cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Socioeconomic determinants of regional differences in nutritional status of children in India
Creators: name: Patel, Nipa
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: While India has experienced rapid economic development during the last few decades, the prevalence of undernutrition remains high and the prevalence of overnutrition is increasing, creating a “double burden”. This trend is observed not only among the adult population of India, but also among the children of India. The National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), starting in 1992 and conducted every five years, collects nutritional data on participants and was used to address the question of which socioeconomic factors influence childhood nutritional status and whether or not these factors differ by state and wealth of different regions in India. To achieve this objective, the NFHS II data from 1998-1999 were studied using multiple linear regression analysis to predict child nutritional status for those under two years of age. Weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) was positively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) and household standard of living, and an inverse relationship with respondent’s age. Height-for-age z-score (HAZ) was positively associated with years lived in place of residence, education level, BMI, and household standard of living and an inverse relationship with respondent’s age and type of employment. Analyses by region (West, South, North, Northeast, East, and Central) showed that the association between the socioeconomic factors with WHZ and HAZ among stunted, wasted, and overweight children varied among the six regions. In the wealthier regions, respondent’s age, place of residence, and years lived in residence are significant predictors. In the less wealthy regions, respondent’s ethnicity and employment are significant predictors. In conclusion, when assessing the nutritional status of children within the country of India, the association between socioeconomic factors with child WHZ and HAZ varies by region.
Developing new methods to study chemokine receptor binding
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Since 1981, over 140,000 Californians have been diagnosed with AIDS, and of these, over 80,000 (58%) have died. California ranks second only to New York State in the number of AIDS cases in the US and it has been estimated that many Californians are still being infected with HIV, as nearly 5,000 new cases were reported in 2004 (www.sfaf.org). It is therefore essential to continue the development of drugs to combat HIV/AIDS, and a number of drugs have recently been approved. These drugs function by targeting different aspects of the life cycle of the HIV virus, and it is becoming clear that the best way to currently treat HIV patients is to provide them with a combination of therapies. One part of the virus life cycle that has been explored recently, although no drugs have yet been approved by the FDA, is the process of viral entry into host cells. Proteins on the surface of both the virus and the host cell are required for viral entry. Those on the surface of the virus include gp120, whilst those on the surface of the host cell include CD4 and chemokine receptors. Chemokine receptors are essential to the ability of HIV to enter into and infect cells. These proteins are important, not only during initial viral infection, but also in the spreading of the virus later as the disease progresses. Therefore, these proteins are excellent targets for drugs to combat HIV. However, chemokine receptors are very complex and difficult to study, so it is hard to predict which potential drugs are likely to be selective and potent towards them. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop methods to study these proteins, in order to learn more about their structures and how they interact with possible drug targets. The knowledge gained from these studies would aid efforts to identify selective, potent HIV drugs, and could eventually assist in the development of new HIV medicines to use in combination therapies. In terms of the effects upon HIV+ individuals in California, studies that help to develop compounds to use alongside those already available to slow disease progression can only help to improve the quality of life of HIV+ patients and their families.
HIV/Bipolar Disorder: Implications for Medication Adherence
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) are at high risk for chronic medical illnesses such as HIV infection, but relatively few studies have examined persons with both BD and HIV infection (BD+/HIV+). Successful treatment of HIV infection requires managing complex antiretroviral (ARV) medications. Having a serious mental illness such as BD may make adherence to medications more difficult for several reasons including mood symptoms, substance use, and cognitive problems. Poor adherence to ARV medications may lead to faster progression of HIV illness and increase the likelihood of the development HIV that is resistant to typical treatment. The current UARP study is designed to address the following primary aims: (1) to determine whether BD+/HIV+ individuals have more severe cognitive impairment, worse medication management abilities, and worse ARV medication adherence than individuals with HIV infection alone (BD-/HIV+), and (2) to identify significant predictors of medication management ability and ARV medication adherence among BD+/HIV+ individuals. To address these goals, we will recruit and assess 40 BD+/HIV+ and 40 BD-/HIV+ adult outpatients. We will assess thinking abilities (e.g., memory, attention) with a comprehensive test battery. We will evaluate medication management ability with a test that asks participants to follow a mock medication regimen. Medication adherence will be measured with self- and significant other reports. We will also measure psychiatric symptoms (such as depression or elevated mood), co-occurring substance use, and attitudes toward medications to determine how they may relate to medication management and ARV adherence. Finally, we will ask participants about their difficulties, and successes, with taking their medications as prescribed. Results from this study will provide necessary information about whether BD increases risk for more severe cognitive impairment, worse medication management ability, and worse ARV adherence. Furthermore, this study will help us to develop better ways of helping BD+/HIV+ individuals adhere to their prescribed medications (in light of the high likelihood that these individuals have unique needs as compared to other HIV infected individuals).
Gymnuridae Fowler 1934
Creators: name: White, William T.
name: Ko'Ou, Alfred
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Chondrichthyes
Myliobatiformes
Gymnuridae

description: Family Gymnuridae Fowler, 1934
Butterfly Rays
description: Published as part of White, William T. & Ko'Ou, Alfred, 2018, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Papua New Guinea, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 4411 (1) on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4411.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1221878
Drosophila polychaeta Patterson & Wheeler 1942
Creators: name: Tidon, Rosana
name: Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Drosophila
Drosophila polychaeta

description: polychaeta Patterson & Wheeler, 1942: 102. Type locality: USA, Texas, Galveston. ST B (AMNH). NE PA OR NT AF AU Distr.: Widespread in tropical and subtropical areas, accidentally introduced in England, Belgium and Netherlands. Colombia (Amazonas (Leticia)). Refs.: Yoon, 1996: 38.
baole Burla, 1954a: 187. Type locality: Ivory Coast, near Abidjan. HT M (ZMZ). Syn. Vouidibio et al., 1985: 182
asper Lin & Tseng, 1971: 69. Type locality: Taiwan, Hua-lien, Feng-lin. HT M (IZT). Syn. Zhang et al., 1996: 327.
pattersoni Mainland, 1948: 59. Nomen nudum (Hawaii). Author not verified.
pattersoni Patterson & Wheeler, 1949: 229. Nomen nudum (Hawaii).
pattersoni Hardy, 1952: 470. Nomen nudum (Hawaii).
description: Published as part of Tidon, Rosana & Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De, 2016, FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE, pp. 719-751 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 730, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.63, http://zenodo.org/record/263272
Gymnura van Hasselt 1823
Creators: name: White, William T.
name: Ko'Ou, Alfred
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Chondrichthyes
Myliobatiformes
Dasyatidae
Gymnura

description: Genus Gymnura van Hasselt, 1823
Butterfly Rays
Gymnura van Hasselt, 1823: 316. Type species: Raja micrura Bloch & Schneider, 1801, by monotypy.
description: Published as part of White, William T. & Ko'Ou, Alfred, 2018, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Papua New Guinea, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 4411 (1) on page 52, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4411.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1221878
Sound Speed Tomography for Early Breast Cancer Detection
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Early detection is the most important factor determining survival from breast cancer. The goal of this project is to improve early detection of cancer; especially in dense breasts that mammography has difficulty in assessing. We hope to help earlier breast cancer detection by producing tomographic (i.e., serial, thin sections through a tissue) sound speed images using our Volume Breast Ultrasound (VBUS) scanner. Contrary to standard ultrasound, which measures sound reflection for each point in the image, sound speed images capture the tissue sound speed at each point. It has been previously shown that sound speed varies greatly in tissues, and in particular breast tumor tissue has a much higher sound speed than healthy tissue. There is also a strong relationship between sound speed and the temperature of tissue.

 Our previously constructed VBUS scanner consists of a table, a water bath, a robotic gantry system, a transducer, an ultrasound system, and a PC workstation for acquisition and reconstruction. We will use this system for the sound speed imaging. To generate sound speed images we will use the back-projection of measured time of flight (ToF) for each ultrasound A-line “ray”. Time of flight will be measured by examining the back wall of the scanning tank. Back-projecting time of flights over 360 degrees produces an image of “slowness”, which can be inverted to create a sound speed image. We will design and test a novel, iterative, “bent-ray” back-projection algorithm to account for sound refraction in the tissue. The ultrasound system is a Terason T3000 that allows us direct access to the radio-frequency (RF) echo data for each A-line as the B-mode image is being constructed. We will use this higher-resolution RF data to perform the sound speed reconstruction. We will test our sound speed detection system using artificial breast phantoms, especially under conditions of temperature variability that would mimic the situation in breasts with embedded tumors.

 High-resolution sound speed images have potential to help in early breast cancer detection for women with dense breasts. Furthermore, real-time sound speed images would allow monitoring and control of high high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of breast cancer.
Detecting and Characterizing HIV Intraclade Dual Infection
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: HIV dual infection occurs when the same host is infected with two different strains of HIV. It can be subcategorized into either coinfection or superinfection. Coinfection is when the two infections occur simultaneously or within a one-month period. Superinfection is defined as when the second infection occurs at least a month after the first. Superinfection is particularly interesting to HIV vaccine developers, because it demonstrates that certain hosts are not protected from a second infection even after the immune system has had a chance to respond to the first. The prevalence of HIV dual infection (both coinfection and superinfection) is incompletely characterized and is primarily based on anecdotal reports. I propose to perform a systematic, high-throughput study utilizing a well characterized Southern California cohort to determine its prevalence of coinfection and incidence of superinfection. When every participant is classified as either monoinfected (infected with a single strain), coinfected, or superinfected, statistical analyses can be performed on their clinical histories to determine whether the coinfected and superinfected individuals undergo more rapid disease progression than the monoinfected ones. These results could be used to better inform public health agencies, care providers, and HIV-infected people on the risks of HIV co- and superinfection. My study cohort consists of 120 HIV-infected high-risk, high-exposure individuals from San Diego and Los Angeles. Classifying each of them as either monoinfected or dually infected is the crucial first step toward determining what differentiates the two groups from each other. Future questions can be answered about whether host or virus factors are responsible. This project would provide a basis for answering questions such as whether there exist predisposing factors or protective mechanisms against superinfection, which are of direct relevance to HIV vaccine design.
Twist activation in breast cancer metastasis
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Almost all breast cancer deaths are caused by metastatic growths from disseminated tumor cells in distant organs. Metastasis is a multi-step process by which tumor cells spread from a primary site to distant organs and establish secondary tumors. During tumor metastasis, tumor cells need to obtain the ability to break away from their neighbor cells and migrate. Our previous studies showed that tumor cells activate the transcription factor Twist to gain motility, invade and metastasize. Twist can promote a developmental program termed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to allow tumor cell dissemination. The role of EMT in tumor metastasis is still highly debated due to clinical observations showing that the majority of human breast carcinoma metastases maintain their epithelial morphology, not switching to mesenchymal phenotype. This discrepancy, we think, is due to the interpretation of EMT as a permanent, non-reversible step during tumor metastasis. We propose a reversible EMT model to describe the dynamic changes that tumor cells experience during tumor metastasis. In this model, breast cancer cells activate Twist and undergo EMT to break away from their neighbors and spread into distant organs. Once reaching those organs, these tumor cells switch off Twist and the EMT program, colonize and grow in distant organs.

 We will test whether a transient reversible EMT induced by Twist could promote tumor invasion and metastasis in both mouse mammary tumor models and in human breast cancer cell xenografts in mice. For these studies, we: (1) have established mouse breast cancer models to allow transient activation of the Twist-induced EMT program to test its role in promoting breast tumor metastasis, and (2) will determine how transient activation of the Twist-induced EMT promotes human breast cancer cell metastasis.

 Not only does this project address the molecular basis of tumor metastasis, it also has implications for breast cancer prognosis and treatment. Presently, we do not have a reliable means to classify early stage breast cancer patients with respect to potential risk for metastasis. Since activation of Twist and EMT is an early event to allow carcinoma cell dissemination, genes and pathways involved in EMT holds promise to be useful prognostic markers for metastatic disease. Furthermore, the EMT program is mainly activated to induce cellular movement during development, and many such genes are silent in adult tissues. Thus, EMT-specific genes might provide excellent targets for anti-tumor drugs with minimal side effects.
Drosophila polymorpha Dobzhansky & Pavan 1943
Creators: name: Tidon, Rosana
name: Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Drosophila
Drosophila polymorpha

description: polymorpha Dobzhansky & Pavan, 1943: 19. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Bertioga. HT M (MZUSP). NT Distr.: Guatemala to Argentina. Colombia (Amarca (Cundin), Cundinamarca (Fusagasugá), Magdalena (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta), Meta (Villavicencio), Norte de Santander (Cucuta)). Refs.: Hunter & Navarro, 1969: 1102; Heed & Russel, 1971: 98.
description: Published as part of Tidon, Rosana & Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De, 2016, FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE, pp. 719-751 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 730, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.63, http://zenodo.org/record/263272
Nuclear physics reactions of astrophysicalimportance
Creators: name: O'Malley, Patrick D.
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: Understanding the origin of elements in the universe is one of the main goals of  nuclear science and astrophysics today. Achieving this goal involves determining  how the elements and their isotopes formed and being able to predict their abundances.  At the Holi eld Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF) at Oak Ridge  National Laboratory (ORNL), an experimental program has been established to  use transfer reactions (such as (p,d) or (d,p)) to study the properties of many  nuclei important to understanding the origins of various elements. Three measurements  were done to aid in the determination of the origins of di fferent light  isotopes.  Big Bang Nucleosynthesis calculations, constrained by the Wilkinson Microwave  Anisotropy Probe results, produce primordial 7Li abundances almost  a factor of four larger than those extrapolated from observations. Since primordial  7Li is believed to be mostly produced by the beta decay of 7Be, one proposed  solution to this discrepancy is a resonant enhancement of the 7Be(d, p)2a  reaction  rate through the 5/2+ 16.7-MeV state in 9B. The 2H(7Be,d)7Be reaction was used  to search for such a resonance; none was observed. An upper limit on the width  of the proposed resonance was deduced.  19F is believed to have formed in Asymptotic Giant Branch stars, but current  models cannot reproduce the observed abundances of this nucleus. One of the key  reactions responsible for the creation of 19F is 15N( a,y). Therefore, it is important  to understand reactions that might destroy 15N, such as 15N(n,y). The magnitude  of the 15N(n,y) reaction rate depends directly on the neutron spectroscopic factors  of low-lying 16N levels. Currently the measured spectroscopic factors di ffer from  those expected from theory by a factor of 2. A study has been done to resolve  this discrepancy using the d(15N,p) reaction. The spectroscopic factors were all  found to be close to unity which is in agreement with theoretical predictions.  In novae, gamma ray emission is believed to be primarily due to electron-positron  annihilation, though the source of these positrons remains a mystery.  The positrons are believed to originate from the beta decay of 18F due to its long  half-life (t1=2 ~ 110 min.). To date, gamma rays from this nucleus have not been  observed. Therefore, studies have been made on reactions believed to destroy 18F,  such as 18F(p,y ) which goes through states in 19Ne. A recent study by Adekola  et al. showed that a state at 6.289-MeV in 19Ne, just below the proton threshold,  could have a signi ficant impact on this reaction rate. However, the spin of this  state could not be determined. To determine the spin of this sub-threshold state,  a study of the 20Ne(p,d) reaction was made using a proton beam on a carbon  foil implanted with 20Ne. Due target contaminants, a spin assignment could not  be made, but a new experimental design was created and is described in this  dissertation.
Dissecting the role of Twist in breast cancer metastasis
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: During metastasis, carcinoma cells detach from their surroundings, migrate into the circulation, invade tissues, and finally establish new colonies in distant organs. Several changes that occur in metastatic cancer cells resemble an evolutionarily conserved process in embryonic development called Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). During EMT, epithelial cells lose cell-to-cell contact and gain motility, characteristics of mesenchymal (loosely associated connective tissue) cells. Recently, a gene-regulatory transcription factor called “Twist” was shown to have a prominent role in promoting EMT in mammalian breast cancer cells. Activation of Twist causes breast carcinoma cells to disseminate and metastasize from the mammary gland to the lung in mouse tumor models.

 While recent literature points toward a significant role for Twist in EMT, the molecular mechanisms for how Twist initiates EMT are unknown. The goal of this proposal is to study breast cancer metastasis from an integrated molecular, cellular, and whole organism standpoint, so that novel biomarkers of cancer prognosis may be identified and eventually become targets for therapy. We hypothesize that Twist binds to specific DNA gene promoters and can directly control the transcription of genes that are important in initiating EMT that leads to breast cancer metastasis.

 We have two main aims in the proposed research. First, we will define transcriptional target genes under the direct control of the basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor, Twist. For this, we will employ a new technology called ChIP-Sequencing to identify gene promoters that bind Twist. Secondly, we will study the function and biological significance of Twist-induced genes in the context of EMT and breast cancer metastasis. We will use RNA interference to specifically inhibit direct targets of Twist and measure changes in EMT and metastasis by light and fluorescence microscopy, migration assays, biochemical techniques, and using mouse xenograft (human breast tumor) models.

 Currently the strongest predictors for metastasis, including histological grade and lymph node status, fail to classify accurately early stage breast tumors. While chemotherapy has been shown to reduce the risk of metastasis by one-third, 70-80% of patients receiving this treatment would have survived well without it. Thus, after surgery and radiation therapy to treat their primary tumors, many patients still must decide whether to undergo adjuvant chemotherapy with little information as to whether this trying and expensive process is necessary. It is our belief then, that defining molecular targets of Twist would greatly benefit the development of prognostic tools and drugs to more accurately predict and treat breast cancer metastasis.
FGFR2 Signaling in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: FGFR2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase belonging to the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) family and, when activated, transfers a phosphate group (phosphorylates) to the amino acid tyrosine of target proteins. This leads to a

 cascade effect in which each phosphorylated protein is able to interact with another protein farther down in the pathway. When cells receive excessive signals to continue to divide or to escape normal cell death, cancer can be the result. Recently, two large studies independently identified FGFR2 as a major susceptibility locus for postmenopausal invasive breast cancer.

 The recent genetic linkage studies identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within FGFR2 as highly significant for increased risk. The essential hypothesis of our proposal is that one or more of these novel disease-associated polymorphisms creates a binding site for an estradiol-responsive transcription factor, resulting in altered FGFR2 expression or functional activity. This is based on a presumptive binding site for the estrogen receptor – an important transcription factor in mammary cells – that is created by one of the disease-associated SNPs. The changes in FGFR2 expression resulting from the variation of just a few nucleotides may be either qualitative or quantitative.

 First, we will define the minimal FGFR2 sequence associated with one specific disease-associated SNP that is required for altered estrogen-dependent expression. These experiments will uncover effects of the sequence polymorphism on transcription factor binding, transcriptional activation, and alternate transcriptional start sites. As a second aim, we will examine FGFR2 expression in human breast cancer cells carrying disease-associated polymorphisms for either qualitative or quantitative changes in expression that are estradiol-dependent. These experiments will examine the expression of full-length FGFR2 in breast cancer cells, and will uncover estradiol-dependent changes in FGFR2 expression and kinase activation, alternative splicing, and the composition of FGFR2 signaling complexes. These experiments will reveal potentially important biological consequences – from the point of view of signaling – made possible by the disease-associated haplotype (i.e., combination of alleles that are transmitted together on the same chromosome) in FGFR2.

 This research has the potential to open up a new line of study for breast cancer, since there is currently no published data confirming estradiol-dependent FGFR2 expression and any disease-associated polymorphisms.
A look is enough
Creators: name: Parker, Jennifer S.
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: This thesis provides an exploratory look at caregiving, blame, and mothers of children with autism. The framework of this project comes from historical patterns of mother blaming, gendered division of labor, and dominant constructions of disability as otherness. Theoretical insights from Michel Foucault and Margrit Shildrick on power, gender, disability, and bodily control are also brought into conversation to consider how these maternal and disabled bodies structure and are structured by systems of power. The project culminates with a presentation and analysis of themes from four in-depth interviews conducted with mothers of children with autism.
The efficiencies of the spatial median and spatial sign covariance matrix for elliptically symmetric distributions
Creators: name: Magyar, Andrew F.
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: The spatial median and spatial sign covariance matrix (SSCM) are popularly used robust alternatives for estimating the location vector and scatter matrix when outliers are present or it is believed the data arises from some distribution that is not multivariate normal.  When the underlying distribution is an elliptical distribution, it has been observed that these estimators perform better under certain scatter structures.  This dissertation is a detailed study of the efficiencies of the spatial median and the SSCM under the elliptical model, in particular the dependence of their efficiencies on the population scatter matrix.   For the spatial median, it is shown this estimator is asymptotically most efficient compared to the MLE for the location vector when the population scatter matrix is proportional to the identity matrix.  Furthermore, it is possible to construct an affinely equivariant version of the spatial median that is asymptotically more efficient than the spatial median.  Asymptotic relative efficiencies of these two estimators are calculated to demonstrate how inefficient the spatial median can be as the underlying scatter structure becomes more elliptical.  A simulation experiment is carried out to provide evidence of analogous result for finite samples.    When the goal is estimating eigenprojection matrices, it is proven that under the elliptical model the eigenprojection estimates obtained from the Tyler matrix are asymptotically more efficient than those corresponding to the SSCM.  Calculations of asymptotic relative efficiencies are presented to demonstrate the loss of efficiency in using eigenprojection estimates of the SSCM as opposed to the Tyler matrix, particularly when the scatter structure of the data is far from spherical.  To assess the performance of these estimators in the finite sample setting, the notion of principal angles is used to define a means to compare eigenprojection estimators.  Using this concept, simulations are implemented that support finite sample results similar to those for the asymptotic case.  The implications of the above results are discussed, particularly in the application of principal component analysis.  Future research directions are then proposed.
THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE FORMATION OF MOTIVATION IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO STUDENTS
Creators: name: Nazarova, Charos
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024

description: This article explores the role of technology in forming motivation in English language learning. Technologies provide opportunities to increase students' interest in learning and make the educational process more interactive. Personalized learning, gamification, collaborative platforms, and multimedia play a significant role in boosting students' motivation. This article demonstrates how technologies engage students in learning English and help them in the process.
Novel Cytokine Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Immunotherapy can be a very effective in the treatment of select cancer patients with disease poorly amenable to conventional therapy. Breast cancer should be a particularly good candidate for immunotherapy, since tumor-specific antigens have been identified and there is evidence of a specific anti-tumor immune response. However, to date, hormones and cytotoxic drugs remain the standard treatment for metastatic breast cancers. It is unclear why immunotherapy is effective in only a limited subset of patients; this may be associated with the tumor’s ability to either evade or suppress the host immune response. Using models of breast cancer, recent progress has indicated that cytokine therapy and tumor vaccination hold promise, particularly in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Cytokines are released by many types of cells and are particularly important in enhancing both innate (e.g., inflammation, macrophages) and adaptive (B- and T-cell) immune responses

 One approach to making tumor immunotherapy more broadly applicable is to administer recombinant cytokines to strengthen the immune response and overcome tumor suppressive mechanisms. However, there are significant limitations in administering cytokines, foremost being their toxicity and poor drug half-life in circulation. Furthermore, cytokines such as IL-2, which can stimulate anti-tumor responses, may paradoxically also stimulate T- regulatory cells causing a suppression immune responses. We have found that IL-15, which is highly related to IL-2 and also a growth factor for T and Natural Killer cells, has immunotherapeutic advantages . IL-15 may not only offer a more favorable dose-limiting toxicity compared with IL-2, but may differentially affect T-regulatory cells. By itself, IL-15 has shown efficacy in augmenting anti-tumor activity. It was recently found that the biological activity of IL-15 could be increased 50-fold in mice by combining IL-15 with its soluble receptor, sIL-15R? prior to injection. Our results show that IL-15/receptor complexes dramatically improve the priming and survival of lymphocytes during an immune response.

 In this project we will evaluate the ability of IL-15 complexes to augment anti-tumor immunity in a mouse model of metastatic breast cancer. Our proposal addresses several critical questions including which cell types are most important for the ability of IL-15 complexes to mediate anti-tumor activity and whether IL-15 complexes are superior to the administration of other cytokines. We are studying the effects of IL-15 complexes on mammary tumor growth and metastasis. We will focus on identifying which immune cells are activated by and essential for the anti-tumor activity of IL-15 complexes and compare the ability of IL-15- and IL-2-complexes in augmenting anti-tumor immune responses.
Dasyatidae Jordan 1888
Creators: name: White, William T.
name: Ko'Ou, Alfred
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Chondrichthyes
Myliobatiformes
Dasyatidae

description: Family Dasyatidae Jordan, 1888
Stingrays
description: Published as part of White, William T. & Ko'Ou, Alfred, 2018, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Papua New Guinea, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 4411 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4411.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1221878
Dynamic modeling and field testing of steel railway bridges
Creators: name: Lou, Peng
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: In United State, there are a lot of steel railway bridges with non-ballast tracks, which have short and simply supported spans. The majority of similar bridges on the passenger rail systems were built prior to World War II. In New Jersey, freight railcars often utilize a portion of passenger rail systems to complete their trips. Recent increases in railcar weight limits from 263,000 lb to 286,000 lb raised concerns about the passenger rail systems since these bridges were not designed according to the increased railcar weight. Also, the cost to build and maintain new bridges is extremely high.  Therefore, impact of the increased railcar weight on those bridges need to be evaluated first to allow the use of passenger lines for the freight travels. The research approach adopted is aiming at evaluating current load-carrying capacity of various types of bridges to provide recommendations for dynamic impact. The impact factor equations specified in AREMA Specifications were based on field tests prior to 1960s. It is important to validate and evaluate the impact factor equation from recent field tests.   In this thesis, a 2D dynamic model of train-bridge interaction system was developed. Steel bridge is simulated as a Bernoulli-Euler beam and moving train is modeled as rigid-body. Field measurement was conducted to obtain the strain, deflection, and velocity response of bridge girders under moving trains via wireless Structural Testing System (STS) and non-contact Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV).  The validity of the presented model was confirmed through comparison with the measured structural response.  Impact factor (IF) was then obtained from the validated dynamic model.  Train speed, train type, bridge span length, and girder stiffness were considered as the main parameters affecting the IF. The results of this study show that the present AREMA Specifications has a tendency to overestimate the IF at speeds lower than 60 mph for steel bridges.
Drosophila popayan Vilela & Bachli 2004
Creators: name: Tidon, Rosana
name: Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Drosophila
Drosophila popayan

description: popayan Vilela & Bächli, 2004b: 37. Type locality: Colombia, Cauca, 30 km N Popayán. HT M (AMNH). NT Distr.: Colombia, Panama, Venezuela.
description: Published as part of Tidon, Rosana & Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De, 2016, FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE, pp. 719-751 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 730, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.63, http://zenodo.org/record/263272
Reproductive concerns and depression among younger survivors
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: About a quarter of breast cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed in premenopausal women. The issues and decisions faced by younger women are different than those of older women, including concerns about early menopause, fertility, and long-term survivorship. Breast cancer treatment may increase the risk of early menopause and cause difficulties with fertility. This can be especially challenging for younger women who have not finished growing their families. There is limited research on how fertility problems impact the long-term well-being breast cancer survivors.

 The primary questions we will address among younger breast cancer survivors in this project include: (1) how do symptoms of depression change over time?, and (2) are problems with fertility associated with increased symptoms of depression over time?

 In addition, we will describe younger breast cancer survivors’ reproductive history, experiences with fertility-related side effects of treatment, and whether they made treatment decisions in order to maintain fertility. We will use data from approximately 200 younger breast cancer survivors who participated in the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study. WHEL is a nutritional intervention designed to test whether a diet high in fruits and vegetables can lower breast cancer recurrence. The sample for this study includes survivors who were 40 at younger when they were diagnosed and who have agreed to be contacted again. Some data has already been collected, including demographics, cancer characteristics/treatment, and physical and mental well-being. We will conduct a follow-up survey to ask whether survivors wanted to have children or attempted pregnancy, whether they’ve had problems with infertility or fertility-related side effects of their treatment, whether they currently have any symptoms of depression, and about their current feelings toward pregnancy and their ability to have children.

 There are few studies that follow a group of younger breast cancer survivors over time. The WHEL study includes a significant number of younger women who have survived for 10 years or longer. The proposed project provides a great opportunity to combine existing long-term data with new questions to explore the association between the

 reproductive concerns and long-term well being.
Drosophila promeridiana Wasserman 1962
Creators: name: Tidon, Rosana
name: Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Drosophila
Drosophila promeridiana

description: promeridiana Wasserman, 1962b: 94. Type locality: Colombia, Valle del Cauca, Palmira. HT M (USNM). NT Distr.: Colombia. (Valle del Cauca, Palmira).
description: Published as part of Tidon, Rosana & Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De, 2016, FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE, pp. 719-751 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 730, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.63, http://zenodo.org/record/263272
The roles of cypin in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-promoted neuronal dendrite branching and in the regulation of postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) protein levels
Creators: name: Kwon, Munjin
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2012

description: Alterations in dendrite branching and morphology are present in many neurodegenerative diseases. These variations disrupt postsynaptic transmission and affect neuronal communication.  Thus, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate dendritogenesis and how they go awry during disease states. Previously, our laboratory showed that cypin, a guanine deaminase, increases dendrite number by regulating microtubule assembly. Cypin interacts with postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) protein, and reduces its synaptic clustering in cultured neurons when overexpressed. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of most studied neurotrophins, which play a role in regulating neurite growth and branching in neurons. Here we examined the complex actions of cypin in BDNF-promoted dendrite branching and in regulating PSD-95 protein levels. First, we show the expression patterns of cypin and its new isoform in the developing rat brain. Second, we report that treatment of neurons with BDNF results in different effects, depending on how it is administered. Global administration of BDNF increases cypin mRNA and protein levels to regulate dendrite number only in the region proximal to the cell body. BDNF increases cypin levels via cyclic adenosine 3’5’-monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB)-dependent transcriptional regulation by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Furthermore, localized BDNF application to the dendritic arbor also increases dendrite branching at sites of stimulation. Interestingly, local administration of BDNF increases dendrite branching not only proximal to the soma but also at distal regions in the arbor. Taken together, these studies suggest that distinct sources of BDNF regulate dendritic arborization via different mechanisms. Finally, we investigate the role of cypin on the expression of its binding partner, PSD-95. Overexpression of cypin increases total cellular PSD-95 levels, and this effect is occluded by treatment with a proteasome inhibitor. Since PSD-95 is important for assembling signaling complexes and mediating synaptic activity, a role for cypin at synaptic sites in proteasome-dependent regulation of PSD-95 is proposed. Therefore, we suggest new roles of cypin in BDNF-promoted dendrite branching and in the alteration of PSD-95 protein levels at synaptic sites.
MBL and HIV-1 Related Neuroinflammation and CNS Impairment
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Innate immune responses mount defense against risk of infections by microbes. Mannose binding lectin, MBL, recognizes mannose residues present of the surface of several pathogens (e.g. viruses, bacteria) and activate the innate immune complement activation pathway. MBL is also involved in clearing the dead cells and complement-pathogen complexes by recruiting phagocytes for opsonizing and scavenging the pathogen. MBL is an acute phase protein and lower serum levels of MBL have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to several infectious diseases. Expression and function of MBL is altered by the presence of variant alleles in MBL2 gene that codes MBL. Altered MBL expression and function have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and progression to AIDS, however its role in risk to HIV-1 infection in CNS, neuroinflammation and CNS impairment is unknown. HIV-1 is detected early in CNS and almost 40% of all HIV-1 infected individuals develop encephalitis, minor cognitive motor dysfunction (MCMD) and HIV-1 associated dementia (HAD) with neurocognitive and neuropsycological impairment. This is also a major problem in California where about 139,000 individuals are HIV-1 infected (total 956,000 HIV-1 infected in USA) by the end of December 2005 as reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have recently shown in more than 1000 HIV-1 infected children that the presence of a variant MBL genotype altering the expression and function of MBL was associated with more rapid CNS impairment. This proposed pilot research aims to evaluate if the altered expression and function of MBL i) impairs MBL-mediated complement activation; ii) modifies MBL-associated inflammatory cytokine responses; iii) impairs HIV-1 opsonization and clearance of viral proteins and apoptotic cells from CNS, thereby leading to increased susceptibility of HIV-1 infection, neuroinflammation and CNS impairment. Results from this pilot study will help to evaluate the role of MBL-mediated innate immunity in risk of HIV-1 infection and neuroinflammation in CNS and may help in the development of effective therapeutics.
Drosophila repleta Wollaston 1858
Creators: name: Tidon, Rosana
name: Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Drosophilidae
Drosophila
Drosophila repleta

description: repleta Wollaston, 1858: 117. Type locality: Portugal, Madeira, Funchal. LT M (BMNH). NE PA OR NT AF AU Distr.: cosmopolitan. Colombia (Cundinamarca (Fusagasugá), (Magdalena (Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta)). Refs.: Hunter & Navarro, 1969: 1102; Hoenigsberg, 1995b: 177.
punctulata Loew, 1862: 232. Type locality: Cuba. ST B MCZ. Syn. Becker, 1905: 222.
adspersa Mik, 1886a: 328. Type locality: Ghana, Ashanti. LT M NMW. Lectotype des. Bächli, 1982: 295. Syn. Becker, 1905: 219.
nigropunctata van der Wulp, 1891: 216. Type locality: Indonesia, Java. HT M not in (RNH) or (ZMAN). Syn. Bezzi, 1912: 3.
maculiventris van der Wulp, 1897: 142. Type locality: Sri Lanka, Kekirawa. HT M (HNHM). Syn. Duda, 1924c: 299.
austrorepleta Dobzhansky & Pavan, 1943: 48. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Mogí das Cruzes. HT M (MZUSP). Syn. Wharton, 1944: 178.
betari Dobzhasnky & Pavan, 1943: 48. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Iporanga. LT M (MZUSP). Syn. Vilela in Wheeler, 1981: 19. Lectotype des. Vilela, 1983: 89.
brunneipalpa Dobzhansky & Pavan, 1943: 53. Type locality: Brazil, São Paulo, Apiaí. HT M (MZUSP). Syn. Vilela in Wheeler, 1981: 19.
description: Published as part of Tidon, Rosana & Almeida, Jonathan Mendes De, 2016, FAMILY DROSOPHILIDAE, pp. 719-751 in Zootaxa 4122 (1) on page 730, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4122.1.63, http://zenodo.org/record/263272
Hemitrygon Muller & Henle 1838
Creators: name: White, William T.
name: Ko'Ou, Alfred
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2018
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Chondrichthyes
Myliobatiformes
Dasyatidae
Hemitrygon

description: Genus Hemitrygon Müller & Henle, 1838a
Stingrays
Hemitrygon Müller & Henle, 1838a: 90. Type species Trygon bennettii Müller & Henle, 1841, by subsequent monotypy (by Müller & Henle, 1841).
description: Published as part of White, William T. & Ko'Ou, Alfred, 2018, An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyans of Papua New Guinea, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 4411 (1) on page 53, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4411.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1221878