cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do ungulates accelerate or decelerate nitrogen cycling

Abstract Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plants and animals, and N may be limiting in many western US grassland and shrubland ungulate winter ranges. Ungulates may influence N pools and they may alter N inputs and outputs (losses) to the ecosystem in a number of ways. In this paper we compare the ecosystem effects of ungulate herbivory in two western national parks, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), Colorado, and Yellowstone National Park (YNP), Wyoming. We compare ungulate herbivory effects on N pools, N fluxes, N yields, and plant productivity in the context of the accelerating and decelerating nutrient cycling scenarios [Ecology 79 (1998) 165]. We concluded that the YNP grasslands fit the accelerating nutrient cycling scenario for ungulate herbivory: in response to grazing, grassland plant species abundance was largely unaltered, net annual aboveground primary productivity (NAPP) was stimulated (except during drought), consumption of key N-rich forages by ungulates was moderate and their abundance was sustained, soil N mineralization rates doubled, N pools increased, aboveground N yield increased, and N concentrations increased in most grassland plant species. Grazing in grasslands in RMNP resulted in no consistent detectable acceleration or deceleration of nutrient cycling. Grazing effects in short willow and aspen vegetation types in RMNP fit the decelerating nutrient cycling scenario of Ritchie et al. [Ecology 79 (1998) 165]. Key N-rich forages declined due to herbivory (willows, aspen, herbaceous vegetation). Aboveground production declined, soil N mineralization rates declined, N pools declined (NO3− pools were 30% that of ungrazed controls), and aboveground N yield declined. We believe that the higher ungulate densities and rates of plant consumption in RMNP, large declines in N-rich forage plants, and possibly a tendency of ungulates to move N from willow and aspen vegetation types to other types in RMNP, contributed to deceleration of nutrient cycling in two vegetation types in RMNP compared to acceleration in grasslands in YNP.
The Model of Load Curtailment Optimization in Power Energy Security Evaluation

In the process of power Energy Security evaluation, the load curtailment optimization is the crucial key step, which also supplements and perfects the static safe evaluation. In this paper, the LCO’s linear program algorithm is deduced on the basic mathematics model foundation, and programs in Visual Fortran environment. The IEEE bus-5 results in various states are presented to verify the load cutting optimization model.
Finding balance: impact of classroom management conceptions on developing teacher practice

Abstract A sociocultural perspective on teacher learning was used to investigate how three beginning teachers’ conceptions of classroom management affected their developing teaching practices. Students were followed from student teaching through their first 2 years of teaching. Data sources included interviews, classroom observations, and teacher education portfolios. Although all three teachers shared common conceptions of management as establishing positive learning environments, only two of the teachers were successful in doing so. Four key ideas shared by these two teachers served as pedagogical tools that framed their decision-making and scaffolded their early practice. These four conceptions are linked to a course on classroom management not taken by the third teacher. Implications of these findings for teacher education are discussed.
Activity Pattern of Family Travelers in a Rural Area—A Case in Southern Indiana

Family leisure is held in high esteem as an important and essential component of family life. This research examines family travelers' leisure activity participation patterns and the influence of family composition. Based on data from rural Southern Indiana, the study has identified four rural activity groups of family travelers, which are “Gamers,” “Campers,” “Rural heritage trekkers,” and “Social visitors.” Comparisons of the clusters across family composition coupled with correspondence analysis of family composition's association with various travel activities have revealed significant influence of family composition on family travelers' rural activity participation behavior. This study extends rural tourism research to one of its major market—the family travelers. The results of this research can potentially lend valuable practical implications for rural tourism development.
Management of the challenging airway with the Bullard laryngoscope

The Bullard laryngoscope is a rigid fiber-optic device that offers a new approach to oral laryngoscopy. In this report, I present five cases illustrative of the use of the Bullard laryngoscope in patients with demonstrated or suspected difficult laryngoscopy and intubation.
Hip Arthroscopy: The Next Frontier in Orthopaedic Surgery and Its Challenges

Hip Arthroscopy is the most rapidly growing field in Orthopaedic Surgery. The volume of hip arthroscopy has tripled since 2003. Yet, despite the rapid recent growth, it is felt that only 10% of problems that can be treated with hip arthroscopy are currently being done so. The reasons for this are multiple — lack of recognition of problems in the hip by those not experienced with non-arthritic hip problems, insufficient numbers of surgeons trained to do hip arthroscopy, and, not unimportantly, the difficulty of performing hip arthroscopy. One of the most common underlying problems affecting individuals with non-arthritic hip pain is femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI was first described by Ganz in the Swiss literature in 1995, and did not make it into the English literature until 1999. Due to its very recent identification, acceptance of this problem and dissemination to clinicians has resulted in a relatively low number of clinicians being aware of this problem.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Earth's Saturnlike ring

A ring similar to those surrounding Saturn today may have existed around Earth 34 million years ago, according to John A. O'Keefe of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. He calculates that the ring, composed of tektites (glass meteorites), lasted one to several million years. The shadow of the rings on Earth's surface caused dramatic climatic changes in the temperate zones. The sudden climatic change 34 million years ago has been known to geologists for many years as the terminal Eocene event. This change is considered to be the most profound climatic event to have occurred during the entire Tertiary period, between 65 million and 2 million years ago.
A divide-and-conquer algorithm for grid generation

We present a new algorithm for generating a logically rectangular curvilinear mesh for a region in the plane bounded by four smooth curves. The curvilinear grid is generated using a divide-and-conquer algorithm where at each step a single grid curve or line is generated using position and derivative information derived from previously generated curves. The grid curves are produced by shape-preserving cubic Hermite interpolation that allow for corners or kinks along the boundary. After all grid curves have been generated, the mesh is modified by a rezoning algorithm to improve smoothness, orthogonality, resolution of a particular function defined in the region, or other desirable qualities.
Incidence and Predictive Factors of Pain Flare After Spine Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy: Secondary Analysis of Phase 1/2 Trials

Purpose/Objective(s) To perform a secondary analysis of institutional prospective spine stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) trials to investigate posttreatment acute pain flare. Methods and Materials Medical records for enrolled patients were reviewed. Study protocol included baseline and follow-up surveys with pain assessment by Brief Pain Inventory and documentation of pain medications. Patients were considered evaluable for pain flare if clinical note or follow-up survey was completed within 2 weeks of SBRT. Pain flare was defined as a clinical note indicating increased pain at the treated site or survey showing a 2-point increase in worst pain score, a 25% increase in analgesic intake, or the initiation of steroids. Binary logistic regression was used to determine predictive factors for pain flare occurrence. Results Of the 210 enrolled patients, 195 (93%) were evaluable for pain flare, including 172 (88%) clinically, 135 (69%) by survey, and 112 (57%) by both methods. Of evaluable patients, 61 (31%) had undergone prior surgery, 57 (29%) had received prior radiation, and 34 (17%) took steroids during treatment, mostly for prior conditions. Pain flare was observed in 44 patients (23%). Median time to pain flare was 5 days (range, 0-20 days) after the start of treatment. On multivariate analysis, the only independent factor associated with pain flare was the number of treatment fractions (odds ratio = 0.66, P =.004). Age, sex, performance status, spine location, number of treated vertebrae, prior radiation, prior surgery, primary tumor histology, baseline pain score, and steroid use were not significant. Conclusions Acute pain flare after spine SBRT is a relatively common event, for which patients should be counseled. Additional study is needed to determine whether prophylactic or symptomatic intervention is preferred.
Escalation and de-escalation in asymmetric conflict †

The life cycle of intractable conflict often involves three stages: dispirited quiescence, escalation to a state of intractability, and de-escalation accompanied by negotiation. These stages are produced by three types of perceived power distributions between the advantaged and the disadvantaged groups: highly unequal power, moderately unequal power, and equal (symmetrical) power. Once equality is reached, movement toward de-escalation and negotiation is often hesitant and gradual. It starts with signaling and/or informal communication and – if these produce optimism about reaching a mutually acceptable agreement – may move to back-channel talks. Even more optimism is required for full-scale negotiation to be entered. These theoretical points are supported by two case studies, involving conflicts in Northern Ireland and Israel/Palestine.
The traumatic experiences inventory (TEI): A test of psychometric properties

This study outlines the psychometric testing process for the TEI, a self-report instrument designed to measure the existence, intensity, and duration of biopsychosocial symptoms of the traumatic experience following a crime or natural disaster in which lives were lost. The data collected for the initial standardization process were obtained from 244 Oklahoma City residents and 228 individuals from a comparison group. Factor analyses, employing a varimax rotation, revealed a four-factor solution for each sample. A description of each dimension of the TEI is provided along with internal consistency statistics for each factor and the overall scale.
Hemolytic anemia with serum and erythrocyte-bound low-molecular-weight IgM

Abstract A 49-yr-old woman with severe hemolytic anemia had marked depression of serum IgG and IgA along with monoclonal serum IgM detectable in both high and low molecular-weight forms. Antiglobulin tests by instrumented and manual techniques showed only IgM coating of the erythrocytes and an eluate contained low-molecular-weight IgM. The IgM fraction of the patient's serum contained anti-I agglutinins active at 37°C. Lymphocyte response to Concanavalin A was diminished, whereas response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen was normal. Blood monocyte Fc receptor activity was increased in comparison to controls. The finding of a low-molecular-weight IgM possibly related to hemolysis in addition to 19S IgM anti-I activity with high thermal optimum in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia represents an unusual form of immune hemolytic anemia.
An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of diacetoxyscirpenol in wheat and corn.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for quantitation of diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) in wheat flour and corn meal. Diacetoxyscirpenol was first converted to its “b”-carboxymethoxyl oxime and then conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) via a water-soluble carbodiimide method. This conjugate was then coated to a microtiter plate and incubated with rabbit anti-DAS antibody and sample extract. The amount of anti-DAS antibody bound to the plate was then determined by reaction of goat anti-rabbit IgG-peroxidase complex, and subsequent reaction with substrate. Samples spiked with DAS were extracted with acetone and subjected to a simple cleanup procedure by passing them through a reversed-phase Sep-Pak C-18 cartridge. The minimum detection level for DAS was 5 picograms per assay. Average recoveries from samples of wheat flour spiked with DAS in the 1 – 100 ppb range were 97.5 ± 17.8% for one gram samples, and 97.2 ± 19.9 % for fifty gram samples. Average recoveries from corn meal samples spiked in the same range were 98.8 ± 22.6 % for one gram samples, and 99.7 ± 17.3 % for fifty gram samples.
Transfer Matrix Modeling of Systems With Noncollocated Feedback

The transfer matrix method (TMM) can be a powerful tool for modeling flexible structures under feedback control. It is particularly well suited to modeling structures composed of serially connected elements. The TMM is capable of modeling continuous elements such as beams or flexible robot links without discretization. The ability to incorporate controller transfer functions into the transfer matrix model of the system makes it a useful approach for control design. A limitation of the traditional formulation of the TMM is that it can only model feedback where the actuators and sensors are strictly collocated. The primary contribution of this paper is an algorithm for modeling noncollocated feedback with the TMM. Two cases of noncollocated sensors are considered (upstream and downstream). The approach is experimentally verified on a flexible robot that has one upstream and one downstream sensor in its feedback loops.
Fabrication of Cu2ZnSnS4 Thin Films by Sputtering from a Single Quaternary Chalcogenide Compound

Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films were fabricated by one-step RF magnetron sputtering of a single quaternary Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) chalcogenide target on Mo/soda lime glass substrate, followed by post sulfurization using S vapor obtained from elemental S powders. The films were thermally annealed in Ar atmosphere to improve the crytallinity. The sulfurization temperature was fixed at 550°C. Both as-deposited and post-sulfured samples are close to the stoichiometric composition, meanwhile without any second phase was detected by XRD. As-deposited film has a compact columnar grain characteristic. Although crystallinity was improved with increasing annealing time, this characteristic disappeared after post-sulfured.
A practicum in private practice for graduate students in psychiatric nursing

Clinical placements in psychotherapy for graduate students in psychiatric nursing are getting difficult to find because of bureaucracy, liability issues, competition, and safety and convenience concerns in urban areas. One solution is to design a placement in private practice.
Social workers and private practice opportunities

This study investigated the factors related to the supply of social work services through a survey of those recently granted direct reimbursability for private practice. Results suggest the importance of the age of young children and the influence of local market factors on supply of services. In light of these findings, employment and professional regulatory policies are discussed.
Processed meat intake and incidence of Type 2 diabetes in younger and middle-aged women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between processed and other meat intake and incidence of Type 2 diabetes in a large cohort of women. Incident cases of Type 2 diabetes were identified during 8 years of follow-up in a prospective cohort study of 91246 U.S. women aged 26 to 46 years and being free of diabetes and other major chronic diseases at baseline in 1991. We identified 741 incident cases of confirmed Type 2 diabetes during 716276 person-years of follow-up. The relative risk adjusted for potential non-dietary confounders was 1.91 (95% CI: 1.42–2.57) in women consuming processed meat five times or more a week compared with those consuming processed meat less than once a week (p<0.001 for trend). Further adjustment for intakes of magnesium, cereal fibre, glycaemic index, and caffeine or for a Western dietary pattern did not appreciably change the results and associations remained strong after further adjustment for fatty acid and cholesterol intake. Frequent consumption of bacon, hot dogs, and sausage was each associated with an increased risk of diabetes. While total red meat (beef or lamb as main dish, pork as main dish, hamburger, beef, pork or lamb as sandwich or mixed dish) intake was associated with an increased risk of diabetes, this association was attenuated after adjustment for magnesium, cereal fiber, glycaemic index, and caffeine (relative risk: 1.44; 95% CI: 0.92–2.24). Our data suggest that diets high in processed meats could increase the risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
Large eddy simulation of dilute reacting sprays: Droplet evaporation and scalar mixing

Abstract Large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent reacting sprays is performed to investigate the interactions of droplet evaporation and subfilter scalar mixing processes. A stochastic method is proposed to generate the subfilter fluctuations in gas-phase reactive scalars in the framework of a mixture-fraction-based combustion model. The subfilter fluctuations of the gas-phase temperature and composition, seen by droplets, are used to refine the estimates of the interphase heat/mass transfer rates. Gas-phase combustion is described by the flamelet progress variable approach. The effects of droplet evaporation on subfilter scalar mixing are considered by solving the transport equation for the subfilter mixture fraction variance. The mixture fraction that is valid instantaneously in both the gas and the liquid phases is adopted and its implication on the modeling of the evaporation source term in the subfilter variance equation is discussed. The modeling approach has been applied to the Sydney dilute reacting sprays. To account for uncertainty in the modeling of scalar dissipation rates in spray flames, a parametric study is performed for the constant in the scalar dissipation model for the subfilter variance equation. The effects of subfilter fluctuations on droplet evaporation are found to depend on the inflow condition of the pre-evaporated gas-phase mixture and the liquid injection rate in the present dilute reacting sprays.
Batting order optimization by genetic algorithm

Baseball has been widely studied in various ways, including math and statistics. In a baseball game, an optimized batting order helps the team achieves greater number of runs in a season. This paper introduces a method that combines a genetic algorithm with a statistical simulation to identify a non-optimal batting order. The biggest issue is how we evaluate a batting order. There are past works using dynamic programming to calculate the plate appearance and using Markov Chain to evaluate a batting order. These two algorithms summarize all past data to deliver an optimal batting order. The GA described here applies an evaluation function using a baseball game simulation. Thus the GA is more like a helping tool that can be incorporated into the decision making process rather than a deterministic tool. The simulation defines the baseball game as a set of events. By using only a subset of the event set, the decision maker can pursue a customized batting order.
Evolution of Complex Gene Regulatory Circuits by Addition of Refinements

How do complex gene regulatory circuits evolve? These circuits involve many interacting components, which work together to specify patterns of gene expression. They typically include many subtle mechanistic features, but in most cases it is unclear whether these features are essential for the circuit to work at all, or if instead they make a functional circuit work better. In the latter case, such a feature is here termed ‘dispensable', and it is plausible that the feature has been added at a late stage in the evolution of the circuit. This review describes experimental tests of this question, using the phage λ gene regulatory circuit. Several features of this circuit are found to be dispensable, in the sense that the circuitry works without these features, though not as well as the wild type. In some cases, second-site suppressor mutations are needed to confer near-normal behavior in the absence of such a feature. These findings are discussed here in the context of a two-stage model for evolution of gene regulatory circuits. In this model, a circuit evolves by assembly of a primitive or basic form, followed by adjustment of parameters and addition of qualitatively new features. Pathways are suggested for the addition of such features to a more basic form. Selected examples in other systems are described. Some of the dispensable features of phage λ may be evolutionary refinements. Finding that a feature is dispensable, however, does not prove that it is a late addition — it is possible that it was essential early in evolution, and became dispensable as the circuit evolved. Conversely, a late addition might have become essential. As ongoing work provides additional examples of dispensable features, it may become clearer how often they represent refinements.
Oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is related to psychological resources

Psychological resources—optimism, mastery, and self-esteem—buffer the deleterious effects of stress and are predictors of neurophysiological and psychological health-related outcomes. These resources have been shown to be highly heritable, yet the genetic basis for this heritability remains unknown. Here, we report a link between the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) SNP rs53576 and psychological resources, such that carriers of the “A” allele have lower levels of optimism, mastery, and self-esteem, relative to G/G homozygotes. OXTR was also associated with depressive symptomatology. Mediation analysis indicates that the effects of OXTR on depressive symptoms may be largely mediated by the influence of OXTR on psychological resources.
Uncertain semantics, representation nuisances, and necessary invariance properties of bootstrapping agents

In the problem of bootstrapping, an agent must learn to use an unknown body, in an unknown world, starting from zero information about the world, its sensors, and its actuators. So far, this fascinating problem has not; been given a proper normalization. In this paper, we provide a possible rigorous definition of one of the key aspects of bootstrapping, namely the fact that an agent must be able to use “uninterpreted” observations and commands. We show that this can be formalized by positing the existence of representation nuisances that act on the data, and which must be tolerated by an agent. The classes of nuisances tolerate d in directly encode the assumptions needed about the world, and therefore the agent's ability to solve smaller or larger classes of bootstrapping problem instances. Moreover, we argue that the behavior of an agent that claims optimality must actually be invariant to the representation nuisances, and we discuss several design principles to obtain such invariance.
A Study of the Relationship between Jungian Personality Dimensions and Conflict-Handling Behavior

This study investigated potential personality predispositions to interpersonal conflict-handling behavior. The design of the study represents an advancement over previous research as both males and females were studied in a controlled context of conflict introduced via a business simulation game. Jungian personality dimensions and conflict-handling modes were assessed and a significant relationship was found between subjects' decision-making preference (thinking-feeling) and their choice of conflict-handling behavior. Some sex differences in conflict-handing behavior were also found. The findings of this study have implications for conflict management, personnel selection, and placement of individuals in organizations.
Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Nanoclusters Controlling Gas-to-Particle Nucleation

Nucleation of new particles from vapor-phase molecular precursors is an important process in the synthesis of nanomaterials and in the formation of aerosols in the atmosphere. Vapor-to-particle nucleation is a macroscopic process controlled by nanoscale particles (e.g., molecular clusters). Computational approaches to nucleation have been limited by the lack of a consistent theory of the process and by the lack of efficient approaches to simulate the properties of clusters relevant to nucleation. In this article, we focus on two advances that allow nucleation to be treated in a rigorous manner for molecular systems: dynamical nucleation theory permits a consistent treatment of the nucleation kinetics and aggregation-volume-bias Monte Carlo simulations provides an efficient approach to evaluate the thermodynamics of molecular clusters important in nucleation. The combination of these two approaches positions molecular computational approaches to make significant advances in our understanding of the mechani...
A general model for age acceleration during thermal cycling

Conventional practice in evaluating the effect of elevated temperature upon electronic devices in either accelerated testing or stress screening is the use of the Arrhenius reaction rate equation. This equation fails to represent several key aspects of the stress. A general model that includes the reaction rate effects during heating and cooling, the mechanical effects of heating and cooling, and non-constant activation energies is provided here. The model is based upon a general representation of a thermal cycle. Once the general model is constructed, it is shown to accommodate as special cases, acceleration when one or more of the features is assumed absent. An example illustrates this point. Then several uses for the model beyond the computation of the acceleration factor are discussed. It is suggested that the general model can be used to support test design and equipment selection decisions. The model therefore provides a more realistic portrayal of the effects of a thermal cycle and increased decision flexibility in defining thermal stress regimens.
A call to ARMs: the promise of immunomodulatory small molecules.

Small molecules possessing the properties of biologics hold promise for a wide range of therapeutic applications. Antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs) – ‘bifunctional’ (two-headed) agents that can ...
Automated quality control methods for sensor data: a novel observatory approach

National and international networks and observatories of terrestrial-based sensors are emerging rapidly. As such, there is demand for a standardized approach to data quality control, as well as interoperability of data among sensor networks. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) has begun constructing their first terrestrial observing sites, with 60 locations expected to be distributed across the US by 2017. This will result in over 14 000 automated sensors recording more than > 100 Tb of data per year. These data are then used to create other datasets and subsequent "higher-level" data products. In anticipation of this challenge, an overall data quality assurance plan has been developed and the first suite of data quality control measures defined. This data-driven approach focuses on automated methods for defining a suite of plausibility test parameter thresholds. Specifically, these plausibility tests scrutinize the data range and variance of each measurement type by employing a suite of binary checks. The statistical basis for each of these tests is developed, and the methods for calculating test parameter thresholds are explored here. While these tests have been used elsewhere, we apply them in a novel approach by calculating their relevant test parameter thresholds. Finally, implementing automated quality control is demonstrated with preliminary data from a NEON prototype site.
Investigation on the Use of Nitrogen Implantation to Improve the Performance of N-Channel Enhancement 4H-SiC MOSFETs

A gate oxide obtained by wet oxidation of SiC preimplanted with nitrogen has been investigated on MOS capacitors and implemented in a n-channel MOSFET technology. Different implantation fluences and energies in the ranges 1.5 X 1013-1 X 1015 cm -2 and 2.5-10 keV, respectively, were used with the aims to study the effect of the nitrogen concentration at the SiO2/SiC interface on MOSFET performance. The highest dose, which is able to amorphize a surface SiC layer, was also employed to take advantage of the faster oxidation rate of amorphous phase with respect to crystalline one. The electron interface trap density near the conduction band has been evaluated with different techniques both on MOS capacitors and MOSFET devices; a good agreement among the measured values has been attained. A strong reduction of the electron interface traps density located near the conduction band has been obtained in the samples with a high nitrogen concentration at the SiO2/SiC interface. The MOSFETs with the highest nitrogen concentration at the interface (~1 X 1019 cm -3) present the highest channel mobility (21.9 cm2/V .s), the lowest threshold voltage (2.4 V), and the smallest subthreshold swing (310 mV/decade at drain current of 10 -11 A).
Properties of freshly isolated type II alveolar epithelial cells

Abstract The biochemical characteristics of type II alveolar epithelial cells dissociated from adult rabbit lung by instillation of low concentrations of an elastase trypsin mixture are reported. Cells studied immediately (within 4 h) after isolation were found to incorporate the radioactively labelled precursors [U-14C]glucose, [methyl-3H]choline and [3H]palmitate into cellular phosphatidylcholine at rates 2–10-fold higher than previously reported for cells not subject to short-term cell culture. Secretion of phosphatidylcholine was stimulated by beta-adrenergic agonists. Measurement of specific activities of enzymes of phospholipid biosynthesis in subcellular fractions of isolated lung cells showed a significant enrichment of acyl coenzyme A-lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase, an enzyme believed to be involved in pulmonary surfactant phosphatidylcholine remodeling, in the endoplasmic reticulum of type II cells. These observations support the utility of freshly isolated type II cells as a model system for the study of the functions of the alveolar epithelium.
Androgen up-regulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression in prostate cancer cells via an Sp1 binding site

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is regulated by a number of different factors, but the mechanism(s) behind androgen-mediated regulation of VEGF in prostate cancer are poorly understood. Three novel androgen receptor (AR) binding sites were discovered in the VEGF promoter and in vivo binding of AR to these sites was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Mutation of these sites attenuated activation of the VEGF promoter by the androgen analog, R1881 in prostate cancer cells. The transcription factors AR and Sp1 were shown to form a nuclear complex and both bound the VEGF core promoter in chromatin of hormone treated CWR22Rv1 prostate cancer cells. The importance of the Sp1 binding site in hormone mediated activation of VEGF expression was demonstrated by site directed mutagenesis. Mutation of a critical Sp1 binding site (Sp1.4) in the VEGF core promoter region prevented activation by androgen. Similarly, suppression of Sp1 binding by Mithramycin A treatment significantly reduced VEGF expression. Our mechanistic study of androgen mediated induction of VEGF expression in prostate cancer cells revealed for the first time that this induction is mediated through the core promoter region and is dependent upon a critical Sp1 binding site. The importance of Sp1 binding suggests that therapy targeting the AR-Sp1 complex may dampen VEGF induced angiogenesis and, thereby, block prostate cancer progression, helping to maintain the indolent form of prostate cancer.
Wideband high impedance surface for X-band antenna applications

A novel structure composed of frequency selective surface printed elements implemented on a grounded dielectric slab is proposed for the design of wideband artificial magnetic conductors. In this design, a printed cross with a slot at the center is combined with an L-shaped unclosed rectangular loop, which enables to obtain a wideband high impedance surface. The bandwidth of the surface covers almost the entire X-band for a wide range of the incident angle of plane wave excitation for both the TE and TM polarizations. Commercial software EMPiCASSO is used for the full-wave analysis of the proposed high impedance surfaces.
Female Head Athletic Trainers in NCAA Division I (IA Football) Athletics: How They Made It to the Top.

The profession of athletic training has opened its doors to women, who now slightly outnumber men in the profession (Shingles, 2001; WATC, 1997, 2005). Unfortunately, this representation does not carry over into positions of high rank. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of female head athletic trainers in NCAA Division I (IA football) institutions to focus on the issues of barriers to advancement and their ability to overcome them. Using Hakim’s “preference theory” as a lens, this interpretive qualitative investigation utilized semi-structured, open-ended interviews to learn how participants advanced in the field of athletic training to the position of head athletic trainer. The study identified family division of labor and the discrimination from the “old boy’s club” found in other studies. However, it also showed low aspiration as equally strong a barrier to advancement and demonstrated how low aspiration then affects the intentionality of one’s career path. The participants identified three reasons for their low aspiration: First, an aversion to working in football, a traditional role for many head athletic trainers; second, an overall dislike of the duties of head athletic trainer; and, third, a stated reluctance to be in a leadership position. Unique to this study was the identification of personal attributes which balanced the barriers and aided the women in the advancement. All expressed a strong work ethic; they received and internalized encouragement from others; and, finally, they saw a challenge and an opportunity for personal and professional growth in the head athletic trainer position. In most cases, they began to see the position as something other than traditional, and one they could change and improve. This re-visioning of the position played an integral part in their willingness to advance. Missing from the support these athletic training leaders identified was active professional mentoring. They did not benefit from formal or informal career advancement advice from supervisors or peers. With low aspirations, low intentionality, and no career mentoring, these female head athletic trainers highlight the strong need for active preparation for advancement in the profession for both men and women.
The organization of the lateral posterior nucleus in neonatal golden hamsters

The present series of experiments was designed to study how synaptic relationships in the lateral posterior nucleus are altered after neonatal superior colliculus lesions. In this paper, we studied the lateral posterior nucleus with light and electron microscopic techniques at two critical stages: at the time of the initial neonatal tectal lesion and at the onset of the consequent proliferation of retinal axons. At birth, the lateral posterior nucleus is very immature. Very few synapses are present and no degenerating terminals were found 6 hours after a tectal lesion. Thus, very few, if any, tectal axons have established connections in the nucleus by this time and the optic tract terminals which proliferate as a result of a neonatal tectal lesion are not simply taking over vacated postsynaptic sites. Optic tract terminal proliferation begins 4 to 6 days after removal of the superior colliculus and parallels the development of the normal retinal projections to the superior colliculus and to the dorsal and ventral lateral geniculate bodies (So et al., '78). Thus, the proliferation appears to be an example of increased synapse formation during normal development rather than a case of true “axonal sprouting”. At 6 to 7 days of age, when optic tract terminal proliferation is beginning, the neuropil is still very immature. The terminal types found in the adult nucleus cannot be identified and synaptic clusters have not yet formed. Thus, following neonatal tectal lesions, the lateral posterior nucleus must undergo most of its development not only in the absence of one of its normal projections, but also in the presence of at least one anomalous projection.
Gravity on a brane in infinite volume extra space

We generalize the mechanism proposed in a previous paper and show that a four-dimensional relativistic tensor theory of gravitation can be obtained on a delta-function brane in flat infinite-volume extra space. In particular, we demonstrate that the induced Ricci scalar gives rise to Einstein's gravity on a delta-function type brane if the number of space-time dimensions is bigger than five. The bulk space exhibits the phenomenon of infrared transparency. That is to say, the bulk can be probed by gravitons with vanishing four-dimensional momentum square, while it is unaccessible to higher modes. This provides an attractive framework for solving the cosmological constant problem.
Who Are The Mathematically Gifted

Abstract Both scholars and lay persons have long debated and continue to debate the question of what makes giftedness. The type of student to whom we apply the label mathematically gifted has not always been clear. Many educators who provide leadership and adminster special programs are generalists who may lack awareness of the nature of mathematical knowledge, the role of content learning in mathematics, the nature of mathematical thinking, and the future mathematical needs of gifted students. Thus many existing programs for the gifted seem to reflect the need to “do something” rather than careful planning based on clear objectives. This article examines the definition of mathematically gifted, discusses current practices within the field of special education for this population, and calls for an identification procedure which includes qualitative information concerning students' higher‐order reasoning skills.
Small β2-Glycoprotein I Peptides Protect from Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Intestinal ischemic events, which are followed by reperfusion, induce significant tissue damage and frequently result in multiple organ failure, with >70% mortality. Upon reperfusion, excessive inflammation leads to exacerbated tissue damage. Previous studies indicated that binding of the serum protein, β2-glycoprotein I, to the endothelium initiates a cascade of inflammatory molecules that is required for damage. We hypothesized that peptides derived from the binding domain (domain V) of β2-glycoprotein I would attenuate ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage and inflammation in a therapeutic manner. Using a mouse model of intestinal ischemia/reperfusion, we administered peptides either prior to ischemia or at clinically relevant time points during reperfusion and evaluated intestinal tissue damage and inflammation after 2 h of reperfusion. We demonstrate that multiple peptides attenuate injury and inflammation in a dose-dependent manner and, perhaps more significantly, are efficacious when administered up to 30 min after the onset of reperfusion. In addition, an all D-amino acid retro-inverso peptide was biologically active. Thus, the β2-glycoprotein I-derived peptides attenuate injury and inflammation when administered in a therapeutic manner in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Estradiol Preferentially Induces Progestin Receptor-A (PR-A) Over PR-B in Cells Expressing Nuclear Receptor Coactivators in the Female Mouse Hypothalamus

Abstract Estrogens act in brain to profoundly influence neurogenesis, sexual differentiation, neuroprotection, cognition, energy homeostasis, and female reproductive behavior and physiology through a variety of mechanisms, including the induction of progestin receptors (PRs). PRs are expressed as two isoforms, PR-A and PR-B, that have distinct functions in physiology and behavior. Because these PR isoforms cannot be distinguished using cellular resolution techniques, the present study used isoform-specific null mutant mice that lack PR-A or PR-B for the first time to investigate whether 17β-estradiol benzoate (EB) regulates the differential expression of the PR isoforms in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN), arcuate nucleus, and medial preoptic area, brain regions that are rich in EB-induced PRs. Interestingly, EB induced more PR-A than PR-B in all three brain regions, suggesting that PR-A is the predominant isoform in these regions. Given that steroid receptor coactivator (SRC)-1 and SRC-2 are important in estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent transcription in brain, including PR induction, we tested whether the expression of these coactivators was correlated with PR isoform expression. The majority of EB-induced PR cells expressed both SRC-1 and SRC-2 in the three brain regions of all genotypes. Interestingly, the intensity of PR-A immunoreactivity correlated with SRC-2 expression in the VMN, providing a potential mechanism for selective ER-mediated transactivation of PR-A over PR-B in a brain region-specific manner. In summary, these novel findings indicate that estrogens differentially regulate PR-A and PR-B expression in the female hypothalamus, and provide a mechanism by which steroid action in brain can selectively modulate behavior and physiology.
Developmental patterns of bilateral asymmetry in ancestral puebloans.

Objectives Producing and maintaining a bilaterally symmetric phenotype throughout the lifespan is energetically demanding. Over the course of an individual's life, various intrinsic and external stressors impact the growth trajectory. These perturbations can compromise the allocation of energetic resources to processes that maintain developmental precision, potentially resulting in bilateral asymmetry (BA). Because different stressors are present during the lifespan, BA is a valuable tool for examining the unique factors impacting symmetrical growth and development. This study examines BA in paired long bones across a developmental skeletal series. Methods The humeri, radii, femora, and tibiae of 198 individuals from Ancestral Puebloan New Mexico (919–1670 CE) are analyzed to explore BA across development. Individuals are separated into five age categories, and by sex when possible, to explore patterns of BA. Results Significant BA is found in the bones of the upper limb when the interaction between bone and age is examined. Results suggest that BA in the humerus and radius becomes more right-biased with age. These directional trends are not observed in the lower limbs. Division into age categories illuminates patterns of asymmetry associated with age-related activities and physiological maturity, indicating that BA is differentially affected by varying environmental stressors across development. Conclusions Our findings support the hypothesis that BA in long bones is influenced by environmental stressors that impact an individual's ability to produce symmetric morphological traits over the lifespan. Right-biased BA in the upper limb bones indicates that this variation from a symmetric ideal is strongly influenced by handedness resulting from habitual manual activities. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
From Vision to Reality: The Origins of Intraoperative MR Imaging

Intraoperative MR imaging has become one of the most important concepts in present day neurosurgery. The brain shift problem with navigation, the need for assessment of the degree of resection and the need for detection of early postoperative complications were the three most important motives that drove the development of this technology. The GE Signa System with the “double donut” design was the world’s first intraoperative MRI. From 1995 to 2007 more than 1,000 neurosurgical cases were performed with the system. The system was used by several different specialties and in neurosurgery it was most useful for complete resection of low-grade gliomas, identification and resection of small or deep metastases or cavernomas, recurrent pituitary adenomas, cystic tumors, biopsies in critical areas and surgery in recurrent GBM cases. Main superiorities of the system were the ability to scan without patient movement to get image updates, the ability to do posterior fossa cases and other difficult patient positioning, the easiness of operation using intravenous sedation anesthesia and the flexibility of the system to be used as platform for new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities.
In vivo efficacy of an aldehyde degradation product of dimethane sulfonate (NSC 281612) in an orthotopic RXF-393 human renal tumor model

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 1381 The Developmental Therapeutics Program has demonstrated that the dimethane sulfonate aldehyde degradation product (NSC 281612) is uniquely active against human renal tumors compared to other alkylating agents. This has resulted in a series of human tumor xenograft studies assessing the potential for in vivo activity. NSC 281612 is a small molecule (MW = 379) that has a t1/2 of about 30 hours. In vivo experiments using orthotopically implanted human renal tumor lines demonstrate significant anti-tumor activity. Female 6-8 wk old SCID mice were anesthetized and placed into lateral recumbency. An incision just caudal to the left rib cage allowed exposure of the caudal pole of the kidney. The tumor cell suspension (2x106 in 0.025 ml) was slowly injected into the parenchyma of the kidney using a 27 ga needle to minimize leakage of cells into the peritoneum. The kidney was replaced, the skin was closed and the mice recovered. Mice were randomized prior to the first treatment and then treated by various routes, doses and schedules. Controls were injected with drug vehicle. At euthanasia (days 21 - 27) tumor size was determined as the difference in weight between the left (tumored) and right (nontumored) kidneys. Dosing schedules included single, intermittent and repeated daily doses. When tested against RXF-393 renal tumors on an intermittent schedule, NSC 281612 had a significant impact on tumor growth at doses as low as 2 mg/kg ([Table 1][1]). A single 25 mg/kg dose given on day 10 or 15 post-tumor implantation produced 7/10 animals with no detectable tumor whereas this same dose given on day 5 was ineffective. On a daily x 5 schedule there was also a statistically significant decrease in tumor, as well as tumor-free animals, at 3.4 mg/kg/dose. The results suggest that single bolus dosing is as effective as repeated dosing in decreasing tumor burden. For all 3 schedules, 8 - 9/10 animals had no detectable tumor, and in those that did, the tumors were small. These results support further development of NSC 281612 which is currently undergoing IND-directed toxicology studies to support clinical trials. This work was supported by NCI Contract NO1-CO-12400. ![Figure][2] [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes