first step in the formation of axon collateral branches and pre-synaptic structures. Using embryonic sensory axons as a model system, we have determined that axonal filopodia are formed from transient accumulations of F-actin within the axon, termed actin patches. We found that the branch-inducing factor NGF induces the formation of axonal actin patches and filopodia. NGF signaling, through PI3K, promotes the formation of localized axonal microdomains of PIP3 accumulation. The microdomains in turn drive formation of actin patches. Under basal conditions, only a subset of actin patches gives rise to filopodia, and many patches dissipate without forming a filopodium. Neither NGF nor direct activation of PI3K affects the probability that an actin patch will give rise to a filopodium. Thus, NGF increases formation of axonal filopodia through localized PI3K signaling that promotes the initiation of actin patch precursors to the formation of axonal filopodia. The promotion of actin patch formation by NGF may be mediated through a PI3K-TOR pathway driving intra-axonal protein synthesis. We propose the hypothesis that NGF signaling “turns up the volume” on the mechanism of filopodial formation by increasing axonal levels of the cytoskeletal proteins required for the orchestration of actin patch formation by PIP3
Spatial Coordinates Determination of Bogie's Gravity Center

Relying on the bogie's parameters test bench developed by Jilin University,the spatial coordinates determination method of the bogie's gravity center w as put forw ard based on the moment balance principle. The test models for spatial coordinates w ere also established. The longitudinal and the lateral coordinates w ere tested w ith keeping the bogie still. But w hen test the vertical coordinate,the bogie should be inclined via the actuators of the test bench to analyze the moment balance at an angle. The inverse displacement analysis model of the multiple-six-DOF simulation platform w ith complex coupling motions w as established,and the vertical coordinate w as tested based on the coordinated control commands of the actuators. Coordinates of the gravity center of a certain bogie w ere measured and compared w ith the theoretical coordinates. The result show s that measured values are consistent w ith the theoretical ones,w hich proves the accuracy and feasibility of the test method.
343 QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF TUMOR GLUCOSE UTILIZATION FOR PREDICTION OF RESPONSE TO TREATMENT WITH THE EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR KINASE INHIBITOR GEFITINIB (IRESSA).

Objectives Small molecule inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase have recently been introduced for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, these new drugs are only effective in approximately 10% of patients and there are no diagnostic tests to predict tumor response. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether changes in tumor glucose utilization, as assessed by positron emission tomography with the glucose analog fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET), may be used to predict response to EGFR-kinase inhibitors early in the course of therapy. Methods Glucose metabolism was studied in three human cancer cell lines with varying sensitivity to the EGFR-kinase inhibitor gefitinib. FDG uptake (a measure of glucose transport and phosphorylation) was determined in cell cultures and by microPET imaging of xenografts subcutaneously injected into SCID mice. To elucidate the mechanisms for treatment-induced changes in FDG uptake, glucose transport was assessed with the metabolically stable glucose analogue 3OMDG, and hexokinase activity of cell extracts was measured photometrically. Results In the highly sensitive HCC4006 cells, FDG uptake decreased within 2 hours of treatment with 0.2 μM gefitinib and was only 30% of controls after 2 days. Reduced FDG uptake was due to decreased transport (influx constant of 3OMDG for treated and untreated cells 3.9/min and 21/min, respectively) and not due to impaired phosphorylation (hexokinase activity 277 and 253 mU/mg, respectively). Gefitinib-resistant A549 cells showed no change in FDG uptake and the moderately sensitive A431 cells demonstrated an intermediate response. In vivo, FDG uptake of A431 xenografts significantly decreased after two doses of gefitinib. Relative to controls FDG uptake of tumors treated with 75 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg was 64% ± 1% and 49% ± 5%, respectively. Conclusion In sensitive tumors gefitinib causes a rapid decrease in glucose transport, which can be measured by PET imaging. These findings encourage the use of FDG-PET to predict response to EGFR kinase inhibitors in NSCLC.
Public Opinion, Public Support, and Counter-Attitudinal Voting on the U.S. Supreme Court

ABSTRACTKey questions in American politics are whether and why the Supreme Court is responsive to public opinion. Past scholarship has suggested a strong relationship between changes in public opinion and the ideological direction of the Court’s decisions. Here we focus on a slightly different question and examine why justices are willing to follow public opinion, even at the expense of their own ideological preferences. To this end we examine whether justices are willing to vote contrary to their preferences when those preferences are out of step with prevailing public opinion. We employ a novel issue-specific measure of public mood, and we find that justices follow public opinion to shore up broader institutional approval. But the constraint of public opinion is not static over time. Rather, justices are uniquely responsive to public opinion when public support for the Court is low or case salience is high.
Enhanced messenger activity of RNA from 8-azaguanien-treated Bacillus cereus.

The messenger activity of total RNA from normal and 8-azaguanine-treated Bacillus cereus cultures was measured by the stimulation of amino acid incorporation into proteins in the preincubated S-30 Escherichia coli system. RNA from 8-azaguanine-treated cells enhanced the incorporation of various amino acids into proteins to a greater extent than did RNA from normal cells. After sucrose gradient centrifugation, the messenger activity of each individual fraction was tested. Most of this activity in both RNA samples was found to be localized between the 16 S and 4 S fractions. In the RNA from analog-treated cells, however, an appreciably greater proportion of this activity was associated with the ribosomal RNA fraction and extended to particles of 23 S and greater. The greater total messenger activity in vitro of analog-treated RNA is discussed in relation to the accumulation of precursors of ribosomal RNA with changed secondary structure and having template activity in vitro for amino acid incorporation.
Children for sale? The blurred boundary between intercountry adoption and sale of children in the United States

Purpose – Intercountry adoptions (hereafter ICAs) in the USA are a form of sale of children. According to international policy, sale of children is an illicit social practice that involves improper financial gains by at least one party. Sale of children is a threat to legitimate ICA. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the policy and practice of ICAs in the USA, including pricing arrangements, demonstrate that US ICAs, which can have humanitarian aims and be legitimate forms of family development, comprise sale of children. Design/methodology/approach – Internet searches and e-mail inquiries were used to obtain ICA cost data for a randomised sample of 10 per cent of the agencies in the USA that facilitate ICAs. Findings – Cost information was obtained from only 25 per cent of the sample, suggesting lack of transparency in and available information about monetary costs of US ICAs. A range of US$12,000 to $40,000 suggests that US ICAs are expensive and costs vary. Large, undisclosed fees in the form of ...
Immunological monitoring as a guide to the management of transplant recipients.

Current uses of immunological monitoring in clinical transplantation include: pre-transplant determination of donor-recipient histocompatibility and of recipient responder status, individualized modulation of recipient post-transplant immune reactivity, prognostic index of rejection therapy, monitoring of long-term recipients for chronic rejection, and immunobiological probe for studying graft rejection and facilitory mechanisms.
Rural first year university science students: As engaged, aspirational and motivated as anyone but different science 'choices' in Year 12 and university.

This paper reports on findings from the Interests and Recruitment in Science study, which explored the experiences of first year students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses in Australian universities. First year STEM students who went to school in rural or regional areas were as engaged, aspirational and motivated as their more metropolitan counterparts. However, they were less likely to have studied Physics or advance mathematics, and more likely to have enrolled in an Agricultural or Environmental Science degree. The relationships between these results and broader contextual issues such as employment and Higher Education budgetary and policy settings are discussed.
Tympanoplasty in geriatric patients: surgical considerations.

The outcomes of tympanoplasty in the elderly are generally no different from those in the young. Although some reports suggest that hearing results were not as good in patients older than 60, the instance of graft failure in these patients did not differ greatly by age. Patients older than 65 do have the highest in cidence of perioperative death or complications, with elderly men being at a greater risk than elderly women. The risk is also higher in patients who have concomitant diseases, such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebral vascular disease, dementia, and peripheral vascular disease. The presence of coexisting disease is more important than age itself, although physiologic age is more important than chronological age.
Stand-Biased Versus Seated Classrooms and Childhood Obesity: A Randomized Experiment in Texas

Objectives. To measure changes in body mass index (BMI) percentiles among third- and fourth-grade students in stand-biased classrooms and traditional seated classrooms in 3 Texas elementary schools.Methods. Research staff recorded the height and weight of 380 students in 24 classrooms across the 3 schools at the beginning (2011–2012) and end (2012–2013) of the 2-year study.Results. After adjustment for grade, race/ethnicity, and gender, there was a statistically significant decrease in BMI percentile in the group that used stand-biased desks for 2 consecutive years relative to the group that used standard desks during both years. Mean BMI increased by 0.1 and 0.4 kilograms per meter squared in the treatment and control groups, respectively. The between-group difference in BMI percentile change was 5.24 (SE = 2.50; P = .037). No other covariates had a statistically significant impact on BMI percentile changes.Conclusions. Changing a classroom to a stand-biased environment had a significant effect on studen...
Bridging the STEM Divide: Achieving Success by Engaging Freshmen STEM Majors Through Math Readiness and STEM Boot Camps

An overwhelming number of high school graduates are ill-equipped with the tools necessary for post-secondary school success. AÂ Virginia high school students are surpassing the national average on college entrance exams, however, roughly 1/3 of the 22,263 fall below the benchmarks established in math and science. AÂ George Mason University and the STEM Accelerator Program seek to improve retention of their STEM majors as many students enter college with dismal math skills and study skills in general.AÂ If poor study skills are added into the picture all STEM majors enter their post-secondary education at a deficit.AÂ To help bridge the STEM divide, the STEM Accelerator Program has developed a STEM Boot camp and more recently a Math Readiness Camp for our incoming STEM majors.AÂ Our Math Readiness Camp is designed to help students who have not mastered essential math skills that are required for STEM majors. AÂ Since 2013 GMU hosted a Biology Boot Camp and two STEM Boot Camps. AÂ During our one week camp, students sat through the first course they will take in their major; these classes included Cell Structure and Function (BIOL 213); General Chemistry (CHEM 211); or Calculus (Math 113).AÂ These "gatekeeper" classes can turn students away from STEM if specific deficiencies are not addressed. AÂ We will describe the Math Readiness and STEM Boot Camps and present retention data from the three cohorts that have participated in our Camps. AÂ Lessons learned that can be applied beyond the camp model will be discussed, in addition to how the camps can also be modified for non-STEM majors.
Risk and protective factors associated with adolescent girls' substance use: Data from a nationwide Facebook sample

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite overall reductions in teenage substance use, adolescent girls' rates of substance use remain unacceptably high. This article examines whether girls' substance use is associated with general risk and protective factors (goal setting, problem solving, refusal skills, peer use, and self-efficacy) and gender-specific risk and protective factors (communication style, coping skills, self-esteem, body image, perceived stress, anxiety, and depression). Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected in 2013 via online surveys from a nationwide sample of adolescent girls (N = 788), aged 13 and 14 years, who were recruited through Facebook. Results: In multivariate analyses, controlling for correlates of adolescent substance use, 11 of the 13 general and gender-specific risk and protective factors were consistently associated with past-month alcohol, cigarette, and other drug use in the expected direction; past-month marijuana use was associated with 8 of the 13 factors. Refusal skills, pee...
Consumer culture, branding and identity in the New Russia: from five-year plan to 4×4

At a time when the relationships between the West and Russia are at a low point, this book provides much needed insight into the unique consumer culture that has emerged in Russia since the collaps...
Rereading Assent in Critical Literacy Research with Young Children.

Literacy researchers often include young children in the research process. Yet discussions about the complexities of gaining and keeping assent are often missing in research reports. In this paper,...
Public Health Surveillance and the Molecular Epidemiology of Rabies

Rabies is a zoonotic disease. Human deaths are the accidental consequence of biologic processes of virus maintenance and perpetuation to which they do not directly contribute. However, humans have indirectly played a tremendous role in the current geographical distribution of rabies virus (RABV) and the historical importance of rabies. The prime example of this indirect human influence rests with the domestication of the dog (Canis lupus or C. familiaris). Because of the dog’s popularity as a work and companion animal it has been introduced throughout the world since its domestication some 12,000 years ago. Today, with an estimated 500 million or more dogs in the world (Matter and Daniels, 2000), we are living with the public health consequences of this relationship, as dogs remain the single most important reservoir host and source of human rabies infection throughout much of the world.
Abdominal adiposity and low physical activity are independently and inversely associated with bone mineral density.

Summary Background and Methods Obesity is a highly heterogeneous condition, and the link between adiposity distribution profiles and skeletal health is not well understood. This study examined the association between adiposity and bone mineral density (BMD) in a large cohort (5268 individuals) of US adults aged 20–85 years. Results Body mass index (BMI) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were positively associated with BMD. Conversely, abdominal adiposity was negatively associated with BMD, even after adjusting for age, race, BMI, and objectively-measured physical activity. Conclusions These findings highlight the negative influence of abdominal adiposity on BMD and contradict the notion that excess fat mass is protective for bone health.
Quality Assessment of Stereotactic Radiosurgery of a Melanoma Brain Metastases Model Using a Mouselike Phantom and the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform.

Purpose To establish a novel preclinical model for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with combined mouselike phantom quality assurance in the setting of brain metastases. Methods and Materials C57B6 mice underwent intracranial injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells. T1-weighted postcontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on day 11 after injection. The MRI images were fused with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using the Small Animal Radiation Research Platform (SARRP). The gross tumor volume (GTV) was contoured using the MRI. A single sagittal arc using the 3 × 3 mm2 collimator was used to deliver 18 Gy prescribed to the isocenter. MRI was performed 7 days after radiation treatment, and the dose delivered to the mice was confirmed using 2 mouselike anthropomorphic phantoms: 1 in the axial orientation and the other in the sagittal orientation. The SARRP output was measured using a PTW Farmer type ionization chamber as per the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group report 61, and the H-D curve was generated up to a maximum dose of 30 Gy. Irradiated films were analyzed based on optical density distribution and H-D curve. Results The tumor volume on day 11, before intervention, was 2.48 ± 1.37 mm3 in the no-SRS arm versus 3.75 ± 1.19 mm3 in the SRS arm (NS). In the SRS arm, GTV maximum dose (Dmax) and mean dose were 2048 ± 207 and 1785 ± 14 cGy. Using the mouselike phantoms, the radiochromic film showed close precision in comparison with projected isodose lines, with a Dmax of 1903.4 and 1972.7 cGy, the axial and sagittal phantoms, respectively. Tumor volume 7 days after treatment was 7.34 ± 8.24 mm3 in the SRS arm and 60.20 ± 40.4 mm3 in the no-SRS arm (P=.009). No mice in the control group survived more than 22 days after implantation, with a median overall survival (mOS) of 19 days; mOS was not reached in the SRS group, with 1 death noted. Conclusions Single-fraction SRS of 18 Gy delivered in a single arc can be delivered accurately with MRI T1-weighted postcontrast–based treatment planning. The mouse like phantom allows for verification of dose delivery and accuracy.
The Interaction Between Generation Status and Sex on Drinking Motives and Behaviors

Participants included 483 undergraduate drinkers who were assessed on drinking motives and alcohol behaviors. Results indicated differences in coping drinking motives and alcohol-related negative consequences between first-generation college students (FGCS) and continuing generation college students (CGCS) status depended on sex. Implications for prevention and intervention efforts with FGCS are discussed.
Blind gain and phase calibration for low-dimensional or sparse signal sensing via power iteration

Blind gain and phase calibration (BGPC) is a bilinear inverse problem involving the determination of unknown gains and phases of the sensing system, and the unknown signal, jointly. BGPC arises in numerous applications, e.g., blind albedo estimation in inverse rendering, synthetic aperture radar autofocus, and sensor array auto-calibration. In some cases, sparse structure in the unknown signal alleviates the ill-posedness of BGPC. Recently there has been renewed interest in solutions to BGPC with careful analysis of error bounds. In this paper, we formulate BGPC as an eigenvalue/eigenvector problem, and propose to solve it via power iteration, or in the sparsity or joint sparsity case, via truncated power iteration. Under certain assumptions, the unknown gains, phases, and the unknown signal can be recovered simultaneously. Numerical experiments show that power iteration algorithms work not only in the regime predicted by our main results, but also in regimes where theoretical analysis is limited. We also show that our power iteration algorithms for BGPC compare favorably with competing algorithms in adversarial conditions, e.g., with noisy measurement or with a bad initial estimate.
Specials: Rotablation Through Stent Accordion

A 52-year-old man presented with NSTEMI. He had diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, prior tobacco, and heavy alcohol use. He had a past history of CAD with CABG 3 years ago with LIMA to LAD, SVG to first diagonal, SVG to OM1, SVG to circumflex, and SVG to RCA. His LVEF was 35%. Coronary angiography showed severe native three-vessel disease, patent LIMA graft to the LAD, occluded SVGs to the OM1, RCA, and circumflex and severe stenosis in the SVG to the diagonal (Fig. 25.1, Videos 25.1 and 25.2) We proceed to intervene on the SVG-diagonal lesion.
Responses of Small Mammal Communities to Pinyon-Juniper Habitat Treatments

Small mammals should be considered in wildlife management decisions because they are an important component of ecosystems. We examined small mammal population abundances (N) on 4 habitat treatment types in Colorado pinyon pine (Pinus edulis)—Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) woodlands on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Montrose, Colorado. We trapped small mammals in Sherman live traps on 4 habitat treatment types—including 2 types of management treatments (chaining, roller chop), sites with high drought-related mortality of pinyon pine, and sites of mature pinyon-juniper (PJ) woodland—on 3 mesas. We modeled detection probability of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and least chipmunks (Tamias minimus) as a function of 4 treatment types on 3 mesas during 2 trapping periods by using Huggins closed mark-recapture models. A variance components analysis was conducted to obtain abundance shrinkage estimates and to separate spatial process variance from the sampling variance to calculate the percent of variation in abundance estimates explained by treatment type, mesa, and trapping period. Abundance estimates were higher for deer mice and least chipmunks on chaining and roller chop treatment sites than on mature PJ woodland and pinyon pine natural mortality sites. The highest percent of variation in abundance estimates was explained by treatment type for deer mice (33.67%) and least chipmunks (61.45%) and secondarily by mesa for deer mice (21.64%). We calculated species diversity using Shannon's, Simpson's, Pielou's evenness, and species richness indices, and we used analysis of variance to test for significant differences (P < 0.05) in species composition. Species diversity and richness were higher on natural mortality sites than on chaining, roller chop, and mature woodland sites. Our results indicate that chaining and roller chop habitat treatments within PJ woodlands have a positive impact on deer mouse and least chipmunk abundances, whereas natural mortality and chaining treatments have a positive impact on small mammal composition.