cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dealing with Children's Advertising: Public Policy Issues and Alternatives:

Resolving recent children's television advertising concerns about overcommercialization and the use of so-called “program-length commercials” promises to be a complex, protracted, costly, and frust...
The effectiveness of managed lane strategies for the near-term deployment of cooperative adaptive cruise control

Abstract Traffic simulation is a cost-effective way to test the deployment of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) vehicles in a large-scale transportation network. By using a previously developed microscopic simulation testbed, this paper examines the impacts of four managed lane strategies for the near-term deployment of CACC vehicles under mixed traffic conditions. Network-wide performance measures are investigated from the perspectives of mobility, safety, equity, and environmental impacts. In addition, the platoon formation performance of CACC vehicles is evaluated with platoon-orientated measures, such as the percentage of platooned CACC vehicles, average platoon depth, and vehicle-hour-platooned that is proposed in this paper under the imperfect DSRC communication environment. Moreover, managed lane score matrices are developed to incorporate heterogeneous categories of performance measures, aiming to provide a more comprehensive picture for stakeholders. The results show that mixing CACC traffic along with non-CACC traffic across all travel lanes is an acceptable option when the market penetration (MP) is lower than 30% for roadways where a managed lane is absent. Providing CACC with priority access to an existing managed lane, if available, is also a good strategy for improving the overall traffic performance when the MP is lower than 40%. When the MP reaches above 40%, a dedicated lane for CACC vehicles is recommended, as it provides greater opportunity for CACC vehicles to form platoons. The facilitation of homogeneous CACC traffic flow could make further improvements possible in the future.
Calibrations of the Integrated Circuit Readout for a High Resolution Preclinical CZT PET Imaging System

This work focuses on the development of a software control scheme which is capable of (A) automated ASIC calibration, (B) per channel analog readout electronics programming, and (C) executing user imaging protocols for a preclinical sub 1-mm spatial resolution CZT PET system. The system is built from 24 dual-CZT detector modules; each CZT crystal is 40 x 40 x 5 mm3 and the electrodes deposited on each crystal in the dual module are arranged back-to-back in an anode-cathode-cathode-anode configuration. Each CZT crystal has 39 anode strips, and 38 electrodes. Anode strips are 100 μm width with a 1 mm pitch and steering electrode has 400 μm width. The cathode side of our detector module is composed of 8 strips which are 4.9 mm width with a pitch of 5 mm. Crystals are configured in an "edge-on" orientation in which photons enter the 5x40 mm2 and pass through a much thicker CZT volume resulting in a detection efficiency equivalent to that of 2 cm of LSO scintillator. The cathode and anode strips are supported by a custom front end electronics board designed around the RENA-3 (Readout Electronics for Nuclear Applications) ASIC. A sub-assembly of 2 x 18 RENA boards has been constructed and currently contains a total of 2592 channels. The full system will have 4x48 RENA boards which is supported by 13,824 channels. Given the need to set preamplifier, amplifier, and triggering parameters per channel, a robust operations infrastructure is necessary to program, and operate each RENA 3 board. We have developed an iterative, multi-channel programming and DAC threshold calibration scheme and performed preliminary testing on our CZT PET sub-assembly. Using a subset of detectors, a total of 432 channels were programmed and calibrated. Programming and calibration required a mean time of 5.17 minutes per ASIC with a standard deviation of 0.39 minutes. Once the code was validated, a portion of the system was DAC calibrated and activated to acquire anode energy spectra using Ge-68 and Cs-137.
Natural analog to cosmology in basic condensed matter physics

What do charge oscillations in conductors and expansion of the Universe have in common? More than meets the eye as the author demonstrates. A collection of identical charged particles in the presence of a uniform compensating background charge could evolve as if the system were part of an expanding or contracting homogeneous and isotropic Universe with the ``wrong'' sign of interaction: while gravity is attractive, the charges repel each other. Otherwise, the equations of motion are identical with the cosmological equations of general theory of relativity.
Measurement invariance of the English and Spanish BASC-3 behavioral and emotional screening system parent preschool forms

Abstract Early childhood practitioners are increasingly attending to the unique needs of preschool Latinx dual language learners in an effort to provide culturally and linguistically responsive assessment and services. Universal screening within schools is considered one way to provide equitable access to identification for mental health services; however, investigations of measurement invariance are needed prior to widespread adoption. Measurement invariance analyses allow an examination of whether translations or adaptations of assessment instruments measure the same latent constructs in the same manner across culturally and linguistically divergent populations. This study examined the measurement invariance between English and Spanish versions of the BASC-3 Behavioral and Emotional Screening System Parent Preschool form using a sample of Latinx respondents (N = 351). A two-factor oblique model with a combined Internalizing/Externalizing Risk factor and an Adaptive Skills Risk factor yielded marginally adequate fit in both the English and Spanish samples. Results supported configural, metric, and partial scalar invariance of the two-factor oblique model. Given that previously identified factor structures and full measurement invariance across languages were not supported, additional validity evidence is needed. The Spanish version of the Parent Preschool form should be used with caution and in conjunction with other data on children’s behavioral and emotional functioning. Implications and future directions are discussed.
Harnessing mesenchymal stem cell secretome: Effect of extracellular matrices on proangiogenic signaling

The low engraftment and retention rate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) at the target site indicates that the potential benefits of MSC-based therapies can be attributed to their paracrine signaling. In this study, the extracellular matrices (ECMs) deposited by bone marrow-derived human MSCs in the presence and absence of ascorbic acid was characterized. MSCs were seeded on top of decellularized ECM (dECM) and the concentrations of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic molecules released in culture (conditioned) media was compared. Effects of ECM derived from MSCs with different passage numbers on MSC secretome was also investigated. Our study revealed that the expression of proangiogenesis-related factors were upregulated when MSCs were harvested on dECMs, irrespective of media supplementation, as compared with those cultured on tissue culture plates. In addition, dECM generated in the presence of ascorbic acid promoted the expression of proangiogenic molecules as compared with dECM-derived in absence of media supplementation. Further, it was observed that the effectiveness of dECM to stimulate proangiogenic signaling of MSCs was reduced as cell passage number was increased from P3 to P5. The proliferation as well as capillary morphogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the presence of conditioned media were enhanced compared with the normal HUVECs culture media. These data indicate that the secretory signatures of MSCs and consequently, the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs can be regulated by presentation of dECM composition and variation of its composition.
Development of a heat pipe–based battery thermal management system for hybrid electric vehicles:

Enhanced battery pack cooling remains an open thermal management challenge in hybrid electric vehicle applications. A robust cooling system should maintain the battery pack core temperature within ...
Holistic factors related to student persistence at a large, public university

Research has thoroughly examined various factors that are related to university student persistence. Studies suggest that a multitude of characteristics are predictive of student success, and theor...
In Loco Parentis and the 21st Century U.S. Institution of Higher Education

In loco parentis, Latin for “in place of the parent,” refers to the legal responsibility of an individual or an institution to perform some of the duties and functions of a parent. For American colleges and universities, in loco parentis used to be many institutions’ modus operandi, or method of operation, but since the early 1900s, many public and private institutions of higher education have gradually moved away from strict in loco parentis operation toward a catalytic agency meant to coordinate academic and social experiences from which the student may freely choose and be treated as an adult because of those choices. This essay reviews the legal history of in loco parentis and points a direction forward for the role of the institution-as-parent.
Dual stream neural networks for brain signal classification

In this paper we propose a dual stream neural network (DSNN) for classifying arbitrary collections of functional neuroimaging signals for the purpose of brain computer interfaces (BCIs). In the DSNN the first stream is an end-to-end classifier taking raw time-dependent signals as input and generating feature identification signatures from them. The second stream enhances the identified features from the first stream by adjoining a dynamic functional connectivity matrix (DFCM) aimed at incorporating nuanced multi-channel information during specified BCI tasks. The network is tuned only once, so that fixed hyperparameters are determined for all subsequent data sets at the outset. The resulting DSNN is a subject-independent classifier that works for any collection of 1D functional neuroimaging signals, with the option of integrating domain specific information in the design. The DSNN classifier is benchmarked against three publicly available datasets, where the classifier demonstrates performance comparable to, or better than the state-of-art in each instance. Finally, an information theoretic examination of the trained network is performed, utilizing various tools, to demonstrate how to glean interpretive insight into how the hidden layers of the network parse the underlying biological signals.
Gender Representation in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Recognition Awards.

ObjectiveThe proportion of women in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery (OHNS) has steadily increased in recent years. This study examines gender representation in recognition awards given by OHNS...
Using your nose to find your way: Ethological comparisons between human and non-human species.

Abstract Olfaction is arguably the least valued among our sensory systems, and its significance for human behavior is often neglected. Spatial navigation represents no exception to the rule: humans are often characterized as purely visual navigators, a view that undermines the contribution of olfactory cues. Accordingly, research investigating whether and how humans use olfaction to navigate space is rare. In comparison, research on olfactory navigation in non-human species is abundant, and identifies behavioral strategies along with neural mechanisms characterizing the use of olfactory cues during spatial tasks. Using an ethological approach, our review draws from studies on olfactory navigation across species to describe the adaptation of strategies under the influence of selective pressure. Mammals interact with spatial environments by abstracting multisensory information into cognitive maps. We thus argue that olfactory cues, alongside inputs from other sensory modalities, play a crucial role in spatial navigation for mammalian species, including humans; that is, odors constitute one of the many building blocks in the formation of cognitive maps.
Health Care Utilization Before and After the "Muslim Ban" Executive Order Among People Born in Muslim-Majority Countries and Living in the US.

Importance The health effects of restrictive immigration and refugee policies targeting individuals from Muslim-majority countries are largely unknown. Objective To analyze whether President Trump's 2017 executive order 13769, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States" (known as the "Muslim ban" executive order) was associated with changes in health care utilization by people born in targeted nations living in the US. Design, setting, and participants This retrospective cohort study included adult patients treated at Minneapolis-St. Paul HealthPartners primary care clinics or emergency departments (EDs) between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2017. Patients were categorized as (1) born in Muslim ban-targeted nations, (2) born in Muslim-majority nations not listed in the executive order, or (3) non-Latinx and born in the US. Data were analyzed from October 1, 2019, to May 12, 2021. Exposures Executive order 13769, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States." Main outcomes and measures Primary outcomes included the number of (1) primary care clinic visits, (2) missed primary care appointments, (3) primary care stress-responsive diagnoses, (4) ED visits, and (5) ED stress-responsive diagnoses. Visit trends were evaluated before and after the Muslim ban issuance using linear regression, and differences between the study groups after the executive order issuance were evaluated using difference-in-difference analyses. Results A total of 252 594 patients were included in the analysis: 5667 in group 1 (3367 women [59.4%]; 5233 Black individuals [92.3%]), 1254 in group 2 (627 women [50%]; 391 White individuals [31.2%]), and 245 673 in group 3 (133 882 women [54.5%]; 203 342 White individuals [82.8%]). Group 1 was predominantly born in Somalia (5231 of 5667 [92.3%]) and insured by Medicare or Medicaid (4428 [78.1%]). Before the Muslim ban, primary care visits and stress-responsive diagnoses were increasing for individuals from Muslim-majority nations (groups 1 and 2). In the year after the ban, there were approximately 101 additional missed primary care appointments among people from Muslim-majority countries not named in the ban (point estimate [SE], 6.73 [2.90]; P = .02) and approximately 232 additional ED visits by individuals from Muslim ban-targeted nations (point estimate [SE], 3.41 [1.53]; P = .03). Conclusions and relevance Results of this cohort study suggest that after issuance of the Muslim ban executive order, missed primary care appointments and ED visits increased among people from Muslim-majority countries living in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Research of the Development of Distance Learning under the COVID-19 Circumstances Based on Video Conferencing Software and MOOCs

With the rapid diffusion of information technologies in recent years, learning and teaching approaches are facing profound changes. Video conferencing software is a visual tool for two or more users to communicate remotely. Its principle is to provide users with video calls, screen-sharing, meeting recording, and other helpful features through transmission lines and multimedia devices to achieve the purpose of long-distance meeting and learning. As online courses that anyone can register and participate for free, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are flexible, global and sustainable. MOOCs are based on the Internet and electronic devices. With studying the use of video conferencing software in distance education and the explosion of MOOCs, this paper also discusses distance education examinations. Result shows that during COVID-19, there has been a surg of interest in how to cheat in online examinations. This article summarizes the historical framework of distance education and explores the trends of distance education under the pandemic. It inspires educators to explore the advantages and challenges of distance education.
Assessing the long-term safety and efficacy of gamma knife and linear accelerator radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Differences in long-term outcomes of single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) between gamma knife (GK) and linear accelerator (LINAC) systems for vestibular schwannoma (VS) management remain unclear. To investigate differences in safety and efficacy between modalities, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies over the past decade. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were queried for studies with the following inclusion criteria: English language, published between January 2010 and April 2020, cohort size ≥30, and mean/median follow-up ≥5 years. Odds ratios (OR) compared rates of tumor control, hearing preservation, and cranial nerve toxicities before and after SRS. Results Thirty-nine studies were included (29 GK, 10 LINAC) with 6516 total patients. Tumor control rates were 93% (95% CI 91-94%) and 94% (95% CI 91-97%) for GK and LINAC, respectively. Both GK (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02-0.13) and LINAC (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.29-0.76) reduced odds of serviceable hearing. Neither GK (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.41-1.22) nor LINAC (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.64-2.00) impacted facial nerve function. GK decreased odds of trigeminal nerve (TN) impairment (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.32-0.94) while LINAC did not impact TN function (OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.81-2.61). Lastly, LINAC offered decreased odds of tinnitus (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.87) not observed with GK (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.48-1.01). Conclusions VS tumor control and hearing preservation rates are comparable between GK and LINAC SRS. GK may better preserve TN function, while LINAC decreases tinnitus rates. Future studies are warranted to investigate the efficacy of GK and LINAC SRS more directly.
Spatially Estimating Disturbance of Harbor Seals (Phoca vitulina).

Tidewater glacial fjords in Alaska provide habitat for some of the largest aggregations of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), with calved ice serving as platforms for birthing and nursing pups, molting, and resting. These fjords have also been popular destinations for tour ships for more than a century, with dramatic increases in vessel traffic since the 1980s. Seals on ice are known to flush into the water when approached by tour ships, but estimating the exposure to disturbance across populations is difficult. Using aerial transect sampling while simultaneously tracking vessel movements, we estimated the spatial overlap between seals on ice and cruise ships in Disenchantment Bay, Alaska, USA. By integrating previously estimated rates of disturbance as a function of distance with an ‘intensity surface’ modeled spatially from seal locations in the surveys, we calculated probabilities of seals flushing during three separate ship visits. By combining our estimate of seals flushed with a modeled estimate of the total fjord population, we predict that up to 14% of the seals (up to 11% of pups) hauled out would have flushed into the water, depending on the route taken by ships relative to seal aggregations. Such high potential for broad-scale disturbance by single vessels (when up to 4 ships visit per day) was unexpected and underscores the need to 1) better understand long-term effects of disturbance; 2) regularly monitor populations exposed to high vessel traffic; and 3) develop conservation measures to reduce seal-ship overlap.
Observations of Young Stellar Objects with Infrared Interferometry: Recent Results from PTI, KI and IOTA

Young stellar objects have been one of the favorite targets of infrared interferometers for many years. In this contribution I will briefly review some of the first results and their contributions to the field and then describe some of the recent results from the Keck Interferometer (KI), the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI) and the Infrared-Optical Telescope Array (IOTA). This conference also saw many exciting new results from the VLTI at both near and mid-infrared wavelengths that are covered by other contributions.
Evidence that acute serotonergic activation potentiates the locomotor-stimulating effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone in juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

Abstract The present study investigated whether the serotonergic system is involved in mediating the behavioral effects of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in juvenile spring chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. An intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of CRH induced hyperactivity. The effect of CRH was potentiated in a dose-dependent manner by the concurrent administration of the serotonin (5-HT) selective reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine. However, administration of fluoxetine alone had no effect on locomotor activity, suggesting that the locomotor-stimulating effect of CRH is mediated by the activation of the serotonergic system. Conversely, ICV injections of the 5-HT 1A receptor antagonist NAN-190 attenuated the effect of CRH on locomotor activity when given in combination with CRH but had no effect when administered alone. These results provide the first evidence to support the hypothesis that the effect of CRH on locomotor activity in teleosts is mediated by activating the serotonergic system.
Trading Time for Space in Prime Number Sieves

A prime number sieve is an algorithm that finds the primes up to a bound n. We present four new prime number sieves. Each of these sieves gives new space complexity bounds for certain ranges of running times. In particular, we give a linear time sieve that uses only O(√n/(log log n)2) bits of space, an O l(n/ log log n) time sieve that uses O(n/((log n)l log log n)) bits of space, where l>1 is constant, and two super-linear time sieves that use very little space.
Porphyrin polymers and organic frameworks

The versatility of porphyrins as optoelectronic or catalytic units makes them attractive elements for inclusion in functional materials. Polymers that include porphyrins have been created with a wide variety of structures and used in a wide range of applications.Thisreviewcoversrecentdevelopmentsinthesynthesis,characterizationandapplicationsofpolymericmaterials in which porphyrins are key components of the repeat units, including the rapidly growing area of metal‐organic frameworks and related covalent organic frameworks. ©2 015 Society of Chemical Industry
Validation of a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the quantification of aerosolized Jet Propellant 8.

Abstract Jet Propellant 8 (JP-8) jet fuel is a kerosene-based fuel containing hundreds of hydrocarbons used by the military in NATO countries. Previous rodent inhalation studies carried out with aerosolized JP-8 never evaluated the exposure chamber atmosphere. For this reason, our laboratory developed an analytical method, with an accuracy of better than 80% and precision of better than 20%, for JP-8 aerosol and vapor samples using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A method was developed for quantification of selected individual components of JP-8 and for the total amount of JP-8 in aerosolized fuel. A 34 component surrogate hydrocarbon mixture (SHM) was developed and used for simultaneous analysis of the individual components. Three separate runs containing a standard curve and five replicates each at the selected concentrations were analyzed for both the SHM and neat JP-8. The resulting interday accuracy (100 − percent relative error) and precision (relative standard deviation) values for the SHM were 86.5% or better and 8.0% or better, respectively. The intraday accuracy and precision values ranged from 99.29% to 84.50% and 0.97% to 12.4%, respectively. For the total amount of JP-8 in aerosol and vapor, the interday accuracy was 83.7% or better and interday precision was 7.0% or better. The intraday accuracy and precision values ranged from 94.8% to 80.4% and 2.4% to 10.5%, respectively. We then used this method to analyze samples collected from an inhalation chamber. From the data obtained, we are able to account for approximately 40–44% of the mass of the aerosol portion and 68–70% of the mass of the vapor portion. The aerosol represented 6–10% of the total mass of the aerosolized JP-8 fuel with the remaining portion being the vapor. From these experiments individual components were identified for further in vivo and in vitro toxicological testing.
Exchange-biased dimers of single-molecule magnets in OFF and ON states.

A new Fe9 single-molecule magnet has been synthesized and found to crystallize as head-to-head dimers. Two-thirds of these are exchange-coupled through a hydrogen-bond, whereas the other third of the dimers are noninteracting, as monitored by magnetization hysteresis measurements. The crystal thus contains a mixture of ON and OFF dimers with respect to the quantum mechanical coupling through the hydrogen-bond.
Purification and immunological properties of vanadate sensitive Mg: ATPase from plasma membrane of maize roots☆

Abstract The vanadate-sensitive ATPase from maize ( Zea mays L.) root plasma membrane was partially purified from KI-washed microsomes by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation followed by deoxycholate (DOC) treatment, l-l -lysophosphatidyl-choline (lyso-PC) solubilization and glycerol gradient centrifugation. The plasma membrane preparation had a relatively high specific activity of ATPase activity (182 μmol P i /h (mg proteins). During lyso-PC solubilization, the presence of Mg:ATP and vanadate substantially improved the recovery of active ATPase. The 100-kDa polypeptide of the plasma membrane ATPase was isolated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacryamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and used to raise a specific polyclonal antiservm. The addition of antiserum to the lyso-PC solubilized plasma membrane resulted in a loss of 90% of the total ATPase activity from the supernatant fraction after centrifugation. The antiserum also inhibited the proton transport activity of reconstituted plasma membrane vesicles. Western blot experiments showed that a single band of 100 kDa reacted with the anti-ATPase antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) analysis indicated that the antiserum exhibited specificity to plasma membrane as compared to other subcellular membranes. Thus, the antiserum obtained in this study is specific for the 100-kDa polypeptide of the plasma membrane ATPase.
Efficacy and safety of a short-term (6-h) intravenous infusion of dopexamine in patients with severe congestive heart failure : a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled multicenter study

Abstract Dopexamine hydrochloride is a new synthetic catechol that offers a unique profile of adrenergic and dopaminergic activity. In this multicenter, parallel design, placebo-controlled study, 45 patients with functional class III or IV chronic congestive heart failure were randomized to receive a placebo infusion or one of three different doses of dopexamine. After a 2-h dose titration sequence, patients received a 6-h constant dose infusion. During this 6-h period, dopexamine was infused at rates of 1, 2 and 4 μg/kg body weight per min in the low, intermediate and high dose groups, respectively. In patients receiving high dose infusion, dopexamine produced a 78% increase in cardiac index associated with a 43% decrease in systemic vascular resistance and 24% increase in heart rate (p Dopexamine in higher doses effectively increases cardiac index in association with a reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Additional clinical studies are indicated to evaluate the merits of dopexamine in comparison with other inotropic and vasodilator medications.
Cardiovascular physiology of the human fetus

Abstract Efforts to develop a system for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in the fetus and neonate are dependent upon a fundamental understanding of the interaction between form and function of the fetal cardiovascular system. Recent advances in the field of molecular biology have suggested that single gene defects may be involved in the development of a larger proportion of congenital heart disease than was previously appreciated. Once organogenesis has been completed the architecture of the fetal cardiovascular system reflects the pressure and volume of blood flow through the developing chambers and blood vessels. Fundamental differences in cellular structure and arrangement of the myocardium and functional changes attending biochemical differences in contractile elements and their interaction with available cations impart alterations on mechanical function of the intact heart, and alter the response of the myocardium to alterations in structure and stress. In this review of cardiovascular physiology of the human fetus we attempt to review observations of regional blood flow distribution in the normal and abnormal fetal circulation. We rely upon two-dimensional echocardiographic imaging of cardiovascular structure and Doppler analysis of flow in the human fetus to draw conclusions regarding the normal and abnormal physiology and compare these findings to the fetal cardiovascular principles that have been previously defined in the lamb.
Metformin limits ceramide-induced senescence in C2C12 myoblasts

Abstract High lipid and ceramide concentrations are hallmarks of obese and/or insulin resistant skeletal muscle, yet little is known about its role on cell cycle and senescence. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of ceramide on muscle senescence, and whether metformin limited this response. Methods Low passage, proliferating C2C12 myoblasts were treated with a control, 50 μM C2-ceramide (8 h), and/or 2 mM metformin, then examined for insulin sensitivity, cell senescence, cell proliferation, cell cycle, protein expression of cell cycle regulators. Results Ceramide treatment caused a dephosphorylation (p Conclusions High ceramide concentrations reduced myoblast proliferation that was associated with aberrant cell cycle regulation and a senescent phenotype, which could provide an understanding of skeletal muscle cell adaptation during conditions of high intramuscular lipid deposition and/or obesity.
Sensitization to the hyperthermic and catecholamine-releasing effects of morphine

Abstract Rats were given alternating injections (one per day) of morphine (5 mg/kg) and saline, each substance paired with a distinct set of environmental cues. Over the course of nine injections of the drug, the hyperthermic response to morphine gradually increased. On the tenth such exposure to morphine, half of the rats were injected in the presence of cues previously paired with the drug, and half were injected in the presence of saline cues. In the former (drug-cue) group, hyperthermia, and plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine levels were significantly greater than in rats receiving morphine for the first time. The latter (saline-cue) group showed an intermediate thermic and catecholamine response, not statistically different from drug-cue or control animals. Under these conditions, the enhanced hyperthermic response to morphine (which has been variously described as sensitization or tolerance), was found to be accompanied by a similar increase in elevation of plasma catecholamines.
Cigarette Smoke Deposition in the Tracheobronchial Tree: Evidence for Colligative Effects

A series of cigarette smoke deposition studies was performed that used hollow models designed to represent the upper airways of adults and children. A major objective of the studies was to look for evidence of the influence of the colligative behavior of concentrated smoke on deposition in the hollow models. Another objective was to identify possible body-size—related factors in cigarette smoke deposition. The concentrated sidestream smoke from 1R3 University of Kentucky unfiltered research cigarettes was drawn through three sizes of airway-like hollow models at flow rates representing resting levels of physical exertion. The models, made of silicone rubber, represented the pharynx, larynx, and first three or four generations of the tracheobronchial airways. The models were scaled in size to represent young adults, 7-year-olds, and 4-year-olds. After smoke deposition, the models were cut into smaller pieces which were ultra sonically agitated in isopropyl alcohol, and the recovered deposits were analyzed ...
Age-class differences in the pattern of hibernation in yellow-bellied marmots, Marmota flaviventris

Age-related differences in the patterns of body temperature regulation during hibernation were found in yellow-bellied marmots. The timing of all entrances into and arousals from torpor was determined from continuous records of thermocouples mounted in each animal's nest box. Older marmots spent more time at high body temperatures following periodic arousals from torpor than did juveniles undergoing their first season of hibernation. In addition, older marmots spontaneously terminated their hibernation seasons in the spring, whereas most juveniles continued to hibernate until either they were emaciated from starvation or they were fed. These two patterns of hibernation reflect age- and size-related differences in the degree to which the animals are constrained energetically and the probability that they can successfully reproduce in spring. The patterns also are consistent with age-related differences in the timing of dormancy in nature.
Constant Television: A Background to Daily Life.

For over one-third of inner city families, the set is always on and provides a constant backdrop to the child's home life.
Restraint use law enforcement intervention in latino communities

BACKGROUND: : Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. Latinos aged 1 to 35 years. Restraint use is an effective means of prevention of motor vehicle crash injury. Effective interventions to raise restraint use include the following: legislation, law enforcement, education, and equipment distribution. The effects of law enforcement interventions in Latino immigrant communities are understudied. We measured the community-level effect of a combined intervention that included warnings and citations phase enforcement in Latino communities. METHODS: : We designed and implemented in two of three Latino-majority communities a multicomponent intervention consisting of a community awareness campaign, restraint use education with equipment distribution, and a two-staged law enforcement intervention. Restraint use observations were conducted in all three communities at baseline, after the warnings phase and again after the citations phase of the intervention were completed. RESULTS: : The combined intervention of community awareness, education, child passenger restraint distribution, and law enforcement focused on educational traffic stops with incentives and warnings was associated with a significant increase in both driver and child passenger restraint use in one intervention community, but only driver restraint increased to a level of significance in the other intervention community; significant increase was also noted among nonintervention drivers. The citations phase of the intervention did not result in a significant increase in restraint use and was complicated by interruptions due to unlicensed drivers. CONCLUSION: : The combined effort of community awareness, education, equipment distribution and law enforcement intervention that included incentives and warnings may be effective at increasing seat belt use in Latino communities without the need for citations. Language: en
Wind-driven transports in the Greenland and Norwegian seas

Abstract Wind-driven transport computations for the Greenland and Norwegian seas during 1965 result in an annual mean circulation scheme which quantitatively resembles the known circulation. The real response to wind stress variations appears to include local reinforcement of the return transport along the western boundary. Reversals in wind stress curl enduring for five months do not appear able to force reversal of the boundary flow, suggesting return transports elsewhere than along the western boundary. The variance in the pressure field must be included in a quantitative description of the mean wind stress field, but not in a qualitative one.
Preparing to teach diverse student populations: a British and American perspective

Summary Demographic changes in Britain and the USA have resulted in schools that are more culturally diverse than they were a generation ago. In response to these changes, colleges and departments of education are attempting to prepare teachers who are able to work with students from a wide range of ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. Teacher preparation programmes face the challenge of measuring the cultural sensitivity of their students. They must also grapple with the problem of designing programmes to enhance their students’ cultural sensitivity. This study compares and contrasts the cultural sensitivity of British and American students in teacher preparation programmes, and underscores the difficulties these programmes face when they attempt to alter students’ long‐held beliefs.
Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on morbidly obese patients with hypothyroidism.

It is well known that obesity is accompanied by changes in thyroid function. Hypothyroidism is associated with increased body weight. The aim of this study was to evaluate the operative outcomes, weight loss, and the effect of weight loss on thyroid function in morbidly obese patients with hypothyroidism who undergo laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) surgery. A retrospective review of 20 morbidly obese female patients with hypothyroidism and on thyroid replacement therapy who underwent LRYGB between January 2003 and August 2006. Mean preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 47.6 kg/m2 (range 38–58.5 kg/m2). Average patient age was 44.5 years (range 21–66 years). There was one early complication (pneumonia). Late complications included one death, three anastomotic strictures, and one small bowel obstruction. The patients were followed for a mean of 13.5 months (range 3–24 months). Their mean excess body weight loss was 13 kg (22%), 24.4 kg (39.4%), 33.2 kg (63.3%), 38.4 kg (65%), 41.7 kg (70%), and 43 kg (73%) at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Change in a mean BMI was the same regardless of the patient preoperative and postoperative thyroxine dose. Hypothyroidism resolved in 5(25%) patients, improved in 2(10%) patients, unchanged in 8(40%) patients, and worsened in 5 (25%) patients. Most of the five whose hypothyroidism worsened had thyroid autoimmune disease. Hypothyroidism appears to improve in the vast majority of morbidly obese patients who undergo LRYGB, except for those whose thyroid disease is autoimmune in nature.
Preparation and immunological studies of protein conjugates of N -acylneuraminic acids.

The overexpression of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is closely correlated with malignant transformations. Thus, Neu5Ac is an important target in the design of cancer vaccines. To study the influence of chemical modifications of Neu5Ac on its immunological properties, the α-allyl glycosides of five differently N-acylated neuraminic acid derivatives were prepared. Following selective ozonolysis of their allyl group to form an aldehyde functionality, they were coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) via reductive amination. Resultant glycoconjugates were studied in C57BL/6 mice. The N-propionyl, N-iso-butanoyl and N-phenylacetyl derivatives of neuraminic acid provoked robust immune responses of various antibody isotypes, including IgM, IgG1, IgG2a and IgG3, whereas N-trifluoropropionylneuraminic acid and natural Neu5Ac were essentially nonimmunogenic. Moreover, the N-phenylacetyl and N-iso-butanoyl derivatives mainly induced IgG responses that are desirable for antitumor applications. These results raise the promise of formulating effective glycoconjugate cancer vaccines via derivatizing sialic acid residues of sialooligosaccharides. Published in 2004.
Optical Stark effect in the four-wave mixing and stimulated Raman spectra of N2.

The influence of the optical Stark effect on spectral line shapes in four-wave-mixing Raman spectroscopy (FWMRS) and stimulated Raman spectroscopy (SRS) is investigated experimentally and theoretically. Using an experimental setup capable of rapid alternation between the simultaneous measurement of coherent Stokes Raman spectroscopy and inverse Raman spectroscopy at low and high intensities, together with a sophisticated frequency reference scheme, it was possible to perform a rather direct comparison between Stark-broadened and non-Stark-broadened spectra of both classes of Raman spectroscopies. The results demonstrate that SRS spectra show more Stark shift and broadening than their FWMRS counterparts. A discrepancy with theoretical results is pointed out, and an attempt is made to explain it.
Training Public Administrators in Africa: A Case Study of Civil Service Employees in Ghana

Abstract Much of the dialogue on public administration training in Africa is about how to prepare administrators to cope with pressures global forces exert without considering how to educate individuals to meet also the unique demands of public service. This essay examines the nature of training in Africa, drawing on Ghana's experience with management training programs. It first describes and critiques training based on bureaucratic and managerial perspectives, which emphasize the acquisition of rational, technical, and managerial skills comparable to international and global standards, and argues that such training does not necessarily provide career professionals with a broad work ethic suitable for the local context. It then concludes by suggesting the possibility of developing a composite training program that takes account also of the need to provide non-traditional skills and experience-based knowledge professionals need to be able to operate in the unique historical, social, and political condition...
NMR studies of crambin structure and unfolding in nonaqueous solvents

Etude des changements conformationnels, des anomalies de structure et de la denaturation d'une proteine vegetale (extraite de Crambe abyssinica), lorsque celle-ci est mise en presence de solvants organiques: RMN en deux dimensions
Failure of β-Endorphin to Stimulate Prolactin Release in the Pituitary Stalk-Sectioned Monkey

To study the locus at which opioids act to release PRL in vivo,β-endorphin 08-EP) was injected into intact and pituitary stalk-sectioned monkeys. In each of five intact monkeys, serum PRL rose to peak concentrations of 200-300% of baseline 20 min after injection. In contrast, β-EP failed to cause any PRL increase in four stalk-sectioned animals. β-EP also failed to stimulate PRL in two stalk-sectioned monkeys receiving estrogen replacement, indicating that estrogen deficiency was not the cause of their failure to respond. To test possible antagonism of dopamine by β-EP directly at the pituitary, L-dopa was given to six stalk-sectioned monkeys with and without β-EP pretreatment. No alteration of the PRL suppression by L-dopa was observed. Disappearance of injected β-EP from plasma was studied in four intact monkeys. Initial and terminal half-lives ranged from 2.3-4.0 min and from 16.0-30.2 min, respectively; MCRs ranged from 70-170 ml/min. We conclude that β-EP does not stimulate PRL secretion either direc...
Laparoscopic Lymphatic Sparing Varicocelectomy in Adolescents

Purpose: Laparoscopic varicocelectomy is similar to an open Palomo repair. Both procedures involve en masse ligation of the internal spermatic cord, and both are associated with a 1% to 3% incidence of recurrence and up to a 30% incidence of hydroceles. We sought to determine the impact of lymphatic preservation on hydrocele formation and the success of varicocelectomy.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 191 patients with a mean age of 15.2 years who underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy and at least 6 months of followup. Patients were divided into 2 groups—those who had undergone a lymphatic sparing procedure and those who had undergone a nonlymphatic sparing technique. The incidence of recurrence/persistence, postoperative hydrocele formation and postoperative hydrocele requiring surgery or aspiration was analyzed.Results: A total of 174 laparoscopic lymphatic sparing procedures (132 patients, 42 bilateral) and 88 nonlymphatic sparing repairs (59 patients, 29 bilateral) were performed, ...
Commentary on "Faster plasma vitamin E disappearance in smokers is normalized by vitamin C supplementation".

The paper in this issue of Free Radical Biology and Medicine titled “Faster plasma vitamin E disappearance in smokers is normalized by vitamin C supplementation” by Richard Bruno and colleagues [1] provides the first direct evidence that vitamins C and E work together as coantioxidants in vivo. In the 1920s and 1930s the research of Dr. Albert SzentGyorgyi had vitamin C as a central focus. In his seminal work on vitamin C he provided the first evidence that ascorbic acid (then called hexauronic acid) could function as an antioxidant [2]; he discovered that it was the preferred reducing substrate for the activated form of hemeperoxidases (now known as compound-I) thereby sparing the oxidation of other potential substrates. At this same time Dr. Henry A Mattill was doing research on vitamin E [3]. Although vitamin C is water soluble and vitamin E oil soluble, they were encountering somewhat similar problems when trying to determine the exact chemical nature of these two substances; because both substances are excellent reducing agents, they were easily destroyed in the presence of oxidants. In 1936 Olcott and Mattill [4] demonstrated that vitamin E functions as a classic antioxidant. In 1941 Mattill’s group [5] clearly demonstrated that these two substances could work as coantioxidants to protect fats from oxidation; he observed that tocopherol was necessary for this protection and that it was preserved as long as ascorbate was present. After all the ascorbate was oxidized, tocopherol was subject to loss and the oxidation of the fats/oils ensued. However the chemical mechanism of this protection was not understood. In 1979 J.E. Packer et al. [6] demonstrated a likely mechanism by which these coantioxidants functioned as
Duplex (or quadruplet) CH domain containing human multidomain proteins: an inventory

In this paper, the inventory presented for singlet CH (calponin homology/actin binding) domain containing human multidomain proteins [1] is extended to several duplex and one quadruplet CH containing forms. Invariably, the duplexes are located at the begin of the molecules. The regions connecting the two CH units suggest amino acid conservations which allows the placing of 18 duplex containing molecules into six groups wherein the gene for one member in each group created the others more recently by gene duplication. The ancient multidomain proteins, possibly, were primarily the result of an exon shuffling (transposition) mechanism that also guided the placing of the CH singlet or duplex domain at the amino end of the newly created proteins. A mechanism that creates pseudogenes could conceivably produce genes that encode multi-domain proteins. Intragenomic duplications (slippage) might have facilitated the occurrence of encoding repeats, thus allowing for the creation of multiple identical domains within one molecule. Gene duplication with subsequent modification and small domain gene recombination which formed multidomain proteins are important forces driving evolution.