cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incarceration History and Depressive Symptoms Among Women Released from US Correctional Facilities: Does Timing, Duration, or Frequency Matter?

Research on the impact of incarceration history on the depressive symptoms of released women has yielded conflicting findings, potentially due to the use of an oversimplified dichotomized measure of incarceration history that masks the significant heterogeneity in women’s incarceration history across different studies. This study used Add Health measures that reflect the timing, duration, and frequency of incarceration to examine its association with released women’s depressive symptoms. Chi-square and t tests were conducted to characterize released women (n = 626) in comparison to women without an incarceration history (n = 7237). Simple correlation analyses and multiple linear regression were then used to determine the association between incarceration history and released women’s depressive symptoms. Findings revealed that the timing, duration, and frequency of incarceration were not significant correlates of released women’s depressive symptoms. Instead, experiences of cumulative disadvantages were significant predictors. We concluded that the effects of cumulative disadvantages on released women’s depressive symptoms might outsize the impact of incarceration history.
Analytical Solution to the Vinti Problem in Oblate Spheroidal Equinoctial Orbital Elements

Equinoctial orbital elements were recently generalized from spherical geometry to the oblate spheroidal geometry of Vinti theory. For the symmetric Vinti potential, which accounts exactly for oblateness, these nonsingular elements are defined for all nondegenerate orbital regimes and resolve the usual problems found in the classical elements associated with angle ambiguities. In the present work, the generalized equinoctial elements are used to solve Vinti’s initial value problem, leading to a fully nonsingular analytical solution for bounded orbits. The result is akin to deriving the equinoctial form of Kepler’s equation for the two-body problem and then solving it, formally completing the introduction of the new equinoctial element set. Derivations of the equinoctial integrals of the motion are included, as well as techniques to eliminate all polar orbit singularities and solve a generalized Kepler’s equation. Multiple examples are presented. Code for predicting the Vinti orbit in oblate spheroidal equinoctial elements is provided online as supplementary material.
A Dynamic Adaptive Algorithm for Merging Into Platoons in Connected Automated Environments

The automated merging control is one of the connected and automated vehicle applications that is expected to improve the operation and safety of freeway merging areas. This study introduces a dynamic adaptive algorithm for automated merging control based on a cost function of travel time for both on-ramp and mainline vehicles. The developed algorithm is designed to guide on-ramp vehicles to merge efficiently, without frequent slowdown or wait for merging gaps at the end of the ramp and with minimal disruption to the mainline traffic. The algorithm was evaluated under different mainline traffic demands, ranging from light to heavy conditions, using a simulation model for a one-mile freeway segment with two lanes and a single-lane on-ramp. Platooning is implemented in the simulation based on Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control. The performance of the algorithm is compared to a base case where mainline vehicles cooperatively decelerate to help on-ramp vehicles merge. The results show that the proposed algorithm reduced ramp delays in the range of 38% to 91% for different traffic conditions, without disrupting mainline operation. Additionally, travel time reliability index improved in the range of 18% to 48% under different traffic conditions. According to the simulation results, the proposed automated merging algorithm is henceforth considered reliable, with its promising performance.
Synthesis of nanosized platinum cluster in cubic mesoporous material via a direct introduction method

Platinum‐cluster‐containing cubic mesoporous material (Pt‐MCM‐48) has been synthesized by direct introduction of chloroplatinic acid during the synthesis of MCM‐48. In addition, we have also studied the incipient wetness impregnation and ion‐exchange method to obtain the platinum‐containing cubic mesoporous material. The nature of the platinum‐MCM‐48 catalyst has been characterized by different techniques such as XRD, N2 adsorption, TEM, XPS, and NMR. The catalyst obtained by direct introduction of platinum in the synthesis gel shows higher activity in the hydrogenation of benzene and toluene.
Filial Violence: A Peculiar Parent-Child Relationship in the Japanese Family Today*

Filial violence is an emerging problem in the Japanese family today, quite alien to the Japanese people in pre-war times. The abusive youth direct their violent acts toward all members of their imm...
Advancing age and the risk of bleomycin pulmonary toxicity in a largely older cohort of patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma

Abstract Objectives In patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), the relationship between increasing age and bleomycin pulmonary toxicity (BPT) remains unclear. This study explores associations between age and BPT in a real-world cohort of largely older patients with HL. Material and methods This study retrospectively evaluated a nationwide patient cohort of United States Veterans diagnosed with HL in VA medical centers between October 1, 2002 and December 31, 2013 (follow up through April 15, 2016). The primary outcome was the development BPT, defined as: ambient air oxygen saturations Results Overall, 847 patients received chemotherapy and 739 of these patients received bleomycin. Sixty-six patients (9.3%) developed BPT. The incidence of BPT per age category: 0.03 (9/262), 0.07 (13/188), 0.13 (23/171), and 0.24 (21/88) for age categories: ≤ 49, 50–59, 60–69 and ≥ 70 years. Odds of BPT steadily increased with advancing age (compared to patients age ≤ 49 years) with odds ratios of 1.65 (95% CI 0.68–4.03), 3.24 (1.43–7.34), 6.01(2.52–7.34) for age categories 50–59, 60–69 and ≥ 70 years, respectively. The was no association between bleomycin and risk of death up-to 5-years [HR: 0.87; 95% CI (0.61–1.23)]. Conclusion This study demonstrates a direct relationship between age >60 years and odds of developing clinically significant BPT.
English learners' achievement in mathematics and science: Examining the role of self-efficacy.

Abstract The goals of the current study were twofold. The first goal was to describe levels of mathematics and science self-efficacy and achievement among a sample of students with varying levels of English language proficiency. The second goal was to examine the extent to which students' self-efficacy explains the relation between their English proficiency level and mathematics and science achievement. The sample consisted of 332 fifth graders (mean age = 10.46 years, SD = 0.38) and their 63 teachers in 20 schools. The student sample was linguistically diverse with parents reporting 22 different home languages. Based on district classification procedures, each student was coded into one of three English language proficiency level categories: English proficient-speaking students (English proficient), English Learner (EL) students who are reaching proficiency, yet are still being monitored (reaching proficiency), and EL students who are receiving English for Speakers of Other Languages services (ESOL; limited English proficient). Regression analyses indicated that students identified as limited English proficient consistently demonstrated lower achievement and self-efficacy across the content areas of mathematics and science as compared to their peers who were English proficient and reaching proficiency. In addition, students' self-efficacy partially explained the relation between limited English proficiency level and achievement for science, but not for mathematics. Results indicate that educators should consider variability in students' English proficiency levels as they select supports to promote both science achievement and self-efficacy. Findings also suggest promise for practices and programs that foster self-efficacy in addition to language and content skills.
Necessary Conditions and Sufficient Conditions for Finding a Common Fixed Point of a Family of Maps Using a Distributed Algorithm

This paper is concerned with necessary conditions and sufficient conditions which ensure convergence of a distributed algorithm for computing a common fixed point of a family of m > 1 nonlinear maps M i : ℝn → ℝn. Each agent i knows the map M i and receives entries of the state vectors of its current neighbors at each time t. Using only this information, each agent recursively updates its own estimate of a common fixed point. Under the assumption of "non-redundancy," and for arbitrary nonlinear maps M i , it is shown that a nonuniformly strongly connected sequence of neighbor graphs is necessary to ensure the distributed algorithm causes all agent estimates to converge to the same common fixed point. Furthermore, sufficient conditions requiring that the maps M i be paracontractions are provided which ensure all agent estimates to converge to the same common fixed point. In the case considering doubly stochastic weight matrices and maps M i which are paracontractions with respect to the 2-norm, both necessary and sufficient conditions are provided. Finally, necessary and sufficient conditions are given which relax the condition of "non-redundancy" and allow for more complicated interactions between the sequence of neighbor graphs and the sets of fixed points.
Ericksonian Hypnotherapy Resemblances in Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) facilitates movement of problems toward solutions, requiring a delicate process of attentive observational skills and use of language; qualities that may be similar to Ericksonian hypnotherapy. In this deep examination, we utilized discourse analysis (Gee in How to do discourse analysis toolkit, Routledge, New York, 2011) to explore the influences of Ericksonian hypnotherapy in two commercially available videos of SFBT sessions facilitated by Insoo Kim Berg. We noted both SFBT features and Ericksonian features in these sessions, commonalities between the approaches were identified, and Ericksonian resemblances in SFBT were distinguished. Our deep examination suggests that Berg worked in recursive clusters with a figured world that attends to strength and resilience; Berg was fully attentive and observational throughout, intentional in her use of language, utilized bridging and building, and attended to exceptions. These features are common in Ericksonian hypnotherapy and appear significant in a relational style of training beginning therapists to effectively utilize the SFBT approach.
Comprehension and metacomprehension of negated text: Is retrieval practice beneficial for understanding?

Abstract Previous research has demonstrated that negated text is a particularly difficult text construction, and often leads to readers having difficulty understanding and remembering what they have read. To date, attempts at identifying a strategy that would aid in readers’ comprehension of negation have not been successful. However, in studies focused on affirmative text, readers practicing retrieving information from a text showed improvements in comprehension and more accurate metacomprehension judgments. The present study aimed to determine whether this strategy also benefits readers of passages in which a critical concept has been negated. Interestingly, results demonstrated that while readers judged their comprehension to be better when practicing retrieval, their comprehension was not actually better. These results suggest that simply practicing retrieval information is not necessarily enough to enhance comprehension or metacomprehension of this text construction.
Hydrogen sulfide and DNA repair

Abstract Recent evidence has revealed that exposing cells to exogenous H 2 S or inhibiting cellular H 2 S synthesis can modulate cell cycle checkpoints, DNA damage and repair, and the expression of proteins involved in the maintenance of genomic stability, all suggesting that H 2 S plays an important role in the DNA damage response (DDR). Here we review the role of H 2 S in the DRR and maintenance of genomic stability. Treatment of various cell types with pharmacologic H 2 S donors or cellular H 2 S synthesis inhibitors modulate the G 1 checkpoint, inhibition of DNA synthesis, and cause p21, and p53 induction. Moreover, in some cell models H 2 S exposure induces PARP-1 and g-H2AX foci formation, increases PCNA, CHK2, Ku70, Ku80, and DNA polymerase-d protein expression, and maintains mitochondrial genomic stability. Our group has also revealed that H 2 S bioavailability and the ATR kinase regulate each other with ATR inhibition lowering cellular H 2 S concentrations, whereas intracellular H 2 S concentrations regulate ATR kinase activity via ATR serine 435 phosphorylation. In summary, these findings have many implications for the DDR, for cancer chemotherapy, and fundamental biochemical metabolic pathways involving H 2 S.
Trap-and-release of motile microorganisms using glass-based standing surface acoustic wave devices

Standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) are an effective tool for cell manipulation and isolation in many biological and biomedical applications. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular motile microorganism, is an excellent biological model to study ciliary mechanics; however, its swimming strength is a challenge for trapping and analysis by conventional non-contact methods. SSAW devices incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels are unable to hold C. reinhardtii due to inadequate acoustic trapping forces at power levels that do not induce excessive heating. Under operating conditions that are suitable for trapping, the sample temperature increases rapidly to exceed the thermotolerance threshold of the cells leading to loss of function or death . In this study, we show that SSAW devices with wet-etched glass channels allow for gentle trap-and-release of C. reinhardtii using 10 and 25 MHz ultrasound while traditional SSAW devices with PDMS channels kill the cells. In addition, we use infrared thermography to confirm that PDMS-based SSAW devices reach significantly higher temperatures than glass-based devices at comparable input powers. Glass-based SSAW devices easily generate the required trapping forces while maintaining a biocompatible thermal environment.
Managerial Compensation, Voluntary Disclosure, and Large Shareholder Monitoring

We analyze a manager's investment decision when choosing between projects with differential resolution of information in an asymmetric information setting. The manager maximizes an objective function that has weights on the market value of the firm and the true long-term value of the firm reflecting the concerns of shareholders with short-term and long-term investment horizons. We show that the manager's concern for the current market value of the firm can lead to investment distortions - both overinvestment in short-term projects consistent with the literature and an over-investment in long-term projects. We also show that a manager's concern for current market value can induce the manager to voluntarily disclose his private information. Voluntary disclosure serves to reduce the cost of large shareholder monitoring, transfers a part of the monitoring costs to other shareholders, and alleviates investment distortion. In the context of compensation contracting, our results imply that equity based incentives can play a disclosure role in inducing managers to voluntarily disclose private information in addition to their traditional role in aligning managerial and shareholder interests. Our model generates several testable empirical implications. In firms with high levels of information asymmetry incentive compensation along with monitoring-with-disclosure constitutes and optimal governance structure. In these firms, the incentive compensation and large shareholder monitoring are complementary. In firms with low levels of asymmetric information and in firms where voluntary disclosure does not significantly reduce the large shareholder's monitoring costs, incentive compensation and monitoring are substitutes. Our model thus predicts that the use of stock options in executive compensation will be associated with the presence of institutional shareholders and will induce voluntary disclosure consistent with the findings in the empirical literature.
Tsunami wave run-up load reduction inside a building array

Abstract The influence of a building array on tsunami-driven run-up loads is studied through laboratory experiments and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Results show that the number of rows of buildings providing shelter is an explanatory variable for the maximum wave run-up load reduction. Load Reduction Factors (LRF) are defined, with values monotonically decreasing as the number of rows providing shelter increases. The effect of the building array on maximum inundation levels, maximum cross-shore velocity, and maximum momentum flux is studied, finding that these hydrodynamics properties have larger magnitudes when compared to bare earth values. A brief discussion about the effect of the cross-shore distance between rows, the width of the structures in the frontmost row, and the offset between rows is presented. Under the wave conditions and the geometry tested, maximum wave loading is decreased up to about 4 times when 4 or more rows are providing shelter, with most of the load reduction taking place in the first 4 rows. When more than 4 rows are providing shelter to a structure of interest, Load Reduction Factors decrease weakly with the number of rows providing shelter. Although the present analysis has limitations in terms of geometry and wave conditions and more tests have to be conducted to draw conclusions for a wider range of conditions, it shows experimental and numerical evidence that maximum wave loading on structures can be strongly affected when they are part of a building array.
Self-reported history of intensity of smoking is associated with risk factors for suicide among high school students.

Objective To examine the relationship between current cigarette smoking patterns and three established risk factors for suicide using nationally representative data of high school students in the United States. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS)-United States, 2017. Multivariable, logistic regressions examined the association between 3 cigarette smoking behaviors [i.e., past 30-day cigarette (n = 13,731), frequent (n = 1,093) and heavy (n = 880) smoking] and 3 risk factors for suicidal outcomes [feeling sad or hopeless, suicidal ideation, suicide plan] assessed over the previous year. Results Among high school cigarette smokers, smoking 11 or more cigarettes per day (i.e., heavy smoking) was associated with 3.43 (95% CI: 1.69, 6.94) greater odds of reporting feeling sad or hopeless, 2.97 (95% CI: 1.60, 5.51) greater odds of reporting suicidal ideations, and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.34, 3.32) greater odds of reporting having ever planned a suicide attempt, controlling for covariates. Conclusions Our study shows that it is not simply cigarette smoking, but heavy cigarette smoking that is a risk factor for suicidal outcomes among adolescents. Public health implications A comprehensive plan is needed to accommodate heavy adolescent smokers who are at increased suicidal risk.
An extrauterine extensively metastatic epithelioid trophoblastic tumor responsive to pembrolizumab

Abstract We report a case of extrauterine epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT)—the rarest variant of gestational trophoblastic tumor—that has been stable on nearly two years of pembrolizumab treatment. A 47-year-old gravida 2, para 2 who underwent a prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy nine years prior and bilateral mastectomy five years prior in the setting of a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer with no genetic testing performed, presented to an outside clinic with recurrent respiratory infections without resolution despite antibiotics. Radiology and pathology testing confirmed the ETT diagnosis, including a second opinion from the John I. Brewer Trophoblastic Disease Center of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and the patient was started on a chemotherapy regimen of etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D, etoposide, and cisplatin for seven cycles, with partial improvement in her disease. After PD-L1 testing showed the tumor had > 5% PD-L1 positivity, she initiated pembrolizumab in April 2019. CT imaging after three months revealed decreased lung, abdominal, and pelvic disease and she was continued on pembrolizumab. As of December 2020, she had completed 29 cycles of pembrolizumab, with a plan for her to continue treatment indefinitely given her decreased, but persistent, disease. Our findings suggest pembrolizumab is a reasonable option for treatment of patients with significant PD-L1 positivity on testing of the tumor.
The Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE) study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial evaluating teleexercise programs for people with spinal cord injury.

Background Many people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have limited access to tailored, readily available exercise resources. As a result, exercise remains an underutilized treatment strategy for improving health and function in people with SCI. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of two remotely delivered exercise programs for people with SCI. Methods The Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE) study is a three-arm adaptive randomized controlled trial examining two 8-week teleexercise interventions: Movement-to-Music (M2M) and Standard Exercise Training (SET), compared to Attention Control (AC) in 327 adults with SCI. The primary outcome is change in physical activity level at post 8-week intervention. The study contains two interim analyses. The first interim analysis will assess feasibility metrics of the protocol after 36 participants complete the 8-week intervention period. The second interim analysis will examine two effectiveness comparisons: SET vs. AC and M2M vs AC, after 165 participants complete the intervention period. Early termination of the intervention arm(s) will take place when non-significant findings are found in the corresponding intervention(s). Incorporation of such interim analysis enhances trial efficiency by dropping the intervention(s) that deemed ineffective. It provides ethical benefits and allows allocation of additional resources to explore the effective intervention(s). Discussion Delivery of teleexercise programs may be an effective strategy for addressing transportation barrier to exercise resources and increasing physical activity level and quality of life in people with SCI. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03925077 . Registered trial name: Spinal Cord Injury Program in Exercise (SCIPE). Registered on April 23rd, 2019.
ALL-058: Evaluating Urine pH and Specific Gravity: A Single-Center Experience Comparing Different Urine Testing Methods in Children Receiving High-Dose Methotrexate

Context: Maintaining precise ranges of urine pH and specific gravity (SG) is essential to avoid toxicity in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) for acute lymphoblastic processes and osteosarcoma. Three urinalysis methods are used: manually read dipsticks (DpH/DSG), automated dipsticks (ApH/ASG), and urinalysis machines (UpH/USG). Objective: To compare the reliability of manual and automated dipsticks to urinalysis machines, as urinalysis machines are currently the most reliable and accurate method based on literature review. Design: Retrospective chart review comparing pH and SG measurements of patients who received HDMTX from January 2017 to June 2020. Setting: Southwest Cancer Center at University Medical Center (UMC) in Lubbock, TX (county hospital). Patients or Other Participants: Patients receiving HDMTX (≥ 500 mg/m2) who were tested by ≥ 2 methods during a 4-hour period. Seventeen patients (59% female, average age 9.2 years) met inclusion criteria, but only 11 (81% female, average age 9.7 years) had sufficient data for analysis. Interventions: The study did not involve therapeutic, clinical, or diagnostic interventions. Main Outcomes Measures: Primary outcome measures are pH and specific gravity as measured by manual dipstick, automated dipstick, and urinalysis machine. Outcomes parameters were analyzed by Pearson product-moment correlation and paired sample t-test. Results: Each pair of methods correlated for pH readings, but only ApH and UpH showed a significant, strong positive correlation (r = 0.65, p = 0.003). DSG and ASG had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.833, p = 0.167), while ASG and USG had a moderate negative correlation (r = -0.454, p = 0.067), but neither of these were significant. Paired sample t-test revealed ASG was higher than USG (α=0.011, p≤ 0.05). No other mean differences were significant. Conclusions: Manual and automated dipsticks are as reliable as urinalysis machines for testing pH, but automated dipsticks yield a higher SG, while ApH and UpH are highly correlated. However, our findings may not be clinically significant due to small sample size and missing data from chart review. Further study using a larger sample and prospective approach could help assess cost-effective alternatives to standard urinalysis.
Positive predictive value of non-invasive prenatal screening for fetal chromosome disorders using cell-free DNA in maternal serum: independent clinical experience of a tertiary referral center

Non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for fetal chromosome abnormalities using cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (cfDNA) in maternal serum has significantly influenced prenatal diagnosis of fetal aneuploidies since becoming clinically available in the fall of 2011. High sensitivity and specificity have been reported in multiple publications, nearly all of which have been sponsored by the commercial performing laboratories. Once results are returned, positive and negative predictive values (PPVs, NPVs) are the performance metrics most relevant to clinical management. The purpose of this report is to present independent data on the PPVs of NIPS in actual clinical practice. Charts were retrospectively reviewed for patients who had NIPS and were seen March 2012 to December 2013 in a tertiary academic referral center. NIPS results were compared to diagnostic genetic test results, fetal ultrasound results, and clinical phenotype/outcomes. The PPV was calculated using standard epidemiological methods. Correlation between screen results and both maternal age at delivery and gestational age at time of screening was assessed using Wilcoxon’s rank sum test. Of 632 patients undergoing NIPS, 92 % of tests were performed in one of the four major commercial laboratories offering testing. However, all four laboratories are represented in both the normal and abnormal results groups. There were 55 abnormal NIPS results. Forty-one of 55 abnormal NIPS results were concordant with abnormal fetal outcomes, 12 were discordant, and 2 were undetermined. The PPV for all conditions included in the screen was 77.4 % (95 % CI, 63.4 – 87.3). Of 578 patients with normal NIPS results, normal pregnancy outcome was confirmed for 156 (27 %) patients. This incomplete follow-up of normal NIPS results does not affect PPV calculations, but it did preclude calculations of sensitivity, specificity, and NPV. Maternal age at delivery was significantly lower for patients with abnormal discordant results, compared to patients with abnormal concordant results (P = 0.034). Gestational age at time of screening was not associated with concordance of screen results (P = 0.722). The experience of using NIPS in clinical practice confirms that abnormal results cannot be considered diagnostic. Pre-test counseling should emphasize this. Diagnostic genetic testing should always be offered following abnormal NIPS results.
Recovery of noncurrent variables in source-level debugging of optimized code

Source-level debugging and code optimization are important tools of programming. A debugger has to supply precise information about the values of the variables at any run time error or breakpoint. Code optimization, on the other hand, removes dead stores and reorders code to save time and space, causing intermediate events to happen out of sequence. A thorough implementation of either limits the usefulness of the other. Hennessy, in his paper “Symbolic Debugging of Optimized Code” [2], suggested various techniques to handle this. However, he explicitly chose not to take advantage of the fact that many operations are reversible and many partial results will be avaiable in registers and temporaries. This paper considers these questions in order to extend Hennessy's techniques for recovery of noncurrent variables. The algorithms developed can detect most of the recoverable variables, and run in linear time. We also consider methods to limit our search to only a part of the dag.
As 75 Electric-Field-Gradient Fluctuations in K H 2 P O 4 -Type Ferroelectrics

The electric-field-gradient tensor fluctuations at the ${\mathrm{As}}^{75}$ site in ferroelectric Rb${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$As${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, Rb${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$As${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$, and K${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$As${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ have been studied as a function of temperature and applied electric field. The measurements allow a direct determination of the Slater short-range energy parameter $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ and provide a test of the nature of the ferroelectric-mode-type elementary excitations.
Context‐specific influence of water temperature on brook trout growth rates in the field

Summary 1. Modelling the effects of climate change on freshwater fishes requires robust field-based estimates accounting for interactions among multiple factors. 2. We used data from an 8-year individual-based study of a wild brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) population to test the influence of water temperature on season-specific growth in the context of variation in other environmental (i.e. season, stream flow) or biotic factors (local brook trout biomass density and fish age and size) in West Brook, a third-order stream in western Massachusetts, U.S.A. 3. Changes in ambient temperature influenced individual growth rates. In general, higher temperatures were associated with higher growth rates in winter and spring and lower growth rates in summer and autumn. However, the effect of temperature on growth was strongly context-dependent, differing in both magnitude and direction as a function of season, stream flow and fish biomass density. 4. We found that stream flow and temperature had strong and complex interactive effects on trout growth. At the coldest temperatures (in winter), high stream flows were associated with reduced trout growth rates. During spring and autumn and in typical summers (when water temperatures were close to growth optima), higher flows were associated with increased growth rates. In addition, the effect of flow at a given temperature (the flow-temperature interaction) differed among seasons. 5. Trout density negatively affected growth rate and had strong interactions with temperature in two of four seasons (i.e. spring and summer) with greater negative effects at high temperatures. 6. Our study provided robust, integrative field-based estimates of the effects of temperature on growth rates for a species which serves as a model organism for cold-water adapted ectotherms facing the consequences of environmental change. Results of the study strongly suggest that failure to derive season-specific estimates, or to explicitly consider interactions with flow regime and fish density, will seriously compromise our ability to predict the effects of climate change on stream fish growth rates. Further, the concordance we found between empirical observations and likely energetic mechanisms suggests that our general results should be relevant at broader spatial and temporal scales.
Cytotoxicity of 125 I-oestrogen decay in non-oestrogen receptor-expressing human breast cancer cells, MDA-231 and oestrogen receptor-expressing MCF-7 cells

Purpose : To compare the cytotoxicity of 125 I-oestrogen (E-17 α [ 125 I]iodovinyl-11 β methoxyoestradiol or 125 IVME2) decay accumulation in human breast adenocarcinoma cells that do not express oestrogen receptor (ER) (MDA-231 cells) with human breast adenocarcinoma cells that do express ER (MCF-7 cells). Materials and methods : MDA-231 cells were labelled with 125 IVME2 or [ 125 I]iododeoxyuridine (125 IdU), frozen for decay accumulation, thawed and then plated for colony formation. γ-irradiation survival was also determined. A whole-cell 3 H-oestrogen-binding assay and a specific-binding assay were used to detect ER. Results : No MDA-231 cell killing by accumulated 125 IVME2 decays (up to 440 dpc) was observed but ER-positive MCF-7 cells were killed by 125 IVME2 (D o =28 dpc). MDA-231 cells were not significantly more radioresistant to γ-rays (D o =1.7Gy for MDA-231 cells; 1 Gy for MCF-7 cells) or to 125 IdU decays (D o = 44dpc for MDA-231 cells; 30 dpc for MCF-7 cells). No ER were detected in MDA-231...
Genetic Networks of Liver Metabolism Revealed by Integration of Metabolic and Transcriptional Profiling

Although numerous quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing disease-related phenotypes have been detected through gene mapping and positional cloning, identification of the individual gene(s) and molecular pathways leading to those phenotypes is often elusive. One way to improve understanding of genetic architecture is to classify phenotypes in greater depth by including transcriptional and metabolic profiling. In the current study, we have generated and analyzed mRNA expression and metabolic profiles in liver samples obtained in an F2 intercross between the diabetes-resistant C57BL/6 leptinob/ob and the diabetes-susceptible BTBR leptinob/ob mouse strains. This cross, which segregates for genotype and physiological traits, was previously used to identify several diabetes-related QTL. Our current investigation includes microarray analysis of over 40,000 probe sets, plus quantitative mass spectrometry-based measurements of sixty-seven intermediary metabolites in three different classes (amino acids, organic acids, and acyl-carnitines). We show that liver metabolites map to distinct genetic regions, thereby indicating that tissue metabolites are heritable. We also demonstrate that genomic analysis can be integrated with liver mRNA expression and metabolite profiling data to construct causal networks for control of specific metabolic processes in liver. As a proof of principle of the practical significance of this integrative approach, we illustrate the construction of a specific causal network that links gene expression and metabolic changes in the context of glutamate metabolism, and demonstrate its validity by showing that genes in the network respond to changes in glutamine and glutamate availability. Thus, the methods described here have the potential to reveal regulatory networks that contribute to chronic, complex, and highly prevalent diseases and conditions such as obesity and diabetes.
Human Replication Protein a (RPA) Can Diffuse Along Single Stranded DNA

Replication Protein A (RPA) is a hetero-trimeric protein that plays critical roles in many cellular processes. The main function of RPA is to bind to single stranded (ss) DNA and to regulate its availability during DNA metabolic processes. RPA is also known to interact with an array of other proteins in DNA replication, repair and recombination processes in eukaryotic organisms. RPA binds to the transient ssDNA that forms during nearly all aspects of DNA metabolism and protects ssDNA from nucleases. Although RPA binds to ssDNA with a very high affinity, it must be dissociated from or redistributed along ssDNA during DNA replication. To probe this re-arrangement of RPA along ssDNA, ensemble and single molecule studies have been used as complementary techniques to investigate human RPA diffusion along fluorescently labeled ssDNA oligomers. The dynamics of human RPA (hRPA) along fluorescently labeled DNA oligomers was also studied with fluorophore - labeled hRPA. These experiments illustrate that hRPA can spontaneously re-arrange along ssDNA by diffusing while remaining tightly bound. In addition, hRPA can also transiently melt DNA hairpin structures by diffusing in from ssDNA that is adjacent to the DNA hairpin. This ability of hRPA to diffuse along ssDNA means that directional DNA motor proteins such as polymerases or translocases can push RPA and re-organize it along ssDNA. This diffusion property of RPA is shared with the bacterial analogue of RPA, the E. coli SSB protein that also has previously been shown to diffuse along ssDNA. (GM030498 (TML), GM098509 (RG), GM044721 (MSW)).
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis with penicillin and novobiocin: antibiotic concentrations and bacteriologic status in milk and mammary tissue.

Cows with Staphylococcus aureus mastitis received either one or two intramammary infusions containing 100,000 U penicillin G and 150 mg novobiocin. Milk and tissue samples were obtained from each quarter. Peak mean penicillin and novobiocin concentrations from antibiotic-positive tissue samples were .013 U/mg and .06 microgram/mg, respectively, for quarters treated once. Quarters treated twice had peak mean penicillin and novobiocin concentrations of .057 U/mg and .06 microgram/mg, respectively. Viable Staphylococcus aureus were isolated intermittently from milk and tissue samples of quarters positive for penicillin and novobiocin for both treatment groups. Histological analysis of mammary parenchyma demonstrated marked decreases in luminal area and increases in connective tissue area and leukocyte infiltration in S. aureus-infected quarters compared with uninfected controls, suggesting that reduction in milk collecting space and presence of inflammatory changes may be responsible for poor drug distribution.
Intrathalamic regulation of activity in a cerebellocortical projection pathway.

Abstract Brachium conjunctivum (BC) stimulation elicits short-latency (1 msec) activity in n. ventralis lateralis (VL) and specific responses in motor cortex that are associated with 3- to 4-msec latency relayed discharges in the medullary pyramidal tract. Secure synaptic drives in this cerebellocortical pathway are achieved with BC-stimulus frequencies up to 140 per sec. Low-frequency (7/sec) medialthalamic stimulation produces early facilitation and long-latency prolonged inhibition of BC-evoked activity in VL. Inhibitory and facilitatory interactions are related to components of focal responses in VL initiated during thalamocortical recruiting responses. Inhibitory effects in VL of medial-thalamic stimulation are frequency specific and are eliminated during 25 to 50 per sec stimulation of the nonspecific system. Low-frequency (7/sec) stimulation in rostral portions of VL produces effects on BC-evoked activity that are similar to those of medial-thalamic stimulation. Inhibitory interactions are more pronounced and persist beyond the period of stimulation especially at high frequencies. Short-latency facilitatory interactions between augmenting responses evoked by rostral VL stimulation and BC-evoked activity are prominent at depths of barbiturate narcosis at which BC-evoked relayed activity is eliminated. The data indicate that intrathalamic synaptic pathways arising in medial-thalamic nuclei and rostral portions of VL converge on relay elements in the cerebellocortical projection system. These excitatory and inhibitory internuclear pathways play a major role in the regulation of afferent drives on corticospinal neurons.
Keratin expression in cultured skin substitutes suggests that the hyperproliferative phenotype observed in vitro is normalized after grafting

Cultured skin substitutes, consisting of fibroblasts and keratinocytes in a biopolymer matrix, are an adjunctive treatment for full thickness burn wounds. Previous studies revealed that cultured skin substitutes in vitro exhibit a gene expression profile similar to hyperproliferative skin or wounded normal skin. In the present study, we sought to determine whether this hyperproliferative phenotype is maintained after healing of grafted cultured skin in vivo. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize multiple keratin proteins in native human skin, and in cultured skin substitutes in vitro and after grafting to athymic mice. Keratin 6, keratin 16, and keratin 17, which are known to be upregulated during keratinocyte activation and in hyperproliferative epidermis, were highly expressed in cultured skin substitutes in vitro. These proteins were low or undetectable in native human skin, and were reduced in cultured skin after grafting. Conversely, keratin 15, which is downregulated in activated keratinocytes, was not detected in cultured skin substitutes in vitro but was upregulated after grafting to mice. The results confirm previous observations suggesting a hyperproliferative or activated phenotype in cultured skin substitutes in vitro, similar to wounded native skin. After grafting to athymic mice, the expression patterns suggest a normalization of cultured skin substitutes to a phenotype more closely resembling uninjured human skin.
ALGEBRAIC INDEPENDENCE BY A METHOD OF MAHLER

YUVAL Z. FLICKER(Received 14 July 1977; revised 28 August 1978)(Communicated by J. Coates)AbstractWe establish a general algebraic independence theorem for the solutions of a certain kind offunctional equations. As a particular application, we prove that for any real irrational £, thenumbersare algebraically independent, for multiplicatively independen
Dose response of BaFBrI:Eu2+ storage phosphor plates exposed to megavoltage photon beams

The BaFBrI:Eu2+ storage phosphor plate (SPP) is a reusable radiation image detector, widely used in diagnostic computed radiography, x-ray crystallography and radioactive tracer studies. When exposed to ionizing radiation, the SPP stores a latent image until it is scanned with a red reading laser which causes blue photostimulated luminescent (PSL) photons to be emitted. The mechanism of formation of the latent image is still poorly understood, especially for megavoltage photon beams. In order to gain insight into this mechanism and aid applications to high-energy beam dosimetry, the authors have directly determined the SPP generation efficiency, W, the energy required to produce one quantum of emitted PSL when it is irradiated by 60Co and 6 MV photon beams. This was done in four steps: 1. The SPP, in a water-equivalent plastic (WEP) phantom, was exposed to a 60Co or 6 MV beam, which had been calibrated to give a known absorbed dose to water in a water phantom at the position of the sensitive layer of the SPP. 2. Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the ratio of the dose to the sensitive layer in the WEP phantom to the dose to water at the same position in a water phantom. 3. A bleaching experiment was used to determine the number of photons emitted by a plate given a known dose. 4. The generation efficiency was calculated from the number of photons and the dose. This method is much more direct than previous calculations for kilovoltage x-ray beams based on quantum noise analysis. W was found, within experimental uncertainty, to be 190 eV for 60Co and 160 eV for 6 MV, independent of dose. The values for kilovoltage x-ray beams determined previously agree, within their large uncertainty, with these values for megavoltage beams.
Submersion-Subcritical Safe Space (S4) reactor

Abstract The Submersion-Subcritical Safe Space (S 4 ) reactor, developed for future space power applications and avoidance of single point failures, is presented. The S 4 reactor has a Mo–14% Re solid core, loaded with uranium nitride fuel, cooled by He–30% Xe and sized to provide 550 kWth for 7 years of equivalent full power operation. The beryllium oxide reflector of the S 4 reactor is designed to completely disassemble upon impact on water or soil. The potential of using Spectral Shift Absorber (SSA) materials in different forms to ensure that the reactor remains subcritical in the worst-case submersion accident is investigated. Nine potential SSAs are considered in terms of their effect on the thickness of the radial reflector and on the combined mass of the reactor and the radiation shadow shield. The SSA materials are incorporated as a thin (0.1 mm) coating on the outside surface of the reactor core and as core additions in three possible forms: 2.0 mm diameter pins in the interstices of the core block, 0.25 mm thick sleeves around the fuel stacks and/or additions to the uranium nitride fuel. Results show that with a boron carbide coating and 0.25 mm iridium sleeves around the fuel stacks the S 4 reactor has a reflector outer diameter of 43.5 cm with a combined reactor and shadow shield mass of 935.1 kg. The S 4 reactor with 12.5 at.% gadolinium-155 added to the fuel, 2.0 mm diameter gadolinium-155 sesquioxide interstitial pins, and a 0.1 mm thick gadolinium-155 sesquioxide coating has a slightly smaller reflector outer diameter of 43.0 cm, resulting in a smaller total reactor and shield mass of 901.7 kg. With 8.0 at.% europium-151 added to the fuel, along with europium-151 sesquioxide for the pins and coating, the reflector's outer diameter and the total reactor and shield mass are further reduced to 41.5 cm and 869.2 kg, respectively.
Weakly Forced Mock Walker Cells

AbstractMock Walker cells driven by weak sea surface temperature (SST) forcing are studied using planetary-scale cloud system–resolving simulations and a simplified framework that represents convection with its linear response functions and parameterizes the large-scale flow based on the gravity wave equation. For sinusoidal SST forcings of the same amplitude, as the horizontal domain size increases, the mock Walker cells strengthen substantially and shorter vertical scales in the vertical velocity profile diminish. This is explained by the fact that temperature anomalies required to sustain a vertical velocity profile of given amplitude are stronger in cases of larger horizontal and smaller vertical scales. Such temperature anomalies become significant at planetary scales so that properly accounting for the horizontal momentum balance, including convective momentum transport (CMT), becomes necessary, while a weak temperature gradient approach that neglects horizontal momentum balance is no longer adequat...
A category-specific naming impairment after temporal lobectomy

Unilateral temporal lobectomy patients and normal control subjects were tested in a speeded naming task with pictures of living and nonliving things that were equated for name frequency, familiarity, and visual complexity. Although right temporal lobectomy patients and normal subjects performed equally well with the living relative to nonliving things, left temporal lobectomy patients were disproportionately impaired at naming nonliving things. This result has several implications: First, it supports the existence of category-specific naming impairments. In particular, it undermines the proposal that living-nonliving dissociations are artifactual, resulting from the greater difficulty of living things. Second, it demonstrates an asymmetry in the neural representation of nonliving things, in favor of the left hemisphere. Third, it casts doubt on the hypothesis that the anterior temporal cortices are convergence zones that are particularly necessary for the naming of living things.