cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cyclooxygenase 2 contributes to bradykinin-induced microvascular responses in peripheral arterioles after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract Background Diabetic patients are associated with impaired peripheral microvascular function after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that upregulation of the inducible cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) contributes to altered microvascular reactivity of peripheral arterioles in diabetic patients undergoing CPB and cardiac surgery. Methods Skeletal muscle samples of nondiabetic (ND) patients and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM; n = 8 per group) undergoing cardiac surgery were harvested before and after CPB. The protein expression/localization of COX-2 was assayed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Peripheral arterioles were dissected from the harvested skeletal muscle tissue samples, the isolated arterioles (80-180 μm) were cannulated and pressurized, and changes in diameter were measured with video microscopy. In-vitro relaxation responses of precontracted arterioles were examined in the presence of the endothelium-dependent vasodilator bradykinin (10 −10 to 10 −6 M) and in the presence or absence of the selective COX-2 inhibitor NS398 (10 −5 M). Results The post-CPB protein levels of the inducible COX-2 were significantly increased compared with pre-CPB values in both the ND and DM groups ( P P P P Conclusions Diabetes and CPB are associated with upregulation in COX-2 expression/activation in human peripheral microvasculature. This alteration may lead to altered peripheral microvascular reactivity in diabetic patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Microphase-Separated Thiol–Ene Conetworks from Telechelic Macromonomers with Asymmetric Molecular Weights

Phase-separated networks made from different macromonomers with disparate properties provide a platform where the molecular weight between cross-links (Mc) can be varied leading to tunable mechanical and conductive properties. To form networks with bimodal Mc’s, two volume fraction series, A and B, were synthesized from telechelic polystyrene (PS) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) of varying molecular weights (MW), using thiol–norbornene chemistry to tune Mc. Series A consisted of 4K PEO and 12K PS, and series B consisted of 12K PEO and 5K PS. Phase separation in the network was confirmed by DSC where two distinct glass transition temperatures were observed and by SAXS where broad, weakly ordered scattering was observed. The networks were further characterized to probe how bimodal Mc affects the mechanical and conductive properties of phase-separated networks. The two series demonstrated that the asymmetric MW studied herein had little effect on mechanical and lithium conductive properties while changes in t...
The relationship between childhood trauma and alcohol use initiation in Black and White adolescent girls: considering socioeconomic status and neighborhood factors

To assess whether the higher prevalence of childhood trauma exposure but lower prevalence of alcohol use in Black vs. White adolescent girls reflects a lower magnitude of association between trauma and alcohol use initiation in Black girls; and additionally, whether low socioeconomic status (SES) and neighborhood factors account in part for the link between trauma and early alcohol use. Data were drawn from annual interviews conducted with an urban sample of girls and their primary caregivers from ages 5–8 (baseline) through age 17 (n = 2068, 57.7% Black, 42.3% White). Cox proportional hazards regression analyses using race and childhood trauma to predict alcohol use initiation were conducted in two stages, with SES and neighborhood factors added in the second stage. Childhood trauma was more prevalent (29.0 vs. 17.5%) and alcohol use initiation less prevalent (37.7 vs. 54.4%) in Black vs. White girls, but we found no evidence for differences in liability conferred by trauma. However, significant changes in hazards ratios (HRs) from the unadjusted to adjusted models were observed for Black race (HR = 0.57, CI 0.50–0.65 to HR = 0.66, CI 0.54–0.80) and childhood trauma (HR = 1.70, CI 1.46–1.99 to HR = 1.34, CI 1.05–1.71). Findings indicate that childhood trauma is an equally potent risk factor for early drinking onset for Black and White girls; the risk for early alcohol use in Black girls who have experienced traumatic events should not be underestimated. Results further indicate that low SES and neighborhood factors contribute to the associations of childhood trauma and race with alcohol use initiation.
Syphilitic gastritis: a rare presentation of secondary syphilis

A 55-year-old woman presented to the hospital with vomiting and epigastric pain for 3 weeks and coffee-ground vomitus for 1 day. She reported 6 kg of weight loss over a 1-month period. The patient had been sexually active with the same male partner for the past 20 years but reported her partner to be promiscuous. Physical examination was remarkable for epigastric tenderness. CT of the abdomen showed mural thickening of the stomach (figure 1). Upper endoscopy showed erythema and friable mucosa with nodularity (figure 2).Multiple biopsies revealed gastric syphilis with interstitial metaplasia, and immunostaining showed numerous Treponema pallidum (figures 3 and 4). Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titre was 1:128 (normal: non-reactive). The patient received one dose of intramuscular penicillin G 2.4 million units and reported full resolution …
Modelling and Control of Dispersed Phase Systems

The modelling, measurement, and control problems associated with dispersed phase systems are discussed. Crystallization and emulsion polymerization are selected as representative systems of this class of problems, and the present understanding of their dynamic behavior and existing control strategies are reviewed.
Reno-vascular toxicities associated with carfilzomib: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

e21622Background: Carfilzomib (Carf) is a novel proteasome inhibitor that is approved for patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (RMM) who have failed ≥ 1 prior lines of therapy. The incidence and...
Taming the beasts within

How the immune system handles the relentless presence of commensal bacteria is an area of great interest. Here, researchers describe a role for autophagy in mediating tolerance to the microbiota, the absence of which can impart beneficial resistance to infection but also possible detriment in the form of autoimmunity.
Hematuria and Proteinuria in Children.

1. Bernarda Viteri, MD* 2. Jessica Reid-Adam, MD* 1. *Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY * Abbreviations: AS: : Alport syndrome CKD: : chronic kidney disease CNS: : congenital nephrotic syndrome ESRD: : end-stage renal disease FSGS: : focal segmental glomerular sclerosis GN: : glomerulonephritis HSP: : Henoch-Schonlein purpura HPF: : high-power field Ig: : immunoglobulin LMW: : low molecular weight MCD: : minimal change disease RBC: : red blood cell SLE: : systemic lupus erythematosus UA: : urinalysis U p/c: : urine protein/creatinine ratio Pediatricians must be aware of screening indications and the evaluation and management of a child with hematuria and/or proteinuria. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Understand the common causes of proteinuria and hematuria and be able to differentiate between benign and serious causes. 2. Describe screening techniques for initial evaluation of hematuria and proteinuria. 3. Recognize the criteria for diagnosis of proteinuria and hematuria. 4. Plan the appropriate initial evaluation for hematuria and proteinuria and interpret laboratory findings essential for diagnosis. 5. Recognize serious causes of hematuria and proteinuria that warrant immediate referral. Hematuria and proteinuria are common findings in primary care practice. Although the American Academy of Pediatrics eliminated routine urine screening from its preventive care guidelines a decade ago, many pediatricians continue to use screening urinalysis (UA) as part of their health supervision visits. Most pediatric patients who are diagnosed as having hematuria or proteinuria through screening UA do not have renal disease, and abnormal findings usually resolve on repeated testing. However, hematuria or proteinuria that persists on repeated testing warrants additional evaluation, and, depending on history along with initial evaluation in the primary care office, may warrant referral to a pediatric nephrologist for further management. Although guidelines put forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics do not recommend yearly evaluation of urine by dipstick analysis for children, regular routine screening of pediatric populations has been established in Japan, Taiwan, and Korea. (1)(2)(3)(4) Our practice recommends screening of certain patient populations at increased risk for renal disease over a lifetime (Table 1 …
You are the Ocean: Interactive Installation

This paper explores "You Are the Ocean," an interactive art installation where a participant's brainwaves control a projected ocean simulation. Using an EEG headset, the approximate attention and meditation levels of the participant are measured. As the participant increases her attention and focus, the ocean and sky become stormier. When the participant calms her mind, the ocean too becomes calm. This paper describes the concept, implementation, and participant interaction surrounding the installation. While many existing artworks have used EEG headsets, "You Are the Ocean" is novel in its use of interactive, photorealistic real-time rendering to communicate the intrinsic connection between humans and the planet.
Geographical differences in osteoporosis, obesity, and sarcopenia related traits in white American cohorts.

It has been reported that geographical variation influences bone mineral density (BMD), obesity, and sarcopenia related traits in other countries. However, there is lack of similar studies in the US population. In this study, we compared data from three US study cohorts to evaluate geographical variations of BMD and body composition. BMD, fat mass and lean mass were collected from Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry machine. ANCOVA and Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences between BMDs, obesity and sarcopenia related traits from different regional sites (Omaha, Kansas City and Baton Rouge/New Orleans). Eta-squared was used to measure the effect sizes of these differences. A total of 11,315 Caucasians from our previous three study cohorts were compared. There was no significant geographical difference in BMD for males or females under the criteria of p-values 0.01. There were significant geographical differences with medium effect size (p-value < 0.001, 0.01 < η2 < 0.14) for whole body fat mass percentage and index of low muscle mass. For Caucasians in the United States, there is no significant geographical effect found on BMD. The obesity and sarcopenia related traits are significantly different between the three study cohorts.
Process Monitoring Based on Robust Slow Feature Analysis

A process monitoring method based on robust slow feature analysis (RSFA) is presented in the paper. Slow feature analysis (SFA) is a new feature extraction technology which can find a group of slowly varying feature outputs from the high-dimensional inputs. In order to improve the robustness of SFA, RSFA is presented which applies locality preserving projection (LPP) to define the energy density function and set a reasonable threshold value to remove outliers mixed in the normal process data. This paper uses three spline interpolation method to interpolate the missing value caused by removing the outliers to maintain the integrity of the time series. For the purpose of fault detection, the D monitoring statistic index is adopted and its confidence limit is computed by kernel density estimation. Simulation on Tennessee Eastman (TE) benchmark process show that the proposed method has a better fault detection performance compared with the conventional SFA-based method.
Avalanches impede synchronization of jammed oscillators

Synchrony is inevitable in many oscillating systems -- from the canonical alignment of two ticking grandfather clocks, to the mutual entrainment of beating flagella or spiking neurons. Yet both biological and manmade systems provide striking examples of spontaneous desynchronization, such as failure cascades in alternating current power grids or neuronal avalanches in the mammalian brain. Here, we generalize classical models of synchronization among heterogenous oscillators to include short-range phase repulsion among individuals, a property that abets the emergence of a stable desynchronized state. Surprisingly, we find that our model exhibits self-organized avalanches at intermediate values of the repulsion strength, and that these avalanches have similar statistical properties to cascades seen in real-world systems such as neuronal avalanches. We find that these avalanches arise due to a critical mechanism based on competition between mean field recruitment and local displacement, a property that we replicate in a classical cellular automaton model of traffic jams. We exactly solve our system in the many-oscillator limit, and obtain analytical results relating the onset of avalanches or partial synchrony to the relative heterogeneity of the oscillators, and their degree of mutual repulsion. Our results provide a minimal analytically-tractable example of complex dynamics in a driven critical system.
Semi-Supervised Off Policy Reinforcement Learning.

Reinforcement learning (RL) has shown great success in estimating sequential treatment strategies which take into account patient heterogeneity. However, health-outcome information, which is used as the reward for reinforcement learning methods, is often not well coded but rather embedded in clinical notes. Extracting precise outcome information is a resource intensive task, so most of the available well-annotated cohorts are small. To address this issue, we propose a semi-supervised learning (SSL) approach that efficiently leverages a small sized labeled data with true outcome observed, and a large unlabeled data with outcome surrogates. In particular, we propose a semi-supervised, efficient approach to Q-learning and doubly robust off policy value estimation. Generalizing SSL to sequential treatment regimes brings interesting challenges: 1) Feature distribution for Q-learning is unknown as it includes previous outcomes. 2) The surrogate variables we leverage in the modified SSL framework are predictive of the outcome but not informative to the optimal policy or value function. We provide theoretical results for our Q-function and value function estimators to understand to what degree efficiency can be gained from SSL. Our method is at least as efficient as the supervised approach, and moreover safe as it robust to mis-specification of the imputation models.
Uncovering Differences in Hydration Free Energies for Model Compound Mimics of Charged Sidechains of Amino Acids

ABSTRACT Free energies of hydration are fundamental quantities that are relevant for modeling and understanding sequence-specific conformational and phase equilibria of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Of particular importance are accurate values for the free energies of hydration of model compounds that mimic the charged sidechains of Arg, Lys, Asp, and Glu. Direct measurements of these quantities are challenging, and accordingly the values used to date rely on decompositions of measurements of whole salts. This has created considerable uncertainty regarding the desired quantities. Here, we adapt and deploy a Thermodynamic Cycle based Proton Dissociation in conjunction with published data from direct measurements along the relevant thermodynamic cycle to obtain new values for the free energies of hydration for model compounds that mimic the sidechains of Arg, Lys, Asp, and Glu. We obtain independent assessments for these inferred values using direct free energy calculations based on the polarizable AMOEBA forcefield and water model. The TCPD and AMOEBA derived values agree with one another. The new numbers suggest that Arg has the least favorable free energy of solvation, followed by Lys. On average, the sidechains of Asp and Glu have free energies of hydration that are ~1.8 times more favorable than Arg and ~1.5 times more favorable than Lys. Calculations used to extract the temperature dependence of free energies of hydration reveal positive heat capacities of hydration for Arg and Lys and negative heat capacities of hydration for Asp and Glu. We analyze the hydration structures around the different solutes to uncover a structural explanation for the observed differences in free energies of hydration. Although the sidechains of Arg and Lys are both amphiphilic, we find that the Arg sidechain has more of a hydrophobic character. In contrast, both Asp and Glu are hydrophilic both in terms of their solvation thermodynamics and hydration structure. Our results provide a physico-chemical explanation for recent accounts documenting the differences of Arg and Lys with respect to one another and with respect to Asp / Glu as determinants of conformational and phase equilibria of IDPs.
On the number of limit cycles of a pendulum-like equation with two switching lines

Abstract This paper is devoted to study the limit cycle bifurcations of a pendulum equation x ˙ = y , y ˙ = − sin x under non-smooth perturbations of polynomials of cos x , sin x and y of degree n with switching lines x = 0 and y = 0 . The upper bounds of the number of limit cycles in both the oscillatory and the rotary regions are obtained by expressing the corresponding first order Melnikov functions as several generating functions, some of which are complete elliptic integrals of the first and second kind.
Cooling ranges for urban heat mitigation: continuous cooling effects along the edges of small greenspaces

This study assessed the cooling ranges of small greenspaces (SGs) along the edges of surrounding areas and identified the spatial cooling distance threshold. Five SGs in a natural preserved public area located in College Station, Texas, USA, and a reference site (Rf) were selected for this study. Air temperature data collection took six rounds from fall to early summer. In each round air temperature was collected three times during a day (i.e., 10 h, 13 h, and 16 h). Temperature sensing units (TVCs) and loggers recorded air temperature every second via a transect survey. The cooling distance was determined according to each SG’s radius: (1) the centroid of the SG (GC), (2) the edge of the SG (GE), (3) 1.25 times the radius away from the GC (1.25R), and (4) 1.5 times the radius away from the GC (1.5R). Our findings showed the SGs’ cooling effect (∆TRf−i) surpassed their edges in general. The cooling degrees at the GC were higher and dropped continuously from the GE to 1.25R ending with 1.5R showing the lowest. In fall, the SGs’ mean cooling degree exceeded 9.24% at 1.5R compared to Rf. In early summer, the SGs’ mean cooling effects decreased significantly while showing a very small difference between the measurement points. Our findings contribute to uncovering some specific design features with SGs to cooling down cities by applying advanced technology. Our findings will help designers, planners, researchers, and local government officials by providing an optimal landscape planning and design guide for mitigating urban heat.
Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Brent Ryan Bellamy (eds.), An Ecotopian Lexicon

Matthew Schneider-Mayerson and Brent Ryan Bellamy (eds.), An Ecotopian Lexicon (Foreword by Kim Stanley Robinson; Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2019), xvi + 327 pp., $24.95 (pbk), ISBN: 9781517905903.
MUnCH: a calculator for propagating statistical and other sources of error in passive microrheology

A complete propagation of error procedure for passive microrheology is illustrated using synthetic data from generalized Brownian dynamics. Moreover, measurement errors typical of bead tracking done with laser interferometry are employed. We use the blocking transformation method of Flyvbjerg and Petersen (J Chem Phys 91(1):461–466 1989) applicable to estimating statistical uncertainty in autocorrelations for any time series data, to account properly for the correlation in the bead position data. These contributions to uncertainty in correlations have previously been neglected when calculating the error in the mean-squared displacement of the probe bead (MSD). The uncertainty in the MSD can be underestimated by a factor of about 20 if the correlation in the bead position data is neglected. Using the generalized Stokes-Einstein relation, the uncertainty in the MSD is then propagated to the dynamic modulus. Uncertainties in the bead radius and the trap stiffness are also taken into account. A simple code used to aid in the calculations is provided.
Multimodal imaging: Nanocrystal loaded PLA-shelled contrast agents

Ultrasound Contrast Agents (UCA) are microencapsulated gas bubbles used to increase the overall contrast of the ultrasound (US) image. Novel multimodal polymeric UCA containing additional contrast agents that are active in multiple imaging modalities have been developed. Four platforms of loaded poly (lactic acid) (PLA) shelled UCA are presented. The first two platforms co-encapsulate aqueous or organic Quantum Dots (QD). The third platform contains magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNP). The fourth platform contains gold nanoparticles (AuNP). All platforms showed that the properties of UCA are maintained as well as the properties of additional encapsulated contrast agent. This study explores the potential application for improving the screening of a subject using at least two different modalities.
Three-point bounds and other estimates for strongly nonlinear composites

A variational procedure due to Ponte Casta\~neda et al. [Phys. Rev. B 46, 4387 (1992)] is used to determine three-point bounds and other types of estimates for the effective response of strongly nonlinear composites with random microstructures. The variational procedure makes use of estimates for the effective properties of ``linear comparison composites'' to generate corresponding estimates for nonlinear composites. Several equivalent forms of the variational procedure are derived. In particular, it is shown that the mean-field theory of Wan et al. [Phys. Rev. B 54, 3946 (1996)], which also makes use of a linear comparison composite, together with a certain ``decoupling approximation,'' leads to results that are precisely identical to those that can be obtained from the earlier variational procedure. Finally, three-point bounds and other estimates are computed for power-law composites with cell-type microstructures, and the results are compared with random resistor network simulations available from the literature.
Signature whistle use by temporarily restrained and free-swimming bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus

Prior work on the signature whistles of bottlenose dolphins has focused on captive or temporarily restrained wild dolphins. Here we examine whistle production by free-ranging adult bottlenose dolphins. Whistles were recorded from each of 13 dolphins while they were restrained and free-swimming. Eleven of the 13 animals produced whistles while free-swimming that matched whistles produced while restrained. On average, 51% of the whistles an animal produced while free-swimming matched whistles recorded while that animal was gently restrained. Of those free-swimming whistles that matched restrained whistles, 76% matched signature whistles. A further analysis was conducted to determine the social contexts in which free-swimming dolphins produced signature whistles. An adult, allied male was most likely to produce signature whistles when voluntarily separated from his partner, and least likely to when together with his partner. These results suggest that wild bottlenose dolphins use signature whistles as contact calls, similar to captive dolphins. The majority of whistles produced by a pair of allied males in a consortship with a female were variant whistles. A final analysis showed that signature whistles appear individually distinctive, consistent with their use as contact calls, while variant whistles do not.
A Return to the Analogy of Being

Recently, I’ve championed the doctrine that fundamentally different sorts of things exist in fundamentally different ways. On this view, what it is for an entity to be can differ across ontological categories. Although historically this doctrine was very popular, and several important challenges to this doctrine have been dealt with, I suspect that contemporary metaphysicians will continue to treat this view with suspicion until it is made clearer when one is warranted in positing different modes of existence. I address this concern here. The question of when to posit ways of being is closely related to a more general question: when should one think that some philosophically interesting expression is analogous? Accordingly, my strategy here is as follows. First, I briefly explain my interpretation of ontological pluralism, the doctrine that there are ways of being. Second,
Methodologies for data/knowledge/information engineering: Will the twain meet?

We have presented some of the intellectual currents which provide the concepts, tools and techniques for building systems to support enterprise activities. I contend that the complexity of future intelligent information systems will require knowledge-based environments, tools and techniques for the specification, design, prototyping, implementation and evolution of such systems. The confluence of ideas from data, knowledge and information engineering will help in the construction of such environments.
Coal Slag‐Refractory Compatibility Studies: Progress to Date

Some 60 different refractories were exposed to both acidic and basic molten slags at temperatures between 1500 and 1600 C. A dense, fused-cast chrome-spinel refractory showed superior resistance to corrosion by a wide variety of coal slags. Refractories containing >30% chromia reacted with all types of slags to form complex spinel-reaction products. Alumina refractories were intermediate in performance in acidic slags and poor in basic slags. Magnesia-chrome refractories containing free MgO performed poorly in acidic slags but somewhat better in basic slags. Preferential dissolution of MgO was observed in all cases.
Villanova Engineering Service Learning

The College of Engineering at Villanova University has a long history of providing technical services to support humanitarian initiatives. For over twenty years, engineering faculty and students have been participating in engineering outreach activities, which are commonly referred to as Engineering Service Learning. In 1991, a small group of engineering students and faculty traveled to work with the Cheypo-Bayano Mission in Panama. Students who graduate were excited to return to Panama to see their projects through to completion, which included a large water supply distribution system and a bridge for a small remote community in the region. At that time, the concept of service-learning did not exist, but due to the Augustinian Heritage at Villanova University, these types of activities have been strongly encouraged. In fact, the idea of ministry has been a strategic part of the university’ mission since 1979, and at the present time, there are an estimated 800 students and advisors who travel annually to over 40 locations globally (including the US) to volunteer on service projects. These projects include engineering and non-engineering activities, but the success of the engineering service learning program has been significantly influenced by the culture of service that exists at Villanova University and the Augustinian values which are routed in service to society.
Office Assessment of Gait and Station

Gait and station disorders are among the most common reasons patients seek outpatient neurologic consultation. A careful assessment of gait and station provides the clinician with an overview of the integrity of a patient's central and peripheral nervous systems. Therefore, clinicians may consider performing a gait and station examination as the prelude to their formal neurologic examination of the patient, regardless of their chief complaint, to gain insight into which areas of the remainder of the neurologic examination they should particularly focus on, to localize the patient's neurologic dysfunction. In this review, the author describes how a structured gait and station examination may be performed in the ambulatory setting, without any special equipment. Then, the precise mechanics of each component of normal gait and station are discussed, so that the potential localizations and significance of abnormalities, which may occur during various phases of the gait cycle, can be highlighted. In particular, some less common findings are emphasized, which may be mistaken as psychogenic in etiology.
Cross-fostering differentially affects ADHD-related behaviors in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Although both genetic and non-genetic factors are known to contribute to the occurrence of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity/Disorder (ADHD), little is known about how they impact specific symptoms. We used a cross-fostering approach with an established animal model of ADHD, the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat strain (SHR), to test the influence of genotype and maternal behavior on ADHD-related behaviors. SHRs and their normo-active genetic relative, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY), were cross-fostered to an unfamiliar dam of either the same or different strain. Behavioral testing took place when the rats reached adulthood. Locomotor hyperactivity was completely dependent on the strain of the offspring. In contrast, social behavior was primarily determined by the strain of the mother, while attentional orienting behavior was influenced by both the strain of the offspring and the strain of the dam. Anxiety-related behavior was influenced by an interaction between offspring and dam strain.
Recursive and permutation decoding for Reed-Muller codes

Two new recursive techniques are described for Reed-Muller (RM) codes and their subcodes. We show that these algorithms yield a substantial asymptotic gain over other nonexponential algorithms known for RM codes. Decoding performance is further enhanced by using intermediate code lists and permutation procedures.
Riding the Tail of the Dragon: Replacing Tradition with Engaged Legal Education

While many advances in American legal education have occurred over the years, the traditional vision of law as an academic science, taught by iconic experts out of casebooks carved up by subject matter, persists. Most law professors have eschewed using alternative methodologies, perhaps because they have had little institutional incentive to experiment. Yet, an alternative narrative of engaged learning is gaining currency in many different educational domains. The utilization of an engaged learning protocol as an organizing principle would dramatically shake-up the traditional structures of legal education, but mostly for the better. Engaged Education would enhance educational outcomes, facilitate the development of competencies and result in an education that better bridges theory and practice throughout. Despite the costs of reconstructing the educational enterprise, engaged education would be educationally beneficial in the short-term and serve as a better adaptation to global and economic pressures in the long-term.
Structure and Sentiment in Serbian Cousinship

Analysis of survey and interview data from modern Belgrade shows an interplay between the structural alignments of traditional Serbian kinship and the more individual considerations of affective relationships between parents and their siblings. Cousin relationships are a perpetuation of parental sibling relationships but are markedly affected by structural factors. “Liking” appears to be a matter of loyalty, trust, and obligation and is strongest along agnatic lines; the greatest continuity of positive affect is between the close fraternal relationships in the parental generation and the close relationship between mutual father's brother's sons. The virifocality of the system is shown for other facets of kinship including possible warping of genealogical perception and recall.
Manipulating core-shell reactivities for processing nanoparticle sizes and shapes

This paper describes new findings of an investigation of thermally-activated core–shell reactivities of nanoparticles in solutions for processing size, shape and surface properties. Gold nanoparticles of ≈2 nm core sizes with thiolate monolayer encapsulation were chosen as a model system for the manipulation of reaction parameters, including annealing effect, core composition and shell structure. It is revealed that, upon an evolution of particle sizes, annealing treatment of the solution in the presence of encapsulating thiols can lead to the formation of highly monodispersed nanoparticles. New insights into shell desorption, core coalescence and shell re-encapsulation have been provided by dependencies of the evolution temperature on the capping thiolate chain length and the core alloy composition. Transmission electron microscopic, FTIR and UV-Visible techniques were used to characterize the morphological and chemical properties. The implication of the results for the development of abilities in chemical processing core–shell nanoparticles is discussed.
In vivo correction of murine tyrosinemia type I by DNA-mediated transposition

Gene therapy applications of naked DNA constructs for genetic disorders have been limited because of lack of permanent transgene expression. This limitation, however, can be overcome by the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposable element, which can achieve permanent transgene expression through genomic integration from plasmid DNA. To date, only one example of an in vivo gene therapy application of this system has been reported. In this report, we have further defined the activity of the SB transposon in vivo by analyzing the expression and integration of a fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) transposon in FAH-deficient mice. In this model, stably corrected FAH(+) hepatocytes are clonally selected and stable integration events can therefore be quantified and characterized at the molecular level. Herein, we demonstrate that SB-transposon-transfected hepatocytes can support significant repopulation of the liver, resulting in long-lasting correction of the FAH-deficiency phenotype. A single, combined injection of an FAH-expressing transposon plasmid and a transposase expression construct resulted in stable FAH expression in approximately 1% of transfected hepatocytes. The average transposon copy number was determined to be approximately 1/diploid genome and expression was not silenced during serial transplantation. Molecular analysis indicated that high-efficiency DNA-mediated transposition into the mouse genome was strictly dependent on the expression of wild-type transposase.
Experiences of Domestic Violence as a Child and Career Choice

Moving past descriptions of the amount and nature of domestic violence, researchers in the area of childhood violence now explore a variety of outcomes of experiences of domestic violence as a child. This includes the effects on various outcomes in adulthood though little research so far has explored career choice. In the current study, we examine whether experiencing domestic violence as a child increases the chance that an individual will choose a human services profession as a career and if individuals in the human services professions who report experiences of domestic violence as a child have lower rates of being a victim of domestic violence as adults than those who do not. The findings suggest that experiences of violence as a child do not significantly affect the choice of human services as a career. Those who choose human services as a career, however, are less likely to experience domestic violence as an adult.
To Think or Not to Think: Synaptic Activity and Aβ Release

Accumulation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ) in the extracellular space of the brain has been hypothesized to be a culprit in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In this issue of Neuron , Cirrito et al. describe a series of experiments demonstrating that extracellular Aβ levels are directly modulated by neuronal and synaptic activity.
Ecdysone action on insect cell lines

Cell lines derived from embryos of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta (L.), showed a marked morphological response to treatment with physiological doses of β-ecdysone. The response of these cell lines with α-ecdysone indicated that the penta-ol (α-ecdysone) must be converted to the hexa-ol (β-ecdysone) form before the morphological response can appear. Liquid chromatographic analysis of the spent medium confirmed that the cells converted the α-ecdysone to β-ecdysone in amounts that exceeded the threshold level for a biological response. Constant exposure to β-ecdysone produced a cell line that was resistant to the killing effect of β-ecdysone and failed entirely to respond to the presence of α-ecdysone.
The Objectivity and Subjectivity of Life Events.

Abstract : Life events have been considered objective or subjective depending on whether or not the events could be verified. This paper revises this concept (Verifiability) by requiring that the events actually be verified, and it presents two new types of objectivity-subjectivity of life events, Item Selection and Event Quantification. Three issues pertaining to the design of life event studies are presented and it is shown that these design issues interact with Verifiability and Event Quantification, sometimes resulting in studies with serious threats to their validity. It is recommended that all three types of objectivity-subjectivity be considered when designing life event studies. (Author)
Alfalfa Meal as a Source of Unidentified Growth Factors

Abstract Hansen et al. (1953) have previously submitted evidence that dehydrated and sun-cured alfalfa meal contained an unidentified growth factor required for chick growth. It was further demonstrated that some, but not all samples of sun-cured meal were superior to dehydrated alfalfa meal in promoting chick growth. The data of Fisher et al. (1953) suggest that the alfalfa factor is not identical to the factors present in either defatted whole liver powder or dried whey. Additional samples of both types of meal have been obtained for further feeding tests. The growth stimulating ability of these meals is the subject of this report. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE A sample of dehydrated and sun-cured alfalfa meal was made available for the study by each of three concerns processing both types of meal. The meals were processed from cuttings made in the spring of 1952, but other details concerning processing are not available. Presumably they conformed …
Pyrimidine base supplementation effects curdlan production in Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749

Pyrimidine base supplementation of the culture medium was found to increase curdlan production by Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749. With sucrose as a carbon source, adding uracil or cytosine to the culture medium of strain ATCC 31749 after 48 h of growth resulted in an elevation of curdlan levels by 1.7-fold or 1.5-fold, respectively, after 120 h compared to no addition. Supplementation of the pyrimidine bases thymine, dihydrouracil or orotic acid had no effect upon curdlan production. Biomass production by strain ATCC 31749 after uracil supplementation was noted to increase by 3.0-fold after 120 h of growth compared to the control cultures. The increase in curdlan production by Agrobacterium sp. ATCC 31749 following uracil addition appeared to be related to the observed increase in biomass production.
The reliability theory of aging and longevity.

Reliability theory is a general theory about systems failure. It allows researchers to predict the age-related failure kinetics for a system of given architecture (reliability structure) and given reliability of its components. Reliability theory predicts that even those systems that are entirely composed of non-aging elements (with a constant failure rate) will nevertheless deteriorate (fail more often) with age, if these systems are redundant in irreplaceable elements. Aging, therefore, is a direct consequence of systems redundancy. Reliability theory also predicts the late-life mortality deceleration with subsequent leveling-off, as well as the late-life mortality plateaus, as an inevitable consequence of redundancy exhaustion at extreme old ages. The theory explains why mortality rates increase exponentially with age (the Gompertz law) in many species, by taking into account the initial flaws (defects) in newly formed systems. It also explains why organisms "prefer" to die according to the Gompertz law, while technical devices usually fail according to the Weibull (power) law. Theoretical conditions are specified when organisms die according to the Weibull law: organisms should be relatively free of initial flaws and defects. The theory makes it possible to find a general failure law applicable to all adult and extreme old ages, where the Gompertz and the Weibull laws are just special cases of this more general failure law. The theory explains why relative differences in mortality rates of compared populations (within a given species) vanish with age, and mortality convergence is observed due to the exhaustion of initial differences in redundancy levels. Overall, reliability theory has an amazing predictive and explanatory power with a few, very general and realistic assumptions. Therefore, reliability theory seems to be a promising approach for developing a comprehensive theory of aging and longevity integrating mathematical methods with specific biological knowledge.
Boundary spectra of uniform Frostman Blaschke products

A closed set F in the unit circle T is the boundary spectrum of a uniform Frostman Blaschke product if and only if F is nowhere dense in T.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Nitrate Complexes with Polyammonium Macrocycles: Insight on Phosphoryl Transfer Catalysis

Nitrate complexes of two different polyammonium macrocycles, the tetrahydrogen nitrate salts of 1,4,7,16,19,21-hexaaza-10,13-dioxacyclotetracosane [24]N6O2·4HNO3, 1, and 1,4,10,13-tetraaza-7,16-dioxacyclooctadecane, [18]N4O2·4HNO3, 2, have been isolated and their structures determined by X-ray crystallographic methods. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Imma with unit cell dimensions a = 22.692(3) A, b = 19.563(3) A, c = 7.005(1) A, V = 3110(1) A3, and Z = 4. Compound 2 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with a = 13.877(1) A, b = 15.553(1) A, c = 10.742(1) A, V = 2314.6(5) A3, and Z = 8. Full-matrix least-squares refinement resulted in R = 0.051 and Rw = 0.067 for 1 and R = 0.063 and Rw = 0.072 for 2. Compound 1 has a boat-shaped geometry, and one of the four nitrates is situated in the macrocyclic cavity. Compound 2 is relatively flat with two nitrates above and two below the plane of the molecule. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed for the two molecules usi...
Bilateral synchronous sporadic renal masses: intermediate functional and oncological outcomes at a single institution

Purpose To review the intermediate term oncologic and functional outcomes after the surgical management of bilateral renal masses (BRM).
Expression of the collagen-like putative oncoprotein of Herpesvirus saimiri in transformed T cells

Herpesvirus saimiri induces acute lymphomas and leukemias in New World primates and rabbits. Previous work revealed that a highly oncogenic group C strain 484–77 encodes and expresses a bicistronic mRNA in tumor-derived T cells and the first open reading frame (orf1) is highly homologous to collagen. With the aid of an antibody against a synthetic orf1 peptide, we now report that the orf1 collagen-like protein is expressed in rabbit tumor derived cell lines and in vitro transformed human and monkey T cells. The orf1 protein is expressed in vivo, as indicated by specific antibodies detected in the serum from a tumor-bearing rabbit.
Bullying among nurses

OverviewRelational aggression is a type of bullying typified by various forms of psychological (rather than physical) abuse. It includes such behaviors as gossiping, withholding information, and ostracism. Although relational aggression in girls has garnered considerable interest, scant research on
Research on student thought processes during computer-based instruction

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the distinctive perspective that underlies research on student thought processes during instruction. In this perspective, it is assumed that learning results from instructiononly after that instruction has beenconsidered by students. These considerations or cognitions are thought tomediate the effects of instruction and, in turn, influence learning, performance, and transfer. The cognitive approach to research on instruction is offered as a supplement to behaviorist strategies, not as a replacement. It is highly likely that some learning occurs with minimal cognitive mediation and behaviorist instructional methods are recommended as ideal when near transfer (context bound) learning is desired. Yet, it is also the case that the cognitive view of learning provides significant alternative views of certain behaviorist-inspired instructional models. Evidence was presented for cognitively-inspired alterations in our understanding of such familiar instructional variables as motivation, the relationship between CBI and learning, learner control, the transfer of learning, hemispheric dominance, and anxiety. In each case, an analysis of student thought processes have extended the robustness of the principles available to support instructional theory and design.
Bmi-1 is required for maintenance of adult self-renewing haematopoietic stem cells.

A central issue in stem cell biology is to understand the mechanisms that regulate the self-renewal of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are required for haematopoiesis to persist for the lifetime of the animal1. We found that adult and fetal mouse and adult human HSCs express the proto-oncogene Bmi-1. The number of HSCs in the fetal liver of Bmi-1-/- mice2 was normal. In postnatal Bmi-1-/- mice, the number of HSCs was markedly reduced. Transplanted fetal liver and bone marrow cells obtained from Bmi-1-/- mice were able to contribute only transiently to haematopoiesis. There was no detectable self-renewal of adult HSCs, indicating a cell autonomous defect in Bmi-1-/- mice. A gene expression analysis revealed that the expression of stem cell associated genes3, cell survival genes, transcription factors, and genes modulating proliferation including p16Ink4a and p19Arf was altered in bone marrow cells of the Bmi-1-/- mice. Expression of p16Ink4a and p19Arf in normal HSCs resulted in proliferative arrest and p53-dependent cell death, respectively. Our results indicate that Bmi-1 is essential for the generation of self-renewing adult HSCs.
Expanded Populations of Surface Membrane Immunoglobulin Light Chain–Negative B Cells in Lymph Nodes Are Not Always Indicative of B-Cell Lymphoma

Immunophenotypic analysis is useful in distinguishing reactive from neoplastic lymphoproliferations, particularly when tissue is limited or histologic findings are equivocal. Surface membrane immunoglobulin (SmIg) light chain restriction in B cells is especially helpful in documenting clonality, and the loss of SmIg by B cells in extramedullary sites also has been used as a criterion to support the presence of lymphoma. However, we identified 3 cases of benign follicular hyperplasia (in 101 cases analyzed) with profound expansions (56%-88% of the B cells) of SmIg light chain-negative B cells without clonality by immunoglobulin heavy chain gene polymerase chain reaction. Thus, although uncommonly encountered, lack of SmIg light chain expression by B cells should not necessarily be interpreted as indicative of lymphoma. Interestingly, 2 of the 3 patients with these "aberrant" expansions were HIV+, and such patients are at heightened risk for the development of lymphoma. Therefore, there is the potential for misdiagnosing lymphoma if flow cytometric data are interpreted inappropriately in isolation.
Urinary retention: a systemic complication of botulinum toxin injection therapy for achalasia

Urinary retention: a systemic complication of botulinum toxin injection therapy for achalasia