cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mediating effect of rumination between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and anger reactions.

Objective The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anger is well established. However, further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of this PTSD-anger relationship is needed. Rumination, a construct with a known association to PTSD symptoms, theoretically may mediate this PTSD-anger relationship. Design We conducted a mediational model using self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, rumination, and anger reactions from a nonclinical, trauma-exposed sample (N = 339) through Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Results Rumination mediated overall PTSD symptoms and anger reactions, controlling for age and gender identity. Further analyses examined this mediating role between PTSD subscale scores and anger. Rumination mediated all PTSD subscales and anger when modeled separately. After adjusting for other PTSD symptoms, only 2 subscales' relationship with anger remained mediated by rumination: negative alterations in cognitions/mood and physiological arousal. Conclusions Rumination should be assessed in the context of PTSD and anger symptoms, specifically physiological arousal and negative moods/cognitions symptoms in PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Transport and hydrodynamics in the chiral limit

We analyze the evolution of hydrodynamic fluctuations for QCD matter below Tc in the chiral limit, where the pions (the Goldstone modes) must be treated as additional non-Abelian superfluid degrees of freedom, reflecting the broken SUL(2)×SUR(2) symmetry of the theory. In the presence of a finite pion mass mπ, the hydrodynamic theory is ordinary hydrodynamics at long distances, and superfluidlike at short distances. The presence of the superfluid degrees of freedom then gives specific contributions to the bulk viscosity, the shear viscosity, and diffusion coefficients of the ordinary theory at long distances which we compute. This determines, in some cases, the leading dependence of the transport parameters of QCD on the pion mass. We analyze the predictions of this computation, as the system approaches the O(4) critical point.
The newborn of pregnant women combined asthma

Asthma is a common disease in reproductive age women, with a prevalence of 4%~8%.Pregnant women combined asthma and the newborn are affected by lots of harmful influence from asthma.This article mainly elaborated the effects of pregnancy combined asthma for newborns and described the corresponding treatment measures. Key words: Pregnancy; Asthma; Newborn,
Self-Assembled Nanomaterials for Chronic Skin Wound Healing

Significance: Chronic wounds are one of the major burdens of the U.S. health care system with an annual cost of $31.7 billion and affecting an estimated 2.4–4.5 million people. Several underlying m...
How different the scoliotic curves are

The pathomechanism of spinal deformity development in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) has been related to the sagittal curvature of the spine. It is not known how the variations in the sagittal profile relates to the coronal deformity patterns in AIS. A total of 70 Lenke 1 and 50 Lenke 5 AIS patients were included retrospectively. A finite element (FE) model was developed for each spine where the sagittal spinal curvatures were modeled as 2D S shaped elastic rods. Transverse plane deformation patterns of these rods under physiological loading were determined and clustered based on their similarities. The patients' characteristics, including the Lenke type, and the spinal measurements in these deformation pattern clusters were statistically compared. Three different axial deformation patterns were determined from the FE simulations of the 120 sagittal curves. Two axial groups were looped shaped in opposing directions (Group I and III) and one was lemniscate shaped (Group II). 94% of the patients in Groups I and II were Lenke 1 and 100% of Group III was Lenke 5. The position of the sagittal inflection point moved downward from Group I-III resulting in significantly different ratio of the arc lengths above and below the sagittal inflection points for Groups I, II and III (0.49±0.59, 1.15±0.44, and 3.22±1.8). A classification of idiopathic scoliosis, based on the biomechanics of S-shaped flexible rods deformation could distinguish between different coronal curve types. The geometrical parameters of the sagittal profiles in the axial deformation pattern groups were significantly different.
Improved Extractors for Small-Space Sources

We study the problem of extracting random bits from weak sources that are sampled by algorithms with limited memory. This model of small-space sources was introduced by Kamp, Rao, Vadhan and Zuckerman (STOC'06), and falls into a line of research initiated by Trevisan and Vadhan (FOCS'00) on extracting randomness from weak sources that are sampled by computationally bounded algorithms. Our main results are the following. 1. We obtain near-optimal extractors for small-space sources in the polynomial error regime. For space $s$ sources over $n$ bits, our extractors require just $k\geq s\cdot$polylog$(n)$ entropy. This is an exponential improvement over the previous best result, which required $k\geq s^{1.1}\cdot2^{\log^{0.51} n}$ (Chattopadhyay and Li, STOC'16). 2. We obtain improved extractors for small-space sources in the negligible error regime. For space $s$ sources over $n$ bits, our extractors require entropy $k\geq n^{1/2+\delta}\cdot s^{1/2-\delta}$, whereas the previous best result required $k\geq n^{2/3+\delta}\cdot s^{1/3-\delta}$ (Chattopadhyay, Goodman, Goyal and Li, STOC'20). To obtain our first result, the key ingredient is a new reduction from small-space sources to affine sources, allowing us to simply apply a good affine extractor. To obtain our second result, we must develop some new machinery, since we do not have low-error affine extractors that work for low entropy. Our main tool is a significantly improved extractor for adversarial sources, which is built via a simple framework that makes novel use of a certain kind of leakage-resilient extractors (known as cylinder intersection extractors), by combining them with a general type of extremal designs. Our key ingredient is the first derandomization of these designs, which we obtain using new connections to coding theory and additive combinatorics.
Partisan Control of U.S. State Governments: Politics as a Social Determinant of Infant Health.

Introduction State policies and programs affect population health; yet, little is known about the connections between health and the political institutions and actors that prescribe and execute those policies and programs. Methods The 2-way fixed-effects regression models were fitted to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 1969–2014, to estimate logged infant mortality rate differentials between Republican- and non-Republican‒controlled state legislatures. These data were used in 2020 to hypothesize that net of trend, fluctuations in infant mortality rates—overall and by race—correlate with the party that controls state legislatures (the Lower House, the Upper House, and Congress). Results Findings show that state infant and postneonatal mortality rates are substantively higher under Republican-controlled state legislatures than under non-Republican‒controlled ones. The effect size is larger for postneonatal than for neonatal mortality. Findings suggest that effects may be greater for Black than for White infants, although the race-specific results are estimated imprecisely. The governor's party shows no substantive impacts on infant mortality rates net of party control of the Lower House. Conclusions Findings support the proposition that the social determinants of health are constructed, at least in part, by the power vested in governments.
Chapter 7 Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Mouse Embryonic Cells: Detection and Characterization of Embryonic Antigens

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some of the antigenic systems (both alloantigens and embryo-specific antigens) expressed on embryonic mouse cell surfaces that may be capable of stimulating cell-mediated immunity and functionally involved in embryogenesis. It presents recent studies that utilize the cell-mediated immune system to recognize and characterize antigens of early embryonic mouse development. Embryonic antigens capable of stimulating cell-mediated or humoral immune responses can be divided into three categories—namely, (1) alloantigens on the embryo derived from the paternal genotype and genetically foreign to the mother, (2) embryo-specific antigens representing stage-specific or tissue-specific markers of embryonic cells, which may or may not be independent of the embryo's genotype, and (3) other antigens expressed on embryonic cells. Many authors have suggested that the cell surface macromolecules of embryonic cells play a major role in the differentiation of the embryo. Numerous cell surface specificities characteristic of embryonic cells have been described. In most cases, these macromolecules are identified as antigens by their ability to stimulate an antibody response in syngeneic or xenogeneic adults.
Enzyme induction in nutritional mutants in presence of 5-amino-2, 4-bis(substituted-amino)pyrimidines.

Enzyme induction was determined by measuring the formation of f3-galactosidase in E. coli. Unless otherwise stated, the materials and methods were the same as given previously (Kunkee, 1960a). Nutritional mutants of E. coli. We are grateful to Professor A. B. Pardee, University of California (Berkeley), for providing the pyrimidinerequiring mutant (6386) of E. coli (isolated by Professor B. D. Davis), and to Professor S. E. Luria, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for the thymine-requiring mutant (15T-) E. coli (isolated by Professor J. S. Gots). The tryptophanand leucine-requiring mutants of E. coli (designated A44 and A46, respectively) were provided by Dr. Dewey H. Smith and Mrs. Sonia S. Sloan of this department. These mutants were prepared by ultraviolet irradiation and isolated using the penicillin techniquie of Adelberg and Myers (1953). All cultures were maintained on nutrient agar slants. When strain 15Twas used, inoculations of subcultures were made from colonies picked from streaked niitrient agar plates. For experiments with nutritional mutants, 100 ml of salts medium with glycerol and the required nutrient2 were inoculated with sufficient
Control of the postirradiation hemorrhagic state by platelet transfusions.

Suspensions of concentrated, homologous blood platelets when introduced intravenously into lymph-cannulated dogs and rats (nine to twelve days after exposure to an LD50 or greater dose of x-rays) have been shown to eliminate the large scale diversion of erythrocytes into the lymph during the hemorrhagic phase of radiation injury. By means of injection of platelets preinjection levels of below 50,000 were raised to an average of 107,000 in 6 dogs, and to an average of 310,000 in five rats at 15 to 30 minutes after injection. All platelet-injected animals showed clearing of the bloody lymph within the first hour after injection, and within 5 to 6 hours the average erythrocyte count in the dogs dropped from an average of 270,000 to an average of 12,000 and in the rats from an average of 900,000 to an average of 30,000. No depression of lymph erythrocyte counts was found in control rats receiving plasma only. Lymph erythrocyte counts in the platelet recipients remained low for 24 to 36 hours after injection; bleeding into the lymph space reappeared in both rats and dogs when the platelet level dropped below approximately 50,000. Blood platelet and lymph erythrocyte levels are excellent indices to quantitate the severity of the hemorrhagic phase of radiation injury and to gauge the results of therapeutic procedures. While the mechanism of platelet action remains to be demonstrated, the present studies support the thesis of earlier workers that platelets are essential to maintain vascular integrity and that a platelet deficiency is the main cause of the postirradiation hemorrhagic state.
Fire Development and Fatality Analysis of the 19 April, 1993 Fire at the Branch Davidian Mt. Carmel Center, Waco, Texas

On 19 April, 1993, fire broke out and spread rapidly through the Mt. Carmel Center of the "Branch Davidians", located near Waco, Texas. Seventy-six occupants of the structure perished in the resulting inferno. In sharp contrast to most large fires, a substantial amount of information is available regarding the origin and spread of this fire. This information clearly establishes multiple origins and documents rapid fire spread through the structure. Analysis of fatality records shows that fire related factors accounted for 80% of reported causes of death. Factors identified as contributing to the high casualty rate include multiple fire origins, rapidly spreading fires, structural collapse of critical egress points, the clustering of women and children in a perceived area of refuge (a fortified "bunker"), and the use of chemical agents in this area.
Characterization and localization of a peripheral neural 5- hydroxytryptamine receptor subtype (5-HT1P) with a selective agonist, 3H-5-hydroxyindalpine

Peripheral neural 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptors are different from both classes 5-HT1 and 5-HT2, which have been described from studies of 5-HT receptors in the brain. Recently, it has been shown that, as in the CNS, there is more than a single type of neural receptor for 5-HT in the enteric nervous system. One of these, called 5- HT1P, has a high affinity for 3H-5-HT, initiates a long-lasting depolarization of enteric neurons associated with an increase in membrane resistance, and is the physiological receptor through which enteric serotoninergic neurons mediate slow EPSPs. The other receptor, called 5-HT3 (5-HT2P), does not bind 3H-5-HT with high affinity, and initiates a brief depolarization of enteric neurons with decreased input resistance, but a physiological action of 5-HT mediated by these receptors has not yet been identified. Hydroxylated indalpines have been found to be agonists at 5-HT1P receptors. We have now examined 5- HT1P receptors using 5-hydroxyindalpine (5-OHIP) as a probe. The action of 5-OHIP on enteric neurons was determined electrophysiologically and compared with that of 5-HT; the binding of 3H-5-OHIP to isolated enteric membranes was studied by rapid filtration, and to frozen sections of tissue by radioautography. 3H-5-OHIP binding was compared with that of 3H-5-HT. 5-OHIP, like 5-HT, induced a triphasic response in most enteric neurons: an initial short-lived depolarization, during which input resistance fell, followed by recovery, and then a long- lasting depolarization, during which the input resistance increased. 5- OHIP bound saturably, reversibly, and with high affinity to enteric membranes (Kd = 7.6 +/- 0.7 nM; Bmax = 76 +/- 14 fmol/mg protein). Binding of 3H-5-OHIP was not inhibited by agents that bind to alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors, nicotinic or muscarinic receptors, histamine H1 or H2 receptors, or 5-HT1(A,B,C, or D), 5-HT2, or 5-HT3 receptors, but was displaced by substances, such as hydroxylated indoles and a dipeptide of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP-DP), that antagonize the binding of 3H-5- HT to enteric membranes or tissue sections. It is concluded that 5-OHIP is an agonist at peripheral neural 5-HT1P receptors and can be used to label these receptors selectively outside the brain. Radioautographs demonstrated enteric 5-HT1P receptors in the lamina propria of the intestinal mucosa and in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses. Extraenteric 5-HT1P receptors were also found in the skin and heart. It is suggested that 5-HT1P receptors may be found on subtypes of primary afferent nerve fibers.
Handbook of Black American Health: The Mosaic of Conditions, Issues, Policies, and Prospects

Handbook of Black American Health: The Mosaic of Conditions, Issues, Policies, and Prospects. Ivor Lensworth Livingston, ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1994 (cloth). xxxv + 453 pp.
40INIMMUNOTHERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER

ABSTRACT Sipuleucel-T is a cell based therapy for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) that was approved by the U.S. FDA in 2010. Data from randomized Phase III trials of this agent, as well as Phase II data from second active immunotherapy for prostate cancer (ProstVac VF) provide strong evidence that prostate cancer may be sensitive to immune pressure, although objective responses (OR's) are quite rare. An alternative approach to immunotherapy focuses on a series of molecules known as immune checkpoints, which are expressed on the cell surface of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in multiple tumor types. Blocking immune checkpoint molecules with monoclonal antibodies can promote T cell activation and lead to OR's in patients with melanoma, kidney cancer and NSCLC. Immune checkpoint blockade has been less effective in prostate cancer, with a recent randomized Phase III study, anti-CTLA-4 failing to meet its primary (OS) endpoint. The reasons for this are not well-understood, but may involve a differential sensitivity of visceral versus non-visceral metastases to immunotherapy. Ongoing studies in our laboratory are centered around a more precise understanding of the molecular phenotype of the T cells that infiltrate high-grade tumors, based on the hypothesis that checkpoint molecules involved in attenuating an ant-tumor immune response in prostate cancer might be different than those involved in other tumor types. Disclosure: C. Drake: Paid consultant: Bristol Myers Squibb, Compugen, Dendreon, ImmunExcite, Janssen, Pfizer, Roche-Genentech, Sanofi Aventis. SAB: Compugen.
Enhancement of Neutrophil Chemotaxis and Alteration of Levels of Cellular Cyclic Nudeotides by Levamisole

Levamisole, an antihelminthic agent reported to enhance nonspecifically various parameters of the immune response, was examined for its effect on chemotaxis of human neutrophils and on levels of cellular cyclic nucleotides. This agent was found, in most instances, to enhance chemotactic responses of neutrophils to a bacterial chemotactic factor derived from Escherichia coli. At similar concentrations, levamisole produced increases in levels of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic phosphate in neutrophils. In contrast, a decrease in concentrations of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic phosphate was observed when neutrophils were incubated with levamisole. Neutrophil chemotaxis, with and without the addition of levamisole, was assessed in 10 patients with recurrent infections. The illnesses of these patients included Job's syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, eczema with an increased level of IgE and recurrent abscesses, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, and diabetes mellitus. Levamisole significantly enhanced chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes from these patients. Levamisole appears to have a profound effect on chemotactic responses of neutrophils which probably results from alterations in cellular cyclic nucleotide levels. Levamisole may prove to be useful therapeutically in certain patients with defective neutrophil chemotaxis.
Chemistry of thienopyridines. XXXVI: Further studies on nitration in the thieno[2,3-b]- and thieno[3,2-b]pyridine systems

Three compounds, thieno[3,2-b]pyridine 4-oxide, 7-nitrothieno[3,2-b]pyridine 4-oxide (1c), and 6-cyano-thieno[2,3-b]pyridine, undergo nitration by means of a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids to yield 3,7-dinitro-thieno[3,2-b]pyridine (3%), 3,7-dinitrothieno[3,2-b]pyridine 4-oxide (1d) (26%), and 6-carbamoyl-5-nitrothieno[2,3-b]pyridine (6b) (11%), respectively. Structures of the products were ascertained by spectral means, notably infrared, 1H nmr, and 13C nmr. It is proposed that 1d exists (at least in part) as a tricyclic structure and that 6b may result from an intramolecular mechanism of nitration. An attempt to de-N-oxygenate 1c with excess triphenylphosphine removes more than one oxygen atom per molecule (as triphenylphosphine oxide) without producing an identified thienopyridine product.
Al coordination in sol–gel and conventional calcium aluminate glasses

Abstract We present the results of a study in which we compared one aspect of structure for a conventionally prepared glass and sol–gel material in the calcium aluminate (CA) family, of composition 50CaO · 50Al 2 O 3 (wt%). The work was directed towards a comparison of the aluminum coordination in the two materials, which was determined via 27 Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy. Also, infra red (IR) spectroscopy was utilized to compare the hydroxyl content and the structural features of the materials. The Al coordination was examined in gels which were subjected to various heat treatments, some of which produced partial or nearly complete crystallization. We observed, as found previously by others, that in the conventionally prepared glass all the Al atoms are tetrahedrally (4-fold) coordinated. On the other hand, in all the sol–gel materials, regardless of heat treatment schedule, a fraction of the Al is found to be in octahedral (6-fold) coordination. We found that, as the hydroxyl content of the gel increases, the ratio of 6-fold to 4-fold Al increased. Hence, the presence of octahedral coordination in the gel is largely, and most likely totally, due to the water content of this material.
Optimal power management of an electric bicycle based on terrain preview and considering human fatigue dynamics

This paper proposes an optimal control approach to power management and pacing in an electric bicycle ride with the objective of minimizing travel time. We assume prior knowledge of upcoming terrain. Furthermore human pedaling force constraints are estimated by using a phenomenological fatigue dynamics model. Using upcoming terrain information, estimated rider's state of fatigue (SOF), measured velocity, cadence, and state of charge (SOC) of the battery, the optimal solution to the problem is obtained via a three-state dynamic programming (DP) approach. The proposed solution guides the rider by suggesting an optimal reference velocity and also optimally adjusts the electric-human power split. The optimal solution is compared to aggressive and conservative rule-based strategies that we have devised. Simulation results show that travel time can be significantly reduced with the optimal control approach.
Asymmetric Cells and Rotating Rings in Cellular Flames

Theoretical analysis and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the universal characteristics of parity-breaking bifurcations for pattern-forming systems in a circular domain. Ordered patterns of concentric rings of cells which form in a premixed flame on a circular burner at low pressure are used to demonstrate these ideas. Cells belonging to stationary rings are symmetric, while those of rotating rings are not. The important characteristics of the experimental results are reproduced in a theoretical model which can be numerically integrated in polar coordinates. Normal form equations for the Fourier–Bessel coefficients of this model lead to parity breaking.
SO2 deactivation in NO reduction by NH3: IV. Auger studies of deactivated catalysts in selective NO reduction

Abstract Deactivation of supported metal catalysts by SO2 in the selective reduction of NO by NH3 was studied in a differential, packed-bed flow reactor as a function of the gas-phase O2 concentration, and foils of the same metal as the catalyst were placed in the reactor with the catalyst. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) was used to analyze the metal foils subsequent to reaction. With no SO2 in the feed gas, the rate of NO reduction over Pt Al 2 O 3 , Ru Al 2 O 3 , and Ni A1 2 O 3 was enhanced by the presence of 0.5 mole% O2, whereas that for Pd Al 2 O 3 was reduced. AES studies confirm that the deactivation of Pd in the sulfur-free system is due to oxidation of the metal. Although SO2 severely poisons the catalytic activity in the NONH3SO2 system, addition of 0.5 mole% O2 to the feed gas largely restores the activity of all catalysts. This elimination of severe SO2 deactivation correlates well with the incorporation of oxygen to high concentrations into the subsurface layers of the metal; oxygen appears to counteract the presence of sulfur incorporation. Only metal oxides and metal sulfides were formed; there was no evidence of sulfate formation.
Comparing In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of 2′-O-[2-(Methylamino)-2-oxoethyl]- and 2′-O-Methoxyethyl-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides

A number of 2'- O-modified antisense oligonucleotides have been reported for their potential use in oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. To date, most of the in vivo data has been generated for 2'-O-MOE (2'-O-methoxyethyl)- and 2'-O-Me (2'-O-methyl)-modified ASOs (antisense oligonucleotides). We now report the synthesis and biological activity of another 2'-O-modification, namely 2'-O-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl] (2'-O-NMA). This modification resulted in an increase in the affinity of antisense oligonucleotides to complementary RNA similar to 2'-O-MOE-modified ASOs as compared to first-generation antisense oligodeoxynucleotides. The ASO modified with 2'-O-NMA reduced expression of PTEN mRNA in vitro and in vivo in a dose-dependent manner similar to 2'-O-MOE modified ASO. Importantly, toxicity parameters such as AST, ALT, organ weights, and body weights were found to be normal similar to 2'-O-MOE ASO-treated animal models. The data generated in these experiments suggest that 2'-O-NMA is a useful modification for potential application in both antisense and other oligonucleotide-based drug discovery efforts.
The Multinational Firm in the North American Economy

(1973). The Multinational Firm in the North American Economy. American Review of Canadian Studies: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 107-114.
Should software testers use mutation analysis to augment a test set

Mutation testing has historically been used to assess the fault-finding effectiveness of a test suite or other verification technique. Mutation analysis, rather, entails augmenting a test suite to detect all killable mutants. Concerns about the time efficiency of mutation analysis may prohibit its widespread, practical use. The goal of our research is to assess the effectiveness of the mutation analysis process when used by software testers to augment a test suite to obtain higher statement coverage scores. We conducted two empirical studies and have shown that mutation analysis can be used by software testers to effectively produce new test cases and to improve statement coverage scores in a feasible amount of time. Additionally, we find that our user study participants view mutation analysis as an effective but relatively expensive technique for writing new test cases. Finally, we have shown that the choice of mutation tool and operator set can play an important role in determining how efficient mutation analysis is for producing new test cases.
Nonspecific cytotoxic cells and innate immunity: regulation by programmed cell death.

Although programmed cell death (PCD) and the cellular pathology of apoptosis have been extensively studied in mammals and invertebrates, little is known regarding these important regulatory processes in cold blooded vertebrates, especially teleost fish. In the present review, select immunoregulatory properties of PCD/apoptosis in nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from catfish and tilapia were identified. The techniques used to define the characteristics of PCD in NCC were DNA ploidy, Annexin-V binding and cellular morphology. Using these procedures, we determined that the biochemical/genetic changes that NCC undergo during PCD are similar to those described in mammalian cells. We hypothesize that one immediate response of NCC to acute stress in teleost fish is the release of apoptosis regulatory factors (ARF) or stress activated serum factors (SASF) into the peripheral blood. These cytokine-like factors activate NCC by protecting them from initiation of: "activation induced cell death" (AICD); from "receptor induced apoptosis"; and from initiation of dexamethasone induced DNA hypoploidy. We predict that the mechanism of these actions is enhanced NCC recycling capacity and initiation of migration of NCC into sites of inflammation. In this review, studies were also summarized regarding the expression and release of "death and survival proteins" by NCC. Although the survey was not exhaustive, we showed that tilapia NCC that were activated in vitro with SASF contained increased levels of two adaptor proteins (i.e. CAS, FADD) and soluble FasL. At present the relevance of expression of the adaptor proteins by NCC is not known, however, additional evidence for the role of FasL in NCC innate immune responses was presented. Interestingly, NCC contained constitutive cytosolic FasL, and activation with tumor cells caused a significant decrease in the cytoplasmic levels of this "death protein". This indicated that FasL in NCC may function as a secretory cytokine-like molecule. Unlike mammalian NK cells and T-cells, activated NCC do not express membrane FasL. A level of phosphatase regulation of NCC apoptosis was indicated by demonstrating a reduced camptothecin induce DNA hypoploidy by pretreatment of NCC with the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor sodium orthovanadate. This review emphasized the important regulatory functions of PCD/apoptosis for NCC in innate immune responses.
Abdominal Color of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (Hemiptera: Liviidae) is Associated with Flight Capabilities

ABSTRACT We examined the propensity for flight initiation and flight capability of the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, Hemiptera: Liviidae) with a flight mill. We measured continuous flight by D. citri for up to 3 h, which equated to a distance of ≈2.4 km. We compared the flight capability of D. citri depending on their sex and morphotype (color of abdomen). Two general morphotypes exist within this species: green-blue and gray-brown. We observed that ≈32% of psyllids from the green-blue morphotype tested exhibited long durations of flight (>60 s); whereas <5% of psyllids from the gray-brown morphotype performed such long duration flights. There was no significant difference in flight performance between the two sexes within both the gray—brown and green—blue morphotypes. Furthermore, psyllids from the gray—brown morphotype were characterized by smaller pronotums and shorter wings than psyllids from the green—blue morphotype. In addition, males, in general, were characterized by smaller p...
Modal decoupling insensitivity

This note deals with the design of an output feedback control system such that selected closed-loop eigenvalues are insensitive, while the corresponding eigenvectors preserve a prescribed decoupling under parameter variation. This results in restricting specified elements of an eigenvector to be insensitive, rather than the entire eigenvector. This requirement is henceforth referred to as modal decoupling insensitivity. Sufficient conditions for modal decoupling insensitivity are derived. These conditions offer the advantage of increased flexibility in eigenvector assignment, but the constraint on the feedback matrix is more restrictive. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the design procedure.
Management of craniosynostosis at an advanced age: Clinical findings and interdisciplinary treatment in a 17 year-old with pan-suture synostosis

Abstract Craniosynostosis is the premature fusion of cranial sutures, occurring at a rate of approximately 1 in 2000 live births; it is usually diagnosed and treated within the first year-of-life. Some diagnoses are delayed and only detected later in childhood or adolescence when symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) arise such as headaches and vision changes. We present a case of occult craniosynostosis in which a relatively normocephalic 17-year-old male presented with debilitating headaches, optic nerve edema, and developmental delay consistent with probable ICP elevation. CT scan demonstrated pan-suture craniosynostosis. Invasive monitoring confirmed increased ICP for which he underwent cranial remodeling and expansion. While the functional benefits of cranial remodeling are still vigorously debated, this patient’s headaches resolved postoperatively. Clinicians should be cognizant of cases of occult craniosynostosis, obtain the appropriate preoperative evaluations, and recognize the utility of cranial remodeling in appropriately selected patients.
Finite Element Analysis of Solidification in Rapid Freeze Prototyping

Rapid freeze prototyping (RFP) can generate three-dimensional ice patterns from computer-aided design (CAD) models by depositing and solidifying water droplets layer by layer. One important issue of the RFP process is how to fabricate the ice pattern to desired accuracy in an acceptable short time. The waiting time between two successive layers is a critical factor. A waiting time that is too short will lead to unacceptable part accuracy, while a waiting time that is too long will lead to an excessive build time. Finite element analysis is employed in this study to predict the solidification time of a newly deposited water layer and to develop a better understanding of heat transfer during the RFP process. ANSYS Parametric Development Language (APDL) is utilized to develop software for the prediction of solidification time. The result is used to investigate the effect of various process parameters on the solidification time of an ice column and a vertical ice wall. These parameters include environment temperature, heat convection coefficient, initial water droplet temperature, layer thickness, and waiting time between two successive layers. Experiments are conducted and the measured results are shown to agree well with simulation results.
Making a memorable event: Effects of familiarity and organization on young children's recall of action sequences

Recent research has focused on whether or not young children encode order information in their earliest representations of events. Elicited imitation was used to examine 17.5- to 23.0-month-old subjects' immediate and delayed recall (6-week delay) of event sequences characterized by different levels of familiarity and different types of relations among items. Ordered recall at both immediate and delayed testing was superior for familiar sequences and for novel sequences characterized by causal or enabling relations among items; ordered recall of novel sequences characterized by arbitrary relations among items was significantly lower. The data are consistent with the argument that children encode order information in their earliest representations of events and that the use of temporal information in recall is a function of the type of relations among items in a sequence.
Postoperative pain and quality of recovery.

Purpose of reviewQuality of recovery is recognized as a valid and important outcomes measurement in clinical care and research. The increasing interest in evaluating quality of recovery reflects the overall increased interest in patient-focused assessments. Assessment of quality of recovery incorpor
Accuracy of Haplotype Frequency Estimation for Biallelic Loci, via the Expectation-Maximization Algorithm for Unphased Diploid Genotype Data

Haplotype analyses have become increasingly common in genetic studies of human disease because of their ability to identify unique chromosomal segments likely to harbor disease-predisposing genes. The study of haplotypes is also used to investigate many population processes, such as migration and immigration rates, linkage-disequilibrium strength, and the relatedness of populations. Unfortunately, many haplotype-analysis methods require phase information that can be difficult to obtain from samples of nonhaploid species. There are, however, strategies for estimating haplotype frequencies from unphased diploid genotype data collected on a sample of individuals that make use of the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to overcome the missing phase information. The accuracy of such strategies, compared with other phase-determination methods, must be assessed before their use can be advocated. In this study, we consider and explore sources of error between EM-derived haplotype frequency estimates and their population parameters, noting that much of this error is due to sampling error, which is inherent in all studies, even when phase can be determined. In light of this, we focus on the additional error between haplotype frequencies within a sample data set and EM-derived haplotype frequency estimates incurred by the estimation procedure. We assess the accuracy of haplotype frequency estimation as a function of a number of factors, including sample size, number of loci studied, allele frequencies, and locus-specific allelic departures from Hardy-Weinberg and linkage equilibrium. We point out the relative impacts of sampling error and estimation error, calling attention to the pronounced accuracy of EM estimates once sampling error has been accounted for. We also suggest that many factors that may influence accuracy can be assessed empirically within a data set—a fact that can be used to create “diagnostics” that a user can turn to for assessing potential inaccuracies in estimation.
Optical generation of narrow-band terahertz packets in periodically inverted electro-optic crystals: conversion efficiency and optimal laser pulse format.

We explore optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiencies which can be achieved with femto- and picosecond optical pulses in electro-optic crystals with periodically inverted sign of second-order susceptibility. Optimal crystal lengths, pulse durations, pulse formats and focusing are regarded. We show that for sufficiently short (femtosecond) optical pulses, with a pulsewidth much shorter than the inverse terahertz frequency, conversion efficiency does not depend on pulse duration. We also show that by mixing two picosecond pulses (bandwidth-limited or chirped), one can achieve conversion efficiency, which is the same as in the case of femtosecond pulse with the same pulse energy. Additionally, when the group velocity dispersion of optical pulses is small, one can substantially exceed Manley‒Rowe conversion limit due to cascaded processes.
The validity of determining pancreatic cancer incidence in the United States by the use of mortality data.

Abstract To test the validity of using pancreatic cancer mortality as an indicator of incidence, mortality data for 1969–1971 were compared to incidence data for those areas covered by the Third National Cancer Survey, which was conducted during the same time period. Good correlation was found for whites but not for blacks. Small numbers of black study subjects in the Third National Cancer Survey probably influenced the incidence data for blacks. Pancreatic cancer mortality and incidence data for U.S. whites appear to be fairly accurate indicators of each other. The same cannot be said for the corresponding data for blacks. The pancreatic cancer mortality data from 1970 to 1978 for whites in the United States were analyzed to determine the current trend of the disease. In contrast to previously increasing rates, the age-adjusted rates for white females were determined to have leveled off, while the age-adjusted rates for white males appear to have started to decline slightly.
The Effects of Response Contingent Shock on Stuttering

The effects of response contingent shock on stuttering frequency were studied in three adult male stutterers. Each subject’s stuttering frequency base rate was obtained, then response contingent sh...
Estimating the Income Elasticity of Demand for Housing: A Comparison of Traditional and Lorenz-Concentration Curve Methodologies☆

Abstract This paper provides a comparative analysis of traditional and Lorenz concentration curve (LC) approaches to estimating the income elasticity of demand for housing. Using data from the 1989 American Housing Survey, we compare LC results with those obtained from a traditional model in which tenure choice and housing demand are jointly determined, and which includes non-income determinants of demand. The comparison is intended to provide researchers with information concerning specific differences in empirical results obtained using the two approaches.
Properties of solutions of parametric time-optimal problems in a neighborhood of an abnormal point

We consider a linear time-optimal problem in which the initial state vector depends on a parameter. We analyze the dependence of the solutions on the parameter and justify rules for the identification of the structure of the solution under small variations of the parameter. Attention is mainly paid to the analysis of properties of solutions in a neighborhood of an abnormal value of the parameter for which the function of determining elements of solutions of the original family of problems has no finite derivatives with respect to the parameter. For the function of determining elements, we obtain an asymptotic expansion to fractional powers of the parameter increment.
Infant visual acuity is underestimated because near threshold gratings are not preferentially fixated.

Abstract Grating acuity thresholds obtained by the looking preference procedure have been based on the assumption that infants always prefer to look at visible patterns over blank fields. Consequently, it has been assumed that the infant's preference for gratings, when compared to blank fields, would decline monotonically from 100 to 50% as the gratings increased in spatial frequency from above-threshold gratings to below-threshold gratings. Contrary to that assumption, we now find that the preference function falls significantly below 50% only to rise again at higher spatial frequencies. If preference for the grating drops significantly below 50% then the infant must be preferentially fixating the blank field which, in turn, implies discrimination of the grating. Consequently, grating acuity must exceed that based only on preferences for the grating greater than 50%.
A Problematic Peril of Pessaries: The Rare Case of Rectovaginal Fistulas Resulting From Pessary Use

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition of herniation of the pelvic organs into the vagina or past the introitus. Management options include pessary use. A very rare complication of pessary usage is erosion resulting in a vesicovaginal or rectovaginal fistula. We present two cases of patients who were found to have rectovaginal fistulas from Gellhorn pessary usage. Both patients were surgically treated with colostomies. Pessary management of POP is very common and accepted form of treatment. For optimal outcomes with pessary use, we recommend that patients be actively managed with individualized periodic evaluations. Estrogen cream may be considered for prevention and treatment of eroded vaginal epithelium. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2015;4(1):193-196 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jcgo308w
Label-free silicon photonic biosensor system with integrated detector array

An integrated, inexpensive, label-free photonic waveguide biosensor system with multi-analyte capability has been implemented on a silicon photonics integrated circuit from a commercial CMOS line and tested with nanofilms. The local evanescent array coupled (LEAC) biosensor is based on a new physical phenomenon that is fundamentally different from the mechanisms of other evanescent field sensors. Increased local refractive index at the waveguide's upper surface due to the formation of a biological nanofilm causes local modulation of the evanescent field coupled into an array of photodetectors buried under the waveguide. The planar optical waveguide biosensor system exhibits sensitivity of 20%/nm photocurrent modulation in response to adsorbed bovine serum albumin (BSA) layers less than 3 nm thick. In addition to response to BSA, an experiment with patterned photoresist as well as beam propagation method simulations support the evanescent field shift principle. The sensing mechanism enables the integration of all optical and electronic components for a multi-analyte biosensor system on a chip.
Lead diffusion in monazite

Abstract We have measured the tracer diffusion rate of Pb in natural, annealed, gem-quality monazite from Alexander Co., NC, USA, and Riverside Co., CA, USA. Observations from the literature concerning low T annealing in monazite suggest the possibility that Pb diffusion at geologic conditions occurs, in effect, within a similarly annealed lattice. Our experiments were performed by evaporating an aqueous solution containing 204 Pb onto a crystal face and then heating the charge to 1000–1200°C for 4 to 36 days. To the extent that the compositions of the two samples differed, we observed no effect of composition upon the rate of Pb diffusion. We do find that transport parallel to the c -axis is ∼2–5 times slower than that measured perpendicular to c . For Pb diffusion perpendicular to c , the Arrhenius parameters are Q = 180 ± 48 kJ/mol and log D 0 = −14.18 ± 1.54 (for D 0 in m 2 /s). While these parameters now allow for a direct calculation of closure temperatures for monazite, we believe a more useful form of our data for geochronologists is the fraction of Pb lost from crystals, expressed as a function of T , time, and crystal size. We have applied this formalism to discordant monazite UPb ages from the recent literature and find that Pb diffusion at rates extrapolated from our experiments can account for the observed degree of discordancy. We suggest that, rather than employing the concept of closure temperature to evaluate possible Pb loss in monazite, the diffusion data presented here be used in Pb loss models based upon T and duration conditions appropriate for a given geological setting.
Intestinal Epithelial HuR Modulates Distinct Pathways of Proliferation and Apoptosis and Attenuates Small Intestinal and Colonic Tumor Development

HuR is a ubiquitous nucleocytoplasmic RNA binding protein that exerts pleiotropic effects on cell growth and tumorigenesis. In this study, we explored the impact of conditional, tissue-specific genetic deletion of HuR on intestinal growth and tumorigenesis in mice. Mice lacking intestinal expression of HuR (Hur IKO mice) displayed reduced levels of cell proliferation in the small intestine and increased sensitivity to doxorubicin-induced acute intestinal injury, as evidenced by decreased villus height and a compensatory shift in proliferating cells. In the context of ApcMin mice, a transgenic model of intestinal tumorigenesis, intestinal deletion of the HuR gene caused a 3-fold decrease in tumor burden characterized by reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis and decreased expression of transcripts encoding anti-apoptotic HuR target RNAs. Similarly, Hur IKO mice subjected to an inflammatory colon carcinogenesis protocol (AOM-DSS administration) exhibited a 2-fold decrease in tumor burden. Hur IKO mice showed no change in ileal Asbt expression, fecal bile acid excretion or enterohepatic pool size that might explain the phenotype. Moreover, none of the HuR targets identified in Apc Min/+Hur IKO were altered in AOM-DSS treated Hur IKO mice, the latter of which exhibited increased apoptosis of colonic epithelial cells where elevation of a unique set of HuR-targeted pro-apoptotic factors was documented. Taken together, our results promote the concept of epithelial HuR as a contextual modifier of pro-apoptotic gene expression in intestinal cancers, acting independently of bile acid metabolism to promote cancer. In the small intestine, epithelial HuR promotes expression of pro-survival transcripts that support Wnt-dependent tumorigenesis, whereas in the large intestine epithelial HuR indirectly downregulates certain pro-apoptotic RNAs to attenuate colitis-associated cancer.