cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parvovirus B19-induced perturbation of human megakaryocytopoiesis in vitro

Parvovirus B19 infection leads to transient aplastic crises in individuals with chronic hemolytic anemias or immunodeficiency states. An additional unexplained sequela of B19 infection is thrombocytopenia. Because B19 is known to have a remarkable tropism for human erythropoietic elements, and is not known to replicate in nonerythroid cells, the etiology of this thrombocytopenia is uncertain. We sought to define the pathobiology of B19-associated thrombocytopenia by examining the role of B19 on in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis. B19 infection of normal human bone marrow cells significantly suppressed megakaryocyte (MK) colony formation compared with mock-infected cells. No such inhibition was observed with a nonpathogenic human parvovirus, the adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV). The B19-MK cell interaction was also studied at the molecular level. Whereas low-density bone marrow cells containing erythroid precursor cells supported B19 DNA replication, no viral DNA replication was observed in B19-infected MK-enriched fractions as determined by the presence of viral DNA replicative intermediates on Southern blots. However, analysis of total cytoplasmic RNA isolated from B19-infected MK fractions showed a low-level expression of the B19 genome as detected by quantitative RNA dot blots as well as by Northern analysis. Furthermore, a frame-shift mutation in a recombinant AAV-B19 hybrid genome segment that encodes the viral nonstructural (NS1) protein significantly reduced the observed inhibition of MK colony formation. These studies indicate tissue-tropism of B19 beyond the erythroid progenitor cell, and lend support to the hypothesis that B19 genome expression may be toxic to cell populations that are nonpermissive for viral DNA replication.
Physical Activity Self-Efficacy and Fitness: Family Environment Relationship Correlates and Self-Esteem as a Mediator among Adolescents Who Are Overweight or Obese.

Abstract Background: Little is known regarding how dimensions of the family social environment relate to fitness levels and physical activity self-efficacy (PASE) among adolescents who are overweight or obese and whether these relationships are mediated by self-esteem. Methods: Potential associations were evaluated between relationship subdomains (cohesion, conflict, expressivity) of the Family Environment Scale (FES), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, RSES), and PASE and fitness, using recovery heart rate [RHR, beats per minute (bpm)] from a 3-minute submaximal step test at baseline. Participants were 108 adolescents who were overweight or obese and were seeking weight-loss treatment as part of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Weight 12-week multidisciplinary pediatric weight management program. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to simultaneously evaluate paths between these variables and test for mediation. Results: In multivariable models, higher FES cohesion (β = −2.18, s.e. = 0.98; p = 0.0...
The Part Played by Wind Tunnels in Modern Aeronautics

The wind tunnel has been the main instrument for experimental research in aeronautics since the turn of the century and its history is as brief as powered flight itself. It has always played a leading rdle in aeronautics right from the time of the Wright Brothers to the present day. The early form of wind tunnels as developed at the National Physical Laboratory and other research establishments have been replaced over the years by larger and more elaborate facilities, each having a particular speed range and specific role in aeronautical research and development. Modern wind tunnels having continuous operation of the type installed at the Royal Aircraft Establishment involve powers of up to 100 000 h.p. and cost in the neighbourhood of £10 000 000. In spite of this cost it is a sobering thought that, if anything, the overall cost of each data point is less today than it was in the early days of aeronautics. Such tunnels are highly complex instruments for research and development and although they play a role similar in many respects to that of a computer, they have the advantage of always dealing with a real fluid. Indeed no known computer could cope with the range of problems that can be solved in a wind tunnel, ranging from such complex problems as the structure of turbulent flow to the pressures in separated flow regimes, to quote just two examples. This fact must always be kept in perspective when arguments are presented for more and more work on digital computers to solve basic fluid motion problems. Of course we cannot overlook the problems of interpretation of wind tunnel data and the difficulties encountered in extrapolating these data to flight conditions. The development of theories for such problems together with answers is of ever increasing importance, especially as the problems in aeronautics are becoming more and more complex. These solutions have the important function not only of high-lighting certain aspects of the flow, but of pin-pointing the important parameters in a problem together with providing better than order of magnitude results. However, theories must be based on physical facts and these can only be determined in the final analysis from experiments. The wind tunnel has three highly significant roles in modern aeronautics: (i) Experimental research as a forerunner to future theoretical research. (ii) Experimental research as a confirmation and extension of theory. (iii) Current research and development work on a given aircraft. The current trend in bringing strong theoretical and experimental groups together, plus the employment of rapid measurement techniques in wind tunnels, promises the greatest possible productive utilisation of these highly important and expensive facilities. In most cases today they are playing a strong, if not the leading, role in aeronautical development.
State-of-the-Art Fracture Characterization. I: Master Curve Analysis of Legacy Bridge Steels

AbstractAdvances in the field of fracture mechanics over the last four decades have allowed for a greater understanding of brittle and ductile fracture, including how to account for plasticity in fracture specimens and how to statistically define data scatter in the brittle and ductile-brittle transition region. This is particularly important for structural steels used in bridge applications, which typically possess high ductility and toughness. The material toughness provisions of the fracture control plan for highway bridges in the United States were developed from a database of linear-elastic tests, many of which were considered to be invalid according to testing standards in place at the time. This, the first of two companion papers, presents a reevaluation of legacy fracture toughness data obtained from steels used in highway bridges. This reevaluation uses plasticity corrections that characterize the toughness behavior of these steels using the master curve approach. Results of the study indicate th...
Stroke Risk Stratification Schemes in Atrial Fibrillation in the Era of Non-Vitamin K Anticoagulants: Misleading and Obsolete, at least for the Low-Risk Patients?

BACKGROUND The thromboembolic risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) is significantly mitigated by oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy, albeit at an increasing bleeding risk. The general principle is that the potential harm conferred by possible bleeding must not exceed the expected protective benefit of OAC. Over the recent years, the CHA2DS2-VASc score has been proven to be superior to other scores in identifying 'low risk' AF patients. However, even this latest score does not incorporate all possible risk factors causing a high thromboembolic risk, while the individual components of the CHA2DS2-VASc score do not seem to carry equal thromboembolic risk. Thus, the quest for more reliable risk stratification schemes and identification of "truly low-risk" patients has been continued. OBJECTIVE In this article, data concerning the risk stratification schemes and particularly the CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 and 0, are critically reviewed and a practical algorithm is proposed for all and more specifically for the "low-risk" patients. RESULTS A variety of clinical, echocardiographic, genetic and biochemical or coagulation parameters can also predict adverse thromboembolic events in AF patients. Nevertheless, the addition or adoption of more complex schemes may defeat the purpose of simplicity and practicality, demanding more extensive and costly assessments to decide on a relatively simple question, that of the need for anticoagulation. In the era of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) proven equivalent or superior to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), this may not be necessary any more, and a simple recommendation of dispensing OAC therapy almost to every patient afflicted by AF may prove to be a more practical and a ubiquitous approach, as long as safety is ensured by these newer agents. CONCLUSION The accumulated evidence appears compelling that at least those with a CHA2DS2- VASc score of ≥1, should receive OAC. With regards to those with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0, one may wish to consider additional risk factors (Figure 1) beyond those in scores to decide whether there is a need for thromboembolic protection that outweighs the bleeding risk, preferably with use of NOACs. Finally, an individualized strategy and clinical judgement may be necessary by assessing patient's clinical and financial status, preferences and choices in a shared decision-making or participatory medicine approach.
A Chemomechanical Model for Nuclear Morphology and Stresses during Cell Transendothelial Migration

It is now evident that the cell nucleus undergoes dramatic shape changes during important cellular processes such as cell transmigration through extracellular matrix and endothelium. Recent experimental data suggest that during cell transmigration the deformability of the nucleus could be a limiting factor, and the morphological and structural alterations that the nucleus encounters can perturb genomic organization that in turn influences cellular behavior. Despite its importance, a biophysical model that connects the experimentally observed nuclear morphological changes to the underlying biophysical factors during transmigration through small constrictions is still lacking. Here, we developed a universal chemomechanical model that describes nuclear strains and shapes and predicts thresholds for the rupture of the nuclear envelope and for nuclear plastic deformation during transmigration through small constrictions. The model includes actin contraction and cytosolic back pressure that squeeze the nucleus through constrictions and overcome the mechanical resistance from deformation of the nucleus and the constrictions. The nucleus is treated as an elastic shell encompassing a poroelastic material representing the nuclear envelope and inner nucleoplasm, respectively. Tuning the chemomechanical parameters of different components such as cell contractility and nuclear and matrix stiffnesses, our model predicts the lower bounds of constriction size for successful transmigration. Furthermore, treating the chromatin as a plastic material, our model faithfully reproduced the experimentally observed irreversible nuclear deformations after transmigration in lamin-A/C-deficient cells, whereas the wild-type cells show much less plastic deformation. Along with making testable predictions, which are in accord with our experiments and existing literature, our work provides a realistic framework to assess the biophysical modulators of nuclear deformation during cell transmigration.
Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Surgical Intensive Care Unit Personnel

Background Surgical intensive care unit personnel are exposed to catastrophic situations as they care for seriously injured or ill patients. Few interventions have been developed to reduce the negative effects of work stress in this environment. Objective This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a workplace intervention for increasing resilience to stress. The intervention was implemented within the unique constraints characteristic of surgical intensive care units. Methods Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The mindfulness-based intervention included meditation, mild yoga movement, and music and was conducted in a group format 1 hour a week for 8 weeks in a surgical intensive care unit during work hours. Assessments were performed 1 week before and 1 week after the intervention. Results The intervention was well received, with a 97% overall retention rate and 100% retention in the intervention group. Work satisfaction, measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, increased significantly in the intervention group with no change in the control group. Negative correlations were found between the vigor subscale scores of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and scores for emotional exhaustion on the Maslach Burnout Inventory and scores for burnout on the Professional Quality of Life scale. Participants rated recognizing their stress response as a main benefit of the intervention. Conclusion Workplace group interventions aimed at decreasing the negative effects of stress can be applied within hospital intensive care units. Despite many constraints, attendance at weekly sessions was high. Institutional support was critical for implementation of this program.
Analytic Complexity and Challenges in Identifying Mixtures of Exposures Associated with Phenotypes in the Exposome Era.

Mixtures, or combinations and interactions between multiple environmental exposures, are hypothesized to be causally linked with disease and health-related phenotypes. Established and emerging molecular measurement technologies to assay the exposome, the comprehensive battery of exposures encountered from birth to death, promise a new way of identifying mixtures in disease in the epidemiological setting. In this opinion, we describe the analytic complexity and challenges in identifying mixtures associated with phenotype and disease. Existing and emerging machine-learning methods and data analytic approaches (e.g., “environment-wide association studies” [EWASs]), as well as large cohorts may enhance possibilities to identify mixtures of correlated exposures associated with phenotypes; however, the analytic complexity of identifying mixtures is immense. If the exposome concept is realized, new analytical methods and large sample sizes will be required to ascertain how mixtures are associated with disease. The author recommends documenting prevalent correlated exposures and replicated main effects prior to identifying mixtures.
Believers Versus Skeptics: An Assessment of the Cardenio/Double Falsehood Problem

This chapter maintains that “the Cardenio problem” raises interesting questions about the handling of scanty, contradictory, and often inadequate evidence. Shakespeare apparently collaborated with Fletcher on the original 1613 play (lost). An adaptation (by Davenant?) from circa 1667 is also lost. Theobald’s later adaptation, entitled Double Falsehood (1728), apparently combines generic features and language from both the Jacobean period and the 1720s. Quantitative stylistics suggest the presence of three authorial hands. While I conclude that Double Falsehood is an adaptation—longstanding charges of forgery ignore facts and historical circumstances—the play contains little or no unadulterated Shakespeare.
Ethanol Consumption in Mice Lacking CD14, TLR2, TLR4, or MyD88.

Background Molecular and behavioral studies support a role for innate immune proinflammatory pathways in mediating the effects of alcohol. Increased levels of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been observed in animal models of alcohol consumption and in human alcoholics, and many of these TLRs signal via the MyD88-dependent pathway. We hypothesized that this pathway is involved in alcohol drinking and examined some of its key signaling components. Methods Different ethanol (EtOH)-drinking paradigms were studied in male and female control C57BL/6J mice versus mice lacking CD14, TLR2, TLR4 (C57BL/10ScN), or MyD88. We studied continuous and intermittent access 2-bottle choice (2BC) and 1-bottle and 2BC drinking-in-the-dark (DID) tests as well as preference for saccharin, quinine, and NaCl. Results In the 2BC continuous access test, EtOH intake decreased in male TLR2 knockout (KO) mice, and we previously reported reduced 2BC drinking in male and female CD14 KO mice. In the intermittent access 2BC test, EtOH intake decreased in CD14 KO male and female mice, whereas drinking increased in MyD88 KO male mice. In the 2BC-DID test, EtOH drinking decreased in male and female mice lacking TLR2, whereas drinking increased in MyD88 KO male mice. In the 1-bottle DID test, EtOH intake decreased in female TLR2 KO mice. TLR2 KO and CD14 KO mice did not differ in saccharin preference but showed reduced preference for NaCl. MyD88 KO mice showed a slight reduction in preference for saccharin. Conclusions Deletion of key components of the MyD88-dependent pathway produced differential effects on EtOH intake by decreasing (TLR2 KO and CD14 KO) or increasing (MyD88 KO) drinking, while deletion of TLR4 had no effect. Some of the drinking effects depended on the sex of the mice and/or the EtOH-drinking model.
Muslims in Great Britain: the impact of mosque attendance on political behaviour and civic engagement

Is mosque attendance associated with withdrawal from civic and political life and the endorsement of politically motivated violence (PMV)? We draw from a large multi-ethnic survey in the U.K. to an...
Defending against Sybil Devices in Crowdsourced Mapping Services

Crowdsourcing is an unique and practical approach to obtain personalized data and content. Its impact is especially significant in providing commentary, reviews and metadata, on a variety of location based services. In this study, we examine reliability of the Waze mapping service, and its vulnerability to a variety of location-based attacks. Our goals are to understand the severity of the problem, shed light on the general problem of location and device authentication, and explore the efficacy of potential defenses. Our preliminary results already show that a single attacker with limited resources can cause havoc on Waze, producing ``virtual'' congestion and accidents, automatically re-routing user traffic, and compromising user privacy by tracking users' precise movements via software while staying undetected. To defend against these attacks, we propose a proximity-based Sybil detection method to filter out malicious devices.
Detection of domain motion in NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase through polarization anisotropy measurements

Conformational transitions between closed and open states in the NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) play a critical role in its electron-transport function. In this study, we determined rotational diffusion coefficients of the EDANS fluorophore attached to the cytosolic POR construct lacking the N-terminal transmembrane region. We identified two dynamic modes, slow and fast, which are interpreted as the rotational diffusion of POR as a whole and the local domain motion, respectively. Timescale of the local rotational diffusion component suggests that it may correspond to the transient opening of the fully oxidized POR structure.
Monitoring Public Health Impact of HPV Vaccination on RRP

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease resulting from human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Estimates of disease burden may vary due to non-standardized study methodology. Monitoring of RRP can characterize RRP burden, identify risk factors and susceptible populations, detect rare complications, identify opportunities for prevention, and evaluate current therapies and public health interventions. Since the 2006 introduction of HPV vaccine in the United States, monitoring may be useful for measuring vaccine impact on reducing or preventing RRP. RRP monitoring may also help identify opportunities to improve quality of life for active cases and reduce overall costs associated with disease management. Potential methods for monitoring RRP include national surveillance systems, nationally representative health surveys, registries and collaboratives, and administrative claims databases. Ideally, a national RRP registry or database may enable assessment of HPV vaccine impact on RRP burden in countries with HPV vaccination programs.
Direct Synthesis of H2O2 on AgPt Octahedra: The Importance of Ag–Pt Coordination for High H2O2 Selectivity

H2O2 production by direct synthesis (H2 + O2 → H2O2) is a promising alternative to the energy-intensive anthraquinone oxidation process and to the use of chlorine for oxidation chemistry. Steady-state H2O2 selectivities are approximately 10-fold greater on AgPt octahedra (50%) than on Pt nanoparticles of similar size (6%). Moreover, the initial H2O2 formation rates and selectivities are sensitive to the fractional coverage of Pt atoms and their location on the surfaces of AgPt octahedra, which can be controlled by exposing these catalysts to either CO or inert gases at 373 K to produce Pt-rich (16% initial H2O2 selectivity) or Pt-poor (36% initial H2O2 selectivity) surfaces. Increasing the coordination of Pt to Ag significantly modifies the electronic structure of Pt active sites, which is reflected by a shift in the ν(C=O) singleton frequency in 13CO from 2016 cm–1 on Pt to ∼1975 cm–1 on AgPt. These bimetallic AgPt catalysts present lower activation enthalpies (ΔH⧧) for H2O2 formation (29 kJ mol–1 on Pt ...
Educational Game Design as Gateway for Operationalizing Computational Thinking Skills among Middle School Students

This qualitative case study reports descriptive findings of digital game-based learning involving 15 Taiwanese middle school students’ use of computational thinking skills elicited through programmed activities in a game design workshop. Situated learning theory is utilized as framework to evaluate novice game designers’ individual advancement in developing a designer language, mindset, and use of computational thinking skills. Three strands of findings were extrapolated from analyzing observational data, participant-generated written responses and artifacts: Understanding games as systems and how components work together in meaningful relationships in game design; Developing growing sophistication in communicating with other novice game designers using language germane to game design; Improving understanding and application of computational thinking skills through game design activities. Extended discussions on three focal cases revealed that using design pedagogy, participants operationalized computational thinking skills in design tasks. Promises and pitfalls of using game design to facilitate computational thinking skills are discussed.
Social Science Perspectives on Hazards and Vulnerability Science

What makes people and places vulnerable to natural hazards? What technologies and methods are required to assess this vulnerability? These questions are used to illustrate the circumstances that place people and localities at risk, and those circumstances that enhance or reduce the ability of people and places to respond to environmental threats. Vulnerability science is an emerging interdisciplinary perspective that builds on the integrated tradition of risk, hazards, and disasters research. It incorporates qualitative and quantitative approaches, local to global geography, historic to future temporal domains, and best practices. It utilizes technological sophistication and analytical capabilities, especially in the realm of the geo-spatial and computation sciences (making extensive use of GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and spatial decision support systems), and integrates these with perspectives from the natural, social, health, and engineering sciences.
Studies of interdiffusion in Ge m Si n strained layer superlattices

We present the results on the characterization and interdiffusion behavior of Ge m Si n strained layer superlattices (SLS’s) composed of alternating monolayers of pure Ge and pure Si. Such Ge m Si n SLS’s were grown on top of thick relaxed Ge y Si1-y buffer layers so as to symmetrize the strain distribution and to maintain the pseudomorphic growth of the superlattices. Samples with different superlattice periodicities (i.e. d = dGe + dSi and different layer thickness ratios (i.e. dGe:dSi were prepared for comparison. Raman scattering spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction were used to characterize these samples. Initial results on thermal stability of these Ge m Si n SLS’s are also reported
Film Thickness Control for Chemically Synthesized Conducting Polypyrrole

The deposition of smooth, adherent films of conductive polypyrrole using a purely chemical route was monitored using the quartz crystal microbalance. The films were grown from an aqueous solution which contained FeCl3 as the oxidizing agent. The kinetic behavior of the film deposition was directly measured and recorded. This behavior was modelled assuming that the growth rate was limited by the bulk concentration of the reactants. Depletion of the reactants was described by the formation of oligomeric pyrrole in the bulk, using simple second order kinetics. It is shown that the kinetic behavior was adequately described by this model, excluding the initial regime, in which nucleation appeared to limit the growth rate. The influence of both the relative stoichiometry of the reactants and their concentration on the growth rate for purposes of growth control were studied. While the behavior at low reactant concentration was reasonably in accord with the model, at high concentrations and at high oxidant/pyrrole ratios, deviations were observed indicating that the model is overly simplistic for a detailed analysis in those ranges.
Exogenous oxytocin dilates the cervix in ewes.

Cervical anatomy in ewes usually prevents nonsurgical, intrauterine AI and transcervical embryo transfer (ET), which limits their commercial use in sheep. This study was conducted to determine whether oxytocin would dilate the cervix in ewes and permit passage of a stainless steel rod into the uterus. In Exp. 1, at 44 and 52 h after removal of progestogenated pessaries, ewes were injected i.v. with 0 (saline), 200, 400, or 600 USP units of oxytocin. Immediately before and after treatments, stainless steel rods were used to evaluate cervical dilation and determine whether the uterus could be entered. A rod could not be passed through the cervix and into the uterus in any of the saline-treated ewes. All doses of oxytocin given at 44 and 52 h after pessary removal dilated the cervix and permitted easy passage of a rod into the uterus. At both 44 and 52 h, a stainless steel rod was passed into the uterus in 33 of 43 (77%) of the oxytocin-treated ewes. In 93% (40/43) of these ewes, a rod could be passed into the uterus during either the 44-h or during the 52-h attempt. In Exp. 2, on d 9 after pessary removal, ewes were injected i.v. with oxytocin (400 USP units) at 6 or 12 h after i.v. estradiol-17 beta (0, 100, or 200 micrograms). Cervical dilation was evaluated as in Exp. 1. Dose of estradiol x time of oxytocin affected (P less than .01) the proportion of ewes in which a rod could be passed transcervically into the uterus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Backward Shift on H p

z on the classical Hardy space H. Though there are many aspects of this operator worthy of study [20], we will focus on the description of its invariant subspaces by which we mean the closed linear manifolds E ⊂ H for which BE ⊂ E . When 1 1 case involves heavy use of duality and especially the Hahn-Banach separation theorem where one gets at E by first looking at E⊥, the annihilator of E , and then returning to E by ⊥(E⊥). On the other hand, when 0 < p < 1, H is no longer locally convex and the Hahn-Banach separation theorem fails [12]. In fact, as we shall see in § 4, there are invariant subspaces E 6= H, 0 < p < 1, for which ⊥(E⊥) = H. Despite these difficulties, an ingenious tour de force approach of Aleksandrov [1] (see also [6]), using such tools as distribution theory and the atomic decomposition theorem, characterizes these invariant subspaces. The first several sections of this paper are a leisurely, non-technical, treatment of the Douglas-Shapiro-Shields and Aleksandrov results. In § 5, we focus on some new results, based on techniques in [4], which give an alternative description of certain invariant subspaces of H. As a consequence, we eventually wind up characterizing the weakly closed invariant subspaces of H. In § 6, we make some remarks about the invariant subspaces of the standard Bergman spaces La when 0 < p < 1.
Using Node Information to Implement MPI Cartesian Topologies

The MPI API provides support for Cartesian process topologies, including the option to reorder the processes to achieve better communication performance. But MPI implementations rarely provide anything useful for the reorder option, typically ignoring it. One argument made is that modern interconnects are fast enough that applications are less sensitive to the exact layout of processes onto the system. However, intranode communication performance is much greater than internode communication performance. In this paper, we show a simple approach that takes into account only information about which MPI processes are on the same node to provide a fast and effective implementation of the MPI Cartesian topology. While not optimal, this approach provides a significant improvement over all tested MPI implementations and provides an implementation that may be used as the default in any MPI implementation of MPI_Cart_create.
In Defense of Safe Spaces: A Phenomenological Account

The notion of “safe space” is one example of a theoretical and pedagogical resource grounded in studies of marginalized experiences that has recently undergone backlash in dominant culture and the academy. In this essay, I offer a defense of safe spaces using the theoretical resources of phenomenology and offer suggestions for moving past the dichotomy of safe versus unsafe space. I argue that safe space should be understood not as static and acontextual, as truly “safe” or “unsafe,” but through the relational work of cultivating such spaces. Furthermore, far from restricting dialogue in the classroom, safe spaces encourage dialogue through requiring students to utilize critical thinking in their exchanges and through supporting marginalized students whose positions and humanity often fail to be recognized in dominant spaces.
Teaching an Old Drug New Tricks

In this issue of Cancer Cell, Elgendy et al. describe the use of intermittent fasting as a strategy to reduce tumor glucose levels and sensitize otherwise resistant tumor cells to metformin. The authors demonstrate that intermittent fasting before metformin treatment sensitized tumors to metformin and significantly reduced tumor growth.
Very Thick Walled Composite Shells

In Chapter 13, methods of analysis are presented for very thick walled isotropic cylindrical bodies of h/R≤0.5 which were developed by Vinson [13.6, 13.7]. More recently, Waltz [23.1] extended those methods to the much more complicated case of a cylindrical shell body with h/R≤0.5 composed of a specially orthotropic composite material. While of much interest and use, the approach, method, assumptions, etc. of this research exactly parallels that of the isotropic thick walled shell methods, and therefore is hereby referred to but not included specifically, because of its length and complexity. However, Reference [23.1] is complete and ready for use by engineers for design and analysis of very thick walled specially orthotropic composite material shells.
Interventions to minimize complications in hospitalized patients with Parkinson disease

Background In this study, we sought to evaluate the efficacy of inpatient interventions on hospitalization-related complications in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Hospitalized patients with PD have an increased risk of complications. Although several interventions have been suggested in the literature, data-driven recommendations are limited. Methods This study was designed as a prospective cohort study. A hospital-wide alert system was incorporated into the electronic medical record (EMR) system. The alert was triggered when a patient with PD or on dopaminergic therapy was admitted prompting the inpatient pharmacy to confirm medication details. A warning was also triggered if antidopaminergic medications were ordered. In-services were performed for nursing staff and physicians regarding these measures. Charts of patients with PD admitted 6 months before and after the intervention were reviewed to serve as the 2 comparison groups. Results There were 73 patients (mean 73.2 years) preintervention group and 103 patients (mean 72.3 years) postintervention group. There were no significant differences in reasons for admission, admission to neurologic vs non-neurologic floor, or admitting service between the groups. The percentage of patients for whom contraindicated medications were ordered decreased from 42.5% to 17.5% (p Conclusion An intervention involving EMR alerts and in-service didactics for nurses and physicians decreased the frequency of contraindicated medications ordered in hospitalized patients with PD, but it did not change other hospital outcomes or complications.
Soybean Host Plant Resistance to Megacopta cribraria (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) and the Potential Role of Leaf Trichome Density.

Megacopta cribraria (F.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae) is an invasive pest of soybean that has spread across the southeastern United States since its initial discovery in 2009 in Georgia. Previous studies in the southeastern states have documented both the population dynamics of this pest and host plant resistance (HPR) among soybean varieties, although the specific mechanisms of HPR remain unknown. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to 1) quantify field resistance to M. cribraria in multiple soybean varieties in two states previously affected by severe M. cribraria infestations, North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC); and 2) study the role of soybean trichome density in imparting resistance against M. cribraria. Soybean variety ‘Camp’ was least attractive to M. cribraria, through time and locations, suggesting consistent resistance. Other varieties showed variable performance among the locations and sampling dates. A significant difference in trichome density was evident. However, there was no correlation between trichome density and M. cribraria infestation. Compared to a previously published study in the same location, when M. cribraria adults emerging from overwintering dispersed into soybeans, in our study only first-generation adults dispersed into soybeans. Considering the current trend of significantly lower M. cribraria infestation rates in North and South Carolina, this pest may be finally succumbing to indigenous natural enemies and should be managed by incorporating integrated pest management tactics, such as HPR, that help conserve natural enemy populations.
Health-relevant ground-level ozone and temperature events under future climate change using the example of Bavaria, Southern Germany

Relationships of larger scale meteorological predictors with ground-level daily maximum ozone (O3max) and daily maximum air temperature (Tmax) for stations in Bavaria were analysed. O3max and Tmax as well as threshold exceedances of these variables were assessed under the constraints of ongoing climate change until the end of the twenty-first century. Under RCP8.5 scenario conditions, a substantial increase of Tmax in the months from April to September arose, with a mean value of 5 K in the period 2081–2100 compared with the historical period 1986–2005. Statistical downscaling projections pointed to a mean O3max rise of 17 μg/m3. The frequency of threshold exceedances showed also large changes. Hot days may occur in the future at about 30% of all days. Exceedances of O3max > 100 μg/m3 were projected to increase to about 40% of all days at urban traffic sites and up to about 70% in the rural regional background. Days with O3max > 120 μg/m3 occurred still at about 20% of all days at urban traffic sites and at about 45% in rural regional background locations. With respect to combined Tmax > 30 °C and O3max > 100 μg/m3 events in the future, an occurrence of such events at about 27–29% of all days in the summer months from April to September was assessed. The increases were mainly associated with the strong temperature rise until the end of the century. In summary, the projected Tmax and O3max changes point to a considerable increased health burden in Bavaria until the end of the century, resulting from strong changes of both variables and their associated individual and combined impact on human health.
Large-Scale Quantum System Design on Nb-based Superconducting Silicon Interconnect Fabric

For millions of qubits, I/O, wiring, control/readout signal latency, and thermal budget per qubit are challenging. A novel scheme adopting superconducting digital electronics integrated on a System-on-Wafer (SoW) Superconducting Silicon Interconnect Fabric is proposed. We demonstrate the SoW with a fine interconnect pitch <10 μm, (~60 μm) lateral inter-dielet spacing, and a low profile (≤ 1 μm) die-attach. The proposed design can attain a picosecond interconnect latency, a potential nanosecond qubit control latency, and a prospective 10000X reduction in power dissipation. This work is able to fulfill the true potential of quantum computing.
User Assessments of Selected Lecture Halls and the Relative Merits of Architectural Standards and Ergonomic Guidelines

In two studies spanning approximately twenty years, two investigators employed a nearly identical user assessment instrument (questionnaire) in the evaluation of college lecture halls. The results of both of these studies, although performed approximately twenty years apart, indicate the firm and continuing existence of a strong and statistically significant student preference for lecture halls designed and constructed in accordance with ergonomic guidelines, in addition to standard architectural practices and prevailing building codes, over those designed and constructed in accordance with the architectural standards and prevailing building codes but without observance of ergonomic guidelines. In both studies, an analysis of individual item responses against the physical characteristics of each lecture hall revealed the specific environmental and display system features preferred by the students. Consequently, it is recommended that now and in the future, facility planners and architects make every effor...
The art of irreverence: reading and resistance in the feminist classroom

political notions. "What is highlighted here is that power is never uni-dimensional; it is exercised not only as a mode of domination, but also as an act of resistance or even as an expression of a creative mode of cultural and social production outside the immediate force of domination" (108). For Giroux, the expression of resistance has reach "outside" the personal, where for Collins, it does not. The educational system is a fertile place for this domination to take hold for Giroux, because, "Schools produce social formations around class, gender, and racial exploitation, but at the same time the contain contradictory pluralities that generate possibilities for both mediation and the contesting of dominant ideologies and practices" (115). Giroux provides me with the hope that there is room for movement even within domination. Resistance, though, is not only resistance for its own sake; it creates something in its friction. "In other words, resistance must have a revealing function, one that contains a critique of domination and provides theoretical opportunities for self-reflection and for struggle in the interest of selfemancipation and social emancipation" (109). As I discussed earlier, I view this thesis as such an act of resistance; it involves my struggle to negotiate within the paradoxes of feminism and construct a pedagogy that has meaning in my classroom experience as a feminist teacher. My goal is to apply some of these goals to a feminist pedagogy, such as a journal that answers questions such as "Can you find a place where you do not fit in? Describe what you think is the audience of the author--are you a part of that audience? Why or why not? Describe the audience of a movie that you went to recently. Were you a part of that audience? Have you had an experience lately where you did not laugh at a joke that someone
Signal processing in random access

In this paper, a cross-layer view for roles of signal processing in random access network and vice versa is presented. The two cases where cross-layer design has a quantifiable impact on system performance are discussed. The first case is a small network (such as wireless LAN) where a few nodes with bursty arrivals communicate with an access point. The design objective is to achieve the highest throughput among users with variable rate and delay constraints. The impact of PHY layer design on MAC protocol is examined and illustrates a tradeoff between allocating resources to the PHY layer and to MAC layer. The second case, in contrast, deals with large-scale sensor networks where each node carries little information but is severely constrained by its computation and communication complexity and most importantly, battery power. This paper emphasizes that the design of signal processing algorithms must take into account the role of MAC and the nature of random arrivals and bursty transmissions.
Mouse genome annotation by the RefSeq project

Complete and accurate annotation of the mouse genome is critical to the advancement of research conducted on this important model organism. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) develops and maintains many useful resources to assist the mouse research community. In particular, the reference sequence (RefSeq) database provides high-quality annotation of multiple mouse genome assemblies using a combinatorial approach that leverages computation, manual curation, and collaboration. Implementation of this conservative and rigorous approach, which focuses on representation of only full-length and non-redundant data, produces high-quality annotation products. RefSeq records explicitly link sequences to current knowledge in a timely manner, updating public records regularly and rapidly in response to nomenclature updates, addition of new relevant publications, collaborator discussion, and user feedback. Whole genome re-annotation is also conducted at least every 12–18 months, and often more frequently in response to assembly updates or availability of informative data. This article highlights key features and advantages of RefSeq genome annotation products and presents an overview of NCBI processes to generate these data. Further discussion of NCBI’s resources highlights useful features and the best methods for accessing our data.
Genomic consequences of interspecific Pinus spp. hybridization

Strong karotypic orthoselection does not fully account for genome size variation in pines. Adult F1 interspecific pine hybrids are fertile and the genomic consequences of hybridization can be studied using haploid female megagametophytes. Greater variation in genome size was hypothesized to occur in hybrids compared to their parental species and the variation was thought to be positively related to the phylogenetic distance between the parental species. Nuclear 1C DNA content of megagametophytes from four sets of fertile Pinus spp. F1 hybrids and their parents was determined using a laser flow cytometer. Fertile F1 hybrids included two sets of hard pine hybrid Pinus elliottii Engelm. x P. caribaea var. hondurensis Morelet and two Asian x New World soft pine hybrids P. wallichiana A.B. Jacks. x P. strobus L. (hybrid is known as P. x schwerinii) and P. lambertiana Dougl. x P. armandii Franchlet. Fertile, adult F1 produce haploid megagametophytes with nuclear DNA contents comparable to the parents or parental species. One genomic consequence of hybridization in pines is stability in nuclear DNA content. Hybrid genomes neither increased or decreased DNA content regardless of the phylogenetic distance between parents. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 75, 503–508.
Bully-Victimization Related to Gender and Grade Level

Abstract This descriptive study used the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire to obtain data from a convenience sample (N = 192) of three rural public school students in grades 3 through 8. The objectives of the study were to determine the type and frequency of bully-victimization experienced by male and female students relating to gender and grade level. Using frequencies and percentages, elementary school males and females described, weekly or more, relational (or verbal) victimization (26%) similar to middle school students (22%); threatening bully-victimization (6%) different from middle school youth (3%), and physical bully-victimization (17%), quite unlike middle school students (6%). These findings were inconsistent with previous findings that verbal bully-victimization tends to increase as children age. Gender and grade level data identified females as chronically exposed to threatening and physical bully-victimization unlike males; contradicting a common theme in preliminary bully-victim research th...
Postoperative chemotherapy use after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer: Analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, 1998-2007.

BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by tumor resection and postoperative chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with clinical stage II or III adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Significant variation exists in the receipt of postoperative chemotherapy after resection in this population. The objective of this study was to determine the demographic and clinicopathologic factors associated with the initiation of postoperative chemotherapy in elderly patients with rectal cancer and to identify potential targets for reducing treatment variation. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients with rectal cancer ages 66 to 80 years who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and underwent radical resection in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-linked Medicare database (1998-2007). Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess chemotherapy use in relation to patient, tumor, and treatment response characteristics. RESULTS Among 1492 patients who met the study criteria, 61.5% received adjuvant therapy with 5-fluorouracil. Pathologic stage was the strongest determinant of whether patients received postoperative chemotherapy (48.3% of patients with stage I disease, 59.6% of patients with stage II disease, and 77.6% of patients with stage III disease). Increasing age and postoperative readmission also were associated significantly with a decreased rate of adjuvant therapy initiation. CONCLUSIONS Although standard treatment guidelines for locally advanced rectal cancer include postoperative chemotherapy for all patients after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and radical resection, greater than 1 in 3 patients failed to receive adjuvant therapy. Despite the absence of established evidence, treatment decisions appear to be influenced by the findings at surgical pathology. Cancer 2014;120:1162–1170. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
In Vitro Evaluation of Actinobolin as an Antibiotic for the Treatment of Periodontal Disease

Actinobolin was evaluated in vitro by a paper disc-agar diffusion method for inhibitory activity against mixed microbial cultures obtained from patients with periodontal disease and against pure bacterial cultures tentatively identified as strains of Bacteroides melaninogenicus, Fusobacterium fusiforme, Leptotrichia buccalis, and Veillonella parvula. Every culture tested was inhibited to some degree by actinobolin. These observations suggest that actinobolin may be effective in the treatment of periodontal disease.