cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic utility of calretinin immunohistochemistry in cytologic cell block preparations

BACKGROUND Calretinin (CR) is a valuable marker in the immunohistochemical distinction between malignant mesothelioma (MM) and adenocarcinoma (ACA) in tissue sections. However, there is limited and conflicting data regarding the utility of CR in this differential diagnosis on cytologic material, especially cell block preparations. Also, the possible role of CR in the distinction of papillary serous borderline tumor (SBT) cells from reactive mesothelial cells in peritoneal washings has not been examined. METHODS Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cell block specimens of cytologic fluids, washings, and aspirates with a suspicious or positive cytologic diagnosis and a confirmed diagnosis of MM (29 cases), ACA (39 cases), and SBT (10 cases) were used for CR immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS Moderate to strong staining in > 50% of tumor cells was noted in 26 of 29 (90%) MMs but in only 3 of 39 (8%) ACAs and 1 of 10 (10%) SBTs. Admixed reactive mesothelial cells (when present) were strongly positive in all fluid specimens, but the staining pattern of benign non-reactive mesothelial cells in washing specimens was less reliable. CONCLUSIONS CR is both a sensitive and specific marker of reactive and neoplastic mesothelial cells in cytologic cell block preparations and is thus useful in the differential diagnosis of MM and metastatic ACA in malignant effusions. However, CR IHC does not appear to allow definitive identification of SBT in peritoneal washings. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2000;90:312–9. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
GFAP and nuclear lamins share an epitope recognized by monoclonal antibody J1-31

Abstract Monoclonal antibody J1-31 was raised against plaque materials taken from brains of patients who had suffered from multiple sclerosis (MS). Preliminary characterization of the antigen revealed it to be a protein of M w 68–70 kDa with both a cytoplasmic and nuclear localization. Here we report the results of isolation and peptide sequencing of the antigen from human brains, and immunocytochemical analysis of the antigen in F98 glioma cells. Purification and peptide sequencing indicate that the antibody recognizes a form of glial fibrillary acidic protein, possibly a phosphorylated variant. However, confocal immunocytochemistry and western analysis of F98 glioma cells raise the possibility that it also recognizes a phosphorylated epitope found in nuclear lamins. Analysis of the expression of the J1-31 epitope in F98 cells with respect to time in culture, cell density, and DNA synthesis showed a developmental relationship: cells that were engaged in rapid growth and DNA synthesis exhibited strong J1-31 staining in nuclei, whereas quiescent cells did not. We conclude that mAB J1-31 remains a useful antibody for studying multiple sclerosis, and is likely to prove useful in studies of the dynamics of nuclear lamins, particularly in models for wound-healing.
On the electrophoretic heterogeneity of trypsin.

Abstract Two electrophoretic components of trypsin were separated and shown to possess comparable proteolytic activity on natural and synthetic substrates.
Alternation of stimulus and response in three species

Adult fish, rats, and college-student Ss were given two exposures to a T-maze, followed in 1 h by two more exposures. One arm of the maze was lighted for the first three exposures with the opposite arm lighted on the last exposure, making possible free-choice alternation followed by forced-choice alternation (i.e., on the last exposure, S was forced to alternate stimuli or responses, but he could not alternate both). Significant free-choice alternation was found only in the case of the rat. Significant forced-choice behavior that produced response variation was found only with those rat Ss having alternated in the free-choice situation. An inversion of this latter finding was observed with the fish in that significant forced-choice behavior that produced variation in the stimulus component was found with those fish that had not previously alternated. These findings are discussed in light of current theories of alternation.
Some observations on the presence of annulate lamellae in alligator and sea gull adrenal cortical cells

Adrenal cortical tissue was excised from Larus argentatus (sea gull) and Alligator mississippiensis, fixed in phosphate-buffered OsO4, and examined in the electron microscope. Annulate lamellae appeared in the cells from both types of animals. In the alligator, the annulate lamellae appeared to arise through a coalescence of vesicles derived from the nuclear membrane. On the other hand, lamellae in the sea gull cortical cells appeared to originate as sheets either delaminated from or formed on the nuclear membrane. The identical appearance of the two membranes, annulate lamellae and nuclear membrane, is demonstrated. The possibility that the annulate lamellae may arise in different ways depending on the cell type involved is discussed. In the sea gull, it has been suggested that the annulate lamellae may act to supplement the Golgi apparatus because of the similarity in membrane arrangement and the mode of vesicle formation in these two membrane systems.
A Study of the Performance of Developmental Studies Students in the Principles of Economics

This study assesses the performance of Developmental Studies students in the principles of economics. The null hypothesis is that once demographic and academic variables are taken into account, completion of a developmental studies course(s) contributes nothing to the probability of success in a principles of economics course. The study analyzes a sample of 1,053 principles of economics students during the 1989 academic year. A logit regression model is used to estimate the probability of successfully completing a course in the principles of economics. The study finds that the completion of the Developmental Study Skills course is an important determinant of the probability of success in the principles of economics courses.
Principals’ preferences for agents with social preferences

Abstract This study explores a nested representation of ethical, moral, social identity, motivated, opportunistic and reciprocal agent preferences to characterize screening contracts in a principal–agent model under adverse selection. This leads to a ranking of the type of social preferences that principals should seek in agents, based upon the information rents associated with each agent type. When moral hazard is introduced the ranking further depends upon the interaction of limited liability with self-selection. These results are interpreted in light of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act and principal–agent experiments.
Revolutionizing Volunteer Interpreter Services: An Evaluation of an Innovative Medical Interpreter Education Program

In our ever-increasingly multicultural, multilingual society, medical interpreters serve an important role in the provision of care. Though it is known that using untrained interpreters leads to decreased quality of care for limited English proficiency patients, because of a short supply of professionals and a lack of formalized, feasible education programs for volunteers, community health centers and internal medicine practices continue to rely on untrained interpreters. To develop and formally evaluate a novel medical interpreter education program that encompasses major tenets of interpretation, tailored to the needs of volunteer medical interpreters. One-armed, quasi-experimental retro-pre–post study using survey ratings and feedback correlated by assessment scores to determine educational intervention effects. Thirty-eight students; 24 Spanish, nine Mandarin, and five Vietnamese. The majority had prior interpreting experience but no formal medical interpreter training. Students completed retrospective pre-test and post-test surveys measuring confidence in and perceived knowledge of key skills of interpretation. Primary outcome measures were a 10-point Likert scale for survey questions of knowledge, skills, and confidence, written and oral assessments of interpreter skills, and qualitative evidence of newfound knowledge in written reflections. Analyses showed a statistically significant (P 0.8). The second half of the program was also quantitatively and qualitatively shown to be a vital learning experience, resulting in 18 % more students passing the oral assessments; a 19 % increase in mean scores for written assessments; and a newfound understanding of interpreter roles and ways to navigate them. This innovative program was successful in increasing volunteer interpreters’ skills and knowledge of interpretation, as well as confidence in own abilities. Additionally, the program effectively taught how to navigate the roles of the interpreter to maintain clear communication.
Eocene and miocene rocks off the northeastern coast of the United States

Abstract A grab sample from a depth of 1675 m at a point south of Cape Cod contains early Eocene planktonic Foraminifera and is correlated with the Globorotalia rex zone of Trinidad. The assemblage indicates a depth comparable to that existing today. Regional relations suggest that the Cretaceous and Eocene deposits deepen to the west toward New Jersey. Two mollusk-bearing blocks dredged from the northern side of Georges Bank are correlative with the Miocene Yorktown Formation. Rocks from two other stations are probably Miocene. Benthonic Foraminifera in one sample indicate deposition in cool temperate waters of less than 60 m depth.
Patient satisfaction survey of mandibular two-implant–retained overdentures in a predoctoral program

Statement of problem In response to the Commission of Dental Accreditation (CODA) mandate of a competency in the "replacement of teeth including fixed, removable and implant" prostheses, a predoctoral implant curriculum was implemented at New York University College of Dentistry. The assessment of the success or failure of a program should include an assessment of patient satisfaction with the treatment received in the predoctoral clinics. Purpose The purpose of this study was to measure patient satisfaction with the mandibular 2-implant–retained overdenture therapy received in the predoctoral program at New York University College of Dentistry. Material and methods A telephone survey of patients who received an implant-retained overdenture in the predoctoral clinics at New York University, College of Dentistry (n=101) was conducted. Two of the authors contacted patients for participation in the survey and, using a prepared script, asked about their satisfaction with items such as function, comfort, and esthetics in addition to their overall satisfaction with the treatment they received. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results The study revealed that 79% of participants were satisfied with their masticatory ability, 84% were satisfied with the comfort of the prosthesis, and 89% were satisfied with the esthetics of their new prosthesis. Additionally, 85% of participants reported satisfaction with the overall treatment experience, and 90% would recommend that a friend receive the same treatment. Conclusions The results of this study support the incorporation of treatment with an implant-retained mandibular overdenture as part of the routine care provided in the predoctoral education program to meet the mandates of CODA.
The cumulative advance of human know-how.

Modern humans possess an enormous amount of ‘know–how’ that enables them to do things that early humans could not dream of doing. This paper explores some promising connections between two bodies of empirical research and theorizing that bear on technological know–how and its advance. Cognitive science is concerned with the nature and mechanisms of human knowing. The focus traditionally has not been on the knowledge involved in complex technologies, nor on the processes through which human know–how has advanced over time. However, certain recent developments in this field provide a nice linkage with the implicit cognitive theorizing used by scholars who study the advance of technology. And a number of the debates in the two fields are similar.
Forearm training reduces the exercise pressor reflex during ischemic rhythmic handgrip

Mostoufi-Moab, Sogol, Eric J. Widmaier, Jacob A. Cornett, Kristen Gray, and Lawrence I. Sinoway. Forearm training reduces the exercise pressor reflex during ischemic rhythmic handgrip.J. Appl. Phys...
Music Therapy May Reduce Pain and Anxiety in Children Undergoing Medical and Dental Procedures

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Music for pain and anxiety in children undergoing medical procedures: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Klassen JA, Liang Y, Tjosvold L, Klassen TP, Hartling L. Ambulatory Pediatrics 2008;8(2):117-28. Reviewer Tanja Bekhuis, PhD, MS, MLIS Purpose/Question To evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy for reducing pain and anxiety in children undergoing clinical procedures. Source of Funding NLM/NIDCR Pittsburgh Biomedical Informatics Training Program 5 T15 LM/DE07059-22 Type of Study/Design Systematic Review Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Grade B: Inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence
Free Amino Acid and Cysteine Sulfoxide Composition of 11 Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Cultivars by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization and Mass Selective Detection

Two garlic subspecies (n = 11), Allium sativum L. var. opioscorodon (hardneck) and Allium sativum L. var. sativum (softneck), were evaluated for their free amino acid composition. The free amino acid content of garlic samples analyzed ranged from 1121.7 to 3106.1 mg/100 g of fresh weight (mean = 2130.7 +/- 681.5 mg/100 g). Hardneck garlic had greater methiin, alliin, and total free amino acids contents compared to softneck garlic. The major free amino acid present in all but one subspecies was glutamine (cv. Mother of Pearl had aspartic acid as the major free amino acid). Cv. Music Pink garlic (a rocambole hardneck variety) contained the most methiin, alliin, and total free amino acids. The solid-phase extraction, alkylchloroformate derivatization, GC-FID, and GC-MS methods used in this study were simple and rapid, allowing 18 free amino acids in garlic to be separated within 10 min.
Genetic Contributions to Plasma Total Antioxidant Activity

Abstract —Oxidative stress plays important roles in a wide spectrum of pathological processes, such as atherosclerosis. Although several environmental factors are documented to influence redox metabolism, relatively little is known about genetic effects. In the present study, we evaluated genetic contributions to variation in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS), a measure of peroxyl-scavenging capacity, in 1337 members of 40 Mexican American families. TAS levels were significantly lower in women than in men (1.675±0.004 versus 1.805±0.005 mmol/L, respectively; P <0.001), and there was a significant decline of TAS levels with age in men but not in women ( P <0.01 for the interaction). Quantitative genetic analysis indicated the heritability of TAS levels to be 0.509±0.052; ie, ≈51% of the residual variance (after covariate adjustment) in TAS levels was due to the additive effects of genes ( P <0.001). We have further observed a significant gene-by-smoking interaction ( P <0.05). Additive genetic effects account for 83% of the residual phenotypic variance in TAS levels among smokers, but they account for only 49% in nonsmokers. However, genes contributing to TAS variation are the same in smokers and nonsmokers. Our study for the first time demonstrates that TAS, an indicator of redox homeostasis, is under strong genetic control, especially among smokers. With appropriate tools, such as genome screening, it should be possible to localize genes that regulate redox homeostasis and, ultimately, identify the DNA sequence variants predisposing subjects to oxidative damage.
Activation of the transformation potential of the cellular fps gene

Summary Chicken cellular- fps (c- fps ) sequences were substituted for viral- fps (v- fps ) sequences in two retroviral genome structures, one that expressed a c- fps gene product that was indistinguishable from the normal c- fps gene product expressed in chicken bone marrow cells, and another that expressed a gag-fps fusion protein. When c- fps gene sequences (without linked gag gene sequences) were expressed at high levels in a viral vector, no transformation of fibroblasts was detected. It was previously demonstrated that the corresponding v- fps sequences could transform fibroblasts. When the same c- fps sequences were expressed in a form linked to gag gene sequences, transformation of fibroblasts and induction of tumors were observed. The data suggest that the c- fps gene product lacks transformation potential by itself even when overexpressed and that the transformation potential of the c- fps gene can be activated by either mutation (or mutations) in the fps coding region or by fusion with viral gag gene sequences.
A new nonlinear-filter-based modulation/demodulation technique for chaotic communication

A novel modulation/demodulation technique for digital chaotic communications using nonlinear filtering is proposed. The performance of this technique is compared in simulation with the existing nonlinear filtering based chaotic communication schemes for three different nonlinear estimators. The feasibility of the proposed technique is verified by theoretical analysis and computer simulation. The result is also compared with the theoretical bit error rate performance bound for chaotic communications.
A new 4H-SiC normally off lateral channel vertical JFET with extremely low power losses: source inserted double-gate structure with a supplementary highly doped region

A novel silicon carbide (SiC) normally off lateral channel vertical junction field-effect transistor (LC-VJFET), namely a source-inserted double-gate structure with a supplementary highly doped region (SHDR), was proposed for achieving extremely low power losses in high-power switching applications. The proposed architecture was based on the combination of an additional source electrode inserted between two adjacent surface gate electrodes and a unique SHDR in the vertical channel region. Two-dimensional numerical simulations for the static and resistive switching characteristics were performed to analyze and optimize the SiC LC-VJFET structures for this purpose. Based on the simulation results, the excellent performance of the proposed structure was compared with optimized conventional structures with regard to total power losses. Finally, the proposed structure showed about a 20% reduction in on-state loss (P/sub on/) compared to the conventional structures, due to the effective suppression of the JFET effect. Furthermore, the switching loss (P/sub sw/) of the proposed structure was found to be much lower than the results of the conventional structures, about a 75% /spl sim/ 95% reduction, by significantly reducing both input capacitance (C/sub iss/) and reverse transfer capacitance (C/sub rss/) of the device.
Navigating gender structure: women's leadership in a Brazilian participatory conservation project

Though women's empowerment remains a central topic in feminist scholarship and a growing focus within international development, leadership has not received much attention, particularly in the context of natural resource management. Interventions tend to focus on participation rather than leadership as a means of empowerment. The introduction of a participatory conservation program to the Mamiraua Sustainable Development Reserve in Amazonas, Brazil1 has had a striking impact on gender relations, increasing not only women's participation in organized groups but also female leadership in social, economic, and political spheres. This paper examines how rural women succeed in overcoming structural obstacles to leadership. Through field observation, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews, I investigate the opportunities for leadership, the environmental, and social factors that condition women's ability to assume leadership roles, and the assistance they do or do not receive in overcoming barriers. The p...
The impact of STI mechanical stress on the device performance of 90 nm technology node with different substrates and isolation processes

The impact of mechanical stress caused by shallow trench isolation (STI) process in a 90 nm CMOS technology was investigated. Different stresses were monitored by utilizing various spaces between gate and STI edge and changing STI process parameters. By monitoring Idsat, 13.5% degradation with NMOS, and 23% improvement with PMOS from 2.69 to 0.26 /spl mu/m space on 50 nm Si SOI substrate was observed. In case of PMOS, device with thinner Si SOI and thicker liner oxidation showed more improvement at small space which implies more stress. However, NMOS was less sensitive to the stress. NO (Nitric Oxide) liner process led to the smallest PMOS Idsat change, which is good to minimize performance variation of the circuit caused by different layouts.
Varieties of Capitalism and Environmental Sustainability: Institutional Explanations for differences in Firms' Corporate Environmental Responsibility Reporting across 21 OECD Economies

Working draft - Not for citation without the author's permission Comments welcome! Abstract: What factors explain cross-national differences in multinational corporations' (MNCs) environmental responsibility efforts? The logic of economic globalization suggests that multinational corporations operating in countries of comparable economic development and socio-cultural values orientation would pursue similar corporate environmental responsibility (CER) activities and reporting strategies in all of these markets. In reality, however, MNCs' efforts to reduce and report on their ecological footprint exhibit remarkable qualitative and quantitative cross-national differences. Rooted in the varieties of capitalism literature, this paper argues that cross-national institutional differences are a central and hitherto neglected factor in explaining the relationship between popular demands for environmental sustainability and corporate responses to these demands. This argument is tested by comparing quality and quantity of CER information reported by 20 Fortune Global 500 companies on their national websites in 21 OECD countries. Pattern recognition and classification methods are employed in order to construct a new measure of MNCs' reported CER activities. The regression of this measure of CER on Pryor's (2005) categorization of economic systems provides strong evidence that firms disclose more and better information on their corporate environmental responsibility efforts in less coordinated market economies than in more coordinated market economies. These findings challenge the common perception of a trend towards more homogeneous global corporate responsibility efforts. For now, MNCs' corporate environmental responsibility strategies remain embedded in national institutional frameworks.
Adaptive Control Using Residual Mode Filters Applied to Wind Turbines

Many dynamic systems containing a large number of modes can benefit from adaptive control techniques, which are well suited to applications that have unknown parameters and poorly known operating conditions. In this paper, we focus on a model reference direct adaptive control approach that has been extended to handle adaptive rejection of persistent disturbances. We extend this adaptive control theory to accommodate problematic modal subsystems of a plant that inhibit the adaptive controller by causing the open-loop plant to be non-minimum phase. We will augment the adaptive controller using a Residual Mode Filter (RMF) to compensate for problematic modal subsystems, thereby allowing the system to satisfy the requirements for the adaptive controller to have guaranteed convergence and bounded gains. We apply these theoretical results to design an adaptive collective pitch controller for a high-fidelity simulation of a utility-scale, variable-speed wind turbine that has minimum phase zeros.
Labor in American Politics--Its Current Weakness

Trade unions play an important role in United States politics. Much of their influence is based on the resources they are able to mobilize, both financially and numerically through campaign workers and votes; ultimately this influence is rooted in their membership size. Thus, their declining numerical strength over recent years has been a point of interest for many investigators. Research presented here casts doubt on several of the most commonly argued hypotheses purporting to explain this phenomena: (1) the move of population and industry from the "frostbelt" to the supposedly more union-resistant "sunbelt"; (2) the contraction of the work force in smokestack industries; (3) the dwindling percentage of U.S. workers in the traditionally pro-union, blue-collar occupations. A more likely hypothesis is suggested--the changing relation of class forces--with certain key aspects (the employer offensive and the union response) pinpointed, examined, tested, and discussed.
The Role of Hox Genes in Axial Patterning in Hydra1

Abstract Hox genes in bilaterians specify distinct regions along the anterior-posterior axis. A question of interest is when in metazoan evolution did this class of genes take on this function. Hox genes have been isolated from a number of cnidarian species including hydra. The expression patterns of two of them, Cnox-3 and Cnox-2 have been examined in adult hydra. Cnox-3, a labial homologue, plays a role in oral/anterior patterning, while Cnox-2, a Deformed homologue or a Gsx homologue of the ParaHox cluster appears to repress anterior patterning in the body column. The two genes play a role in axial patterning that is consistent with the tissue dynamics of an adult hydra.
Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor by doxorubicin mediates cytoprotective effects in the heart

Aims Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapeutic agent; however, cumulative dose-dependent cardiotoxicity is a significant side effect of this therapy. Because DOX is a polyaromatic hydrocarbon, we hypothesized that it will be metabolized by the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that is involved in the metabolism of numerous xenobiotic agents. These studies were performed to determine whether DOX activates AhR and whether this activation modulates the toxicity of DOX in cardiomyocytes. Methods and results Treatment with DOX induced AhR migration to the nucleus, increased AhR binding with its co-factor, aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-1 (ARNT1), and increased the expression of AhR-regulated phase I (CYP1A1) and phase II (GSTA1) drug-metabolizing enzymes in both cardiomyocytes and in the intact heart. Knockdown of AhR in H9C2 cells abolished DOX-induced increases in CYP1A1 and GSTA1 expression. Similar results were obtained by treating adult rat ventricular myocytes with the AhR antagonist, CH-223191. Taken together, these findings indicate that DOX-induced upregulation of CYP1A1 and GSTA1 expression is AhR dependent. AhR null mice treated with 10 mg/kg DOX did not show any activation of CYP1A1 or GSTA1 expression. Moreover, lack of AhR in vivo resulted in a significant decrease in left ventricular function compared with wild-type animals, and increased p53 activation and apoptosis in the heart after treatment with DOX. Conclusions These findings indicate that AhR plays an important role in DOX metabolism by the heart and further demonstrate that AhR is cardioprotective against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.
Anonygator: privacy and integrity preserving data aggregation

Data aggregation is a key aspect of many distributed applications, such as distributed sensing, performance monitoring, and distributed diagnostics. In such settings, user anonymity is a key concern of the participants. In the absence of an assurance of anonymity, users may be reluctant to contribute data such as their location or configuration settings on their computer.In this paper, we present the design, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of Anonygator, an anonymity-preserving data aggregation service for large-scale distributed applications. Anonygator uses anonymous routing to provide user anonymity by disassociating messages from the hosts that generated them. It prevents malicious users from uploading disproportionate amounts of spurious data by using a light-weight accounting scheme. Finally, Anonygator maintains overall system scalability by employing a novel distributed tree-based data aggregation procedure that is robust to pollution attacks. All of these components are tuned by a customization tool, with a view to achieve specific anonymity, pollution resistance, and efficiency goals. We have implemented Anonygator as a service and have used it to prototype three applications, one of which we have evaluated on PlanetLab. The other two have been evaluated on a local testbed.
'Neutral' Search as a Basis for Antitrust Action?

The Federal Trade Commission recently voted unanimously to close its antitrust investigation into Google’s search practices after concluding that the firm’s practice of favoring its own content in its search results did not violate U.S. antitrust laws. The agency determined that, although the practice (often called “search bias”) may have an incidental negative impact on some competitors, it was a product improvement that likely benefited consumers. Additionally, it concluded that Google did not selectively change its search algorithm to exclude competition, and any disadvantage to competing websites was the collateral result of changes that likely improved the quality of Google searches.By declining to bring a case after determining that Google did not manipulate its search algorithms and search results pages to target particular competitors or to thwart competition, the FTC seemed to have implicitly rejected the notion that Google has a duty to adopt search “neutrality,” as some have advocated. Search neutrality is generally understood to mean that a search engine should not prefer its own content in search results unless its own content is “objectively” superior to competing content based on the use of a “neutral” search algorithm. I suggest, in this essay, that the FTC’s decision was correct. It is difficult to build an antitrust case (against any major search engine) around the notion of search neutrality for several reasons: first, search is inherently subjective and it is unclear what would constitute a “neutral” standard or algorithm, and who would or should have the right to make that judgment; second, there appears to be no identifiable antitrust theory of liability that would require neutral search, and the paper analyzes the essential facilities doctrine to explain why it is a poor fit; and third, any remedy imposing some form of neutral search is likely to be more harmful to consumers than the incidental exclusionary effects that the remedy is supposed to correct.
On essences in constructivist psychology.

The notion of essence in psychology is examined from a constructivist viewpoint. The constructivist position is summarized and differentiated from social constructionism, after which constructs are distinguished from concepts in order to position ontology and epistemology as modes of construing. After situating constructivism in relation to philosophical approaches to essences, the distinction between essences and kinds is examined and the presumed constructivist critique of essences in psychology outlined. It is argued that criticizing constructivism as an “anything goes” form of antirealism fails to grasp how constructivist psychology, by emphasizing structure and viability, does indeed place limits on the constructions people may hold. In applying a constructivist understanding of essences in general to those fundamental to human psychology, people can be seen as having three essential psychological qualities: they are closed systems, active meaning-makers, and irreducibly social beings. Yet a constructivist view also maintains that these psychological essences only hold while operating within and committed to a constructivist perspective. In other words, what counts as an essence always depends on one’s assumptions, or how one construes events. Finally, a personal construct theory model of essentialist and nonessentialist construing is introduced based on the assumption that everyone construes in both essentialist and nonessentialist ways at different times because doing so is pragmatically viable.
Swell Foundations: Fundamental Social Causes and Chronic Inflammation

We assess prior research identifying potential causal links between social disadvantage and chronic inflammation, using Fundamental Social Causes (see Link and Phelan 1995) and gender theory.We use ordinary least-squares regression to investigate how social structure and relationship factors predict C-reactive protein serolevels among participants in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (Waite et al. 2007).Gender predicts chronic inflammation status more strongly and reliably than any other social factor; female participants show significantly higher CRP levels. Other reliable predictors include race, education, and marriage. Black race predicts significantly higher CRP; college education and marriage predict significantly lower CRP. Income predicts CRP inconsistently. Social support and communication variables do not significantly predict CRP in our models.Gender inequalities and pressures may place women at heightened risk for chronic inflammation. Political advocacy and policy action app...
A cell-free protein-producing gel

Proteins are important biomaterials and are generally produced in living cells. Here, we show a novel DNA hydrogel that is capable of producing functional proteins without any living cells. This protein-producing gel (termed 'the P-gel system' or 'P-gel') consists of genes as part of the gel scaffolding. This is the first time that a hydrogel has been used to produce proteins. The efficiency was about 300 times higher than current, solution-based systems. In terms of volumetric yield, the P-gel produced up to 5 mg ml(-1) of functional proteins. The mechanisms behind the high efficiency and yield include improved gene stability, higher local concentration and a faster enzyme turnover rate due to a closer proximity of genes. We have tested a total of 16 different P-gels and have successfully produced all 16 proteins including membrane and toxic proteins, demonstrating that the P-gel system can serve as a general protein production technology.
Efficient Distribution of Triggered Synchronous Block Diagrams

Abstract : Most of the design challenges for complex cyber-physical systems, where a digital controller governs a multiphysics plant, relate to the distributed nature of the systems to be controlled. Cars, airplanes, and power distribution grids are well-known examples. The characteristics of the communication network that connects the system components affect the derivation of the control law and the verification of design correctness. For this reason, there has been a strong interest in using languages and methodologies that facilitate the use of formal methods. These languages and methodologies are mostly based on a synchronous paradigm that, while satisfies the need for formalization, often results in an inefficient implementation requiring substantial overhead when compared to approaches that do not enforce synchronicity on the execution platform. Therefore, the interest is high for techniques that on one hand maintain the formal properties of synchronous models, and on the other hand, enable the use of asynchronous and distributed execution platforms with little overhead. In this paper we address the problem of automatic synthesis, and in particular automatic and semantics-preserving implementation of Triggered Synchronous Block Diagrams (SBDs) on distributed, asynchronous execution platforms. This problem was studied for pure SBDs (where all blocks are triggered in every synchronous step) in [23]. The method of [23] can be adapted to Triggered SBDs by using trigger elimination [16], where triggers are transformed to standard inputs. However, this often results in unnecessary communication overhead. In this paper we propose methods to minimize this overhead, thus improving the efficiency of the approach. We consider both general Triggered SBDs where the values of triggers are dynamically computed and are thus not known a-priori, as well as Timed SBDs where triggers are statically known, usually specified by (period, initial phase) pairs.
African-Centered Theses on Mental Health and a Nosology of Black/African Personality Disorder:

Mental health is defined and a diagnostic system of ordered and disordered African (Black) personality functioning is discussed. The discussion first is grounded in the backdrop of briefly stated b...
A search-based bump-and-refit approach to incremental routing for ECO applications in FPGAs

Incremental physical CAD is encountered frequently in the so-called engineering change order (ECO) process in which design changes are made typically late in the design process in order to correct logical and/or technological problems in the circuit. As far as routing is concerned, in order to capitalize on the enormous resources and time already spent on routing the circuit, and to meet time-to-market requirements, it is desirable to re-route only the ECO-affected portion of the circuit, while minimizing any routing changes in the much larger unaffected part of the circuit. Incremental re-routing also needs to be fast and to effectively use available routing resources. In this paper, we develop a complete incremental routing methodology for FPGAs using a novel approach called bump and refit (BR B&R was initially proposed in [4] in the much simpler context of extending some nets by a segment (for the purpose of fault tolerance) for FPGAs with simple i-to-i switchboxes. Here we significantly extend this concept to global and detailed incremental routing for FPGAs with complex switchboxes such as those in Lucent's ORCA and Xilinx's Virtex series. We also introduce new concepts such as B&R cost estimation during global routing, and determination of the optimal subnet set to bump for each bumped net, which we obtain using an efficient dynamic programming formulation. The basic B&R idea in our algorithms is to re-arrange some portions of some existing nets on other tracks within their current channels to find valid routings for the incrementally changed circuit without requiring any extra routing resources (i.e., completely unused tracks), and with little effect on the electrical properties of existing nets.We have developed optimal and near-optimal algorithms (called Subsec_B&R and Subnet_B&R, respectively) to find incremental routing solutions using the B&R paradigm in complex FPGAs. We implemented these algorithms for Lucent's ORCA-2C FPGA, and compared our algorithms to two recent incremental routing techniques, Standard and Rip-up&Reroute, and to Lucent's A_PAR routing tool. Experimental results show that our incremental routers perform very well for ECO applications. Firstly, B&R is 10 to 20 times faster than complete re-routing using A_PAR. Further, the B&R incremental routers are nearly 27% faster and the new nets have nearly 10% smaller lengths than in previous incremental techniques. Also, the B&R routers do not change either the lengths or topologies of existing nets, a significant advantage in ECO applications, in contrast to Rip-up&Reroute which increases the length of ripped up nets by an average of 8.75% to 13.6%.
Adenosine-Mediated Stimulation of Bone Cell Adenylate Cyclase Activity

Adenosine rapidly stimulated adenylate cyclase activity but did not modify cyclic AMP degradation when added to a particulate fraction prepared from isolated bone cells. The effect of adenosine was one-half maximal at 5–10 μM, and was not mimicked by 5′ AMP, inosine, guanosine, uridine, adenine, or ribose. Basal and adenosinestimulated adenylate cyclase activities were directly proportional to the concentration of particulate protein in the assay system. Theophylline decreased the degree to which adenosine stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, whereas another phosphodiesterase inhibitor, RO-20-1724, failed to influence the effect of adenosine. Adenosine itself, and not a metabolite of adenosine, is the stimulator of adenylate cyclase, since it was neither phosphorylated nor deaminated appreciably by the particulate fraction. The particulate fraction did not convert substrate ATP to adenosine in amounts sufficient to enhance adenylate cyclase. The stimulatory effect of adenosine was maximal at 1.2 mM Mg2+...
Left main percutaneous coronary intervention crossing the threshold: time for a guidelines revision!

Surgery with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has been the standard of care for obstructive left main coronary disease for more than 3 decades. The benefits of CABG as exemplified in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study coupled with the dismal early outcomes of percutaneously treating left main
Dense Axion Stars

Axions, if they make up the dark mater, could form dense stars balanced by gravity and the mean-field pressure of the axion Bose-Einstein condensate.
Adaptive A

Agents often have to perform repeated on-line searches as they gain additional knowledge about their environment. We describe an incremental version of A*, called Adaptive A*, that solves series of similar search problems faster than running A* repeatedly from scratch because it updates its heuristics between search episodes. It is simpler than other incremental versions of A* and thus likely easier to extend and adapt to new applications.
Survey on the influencing factors for passive smoking among women at early stages of pregnancy in Shanghai City

Objective The study aimed to assess the prevalence of passive smoking among women at early stages of pregnancy in Minhang District in Shanghai and to explore its influencing factors, so to reduce the harm of tobacco to women's health and provide references and suggestions for the development of effective intervention strategies. Methods 3729 pregnant women were questionnaire surveyed between May 2011 and May 2012, and 3277 effective questionnaires were returned. The influencing factors for passive smoking among the pregnant women were analyzed by using the logistic regression model. Results The prevalence of passive smoking among the pregnant women was 45.3%. Passive smoking of the pregnant women took place mainly at their homes and places outside of their workplaces; however, as compared with other places, the pregnant women had passive smoking for the highest number of days during the past 30 days at their homes and for the longest average duration per day at their workplaces. The main sources of passive smoking of the women were family members other than their husbands, colleagues, and houseguests. Age,education level, work status, the number of pregnancy, smokers in the same household, and if the husband smokes caused a variety of influences on passive smoking of the women in different places. Conclusion Pregnant women in Shanghai have low active smoking rate but high rate of passive smoking. Pregnant women having low education levels, in their first pregnancy, at young ages,or having a smoker husband are the key population for passive smoking intervention. Providing health education for pregnant women and their families and colleagues, establishing smoke-free policies at homes and in workplaces, and reinforcing tobacco control in public places are helpful in reducing exposure of pregnant women to second-hand smoke.
Blockade of extracellular NM23 or its endothelial target slows breast cancer growth and metastasis.

Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase (NDPK), described as NM23 a metastasis suppressor, is found in the culture medium of cancer cells lines suggesting that the kinase may have an extracellular role. We propose that extracellular NM23 released from breast cancers in vivo stimulates tumor cell migration, proliferation and endothelial cell angiogenesis in support of metastasis development.NM23 in the bloodstream of immunocompromised mice carrying human triple-negative breast cancers or in breast cancer patients was measured by ELISA. Primary and metastatic tumor development, the impact of blockade of NM23 and/or its stimulation of nucleotide receptors were measured using in vivo imaging. NM23 expression data in the Curtis breast dataset was examined to test our hypothesis that NM23 may play a mechanistic role in breast cancer development.SCID mice carrying metastatic MDA-MB-231Luc+ triple-negative human breast tumor cells elaborate NM23 into the circulation correlated with primary tumor growth. Treatment of mice with the NM23 inhibitor ellagic acid (EA) or the purinergic receptor antagonist MRS2179 slowed primary tumor growth. At 16 weeks following implantation, lung metastases were reduced in mice treated with EA, MRS2179 or the combination. Expression of NM23 in the Curtis breast dataset confirmed a likely role for NM23 in tumor metastasis.Extracellular NM23 may constitute both a biomarker and a therapeutic target in the management of breast cancer.
Retinal regeneration in birds and mice.

Retinal regeneration from resident Muller glia cells is robust in teleost fish, but is severely limited in birds and mammals. After neurotoxic injury, chick Muller glia can proliferate, and activate neurogenic genes, but they display limited capacity to differentiate into neurons. Developmental signaling molecules enhance this process. Regeneration of retinal neurons in rodents is even more limited. However, studies show evidence of proliferation and neurogenic gene expression after injury, with stronger effects in rats than mice, and differences between mouse strains. Mitogenic growth factors and Wnt signaling potentiate the proliferative response, while misexpression of the proneural transcription factor, Ascl1, reprograms to generate neurons from Muller glial in vitro, and stimulates neuronal regeneration in young mice, in vivo.
Diagnosis and Management of Transplanted Kidney Extrarenal Pseudoaneurysms: A Series of Four Cases and a Review of the Literature

Extrarenal pseudoaneurysms of transplanted kidneys are very rare but can have devastating consequences. In the past, these extrarenal pseudoaneurysms have often led to graft loss as well as significant morbidity and mortality. The role of advanced diagnostic imaging studies and of modern radiologic interventional management has not been studied. In this case series, we present four cases of extrarenal pseudoaneurysms of transplanted kidneys, describe the clinical scenarios and imaging that led to the angiographic diagnosis, and discuss the various endovascular and surgical approaches to management.
Museums without borders: Selected writings of Robert R. Janes

Reading Museums without Borders is like having a cold glass of water thrown on your chosen profession. Museums generally suffer from inherent insularity, coupled with diffidence and arrogance. (170...
Temperature-Induced Shape Changing of Thermosensitive Binary Heterografted Linear Molecular Brushes between Extended Wormlike and Stable Globular Conformations

Inspired by stimuli-triggered unraveling of the von Willebrand factor from a nonsticky globular to a stretched linear shape with exposure of functional groups in blood clotting, this article reports on the synthesis of thermosensitive binary heterografted linear molecular brushes that exhibit temperature-induced shape changing between extended wormlike and collapsed yet stable globular conformations in water. The molecular brushes are composed of two distinct side chain polymers: thermosensitive poly(ethoxydi(ethylene glycol) acrylate) (PDEGEA), which undergoes a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) transition at 9 °C in water, and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), which serves as a stabilizer for the collapsed state. A “grafting to” method was developed to construct molecular brushes by clicking alkyne end-functionalized side chain polymers onto an azide-bearing backbone polymer. While a 1.0 mg/g aqueous solution of PDEGEA homografted molecular brushes turned cloudy upon heating from 0 to 22 °C, at the s...