cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sertoli cell signaling by Desert hedgehog regulates the male germline

Abstract Background: In mammals, testis development is initiated in the embryo in response to the expression of the sex determining gene, Sry , in Sertoli cell precursors. Subsequently, Sertoli cells are thought to play a central role in male-specific cell interactions, including those that occur during spermatogenesis. However, the molecular nature of these interactions is poorly understood. Desert hedgehog ( Dhh ) encodes a signaling molecule expressed in the testis, but not the ovary, and may therefore play a role in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Results Dhh expression is initiated in Sertoli cell precursors shortly after the activation of Sry and persists in the testis into the adult. Female mice homozygous for a Dhh -null mutation show no obvious phenotype, whereas males are viable but infertile, owing to a complete absence of mature sperm. Examination of the developing testis in different genetic backgrounds suggests that Dhh regulates both early and late stages of spermatogenesis. Patched , a likely target of Hedgehog signaling, also displays male-specific transcription in the gonad. This expression is restricted to a second somatic lineage, the Leydig cells. The expression of Patched is lost in Dhh mutants. Conclusion Dhh expression in pre-Sertoli cells is one of the earliest indications of male sexual differentiation. Analysis of a null mutant demonstrates that Dhh signaling plays an essential role in the regulation of mammalian spermatogenesis. Loss of Patched expression in Dhh mutants suggests a conservation in the Hedgehog signaling pathway between flies and mice, and indicates that Leydig cells may be the direct target of Dhh signaling.
Interventions for Executive Function Deficits in Children and Adolescents

For children with neurodevelopmental or acquired disorders, deficits in executive function (EF) processes (i.e., attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and problem solving), are often evident. Moreover, EF deficits are associated with academic difficulties, behavioral and social difficulties, and long-term psychological maladjustment rendering prevention and intervention of EF deficits an important consideration. Many methods exist to address EF processes; this review will focus on pharmacological, cognitive/metacognitive, computerized, and neurofeedback approaches. Across research reviewed, results tend to vary depending on age, disorder, comorbid conditions, and outcome measures. Notably, there is limited research to suggest long-term maintenance of changes in symptom presentation, improved developmental trajectory, normalization of EF processes, or alteration to the associated neural connections. Implications for practice and future research for evidence-based interventions to address EF are discussed.
PROPERTIES OF AN ALKALINE PROTEASE FROM THE SKELETAL MUSCLE OF ATLANTIC CROAKER1

An alkaline protease was partially purified from the skeletal muscle of Atlantic croaker. The protease is a cytoplasmic enzyme and heat stable. The enzyme preparation was shown to degrade fish actomyosin in vitro between 50–60°C. The enzyme is a sulfhydryl protease and does not require Ca++ ions for its activity. Preparations of the enzyme do not hydrolyze TAME, BTEE or denatured hemoglobin. Column chromatographic analyses suggest an apparent molecular weight of 80,000 ± 4,000 and the isoelectric point is 6.0 ± 0.2.
LEED intensity analysis of the structures of clean Pt(111) and of CO adsorbed on Pt(111) in the c(4 × 2) arrangement

Abstract The surface structures of clean Pt(111) and CO adsorbed on Pt(111) with c(4 × 2) periodicity at one-half monolayer coverage were investigated by a dynamical LEED intensity analysis of measured I-V curves. The clean Pt(111) structure is confirmed to be nearly indistinguishable from the truncated bulk structure (within ≈ 0.025 A). The c(4 × 2) unit cell contains one CO molecule adsorbed on a top site and one CO molecule adsorbed on a bridge site, both molecules being perpendicular to the surface. This is only the second LEED structure determination of multi-site molecular adsorption. The CO molecules have metal-carbon bond lengths of 1.85 ± 0.1 and 2.08 ± 0.07 A for the top and bridge sites, respectively, and the same carbon-oxygen bond length of 1.15 ± 0.05 A. Trends relating bond lengths and vibration frequencies for CO adsorption on various metal surfaces are presented. In particular, the CO stretch frequency decreases as the metal-carbon bond length increases, which in turn increases as the carbon-metal coordination number increases.
Bioturbation by a dominant detritivore in a headwater stream: litter excavation and effects on community structure

Bioturbation can affect community structure by influencing resource distribution and habitat heterogeneity. Bioturbation by detritivores in small headwater streams could affect community structure by reintroducing buried detrital resources into the food web and could also affect the distribution of various taxa on detritus. We evaluated the ability of the caddisfly Pycnopsyche gentilis to uncover experimentally buried leaves in a headwater stream. Packs of leaves were placed in enclosures and covered with a known volume of sediment. We added 0, 3 or 6 large Pycnopsyche to the enclosures which were permeable to most other invertebrate taxa. Leaf packs were sampled after 23 days and leaf pack mass, the amount of sediment covering the leaf packs, and macro- and microinvertebrate densities on leaf packs were quantified. There was a significant negative relationship between Pycnopsyche density and leaf pack mass. Pycnopsyche also reduced the volume of sediment covering leaf packs. Pycnopsyche had complex effects on the abundance of invertebrate taxa associated with the leaves. Some taxa exhibited their highest abundance in the 3 Pycnopsyche treatment while others exhibited non-significant increases as Pycnopsyche density increased. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of Pycnopsyche (e.g. uncovering leaves which increases the availability of habitat and food) outweigh any negative effects (e.g. disturbance, encounter competition) of the caddisfly when it is present at lower densities. However, the negative impacts of Pycnopsyche appear to outweigh the positive effects via sediment removal at higher caddisfly densities for some taxa. Our results suggest that bioturbating organisms in streams have the potential to reintroduce organic matter to detrital food webs and affect the distribution and abundance of benthic taxa associated with organic matter.
Cutaneous melanoma associated retinopathy (MAR)

In a number of paraneoplastic syndromes, patients develop autoantibodies to tumor cells that are also reactive with normal host tissues, including neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system.1 Two forms of paraneoplastic retinopathy are now recognized: cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR),2,3 and cutaneous malignant melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR).4–7 CAR occurs in a small percentage of patients having small cell carcinoma of the lung and other cancers, and the patients are thought to develop autoantibodies against a tumor cell antigen that cross react with their retinal rods and cones. It was recently demonstrated that sera of some CAR patients contain antibodies that react with recoverin, a calcium-binding protein found in photoreceptors and some types of cone bipolar cells.8–10 These antibodies may cross the blood retinal barrier and interfere with normal photoreceptor function. In CAR, the patient’s visual symptoms may precede or occur at about the time of tumor identification; loss of vision typically occurs over weeks to months. There is clinical, electroretinographic (ERG) and histopathologic evidence of progressive dysfunction and death of rod and cone photoreceptors in this form of retinopathy.2,3
Candidates’ policy strategies in primary elections: does strategic voting by the primary electorate matter?

Empirical research reports conflicting conclusions about whether primary election voters strategically account for candidates’ general election prospects when casting their votes. We model the strategic calculations of office-seeking candidates facing two-stage elections beginning with a primary, and we compare candidates’ policy strategies in situations where primary voters strategically support the most viable general election candidate against candidate strategies when voters expressively support their preferred primary candidate regardless of electability. Our analyses—in which the candidates’ appeal is based on their policy positions and their campaigning skills—suggest a surprising conclusion: namely, that strategic and expressive primary voting typically support identical equilibrium configurations in candidate strategies. Our conclusions are relevant to candidates facing contested primaries, and also to political parties facing the strategic decision about whether or not to use primary elections to select their candidates—a common dilemma for Latin American (and some European) parties.
Public policy challenges and implications of the internet and the emerging e-commerce for sub-Saharan Africa: a business perspective

As businesses move to establish closer links with their customers and suppliers in the global marketplace, a new set of requirements is being placed on businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. The rules of commerce are being turned upside down, and for sub-Saharan African businesses to compete, local governments would have to create an enabling Internet and information infrastructure. This paper examines the Internet environment in sub-Saharan Africa and explores what the Internet can do for businesses. It investigates the public policy challenges and implications of the Internet and the emerging e-commerce for sub-Saharan Africa. The paper ends with a discussion and conclusion.
Sociolinguistic Approaches to Second Language Acquisition Research—1997–2007

This article discusses sociolinguistically oriented research on second language acquisition (SLA) in the decade since Firth and Wagner (1997). Over the last 10 years, substantial progress has been made in developing a model of the sociolinguistic processes that inform second language acquisition. This model is supported by empirical evidence on the relationship between social context and second language use and acquisition, which shows that learners' second language (L2) input and processing of L2 input in social settings are socially mediated, that social and linguistic context affect linguistic use, choice, and development, and that learners intentionally assert social identities through their L2 in communicating in social contexts. A strength of sociolinguistically oriented SLA research is its strong focus on linguistic outcomes, tracking the impact of contextual factors in producing those outcomes. Preston (2000, 2002) and Fasold and Preston (2006) provided a central sociolinguistic framework to integrate research on the interaction of social factors and cognitive processes in producing interlanguage, which is a variable linguistic system.
Satisfaction with a weight loss program: what matters?

Abstract Purpose Satisfaction is understudied in weight loss programs. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between participant/program experiences and satisfaction with a weight loss intervention. Design A prospective cohort design was utilized. Setting The study was conducted in the Minneapolis metro area. Sample Participants were obese employees of a managed care organization. One hundred were enrolled, and 78 had complete data available. Intervention Treatment included telephone counseling along with a home telemonitoring scale and instructions to self-weigh daily. Measures Outcomes included overall program satisfaction and willingness to refer the program to others. Predictors included demographics, treatment group, participation in other programs, expected weight, general health, body mass index, diet quality, physical activity, body image, mental health, counseling, and self-weighing. Analysis Quantitative predictor-outcome associations were examined using multiple logistic regr...
Categories for Analysis of Idea Development in Discussion Groups

(1961). Categories for Analysis of Idea Development in Discussion Groups. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 155-168.
Posttranslational Removal of the Carboxyl-terminal KDEL of the Cysteine Protease SH-EP Occurs Prior to Maturation of the Enzyme

SH-EP is a cysteine protease from germinating mung bean (Vigna mungo) that possesses a carboxyl-terminal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) retention sequence, KDEL. In order to examine the function of the ER retention sequence, we expressed a full-length cDNA of SH-EP and a minus-KDEL control in insect Sf-9 cells using the baculovirus system. Our observations on the synthesis, processing, and trafficking of SH-EP in Sf-9 cells suggest that the KDEL ER-retention sequence is posttranslationally removed either while the protein is still in the ER or immediately after its exit from the ER, resulting in the accumulation of proSH-EP minus its KDEL signal. It is this intermediate form that appears to progress through the endomembrane system and is subsequently processed to form mature active SH-EP. The removal of an ER retention may regulate protein delivery to a functional site and present an alternative role for ER retention sequences in addition to their well established role in maintaining the protein composition of the ER lumen.
Improved curvature estimation for shape analysis in computer-aided detection of colonic polyps

In current methods of computer-aided detection (CAD) of colonic polyps, curvature-based shape measures, like the shape index, curvedness, sphericity ratio, Gaussian curvature, mean curvature, etc., are widely used to analyze the local shapes in the colon wall. Therefore, the curvature estimation is an essential step, which is often conducted through kernel methods. However, spurious calculations indicating high curvature are frequently observed when the kernel contains two surfaces (this happens for objects like a thin slab, sphere, etc.). In this study, we adapted the Knutsson mapping method to solve this problem, so that we can improve the curvature estimation for CAD of colonic polyps in virtual colonoscopy.
System identification of the nonlinear dynamics in the thalamocortical circuit in response to patterned thalamic microstimulation in vivo

Objective. Nonlinear system identification approaches were used to develop a dynamical model of the network level response to patterns of microstimulation in vivo. Approach. The thalamocortical circuit of the rodent vibrissa pathway was the model system, with voltage sensitive dye imaging capturing the cortical response to patterns of stimulation delivered from a single electrode in the ventral posteromedial thalamus. The results of simple paired stimulus experiments formed the basis for the development of a phenomenological model explicitly containing nonlinear elements observed experimentally. The phenomenological model was fit using datasets obtained with impulse train inputs, Poisson-distributed in time and uniformly varying in amplitude. Main results. The phenomenological model explained 58% of the variance in the cortical response to out of sample patterns of thalamic microstimulation. Furthermore, while fit on trial-averaged data, the phenomenological model reproduced single trial response properties when simulated with noise added into the system during stimulus presentation. The simulations indicate that the single trial response properties were dependent on the relative sensitivity of the static nonlinearities in the two stages of the model, and ultimately suggest that electrical stimulation activates local circuitry through linear recruitment, but that this activity propagates in a highly nonlinear fashion to downstream targets. Significance. The development of nonlinear dynamical models of neural circuitry will guide information delivery for sensory prosthesis applications, and more generally reveal properties of population coding within neural circuits. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)
Energy efficiency improvement and fuel savings in water heaters using baffles

Thermal efficiency improvement of a water heater was investigated numerically and experimentally in response to presence of a baffle, particularly designed for modifying the flow field within the water reservoir and enhancing heat transfer extracted into the water tank. A residential natural gas-fired water heater was selected for modifying its water tank through introducing a baffle for lowering natural gas consumption by 5% as a target. Based on the geometric features of the selected water heater, three-dimensional models of the water heater subsections were developed. Upon detailed studies of flow and heat transfer in each subsection, various sub-models were integrated to a complete model of the water heater. Thermal performance of the selected water heater was investigated numerically using computational fluid dynamics analysis. Prior to baffle design process and in order to verify the developed model of the water heater, time-dependent numerically-predicted temperatures were compared to the experimentally-measured temperatures under the same conditions at six (6) different locations inside the water tank and good agreement was observed. Upon verifying the numerical model, the fluid flow and heat transfer patterns were characterized for the selected water heater. The overall design of the baffle and its location and orientation were finalized based on the numerical results and a set of parametric studies. Finally, two baffle designs were proposed, with the second design being an optimized version of the first design. The verified three-dimensional model of the water heater was modified to include the baffle designs and same thermal performance analysis was simulated confirming potential improvements in thermal efficiency. Thereafter, designed baffles were prototyped and assembled in identical water heater units and experiments were conducted according to standard water heater test procedures. Finally, numerical and experimental results verified thermal efficiency improvement in the water heater after introducing the baffles. As a result, baffle’s second design is capable of lowering the natural gas consumption of the water heater by 4.95% under steady-state thermal efficiency test condition which meets the target of this research. However, the gas savings under actual usage patterns might be less than this value.
XFACT: a furnace analysis and characterization tool

The diffusion furnace is one the most important and complex process equipment in the process line and efforts towards characterizing it will be well worth the effort. A CAM package for wafer temperature map reconstruction using only a few sampled data points is proposed. The software is completely generic and has no affiliation to any make of furnace. The data required for simulation can easily be obtained from the actual piece of equipment. Interpolation techniques with high accuracy are used for developing the temperature contours inside the furnace using a modified version of the Lagrange's interpolation technique. >
Rational and irrational clinical strategies for collaborative medicine.

Individual practitioners and health care systems/organizations increasingly understand the rationale for collaborative medicine. An absence of collaboration can compromise the quality and safety of patient care. But having a rationale to provide collaborative medicine without also having a rational clinical strategy can be equally compromising to the quality and safety of patient care. Reasonable evidentiary criteria must be used to determine whether specific therapies merit inclusion or exclusion in a collaborative medicine model. Ranking therapies hierarchically on the basis of their risk-benefit ratio simplifies matching of therapies with the needs of the patient. A unifying taxonomy that categorizes all therapies (complementary/alternative and conventional) on the basis of how we think they work (presumed mechanisms of action) facilitates development of a clinical strategy for collaborative medicine. On the basis of these principles, a rational clinical strategy for collaborative medicine is described...
Analysis of Verbal Fluency Ability in Amnestic and Non-Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pattern of performance on letter and category fluency tests of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Previous research has suggested that organization strategies, including “clustering” (i.e., groups of related words) and “switching” (i.e., shift from one cluster to another), are important for efficient verbal fluency performance. Participants were 25 individuals with single-domain amnestic MCI (aMCI), 49 with multidomain aMCI, 16 with non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), and 90 cognitively healthy older adults. Fluency performances were analyzed across two 30-s intervals for total words produced, cluster size, and switching. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with follow-up tests revealed that the single-domain aMCI group performed comparably with healthy controls on each dependent measure across both fluency tasks. In contrast, the multidomain aMCI group showed performance decrements in total words and switching production compared with healthy controls on both fluency tasks, whereas the naMCI group produced fewer words and switches on letter fluency. Each group generated more words and switches during the first 30-s on both fluency tasks, with the exception of the naMCI group, whose switching on letter fluency did not decrease as the task progressed. As indicated by the single-domain aMCI group's unimpaired performance, our findings demonstrate that verbal fluency performance decreases as domains beyond memory become impaired in MCI. Reduced switching ability, which has been linked to prefrontal executive functioning, contributed the most to the poorer performance of individuals with multidomain MCI and naMCI.
Ionospheric storms at geophysically-equivalent sites - Part 1: Storm-time patterns for sub-auroral ionospheres

The systematic study of ionospheric storms has been conducted primarily with groundbased data from the Northern Hemisphere. Significant progress has been made in defining typical morphology patterns at all latitudes; mech- anisms have been identified and tested via modeling. At higher mid-latitudes (sites that are typically sub-auroral dur- ing non-storm conditions), the processes that change sig- nificantly during storms can be of comparable magnitudes, but with different time constants. These include ionospheric plasma dynamics from the penetration of magnetospheric electric fields, enhancements to thermospheric winds due to auroral and Joule heating inputs, disturbance dynamo elec- trodynamics driven by such winds, and thermospheric com- position changes due to the changed circulation patterns. The 12 tilt of the geomagnetic field axis causes significant longitude effects in all of these processes in the Northern Hemisphere. A complementary series of longitude effects would be expected to occur in the Southern Hemisphere. In this paper we begin a series of studies to investigate the longitudinal-hemispheric similarities and differences in the response of the ionosphere's peak electron density to geo- magnetic storms. The ionosonde stations at Wallops Island (VA) and Ho- bart (Tasmania) have comparable geographic and geomag- netic latitudes for sub-auroral locations, are situated at lon- gitudes close to that of the dipole tilt, and thus serve as our candidate station-pair choice for studies of ionospheric storms at geophysically-comparable locations. They have an excellent record of observations of the ionospheric pen- etration frequency (foF2) spanning several solar cycles, and thus are suitable for long-term studies. During solar cycle #20 (1964-1976), 206 geomagnetic storms occurred that had Ap 30 or Kp 5 for at least one day of the storm. Our anal- ysis of average storm-time perturbations (percent deviations from the monthly means) showed a remarkable agreement at both sites under a variety of conditions. Yet, small dif- ferences do appear, and in systematic ways. We attempt to relate these to stresses imposed over a few days of a storm that mimic longer term morphology patterns occurring over seasonal and solar cycle time spans. Storm effects versus season point to possible mechanisms having hemispheric dif- ferences (as opposed to simply seasonal differences) in how solar wind energy is transmitted through the magnetosphere into the thermosphere-ionosphere system. Storm effects ver- sus the strength of a geomagnetic storm may, similarly, be re- lated to patterns seen during years of maximum versus mini- mum solar activity.
Timing and duration of Mesozoic‐Tertiary flood‐basalt volcanism

A number of Eos articles [Courtillot and Cisowski, 1987; White, 1989] have addressed the hypothesized genetic link between flood-basalt volcanism and global faunal extinction events. This topic, and its rival paradigm [Alvarez et al.,1980]—espousing a genetic link between bolide impact and the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary extinction event—have drawn widespread attention, both from Earth scientists and the media. This article evaluates hypotheses linking flood-basalt volcanism to bolide impacts and global faunal extinction events. Ages cited here have been recalculated to the decay constants and isotopic abundances recommended by Steiger and Jager [1977]; errors in all ages are quoted at the 1 σ level.
Pressure-induced shift and broadening of 1560–1630-nm carbon monoxide wavelength-calibration lines

We have measured the line centers and the pressure-induced shifts of 14 lines in the 3ν rotational–vibrational band of carbon monoxide, 12C16O, and 18 lines in the corresponding band of 13C16O. These lines can be used as wavelength references in the optical fiber communication wavelength-division multiplexing L band (approximately 1565–1625 nm). The 12C16O spectrum has useful reference lines from 1560 to 1595 nm, and the 13C16O spectrum has lines from 1595 to 1630 nm. We observed that, except for a shift of 35 nm toward longer wavelengths for the 13C16O spectrum, the behaviors of the two isotopic species are similar. We found that the pressure shift varies with line number, from ∼+0.01 to +0.02 pm/kPa (∼0.16 to 0.31 MHz/Torr). In addition, we measured the pressure broadening of these lines; we found that it also varies with line number and is typically 0.3–0.4 pm/kPa (approximately 5–7 MHz/Torr).
Design and evaluation of primitives for parallel I/O

It is shown that the performance of parallel file systems can vary greatly as a function of the selected data distributions, and that some data distributions can not be supported. The authors have devised an alternative scheme for conducting parallel I/O, the two-phase access strategy, which generates higher and more consistent performance over a wider spectrum of data distributions. They have designed and implemented runtime primitives that make use of the two-phase access strategy to conduct parallel I/O, and facilitate the programming of parallel I/O operations. They describe these primitives in detail and provide performance results which show that I/O access rates are improved by up to several orders of magnitude. Further, they show that the variation in performance over various data distributions is restricted to within a factor of 2 of the best access rate.
Dietary amino acid analogs alter activities of some amino acid- metabolizing enzymes in rat liver

Abstract Dietary amino acid analogs often strongly and selectively modify rat tissue amino acid profiles. These effects are accompanied by altered activities of several enzymes of amino acid catabolism. In a preliminary study, activities of hepatic serine dehydratase (SDH), glutamate-pyruvate (GPT), GABA and tyrosine (TAT) aminotransferases, and ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) were high in rats fed diets containing a mixture (3%) of analogs (norleucine, norvaline, α-aminophenylacetate, and α-aminooctanoate); pyruvate kinase (PK) was low. Raising the protein content of the diet often lessened the effect. Analog effects on SDH, GPT, and PK occurred within 2 days, but not within 4 hr. After adaptation to a 50% protein diet that raised SDH and GPT and lowered PK, rats were fed a 6% protein diet with or without the analogs; the normal decline in initially high SDH and GPT was slowed within 4 days in rats fed the analogs, whereas the normal increase in PK induced by a low protein diet was strongly blocked by day 1. In rats fed a 6% amino acid diet, dietary norleucine stimulated branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) activity about 290%, had lesser effects on SDH, GPT, and OCT, and did not alter PK, TAT, or branched-chain aminotransferase; norvaline stimulated only BCKAD (85%). In rats fed an 8% amino acid mixture limiting in leucine. SDH activity was stimulated (up to 800%), depending on norleucine level in the diet, and was lessened by added dietary leucine; similar, but less striking patterns occurred for GPT. If all indispensable amino acids were fed in adequate amounts, SDH and GPT were not stimulated by norleucine. Overall, analog effects were usually more prominent in rats fed suboptimal diets.
Limb Muscles Are Androgen Targets in an Acrobatic Tropical Bird

Spectacular athleticism is a conspicuous feature of many animal courtship displays yet surprisingly little is known about androgen dependence of skeletal muscles underlying these displays. Testosterone (T) acts through androgen receptors (ARs) to stimulate muscular male Golden-collared manakins of Panama to perform a remarkably athletic courtship display that includes loud wingsnaps generated by the rapid and forceful lifting of the wings. We tested the hypothesis that androgen sensitivity, reflected in the expression levels of AR mRNA, is a muscular adaptation supporting these courtship displays. Quantitative PCR showed substantially greater AR mRNA expression in all limb muscles of wild male and female manakins compared with two other avian species that do not perform athletic displays, zebra finches and ochre-bellied flycatchers. AR expression levels in the massive skeletal muscles were comparable with the minute oscine syringeal muscle but greater than levels in nonmuscular androgen targets that did n...
Raf kinase inhibitor protein suppresses nuclear factor-κB-dependent cancer cell invasion through negative regulation of matrix metalloproteinase expression

Accumulating evidence suggests that Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), which negatively regulates multiple signaling cascades including the Raf and nuclear factor-jB (NF-jB) pathways, functions as a metastasis suppressor. However, the basis for this activity is not clear. We investigated this question in a panel of breast cancer, colon cancer and melanoma cell lines. We found that RKIP negatively regulated the invasion of the different cancer cells through three-dimensional extracellular matrix barriers by controlling the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly, MMP-1 and MMP-2. Silencing of RKIP expression resulted in a highly invasive phenotype and dramatically increased levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression, while overexpression of RKIP decreased cancer cell invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo of murine tumor allografts. Knockdown of MMP-1 or MMP-2 in RKIP-knockdown cells reverted their invasiveness to normal. In contrast, when examining migration of the different cancer cells in a two-dimensional, barrier-less environment, we found that RKIP had either a positive regulatory activity or no activity, but in no case a negative one (as would be expected if RKIP suppressed metastasis at the level of cell migration itself). Therefore, RKIP’s function as a metastasis suppressor appears to arise from its ability to negatively regulate expression of specific MMPs, and thus invasion through barriers, and not from a direct effect on the raw capacity of cells to move. The NF- jB pathway, but not the Raf pathway, appeared to positively control the invasion of breast cancer cells. A regulatory loop involving an opposing relationship between RKIP and the NF-jB pathway may control the level of MMP expression and cell invasion.
Depression after spinal cord injury: is it necessary?

Abstract Adjustment to spinal cord injury has traditionally been assumed to be accompanied by depression. Yet contemporary research has failed to support this view and has provided evidence that depression is maladaptive in rehabilitation and adjustment. This paper reviews and integrates this literature. Methodological and theoretical perspectives are discussed. Recommendations for future research are proposed, and implications for clinical practice are addressed.
Characterization of Alkoxy‐Derived Yttria‐Stabilized Hafnia

High-purity submicron HfO2−Y2O3 powders were prepared by the simultaneous hydrolytic decomposition of hafnium and yttrium alkoxides. Compositions of 1 to 7 mol% Y2O3 in HfO2 were studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, BET surface area measurements, emission spectrographic analysis, TGA, and DTA. X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption were used to determine the Y2O3 concentration. Hot-pressing or cold-pressing and sintering of the powders resulted in nearly theoretically dense bodies with uniform microstructure containing grains 1 to 5 μm in size. Surface reflection ir spectra were obtained for monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic specimens. Fully cubic HfO2 with 7 mol% Y2O3 additions was obtained at a relatively low temperature. The hot-pressed specimens, initially slightly oxygen-deficient or gray HfO2-x, were reoxidized at 1000°C with no deleterious effects; thin sections were translucent to incident light.
Microvascular management of ring avulsion injuries

Microsurgical revascularization has proved to be a useful method in managing the ring avulsion injury where both neurovascular bundles are damaged with only partial skin avulsion. Representative cases are used to illustrate guidelines for a practical classification for helping to decide the optimal method of treatment of acute ring avulsion injuries in light of digital revascularization techniques. Nine ring fingers were successfully revascularized of 24 acute ring avulsion injuries reviewed. Sensibility recovery was good and a functional range of motion obtained. No patient who has had his ring finger revascularized has requested its amputation because of appearance, painful neuromas, stiffness, or cold intolerance. Complete amputations, especially proximal to the superficialis insertion, and complete degloving injuries of the ring finger are usually best managed by surgical amputation of the digit.
Focus plus context screens: displays for users working with large visual documents

Users working with documents that are too large and detailed to fit the user's screen (e.g. chip designs) have the choice of zooming or applying appropriate visualization techniques. In this demonstration, we will present focus plus context screens-wall-size low-resolution displays with an embedded high-resolution display region. They allow users to view details of a document up close, while simultaneously seeing peripheral parts of the document in lower resolution. Unlike overview plus detail, focus plus context screens do not require users to visually switch between multiple views. Unlike fisheye views, focus plus context screens do not introduce distortion.
The Lack of Effect of Chronic Metabolic Acidosis on 25-OH-Vitamin D Metabolism and Serum Parathyroid Hormone in Humans

We evaluated the turnover of the plasma 25-OH-vitamin D pool, acid, and mineral balances in paired balance studies of 6 normal subjects during normal acid base conditions and during stable chronic metabolic acidosis induced by NH4Cl. Positive acid balances and negative Ca balances due to hypercalciuria were observed as previously reported. Plasma 25-OH-D pool turnover averaged 6.1 ± 0.4 nmol/day during control and did not change during acidosis (6.5 ± 0.5 nmol/day) nor were any significant increments in net intestinal absorption of Ca, PO4 or Mg, the physiological expression of vitamin D action, observed during acidosis. In 3 other subjects, repetitive measurements of serum iPTH during 7 control days and 24 days of stable NH4Cl acidosis showed no changes. We interpret the data to support the hypothesis that neither PTH nor vitamin D and its metabolites mediates the increase in net bone resorption that must accompany chronic metabolic acidosis.
A Comparison of the Fitness, Obesity, and Physical Activity Levels of High School Physical Education Students across Race and Gender.

Introduction: Little is known about the physical fitness, obesity, and physical activity (PA) levels of high school students in physical education classes when comparing racial and gender groups. Purpose : To compare the fitness, obesity, and PA levels of female and male students of different racial groups in 6 high schools in the southeastern United States. Methods : Three fitness measures (PACER, Modified Curl-Ups, and the Back-Saver Sit and Reach), as well as BMI, body fat percentage, and PA data, were obtained from 413 youth (216 females, 197 males, 14.8 ± .84 years). Additionally, fitness levels, prevalence of obesity, and PA patterns of genders and races were compared between groups. Results : Fitness, body fat, and PA data were significantly better for males than for females other than back-saver sit and reach, for which females performed higher. There were no gender differences in BMI. White students scored significantly better than Black students on fitness, body fat, PA, and BMI except back-saver sit and reach right side. Conclusions : The study suggests a strong need for more active physical education programs that are appropriate for developing the fitness and PA levels of high school students, especially females and Black students, and for programs that motivate students to improve their fitness and PA levels beyond and outside of high school.
Cerebellar Malformations and Cognitive Disdorders

The behavioral developmental profile of 27 children and adults (17 males and 10 females) with congenital cerebellar malformations was determined in a clinical, neuroradiological and neuropsychological study at the Scientific Institute 'E Medea', University of Milano, Italy.
The challenges of testosterone deficiency. Uncovering the problem, evaluating the role of therapy.

PREVIEWIn addition to its relatively uncommon congenital causes, testosterone deficiency in men occurs in a diverse range of clinical conditions. Even healthy men are now known to begin experiencing progressive yet subtle declines in testosterone secretion after age 30. Diagnosis can be challenging, and testosterone replacement therapy does not alleviate all symptoms in all men. Nevertheless, some men can get relief with intramuscular long-acting testosterone esters, transdermal testosterone patches, or transdermal testosterone gel.
Early Maternal-Efficacy and Competence in First-Time, Low-Income Mothers

Mothers with higher maternal competence in early parenthood are more comfortable performing infant skills and interpreting their infants’ cues. Further, maternal perceptions of self-efficacy are re...
Is Bipartisanship Dead? Policy Agreement and Agenda-Setting in the House of Representatives.: Harbridge, Laurel. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2015. 267 pages. $85.00 (hardcover); $29.99 (softcover).

Few topics in American politics have garnered more attention (or concern) in recent years than the intense polarization that characterizes modern political parties. The conventional wisdom among mo...
African Americans and American Values: Does South Matter?

Objective This article examines the effects of southern culture on the attitudes and political predisposition of southern African Americans. Method Using unique survey data, with large oversamples of African Americans, this article explores whether southern blacks have a more positive opinion of the American system than African Americans who reside outside the south. Results We find a “southern effect” occurs among African Americans. Southern blacks express more support for traditionally defined American political and social values than nonsouthern blacks; however, this gap is less than a third the size of the regional gap among whites. Conclusion Together, these findings suggest a complex interplay of race and region on political values and raise profound normative concerns. A group that arguably stands at a greater disadvantage in the political system expresses higher levels of support for that system.
Adolescent Sex Differences in Response to a Mindfulness Intervention: A Call for Research.

Research on mindfulness interventions with adolescents has burgeoned over the last ten years, and findings have demonstrated increases in overall emotional wellbeing post-intervention. However, little is known about the sex differences in response to mindfulness interventions in this age group. In the present study we examine sex differences in outcomes of physiological stress markers during the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and emotional wellbeing measures before and after a mindfulness intervention (N = 15) with 10 female and 5 male adolescents. Additionally, we examine sex differences in course engagement and post-intervention use of mindfulness skills during the TSST. Overall, we found some evidence that females were more engaged than males in the class and also reported less stress post-intervention. We conclude by strongly encouraging future research in this area to more clearly elucidate the different ways in which adolescent males and females engage and respond to mindfulness interventions.
Tongue surgeries for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To evaluate the international literature for studies reporting outcomes for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children undergoing isolated tongue surgeries. Two authors searched from inception through November 14, 2016 in four databases including PubMed/MEDLINE. 351 studies were screened. Eleven studies (116 children) met criteria. Most children were syndromic and had craniofacial disorders, co-morbidities, or other serious medical issues. Surgeries included base-of-tongue (BOT) reduction (n = 114), tongue suspension (n = 1), and hypoglossal nerve stimulation (n = 1). The pre- and post-BOT reduction surgeries decreased apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) from a mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) of 16.9 ± 12.2/h to 8.7 ± 10.6/h (48.5% reduction) in 114 patients. Random effects modeling (109 patients) demonstrated a standardized mean difference for AHI of −0.78 (large magnitude of effect) [95% CI −1.06, −0.51], p value <0.00001. For BOT surgery in 53 non-syndromic children, the AHI decreased 59.2% from 14.0 ± 11.4 to 5.7 ± 6.7/h, while in 55 syndromic children, the AHI decreased 40.0% from 20.5 ± 19.1 to 12.3 ± 18.2/h. BOT reduction improved lowest oxygen saturation from M ± SD of 84.7 ± 7.4–87.9 ± 6.5% in 113 patients. Hypoglossal nerve stimulation and tongue-base suspension are limited to case reports. Most children undergoing tongue surgeries in the literature were syndromic and had craniofacial disorders, co-morbidities, or other serious medical issues. Children with a body mass index <25 kg/m2 and non-syndromic children have had the most improvement in AHI. The specific type of surgery must be tailored to the patient. Patients with co-morbidities should undergo treatment in centers that are equipped to provide appropriate perioperative care.
The Origin and Development of Farm Economics in the United States

It is unsafe to assign any date as the first point in the beginning of philosophy or science. Since innumerable men have been freely making statements on all subjects since speech began, hazy remarks of an ancient may be, or may be thought to be, the intellectual ancestor of nearly every new thought. Very early in his development, man began to think of flying, hereafter, if not at present. But this had little relationship to the work of the Wright brothers in a bicycle shop, or to Langley's mathematics. Some very excellent observations on farm management were made by Pliny and Cato.' Some of these were true and some were not. The average of accuracy was probably higher than for the chemists of that time. Since agriculture was one of the first interests of mankind, innumerable helpful observations occur throughout history. The Egyptians had some well developed ideas on land tenure. Arthur Young's Travels included observations on farm economics. With the above cautions in mind, I believe it is safe to make the statement that little definite scientific work was done in the field of farm economics before 1900.
Ploidy and proliferative characteristics in monoclonal gammopathies

Measurements were performed in 143 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of the cellular substrate in the bone marrow, including analysis of DNA and RNA content and tritiated thymidine labeling index. Aneuploidy by DNA content was present in 80% of 115 patients with active multiple myeloma and in 4 of 9 patients with benign monoclonal gammopathy, but was absent in all 12 patients with myeloma in remission and in 7 individuals with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. With regard to prognosis in multiple myeloma, a low pretreatment plasma cell labeling index of less than or equal to 1% heralded longer survival than that observed in patients with a labeling index less than 1%, independent of myeloma tumor burden and ploidy pattern, except for a subset of 17 patients with a low-degree hyperdiploid abnormality whose survival was not affected by the magnitude of the pretreatment labeling index. Thus, besides tumor burden, tumor proliferative activity and ploidy both appear to have additional prognostic importance for patients with multiple myeloma.
Cyclic di-AMP Acts as an Extracellular Signal That Impacts Bacillus subtilis Biofilm Formation and Plant Attachment

There is a growing appreciation for the impact that bacteria have on higher organisms. Plant roots often harbor beneficial microbes, such as the Gram-positive rhizobacterium Bacillus subtilis, that influence their growth and susceptibility to disease. The ability to form surface-attached microbial communities called biofilms is crucial for the ability of B. subtilis to adhere to and protect plant roots. In this study, strains harboring deletions of the B. subtilis genes known to synthesize and degrade the second messenger cyclic di-adenylate monophosphate (c-di-AMP) were examined for their involvement in biofilm formation and plant attachment. We found that intracellular production of c-di-AMP impacts colony biofilm architecture, biofilm gene expression, and plant attachment in B. subtilis We also show that B. subtilis secretes c-di-AMP and that putative c-di-AMP transporters impact biofilm formation and plant root colonization. Taken together, our data describe a new role for c-di-AMP as a chemical signal that affects important cellular processes in the environmentally and agriculturally important soil bacterium B. subtilis These results suggest that the "intracellular" signaling molecule c-di-AMP may also play a previously unappreciated role in interbacterial cell-cell communication within plant microbiomes.IMPORTANCE Plants harbor bacterial communities on their roots that can significantly impact their growth and pathogen resistance. In most cases, however, the signals that mediate host-microbe and microbe-microbe interactions within these communities are unknown. A detailed understanding of these interaction mechanisms could facilitate the manipulation of these communities for agricultural or environmental purposes. Bacillus subtilis is a plant-growth-promoting bacterium that adheres to roots by forming biofilms. We therefore began by exploring signals that might impact its biofilm formation. We found that B. subtilis secretes c-di-AMP and that the ability to produce, degrade, or transport cyclic di-adenylate monophosphate (c-di-AMP; a common bacterial second messenger) affects B. subtilis biofilm gene expression and plant attachment. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of c-di-AMP impacting a mutualist host-microbe association and suggests that c-di-AMP may function as a previously unappreciated extracellular signal able to mediate interactions within plant microbiomes.