cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age and recognition of depression: implications for a cohort effect in major depression.

Studies relying on subjects' retrospective reports have recently been interpreted as indicating that individuals born since World War II are at increased risk for a diagnosis of lifetime major depression. Examining the validity of this ‘cohort effect’ is essential, given the potential importance of such a phenomenon for research and policy. Among a number of artefactual explanations for the cohort effect is the possibility that older individuals are less likely to recognize depression as a mental disorder, and hence are less likely to remember depressive episodes as such, or to report these episodes in interviews on mental health. To test whether age was related to the recognition of major depression as a mental problem, we analysed responses from 152 randomly selected community residents on whether a vignette describing DSM-III major depression represented a psychological or emotional problem. Older respondents were much less likely to characterize major depression this way, even controlling for other factors. Such an age effect may provide a partial explanation for the apparent cohort effect, although the issue is complex and further research is needed.
A microcomputer program package for metaanalysis

The term "metaanalysis" describes a group of techniques for comparing and/or combining the statistical results of several independently conducted research studies on the same topic. Within the past decade, several major advances in statistics for metaanalysis have been formulated and have been applied to areas as diverse as psychotherapy-outcome research, educational testing, and organizational psychology (Wortman, 1983). The present program consists of four BASIC computer programs designed to implement a variety of metaanalysis techniques. EFFECT SIZE is a program based on Friedman's (1982) formulas for indexes of magnitudes of statistical effects. Program users can enter product-moment rs, t tests, Z tests, F ratios, or chi-square tests with associated sample sizes or degrees of freedom. Output consists of values for rm , Friedman's magnitude-of-effect index. The second program, ROSENTHAL, implements all of the procedures in Rosenthal's (1983) article on metaanalysis. The user can enter effect-magnitude indexes (rm , as obtained from EFFECT SIZE) or significance values (p) or Z values along with sample sizes. Depending upon the options selected, the output can consist of average effect sizes, an overall chi-square test of "diffuse" differences among studies, or a chi-square test that evaluates specific "focused" contrasts among studies. The third program, CUMULATIVE ANALYSIS, computes the formulas provided by Stoffelmayr, Dillavou, and Hunter (1983). With this program, the user enters a series of effect sizes and sample sizes. The program then produces a weighted average effect size and an analysis of variability among studies that reflects: (1) total variability in effect sizes; (2) the variance in effect sizes due to sampling error; and (3) the variance in effect sizes attributable to true variation from study to study. The final program, REGRESSION SYNTHESIS, enables users to evaluate linear multiple regression models in which effect sizes serve as dependent variables and design
Middle-Eastern immigrant parents' social networks and help-seeking for child health care.

The purpose of this research was to describe (a) Arab-American immigrant parents’ perceptions of their social networks, including social support, and (b) Arab–American immigrant parents’ perceptions of their help-seeking related to child health care Seventy-three immigrant parents who were Egyptian-American (n= 17), Palestinian–American (n= 44) and Yemeni–American (n= 12) completed the Norbeck Social Support Questionnaire, four Supplementary Social Support Questions, a Support System Map and a Child Health Interview Guide Family and relatives were perceived as the major source of support and comprised the highest percentage of social network members Compared with published scores of a normative American sample, the immigrant parents’ scores were lower (P < 0 01) on all social network and social support variables There was a moderate negative correlation (r=0 47) between parents’ number of years of residence in the USA and percentage of network members living outside the USA (P < 0 01) and a weak positive correlation (r=0 36) between number of years in the USA and percentage of network members living close to the parent (P < 0 01) Parents’ help-seeking for child health care involved use of a variety of resources, with reliance on some long-distance support from family in the Middle-East This descriptive research provides a basis for further research on patterns of support and help-seeking in immigrant parents Summary In summary, networks reflect immigrants’ sense of identity and may be used as a source of information Ethnic composition of the network corresponds with density of the network and the immigrant's level of acculturation and level of education Sources of support for immigrants change over time, and there are limited data on immigrants’ perceptions of social support Help-seeking is related to the composition of the network and involves use of various resources There has been little research reported on immigrant parents’ social networks and help-seeking related to child health care
Isolation of Microtubule-Based Motor Proteins by ATP Release from Paclitaxel-Stabilized Microtubules

The α-β-tubulin heterodimer is asymmetric, and when asymmetric subunits assemble in a head-to-tail fashion, they produce a polymer that is itself asymmetric. Microtubules are therefore polar polymers having a head (or plus) end and a tail (or minus) end. Both ends can be distinguished kinetically because they add and lose subunits at different rates. Because of this inherent asymmetry, translocation of a particle along a microtubule from the head to the tail is a different molecular event than is translocation from the minus to the plus end. Currently, two classes of microtubule-dependent motor proteins are recognized: Those that are plus-end-directed (i.e., kinesin-like) and those that are minus-end-directed (dynein-like). The kinesin family of proteins in humans contains at least 14 classes of kinesins, a grouping based on tertiary and quaternary structure considerations, as well as on enzymatic activity. The dyneins are organized into two groups: Axonemal dyneins and cytoplasmic dyneins. This protocol provides methods for the enrichment of kinesin or cytoplasmic dynein, based on the differential interactions of each type of motor protein with microtubules in the presence of different nucleotides. For a cleaner preparation of motor proteins, the protocol includes steps for the further separation of kinesin and dynein from one another by sucrose gradient centrifugation.
A study of the enzymic transfer of aminoacyl-RNA to Escherichia coli ribosomes

Abstract Three fractions, F-IA, F-IB, and F-II, have been obtained from extracts of Es-cherichia coli W by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. The guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP)-dependent transfer of aminoacyl-RNA to ribosomes is catalyzed by either F-IA or F-IB, and polypeptide synthesis is catalyzed by either fraction in the presence of F-II. Fraction F-IB is more labile than F-IA. Both F-IA and F-IB interact with GTP to form guanine nucleotide-enzyme complexes that are retained by Millipore filters. In the presence of aminoacyl-RNA, F-IA and F-IB interact with GTP to form a complex that is not retained by a Millipore filter. Guanosine 5′-diphosphate (GDP) also interacts with F-IA or F-IB to form a complex; however, no subsequent interaction with aminoacyl-RNA is observed. Both the GTP-dependent enzymic transfer of aminoacyl-RNA to ribosomes and the interaction of enzyme with GTP are inhibited by GDP. The enzymic transfer of aminoacyl-RNA to ribosomes is stimulated by NH4+ and a sulfhydryl compound, and the interaction of the guanine nucleotide-enzyme complex with aminoacyl-RNA is also stimulated by NH4+. Deacylated sRNA, which inhibits nonenzymic binding, has no significant effect on the enzymic binding of aminoacyl-RNA to ribosomes. The guanine nucleotide-aminoacyl-RNA complex formed by the interaction of GTP, phenylalanyl-RNA, and either F-IA, F-IB, or a mixture of the two can be recovered by filtration through a Millipore filter and chromatography on Sephadex G-25. The active fractions from the Sephadex G-25 column contain close to stoichiometric amounts of phenylalanine and the guanine moiety and the -γ-phosphate moiety of the GTP. The amount of phenylalanine transferred to the ribosomes from the complex is 2-fold greater than the amount transferred from phenylalanyl-RNA alone and is equivalent to the amount transferred from phenylalanyl-RNA in the presence of enzyme and GTP. The guanine moiety of the complex is also transferred to the ribosomes, but no significant transfer of the γ-phosphate of the GTP present in the active fractions is observed.
Fistulation of The Hen’s Oviduct

Abstract Since the turn of the century the technique of experimental activation of the oviduct by simulated yolks has been known. Pearl and Curtis (1914) made use of this technique in the study of physiology of egg formation and evidence was presented by them that an effective stimulus for oviduct secretion is mechanical. The belief that an adaptation of this technique could be useful in studies of genetics and fertility led to the first fistulation of the hen's oviduct to the author's knowledge. Oviducts fistulated in this laboratory have proven functional in repeated “synthetic” production of eggs. SURGICAL PROCEDURE Mature females are anesthetized with Halatal * (0.05 ml. per 100 gms. body weight). The feathers are removed from the left dorsolateral thoracic region, extending ventrally to the tip of the ribs and the skin in this area is swabbed with 70 percent ethyl alcohol. A fold of skin is lifted over the …
Abstract 2256: PDEF regulation and role as a survival factor in ER positive breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL PDEF (Prostate Derived Ets Factor) is a member of the ‘Ets’ family. These transcription factors regulate a number of biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, invasion and are thought to play an important role in oncogenesis. PDEF is expressed exclusively in tissues with a high epithelial content, especially hormone-regulated epithelium, such as prostate, mammary gland, endometrium and ovary. Furthermore, several studies showed PDEF to be one of the most highly over expressed mRNA in human and mouse mammary tumors. PDEF is interestingly significantly co-expressed with ER in ER positive breast carcinomas, together with known ER cofactors such as FOXA1, XBP1 and GATA3. PDEF was previously characterized as an Androgen Receptor cooperating factor in prostate, however its potential function as an ER cofactor is not explored yet. We investigated the mechanism of this ER/PDEF co expression and the role of PDEF in breast cancer cells. Using siRNA downregulations, mRNA quantification, and Chromatin IP, we discovered that the mechanism of ER/PDEF co expression implies a critical role for GATA3 as a negative regulator of PDEF expression. Moreover PDEF and GATA3 expressions are inversely correlated in ER positive Breast Cancer and cell lines. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses showed that these two factors could be useful prognosis markers for patients. We performed growth curves, cell cycle (FACs) and apoptosis (Annexin V) analyses of MCF7 cells transfected with a PDEF targeting siRNAs. The growth curves revealed an impaired proliferation rate of PDEF downregulated cells. Quantification of apoptosis in various conditions (basal, stress induced) demonstrated that PDEF is an essential survival factor for breast cancer cells. The loss of PDEF expression indeed triggers an increased proportion of apoptotic cells, especially in stress conditions such as hormone depletion or tamoxifen / fulvestrant treatments. The findings presented in this poster are evidences that designate PDEF as a potential new cofactor of ER and as an interesting therapeutic target, since its down regulation makes breast cancer cells more prone to undergo apoptosis in stress conditions. 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 2256. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2256
The performance of global bond mutual funds

Abstract This paper studies the risk and return characteristics of global bond mutual funds during 1988–95. These actively managed funds did not demonstrate superior performance, net of expenses, against a wide range of benchmarks and performance was negatively related to fund expenses. During the sample period, returns on global bond funds were sensitive to exchange rate movements, even after controlling for local currency returns on country bond indices. The funds had high exposure to the European, the Canadian, and the US bond markets and were least sensitive to the Japanese Bond index and movements in Japanese Yen. The funds did not outperform a US Bond index, suggesting that expenses might have outweighed diversification benefits during the sample period.
DTT test: a new method to differentiate IgM and IgG erythrocyte antibodies.

Abstract. A new test to determine the immunoglobulin class of erythrocyte antibodies is presented. Dithiothreitol (DTT), at a concentration of 0.01 m, has been used in a rapid 15 min, 37°C incubation test system. Dialysis is not required. The accuracy of this new DTT test was compared to a standard 2-ME procedure. Human sera containing saline-acting and incomplete varieties of erythrocyte antibodies were tested. Identical results were obtained by both methods with 292 of 302 (96.7%) test sera. Anion-exchange chromatography was employed to produce erythrocyte antibody solutions of known immunoglobulin class. Incubation of these solutions with DTT decreased the immunologic reactivity of IgM erythrocyte antibodies, without affecting the activity of IgG varieties.
Speech in new generation of user interfaces

It is more than 60 years ago when US Department of Defense begun funding the first speech processing projects. First attempts to synthesize and detect voice existed already at that time. General perception was that the machines will soon learn to speak and understand humans. Now, here we are, 60 years later and there are relatively few applications on the market talking to us and willing to listen. What are the reasons for this "slow" progress? Is speech technology really as big of a thing in user interfaces as originally expected? What is going to happen in the future? Those are the topic which we want to discuss in this contribution.
Hierarchy and conflict in mutual being

Comment on SAHLINS, Marshall. 2013. What kinship is—and is not. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Thermal chemical vapor deposition of semiconductors for thin film transistor applications

Abstract Formation of the semiconducting layer is a crucial part of the fabrication of thin film transistors for flat panel display applications. Despite severe constraints on maximum process temperatures, control of grain size and surface roughness is essential in order to achieve good transistor characteristics. This paper reviews the various approaches which have been explored for deposition of the semiconducting thin films. I will show that the transistor characteristics are strongly influenced by nucleation processes in the bulk of the films and at the interfaces. Control of these nucleation processes will be best achieved by integrated processing where multiple layers are grown without exposure to contaminants.
Traumatic Stress, Socioeconomic Status, and Academic Achievement Among Primary School Students

Students from lower socioeconomic status (SES) families continue to underachieve within the educational setting; however, little research has examined how psychological trauma may be related to this problem. Using a sample of 5th-grade students from the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998–99 database, we used regression analyses to determine whether traumatic stress and SES influenced achievement. Results showed that low SES and traumatic stress predicted lower educational outcomes. This study has implications for counselors and educators because trauma is often overlooked or misunderstood in children.
Compressive creep strain measurements using moire interferometry

Uniaxial compressive creep loads were applied to quasi-isotropic composite laminates at room temperature. The x and y displacement fields were measured using moire interferometry. Moire fringe patterns were recorded photographically; these photographic records were subsequently digitized and reduced to in-plane strain levels numerically. Strain contours were plotted, providing a whole-field representation of in-plane strain distribution. Slight viscoelastic behavior was observed over the time period considered, except in one test in which time-dependent delamination failures were observed.
Blowing up monomial ideals

Abstract Let k be a field. Spivakovsky's theorem on the solution of Hironaka's polyhedral game has been extended by Bloch to show that a morphism f : Z→S of finite type k-schemes can be put in good position with respect to a normal crossing divisor ∂S on S by taking the proper transform with respect to an iterated blowing up of faces of ∂S. We extend these results to schemes of finite type over a regular scheme of dimension one, including the case of mixed characteristic.
Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer: definitions and the importance of multimodality therapy.

The exceedingly high rates of distant metastatic recurrence following successful surgical resection of early-stage tumors would suggest that pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a systemic disease at the time of diagnosis in the vast majority of patients, and therefore a compelling case can be made for a neoadjuvant treatment approach in almost all patients. Although the first national trial of neoadjuvant therapy for resectable pancreatic cancer (ACOSOG Z5041) only recently opened, single-institution experiences have supported this form of treatment sequencing for nearly two decades. However, outside of large referral centers with disease-specific investigators committed to clinical and translational research in pancreatic cancer, confusion remains over how to define, on preoperative imaging, what is resectable and what is not (so called locally advanced or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer). In an attempt to clarify the anatomy of resectable, borderline, and locally advanced disease, Varadhachary and colleagues from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center proposed, in this journal in 2006, an objectively defined, computed tomography (CT)-based classification which distinguished borderline resectable from both resectable and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. 1 The Varadhachary definitions considered venous abutment and encasement (without occlusion) to be resectable, in the absence of tumor extension to the celiac or superior mesenteric (SMA) arteries, as this operational definition was developed for the conduct of clinical trials of neoadjuvant treatment sequencing. There was no intent to use this definition outside of such clinical trials, and this definition of ‘‘resectable’’ was not intended to support a surgery-first strategy for patients who may require vascular resection and reconstruction. The Varadhachary definitions also assumed the technical capability to resect and reconstruct the superior mesenteric-portal vein (SMPV) confluence when necessary and that the major determinant of margin status (R status) was the tumor‐artery (celiac, hepatic, SMA) relationship (Table 1). Katz and colleagues in 2008 reported 160 patients with borderline resectable disease (using the Varadhachary definition) treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and introduced three types of borderline resectable disease, now often referred to as Katz type A, B, and C. 2 Type A patients were those with borderline resectable tumor anatomy as defined in the Varadhachary manuscript. Type B patients were borderline resectable because of a concern for possible extrapancreatic metastatic disease and included those with CT findings suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, metastatic disease as well as those with known local‐regional lymph node metastases. It may be reasonable in 2010 to add to this
Smart Math: Removing Roadblocks to College Success

Combining three developmental math courses into one course separated into 12 modules, Jackson State Community College's SMART Math provides multiexit options relative to students' education and career goals. Mastery of competencies and opportunity to progress more quickly (or slowly) is achieved by on-demand individualized assistance, use of study guides, and technology driven instruction.
Maternal intravenous administration of long chain n-3 polyunsaturates to the pregnant ewe in late gestation results in specific inhibition of prostaglandin h synthase (PGHS) 2, but not PGHS1 and oxytocin receptor mRNA in myometrium during betamethasone-induced labor.

OBJECTIVES Both the onset of labor and time to delivery during betamethasone-induced delivery are delayed by omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) administration to pregnant sheep. That fatty acid also inhibits the labor-related increase in maternal plasma estradiol and maternal and fetal prostaglandin E(2). To evaluate the mechanism of inhibition of prostaglandin production and delay of onset of labor and time of delivery in PUFA-treated sheep, we determined the effect of PUFA on myometrial prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) 1 and 2 and oxytocin receptor mRNA levels in betamethasone-induced labor. METHODS At 124 days' gestation, a 20% emulsion of either intralipid (IL, n = 6) or PUFA (n = 6) was infused continuously (3 mL/kg per day) intravenously (IV) to the ewe. At 125 days' gestation, betamethasone was administered IV (10 microg/h over 48 hours) to fetuses of both intralipid- and PUFA-treated ewes. Myometrium was collected at necropsy either during betamethasone-induced labor as evaluated by myometrial electromyography or within 5 days of the termination of betamethasone infusion, if delivery did not occur after fetal betamethasone infusion. Total myometrial RNA was analyzed by Northern blot for oxytocin receptor and PGHS1 and 2 mRNA normalized for 18s. RESULTS Treatment with PUFA decreased myometrial PGHS2 mRNA but did not alter myometrial PGHS1 and oxytocin receptor mRNA after betamethasone administration. CONCLUSIONS This finding provides a mechanism whereby PUFA delays betamethasone-induced delivery in sheep and suggests a potential role of PUFA as an effective tocolytic agent in human pregnancy.
Heightened transcription for enzymes involved in norepinephrine biosynthesis in the rat locus coeruleus by immobilization stress

Abstract Background: The locus coeruleus (LC), a target for CRH neurons, is critically involved in responses to stress. Various physiological stresses increase norepinephrine turnover, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) enzymatic activity, protein and mRNA levels in LC cell bodies and terminals; however, the effect of stress on other enzymes involved in norepinephrine biosynthesis in the LC is unknown. Methods: Rats were exposed to single (2 hour) or repeated (2 hour daily) immobilization stress (IMO). Recombinant rat dopamine b–hydroxylase (DBH) cDNA was expressed in E. coli and used to generate antisera for immunohistochemistry and immunoblots in LC. Northern blots were used to assess changes in mRNA levels for TH, DBH, and GTP cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) in the LC in response to the stress. Conditions were found to isolate nuclei from LC and to use them for run–on assays of transcription. Results: Repeated stress elevated the DBH immunoreactive protein levels in LC. Parallel increases in TH, DBH and GTPCH mRNA levels of about 300% to 400% over control levels were observed with single IMO, and remained at similar levels after repeated IMO. This effect was transcriptionally mediated, and even 30 min of a single IMO significantly increased the relative rate of transcription. Conclusions: This study is the first to reveal transcriptional activation of the genes encoding catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes in the LC by stress. In addition to TH, changes in DBH and GTPCH gene expression may also contribute to the development of stress–triggered affective disorders.
E‐book lending: the challenges facing interlibrary loan

Purpose – This paper aims to explore current trends in e‐book lending in US academic libraries and describes the Kindle pilot for interlibrary loan at Eastern Washington University. It also seeks to examine previous e‐reader pilots at the University of Nebraska‐Omaha, and the Douglas County Library e‐book purchasing program.Design/methodology/approach – The author surveys US libraries on e‐book lending practices and conducts a Kindle pilot program.Findings – E‐book licensing agreements need to be re‐evaluated and interlibrary loan staff should be included in those negotiations.Originality/value – This paper offers practical solutions for library e‐book lending.
X-ray observation of chemical and polymorphic equilibria under hydrostatic pressures

Abstract A pressure vessel has been designed for use with fluid pressures to 5000 bars and temperatures to 300°C in combination with X-ray diffraction examination in situ . A narrow X-ray beam is passed through the pressure fluid onto the sample contained within a beryllium cylinder, with pressure being developed by an ‘O’-ringed piston. Examination of various phases within the system CaSO 4 H 2 O has revealed the existence of at least one, possibly more new phases, most likely hydrous, that appear to be stable only in the presence of low pressures (to 500 bars). One of these phases can be indexed on the basis of a distorted anhydrite cell with a = 6.46 9 A , b = 6.81 5 A , and c = 7.14 8 A (Z = 4) . Gypsum in the presence of a 4 molal NaCl solution has been converted to the hemihydrate phase at 98±2°C under 100 bars pressure, but no such conversion was observed using distilled water. Investigation of the conditions of stability of AgI-IV with this vessel and with Van Valkenburg's high-pressure optical device has shown that (1) pure cubic (II') or fine grained mixtures of cubic and hexagonal (II) AgI cannot be completely converted to phase IV within the times allotted, (2) pure hexagonal AgI (II) can be quickly converted to phase IV without polygonization, and (3) the II–III phase boundary is essentially correct as originally determined by Bridgman in 1915.
Effects of calcium and magnesium ions and host viability on growth of bdellovibrios.

Bdellovibrio spp. strains 6-5-S, 100, 109 (Davis), and A3.12 multiply in the presence of viable but non-proliferating or heat-killed (70 or 100 C, 10 min; 121 C, 5 min) cells ofSpirillum serpens strain VHL suspended in buffers supplemented with Ca++ and/or Mg++. Ca++ (optimal, 2 × 10−3m) and Mg++ (optimal, 2 × 10−5m) independently stimulate the groth of bdellovibrios: additive effects are noted. Multiplication ofBdellovibrio in the presence of Ca++ and Mg++ is associated with the release into the culture supernatant solution of UV-absorbing materials and of amino sugars (presumably by activating or stabilizing lytic enzymes). The growth rate ofBdellovibrio strain 6-5-S in suspensions of heat-killed host cells is lower than in living but non-proliferating host cells. Bdellovibrio spp. strains 100, 109 (Davis), 109 (Jerusalem), A3.12, and 6-5-S all require added Ca++ for growth in cell suspensions of homologous or heterologous host bacteria which have been grown in minimal medium.Bdellovibrio sp. strain 109 (Jerusalem) is capable of growing in the presence of the low level of Ca++ boundin situ to the cells of its host,E. coli B, when the host cells had been cultivated in a complex medium but not when the host cells had been grown in a Ca++-depleted minimal medium (except when Ca++ is added). Addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (0.01m) preventsBdellovibrio growth, which is restored by addition of Ca++ and Mg++. The nonparasitic growth ofBdellovibrio spp. strains 100, 109, A3.12, and 6-5-S in heat-killed cell suspensions only in the presence of added cations indicates that, in this system, the cations are essential for activity of bacteriolytic and other enzymes and that they might also directly affectBdellovibrio growth rather than — as may be the case in other systems of live host cells plusBdellovibrio — only indirectly by affecting attachment to the host cell, maintaining integrity of the host spheroplasts, and increasing the burst size.
Transmit power minimization under secrecy capacity constraint in cooperative wireless communications

We consider a cooperative wireless network, and exploit node cooperation for achieving physical layer based security. The case of one source, multiple cooperating nodes and one eavesdropper is considered. Two different cooperation schemes are considered. In the first scheme, cooperating nodes transmit a weighted version of the source signal in a decode and forward fashion (DF). In the second scheme, while the source is transmitting, cooperating nodes transmit weighted noise to confound the eavesdropper (cooperative jamming (CJ)). The objective is to select the node weights and the source transmit power so that the total transmit power (source transmission power plus cooperating nodes power) under a secrecy capacity constraint is minimized. Previous works related to this problem introduced additional constraints in order to reduce the degree of difficulty, thus resulting in suboptimal solutions. In this paper, the optimal solution is considered. In particular, the closed form solution is obtained for the DF scheme, while for the CJ scheme, the problem is reduced to a univariate optimization one. For the latter problem a convergent algorithm for obtaining the solution is provided.
Design of technology-based information-referenced grouping systems for use in large urban schools

There are many subtle but extremely important differences between grouping students and tracking students for purposes of designing appropriate instructional interventions. Unfortunately, in many inner-city urban settings, the policy of grouping students eventually becomes a policy ofde facto tracking of students. While grouping students seems to be an educationally justifiable policy in many school situations, tracking students raises serious concerns with regard to its educational value, social desirability, and complicity with the legal notions of due process and equal protection. This study examines the use of a specific form ofshort-term grouping of students that is based on an information-referenced criterion for selection. Using a large sample of ninth- and eleventh-grade students, an information-referenced grouping procedure was designed for the areas of language arts and mathematics. The study finds that grouping selections, using an information-referenced criterion, are strongly associated with teachers perceptions of these students' actual educational and information needs. In addition, the information-referenced grouping design provides important specific educational feedback to both students and teachers to help low-attaining students move to mainstream classes. Finally, many of the “due process” concerns raised by educational researchers with regard to abuses and shortcomings of presently used “ability” or standardized test-driven grouping efforts are addressed.
Testing of materials for solar power space applications

Abstract This paper summarizes the results of a program initiated at the Naval Research Laboratory to test conventional and state-of-the-art solar power space systems by flying them aboard satellites. The program (approximately nine years in duration) confirmed the practicality of improvements in advanced silicon solar cells such as textured surfaces, shallow junctions, back surface field and back surface reflector techniques, as well as novel methods of bonding coverslips to conventional cells. In addition, the performance of gallium aluminum arsenide solar cells first tested in a space environment and demonstrated to be satisfactory. Finally, advanced silicon cells such as lithium-diffused and vertical junction cells, which were reported to be radiation resistant on the basis of measurements in the laboratory, were found unsuitable for extended space application.
Should There Be an Expanded Role for Kidney Biopsy in the Management of Patients With Type I Diabetes

Diabetic nephropathy is the single most important cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States. Further, the increased risk of mortality from type I diabetes is almost entirely confined to patients developing clinical diabetic nephropathy. Nonetheless, kidney biopsy has had little role in the clinical assessment of diabetic patients or in the design of clinical research in diabetic nephropathy. The development of dipstick-positive proteinuria in patients with type I diabetes of more than 10 years' duration is regularly associated with advanced structural changes of diabetic nephropathology; in these patients, clinical parameters, especially the rate of decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), are accurate monitors of disease progression. Microalbuminuria indicates a very high risk of overt proteinuria and thus ESRD. This increased risk is associated with levels of urinary albumin excretion (UAE; greater than 30 micrograms/min [45 mg/24 h]), which are frequently accompanied by hypertension and reduced or decreasing GFR. At this stage, lesions of diabetic nephropathy are usually already well established. Thus, microalbuminuria is more a marker of early nephropathy than a predictor of later renal injury. Before these clinical stages of nephropathy, there are no accurate predictors of renal risk. Renal biopsy may serve this role by indicating those patients who are developing significant lesions during the "silent" phase of the disease. In large measure, this value of the biopsy derives from evidence that the lesions tend to develop linearly over time and can be measured by techniques that are relatively easily established in standard surgical pathology environments. Renal biopsies can serve to assure the majority of diabetic patients that they are developing serious lesions slowly, if at all.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Inhibin Increases and Progesterone Decreases Receptors for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in Ovine Pituitary Culture*

Treatments (48 h) with highly purified bovine or porcine inhibins (10 ng/ml) induced ovine pituitary cells to increase their binding for des-Glyl0-[D-Ala6]LHRH-ethylamide by 3.6- and 5-fold, respectively. Studies with less pure inhibin from porcine follicles showed that increased binding could reach 7-fold within 48 h and was due to higher numbers of receptors for GnRH. The 48-h increase in GnRH receptors was linear with time and was rapidly reversible, since removal of inhibin at 24 h decreased GnRH binding below control levels at 48 h. Inhibin (bovine or porcine) also increased GnRH-stimulated secretion of LH by 2-fold. The ED50 for both inhibin actions noted above was in the range of 0.5–2.0 ng/ml (in terms of highly purified bovine inhibin). Progesterone (P) totally counteracted inhibin induction of GnRH binding and GnRH-stimulated LH secretion at 48 h. In the absence of inhibin, P decreased GnRH binding below control levels by as much as 80% within 48 h, but did not affect GnRH-stimulated LH secretio...
Acute hypertonicity alters aquaporin-2 trafficking and induces a MAPK-dependent accumulation at the plasma membrane of renal epithelial cells.

The unique phenotype of renal medullary cells allows them to survive and functionally adapt to changes of interstitial osmolality/tonicity. We investigated the effects of acute hypertonic challenge on AQP2 (aquaporin-2) water channel trafficking. In the absence of vasopressin, hypertonicity alone induced rapid (
STRUCTURAL REMODELING OF PROTEOGLYCANS UPON RETINOIC ACID-INDUCED DIFFERENTIATION OF NCCIT CELLS*

Pluripotent and multipotent cells become increasingly lineage restricted through differentiation. Alterations to the cellular proteoglycan composition and structure should accompany these changes to influence cell proliferation, delineation of tissues and acquisition of cell migration capabilities. Retinoic acid plays an important role in pre-patterning of the early embryo. Retinoic acid can be used in vitro to induce differentiation, causing pluripotent and multipotent cells to become increasingly lineage restricted. We examined retinoic acid-induced changes in the cellular proteoglycan composition of the well-characterized teratocarcinoma line NCCIT. Our analysis revealed changes in the abundance of transcripts for genes encoding core proteins, enzymes that are responsible for early and late linkage region biosynthesis, as well as enzymes for GAG chain extension and modification. Transcript levels for genes encoding core proteins used as backbones for polysaccharide synthesis revealed highly significant increases in expression of lumican and decorin, 1,500-fold and 2,800-fold, respectively. Similarly, glypican 3, glypican 5, versican and glypican 6 showed increases between 5 and 70-fold. Significant decreases in biglycan, serglycin, glypican 4, aggrecan, neurocan, CD74 and glypican 1 were observed. Disaccharide analysis of the glycans in heparin/heparan sulfate and chondroitin/dermatan sulfate revealed retinoic acid-induced changes restricted to chondroitin/dermatan sulfate glycans. Our study provides the first detailed analysis of changes in the glycosaminoglycan profile of human pluripotent cells upon treatment with the retinoic acid morphogen.
Salvage of a Failed Agility Total Ankle Replacement System Associated with Acute Traumatic Periprosthetic Midfoot Fractures

This article presents a rare case involving combined revision of a failed Agility Total Ankle Replacement System (DePuy Orthopaedics, Warsaw, Indiana) and open reduction with internal fixation of periprosthetic midfoot fractures secondary to acute traumatic injury. The rationale for these procedures, the operative sequence of events, and recovery course are presented in detail. Causes for concern regarding subsequent revision, should this be required, are raised.
Hepatic neovascularization after partial portal vein ligation: novel mechanism of chronic regulation of blood flow

The present study was undertaken to investigate hepatic microcirculatory response following partial portal vein ligation (PPVL) in rats. Portal pressure was markedly increased 2–6 wk after PPVL, bu...
CASE STUDY: Searching for the Ultimate Cow: The Economic Value of Residual Feed Intake at Bull Sales

Cow-calf producers seek to reduce costs and increase profits by selecting bulls that produce more efficient offspring. Organizers of formal bull auctions usually produce catalogs for potential buyers that advertise bull performance measures
Paper pump for passive and programmable transport

In microfluidic systems, a pump for fluid-driving is often necessary. To keep the size of microfluidic systems small, a pump that is small in size, light-weight and needs no external power source is advantageous. In this work, we present a passive, simple, ultra-low-cost, and easily controlled pumping method based on capillary action of paper that pumps fluid through conventional polymer-based microfluidic channels with steady flow rate. By using inexpensive cutting tools, paper can be shaped and placed at the outlet port of a conventional microfluidic channel, providing a wide range of pumping rates. A theoretical model was developed to describe the pumping mechanism and aid in the design of paper pumps. As we show, paper pumps can provide steady flow rates from 0.3 μl/s to 1.7 μl/s and can be cascaded to achieve programmable flow-rate tuning during the pumping process. We also successfully demonstrate transport of the most common biofluids (urine, serum, and blood). With these capabilities, the paper pump has the potential to become a powerful fluid-driving approach that will benefit the fielding of microfluidic systems for point-of-care applications.
Optimal replacement in the proportional hazards model and its applications in a product-service system

Condition-based maintenance is rapidly gaining favor as a way to prevent the failures of capital-intensive assets and to maintain them in good operating condition with minimum cost. A valuable and increasingly prevalent way to incorporate condition information into risk estimation is by the proportional hazards model (PHM), which explicitly includes both the age and the condition information in the calculation of the hazard function. This dissertation consists of three papers, in which the optimal replacement policies for systems whose deterioration process follows the PHM are developed under different settings; and a joint optimization of the asset and inventory management problem in the context of a productservice system is considered. In the first paper, a continuous time Markov covariate process is assumed to describe the condition of a system that is under periodic monitoring. Although the form of an optimal replacement policy for such a system in the PHM was developed previously, an approximation of the Markov process as constant within inspection intervals led to a counterintuitive result that less frequent monitoring could yield a replacement policy with lower average cost. Accounting for possible state transitions between inspection epochs removes the approximation and eliminates the cost anomaly. A new recursive procedure to obtain the parameters of the optimal replacement policy is presented. By comparing the replacement and monitoring costs of different monitoring scheme, the value of condition information is evaluated. In the second paper, the optimal replacement policy for systems in the PHM with semiMarkovian covariate process and continuous monitoring is developed. Numerical examples and sensitivity analysis provide some insights about the suitability of a Markov approximation and the impact of the variations in the input parameters on the cost. In applying the optimal replacement policies to a product-service system, where the producers provide the use of the products to customers while retaining ownership, the coupling between the decision making for preventive replacement and the decision making x for inventory management is evident. In the third paper, an integrated model is proposed for the preventive maintenance of a fleet of products and the inventory management of a hybrid manufacturing-remanufacturing system in the context of a product-service system. A joint optimization technique is developed to obtain the optimal parameters for the operational policy of the integrated model to minimize the long run average cost per unit time. In addition, the effect of the assumption that the replaced products are not sorted is evaluated.
Predicting Clicks in a Vocabulary Learning System

We consider the problem of predicting which words a student will click in a vocabulary learning system. Often a language learner will find value in the ability to look up the meaning of an unknown word while reading an electronic document by clicking the word. Highlighting words likely to be unknown to a reader is attractive due to drawing his or her attention to it and indicating that information is available. However, this option is usually done manually in vocabulary systems and online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia. Furthurmore, it is never on a per-user basis. This paper presents an automated way of highlighting words likely to be unknown to the specific user. We present related work in search engine ranking, a description of the study used to collect click data, the experiment we performed using the random forest machine learning algorithm and finish with a discussion of future work.
Objective self-awareness and individuation: an empirical link.

An experiment was conducted to determine whether the phenomenal experiences associated with the states of objective and subjective self-awareness are those which typically are associated with the states of individuation and deindividuation. In order to test this hypothesis, 20 male and 20 female matched pairs of subjects completed 15 self-descriptive statements on a Who Am I questionnaire under conditions of experimentally manipulated self-awareness (high vs. low). The obtained responses were then coded on 21 dimensions of self-conception, including several suggested by Gordon (1968). Converging result from a number of different measures indicated that increased objective self-awareness led to a more individuated conception of self. More specifically, objective self-awareness appeared to increase responding on dimensions which reflect individuation but to decrease responding on dimensions which reflect deindividuation suggested that this effect held strongly for low self-monitoring subjects. The self-descriptions of high self-monitoring subjects, however, appeared to be relatively unaffected by situationally induced self-awareness.
Urban cell partitioning for improved statistical propagation modeling

Urban environments present significant challenges to wireless system designers since radiated signals reflect off of buildings, cars, and other objects consisting of diverse materials and having very complex surfaces. Out of necessity, details of this environment are obscured so that a reasonably compact representation may be used to design and evaluate new systems. The continuum of models ranges from statistical models, which take into account only broad classifications of the propagation environment (dense urban, suburban, etc.), to ray-tracing methods, which require detailed knowledge of objects between transmitter and receiver. Taking the standard deviation of the prediction error as a measure of the model accuracy, one would expect the accuracy to improve as more information on the environment is folded into the model. In this paper, we discuss a modification to the traditional statistical models that significantly improves the estimation error with a minimal increase in complexity. Results are presented for measurements taken from the control channel of an active cellular base station transmitting at 880 MHz.
Optical Pulsars and Black Arrows: Discoveries as Occasioned Productions

The current article represents a methodological proposal. It seeks to address the question of how one might recognize a discovery as a discovery without knowing in advance what is available to be discovered. We propose a solution and demonstrate it using data from a study previously reported by J. Roschelle (1992). Roschelle investigated 2 students' developing understandings of certain abstract features of Newtonian mechanics while working within a computer-based microworld, the Envisioning Machine. We employ an approach we term discovery as occasioned production to reexamine his data. Such an approach proceeds stepwise from the identification of some matter discovered, working backward to see just where that matter entered the conversation and then, finally, tracing from that point forward to illuminate how the proposal for a possible discovery was ultimately transformed into a discovery achieved. The notion of “evident vagueness,” borrowed from H. Garfinkel, M. Lynch, and D. Livingston's (1981) account ...