cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive remediation in pediatric chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease: rationale, candidate interventions, and applicability

The purpose of this paper is to address the potential use of cognitive remediation interventions for children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The prevalence and risk for neurocognitive dysfunction in children with this condition remains high, but, to date, interventions targeting these challenges have not been attempted either individually or as part of a larger treatment program. This is the next logical step in addressing the neurocognitive dysfunction that can be present in pediatric CKD/ESKD, with the field needing to determine the efficacy of cognitive remediation approaches for this population. To our knowledge, this paper is the first to raise this possibility by identifying candidate treatments addressing the neurocognitive challenges observed in children and adolescents with CKD/ESKD. Initially, we present the rationale for the importance of addressing the cognitive difficulties in this population, including an overview of the literature documenting the neurocognitive deficits associated with pediatric-onset CKD/ESKD. This is followed by a review of five candidate cognitive remediation programs that may be applicable to patients with this condition, and associated factors that could affect such treatment. The paper concludes with suggestions for both clinical and research initiatives that could be implemented to examine cognitive remediation as potential components of a larger treatment program for children and adolescents with CKD/ESKD.
The contribution of body mass index to appraisal delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis: a structural equation modelling study.

The contribution of body mass index to appraisal delay in colorectal cancer diagnosis: a structural equation modelling study
Vegetation analysis: A graphical analysis of plant succession in desert communities affected by fire

The Mojave Desert is affected by fire every year. With each fire comes the removal of old growth and, in its place, new growth – consisting primarily of those species which thrive in disturbed areas. The focus of my research is to look at plant communities that have been disturbed by fire, and examine the successional pathway of these disturbed environments. The seven environments I analyzed were burned within the last twenty years and are found in the Coleogyne ramosissima ecotone throughout the Spring Mountain range near Las Vegas, Nevada. The data was collected with randomly chosen circle plots in the burned environments, as well as the neighboring unburned environments. There was no correlation found between the length of time since the fire and the level of diversity of the environment. However, the degree of evenness is higher in the burned environments as compared to the unburned environments. It appears that there was not enough time between the fires to see a difference in the composition of the community.
The effect of minority status and rural residence on actions to control high blood pressure in the U.S.

Objective We examined actions to control high blood pressure (HBP) and health-care provider recommendations for blood pressure control among adults by racial/ethnic group and rural/urban residence. Methods We examined data from 45,024 participants with HBP in the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. We used multiple logistic regression analyses to assess the independent association between current actions to control HBP and health-care provider recommendations for blood pressure control by race/ethnicity and rural/urban status after accounting for confounders. Results Black people, regardless of rural or urban residence, were more likely to report reducing salt and alcohol intake, changing eating habits, and taking medications than both white urban and white rural adults. Black people, regardless of rural or urban status, were more likely to be advised to cut down on salt, reduce alcohol use, and change eating habits. Black rural adults were also more likely to report being advised to take medications than white urban adults, while white rural adults were less likely to be advised to exercise than white urban adults. Conclusions Race/ethnicity and rural/urban status have a differential effect on actions to control HBP and provider advice to control HBP.
Unilateral application of an external pneumatic compression therapy improves skin blood flow and vascular reactivity bilaterally

Background We sought to determine the effects of unilateral lower-limb external pneumatic compression (EPC) on bilateral lower-limb vascular reactivity and skin blood flow. Methods Thirty-two participants completed this two-aim study. In AIM1 (n = 18, age: 25.5 ± 4.7 years; BMI: 25.6 ± 3.5 kg/m2), bilateral femoral artery blood flow and reactivity (flow mediated dilation [FMD]) measurements were performed via ultrasonography at baseline (PRE) and immediately following 30-min of unilateral EPC treatment (POST). AIM2 (n = 14, age: 25.9 ± 4.5; BMI: 27.2 ± 2.7 kg/m2) involved 30-min unilateral EPC (n = 7) or sham (n = 7) treatment with thermographic bilateral lower-limb mean skin temperature (MST) measurements at baseline, 15-min of treatment (T15) and 0, 30 and 60-min (R0, R30, R60) following treatment. Results Comparative data herein are presented as mean ± 95% confidence interval. AIM1: No significant effects on total reactive hyperemia blood flow were observed for the treated (i.e., compressed) or untreated (i.e., non-compressed) leg. A significant effect of time, but no time*leg interaction, was observed for relative FMD indicating higher reactivity bilaterally with unilateral EPC treatment (FMD: +0.41 ± 0.09% across both legs; p 0.05). Finally, during treatment and at all post-treatment time points (i.e., R0, R30 and R60), independent of treatment group (EPC vs. sham), there was a significant effect of region. The maximum increase in MST was observed at the R0 time point and was significantly (p < 0.05) larger in the thigh region (+1.02 ± 0.31 °C) than the lower-leg (+0.47 ± 0.29 °C) region. However, similar rates of MST decline from R0 in the thigh and lower leg regions were observed at the R30 and R60 time points. Discussion Unilateral EPC may be an effective intervention for increasing skin blood flow and/or peripheral conduit vascular reactivity in the contralateral limb. While EPC was effective in increasing whole-leg MST bilaterally, there appeared to be a more robust response in the thigh compared to the lower-leg. Thus, proximity along the leg may be an important consideration in prospective treatment strategies.
Non-Specific Protein-Membrane Interactions: Adsorption and Fouling

One of the major factors limiting the development and application of biofunctional membranes is membrane fouling, the irreversible alteration in the membrane caused by specific physical and/or chemical interactions with various components present in the process stream. Fouling can cause dramatic changes in the rate of solute transport through the membrane, potentially destroying the membrane’s ability to function in the particular biomedical device, biosensor, or bioreactor.
Units and Dimensions of Concentration of Solutions

The purpose of this chapter is to provide sensitive interpretations of the terms used in pursuance of forthcoming calculations of the stoichiometry of solutions. They should be studied immediately and thereafter referred to as needed.
Strengthening diversity and cooperation through international collaborations: A focus on Africa, South America, and the Caribbean

Africa is the second largest continent in terms of size and population.1,2 With approximately 1.256 billion people (about 15% of the world’s population) and a land area of 30.3 million square kilometers (including adjacent islands), it occupies about 20.4% of the earth’s total land area.1 A significant fraction of the people in the Caribbean* and South America are of African descent, and there are many historical and cultural links among the people of these regions.3 South America has 422.5 million people, and the Caribbean has about 39.12 million people;1 hence, the total population of all three areas represents about 20% of the world’s population.1,2 Similarities in climate also mean that common approaches can be explored for establishing sustainable building materials, and the range of development indices offer unique opportunities for collaborations in research and education that can facilitate human development.4
Science as Context and Tool: The Role of Place in Science Learning Among Urban Middle School Youth

The students in Mr. Nader’s environmental statistics class were involved in the “pigeon project.” The pigeon project, inspired by Cornell University’s Pigeon Watch Project was a 3-week investigation focused on two goals: To support students in learning to recognize the different color morphs of pigeons and pigeon behaviors; and to use this information to learn how to classify animals as well as to produce simple environmental statistics. It was precisely because he wanted his students to connect to the content of environmental statistics that the teacher selected the pigeon unit. Students in large urban centers, like New York City, are frequently around pigeons and thus have a great deal of experiential knowledge about them that can be tapped to support them in connecting with environmental statistics. By standard measures, the pigeon project was a success in Mr. Nader’s classroom. The students demonstrated their learning about pigeon morphs, classification, and graphing through their coursework and at the end of the unit KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learn) activity. For example, in the initial class KWL discussion of what students knew about pigeons and what they wanted to know, students talked about how pigeons were dirty, carriers of disease, and “rats with wings.” At the end of the unit, the “What we have learned” column was populated with comments like they “follow each other, there are many types or morphs, the majority of pigeons [in our neighborhood] are blue bars and checkers, they get along together although they are different types, and pigeons do not attack (are not aggressive).”
Which Nanobasics Should Be Taught in Medical Schools

The progressive growth in nanotechnology approaches to diagnostics and therapeutics, especially for cancer, necessitates training physicians in nanoethics. This article explains why it is critical for medical education to include instruction in nanotechnology, nanomedicine, nanotoxicology, and nanoethics and suggests basic concepts educators can use to infuse curricula with this content.
Community health contexts and school suspensions of students with disabilities

Abstract Purpose Students with disabilities with unmet health care needs are vulnerable to adverse educational outcomes, including exclusionary discipline. We examined the association between schools' spatial proximity to health care providers and their use of suspension to discipline students with disabilities. Methods The study sample included the 398 public secondary schools in the Boston Metropolitan Statistical Area. We merged census-tract and school-level data from several sources, including the American Community Survey, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Department of Education. Zero-inflated beta regression models were used to examine the association between schools' locations in medically underserved areas (MUAs) and the out-of-school suspension rates of students qualifying for special education services in the 2013–14 school year. Nested models and mediation analysis were used to parse the effects of medical underservice and neighborhood poverty on suspension rates. Results The suspension rate of students with disabilities was about 5 percentage points higher in schools located in medically underserved areas compared to schools that are not in MUAs, controlling for school- and neighborhood-level characteristics (z = 1.97, p Conclusions The findings indicate that schools with limited geographic access to health care services may more likely to use suspension as a tool to manage the behavior of students with disabilities.
The top 10 things to know about transfusion medicine before intern year: an evidence-based course for graduating medical students

Background Transfusion medicine (TM) knowledge varies widely among physician trainees. In addition, there have been few instances in which curricular changes have been meaningfully assessed for TM education in medical school. Methods We created and presented a novel lecture to improve TM knowledge for graduating medical students using eight objectives designed to reinforce critical information about blood management. Each objective was coded according to unique color schemes, fonts, and graphics to create visual associations while quickly and clearly presenting complex concepts. The validated BEST Collaborative exam was used to measure changes in student TM knowledge, while a survey was conducted to gauge changes in confidence for each objective. Students were asked to submit anonymous feedback about their experiences. Results The mean student post-course exam score was 50.0%, while the pre-course baseline score was 27.5% (P<0.0001). Mean confidence levels increased significantly for all objectives. Student feedback was universally positive. Conclusion This study improved knowledge and confidence for graduating medical students by utilizing engaging and visually stimulating presentations to display high-impact TM material. However, further efforts are needed to optimize learning.
The land snail genus Afrodonta (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Endodontidae)

Study of 567 adult and juvenile specimens resulted in the recognition of two new taxa, Afrodonta connollyi new species and Afrodonta bilamellaris londonensis new subspecies. The hypothesis is presented that Afrodonta is a polyphyletic structural grade derived from several stocks of Trachycystis, s. l. rather than being a monophyletic assemblage. New diagnoses and discussions of variation are presented for all 14 specific level taxa.
Navigating Deeply Uncertain Tradeoffs in Harvested Predator-Prey Systems

Multiple fisheries have collapsed as a result of overfishing and strong limitations in our knowledge of system conditions and consequential ecological interactions. Fishery managers need to establish harvesting strategies that balance economic benefits against ecological objectives, including avoiding unintended catastrophic consequences. Our results show that classical assumptions for fisheries management can yield severe instabilities in our quantified views of socioecological tradeoffs, making their ability to inform stakeholder preferences questionable. The complex ecological interactions implied by different parameterizations of such systems yield highly complex and nonlinear dynamic properties with multiple distinct basins of attraction. We show that small changes in our deeply uncertain representations of predator-prey systems can fundamentally shift their dynamics and the validity of candidate management strategies for harvest. Insights from this study highlight the importance of ensuring models capture deep uncertainties, as well as a breadth of financial and ecological criteria when searching for robust management options for resilient fisheries.
Valuing Joyful Teaching Moments: Nursing Faculty Experiences in Texas:

Purpose: Studies of joyful experiences in teaching nursing and related implications are lacking in the literature. The concept of joy seems undervalued yet critical to the theoretical basis for improving holistic faculty experiences and potentially affecting students and patients. The purpose of this study is to give voice to instances of joyful teaching identified by nursing faculty and to consider related implications, including advancing holistic nursing education. Design: In this sequential exploratory multimethod study, faculty discussed joyful teaching, responded to survey questions, and completed a Likert-type measure of outcomes. Eleven faculty were interviewed; interviews were digitally recorded and professionally transcribed. Interviews were coded using qualitative content analysis; quantitative data provided frequency counts. Findings: Four main themes emerged: "aha" moments, faculty validation, witnessing transformation, and planting seeds. Faculty shared experiences with peers, students, or both, and occasionally with others. Three outcome themes of joy were identified: transcendence, meaning, and activity. The most frequently reported significance of joy was hope and resilience. Conclusions: Joyful experiences belong in the literature and can inform holistic practice. Our results suggest that joyful moments support faculty and that students and patients may also benefit from this emotion, even though it has been undervalued in nursing research.
Intraoperative Ultrasound During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic ultrasound is an effective diagnostic tool that can be utilized in a wide range of operations. A common use in general surgery is during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in order to identify stones in the common bile duct (choledocholithiasis) and examine the anatomy of the biliary tree. Although intraoperative cholangiography has become the more pervasively utilized imaging modality for these purposes, ultrasound offers several advantages over it, including the absence of radiation and contrast dye exposure, faster scanning times, and superior cost-effectiveness, all while achieving an equivalent level of diagnostic accuracy. This chapter details the techniques necessary for performing ultrasound during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and describes the relevant literature pertaining to clinical outcomes and comparisons with intraoperative cholangiography.
Customer value anticipation, customer satisfaction and loyalty: An empirical examination

Abstract A service-dominant logic by definition is inherently customer oriented and relational, reflecting deeper and more complex connections between suppliers and customers. The service mindset driving increased collaboration enables suppliers to have deeper insights to what customers' value. Customer value perceptions are dynamic, sometimes in constant flux, necessitating anticipatory capabilities on the part of suppliers. Yet, there is a notable lack of discussion about customer value anticipation and related empirical evidence of whether or not customers care if suppliers anticipate what they value. The authors report on two survey studies that test using structural equation modeling the notion that suppliers good at anticipating what customers will value realize higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. Understanding this relationship is critical for marketing managers wrestling with allocation of limited resources. We find that customer value anticipation is a strong driver of satisfaction and loyalty, with satisfaction acting as a mediator for loyalty.
Eigenvectors for a Class of Discrete Cosine and Sine Transforms

In this paper, sets of orthogonal eigenvectors for a class of discrete cosine and sine transforms (DCT-4 and DST-4) are constructed that are remarkably similar to continuous Hermite functions. These eigenvectors (called discrete Hermite functions in this paper) may be efficiently computed from tridiagonal matrices that commute with the appropriate transform's matrix. Formulas to generate these tridiagonal matrices are presented, and these formulas provide a connection to earlier work of the authors who established similar results for the discrete Fourier transform. In particular, the eigenvectors for these cosine and sine transforms are shown to be simply the second halves of eigenvectors for the centered Fourier matrix. Associated eigenvalues are provided, and connections to the computation of the discrete cosine and sine transforms are presented.
A new LC-MS/MS technique for separation of gangliosides using a phenyl-hexyl column: Systematic separation according to sialic acid class and ceramide subclass

A LC-MS/MS technique separated the bovine and mouse brain gangliosides monosialotetrahexosylgangliosides (GM1), disialotetrahexosylgangliosides (GD1a), trisialotetrahexosylgangliosides (GT1b) and t...
US children of minority race are less likely to be admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after traumatic injury, a retrospective analysis of a single pediatric trauma center

The public health impact of pediatric trauma makes identifying opportunities to equalize health related disparities imperative. The influence of a child’s race on the likelihood of admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is not well described. We hypothesized that traumatically injured children of minority race would have higher rates of PICU admission, compared to White children. This was a retrospective review of a single institution’s trauma registry including children ≤18 years of age presenting to the emergency department (ED) whose injury necessitated pediatric trauma team activation at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2016. Demographics, injury characteristics and hospital utilization data were collected. Race was categorized as White or racial minority, which included patients identifying as Black, Hispanic ethnicity, Native American or “other.” The primary outcome measure was admission to the PICU. Chi square or Mann Whitney rank sum tests were used, as appropriate, to compare differences in demographics and injury characteristics between those children who were and were not admitted to the PICU setting. Variables associated with PICU admission in univariate analyses were included in a multivariate analysis. Data are presented as median values and interquartile ranges, or numbers and percentages. The median age of the 654 included subjects was 8 [IQR 4–13] years; 55.2% were a racial minority. Nine (1.4%) children died in the ED and 576 (88.1%) were admitted to the hospital. Of the children requiring hospitalization, 195 (33.9%) were admitted to the PICU. Children admitted to the PICU were less likely to be from a racial minority group (26.1% vs 42.5%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for age and injury characteristics in a multivariable analysis, racial minority children had a lower odds of PICU admission compared to White children (OR 0.492 [95% C.I. 0.298–0.813, p = 0.006]). In this retrospective analysis of traumatically injured children, minority race was associated with lower odds of PICU admission, suggesting that health care disparities based on race persist in pediatric trauma-related care.
Invasive Floating Fern Limits Aerial Colonization and Alters Community Structure of Aquatic Insects

Aquatic insects are important to the transfer of energy in freshwater wetlands. They link primary producers and organic matter to higher trophic levels, and pass energy from the aquatic environment to the terrestrial ecosystem via predation of adults. Introduction of the invasive free-floating aquatic fern giant salvinia, Salvinia molesta Mitchell, threatens aquatic insect communities and life cycle completion, specifically colonization, through mat formation and habitat changes. We examined how aerial colonization and assemblage structure of aquatic insects were affected by giant salvinia coverage. Mesocosms were established with three giant salvinia coverages, 25%, 50%, and 100%, and a native submerged macrophyte, 0% coverage; and environmental conditions and community structure were sampled monthly, over four months. After four weeks, all giant salvinia coverages reduced dissolved oxygen, pH, and light availability in the aquatic environment. In the 100% cover treatment, aquatic insect colonization was impeded, resulting in communities with lower abundance and richness, which were dominated by a coleopteran. The 25% and 50% giant salvinia coverages changed habitat complexity, which yielded different aquatic insect communities from the 0% and from 100% coverages. Regardless of the coverage, giant salvinia changed environmental conditions and putatively the 100% coverage disrupted the aquatic insect life cycle by limiting aerial colonization. This inability to complete their life cycle means aquatic insects cannot replenish themselves, leading to a diminished species pool and reduced energy potential. Our results highlight new, previously unreported, negative impacts from giant salvinia on ecosystem structure and function.
Quantum indeterminacy and the eigenstate-eigenvalue link

Can quantum theory provide examples of metaphysical indeterminacy, indeterminacy that obtains in the world itself, independently of how one represents the world in language or thought? We provide a positive answer assuming just one constraint of orthodox quantum theory: the eigenstate-eigenvalue link. Our account adds a modal condition to preclude spurious indeterminacy in the presence of superselection sectors. No other extant account of metaphysical indeterminacy in quantum theory meets these demands.
Heat capacity, entropy, formation energy and spin-fluctuation behavior of U3Si5 from 2.4 to 397.4 K

Abstract U-Si intermetallic compounds are of considerable interest for their applications as accident-tolerant nuclear fuels. Here we present low-temperature heat capacity (LTHC) measurements of one of the U-Si phases, U3Si5, using a Quantum Design Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) from 2.4 to 397.4 K. We observed an upturn in Cp/T (T) below 10 K and have attributed this behavior to potential spin-fluctuations (SF) with an SF temperature (Tsf) of 27 K. An enhancement of LTHC was also observed, as manifested by a large electronic heat capacity coefficient (γel) of 342.9 mJ/mol•K2. From the heat capacity data, the following thermodynamic parameters were determined: the characteristic Debye temperature ( θ D ) over the temperature range 30 – 397 K is 177 ± 2 K, and the standard entropy ( Δ 0 298 . 15 S ∘ ) is 283.3 ± 5.7 J•mol−1•K−1 (equivalent to 35.4 ± 0.7 J•mol−1•atom−1•K−1). Combined with our previously measured formation enthalpy ( Δ f H e l ∘ ) of U3Si5, the Gibbs free energy of formation of U3Si5 from the elements ( Δ f G e l ∘ ) was determined to be –45.2 ± 9.0 kJ•mol−1•atom−1.
A Near Zero TCF Acoustic Resonator with High Electromechanical Coupling of 13.5% at 3.5 GHz

In this paper, the design, implementation, and measurements of a near-zero temperature coefficient of frequency (TCF) acoustic resonator are demonstrated. The acoustic resonator is based on laterally vibrating Lamb-waves in a bimorph composed of Lithium Niobate and Silicon Dioxide. The resonator is optimized for the A3 mode by adjusting the thickness of different materials in the bimorph to maximize the coupling and minimize the TCF simultaneously. The optimization resulted in ultra-low TCF of −1.1 ppm/°C, a high electromechanical coupling of 13.5%, and a good quality factor of 500 at 3.5 GHz. The achieved specifications are adequate for 5G sub-6 GHz frequency bands n77 and n78.
Structured Matrices and Displacement Operators

In Chapter 1, we outlined the displacement rank approach (COMPRESS, OPERATE, DECOMPRESS) to computations with structured matrices and in more detail covered its OPERATE stage. In this chapter, we systematically cover the basic techniques required at the COMPRESS and DECOMPRESS stages of this approach. We present these techniques in a unified way but also detail the decompression techniques separately for each of the most popular classes of structured matrices. As an immediate result, we obtain superfast algorithms for multiplying these matrices by vectors and by each other. We accentuate the power of the approach based on the displacement transformations of two kinds that extend successful algorithms from one class of structured matrices to various other classes. We also briefly comment on parallel implementation of computations with structured matrices.
The Fate of Chemical Warfare Agents in the Environment

Chemical Warfare Agents, Second Edition has been totally revised since the successful first edition and expanded to about three times the length, with many new chapters and much more in-depth consideration of all the topics. The chapters have been written by distinguished international experts in various aspects of chemical warfare agents and edited by an experienced team to produce a clear review of the field. The book now contains a wealth of material on the mechanisms of action of the major chemical warfare agents, including the nerve agent cyclosarin, formally considered to be of secondary importance, as well as ricin and abrin. Chemical Warfare Agents, Second Edition discusses the physico-chemical properties of chemical warfare agents, their dispersion and fate in the environment, their toxicology and management of their effects on humans, decontamination and protective equipment. New chapters cover the experience gained after the use of sarin to attack travelers on the Tokyo subway and how to deal with the outcome of the deployment of riot control agents such as CS gas. This book provides a comprehensive review of chemical warfare agents, assessing all available evidence regarding the medical, technical and legal aspects of their use. It is an invaluable referencemore » work for physicians, public health planners, regulators and any other professionals involved in this field.« less
Why Don't Farmers Use Cell Phones to Access Market Prices? Technology Affordances and Barriers to Market Information Services Adoption in Rural Kenya

Providing smallholder farmers with agricultural information could improve economic development, by helping them to grow more crops, which they could then sell for more money. Widespread mobile phone ownership in Africa means that, for the first time, there is a realistic opportunity to deliver pertinent information to remote farmers throughout the continent. Efforts to harness the potential of mobile phones include the development of agricultural market information services MIS – applications that send farmers crop pricing information via short message service or SMS. These services promote economic development among some farmers in the developing world, but not yet in rural Kenya. To understand what factors impede the adoption of these services, we qualitatively studied Kenyan farmers’ mobile phone usage patterns and their interactions with MFarm, a commercially available MIS. Using affordance theory to guide our analysis, we discovered a mismatch between the design of MIS and smallholder farmers’ perceptions of their mobile phones’ communication capabilities. We use these findings to motivate a design agenda that encourages software developers and development practitioners to adopt an ecological perspective when creating mobile applications for sub-Saharan Africa's rural farmers. Strategies for implementing this approach include reconsidering the design of mobile phones, and developing innovative educational interventions.
IgE reactivity of tandem repeats derived from cockroach allergen, Bla g 1

Sensitization to cockroach allergens is associated with the development of asthma. Bla g 1 is a German cockroach allergen that shows allergenic cross-reactivity with American cockroach allergen, Per a 1, and has a molecular structure composed of multiple tandem amino-acid repeats. Two consecutive repeats are not identical but form a duplex that constitutes a basic molecular unit of Bla g 1. By molecular mass, purified natural Bla g 1 would contain approximately two duplexes. We investigated the pattern of IgE antibody binding to this repeated structure, and whether one or two duplexes are sufficient for IgE binding. Recombinant (r)Bla g 1 duplexes were expressed in Escherichia coli and in Pichia pastoris, and analyzed for monoclonal antibody and IgE antibody binding by ELISA and/or immunoblotting. Optimal rBla g 1 expression was obtained using methanol-inducible P. pastoris (> 95% pure protein, yield approximately 48 mg x L(-1)), and rBla g 1 was produced as multiple molecular forms of molecular mass 43, 32, 21 and 6 kDa, that were the result of proteolytic cleavage. There was an excellent correlation between IgE antibody binding to natural and recombinant Bla g 1 (r = 0.91, n = 29, P < 0.001), and immunoblot analysis showed that a single Bla g 1 duplex was sufficient for IgE antibody binding. The rBla g 1 is suitable for structural studies and a candidate for clinical use in diagnosis of cockroach allergy and development of new forms of immunotherapy.
Was Judith an Esheth Chayil

This essay examines the correlation between the Book of Judith and the famous text in Proverbs 31:10-31, known as Eshet Chayil (Woman of Valor).
Weakly symmetric spaces and bounded symmetric domains

LetG be a connected, simply-connected, real semisimple Lie group andK a maximal compactly embedded subgroup ofG such thatD=G/K is a hermitian symmetric space. Consider the principal fiber bundleM=G/K s →G/K, whereK s is the semisimple part ofK=K s ·Z K 0 andZ K 0 is the connected center ofK. The natural action ofG onM extends to an action ofG 1=G×Z K 0 . We prove as the main result thatM is weakly symmetric with respect toG 1 and complex conjugation. In the case whereD is an irreducible classical bounded symmetric domain andG is a classical matrix Lie group under a suitable quotient, we provide an explicit construction ofM=D×S 1 and determine a one-parameter family of Riemannian metrics Ω onM invariant underG 1. Furthermore,M is irreducible with respect to Ω. As a result, this provides new examples of weakly symmetric spaces that are nonsymmetric, including those already discovered by Selberg (cf. [M]) for the symplectic case and Berndt and Vanhecke [BV1] for the rank-one case.
Phospholemman is not required for the acute stimulation of Na+-K+-ATPase α2-activity during skeletal muscle fatigue

The Na+-K+-ATPase α2-isoform in skeletal muscle is rapidly stimulated during muscle use and plays a critical role in fatigue resistance. The acute mechanisms that stimulate α2-activity are not comp...
Why Can’t We Predict RNA Structure At Atomic Resolution?

No existing algorithm can start with arbitrary RNA sequences and return the precise three-dimensional structures that ensure their biological function. This chapter outlines current algorithms for automated RNA structure prediction (including our own FARNA–FARFAR), highlights their successes, and dissects their limitations, using a tetraloop and the sarcin/ricin motif as examples. The barriers to future advances are considered in light of three particular challenges: improving computational sampling, reducing reliance on experimentally solved structures, and avoiding coarse-grained representations of atomic-level interactions. To help meet these challenges and better understand the current state of the field, we propose an ongoing community-wide CASP-style experiment for evaluating the performance of current structure prediction algorithms.
An efficient framework for constructing generalized locally-induced text metrics

In this paper, we propose a new framework for constructing text metrics which can be used to compare and support inferences among terms and sets of terms. Our metric is derived from data-driven kernels on graphs that let us capture global relations among terms and sets of terms, regardless of their complexity and size. To compute the metric efficiently for any two subsets of terms, we develop an approximation technique that relies on the precompiled term-term similarities. To scale-up the approach to problems with huge number of terms, we develop and experiment with a solution that subsamples the term space. We demonstrate the benefits of the whole framework on two text inference tasks: prediction of terms in the article from its abstract and query expansion in information retrieval.
Knowledge Management, Practically Speaking

Abstract This article, the first in this issue's look at knowledge management (KM), establishes a practical definition of KM and backs it with examples from organizations leading the KM movement. the article also provides a survey of technologies that make KM happen.
Oxymorphazone: A long-acting opiate analgesic

1. Treating rat brain homogenatesin vitro with oxymorphazone, the hydrazone derivative of oxymorphone, selectively inhibited in a long-acting manner the highaffinity (mu1) binding of a number of3H-opioids. This inhibition was not affected by extensive wash procedures which did effectively reverse classical opiates such as morphine and naloxone. 2. A similar, persistent inhibition of binding was observed followingin vivo administration of the drug. Both systemically and intracerebroventicularly, oxymorphazone produced a dose-dependent analgesia. 3. Acutely, oxymorphazone (ED50, 0.6 mg/kg, sc) was approximately half as potent as oxymorphone (ED50, 0.3 mg/kg, sc) in the tail-flick assay. 4. Administered at their ED50 doses, both compounds had the same durations of action. As the doses of drug were increased, however, the time course of oxymorphazone's analgesia became far more prolonged than that of oxymorphone. 5. Following the administration of oxymorphazone (100 mg/kg), over 50% of the mice remained analgesic for greater than 24 hr, as opposed to none of the mice given oxymorphone (100 mg/kg). 6. Oxymorphazone was far more potent intraventricularly (icv) than systemically. Fifty percent of the mice remained analgesic for greater than 20 hr following the injection of 40µg/mouse (icv), whereas no mice remained analgesic after 20 hr following doses of oxymorphone as high as 50µg/mouse (icv). 7. These long-lasting analgesic actions of oxymorphazone could not be easily explained on pharmacokinetic grounds. Repeated administration of oxymorphazone daily for 3 days resulted in significant tolerance.
Minimally Testable Reed-Muller Canonical Forms

Arbitrary switching function realizations based upon Reed- Muller canonical (RMC) expansions have been shown to possess many of the desirable properties of easily testable networks. While realizations based upon each of the 2n possible RMC expansions of a given switching function can be tested for permanent stuck-at-0 and stuck-at-1 faults with a small set of input vectors, certain expansions lead to an even smaller test set because of the resulting network topology. In particular, the selection of an RMC expansion that has a minimal number of literals appearing in an even number of product terms will give rise to switching function realizations requiring still fewer tests. This correspondence presents a solution to the problem of selecting the RMC expansion of a given switching function possessing the smallest test set.
Quantitative chemical identification of four gases in remote infrared (9-11 mum) differential absorption lidar experiments.

A combined experimental and computational approach utilizing tunable CO2 lasers and chemometric analysis was employed to detect chemicals and their concentrations in the field under controlled release conditions. We collected absorption spectra for four organic gases in the laboratory by lasing 40 lines of the laser in the 9.3–10.8-µm range. The ability to predict properly the chemicals and their respective concentrations depends on the nature of the target, the atmospheric conditions, and the round-trip distance. In 39 of the 45 field experiments, the identities of the released chemicals were identified correctly without predictions of false positives or false negatives.
FACTORIZATION ALONG COMMUTATIVE SUBSPACE LATTICES

A positive invertible operatorT is said to be factorable along a commutative subspace latticeL if there is an invertible operatorA inAlgL whose inverse is also inAlgL and such thatT=A*A. We investigate a number of conditions that are equivalent to factorability of a given operator along a latticeL. As a byproduct, we derive a condition that guarantees that the latticeTL, defined as {range(TE) ∶E ∈L} is commutative. Applications are suggested to the particular case of factoringL∞ functions via analytic Toeplitz operators on the polydisc.
Improving Ethics Studies through a Spiraling Theme Based Curriculum

One of the ABET criteria specifically requires students to be able to work in a professional and ethical manner upon graduation. Incorporating ethical thinking into student learning has often been considered a challenge in engineering curriculums. The Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) and Engineering Education (EngE) departments at Virginia Tech are working to address this need for increasing student exposure to engineering ethics. It was decided the best method for improving ethics training is for students to continuously revisit engineering ethics at increasing levels of complexity through a spiral themed curriculum.
Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution of M 3+-F− Interstitial Pairs in Fluorite-Type Lattices

Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution curves for ${M}^{3+}$-${\mathrm{F}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ interstitials in fluorite-type lattices have been calculated and compared with spectroscopic data. The dominant sites, in the order of their relative importance for low concentrations and $Tl700$ K, are the ${C}_{4v}(1, 0, 0)$, ${C}_{s}(2, 1, 0)$, ${C}_{3v}(1, 1, 1)$, ${C}_{s}(1, 2, 2)$, ${C}_{s}(1, 1, 3)$, and ${C}_{s}(2, 3, 0)$ sites. The dominant presence of the third-nearest-neighbor monoclinic ${C}_{s}(2, 1, 0)$ pair, which has not been reported previously, is predicted by our calculations. In view of this result, the electron spin resonance data on ${\mathrm{U}}^{3+}$ in Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ reported by Mahlab, Volterra, Low, and Yariv, which these authors interpreted in terms of the fifth-nearest-neighbor site, have been shown to arise actually from the prominent presence of the third-nearest-neighbor ${C}_{s}(2, 1, 0)$ site.
Is There Such a Thing as Too Much of a Good Thing When it Comes to Education? Reexamining First Generation Student Success

Data mining and statistical analyses at a less selective institution reveal that the relationships between parents' educational level and some first year success indicators are not linear. Specifically, students who report that either parent or guardian(s) have an educational level beyond a baccalaureate degree or do not report parent education level fair worse in most first year success indicators as well as some pre-college enrollment characteristics than those students whose either parent or guardian(s) have some college or a baccalaureate degree. Mathematics SAT, Critical Reading SAT, placement tests, first semester credits attempted, first semester credits earned, first semester GPA, and one-year retention means among students grouped by five parent education levels are assessed. In addition to the findings, variable construction, definition of first generation students, exploratory analyses, inferential statistics, and predictive models are discussed. Ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic and re...
Thermal sensitivity and resistance of insulin-receptor binding in thermotolerant cells

Cells may be made extremely resistant to elevated temperatures (thermotolerant) by a mild heat shock a few hours prior to more rigorous heating. In the present report, we show that a single cellular process - insulin binding to its receptor (in HA-1 Chinese hamster ovary cells) - may be made similarly heat-resistant. Heat resistance, whether expressed as cell survival or insulin binding, had similar dose-response characteristics, showing maximum resistance after 30 min at 43 degrees C. The processes had similar induction kinetics (2-6 h) and decayed over a similar time-course (100 h) after 43 degrees C, 30 min preheating. Thermal resistance of insulin binding was induced only when residual receptor loss (due to heating) occurred. Also, decay of resistance was closely correlated with recovery of insulin binding capacity. There thus appeared to be an inverse relationship between receptor number and the degree of heat resistance of both receptors and whole cells. (Scatchard analysis indicated that decreased insulin binding was due to receptor loss, not affinity decrease.) Whether the insulin receptor has a direct role in the mediation of cell killing or whether it passively reflects the state of the whole cell is not clear. However, identification of the receptor as an entity specifically protected in the thermotolerant cells may permit examination of the expression of thermotolerance at the molecular level.
Successive reversal of concurrent discriminations by macaques (Macaca mulatta): proactive interference effects

Rhesus monkeys received concurrent within-session training on eight, two-choice object pairs and then underwent successive reversals of these problems. Initially, reversals required about six times more training than acquisition with no improvement over seven successive reversals. Surprisingly, performance on these eight problems was unimpaired if they were embedded in different eight-problem tasks, thereby indicating a release from proactive interference. When the original eight problems again underwent successive reversal, no improvement was seen over seven reversals, although there was significantly less error-per-reversal than in the initial test. Subsequently, monkeys appeared to be developing a learning set for successive reversal because performance on successive reversal of eight novel problems was not different from that seen with the old familiar task. Set acquisition was confirmed when proficient reversal was eventually achieved on both old and new concurrent tasks. Thus, “concurrent reversal set” did develop, but it required arduous training to overcome proactive interference effects on memory. The ubiquitous influence of measurement context on organization of monkey memory was noted.
Design and evaluation of parallel pipelined join algorithms

The join operation is the most costly operation in relational database management systems. Distributed and parallel processing can effectively speed up the join operation. In this paper, we describe a number of highly parallel and pipelined multiprocessor join algorithms using sort-merge and hashing techniques. Among them, two algorithms are parallel and pipelined versions of traditional sort-merge join methods, two algorithms use both hashing and sort-merge techniques, and another two are variations of the hybrid hash join algorithms. The performance of those algorithms is evaluated analytically against a generic database machine architecture. The methodology used in the design and evaluation of these algorithms is also discussed.The results of the analysis indicate that using a hashing technique to partition the source relations can dramatically reduce the elapsed time hash-based algorithms outperform sort-merge algorithms in almost all cases because of their high parallelism. Hash-based sort-merge and hybrid hash methods provide similar performance in most cases. With large source relations, the algorithms which replicate the smaller relation usually give better elapsed time. Sharing memory among processors also improves performance somewhat.
Are dysfunctional attitudes and attributional style the same or different

Dysfunctional attitudes and attributional style have both been hypothesized to be cognitive vulnerabilities to depression. However, it is unclear whether they are the same or distinct constructs, and whether they are associated with the same or unique portions of depression variance. Structural equation modeling was conducted on a sample of depressed outpatients to test the hypotheses that dysfunctional attitudes and attributional style are distinct factors, and that each has a unique relationship with depression. Dysfunctional attitudes and attributional style were found to comprise correlated but distinct factors, as predicted. However, the attributional style factor was not correlated with depression when controlling for its correlation with dysfunctional attitudes. In contrast, the dysfunctional attitude factor was positively and strongly correlated with depression when controlling for attributional style.