cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presence of EGF growth factor ligands and their effects on cultured rat conjunctival goblet cell proliferation

The amount of mucin on the ocular surface is regulated by the rate of mucin synthesis, mucin secretion, and the number of goblet cells. We have previously shown that cholinergic agonists are potent stimuli of mucin secretion. In contrast, there have been no studies on the control of goblet cell proliferation. In this study we investigate the presence of the EGF family of growth factors and their receptors in rat conjunctiva and cultured rat conjunctival goblet cells as well as their effects on activation of signaling intermediates and goblet cell proliferation. Rat conjunctival goblet cells were grown in organ culture and identified as goblet cells by their morphology and positive staining for the lectin UEA-1 and cytokeratin 7. In the rat conjunctiva, the presence of the EGF family members epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α), heparin binding EGF (HB-EGF), and heregulin was determined by RT-PCR. The receptors for these ligands, EGF receptor (EGFR), erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 were detected in both rat conjunctiva and goblet cells by Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence microscopy of conjunctival tissue determined that EGFR was present as punctate staining in the cytoplasm of conjunctival goblet cells while ErbB2 was present in the basolateral and lateral membranes of goblet cells. ErbB3 was localized to the cytosol of rat conjunctival goblet cells. In cultured goblet cells, EGFR and ErbB2 were present in the perinuclear area of the cells. ErbB3 was widely distributed throughout the cytoplasm of the cells. ErbB4 was not detected in either the conjunctiva or goblet cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. Using a multiplex assay system we measured phosphorylation (activation) of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), also known as ERK, Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 MAPK and AKT (also known as protein kinase B), molecules known to be activated by EGF receptor members. EGF, TGF-α and HB-EGF activated the signaling intermediate proteins whereas heregulin did not. No EGF family member significantly activated AKT. Consistent with these findings, EGF, TGF-α and HB-EGF each stimulated goblet cell proliferation as measured by WST-1 assay or immunofluorescence microscopy using an antibody against Ki-67, a protein expressed in dividing cells. Heregulin did not cause goblet cell proliferation. We conclude that multiple members of the EGF family, EGF, TGF-α and HB-EGF, and heregulin are present with three of the four erbB receptor subtypes. EGF, TGF-α and HB-EGF all stimulated the activation of signaling intermediates and caused goblet cell proliferation.
Ethics, Law, and the Emergence of Pharmacists' Responsibility for Patient Care

An ethical and corresponding legal structure based on physician supremacy over patients and other healthcare professionals has evolved over the past 40 years to recognize patient autonomy and realize that systems and societal structure influence healthcare outcomes as greatly as do provider-patient interactions. Future ethical and lega) imperatives for pharmacists will necessitate a profession prepared to deliver primary, secondary, and tertiary care services as part of teams of providers, and less devoted to drug distribution as a professional raison d'ětre.
Physical exercise, stressful life experience, and depression in adults with epilepsy

Adults with epilepsy completed self-report measures of exercise participation, barriers to exercise, stressful life experience, depression, and general psychosocial adjustment (n = 133) as part of routine outpatient visits. Descriptive statistics showed lower levels of depression among patients who exercised regularly. Structural equation analyses confirmed the fit of a path model that included significant direct effects of exercise and stressful life experience on depression. These effects were independent of each other, and independent of the influence of other predictor variables, such as seizure frequency, age, and gender. Stressful life experience also had a direct unique effect on seizure frequency in the multivariate models. These results suggest that problems with depression, which are common in adults with epilepsy, are significantly lower among those who exercise regularly and avoid stressful life change.
Fractional quantum Hall effect: A game of five halves

Proof that the delicate 5/2 fractional quantum Hall state survives constriction within a quantum point contact paves the way to realizing an experimental platform for exploring the bizarre world of non-abelian particle statistics.
Synchronous rhythms in a model for the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia

Abstract By developing and analyzing a conductance-based network model for interactions of the external segment of the globus pallidus and the subthalamic nucleus in the basal ganglia, we test hypotheses on the origin of tremor-related synchronous activity in parkinsonian states. We find that the network robustly generates two types of synchronous rhythms. In one rhythm, isolated episodes of full-population synchronized bursting arise and repeat at 1– 2 Hz . In the other rhythm, the cells split into synchronized clusters that alternate firing. We explore the mechanisms behind these rhythms as well as modulations that eliminate synchronous oscillations in the network.
Studies of the 84.2 keV E2 transition in Yb170

Abstract The K conversion coefficient of the 84.2 keV, 2+ to 0+, E2 transition in Yb170 from the decay of Tm170 has been measured by scintillation and coincidence techniques to be 1.66±0.11 and 1.52±0.07, respectively, while theory gives 1.34. The beta-gamma, beta-K conversion electron and beta-L conversion electron directional correlations have been measured for beta rays with energies above 600 keV with magnetic momentum analysis of the conversion electrons. Possible distortion of the beta-gamma correlation from the beta-inner-bremsstrahlung coincidences was observed. The measured anisotropies, A(π)/A( 1 2 π)−1 , uncorrected for solid angles are −0.140±0.007 and −0.097±0.006 for the β-eK and β-eL correlations. From these and the β-γ correlations, b2 particle parameters of 2.56±0.4 (2.32±0.3) and 1.77±0.2 (1.62±0.2) were obtained for the K and L conversion electrons, respectively. The values in parentheses are uncorrected for β-inner bremsstrahlung coincidences. The theoretical value of b2(K) is 1.92. The high b2 and αK may indicate possible structure effects in the conversion process. Unfortunately no theoretical calculations are available for b2(L) for comparison with experiment.
A syntactic account of singleton types via hereditary substitution

We give a syntactic proof of decidability and consistency of equivalence for the singleton type calculus, which lies at the foundation of modern module systems such as that of ML. Unlike existing proofs, which work by constructing a model, our syntactic proof makes few demands on the underlying proof theory and mathematical foundation. Consequently, it can be --- and has been --- entirely formulated in the Twelf meta-logic, and provides an important piece of a Twelf-formalized type-safety proof for Standard ML.The proof works by translation of the singleton type calculus into a canonical presentation, adapted from work on logical frameworks, in which equivalent terms are written identically. Canonical forms are not preserved under standard substitution, so we employ an alternative definition of substitution called hereditary substitution, which contracts redices that arise during substitution.
Electric field measurements in the stratosphere

Abstract The electric field in the atmosphere from ground up to 90.000 ft was measured during a series of twenty balloon flights made in 1955 and 1956. The tests indicate that the electric field in the atmosphere, above the exchange layer, decreases monotonically with height up to the maximum height at which measurements were made. The measured values of electric field agree very well with the values calculated from conductivity data and the assumption of an approximately constant air-earth current density.
Pull-type manufacturing systems with multiple product types

A multiple-product facility consisting of a manufacturing process and a finished product warehouse for several types of products is considered. An (R,r) continuous-review inventory control policy is applied to each type of product in the warehouse. The demand arrival process of each type is assumed to be Poisson. The processing times and the set-up times are arbitrarily distributed. We have developed an iterative procedure to approximately compute the average inventory level of each product in the warehouse under different priority schemes.
The Inexact Imprecise Science of Trace Analysis.

The author shows how and why the science of trace analysis is both inexact and imprecise, examining general problems involved in determining amounts when the uncertainty value may be near the conce...
Concepts for, and Utility of, Future Space Central-Power Stations

T rate of industrial development in space is largely dependent on the cost of transportation to, through, and from space and the cost of electrical power in space. The technological and economical impact of a large central-power station in Earth orbit on the cost and performance of future spacecraft and their orbital-transfer systems has been examined. Analysis of the cost effectiveness of meeting Earth-orbiting spacecraft electrical power demands from a central-power station indicates that this application cannot justify the investment required for the central station. However, laser-thermal and laser-electric propulsion systems powered from a central-power station promise major cost savings when compared to orbital-transfer vehicles using advanced, conventional, chemical, and solar-electric propulsion—at least within the bounds of the assumptions made.
The RIPE3b1 Activator of the Insulin Gene Is Composed of a Protein(s) of Approximately 43 kDa, Whose DNA Binding Activity Is Inhibited by Protein Phosphatase Treatment

Glucose-stimulated and pancreatic islet beta cell-specific expression of the insulin gene is mediated in part by the C1 DNA-element binding complex, termed RIPE3b1. In this report, we define the molecular weight range of the protein(s) that compose this beta cell-enriched activator complex and show that protein phosphatase treatment inhibits RIPE3b1 DNA binding activity. Fractionation of beta cell nuclear extracts by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that RIPE3b1 binding was mediated by a protein(s) within the 37-49-kDa ranges. Direct analysis of the proteins within the RIPE3b1 complex by ultraviolet light cross-linking analysis identified three binding species of approximately 51, 45, and 38 kDa. Incubating beta cell nuclear extracts with either calf alkaline phosphatase or a rat brain phosphatase preparation dramatically reduced RIPE3b1 DNA complex formation. Phosphatase inhibition of RIPE3b1 binding was prevented by sodium pyrophosphate, a general phosphatase inhibitor. We discuss how changes in the phosphorylation status of the RIPE3b1 activator may influence its DNA binding activity.
Neuraminidase inhibitors--the story behind the Cochrane review.

Although billions have been spent on oseltamivir in the face of pandemic influenza, the team updating the Cochrane review of neuraminidase inhibitors in healthy adults found that the public evidence base for this global public health drug was fragmented and inconsistent. Peter Doshi tells the story
A drift correction procedure.

A procedure is introduced that can mitigate the deleterious effect of low-frequency noiseoften termed drifton the precision of an analytical experiment. This procedure offers several performance benefits over traditional designs based on the periodic measurement of standards to diagnose and correct for variation in instrument response. Using repeated measurements of every sample as a drift diagnostic, as opposed to requiring the periodic measurement of any given sample or standard, the analyst can better budget the measurement time to be devoted to each sample, distributing it to optimize the uncertainty of the analytical result. The drift is diagnosed from the repeated measurements, a model of the instrument response drift is constructed, and the data are corrected to a “drift-free” condition. This drift-free condition allows data to be accumulated over long periods of time with little or no loss in precision due to drift. More than 10-fold precision enhancements of analytical atomic emission results hav...
Measuring refractive index profiles within thin-film photovoltaics with high spatial resolution using the modified IM-IWKB method

We derive a correction to the phase contribution for the reconstruction of refractive index profiles within thin-film photovoltaics using the Index Matched Inverse Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (IM-IWKB) Method. We quantify the improvement of the refractive-index reconstruction due to this modification for structures typical of organic photovoltaics. Near the low-index surface of the photoactive layer, this modification reduces the fractional error in the reconstructed profile by a factor of ten, resulting in a highly accurate refractive index reconstruction throughout the entire film thickness. This technique is applicable to the reconstruction of the refractive index profiles within any thin-film photovoltaic material.
New approaches for ℋ ∞ performance preserving controller reduction

This paper proposes several ℋ ∞ performance preserving controller reduction methods. One of the advantages of the proposed methods is that the weighting functions for controller reduction is easy to compute and is readily available from standard ℋ ∞ control design software. Numerical simulations show that the proposed methods are at least as effective as the best method available in the literature.
Urban labor markets and individual transitions out of poverty.

Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics and the U.S. census, I examine the effect of four structural characteristics on individual poverty exits: (1) economic restructuring, (2) skills mismatches, (3) racial residential segregation, and (4) welfare benefit levels. Results show that these factors play a role in explaining African Americans’ economic disadvantages, but they have a weaker and often contrary impact on whites’ poverty exits. Overall, the differing impact of the contextual characteristics on African Americans and whites exacerbates social stratification and illustrates racial divisions that continue to pervade the labor market.
Tesla: Anatomy of a Run-Up

This article presents a detailed anatomy of the nearly seven-fold run-up in the price of Tesla stock between March 22, 2013 and February 26, 2014, and attempts to determine the role played by investor sentiment. Tesla offers a unique opportunity in this context because the run-up was on the order of magnitude experienced by some of the most volatile technology stocks, but Tesla operates in an industry—automotive manufacturing—and a potential industry—battery construction—that are mature and populated by established competitors. This makes it possible to construct discounted cash flow valuation models that are anchored to established fundamentals. On the basis of these models, in conjunction with a detailed event study and analysis of institutional stock holdings and short-sales data, the authors conclude that the run-up cannot be explained as a rational reaction to fundamental information. Instead, they conclude that, at the end of the run-up, the stock was overvalued by approximately 150%. In their view, the case study provides support for the assertion by Lawrence Summers that price and rational value can diverge significantly for prolonged periods of time.
Crystallization of sulfides from alkali polysulfide fluxes

Abstract Alkali polysulfides are solvents suitable for the synthesis of many metal sulfides from the metal and for crystal growth. Crystal plates, ∼ 2 cm diameter, of the antiferromagnetic (below 18 K) semiconductor NaCrS 2 , and during controlled oxidation, crystals of NaCrO 2 and Cr 2 O 3 have been obtained. CdS prepared from sodium polysulfide solution grows in the form of prisms, pyramids or plates depending on the growth temperature (respectively supersaturation) and added impurities. The CdS plates showed a very high dark resistivity and a strong photoconductivity effect. Other sulfides prepared from sodium polysulfide flux include ZnS, PbS, CuS, α-MnS, NiS 2 , CoS 2 , FeS 2 , NaInS 2 , KFeS 2 , MoS 2 , LaS 2− x and Cu 3 VS 4 . The sodium content of several sulfides varied from 30 to 450 ppm. Attempts to prepare thiospinels like CdCr 2 S 4 from alkali polysulfide solvents have so far failed.
Problems and Programmers: an educational software engineering card game

Problems and Programmers is an educational card game that we have developed to help teach software engineering. It is based on the observation that students, in a typical software engineering course, gain little practical experience in issues regarding the software process. The underlying problem is time: any course faces the practical constraint of only being able to involve students in at most a few small software development projects. Problems and Programmers overcomes this limitation by providing a simulation of the software process. In playing the game, students become aware of not only general lessons, such as the fact that they must continuously make tradeoffs among multiple potential next steps, but also specific issues such as the fact that inspections improve the quality of code but delay its delivery time. We describe game play of Problems and Programmers, discuss its underlying design, and report on the results of a small experiment in which twenty-eight students played the game.
Anaerobic gene expression and flooding tolerance in maize

Anaerobic treatment dramatically alters the pattern of gene expression in maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. During anaerobiosis there is an immediate repression of pre-existing protein synthesis and the simultaneous selective synthesis of four polypeptides with a molecular weight of ∼33 kDa (the transition polypeptides). After 90 min, this is followed by specific transcription and mRNA accumulation as well as the selective synthesis of approximately 20 anaerobically-induced proteins. Among these anaerobic proteins (ANPs) are enzymes involved in glycolysis and related processes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) aldolase, enolase, glucose-phosphate isomerase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, pyruvate decarboxylase, and sucrose synthase. However, two genes, inducible by oxygen deprivation, have been found that have different functions. One that has homology to xyloglucan endotransglycosylase may be involved in aerenchyma formation during flooding. The anaerobic response is most likely a plant's natural reaction to flooding. A similar condition has been observed in every plant species analysed to date. The anaerobic response and flooding tolerance in maize has been analysed using a combination of molecular, biochemical and genetic approaches. The studies include the characterization of anaerobically inducible genes, the identification of genes involved in flooding tolerance, and analysis of the signal transduction events that are involved in the perception of oxygen deprivation and lead to the anaerobic response.
The Relation Between Chosen Role Models and the Self-Esteem of Men and Women

This study was designed to investigate choice of role models and levels of self-esteem within a sample of college students (N = 120). Participants rated themselves and their chosen role models on 29 character traits, which allowed determination of the self-perceived likeness of the participant to their role models (difference score). The difference score was then correlated with four subtypes of self-esteem. As predicted, participants chose more same-sex than other-sex role models; women were more likely than men to choose other-sex role models. The results indicated that choice of same-sex, as opposed to other-sex role models, is not indicative of higher levels of self-esteem in general. However, self-perceived likeness of role model to participant is significantly related to self-esteem, particularly for women.
The presence of binding proteins for retinoic acid and dihydrotestosterone in murine and human colon tumors

Retinoic acid-binding protein (RABP), which is distinctly present in embryonic colon and lung, is below the limits of detection in adult mouse colon and lung. The binding protein is present in malignant murine colon tumors as well as in lungs of animals bearing subcutaneously implanted tumors. Primary cell cultures from 1 g of colon tumor 26 gave rise to about 10(7) tumor cells and yielded 30 mg of extractable protein. The lower limit for detection of RABP, based on the appearance of its specific 2S peak after sucrose density gradient sedimentation, was 0.1 mg of protein, which corresponds to 3.3 x 10(4) tumor cells. After subcutaneous implantation of colon tumor 26 in mice, no RABP peak was evident in the lung extracts up to the fourth day. From the fifth day onwards, RABP appeared in lung extracts, possibly as a consequence of pulmonary metastasis. Fragments of mouse lungs containing the metastatic tumor foci were reimplanted subcutaneously and produced tumors that contained RABP at levels comparable to those in colon tumor 26. The primary subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary metastatic tumors showed the same histologic appearance--an undifferentiated carcinoma. On the 15th day of subcutaneous implantation of colon tumor 26 in mice, RABP was detected in lung and brain but in none of the other tissues where the protein is normally undetectable. After intraperitoneal implantation of colon tumor 26 in mice, no well-defined RABP peaks were detected from their liver extracts. None of the three normal human colon extracts analyzed for RABP or a dihydrotestosterone-binding protein (DHTBP) contained any detectable amounts of either of the binding proteins. However, 70% of the human colon tumors contained RABP and 90% contained DHTBP. Both of these binding proteins were evident in the two human colon tissues adjoining colon tumors.
Modeling the potential spatial distribution of beef cattle grazing using a Geographic Information System

Abstract Data regarding grazing utilization in the western United States are typically compiled within administrative boundaries (e.g. allotment, pasture). For large areas, an assumption of uniform distribution is seldom valid. Previous studies show that vegetation type, degree of slope, and distance from water largely determine the distribution of livestock. We demonstrate how range managers can use Boolean logic and a Geographic Information System (GIS) to develop models that predict which areas beef cattle are most and least likely to graze. The models show that approximately 60% of the state of Oregon has potential for rangeland grazing. The results compare favorably with the 1992 census of beef cattle.
Cambrian sea water preserved as inclusions in marine low-magnesium calcite cement

THE existence of temporal changes in the chemical composition of the oceans, which could provide constraints on the potential variability of the ocean-atmosphere; system, remains an open question. Assessments of the chemistry of ancient oceans have relied largely on analysis of marine precipitates, generally carbonate and evaporite minerals1. These studies suggest that, whereas marine salinity has remained relatively stable over Phanerozoic time1, magnesium, calcium and sulphate concentrations of ancient oceans and CO2 partial pressure of ancient atmospheres may have changed2-4. The ratios of isotopes of carbon, oxygen, sulphur and strontium also appear to have varied3,5,6. Here we present analyses of primary, one-phase fluid inclusions in Cambrian and Ordovician marine cements, which appear to represent aliquots of early Palaeozoic oceans. The cements have trace element, stable isotope and strontium isotope contents that are consistent with their having been precipitated in a Cambrian-Ordovician marine environment, and the fluids have marine salinities. As these (apparently primary) cements are low-magnesium calcite, unlike the predominantly high-magnesium calcite and aragonite of today's carbonate precipitates, the chemistry of the Cambrian ocean-atmosphere system seems to have been different from that of today.
MICROFLUIDIZATION OF FULL‐FAT ICE CREAM MIXES: EFFECTS OF GUM STABILIZER CHOICE ON PHYSICAL AND SENSORY CHANGES

In this study, we examined the changes in ice cream induced by microfluidization at 220–250 MPa of their respective mixes. Two full-fat ice cream mixes were formulated with either xanthan or locust bean gum (LBG) and either frozen into ice cream using a batch freezer or microfluidized and then frozen. The resultant products were subjected to modified texture profile analysis, meltdown testing, and sensory testing for difference and preference. Increases in hardness and adhesiveness were observed between treatment groups in both formulations, as well as an increase in gumminess in the LBG formulation. No difference was observed in meltdown rate between any of the treatment/formulation combinations. Sensory difference tests showed that panelists could distinguish differences between ice creams prepared from low- or high-pressure treated mix. Acceptability tests indicated that consumers preferred the firmness and creaminess of ice cream made from microfluidized mixes with LBG. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Dynamic high-pressure processing technologies like microfluidization, can effect marked changes in the quality characteristics of liquid foods, but limited work has been done to fully understand its effects in complex systems. This study shows that ice cream made from microfluidized mixes also expresses changes, that the formulation of the ice cream affects the degree and type of those changes and that in certain cases, the changes effected are desirable to the consumer. This knowledge contributes to a better understanding of the technology, how it interacts differently with different ingredients and provides an insight into potential commercial uses.
Zinc-Dependent Lysosomal Enlargement in TRPML1-Deficient Cells Involves MTF-1 Transcription Factor and ZnT4 (Slc30a4) Transporter

Zinc is critical for a multitude of cellular processes, including gene expression, secretion and enzymatic activities. Cellular zinc is controlled by zinc-chelating proteins and by zinc transporters. The recent identification of zinc permeability of the lysosomal ion channel TRPML1 (transient receptor potential mucolipin 1), and the evidence of abnormal zinc levels in cells deficient in TRPML1, suggested a role for TRPML1 in zinc transport. In the present study we provide new evidence for such a role and identify additional cellular components responsible for it. In agreement with the previously published data, an acute siRNA (small interfering RNA)-driven TRPML1 KD (knockdown) leads to the build-up of large cytoplasmic vesicles positive for LysoTracker™ and zinc staining, when cells are exposed to high concentrations of zinc. We now show that lysosomal enlargement and zinc build-up in TRPML1-KD cells exposed to zinc are ameliorated by KD of the zinc-sensitive transcription factor MTF-1 (metal-regulatory-element-binding transcription factor-1) or the zinc transporter ZnT4. TRPML1 KD is associated with a build-up of cytoplasmic zinc and with enhanced transcriptional response of mRNA for MT2a (metallothionein 2a). TRPML1 KD did not suppress lysosomal secretion, but it did delay zinc leak from the lysosomes into the cytoplasm. These results underscore a role for TRPML1 in zinc metabolism. Furthermore, they suggest that TRPML1 works in concert with ZnT4 to regulate zinc translocation between the cytoplasm and lysosomes.
Differential Endothelial Migration and Proliferation to Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Neovascularization is a feature of a variety of pathological processes. We compared the characteristics of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on migration and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVEC). Both VEGF and bFGF induced endothelial cell migration at similar concentrations (1/2 max. VEGF = approximately 1.0 ng/ml, bFGF = approximately 5.0 ng/ml). However, VEGF-stimulated migration was two-fold greater than bFGF at 1 and 10 ng/ml (p < 0.05). In contrast, bFGF induced proliferation four-fold more effectively than VEGF (1/2 max. 1 ng/ml and 1.4 ng/ml respectively). Checkerboard migration assays for bFGF showed a predominantly chemokinetic pattern, whereas VEGF was predominantly chemotactic. VEGF and bFGF were not synergistic in monolayer proliferation and migration assays. Three angiogenesis inhibitors, alpha-interferon, TNP-470, and platelet factor-4, inhibited VEGF and bFGF induced cell migration. These results indicate that VEGF and bFGF are chemoattractants that stimulate endothelial migration by different mechanisms and that both can be inhibited by known angiogenesis inhibitors.
The impact of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2: What role do public-private partnerships have in pushing the boundaries of clinical and basic science research on Alzheimer's disease?

Abstract In the growing landscape of biomedical public-private-partnerships, particularly for Alzheimer's disease, the question is posed as to their value. What impacts do public-private-partnerships have on clinical and basic science research in Alzheimer's disease? The authors answer the question using the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) as a test case and example. ADNI is an exemplar of how public-private-partnerships can make an impact not only on clinical and basic science research and practice (including clinical trials), but also of how similar partnerships using ADNI as an example, can be designed to create a maximal impact within their fields.
Use and cost of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in patients with cancer.

ABSTRACTObjective: To compare the baseline characteristics, episodes of care, and cost of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents among cancer patients in a US managed-care population.Research design and methods: Retrospective analysis of administrative claims data. Episodes of care for patients with cancer receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents between January 1, 2004 and January 17, 2006 included all claims for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents with ≤42 days’ gap between claims, plus the duration of therapeutic benefit based on median days between consecutive doses.Main outcome measures: Main outcome measures were average weekly dose of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and costs of therapy.Results: A total of 15 007 eligible episodes of care (darbepoetin alfa, 7769 episodes [5587 patients]; epoetin alfa 7238 episodes [5157 patients]) were identified. Fewer claims were observed per episode of care for darbepoetin alfa than for epoetin alfa (mean [SD] 3.7 [4.1] vs. 5.3 [6.4]). The median time between cons...
Thermal noise analysis of multi-input SC-integrators for delta-sigma modulator design

The thermal noise of multi-input SC-integrators is studied. An analytical expression for the sampled noise of a multi-input SC-integrator is obtained. It is shown that the correlation between the sampled noise voltages increases the amplifier noise contribution.
An Investigation of the Factors Contributing to Successful Completion of Undergraduate Degrees by the Students Enrolled in the College Assistance Migrant Program.

Students from farmworker families are often cited as having deficits that prohibit completion of undergraduate degree program. Statistics regarding graduates of the College Assistance Migrant Program in a southwestern university have shown graduation rates that are similar to the general population of graduates at that university. This qualitative pilot study reveals some possible implications for how alleged deficits for completing college can be converted into assets.
Polyurethane Foam Medium for Biofiltration. I: Characterization

Although biological treatment has been applied successfully to treat waste gases using conventional organic packing media such as compost, there is currently a need for further research on ways to optimize the medium selected. Use of a superior filter-bed medium could overcome or minimize many of the problems encountered in conventional biofilter operation (e.g., medium clogging, difficulty in control of moisture content, and nutrient limitation). In research described herein, polyurethane foam was manufactured and characterized to determine its suitability as a solid support medium for use in gas-phase biofilters. Part I of this paper describes studies conducted to determine the medium's porosity, pore size, head loss characteristics, density, sorption capacity, and chemical resistance. Results are presented that characterize the polyurethane foam medium's properties and suggest how it can be used effectively in treating gas-phase volatile organic compound contaminants. Part II of this paper describes st...
3DNN: Viewpoint Invariant 3D Geometry Matching for Scene Understanding

We present a new algorithm 3DNN (3D Nearest-Neighbor), which is capable of matching an image with 3D data, independently of the viewpoint from which the image was captured. By leveraging rich annotations associated with each image, our algorithm can automatically produce precise and detailed 3D models of a scene from a single image. Moreover, we can transfer information across images to accurately label and segment objects in a scene. The true benefit of 3DNN compared to a traditional 2D nearest-neighbor approach is that by generalizing across viewpoints, we free ourselves from the need to have training examples captured from all possible viewpoints. Thus, we are able to achieve comparable results using orders of magnitude less data, and recognize objects from never-before-seen viewpoints. In this work, we describe the 3DNN algorithm and rigorously evaluate its performance for the tasks of geometry estimation and object detection/segmentation. By decoupling the viewpoint and the geometry of an image, we develop a scene matching approach which is truly 100% viewpoint invariant, yielding state-of-the-art performance on challenging data.
Exploration of pathways related to the decline in female circumcision in Egypt

Background: There has been a large decline in female genital circumcision (FGC) in Egypt in recent decades. Understanding how this change has occurred so rapidly has been an area of particular interest to policymakers and public health officials alike who seek to further discourage the practice elsewhere. Methods: We document the trends in this decline in the newest cohorts of young girls and explore the influences of three pathways—socioeconomic development, social media messages, and women’s empowerment—for explaining the observed trends. Using the 2005 and 2008 Egypt Demographic and Health Surveys, we estimate several logistic regression models to (1) examine individual and household determinants of circumcision, (2) assess the contributions of different pathways through which these changes may have occurred, and (3) assess the robustness of different pathways when unobserved community differences are taken into account. Results: Across all communities, socioeconomic status, social media messages, and women’s empowerment all have significant independent effects on the risk of circumcision. However, after accounting for unobserved differences across communities, only mother’s education and household wealth significantly predict circumcision outcomes. Additional analyses of maternal education suggest that increases in women’s education may be causally related to the reduction in FGC prevalence. Conclusions: Women’s empowerment and social media appear to be more important in explaining differences across communities; within communities, socioeconomic status is a key driver of girls’ circumcision risk. Further investigation of community-level women’s educational attainment for mothers suggests that investments made in female education a generation ago may have had echo effects on girls’ FGC risk a generation later.
Discriminated avoidance and escape conditioning with the tadpole (Rana pipiens)

Five larval leopard frogs (Rana pipiens) were given 40 trials per day for 5 consecutive days in a discriminated avoidance situation. Light was used as the conditional stimulus (CS), and the unconditional stimulus (US) consisted of scrambled electric current. The response required was a forward movement to an adjoining segment of a circular water-filled alley. This response shaped up rapidly and was performed readily with repeated training. Compared to the appropriate control groups, there was a significant (p <.01 ) increase in avoidance responding from 5.5% (Session 1) to 24.5% (Session 5). The results were discussed in terms of earlier difficulties in conditioning larval and adult frogs. The positive findings were attributed to the type of apparatus employed and the type of response required.
IDIOPATHIC HYPOPARATHYROIDISM WITH BONY DEMINERALIZATION AND CARDIAC DECOMPENSATION

Marked demineralization of the entire skeleton occurred in a 12-year-old girl with chronic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. It is postulated that the demineralization was directly related to the unusual severity of the hypocalcemia. The patient also manifested cardiac decompensation. There was no evidence of organic heart disease and the cardiac status improved coincident with the rise in serum calcium. It is postulated that the cardiac decompensation was the result of hypocalcemia.
Stimulation Through Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Provides a Second Signal for T Cell Activation

Regulation of T cell activation requires two signals. First, appropriately presented Ag in the context of MHC interacts with the T cell Ag receptor-CD3 complex. The best-studied second signal is CD28, which resides on the T cell and responds to its counter receptor, B7. A second signal also can be delivered through LFA-1 residing on the T cell, responding to its counter receptor ICAM-1 residing on a different cell. Characterization of a second signal is tied to its ability to costimulate (along with stimulation through the TCR) proliferation, IL-2 secretion, and coactivation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. We examined whether ICAM-1, residing on the T cell surface, could deliver a second signal into that T cell. Costimulation through CD3 plus ICAM-1 caused increased T cell proliferation, increased expression of the activation marker CD69, increased transcription through the IL-2 regulatory region, and increased secretion of selected Th1 but not Th2 cytokines. Costimulation through CD3 plus ICAM-1 caused synergistic activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Finally, the combination of anti-CD3 plus anti-ICAM-1 (but not anti-CD3 alone) caused prolonged proliferation of naive T cells in a manner similar to costimulation through LFA-1 or CD28. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time that ICAM-1 resident on a T cell can deliver a costimulatory signal into that T cell.
Improvement of AMPLICOR Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Viral Load Test (Version 1.5) by Addition of a Coprecipitant during the RNA Isolation Step

The effect of the addition of a coprecipitant during the RNA isolation step on the analytical performance of the COBAS AMPLICOR human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Monitor (version 1.5; Roche) viral load test was tested. Thirty-six specimens including patient samples, positive control samples, and negative control samples were processed in the presence and absence of the Pellet Paint coprecipitant. Specimens processed without the coprecipitant had lower RNA yields, as evidenced by a lower signal for the quantitation standard (QS). In addition, the results for all samples processed with the coprecipitant were acceptable on the basis of the optical density (OD) reading for the QS, whereas the result for one specimen processed without the coprecipitant was unacceptable on the basis of the OD reading for the QS, which required the assay to be repeated. Furthermore, the use of the coprecipitant improved the overall precision of the assay.
Detection of contaminated samples using a two‐way compositing scheme

Compositing of sediments or water samples provides an opportunity to screen numerous samples economically if contamination is a relatively rare occurrence. However, standard compositing procedures simply identify that contamination exists among one or more constituent samples of the composite. Using a two--way compositing strategy, detected contamination in composited samples can be attributed directly to constituent samples without further analyses. Procedure is illustrated using benthic sediment samples contaminated with crude oil following an oil spill. The proposed compositing scheme has a relative efficiency of n/2 compared to the analysis of individual samples when n[sup 2] is the number of samples screened (e.g., n[sup 2] = 16 samples, relative efficiency is 4/2 = 2).
Predicting death from renal failure in primary hypertension.

After a retrospective study of 174 individuals who died from chronic primary hypertension, it was found that prediction of death from renal failure could be quantitated on the basis of initial measurement of the systolic blood pressure, cardiac-thoracic ratio, blood urea, and age at the time of initial diagnosis. The group with renal failure had massive cardiomegaly and very contracted kidneys. One half of the population was Negro, but the natural history of their hypertension was not convincingly different from the white group. If initial clinical observations are substituted in the discriminant equation, D=-1.5(age at onset) + 3(percent cardiac-thoracic ratio) + 0.5(systolic blood pressure) + 1(blood urea), and D is greater than 249, 85% of patients died of renal failure. If D is less than 249, 85% of patients died of causes other than renal failure.
The Effects of Bilateral Electric and Bimodal Electric—Acoustic Stimulation on Language Development:

There is no doubt that cochlear implants have improved the spoken language abilities of children with hearing loss, but delays persist. Consequently, it is imperative that new treatment options be explored. This study evaluated one aspect of treatment that might be modified, that having to do with bilateral implants and bimodal stimulation. A total of 58 children with at least one implant were tested at 42 months of age on four language measures spanning a continuum from basic to generative in nature. When children were grouped by the kind of stimulation they had at 42 months (one implant, bilateral implants, or bimodal stimulation), no differences across groups were observed. This was true even when groups were constrained to only children who had at least 12 months to acclimatize to their stimulation configuration. However, when children were grouped according to whether or not they had spent any time with bimodal stimulation (either consistently since their first implant or as an interlude to receiving a second) advantages were found for children who had some bimodal experience, but those advantages were restricted to language abilities that are generative in nature. Thus, previously reported benefits of simultaneous bilateral implantation early in a child's life may not extend to generative language. In fact, children may benefit from a period of bimodal stimulation early in childhood because low-frequency speech signals provide prosody and serve as an aid in learning how to perceptually organize the signal that is received through a cochlear implant.
Food security among young adults with disabilities in the United States: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey

Abstract Background Prior research has suggested that young adults with disabilities face economic, health and social disadvantage. Food security, an area of disadvantage that can influence overall health, has not been fully explored for this population. Objective/hypothesis To examine levels of food security between young adults with and without disabilities, controlling for individual characteristics. Methods Logistic regression analysis of a nationally representative sample of young adults (age 18–25) ( n = 32,795) with and without disabilities, using pooled data form the 2011–2013 National Health Interview Survey. Results Young adults with disabilities have significantly higher odds (OR: 2.58, p p Conclusions Young adults with disabilities have increased odds of living in a household that is food insecure. This study has important policy and community program implications.
Gender Differences in Pediatric Pulmonary Disease

Publisher Summary There is increasing medical interest in differences between females and males in both normal lung development, as well as in the incidence and expression of many pediatric lung disorders. This chapter aims to highlight the influence of gender on the development, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of pulmonary diseases. While it is likely that biological, environmental, behavioral, and socio-cultural factors underlie the gender differences in respiratory disease, many of the pathophysiologic mechanisms are not well delineated. The chapter reviews the anatomical, functional, and hormonal differences between the respiratory systems of females and males and delineates how changes occur from prenatal development through the adolescent years. Some common respiratory diseases with gender-specific differences are also reviewed.
Mechanically alloyed magnesium–boron–iodine composite powders

Iodine-bearing reactive materials are of interest for munitions aimed to defeat biological weapons because of strong biocidal properties of iodine-containing gas species. Ternary Mg·B·I2 composite powders with 20 wt% of iodine were prepared by two-stage mechanical milling. A binary B·I2 powder was prepared, chilled at dry ice temperature, and mixed with magnesium prior to the second milling stage. Materials with systematically varied Mg/B ratios were prepared. Resulting composite particles were near 30 µm in diameter. Iodine release and oxidation of the prepared powders were studied using thermogravimetric analysis in both inert and oxidizing environments. The most stable material was obtained with 33 wt% of Mg and 47 wt% of B. Up to 450 °C (723 K), it showed only about 1 % mass loss. Iodine is lost in steps: the first step, around 100 °C, is associated with release of unattached iodine. The second step, between 300 and 400 °C, is associated with formation of MgB2. The majority of the iodine is lost above 600 °C. The material did not age when stored in an inert gas; however, it became markedly less stable after storage in ambient air. Stepwise oxidation behavior was observed when the material was heated in an oxidizing gas. Oxidation started at a higher temperature than the initial weight loss caused by iodine release. Apparent activation energies, determined by model free processing for both iodine loss and oxidation, were near 100 kJ/mol for low-temperature iodine loss, and around 400–500 kJ/mol for high-temperature oxidation.
The Responsibilities of Leadership

The American Physical Therapy Association, like all associations, hears one type of question over and over again from its members or potential members: “What does the Association do for me?” “Why should I renew my membership?” or, “Why should I join?” And so, in our membership drives, APTA, like other associations, gives the answers and tells you about all the things it does for you. I know the benefits of being a member of APTA have been well advertised, and by now most of you can recite them chapter and verse—excellent publications; a unified and strong voice in governmental affairs; insurance eligibility; opportunities for continuing education and for participation and growth in your profession; ways to help your profession grow. And so on. Frankly, I think of membership benefits as premiums—icing on the cake, if you will.
Reading the Master: Newton and the Birth of Celestial Mechanics

(1997). Reading the Master: Newton and the Birth of Celestial Mechanics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 104, No. 1, pp. 1-19.