cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective scale-up: avoiding the same old traps

Despite progress in developing more effective training methodologies, training initiatives for health workers continue to experience common pitfalls that have beset the overall success and cost-effectiveness of these programs for decades. These include lack of country-level coordination of health training, inequitable access to training, interrupted services, and failure to reinforce skills and knowledge training by addressing other performance factors. These pitfalls are now seen as aggravating the current crisis in human resources for health and impeding the effective scale-up of training and the potential impact of promising strategies such as task shifting to address health worker shortages. Drawing on IntraHealth International's lessons learned in designing reproductive health and HIV/AIDS training and performance improvement programmes, this commentary discusses promising practices for strengthening human resources for health through more efficient and effective training and learning programmes that avoid the same old traps. These promising practices include the following: Assessing performance gaps and opportunities before designing a training initiative; addressing performance factors other than skills and knowledge that health workers need to perform well; applying a "learning for performance" approach; standardizing curricula throughout a country; linking pre-service education, in-service training and professional associations; enhancing traditional education; strengthening human resources information systems to improve workforce planning, policies and management; applying technology to meet training needs.
Transmembrane orientation of glycoproteins encoded by the v-fms oncogene

The retroviral oncogene v-fms encodes a glycoprotein whose transport to the plasma membrane is required for transformation. Tryptic digestion of microsomes from transformed cells yielded membrane-protected amino-terminal fragments 40 kd smaller than intact molecules. These fragments were glycosylated, and they included v-fms-coded epitopes expressed at the cell surface. Deletion of the predicted membrane-spanning peptide generated polypeptides that were completely sequestered within microsomes. The mutant glycoproteins acquired more asparagine-linked oligosaccharide chains than did wild-type molecules, lacked kinase activity in vitro, were not transported to the cell surface, and had no transforming activity. Thus, the membrane-spanning segment in the middle of the glycoprotein interrupts translocation of nascent chains into the endoplasmic reticulum, ultimately orienting the amino-terminal domain outside the cell and the carboxy-terminal kinase domain in the cytoplasm. These topological features are similar to those of several growth factor receptors, suggesting that v-fms transforms cells through modified receptor-mediated signals.
Identification of baboon microRNAs expressed in liver and lymphocytes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs (~22 nucleotides) that regulate gene expression by cleaving mRNAs or inhibiting translation. The baboon is a well-characterized cardiovascular disease model; however, no baboon miRNAs have been identified. Evidence indicates that the baboon and human genomes are highly conserved; based on this conservation, we hypothesized that comparative genomic methods could be used to identify baboon miRNAs. We employed an in silico comparative genomics approach and human miRNA arrays to identify baboon expressed miRNAs in liver (n = 6) and lymphocytes (n = 6). Expression profiles for selected miRNAs in multiple tissues were validated by RT-PCR. We identified in silico 555 putative baboon pre-miRNAs, of which 41% exhibited 100% identity and an additional 58% shared more than 90% sequence identity with human pre-miRNAs. Some of these miRNAs are primate-specific and are clustered in the baboon genome like human miRNA clusters. We detected expression of 494 miRNAs on the microarray and validated expression of selected miRNAs in baboon liver and lymphocytes by RT-PCR. We also observed miRNA expression in additional tissues relevant to dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Approximately half of the miRNAs expressed on the array were not predicted in silico suggesting that we have identified novel baboon miRNAs, which could not be predicted using the current draft of the baboon genome. We identified a subset of baboon miRNAs using a comparative genomic approach, identified additional baboon miRNAs using a human array and showed tissue-specific expression of baboon miRNAs. Our discovery of baboon miRNAs in liver and lymphocytes will provide resources for studies on the roles of miRNAs in dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, and for translational studies.
Formulation of implicit finite element methods for multiplicative finite deformation plasticity

Some constitutive and computational aspects of finite deformation plasticity are discussed. Attention is restricted to multiplicative theories of plasticity, in which the deformation gradients are assumed to be decomposable into elastic and plastic terms. It is shown by way of consistent linearization of momentum balance that geometric terms arise which are associated with the motion of the intermediate configuration and which in general render the tangent operator non-symmetric even for associated plastic flow. Both explicit (i.e. no equilibrium iteration) and implicit finite element formulations are considered. An assumed strain formulation is used to accommodate the near-incompressibility associated with fully developed isochoric plastic flow. As an example of explicit integration, the rate tangent modulus method is reviewed in some detail. An implicit scheme is derived for which the consistent tangents, resulting in quadratic convergence of the equilibrium iterations, can be written out in closed form for arbitrary material models. All the geometrical terms associated with the motion of the intermediate configuration and the treatment of incompressibility are given explicitly. Examples of application to void growth and coalescence and to crack tip blunting are developed which illustrate the performance of the implicit method.
Solid state studies. Pt. XV. The v(CO) vibrational spectra of four crystalline η5-C5H5Fe(CO)2 species

Abstract The v(CO) infrared and Raman spectra of a series of related η3-C5H5Fe(CO)2X ( X = Sn or Ge species) compounds are reported. Relative band intensities give evidence of intensity stealing by an intermolecular vibrational coupling mechanism.
Sex differences in adolescent white matter architecture

Background Sex-specific trajectories in white matter development during adolescence may help explain cognitive and behavioral divergences between males and females. Knowledge of sex differences in typically developing adolescents can provide a basis for interpreting sexual dimorphisms in abilities and actions.
Arterial calcification and bone physiology: role of the bone–vascular axis

Bone never forms without vascular interactions. This simple statement of fact does not adequately reflect the physiological and pharmacological implications of the relationship. The vasculature is the conduit for nutrient exchange between bone and the rest of the body. The vasculature provides the sustentacular niche for development of osteoblast progenitors and is the conduit for egress of bone marrow cell products arising, in turn, from the osteoblast-dependent haematopoietic niche. Importantly, the second most calcified structure in humans after the skeleton is the vasculature. Once considered a passive process of dead and dying cells, vascular calcification has emerged as an actively regulated form of tissue biomineralization. Skeletal morphogens and osteochondrogenic transcription factors are expressed by cells within the vessel wall, which regulates the deposition of vascular calcium. Osteotropic hormones, including parathyroid hormone, regulate both vascular and skeletal mineralization. Cellular, endocrine and metabolic signals that flow bidirectionally between the vasculature and bone are necessary for both bone health and vascular health. Dysmetabolic states including diabetes mellitus, uraemia and hyperlipidaemia perturb the bone-vascular axis, giving rise to devastating vascular and skeletal disease. A detailed understanding of bone-vascular interactions is necessary to address the unmet clinical needs of an increasingly aged and dysmetabolic population.
Extension of the picture-superiority effect over multiple lists

In general, pictures are freely recalled better than words, but results of a pilot experiment indicated that this picture-superiority effect diminished with successive lists. We report here an experiment in which we investigated how the diminution over lists would respond to manipulation of rate of presentation and list length. Although the diminution over lists did not replicate, the experiment serves to extend the generality of the picture-superiority effect.
A comparison of the electrical properties and morphological characteristics of the smooth muscle of the rat and guinea-pig vas deferens.

Microelectrodes were used to compare a variety of electrophysiological parameters of the rat and guinea-pig vas deferens. In comparison to the guinea pig, spontaneous junction potentials in the rat tissue were of shorter duration and occurred with greater frequency and amplitude. Action potentials induced by nerve stimulation could be observed in the smooth muscle of both species. However, in the rat tissue the majority of action potentials were generated in the impaled cell while 60% of the action potentials in the guinea-pig vas deferens were propagated. When current was intracellularly applied, spike potentials could be induced in approximately 90% of the cells of the rat vas deferens but in less than 10% of the cells of the guinea-pig vas deferens, The space constant was 1.48 mm for the guinea-pig vas deferens, but less than 0.5 mm for the rat vas deferens. Electronmicroscopic examination of the homologous tissues indicates that the differences in electrical properties can be accounted for in part by differences in morphology. The incidence and intimacy of neuromuscular contacts was greater in the rat vas deferens while the incidence of nexuses between smooth muscle cells was greater in the guinea-pig tissue.
Genetic Linkage in Soybean

Mapping mutants of classical linkage groups 6 and 8 (CLGs 6 and 8) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] can enhance the identification of important agronomic traits. Genetic data suggest that CLGs 6 and 8 may belong to the same linkage group. Our objectives were to determine if CLGs 6 and 8 are the same or different linkage groups and to determine the gene order. Genotypes containing mutants of CLGs 6 and 8 and mutants of other CLGs were crossed in various combinations. Data for the different characters were collected from F 2 populations and F 2:3 families. Recombination values confirmed that CLG 6 characters, Df2 and Y 11 were linked (R = 27.0 ± 5.9), Df 2 was linked to Ms 1 (CLG 8) (R = 24.8 ± 1.2) and to W 1 (CLG 8) (R = 36.4 ± 13), and Y 11 was linked to Ms 1 (R = 31.7 ± 1.4). F 2 data suggested that Y 11 segregated independently of W 1 , while F 2:3 data indicated the two were linked (R = 38.4 ± 3.2). Our data indicated that CLGs 6 and 8 belong to the same linkage group, which is molecular linkage group F (MLG F), and chromosome 13. Y 11 and Adh 1 are at the ends of the chromosome segment studied, and Y 23 is located between Ms 6 and St 5 . Recombination values among the other loci of CLG 8, and between them and loci of other CLGs were consistent with published values. This information will be useful in the reassignment of CLGs, ordering of loci, and will enhance molecular genetic linkage mapping in soybean.
Network community, clusters and hubs in cortical micro circuits.

Networks of cortical neurons are essentially non-random [1]. Although it is known that such networks show interesting structure at multiple temporal and spatial scales [2], almost no experimental work has been done to reveal how structures at these different scales relate to each other. This study aimed to clarify important relations between non-randomness in groups of 3-6 neurons (clusters) and non-randomness in groups of 50-100 neurons (communities) through five steps. First, we recorded spontaneous activity of up to 500 neurons from rodent somatosensory cortex using a 512ch. multi-electrode system over one hour [3]. Second, we reconstructed effective connectivity using transfer entropy [4]. Third, we compared topologies of effective networks at the 3-6 neuron scale (clusters including motifs [Figure1-B]) with topologies of synaptic connections measured from 12 neuron simultaneous patch clamp experiments [5,6]. Fourth, we constructed community or modular structures representing non-randomness from larger groups of neurons. Fifth, we evaluated the extent to which structure at each of these scales was robust. We did this by swapping connections from high degree nodes (hubs) with those from low degree nodes (non-hubs). Figure 1 (A) An example of spatial distribution of neurons and effective connections. Different markers indicate different communities. The biggest two communities are covered by blue and red regions. Upper-right yellow region is an example cluster of 6 neurons. ... We found three things. First, the degree-distribution followed a power-law This demonstrated that hubs could not have been the result of random sampling from a Gaussian distribution. Second, effective networks consisting of hundreds of cortical neurons have distinctive non-random structures of connectivity at two different scales. Third, structure at the cluster level was relatively more fragile than structure at the community level. The difference between non-randomness evaluated by cluster and community will become the important first step to understand multiple different scales of cortical neuronal networks.
Application of organic and inorganic salts to field-grown potato tubers can suppress silver scurf during potato storage

Silver scurf, caused by Helminthosporium solani, is an economically important postharvest disease of potato tubers. Organic and inorganic salts were evaluated for their ability to suppress silver scurf lesion development and sporulation of H. solani on potato tubers. Tubers were treated immediately after harvest with 0.2-M solutions of potassium sorbate, calcium propionate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, or water. Tween 20 was added as a surfactant to most treatments. Potassium sorbate (0.1 M), acidified potassium sorbate and calcium propionate treatments (0.2 M), and calcium chloride treatments (0.136 M) were included in additional experiments. Tubers were stored under commercial storage conditions for 4 to 6 months prior to disease evaluation. The extent of disease suppression varied among experiments; however, some treatments consistently reduced disease. Lesion formation on the tuber surface was reduced by 26 to 60% using potassium sorbate (in three of four experiments) compared to water-treated or untreated tubers. Sporulation was suppressed by 0.2 M potassium sorbate (78 to 99% reduction) in all four experiments. Sodium carbonate reduced lesion formation in two experiments and sporulation in three of four experiments. Other treatments inconsistently suppressed lesion formation or sporulation, or did not reduce disease. Addition of Tween or acidification of organic salt solutions did not improve silver scurf suppression in most cases. Potassium sorbate has very low mammalian toxicity and great potential as an innocuous and inexpensive postharvest fungicide for suppression of silver scurf during potato storage.
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for the simian immunodeficiency virus.

Summary: A non-human primate model for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected rhesus monkey, was used to explore the role of the AIDS virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyce (CTL) response in disease pathogenesis. This CTL response was measured using the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I/peptide tetramer technology, large numbers of tetramer-binding CDS’ T lymphocytes were demonstrable not only in the peripheral blood, but in lymph nodes and even in semen of chronically SIV-infected monkeys. The central role of these effector T lymphocytes in containing SIV spread during primary infection was demonstrated by showing that early SIV clearance during primary infection correlated with the emergence of the tetramer binding CD8+ T lymphocytes and that in vivo depletion of CD8+ lymphocytes eliminated the ability of the infected monkeys to contain SIV replication. These observations suggest that an effective AIDS vaccine should elicit a potent virus-specific CTL response. In fact, a live, recombinant SIV vaccine constructed using the attenuated pox virus vector modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) elicited a high-frequency CTL response, comparable in magnitude to that elicited by SIV infection itself This suggests that vaccine modalities such as MVA may prove useful in creating an effective human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine, These studies also indicate the power of both the SIV/macaque model and MHC class I/peptide tetramers for assessing AIDS vaccine strategies.
Heritability of cut-flower vase longevity in Gerbera

Estimates of broad-sense heritability for cut-flower vase longevity were 36 and 46 percent for a sample of Gerbera clones. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability for vase longevity were 0, 24 and 38 percent over 3 generations of the Davis Population. Response to selection for this character in this population is expected to be slow.
Biographical Sketch: Charles S. Neer, II, MD (1917–2011)

This biographical sketch on Charles S. Neer corresponds to the historic text, The Classic: Articular Replacement for the Humeral Head (1955), available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-011-1944-5.
Piperazine copolymers for medical implant applications

Abstract Piperazine copolymers were investigated for possible use in medical implant applications with special reference to the replacement of the cornea of the eye. Initial work involved the study of the thermal stability of the polymers which is important in sterilization procedures; their stability toward long-wave ultraviolet and visible radiation; and blood coagulation tests. The thermal stability of piperazine copolyamides was studied by both programmed and isothermal techniques. Experiments were carried out with the block copolymers of terephthaloyl trans -2,5-imethylpiperazine/isophthaloyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine; terephthaloyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine/sebacyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine; and isophthaloyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine/sebacyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine. In contrast to the previously studied homo polymers, the activation energies (range 185 to 256 kJ/mole), rates of volatilization and half-life values are influenced by the molecular weights of the block copolymers. In general, the data indicate a random degradation process during isothermal heating in a vacuum between 336°C and 440°C. The exception is the block copolymer of isophthaloyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine/sebacyl trans -2,5-dimethylpiperazine which shows the completing effect of hydrolytic processes. Film samples of the polymers that have been irradiated up to 160 h by a long wave ultraviolet lamp (having an energy peak close to 360 nm with virtually no radiation shorter than 300 nm) showed no changes in the ultraviolet and visible spectra and no gelation occurred. These results are important since polymer films that are to be considered for cornea replacement must exhibit good stability to long wave ultraviolet and visible radiation. Initial data on blood coagulation tests indicate that the polymers considerably increase the coagulation times of human blood when glass is used as a standard.
Polarization - A key to an airborne optical system for the detection of oil on water.

Skylight polarization, which varies with the position of the sun in the sky, influences the contrast of oil on water. Good contrast is most consistently obtained by viewing in azimuth directions toward or away from the sun. Contrast is enhanced by imaging selected polarization components and by taking the difference between orthogonal polarization components.
Adaptive layer approximation of free‐form models using marching point surface error calculation for rapid prototyping

A new surface error calculation method for layered manufacturing processes is proposed in this paper. The developed method is used to generate the layers by adaptively varying the thickness of the layers based on the surface approximation errors. Traditionally, the surface errors are calculated using local approximation techniques. In this paper, the surface approximation errors are calculated more accurately by marching through the surface points and determining the distances between layers and the surface points. Using the calculated distances, the adaptive layers are generated for both traditional two‐dimensional layer and ruled‐layer approximation methods. It has been shown that layered manufacturing (rapid prototyping) processes can achieve better accuracy and efficiency using the proposed surface error calculation and the adaptive ruled layer approximation methods. Computer implementation and illustrative examples are also presented in this paper.
Childhood play as an analog to adult capacity to work.

This paper presents a theoretical model that proposes the continuity between childhood play and adult work. A developmental perspective is used to describe the complex transformations that take place turning an infant's behavior into adult work. Four childhood analogs to adult work are described. The thesis of the paper is that childhood play is the major arena in which these analogs develop. The arena of play can be characterized by four characteristics that facilitate the development of the analogs to adult work: (1) play provides the opportunity for children to learn, develop, and perfect new skills that buildcompetence; (2) play is the child's natural mode to master anxiety from overwhelming experiences of everyday life, which builds thecapacity to cope with the environment; (3) play helps build the ego's capacity to mediate between unconscious and conscious realities, which enhancesego strength; and (4) play repeats or confirms a gratifying experience that fuels a child'sinvestment in life.
Molecular cloning and expression of a full-length complementary DNA encoding the guinea pig adrenocortical estrogen sulfotransferase.

Complementary DNA for the guinea pig adrenocortical estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) has been cloned and expressed. Oligonucleotides, based on amino acid sequences of the purified 34-kilodalton protein, were synthesized and used to generate a specific probe by polymerase chain reaction for screening a guinea pig adrenal cDNA library. The polymerase chain reaction rapid amplification of cDNA ends procedure was employed to obtain the 3' and 5' cDNA ends, and a full-length cDNA was constructed. The cloned cDNA consists of 1192 base pairs and encodes a protein of 296 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 35,161 daltons. A computer search of the protein data banks revealed significant homology with several sulfotransferases: 71% with bovine placental estrogen sulfotransferase, 52% with rat liver phenol sulfotransferase, 35% with rat liver hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, and 36% with rat liver senescence marker protein 2. The EST cDNA was inserted into the pcDNA I eukaryotic expression vector and tran...
Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the turnover of hexokinase II in the rat.

Abstract Skeletal muscle hexokinase II activity and turnover rates were measured in the normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat. Enzyme activity decreases in the diabetic animal relative to the normal rat; however, the specific activity of hexokinase II is essentially the same for the two conditions. No alteration is observed in the relative rate of hexokinase II synthesis in the normal or diabetic rats, but there is a 3-fold increase in the rate of hexokinase II degradation in the latter group of animals. These results suggest that the primary cause of the well-established decrease in hexokinase II activity in skeletal muscle of the diabetic is an increase in the rate of enzyme degradation.
Fluorous micro- and nanophases with a biomedical perspective

Abstract Fluorinated components useful for organizing space at the molecular, nanometer and micrometer scales include perfluorocarbons, perfluoroalkylated surfactants and perfluoroalkyl/alkyl diblock amphiphiles. Perfluoroalkyl moieties, being lipophobic as well as highly hydrophobic, add a new dimension to the hydrophobic segregation effect. Fluorinated amphiphiles, therefore, have an enhanced tendency to self-assemble in various media into stable, highly organized fluorinated colloids, thus generating organized nanometer-size fluorous phases, i.e. fluorous domains with at least one dimension in the nanometer range. Such fluorous nanophases are found in variously shaped micelles, Langmuir films, and bilayer membranes, as in vesicles, tubules and other molecular self-assemblies. Micron-size fluorous phases are present in diverse colloids that comprise liquid, solid and gaseous perfluorocarbons, such as in emulsions, microemulsions, multiple emulsions, microbubbles, gels and dispersions. Continuous or dispersed fluorous, hydrocarbonous and aqueous phases can be present simultaneously. Research on colloidal systems involving highly fluorinated components and destined for biomedical uses (injectable O2 carriers, contrast agents, drug delivery systems and other devices) has generated a wealth of data. These data are analyzed here from the perspective of the formation, structure and behavior of fluorous nano- and microphases in colloidal systems. Fluorocarbons and fluorinated amphiphiles allow the formulation of an array of multicomponent, multiphase compartmented colloidal systems and nano-objects with various architectures, differential solubility and diffusibility characteristics, and other properties, and exclusion zones that have potential as microreservoirs, microreactors and templates useful for reaction, morphology and functionality control well beyond their initial biomedical purpose.
Changing ovarian stimulation parameters in a subsequent cycle does not increase the number of euploid embryos.

Objective To compare the euploidy outcome in patients that underwent 2 ovarian stimulation cycles with trophectoderm biopsy. Design Retrospective repeated-measures cohort study. Setting University-based fertility center. Patient(s) A total of 116 patients, from 2011 through 2013, that underwent 2 ovarian stimulation cycles followed by trophectoderm biopsy with array comparative genomic hybridization. Intervention(s) Days of stimulation, average diameter of the 2 lead follicles on day of trigger, dose of gonadotropins, type of cycle (gonadotropin-releasing hormone [GnRH] antagonist, GnRH-antagonist plus clomiphene citrate [CC], microdose GnRH agonist). Main Outcome Measure(s) Number of euploid embryos. Result(s) Patients were analyzed based on whether they had ≥1 euploid embryos in their first cycle vs. none. There was no increase in the number of euploid embryos with more days of stimulation or increases in the dose of gonadotropins in either group. Significantly more euploid embryos were seen in patients who had no euploid embryo(s) in the first cycle (Group 0) that had CC added to a GnRH-antagonist cycle (1.11 more euploid embryos) or were triggered when follicle sizes were 2 mm larger (0.40 euploid embryos), but these increases were not significant compared with a control group. Patients with euploid embryo(s) in the first cycle (Group 1) had significantly more euploid embryos when daily dose was increased by 75–149 international units, but this relationship was not significant compared with a control group with no increase in daily dose. Conclusion(s) No specific intervention increased the number of euploid embryos within the same patient any more than simply repeating a similar stimulation cycle. An attempt was made to control for interpatient variability, but individual patients have considerable intercycle variability.
Protein influence on the plasma membrane dielectric properties: in vivo study utilizing dielectric spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy.

Abstract We have investigated the origin of the dielectric response of the plasma membrane of living yeast cells ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) by using radiofrequency dielectric spectroscopy. The cells were genetically engineered to overexpress in the membrane of yeast cells a G protein-coupled receptor – the Sterile2-α factor receptor protein (Ste2p) – fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP). Presence of the Ste2-GFP proteins in the plasma membrane was confirmed by exciting the cells at 476 nm and observing with a confocal microscope the emission characteristic of the GFP from individual cells. The dielectric behavior of cells suspended in KCl solution was analyzed over the frequency range 40 Hz–110 MHz and compared to the behavior of control cells that lacked the ability to express Ste2p. A two-shell electrical cell model was used to fit the data starting from known structural parameters and adjustable electrical phase parameters. The best-fit value for the relative permittivity of the plasma membrane showed no significant difference between cells expressing Ste2p (1.63 ± 0.11) and the control cells (1.75 ± 0.16). This result confirmed earlier predictions that the dielectric properties of the plasma membrane in the radiofrequency range mostly reflect the properties of the hydrophobic layer of the membrane, which is populated by the hydrocarbon tails of the phospholipids and hydrophobic segments of integral membrane proteins. We discuss ways by which dielectric spectroscopy can be improved to be used for tag-free detection of proteins on the membrane.
Unmasking the Inequitable Discipline Experiences of Urban Black Girls: Implications for Urban Educational Stakeholders

There is a large body of research examining the discipline experiences of Black males (Lewis et al. in Souls: A Critical Journey of Black Politics, Culture, and Society, 2009; Skiba et al. in The Urban Review, 34, 317–348, 2002); however, less is known about the types of behavioral infractions Black female students exhibit and the discipline sanctions imposed for Black girls for such infractions. As a result, the purpose of this study is to examine the type of discipline infractions exhibited by Black female students enrolled in an urban school district and to explore whether the pattern of discipline infractions and sanctions imposed for Black girls disproportionately differs from all female students, but more specifically White and Hispanic females. Results suggest that Black girls are overrepresented in exclusionary discipline practices and Black girls reason for discipline referrals differs significantly from White and Hispanic girls. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided for urban educational stakeholders.
Wire aging studies: CF4/isobutane and helium-based gas mixtures

Wire aging has been studied for two types of gas mixtures: a) CF 4 /isobutane (isobutane is abbreviated here as iC 4 H 10 ), and b) five different helium-based gases. Accelerated aging tests were performed using small proportional counters and Fe 55 sources. The concentration of CF 4 was varied between zero and 100%, and over that range there were observed two distinct regions of etching (no aging), and two regions of deposition (aging) on the anode wire. A four-part model is presented that explains the presence of these windows of aging and etching in terms of known processes of plasma chemistry. It was also found that non-gold-plated wire is chemically attacked and ages rapidly, and that operation with CF 4 alone results in rapid cathode aging. In a different investigation, the aging rates of five helium-based gas micxtures were measured: 1)He/ethane (50/50), 2)He/ethane (95/5), 3)He/propane (70/30), 4)He/isobutane (80/20), and 5)He/CO 2 /isobutane (78/15/7). The first and last of these mixtures were found to have aging rates of about 30%/C/cm, while the other three mixtures gave aging rates consistent with zero. Some of the techniques and results described here have been reported previously [1,2]
Malignant carotid body tumors: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Paragangliomas may arise in any area of the body where nonchromaffin paraganglia are situated. These include the glomus jugulare, the carotid body, and the retroperitoneum. Malignant behavior of these paragangliomas has been a controversial subject with most authors, who consider them to be benign tumors. Some authors have diagnosed locally recurrent and infiltrative tumors as malignant, whereas most require the demonstration of metastatic potential as the only criterion for malignancy. Two cases of metastasizing carotid body tumors are reported with a review of the literature on this unusual neoplasm.
Mass spectrometric analysis of the N terminus of translational initiation factor eIF4G-1 reveals novel isoforms

In eukaryotes, translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G) acts as the central binding protein for an unusually large number of proteins involved in mRNA metabolism. Several gene products homologous to eIF4G have been described, the most studied being eIF4G-1. By its association with other initiation factors, eIF4G-1 effects mRNA cap and poly(A) recognition, unwinding of secondary structure, and binding to the 43S initiation complex. Multiple electrophoretic isoforms of eIF4G-1 are observed, and multiple cDNAs have been reported, yet the relationship between the two is not known. We report here a new cDNA for eIF4G-1, present as a previously unidentified human expressed sequence tag, that extends the long open reading frame, provides a new in-frame initiation codon, and predicts a longer form of eIF4G-1 than reported previously. eIF4G isoforms from human K562 cells were cleaved with recombinant Coxsackievirus 2A protease and the Nterminal domains purified by m 7 GTP-Sepharose chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteins were digested with proteolytic enzymes and peptides masses determined by matrixassisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. In selected cases, peptides were sequenced by electrospray-mass spectrometry fragmentation. This identified the N termini of the three most abundant eIF4G-1 isoforms, two of which had not previously been proposed. These proteins appear to have been initiated from three different AUG codons.
Imaged backscatter from three-dimensional tissue structure

When imaging the backscattered light from turbid tissue using a broadband illumination source, the random scattering of photons within the tissue causes wavelength-dependent optical coupling between pixels. That is, a photon may exit the tissue surface an extended distance away from its entry point. The resulting spectral crosstalk in the detected image can be explained by studying the mean photon path lengths through the tissue. Considering complex tissue geometries with features such as cylindrical vessels, these photons not only travel multiple paths due to wavelength- dependent absorption and scattering, but may also travel through multiple chromophores. To study the effects of 3D features in object space on backscattered light into the image plane, we have constructed a Monte Carlo simulation capable of modeling 3D photon propagation for a tissue slab with an embedded cylinder. The results of hemoglobin-bearing vessels as a primary chromophore are investigated. Because of the relationship between mean photon path length and photon exit angle, we have shown that the choice of entrance pupil in the imaging system plays an important role on the detected backscatter for the specific case of embedded cylinders.
Inhibition or deletion of the lipopolysaccharide receptor Toll-like receptor-4 confers partial protection against lipid-induced insulin resistance in rodent skeletal muscle.

Aims/hypothesis A role for increased activity of the innate immune system in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance is supported by a number of studies. The current study assessed the potential role of the lipopolysaccharide receptor known as Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), a component of the innate immune system, in mediating lipid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.
Laboratory characterization of PM emissions from combustion of wildland biomass fuels

Particle emissions from open burning of southwestern (SW) and southeastern (SE) U.S. fuel types during 77 controlled laboratory burns are presented. The fuels include SW vegetation types: ceanothus, chamise/scrub oak, coastal sage scrub, California sagebrush, manzanita, maritime chaparral, masticated mesquite, oak savanna, and oak woodland, as well as SE vegetation types: 1 year, 2 year rough, pocosin, chipped understory, understory hardwood, and pine litter. The SW fuels burned at higher modified combustion efficiency (MCE) than the SE fuels resulting in lower particulate matter mass emission factor. Particle mass distributions for six fuels and particle number emission for all fuels are reported. Excellent mass closure (slope = 1.00, r2 = 0.94) between ions, metals, and carbon with total weight was obtained. Organic carbon emission factors inversely correlated (r2 = 0.72) with average MCE, while elemental carbon (EC) had little correlation with average MCE (r2 = 0.10). The EC/total carbon ratio sharply increased with MCE for MCEs exceeding 0.94. The average levoglucosan and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions factors ranged from 25 to 1272 mg/kg fuel and 1.8 to 11.3 mg/kg fuel, respectively. No correlation between average MCE and emissions of PAHs/levoglucosan was found. Additionally, PAH diagnostic ratios were observed to be poor indicators of biomass burning. Large fuel type and regional dependency were observed in the emission rates of ammonium, nitrate, chloride, sodium, and potassium.
A study of aluminum sputter deposition parameters and TiW barrier surface effects on electromigration

This work investigates the impact of thin-film processing parameters on the electromigration (EM) performance of an AlSi/TiW metallization system. The results show that the EM performance of aluminum on a TiW barrier is worse than that of a nonbarrier film and that oxidizing and/or nitriding the TiW barrier prior to AlSi deposition improves fine-line EM performance by more than an order of magnitude. However, the wide-line EM performance is reduced by a factor of two. It is concluded that the EM performance of the AlSi/TiW film is dominated by the interface of the films and is not significantly changed by the AlSi sputter deposition parameters. The effect is shown to be related to the aluminum grain size. The grain size is increased from about 0.8 mu m to 4.0-5.0 mu m when the TiW is exposed to atmosphere prior to aluminum deposition. >
Whole-sediment toxicity identification evaluation tools for pyrethroid insecticides: I. Piperonyl butoxide addition.

Piperonyl butoxide (PBO) is a synergist used in some pyrethroid and pyrethrin pesticide products and has been used in toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) of water samples to indicate organophosphate or pyrethroid-related toxicity. Methods were developed and validated for use of PBO as a TIE tool in whole-sediment testing to help establish if pyrethroids are the cause of toxicity observed in field-collected sediments. Pyrethroid toxicity was increased slightly more than twofold in 10-d sediment toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca exposed to 25 g/L of PBO in the overlying water. This concentration was found to be effective for sediment TIE use, but it is well below that used in previous water and pore-water TIEs with PBO. The effect of PBO on the toxicity of several nonpyrethroids also was tested. Toxicity of the organophosphate chlorpyrifos was reduced by PBO, and the compound had no effect on toxicity of cadmium, DDT, or fluoranthene. Mixtures of the pyrethroid bifenthrin and chlorpyrifos were tested to determine the ability of PBO addition to identify pyrethroid toxicity when organophosphates were present in a sample. The PBO-induced increase in pyrethroid toxicity was not seen when chlorpyrifos was present at or above equitoxic concentrations with the pyrethroid. In the vast majority of field samples, however, the presence of chlorpyrifos does not interfere with use of PBO to identify pyrethroid toxicity. Eleven field sediments or soils containing pyrethroids and/or chlorpyrifos were used to validate the method. Characterization of the causative agent as determined by PBO addition was consistent with confirmation by chemical analysis and comparison to known toxicity thresholds in 10 of the 11 sediments.
The Trends in Dram Shop Laws and How They Affect the Hospitality Industry: Balancing Competing Policy Considerations of Tort Reform and Curbing Drunk Driving

This article outlines the history of and the current trends in dram shop legislation throughout the United States. It will be seen that the term "dram shop" law can have extremely divergent meanings from state to state. In part, this is because such laws are designed to address competing and difficult-to-reconcile public policies. On the one hand, there is the public interest in curbing the incidence and consequences of drunk driving, which is an argument in favor of increasing the liability of alcohol vendors and servers. On the other, there is the public interest in keeping insurance available and its costs under control, which indicates a policy of reducing the liability of those in the hospitality industry and thus decreasing their exposure (and, hence, the exposure of their insurance carriers) to insured risks. The purpose of this article is to explain these competing policies and to show how the states are currently balancing them in enacting or amending their dram shop laws. Those in the hospitalit...
Carbachol-induced increase of Na+/H+ antiport and recruitment of Na+, K+-ATPase in rabbit lacrimal acini

Parallel arrays of Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- antiporters are believed to catalyze the first step of transepithelial electrolyte secretion in lacrimal glands by coupling Na+ and Cl- influxes across acinar cell basolateral membranes. Tracer uptake methods were used to confirm the presence of Na+/H+ antiport activity in membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit lacrimal gland fragments. Outwardly-directed H+ gradients accelerated 22Na+ uptake, and amiloride inhibited 96% of the H+ gradient-dependent 22Na+ flux. Amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ influx was half-maximal at an extravesicular Na+ concentration of 14 mM. In vitro stimulation of isolated lacrimal acini with 10 microM carbachol for 30 min increased Na+/H+ antiport activity of a subsequently isolated basolateral membrane sample 2.5-fold, but it did not significantly affect Na+/H+ antiport activity measured in intracellular membrane samples. The same treatment increased basolateral membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity 1.4-fold; this increase could be accounted for by decreases in the Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities of intracellular membranes. Thus, it appears that cholinergic stimulation causes recruitment of additional Na+,K(+)-ATPase pump units to the acinar cell basolateral plasma membrane. The mechanistic basis of the increase in basolateral membrane Na+/H+ antiport activity remains unclear.
Phase Relationships and Phase Formation in the System BaF2-BaO-Y2O3-CuOx-H2O

The interplay of melting equilibria and reaction kinetics is important during formation of the Ba2YCu3O6+x (Y-213) phase from starting materials in the quaternary reciprocal system Ba,Y,Cu//O,F. For experimental investigation of the process we used a combination of differential thermal analysis (DTA) for study of melting equilibria, and in-situ high-temperature x-ray diffraction (HTXRD) for study of the phase formation and reaction kinetics. DTA investigation of compositions spaced along compositional vectors extending from the oxide end to the fluoride end of the reciprocal system have given evidence of low melting liquids (~600 °C) near the fluorine-rich end. Work is continuing to determine whether similar thermal events observed in the interior of the system also indicate low temperature liquids, and on the extent to which low-melting liquids could be involved in Y-213 phase formation. HTXRD investigations have been initiated on the conversion of 0.3 µ ma nd 1.0µ mt hick BaF 2-Y-Cu precursor films to Y-213 in the presence of water vapor. Preliminary results indicated that the thickness of film has a strong influence on the texture of the Y-213 film: a 0.3 µm film showed mainly (001) texture, whereas a 1.0 µm film showed a greater volume fraction of (h00) texture. While the HTXRD method cannot directly reveal the presence of liquid, we are working to combine DTA and HTXRD data for a unified picture of Y-213 phase formation during the “BaF2 ex-situ ”p rocess for coated-conductor fabrication.
Chorionic Gonadotropin in the Treatment of Obese Women

I N 1 954, Simeons reported that injection of 125 I.U. of chorionic gonadotropin daily enabled obese patients to adhere to a fat-free, 5(R) calorie diet for four to six weeks and to lose weight at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds daily during this period.’ . 2 Without the hormone, the patients experienced discomfort and would either eat secretly or discontinue the diet. Simeons suggested that chorionic gonadotropin acted by mobilizing fat from adipose tissue, making it more readily available for metabolic use by the body and thereby replacing the caloric deficit resulting from the rigid dietary restriction. Subsequently, Sohartm treated a group of obese patients for forty days with Simeons’ diet in combination with daily injections of either chorionic gonadotropin or saline solution. Both treated and control subjects showed a uniform average weight loss of 20 pounds. Sohar attributed the reduction in weight to diet rather than to the hormone. In a later study, Lebon4 reported that the weight reductions obtained in surgical patients treated by diet and daily injections of chorionic gonadotropin appeared to confirm Simeons’ results. The present report describes further at-
Event design in event-triggered feedback control systems

This paper studies the event design in event-triggered feedback systems with asymptotic stability. A new event-triggering scheme is presented that may postpone the occurrence of events over previously proposed methods. Our approach pertains to nonlinear state-feedback systems. The resulting event-triggered feedback systems are guaranteed to be asymptotically stable, provided that the continuous systems are stabilizable. We also show that the task periods and deadlines generated by our scheme are bounded strictly away from zero if the continuous systems are input-to-state stable with respect to measurement errors. Simulation results indicate that our event-triggered scheme has a much larger average period compared with the prior work. Moreover, our scheme also appears to be robust to task delays.