cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interleukin-21: a modulator of lymphoid proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation

The interleukin-21 (IL-21)-IL-21-receptor system was discovered in 2000. It was immediately of great interest because of the homology of IL-21 to IL-2, IL-4 and IL-15, and of the IL-21-receptor subunit IL-21R to the beta-subunit of the IL-2 receptor, and because the IL-21 receptor also contains the common cytokine-receptor gamma-chain, the protein that is mutated in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. As we discuss, IL-21 has pleiotropic actions, from augmenting the proliferation of T cells and driving the differentiation of B cells into memory cells and terminally differentiated plasma cells to augmenting the activity of natural killer cells. Moreover, it has antitumour activity and might have a role in the development of autoimmunity, so these findings have implications for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Radiation Effects in SiGe Technology

Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) technology effectively merges the desirable attributes of conventional silicon-based CMOS manufacturing (high integration levels, at high yield and low cost) with the extreme levels of transistor performance attainable in classical III-V heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). SiGe technology joins together on-die high-speed bandgap-engineered SiGe HBTs with conventional Si CMOS to form SiGe BiCMOS technology, including all the requisite RF passive elements and multi-level thick-Al metalization required for high-speed circuit design. Such an silicon-based integrated circuit technology platform presents designers with an ideal division of labor for realizing optimal solutions to many performance-constrained mixed-signal (analog + digital + RF) systems. The unique bandgap-engineered features of SiGe HBTs enable several key merits with respect to operation across a wide variety of so-called “extreme environments”, potentially with little or no process modification, ultimately providing compelling advantages at the circuit and system level, across a wide class of envisioned commercial and defense applications. Here we give an overview of this interesting field, focusing primarily on the intersection of SiGe HBTs, and circuits built from them, with radiation-intense environments such as space.
Do Finger Amputations Reduce Performance when Reaching and Operating Control Devices?: An Experimental Investigation

This paper reports results of a study to determine if finger amputations (most pervasive upper extremity injury in the U.S.) result in significant work performance deterioration. An experiment was designed with and without simulated finger amputations (as the two conditions). Experimental variables included 5 types of control devices, vertical height of control location, angle of control location in the vertical plane, and subjects' torso being restrained or unrestrained. Different anthropometric measurements were recorded with and without the simulated disability. If a subject was able to reach the control, the time taken to activate the control was recorded. An ANOVA indicated that subjects took significantly longer (p > 0.001), as much as 14 % longer, to activate controls in the presence of the simulated disability. The restraint did not significantly alter performance provided the subject was able to reach the control. The type of control and the height of the location of the control significantly aff...
Trends in place preference conditioning with a cross-indexed bibliography; 1957-1991

The purpose of this work is to present a perspective of the conditioned place preference (CPP) test by offering an overview of the empirical research from 1957-1991. The intent is not to extensively analyze the controversies inherent to any behavioral technique but rather to present a survey of research using a descriptive statistics approach to explore topical issues. The objectives of this work are three-fold: (a) to provide an exhaustive bibliography of the CPP literature including articles, journal abstracts, book chapters and critical reviews; (b) to provide a cross-index of identified key words/drugs tested; and (c) to give an overview of selected procedural issues underlying CPP testing.
Delaying forelimb responses by microstimulation of macaque V1

Electrical microstimulation of macaque V1 has previously been shown to delay saccadic eye movements made to a punctate visual target placed in the receptive field of the stimulated neurons. It remains unclear whether this delay effect is specific to the oculomotor system or whether the effect can be demonstrated in the skeletomotor system as well. To address this question, a rhesus monkey was trained to depress a left or right lever with its respective hand in response to a visual target presented in the left or right hemifield. On 50% of trials, a 100 ms train of stimulation consisting of 100 μA, 0.2-ms anode-first pulses was delivered to the neurons before the onset of the visual target. Stimulation of V1 delayed the execution of the lever response when the visual target was positioned within the receptive field of the stimulated neurons. We suggest that the delay effect induced by microstimulation of V1 is largely due to a disruption of the visual signal as it is transmitted along the geniculostriate pathway.
Syntheses and Structures of Alkyl and Aryl Halide Complexes of the Type [(PiPr3)2PtH(η1-XR)]BArf and Analogues with Et2O, THF, and H2 Ligands. Halide-to-Metal π Bonding in Halocarbon Complexes

The reaction of Pt(PiPr3)3 with SO2 led to the formation of (PiPr3)2Pt(SO2) (1), isolated in 93% yield. The addition of [H(OEt2)2]+BArf (BArf = B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4) to 1 in ether at −78 °C afforded the solvent complex trans-[(PiPr3)2Pt(H)(OEt2)]BArf (2) in 85% isolated yield. Complex 2 served as a precursor to monodentate halocarbon complexes of the type Pt(η1-XR). The dichloromethane complex trans-[(PiPr3)2Pt(H)(η1-ClCH2Cl)]BArf (3) was isolated in 80% yield by the recrystallization of 2 from CH2Cl2/hexane. IR spectroscopy suggested the existence of dichloromethane binding which was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The reaction of 2 or 3 with iodo- or bromobenzene led to the isolation of the haloarene complexes trans-[(PiPr3)2Pt(H)(η1-XPh)]BArf, where X = I (4, 87% yield) or Br (5, 60% yield). Both compounds were characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray crystallography. An unexpected steric interaction in 4, suggested by molecular mechanics calculations to be significant, was rationalized in terms ...
ANISOTROPIC MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF LIGHT RARE-EARTH DIANTIMONIDES

Results are presented of anisotropic temperature and field-dependent magnetization $M(H,T)$ and resistivity $\ensuremath{\rho}(H,T)$ measurements on high quality single crystals of the light rare-earth diantimonides $R{\mathrm{Sb}}_{2},$ $R=\mathrm{L}\mathrm{a}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{d},$ Sm. All of these, excepting ${\mathrm{LaSb}}_{2},$ magnetically order at low temperatures, and for ${\mathrm{CeSb}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{NdSb}}_{2}$ several magnetically ordered phases were observed in low-field magnetization and zero-field resistivity measurements. For $R=\mathrm{C}\mathrm{e}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{S}\mathrm{m}$ strong anisotropies, associated with crystalline electric field (CEF) splitting of the ${R}^{3+}$ ion, were found in $M(T)$ measurements both below and above magnetic ordering temperatures. Furthermore, for $R=\mathrm{C}\mathrm{e}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{N}\mathrm{d}$ metamagnetic transitions were observed in $M(H)$ and $\ensuremath{\rho}(H)$ for $H\ensuremath{\parallel}(\mathrm{ab})$ in the magnetically ordered state. In addition, above 15 kG de Haas--van Alphen oscillations are observed for ${\mathrm{SmSb}}_{2}$ and Shubnikov--de Haas quantum oscillations are observed above $\ensuremath{\sim}120\mathrm{kG}$ for ${\mathrm{NdSb}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{SmSb}}_{2}.$ The zero-field in-plane resistivity ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{\mathrm{ab}}$ of all of the compounds is metallic $(d\ensuremath{\rho}/dTg0),$ with residual resistance ratios ranging from 40 to 750. The $c$-axis resistivity is also metallic, but appears to be considerably larger than the in-plane value, consistent with the diantimonides being quasi-two-dimensional materials. The magnetoresistance of all members of the series is large, approximately linear in $H$ at moderate fields, and is also dependent on the relative orientation of the applied magnetic fields to the crystallographic axes. The extreme case of ${\mathrm{SmSb}}_{2}$ has $[\ensuremath{\rho}(55\mathrm{kG})$$\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\rho}(0)]/\ensuremath{\rho}(0)g50000%$ at $T=2\mathrm{K}$ and $H\ensuremath{\parallel}c.$
Effect of chitosan, benzalkonium chloride and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on permeation of acyclovir across isolated rabbit cornea

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of chitosan, benzalkonium chloride (BAK) and disodium ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), alone and in combination, on permeation of acyclovir (ACV) across excised rabbit cornea. Corneas of male New Zealand White rabbits were used in these studies. Transcorneal permeation studies were conducted at 34 degrees C using a side-bi-side diffusion apparatus. In the presence of 0.01% BAK, transcorneal permeability of ACV was observed to increase almost 10.5-fold, from 3.5x10(-6) to 37.4x10(-6)cm/s. At 0.005% BAK, permeability of ACV was almost 3-fold higher than control. Combination of BAK 0.005% and EDTA 0.01% increased transcorneal penetration of ACV by 2.5-fold. Chitosan 0.2 and 0.1% increased corneal permeability of ACV by 5.8- and 3.1-fold, respectively, whereas, at 0.02%, chitosan did not exhibit a statistically significant effect. BAK at 0.005%, in combination with 0.01% EDTA and 0.1% chitosan, increased transcorneal ACV permeation by 5.5-fold. This study suggests that a judicious combination of chitosan, BAK and EDTA can lead to a significant increase in ACV's transcorneal permeability and that chitosan can enhance diffusion of hydrophilic agents across the corneal membrane. Further in vivo evaluation is warranted.
Guaranteed Cost H∞ Control of Linear Stochastic Markovian Switching Systems

Abstract A problem of H∞-disturbance attenuation for uncertain discrete-time stochastic processes under Markovian switching and random diffusion (noise) subject to norm bounded parameter uncertainties is considered. The jump Markovian switching is modeled by a discrete-time Markov chain. The control input is applied to the rate vector and the state dependent diffusion term is modeled by a normal sequence of identically independently distributed random variables. The objective is to design a switched state feedback control law that guarantees the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system with disturbance attenuation level γ. The control law is found as a solution of a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMI's).
The influence of antismoking television advertisements on cessation by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and mental health status.

Disparities in tobacco use and smoking cessation by race/ethnicity, education, income, and mental health status remain despite recent successes in reducing tobacco use. It is unclear to what extent media campaigns promote cessation within these population groups. This study aims to (1) assess whether exposure to antitobacco advertising is associated with making a quit attempt within a number of population subgroups, and (2) determine whether advertisement type differentialy affects cessation behavior across subgroups. We used data from the New York Adult Tobacco Survey (NY-ATS), a cross-sectional, random-digit-dial telephone survey of adults aged 18 or older in New York State conducted quarterly from 2003 through 2011 (N = 53,706). The sample for this study consists of 9,408 current smokers from the total NY-ATS sample. Regression methods were used to examine the effect of New York State’s antismoking advertising, overall and by advertisement type (graphic and/or emotional), on making a quit attempt in the past 12 months. Exposure to antismoking advertising was measured in two ways: gross rating points (a measure of potential exposure) and self-reported confirmed recall of advertisements. This study yields three important findings. First, antismoking advertising promotes quit attempts among racial/ethnic minority smokers and smokers of lower education and income. Second, advertising effectiveness is attributable in part to advertisements with strong graphic imagery or negative emotion. Third, smokers with poor mental health do not appear to benefit from exposure to antismoking advertising of any type. This study contributes to the evidence about how cessation media campaigns can be used most effectively to increase quit attempts within vulnerable subgroups. In particular, it suggests that a general campaign can promote cessation among a range of sociodemographic groups. More research is needed to understand what message strategies might work for those with poor mental health.
Identification and localization of food-source microbial nucleic acids inside soil nematodes

Microorganisms (e.g., prokaryotes, fungi) are food sources for soil nematodes, but they can also be potential mutualists or pathogens. Understanding the linkages between microorganism and invertebrate diversity in soils requires the ability to distinguish between these microbial roles. We tested the potential of a taxon-specific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) procedure for identifying and localizing microbial rRNA within the bodies of soil nematodes. Our objective was to determine whether the rate of digestion permitted detection and identification of food-source nucleic acids within the nematode digestive system (i.e., pharynges, intestines) before their breakdown. First, using laboratory cultures of Caenorhabditis elegans maintained on Escherichia coli, we were able to localize bacterial rRNA throughout the nematode pharynx with the universal bacterial-probe EUB338, although never in the intestines. Second, we applied the fungal rRNA probe FR1 to Aphelenchus avenae cultured on the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. We were unable to detect fungal rRNA within these nematodes, and it appears that this material may be digested rapidly. Next, we applied our technique to nematodes extracted directly from soils. We were able to localize bacterial rRNA within the pharynges of bacterial-feeding species of nematodes from desert soils. We also localized archaeal rRNA using the probe ARC344. Finally, application of EUB338 to desert soil nematodes revealed the presence of bacteria in the intestines of some nematodes and within the ovary of a single nematode. This technique has great potential for use in understanding the feeding behavior of bacterial-feeding soil nematodes and in studies of nematode:bacterial relationships.
Structural Study of Ciliary Transition Zone with Multicolor 3D Storm

Transition zone (TZ) proteins function as modular components of a ciliary gate. The architecture of TZ is still largely undefined. Structural study of proteins with high copy numbers in small structures (50-500 nm) brings challenges to both of the two existing multicolor STORM approaches: the dense spontaneous activation from the reporters introduces an overwhelming cross-talk when using the dye pair approach, while their relatively deep positions hinder precise two-channel alignment when using reporter fluorophores in different color channels. To conquer these challenges, we stained TZ proteins with the brightest far red dyes such as Cy5.5, Alexa Fluor 680 and 647, and then measured the fluorescence emission intensity in two distinct spectral channels. Accurate fluorophore identification was achieved by calculating the ratio of emission intensity in long wavelength channel to that in short wavelength channel. To eliminate the error due to any misalignment of the two channels, we only used the signals in the long wavelength channel for image reconstruction. However, alignment of the two channels is still required by the emission intensity ratio measurement. We developed a self-referenced two channel alignment method using the STORM data themselves. With the red dye multicolor 3D STORM, we visualized the architecture of ciliary TZ consisting of IFT88, Tmem231, Nphp1, Rpgrip1L, B9d1 etc. Rotational offsets between these proteins were clearly resolved by a localization precision of 15 nm. Super resolution multicolor imaging of TZ opens a door to structure-function studies on ciliary gating and intraflagellar transporting mechanisms.
S$_3$ flavor symmetry for neutrino masses and mixing

We show how a maximal mixing between two lepton generations can be generated using, as a flavor symmetry, the discrete group S 3 . A complementarity relation is derived between the quark and lepton 2 – 3 mixing angles.
Anatomic Characteristics of Aortic Transection: Centerline Analysis to Facilitate Graft Selection

Background Traumatic transection of the thoracic aorta is a life-threatening complication that most commonly occurs after high-speed motor vehicle collisions. Although such injuries were previously treated with open surgical reconstruction, they are now more commonly being treated with endovascularly placed stent grafts. Unfortunately, most stent grafts are designed for treating aortic aneurysmal disease instead of traumatic injury. Further refinements in stent graft technology depend on a thorough anatomic understanding of the transection injury process. Methods All patients with computed tomography (CT) evidence of blunt aortic injury (BAI) between 2006 and 2012 at a Level 1 trauma center were queried. Their initial CT scans were imported into the Intuition (Terarecon, Inc.) viewing program, and off-line centerline reconstruction was performed. Standard demographic data were collected in addition to anatomic characteristics, including aortic diameters and the relationship of the injury to the arch vessels. Results Thirty-five patients were identified. Three patients were injured proximal to the left subclavian artery. The average length from the left subclavian artery to the proximal site of injury was 16.2 mm (range 2–31 mm). Most patients had >15 mm of landing zone beyond the left subclavian artery. The range of proximal diameters ranged from 17 to 32 mm, with an average aortic diameter of 23.9 mm. The average length of injured aortic segment was 27 mm. Conclusions In this contemporary series from a large trauma center, 91% of patients are anatomically able to be treated with a stent graft that does not require coverage of the left common carotid artery. Most patients have an aortic diameter that falls between 21 and 26 mm in diameter, as well as a short segment of injured artery. Centers interested in emergently treating aortic transections are able to do so while maintaining a limited stock of stent grafts that can be used to treat the majority of the population.
Impaired bile acid handling and aggravated liver injury in mice expressing a hepatocyte-specific RXRα variant lacking the DNA-binding domain

Background & Aims Retinoid X Receptor α (RXRα) is the principal heterodimerization partner of class II Nuclear Receptors (NRs), and a major regulator of gene expression of numerous hepatic processes, including bile acid (BA) homeostasis through multiple partners. Specific contributions of hepatic RXRα domains in heterodimer function in response to either BA load or ductular cholestasis are not fully characterized. Methods Wild-type (WT) mice and mice expressing a hepatocyte-specific RXRα lacking the DNA-Binding-Domain (hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− ), which retains partial ability to heterodimerize with its partners, were fed a 1% cholic acid (CA) diet for 5days, a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) diet for 3weeks, or control diet. Results Serum ALT (6.5-fold; p p =0.06) and BA (2.8-fold; p Rxα Δex4 −/− mice compared to CA-fed WT mice, but were equally induced between genotypes by DDC-feeding. CA-feeding elevated total (4.4-fold; p =0.06) and unconjugated (2.2-fold; p Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice compared to WT mice, but not in DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice. Increased necrosis and inflammation was observed in CA-fed, but not in DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice. Apoptotic markers DR5 , CK8 , CK18 RNA were increased in CA- and DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice. Cleaved caspase 3, CK18 and p-JNK protein were elevated in CA-fed but not in DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice. Induction of Ostβ and Cyp2b10 RNA was impaired in CA-fed and DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice. Surprisingly, DDC-fed hs- Rxrα Δex4 −/− mice showed attenuated fibrosis compared to DDC-fed WT mice. Conclusions These two models of cholestasis identify common and injury-specific roles for RXRα heterodimers and the functional relevance of an intact RXRα-DBD in the hepatocytic adaptive cholestatic response.
Adequate Yearly Progress of Students with Disabilities: Competencies for Teachers

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA '04) raise the achievement expectations of all students, including students with disabilities. These requirements place new responsibilities on institutions of higher education and state educational agencies to ensure that teachers are knowledgeable about state academic content and achievement standards and expectations. This paper puts forth competencies for teachers in this new era of standards-based education that were developed by the Educational Policy Reform Research Institute (EPRRI), in collaboration with the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), and validated by participants at a national symposium on teacher quality. The paper also compares these competencies with Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) model standards and the state standards for beginning teachers of one state to see whether current standards contain th...
A Continuum of Progress: Applications of N-Hetereocyclic Carbene Catalysis in Total Synthesis

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed transformations have emerged as powerful tactics for the construction of complex molecules. Since Stetter’s report in 1975 of the total synthesis of cis-jasmon and dihydrojasmon by using carbene catalysis, the use of NHCs in total synthesis has grown rapidly, particularly over the last decade. This renaissance is undoubtedly due to the recent developments in NHC-catalyzed reactions, including new benzoin, Stetter, homoenolate, and aroylation processes. These transformations employ typical as well as Umpolung types of bond disconnections and have served as the key step in several new total syntheses. This Minireview highlights these reports and captures the excitement and emerging synthetic utility of carbene catalysis in total synthesis.
Perceptual optimization of DCT color quantization matrices

The JPEG baseline standard for image compression employs a block discrete cosine transform (DCT) and uniform quantization. For a monochrome image, a single quantization matrix is allowed, while for a color image, distinct matrices are allowed for each color channel. We describe a method, called DCTune, for the design of color quantization matrices that is based on a model of the visibility of quantization artifacts. The model describes the artifact visibility as a function of DCT frequency, color channel, and display resolution and brightness. The model also describes the summation of artifacts over space and frequency, and masking of artifacts by the image itself. The DCTune matrices are different from the de facto JPEG matrices, and appear to provide superior visual quality at equal bit-rates. >
Transaction processing applications as organizational message systems: implications for the intelligent organization

An analysis is made of three types of transaction-processing systems which support customer feedback in terms of four message system processes, namely: routing, summarizing, delay, and modification. The ability of transaction-processing systems to facilitate intelligent decision-making is seen as a function of the extent to which an organization is able to structure the incoming transactions. The amount of structure then determines the extent to which information technology can increase the efficiency of message processing and minimize the amount of individual discretion which can result in message delay and distortion. >
Fertiliser and irrigation best management practices (BMPs) for optimal citrus production and water quality in sandy entisols of Florida

In order to increase efficient use of applied fertiliser by citrus, economically feasible best irrigation and fertiliser management practices (BMPs) are necessary. A six year field study was conducted on a well-drained Tavares fine sand in Highlands county, Florida, USA, to evaluate the effects of N source, placement, and rate (112 to 280 kg ha−1yr−1) with optimum irrigation management on (i) the fruit yield, quality and leaf nutrient contents of bearing mature (25 + year old) ‘Hamlin’ orange trees on Cleopatra mandarin rootstock and (ii) changes in NO3-N status in soil solution collected from vadose zone below the rootzone and in surficial groundwater. Results of this study indicated that optimum fruit yield could be obtained at about 250 kg N ha−1, which supported optimum range of spring flush N concentration. Leaching of NO3-N accounted for only 22 to 34 kg ha−1yr−1 and the NO3-N concentration in soil solution in the vadose zone and in surficial groundwater remained below 10 mg L−1 under optimal irrigation and N management conditions used in this study.
A comparison of the nutritional status and food security of drug‐using and non‐drug‐using Hispanic women in Hartford, Connecticut

This study compared food insecurity, nutritional status (as measured through anthropometry and dietary intake), and food preparation patterns of low-income Puerto Rican female out-of-treatment drug users with that of low-income Puerto Rican women who reported no drug use. A convenience sample of 41 drug users was compared with 41 age-matched non-drug-users from inner-city Hartford, Connecticut. A culturally appropriate food frequency questionnaire was administered and anthropometric measurements were taken. The findings suggest a high degree of poverty among all study participants, but in particular among drug users. Drug users were more likely than the controls to be food insecure (P < 0.05) and to be exposed to increasingly severe food sufficiency problems. The daily frequency of consumption of vegetables was lower (P = 0.03) for drug users than non-drug-users. Conversely, the frequency of consumption for sweets/desserts was significantly higher for drug users than the controls (P = 0.0001). Drug users, who were classified as food insecure were less likely to consume vegetables (P = 0.004) and fish (P = 0.03) than were controls who were food insecure. When comparing drug users with controls, the former group reported consuming fewer meals during a usual week than the latter group (P < 0.0001). Drug users were more likely to fry foods (P = 0.02) while the controls were more likely to bake (P = 0.005), boil (P = 0.02), and steam (P = 0.002) foods. All anthropometric measurements, except for height, were significantly lower for drug users. The results show that drug users generally maintain poorer nutritional status than non-drug-users. Nutrition interventions as part of drug treatment are needed.
The Ice Cream Experiment: An Exercise in Understanding Customer Perceptions of Quality

An experiential exercise involving an ice cream taste test is described. The experiment includes data collection, data analysis, and the presentation of results. The authors describe how all this can be completed in class, right before the students' eyes, using a preprogrammed Excel spreadsheet and a portable computer. The exercise motivates a discussion of the complex nature of customer perceptions of quality.
Using a Sequential Exploratory Mixed- Method Design to Examine Racial Hyperprivilege in Higher Education

After President Obama’s 2010 State of the Union address, MSNBC commen-tator Chris Matthews offered this reaction, “It’s interesting: [President Obama] is postracial, by all appearances. I forgot he was black tonight for an hour.” Immediately after the election of a person of color to the presidency, the idea of being “postracial” seeped into the national media, essentially claiming that racism was over. David Horowitz (2009) provided his own version of this sentiment, stating that for someone to argue that racism per-sists “is impossible to square with the fact that we have an African American president who was elected by mainly non-African American voters.”Despite this popular rhetoric, the United States is far from a “post-racial” society (Bonilla-Silva and Ray, 2009). Systemic racism continues to inequitably stratify society in favor of white people at the expense of people of color (Feagin, 2006; Omi and Winant, 1994), and this system of racial inequality is called white supremacy (Bonilla-Silva, 2006). Institu-tions of higher education within a white supremacist structure are not simply neutral arbiters; rather they serve as means of both reinforcing and sometimes challenging systemic racism (Cabrera, 2009). Racial ideologies are a central component of racial stratiﬁ cation (Bonilla-Silva, 2006); how-ever, both higher education and institutional researchers have spent little time examining how college affects students’ racial ideology development. In this chapter, I describe an intersectionality, sequential exploratory, mixed-methods inquiry into racial ideology formation of white male
Evaluation of slower-growing broiler genotypes grown with and without outdoor access: meat quality.

Consumer interest in organic and natural poultry products raised with outdoor access is growing. An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of outdoor access and genotype on meat quality. One slow-growing genotype (S), 2 medium-growing genotypes (M1 and M2), and a commercial fast-growing genotype (F) were raised (straight-run) for 81, 67, or 53 d, respectively. The placement date was staggered in order to achieve a similar final body weight. Each genotype was assigned to 3 pens of 24 birds each and raised in indoor floor pens in a naturally ventilated facility; the S and F genotypes were also assigned to 2 floor pens with outdoor access containing 36 birds each. All birds were provided with the same starter, grower, and finisher feeds, and birds were commercially processed. Pectoralis samples were collected at 6 h postmortem for proximate analysis and evaluation of meat quality. The principal effect of outdoor access was to make the meat more yellow in the case of the S genotype (P 0.05). Drip loss and cook loss (%) were affected (P 0.05) by genotype or outdoor access. These data indicate that meat quality differences exist among genotypes with very different growth rates and reared with or without outdoor access.
Biological robotics and nanorobotred cells: Characterization and applications

In human body, nanorobot-like red blood cells get exposed to human body fluids and many physico-chemical changes inside while these nanorobots (fullerene structure coated hemoglobin embedded iron inorganic elements) remain safe and perform killer action against bacteria or virus. We propose this killer action as ‘nanorobot driven nanomedical treatment’ to combat a bacterial or viral infection. The red cells also act as imaging agent due to oxygen binding character. Our experiments were focused on the application of nanorobot (red cells) to make them immune resistant against viruses and making them as useful contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging use based on their behavior in nanomagnetic fields. It consists of an injection of perhaps a few cubic centimeters of nano-sized nanorobots suspended in specific pH fluid (probably a water/saline suspension). The typical therapeutic concentration was up to 1-10 trillion (1 trillion = 10 raise to power 12) individual nanorobots, although in some cases treatment only require a few million or a few billion individual nanodevice-like red cells to be injected. Each nanorobot cell was on the order of perhaps 0.2 micron up to perhaps 0.3 microns in diameter e.g. artificial mechanical red cell floating along in the bloodstream. Nanorobots intended to travel through the bloodstream to their target will probably be 500-3000 nanometers. New technology of ‘passive diamond exteriors’ may turn out to be ideal to make immunoresistant nanorobot red cells against opsonization. Since nanorobot red cells metabolize local glucose and oxygen for energy, they are potential contrast agents for 13C-MRI, ultrasound imaging and physiological or fMRI. We believe the near possibility of travelling nanorobot carrier cells holding nanocomputer CPU working at the rate of 10 teraflops (10 raise to the power 13 floating-point operations per second) as nanomedicine robot devices. Nanorobot red cells in medical applications may be used in the form of red cells coated with diamond or diamondoid/fullerene nanocomposites in presence of inorganic elements like hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, fluorine, silicon etc. for special purpose in nanoscale gears.
Three-Dimensional Statistical Analysis of Sulcal Variability in the Human Brain

Morphometric variance of the human brain is qualitatively observable in surface features of the cortex. Statistical analysis of sulcal geometry will facilitate multisubject atlasing, neurosurgical studies, and multimodality brain mapping applications. This investigation describes the variability in location and geometry of five sulci surveyed in each hemisphere of six postmortem human brains placed within the Talairach stereotaxic grid. The sulci were modeled as complex internal surfaces in the brain. Heterogeneous profiles of three-dimensional (3D) variation were quantified locally within individual sulci. Whole human heads, sectioned at 50 micrometer, were digitally photographed and high-resolution 3D data volumes were reconstructed. The parieto-occipital sulcus, the anterior and posterior rami of the calcarine sulcus, the cingulate and marginal sulci, and the supracallosal sulcus were delineated manually on sagittally resampled sections. Sulcal outlines were reparameterized for surface comparisons. Statistics of 3D variation for arbitrary points on each surface were calculated locally from the standardized individual data. Additional measures of surface area, extent in three dimensions, surface curvature, and fractal dimension were used to characterize variations in sulcal geometry. Paralimbic sulci exhibited a greater degree of anterior-posterior variability than vertical variability. Occipital sulci displayed the reverse trend. Both trends were consistent with developmental growth patterns. Points on the occipital sulci displayed a profile of variability highly correlated with their 3D distance from the posterior commissure. Surface curvature was greater for the arched paralimbic sulci than for those bounding occipital gyri in each hemisphere. On the other hand, fractal dimension measures were remarkably similar for all sulci examined, and no significant hemispheric asymmetries were found for any of the selected spatial and geometric parameters. Implications of cortical morphometric variability for multisubject comparisons and brain mapping applications are discussed.
Zeolite formation in alkali-activated cementitious systems

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a unique building material. Because of its cellular nature, it is lightweight, self-insulating, soundand fireproof, as well as insect and mold resistant. Furthermore, AAC is free of VOCs and various fibers associated with wood and glass wool construction. In an attempt to toughen AAC and make it less prone to on-site damage, a conventional fly-ash-based AAC formulation is being supplemented with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The introduction of sufficient alkali promotes the growth of crystalline zeolites in the tobermorite matrix during autoclave curing. It is postulated that in situ grown zeolites will serve the same purpose as added fibers. Inasmuch as fly-ash-based AAC reactions often do not go to completion, a phase study of the development of tobermorite and zeolites from a gel-like slurry made from reagent grade chemicals was undertaken. Mixtures were studied as a function of time and temperature. Phase development depends on bulk composition and curing conditions. Longer curing at higher temperatures causes the Na-P1 that forms initially to change to analcime. Whereas Na-P1 is bladelike in habit and is seen to intermingle with the slightly larger blades of tobermorite, the Na-P1 gradually undergoes a phase change to analcime that forms very large cubes. This change has the potential to disrupt the AAC matrix. D 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Review of “The Practice of Family Therapy: Key Elements Across Models”

The Practice of Family Therapy: Key Elements Across Models continues to be a valuable resource in the training of family therapists. Since its first publication in 1994, the author, Suzanne Midori ...
Electrochemical behavior of titanium in artificial saliva: influence of pH.

Titanium is the most common material chosen for dental implants because it is highly corrosion resistant because it constantly reforms a protective passive film layer. The formation and composition of the passive film layer is dependent on the environmental conditions. If the stable oxide layer is damaged, the titanium surface underneath can corrode. The purpose of this study was to determine if basic corrosion of commercially pure titanium (CpTi) alloy in artificial saliva was affected by pH and to understand the corrosion kinetics/mechanisms of CpTi as a function of pH. In this study, titanium alloy discs were subjected to corrosion tests. Before the tests, all samples were cleaned and polished using standard metallographic preparation methods. Artificial saliva was used as the testing medium. The following pH values were tested: 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.5, and 9.0. Different pH values were achieved by adding lactic acid (acidic) or NaOH (basic) in appropriate amounts. Potentiodynamic curves indicated beha...
Solution to Plato's elements challenge.

Of all the writings of Plato, arguably none has less engaged the attention of modern scholars than Timaeus. However, one interesting aspect of this dialogue to chemists is the way that Plato’s elements can be transformed by rearranging the primordial triangles, which might be regarded as an early quasi-molecular theory of matter. More importantly, in Timaeus, we find the first documented example of stoichiometric equations for the transformation of matter. Such transformations are subject to a constraint that the number of equilateral triangular faces involved remains constant. According to Plato, a particle of water (icosahedron) has 20 faces, a particle of air (octahedron) has 8, and a particle of fire (tetrahedron) has 4 faces. Thus, the stoichiometry for the transformation of water into fire and air (for example) is 1 Water ! 1 Fireþ 2 Air;
Sensitivity analysis of hydraulic fracture geometry in shale gas reservoirs

Abstract The combination of horizontal drilling and multiple hydraulic fracturing has been widely used to stimulate shale gas reservoirs for economical gas production. Numerical simulation is a useful tool to optimize fracture half-length and spacing in a multistage fracturing design. We developed a methodology to use a commercial reservoir simulator to simulate production performance of shale gas reservoirs after fracturing. We verified our simulation method with the available field data from the Barnett Shale. In this work, we performed a sensitivity study of gas production for a shale gas well with different geometries of multiple transverse hydraulic fractures, in which fractures' half-lengths vary. Hydraulic fractures are divided into two outer and inner fracture groups. The simulation results revealed that the outer fractures contribute more to gas production when fracture spacing is small due to the effect of fracture interference. Also, we studied the effects of fracture half-length and fracture spacing on gas production. This work can provide some insights into characterization of hydraulic fracture geometry on the basis of production data in shale gas reservoirs.
Factors associated with concomitant psychotropic drug use in the treatment of major depression: a STAR*D Report.

INTRODUCTION: Concomitant psychotropic medication (CPM) treatment is common in persons with major depression (MDD). However, relationships with patient characteristics and response to treatment are unclear. METHODS: Participants with nonpsychotic MDD (N=2682) were treated with citalopram, 20-60 mg/day. Sociodemographic, clinical, and treatment outcome characteristics were compared between those using CPMs at study entry or during up to 14 weeks of citalopram treatment, and non-users. RESULTS: About 35% of participants used a CPM. Insomnia was the predominant indication (70.3%). CPM users were more likely to be seen in primary care settings (69.3% versus 30.7%), be white, of non-Hispanic ethnicity, married, and have a higher income, private insurance, and certain comorbid disorders. CPM users had greater depressive severity, poorer physical and mental functioning, and poorer quality of life than non-users. Response and remission rates were also lower. CPM users were more likely to achieve >50 mg/day of citalopram, to report greater side effect intensity, and to have serious adverse events, but less likely to be intolerant of citalopram. CONCLUSION: CPMs are associated with greater illness burden, more Axis I comorbidities (especially anxiety disorders), and lower treatment effectiveness. This suggests that CPM use may identify a more difficult to treat population that needs more aggressive treatment. Language: en
Low dose Vidaza and thalidomide is an effective combination for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

6570 Vidaza and thalidomide were administered to 29 patients with MDS or AML. Vidaza was given at a dose of 75mg/kg subq × 5 days q28 days and Thalidomide starting at 50mg/day and increasing to 100mg. Therapy was well tolerated. Median age was 70 years, and there were 16 males. Two patients had RA, 2 RARS, 9 RAEB, 4 CMMoL, 10 AML and 2 Unknowns. According to IPSS, 1 had low, 7 had Int-1, 5 had Int-2 and 4 had high risk disease, and 2 unclassified (10 had AML). Eleven patients had normal, 14 abnormal and 4 unknown for cytogenetics. Seven patients went off the study due to disease progression (5) or refused therapy (1), died within a week of treatment initiation (1) while 2 are on the first cycle and too early for evaluation. Twenty-five patients are evaluable for outcome. Ten patients received 5 or more cycles of Vidaza. HI was seen in 14/25 (56%), and stable disease in 6/25 (24%) while 5/25 (20%) had disease progression. Six patients experienced complete remission (CR) and are still receiving therapy (24%...
A Review of Cytology of Salivary Gland Lesions: Old, Updated and New

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy plays a critical role in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesion. Compared to excisional biopsy, FNA is safer, faster and less tumor seeding spread. The sensitivity and specificity of FNA for diagnosing neoplasm is very high. In this review, we will discuss the cytological findings of a wide spectrum of non-neoplastic and neoplastic diseases in salivary glands. We will further discuss the differentiation diagnosis for each entity. The new molecular findings in salivary gland tumors will be addressed.
Comparative study on pre-processing methods of aluminium content determination in flour food

Objective:Find out the optimum sample digestion method to detect the content of aluminium in flour food.Methods:Aluminium content in fried flour food,bread,steamed bread and puffed food were detected by chrome azure S spectrophotometry,dry digestion,wet digestion,high pressure digestion and microwave digestion method were used to digest samples,and the recoveries of the four digesting methods were conducted comparative analysis.Results:It was found that dry digestion process was better than orther methods,the precision degree of determining aluminum content were between 2.15%～3.21%,the recoveries were between 85.3%～102.3%.Conclusion:As to flour products with lower oil content,the four methods can all be applied to detect the content of aluminum,while as to those with higher oil content,it was better to use dry digestion.
The Assessment of Service Through the Lens of Social Change Leadership: A Phenomenological Approach

AbstractService to others plays a key role in the development of one’s worldview. To study this key role, authors examined a sample of 38 student narratives in three phases: before, during, and 45 ...
Effects of peritoneal fluids from patients with endometriosis on capacitated spermatozoa

Objective To determine the effects of peritoneal fluid (PF) from patients with endometriosis on capacitated sperm. Design Capacitated donor sperm were allowed to migrate into straws filled with pooled PF from patients with unexplained infertility without endometriosis (n = 4) and those with mild (n = 4) and moderate-severe (n = 4) endometriosis, respectively, for 3 hours. Main Outcome Measures Sperm motility, sperm membrane integrity, and acrosomal loss were determined. Results Statistically, no significant differences were found among the various sperm parameters determined. Conclusion Peritoneal fluid from patients with endometriosis does not appear to adversely affect capacitated spermatozoa.
Inhibition of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity induces a paradoxical increase in DNA synthesis in myeloid leukemia cells

The effects of competitive inhibition of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase by compactin on the in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood myeloid leukemia cells were studied using the cells from 45 patients with acute myeloid leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase. The cells from 58% of these patients showed a dose-related inhibition of DNA synthesis when incubated with compactin. Unexpectedly, cells from 18% of the patients were resistant to the inhibitory effects of compactin on DNA synthesis and responded to the HMG CoA reductase inhibition with an actual increase in the incorporation of 14C-labeled thymidine into DNA. Another 18% of the patients studied displayed both inhibition and stimulation of DNA synthesis in a biphasic response depending on the particular concentration of compactin used. The maximum enhanced rates of cellular DNA synthesis were observed with lower compactin concentrations (5 x 10(-7) mol/L) than were required for maximum inhibition of DNA synthesis (10(-5) mol/L). Leukemia cells displaying a stimulated response to compactin had a significantly lower baseline DNA synthetic rate than did cells that showed an inhibitory response of DNA synthesis to compactin. There was no correlation between these cells' varying DNA synthetic response to compactin and measures of baseline HMG CoA reductase activity or acetate conversion to cholesterol. Whereas the observation of cellular DNA synthesis stimulation by HMG CoA reductase inhibition has not been observed in other mammalian cells and seems paradoxical, explanations may emerge in light of our growing knowledge concerning the importance of isoprenylation for the function of certain cell regulatory proteins.
Organic acid disorders

Most of the disorders termed “organic acid disorders” are disorders of amino acid catabolism whose hallmarks are the abnormal metabolites that accumulate after the amino group is removed from the amino acids derived from protein during catabolism. While most of these compounds are weak acids, they are toxic to cells and may cause damage to organs including liver, brain, kidney, and heart. The phenotype of these disorders may include acidosis, cardiomyopathy, renal damage, central nervous system symptoms and visual symptoms. Diagnosis is based on analysis of blood and urine for the distinctive compounds that characterize each disorder. Age of onset may vary from the first few days of life to early childhood, with occasional onset in adulthood.