cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Associations of HIV testing with anxiety and stress within the African American church: implications for faith-based HIV testing and treatment

The promotion of HIV testing among Black Americans is critical to reducing disproportionately high rates of HIV and AIDS. Anxiety and stress are often found to be associated with resistance to HIV ...
A Probabilistic Approach for Learning with Label Proportions Applied to the US Presidential Election

Ecological inference (EI) is a classical problem from political science to model voting behavior of individuals given only aggregate election results. Flaxman et al. recently formulated EI as machine learning problem using distribution regression, and applied it to analyze US presidential elections. However, distribution regression unnecessarily aggregates individual-level covariates available from census microdata, and ignores known structure of the aggregation mechanism. We instead formulate the problem as learning with label proportions (LLP), and develop a new, probabilistic, LLP method to solve it. Our model is the straightforward one where individual votes are latent variables. We use cardinality potentials to efficiently perform exact inference over latent variables during learning, and introduce a novel message-passing algorithm to extend cardinality potentials to multivariate probability models for use within multiclass LLP problems. We show experimentally that LLP outperforms distribution regression for predicting individual-level attributes, and that our method is as good as or better than existing state-of-the-art LLP methods.
Late Neandertals and Early Modern Humans in Europe, Population Dynamics and Paleobiology

On the sesquicentennial of the discovery at the Kleine Feldhofer Grotte, it is appropriate to reassess the nature of the biological transition between late Neandertals and the earliest modern humans in Europe. An assessment of the latter sample shows a predominantly modern human morphological pattern, but the persistent and varied presence of distinctive Neandertal features and/or archaic traits lost or rare in the ancestral Mid Upper Paleolithic modern humans. These traits includee variably present marked frontal flattening, large occipital buns, large juxtamastoid eminences, suprainiac fossae, wide mandibular rami, asymmetrical mandibular notch, medial notch position, mandibular foramen bridging, molar megadontia and incisor shoveling. Moreover, the later European Mid Upper Paleolithic (Gravettian) sample exhibits persistence of some of these and other Neandertal/archaic features. These combine to indicate a non-trivial Neandertal contribution to the gene pools of the early modern humans in Europe. At the same time, paleobiological assessment of late Neandertals and early modern humans in Europe indicates a mosaic of functional anatomical changes, involving the faces, humeri and femora of late Neandertals and the dentition, scapula, femora and talus of early modern humans. These data combine to indicate that the period between the Middle Paleolithic Neandertals and the Mid Upper Paleolithic modern humans was a complex mosaic in terms of population dynamics and behavioral patterns. Simple models of an abrupt behavioral and phylogenetic transition for this period in Europe should be abandoned.
Biosafety Program Analytics Initiative for the Advancement of the Profession

Biosafety programs, when successful, functions largely in the realm of prevention, but as a profession we lack evidence-based analysis that speaks to the amount of resources necessary to “make nothing happen”. Through the systematic collection of key data from practicing professionals, we will expand the availability of meaningful benchmarking measures for biosafety programs so more informed comparisons can be made and critical insights gained.
Observed Leniency among the Credit Rating Agencies

Credit agencies periodically change their ratings for corporate bonds. These rating modifications advance under different circumstances and occur at distinct rates. In this study, the author examines the volumes, frequencies, and likelihoods of credit rating changes as issued by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch Ratings. He examines these subsequent rating modifications (both the first and the second recorded changes post the initial ratings) with a perspective of upgrades versus downgrades. Overall, he identifies a much greater tendency for rating downgrades than upgrades following new issuance of corporate debt, which suggests that the initial credit ratings are too lenient. This study, therefore, has potential inferences for fixed-income market participants, who should consider discounting reported credit ratings, at least to some degree.
Focal Impulses and Expressive Performance

This paper presents an overview of a theory of motor organization in the performance of music, the theory of focal impulses, and it draws out implications for use in modeling expressive performance. According to the theory of focal impulses, motor organization is chunked by means of the placement of focal impulses, usually on the beats at some chosen main beat level. Focal impulses are bodily motions that often involve larger and more proximal effector segments and that, by recruiting stable resonance frequencies of the body, create a motional context that facilitates the production of the hierarchically-subordinate motions that follow. Several issues are discussed: the sonic traces of focal impulses; focal impulses that are inflected to suggest motion either with or against the pull of gravity; the different character of accents aligned with focal impulses vs. not; and the effects of choosing a metrical interpretation when multiple interpretations are possible.
LITHIUM DECREASES AND COCAINE INCREASES THE BILATERAL ASYMMETRY OF SEROTONIN IN MESOSTRIATAL AND MESOLIMBIC SYSTEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN THE KINETIC PROPERTIES OF TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE

Psychomotor epileptics with hippocampal cells missing demonstrate interictal hypomania with non-dominant, and obsessionally dysphoric feelings with dominant, lobe foci. Tryptophan (TP) and serotonin (5-HT), an inhibitor of these cells, are distributed asymmetrically in rat hippocampi and striatal systems, with asymmetries almost halved with lithium's augmentation of TP uptake and 5-HT synthesis and almost doubled with cocaine's reduction of both functions. Changing enzyme conformation and substrate kinetics serve as neurobiological mechanisms.
Tapentadol: An initial analysis

Tapentadol hydrochloride (17(-)-(1R,2R)-3-(3-dimethylamino-1-ethyl-2-methyl-propyl)-phenol) is a newly released analgesic that works at two levels: by acting as a p-opioid agonist and as a modulator of descending inhibitory pathways through its effects on neurotransmitters involved in these pathways. The theoretical advantage is the provision of synergistic analgesic activities, which may lessen the need for opioid escalation. The advantage is its potential as a possible new agent in neuropathic pain. Preclinical models confirm analgesic properties in acute pain and neuropathic pain models, but with less potency than morphine. Tapentadol has minimal CYP 450 interactions limiting potential for drug interactions. Human clinical trial data in nonmalignant pain suggest less potency than a step-3 opioid, and the drug remains to be tested in patients with cancer pain and neuropathic pain.
Area-Level Predictors of Medication Nonadherence Among US Medicaid Beneficiaries With Lupus: A Multilevel Study.

Objective Adherence to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is suboptimal. Although individual-level factors, including younger age and non-white race/ethnicity, have been implicated, contextual factors have not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of contextual factors, including racial composition, socioeconomic status, and the concentration of health care resources, on adherence to HCQ among SLE patients enrolled in Medicaid. Methods We identified SLE patients from 28 states in the US who enrolled in Medicaid (2000-2010) and in whom HCQ treatment was newly initiated (no use for ≥6 months). We required 12 months of continuous enrollment with complete drug dispensing data and measured adherence using the proportion of days covered (PDC). We identified individual-level variables from Medicaid, zip code-level, county-level and state-level sociodemographic variables from the American Community Survey, and health resources from Area Health Resources Files. We used 4-level hierarchical multivariable logistic regression models to examine the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% credible intervals (95% CrIs) of adherence (PDC ≥80%) versus nonadherence. Results Among 10,268 patients with SLE in whom HCQ treatment was initiated, 15% were adherent to treatment. After we adjusted for individual-level characteristics, we observed lower odds of adherence among patients living in zip code areas with a higher percentage of black individuals (highest tertile OR 0.81 [95% CrI 0.69-0.96] versus lowest tertile). This association persisted after controlling for area-level educational attainment, percent below federal poverty level (FPL), urbanicity, and health care resources. We did not observe statistically significant associations with zip code-level percent Hispanic, percent white, education, or percent below FPL. The odds of adherence were higher in counties with more hospitals (OR 1.30 [95% CrI 1.07-1.58]). Conclusion Among Medicaid beneficiaries with SLE, we observed significant effects of racial composition and hospital concentration on HCQ adherence. Interventions that acknowledge and address contextual factors should be considered in order to reduce high rates of nonadherence in vulnerable populations.
Histopathology of the Inner Ear in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome Caused by a Missense Variant (p.Thr65Ala) in the MPZ Gene.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndrome is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neuropathies affecting both peripheral motor and sensory nerves. Progressive sensorineural hearing loss, vestibular abnormalities, and dysfunction of other cranial nerves have been described. This is the second case report of otopathology in a patient with CMT syndrome. Molecular genetic testing of DNA obtained at autopsy revealed a missense variant in the MPZ gene (p.Thr65Ala), pathogenic for an autosomal-dominant form of CMT1B. The temporal bones were also prepared for light microscopy by hematoxylin and eosin and Gomori trichome stains, and immunostaining for anti-myelin protein zero. Pathology was consistent with a myelinopathy of the auditory, vestibular, and facial nerves bilaterally. The pathophysiology of cranial nerve dysfunction in CMT is unknown. Findings in the current case suggested, at least in cranial nerves 7 and 8, that a myelinopathy may be causative.
Synchronous Electrostatic Machine Torque Modulation via Complex Vector Voltage Control With a Current Source Inverter

Advances in electrostatic machine design have enhanced the torque density of macroscale electrostatic machines toward practical use. A recently developed fractional horsepower three-phase separately excited synchronous electrostatic machine (SEM) demonstrates torque densities comparable to those of air-cooled permanent-magnet-based electromagnetic machines (1.5 Nm/kg) when excited with a medium voltage (5 kV). SEMs develop torque from voltage, not from current, and therefore incur nearly zero losses at low speeds or stall. However, there is no off-the-shelf medium-voltage drive at this power level, and the appropriate control framework for these machines has yet to be established. This article presents a complex vector voltage regulator control approach as a means for modulating torque in an SEM. Ampere-second (charge) is sourced from a current source inverter (CSI) serving as the drive electronics for voltage regulation. Together, the control approach and the CSI hardware form the first high-performance electrostatic drive. Key research outcomes include the theoretical development and experimental verification of charge-oriented control via voltage regulation. Experimental results are presented for rotational and stall conditions, which are reflective of the “position and hold” applications suited to electrostatic machines. The dynamic performance of the voltage regulator is verified by measuring the controller frequency response function, dynamic stiffness, and command tracking on a separately excited SEM.
Work! A Queer History of Modeling

Richly detailed and meticulously researched, Elspeth Brown’s Work! A Queer History of Modeling offers an intersectional framework through which the reader is able to consider the history of capital...
Patient, client, consumer, or service user? An empirical investigation into the impact of labels on stigmatizing attitudes

Objective Currently there is no universally agreed upon language for those seeking psychiatric treatment, and labels commonly include patient, client, consumer, and service user. Although there is some research regarding preferences for label (Dickens & Picchioni, 2012), little is known about how people perceive an individual differently based on the label used. The current study examined whether specific labels were associated with more stigmatizing attitudes. Method Participants recruited through MTurk (N = 526) were randomized to read a vignette of a man named Harry, described as a patient, client, consumer, or service user with mental illness. After correctly recalling the label from the vignette, participants were assessed for stigmatizing attitudes toward Harry. Results ANOVAs indicated a no main effects of label on stigmatizing attitudes. A number of variables (e.g., overall stigma, dangerousness, segregation, and distance) revealed a significant interaction between label and prior mental health treatment: For those who have sought prior mental health treatment, the term client may be more stigmatizing than other labels. Conclusions and implications for practice The current study did not find general differences in stigmatizing attitudes associated with mental health treatment label. Although preliminary, these findings suggest treatment labels may not significantly impact stigmatizing attitudes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Nursery Irrigation System Checklist

Irrigation must be intensively managed to achieve optimal production times for plants of superior quality. There must be a balance between excessive and inadequate irrigation. Producers use irrigation control devices and past experience to achieve the balance. A few simple checks before and during irrigation can make a big difference in efficient and uniform delivery of the appropriate amount of water. This 4-page fact sheet was written by Tom Yeager, and published by the UF Department of Environmental Horticulture, April 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep469
10 kHz Spinal Cord Stimulation for Combined Alleviation of Post-Laminectomy Syndrome and Chronic Abdominal Pain: A Case Report.

Chronic pain affects roughly 50 million Americans, or 20.4% of the national population, and is a huge economic burden on society. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a cost-effective interventional treatment modality for patients with chronic neuropathic and radicular pain. It is traditionally reserved for patients suffering from post-laminectomy syndrome, complex regional pain syndrome, or chronic back pain that is refractory to other less invasive techniques. There have been a few cases describing the use of SCS at higher levels to successfully obtain coverage of visceral abdominal pain. Here we describe an interesting case of a patient who suffered from chronic back pain and radiculopathy with post-laminectomy syndrome as well as chronic abdominal pain. We describe the use of high-frequency SCS to alleviate the patient's post-laminectomy pain as well as his abdominal pain. Our case describes SCS use with multi-level lead placement targeting both post-laminectomy pain ﻿and abdominal pain. We describe a strategy that can be useful to patients with concurrent pain from more than one source. Our case also adds to the growing evidence supporting the use of SCS for treating chronic visceral pain syndromes.
Structural Evolution of Layered Hybrid Lead Iodide Perovskites in Colloidal Dispersions

Controlling the structure of layered hybrid metal halide perovskites, such as the Ruddlesden-Popper (R-P) phases, is challenging because of their tendency to form mixtures of varying composition. Colloidal growth techniques, such as antisolvent precipitation, form dispersions with properties that match bulk layered R-P phases, but controlling the composition of these particles remains challenging. Here, we explore the microstructure of particles of R-P phases of methylammonium lead iodide prepared by antisolvent precipitation from ternary mixtures of alkylammonium cations, where one cation can form perovskite phases (CH3NH3+) and the other two promote layered structures as spacers (e.g., C4H9NH3+ and C12H25NH3+). We determine that alkylammonium spacers pack with constant methylene density in the R-P interlayer and exclude interlayer solvent in dispersed colloids, regardless of length or branching. Using this result, we illustrate how the competition between cations that act as spacers between layers, or as grain-terminating ligands, determines the colloidal microstructure of layered R-P crystallites in solution. Optical measurements reveal that quantum well dimensions can be tuned by engineering the ternary cation composition. Transmission synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering reveal changes in the structure of colloids in solvent and after deposition into thin films. In particular, we find that spacers can alloy between R-P layers if they share common steric arrangements, but tend to segregate into polydisperse R-P phases if they do not mix. This study provides a framework to compare the microstructure of colloidal layered perovskites and suggests clear avenues to control phase and colloidal morphology.
The Concept of Childhood Trauma in Psychopathology: Definitions and Historical Perspectives

This chapter provides an overview of the concept of childhood trauma and its examination in the emergence of psychopathology. We start by briefly defining and describing childhood traumatic events, distinguishing between events and their sequelae (i.e., symptoms), and highlighting cultural variations in the understanding and meaning ascribed to traumatic events. We review the epidemiology of childhood exposure to traumatic events around the world, and then provide a historical perspective on childhood trauma. The final section of the chapter presents an overarching developmental psychopathology framework to understand the pathways by which trauma exposure leads to increased risk for the emergence and progression of different types of psychopathology, invoking developmental psychopathology concepts as a way to understand the multiple pathways from different types of traumatic events to risk for psychopathology.
Whose and What Chatter Matters? The Impact of Tweets on Movie Sales

Social broadcasting networks like Twitter in the U.S. and “Weibo” in China are transforming the way online word-of-mouth is disseminated and consumed in our society. We investigate whether and how Twitter WOM affects movie sales using publicly available Twitter data and common text mining algorithms. We find that more Twitter WOM messages always leads to more movie sales, however, the magnitude of the impact crucially depends of whom the WOM messages are from and what the WOM messages are about. Measuring Twitter users’ influence by their number of followers, we find that WOM messages from a more influential person is significantly larger than WOM messages from a less influential person. In support to some recent findings that valence does matter to the impact of WOM on product sales, we also find that the impact of positive Twitter WOM is larger than negative WOM. However, the most powerful Twitter WOM are those tweets where the authors express their intention to watch a certain movie. We attribute this to the dual effects of intention tweets on movie sales: the direct effect on movie sales through the WOM author’s own purchase behavior, and the indirect effect on movie sales through either the awareness effect or the persuasive effect of the WOM on its recipients. These findings provide different perspectives of understanding WOM compared with earlier literature and have important managerial implications.
Implications of cover crop planting and termination timing on rainfed maize production in semi-arid cropping systems

Abstract Despite the potential to increase soil organic matter, cycle soil nutrients, and suppress weeds, there is a concern that cover crops (CCs) soil water use negatively impacts subsequent crops in water-limited environments. Cover crop management practices such as planting and termination timing may mitigate the detrimental impacts of CCs in semi-arid cropping systems. To determine the effects of CCs under water-limited environments, we evaluated the total CC biomass produced in the fall and spring, soil water content during the subsequent maize growing season, weed density and biomass, crop residue, and soil nutrients at the maize V6 development stage, and maize productivity. The experiment was conducted under a wheat-maize-fallow rotation at two sites (Grant and North Platte, NE) during 2016−2017 and 2017−2018. Treatments consisted of three planting timings after winter wheat harvest and three CC termination timings and fallow (no CCs) before maize establishment. Planting CCs shortly after winter wheat harvest increased CC biomass in the fall and early spring compared to late planting. Cover crops terminated early in the spring reduced weed biomass (−70 %), while CCs terminated late in the spring reduced both weed density (−56 %) and biomass (−82 %) compared to fallow. Due to above-normal precipitation during the experiment, soil water measured at 0−20 cm soil depth was impacted by CCs only at Grant 2016−2017. Cover crops terminated late in the spring increased crop residue biomass but decreased total nitrogen at 0−10 cm soil depth by 17 %, and decreased soil nitrate at the 10−20 cm soil depth up to 26 % compared to fallow. Cover crops planted late in the summer (August) and terminated late in the spring (May) had the most detrimental impact on maize grain yield. Late termination of CCs in the spring reduced corn grain yield by up to 20 % compared to fallow. Despite enhanced weed suppression and crop residue, CCs decreased soil nitrogen and maize grain yield, especially when terminated late in the spring. Producers in semi-arid regions of the Great Plains willing to incorporate CCs should use caution when selecting management strategies for their CCs to minimize maize grain yield and economic losses.
Income Trajectories in Later Life: Longitudinal Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study

We examine respondents in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to observe how their financial situations unfolded as they aged. We focus on low-income older adults and follow them over time to identify the factors associated with having low income at baseline and thereafter. We find that (a) real income remained relatively stable as individuals approached and entered retirement, and progressed through their retirement years, and (b) labor force participation declined and thus earnings became less important with age, while Social Security and retirement savings rose as a proportion of annual income.
Autonomic Regulation Therapy in Heart Failure

Autonomic regulation therapy (ART) is a rapidly emerging therapy in the management of congestive heart failure secondary to systolic dysfunction. Modulation of the cardiac neuronal hierarchy can be achieved with bioelectronics modulation of the spinal cord, cervical vagus, baroreceptor, or renal nerve ablation. This review will discuss relevant preclinical and clinical research in ART for systolic heart failure. Understanding mechanistically what is being stimulated within the autonomic nervous system by such device-based therapy and how the system reacts to such stimuli is essential for optimizing stimulation parameters and for the future development of effective ART.
A Representational Paradigm for Dynamic Resource Transformation Problems

There are a host of complex operational problems arising in transportation and logistics which are characterized by dynamic information processes, complex operational characteristics and decentralized control structures. Yet, they are also optimization problems. The optimization community has made outstanding progress in the solution of large optimization problems when information processes are static (we do not model the arrival of new information) and when the entire problem can be viewed as being part of a single control structure. Not surprisingly, this technology has been extremely successful in applications such as planning airline operations which meet these requirements. This paper has grown out of the challenges we faced modeling complex operational problems arising in freight transportation and logistics, which are characterized by highly dynamic information processes, complex operational characteristics and decentralized control structures. Whereas people solve more traditional problems have struggled with the development of effective algorithms, we have struggled with the more basic challenge of simply modeling the problem. We feel that our ability to solve these problems is limited by the languages that we use to express them. Classical mathematical paradigms do not provide an easy and natural way to represent the optimization of these problems in the presence of dynamic information processes, or to capture the complexities of large scale operations. In particular, models do not capture the organization and flow of information in large organizations, preferring instead to assume the presence of a single, all-knowing decision-maker. As a result, most dynamic models posed in the literature are myopic or deterministic. The characteristics of more complex operations has spawned an extensive literature presenting models that are unique to a particular industry. For example, we solve airline fleet assignment problems (Hane et al. [22]), railroad car distribution problems (Jordan and Turnquist [26], Mendiratta and Turnquist [27], Haghani [21], and Herren [23], for example), the load matching problem of truckload trucking (Powell [33], Powell [34], Schrijver [40]), routing and scheduling problems in less-than-truckload trucking (Powell [32], Crainic and Roy [12]), the flow management problem in air traffic control (Andreatta and Romanin-Jacur [2] and Odoni [29]) and the management of ocean containers (Crainic, Gendreau and Dejax [11]). Even within an industry, rail car distribution is dif
A STUDY OF CARBON TETRACHLORIDE. VI. AMINOACIDURIA IN RESPONSE TO CARBON TETRACHLORIDE INHALATION.

Abstract The α-amino acid nitrogen to creatinine nitrogen ratio of normal rats on an ad libitum diet is quite constant and provides a reliable method for determining alterations in amino acid excretion. Exposure of rats to high levels of CCl4 vapor results in increased urinary excretion of free amino acids. There is a simultaneous increase in the corresponding free amino acids of the blood suggesting that increased urinary excretion is a reflection of elevated levels of free amino acids in the blood. The suggestion is made that the source of the elevated serum free amino acids is damaged tissue and, on the basis of the hepatotoxic action of CCl4, one would expect damaged liver cells to be the major source of these free amino acids.
Reusing Patterns through Design Refinement

Refinement concepts, such as procedural and data refinement, are among the most important ideas of software engineering. In this paper, we investigate the idea of design refinement , the process of refining a set of design patterns to arrive at application-specific design components, and ultimately, to system implementations. The approach also enables designers to refine a given pattern to arrive at more specialized versions of that pattern --sub-patterns -- thus enabling the creation of pattern hierarchies . We present three contributions: (i ) We explore the concept of design refinement and consider what it means for such a refinement to be correct , in the sense of being faithful to the pattern being refined. (ii ) We describe a two-part formalism for documenting patterns and sub-patterns. A pattern contract captures the requirements and behavioral guarantees associated with a given pattern, while a subcontract captures the ways in which the pattern is specialized for use in a particular application or sub-pattern. Contracts and subcontracts serve as the basis for validating the correctness of a given refinement. (iii ) We consider how related patterns may be organized into suitable hierarchies based on the notion of design refinement. We focus on variations of the standard Observer pattern as examples. A key feature of our formalism is that while it enables us to specify patterns and sub-patterns precisely, it allows us to do so without compromising their flexibility .
The Process of Medical Writing

Beginning with the methods used by some well-known writers, Chap. 3 discusses classic outline use, the IMRaD model of presenting reports of clinical research, and first-person writing. There are tips on making writing readable and vigorous, how to write more efficiently, and the time when a writer may be gifted with a creative thought about the work in progress. This chapter also discusses the impact factor and how it may influence where writers submit their best papers.
Factors influencing unhealthy eating behaviour in US adolescents

This research explores the simultaneous effects of key variables on unhealthy eating behaviour. Specifically, this study focuses on the relative effects of advertising, parental and peer influence, and self-efficacy on the unhealthy eating behaviour of US adolescents. The results suggest that: (1) parental influence, peer influence and self-efficacy significantly predict unhealthy eating behaviour; (2) self-efficacy is the strongest predictor of unhealthy eating behaviour; and (3) advertising effects are largely neutralized by parental influence, peer influence and self-efficacy.
Causes of uveitis in children without juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Background The purpose of this study was to report the demographics, disease characteristics, treatments, and visual outcomes of pediatric uveitis patients without juvenile idiopathic arthritis managed in a tertiary medical center.
Provider perceptions and expectations of breast cancer posttreatment care: a University of California Athena Breast Health Network project.

Purpose The Athena Breast Health Network collaboration is a University of California system-wide project initiated with the intent to drive innovation in breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment. This qualitative research examines provider perceptions and expectations of posttreatment breast cancer care across five network sites with the goal of better understanding provider behavior during the posttreatment phase of the cancer care trajectory.
Abstract 4890: Collagen 1 fibers are a key component in the establishment of distant pulmonary metastasis by breast cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA We previously observed that silencing COX-2 significantly reduced the expression of degradative enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), and altered the expression of ECM components such as hyaluronan and lumican that play a role in intra-fibrillar collagen spacing [1]. We have also observed that primary human breast cancers that have metastasized have higher collagen 1 (Col1) fiber density and volume [2]. Here, for the first time, we have investigated Col1 fiber patterns in metastatic lung nodules established by metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and their subclone Clone 13 cells that express shRNA to significantly reduce, but not silence, COX-2 expression. Second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy studies were performed on H&E stained lung sections obtained from SCID mice five weeks post intravenous injection of MDA-MB-231 (five mice) and Clone 13 (three mice) human breast cancer cells. SHG images of 5-7 fields of view per mouse were acquired from the lung sections on an Olympus FV1000MPE multiphoton microscope, and analyzed for inter-fiber distance and percentage of fiber per metastatic area using in-house software [2]. Reducing COX-2 expression resulted in a significant reduction of metastatic lung burden in mice. Analysis of the Col1 fiber structures of similar sized metastatic nodules revealed significantly fewer fibers and larger inter fiber distance in lung nodules of mice injected with Clone 13 cells compared to parental MDA-MB-231 cells. Reducing COX-2 resulted in the establishment of significantly fewer metastatic lung nodules with significantly sparser Col1 fibers. These data suggest that the ability to lay down Col1 fibers is a key requirement for the successful establishment of metastatic lesions. Reducing COX-2 expression in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells affects the ability of these cancer cells to lay down a Col1 fiber scaffold suitable for cancer cell growth in the lungs. These data identify new aspects of the role of Col1 fibers and COX-2 in the establishment of metastatic lesions. References: [1] I. Stasinopoulos et al., Neoplasia (2008); [2] S. Kakkad et al., J Biomed Opt (2012). This work was supported by NIH R01CA82337 and P50CA103175. Citation Format: Desmond Jacob, Samata M. Kakkad, Balaji Krishnamachary, Ioannis Stasinopoulos, Meiyappan Solaiyappan, Flonne Wildes, Kristine Glunde, Zaver M. Bhujwalla. Collagen 1 fibers are a key component in the establishment of distant pulmonary metastasis by breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 4890. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-4890
Soil-catalyzed oxidation of aniline

Abstract Aniline partially degraded in sterile soil to azobenzene, azoxybenzene, phenazine, form=anilide, and acetanilide. Nitrobenzene, p -benzoquinone, and unidentified species were possible products; substantial bound residues may also have formed. Soil-catalyzed conversion of aniline or [ d 5]aniline seems evidenced by 6-24X more product recovery in sterile soil than in sterile water alone, a process inhibited by Na2S2O4. Freundlich adsorption constants showed: azobenzene > azoxybenzene > phenazine > aniline.
Polydnaviral ankyrin proteins aid parasitic wasp survival by coordinate and selective inhibition of hematopoietic and immune NF-kappa B signaling in insect hosts.

Polydnaviruses are mutualists of their parasitoid wasps and express genes in immune cells of their Lepidopteran hosts. Polydnaviral genomes carry multiple copies of viral ankyrins or vankyrins. Vankyrin proteins are homologous to IκB proteins, but lack sequences for regulated degradation. We tested if Ichnoviral Vankyrins differentially impede Toll-NF-κB-dependent hematopoietic and immune signaling in a heterologous in vivo Drosophila, system. We first show that hematopoiesis and the cellular encapsulation response against parasitoid wasps are tightly-linked via NF-κB signaling. The niche, which neighbors the larval hematopoietic progenitors, responds to parasite infection. Drosophila NF-κB proteins are expressed in the niche, and non cell-autonomously influence fate choice in basal and parasite-activated hematopoiesis. These effects are blocked by the Vankyrin I2-vank-3, but not by P-vank-1, as is the expression of a NF-κB target transgene. I2-vank-3 and P-vank-1 differentially obstruct cellular and humoral inflammation. Additionally, their maternal expression weakens ventral embryonic patterning. We propose that selective perturbation of NF-κB-IκB interactions in natural hosts of parasitic wasps negatively impacts the outcome of hematopoietic and immune signaling and this immune deficit contributes to parasite survival and species success in nature.
Correlation analysis of 2D tomographic images for flaw detection in pavements

Ultrasonic tomography is an emerging method of nondestructive concrete pavement diagnostics which can be used for improved quality assurance/quality control during concrete pavement construction and assist in rehabilitation decision making. Detection of flaws using ultrasonic tomography requires significant effort and user expertise. To address these limitations, a quantitative method for determining the presence of defects in concrete pavements was developed. The proposed method is an adaptation of the recently developed impact-echo signature analysis method (IESA), which is used for comparison of impact-echo signals. The proposed two-dimensional ultrasonic tomography signature analysis (2D-UTSA) method was used to compare two-dimensional B-scans obtained using a commercial test system in field trials at the Minnesota Rd. Research Facility and the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility. Analysis of the results showed that the 2D-UTSA method is capable of identifying subsurface defects.
Application of differential scanning calorimetry to the identification of crosslinks in cellulose

Thermograms of reaction products of cellulose with dimethylolurea (DMU) or dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) homopolymers show the peak associated with cellulose decomposition is shifted up by as much as 20°C. Solubility measurements in cupriethylenediamine (Cuene) indicate the homopolymers are present as side groups on the cellulose. Cellulose reacted with DMU or its homopolymer is only insoluble in Cuene when oxymethylene crosslinks are simultaneously formed by CH2O. These crosslinks do not affect the thermal stability of cellulose. Linkages to DMEU or its homopolymer are relatively stable to alkaline hydrolysis and may be distinguished from oxymethylene linkages by comparison of thermograms and solubilities before and after acid hydrolysis. Comparison of thermograms of cellulose with those of the n-methylol compounds, their homopolymers, physical mixtures of cellulose and the homopolymers, and reaction products of cellulose with DMU, DMEU, and CH2O, demonstrated that, depending upon the reaction conditions, CH2O evolution, in situ homopolymenzation, cellulose crosslinking by CH2O, by the n-methylol compounds, and reaction with their oligomers may occur. Reaction variables, viz., pH, temperature, nature and concentration of catalyst, the time-temperature interval between application of the n-methylol compound and the final reaction, and the type of n-methylol compound determine which reaction predominates. The modification of cellulose by DMU shows a greater dependence on catalyst type than does DMEU which readily polymerizes to low molecular-weight products and evolves CH2O which crosslinks the cellulose.
ENZYMES OF ECDYSTEROID 3-EPIMERIZATION IN MIDGUT CYTOSOL OF MANDUCA SEXTA: pH OPTIMA COSUBSTRATE KINETICS, AND SODIUM CHLORIDE EFFECT*

Five enzyme activities in midgut cytosol of Manduca sexta last instar larvae are potentially involved in the interconversion of 3β-hydroxyecdysteroids, 3-oxoecdysteroids, and 3α-hydroxyecdysteroids. A Sephadex G-25-filtered high-speed supernatant was used to determine some of the characteristics of the corresponding enzymes. The pH optima of ecdysone oxidase and NADH-dependent 3-oxoecdysteroid 3α-reductase were 7.5, the pH of the midgut cytosol was 7.9. The apparent kinetic parameters for the NADH-dependent 3α-reductase were Km (for NADH) = 80.8 ± 10.8 μM and Vmax = 0.58 ± 0.30 nmol/min/mg protein, and for the NADPH-dependent 3-oxoecdysteroid 3β-reductase, Km (for NADPH) = 19.3 ± 2.5 μM and Vmax = 4.39 ± 0.40 nmol/min/mg protein. NAD+ and NADP+ inhibited the enzymatic 3-oxoecdysteroid reductions, but the reactions were not reversible (i.e. no conversion of ecdysone or 3-epiecdysone to 3-dehydroecdysone). Sodium chloride (0.2 M) inhibited the 3α-reductase activity with NADH and strongly increased the 3α-reductase activity with NADPH.
Modeling the Sodium Recovery Resulting from Using Concentrated Caustic for Boehmite Dissolution

Boehmite dissolution experiments were conducted at NaOH concentrations of 10 and 12 M to determine whether the increased aluminum solubility at high hydroxide concentration would offset the increase in added sodium, causing a decrease in the amount of sodium added during boehmite dissolution. A shrinking-core dissolution rate model with a reversible reaction was fitted to the test data. The resulting model included the effects of temperature, hydroxide concentration, and dissolved aluminum concentration. The rate was found to depend on the ∼1.5 power of hydroxide molarity. When the rate model was used to simulate batch boehmite dissolution, a concentration range of 7–9 M NaOH was found to minimize the mass of sodium needed to dissolve a given mass of aluminum, potentially reducing it by as much as two-thirds. The time required to dissolve the boehmite could be decreased by using hydroxide concentrations greater than ∼10 M.
Antennas for satellites: Around the world with antennas made for three-axis stabilized spacecraft

Antennas for three-axis stabilized spacecraft that are in circular orbit and must communicate with one or more earth-based antennas are discussed. Antennas for many military satellites of a classified nature and for NASA's deep space probes are excluded. The fundamental characteristics of an antenna, namely radiation pattern, directivity, gain, and polarization, are defined. These properties are discussed in relation to the dipole and the conical spiral, both low-gain antennas. A consideration of the nature of the transmission of information over long, free space paths reveals that high-gain antennas are required when the information data rate is high, as in color TV transmissions. Some typical satellite antennas are briefly described, including those of the Global Positioning System's Navstar and the Telecommunications Data Relay satellites.
Quantitative study of protein–protein interactions by quartz nanopipettes

In this report, protein-modified quartz nanopipettes were used to quantitatively study protein–protein interactions in attoliter sensing volumes. As shown by numerical simulations, the ionic current through the conical-shaped nanopipette is very sensitive to the surface charge variation near the pore mouth. With the appropriate modification of negatively charged human neuroglobin (hNgb) onto the inner surface of a nanopipette, we were able to detect concentration-dependent current change when the hNgb-modified nanopipette tip was exposed to positively charged cytochrome c (Cyt c) with a series of concentrations in the bath solution. Such current change is due to the adsorption of Cyt c to the inner surface of the nanopipette through specific interactions with hNgb. In contrast, a smaller current change with weak concentration dependence was observed when Cyt c was replaced with lysozyme, which does not specifically bind to hNgb. The equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) for the Cyt c–hNgb complex formation was derived and the value matched very well with the result from surface plasmon resonance measurement. This is the first quantitative study of protein–protein interactions by a conical-shaped nanopore based on charge sensing. Our results demonstrate that nanopipettes can potentially be used as a label-free analytical tool to quantitatively characterize protein–protein interactions.
Children’s Social Adjustments in Nursery School

(1937). Children’s Social Adjustments in Nursery School. The Journal of Experimental Education: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 161-166.
The Predominant Role of Tension in the Nanoscale Mechanical Behavior of Cells Visualized by a New Imaging Platform

Mechanical properties of cells are crucial regulators of a plethora of physiological processes. Yet, we still lack the spatiotemporal resolution to probe them at the nanoscale, where they are most relevant for cell physiology. Here we present a new AFM-based platform compatible with a wide variety of cells - including human - producing cell mechanical maps that resolve features separated by 18 nm, thus approaching biological molecules length scales. Our mechanical maps are high in contrast and rich in nanometer-scale features, so we perform simultaneous fluorescence microscopy to identify molecular counterparts. Although cytoskeletal elements correlate with stiffness, mechanical contrast changes over time or in response to drug. This suggests that tension - rather than elastic modulus - dominates the mechanical response at the nanoscale, with the unique exception of regions corresponding to exceptionally-rigid focal adhesion. We finally synthesized our findings showing how tension levels can determine and predict cell shape at different length scales.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Importance of Patient and Processor Variables in Determining Outcomes With Cochlear Implants

Within-subjects comparisons of processing strategies for cochlear implants are reviewed. Compressed analog strategies were compared to interleaved pulses strategies in tests with one group of 8 sub...
Prevalence of Childhood Trauma Among U.S. Army Soldiers With Suicidal Behavior

ABSTRACTIn 2009, suicide was reported to be the third leading cause of death among U.S. Army personnel. The increase of suicides in the Army indicates the need for additional research to better understand the problem. Research in civilian populations found that experiencing childhood trauma increases the risk for various negative health outcomes, including suicide and suicide attempts, during adulthood. To date, there has been very little focus on pre-existing mental health before joining the service because of a lack of existing data. Participants were active duty Army Soldiers who attempted or completed suicide as identified by the Department of Defense Suicide Event Report. Among Soldiers exhibiting suicidal behavior, analyses were completed to identify significant associations with specific types of childhood trauma experienced before joining the Army. The prevalence of childhood trauma in this population was 43.3% among the suicide cases and 64.7% among the attempt cases. The most common types of chi...
Microchannel heatsink with liquid-nitrogen cooling

Excellent thermal performance of a silicon microchannel heatsink is demonstrated using liquid nitrogen as the coolant over a wide range of heat loads up to 1 kW/cm2. This performance is partly due to the order of magnitude increase in the thermal conductivity of silicon near 77 degree(s)K compared to room temperature. Subcooled boiling of the liquid nitrogen in the microchannel heatsink further enhances the thermal performance but makes the thermal resistance a nonlinear function of heat load. For a 500 W/cm2 heat load, a thermal resistance of 0.052 cm2*0C/W for a 9:1 aspect ratio heatsink was measured.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.