cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Flow cytometry of platelets for clinical analysis

Platelets are small, non-homogenous cells with distinctive surface features important to their essential role in hemostasis. The surface membrane is dynamic, and changes remarkably in lipid asymmetry and receptor expression on triggering of the activation process. There are also extensive and rapid intracellular changes in platelets as a result of biochemical activation through calcium fluxes, phospholipase activity, kinase activity, and phosphorylation mechanisms that lead to release of storage granule contents and generation of fast-acting prostaglandins, all in a matter of seconds after stimulation with a strong agonist. These characteristics make the platelet an interesting but difficult cell to study, and the explosion of knowledge over the last two decades has been fueled in large part by the application of flow cytometry techniques. Clinical applications of flow cytometry analysis of platelets have been pursued in individual specialized medical centers, but have not found widespread practice in clinical laboratories, mostly because of difficulties in standardization of techniques and the inherent biovariability in comparing normal to abnormal platelets. Despite these hurdles, it seems certain that flow cytometry analysis of platelets in pathological states will continue to evolve into more practical and robust procedures that will eventually become standard hematologic assays rather than specialized research tools.
Invitational Rhetoric and the Case for Service Learning

1. Christina L. Hicks-Goldston[1][1] 1. 1Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, USA 1. Christina L. Hicks-Goldston, Austin Peay State University, P.O. Box 4446, Clarksville, TN 37044, USA Email: hicksgoldstonc{at}apsu.edu This research argues for repositioning Service Learning as a necessary part of public education, with the transformative goal of empowered communities operating in a social-collaborative framework from communities dependent on overburdened state and local government programs and services. Such repositioning depends on recognition of Service Learning as a means of providing that preparation. To “mainstream” Service Learning, this research proposes two initiatives: (a) Foster the idea of the Service Learning experience as citizenship/community building by associating the experience with embedded cultural values and (b) apply Invitational Rhetoric in persuading students and parents to view Service Learning as something other than imposed servitude or social consciousness for a grade. Service Learning has proven to be successful in changing students’ attitudes about their place in society. If Service Learning were a part of the common educational core, the potential for repositioning its value to citizenry would be highly expanded. Because many communities lack access to education and training for the citizenry, Service Learning could supply that link to empowerment. [1]: #aff-1
A Golgi study of anterior dorsal ventricular ridge in the alligator, Alligator mississippiensis

The anterior dorsal ventricular ridge was examined in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, with cresyl violet and Golgi-Kopsch preparations. Four cytoarchitectonic areas (lateral dorsolateral, medial dorsolateral, intermediolateral, and lateral) can be distinguished by variations in the density of neurons and their tendency to form clusters of neurons with apposed somata. Three distinct types of neurons are distributed throughout these areas. Juxtaependymal neurons lie near the ventricular surface and have dendritic fields paralleling the ependymal layer. Their dendrites bear a moderate density of spines. Spiny neurons all have stellate shaped dendritic fields and dendrites that bear dendritic spines, but they vary greatly in the density of spines and the thickness of their dendrites. A very spiny variety has a high spine density and relatively thick dendrites. A moderately spiny variety has a moderate spine density and thin dendrites. A sparsely spiny variety has a low spine density and thick dendrites. Aspiny neurons have a relatively large number of dendrites that form a gnarled dendritic field and lack spines.
POVM and PV measurement in QKD

I first review positive-operator and projection valued measures in quantum mechanics, and then address a few applications in quantum key distribution (QKD). The positive operator valued measure (POVM) is useful in the design of a quantum key receiver. The projection valued (PV) measure is useful in the design of QKD eavesdropping devices. In this case the measurement determines correlations with the measurements made by the lefitimate receiver and therewith the maximum information gain by the probe. It is essential to know the latter for privacy amplification.
Radioimmunoassay inhibition method for confirming the specificity of positive hepatitis B surface antigen reactions and for survey of antibodies to the antigen.

. Studies were conducted to determine the hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBS) levels and antibody subtype specificities required in order for anti-HBS sera of human origin to be suitable for use in radioimmunoassay (RIA) inhibition tests for determining the specificity of positive reactions for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg.) Also, the RIA inhibition method was evaluated for detection of anti-HBS in sera of laboratory personnel. Only anti-HBS sera with complement-fixing (CF) antibody titers of 1:32 or higher effectively inhibited HBSAg-positive sera with demonstrable CF activity, and complete inhibition was obtained only for antigens having CF titers of 1:64 or lower. Higher-titered antigens could be inhibited when diluted 1:10-1: 100. The low-titered HBSAg preparation supplied with AusRIA kits (Abbott Laboratories) was effectively inhibited by low-titered anti-HBS sera, and when used in RIA inhibition tests on sera from laboratory personnel, the tests detected anti-HBS in approximately 14% of the individuals tested, a slightly greater number than those showing anti-HBs in passive hemagglutination tests. Inhibition of HBSAg-positive sera by the anti-HBS sera could not be related to the d and y subtype specificities of the antigens or antisera; the antisera were no more effective in inhibiting antigens of the homologous subtype than those of the heterologous subtype.
Mechanisms of differential survival and growth of two species of Littorina on wave-exposed and on protected shores

Abstract Gastropods from wave-exposed shores are typically smaller and thinner-shelled with a larger foot than gastropods from protected shores. We investigated the value of these adaptations by comparing the survival and growth of one exposed shore species and one protected shore species of Littorina transplanted to wave-exposed and protected shores. Adult snails on exposed shores with heavy surf had reduced winter growth rates and low over-winter survival rates. Demographic studies of the exposed shore species showed that few adults survived the winter at the most exposed sites; recruitment to the following year's population was primarily from small juveniles that overwintered between barnacles and within algae. The protected shore species had slightly lower survival than the exposed shore species on exposed shores. The protected shore species was also more susceptible to dislodgement in a flow tank. The low winter growth rates and survival may explain why the large, late-maturing, protected shore species does not occur on exposed shores. Adult snails on protected shores had moderate winter growth rates and moderate over-winter survival. The exposed shore species survived very poorly on protected shores, in part because of predation by shore crabs. In laboratory experiments the thin-shelled exposed shore species was significantly preferred by shore crabs and withstood significantly less force. The small size, thin shell, and large shell aperture of the exposed shore species makes it vulnerable to the shore crabs and may explain why it does not occur on protected shores.
THE SYNONYMY OF EXCORALLANA KATHYAE MENZIES, 1962, WITH EXCORALLANA TRUNCATA (RICHARDSON, 1899), WITH A REDESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES (CRUSTACEA, ISOPODA, EXCORALLANIDAE)

Excorallana kathyae Menzies, 1962, is synonymized with E. truncata (Richardson, 1899) and the species redescribed and figured. Previous authors failed to describe or figure the diagnostic lateral incisions in the pleotelson and the lacinia and molar process of the mandible. The presence of vestigial molar processes and lacinia on the mandibles of excorallanid isopods, previously unreported, supports Menzies et al. (1955) and Brusca's (1981) placement of the excorallanids between the Cirolanidae and the Aegidae in a proposed phylogenetic lineage of flabelliferan isopods. E. truncata ranges through five zoogeographic provinces (Californian, Mexican, Cortezian, Galapagan, and Panamanian); it has been collected at depths ranging from 183 meters to the intertidal zone. During an examination of specimens of the monogeneric family Excorallanidae from the Pacific coast of Baja California, the Gulf of California, and southern California, the similarity of specimens bearing different species names was noted. Examination of types and comparison of morphological characters revealed Excorallana kathyae Menzies, 1962, and E. truncata (Richardson, 1899) to be the same species. Previous authors (Richardson, 1899a, b, 1900, 1905; Stebbing, 1904a, b; Lemos de Castro, 1960, 1964; Menzies, 1962; Monod, 1969; Carvacho and Yanez, 1971) have not given complete descriptions of E. truncata or E. kathyae.
KINETICS OF MARTENSITIC INTERFACE MOTION

The mobility of s-γ[MATH] martensitic interfaces in thermoelastic s-CuAlNi alloys is investigated using stress-assisted single interface transformations over a temperature range of 180 to 410K and imposed interfacial velocities of 10-6 to 10-2 m/s. The behavior is consistent with thermally-activated interfacial motion, although an anomalous temperature dependence is observed below 210K which may be due to elastic softening. Measured activation energies of 0.3 to 0.4 eV (4.5 x 10-20 to 6.5 x 10-20 J) and activation volumes of 103 to 104 atomic volumes suggest that motion of the interface above 210K is controlled by interaction with discrete particles or clusters.
A one-trial response-choice technique for the biological study of memory

Rats given a 2 sec, 2 mA foot shock for entering the right goal box of a T-maze showed a significant increase over a stable pre-shock baseline in choices of the left goal box on test trials given 24 h later. Such a one-trial learning task involving choice rather than latency as a measure of retention has certain advantages for studying the biology of memory.
Non-equilibrium Green's functions method: Non-trivial and disordered leads

The non-equilibrium Green's function algorithm requires contact self-energies to model charge injection and extraction. All existing approaches assume infinitely periodic leads attached to a possibly quite complex device. This contradicts today's realistic devices in which contacts are spatially inhomogeneous, chemically disordered, and impacting the overall device characteristics. This work extends the complex absorbing potentials method for arbitrary, ideal, or non-ideal leads in atomistic tight binding representation. The algorithm is demonstrated on a Si nanowire with periodic leads, a graphene nanoribbon with trumpet shape leads, and devices with leads of randomly alloyed Si0.5Ge0.5. It is found that alloy randomness in the leads can reduce the predicted ON-state current of Si0.5Ge0.5 transistors by 45% compared to conventional lead methods.
Abstract 2268: Augmentation of DR5 expression by calmodulin antagonists sensitizes TRA-8-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the USA. The 5-year survival rate has only improved from 2% to 6% in the past 35 years. TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) or agonistic antibodies bind to death receptor 4 or 5 and induce apoptosis in a wide variety of tumors. TRA-8, a humanized activating antibody for the death receptor 5 (DR5), is a potent apoptosis-inducing reagent for cancer cells. However, several pancreatic cell lines are resistant to TRA-8-induced apoptosis. The goal of our studies is to indentify therapeutic agents that sensitize resistant pancreatic cancer cells to TRA-8-induced apoptosis and determine the underlying mechanism. Among an array of compounds, we identified that trifluoperazine (TFP) and tamoxifen (TMX), two calmodulin (CaM) antagonists, enhanced TRA-8-induced cell death of TRA-8 resistance pancreatic cells. Both TFP and TMX increased TRA-8-induced apoptosis of resistant PANC-1 cells in dose-dependent manners. TMX treatment enhanced the efficacy of TRA-8 therapy on tumorigenesis of PANC-1 cells in a mouse xenograft model by 5 fold (n=7, p<0.05). We found that the effects of CaM antagonists on TRA-8-induced apoptosis were mediated by its induction of caspase-8 activation, as TMX increased TRA-8-induced activation of caspase-8 in the DR5-recruited signaling complex whereas caspase-8 inhibition by Z-IETD-FMK markedly decreased TRA-8-induced apoptosis as well as activation of downstream apoptosis effector caspase-3. Analysis of the expression of the death receptors revealed that TFP and TMX increased the expression of the DR5, at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, TFP and TMX increased acetylation of histone H3 and H4, which may contribute their augmentation of DR5 expression. In summary, we have demonstrated that CaM antagonists increase DR5 expression and DR5-mediated caspase-8 activation, thus sensitizing pancreatic cancer to TRA 8-induced apoptosis. Our results identify an important role for CaM in regulating of DR5-mediated apoptosis signals in pancreatic cancer cells and support the possible use of combined TRA-8 and CaM antagonists to treat pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Kaiyu Yuan, Tong Zhou, Jay McDonald, Yabing Chen. Augmentation of DR5 expression by calmodulin antagonists sensitizes TRA-8-induced apoptosis in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2268. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2268
Comparing clinical and neurocognitive features of the schizophrenia prodrome to the bipolar prodrome

Background There is an increased interest in early intervention strategies for severe mental disorders with hopes of mitigating the emergence and impact of the illness. Individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for schizophrenia have been primarily identified by the presence of attenuated positive symptoms. Although bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may have overlapping etiologies, few studies have investigated the potential prodrome in bipolar disorder. We sought to determine if there is a prodrome to bipolar disorder and if clinical or neurocognitive measures could distinguish between the bipolar and schizophrenia prodromes.
Global genomic repair and p53 in a dance after DNA damage.

No Abstract AvailableCommentary to:Title: A Nucleotide Excision Repair Master-Switch: p53 Regulated Coordinate Induction of Global Genomic Repair GenesAuthors: S.A. Amundson, A. Patterson, K.T. Do and A.J. Fornace, Jr.Page Numbers: 145-149
Argon plasma uniformity in a low-pressure inductively coupled plasma source with planar coil

Summary form only given. Plasma uniformity is crucial for material processing applications. We report the results of experimental and theoretical studies of the influence of different factors on uniformity of low pressure Argon plasmas sustained by an RF inductive electric field from a planar coil. Two different experimental studies have been performed. In the first, 2-D spatial profiles of light emission intensity and plasma density were measured in an ICP driven by a 3.5 turn spiral coil placed on the top of a cylindrical plasma volume of radius R=11.5 cm and height L=14 cm. Significant changes in the emission profile were observed as pressure was varied from 10 to 100 mTorr, and power from 100 to 200 Watts. In the second study the effects of aspect ratio (R/L) on plasma density profile were examined in an ICP system with a single-turn circular antenna of radius 14 cm, chamber radius R=17 cm and the pressure range 5-20 mTorr. A shift in plasma density maximum from on-axis to a radial position near the antenna location was observed when L varied from 12 to 2.5 cm. The numerical model contains different modules which solve Maxwell equations for RF inductive field, Poisson equation for space charge density, fluid equations for ion density and Boltzmann equation for electron distribution function (EDF) in the two-term approximation.
Accelerated second degree advanced practice nurses: how do they fare in the job market?

Abstract Accelerated, nontraditional, advanced practice nursing programs are an alternative way to increase the supply of nurse practitioners. This study profiles demographic and job characteristics of second degree, non-nurse college graduates who pursued graduate degrees in nursing. Graduates' sex, age, income, previous education, nursing experience, factors describing the scope of the advanced practice role, and quality of the educational experience were studied. Data were collected from 29 graduates (57%) from Virginia Commonwealth University's accelerated second-degree nursing program from 1995 through 1999. The findings have implications for nursing educators, health care administrators, employers, and other persons who plan and recruit for this type of nursing education program. Nurs Outlook 2000;48:218-22.
Microfluidic scaffolds for tissue engineering

Most methods to culture cells in three dimensions depend on a cell-seedable biomaterial to define the global structure of the culture and the microenvironment of the cells. Efforts to tailor these scaffolds have focused on the chemical and mechanical properties of the biomaterial itself. Here, we present a strategy to control the distributions of soluble chemicals within the scaffold with convective mass transfer via microfluidic networks embedded directly within the cell-seeded biomaterial. Our presentation of this strategy includes: a lithographic technique to build functional microfluidic structures within a calcium alginate hydrogel seeded with cells; characterization of this process with respect to microstructural fidelity and cell viability; characterization of convective and diffusive mass transfer of small and large solutes within this microfluidic scaffold; and demonstration of temporal and spatial control of the distribution of non-reactive solutes and reactive solutes (that is, metabolites) within the bulk of the scaffold. This approach to control the chemical environment on a micrometre scale within a macroscopic scaffold could aid in engineering complex tissues.
Glucose absorption by the bladder of the crab, Cancer magister (Dana)

Abstract 1. 1. Glucose injections in C. magister cause glucosuria, with an apparent hemolymph threshold of approximately 100 mg%. 2. 2. Glucose is absorbed from crab Ringer solution introduced into the bladder. Phlorizin blocks glucose absorption by the bladder and causes glucosuria when injected. 3. 3. Glucose is absorbed from crab Ringer solutions in vitro by both sides of the bladder, but the flux of free glucose across the tissue in either direction is negligible. 4. 4. Eyestalk ablation had no effect on serum or urine glucose levels or on glucose absorption from crab Ringer solution introduced into the bladder.
Hand and foot PUVA soaks: an audit of the Massachusetts General Hospital's experience from 1994 to 1998.

Palmoplantar psoriasis and eczema can be chronic recalcitrant dermatoses. Oral psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) has proven effective for these, but has a number of unwanted side effects. Previous studies have shown that regional PUVA therapy using the 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) soak method followed by immediate UVA irradiation is also beneficial and well tolerated, The purpose of this audit was to determine the efficacy of hand and foot PUVA soaks by reviewing the experience of the Massachusetts General Hospitals Phototherapy Unit with this treatment modality. Phototherapy records of all patients who underwent hand and foot PUVA soaks from 1994 to 1998 were reviewed. Details regarding the treatment procedure, patient compliance, patient response and incidence of side effects were noted and summarized. Of the 56 patients who underwent at least 20 treatments. 29% had excellent response, 42% had minimal to moderate response, and 29% had poor response. The average number of treatments to induce clearing was 41. The average maximum treatment dose at clearing was 5.85 J/cm 2 , while the average cumulative dose to achieve clearing was 267.17 J/cm 2 . 8-MOP PUVA soak therapy is quite useful for chronic hand and foot dermatoses. Patient compliance must be emphasized to obtain favorable results.
Effect of hospital volume on in-hospital mortality with pancreaticoduodenectomy ☆ ☆☆ ★

Background: Reports of better results at national referral centers than at low-volume community hospitals have prompted calls for regionalizing pancreaticoduodenectomy (the Whipple procedure). We examined the relationship between hospital volume and mortality with this procedure across all US hospitals. Methods: Using information from the Medicare claims database, we performed a national cohort study of 7229 Medicare patients more than 65 years old undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy between 1992 and 1995. We divided the study population into approximate quartiles according to the hospital's average annual volume of pancreaticoduodenectomies in Medicare patients: very low (<1/y), low (1-2/y), medium (2-5/y), and high (5+/y). Using multivariate logistic regression to account for potentially confounding patient characteristics, we examined the association between institutional volume and in-hospital mortality, our primary outcome measure. Results: More than 50% of Medicare patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy received care at hospitals performing fewer than 2 such procedures per year. In-hospital mortality rates at these low- and very-low-volume hospitals were 3- to 4-fold higher than at high-volume hospitals (12% and 16%, respectively, vs 4%, P < .001). Within the high-volume quartile, the 10 hospitals with the nation's highest volumes had lower mortality rates than the remaining high-volume centers (2.1% vs 6.2%, P < .01). The strong association between institutional volume and mortality could not be attributed to patient case-mix differences or referral bias. Conclusions: Although volume-outcome relationships have been reported for many complex surgical procedures, hospital experience is particularly important with pancreaticoduodenectomy. Patients considering this procedure should be given the option of care at a high-volume referral center. (Surgery 1999;125:250-6.)
Variability of air sampler data

Abstract Air sampler results from Operation Roller Coaster were analyzed wherever two or more (replicate) measurements were made. The data consisted of time integrated air concentrations of: 1. (1) “total air”, i.e., all tracer particles collected in various active samplers. 2. (2) “respirable air”, i.e., those tracer particles of diameter less than 10 μm of unit density equivalent as indicated by data from two types of cascade impactors, CAS 1 and CAS 2. Likely causes of sampler data variability, such as statistical probability of collecting sufficient numbers of particles in each size class, radiometric assay errors of sample quantity determination, anisokinetic sampling conditions, and errors caused by improper handling of samplers or components, were reviewed. The results of the statistical analysis of the replicate data showed that 68 per cent of the comparison ratios of total air for CAS 1-CAS 1 were between 0.28 and 2.40, CAS 2-CAS 1 were between 0.3 and 5.3, TAS 1-CAS 1 were between 0.2 and 1.6, TAS 2-CAS 1 were between 0.16 and 5.4, and TAS D-CAS 1 were between 0.34 and 3.0. For the respirable air, the ratios for CAS 1-CAS 1 were between 0.49 and 2.0, and CAS 2-CAS 1 were between 0.25 and 2.5. With all samples considered together, the ratio of a datum to the geometric mean at the same location was between about 0.5 and 2.0 for 68 per cent of the observations. In general, it was found that for the median case, compared to the CAS 1, the CAS 2 overestimated the total air and underestimated respirable air, while the TAS 1, TAS 2, and TAS D underestimated the total air by about 40 per cent, 40 per cent, and 5 per cent, respectively. It was found that replicate sampling provided a means of estimating actual sample data errors and relative performance of different samplers under field conditions. This information probably is not available in any other way, and it is recommended that replicate sampling be made an integral part of any field diffusion experiment.
Using Reflection for Incorporating Fault-Tolerance Techniques into Distributed Applications

As part of the Legion metacomputing project, we have developed a reflective model, the Reflective Graph & Event (RGE) model, for incorporating functionality into applications. In this paper we apply the RGE model to the problem of making applications more robust to failure. RGE encourages system developers to express fault-tolerance algorithms in terms of transformations on the data structures that represent computations--messages and methods--hence enabling the construction of generic and reusable fault-tolerance components. We illustrate the expressive power of the RGE by encapsulating the following fault-tolerance techniques into RGE components: two-phase commit distributed checkpointing, passive replication, pessimistic method logging, and forward recovery.
Model Selection for Good Estimation and Prediction over a User‐Specified Covariate Distribution for Linear Models under the Frequentist Paradigm

Model selection is an important part of estimation and prediction for linear models with multiple explanatory variables (covariates). A variety of approaches exist that focus on the estimation of model parameters or the fit of the model where data have been observed. This article proposes an alternative strategy that selects models based on the mean squared error of the estimated expected response for a user-specified distribution of interest on the covariate space. We discuss numerical and graphical tools for detailed comparisons among different models. These tools help select a best model based on its ability to estimate the mean response over covariate locations likely to arise from a distribution of interest and can be combined with cost for deciding whether to include specific covariates. The proposed method is illustrated with three examples. We also present simulation results demonstrating situations where the proposed method shows improvement over some standard alternatives. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Test-retest reliability of the Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Instrument.

ABSTRACTThe Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Instrument (TBISI) was implemented in Veterans Affairs medical facilities in an attempt to identify Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans with possible mild TBI. Despite its widespread implementation, the reliability and validity of the screening tool has not yet been established. The current study reports preliminary findings on the test-retest reliability of the TBISI in 44 OEF/OIF veterans referred for neuropsychological evaluation following a positive TBI screen. Results suggest overall poor test-retest reliability of the TBI screening tool with regard to type of event, injuries sustained, and resulting sequelae. These findings underscore the importance of further investigation of its psychometric properties to promote accurate identification and referral of veterans with possible TBI.
Teaching Process Tracing: Exercises and Examples

Learning and teaching process tracing is an important goal, both for qualitative researchers and for scholars who wish to supplement other methodologies with insights from within-case analysis. The examples and exercises presented here are intended to accompany “Understanding Process Tracing” (Collier 2011) and are cross-referenced to that article. The examples span the fields of American politics, international relations, comparative politics, and public health, as well as detective fiction: a Sherlock Holmes mystery story. In the framework of the Collier article, good description and careful causal inference are both central to process tracing. The examples address both of these challenges, and the exercises are grouped according to whether they focus on description or causal assessment.
The efficiency of the second-order nonlinear least squares estimator and its extension

We revisit the second-order nonlinear least square estimator proposed in Wang and Leblanc (Anne Inst Stat Math 60:883–900, 2008) and show that the estimator reaches the asymptotic optimality concerning the estimation variability. Using a fully semiparametric approach, we further modify and extend the method to the heteroscedastic error models and propose a semiparametric efficient estimator in this more general setting. Numerical results are provided to support the results and illustrate the finite sample performance of the proposed estimator.
The art of satirical deterritorialization: Shifting cartoons from real space to cyberspace in Sub-Saharan Africa

African cartoonists do not have the right to ridicule and offend political leaders. As a result, cartoons that deterritorialize African leaders by taking them out of their traditional zones of power and comfort, and place them in absurd, imaginary cartoon ‘realities’ for purposes of criticism, are often met with censorious judicial and extra-judicial measures. These efforts are aimed at reterritorializing and rehabilitating the ‘tarnished’ images of the powerful and enable them to control their media images. In response to these pressures, many Sub-Saharan African cartoonists engage in symbolic ‘space shifting’. This is the phenomenon whereby critical commentary and political cartoons are deterritorialized or transferred from real space to cyberspace, the Internet and social media sites, for purposes of escaping censorship. This study focuses on a select group of cartoons and cartoonists who transferred their work from real space to cyberspace in a bid to escape censorship and political pressure.
Inter-Regional Differences in Baseline Toxicity of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) to the Two Insect Growth Regulators, Buprofezin and Pyriproxyfen

A survey of 53 Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring populations from different agricultural regions in California and Arizona was conducted from 1997 to 1999 to establish baseline toxicological responses to buprofezin and pyriproxyfen. Although both compounds proved to be highly toxic even in minute quantities to specific stages, geographical and temporal differences in responses were detected using a leaf spray bioassay technique. Monitoring for three years revealed that six to seven populations had higher LC50 values but not greater survival when exposed to these two insecticides. A significant difference in relative susceptibility to buprofezin was first observed in late season 1997 in San Joaquin Valley populations with LC50s ranging from 16 to 22 mg (AI)/liter−1 compared with LC50s of 1 to 3 mg (AI)/liter−1 in Imperial, Palo Verde Valley and Yuma populations. Whiteflies collected in subsequent years from these and other locations showed an increase in susceptibility to buprofezin. Regional differences in susceptibilities to pyriproxyfen were minimal within the same years. Three years of sampling revealed consistently higher LC50s to pyriproxyfen in populations from Palo Verde Valley, CA, compared with whiteflies from Imperial, San Joaquin Valley or Yuma. As was the case with buprofezin, a decline in LC50s to pyriproxyfen was observed in whiteflies from all locations sampled in 1999. However, no correlation was observed between buprofezin and pyriproxyfen toxicity in any of the strains. The variable toxicities observed to both compounds over a period of 3 yr may be due principally to inherent differences among geographical populations or due to past chemical use which may confer positive or negative cross-resistance to buprofezin or pyriproxyfen.
The Disappearance of Christianity from North Africa in the Wake of the Rise of Islam

In most areas where Christianity was confronted during the four centuries after the Hegira by Islam the Christian religion suffered setbacks or was eclipsed in some measure, but it did not disappear. In North Africa, however, Christianity was not merely eclipsed, it was supplanted. Tertullian, the “Father of Latin Christianity,” had labored in North Africa during the latter years of the second century and the early years of the third. Victor I (189–99), the first bishop of Rome to write in Latin, and, according to Prof. G. LaPiana the first “Pope,” had been North African in origin.
Foot Infections in Diabetic Patients: The Role of Anaerobes

The prevalence of anaerobic bacteria in cultures of specimens from foot infections in diabetic patients is dependent upon the method of obtaining the specimen, the care with which it is transported anaerobically, and the sophistication of the laboratory methods. The rate at which anaerobes are isolated with use of the best methods ranges from 74% to 95% of patients, but it is only 41% to 53% in clinical studies of patients with limb-threatening infection. The mean number of bacterial isolates from an infected foot ranges from 4.1 to 5.8, of which 1.2 to 2.6 isolates are anaerobic. Most anaerobic isolates are gram-positive, and Peptostreptococcus species are most common. Bacteroides species are the most common anaerobic gram-negative isolates. Treatment covering anaerobic bacteria is included in most empirical regimens, but the use of agents that are modestly active against anaerobic organisms (i.e., fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) has also been successful. Surgical debridement and drainage are essential adjuncts to antimicrobial therapy and may assist in the control of anaerobic infection. Questions regarding management of such infections parallel those regarding management of polymicrobial intraabdominal infections, but to date, studies of the former have been much less sophisticated than those of the latter.
Categorical data analysis: Away from ANOVAs (transformation or not) and towards logit mixed models

Abstract This paper identifies several serious problems with the widespread use of ANOVAs for the analysis of categorical outcome variables such as forced-choice variables, question-answer accuracy, choice in production (e.g. in syntactic priming research), et cetera. I show that even after applying the arcsine-square-root transformation to proportional data, ANOVA can yield spurious results. I discuss conceptual issues underlying these problems and alternatives provided by modern statistics. Specifically, I introduce ordinary logit models (i.e. logistic regression), which are well-suited to analyze categorical data and offer many advantages over ANOVA. Unfortunately, ordinary logit models do not include random effect modeling. To address this issue, I describe mixed logit models (Generalized Linear Mixed Models for binomially distributed outcomes, Breslow and Clayton [Breslow, N. E. & Clayton, D. G. (1993). Approximate inference in generalized linear mixed models. Journal of the American Statistical Society 88 (421), 9–25]), which combine the advantages of ordinary logit models with the ability to account for random subject and item effects in one step of analysis. Throughout the paper, I use a psycholinguistic data set to compare the different statistical methods.
Blogs: Enhancing Links in a Professional Learning Community of Science and Mathematics Teachers.

Anyone who can access the Internet can be part of the knowledge-access, knowledgebuilding, information-exchanging culture, regardless of location. Time magazine’s latest “Person of the Year” is “You”(Grossman, 2006). In a startling acknowledgement that “community and collaboration on a scale never seen before” has trumped any famous individual, the editorial board elected to pay tribute to the power of the World Wide Web—and some of its most famous creations such as Wikipedia, YouTube, MySpace, and Web logs or blogs. This research is about blogs and their use in a new teacher professional development project.
Diagnosis of amoebic colitis by antigen capture ELISA in patients presenting with acute diarrhoea in Cairo, Egypt.

The authors studied 84 consecutive patients presenting with acute diarrhea (< 1 week in duration) at an outpatient tropical medicine clinic in Cairo Egypt. The diagnosis of amoebic colitis was established by the presence of Entamoeba histolytica galactose-inhibitable lectin antigen and the presence of occult blood in stool. Controls were 182 healthy regional people and 64 patients complaining of prolonged diarrhea lasting more than 1 week. Entamoeba histolytica infection was found more frequently in patients with acute diarrhea (57.1%) than in healthy controls (21.4%) or patients with prolonged diarrhea (25%) (P < 0.001). There was a higher prevalence of Entamoeba dispar infection in the two control groups (24.2 and 20.3% respectively P = 0.004 and 0.061) compared with those with acute diarrhea (8.3%). Of the 84 patients with acute diarrhea 32 had amoebic colitis (38%) and of these 31 (97%) had at least one positive assay for serum amoebic antibodies (P < 0.001 compared with control groups). In summary as determined by antigen-detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay there is an unexpectedly high prevalence of amoebic colitis among patients presenting with acute diarrhea to a tropical disease clinic in Cairo Egypt. (authors)
Role of the Adiponectin Binding Protein, T-Cadherin (cdh13), in Pulmonary Responses to Subacute Ozone

Adiponectin, an adipose derived hormone with pleiotropic functions, binds to several proteins, including T-cadherin. We have previously reported that adiponectin deficient (Adipo 2/2 ) mice have increased IL-17A-dependent neutrophil accumulation in their lungs after subacute exposure to ozone (0.3 ppm for 72 hrs). The purpose of this study was to determine whether this anti-inflammatory effect of adiponectin required adiponectin binding to T-cadherin. Wildtype, Adipo 2/2 , T-cadherin deficient (T-cad 2/2 ), and bideficient (Adipo 2/2 /T-cad 2/2 ) mice were exposed to subacute ozone or air. Compared to wildtype mice, ozone-induced increases in pulmonary IL-17A mRNA expression were augmented in T-cad 2/2 and Adipo 2/2 mice. Compared to T-cad 2/2 mice, there was no further increase in IL-17A in Adipo 2/2 /T-cad 2/2 mice, indicating that adiponectin binding to T-cadherin is required for suppression of ozone-induced IL-17A expression. Similar results were obtained for pulmonary mRNA expression of saa3, an acute phase protein capable of inducing IL-17A expression. Comparison of lung histological sections across genotypes also indicated that adiponectin attenuation of ozone-induced inflammatory lesions at bronchiolar branch points required T-cadherin. BAL neutrophils and G-CSF were augmented in T-cad 2/2 mice and further augmented in Adipo 2/2 /T-cad 2/2 mice. Taken together with previous observations indicating that augmentation of these moieties in ozone exposed Adipo 2/2 mice is partially IL-17A dependent, the results indicate that effects of T-cadherin deficiency on BAL neutrophils and G-CSF are likely secondary to changes in IL17A, but that adiponectin also acts via T-cadherin independent pathways. Our results indicate that T-cadherin is required for the ability of adiponectin to suppress some but not all aspects of ozone-induced pulmonary inflammation.
Lncing Epigenetic Control of Transcription to Cardiovascular Development and Disease

Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation is critical for proper heart development, cardiac homeostasis, and pathogenesis. Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as key components of the transcriptional regulatory pathways that govern cardiac development as well as stress response, signaling, and remodeling in cardiac pathologies. Within the past few years, studies have identified many long noncoding RNAs in the context of cardiovascular biology and have begun to reveal the key functions of these transcripts. In this review, we discuss the growing roles of long noncoding RNAs in different aspects of cardiovascular development as well as pathological responses during injury or disease. In addition, we discuss diverse mechanisms by which long noncoding RNAs orchestrate cardiac transcriptional programs. Finally, we explore the exciting potential of this novel class of transcripts as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.
Minimum-variance Brownian motion control of an optically trapped probe

This paper presents a theoretical and experimental investigation of the Brownian motion control of an optically trapped probe. The Langevin equation is employed to describe the motion of the probe experiencing random thermal force and optical trapping force. Since active feedback control is applied to suppress the probe's Brownian motion, actuator dynamics and measurement delay are included in the equation. The equation of motion is simplified to a first-order linear differential equation and transformed to a discrete model for the purpose of controller design and data analysis. The derived model is experimentally verified by comparing the model prediction to the measured response of a 1.87 microm trapped probe subject to proportional control. It is then employed to design the optimal controller that minimizes the variance of the probe's Brownian motion. Theoretical analysis is derived to evaluate the control performance of a specific optical trap. Both experiment and simulation are used to validate the design as well as theoretical analysis, and to illustrate the performance envelope of the active control. Moreover, adaptive minimum variance control is implemented to maintain the optimal performance in the case in which the system is time varying when operating the actively controlled optical trap in a complex environment.
Determining glioma response to radiation therapy using recombinant peptides

Presently, cancer response is measured by imaging assessment of tumor volumes or by repeated biopsy to analyze pharmacodynamics. These methods of monitoring cancer response are inefficient because volume changes typically require therapy for prolonged time intervals and neoplasms within the brain are less amenable to sequential biopsies. Peptide ligands selected from phage-displayed peptide libraries can rapidly differentiate responding from resistant gliomas. These peptides, in turn, can be labeled with internal emitters to provide a means of noninvasive assessment of glioma susceptibility to radiotherapy within 24 h of therapy. This is platform technology and could allow for ineffective therapy to be modified or switched so that patients are not subjected to a delayed reassessment (2 months) of response to therapy.
Late Serpentinite Movements in the California Coast Ranges: New Evidence and its Implications

Two types of serpentinites are known in the California Coast Ranges. The first, “intrusive” (herein renamed non-detrital) is the most widespread, particularly along the thrust contact separating the Franciscan terrane from the coeval, and apparently overlying the Great Valley sequence. The second type, detrital serpentinite, is interfingered with sediments in the lower portion of the Great Valley sequence, probably as a result of submarine slumping during Tithonian and Early Cretaceous times. Detailed mapping of both types of serpentinite bodies shows they exhibit extrusive features indicative of recent remobilization by superficial readjustments. Because of this remobilization, many bodies of detrital serpentinite may have been overlooked. The combined study of detrital and non-detrital serpentinites has important implications for the interpretation of Coast Range geology in the light of global tectonic concepts. Detrital serpentinites were probably deposited at the base of a middle Mesozoic continental slope, perhaps in an oceanic trench. The source material was not derived from adjacent landmasses and probably was extruded onto the sea floor by tectonic activity. Non-detrital serpentinites and overlying mafic rocks represent the basement upon which the Great Valley sequence was laid. The ultramafic-mafic assemblage may represent a remnant of oceanic crust or an ophiolite extrusion.
Anaerobes survive in clinical specimens despite delayed processing

Quantitative cultures were performed on 11 purulent specimens of at least 2 ml from mixed aerobic-anaerobic infections to determine the effect of prolonged exposure to air on the recovery of anaerobes. The specimens were processed immediately and after air exposure for periods of 10 min and 1, 4, and 24 h. There were at total of 37 anaerobic and 36 aerobic strains recovered from these specimens. Of the anaerobes, 26 were isolated with the initial processing and 22 were still present after air exposure for 24 h. The numerical concentrations of anaerobes showed little change with the sequential samplings. Eleven anaerobic strains were not detected in the initial culture but appeared sporadically in subsequent cultures. Using the types of specimens and method of processing employed in this study, most pathogenic anaerobes survived in purulent exudate despite extended periods of air exposure. The major cause of discrepent results with periodic cultures was attributed to vagaries in sampling.
The Lacanian Subject: Subject of Desire or the Subject of Drive?

This article reviews the concepts of Alienation and Separation as two distinct “logical moments” constitutive of subjectivity as theorized by Jacques Lacan. These logical moments, mediated by the materiality of language and enabling subjective orientations to the Other, are to be regarded as distinct psychical events that fundamentally structure a person's relation to the dimension of the Other, and without which linguistic subjectivity ‐ becoming a subject of language ‐ would not be possible. It is emphasized here that these events are by no means an inevitable sequence in a natural developmental teleology but are rather contingent occurrences related to both the underlying cognitive capacities of a young child and to the specific nature of the child ‐ caregiver relationship. That is to say, there may be underlying cognitive-developmental issues at stake impeding the occurrence of Alienation and Separation as subjective psychical events in a caregiving environment where they would normally occur, just as much as there may be a disturbance in the child-caregiver relationship that objectively disrupts these occurrences from ever taking place. It should also be noted that Lacanian Psychoanalysis is a culturally specific discourse, responding to and intervening within specific cultural configurations ‐ those of Western modernity in the late 20 th and early 21 st centuries. The clinical practice of Lacanian Psychoanalysis advocates the production of a third moment of subjectivity, beyond Alienation and Separation, wherein subjectivity is finally construed with regard to objects of drive / jouissance, rather than the Other's demand or the Other's desire. This article limits itself to an overview of the first two moments of subjectivity, Alienation and Separation. The concept of Alienation in the Other's demand will be used as a way to clarify the clinical intervention made by Melanie Klein with the developmentally disordered Little Dick, described in her 1930 article, “The Importance of Symbol Formation in The Development of the Ego”.