cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4217: Consumer credit, cancer treatment, and health among women with a history of breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer treatment may represent an economic shock that may be influenced by, or may influence a cancer survivor’s socio-economic position (SEP). Financial toxicity or economic burden due to cancer treatment and treatment’s adverse effects may be reflected in one’s consumer credit ratings; however, credit’s contribution to individual health for cancer survivors or those managing long-term adverse effects of cancer treatment has not been evaluated. This analysis examined associations between self-rated health outcomes of women with a history of breast cancer, type of cancer treatment, and presence of breast cancer-related lymphedema, a persistent adverse effect of treatment, and consumer credit rating. Methods: From May to September 2015, 129 women from Pennsylvania and New Jersey were enrolled in the PAL Social and Economic Quality of Life cross-sectional study. All participants had a history of breast cancer, and completed a survey of: demographics, SEP, co-morbidities, SF-12 self-rated health, psychosocial stress, adjuvant cancer treatments (chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation), breast cancer-related lymphedema symptoms, and credit quality (5-point scale self-reported as poor to excellent). Multivariable linear regression measured the association between credit and health. Results: Mean respondent age was 64, with 38.2% reporting excellent and 37.4% reporting very good/good credit. Participants completed cancer treatment on average 11.5 years ago. After adjusting for demographics and SEP, good credit was associated with a 4.5 (p=0.009) point increase in composite physical health t-score and -1.13 (p=0.02) decrease in psychosocial stress compared to women with poor credit, but was not associated with type of cancer treatment or lymphedema. Conclusion: While credit was associated with self-rated health for women with an average 11.5 year history of breast cancer, current credit quality did not appear to be associated with type of cancer treatment previously received or with the presence of lymphedema, a persistent adverse effect of cancer treatment. It is still possible that cancer treatment may have influenced credit close to time of treatment, and credit was able to rebound since that time. Future work should test causal pathways between credit and health outcomes after cancer diagnosis. Citation Format: Lorraine T. Dean, Kathryn H. Schmitz, Kevin Frick, Lauren Nicholas, Yuehan Zhang, SV Subramanian, Kala Visvanathan. Consumer credit, cancer treatment, and health among women with a history of breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4217. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4217
Nobel, Priestley, and Perkin Medal Winners in Chemistry: Their Publication Productivity for the Years 1992–2016

This paper attempts to highlight the publication productivity of Nobel, Priestley, and Perkin Medal winners in Chemistry between the years 1992–2016. The country of origin, gender, and publication ...
Levorphanol for Treatment of Intractable Neuropathic Pain in Cancer Patients

Abstract Neuropathic pain in cancer patients is often difficult to treat, requiring a combination of several different pharmacological therapies. We describe two patients with complex neuropathic pain syndromes in the form of phantom limb pain and Brown-Sequard syndrome who did not respond to conventional treatments but responded dramatically to the addition of levorphanol. Levorphanol is a synthetic strong opioid that is a potent N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist, mu, kappa, and delta opioid receptor agonist, and reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine. It bypasses hepatic first-pass metabolism and thereby not subjected to numerous drug interactions. Levorphanol's unique profile makes it a potentially attractive opioid in cancer pain management.
Policing the Country’s Newcomers

The U.S. has a long history of both welcoming immigration and then seeking to control its most recent immigrant populations through laws, regulations and policies and, at various times, tolerating the use of vigilante violence and state collective violence in exerting its will over immigrant groups. The stereotype of immigrants as cultural, economic and political threats to social stability has led to waves of extreme anti-immigration sentiments in the past two centuries. In recent decades, in the name of law and order and a “War on Drugs,” aggressive enforcement carried out by many police agencies observes problems of discriminatory profiling and unfair controlling of minority groups, including immigrant populations. The events of 9/11 terrorist attacks have further posed challenges to maintaining positive police-immigrant community relations, with people of Arab descent particularly becoming primary targets of the post-9/11 investigation. State and local police departments, under the current conservative political environment, have also faced progressively onerous demands for performing immigration law enforcement in connection with national security. When the lines between civil and criminal immigration consequences are increasingly blurred, crimmigration inevitably occurs and state and local police agencies often find themselves struggling with exercising sensitive and fair policing.
Fit for the Future: Outcomes of a Nutrition Education Program

Abstract Thirty-one nuns were followed during a nutrition education program given by Illinois Extension. The bimonthly nutrition education program included a 60-minute lecture, food samples, learning activities, personal goal setting, and written information. The nuns recorded food intake for 3 days before and after intervention and completed questionnaires concerning their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward fruits, vegetables, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, and maintaining a healthy weight. Paired t-tests were used to determine changes in knowledge and behavior. Some beliefs were shown to be prevalent before intervention such as the view that obesity is related to high-fat foods and may also lead to the development of cancer. Some low-fat practices were also common among the women before intervention with 70% of the women trimming visible fat from meat and 59% removing skin from poultry. One low-fat practice that did improve significantly was the knowledge to use non-stick coating on pans rather than fat (p=0.004). Significant improvements also occurred in knowledge of the Dietary Guideline for fat (p=0.001) and in the ability to identify the number of vegetable servings in a menu (p=0.032). Use of nutrition labels significantly improved in a variety of situations (p=0.008, 0.011, 0.022). Most participants learned the importance of achievable, personal goal setting in the process of changing eating habits and exercise habits. The program's major effect concerned changes in the general attitudes or intentions of the women so that they were trying to eat more vegetables (p=0.010), avoid foods high in sugar more often(p=0.027), and eat more fruit (p=0.037). This outcome suggests that the program was effective in changing the participant's attitudes and that more time may be needed to gain a major increase in knowledge and change actual behaviors.
A Longitudinal Test of the Revised Strain Theory

Agnew's (1985) revised strain theory argues that delinquency results from the inability to escape legally from painful or aversive situations. There is much indirect support for the theory, with experimental and survey data indicating that delinquency is associated with a wide variety of aversive situations. The experimental data, however, are of questionable generalizability and the survey data are primarily cross sectional in nature, leaving unresolved the issue of causal direction. This study examines the relationship between environmental adversity and delinquency using longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of adolescent boys. A distribution-free method (arbitrary generalized least squares) is used to estimate a covariance structure model depicting a reciprocal relationship between adversity and delinquency. The results support the revised strain theory: environmental adversity has a causal effect on delinquency, but delinquency does not have an effect on adversity.
Abstract 5285: Evaluation of a postpartum human papillomavirus vaccination program

Evaluation of a postpartum human papillomavirus vaccination program Berenson AB, Hirth JM, Kuo YF, Rupp RE Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a large vaccination program which offers the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to women during their postpartum hospitalization. Methods: Based on the success of a pilot which offered the HPV vaccine to a select group of women, a postpartum HPV vaccination program was expanded in 2016 to include all eligible mothers who gave birth in a large Texas hospital serving low income women. Women from 23 different counties were included. With funding from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), patient navigators were hired to identify and personally counsel all eligible women who met catch-up recommendation guidelines prior to their hospital discharge. Women were informed about the need and availability of the HPV vaccine during their hospitalization and offered it free of charge. Follow-up doses are coordinated with postpartum visits as well as well-baby visits in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics. With Institutional Review Board approval, records of women who were approached during the first 11 months of the expanded program were reviewed to determine the number who chose to participate. Results: Baseline HPV vaccination rates were low. A total of 1,782 postpartum women were counseled about the HPV vaccine of which 168 (9.4%) were already vaccinated and 5 others were ineligible. Of the remaining 1,609 women, 71.2% received a dose of the HPV vaccine during their hospitalization. The refusal rate among eligible women was 24%. Another 4.3% (n-76) agreed to get vaccinated, but were released from the hospital before the injection was given. Of these, 48 (63.2%) received the dose at a later clinic visit. Conclusions: Offering the HPV vaccine as part of postpartum care can increase catch-up vaccination of young women who did not have the opportunity to be vaccinated at a younger age. Citation Format: Abbey B. Berenson, Jacqueline M. Hirth, Yong-Fang Kuo, Richard E. Rupp. Evaluation of a postpartum human papillomavirus vaccination program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 5285.
A pLOT of Viral Persistence.

In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Bouziat et al. (2018) and Van Winkle et al. (2018) find that the capsid gene of murine norovirus (MNV) functions as a trigger of host inflammation. These studies specifically describe how MNV-induced inflammation promotes loss of oral tolerance and persistent viral infection, respectively.
Fluorous-phase iron oxide nanoparticles as enhancers of acoustic droplet vaporization of perfluorocarbons with supra-physiologic boiling point.

Abstract Perfluorocarbon emulsion nanodroplets containing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) within their inner perfluorohexane (PFH) core were prepared to investigate potential use as an acoustically activatable ultrasound contrast agent, with the hypothesis that incorporation of IONPs into the fluorous phase of a liquid perfluorocarbon emulsion would potentiate acoustic vaporization. IONPs with an oleic acid (OA) hydrophobic coating were synthesized through chemical co-precipitation. To suspend IONP in PFH, OA was exchanged with perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) via ligand exchange to yield fluorophilic PFNA-coated IONPs (PFNA-IONPs). Suspensions with various amounts of PFNA-IONPs (0–15% w/v) in PFH were emulsified in saline by sonication, using 5% (w/v) egg yolk phospholipid as an emulsifier. PFNA-IONPs were characterized with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron cryomicroscopy (cryoTEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). IONP were between 5 and 10 nm in diameter as measured by electron microscopy, and hydrodynamic size of the PFH nanodroplets were 150 to 230 nm as measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). Acoustic droplet vaporization of PFH nanodroplets (PFH-NDs) was induced using conversion pulses (100 cycle at 1.1 MHz and 50% duty cycle) provided by a focused ultrasound transducer, and formed microbubbles were imaged using a clinical ultrasound scanner. The acoustic pressure threshold needed for PFH-NDs vaporization decreased with increasing temperature and IONP content. PFH-NDs containing 5% w/v IONP converted to microbubbles at 42 °C at 2.18 MI, which is just above the exposure limits of 1.9 MI allowed by the FDA for clinical ultrasound scanners, whereas 10 and 15% emulsion vaporized at 1.87 and 1.24 MI, respectively. Furthermore, 5% IONP-loaded PFH-NDs injected intravenously into melanoma-bearing mice at a dose of 120 mg PFH/kg, converted into detectable microbubbles in vivo 5 h, but not shortly after injection, indicating that this technique detects NDs accumulated in tumors.
Development of a 61-Channel MEG System Cooled by a GM/JT Cryocooler

Most SQUID-based systems used for biomagnetic measurements require liquid helium to achieve a low temperature environment However, cryogenic temperatures can now be easily attained by using commercially available cryocoolers, thus eliminating the need for handling liquid helium. Sullivan et al. [1] and Kang et al. [2] successfully demonstrated that a SQUID system can be cooled using a cryocooler. We, previously developed a single- Channel system [3] and a 32-channel system [4] that are cooled by GM/JT (Gifford-McMahon/ Joule-Thomson) cryocoolers and therefore do not need liquid helium. Here we designed a new 61-Channel MEG system cooled by a GM/JT cryocooler. To demonstrate its Performance, we measured the somatosensory-evoked magnetic field in a human subject using our 32-channel MCG system [4], which has a structure similar to that for our new MEG system.
Associations Between Social Anxiety and Affective and Empathic Forecasts: A Replication and Extension in a Mechanical Turk Sample

People often overestimate the intensity and duration of their future emotions, referred to as an impact bias. Impact biases have been documented in predictions people make about their own emotions, as well as the others' emotions (i.e., affective and empathic forecasting, respectively). Recent studies have shown that negative impact biases may be stronger, and positive impact biases may be attenuated, in individuals with symptoms of social anxiety. The current study sought to replicate and extend these findings in a Mechanical Turk (MTurk) sample. MTurk is a particularly interesting online platform for such research because of the unusually high prevalence of social anxiety among MTurk users. Within a computer-based survey, 93 MTurk users read vignettes in which a second-person narrator elicited either disgust, anger, or happiness from another person. After each vignette, participants predicted how the narrator (i.e., affective forecasts) and the other person (i.e., empathic forecasts) would feel. Overall, results confirmed the existence of associations between social anxiety symptoms and negative affective and empathic forecasting biases, though no significant relations were found between social anxiety symptoms and positive forecasting biases. Negative affective and empathic forecasting biases were significantly correlated. Age and gender were also examined as potential predictors and moderators of hypothesized effects. Though younger age and female gender were associated with specific forecast ratings, controlling for these variables did not alter the associations between social anxiety and affective or empathic forecasts and no moderation effects were found. Overall, results provide additional support for the relevance of impact biases to social anxiety and suggest that they may be useful targets of intervention.
Optical signal processing and sensing in parametric devices

Optical signal processing and sensing at a few photon level is now possible in parametric devices due to progress in longitudinal dispersion engineering. Amplifier design and performance is reviewed and results are summarized.
STEPS IN PROCESSING OF mRNA: IMPLICATIONS FOR GENE REGULATION

Publisher Summary This chapter examines implications of the steps in processing of mRNA for gene regulation. In bacterial cells, transcription and translation are physically intimately associated and perhaps even physiologically coupled. Evidence of the interaction between the translation and transcriptional apparatus comes from the studies of attenuation, a phenomenon where premature termination occurs in the transcription of certain operons. In eukaryotic cells, protein synthesis is structurally separated from the nuclear site of mRNA formation. The mRNA in eukaryotes is derived from primary nuclear RNA transcripts only after an elaborate set of modifications. In vertebrate cells and some insect cells, there are not only chemical modifications at both ends of the final mRNA product prior to its engagement with ribosomes in the cytoplasm but cleavage of the primary transcript and reunion of selected polynucleotide stretches—RNA:RNA splicing—is necessary to generate a functional mRNA. This chapter discusses initiation and termination in transcription units for mRNA and molarity of late transcription of Ad-2 genome. It also presents a summary of mRNA biosynthesis based on work with Ad-2 transcription units and Chinese hamster cells.
Safety Risk Tolerance in the Construction Industry: Cross-Cultural Analysis

AbstractDisparities in worker risk tolerance may create barriers to implementing safety management systems and improving safety performance. At present, it is unclear if and to what extent construc...
Outpatient management of kidney transplant recipients with suspected COVID-19-Single-center experience during the New York City surge.

Data describing the clinical progression of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in transplant recipients are limited. In New York City during the surge in COVID-19 cases, a systematic approach to monitoring and triaging immunocompromised transplant patients was required in the context of strained healthcare resources, limited outpatient testing, and heightened hospital exposure risks. Public health guidance at the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak recommended outpatient monitoring of mildly symptomatic patients without specific recommendations for special populations such as transplant recipients. We developed and implemented a systematic monitoring algorithm for kidney transplant recipients at our transplant center who reported mild symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. We describe the outcomes of the first 44 patients monitored through this algorithm. A total of 44 kidney transplant recipients thought to be symptomatic for COVID-19 disease were followed for a minimum of 14 days. The majority of mildly symptomatic patients (34/44) had clinical progression of disease and were referred to the emergency department where they all tested PCR positive and required hospitalization. More than half of these patients presented with hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen, 39% were intubated within 48 hours, and 53% developed acute kidney injury but did not require dialysis. There were 6 deaths. During surge outbreaks, kidney transplant patients with even mild symptoms have a high likelihood of COVID-19 disease and most will worsen requiring hospitalization for supportive measures. Earlier outpatient testing and hospitalization may improve COVID-19 outcomes among transplant recipients.
Pancreatic cystic desmoid tumor following metastatic colon cancer surgery: A case report

Desmoid tumors are rare, benign, and locally aggressive neoplasms that stem from connective tissue that have high rates of recurrence after surgery. Intra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis can arise in 2 forms: sporadic or hereditary (associated with familial adenomatous polyposis and Gardner syndrome). The diagnosis of desmoid-type tumors is based on imaging modalities and histopathological examination. The primary treatment is resection surgery. We report a 64-year-old male with a distal pancreatic desmoid tumor. We focus on tumor management by the application of radiological modalities and pathological analysis.
Aquinas’s Eschatological Historiography: Job, Providence, and the Multiple Senses of the Historical Event:

Drawing primarily from Thomas’ commentary on the Book of Job and the Summa Theologiae, I argue, first, that Aquinas views history and historiography in primarily eschatological terms; second, that ...
Associations of single and multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) exposure with vitamin D biomarkers in African American women during pregnancy.

Abstracts Vitamin D has been linked to various physiological functions in pregnant women and their fetuses. Previous studies have suggested that some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may alter serum vitamin D concentrations. However, no study has investigated the relationship between PFAS and vitamin D in pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the associations of serum PFAS with serum total and free 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) during pregnancy in a cohort of African American women in Atlanta, GA. Blood samples from 442 participants were collected in early pregnancy (8–14 weeks of gestation) for PFAS and 25(OH)D measurements, and additional samples were collected in late pregnancy (24–30 weeks) for the second 25(OH)D measurements. We fit multivariable linear regressions and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regressions to estimate the associations of individual PFAS and their mixtures with 25(OH)D concentrations. We found mostly positive associations of total 25(OH)D with PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid), PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), PFDA (perfluorodecanoic acid), and NMeFOSAA (N-methyl perfluorooctane sulfonamido acetic acid), and negative associations with PFPeA (perfluoropentanoic acid). For free 25(OH)D, positive associations were observed with PFHxS, PFOS, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), and PFDA, and a negative association with PFPeA among the women with male fetuses in the models using 25(OH)D measured in late pregnancy. In mixture models, a quartile increase in WQS index was associated with 2.88 ng/mL (95%CI 1.14–4.59) and 5.68 ng/mL (95%CI 3.31–8.04) increases in total 25(OH)D measured in the early and late pregnancy, respectively. NMeFOSAA, PFDA, and PFOS contributed the most to the overall effects among the eight PFAS. No association was found between free 25(OH)D and the PFAS mixture. These results suggest that PFAS may affect vitamin D biomarker concentrations in pregnant African American women, and some of the associations were modified by fetal sex.
High ramp rate thermogravimetric analysis of zirconium(II) hydride and titanium(II) hydride

Abstract Zirconium and titanium hydride are utilized in liquid phase metal foam processing techniques. This application results in immediate exposure to molten metal and almost immediate decomposition at high temperatures. Most decomposition characterization techniques utilize slow heating rates and are unable to capture the decomposition behavior of hydrides under foam processing conditions. In order to address this issue a specialized high ramp rate thermogravimetric analyzer was created from a xenon arc image refiner. In addition to thermogravimetry, complimentary techniques including X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize hydride decomposition and compare the results to literature. Hydrides were partially oxidized and separated into particles size ranges to evaluate the influence of these factors on decomposition. Oxidizing treatments were found to decrease decomposition rate only at temperatures below 933 K (660 °C) while particle size effects appeared to be negligible. Several improvements to the unique TGA apparatus presented in the current work are suggested to allow reliable kinetic modeling and analysis.
Molecular cloning and expression of the Bacillus anthracis edema factor toxin gene: a calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase.

The Bacillus anthracis exotoxin is composed of a lethal factor, a protective antigen, and an edema factor (EF). EF is a calmodulin-dependent adenylate cyclase which elevates cyclic AMP levels within cells. The entire EF gene (cya) has been cloned in Escherichia coli, but EF gene expression by its own B. anthracis promoter could not be detected in E. coli. However, when the EF gene was placed downstream from the lac or the T7 promoter, enzymatically active EF was produced. The EF gene, like the protective antigen (pag) and lethal factor (lef) genes, was present on the large B. anthracis toxin plasmid pXO1. Images
Partnerships Across Campuses and Throughout Communities: Community Engaged Research in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley

In this chapter the co-authors explore the process of conducting social indicator research in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley. The “Central Valley” is notable for the high level of ethnic diversity, deep economic disparity, unemployment and underemployment, and blend of rural and agricultural communities with urban areas experiencing various levels of gentrification and development. The Partnership for the Assessment of Community (PAC) project was created to serve as a model to measure the changes over a 10-year period in the Central Valley. The PAC research team consists of faculty from different universities in the Central Valley and student-researchers. A description of the pilot study of PAC research is discussed in this chapter. The co-authors offer a critical read of the promises and challenges for researchers interested in conducting community-based research with students across multiple sites. We offer a summary of successful ventures as well as valuable lessons of what did not work for the initial study and salient issues for future social indicator research endeavors in the Central Valley.
Nucleoli and nucleolar ribonucleic acid in nonmalignant and malignant human endometria.

Abstract Analysis of nucleoli in nonmalignant and malignant human endometria in relation to histological grades of malignancy showed, with increased grade of malignancy, more multiple nucleoli, larger size of single nucleoli per nucleus, and greater morphological variations. These nucleolar alterations imply an augmentation of nucleolar activity with increased grade of malignancy. Statistically significant differences were shown for mean diameters of single nucleoli between all groups except Grades I and II. From this biometric study of nucleolar populations, the conclusion seems justified that nucleolar measurements and counts may be of value as aids in the diagnosis between nonmalignant and low-grade endometrial tumors. Such observations may be of clinical value in serving as more valid criteria in the establishment of the histological grade of malignancy and therefore as a better basis for selection of therapy and for prognosis. In addition, from this and other investigations, the evidence lends credence to the idea that increase in RNA and nucleolar activity between benign tissues of origin and malignant tissues may represent a criterion of malignancy and that nucleolar studies may provide a significant index of the lethality of malignant gynecological tumors.
A novel low-power scan design technique using supply gating

Reduction in test power is important to improve battery life in portable devices employing periodic self-test, to increase reliability of testing and to reduce test-cost. In scan-based testing, about 80% of total test power is dissipated in the combinational block. In this paper, we present a novel circuit technique to virtually eliminate test power dissipation in combinational logic by masking signal transition at the logic inputs during scan shifting. We realize the masking effect by inserting an extra supply gating transistor in the VDD to GND path for the first level cells at output of the scan flops. The supply gating transistor is turned off in the scan-in mode, essentially gating the supply. Adding an extra transistor in only one logic level renders significant advantage with respect to area, delay and power (in normal mode of operation) overhead compared to existing methods, which use gating logic at the output of scan flops. Simulation results on ISCAS89 benchmarks show up to 79% improvement in area, up to 32% in power (in normal mode) and up to 7% in delay compared to lowest-cost known alternative.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERCEIVED EMPLOYMENT BARRIER SCALE (PEBS): MEASURING PSYCHOLOGICAL SELF‐SUFFICIENCY

The purpose of this study is to (a) validate the psychometric properties of the Perceived Employment Barrier Scale (PEBS) and (b) investigate the effect of perceived barriers on employment hope. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and a series of invariance tests were conducted to validate PEBS using two independent samples. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized relationship. The latent factor structure generated by EFA failing to fit efficiently in CFA, the model was revised to a 5-factor, 20-item structure. This model demonstrated a common latent factor and item structure in both samples. And SEM results suggest a significant negative effect of perceived employment barriers on employment hope. PEBS is a reliable and valid measure that could be used as an evidence-based tool for comprehensively assessing client-centered employment barriers and providing appropriate support services to low-income jobseekers.
Effects of the carboxylic ionophore monensin on atrial contractility and Ca2+ regulation by isolated cardiac microsomes

Abstract The monovalention-selective ionophore monensin (0.4 to 33 μ m ) produced significant positive inotropic responses in isolated driven rabbit and cat left atria. These responses were accompanied by an increase of d F d t max and a decrease of time to peak force, but no change of resting force. Monensin concentrations greater than 33 μ m produced negative inotropy and contracture. Reserpine pretreatment in vivo or β-blockade in vitro attenuated the positive inotropic responses in an apparently non-competitive fashion, but had no effect on negative inotropy or the development of contracture. Only the positive inotropic responses to monensin were completely blocked by LaCl3, ruthenium red or low extracellular Ca2+. The ionophore reversed the negative inotropic response to 3 μ m tetrodotoxin. Monensin (1 to 100 μ m ) inhibited Ca2+ accumulation by isolated cardiac microsomes. Addition of monensin to microsomes that had accumulated Ca2+ in the absence of ionophore caused rapid release of a fraction of accumulated Ca2+.
Correlation of Chemical and Mechanical Property Changes During Oxidative Degradation of Neoprene

The thermal degradation of a commercial, stabilized, unfilled neoprene (chloroprene) rubber was investigated at temperatures up to 140 C. The degradation of this material is dominated by oxidation rather than dehydrochlorination. Important heterogeneous oxidation effects were observed at the various temperatures investigated using infrared micro-spectroscopy and modulus profiling. Intensive degradation-related spectral changes in the IR occurred in the conjugated carbonyl and hydroxyl regions. Quantitative analysis revealed some differences in the development of the IR oxidation profiles, particularly towards the sample surface. These chemical degradation profiles were compared with modulus profiles (mechanical properties). It is concluded that the profile development is fundamentally described by a diffusion-limited autoxidation mechanism. Oxygen consumption measurements showed that the oxidation rates display non-Arrhenius behavior (curvature) at low temperatures. The current results, when compared to those of a previously studied, clay-filled commercial neoprene formulation, indicate that the clay filler acts as an antioxidant, but only at low temperatures.
Utilization of the Synthetic Phosphagen Cyclocreatine Phosphate by a Simple Brain Model During Stimulation by Neuroexcitatory Amino Acids

The ability of 1-carboxymethyl-2-imino-3-phosphonoimidazolidine (cyclocreatine-P), accumulated by a simple brain model, to function as a supplemental synthetic phosphagen and respond to the decreases in cytosolic ATP/free ADP ratios that occur during prolonged stimulation by various excitatory amino acids was investigated. Suspensions of chopped whole brain from 11- to 14-day-old chick embryos were incubated with 30 mM cyclocreatine for 90 min, resulting in accumulation of 100 mumol/g dry weight of cyclocreatine-P, and then incubated for up to 1 h with a series of excitatory amino acids of widely differing potencies. Under these conditions net utilization of cyclocreatine-P was detected in response to stimulation by the following neuroexcitatory compounds at the indicated threshold concentrations: kainate (20 microM), N-methyl-DL-aspartate (20 microM), L-homocysteate (20 microM), L-glutamate (200 microM), D-glutamate (200 microM), L-aspartate (2 mM), DL-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionate (2 mM), and DL-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate (2 mM). Significant increases in water content of chick embryo brain minces accompanied stimulation by excitatory amino acids. It is suggested that changes in water content or cyclocreatine-P levels in this sensitive brain model might be utilized in automatable screening procedures for detecting novel antagonists and/or new agonists of excitatory amino acids.
Cooling-aware and thermal-aware workload placement for green HPC data centers

High Performance Computing (HPC) data centers are becoming increasingly dense; the associated power-density and energy consumption of their operation is increasing. Up to half of the total energy is attributed to cooling the data center; greening the data center operations to reduce both computing and cooling energy is imperative. To this effect: i) the Energy Inefficiency Ratio of SPatial job scheduling (a.k.a. job placement) algorithms, also referred as SP-EIR, is analyzed by comparing the total (computing + cooling) energy consumption incurred by the algorithms with the minimum possible energy consumption, while assuming that the job start times are already decided to meet the Service Level Agreements (SLAs); and ii) a coordinated cooling-aware job placement and cooling management algorithm, Highest Thermostat Setting (HTS), is developed. HTS is aware of dynamic behavior of the Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) units and places the jobs in a way to reduce the cooling demands from the CRACs. Dynamic updates of the CRAC thermostat settings based on the cooling demands can enable a reduction in energy consumption. Simulation results based on power measurements and job traces from the ASU HPC data center show that: i) HTS reduces the SP-EIR by 15% compared to LRH, a thermal-aware spatial scheduling algorithm; and ii) in conjunction with FCFS-Backfill, HTS increases the throughput per unit energy by 6.89% and 5.56%, respectively, over LRH and MTDP (an energy-effcient spatial scheduling algorithm with server consolidation).
The truth lies between the lines.

Body & Soul: Narratives of Healing from Ars Medica . Allison Crawford, Rex Kay, Allan Peterkin, Robin Roger, Ronald Ruskin, editors, with Aaron Orkin. University of Toronto Press; 2011 In the poem “Paterson,” William Carlos Williams voices a neighbour’s reaction when he reveals that he is a
Conditioned taste aversion memory and c-Fos induction are disrupted in RIIβ-protein kinase A mutant mice

Abstract The cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling pathway has been implicated in many forms of learning. The present studies examined conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning, an amygdala-dependent task, in mice with a targeted disruption of a gene for a specific regulatory subunit of PKA (RIIβ), which is selectively expressed in amygdala. Null mutant (RIIβ −/− ) mice and littermate controls (RIIβ +/+ ) were tested for protein synthesis-independent short-term memory (STM) and protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory (LTM) for CTAs. The ability of the unconditioned stimulus (US) drug, LiCl, to induce c-Fos in regions thought to be important in this learning was also determined. RIIβ −/− mice showed significant impairment in CTA memory when tested 24 h after training (LTM). In contrast, STM was normal. With regard to the c-Fos response to LiCl, the US drug, significant elevations were evident in brainstem (nucleus of the solitary tract) and pontine (parabrachial nucleus) regions, in mutants as well as wild-type controls. However, in amygdala, elevations were seen in controls but were absent in the mutants. These findings suggest that disruption of PKA signaling interferes with LTM consolidation of CTA and that a possible mediator of this effect is interference with c-Fos expression in amygdala which may be necessary for CTA memory.
THE INJECTION OF CHEMICALS INTO THE YOLK SAC OF FERTILE EGGS PRIOR TO INCUBATION AS A TOXICITY TEST.

Abstract An evaluation of toxicity by injection of the chemical into the yolk sac of fertile eggs prior to incubation gave the following results: Water, propylene glycol, corn oil, peanut oil, isotonic saline solution, and isotonic glucose solution showed no toxicity or a very low order of toxicity. Mercuric chloride, lead acetate, selenium, triorthocresyl phosphate, p,p′-diamino-diphenylmethane, thiourea, Aroclor 1242, and dibutyl-tin-dilaurate showed a high order of toxicity and/or teratogenic effects at certain levels. Acetone, methanol, ethanol, n-butanol, diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, hydrochloric acid, carbon tetrachloride, ethyl acetate, malathion, heptachlor, and styrene showed an intermediate order of toxicity.
Anthropogenic Chemical Carbon Cycle for a Sustainable Future

Nature’s photosynthesis uses the sun’s energy with chlorophyll in plants as a catalyst to recycle carbon dioxide and water into new plant life. Only given sufficient geological time, millions of years, can new fossil fuels be formed naturally. The burning of our diminishing fossil fuel reserves is accompanied by large anthropogenic CO2 release, which is outpacing nature’s CO2 recycling capability, causing significant environmental harm. To supplement the natural carbon cycle, we have proposed and developed a feasible anthropogenic chemical recycling of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is captured by absorption technologies from any natural or industrial source, from human activities, or even from the air itself. It can then be converted by feasible chemical transformations into fuels such as methanol, dimethyl ether, and varied products including synthetic hydrocarbons and even proteins for animal feed, thus supplementing our food chain. This concept of broad scope and framework is the basis of what we call...
Urinary mutagens in cosmetologists and dental personnel.

Cosmetologists are occupationally exposed to a wide range of toxic chemicals both dermally and by inhalation. Since many of these chemicals are mutagens and may be excreted in urine, the Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay was used to determine the presence of direct‐acting and promutagens in the urine of practicing cosmetologists in central New York State. A comparable group (age, gender, smokers) of dental hygienists and assistants in the same geographic area was used as the control cohort. The cosmetologists had a significantly higher (39 vs. 24%, p < .03) frequency of direct‐acting urinary mutagens but there was no difference between the groups in the frequency of promutagens. In the multivariate model, cosmetologists were at two times the risk of direct‐acting mutagens compared to dental workers. Smoking regularly, within 24 h of taking the urine sample, and the number of cigarettes smoked daily were not associated significantly with direct‐acting mutagens in urine. Similarly, having had a hair permane...
The need for empirically derived permeation data for personal protective equipment: the death of Dr. Karen E. Wetterhahn

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an essential component in any occupational health and safety program. The appropriate selection and use of PPE can help prevent or limit exposure to hazardous materials. The inappropriate selection or use of PPE can lead to unnecessary exposure or?with extremely hazardous materials?serious harm including death. In 1997, Dr. Karen E. Wetterhahn died from mercury poisoning resulting from a single exposure to dimethylmercury almost a year before. Her death raised numerous questions as to how this tragedy occurred and what could be done to protect against a chemical as dangerous as dimethylmercury. This article provides a brief review of the case and discusses the glove permeation testing done during the course of the accident investigation. Using this case as an example, the author argues that all recommendations for PPE be based on empirical testing using accepted methods and that this information be readily available.
Avoidance conditioning in different strains of rats: neurochemical correlates.

Two-way avoidance conditioning was compared in three strains of rats: Roman high avoiders (RHA), Roman low avoiders (RLA) and control Sprague-Dawleys (SD). RHAs performed more and RLAs fewer avoidance responses than SDs. RLAs injected with d-amphetamine improved their performance to levels comparable to SDs; however, d-amphetamine caused a time-dependent increase in intertrial crossings for the RLAs. Of the three strains, the RLAs had the lowest activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine-Β-hydroxylase and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in their adrenal glands. Although there were no significant differences among the strains in respect to tyrosine hydroxylase activity in whole brain or regions, RLAs had higher dopamine-Β-hydroxylase activity in the whole brain and cerebral cortex as compared to the SDs. RLAs and RHAs together had a significantly different turnover of intracisternally administered 3H-norepinephrine than SDs. After the intracisternal injection of 3H-L-tyrosine, twice as much 3H-dopamine accumulated in the brains of RLAs as compared to RHAs and SDs.
Inhibition of rat liver Ca2+, Mg2+-dependent endonuclease activity by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) synthetase

Summary Incubation of rat liver chromatin with NAD + resulted in an inhibition of the Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ -dependent endonuclease while the Mg 2+ -dependent endonuclease was not affected. To establish that the endonuclease was blocked directly by adenosine diphosphate ribosylation purified enzymes were used in the reaction mixture. The following ingredients were required in order to demonstrate the inhibitory effect: partially purified Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ -dependent endonuclease, purified poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) synthetase, NAD + and DNA.
The monitoring and auditing method of Windows File manipulations

To completely monitor file manipulations and fully record the audit logs on the Windows operating system, this paper elaborate a policy based approach to monitoring and auditing file manipulating activities, analyze the workflow of the monitoring and auditing process, and proposed some critical technologies on the implementation, which enables monitoring and recording all types of file manipulating activities on the application level, resulting in complete audit log record. Additionally, the technologies we propose are easy to implement.
Some Recent Studies in Ruthenium Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis

Ruthenium is a metal of a considerable importance in electrochemical science and technology. It is a catalyst or co-catalyst material in Pt-Ru alloys for methanoland reformate hydrogenoxidation in fuel cells, while ruthenium oxide, a component in chlorine-evolution catalysts, represents an attractive material for electrochemical supercapacitors. Its facile surface oxidation generates an oxygen-containing species that provides active oxygen in some reactions. Ru sites in Pt-Ru catalysts increase the “CO tolerance” of Pt in the catalytic oxidation-reaction in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) and in reformate hydrogen-oxidation in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The mechanism of Ru action is not completely understood, although the current consensus revolves around the so-called “bifunctional mechanism” wherein Ru provides oxygenated species to oxidize CO that blocks Pt sites, and has an electronic effect on Pt-CO interaction.
Hoarding of inedible objects by albino rats

Albino rats were allowed to hoard a variety of inedible objects. All objects were hoarded during the initial trials, but marked preferences developed subsequently for objects which could be taken apart by gnawing. In addition, by presenting half of the group with either of two nonpartible objects for the entire experiment and presenting both objects on the last four trials, it was found that an object was hoarded more often when it was presented for the first time than when it was familiar. Therefore partibility and novelty seem to be factors which induce hoarding of inedible objects.
Inhibition of estrus and corpora lutea function with Norgestomet.

Abstract Forty-five nonpregnant, nonlactating, Angus and Brangus cows were utilized to determine how long a Norgestomet ear implant would inhibit estrus when administered at various stages of an estrous cycle. All cows completed a nontreated estrous cycle to ensure normal cyclicity. At the second observed estrus (estrus = Day 1), cows were randomly allotted to be treated at metestrus (Day 3 or Day 4, n = 15); at diestrus (Day 9 or Day 10, n = 14); or at proestrus (Day 15 or Day 16, n = 16). All cows received a 2-ml intramuscular injection of 3 mg of Norgestomet accompanied by a 6-mg Norgestomet ear implant, which remained in situ for 21 days, or until individual cows were observed in estrus. Estrus was inhibited for a mean (± SEM) of 18.7 ± 0.7, 19.9 ± 0.8, and 17.0 ± 0.8 days, respectively, when cows were treated at metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus (metestrus and diestrus vs proestrus; P 0.10). Norgestomet inhibited estrus in all cows for 11, 17, and 11 days after implantation when treatment was initiated at metestrus, diestrus, and proestrus, respectively (P > 0.10). These data indicate that a 6-mg Norgestomet ear implant effectively inhibits estrus in all cows for a maximum of 11 days, with some cows exhibiting estrus by Day 12 with the Norgestomet implant in situ.
PREDICTION AND CONTROL AS MEDIATORS OF CAUSAL ATTRIBUTION

In this paper is reviewed the literature on the naive perception of causality. Studies support Heider's suggestion that actors give external reasons for their behavior, whereas observers attribute the same behavior to the actor's personal dispositions. However, studies also show that actors are sometimes internal and observers are sometimes external in their causal attributions, e.g., actors give external reasons for their failure but they give internal reasons for success, and observers give internal reasons for the other's failure but they give external reasons for success. It was concluded that such results can be explained in terms of both cognitive and motivational factors. It was proposed that the perceiver's concern with prediction and control is one factor responsible for the typical attributions of actors as well as observers, and, furthermore, that there are individual, cultural, and contextual factors which may reverse the typical perspectives of actors and observers.