cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 709: Angiogenic switch: novel therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer

Background: Despite research efforts directed at early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer (PC), the outlook for patients affected by this disease remains dismal. Angiogenesis is required for progression and metastasis of PC. An angiogenic switch, a shift of balance between pro-angiogenic and angiogenic state is a hallmark of cancer progression. The objective of this study was to investigate whether increased angiogenesis could be a predictor of PC occurrence and progression. Combinations of cytotoxic drugs led to increased activity and minimized resistance compared to single agents in tumor therapy. Thus, we investigated whether antiangiogenic treatment could be improved by combinations targeting different pathways using a combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and erlotinib. Methods: We performed immunoblotting, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry and quantification of sub-cellular protein expression to quantitatively assesses protein expression of angiogenesis associated markers such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 1 (FLT-1), VEGF receptor 2 (FLK-1), VEGF receptor 3 (R3), neuropilin (NP-1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 during development and progression of PC and examined their correlations with chosen clinico-pathological parameters. Tissues, tumor lysates and sera from 1) a transgenic mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and 2) from a cohort of 80 human PC patients at various stages of PC and suitably matched control. Two human PC cell lines Panc-1 and MiaPaca-2 were used to study drug effects. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS version 9.2. Results: Disease stage was highly prognostic for outcome. A significant association was found between high expressions of MMP-2 (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 709. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-709
Alcohol Use and the Grades of Middle and High School Students: Does School Choice Have Effects?

This article addresses the question of whether youth drinking leads to lower grades for public and private school students. Instrumental variables (IV) regressions are used to investigate differences in the relationship between drinking and grades based on whether students attend a public or private school. The regressions reveal that drinking lowers the probability of earning an “A” average, and raises the probability of earning a “C” or below, for public school students. However, the results are generally not significant for private school students and are sensitive to instrument selection, while empirical testing casts doubt on instrument exogeneity in some instances.
Role of StdA in adhesion of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis phage type 8 to host intestinal epithelial cells

Background Salmonella is often implicated in foodborne outbreaks, and is a major public health concern in the United States and throughout the world. Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) infection in humans is often associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry products. Adhesion to epithelial cells in the intestinal mucosa is a major pathogenic mechanism of Salmonella in poultry. Transposon mutagenesis identified stdA as a potential adhesion mutant of SE. Therefore, we hypothesize StdA plays a significant role in adhesion of SE to the intestinal mucosa of poultry.
THE COMPARTMENTATION AND ELIMINATION OF (14C)HISTAMINE BY NEOPLASTIC MAST CELLS IN CULTURE.

Abstract About 60% of the [14C]histamine taken up by neoplastic mast cells devoid of endogenous histamine was found in a large-particulate fraction (i.e., the sediment collected at 10 000 × g_. Only 25% of the [14C]histamine was present in the soluble cytoplasmic material (i.e., the supernatant fraction collected at 100 000 × g). After pre-incubation with 5.0 μg of non-radioactive histamine per ml, only 9.1–21.0% of the [14C]histamine was present in the large-particulate fraction; more than 60% of the [14C]histamine was found in the soluble cytoplasmic material. [14C]Histamine was lost much more rapidly from cells in which the bulk of the [14C]histamine was located in the soluble cytoplasmic material than from cells in which the bulk of the [14C]histamine was located in the large-particulate fraction. Thus, there appeared to be an association between the subcellular distribution of [14C]histamine and the rate at which the amine is lost from the cell. These findings are related to previous studies on the compartmentation of amines in neoplastic mast cells in culture.
Weight concerns, body image, and smoking continuation in pregnant women in rural Appalachia.

Objective To examine the relationship between pre-pregnancy weight and body image concerns and smoking status in late pregnancy. Methods Participants included 172 pregnant smokers. Pre-pregnancy weight and body image concerns were assessed during first trimester via the Weight Concern Scale and Body Image Concern Inventory. Smoking status was evaluated at third trimester via self-report. Results Logistic regression analyses revealed that weight concerns played a significant role in smoking continuation in late pregnancy. Conclusions Beliefs about weight control properties of cigarettes may play an important role in smoking continuation among pregnant women. These findings suggest assessing weight concerns with pregnant women who smoke in an effort to facilitate successful cessation.
Adam Smith and the Humanists: An Enquiry into the Productivity of Labor Controversy

Abstract This paper presents a new framework of analysis for studying an old question: Does division of labor maximize labor productivity? The framework describes how a simple, but scientifically accepted model, can be a useful tool in unifying diverse approaches to this subject and in explaining opposing empirical observations.
Guest column: algebraic construction of projection PCPs

In a projection PCP, also known as Label-Cover, the verifier makes two queries to the proof, and the answer to the first query determines at most one satisfying answer to the second query. Projection PCPs with low error probability are the basis of most NP-hardness of approximation results known today. In this essay we outline a construction of a projection PCP with low error and low blow-up. This yields sharp approximation thresholds and tight time lower bounds for approximation of a variety of problems, under an assumption on the time required for solving certain NP-hard problems exactly. The approach of the construction is algebraic, and it includes components such as low error, randomness-efficient low degree testing and composition of projection PCPs.
Social Welfare and Interpersonal Utility Comparisons in Applied Policy Research

It is a fair generalization to say that most applied policy analysis during the past half century has been conducted according to compensation principles. A policy change has been thought potentially desirable if the sum over all individuals of the subjective money value of the change is positive. Whether winners should compensate losers is a separate issue left to politicians. This paradigm is expedient because it is unconcerned about whether, in the absence of full compensation, the policy change is good or bad. And, because the pareto principle upon which it rests is very weak, it suggests that welfare economics has achieved the status of a value-weak science. The only problem remaining would be to refine the measures of an individual's money equivalent of an economic change (Hallam). Unfortunately, the compensation test has proved to be an inadequate analytical tool. Its inadequacy does not arise from the oftenmentioned difficulties with utility change measurement, uncertainty, or preference reversals. Rather, it arises from a failure to fully address questions that policy makers ask. To which framework should one turn if, as is likely, compensation is very costly or if it alters resource allocations (Stiglitz, p. 31; Runge and Myers)? Even if compensation is costless and nondistorting, how should one think about the desirability of compensation itself? To answer these questions satisfactorily, one must appeal to social welfare functionals and to the interpersonal and ethical information the functionals incorporate. In the following, a social welfare approach to applied policy research is outlined and some issues in implementation are discussed.
Graphs of Linear Forms on Modules over Boolean Rings

This note considers the graphs of linear and affine transformations on modules over Boolean rings. It will be shown that such graphs are similar to those of linear forms on vector spaces over finite fields.
Ecological study of activated sludge settling property in the completely mixed system

Abstract The bulking problem associated with both nitrogen-rich and nitrogen-deficient activated sludges was thoroughly investigated under a DO sufficient condition in the completely-mixed continuous flow system. The reactor temperature was controlled at 27 ± 1°C and the pH was maintained at nearly equal to 7.0. The activated sludge cultures were acclimated under various organic loadings and their settling characteristics were determined by sludge volume index and zone settling velocity. The contents of sludge protein and carbohydrate along with the cell surface charge were examined for understanding the correlation between sludge composition and sludge settleability. Also, the major types of long-length filaments existed in the bulky activated sludge were identified. Moreover, the effect of sludge settleability on effluent quality was determined.
Longitudinal interactions of pain and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in U.S. Military service members following blast exposure.

Military personnel returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan often endorse pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, either separately or concurrently. Associations between pain and PTSD may be further complicated by blast exposure from explosive munitions. Although many studies have reported on the prevalence and disability associated with polytraumatic injuries following combat, less is known about symptom maintenance over time. Accordingly, this study examined longitudinal interactive models of co-occurring pain and PTSD symptoms in a sample of 209 military personnel (Mage = 27.4 years, SD = 7.6) who experienced combat-related blast exposure. Autoregressive cross-lagged analysis examined longitudinal associations between self-reported pain and PTSD symptoms over a one-year period. The best-fitting model indicated that pain and PTSD were significantly associated with one another across all assessment periods, χ(2)(3) = 3.66, p =.30; TLI =.98; CFI =.99; RMSEA =.03, and PTSD had a particularly strong influence on subsequent pain symptoms. The relationship between pain and PTSD is related to older age, race, and traumatic brain injury characteristics. RESULTS further the understanding of complex injuries among military personnel and highlight the need for comprehensive assessment and rehabilitation efforts addressing the interdependence of pain and co-occurring mental health conditions. Language: en
Growth of and toxin production by nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum in cooked puréed vegetables at refrigeration temperatures.

Seven strains of nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum (types B, E, and F) were each inoculated into a range of anaerobic cooked pureed vegetables. After incubation at 10 degrees C for 15 to 60 days, all seven strains formed toxin in mushrooms, five did so in broccoli, four did so in cauliflower, three did so in asparagus, and one did so in kale. Growth kinetics of nonproteolytic C. botulinum type B in cooked mushrooms, cauliflower, and potatoes were determined at 16, 10, 8, and 5 degrees C. Growth and toxin production occurred in cooked cauliflower and mushrooms at all temperatures and in potatoes at 16 and 8 degrees C. The C. botulinum neurotoxin was detected within 3 to 5 days at 16 degrees C, 11 to 13 days at 10 degrees C, 10 to 34 days at 8 degrees C, and 17 to 20 days at 5 degrees C.
Vasculoprotective effects of heme oxygenase-1 in a murine model of hyperoxia-induced bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is characterized by simplified alveolarization and arrested vascular development of the lung with associated evidence of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, increased oxidative damage, and iron deposition. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has been reported to be protective in the pathogenesis of diseases of inflammatory and oxidative etiology. Because HO-1 is involved in the response to oxidative stress produced by hyperoxia and is critical for cellular heme and iron homeostasis, it could play a protective role in BPD. Therefore, we investigated the effect of HO-1 in hyperoxia-induced lung injury using a neonatal transgenic mouse model with constitutive lung-specific HO-1 overexpression. Hyperoxia triggered an increase in pulmonary inflammation, arterial remodeling, and right ventricular hypertrophy that was attenuated by HO-1 overexpression. In addition, hyperoxia led to pulmonary edema, hemosiderosis, and a decrease in blood vessel number, all of which were markedly improved in HO-1 overexpressing mice. The protective vascular response may be mediated at least in part by carbon monoxide, due to its anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and antiapoptotic properties. HO-1 overexpression, however, did not prevent alveolar simplification nor altered the levels of ferritin and lactoferrin, proteins involved in iron binding and transport. Thus the protective mechanisms elicited by HO-1 overexpression primarily preserve vascular growth and barrier function through iron-independent, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory pathways.
Local Vibrancy in a Globalizing World: Evidence from Dominica, Eastern Caribbean

Globalization is often described as a process that increasingly encompasses world regions, countries, products, services, and people. Blouet (2001 p.7), for example, states that ‘‘[g]lobalization removes obstructions to movement and creates conditions in which international trade in goods and services can expand.’’ This process of increased movement of goods and services has grown steadily, aided by technological advances. While much of the world’s economic activities move toward free trade and globalization, at the same time there are local areas that remain to a significant extent autonomous and vibrant. The relationship between the local and the global has received much attention in recent years in social sciences and the humanities (Kearney 1995). Local activities intermingle with the global influences; local and global are not distinct and separately analyzable (Porter 2000). This essay centers on locally-focused aspects of the economy, culture, and society, and the people behind them, drawing on the case study of the Eastern Caribbean island nation of Dominica. Primary products, and those that are involved in and benefit from their production, weave into the complexity of the globalized world while at the same time continuing to be locally sustainable. We use marine and forest resources as examples to show how people on this remote Eastern Caribbean island continue to utilize and manage these resources sustainably and how these local producers complement the globalized trade flows and supply chains for these resources. Dominica illustrates how local actors continue to have a sizable role in generating employment and satisfying daily needs, despite the growing outside pressures toward a globalized Western lifestyle. By documenting the continued vibrancy of certain natural resource sectors in an island economy that is otherwise increasingly permeated by imports, this essay furthers our understanding of the status of the local amidst the global.
Words are not enough: sentence level natural language watermarking

Compared to other media, natural language text presents unique challenges for information hiding. These challenges require the design of a robust algorithm that can work under following constraints: (i) low embedding bandwidth, i.e., number of sentences is comparable with message length, (ii) not all transformations can be applied to a given sentence (iii) the number of alternative forms for a sentence is relatively small, a limitation governed by the grammar and vocabulary of the natural language, as well as the requirement to preserve the style and fluency of the document. The adversary can carry out all the transformations used for embedding to remove the embedded message. In addition, the adversary can also permute the sentences, select and use a subset of sentences, and insert new sentences. We give a scheme that overcomes these challenges, together with a partial implementation and its evaluation for the English language. The present application of this scheme works at the sentence level while also using a word-level watermarking technique that was recently designed and built into a fully automatic system ("Equimark"). Unlike Equimark, whose resilience relied on the introduction of ambiguities, the present paper's sentence-level technique is more tuned to situations where very little change to the text is allowable (i.e., when style is important). Secondarily, this paper shows how to use lower-level (in this case word-level) marking to improve the resilience and embedding properties of higher level (in this case sentence level) schemes. We achieve this by using the word-based methods as a separate channel from the sentence-based methods, thereby improving the results of either one alone. The sentence level watermarking technique we introduce is novel and powerful, as it relies on multiple features of each sentence and exploits the notion of orthogonality between features.
Research in Self-Monitoring with Students with Learning Disabilities: The Present, the Prospects, the Pitfalls

The amount of research in the use of self-monitoring intervention with students has increased steadily. This article reviews the literature to date on self-monitoring with students with learning disabilities. First, it discusses the results of self-monitoring studies in terms of major dependent measures, such as on-task behavior and academic productivity and accuracy. Next, it analyzes studies comparing the effects of self-monitoring of attention and self-monitoring of performance on on-task behavior and academic responding. Finally, it discusses areas for future research and potential conceptual pitfalls.
Scheduling semiconductor manufacturing plants

In many large systems, such as manufacturing systems and communication networks, whenever a resource becomes available, one has to decide which of several tasks contending for its attention should be performed next. Such problems are called "scheduling" problems. They are control problems of immense economic importance, and have often been formulated and addressed in an open-loop setting. Both to illustrate the types of problems encountered and to serve as focus, in this article we will address scheduling problems in a technological area of much topical interest-semiconductor manufacturing. Being of relatively recent origin, and organized differently from more traditional manufacturing systems such as flow shops and job shops, they are relatively less explored. They are also of significant economic interest, and much in the public limelight, and thus a fertile area for systems and control researchers. We provide an account of some problems in the area, as well as some suggested solutions. >
Antiproliferative effects by Let-7 repression of high-mobility group A2 in uterine leiomyoma.

High-mobility group A2 (HMGA2) is commonly overexpressed in large leiomyomas. HMGA2 is an important regulator of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and transformation. As a predicted target of Let-7 microRNAs (Let-7s), HMGA2 can be repressed by Let-7s in vitro. MicroRNA profiling analysis revealed that Let-7s were significantly dysregulated in uterine leiomyomas: high in small leiomyomas and lower in large leiomyomas. To evaluate whether Let-7 repression of HMGA2 plays a major role in leiomyomas, we analyzed the molecular relationship of HMGA2 and Let-7s, both in vitro and in vivo. We first characterized that exogenous Let-7 microRNAs could directly repress the dominant transcript of HMGA2, HMGA2a. This repression was also identified for two cryptic HMGA2 transcripts in primary leiomyoma cultures. Second, we found that the endogenous Let-7s were biologically active and played a major role in the regulation of HMGA2. Then, we illustrated that Let-7 repression of HMGA2 inhibited cellular proliferation. Finally, we examined the expression levels of Let-7c and HMGA2 in a large cohort of leiomyomas (n = 120), and we found high levels of Let-7 and low levels of HMGA2 in small leiomyomas, and low levels of Let-7 and high levels of HMGA2 in large leiomyomas. Our findings suggest that the Let-7–mediated repression of HMGA2 mechanism can be an important molecular event in leiomyoma growth. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(4):663–73)
Effects of aging and exercise training on skeletal muscle blood flow and resistance artery morphology.

With old age, blood flow to the high-oxidative red skeletal muscle is reduced and blood flow to the low-oxidative white muscle is elevated during exercise. Changes in the number of feed arteries perforating the muscle are thought to contribute to this altered hyperemic response during exercise. We tested the hypothesis that exercise training would ameliorate age-related differences in blood flow during exercise and feed artery structure in skeletal muscle. Young (6–7 mo old, n = 36) and old (24 mo old, n = 25) male Fischer 344 rats were divided into young sedentary (Sed), old Sed, young exercise-trained (ET), and old ET groups, where training consisted of 10–12 wk of treadmill exercise. In Sed and ET rats, blood flow to the red and white portions of the gastrocnemius muscle (GastRed and GastWhite) and the number and luminal cross-sectional area (CSA) of all feed arteries perforating the muscle were measured at rest and during exercise. In the old ET group, blood flow was greater to GastRed (264 ± 13 and 195 ± 9 ml·min−1·100 g−1 in old ET and old Sed, respectively) and lower to GastWhite (78 ± 5 and 120 ± 6 ml·min−1·100 g−1 in old ET and old Sed, respectively) than in the old Sed group. There was no difference in the number of feed arteries between the old ET and old Sed group, although the CSA of feed arteries from old ET rats was larger. In young ET rats, there was an increase in the number of feed arteries perforating the muscle. Exercise training mitigated old age-associated differences in blood flow during exercise within gastrocnemius muscle. However, training-induced adaptations in resistance artery morphology differed between young (increase in feed artery number) and old (increase in artery CSA) animals. The altered blood flow pattern induced by exercise training with old age would improve the local matching of O2 delivery to consumption within the skeletal muscle.
The PrpC Serine-Threonine Phosphatase and PrkC kinase Have Opposing Physiological Roles in Stationary-Phase Bacillus subtilis Cells

Loss of the PrpC serine-threonine phosphatase and the associated PrkC kinase of Bacillus subtilis were shown to have opposite effects on stationary-phase physiology by differentially affecting cell density, cell viability, and accumulation of β-galactosidase from a general stress reporter fusion. These pleiotropic effects suggest that PrpC and PrkC have important regulatory roles in stationary-phase cells. Elongation factor G (EF-G) was identified as one possible target of the PrpC and PrkC pair in vivo, and purified PrpC and PrkC manifested the predicted phosphatase and kinase activities against EF-G in vitro.
Use of Ultrasound Guidance Improves Central Venous Catheter Insertion Success Rates Among Junior Residents

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether junior residents had higher rates of first cannulation and overall success at central venous catheter insertions with the use of ultrasound (US) guidance compared to the landmark technique. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a prospective randomized controlled study of junior residents from January 2007 through September 2008, which assessed the impact of simulation training on central venous catheter insertion success rates. Blinded independent raters observed in-hospital central venous catheter insertions using a procedural checklist. Success at first cannulation and successful insertion were the primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included rates of technical errors and mechanical complications. Results Independent raters observed 480 central venous catheter insertions by 115 residents. Successful first cannulation occurred in 27% of landmark compared to 49% of dynamic US-guided (P < .01), and 50% of static US-guided (P = .01) cannulations. Insertion success occurred for 55% of landmark compared to 80% of dynamic US-guided (P < .01) and 80% of static US-guided (P < .01) cannulations. Dynamic US guidance was associated with increased odds of first cannulation success compared to the landmark technique (odds ratio [OR], 2.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–3.67) and successful insertion (OR, 3.80; 95% CI, 2.34–6.19). Static US guidance was associated with increased odds of first cannulation success compared to the landmark technique (OR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.25–5.39) and successful insertion (OR, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.54–7.87). The results were independent of central venous catheter insertion training, patient comorbidities, and resident specialties. There was no difference related to mechanical complications between the procedures. Conclusions Dynamic and static US guidance during central venous catheter insertion was associated with improved in-hospital first cannulation rates and overall success rates of insertions by junior residents.
Unreliable failure detectors for reliable distributed systems

We introduce the concept of unreliable failure detectors and study how they can be used to solve Consensus in asynchronous systems with crash failures. We characterise unreliable failure detectors in terms of two properties—completeness and accuracy. We show that Consensus can be solved even with unreliable failure detectors that make an infinite number of mistakes, and determine which ones can be used to solve Consensus despite any number of crashes, and which ones require a majority of correct processes. We prove that Consensus and Atomic Broadcast are reducible to each other in asynchronous systems with crash failures; thus, the above results also apply to Atomic Broadcast. A companion paper shows that one of the failure detectors introduced here is the weakest failure detector for solving Consensus [Chandra et al. 1992].
Masking Responses to Light in Period Mutant Mice

Masking is an acute effect of an external signal on an overt rhythm and is distinct from the process of entrainment. In the current study, we investigated the phase dependence and molecular mechanisms regulating masking effects of light pulses on spontaneous locomotor activity in mice. The circadian genes, Period1 (Per1) and Per2, are necessary components of the timekeeping machinery and entrainment by light appears to involve the induction of the expression of Per1 and Per2 mRNAs in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). We assessed the roles of the Per genes in regulating masking by assessing the effects of light pulses on nocturnal locomotor activity in C57BL/6J Per mutant mice. We found that Per1(-/-) and Per2(-/-) mice had robust negative masking responses to light. In addition, the locomotor activity of Per1(-/-)/Per2(-/-) mice appeared to be rhythmic in the light-dark (LD) cycle, and the phase of activity onset was advanced (but varied among individual mice) relative to lights off. This rhythm persisted for 1 to 2 days in constant darkness in some Per1(-/-)/Per2(-/-) mice. Furthermore, Per1(-/-)/Per2(-/-) mice exhibited robust negative masking responses to light. Negative masking was phase dependent in wild-type mice such that maximal suppression was induced by light pulses at zeitgeber time 14 (ZT14) and gradually weaker suppression occurred during light pulses at ZT16 and ZT18. By measuring the phase shifts induced by the masking protocol (light pulses were administered to mice maintained in the LD cycle), we found that the phase responsiveness of Per mutant mice was altered compared to wild-types. Together, our data suggest that negative masking responses to light are robust in Per mutant mice and that the Per1(-/-)/Per2(-/-) SCN may be a light-driven, weak/damping oscillator.
Influences of Tobacco Advertising Exposure and Conduct Problems on Smoking Behaviors Among Adolescent Males and Females

Methods: Adolescents completed baseline (2001–2004; n = 541) and 5-year follow-up (2007–2009; n =320) interviews for a family study of smoking risk. Baseline interviews assessed conduct problems and tobacco advertising exposure; smoking behavior was assessed at both timepoints. Generalized linear models analyzed gender differences in the relationship between conduct problems, advertising exposure, and smoking behavior at baseline and longitudinally. r esults: At baseline, among males, conduct problems were associated with greater advertising exposure independent of demographics and lifetime smoking. Among females at baseline, conduct problems were associated with greater advertising exposure only among never-smokers after adjusting for demographics. In longitudinal analyses, baseline advertising exposure predicted subsequent smoking initiation (i.e., smoking their first cigarette between baseline and follow-up) for females but not for males. Baseline conduct problems predicted current (i.e., daily or weekly) smoking at follow-up for all adolescents in adjusted models. Conclusions: The findings of this study reinforce that conduct problems are a strong predictor of subsequent current smoking for all adolescents and reveal important differences between adolescent males and females in the relationship between conduct problems, tobacco advertising behavior, and smoking behavior. The findings suggest gender-specific preventive interventions targeting advertising exposure may be warranted.
Working with Students as Researchers: Ethical Issues of a Participatory Process

In diesem Beitrag befassen wir uns mit den Konsequenzen, die sich aus der Nutzung akademischer Diskurse und von Sozialtheorien wahrend kollaborativer Forschungsprozesse mit afrikanisch-amerikanischen Schulern und Schulerinnen uber den Naturwissenschaftsunterricht in innenstadtischen Schulen ergeben. Obwohl der Einbezug von Schulern und Schulerinnen in die Forschung zu ethischeren Forschungsprozessen fuhren kann, weil ein groseres Potenzial fur gegenseitiges Verstehen ermoglicht wird, das alle Teilnehmende ermachtigt, in Richtung positiver Veranderungen zu arbeiten, werden durch diese Vorgangsweise auch ethische Fragen und Probleme sichtbarer. Insbesondere die Nutzung akademischer Sprache wahrend der Forschung konnte von den Jugendlichen eher als eine Art von Ab- und Ausgrenzung aufgefasst werden denn als die Sprechweise einer offenen Forschungsgemeinde, in der sie teilhaben. Gestutzt auf Beispiele aus unserem Forschungsprojekt schlagen wir deshalb einen kontinuierlich reflexiven Forschungsprozess vor, um sicherzustellen, dass die Forschungsmethoden unsere politischen und ethischen Ziele nicht unterlaufen, indem sie Ausgrenzungsformen perpetuieren, die die Schuler und Schulerinnen sowieso schon taglich erfahren. Wir schlagen vor, kogenerative Dialoge uber die akademischen Sprechweisen zu fuhren, um Fragen der Macht, des Wissens und der Ausgrenzung zu erortern. Wir diskutieren in unserem Beitrag auch die Notwendigkeit, die Handlungsfahigkeit der jugendlichen Forscher(innen) zu erleichtern und ihnen damit zu erlauben, je eigene Ziele und Darstellungsweisen zu realisieren. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0501383
Ecologic effects on eye banking.

Purpose To examine the climatic conditions at corneal donation for microbial categories of postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis that have been reported to a national surveillance registry. Design Retrospective case-control study. Methods Local weather information on the date of donor corneal procurement was tabulated for reported cases of endophthalmitis after penetrating keratoplasty and then compared between candidal endophthalmitis and postsurgical endophthalmitis that yielded bacteria or no microorganisms or that were not cultured. Results Compared with other postkeratoplasty endophthalmitis, candidal endophthalmitis after corneal transplantation occurred significantly ( P Conclusion Higher exterior temperatures at donation may be associated with an increased relative risk of candidal transmission by keratoplasty, but a chain of causation that links the donor's environment to the recipient's infection remains to be elucidated.
On the molecular nature of the lidocaine receptor of cardiac NA+ channels : modification of block by alterations in the α-subunit III-IV interdomain

The mechanism of inhibition of Na+ channels by lidocaine has been suggested to involve low-affinity binding to rested states and high-affinity binding to the inactivated state of the channel, implying either multiple receptor sites or allosteric modulation of receptor affinity. Alternatively, the lidocaine receptor may be guarded by the channel gates. To test these distinct hypotheses, inhibition of Na+ channels by lidocaine was studied by voltage-clamp methods in both native and heterologous expression systems. Native Na+ channels were studied in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, and recombinant human heart Na+ channels were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Fast inactivation was eliminated by mutating three amino acids (isoleucine, phenylalanine, and methionine) in the III-IV interdomain to glutamines or by enzymatic digestion with alpha-chymotrypsin. In channels with intact fast inactivation, lidocaine block developed with a time constant of 589 +/- 42 ms (n = 7) at membrane potentials between -50 and +20 mV, as measured by use of twin pulse protocols. The IC50 was 36 +/- 1.8 mumol/L. Control channels inactivated within 20 ms, and slow inactivation developed much later (time constant of slow inactivation, 6.2 +/- 0.36 s). The major component of block developed long after activated and open channels were no longer available for drug binding. Control channels recovered fully from inactivation in < 50 ms at -120 mV (time constant, 11 +/- 0.5 ms; n = 50).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Design and Development Assessment

An assessment methodology is described and illustrated. This methodology separates assessment into the following phases: (1) elicitation of requirements; (2) elicitation of failure modes and their impact (risk of loss of requirements); (3) elicitation of failure mode mitigations and their effectiveness (degree of reduction of failure modes); and (4) calculation of outstanding risk taking the mitigations into account. This methodology, with accompanying tool support, has been applied to assist in planning the engineering development of advanced technologies. Design assessment features prominently in these applications. The overall approach is also applicable to development assessment (of the development process to be followed to implement the design). Both design and development assessments are demonstrated on hypothetical scenarios based on the workshop's TRMCS case study. TRMCS information has been entered into the assessment support tool, and serves as illustration throughout.
The Cryptococcus neoformans Gene DHA1 Encodes an Antigen That Elicits a Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity Reaction in Immune Mice

When mice are vaccinated with a culture filtrate from Cryptococcus neoformans (CneF), they mount a protective cell-mediated immune response as detected by dermal delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to CneF. We have identified a gene (DHA1) whose product accounts at least in part for the DTH reactivity. Using an acapsular mutant (Cap-67) of C. neoformans strain B3501, we prepared a culture filtrate (CneF-Cap67) similar to that used for preparing the commonly used skin test antigen made with C. neoformans 184A (CneF-184A). CneF-Cap67 elicited DTH in mice immunized with CneF-184A. Deglycosylation of CneF-Cap67 did not diminish its DTH activity. Furthermore, size separation by either chromatography or differential centrifugation identified the major DTH activity of CneF-Cap67 to be present in fractions that contained proteins of approximately 19 to 20 kDa. Using N-terminal and internal amino acid sequences derived from the 20-kDa band, oligonucleotide primers were designed, two of which produced a 776-bp amplimer by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) using RNA from Cap-67 to prepare cDNA for the template. The amplimer was used as a probe to isolate clones containing the full-length DHA1 gene from a phage genomic library prepared from strain B3501. The full-length cDNA was obtained by 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends and RT-PCR. Analysis of DHA1 revealed a similarity between the deduced open reading frame and that of a developmentally regulated gene from Lentinus edodes (shiitake mushroom) associated with fruiting-body formation. Also, the gene product contained several amino acid sequences identical to those determined biochemically from the purified 20-kDa peptide encoded by DHA1. Recombinant DHA1 protein expressed in Escherichia coli was shown to elicit DTH reactions similar to those elicited by CneF-Cap67 in mice immunized against C. neoformans. Thus, DHA1 is the first gene to be cloned from C. neoformans whose product has been shown to possess immunologic activity.
Embodied Perception and the Economy of Action

Perception informs people about the opportu- nities for action and their associated costs. To this end, explicit awareness of spatial layout varies not only with relevant optical and ocular-motor variables, but also as a function of the costs associated with performing intended actions. Although explicit awareness is mutable in this respect, visually guided actions directed at the immediate environment are not. When the metabolic costs associated with walking an extent increase—perhaps because one is wearing a heavy backpack—hills appear steeper and distances to targets appear greater. When one is standing on a high balcony, the apparent distance to the ground is correlated with one's fear of falling. Perceiving spatial layout combines the geometry of the world with behavioral goals and the costs associated with achieving these goals.
Graph metrics for predicting speedup in static multiprocessor scheduling

This paper presents a set of metrics for estimating the speedup achievable in static multiprocessor scheduling using a previously introduced Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach. This is of major importance because, although conventional wisdom suggests that metaheuristics such as GAs have the potential to improve over standard heuristics, little research has been conducted on characterizing the sorts of graphs that they should excel at. We describe several metrics and illustrate that four of them can predict the speed up with an accuracy of almost 90%.
Is Nubia Plate Rigid? A Geodetic Study of the Relative Motion of Different Cratonic Areas Within Africa

The Nubia plate is considered to be a rigid plate and, as such, is used in the realization of International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF). Geophysical and geological observations suggest that there is intraplate deformation within the Nubia plate along the Cameroon volcanic line and the Okavango rift. To test this hypothesis and to evaluate rigid plate motion, we divide the plate into three regions and calculate six Euler vectors based on available long-term GPS data.
Long-Tail Distributions and Unsupervised Learning of Morphology

In previous work on unsupervised learning of morphology, the long-tail pattern in the rank-frequency distribution of words, as well as of morphological units, is usually considered as following Zipf’s law (power-law). We argue that these long-tail distributions can also be considered as lognormal. Since we know the conjugate prior distribution for a lognormal likelihood, we propose to generate morphology data from lognormal distributions. When the performance is evaluated by a tokenbased criterion, giving more weights to the results of frequent words, the proposed model preforms significantly better than other models in discussion. Moreover, we capture the statistical properties of morphological units with a Bayesian approach, other than a rule-based approach as studied in (Chan, 2008) and (Zhao and Marcus, 2011). Given the multiplicative property of lognormal distributions, we can directly capture the long-tail distribution of word frequency, without the need of an additional generative process as studied in (Goldwater et al., 2006).
Self-efficacy : a necessary social skills curricula component

The development of self-efficacy must be a major area of concern in our education planning for all students. Self-efficacy plays a significant role in the development of social skills Areas such as motivation, self knowledge,modeling and observational learning are factors that support the development of self-efficacy. This manuscript will examine the role of self-efficacy in social skill development and factors that hinder the development of efficacy in children.
Tibiofibular cross-peg grafting.

Follow-up studies after the tibiofibular cross-peg-grafting procedure in eighteen patients showed that it is a useful operation in the treatment of tibial non-union complicated by active or latent infection, extensive adherent scarring precluding direct tibial bone-grafting, or both. Amputation had been considered in several patients in this series before this operation was performed.
Increasing Use of Post Lumpectomy Radiation Therapy for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast in the United States

Purpose/Objective(s): Our institution has used 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT) to deliver whole breast irradiation (WBI) in the prone position since 1998 in order to address technical difficulties associated with treating large, pendulous breasts and/or large body habitus, and/or in patients with left-sided cancers to decrease radiation received by the heart. The goal of this study was to review our updated experience using prone breast WBI to determine whether the recurrence rates and survival patterns are acceptable in this set of patients. Materials/Methods: From 1998-2013, 397 women treated with breast conserving surgery underwent WBI in the prone position using 3DCRT. Patients were treated with a median of 50 Gy to the breast volume +/a boost of 10 Gy to the lumpectomy planning target volume. All patients had >12 month follow-up. Results: Median follow-up was 43.6 mo. The median age was 59 (27-91); 67% were post-menopausal. Median BMI was 32.4 (18.6-64.6). Tumors were Tis-19.8%, T1-61.5%, T2-17.2%, T3-1.5%, and 3.3% had positive axillary nodes. Eight (2%) patients were diagnosed with an ipsilateral breast tumor (5-yr recurrence rateZ1.9%). Mean time to recurrence was 57.5 mo (19-127 mo). The original tumors were DCIS (2), infiltrating lobular (3), and invasive ductal (3). Focal DCIS margin was <2mm in 3 patients. The original tumor location and location of recurrence respectively was: lower outer quadrant (LOQ)-failed in UOQ, UIQ-failed in UIQ (2), central-failed central, UOQ-failed UOQ, LOQ-failed LOQ, UOQfailed LIQ, and UOQ-failed in skin and with distant metastases. Ipsilateral disease free survival was 97.6% at 5 yr. Distant metastasis free survival was 98.4% at 5 yr. Overall survival was 95.5% at 5 yr. Conclusion: In patients with large pendulous breasts, increased BMI and/ or left-sided tumors, delivering WBI in the prone position using 3DCRT results in recurrence rates and failure patterns similar to those anticipated using supine WBI. This series adds to the growing literature demonstrating prone WBI provides local control rates comparable to supine WBI with minimal toxicity to organs at risk. Author Disclosure: H. Saeed: None. H. Cheng: None. T.R. Kelly: None. J.A. Bovi: None. J.R. White: None. C. Bergom: None. A.D. Currey: None. J. Wilson: None.
Efficiency of Five Selective Media for Recovering Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci from Mixed Cultures

Abstract DURING the examination of turkey rolls for staphylococci it became apparent that additional information was needed regarding the ability of the plating media to aid in the detection of these microorganisms. Numerous plating media have been developed for isolating and enumerating coagulase-positive staphylococci from various foods. On some media, it is difficult to differentiate staphylococcus colonies from those of other species, especially when the population of these other species is much larger than the population of staphylococci. As a selective agent, some media contain a high percentage of sodium chloride, while others contain tellurite. Various antibiotics also have been added to media in an effort to obtain maximum selectivity. A comparative evaluation of some of these media was made by Crisley et al. (1965) employing direct plating of inoculated food homogenates. Recently, Baer et al. (1966) tested several media for their efficiency in isolating and enumerating coagulase-positive staphylococci from random…
The Role of Socio-political Perception in Defining Social Entrepreneurship as a Career

Social entrepreneurs innovate and provide solutions like entrepreneurs, but they also focus on social transformation like activists. Previous literature highlighted the need to identify characteristics that differentiate between social entrepreneurs and other similar careers. I hypothesize that social dominance orientation and perceived permeability of social status are factors that differentiate social entrepreneurs from the other two careers,. After collecting data from more than 100 individuals, I show that social entrepreneurs prefer to adopt egalitarian perspective significantly more than entrepreneurs and they prefer to adopt social mobility strategies significantly more than activist. The study contributes to the literature of Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship, Activism, Social dominance theory and Social identity theory.
Route-Oriented Tasks Help Initial Survey-Based Learning

The role of route and survey information on the gradual acquisition of spatial knowledge was examined in a virtual environment (VE). Navigational focus was induced by having participants learn the environment using either an opaque (route) or transparent (survey) VE. Goal focus was induced by requiring participants to train to a sequential listing (route) or map-based (survey) criterion. During initial training, the presence of a route focus, based on the environment or the stated goal, led to better performance on a survey task than an exclusively survey focus. With increased training, performance with a survey-based focus matched that with a route-based focus. Early stage navigational learning in a survey-based environment benefited from the presence of a route goal. Later stage learning resulted in similar performance between route and survey goals and navigational learning environments.
Breeding and Utilization of Good Quality Indica Restorer Line Luhui 5241 in Rice

Luhui 5241,a new indica restorer line with large panicles,heavy grains and good grain quality in rice,was bred with anther culture and traditional breeding methodology by Rice and Sorghum Research Institute,Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences.It was technically identified in Chongqing in 2011.The hybrid Luyou 5241 derived from 002A and Luhui 5241 was registered and released for commercial production by Chongqing Provincial Crop Variety Appraisal Committee in 2011.
Location at Risk

Many opinions exist concerning the hospital locations and service lines most at risk for disruptive behavior, with several areas figuring prominently in studies and analyses of this issue.