cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Bacteroides fragilis phage as an alternative indicator of sewage pollution in Tampa Bay, Florida

Traditional fecal coliform bacterial indicators have been found to be severely limited in determining the significance and sources of fecal contamination in ambient waters of tropical and subtropical regions. The bacteriophages that infectBacteroides fragilis have been suggested as better fecal indicators and at least one type may be human specific. In this study, the phages that infectB. fragilis host RYC2056 (RYC), including phage B56-3, and host ATCC 51477-HSP40 (HSP), including the human specific phage B40-8, were evaluated in the drainage basins of Tampa Bay, 7 samples (n=62), or 11%, tested positive for the presence of phages infecting the host HSP, whereas 28 samples, or 45%, tested positive using the host RYC. A survival study was also done to compare the persistence of phages B56-3 and B40-8 to MS2 coliphage in seawater at various temperatures. The decay rates for MS2 were 0.239 log10 d−1 at 10°C, but increased to 0.896 at 20°C and 2.62 log10 d−1 at 30°C. The twoB. fragilis phages persisted much longer in the seawater compared to the coliphage and showed little variation between the temperatures. All sewage influents sampled from area wastewater treatment plants contained phages that infected the twoB. fragilis hosts at levels from 1.2×104 to 1.11×105 pfu 100 ml−1 for host RYC and 67 to 350 pfu 100 ml−1 for host HSP. Of the 7 chlorinated effluent samples tested, 3 were positive for the presence of the phage using the host RYC and the phage enrichment method, with levels estimated to be <10 pfu 100 ml−1. No phages were detected using the host HSP in the treated sewage effluent. Coliphages were found in 3 of the 7 effluent samples at a range of 30 to 1.2×103 pfu 100 ml−1.
Continued Trends in the Conditioned Place Preference Literature from 1992 to 1996, Inclusive, with a Cross-Indexed Bibliography

In light of the overwhelming response to the previous publication in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (1993, 17, 21-41) regarding trends in place conditioning (either preference or aversion), the present work constitutes a five-year follow-up to review the empirical research in this behavioral paradigm from 1992 to 1996, inclusively. The behavioral technique has grown as indicated by the number of publications over the last five years which equals those authored over the 35 years covered by our last survey. The previous work used descriptive statistics to explore topical issues, whereas the present work discusses trends since that time and hopes to provide an exhaustive bibliography of the CPP literature, including articles, published abstracts, book chapters and reviews, as well as providing a cross-index of identified key words/drugs tested.
Opioids and lactation: insufficient evidence of safety.

The scope of considering whether opioids in breast milk are “safe” should be extended beyond existing simple narrow assessments of the low likelihood of causing immediate infant respiratory depression. Even 1 month of regular opioid use creates structural and functional changes in reward and emotional centers in the already developed adult human brain ⇓. What adverse effects do opioids in maternal breast milk have on the developing mind of a neonate or infant? In breast feeding babies of opioid-consuming mothers, sufficient opioids accumulate in the baby to exert pharmacologic effects: analgesia and side effects such as sedation ⇓. In addition, rare cases of opioid overdose have resulted from exposure to maternal opioids through breast milk. …
Interrelationship of Body Weight, Egg Weight, and Age at Sexual Maturity

Abstract PROGRESSIVE poultrymen are constantly and hopefully on the alert for factual information which will be of service in the selection of productive and profitable fowls. Until recently, the most important and frequently the only consideration in determining the worth of an individual has been productivity as measured by number of eggs laid. Of late years, however, egg characteristics (such as weight, shape, shell texture, shell color, and interior quality) and body weight have been more fully recognized as of economic importance. Consequently, these variable factors have entered into the problem of selection for productivity and profit. This paper is concerned with certain body weight, egg weight, and age relationships in two of the most common varieties of fowl, the Single Comb White Leghorn and Barred Plymouth Rock. SOURCE OF DATA The fowls used in the study reported here were hatched from eggs laid in the pedigree breeding pens at The . . .
A Pilot Investigation of Guided Self-Hypnosis in the Treatment of Hot Flashes Among Postmenopausal Women

Previous research has demonstrated that a hypnotic intervention can reduce hot flashes, a significant problem for some women. Based on the authors' previous research, the present study was developed to evaluate the feasibility of a guided self-hypnosis intervention for hot flashes. Thirteen postmenopausal women received 5 sessions of guided self-hypnosis in which all hypnotic inductions were recordings. Guidance regarding symptom monitoring, individualization of mental imagery, and practice of self-hypnosis were provided. Hot flashes were determined through diaries. Results indicated average frequency of hot flashes decreased by 72% (p < .001) and hot-flash scores decreased by 76% (p < .001) on average. Guided self-hypnosis reduced perceived hot flashes in the pilot study with postmenopausal women supporting the possible feasibility and potential benefit of the intervention.
Psychosocial Implications of Disaster on Children and Pediatric Care: In Reply

In Reply .— Dr Reijneveld's letter adds support to the core message of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical report that he cited. When a community experiences disaster, including terrorist acts, the effects on children and adolescents are prevalent in the community's youth, pervasive in the effects on the individual, and long lasting for …
Perspective on space radiation for space flights in 2020-2040

Abstract The Sun undergoes several well known periodicities in activity, such as the Schwabe 11 year cycle, the Gleissberg 80–90 year cycle, the Suess 200–210 year cycle and the Halstatt 2200–2300 year cycle. In addition, there is evidence that the 20th century levels of solar activity are unusually high. The years 2020–2040 are expected to coincide with increased activity in human space flight beyond low Earth orbit. The solar cycles and the present level of solar activity are reviewed and their activities during the years 2020–2040 are discussed with a perspective on space radiation and the future program of space flight. It is prudent to prepare for continuing levels of high solar activity as well as for the low levels of the current deep minimum, which has corresponded to high galactic cosmic ray flux.
A Procedure for the Sensory Analysis of Gas Chromatographic Effluents

Abstract A method is presented for determining those volatile components of foods that have flavour significance. The method leads to quantitative flavour specifications called charm that can be displayed graphically. The procedure is based upon the relative odour detection thresholds of volatile compounds of known gas chromatographic retention indices.
Eben Upton: Raspberry Pi

Eben Upton describes why and how he formed the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The first Web extra at http://youtu.be/JVU5QBg5l6g is an audio recording of Charles Severance's Computing Conversations column, in which he discusses his interview with Eben Upton about the formation of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The second Web extra at http://youtu.be/P5KEiuTT_E8 is a video segment of Charles Severance's interview with Eben Upton about the design of the Raspberry Pi and the forming of the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
Discovery and in vitro biosynthesis of haloduracin, a two-component lantibiotic

Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized peptides that undergo posttranslational modifications to their mature, antimicrobial form. They are characterized by the unique amino acids lanthionine and methyllanthionine, introduced by means of dehydration of Ser/Thr residues followed by reaction of the resulting dehydro amino acids with cysteines to form thioether linkages. Two-component lantibiotics use two peptides that are each posttranslationally modified to yield two functionally distinct products that act in synergy to provide bactericidal activity. By using genetic data instead of isolation, a two-component lantibiotic, haloduracin, was identified in the genome of the Gram-positive alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus halodurans C-125. We show that heterologously expressed and purified precursor peptides HalA1 and HalA2 are processed by the purified modification enzymes HalM1 and HalM2 in an in vitro reconstitution of the biosynthesis of a two-component lantibiotic. The activity of each HalM enzyme is substrate-specific, and the assay products exhibit antimicrobial activity after removal of their leader sequences at an engineered Factor Xa cleavage site, indicating that correct thioether formation has occurred. Haloduracin's biological activity depends on the presence of both modified peptides. The structures of the two mature haloduracin peptides Halalpha and Halbeta were investigated, indicating that they have similarities as well as some distinct differences compared with other two-component lantibiotics.
Simultaneous measurement of velocity and temperature fluctuations in the boundary layer of a supersonic flow

The instantaneous velocity and temperature behavior of a Mach 3 turbulent boundary layer was studied using two closely spaced constant temperature hot wires. By operating the wires at different temperatures, it was possible to obtain the instantaneous velocity and temperature fluctuations and to evaluate the strong Reynolds analogy. Our analysis revealed that the strong Reynolds analogy is a good approximation for describing the instantaneous velocity and temperature behavior for the inner 70 percent of the boundary layer.
Simulation of a Multi-Frequency Continuous-Wave Reconstruction Technique for Subsurface Conductivity and Dielectric-Constant Profiles

In this paper, an efficient inversion method to reconstruct conductivity and dielectric-constant profiles by launching a continuous sinusoidal wave from the surface of a layered medium is presented. The reconstruction code consists of two main partsthe forward model and the inversion algorithm. Two forward models are developed for applications in shallow subsurface sensing and nondestructive evaluation of disbonding in a layered dielectric medium. In the inversion process, the Jacobian Matrix method is used to modify the inverted profile iteratively toward the real formation profile. A constrained optimization method is applied in order to obtain maximum stability when noise is present. The choice of the discrete frequencies depends on the required spatial resolution, investigation depth, and the parameters to be inverted. At the present stage, only synthetic models with signal-to-noise ratio around 40 dB are used to test the inversion method. The conductivity and the dielectric constant profiles for different kinds of synthetic models are satisfactorily reconstructed by using this method.
Thermonastic leaf movements: a synthesis of research with Rhododendron

Thermonastic leaf movements in Rhododendron L. occur in response to freezing temperatures. These movements are composed of leaf curling and leaf angle changes that are distinct leaf movements with different responses to climatic factors. Leaf angle is controlled by the hydration of the petiole, as affected by soil water content, atmospheric vapour pressure, and air temperature. In contrast, leaf curling is a specific response to leaf temperature, and bulk leaf hydration has little effect. The physiological cause of leaf curling is not well understood, but the mechanism must lie in the physiology of the cell wall and/or regional changes in tissue hydration. Available evidence suggests that intercellular freezing is not a cause of leaf curling. Manipulation experiments demonstrate that changes in leaf orientation in Rhododendron most likely serve to protect the leaves from membrane damage due to high irradiance and cold temperatures. In particular, the pendent leaves protect the chloroplast from photoinhibition. Leaf curling may serve to slow the rate of thaw following freezing, a common phenomenon in the Appalachian mountains of the U.S. The thermonastic leaf movements have a greater importance to plants in a dim environment because the potential impact to canopy carbon gain is greater than in high light environments. These leaf movements have several implications for horticultural management. There seems to be a trade-off between water stress tolerance and freezing stress tolerance by leaf movements. Thermonastic leaf movements may be a major mechanism of cold stress tolerance in Rhododendron species. The actual physiological cause of leaf movement has not been elucidated and many more species need to be evaluated to verify the general importance of leaf movements to Rhododendron ecology and evolution.
CO2 feedbacks and the 100 K year cycle in climate

In an earlier paper (Lindzen, 1986), it was shown that allowing CO2 to vary with snow/sea ice position could lead to a greatly enhanced response in glaciation to 100 K year orbital forcing—even when 20 K year forcing was much stronger. In that model, snow/sea ice position (SSIP) and glaciation were different: the former was the forcing for the latter. However, SSIP and glaciation were not decorrelated. Observations (Berner et al., 1979; Lorius et al., 1985; Neftel et al., 1982) suggest that CO2 may be independently related to both SSIP and glaciation. In the present paper, we allow (in a highly simplified manner) such independent dependence, and show how it alters the earlier results. Briefly, the dependence of CO2 on glaciation can contribute to and even cause a highly enhanced response to the 100 K year component of the forcing. However, the CO2 dependence on SSIP is, on the whole, more effective in this regard. Thus, we expect time series of CO2 to show variation on the faster time scales than does glaciation.
Online Technologies for Health Information and Education: A literature review.

There is a growing body of research focused on the use of social media and Internet technologies for health education and information sharing. The authors reviewed literature on this topic, with a specific focus on the benefits and concerns associated with using online social technologies as health education and communication tools. Studies suggest that social media technologies have the potential to safely and effectively deliver health education if privacy concerns are addressed. Utility of social media-based health education and communication will improve as technology developers and public health officials determine ways to improve information accuracy and address privacy concerns.
Pelvic relapse following subtotal lymphoid irradiation in early stage Hodgkin's disease—An analysis of risk, management, and outcome

Purpose : To evaluate the time of onset, method of identification, management, and outcome of pelvic relapse following subtotal lymphoid irradiation (STLI) alone (mantle and paraaortic/spleen or splenic pedicle fields, excluding the pelvis) in supradiaphragmatic Stage I-II Hodgkin's disease. Methods and Materials : A retrospective analysis was performed of the initial, relapse, and regular follow-up evaluations of patients with pelvic relapse following STLI alone from 1968 to the present for supradiaphragmatic Stage I-II Hodgkin's disease after pathologic staging (PS-laparotomy staging) and clinical staging (CS-no laparotomy staging). Results : Following staging, which included bipedal lymphangiography, 482 patients (408 PS and 74 CS), were treated with STLI alone for supradiaphragmatic Stage I-II Hodgkin's disease. The actuarial freedom from relapse at 20 years was 75% in PS patients and 81% in CS patients. The actuarial pelvic failure at 20 years was 7% for PS patients and 3% for CS patients. Of the 29 patients with pelvic relapse, 97% (28 of 29) occurred within 5 years of treatment, including 1 patient who progressed during initial treatment. Pelvic relapse was most commonly initially identified by abnormalities involving patient symptoms (62%), physical examination (55%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (48%), and bipedal lymphangiogram and/or abdominal radiograph (38%). Relapse was limited to previously unirradiated sites in 17 patients (58%). In addition to pelvic lymph node disease, 3 patients (10%) had involvement of bone, and 4 patients (14%) had bone marrow involvement. Following relapse, all patients were treated with chemotherapy (MOP[P], MOP[P]/ABV[D], ABVD, or PAVe) and 19 of 29 patients received involved field consolidative irradiation. Twenty-one of 29 (72%) remained relapse free at the time of last follow-up evaluation, including 15 of 19 (79%) treated with combined therapy. Eight patients experienced a second relapse despite salvage therapy, and all eight expired with recurrent Hodgkin's disease. Two patients died of complications related to prior treatment. Therefore, the actuarial risk of death at 20 years associated with pelvic failure in the entire cohort of 482 patients was 2%. Conclusion : Pelvic relapse occurred in 7% of patients following STLI alone and was effectively diagnosed by regular follow-up, which included a combination of patient history, physical examination, and radiographic laboratory evaluation. Seventy-two percent of patients remained relapse free following salvage treatment, which included chemotherapy, resulting in an overall survival rate associated with pelvic control of 98%. This approach, therefore, spared the majority of patients the long-term risks associated with pelvic irradiation and/or chemotherapy, such as infertility, but maintained an excellent prognosis.
Macromolecular architectures for organic photovoltaics

Research in the field of organic photovoltaics has gained considerable momentum in the last two decades owing to the need for developing low-cost and efficient energy harvesting systems. Elegant molecular architectures have been designed, synthesized and employed as active materials for photovoltaic devices thereby leading to a better molecular structure–device property relationship understanding. In this perspective, we outline new macromolecular scaffolds that have been designed within the purview of each of the three fundamental processes involving light harvesting, charge separation and charge transport.
Prediction of Passive Maintenance Opportunity Windows on Bottleneck Machines in Complex Manufacturing Systems

In this paper, we investigate hidden opportunities for performing proper maintenance tasks during production time without causing production losses. One of the maintenance opportunities on a machine is when the machine is starved or blocked due to the occurrence of random failures on its upstream or downstream machines. Such failure-induced starvation or blockage time is defined as a passive maintenance opportunity window (PMOW), and is predicted on the bottleneck machines in manufacturing systems with different configurations. The effectiveness of the PMOW prediction algorithm is validated through case studies in both simulations and an automotive assembly plant.
Toward Realistic and Artifact-Free Insider-Threat Data

Progress in insider-threat detection is currently limited by a lack of realistic, publicly available, real-world data. For reasons of privacy and confidentiality, no one wants to expose their sensitive data to the research community. Data can be sanitized to mitigate privacy and confidentiality concerns, but the mere act of sanitizing the data may introduce artifacts that compromise its utility for research purposes. If sanitization artifacts change the results of insider-threat experiments, then those results could lead to conclusions which are not true in the real world. The goal of this work is to investigate the consequences of sanitization artifacts on insider-threat detection experiments. We assemble a suite of tools and present a methodology for collecting and sanitizing data. We use these tools and methods in an experimental evaluation of an insider-threat detection system. We compare the results of the evaluation using raw data to the results using each of three types of sanitized data, and we measure the effect of each sanitization strategy. We establish that two of the three sanitization strategies actually alter the results of the experiment. Since these two sanitization strategies are commonly used in practice, we must be concerned about the consequences of sanitization artifacts on insider-threat research. On the other hand, we demonstrate that the third sanitization strategy addresses these concerns, indicating that realistic, artifact-free data sets can be created with appropriate tools and methods.
Internet abuse: addiction? disorder? symptom? alternative explanations?

As Internet use has proliferated worldwide, there has been debate whether some users develop disturbed patterns of Internet use (i.e., Internet abuse). This article highlights relevant literature on Internet abuse and computer-mediated communication effects that supports and disputes major questions about Internet abuse. Is the addiction paradigm appropriate for Internet use? Is behavior that has been labeled Internet abuse symptomatic of other problems such as depression, sexual disorders, or loneliness? What are alternative explanations for this phenomenon? Is there adequate research to support Internet abuse as a distinct disorder?
Virus-Like Particle-Induced Protection Against MRSA Pneumonia Is Dependent on IL-13 and Enhancement of Phagocyte Function

The importance of the priming of the lung environment by past infections is being increasingly recognized. Exposure to any given antigen can either improve or worsen the outcome of subsequent lung infections, depending on the immunological history of the host. Thus, an ability to impart transient alterations in the lung environment in anticipation of future insult could provide an important novel therapy for emerging infectious diseases. In this study, we show that nasal administration of virus-like particles (VLPs) before, or immediately after, lethal challenge with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) of mice i) ensures complete recovery from lung infection and near absolute clearance of bacteria within 12 hours of challenge, ii) reduces host response-induced lung tissue damage, iii) promotes recruitment and efficient bacterial clearance by neutrophils and CD11c+ cells, and iv) protects macrophages from MRSA-induced necrosis. VLP-mediated protection against MRSA relied on innate immunity. Complete recovery occurred in VLP-dosed mice with severe combined immunodeficiency, but not in wild-type mice depleted of either Ly6G+ or CD11c+ cells. Early IL-13 production associated with VLP-induced CD11c+ cells was essential for VLP-induced protection. These results indicate that VLP-induced alteration of the lung environment protects the host from lethal MRSA pneumonia by enhancing phagocyte recruitment and killing and by reducing inflammation-induced tissue damage via IL-13–dependent mechanisms.
SpeechSkimmer: interactively skimming recorded speech

Skimming or browsing audio recordings is much more difficult than visually scanning a document because of the temporal nature of audio. By exploiting properties of spontaneous speech it is possible to automatically select and present salient audio segments in a time-efficient manner. Techniques for segmenting recordings and a prototype user interface for skimming speech are described. The system developed incorporates time-compressed speech and pause removal to reduce the time needed to listen to speech recordings. This paper presents a multi-level approach to auditory skimming, along with user interface techniques for interacting with the audio and providing feedback. Several time compression algorithms ami an adaptive speech detection technique are also stuntnarized.
Cardiomyocyte-specific p65 NF-κB deletion protects the injured heart by preservation of calcium handling

NF-κB is a well-known transcription factor that is intimately involved with inflammation and immunity. We have previously shown that NF-κB promotes inflammatory events and mediates adverse cardiac remodeling following ischemia reperfusion (I/R). Conversely, others have pointed to the beneficial influence of NF-κB in I/R injury related to its anti-apoptotic effects. Understanding the seemingly disparate influence of manipulating NF-κB is hindered, in part, by current approaches that only indirectly interfere with the function of its most transcriptionally active unit, p65 NF-κB. Mice were generated with cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of p65 NF-κB. Phenotypically, these mice and their hearts appeared normal. Basal and stimulated p65 expression were significantly reduced in whole hearts and completely ablated in isolated cardiomyocytes. When compared with wild-type mice, transgenic animals were protected from both global I/R by Langendorff as well as regional I/R by coronary ligation and release. The protected, transgenic hearts had less cytokine activity and decreased apoptosis. Furthermore, p65 ablation was associated with enhanced calcium reuptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This influence on calcium handling was related to increased expression of phosphorylated phospholamban in conditional p65 null mice. In conclusion, cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of the most active, canonical NF-κB subunit affords cardioprotection to both global and regional I/R injury. The beneficial effects of NF-κB inhibition are related, in part, to modulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis.
Beyond Bullying: Aggravating Elements of Peer Victimization Episodes

This study sought to identify features of peer victimization that aggravate negative outcomes in children. The features that were assessed include "power imbalance," a commonly used criterion in defining bullying, and 5 other characteristics: injury, weapon involvement, Internet involvement, sexual content, and bias content. Three outcomes were assessed: level of fear, missing school, and trauma symptoms. A nationally representative sample of 3,164 children and youth ages 6-17 (51.8% male; 68.4% white, 12.5% black, 13.5% Hispanic, 5.7% other race) was obtained through Random Digit Dial and supplemented with an address-based sample to capture cell-phone-only households. One child was randomly selected from each household. Interviews were conducted with parents of children age 6-9 and with the youths themselves if they were age 10-17. Peer victimization was assessed with the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ). Almost half (48.4%) of the entire sample of school-age children experienced at least 1 form of peer victimization in the past year. Injury and power imbalance independently increased the impact on children for all 3 outcomes. Additionally, weapon involvement and sexual content were associated with trauma symptoms, with sexual content having the strongest effect (B = .23, p < .001). This diversity of aggravating features suggests a need to reconsider the current emphasis on prioritizing bullying with its exclusionary power imbalance definition as the central focus for prevention and intervention. We recommend a broader focus on peer victimization along with more research to identify the aggravating features that signal the greatest need for intervention.
Enhancing motor skill learning with transcranial direct current stimulation - a concise review with applications to stroke.

In the past few years, there has been a rapid increase in the application of non-invasive brain stimulation to study brain-behavior relations in an effort to potentially increase the effectiveness of neuro-rehabilitation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), an emerging technique of non-invasive brain stimulation, has shown to produce beneficial neural effects in consequence with improvements in motor behavior. tDCS has gained popularity as it is economical, simple to use, portable and increases corticospinal excitability without producing any serious side effects. As tDCS has been increasingly investigated as an effective tool for various disorders, numerous improvements and developments have been proposed with respect to this technique. tDCS has been widely used to identify the functional relevance of particular brain regions in motor skill learning and also to facilitate activity in specific cortical areas involved in motor learning, in turn improving motor function. Understanding the interaction between tDCS and motor learning can lead to important implications for developing various rehabilitation approaches. This paper provides a brief overview of tDCS as a neuromodulatory technique and a comprehensive understanding of the interaction of tDCS with motor learning. The paper further briefly goes through the application of this priming technique in the stroke population.
Promoter Analysis of the Rat β1-Adrenergic Receptor Gene Identifies Sequences Involved in Basal Expression

The β1-adrenergic receptor (β1-AR) mediates several functions of catecholamines in the heart, including the stimulation of heart rate and contractility. The expression of the rat β1-AR gene was assessed by transiently transfecting chimeric genes containing the β1-AR promoter, driving the luciferase reporter gene into various cell lines. β1-AR/luciferase vectors containing 3 kb of the 5′-flanking region and extending to −126 relative to the start site of translation were expressed at high levels in ventricular myocytes, SK-N-MC cells, and HepG2 cells. The addition of 26 nucleotides from −125 to −100 to the −3311 β1-AR/luciferase chimeric gene reduced expression in myocytes and SK-N-MC cells while eliminating expression in HepG2 cells. This element is located 125 base-pairs 3′ to the transcriptional start site. The mutation of four nucleotides between −121 and −118 diminished the inhibitory effect of this element. The inhibitory activity of the −125 to −100 sequence was completely dependent on promoter context and positioning. In addition to this 3′ element, sequences between −3311 and −2740 in the 5′-flanking region of the β1-AR gene were required for the full transcriptional suppression. Using DNase I footprinting and gel mobility assays, it was determined that within the 26-bp region, rat heart nuclear proteins bound to two sites between nucleotides −123 and −112 and −106 and −100. Therefore, appropriate basal expression of the β1-AR gene involves widely separated sequences 3′ and 5′ to the transcriptional start site.
Sonographic Assessment of Ovarian Embryonal Cell Carcinoma

Ovarian embryonal cell carcinoma is an uncommon ovarian germ cell tumor. This case study is a report of a patient referred for sonography based on abdominal pain and abnormal levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG). A large heterogeneous pelvic mass was characterized by sonography and was surgically proven to be a malignant ovarian embryonal cell carcinoma.
Creating an interactive science murder mystery game: the optimal experience of flow

Traditional in-class writing assignments often fail to engage students effectively. This problem may be compounded when students are forced into group projects, where a student may rightly feel that he or she could complete the entire assignment more effectively alone than the whole group could working together. In an attempt to alleviate these concerns, I assigned my university science writing class-half Professional Writing majors, half science majors and minors-the creation of an interactive, electronic murder mystery game. The students used PowerPoint to create linked slides in which the clues and cause of death were scientific information. While working on this assignment in class, a number of students forgot the time and kept working long after class was over. Several students reported losing track of time and place when working on the game at home.
Modulation of ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation and hyperreactivity by tolerogenic APC.

Allergic asthma is mediated in part by unregulated Th2 inflammation in response to an allergen. Induction of peripheral tolerance by inoculation of Ags into the anterior chamber of the eye (ocular tolerance) before sensitization blocks Th2 responses. Thus, we proposed that induction of ocular tolerance to the allergen might modulate an ongoing allergen-induced Th2 pathogenesis in the lung. We initiated ocular tolerance in previously immunized mice in a classic mouse model of OVA-induced pulmonary allergic inflammation. In the model of ocular tolerance, the need for inoculation of Ag into the anterior chamber can be bypassed by i.v. inoculation of in vitro-generated tolerogenic (TGF-β2-treated, Ag-pulsed) APC (tol-APC). We observed that with i.v. inoculation, such tolerogenic APC, but not control APC, reduced eosinophil and lymphocyte pulmonary infiltration in experimental mice. Similarly, production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, -5, and -13), but not IFN-γ, was reduced. Importantly, airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus production were significantly reduced after treatment with the tol-APC. We also show that in vitro suppression of IL-13 production from OVA-sensitized effector T cells was mediated by CD8 + , not CD4 + , T regulatory cells. Thus, i.v. inoculation of the tol-APC induced peripheral tolerance that suppressed Th2-mediated pathogenesis in the lungs of presensitized mice. The ability of the tol-APC to induce peripheral tolerance and suppress existing Th2 immune inflammation may lead to novel therapies for pulmonary allergic inflammation and its related pathology.
On damped gyromagnetic precession

The relationship between the two damped gyromagnetic equations in current use is discussed in a novel way. As was concluded thirty years ago, the underlying physics is different even though the equations can be cast with the same mathematical form.
Biological bases of current guidelines for human exposure to radio-frequency radiation

There are two different sets of guidelines promulgated for limiting human exposure to radio-frequency (RF) radiation, worldwide. Nevertheless, there is a persistent, publicly expressed lack of confidence in RF-exposure standards, pertaining to the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) levels. The biological rationales adopted for the IEEE and ICNIRP guidelines for limiting localized exposures are conspicuously divergent, and have produced two sets of distinct MPEs in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) and averaging tissue volume.
Disruption of Escherichia coli HepA, an RNA polymerase-associated protein, causes UV sensitivity

During the development of purification procedures for Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (RNAP), we noticed the consistent co-purification of a 110-kDa polypeptide. Here, we report the identification of the 110-kDa protein as the product of the hepA gene, a member of the SNF2 family of putative helicases. We have cloned the hepA gene and overexpressed and purified the HepA protein. We show in vitro that RNAP preparations have an ATPase activity only in the presence of HepA and that HepA binds core RNAP competitively with the promoter specificity sigma70 subunit with a 1:1 stoichiometry and a dissociation constant (Kd) of 75 nM. An E. coli strain with a disruption in the hepA gene shows sensitivity to ultraviolet light.
In situ X-ray diffraction study of the lithium excess layered oxide compound Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 during electrochemical cycling

Abstract In situ X-ray diffraction patterns were collected using a laboratory X-ray diffractometer during the first electrochemical charge/discharge cycle of the layered lithium excess compound Li[Li0.2Ni0.2Mn0.6]O2 in the family of Li[NixLi1/3 − 2x/3Mn2/3 − x/3]O2 (x = 1/5). Dynamic changes in peak positions, lattice parameters, and microstrain help to explain the lithium de-intercalation mechanism in this class of materials. Strong anisotropy is observed in the shifts of the lattice parameters during the first cycle. The in situ electrochemical measurement shows dynamically changing strain during the first electrochemical cycle that is explained by known lithium and transition metal (TM) migration mechanisms.
Bank failure: Evidence from the Colombian financial crisis

Bank-specific determinants of bank failure during the financial crisis in Colombia are identified and studied using duration analysis. The process of failure of banks and related financial institutions during that period can be explained by differences in financial health and prudence across institutions. The capitalization ratio is the most significant indicator explaining bank failure. Increases in this ratio lead to a reduction in the hazard rate of failure at any given moment in time. This ratio exhibits a non-linear component. At lower levels of capitalization small differences in capitalization are associated with larger differences in failure rates. Our results thus provide empirical support for existing regulatory practice.Other important variables explaining bank failure dynamics are the bank's size and profitability.
O mundo agônico de Madruga: análise da personagem central em “A República dos Sonhos”, de Nélida Piñon.

O presente artigo pretende analisar a trajetoria da personagem Madruga no romance “A Republica dos Sonhos”, de Nelida Pinon, publicado em 1984. Nesse romance, a personagem vive entre lembrancas do passado e frustracoes do presente, visto que, apos trabalhar arduamente na condicao de imigrante, cresce financeiramente, mas torna-se infeliz por nao ter tido o mesmo sucesso na area emocional. Assim, ve-se em crise de identidade entre os dois paises em que viveu e entre a falta de afeto dos familiares e a superficialidade da condicao social. Palavras-chave : Sonho; Identidade; Passado; Estrangeiro. The agonizing world of Madruga: analysis of the main character in “The Republic of Dreams”, by Nelida Pinon Abstract This article aims to analyze the character Madruga throughout the trajectory of the story in the novel The Republic of Dreams, by Nelida Pinon, published in 1984. In this novel, the character lives in the midst of memories from the past and present time frustrations, provided that after working exhaustively as an immigrant, he reaches a favorable financial situation, but becomes unhappy for not being as successful in his emotional life. Therefore, he sees himself facing an identity crisis between the two countries where he has lived, and the lack of affection from his family members, and the superficiality of the social condition. Key-words : Dream. Identity. Past. Foreigner.
Dimensions of Student Academic Alienation

In this study of 460 Southern Illinois University-Carbondale stu dents surveyed in May, 1973, five dimensions of student academic alienation are investigated: (1) feelings of cynicism regarding basic academic values and the means by which these values are achieved, (2) feelings of meaninglessness concerning the purposes and operation of the university system, (3) feelings of powerlessness in attempting to participate in the university governance process, (4) feelings of negative affect in evaluating university administrators, and (5) evaluations of university administrators as exhibiting mediocre performances and inferior attributes. Five tasks are addressed: (1) What are the levels of academic alienation among these students? (2) Are the five academic alienation scales employed reliable? (3) Are the academic alienation scales valid indicators? (4) To what extent are the five alienation mea sures intercorrelated? (5) What is the effect of categoric-demographic variables on students' responses to the acade...
Helping Respondents Get It Right the First Time: The Influence of Words, Symbols, and Graphics in Web Surveys

We utilize and apply visual design theory to experimen- tally test ways to improve the likelihood that web respondents report date answers in a particular format desired by the researcher, thus reducing possible deleterious effects of error messages or requests for corrections. These experiments were embedded in a series of web surveys of random samples of university students. We seek to examine the sequential and cumulative effects of visually manipulating the size and proximity of the answer spaces, the use of symbols instead of words, the verbal language of the question stem, and the graphical location of the symbolic instruction. Our results show that the successive series of visual language manipulations improve respon- dents' use of the desired format (two digits for the month and four digits for the year) from 45 percent to 96 percent. These results suggest that writing effective questions for web surveys may depend as much or more on the presentation of the answer categories/spaces as the question wording itself.
Cell Therapy Strategies to Combat Immunosenescence

Declining function of the immune system, termed "immunosenescence," leads to a higher incidence of infection, cancer, and autoimmune disease related mortalities in the elderly population. (1) Increasing interest in the field of immunosenescence is well-timed, as 20% of the United States population is expected to surpass the age of 65 by the year 2030. (2) Our current understanding of immunosenescence involves a shift in function of both adaptive and innate immune cells, leading to a reduced capacity to recognize new antigens and widespread chronic inflammation. The present review focuses on changes that occur in haematopoietic stem cells, macrophages, and T-cells using knowledge gained from both rodent and human studies. The review will discuss emerging strategies to combat immunosenescence, focusing on cellular and genetic therapies, including bone marrow transplantation and genetic reprogramming. A better understanding of the mechanisms and implications of immunosenescence will be necessary to combat age-related mortalities in the future.
Elucidation of 2D and 3D photoacoustic tomography

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT), also known as thermoacoustic or optoacoustic tomography, is a hybrid imaging modality that reconstructs the electromagnetic absorption properties of biological tissue from knowledge of acoustic signals produced by the thermoacoustic effect. Because the propagation of acoustic signals is most generally described by the 3D wave equation, PAT is an inherently 3D imaging modality. Due to the the limited penetration depth of the probing electromagnetic fields and the limited availability of 3D ultrasound detector arrays, a simplified two-dimensional (2D) PAT measurement geometry is used in many current experimental implementations. However, in this case, when unfocused transducers are employed, the acquired data are not sufficient to invert the 3D imaging model and ad hoc reconstruction procedures are employed. In this work we numerically investigate 2D and 3D PAT assuming an ultrasound transducer having an anisotropic detection response. The uncompensated effects of an anisotropic detection response on images reconstructed using a point-detector assumption are demonstrated.
DNMT3b Modulates Melanoma Growth by Controlling Levels of mTORC2 Component RICTOR

DNA methyltransferase DNMT3B is frequently overexpressed in tumor cells and plays important roles during the formation and progression of several cancer types. However, the specific signaling pathways controlled by DNMT3B in cancers, including melanoma, are poorly understood. Here, we report that DNMT3B plays a pro-tumorigenic role in human melanoma and that DNMT3B loss dramatically suppresses melanoma formation in the Braf/Pten mouse melanoma model. Loss of DNMT3B results in hypomethylation of the miR-196b promoter and increased miR-196b expression, which directly targets the mTORC2 component Rictor. Loss of RICTOR in turn prevents mTORC2 activation, which is critical for melanoma formation and growth. These findings establish Dnmt3b as a regulator of melanoma formation through its effect on mTORC2 signaling. Based on these results, DNMT3B is a potential therapeutic target in melanoma.
Commentary on: Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells Promote Migration and Early Metastasis of Head and Neck Cancer Xenografts.

Autologous fat grafting for soft tissue reconstruction was first reported by Neuber in 1893 for the correction of facial defects.1 While this technique was largely ignored until the late 1970s, the procedure has now grown exponentially due to its vast degree of applications in soft tissue reconstruction and aesthetic augmentation. Despite its surging popularity, fat graft survival remains highly variable, ranging from 40 to 50 percent graft volume retention.2 While a relatively high degree of graft resorption may be undesirable, the procedure is extremely safe, with few minor complications such as calcification or cyst formation. Much research has been performed to evaluate the variables most highly associated with graft viability, including graft volume, suction pressure, shear stress, and centrifugation. Another major area of investigation to improve graft retention is the application of adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC). ASCs are cells present within the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue and serve as progenitor or stem cells with the potential to self-renew or differentiate into multiple cell lineages including adipocytes, osteocytes, chondrocytes, and even cardiomyocytes.3 These cells are believed to strongly influence their local environment through paracrine effects via the expression of growth factors and cytokines, leading to cell growth, differentiation, and angiogenesis. Supplementation of …
Understanding Characteristics Of Likely Marketplace Enrollees And How They Choose Plans

In 2015, adults likely to have enrolled in the Affordable Care Act Marketplace were predominantly non-Hispanic whites and, on average, older and more aware of the availability of Marketplace subsidies than adults who remained uninsured. Enrollees were also significantly more likely than adults who remained uninsured to rely on some type of application assistance instead of exclusively looking for information through the Marketplace website.
In Situ Observation of scaling Behavior During Solution-Phase Growth of Surfactant Monolayers

“Self-assembled” monolayers of amphiphilic surfactant molecules form spontaneously on solid surfaces by exposure to dilute solutions of the adsorbate molecules. These monolayers are shown to form via a mechanism that includes nucleation, growth, coalescence, etc. of densely- packed submonolayer islands of the long-chain organic molecules. In situ atomic force microscopy experiments allow a quantitative analysis of island nucleation and growth rates as well as determination of the island size distribution as a function of coverage. In the growth regime, the nucleation and growth rates have a power law behavior consistent with a simple point island model of 2D cluster growth. The exponents are consistent with a critical nucleus of two molecules and the 2D diffusion coefficient corresponds to a “hopping time” of about 1 microsecond. In the aggregation regime, the island size distributions are shown to scale with a single evolving length scale in accordance with the dynamical scaling approximation.
Fatty acid synthesis from [2-14C]acetate in normal and peroxisome-deficient (Zellweger) fibroblasts.

The incorporation of [2-14C]acetate into the lipids of normal and peroxisome-deficient (Zellweger's syndrome) skin fibroblasts was examined. Most of the label was incorporated into triacyglycerol fatty acids in normal as well as Zellweger's syndrome cells. Triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters in Zellweger's syndrome cells contained increased levels of labelled saturated and monounsaturated very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA, that is fatty acids with more than 22 carbon atoms), in particular hexacosanoic (26∶0) and hexacosaenoic (26∶1) acids. As traces of labelled VLCFA with up to 32 carbon atoms were detected in triacylglycerols even in control cells it is probable that these fatty acids are formed naturally during the elongation process. Our data suggest that peroxisomes are involved in the chain shortening of the saturated and monounsaturated VLCFA.