cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression Kinetics and Mapping of the Thymidine Kinase Transcript and an Immediate-Early Transcript from Channel Catfish Virus†

Three transcripts from the terminal repeat of the channel catfish virus (CCV; also known as ictalurid herpesvirus 1) genome were mapped by S1 nuclease and primer extension analyses as well as by cDNA sequencing. These transcripts, TR3, TR5/6, and TR6, are encoded by open reading frame (ORF) 3, ORFs 5 and 6, and ORF 6, respectively, and correspond to those previously identified by sequence analysis (A. J. Davison, Virology 186:9-14, 1992). ORF 5 has previously been determined to encode thymidine kinase, but ORF 3 and ORF 6 encode proteins of unknown function. Although all three transcripts accumulate to high levels in cells infected in the presence of cycloheximide, kinetic analysis demonstrates that TR5/6 and TR6 are either early or late transcripts that leak through the cycloheximide block. In addition, two transcripts from the terminal repeat of the CCV genome that were mapped previously and were thought to be immediate-early in character, TR8a/9 and TR9, exhibit kinetics characteristic of early or late transcripts. TR3 is an immediate-early transcript that appears to have a very short half-life. In the 3' untranslated region of TR3, there are three copies of an AU-rich element which has previously been shown to be involved in destabilization of the oncogene c-fos and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor mRNAs. mRNA destabilization may represent another mechanism by which herpesviruses regulate the rapid switch in expression from immediate-early genes to early genes during the transition to the early phase of infection.
Matched-pair case-control studies when risk factors are correlated within the pairs.

Matched-pair case-control studies can be used to study the relationship between a disease and an exposure of interest. In the simple version of such a study, we choose a random sample of cases and a matched control for each case. We determine whether each pair member is exposed. We calculate the ratio of the number of pairs with an exposed case and an unexposed control to the number of pairs with an exposed control and an unexposed case. Under the usual assumptions, this ratio will be a consistent (that is, unbiased in large samples) estimate of the population odds ratio. One of the usual assumptions is that everyone in the study is independent. If controls are chosen as, for example, random people from the same city and of the same age and sex as the case, this may be a reasonable assumption. If, however, the controls are siblings or spouses of the cases, the assumption of independence within pairs becomes less tenable. Such controls may be used because they are considered more appropriate; they may also be used for the practical reason that they are readily identified and likely to be willing to participate in a study. Since using these types of controls
Electron-beam-induced patterned deposition of allylcyclopentadienyl palladium using scanning tunneling microscopy

Scanning tunneling microscopy has been used to study the electron‐induced decomposition of allylcyclopentadienyl palladium [Pd(η3‐C3H5)(η5‐C5H5)] and subsequent deposition on a Si(111) surface. Deposition occurs via an electron impact mechanism on either the tip or surface, depending on the bias polarity, and is observed with voltages of ≥2.75 V. This is close to the predicted condensed phase dissociation energy of 2.3 eV for Pd(η3‐C3H5)(η5‐C5H5)→Pd+C3H5+C5H5. Metallic deposits of nanometer dimensions can be written on the surface. Deposition onto an electrochemically etched tip results in a narrow conductive secondary tip which gives improved spatial resolution when imaging high‐aspect ratio features on the surface.
The Interaction of Near U.V. (365 nm) and X-radiations on Wild-type and Repair-deficient Strains of Escherichia Coli K12: Physical and Biological Measurements

SummaryColony-forming and single-strand break rejoining ability of a wild-type, polA and recA recB strain of E. coli K12 have been measured after treatment with a combination of 365 nm and X-radiation. Exposure to 365 nm radiation immediately before X-irradiation increased the slope of the X-ray survival curves to a maximum of approximately 3·4 times that of the untreated cells. The polA strain showed 75 per cent of this synergistic interaction, but no synergism was observed in the recA recB strain. DNA degradation, rather than strand-rejoining (measured by the alkaline sucrose gradient technique), occurred in the wild-type and repair mutant strains after similar treatment and subsequent incubation in phosphate buffer. In full medium, a limited amount of repair did occur in both the wild-type and recA recB strains during an extended incubation period, but only degradation in the polA strain. The results have been interpreted taking into account the loss of trichloracetic-acid-insoluble material from the c...
Conceptualizing Housework and Who Does What

Chapter 4 re-conceptualizes the nature of housework beyond the popular imagination of it being “chores” only. Illustrations from my data show: first, the substantial complexity of housework in which the homemaker requires sequencing, prioritizing work and at the same time involves reward and punishment schemes to motivate their children. This complexity resembles a manager in the “paid work” setting. Second, the majority of housework is routine chores with an imperative nature and the demands must be met daily and repetitively. Third, housework requires close supervision of the children and foreign domestic helpers (or nannies). Lastly I argue housework is also a type of emotional work. Based on this conceptualization, the results show that wives are doing more at home and how deceptive it is to use spousal difference in economic resources to explain household division of labor.
Does the addition of fundoplication to repair the intra-thoracic stomach improve quality of life?

The role of fundoplication in addition to hiatal hernia repair has been controversial. The aim of this study was to compare quality of life related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients who underwent intra-thoracic stomach repair with and without fundoplication. We proposed that the group without a fundoplication would have poorer quality of life due to continued symptoms. All patients undergoing foregut surgery at the Creighton University Esophageal Center are entered in a prospectively maintained database. The database was queried to identify patients who underwent surgery for a near complete (>75 % of stomach in chest) intra-thoracic stomach with gastric volvulus between 2004 and 2013. A questionnaire was derived from the Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia and Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD questionnaires to assess for symptoms related to reflux, and this questionnaire was administered by phone. A total of 150 patients underwent repair of ITS during the study period. A total of 109 patients had ITS repair with fundoplication, while 41 had only ITS repair. Follow-up was available in 54 % of patients in the fundoplication group (median follow-up of 5.2 years) and in 49 % of patients in the non-fundoplication group (median follow-up of 4 years). Significantly, more patients woke up at night (p 80 % rated their quality of life as either good or excellent. We conclude that there is not a significant difference in quality-of-life parameters on long-term follow-up between patients undergoing ITS repair with or without fundoplication.
Utility of Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) For The Rapid Manufacture of Customized Electric Vehicles

This Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Manufacturing Development Facility (MDF) technical collaboration project was conducted in two phases as a CRADA with Local Motors Inc. Phase 1 was previously reported as Advanced Manufacturing of Complex Cyber Mechanical Devices through Community Engagement and Micro-manufacturing and demonstrated the integration of components onto a prototype body part for a vehicle. Phase 2 was reported as Utility of Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) for the Rapid Manufacture of Customized Electric Vehicles and demonstrated the high profile live printing of an all-electric vehicle using ONRL s Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) technology. This demonstration generated considerable national attention and successfully demonstrated the capabilities of the BAAM system as developed by ORNL and Cincinnati, Inc. and the feasibility of additive manufacturing of a full scale electric vehicle as envisioned by the CRADA partner Local Motors, Inc.
Medical Tests and Convergence

l . Thomas Barr, Vector Calculus, Prentice-Hall, l 997. 2. Michael J. Beeson, Triangles with vertices on lattice points, Anler. Math. Monthly, 99:3 (1992), 243-252. 3. W. Scherrer, Die einlagerung eines regularen vielecks in ein gitter, Elemente derMathematik 1, (1946), 97-98. 4. I. J. Schoenberg, Regular simplices and quadratic forms, Journal of the London Mathematical Society 12, (l 937), 48-55. 5. James Stewart, Multivariable CulculuKs: Concepts and Context,s, Brooks-Cole, 1998.
The Use of Sulfanilamide in Experimental Brucellosis

During the past few years the literature on the therapeutic effect of sulfanilamide and its derivatives has grown to large proportions and both clinical and experimental results have demonstrated the value of sulfanilamide in certain infectious diseases particularly those due to some members of the Coccaceae. Long and Bliss1 carried out extensive studies in this field and, in a recent series of publications, adequately reviewed the literature. Among the diseases investigated for possible treatment with sulfanilamide, Brucella infections have received comparatively little attention. Until the recent introduction of sulfanilamide in the treatment of human Brucellosis no successful therapeutic methods had been available. Reports2 from Europe and America have indicated that sulfanilamide treatment has given successful results in human infections due to Br. melitensis and Br. abortus. Twenty-one cases have been reported in the literature all of which responded rapidly to treatment and recovered with no relapses. Only a few reports have been made on the sulfanilamide treatment of Brucella infections in experimental animals. The author3 reported the prophylactic effect of sulfanilamide following experimental infections of guinea pigs with Br. abortus and Br. suis. Welch, Wentworth and Mickle4 have demonstrated that sulfanilamide produces a marked increase in opsonocytophagic activity in Brucella infected guinea pigs. The present report deals with the effect of sulfanilamide on Br. melitensis, Br. abortus and Br. suis in vitro and the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of this drug in guinea pigs experimentally infected with Brucella. In these experiments old stock strains and also recently isolated strains of Brucella were used. The latter were kindly supplied by Dr. I. F. Huddleson of the Michigan State College of Agriculture. All the strains were pathogenic for guinea pigs.
The Theory of Power and Conflict in Channels of Distribution

This review article develops an integrated overview of the present status of the theory of power and conflict in marketing channels. It includes a presentation of the conceptual foundation provided...
First steps toward translating robotic walking to prostheses: a nonlinear optimization based control approach

This paper presents the first steps toward successfully translating nonlinear real-time optimization based controllers from bipedal walking robots to a self-contained powered transfemoral prosthesis: AMPRO, with the goal of improving both the tracking performance and the energy efficiency of prostheses control. To achieve this goal, a novel optimization-based optimal control strategy combining control Lyapunov function based quadratic programs with impedance control is proposed. This optimization-based optimal controller is first verified on a human-like bipedal robot platform, AMBER. The results indicate improved (compared to variable impedance control) tracking performance, stability and robustness to unknown disturbances. To translate this complete methodology to a prosthetic device with an amputee, we begin by collecting reference locomotion data from a healthy subject via inertial measurement units (IMUs). This data forms the basis for an optimization problem that generates virtual constraints, i.e., parameterized trajectories, specifically for the amputee . A online optimization based controller is utilized to optimally track the resulting desired trajectories. An autonomous, state based parameterization of the trajectories is implemented through a combination of on-board sensing coupled with IMU data, thereby linking the gait progression with the actions of the user. Importantly, the proposed control law displays remarkable tracking and improved energy efficiency, outperforming PD and impedance control strategies. This is demonstrated experimentally on the prosthesis AMPRO through the implementation of a holistic sensing, algorithm and control framework, resulting in dynamic and stable prosthetic walking with a transfemoral amputee.
Labs@Home

In this publication, we introduce the Labs@Home framework, which enables students to conduct laboratory elements of courses on their personal computing equipment. A major benefit of this approach is that students are able to progress through assignments at a time and pace of their choice, before submitting the results to the instructor for review. The introduced framework is based on capturing differences between versions of the virtual machines and exchanging these between instructor and students. We are currently implementing several parts of the framework and expect to evaluate its implementation in the near future.
Empowerment and Voice as Transmitters of High-Performance Managerial Practices to Job Performance

Research on participation related practices and policies, which as a set have been labeled high-performance managerial practices, has a long and rich tradition. Unfortunately, we lack a cohesive th...
Gamma index variation in the verification of step & shoot IMRT

Introduction IMRT plan verification is one of the most important parameters in the modern radiotherapy chain in order to achieve high quality and reproducible treatment delivery. Purpose The purpose of this study is to present a detailed analysis of the variation of gamma index (γ-index), which is used as a primary quantitative parameter in IMRT plan verification. Materials and methods We retrospectively considered 60 Prostate and 30 Head and Neck (H&N) step and shoot IMRT cases treated in our department. All plans were created on the Oncentra v4.5 TPS (Elekta, Sweden), using 5–7–9 beams, maximum 10 segments/beam and minimum 4 cm2 segments. Plan verification was implemented using the ArcCheck phantom (SunNuclear, FL, USA). γ-index was calculated at 3%–3 mm and at 2%–2 mm using a 10% threshold value with and without global correction. Results γ-Index (3%/3 mm, global) for Prostate and H&N was 97.1 ± 1.7 and 97 ± 2.1 respectively, γ-index was 9% less when not using global corection factor. 1 mm y-shift variation occurred in 70% of verification plans, while x-shift was negligible. Correcting for y-shift, γ-index was 0.4% and 0.9% higher for prostate and H&N respectively. γ-index variation showed no dependance upon the number of beams used. Conclusion Arccheck is an efficient QA tool for individual patient verification, exhibiting γ-index >97% and high reproducibility of results. Further work is done to correlate γ-index values with ROI specific passing rates, as estimated by the 3DVH software analysis.
A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method for magnetohydrodynamics on arbitrary grids

A reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin (rDG) method, designed not only to enhance the accuracy of DG methods but also to ensure the nonlinear stability of the rDG method, is developed for solving the Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations on arbitrary grids. In this rDG(P1P2) method, a quadratic polynomial solution (P2) is first obtained using a Hermite Weighted Essentially Non-oscillatory (WENO) reconstruction from the underlying linear polynomial (P1) discontinuous Galerkin solution to ensure linear stability of the rDG method and to improves efficiency of the underlying DG method. By taking advantage of handily available and yet invaluable information, namely the first derivatives in the DG formulation, the stencils used in reconstruction involve only Von Neumann neighborhood (adjacent face-neighboring cells) and thus are compact. The first derivatives of the quadratic polynomial solution are then reconstructed using a WENO reconstruction in order to eliminate spurious oscillations in the vicinity of strong discontinuities, thus ensuring the nonlinear stability of the rDG method. The HLLD Riemann solver introduced in the literature for one-dimensional MHD problems is adopted in normal direction to compute numerical fluxes. The divergence free constraint is satisfied using the Locally Divergence Free (LDF) approach. The developed rDG method is used to compute a variety of 2D and 3D MHD problems on arbitrary grids to demonstrate its accuracy, robustness, and non-oscillatory property. Our numerical experiments indicate that the rDG(P1P2) method is able to capture shock waves sharply essentially without any spurious oscillations, and achieve the designed third-order of accuracy: one order accuracy higher than the underlying DG method.
The Role of Carbon Fibers in Orthopedic Implants: A Review

Man has recognized carbon as an implant material well tolerated by the body for many years. Indeed, carbon in an impure form (Indian ink) was first used in the making of tatoos. Most recently carbon has been used in a filamentous form of high strength. These carbon fibers are produced in long tows of 40,000 fibers, each with a cross sectional area of about 7μ (Figure 1), by heating acrylic fibers to high temperature. This causes the noncarbon components to be removed while maintaining the molecular structure (scaffold) of the acrylic. Fibers can be chopped into short lengths and used to reinforce polyethylenes (8, 11, 12). These reinforced plastics have-twice the strength and ten times the stiffness of their non-reinforced counterparts, but suffer only one tenth as much creep when subjected to a load (11). Long tows of carbon fibers are used in tendon and ligament replacement (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10). This application warrants further investigation because of the apparent ability of the carbon fibers to induce the formation of ligaments and tendons (3, 4, 5, 6, 7).
Statistical Modeling on Nonlinear Manifolds

It has been emphasized frequently in the earlier chapters that the representation spaces of our interest are both nonlinear and infinite dimensional.
Immunological Effect of Skin Allograft in Burn Treatment: Impact on Future Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.

Skin allografts are the gold standard in temporary burn wound coverage, but allografts are hypothesized to place a high antigenic load on recipients. This project aims to determine the degree of human leukocyte antigen sensitization in burn patients treated with allografts. Serum was obtained from nine adult, nontransfused, and nontransplanted burn patients treated with allografts. Group 1 included patients tested in the acute burn period, while group 2 included different patients tested months to years after injury. A calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) percent was assessed for each patient, and data for a control group of 92 adult nontransplanted males were used for comparison. Each patient received allografts from an average 3.55 ± 1.24 different donors. cPRA in group 1 was lower than in group 2 (6 ± 12% vs 42 ± 33%, P = .08). cPRA in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group (26 ± 31% vs 8 ± 17%, P = .0075). Burn patients who receive skin allograft demonstrate increased immunological sensitization compared with unsensitized controls. Detection of human leukocyte antigen antibody is lower in the acute burn period than months to years after injury. Increased sensitization may ultimately limit burn patients' candidacy for vascularized composite allotransplantation or decrease success of these procedures.
Background from Algebra

In this chapter we pull together the essential parts of rings and algebras that we later use for the structure theory of variance component estimation. We have made an effort to keep the definitions to the minimum needed for an adequate description of this structure theory. Examples have been collected from the statistical literature which have a nontrivial algebraic content, but which may not have been appreciated as such by many readers.
THE PARIS TALKS

This chapter discusses the proceedings of the conference the Paris Talks. Of the 27 countries participating in the conference, 19 represent the Group of 77 (developing countries), and eight represent developed countries with market economies. At the first meeting of the conference in Paris in December 1975, the attending ministers decided to establish four commissions on energy, raw materials, development, and on financial affairs. Each commission consists of 15 members, 10 from developing countries, and five from developed countries. It was agreed that the commissions would meet periodically throughout 1976 and present their conclusions to another ministerial meeting to be convened a year from the first meeting. The Paris talks are not under United Nations auspices but there are close ties with the world body. The senior officials also agreed that the second phase of the talks would be action oriented. The talks resumed in September on the basis of a program agreed upon by the two co-chairmen of the conference, but little progress was made by the end of 1976 when the talks were to conclude.
Outcomes of patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma progressing after autologous stem cell transplant in the current era of novel therapeutics: A retrospective analysis

Patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RR-HL) who progress or relapse following autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) have historically had a poor prognosis. Several novel agents, particularly brentuximab vedotin, have shown efficacy in this setting. However, there remains a paucity of data characterizing outcomes outside of clinical trials and how these novel agents impacted prognosis in general population of patients with RR-HL. Here, we conducted a retrospective analysis to evaluate outcomes in 87 patients with RR-HL with relapse post-ASCT. Treatment with novel agents (including brentuximab vedotin) was associated with significant improvement in median overall survival (OS) compared to patients who did not receive novel agents (85.6 vs 17.1 months; p <0.001). Additional factors associated with improved OS in univariate analysis include treatment with radiation therapy post-ASCT (34.1 vs 17.0 months; p = 0.015), chemosensitivity (i.e. relapsed compared to primary refractory disease; 51.8 vs 25.6 months; p = 0.013), initial response to ASCT (i.e. CR/PR compared to SD/PD; 46.1 vs 20.4 months; p = 0.011), and transplantation in 2010 and later compared to prior to 2010 (not reached vs 24.5 months; p = 0.025). The current study demonstrates markedly improved OS in RR-HL patients treated with novel therapeutics and lends “real world” credence to the role of these agents in improving outcomes in the current era. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Bisexual erasure in queer sci-fi "utopias"

I discuss the paradoxes of queer representation in contemporary science fiction television by analyzing bisexual female protagonists of the CW's The 100 (2014–), BBC America's Orphan Black (2013–), and SyFy's Wynonna Earp (2016–). Queer female fans engage in femslash to make sense of the utopic intentions of executive producers who attempt to create better queer representation through labelless premises that de-emphasize queerness.
Multipactor Breakdown Threshold Reduction Due to Magnetic Confinement in Parallel Fields

In certain high-power RF devices, such as isolators and circulators, a static magnetic field is present in parallel with the oscillating RF electric field. This parallel magnetic field imposes electron Larmor motion, which restricts the trajectories of electrons accelerated by the RF field. In open geometries, magnetic confinement reduces electron losses in the multipactor region and can reduce the breakdown threshold. In this paper, the effect of magnetic confinement on multipactor breakdown threshold was measured experimentally using a stripline fixture with an externally applied uniform magnetic field. Multipactor threshold power was reduced from the unmagnetized case by as much as 3 dB at magnetic fields of about 0.5 kG. Multipactor gap aspect ratio has a significant impact on the degree of threshold reduction.
Down and Out at the EPA

This tale is of a bureaucrat-turned-innkeeper. He had "sleepwalked" through his job for years, a high salary and comfortable environment having made it too comfortable for him to leave. Ironically, he would have never left unless he had been given a push--having been threatened by the agency as a direct result of the integrity of his actions. But he has never regretted leaving the Washington bureaucracy, which remains immobile, but in which the cogs move on.
A New View of Long-Term Geomagnetic Field Secular Variation

This study carries out a statistical analysis of high-resolution PSV records for the last ~70 ka from three different regions of the Earth. We consider directional and intensity variability in each region on time scales of 103-105 years in order to evaluate long-term PSV. We then compare those results with more traditional long-term PSV statistical studies averaged over ~106 years. Three replicate PSV records from one region (subtropical North Atlantic Ocean) were averaged at overlapping 3ka and 9 ka intervals. Variability in both scalar inclination and declination variability and vector angular dispersion are significant and coherent among the three records. The vector dispersion is relatively low for most of the time but contains two relatively narrow intervals (~30-42 ka and 60-65 ka) of high dispersion. (Vector dispersion in all records was calculated after removing directions with true excursional VGPs, VGPs < 45° N.) We have carried out a comparable statistical analysis on two other PSV records from other parts of the Earth (Chile margin; Philippines/Indonesia). The results for these three regions are comparable in their overall style of variability. The scalar directional variability from the Philippines/Indonesia is quite different in detail from the other two regions, as might be expected, but the scalar directional variability between the Western Hemisphere regions is remarkably consistent considering their distance from one another. This may be associated with them being on the same longitude swath and having some coherent dynamo activity occurring along that path. Three magnetic field excursions occur in the study interval. All three excursions are associated with the two highest vector dispersion intervals. Paleointensity records from the three regions were subjected to the same statistical analysis as the directions. These records are allso coherent in their pattern of variability. The similarity in paleointensity variability on a global scale is expected even though the detailed scalar directional variability is not coherent on a global scale. The pattern of intensity variability is strongly correlated with the pattern of vector dispersion and excursions on a global scale – high (low) intensity is associated with low (high plus excursions) vector dispersion.
Secretion of Monocyte Chemotactic Activity by Bleomycin Treated Rat Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells

Increased lung mononuclear phagocyte numbers accompany many forms of lung injury, including those associated with fibrosis. In previous studies, bleomycin-treated alveolar macrophages have been shown to secrete monocyte chemotactic activity which could contribute to the increase in lung mononuclear phagocytes. In this study, rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells were examined for their ability to secrete similar activity in response to bleomycin, since the lung endothelial cell is also among the first cells to be exposed to bleomycin and is known to be an important in vivo source of cytokines.
Abstract 2221: Necroptosis and apoptosis in human colorectal tissue

Background: The molecular mechanisms for colorectal carcinogenesis still remain elusive. In recent years, necroptosis has emerged as a programmed cell death regulated by RIP kinases /mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) pathway, involving the release of intracellular "danger signals" which results in inflammation. On the other hand, classic apoptosis is regulated by Bax-induced caspase pathway and does not lead to inflammation. Transient receptor potential melastatin related 7 (TRPM7), a MLKL downstream target for the mediation of Ca2+ influx, was found to be involved in TNF-induced necroptosis (Nat Cell Bio 2014;16:55). Both necroptosis and apoptosis are important barriers to prevent normal cells from developing cancer. No study has examined how necroptosis biomarkers (MLKL, TRPM7) and pro-apoptosis biomarker (Bax) are related to inflammation (COX-2) and cell proliferation (Ki-67) and how MLKL relates to TRPM7 in human colorectal tissue. Methods: In our randomized trial (R01CA149633, NCT01105169) “Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial” conducted among colorectal polyp patients or those at high risk of colorectal cancer, colorectal biopsies from 250 participants were collected prior to intervention in the trial. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues were serially sectioned, and three levels of serial sections spaced 50 µm apart were mounted on one slide for each tissue block. The protein expressions of COX-2, Bax, pMLKL, TRPM7, and Ki-67 were detected immunohistochemically following the EnVision+ System-HRP kit. Positive cells in the upper and bottom zones were evaluated separately by a zonal quantitative analysis procedure using BioQuant imaging software. Correlation analysis was used to compute Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between necroptosis, apoptosis and inflammation biomarkers. Results: The expression of selected biomarkers showed stronger positive signals in the upper zone than in the bottom zone, with the exception of Ki-67 which showed stronger staining in the bottom zone of crypts. Epithelial Bax had strong positive correlation with COX-2 in the same zones (r=0.25 - 0.36, p Citation Format: Timothy Su, Yong Li, Chang Yu, Martha J. Shrubsole, Xiangzhu Zhu, Xinqing Deng, Eugene Shubin, Wei Zheng, Harvey J. Murff, Douglas L. Seidner, Reid M. Ness, Qi Dai. Necroptosis and apoptosis in human colorectal tissue [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2221.
The relationship between cell phone use, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in adults aged 18–80

Abstract Purpose To assess situational cell phone use (i.e., sitting, standing, or physically active) and the relationship between cell phone use, physical activity, and sedentary behavior in adults 18–80 years old. Methods An on-line survey was completed by adults (N = 423; n = 256 females, 40 ± 16 years old) which assessed situational and total cell phone use, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Results Mean cell phone use was 239 ± 224 min/day and 81% of respondents reported typically sitting when using the device. Linear regression found cell use was positively associated with sedentary behavior and the physical activity by sedentary behavior interaction term (i.e., assessment of the “active couch potato” phenomenon), negatively associated with age, and not related to physical activity or sex. ANCOVA revealed that high cell users participated in significantly more sedentary time (521 ± 23 min/d sitting) than low users (442 ± 17 min/d sitting) with no differences between high and moderate users (471 ± 21 min/d sitting) or between low and moderate users. Conclusion Cell phone use was positively associated with sedentary behavior and the physical activity by sedentary behavior interaction term but not physical activity. Implications are discussed in the context of behavioral economics.
Local demand shocks, excess comovement and return predictability

Abstract I investigate the importance of local demand shocks on excess comovements and return predictability for 4560 twin-pairs of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) from 15 country-pairs. The returns on ETFs traded in the same country comove excessively with one another. These comovements are stronger for funds with greater liquidity and more competitors in the local market. In contrast, comovements are not materially different among ETFs that are attractive to fundamental (factor) investors. A local measure of mispricing, based on price-deviations between ETFs and their foreign peers, strongly predicts ETF return reversals. Betting against local mispricing yields significant abnormal returns of up to 20 percent per year after trading costs.
Copyright and (Dis)harmonisation: Can Developing Nations Prioritise Their Own Public Good in a Global Copyright Hegemony?

Global harmonisation of intellectual property rights, especially those related to copyright, has made great strides in the last few decades. It is often touted as the best approach to global prosperity based on knowledge, its dissemination and its treatment as a quantifiable asset. Two approaches are often studied in scholastic examination of the subject of extending or constraining the growth of more rights over creations of the mind. The first being that harmonisation is good for overall public benefit, and the second that such harmonisation steamrolls over the best interests of smaller, less economically powerful, nations. This chapter argues that such small nations who have had very little say in the development of global intellectual property frameworks can carefully craft laws and exceptions, within the strictures defined by the global hegemony, to their own specific benefit.
Mechanisms of Action of Hematopoietic Transcription Factor PU.1 in Initiation of T-Cell Development

PU.1 is an ETS-family transcription factor that plays a broad range of roles in hematopoiesis. A direct regulator of myeloid, dendritic-cell, and B cell functional programs, and a well-known antagonist of terminal erythroid cell differentiation, it is also expressed in the earliest stages of T-cell development of each cohort of intrathymic pro-T cells. Its expression in this context appears to give T-cell precursors initial, transient access to myeloid and dendritic cell developmental competence and therefore to represent a source of antagonism or delay of T-cell lineage commitment. However, it has remained uncertain until recently why T-cell development is also intensely dependent upon PU.1. Here, we review recent work that sheds light on the molecular biology of PU.1 action across the genome in pro-T cells and identifies the genes that depend on PU.1 for their correct regulation. This work indicates modes of chromatin engagement, pioneering, and cofactor recruitment (“coregulator theft”) by PU.1 as well as gene network interactions that not only affect specific target genes but also have system-wide regulatory consequences, amplifying the impact of PU.1 beyond its own direct binding targets. The genes directly regulated by PU.1 also suggest a far-reaching transformation of cell biology and signaling potential between the early stages of T-cell development when PU.1 is expressed and when it is silenced. These cell-biological functions can be important to distinguish fetal from adult T-cell development and have the potential to illuminate aspects of thymic function that have so far remained the most mysterious.
Examining Predictors of Watching Television During Family Meals in a Diverse Sample

Abstract Objective To identify predictors associated with television (TV) watching during family meals. Methods Parents of racially and ethnically diverse 5- to 7-year-old children (n = 150) completed 8 days of ecological momentary assessment surveys. After each meal they shared with their child, parents answered meal-related questions (eg, who was present). Adjusted generalized estimating equations were used to estimate probabilities of watching TV during family meals for individual predictors. Results Number of adults present, location, outside influences (eg, planned meal, stress), and time to prepare the meal were independently predictive of TV watching during the meal (P Conclusion and Implications Results of the current study suggest that families may need assistance in addressing predictors (eg, stress) associated with watching TV during family meals, given prior research has shown watching TV during family meals is associated with negative dietary outcomes. Future research might investigate other factors that may also influence watching TV at family meals.
Carbonic Anhydrase and Sensory Function in the Central Nervous System

The carbonic anhydrase (CA) (EC 4.2.1.1.) isozymes catalyze the reversible hydration of CO2. CA activity is present in the central nervous system (CNS).1,10 In brain tissue, the high-activity isozyme, presence of CA II, and the membrane- bound isozyme, CA IV, has been demonstrated.4a,8,33
The paradox of relaxation training: Relaxation induced anxiety and mediation effects of negative contrast sensitivity in generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder.

Abstract Background The Contrast Avoidance Model postulates that individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) fear a sharp spike in negative emotion, and thus, prefer to worry to maintain their negative affect rather than being in a more euthymic state, such as relaxation. Relaxation induced anxiety (RIA) is a paradoxical phenomenon wherein people experience a spike in their anxiety during relaxation training. Because these phenomena may be related and may also operate among individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), we attempted to test whether negative contrast sensitivity was a mediator of GAD or MDD in the prediction of RIA. Methods Individuals with GAD (n = 32), MDD (n = 34), and healthy controls (n = 30) were exposed to a negative emotional contrast by engaging with relaxation practice and then watching a negative emotional video. This was followed by the assessment of their negative contrast sensitivity. After this, participants engaged again with relaxation and RIA was measured. We examined mediation effects of negative contrast on the relationship between diagnostic status and RIA. Results Negative contrast sensitivity fully mediated GAD and partially mediated MDD in predicting RIA. Conclusions Our findings support the hypotheses that negative contrast sensitivity is the mediator of both GAD and MDD in predicting RIA. This may have implications for assessment and treatment of GAD and MDD.
Comparison of Automated CT Perfusion Softwares in Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Abstract Background and Purpose: Automated imaging software is integral to decision-making in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) during extended time windows. RAPID software is the most widely used and has been validated in landmark endovascular trials. Olea software is another commercially available and FDA-approved software, but has not been studied in AIS trials. We aimed to compare the diagnostic utility and accuracy of RAPID and Olea in everyday clinical practice outside of a clinical trial. Methods: We analyzed prospectively-collected data from a consecutive cohort of 141 patients with suspected AIS who underwent computed tomography perfusion upon presentation followed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI-MRI) within 24-48 hours. Core infarct was defined as the region with a relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) less than 30% on RAPID and rCBF less than 40% on Olea (default settings). We also evaluated rCBF less than 30% on Olea to match RAPID's default setting. Infarct volume on DWI-MRI was measured using a semiautomated segmentation method. Results: Twenty-one patients were excluded; 14 due to poor bolus tracking and/or motion artifact, and 7 due to software failure. The software failure rate was 4.7% [6/127] with RAPID versus .78% [1/127] with Olea (P = .12). For the remaining 120 patients, the sensitivity and specificity for detecting an acute infarct were 40.5% and 97.6% for RAPID; 50.6% and 85.4% for Olea; and for detecting large infarcts (≥70 mL on DWI-MRI) 73.7% and 81.2% for RAPID; 73.7% and 68.3% for Olea. Core infarct volume on RAPID was more closely correlated with DWI-MRI infarct volume (rho = .64) than Olea (rho = .42). Conclusions: Our head-to-head comparison of these 2 commonly-used softwares in the clinical setting elucidates the pros and cons of their use to guide decision-making for AIS management in the acute setting.
Increased lipogenesis and impaired β-oxidation predict type 2 diabetic kidney disease progression in American Indians

BACKGROUNDIn this study, we identified the lipidomic predictors of early type 2 diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression, which are currently undefined.METHODSThis longitudinal study included 92 American Indians with type 2 diabetes. Serum lipids (406 from 18 classes) were quantified using mass spectrometry from baseline samples when iothalamate-based glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was at least 90 mL/min. Affymetrix GeneChip Array was used to measure renal transcript expression. DKD progression was defined as at least 40% decline in GFR during follow-up.RESULTSParticipants had a mean age of 45 ± 9 years and median urine albumin/creatinine ratio of 43 (interquartile range 11-144). The 32 progressors had significantly higher relative abundance of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols (TAGs) and a lower abundance of C16-C20 acylcarnitines (ACs) (P < 0.001). In a Cox regression model, the main effect terms of unsaturated free fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamines and the interaction terms of C16-C20 ACs and short-low-double-bond TAGs by categories of albuminuria independently predicted DKD progression. Renal expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-encoding gene (ACACA) correlated with serum diacylglycerols in the glomerular compartment (r = 0.36, and P = 0.006) and with low-double-bond TAGs in the tubulointerstitial compartment (r = 0.52, and P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONCollectively, the findings reveal a previously unrecognized link between lipid markers of impaired mitochondrial β-oxidation and enhanced lipogenesis and DKD progression in individuals with preserved GFR. Renal acetyl-CoA carboxylase activation accompanies these lipidomic changes and suggests that it may be the underlying mechanism linking lipid abnormalities to DKD progression.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00340678.FUNDINGNIH R24DK082841, K08DK106523, R03DK121941, P30DK089503, P30DK081943, and P30DK020572.
Evaluation of a Collaborative Advance Care Planning Intervention among Older Adult Home Health Patients and Their Caregivers

Background: Caregivers are decision stakeholders; yet, few interventions have been developed to help patients and caregivers collaborate on advance care planning (ACP). Objective: To evaluate a the...
The Clinical Utility of Imaging Methods Used to Measure Hypoxia in Cervical Cancer

While it is well-established that hypoxia is a major factor that affects clinical outcomes in cervical cancer, widespread usage of clinically available methods to detect and evaluate hypoxia during the course of treatment have not been established. This review compares these methods, summarizes their strengths and weaknesses, and assesses the pathways for their useful employment to alter clinical practice. We conducted a search on PubMed for literature pertaining to imaging hypoxic cervical cancer, and implemented keywords related to oxygen measurement tools to improve the relevance of the search results.Oxygenation level-dependent applications of MRI have demonstrated hypoxia-induced radioresistance, and changes in cervix tumor oxygenation from hyperoxic therapy.The hypoxic areas within tumors can be indirectly identified in dynamic contrast-enhanced images, where they generally display low signal enhancement, and diffusion-weighted images, which demonstrates areas of restricted diffusion (which correlates with hypoxia). Positron emmision tomography, used independently and with other imaging modalities, has demonstrated utility in imaging hypoxia through tracers specific for low oxygen levels, like Cu-ATSM tracers and nitroimidazoles. Detecting hypoxia in the tumors of patients diagnosed with cervical cancer via medical imaging and non-imaging tools like electron paramagnetic resonance oximetry can be utilized clinically, such as for guiding radiation and post-treatment surveillance, for a more personalized approach to treatment. The merits of these methods warrant further investigation via comparative effectiveness research and large clinical trials into their clinical applications.
The Meaning of Masks

Many incentives are monetary, and when private or public institutions seek to change behavior, it is natural to change monetary incentives. But many other incentives are a product of social meanings, about which people may not much deliberate, but which can operate as subsidies or as taxes. In some times and places, for example the social meaning of smoking has been positive, increasing the incentive to smoke; in other times and places, it has been negative, and thus served to reduce smoking. With respect to safety and health, social meanings change radically over time, and they can be dramatically different in one place from what they are in another. Often people live in accordance with meanings that they deplore, or at least wish were otherwise. But it is exceptionally difficult for individuals to alter meanings on their own. Alteration of meanings can come from law, which may, through a mandate, transform the meaning of action into a bland, “I comply with law,” or into a less bland, “I am a good citizen.” Alteration of social meanings can also come from large-scale private action, engineered or promoted by “meaning entrepreneurs,” who can turn the meaning of action from, “I am an oddball,” to, “I do my civic duty,” or, “I protect others from harm.” Sometimes subgroups rebel against new or altered meanings, produced by law or meaning entrepreneurs, but often those meanings stick and produce significant change.
Prenatal Pesticide Exposure and Child Health

This chapter presents evidence of the associations between prenatal pesticide exposure and adverse effects on child health and development. Contemporary studies of prenatal pesticide exposure and neurodevelopment, obesity, preterm birth/fetal growth, congenital abnormalities, and childhood cancers are reviewed here. The strongest evidence presented here comes from studies where biomarkers of exposure were used to assess exposure at multiple time points. Many of the studies discussed within this chapter are limited by nonspecific exposure assessments and cross-sectional study designs that do not account for temporal variability in pesticide exposure or identify sensitive windows of susceptibility during gestation. Longitudinal studies that measure exposure at multiple potentially sensitive time points and exposure to multiple pesticides simultaneously are needed before any conclusions regarding causation can be drawn. Still, given the nearly ubiquitous exposure to pesticides among the general population, the vulnerability of fetuses, and the potential for long-term effects on health and development, efforts to reduce pesticide exposure as a precaution among pregnant women are warranted.