cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Makes the Human Brain Special: Key Features of Brain and Neocortex

Humans have the largest brain of any primate. While it seems logical to assume that overall size is very important for generating complex behaviours, brain size relative to body size has been considered to be a major factor in predicting overall brain capacity. It turns out, however, that the absolute number of neurons in the cerebral cortex, regardless of body mass, may be a more relevant factor. Here we review the ways in which brains have increased in size, why absolute brain size is sometimes important, and why the size of the human brain allowed us to have cognitive abilities that exceed those of other primates. We suggest that cognitive functions are largely mediated by the neocortex, and because the human brain scales like a typical primate brain, the large neocortex of humans contains more neurons than any other mammal, even those with larger brains such as elephants. Further, as neurons in primary sensory cortex increase in numbers with brain size at a greater rate than the increase in the number of neurons in thalamic relay nuclei, primates with larger brains and more neocortex also have more neurons to analyze these sensory inputs. As numbers of neurons increase, individual neurons are free to specialize in different ways, generating increasing variability in cell size, shape, dendritic arborization and other features. In addition, an expanded cortical sheet contains more cortical areas, thereby increasing the number of computational levels involved in information processing, decision-making, and information storage. Having more cortical areas allows any given area to become more specialized in terms of laminar and sub-laminar organization, modular organization, connectivity and function. Increases in cortical field number also allow for greater variation in the sizes of areas, and thereby different types of functional specializations. Finally, large brains have more areas that are removed from primary sensory inputs and capable of hemispheric specialization. Of course, the costs of a large brain are considerable in terms of gestation time, postnatal vulnerability, and metabolic costs. Thus, it is not surprising that most mammals have relatively small brains that are constrained in their processing capacity, but are more metabolically efficient, and mature rapidly allowing for early reproduction.
Bipolar disorders and comorbid conditions – Ethical considerations in sports

Abstract Introduction The goal of pharmacologic intervention is therapeutic outcome – maximal efficacy with minimal adverse effects. In treating bipolar disorder, this may be complicated by comorbidities and/or adjunctive medications required to address adverse effects. Optimal rational polypharmacy may maximize therapeutic outcome yet could create ethical issues in competitive sports. The World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and yearly published World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List are intended to deter and sanction athletes using performance-enhancing agents while promoting an even playing field for all competitors. This paper presents three hypothetical examples (ADHD/lithium-tremor/pain) wherein unintended Prohibited List contravention would result in doping violation disqualifications without approved Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs). Method Hypothetical case analyses with literature review. Results Comorbid ADHD – the Prohibited List precludes psychostimulants (methylphenidate/amphetamines) in competition (S6) but permits guanfacine/atomoxetine. When psychostimulants effectively treat ADHD in athletes with bipolar disorder but guanfacine/atomoxetine do not, these patient-athletes, with clinician's certification and supportive documentation, should file TUEs. Lithium-tremor – beta-blockers are frequently prescribed to control lithium-tremor but are not permitted for specific sports (P2). If alternatives (primidone) are ineffective, TUEs are indicated. Pain – chronic pain management is difficult in athletes as narcotic analgesics (S7) and cannabinoids (S8) are prohibited in competition. When comorbid pain is not controlled with approved medications, TUEs are required. Conclusion Patient-athletes with bipolar disorder and comorbidities require holistic approaches with appreciation of both the WADC and Prohibited List. Athletes should list all medications with diagnoses/obtain TUEs/verify proposed medication status (banned/restricted/permitted) with appropriate International Federations and/or Olympic organizations. Clinicians should be cognizant of these issues when treating patient-athletes.
Preliminary Investigation of Predicting Permanent Deformations of Unbound Granular Materials Using Miniaturized Pressuremeter Cyclic Data

The permanent deformations of unbound pavement layers are typically caused by the movement and densification of aggregate particles under the influence of repeated wheel loads. This type of distress, which represents one of the major failure modes in flexible pavements, has been investigated by many researchers. In this research, a miniaturized pressuremeter (MPMT) device was used to predict rutting of unbound granular materials by performing cyclic field testing. The permanent deformations measured using cyclic triaxial (CT) testing were compared with those predicted from the MPMT testing. Four unbound pavement materials used as a pavement base and subgrade were tested and evaluated. The Tseng-Lytton model, also known as the sigmoidal model, was used to analyze and interpret permanent strain data obtained from both tests. The data showed that the permanent strains predicted from in situ MPMT tests are larger than those measured from laboratory CT tests. However, it is demonstrated that the best results are obtained when MPMT permanent strains are adjusted by using the slope of the strain level model as a reduction factor. The results indicated that the average ratio of predicted to measured permanent strain was 0.66 and 0.89 for subgrade and base course materials, respectively. In addition, it was concluded that the MPMT stress-strain data from ten MPMT loading cycles provide a reasonable estimation for soil strain parameters of the sigmoidal model.
PHYLOGENETIC CHARATERIZATION OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IN IRAQ

Objective: The main goal of the current study was to isolate and detect the phylogenetic characterization of Listeria monocytogenes isolate from clinical and non-clinical specimens. Methods: L. monocytogenes was isolated from 353 samples including: (94) Vaginal swabs, (81) piece of placenta, (51) frozen chicken, (69) soft cheese, and (58) frozen red meat samples using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for the detection of virulence gene hlyA followed by DNA sequence analysis for this gene. Results: A total of 13 isolates of L. monocytogenes were isolated from 2 (2.1%) vaginal swabs, 4 (4.9%) piece placenta, 2 (3.9%) frozen chicken, 3 (4.3%) frozen soft cheese, and 2 (3.4%) frozen red meat samples, and hlyA gene was detected in 100% of L. monocytogenes isolates. Conclusion: All the isolates tested positive for hlyA gene, so this is important role in the study of the L. monocytogenes infection and its pathogenicity. The phylogenetic analysis showed a clear convergence in the L. monocytogenes isolates from chicken, red meat, and soft cheese 70%, while there is a marked difference in isolates of L. monocytogenes isolated from placenta and vaginal swabs.
Mild ventriculomegaly from fetal consultation to neurodevelopmental assessment: A single center experience and review of the literature.

Abstract Objective The aim of our study was to determine the outcome of fetuses with isolated mild ventriculomegaly, with prenatal imaging work-up, prenatal consultation, delivery and clinical follow-up performed in a single tertiary referring center. Methods Fetuses with isolated and non-progressive mild ventriculomegaly (10–15 mm) were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were as follows: singleton pregnancies, normal chromosomal analysis, normal serological evaluation of TORCH, fetal ultrasound and MRI excluding additional CNS or extra-CNS malformations. The prenatal consultation consisted in discussing the prognosis of ventriculomegaly, according to the literature. The postnatal follow-up protocol included a neuroradiological investigation (cranial ultrasound or MRI), neurological and pediatric examinations. The Griffiths Scales were used to assess the neurodevelopmental outcome. Results Thirty newborns were included in follow-up. The postnatal neuroradiological investigations confirmed the ventriculomegaly as an isolated finding in all cases except one. Nineteen children were available for formal neurodevelopmental testing. In our case series, 93.3% of the children had a favorable outcome or mild anomalies. Two children (6.6%) with mild ventriculomegaly were diagnosed as having rare genetic conditions. The Griffiths developmental quotients were normal (mean General Quotient 98.3) at the latest assessment (mean age 20.8 months) in all but one case. Discussion Most children in our case series had a favorable outcome, as described in the literature. Even though a large quantity of data is now available on ventriculomegaly, fetal consultation remains challenging and requires caution. The diagnostic work-up of pregnancies diagnosed with mild ventriculomegaly must be very meticulous and include TORCH evaluation, microarray, serial ultrasounds to exclude progression, and a fetal MRI. However, despite accurate screening, there are more complex conditions in which ventriculomegaly can be the only non-specific finding in fetal life, making postnatal follow up mandatory.
Megasporogenesis and endosperm formation inEriodendron anfractuosum D.C.

1. The development of the female gametophyte and endosperm formation inEriodendron anfractuosum has been studied. 2. Ovules are bitegumentary, anatropous with a zig-zag micropyle. The archesporium is hypodermal, and cuts off a parietal cell. Development of more than one archesporium has been observed. 3. The four megaspores formed are arranged as T-shaped tetrads. 4. The development of the embryo-sac conforms to the normal type. Antipodals show early degeneration. 5. A case of embryo-sac reversal has been noticed. 6. Endosperm is nuclear, and during post-fertilization stages the chalazal end becomes haustorial in function. 7. The floss is formed from the inner epidermal layer of the carpel. The cells of the floss are binucleate.
The Insect Z-Band

The Z-band is an electron dense structure that borders sarcomeres in striated muscle. It is a complex assembly of proteins that organizes and stabilizes both thick and thin filament arrays in the contractile apparatus. By anchoring actin filaments and protein extensions of myosin filaments, the Z-band ensures that active as well as passive tensions are transmitted from one sarcomere to the next along the length of muscle.
Concurrent Generation of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide Damages the Pulmonary Surfactant System

Activated alveolar macrophages and epithelial type II cells release both nitric oxide and superoxide which react at near diffusion-limited rate (6.7 × 109 M−1s−1) to form peroxynitrite, a potent oxidant capable of damaging the alveolar epithelium and pulmonary surfactant. Peroxynitrite, but not nitric oxide or superoxide, readily nitrates phenolic rings including tyrosine. We quantified the presence of nitrotyrosine in the lungs of patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and in the lungs of rats exposed to hyperoxia (100% O2 for 60 h) using quantitative immunofluorescence. Fresh frozen or paraffin embedded lung sections were incubated with a polyclonal antibody to nitrotyrosine, followed by goat anti-rabbit IgG coupled to rhodamine. Sections from patients with ARDS (n=5), or from rats exposed to hyperoxia (n=3), exhibited a two fold increase of specific binding over controls. This binding was blocked by the addition of an excess amount of nitrotyrosine and was absent when the nitrotyrosine antibody was replaced with non-immune IgG. In additional experiments we demonstrated that significant nitrotyrosine formation could be demonstrated in lung tissues incubated with peroxynitrite, but not nitric oxide, or reactive oxygen species.
Robust Residual Generation for Nonlinear System Fault Detection and Isolation

Abstract This paper presents the development of a fault detection and isolation scheme for nonlinear dynamic systems. The paper presents in detail the problem formulation, explores the existence conditions for fault isolation and quantifies the computational needs of the isolation scheme. A detailed procedure is presented for the construction of residual generators from models of the system to be monitored. The formulation presented here is completely-new and extremely general, being applicable to almost all kinds of faults, including input, output and component faults
Roles for Socially Engaged Philosophy of Science in Environmental Policy

In recent years, philosophers of science have taken renewed interest in pursuing scholarship that is “socially engaged.” As a result, this scholarship has become increasingly relevant to public policy. In order to illustrate the ways in which the philosophy of science can inform public policy, this chapter focuses specifically on environmental research and policy. It shows how philosophy can assist with environmental policy making in three ways: (1) clarifying the roles of values in policy-relevant science; (2) addressing scientific dissent, especially in response to “hot-button” policy issues; and (3) responding thoughtfully to scientific uncertainty.
Computer-based modeling and interpretation in medicine and psychology; the Rutgers Research Resource.

The Rutgers Research Resource on Computers in Biomedicine1 was established about 3 years ago with the objective of bringing advances in computer science—particularly in artificial intelligence and in interactive data base systems—into problems of biomedical inquiry. The main thrust of the Resource is to develop ways of using the computer as an integral part of the inquiry process. Our thesis is that the computer can be made to play an important role in this process if its potential for symbol manipulation is used to provide ‘intelligent assistance’ in the organization of scientific knowledge and in its utilization for problem solving.
High glucose-induced endothelial microparticles increase adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells.

The experimental aim of this study was to determine, in vitro, the effects of glucose-induced EMPs on endothelial cell expression of E-selectin, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and platelet cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1). Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured (3rd passage) and plated in 6-well plates at a density of 5.0 × 105 cells/condition. HUVECs were incubated with media containing either 25 mM d-glucose (concentration representing a hyperglycemic state) or 5 mM d-glucose (normoglycemic condition) for 48 h to generate EMPs. EMP identification (CD144+) and concentration were determined by flow cytometry. HUVECs (3 × 106 cells/condition) were treated with either high glucose-derived EMPs (hgEMPs) or normal glucose-derived (ngEMPs) for 24 h and surface expression of E-selectin (CD62E-PE), ICAM-1 (CD54-FITC), VCAM-1 (CD106-APC) and PECAM-1 (CD31-BV) was assessed by flow cytometry and reported as mean fluorescent intensity (MFI). Hyperglycemic-derived EMPs induced significantly higher surface expression of E-selectin (2614 ± 132 vs. 2010 ± 204 MFI), ICAM-1 (2110 ± 81 vs. 1688 ± 152 MFI), VCAM-1 (3589 ± 431 vs. 2134 ± 386) and PECAM-1 (4237 ± 395 vs. 2525 ± 269 MFI) on endothelial cells than EMPs from normoglycemic conditions. Microparticle-induced cell adhesion molecule expression provides potential novel mechanistic insight regarding the accelerated risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease associated with hyperglycemia.
Diagnosing the Electorate: James Buchanan in the Role of Political Economist

Reading James Buchanan’s 2005 essay “ Afraid to be free: Dependency as desideratum” is profoundly depressing. Buchanan envisions a rather gloomy future, where despite the intellectual bankruptcy of socialism there will be a steady expansion of the sphere in which state control is exercised over individual choice. The incoherence between the political norms of classical liberal political systems and the fiscal burdens of the welfare state will increase to a breaking point where one or the other must be repudiated. To the extent this involves restricting the generality of welfare entitlements, these programs will be increasingly be seen as dispensations to particular factions, and contestation over the capacity for redistribution will increasingly dominate political life.
Radiogenomic characterization of response to chemo-radiation therapy in glioblastoma is associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR and apoptosis signaling pathways

Over 40% of Glioblastoma (GBM) patients do not respond to conventional chemo-radiation therapy (chemo-RT) and relapse within 6-9 months, suggesting that they may have been better suited for other targeted therapies. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can reliably predict patients' response to chemo-RT in GBM. We seek to evaluate the role of radiomic markers on pre-treatment MRI to predict GBM patients' response to chemo-RT. Further, to establish a biological underpinning of the radiomic markers, we identified radiogenomic correlates of the radiomic markers with signaling pathways that are known to impact chemo-RT response. A total of 49 studies with Gd-T1w, T2w, FLAIR MRI protocols and corresponding gene expression were obtained from Ivy GAP (n=29) and TCIA (n=20) databases. Responders (n=22) were patients with progression-free survival (PFS) of at least ≥ 6 months, while non-responders (n=27) had PFS < 6 months. 13 molecular pathways were curated from the MSigDB Hallmark gene set. For each study, enhancing tumor on MRI was manually segmented by an expert reader. 1390 3D-radiomic features (Gabor, Haralick, and Laws energy) were extracted from this region across all MRI protocols. Joint mutual information identified the 3 most predictive radiomic features in the training set (n=29). This was followed by correlating these features with the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) score computed for every pathway. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was trained using these 3 features and validated on a test set (n=20) that resulted in an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.71 to distinguish chemo-RT responders from non-responders. Laws energy descriptor (characterizing appearance of edges, spots, and ripples) from the enhancing region on Gd-T1w MR images were found to best predict chemo-RT response. Radiogenomic correlation with GSEA scores revealed that these radiomic features were significantly associated with PI3K/AKT/mTOR (promotes cell proliferation, survival) and apoptosis (programmed cell death) signaling pathways (p < 0.03, False Discovery Rate = 5%).
Is dietary or microhabitat specialization associated with environmental heterogeneity in horned lizards (Phrynosoma)

Niche breadth is predicted to correlate with environmental heterogeneity, such that generalists will evolve in heterogeneous environments and specialists will evolve in environments that vary less over space and time. We tested the hypothesis that lizards in a heterogeneous environment were generalists compared to lizards in a homogeneous environment. We compared niche breadths of greater short-horned lizards by quantifying resource selection in terms of two different niche axes, diet (prey items and trophic level), and microhabitat (ground cover and shade cover) between two populations occurring at different elevations. We assessed the heterogeneity of dietary and microhabitat resources within each population's environment by quantifying the availability of prey items, ground cover, and shade cover in each environment. Overall, our results demonstrate that despite differences in resource heterogeneity between elevations, resource selection did not consistently differ between populations. Moreover, environmental heterogeneity was not associated with generalization of resource use. The low-elevation site had a broader range of available prey items, yet lizards at the high-elevation site demonstrated more generalization in diet. In contrast, the high-elevation site had a broader range of available microhabitats, but the lizard populations at both sites were similarly generalized for shade cover selection and were similarly specialized for ground cover selection. Our results demonstrate that environmental heterogeneity of a particular resource does not necessarily predict the degree to which organisms specialize on that resource.
Assessing the Resilience of the Texas Power Grid Network

Understanding the structural properties of the power grids under different disruptive event scenarios is the key towards improvement of the security, reliability, and efficiency of modern power systems. In this pilot study, the concepts of topological data analysis, particularly, persistent homology, are used to derive a new metric for resilience of power grid networks. The proposed approach is illustrated in application to a simulated version of the Texas power grid network, under node and edge based attacks for three different weight functions.
Disentangling Target Motives and Bidders’ Selection of Targets

Prior papers characterizing takeover targets do not address the possibility that certain attributes affect the selling firm’s volition to seek its sale while opposite attributes are sought by bidders. Using a sample of potential target firms that volitionally put themselves up for sale, I find that firms that seek strategic alternatives are performing poorly and have governance incentives to maximize shareholder value. In contrast, the subset of firms that receive bids have relatively better growth and performance, and lower market risk. It appears that, given their choices, bidders do not select under-performing targets, but that potential target firms discipline themselves.
Tough Choices: Exploring Decision-Making for Pregnancy Intentions and Prevention Among Girls in the Justice System

Despite California’s declining teen pregnancy rate, teens in the juvenile justice system have higher rates than their nonincarcerated counterparts. This study explored domains that may shape decisi...
The Effects of IL-1β on Astrocytes are Conveyed by Extracellular Vesicles and Influenced by Age

The aging brain is associated with significant pathophysiological changes reflected in changes in astrocyte function. In this study, we hypothesized that the response of astrocytes to mechanical and inflammatory stimulation would differ with long-term culture. We report that naive short-term cultured (young) and long-term cultured astrocytes (aged) exhibit similar recovery to a scratch wound assay. However, in response to IL-1β young astrocytes have an arrested recovery which is not observed in IL-1β treated aged astrocytes. We had recently reported that astrocytes release extracellular vesicles (EVs) in response to IL-1β treatment. Given the disparate phenotypes between young and aged astrocytes, we next examined whether the EVs released from astrocytes reflected the differences in cellular responses to scratch and IL-1B treatment. Young cultures challenged with EVs collected from IL-1β treated cells exhibited a robust inhibition of wound recovery when compared to astrocytes treated with EVs collected from IL-1β treated aged astrocyte cultures. Heterochronic experiments also determined that the effect of IL-1β on astrocyte scratch wound recovery could be recapitulated by EVs alone. Taken together, these findings provide new information on how senescence alters the functional response and how EVs from astrocytes may elicit changes in glial responses which may have relevance to understanding neurological diseases.
Bus rapid transit arrives in Barranquilla, Colombia: Understanding a changing landscape through residents' travel experiences

Abstract In this article, we describe how the travel experiences of residents of Barranquilla, Colombia have changed since a new bus rapid transit system was deployed in 2010 along with changes to pre-existing private transit services. We recruited interview participants using intercept methods at more than fifteen locations, conducted dozens of semi-structured interviews, and used collaborative and iterative coding to analyze the data. Interviewees expressed mixed feelings about the transition from private transit to the hybrid BRT-private transit system. Many were pleased about reductions in travel time, the air conditioning on BRT vehicles, and an increased sense of safety from crime. But most interviewees also identified significant drawbacks, most notably overcrowding, the insufficiency and complexity of BRT feeder routes, and the elimination of several private transit bus routes. While the free transfer between BRT trunk and feeder routes reduced some users’ out-of-pocket costs, some interviewees, expressed disappointment at losing the ability to bargain over fares. Our findings raise questions about equity in access and affordability, as well as issues of system legibility that emerged with BRT implementation. Another critical lesson from our research points out to a potentially significant problem: while BRT planners tended to focus on safety improvements and mitigating environmental damage, such goals seem to have come at the expense of other aspects that users see as more important, such as reducing improving travel times. Finally, our interviews revealed a complex interaction among transport services, in which some private transit lines complement BRT services while others compete with them.
Validation of prognostic scoring systems for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma enrolled in phase I clinical trials

ABSTRACT Background For patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who progress on standard-of-care therapies, there is an unmet need for novel treatments. Phase I clinical trials are designed to test the safety, toxicity and optimal dosing of novel agents. Herein, we analysed the outcomes of patients with mRCC enrolled in phase I trials and assess the utility of prognostic scores. Methods Patients with all histologies of mRCC were included if they received treatment on a phase I clinical trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC). Survival outcomes were calculated using Cox proportional hazard model. Prognostic value of the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC), Royal Marsden Hospital (RMH) and MDACC scores was assessed using the likelihood ratio (LR) χ2 test and the c-index. Results Among 82 patients with mRCC who received treatment, 21 patients participated in more than one trial, resulting in 106 trial participants (TP). Median prior therapies was two. For all TPs, median overall survival (OS) was 31.2 months, progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.9 months and objective response rate was 22%. Median OS and PFS were significantly shorter with increasing IMDC, RMH and MDACC scores. The RMH and MDACC scores outperformed the IMDC score for predicting OS (RMH LR χ2=8.64; MDACC LR χ2=7.74; IMDC LR χ2=2.36) and PFS (RMH LR χ2=17.5; MDACC LR χ2=20.3; IMDC LR χ2=4.28). Conclusions The RMH and MDACC prognostic scores can be used to predict OS for patients with mRCC in phase I trials and may guide patient selection. Patients with mRCC should be considered for phase I trials.
Architecture on Electrodes — Modeling Meets Materials

Modified electrodes developed as a natural consequence of paradigm changes for physical electrochemical measurements. In the first half of the twentieth century, measurements were made at mercury electrodes in aqueous electrolytes; pristine electrode surfaces were the rigor of the day. Solid electrodes came into use in the 1950s. This in turn led to the use of nonaqueous solvents. The emphasis in electrochemical measurements shifted from the thermodynamic to the dynamic. The expectation of rigorously clean surfaces diminished, and evolved into an interest in intentionally modified electrode surfaces. Merz and Bard reported the first polymer modified electrode in 1978.
Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of carotid plaques with Feraheme-Alexa750 in an atherosclerotic murine model

1227 Objectives: Early detection and intervention of vulnerable plaques can improve coronary artery disease morbidities by preventing serious and often fatal symptoms. Feraheme, an iron oxide nanoparticle, is recognized by proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory macrophages via scavenger receptor type AI/II, and it has been used as an MRI contrast agent for various applications including carotid atherosclerosis imaging. We hypothesize that Feraheme-conjugated NIR fluorophore (Alexa750) can allow us to locate inflamed plaques with near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. Methods: 8-week-old male FVB/NJ mice (n=4) were fed a 0.2% high-cholesterol diet for eight weeks after initial acclimation. Streptozotocin (STZ, 40 mg/kg) was injected peritoneally for 8 consecutive days at week 4 to induce diabetes for accelerating plaque progression. Two weeks after inducing diabetes, the left carotid artery (LCA) was surgically ligated to mimic stenosis. The intact right carotid artery (RCA) served as a negative control. At week 8, mice were fasted for 6 hours before Feraheme-Alexa750 (5 mg/kg) was injected retro-orbitally. In vivo Imaging was performed with an in-house multispectral NIRF imaging system (Ex: 760 nm, Em: 785 nm LP) at various time points (baseline, 1 h, 7 h, and 24 h after injection of contrast agent). Animals were euthanized at the final imaging time point and organs were harvested for ex vivo imaging and future histology analysis. Results: Ex vivo imaging showed significantly higher fluorescent signal in the LCA compared to the control RCA for all mice even at a short 100 ms exposure time (mean signal-to-background ratio [SBR] of 1.70 vs. 1.02, p=0.0262). Imaging of harvested organs showed predominant uptake in the liver (signal-to-background ratio, average SBR=7.6±2.6). In vivo imaging over time showed high fluorescent signal over the chest region and localized at cervical lymph nodes. Conclusions: NIRF imaging with Feraheme-Alexa750 shows promise in the detection of atherosclerotic plaques, particularly for intravascular imaging applications. Continued investigation will involve larger sample sizes with histological analyses in mouse models and in larger animals using intravascular NIRF imaging. Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the MGH Center for Comparative Medicine animal facility staff. Support for this work partially came from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R00HL127180 and T32EB013180.
Toimijuus ja vuorovaikutusjärjestys amerikkalaisten suomenoppijoiden itsenäisessä kielenkäytössä

Aiemmat tutkimukset ovat osoittaneet vastakkainasettelun luokassa ja luokan ulkopuolella tapahtuvassa kielenkaytossa ja oppimisessa. Tassa artikkelissa tarkastelen neljaa amerikkalaista suomenoppijaa ja sita, miten he hakeutuvat aktiivisina toimijoina itsenaisiin suomen kielen kayttotilanteisiin. Artikkelin aineistona on portfoliotehtava, jossa oppijat ovat dokumentoineet ja reflektoineet itsenaista, luokkahuoneen ulkopuolella tapahtuvaa kielenkayttoaan. Tarkastelen aineistoa Scollonin ja Scollonin (2004) neksusanalyysia ja van Lierin (2010) ekologista viitekehysta hyodyntaen. Artikkelin analyysimenetelmana on diskurssianalyysi. Portfolioissa dokumentoidut vuorovaikutustilanteet rakentuivat hierarkkisesti, mika usein syntyi oppijan pyrkimyksesta saada vuorovaikutuskumppanista ja -tilanteesta maksimaalinen hyoty ja kielellinen altistus. Lisaksi hierarkkisuutta loivat oppijan ja asiantuntevan suomenpuhujan erilaisiksi koetut roolit. Vuorovaikutus rakentuikin usein oppijan aloitteen ja asiantuntevan kielenkayttajan vastausten varaan. Tama artikkeli osoittaa, kuinka suuri merkitys aloitteellisuudella, toimintaymparistolla ja vuorovaikutuskumppaneilla on vieraan kielen oppijoiden itsenaisessa kielenkaytossa. Tutkimustuloksia voi hyodyntaa vieraan kielen pedagogiikan kehittamiseen, jotta se vastaisi paremmin oppijoiden todellisia kielenkayttotarpeita.
Ultrastructure of Pneumocystis carinii: a review of internal and surface characteristics.

Abstract Electron microscopy (EM) shows unique characteristics of Pneumocystis carinii (PC) that are impossible to appreciate by light microscopy. EM's major contribution is In its elucidation of the PC life cycle, the host-parasite interaction of PC, and less so, of PC's taxonomy. Difficulty with EM stems from the propensity of PC to undergo degeneration and from the dearth of studies of well-preserved organisms. Ultrastructurally, the foamy alveolar cast (FAC) is composed of intimately associated cysts and trophozoltes and contains little or no fibrin. By transmission EM (TEM), PC conglomerates are held together by slender membroanotubular extensions (MTE) growing from their concave and convex surfaces. Voids, formed by the juxtaposition of the uneven contours of the organisms and their intertwined MTE, contribute significantly to the FAC. The interior of the organisms lacks a complex organelle system typical of protozoa, but may contain Intracystic bodies. Neither the MTE nor thicker processes of the cyst wall shows microtubules or any other cytoskeletal element. Trophozoites are even less rigid and adapt closely to the surface of type I alveolar epithelial cells. By scanning EM (SEM), gnome's hat-shaped organisms with beaded borders correspond to the crescent-shaped cysts noted by TEM. Slender processes are noted In rough surfaces of the organisms, whereas smooth surfaces display occasional budding. Elongated filopodia act as interparasitic fibrils but contribute little to contact with host cells. Together with argyrophilia and the Pap-stained fluroescence by UV light, the ultrastructure of PC suggests the organism Is a fungus. This Is In agreement with results of recent ribosomal RNA sequence studies that show PC to be related to sacharomyces.
Volubility as a mediator in the associations between conversational language measures and child temperament

Background: Despite support for the use of conversational language measures, concerns remain regarding the extent to which they may be confounded with aspects of child temperament, extraversion in particular. Aims: This study of 161 twins from the Western Reserve Reading Project (WRRP) examined the associations between children's conversational language use and three key aspects of child temperament: Surgency (i.e., introversion/extraversion), Effortful Control (i.e., attention and task persistence) and Negative Affectivity (e.g., fear, anger, sadness). Child biological sex was considered as a possible moderating factor. Methods & Procedures: Correlational analyses were conducted between aspects of temperament during early school-age years (i.e., 7–8 years), as measured by the Children's Behavior Questionnaire—Short Form (CBQ), and six different measures of children's conversational language use: total number of complete and intelligible utterances (TCICU), number of total words (NTW), mean length of utterance (MLU), total number of conjunctions (TNC), number of different words (NDW) and measure D (i.e., a measure of lexical diversity). Values for NTW, TNC and NDW were derived both on the entire sample and on the first 100 C-units. Correlations between language and temperament were compared between girls and boys using the Fisher r-to-z transformation to examine the significance of potential moderating effects. Outcomes & Results: Children's reported variability in Effortful Control did not correlate significantly with any of the child language measures. In contrast, children's Negative Affectivity and Surgency tended to demonstrate positive, albeit modest, correlations with those conversational language measures that were derived from the sample as a whole, rather than from a standardized number of utterances. MLU, as well as measures of NDW and NTW derived from standardized sample lengths of 100 C-units, did not correlate with any measure of child temperament. TNC demonstrated an unexpected negative correlation with child Surgency when it was derived from a standardized number of C-units, but not when derived from the entire sample length. Child biological sex did not moderate the significant associations between language and temperament measures. Conclusions & Implications: Overall, measures that control for volubility did not correlate significantly with child temperament; however, measures that reflected volubility tended to correlate weakly with some aspects of temperament, particularly Surgency. Results provide a degree of discriminant evidence for the validity of MLU and measures of type (i.e., NDW) and token use (i.e., NTW) when derived from a standardized number of utterances.
Magnetic bead purification of labeled DNA fragments for high-throughput capillary electrophoresis sequencing.

We have developed an automated purification method for terminator sequencing products based on a magnetic bead technology. This 384-well protocol generates labeled DNA fragments that are essentially free of contaminates for less than $0.005 per reaction. In comparison to laborious ethanol precipitation protocols, this method increases the phred20 read length by forty bases with various DNA templates such as PCR fragments, Plasmids, Cosmids and RCA products. Our method eliminates centrifugation and is compatible with both the MegaBACE 1000 and ABIPrism 3700 capillary instruments. As of September 2001, this method has produced over 1.6 million samples with 93 percent averaging 620 phred20 bases as part of Joint Genome Institutes Production Process.
Combining General and Domain-Specific Strategic Support for Biological Inquiry

BGuILE is a learning environment in which students explore rich problem contexts in evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology. BGuILE uses domain-specific investigation models to scaffold students for the particular strategies experts use in these domains. These investigation models focus students on the relevant aspects of each domain, and support productive investigation strategies within the domain. BGuILE's explanation construction tools encourage students to bridge from their problem-specific explanations to broader domain theories and a more general understanding of scientific inquiry and theory-building. BGuILE is situated within classroom activities which encourage students to inquire into complex problems and discuss their research with their teachers and peers.
Prevalence of Decreased Visual Acuity among Preschool Aged Children in an American Urban Population: The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study, Methods and Results

Objective To determine the age- and ethnicity-specific prevalence of decreased visual acuity (VA) in white and black preschool-aged children. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study is a population-based evaluation of the prevalence of ocular disorders in children 6 through 71 months of age in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Among 4132 children identified, 3990 eligible children (97%) were enrolled and 2546 children (62%) were examined. This report focuses on 1714 of 2546 examined children (67%) who were 30 through 71 months of age. Methods Field staff identified 63 737 occupied dwelling units in 54 census tracts. Parents or guardians of eligible participants underwent an in-home interview, and eligible children underwent a comprehensive eye examination including optotype visual acuity (VA) testing in children 30 months of age and older, with protocol-specified retesting of children with VA worse than an age-appropriate standard. Main Outcome Measures The proportion of children 30 through 71 months of age testable for VA and the proportion with decreased VA as defined by preset criteria. Results Visual acuity was testable in 1504 of 1714 children (87.7%) 30 through 71 months of age. It was decreased at the initial test (wearing glasses if brought to the clinic) in both eyes of 7 of 577 white children (1.21%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–2.50) and 13 of 725 black children (1.79%; 95% CI, 0.95–3.08), a difference that is not statistically significant. Decreased VA in both eyes after retesting was found in 3 of 598 white children (0.50%; 95% CI, 0.10–1.48) and in 8 of 757 black children (1.06%, 95% CI=0.45, 2.10), also not statistically significantly different. Uncorrected ametropia explained the decreased VA on initial testing in 10 of the 20 children. Conclusions Decreased VA in both eyes of children 30 through 71 months of age at presentation in urban Baltimore was 1.2% among white children and 1.8% among black children. After retesting within 60 days of the initial examination and with children wearing best refractive correction, the rate of decreased VA in both eyes was 0.5% among white children and 1.1% among black children. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
African American Participants’ Views on Racial Disparities in Drug Court Outcomes

This qualitative study with 14 African American participants of a Texas drug court explored the factors that might contribute to racial disparities in drug court outcomes. The findings suggest that the factors that might contribute to racial disparities in outcomes include African American participants’ (a) beliefs that drug court sanctions were not implemented in a culturally sensitive manner; (b) dissatisfaction with being mandated to attend Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings; (c) perceptions that they were not offered enough resources to gain and maintain employment; (d) views that they were not receiving individualized treatment; and (e) beliefs that they can relate better to other African American clients and staff members. Implications for policy advocacy, future research, and social work practice are discussed.
Thrombomodulin, an endothelial anticoagulant protein, is absent from the human brain

Protein C activation by thrombin is significantly accelerated by the endothelial cell cofactor, thrombomodulin. In this study, we have developed a radioimmunoassay for thrombomodulin and have measured the cofactor content in several human tissues. The assay method detects as little as 2 ng of thrombomodulin. The highest thrombomodulin content was found in lung and placenta, but the antigen was also detected in spleen, pancreas, liver, kidney, skin, heart, and aorta. Unexpectedly, thrombomodulin was absent from brain. Extracts from cerebral cortex, cerebellum, centrum semiovale, midbrain, basal ganglia, pons, and medulla were devoid of thrombomodulin. In contrast, thrombomodulin antigen is present in extracerebral intracranial vessels, including basilar and internal carotid arteries and choroid plexus, as well as in endothelium of the pia-arachnoid.
Statistical Methods for Establishing Personalized Treatment Rules in Oncology

The process for using statistical inference to establish personalized treatment strategies requires specific techniques for data-analysis that optimize the combination of competing therapies with candidate genetic features and characteristics of the patient and disease. A wide variety of methods have been developed. However, heretofore the usefulness of these recent advances has not been fully recognized by the oncology community, and the scope of their applications has not been summarized. In this paper, we provide an overview of statistical methods for establishing optimal treatment rules for personalized medicine and discuss specific examples in various medical contexts with oncology as an emphasis. We also point the reader to statistical software for implementation of the methods when available.
Direct CD1d-Mediated Stimulation of APC IL-12 Production and Protective Immune Response to Virus Infection In Vivo

CD1d-restricted NKT cells rapidly stimulate innate and adaptive immunity through production of Th1 and/or Th2 cytokines and induction of CD1d(+) APC maturation. However, therapeutic exploitation of NKT cells has been hampered by their paucity and defects in human disease. NKT cell-APC interactions can be modeled by direct stimulation of human APCs through CD1d in vitro. We have now found that direct ligation with multiple CD1d mAbs also stimulated bioactive IL-12 release from CD1d(+) but not CD1d knockout murine splenocytes in vitro. Moreover, all of the CD1d mAbs tested also induced IL-12 as well as both IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha in vivo from CD1d(+) but not CD1d-deficient recipients. Unlike IFN-gamma, CD1d-induced IFN-alpha was at least partially dependent on invariant NKT cells. Optimal resistance to infection with picornavirus encephalomyocarditis virus is known to require CD1d-dependent APC IL-12-induced IFN-gamma as well as IFN-alpha. CD1d ligation in vivo enhanced systemic IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IFN-alpha and was protective against infection by encephalomyocarditis virus, suggesting an alternative interpretation for previous results involving CD1d "blocking" in other systems. Such protective responses, including elevations in Th1 cytokines, were also seen with CD1d F(ab')(2)s in vivo, whereas an IgM mAb (with presumably minimal tissue penetration) was comparably effective at protection in vivo as well as cytokine induction both in vivo and in vitro. Although presumably acting immediately "downstream," CD1d mAbs were protective later during infection than the invariant NKT cell agonist alpha-galactosylceramide. These data indicate that NKT cells can be bypassed with CD1d-mediated induction of robust Th1 immunity, which may have therapeutic potential both directly and as an adjuvant.
Residual Attention as a Predictor of Pilot Performance

Residual attention is important in flying because it allows the pilot to perform the cognitive activities of flying, such as navigation, concurrently with the motor acts of flying. Because residual attention appears to contribute to operational success, a reliable measure of residual attention may be a valuable selection device for flight training. Sixteen student pilots performed a task combination designed to measure residual attention. Scores on this combination were correlated with performances on flight checks administered periodically during flight training. The multiple correlation between performances on the flight checks and the task combination increased as students progressed through flight training. The usefulness of residual attention as a predictor of pilot-performance is discussed.
Heart rate complexity as a diagnostic of autonomic neuropathy

Instantaneous heart rate (IHR) was recorded from both controls and patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM). Spectral analysis showed that change in low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio upon tilt was reduced in IDDM patients (n.s.) compared to controls (p<0.01). Fractal dimension analysis showed that fractal dimension from IHR recorded supine was significantly lower for IDDM patients with a reduced change in LF/HF upon tilt (p<0.01). Results suggest that the fractal dimension of the resting HR, an index of complexity for cardiovascular control, may be a simple diagnostic of autonomic neuropathy.