cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reconciling schemas of disparate data sources: a machine-learning approach

A data-integration system provides access to a multitude of data sources through a single mediated schema. A key bottleneck in building such systems has been the laborious manual construction of semantic mappings between the source schemas and the mediated schema. We describe LSD, a system that employs and extends current machine-learning techniques to semi-automatically find such mappings. LSD first asks the user to provide the semantic mappings for a small set of data sources, then uses these mappings together with the sources to train a set of learners. Each learner exploits a different type of information either in the source schemas or in their data. Once the learners have been trained, LSD finds semantic mappings for a new data source by applying the learners, then combining their predictions using a meta-learner. To further improve matching accuracy, we extend machine learning techniques so that LSD can incorporate domain constraints as an additional source of knowledge, and develop a novel learner that utilizes the structural information in XML documents. Our approach thus is distinguished in that it incorporates multiple types of knowledge. Importantly, its architecture is extensible to additional learners that may exploit new kinds of information. We describe a set of experiments on several real-world domains, and show that LSD proposes semantic mappings with a high degree of accuracy.
Quantifying Effective Memory Bandwidth of Platform FPGAs

The benefits of high performance computing (HPC) can be seen in a wide range of applications. From science and medicine to industries as diverse as oil exploration, financial, and entertainment, access to cost-effective HPC is becoming a critical part of our national infrastructure. Although exponential semiconductor advances are giving computational scientists faster computing speeds, applications with large amounts of data may not necessarily solve problems faster. More specifically, technology trends are working against system designers: computation rates and memory capacity are both rising faster than the bandwidth between these two components. This so called "Memory Wall" was predicted for general-purpose computing over a decade ago, but to date large on-chip caches are able to compensate for the growing disparity. FPGA designers do not have the luxury of large caches, so to be successful, high-performance designs must include custom memory hierarchies and data paths as well as application-specific computations.
Association among active seafloor deformation, mound formation, and gas hydrate growth and accumulation within the seafloor of the Santa Monica Basin, offshore California

Seafloor blister-like mounds, methane migration and gas hydrate formation were investigated through detailed seafloor surveys in Santa Monica Basin, offshore of Los Angeles, California. Two distinct deep-water (≥800 m water depth) topographic mounds were surveyed using an autonomous underwater vehicle (carrying a multibeam sonar and a chirp sub-bottom profiler) and one of these was explored with the remotely operated vehicle Tiburon. The mounds are N10 m high and N100 m wide dome-shaped bathymetric features. These mounds protrude from crests of broad anticlines (~20 m high and 1 to 3 km long) formed within latest Quaternary-aged seafloor sediment associated with compression between lateral offsets in regional faults. No allochthonous sediments were observed on the mounds, except slumped material off the steep slopes of the mounds. Continuous streams of methane gas bubbles emanate from the crest of the northeastern mound, and extensive methane-derived authigenic carbonate pavements and chemosynthetic communities mantle the mound surface. The large local vertical displacements needed to produce these mounds suggests a corresponding net mass accumulation has occurred within the immediate subsurface. Formation and accumulation of pure gas hydrate lenses in the subsurface is proposed as a mechanism to blister the seafloor and form these mounds. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Multi-modeling of adversary behaviors

Models developed using different modeling languages but the same data provide different insights of the human terrain. Interoperation of such models, i.e., multi-modeling, can produce a more robust modeling and simulation capability to support operational commanders or intelligence analysts. The C2 Wind Tunnel is a platform that enables multi-modeling and the conduct of simulations and computational experiments. However, to establish that the interoperation of the models is valid, meta-modeling analysis is required. An approach using concept maps is described.
Targeting Protein Tyrosine Kinase 6 Enhances Apoptosis of Colon Cancer Cells following DNA Damage

Protein tyrosine kinase 6 (PTK6) is an intracellular tyrosine kinase that has distinct functions in normal epithelia and cancer. It is expressed primarily in nondividing epithelial cells in the normal intestine, where it promotes differentiation. However, after DNA damage, PTK6 is induced in proliferating progenitor cells, where it contributes to apoptosis. We examined links between PTK6 and the tumor suppressor p53 in the isogenic p53+/+ and p53−/− HCT116 colon tumor cell lines. We found that p53 promotes expression of PTK6 in HCT116 cells, and short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of PTK6 leads to reduced induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21. Knockdown of PTK6 enhances apoptosis in HCT116 cells with wild-type p53, following treatment of cells with γ-radiation, doxorubicin, or 5-fluorouracil. No differences in the activation of AKT, ERK1/2, or ERK5, known PTK6-regulated prosurvival signaling proteins, were detected. However, activity of STAT3, a PTK6 substrate, was impaired in cells with knockdown of PTK6 following DNA damage. In contrast to its role in the normal epithelium following DNA damage, PTK6 promotes survival of cancer cells with wild-type p53 by promoting p21 expression and STAT3 activation. Targeting PTK6 in combination with use of chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation may enhance death of colon tumor cells with wild-type p53. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(11); 2311–20. ©2012 AACR .
Pneumoscrotum after colonoscopy

Abstract A case of pneumoscrotum after colonoscopy is reported. The patient recovered uneventfully with careful observation. This complication was the result of perforation of retroperitoneal bowel by the colonoscope. As such, prophylactic antimicrobial therapy may be indicated.
Data Matching, Data Mining, and Due Process

This Article concerns governmental actions based upon computerized data matching (comparison of records) and data mining (profiling). Over 50 federal agencies are using or planning to use data matching and data mining, in a total of 199 programs, some of which are aimed at locating potential terrorists. The most striking aspect of virtually all anti-terrorist data matching and data mining decisions is the absence of even the most rudimentary procedures for notice, hearing, or other opportunities for meaningful participation. Because the Fourth Amendment pre-empts most due process claims involving governmental actions that can be characterized as searches or seizures, this Article first applies Fourth Amendment doctrine to the use of data matching and data mining in those contexts. Other data matching and data mining consequences must be evaluated under the Due Process Clause. After reviewing their potential effects on private, governmental, and accuracy interests, the Article proposes four possible ways of accommodating data matching and data mining with due process. One would be summary hearings prior to denial of access to flights or the imposition of other liberty or property effects. A second involves correction opportunities after the initial data matching or mining consequence, in a fuller process with disclosure and a right to respond. A third means of redress would be after-the-fact compensatory damages for false positives in outcome. Finally, given the frequent need to keep data mining decision algorithms secret, and the difficulty of addressing challenges to them in individual hearings, this Article proposes systematic independent oversight of their validity.
First Generation Students and Post-Undergraduate Aspirations

1. Morgan Teressa Carlton[1][1][⇑][2] 1. 1Wake Forest University, Winston–Salem, NC, USA 1. Morgan Teressa Carlton, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston–Salem, NC 27109, USA. Email: carlmt12{at}wfu.edu Equal access to education is a growing concern throughout the nation. With an increasing amount of programs aimed to support the underrepresented populations on college campuses, first generation college students have grown to be a target population of particular interest. This study examined the relationships between first generation college seniors and applications to graduate or professional programs. The goal of this study was to determine if first generation students are pursuing advanced degrees at lower rates than non-first generation students and if so, attempt to uncover factors contributing to that evidence. Data were gathered from the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshman data set, and variables were analyzed using a binary logistic regression. The results of the study indicate that first generation students are significantly less likely to pursue an advanced degree, even when controlling for race, gender, family income, and cumulative grade point average, suggesting a distinctive impact of first generation status on post-undergraduate aspirations. However, after controlling for the impact of self-reported undergraduate loans, the effect of first generation status was no longer significant. The findings in this study provide an important new perspective in the field of sociology. [1]: #aff-1 [2]: #corresp-1
PM-07Bcl-xL DEPENDENCE OF NEURAL PROGENITORS MAY BE EXPLOITED TO IMPROVE MEDULLOBLASTOMA THERAPY

Medulloblastoma is markedly more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy than glioblastoma or PNET, but the underlying mechanisms contributing to this sensitivity remain unknown. Identifying the molecular mechanisms that mediate sensitivity of medulloblastoma to radiation and chemotherapy may lead to more targeted, less toxic approaches to therapy. We have previously shown that cerebellar neuronal progenitors (CGNPs), the cells of origin for Shh-driven medulloblastoma, are primed for rapid apoptosis in response to DNA damage, and that this apoptotic mechanism is conserved in medulloblastoma. In CGNPs and medulloblastoma cells, the pro-apoptotic protein Bax is maintained in an active conformation at mitochondria, complexed with its anti-apoptotic homolog, Bcl-xL. In this study we have examined the consequences of disrupting Bcl-xL in CGNPs and medulloblastoma cells in vivo, using conditional genetic deletion. We found that deleting Bcl-xL from CGNPs during development caused cerebellar hypoplasia by dramatically increasing CGNP apoptosis. In medulloblastoma-prone SmoM2 mice, deletion of Bcl-xL markedly decreased tumor growth, leaving large acellular spaces indicative that regions of the tumor had undergone apoptosis. Our findings suggest that therapeutic agents specifically targeting Bcl-xL may directly activate apoptotic pathways in medulloblastoma in the absence of DNA damage, potentially decreasing the toxicity associated with conventional treatments such as radiation therapy.
Control of Single-Photon Emission from a Two-Level Single-Molecule Source: A Quantum Trajectory Analysis

We demonstrate using quantum jump simulation that the pulse area provides a good indicator for predicting the probability of generating single-photon on demand from a two-level single-molecule source excited by laser pulses of different shape.
Analysis and investigation on the health literacy of urban and rural residents in Hefei city

Objective To understand the health literacy level of Hefei city residents,and provide the basis for the development and evaluation of health literacy policies and intervention measures. Methods by using a stratified random cluster sampling method in Hefei City,4 districts and 3 counties street / township extraction 15 ~ 69 years a total of 1053 residents health literacy survey. Results Hefei city residents have health literacy ratio is 12%,the basic skills of basic knowledge and concept,healthy lifestyle and behavior,the proportion is respectively 23. 2%,19. 2%,50. 4%; have a literacy rate 5types of health problems is high in the end were safety and first aid 52. 7%,basic medical 52. 6%,scientific view of health50. 9%,infectious disease 49. 4%,the prevention of chronic disease prevention 10. 6%. City residents have health literacy rate high and rural residents,the difference was statistically significant( χ2= 62. 65 P 0. 01); statistically significant culture degree,family average monthly income differences in health literacy( P 0. 01). Conclusion We should strengthen propaganda and education on chronic disease prevention literacy for urban and rural residents of Hefei city to improve population proportion with chronic disease prevention literacy.
Novel exon 1 protein-coding regions N-terminally extend human KCNE3 and KCNE4

The 5 human (h)KCNE β subunits each regulate various cation channels and are linked to inherited cardiac arrhythmias. Reported here are previously undiscovered protein-coding regions in exon 1 of hKCNE3 and hKCNE4 that extend their encoded extracellular domains by 44 and 51 residues, which yields full-length proteins of 147 and 221 residues, respectively. Full-length hKCNE3 and hKCNE4 transcript and protein are expressed in multiple human tissues; for hKCNE4, only the longer protein isoform is detectable. Two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology revealed that, when coexpressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes with various potassium channels, the newly discovered segment preserved conversion of KCNQ1 by hKCNE3 to a constitutively open channel, but prevented its inhibition of Kv4.2 and KCNQ4. hKCNE4 slowing of Kv4.2 inactivation and positive-shifted steady-state inactivation were also preserved in the longer form. In contrast, full-length hKCNE4 inhibition of KCNQ1 was limited to 40% at +40 mV vs. 80% inhibition by the shorter form, and augmentation of KCNQ4 activity by hKCNE4 was entirely abolished by the additional segment. Among the genome databases analyzed, the longer KCNE3 is confined to primates; full-length KCNE4 is widespread in vertebrates but is notably absent from Mus musculus Findings highlight unexpected KCNE gene diversity, raise the possibility of dynamic regulation of KCNE partner modulation via splice variation, and suggest that the longer hKCNE3 and hKCNE4 proteins should be adopted in future mechanistic and genetic screening studies.-Abbott, G. W. Novel exon 1 protein-coding regions N-terminally extend human KCNE3 and KCNE4.
Effects of Different Processing Methods on the Micronutrient and Phytochemical Contents of Maize: From A to Z

Maize is a staple human food eaten by more than a billion people around the world in a variety of whole and processed products. Different processing methods result in changes to the nutritional profile of maize products, which can greatly affect the micronutrient intake of populations dependent on this crop for a large proportion of their caloric needs. This review summarizes the effects of different processing methods on the resulting micronutrient and phytochemical contents of maize. The majority of B vitamins are lost during storage and milling; further loss occurs with soaking and cooking, but fermentation and nixtamalization (soaking in alkaline solution) can increase bioavailability of riboflavin and niacin. Carotenoids, found mainly in the kernel endosperm, increase in concentration after degermination, while other vitamins and minerals, found mainly in the germ, are reduced. Mineral bioavailability can be improved by processing methods that reduce phytic acid, such as soaking, fermenting, cooking, and nixtamalization. Losses of micronutrients during processing can be mitigated by changes in methods of processing, in addition to encouraging consumption of whole-grain maize products over degermed, refined products. In some cases, such as niacin, processing is actually necessary for nutrient bioavailability. Due to the high variability in the baseline nutrient contents among maize varieties, combined with additional variability in processing effects, the most accurate data on nutrient content will be obtained through analysis of specific maize products and consideration of in vivo bioavailability.
Social Participation in Schools: A Survey of Occupational Therapy Practitioners.

OBJECTIVE We sought to identify strategies and practices that school-based occupational therapy practitioners use in addressing social participation, their perceptions of competence, and factors influencing their strategies and practices. METHOD Surveys were sent to 500 randomly selected members of the American Occupational Therapy Association's Early Intervention and School Special Interest Section; 112 usable surveys were received from 36 states. RESULTS Respondents reported focusing on internal client factors when addressing social participation. Fewer than half (46.5%) indicated that they understood their role (mean [M] = 4.23, standard deviation [SD] = 1.22), and 57.1% desired greater understanding or ability (M = 4.64, SD = 1.29). Differences were found based on years of experience, service delivery model used, and services provided by diagnosis category. CONCLUSION School-based occupational therapy practitioners may need to expand their current practices in addressing student social participation. Findings may be used to develop interventions to address this area of practice.
Violence and Perimortem Signaling among Early Irrigation Communities in the Sonoran Desert

Violence is common among small-scale societies and often stems from a combination of exogenous and endogenous factors. We suggest that socialization for violence and revenge as a motivation can encourage costly signaling by warriors and contribute to the creation of atypical burials in archaeological contexts. We characterize mortuary patterns among early irrigation communities in the Sonoran Desert of the southwest United States/northwest Mexico (Early Agricultural period: 2100 BC–AD 50) to define normative mortuary practices and identify atypical burials. One of the principle roles the performance of mortuary rituals fulfills is to publicly integrate a shared identity or reinforce social differences within a community. This postmortem negotiation of social identities was likely an important component to ease social tensions in early farming communities. However, atypical burials from these sites appear to represent acts of violence upon the corpse at, or after, the death of the individual that fall outs...
Design and Demonstration of 2.5D Glass Interposers as a Superior Alternative to Silicon Interposers for 28 Gbps Signal Transmission

This paper presents the design and demonstration of redistribution layers directly on the surface of glass for high-speed 28 Gbps signaling applications. An unprecedented demand for bandwidth to support cloud and edge computing driven by online services is expected with the continued proliferation of connected devices including smartphones, Internet of Things, and autonomous electric vehicles. High performance systems supporting electrical signal speeds up to and beyond 28 Gbps are required, thus driving the development of advanced multi-chip architectures such as 2.5D interposers. Silicon interposers have been developed and manufactured, but are limited in performance and cost. High conductor and dielectric losses limit maximum data rate, while 300 mm wafer size and expensive damascene processes increase packaging costs. Glass interposers provide similar interconnect densities as silicon but at higher performance and lower cost. The smooth surface roughness (Ra
A New Species in Trillium subgen. Delostylium (Melanthiaceae, Parideae)

The Trillium pusillum Michaux (1803: 215) species complex exhibits a complicated pattern of morphological variability and geographic distributions in southeastern North America (Farmer 2007). In contrast to earlier studies based on isozymes (Cabe and Werth 1995; Timmerman-Erskine et al. 2003), analyses of DNA sequence variability provide evidence of clear boundaries that correspond with morphological and habitat differences to suggest that the group is best recognized as a series of distinct species (Farmer 2007). Species names have been proposed for some of these, and they are recognized as varieties in some taxonomic treatments (e.g. Weakley 2015), but several still are known only from informal designations. One of the rarest, and perhaps most threatened, is the sole representative of the complex in Georgia that is known from only a single creek drainage system in an area being developed for industrial usage. In the current study we provide formal recognition for it, both to emphasize the need to preserve this unique entity, as well as to stimulate searches for further populations of it.
Resveratrol Ameliorates TNFα-Mediated Suppression of Erythroid Colony Formation in Human CD34+ Cells Via Cellular Pathways Involving Downregulation of NF-κB.

Abstract 2507 Poster Board II-484 Although the etiology of anemia remains unexplained in one third of elderly subjects, increasing evidence implicates chronic inflammation in the pathogenesis of anemia in the elderly population. We hypothesize that in addition to classical anemia of inflammation (AI) mediated by hepcidin, a significant proportion of unexplained anemia involves the overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines like TNFα that promote direct suppression of erythroid progenitors to a degree more prominent than the effects of hepcidin, resulting in the development of unexplained anemia marked by absence of the expected biochemical profile of AI. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of anemia subtypes is necessary if we are to develop effective targeted, oral therapies for patients. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate whether resveratrol, a flavanol found in high concentration in red wine that appears to possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, ameliorates TNFα-mediated erythroid colony suppression in human CD34+ cells. Human peripheral blood CD34+ cells from 3 healthy adults were first cultured in methylcellulose medium in the presence of IL-3 (10ng/ml), EPO (1U/ml), SCF (50ng/ml) and increasing doses of TNFα (0-100ng/ml) and erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E) measured on day 14. Consistent with prior experiments, the percentage of BFU-E colonies was reduced by 60% at day 14 in the presence of 25 and 100ng/ml TNFα (p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Study in blue: trauma, affect, event

As contemporary student activists in the United States embrace a vocabulary of trauma and microaggressions, some critics on the left consider this a depoliticizing move symptomatic of the universit...
Abstract WP419: Long-term Risk of Complications after Endovascular Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale

Background: The long-term safety of patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure following stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is uncertain. We sought to evaluate the long-term risk of complications fo...
Positive Links among Obedience Pressure, Religiosity, and Measures of Cognitive Accomplishment: Evidence for the Secular Value of Being Religious:

The author begins by arguing on the basis of biblical texts that a willing obedience to God is a valuable and preferred trait. He shows through his own empirical research that a greater degree of o...
Interorganizational Advocacy Among Nonprofit Organizations in Strategic Action Fields: Exogenous Shocks and Local Responses:

Under what conditions do interorganizational efforts shift from sustaining stasis to facilitating change through advocacy in strategic action fields? Using observations of nonprofit umbrella organi...
Planar Dynamical Systems

In the previous chapter, we saw several classical examples of planar (or 2 dimensional) nonlinear dynamical systems. We also saw that nonlinear dynamical systems can show interesting and subtle behavior and that it is important to be careful when talking about solutions of nonlinear differential equations. Before dedicating ourselves to the task of building up in detail the requisite mathematical machinery we will first study in semi-rigorous but detailed fashion the dynamics of planar dynamical systems; that is, systems with two state variables. We say semi-rigorous because we have not yet given precise mathematical conditions under which a system of differential equations has a unique solution and have not yet built up some necessary mathematical prerequisites. These mathematical prerequisites are deferred to Chapter 3.
Kurepa’s functional equation on Gaussian semigroups

This is another in a series of papers (Kurepa [1956], Tamura [1957], J. Erdos [1959], Hosszu [1963], Aczel [1965], Jessen et al. [1968], Ebanks [1979, 1981, 1982, 1983]) on the functional equation $$ \Delta (a,b) + \Delta (ab,c) = \Delta (a,bc) + \Delta (b,c),\;\;\,a,b,c \in S. $$ (1)
Models of Motor Learning Generalization

This study used evidence from trial-by-trial errors to understand how humans can generalize what they learn across different movement directions while reaching. We trained 15 healthy subjects to reach in six directions in the presence of challenging visuomotor distortions. We then tested a number of candidate models suggested by the literature of how the brain might use error to improve performance. Our cross-validated results point to a discrete affine model whose generalization, or influence of practice in one direction to neighboring directions, is reduced nearly to zero by 60 degrees away, and the subjects learned 6.25 times more from the error that was observed at a movement direction than neighboring directions.
Changing words: How temporal consistency in a CEO's use of language toward shareholders and stakeholders affects CEO dismissal

Research Question/Issue. The present study examines how temporal consistency in the CEO's use of language in public documents affects the board's decision to dismiss the CEO. Research Findings/Insights. Using CEOs' letters to shareholders from 304 large firms in the United States in 1998–2007, we found that CEO dismissal risk is lower when the CEO consistently uses language that signals conformity to a prevailing institutional logic: shareholder‐value orientation. In contrast, dismissal risk is greater when the CEO consistently displays language that signals stakeholder orientation, an alternative institutional logic. Theoretical/Academic Implications. The present study contributes to signaling theory by incorporating a temporal dimension into the existing literature. Our findings highlight the importance of strategic actions taken by corporate leaders, suggesting that a CEO's desire to circumvent dismissal by courting shareholders helped institutionalize the shareholder‐value logic. The findings shed light on stakeholder management research by demonstrating that a one‐time gesture is not sufficient to gain support from stakeholders who value long‐run consistency in message. Finally, the present study extends CEO dismissal research by highlighting the importance of signaling and cognitive processes in the board's decision regarding CEO dismissal. Practitioner/Policy Implications. The present study provides insights to corporate executives who communicate with various stakeholders and to board members who make decisions about CEO retention and dismissal. The findings may also be useful for policy makers who design regulations about corporate communications and disclosures.
Towards distributed, fair, deadline-driven resource allocation for cloudlets

In this paper we present our vision for a two-level, distributed resource allocator that preserves fairness and satisfies deadlines of low latency workloads in a multi-cloudlet environment with offloading support. We analyze the opportunities and challenges that offloading and the multi-cloud environment impose and we suggest the changes required to a fair-preserving and deadline-driven resource allocator originally designed for resource-constrained environments.
Does mindfulness reduce the effects of risk factors for problematic smartphone use? Comparing frequency of use versus self-reported addiction.

Abstract Background There is growing concern regarding problematic smartphone overuse. Practiced mindfulness, the state of being aware of the present moment, may protect against problematic smartphone use by reducing the strength of risk factors. Purpose We hypothesized that trait mindfulness can reduce the impact of risk factors on a) objective smartphone use and b) subjective problematic smartphone use. Methods Our sample (n = 135, Mage = 19.15, 68% female) consisted of college students from a large university. Participants completed self-report measures of boredom proneness, impulsivity, technology-related anxiety (nomophobia), trait mindfulness, smartphone use frequency, and problematic use. Results Higher mindfulness was significantly associated with lower boredom proneness, impulsivity, and problematic use (F = 12.12, p Conclusions Effects of nomophobia and boredom proneness on problematic smartphone use diminish with increased mindfulness, but impulsivity may interfere with this. Risk and protective factors for ‘addiction’ appear unrelated to smartphone use frequency. Future research should examine benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in promoting emotional and cognitive self-regulation, focusing on those who use smartphones in dysfunctional ways.
Deposit Flow Seasonalities and the January Effect in Retail Deposit Rates

Deposits flow out of the US banking system in January and February and flow in later in the year. In response to this outflow, banks increase rates on retail deposit products in January, including time, savings, and money market deposit accounts. Banks tend to offer highest deposit rates in January, after which the rates decline monotonically, reaching the minimum in December. The effect is more pronounced after the financial crisis, when banks relied less on nondeposit borrowings to replace outflowing liquidity. Consistent with the seasonal outflow of deposits, increased reliance on deposits, especially demand deposits, is associated with a stronger January effect in deposit rates at the bank level.
Comparison of acute respiratory epithelial toxicity for 4-Methylimidazole and naphthalene administered by oral gavage in B6C3F1 mice.

Abstract 4-Methylimidazole (4MEI) is a contaminant in food and consumer products. Pulmonary toxicity and carcinogenicity following chronic dietary exposures to 4MEI is a regulatory concern based on previous rodent studies. This study examined acute pulmonary toxicity in B6C3F1 mice from 6 h to 5 days after oral gavage with a single dose of 150 mg/kg 4MEI, a double dose delivered 6 h apart, or vehicle controls. Oral gavage of 150 mg/kg naphthalene, a prototypical Club cell toxicant, was used as a positive control. Intrapulmonary conducting airway cytotoxicity was assessed in fixed-pressure inflated lungs using qualitative histopathology scoring, quantitative morphometric measurement of vacuolated and exfoliating epithelial cells, and immunohistochemistry. 4MEI treatment did not change markers of cytotoxicity including the mass of vacuolated epithelium, the thickness of the epithelium, or the distributions of epithelial proteins: secretoglobin 1A1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, calcitonin gene-related peptide, and myeloperoxidase. 4MEI and vehicle controls caused slight cytotoxicity with rare vacuolization of the epithelium relative to the severe bronchiolar epithelial cell toxicity found in the naphthalene exposed mice at terminal bronchioles, intrapulmonary airways, or airway bifurcations. In summary, 4MEI caused minimal airway epithelial toxicity without characteristic Club Cell toxicity when compared to naphthalene, a canonical Club Cell toxicant.
Gender and Wealth in Demographic Research: A Research Brief on a New Method and Application

Gender differences in wealth are central to understanding gender stratification and demographic processes, but limited gender-disaggregated wealth data make it complicated to measure population-level gender-based wealth differentials. This research brief highlights a novel way to measure population-level gender differences in homeownership—a central measure of wealth—using a case study from two large diverse American cities. Rather than starting at the couple level and assuming joint ownership on property titles of married couples (the default in many surveys), we start at the property title level and examine owners’ gender for each property by applying a gender prediction algorithm to local administrative data from tax assessors in Philadelphia and Detroit. We then add community-level information from the American Community Survey (ACS). We document higher female ownership in both cities, although sole-female owners are also more likely to own lower value homes, suggesting enduring gender stratification. Using a representative household survey from Detroit, we also show how conventional survey data can dramatically overestimate joint couple property ownership and underestimate sole male and female ownership.
Sources of Cost Overrun in Nuclear Power Plant Construction Call for a New Approach to Engineering Design

Summary Nuclear plant costs in the US have repeatedly exceeded projections. Here, we use data covering 5 decades and bottom-up cost modeling to identify the mechanisms behind this divergence. We observe that nth-of-a-kind plants have been more, not less, expensive than first-of-a-kind plants. “Soft” factors external to standardized reactor hardware, such as labor supervision, contributed over half of the cost rise from 1976 to 1987. Relatedly, containment building costs more than doubled from 1976 to 2017, due only in part to safety regulations. Labor productivity in recent plants is up to 13 times lower than industry expectations. Our results point to a gap between expected and realized costs stemming from low resilience to time- and site-dependent construction conditions. Prospective models suggest reducing commodity usage and automating construction to increase resilience. More generally, rethinking engineering design to relate design variables to cost change mechanisms could help deliver real-world cost reductions for technologies with demanding construction requirements.
“They Won’t Let Me Return to Work.” A Carpenter Diagnosed with Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is characterized by a skin blistering eruption that develops in sun exposed areas of the skin. It is the most common cutaneous porphyria world-wide, and classically associated with hepatic injury but also estrogen use, cigarette smoking, and HIV. In any case of photodistributed persistent blistering skin condition, PCT must be high on the differential. This case of a carpenter diagnosed with PCT not only illustrates a classic case but also the opportunity to achieve significant response to therapy in a motivated patient particularly with improved access to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for hepatitis C treatment.
Learning about Anti-Semitism from a Holocaust Survivor.

As I Am Presently Known is a nonfiction book about Leon, a young Holocaust survivor from Poland. The book begins with Leon talking lovingly of his close-knit Jewish family before the Nazi invasion....
The impact of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI): cultivating cultural humility among social work students

Cultural humility, understanding others’ culture and the impact of one’s own culture on interactions with others, is recognized in many professions as a requirement for effective practice. However,...
Forecasting unemployment insurance claims in realtime with Google Trends

Abstract Leveraging the increasing availability of ”big data” to inform forecasts of labor market activity is an active, yet challenging, area of research. Often, the primary difficulty is finding credible ways with which to consistently identify key elasticities necessary for prediction. To illustrate, we utilize a state-level event-study focused on the costliest hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland since 2004 in order to estimate the elasticity of initial unemployment insurance (UI) claims with respect to search intensity, as measured by Google Trends. We show that our hurricane-driven Google Trends elasticity leads to superior real-time forecasts of initial UI claims relative to other commonly used models. Our approach is also amenable to forecasting both at the state and national levels, and is shown to be well-calibrated in its assessment of the level of uncertainty for its out-of-sample predictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Styrene Emissions in Steam-Cured CIPP: A Review and Comparison of Multiple Studies

AbstractRecent research by Matthews et al. at the Louisiana Tech University Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) regarding styrene emissions produced during steam-cured, styrene-based cured-in-place ...
Hybrid Laparoscopic-Robotic Low Anterior Resection

Minimally invasive rectal surgery is technically challenging because of a narrow and deep pelvis. As a direct consequence, the majority of rectal resections in the US are performed open or with a combined laparoscopic-open approach. The use of a robotic platform may facilitate minimally invasive rectal resection. Surgeons experienced in advanced laparoscopic techniques may find that the robot may enhance the ability to complete rectal procedures, offering patients the benefits of a minimally invasive technique including its enhanced recovery. It is noteworthy that a number of technical principles are common to various rectal procedures. Within this chapter, a detailed description of a hybrid laparoscopic-robotic low anterior resection is provided with emphasis on the technical aspects that allow surgeons to easily transition from one step to the next while achieving the goal of completing the procedure in a minimally invasive fashion.
Cancer Treatment with Nuclear Particles

X-RAYS WERE USED FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES within a few months after their discovery by Roentgen in November 1895. In spite of their low intensity with poor penetration, x-rays were used to treat cancer as early as March 1896. Because of low intensity, the radiation treatments were given daily in fractions, as they are commonly done today, but for a different reason. By 1900, x-ray tubes with higher output were developed. Skin cancers were successfully treated with single doses of x-rays. However, single treatments were not successful for treating deep seated tumors because of the excessive radiation damage to normal tissues surrounding the tumor.
The National Conference on Graduate Study in Health Education, Physical Education, and Recreation

(1949). The National Conference on Graduate Study in Health Education, Physical Education, and Recreation. Journal of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation: Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 645-681.
Ageing alters perivascular nerve function of mouse mesenteric arteries in vivo

Key points • Neural control of the circulation is integral to the regulation of tissue blood flow and systemic blood pressure. Vascular dysfunction occurs with ageing but little is known of corresponding changes in the role(s) of perivascular nerves. • We developed a preparation to study intact mesenteric arteries (MAs) in anaesthetized mice to investigate age-related changes in the function of perivascular sympathetic and sensory nerves in vivo. • Ageing decreased the diameter of MAs, reduced their sensitivity to α1-adrenoreceptor stimulation and impaired the ability of sensory nerves to attenuate sympathetic vasoconstriction. • These changes were manifest in males and females and were unaffected by the expression of the GCaMP2 transgene in endothelial cells, confirming the utility of this model. • Our results imply that ageing imposes structural and functional limitations to the splanchnic circulation that impair the ability to mobilize blood from the gut in times of physical stress. Abstract Mesenteric arteries (MAs) are studied widely in vitro but little is known of their reactivity in vivo. Transgenic animals have enabled Ca2+ signalling to be studied in isolated MAs but the reactivity of these vessels in vivo is undefined. We tested the hypothesis that ageing alters MA reactivity to perivascular nerve stimulation (PNS) and adrenoreceptor (AR) activation during blood flow control. First- (1A), second- (2A) and third-order (3A) MAs of pentobarbital-anaesthetized Young (3–6 months) and Old (24–26 months) male and female Cx40BAC-GCaMP2 transgenic mice (C57BL/6 background; positive or negative for the GCaMP2 transgene) were studied with intravital microscopy. A segment of jejunum was exteriorized and an MA network was superfused with physiological salt solution (pH 7.4, 37°C). Resting tone was ≤ 10% in MAs of Young and Old mice; diameters were ∼5% (1A), 20% (2A) and 40% (3A) smaller (P≤ 0.05) in Old mice. Throughout MA networks, vasoconstriction increased with PNS frequency (1–16 Hz) but was ∼20% less in Young vs. Old mice (P≤ 0.05) and was inhibited by tetrodotoxin (1 μm). Capsaicin (10 μm; to inhibit sensory nerves) enhanced MA constriction to PNS (P≤ 0.05) by ∼20% in Young but not Old mice. Phenylephrine (an α1AR agonist) potency was greater in Young mice (P≤ 0.05) with similar efficacy (∼60% constriction) across ages and MA branches. Constrictions to UK14304 (an α2AR agonist) were less (∼20%; P≤ 0.05) and were unaffected by ageing. Irrespective of sex or transgene expression, ageing consistently reduced the sensitivity of MAs to α1AR vasoconstriction while blunting the attenuation of sympathetic vasoconstriction by sensory nerves. These findings imply substantive alterations in splanchnic blood flow control with ageing.
Ultrasonic epithelial ablation of the lower esophagus without stricture formation A new technique for Barrett's ablation

Background: The premalignant potential of Barrett’s esophagus has stimulated efforts to find a way to ablate the columnar epithelium in order to reheal the area with squamous epithelium, thus obviating the cancer risk. This study describes and evaluates a new technique using ultrasonic energy to ablate the epithelium of the lower esophagus in a porcine model.
Abstract #4404: Possible role of insulin-like growth factor I in breast cancer proliferation via the CYP1A1 epoxygenase pathway

Overexpression of the transmembrane tyrosine kinase insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-IR) or its ligands (e.g. IGF1) correlate with cancer development and progression. For example, activation of the IGF-IR signaling pathway in estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer has anti-apoptotic effects and targeting IGF-IR in ER-negative breast cancer cells decreases metastasis. The mechanism of action of IGF-1R in breast cancer still needs to be elucidated in order to better develop effective and efficient cancer therapies by targeting this pathway. We propose a novel mechanism of action for IGF-IR in breast cancer progression by which cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) metabolizes dietary essential omega-3 fatty acids into the eicosanoid 17(18)-epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (17,18-EpETE). Specifically we hypothesize that IGF-IR/IGF1 induces expression of CYP1A1 which will produce 17,18-EpETE, thereby promoting breast cancer proliferation and survival . CYP1A1 has previously been of particular interest due to its roles metabolizing exogenous compounds (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) into carcinogenic compounds and metabolizing endogenous compounds such as estrogen. CYP1A1 is also responsible of selectively oxygenating eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an omega-3 essential fatty acid commonly found in fish oil) into 17,18-EpETE. Methods: siRNA was utilized to knock down CYP1A1 in breast cancer lines. A liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed to measure 17,18-EpETE levels. Results: CYP1A1 knockdown suggested a role for this CYP in breast cancer cell proliferation. Measurement of IGF1 effects on gene expression in the T47D breast cancer line indicates that IGF1 induces CYP1A1 expression by more than 10-fold. In vitro incubation of EPA with human CYP1A1 expressed in baculovirus extracts results in NADPH-dependent synthesis of 17,18-EpETE. Furthermore, MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells contain endogenous 17,18-EpETE, as assayed by the novel LC-ESI-MS/MS method. An MTT proliferation assay demonstrated that exogenous 17,18-EpETE significantly promotes MCF7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation under serum starvation conditions (P-value Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that IGF-IR plays a role in breast cancer progression, in part, by inducing CYP1A1 and associated 17,18-EpETE production, a potential mitogenic and pro-survival eicosanoid. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4404.
Bacteriolysis and Inhibition of Gram-Positive Bacteria by Components of Streptococcus zymogenes Lysin

The ability of the A and L components of Streptococcus zymogenes lysin to cause lysis or to inhibit growth of a variety of gram-positive bacteria has been examined. Frank lysis of some, but not all, strains of S. faecalis, S. faecium, and S. liquefaciens by L component alone was demonstrated. None of the strains of these species was lysed by A component alone. S. durans was not lysed by either component. Inhibition of growth of all enterococcal strains by both A substance-producing and L substance-producing mutants of S. zymogenes was also demonstrated. However, inhibition by the A substance producer was markedly less than by the L substance producer. Inhibition of the growth of a number of other gram-positive genera by both A and L mutants was also noted.
Territory Size in Canis lupus: Implications for Neandertal Mobility

Inferences about Neandertal home range sizes have historically been reconstructed with reference to lithic raw material transport distances. Here we use data on northern latitude social carnivores to predict home range sizes for Neandertal groups. Given that Neandertals must have relied heavily on animal protein and fat in the plant food-poor environments of Pleistocene Europe, their home range sizes and levels of logistical mobility were likely largely determined by prey abundance and distribution. We use the gray wolf (Canis lupus) to develop a model that relates climatic variables and predator group aggregate mass to home range size. Pack size data were combined with average wolf mass values to produce mass-specific territory sizes (in km2 kg−1), which in turn allowed for the prediction of home range areas for Neandertal groups of varying sizes. Results indicate that even at fairly small social group sizes (less than 33 individuals) Neandertals likely required and maintained large territories (≈1,400–5,400 km2), which is consistent with results of studies of lithic raw material procurement patterns. The concordance between these two types of estimates lends support to the idea that lithic raw material procurement was embedded in subsistence mobility in the European Mousterian.
Policy: National effects of global policy

It is argued by many that market-based policies along with cash transfers will make it easier for nations to forge deals to cut carbon emissions. However, emission-intensive manufacturing in China and India could be hit especially hard by this approach.