cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiolabeled MDA2, an oxidation-specific, monoclonal antibody, identifies native atherosclerotic lesions in vivo

Oxidatively modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is present in atherosclerotic but not normal arteries and plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and adverse consequences of atherosclerotic lesions. We previously generated a series of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) against oxidation-specific neo-epitopes formed during the oxidative modification of LDL. MDA2, a prototype MoAb, recognizes malondialdehyde-lysine epitopes (eg, in malondialdehyde-modified LDL) within atherosclerotic lesions. We describe the in vivo characteristics of MDA2 and initial noninvasive imaging studies of atherosclerosis in rabbits. To assess the in vivo specificity of MDA2 for atherosclerotic lesions, iodine 125-MDA2 was intravenously injected into 7 LDL-receptor deficient Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) and 2 normal New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits, and the aortic plaque uptake was evaluated 24 hours later. 125I-Halb, an isotype-matched irrelevant MoAb that binds to human albumin, was injected into 5 WHHL and 2 NZW rabbits as a control. Aortic autoradiography was performed, and the mean uptake of MoAbs was measured as the percent injected dose per gram aortic tissue. Gamma camera imaging was then carried out in 7 WHHL rabbits and 2 NZW rabbits with 99mTc-MDA2. Imaging was carried out at 10 minutes and at 12 or 24 hours. Malondialdehyde-LDL was then injected to clear the blood pool signal, and final images were obtained 2 hours later. Mean uptake of 125I-MDA2 in the entire aorta was 17.4-fold higher in WHHL than in NZW aortas (P<.001), and 2.8-fold higher than 125I-Halb in WHHL aortas. 125I-MDA2 also had higher specificity for lesioned areas than 125I-Halb (plaque/normal ratio 6.3 vs 2.9, P<.001). Autoradiograph of aortas of 125I-MDA2-injected WHHL rabbits revealed uptake in lipid-stained lesions with absence of signal in adjacent normal arterial tissue. Immunostaining of WHHL lesions, which accumulated MDA2 as noted on autoradiography, revealed that uptake was highest in areas with abundant foam cells and in lipid-rich necrotic core areas. Autoradiograph of aortas from NZW rabbits injected with 125I-MDA2 did not yield any visible signal. Planar gamma camera in vivo scintigraphy revealed a visible signal in 4/7 WHHL rabbits, which was confirmed by aortic Sudan staining. Radiolabeled MDA2 shows excellent in vivo uptake and specificity for atherosclerotic lesions containing abundant oxidation-specific epitopes. The in vivo imaging studies suggest that noninvasive imaging of oxidation-rich atherosclerotic lesions with radiolabeled MDA2 may be feasible in human beings with optimization of the imaging methods.
Linear-movement air gage for detection of concrete-bond failure: Small linear movements of reinforcing steel in a concrete slab are detected by a specially developed gage which converts the movements into changes in air-flow rates

The air gages described in this paper proved very satisfactory in the detection of bond failure as evidenced by movement of the reinforcing steel in the concrete. These gages should be adaptable to a number of problems in which remote reading of small linear movements is required.
Nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds in sooting flames

The production of nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (NPAC) in benzene/methane flames doped with organic nitrogen and in coal combustion was studied in small-scale equipment. A mixture of benzene vapor and methane doped with either pyrrole or pyridine was burned in a Meker burner, modified to allow oxygen to mix with the fuel before ignition. A bituminous coal was burned with oxygen in a fixed-bed combustor. Soot and associated organic compounds were sampled at several heights above the Meker burner and above the coal bed. The compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography with and without a nitrogen specific flame ionization detector. Selected runs with benzene/methane flames were also conducted with sulfur-containing fuel additives, namely carbon disulfide or thiophene. None of the fuel additives exerted any discernible effect on the quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or soot formed in the benzene/methane flames. Cyanonaphthalenes, cyanoacenaphthylenes, and cyanophenanthrenes were found in significant quantities in association with soot formed in the nitrogen-doped benzene/methane flames, and in the coal combustor. The nitrogen source in these compounds was determined to be fuel rather than atmospheric nitrogen. Significant levels of other unidentified NPAC were also found in both combustion systems, but the number of such species was much larger in the coal combustion products. At a fuel equivalence ratio of 4.5, and with one percent nitrogen by weight in the fuel, each of the identified compounds was found in concentrations of 5–25 ng/cm3 of combustion gases, depending upon the compound.
Shotgun sequencing small oligonucleotides by nozzle-skimmer dissociation and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Nozzle-skimmer dissociation in combination with de novo sequencing was investigated as an approach for increasing the throughput of oligonucleotide analysis attainable by electrospray ionization ma...
HLA-DM induces clip dissociation from MHC class II αβ dimers and facilitates peptide loading

Abstract Human leukocyte antigen DM (HLA-DM) molecules are structurally related to classical MHC class II molecules and reside in the lysosome-like compartment where class II-restricted antigen processing Is thought to occur. Mutant cell lines lacking HLA-DM are defective in antigen processing and accumulate class II molecules associated with a nested set of invariant chain-derived peptides (class II-associated Invariant chain peptides, CLIP). Here we show that HLA-DM catalyzes the dissociation of CLIP from MHC class II-CLIP complexes In vitro and facilitates the binding of antigenic peptides. The reaction has an acidic pH optimum, consistent with its occurrence in a lysosome-like compartment in vivo. Antibody blocking experiments suggest that a transient Interaction between HLA-DM and the MHC class II-CLIP complex is required.
Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda: Reactionary Revolutionaries in the New Political Islam

With the events of September 11th, an unfamiliar terrorist organization known as Al-Qaeda announced its presence, its capabilities, and its willingness to engage in massive violence to the world. Americans, generally poorly informed on the history of the Middle East and blithely unaware of serious foreign threats in the post-Soviet era, were not well equipped to assess the threat. This essay, utilizing a critical analysis of Al-Qaeda’s communiques as well as the increasingly vast body of secondary literature, defines this new threat through an exploration of the sources of its animosity and proposes a more effective means of combating the threat, all while placing the issue in a larger historical context and filling the knowledge gap for non-specialists. Among the most notable findings is the realization that Al-Qaeda’s core objective is a political one and a purely militaristic counterterrorist strategy will have a low probability of success. It may even worsen the situation by contributing to the public appearance of a clash of civilizations. Additionally, there are preliminary indications that the threat posed by Al-Qaeda, though significant, is ultimately self-destructive.
Integration of Microelectrodes with Etched Microchannels for In-Stream Electrochemical Analysis

Microelectrodes integrated with etched microfluidic flow channels allow traditional electroanalytical techniques to be performed on microliter and smaller volumes and also enable new detection techniques which are based upon the interaction between the microelectrodes and the diffusional mixing that occurs between flow lamina at low Reynolds numbers. Conductivity versus mixing measurements, anodic stripping voltammetry, and isolation of microelectrodes by sheath flow are demonstrated for an experimental device.
Replenishing the Banking Sector: Managing Bank Capital in the Post-Crisis World*

In the wake of the current financial crisis, there is a renewed focus on capital adequacy in the banking sector. A combination of impending regulatory changes, evolving views on both the level and composition of capital, the need to manage capital to stress-case scenarios, and the valuation implications of pro-cyclical versus counter-cyclical strategies will require banks to rethink their capital strategy in the postcrisis world. In this report, the authors (1) attempt to quantify the potential impact of further stresses on bank balance sheets and assess the magnitude of capital requirements for U.S. banks; (2) shed light on bank valuation dynamics; and (3) provide an analytical and empirical framework for measuring optimal equity capital buffers.
Supporting multimedia streaming between mobile peers with link availability prediction

Numerous types of mobile devices are now popular with end users, who increasingly use them to carry multimedia content on the go. As wireless connectivity is integrated with more handhelds, streaming multimedia content among mobile peers is becoming a popular application. One of the main challenges in mobile streaming is the requirement that the link must be continuously available for a period of time to enable uninterrupted data transmission and a smooth media performance. Hence, an accurate prediction of future link availability is very desirable and allows, for example, the selection of the most stable link when a multimedia object is available from multiple peers. In this paper, we present a novel iterative algorithm for predicting continuous link availability between two mobile ad-hoc peers. Our method can function without the support of GPS equipment. By a rough estimation of the distance between two peers, our approach is able to accurately predict link availability over a short period of time. Experimental results show that our algorithm can accurately estimate the future link status with an error margin lower than 7%. To demonstrate the feasibility of our approach we have integrated our link prediction algorithm into MStream: a pioneering mobile audio streaming application. Simulation results show that our link availability model can reduce the number of link breaks and achieve smooth streaming experiences among mobile peers.
A COMPLETELY PROGRAMMABLE METHOD OF CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

A method of determining an observer's terrestrial latitude and longitude is proposed which, once the altitude observations are made and corrected to true altitudes, can be performed entirely on a mini-computer.
Evidence-Based Medicine and the Management of the Chronic Wound: Is It Enough?:

Evidence-based medicine has become ubiquitous in modern-day medicine, including wound care. However, the application of evidence-based medicine into the arena of chronic wounds has not been uniformly performed and measured. Most wound care studies are plagued by inconsistencies in inclusion criteria, data measurements, and endpoint reporting. Furthermore, the small sample sizes prohibit drawing effective conclusions. However, that does not imply that the current guidelines of treatment are substandard. Instead, one must rely more heavily on current evidence and experts in the field until larger, more consistent studies can establish good practice patterns.
An investigation of the effects of lipid-lowering medications: Genome-wide linkage analysis of lipids in the HyperGEN study

Use of anti-hyperlipidemic medications compromises genetic analysis because of altered lipid profiles. We propose an empirical method to adjust lipid levels for medication effects so that the adjusted lipid values substitute the unmedicated lipid values in the genetic analysis. Published clinical trials were reviewed for HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and fibric acid derivatives as mono-drug therapy. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors showed similar effects in African Americans (AA) and non-African Americans (non-AA) for lowering total cholesterol (TC, -50.7 mg/dl), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C, -48.1 mg/dl), and triglycerides (TG, -19.7 mg/dl). Their effect on increasing HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) in AA (+0.4 mg/dl) was lower than in Non-AA (+2.3 mg/dl). The effects of fibric acid derivatives were estimated as -46.1 mg/dl for TC, -40.1 mg/dl for LDL-C, and +5.9 mg/dl for HDL-C in non-AA. The corresponding effects in AA were less extreme (-20.1 mg/dl, -11.4 mg/dl, and +3.1 mg/dl). Similar effect for TG (59.0 mg/dl) was shown in AA and non-AA. The above estimated effects were applied to a multipoint variance components linkage analysis on the lipid levels in 2,403 Whites and 2,214 AA in the HyperGEN study. The familial effects did vary depending on whether the lipids were adjusted for medication use. For example, the heritabilities increased after medication adjustment for TC and LDL-C, but did not change significantly for HDL-C and TG. Ethnicity-specific medication adjustments using our empirical method can be employed in epidemiological and genetic analysis of lipids.
RESPONSE OF ANABAENA FLOS-AQUAE (CYANOPHYTA) NITROGENASE ACTIVITY TO SUDDEN PHOSPHATE DEPRIVATION1

Cultures of Anabaena flos-aquae (Lyng.) Breb. Were used to determine changes in nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) after external concentrations of phosphorus were lowered. Two days following immersion in phosphorus-free medium, nitrogenase activity (NA) had doubled and required 8 days to return to time zero levels. Subsequent long-term experiments showed that concentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) released from the algae transferred into the –P medium reached maximum levels by day 3 and returned to initial low values by days 7–10. NA was always highest during this SRP release-reassimilation phase but steadily decreased after reassimilation was complete. Day 56 NA was 5–14% of initial activity. The data support the hypothesis that heterocyst and vegetative cell ATP pools are discrete and suggest that the short-term effects of phosphorus removal as an aquatic restoration technique need further study.
The protein tyrosine kinase P59fyn is associated with prolactin (PRL) receptor and is activated by PRL stimulation of T-lymphocytes.

The clonal expansion of antigen-stimulated T-lymphocytes during an immune response is mediated by several lymphokines. Strong evidence now exists that the neuroendocrine hormone PRL is necessary, but not sufficient, for T-cell proliferation. Little is known, however, of the signal transduction mechanisms of the PRL receptor (PRLR) within T-cells. We demonstrate here that PRL stimulation of the T-cell line Nb2 induced the concentration- and time-dependent activation of the protein tyrosine kinase p59fyn, but not of four other src family protein tyrosine kinases. Activation of fyn was also observed in Concanavalin-A-primed peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with PRL and in Nb2 cells incubated with anti-PRLR antibodies. The activation of fyn by PRL stimulation correlated with Nb2 cell proliferation. Immunoblot analysis of anti-fyn and anti-PRLR immune complexes revealed an association between each PRLR isoform and p59fyn. These studies demonstrate for the first time an association between the PRLR and a...
Enhancing Linguistic Performance: Parents and Teachers as Book Reading Partners for Children with Language Delays.

In this study, we instructed parents and early childhood special education staff in Dialogic Reading, an interactive language facilitation technique. We compared the effects of this instruction on ...
A wind-propelled small waterplane area spar

This paper presents some of the preliminary design considerations of a wind-propelled small waterplane area spar. The mobile spar concept, a hybrid between a passive buoy and unmanned surface vehicle, is introduced as a novel oceanographic platform that maximizes range, stability, and survivability. System-level design concepts for two different types of scientific missions are explored: 1) a general oceanographic sampling spar and 2) a tropical cyclone oceanographic sampling spar. A performance prediction algorithm is used to provide an approximate baseline for the equilibrium conditions of a wind-propelled spar sailing in an ideal seaway. Initial expectations were that a small waterplane area spar design would be capable of significantly higher operating speeds than a wind-powered oceanographic sampling platform of conventional displacement hull design. However, it is found that the operating speeds of spar and displacement hulls are nearly the same. Thus, although the spar vehicle concept studied might not provide significant improvements in speed, their potential as a robust and survivable mobile platforms justify further investigation.
Decision Fusion With Confidence-Based Weight Assignment for Hyperspectral Target Recognition

Conventional hyperspectral image-based automatic target recognition (ATR) systems project high-dimensional reflectance signatures onto a lower dimensional subspace using techniques such as principal components analysis (PCA), Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and stepwise LDA. Typically, these feature space projections are suboptimal. In a typical hyperspectral ATR setup, the number of training signatures (ground truth) is often less than the dimensionality of the signatures. Standard dimensionality reduction tools such as LDA and PCA cannot be applied in such situations. In this paper, we present a divide-and-conquer approach that addresses this problem for robust ATR. We partition the hyperspectral space into contiguous subspaces based on the optimization of a performance metric. We then make local classification decisions in every subspace using a multiclassifier system and employ a decision fusion system for making the final decision on the class label. In this work, we propose a metric that incorporates higher order statistical information for accurate partitioning of the hyperspectral space. We also propose an adaptive weight assignment method in the decision fusion process based on the strengths (as measured by the training accuracies) of individual classifiers that made the local decisions. The proposed methods are tested using hyperspectral data with known ground truth, such that the efficacy can be quantitatively measured in terms of target recognition accuracies. The proposed system was found to significantly outperform conventional approaches. For example, under moderate pixel mixing, the proposed approach resulted in classification accuracies around 90%, where traditional feature fusion resulted in accuracies around 65%.
Thin-film materials for SAW devices

The status of thin films for SAW (surface acoustic wave) devices is reviewed through the framework of a process-structure-property network commonly considered in the thin-film area. Different branches of this network are considered and practical examples from SAW thin films illustrate the nature of these relationships. Such considerations lead to a better understanding of thin-film nucleation and growth processes and the deposition parameters that result in the best microstructures for SAW devices. The discussion is limited to the physical vacuum-deposition processes of thermal evaporation and sputtering, which traditionally have been the most commonly used SAW thin-film processes. Such depositions can be made at relatively low substrate temperatures. The present directions of thin-film research and how they may affect future SAW device developments are considered. >
Thalamic reductions in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q) suier from physical and behavioral dysfunctions, including neuroanatomical anomalies, visuo-spatial processing de¢cits, and increased risk for psychopathology. Reduced total brain volume, parietal lobe volume, and cerebellar volumes, enlarged ventricles, and increased basal ganglia volumes have been reported. Since previous literature has related the pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus to visuo-spatial processing, we compared the thalamic volume in children with 22q to typically developing controls. Children with 22q showed a signi¢cant reduction of the thalamus compared with normally developing children, speci¢cally in the posterior portion of the thalamus, including the pulvinar nucleus.These results provide the ¢rst evidence for a potential relationship between posterior thalamic reductions and the characteristic visuo-spatial de¢cits demonstrated in this group. NeuroReport 15:1413^1415 � c 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Integrating neural networks and knowledge-based systems for intelligent robotic control

A methodology is presented for integrating artificial neural networks and knowledge-based systems for the purpose of robotic control. The integration is patterned after models of human motor skill acquisition. The initial control task chosen to demonstrate the integration technique involves teaching a two-link manipulator how to make a specific type of swing. A three-level task hierarchy is defined consisting of low-level reflexes, reflex modulators, and an execution monitor. The rule-based execution monitor first determines how to make a successful swing using rules alone. It then teaches cerebellar model articulation controller (CMAC) neural networks how to accomplish the task by having them observe rule-based task execution. Following initial training, the execution monitor continuously evaluates neural network performance and re-engages swing-maneuver rules whenever changes in the manipulator or its operating environment necessitate retraining of the networks. Simulation results show the interaction between rule-based and network-based system components during various phases of training and supervision. >
Regional Differences in Ventricular Fibrillation in the Open-Chest Porcine Left Ventricle

It has been hypothesized that during ventricular fibrillation (VF), the fastest activating region, the dominant domain, contains a stable reentrant circuit called a mother rotor. This hypothesis postulates that the mother rotor spawns wavefronts that propagate to maintain VF elsewhere and implies that the ratio of wavefronts propagating off a region to those propagating onto it (propoff/propon) should be >1 for the dominant domain but <1 elsewhere. To test this prediction in the left ventricular (LV) epicardium of a large animal, most of the LV free wall was mapped with 1008 electrodes in 7 pigs. VF activation rate was faster in the posterior than in the anterior LV (10.0+/-1.3Hz versus 9.3+/-1.3Hz; P<0.001). The anterior LV had a higher fraction of wavefronts that blocked than did the posterior LV and had a propoff/propon ratio <1 (P<0.001). The mean conduction velocity vectors of the VF wavefronts pointed in the direction from the posterior to the anterior LV. Although these findings favor a dominant domain in the posterior LV, the facts that the anterior LV had a higher incidence of reentry than did the posterior LV and that the posterior LV did not have propoff/propon significantly different from 1 do not. Thus, quantitative regional differences are present over the porcine LV epicardium during VF. Although these differences are not totally consistent with the presence of a dominant domain within the LV free wall, the mean conduction velocity vector is consistent with one in the septum.
Radio frequency quadrupole cavity structure for particle accelerators — Simulation and measurements

EM simulation of long RFQ with quadruple ridge (vane) waveguide structure with narrow vane gaps and vane end cutbacks is a complex and challenging task. Advances in 3-D EM simulation tools in recent years can lead to accurate analysis of such structures. Here, we present the simulation of long RFQs (over 2λ), validate our results with measurements, compare simulated results of eigenmode frequencies and field distribution to measured values, and finally extend our analysis to an alternative and very promising design noted as double dipole structure. Excellent agreement between measurement and simulation has been attained and design comparison between the long double dipole and the traditional RFQs has been developed.
Role of Organic Acids in Phosphate Mobilization from Iron Oxide

Phosphate deficiency often limits crop production in acid tropical soils because of the strong bonding of phosphate by Fe and Al oxides. Organic-acid exudation from roots is one reported plant adaptation to P deficiency. The objective of this study was to predict the efficacy of this P-deficiency stress response in different soil types by investigating the mechanism of organic-acid-induced P mobilization from different oxide minerals. Greater proportions of Fe and initially adsorbed P were released from ferrihydrite when compared with goethite. More P was released and Fe dissolved at pH 4.0 than pH 5.5 or 7.0 from both oxides. For ferrihydrite, the order of effectiveness of the organic ligands for P release at pH 4 was citrate (19% of the total initially adsorbed P) . malate (14%) . tartrate (5%).. oxalate 5 malonate 5 succinate (0.3–1.2%). For Fe release at pH 4, the order was oxalate (18% of total oxide suspension Fe dissolved) < citrate (17%) . malonate(13%).malate(8%).tartrate(5%)..succinate(0.02%). Faster phosphate readsorption in the case of oxalate than citrate probablyaccountedforthelowapparentreleaseofPbyoxalateinspite of its greater Fe dissolution. At the smaller adsorbed-P concentration (1/4 of the adsorption maximum), the predominant mechanism of organic-acid induced P release was ligand-enhanced dissolution of the Fe oxide rather than ligand exchange. At 3/4 of the adsorption
Higher Order Statistical Approach to Nonlinear Stochastic Optimal Control Problem

This paper presents the formulation of an optimal control methodology for nonlinear stochastic systems, where the control objective is to obtain a feedback law that would minimize the higher order statistics associated with the traditional integral quadratic cost. The two part control scheme proposed here consist of approximating the probability density function associated with the nonlinear plant by the Gaussian sum approach and utilizing the existing deterministic optimal control schemes to obtain a feedback law that would minimize the higher order statistics that is of interest. Since both components are interdependent, an iterative scheme is required to obtain the optimal solution.
Southern African Origins of Consciousness and A New Science of Politics

All of Eric Voegelin’s major works—his five volumes of Order and History, as well as his most widely read book The New Science of Politics—can be understood as restating, illustrating and differentiating what some scholars have called his “one big idea:” the connection between the experience of humanity’s mysterious origin and the paradoxical “in-between” nature of human consciousness. Voegelin noted that contemporary philosophical discourse has no conventionally accepted language for this foundational insight, so he used the Greek term, metaxy, taken from Plato’s Symposium. Metaxy simply means ‘in-between’ and refers to the fact that human beings exist in-between that great mysterious reality which ‘creates us’ and the realities we create. This helps us understand why there can be no absolute objectivity and no certainty. We are always exploring from within a single dynamic complex. There is a blind spot at the center of our knowing. We can never step outside of our consciousness, consciously. Voegelin’s work makes clear that grasping this insight, holding it in awareness, and living according its truth, constitutes a “leap in being” which establishes the minimal conditions for order, both in the soul of the individual and the soul of society. Losing contact with the experience of the primordial mystery of origins deforms the insight into the paradoxical structure of consciousness. This catapults humanity into the destructive delusions of dogma and ideology which have plagued civilization. The purpose of this paper is bring to Voegelin’s insight into our metaxic existence, what is being called “Big History,” the enlarged perspective of self-reflective humanity emerging from wilderness, starting approximately 200,000 years ago. When we do so, we recover an earlier primordial ‘leap in being’ which engendered a primal politics and a primal truth quest. This established an archetypal structure of order which sustained humanity in small self-sufficient bands of hunter-gatherers for at least nine-tenths of the time that we have been human. This recovery allows us to clarify and then differentiate from Voegelin’s primary insight, a metaxic politics which has the truth quest at its center. My argument presents the San Bushmen hunter-gatherers of Southern Africa as carriers of a culture which recedes in unbroken into the Paleolithic origins of modern human consciousness. I then use their political cosmology to differentiate from the metaxic structure of human existence a metaxic politics with something related to a “new science of politics” at its center. I suggest such a dynamic could constitute the core of a planetary politics responsive to this ‘dark night of the species soul’ our global industrial civilization seems to be going through.
Neurosteroids and Sexual Behavior and Reproduction

Gonadal and adrenal steroids strongly determine sexual behavior and reproductive function through their effects on the brain. These “neuroactive steroids” act directly on neural cells or following their conversion to other metabolites locally. For instance, the production of estrogen from testicular testosterone by neural aromatase is essential for masculinization of the brain. However, steroids synthesized de novo within the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS), termed “neurosteroids,” may also strongly impact sexual differentiation of the brain and sexual function. Specifically, neurosteroids affect sexual and gendertypical behaviors, ovulation, and behaviors that influence sexual interest and motivation like aggression, anxiety, and depression.
Feeding Food or Table Waste to Livestock 1

Abstract Feeding of food waste remains a common practice in many parts of the U.S. and around the world. Food waste comprises about 8.9% of the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream but may cause a substantial proportion of the disposal costs due to odors, gas production, and rodent control at landfills. Because food waste is often of a very high nutritional value, it may be fed to livestock. Texas, Florida, and New Jersey are the leading states disposing of the greatest amount of food waste as livestock feed. This waste is composed primarily of food and table plate waste, vegetable and food processing waste, bakery waste, and waste from dairy product and egg processing. The 1980 Swine Health Protection Act requires that all table waste fed to swine be cooked at boiling temperature (l00 °C) for 30 min prior to feeding. This is the minimum requirement in all states, although some states have banned its use altogether. The cooking methods currently approved by the USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are either a steam cooking method or a direct fire cook. The requirement for cooking is meant to eliminate the possibility that any foreign animal diseases (Hog Cholera, Foot and Mouth Disease, Africa Swine Fever, and Swine Vesicular Disease) would infect swine or that any infectious organisms of public health significance (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Trichinella, and Toxoplasma) might potentially be transferred to humans. There are currently no federal requirements regulating the feeding of food waste to ruminants. Recent research has indicated that food waste generally has high nutritive quality (CP > 20%, Fat > 20%) and that it can make a nutritious animal feed. There is a need for more contemporary feeding and nutrition information, because much of the research done with food waste was done in the 1960s or earlier. In addition, development of modern processing methods might eliminate some of the problems and stigma traditionally associated with this practice. We conclude that feeding food waste to livestock can be an effective recycling practice, result in a more efficient resource utilization, and contribute to the overall goal of sustainability.
Forced Expiratory Volume in the First Second and Aldosterone as Mediators of Smoking Effect on Stroke in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study

Background Cigarette smoking is a risk factor for stroke, but the mechanisms by which smoking contributes to stroke are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the roles of lung function (represented by forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1)) and aldosterone as potential mediators of the association of smoking with stroke. Methods and Results The data were derived from 5010 Jackson Heart Study participants who had mean follow‐up of 97.9 months. Using the Cox proportional hazards model, we estimated the hazard ratios of smoking for total stroke with and without adjustment for FEV1 and/or aldosterone at baseline after controlling for the confounders. The hazard ratio for current smoking (versus never smoking) was 2.70 (95% CI 1.71 to 4.25) for total stroke after adjustment for the confounders. Additional adjustment for FEV1 and aldosterone reduced the hazard ratio to 2.32 (95% CI 1.42 to 3.79), suggesting that 22.4% of the excess risk of current smoking for total stroke is mediated by these factors. FEV1 and aldosterone account for 13.1% and 12.1%, respectively, of the excess risk. The hazard ratio for FEV1 increased (0.61 versus 0.65) after including systemic inflammatory marker C‐reactive protein, and the hazard ratios for aldosterone were comparable for the models that included all confounders and smoking status with or without different blood pressure measurements. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the difference in stroke risk between current and never smokers may develop partially through pathways involving lung function and aldosterone and that the mediation effect through aldosterone is independent of blood pressure.
IMPACT OF L-CARNITINE ON PLASMA LIPOPROTEIN(A) CONCENTRATIONS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS OF RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIALS

We aimed to assess the impact of L-carnitine on plasma Lp(a) concentrations through a systematic review of literature and meta-analysis of available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The literature search included PUBMED, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EMBASE up to 31 January 2015 to identify
Group Differences in Delinquency What Is There to Explain

Race and ethnic difference in delinquency are examined using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. We argue that crime theories that attempt to explain race and ethnic differences imply consistent effects for different offenses and common mediating processes. Analyses suggest some degree of group consistency in delinquent behaviors for Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Native Americans, and some Asian groups, but not for African Americans. Black youth have higher rates of violent offenses than White youth, lower rates of substance use, and similar rates of property offending. Some variables are consistent mediators while others are not. Crime theories can account for the low rates of delinquency among Asian Americans while theories of violence and substance use are needed to understand differences between Black and White youth. The findings are inconsistent with the idea that group differences among youth are due to the socioeconomic status of their families or neighborhoods. The race patt...
Depression and healthcare service utilization in patients with cancer.

Objective It is estimated that as many as 38% of cancer patients suffer from depression, which may have distal impacts on cancer care, including clinical outcomes, health care utilization, and cost of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of depression on overall healthcare utilization among patients with cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis of administrative data was conducted on 5055 patients with an ICD-9 diagnosis of cancer from a single large healthcare system. Of these, 561 (11.1%) had ICD-9 diagnoses consistent with a depressive disorder. Negative binomial regression modeling was used to test the association between depression status and total annual healthcare visits for the year 2011. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between depression and secondary outcomes of emergency department visit, overnight hospitalization, and 30-day hospital readmission. Results After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance type, medical comorbidities, length of time with cancer, and metastatic status, depressed patients had significantly more annual non-mental health provider healthcare visits (aRR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.61–1.93), and were significantly more likely to have an ED visit (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.97–3.04), overnight hospitalization (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.49–2.20), and 30-day hospital readmission (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.48–2.79) than non-depressed patients with cancer. Conclusions Among patients with cancer, the presence of depression was associated with greater healthcare utilization. Effective screening for, and management of, depression may help reduce overall healthcare utilization and cost while improving care quality. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) alarm calls to leopards (Panthera pardus) function as a predator deterrent

Behavioural predator–prey interactions are difficult to study, especially when predators avoid humans. To gain greater understanding of their dynamism, we conducted a 14-month field study in which we minimized human presence by employing acoustic recorders and camera traps, along with GPS collars deployed on vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) and leopards (Panthera pardus) in Laikipia, Kenya. Recordings at the vervets’ sleeping site revealed that they gave ‘leopard’ alarm calls most frequently near dusk and dawn, whereas photographs showed that leopards approached vervets more closely at night, when the monkeys alarm-called less often. GPS data showed that after vervets alarm-called, leopards within 200 m quickly moved away, changing direction, but when vervets did not alarm-call, leopards continued moving forward. These results reveal that vervets’ leopard alarm calls function as a predator deterrent in addition to a conspecific warning call.
Adequate Circulatory Responses or Cardiovascular Failure

The circulation is ordinarily subjected to an enormous variety of stresses. An understanding of the manner in which this system responds is of importance to clinicians since the clinical manifestations of most cardiovascular disorders arise from an impairment of these responses.
P18.08 Pharmacists perceptions engaging in hiv prevention activities with populations at-risk for hiv infection

Objective 2.1 million people worldwide, including 40,000 Americans become infected with HIV each year. As medication experts and healthcare professionals that are very accessible to patients, pharmacists are well positioned to conduct HIV prevention activities including promotion of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and providing access to sterile syringes to people who inject drugs (PWIDs). There is a paucity of research examining pharmacists’ attitudes about providing HIV prevention services to at-risk populations. We examined pharmacists’ perceptions in engaging in HIV -related counselling, condom use and PrEP. Methods We asked 225 pharmacists from 41 US states questions about their comfort-level counselling on: 1) HIV/AIDS, 2) condom use, 3) clean needles to PWIDs and 4) PrEP use; interacting with HIV-positive 5) MSMs and 6) heterosexuals; and 7) selling needles to PWIDs. We ran individual generalised linear modelling (GLM) regressions for each question, and report our findings below. Results Of 225 participants, nearly half (41%) worked in the top HIV counties where the vast majority of PLWH reside. Pharmacists were mostly female (63%), and Caucasian (66%). Most were HIV-certified (68%); 31% worked in specialty-only and 21% in traditional-only pharmacies. Majority were comfortable discussing HIV (91%), condom use (91%), and counselling PLWH who were heterosexual (96%) or MSM (97%). However, 33% were uncomfortable selling PWIDs needles and 48% teaching PWIDs to use clean needles. HIV-certified pharmacists were twice as likely to be comfortable selling PWIDs needles (OR sellneedles 2.46; p counselcondomuse 1.10; p Conclusion Our finding that a significant proportion of pharmacists were uncomfortable serving PWIDs is concerning given that pharmacists might have frequent encounters with this hard-to-reach vulnerable population. Continuing professional education (CPE) curricula should be expanded to improve pharmacists’ ability and comfort serving populations at high-risk for HIV. Disclosure statement This study was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, U. S. A. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.
Abstract 1280: The intersection of the PI3K/mTOR and HIPPO pathways: a potential therapeutic target for medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor; it is genetically defined into 4 subgroups which defines the clinical course of the disease. Despite current treatment modalities such as surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapy, there are still significant morbidities and adverse side-effects. Recently defined genetic pathways could possibly offer a better management and treatment of patients with MB. The HIPPO signaling pathway has recently been shown to intersect with PI3K and Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathways to modulate mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), an important regulator in cell growth and migration. The aim of this study is to elucidate the interaction of Hippo and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways with SHH pathways in MB, and define the potential downstream targets of therapy by using combined inhibitors. In order to achieve our goals, we evaluated the expression of activated AKT/mTOR in MB tumors using immunohistochemistry (IHC), along with the expression of transcriptional co-activators yes-associated protein (YAP), a down-stream effector of the HIPPO pathway. Scratch and chemotactic migration were used to assess the motility of MB cells following treatment with inhibitors of the aforementioned pathways. Cell cycle analysis and proliferation were measured using EdU and MTT techniques, respectively. YAP-SiRNA treatment was used to inhibit HIPPO pathway. MicroRNA-29, which mediates the mTOR pathway by modulating PTEN levels, was investigated. Results demonstrated: 1. A significant number of MBs expressed activated pAKTSer473 and pmTORSer2448, along with YAP, the downstream effector of the HIPPO pathway; 2. Treatment with inhibitors of PI3K/AKT (LY294002) and mTOR (rapamycin), given with EGF, significantly reduced cellular motility; 3. SHH inhibitor cyclopamine given with LY294002 or rapamycin significantly reduced cellular motility; 4. Cell proliferation was suppressed by inhibition of the HIPPO pathway using 3 unique 27mer duplexes of YAP1 siRNA treatments; 5. Combined treatment of cyclopamine with either LY294002 or rapamycin caused maximum suppression of cellular growth. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the Hippo and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways are over-expressed in MB, and that the combined targeting of mTOR/HIPPO pathway with SHH inhibitor may provide alternative strategies for the treatment of MB, and offers a targeted therapy for improved prognosis. Citation Format: Jennifer S. Ronecker, Paul Lee, Sudeepta Sridhara, Michael LaBagnara, Raj Murali, Meena Jhanwar-Uniyal. The intersection of the PI3K/mTOR and HIPPO pathways: a potential therapeutic target for medulloblastoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1280.
Augustine and Classical Theism

This paper is an abbreviated reflection on the notion of ‘classical theism’ in reference to Augustine. The importance of contemplation and interior ascension to Augustine’s theism is emphasized with particular reference to texts from the Confessions. For Augustine knowledge of the transcendent God of classical monotheism was available only through the soul’s moral transformation and its renewed ontological participation in the being of God. Thus God could only be known to be ‘one’ or ‘simple’ or ‘unchanging’ or ‘self same’ by souls who have come to share deeply in those characteristics through unmediated association with God. These well-known attributes of ‘classical theism’ are not, therefore, abstract terms – the products of speculative metaphysics – but characteristics that emerge from the soul’s exercise of contemplation. Hence ‘classical theism,’ as it is conventionally understood in post-Enlightenment philosophy of religion, captures only the manifest image of a much larger and deeper understanding of our approach to the divine, one that supersedes more limited, abstract representations.
A Direct Instruction and Precision Teaching Intervention to Improve the Sentence Construction of Middle School Students With Writing Difficulties

Being able to construct simple sentences is necessary for effective written expression. The present study investigated effects of a sentence construction intervention on small groups of middle school students with disabilities and writing difficulties. The intervention entailed sentence instruction and frequency building to a performance criterion, a type of timed practice emphasizing fluency. A single case design, multiple-baseline across small groups, was used. Three middle school teachers delivered intervention to three small groups of students (a total of 15 students). As a result of intervention, the average number of correct minus incorrect word sequences per small group gradually increased. Results are discussed in the context of the sentence construction literature and within a framework of direct instruction and precision teaching.
Morse, Lennard-Jones, and Kratzer Potentials: A Canonical Perspective with Applications

Canonical approaches are applied to classic Morse, Lennard-Jones, and Kratzer potentials. Using the canonical transformation generated for the Morse potential as a reference, inverse transformations allow the accurate generation of the Born–Oppenheimer potential for the H2+ ion, neutral covalently bound H2, van der Waals bound Ar2, and the hydrogen bonded one-dimensional dissociative coordinate in a water dimer. Similar transformations are also generated using the Lennard-Jones and Kratzer potentials as references. Following application of inverse transformations, vibrational eigenvalues generated from the Born–Oppenheimer potentials give significantly improved quantitative comparison with values determined from the original accurately known potentials. In addition, an algorithmic strategy based upon a canonical transformation to the dimensionless form applied to the force distribution associated with a potential is presented. The resulting canonical force distribution is employed to construct an algorith...
Group Dynamics and Individual Roles: A Differentiated Approach to Social-Emotional Learning

ABSTRACTDifferentiated instruction is a set of strategies to help teachers meet each child where he or she is in order to improve students' engagement, lead them to do their best work, and maximize their success. This article describes a differentiated classroom management approach based in group dynamics which focuses on the development of group norms and roles. By teaching students about task and social-emotional roles, and about positive and negative roles, this approach provides venues for talking about student misbehaviors in a constructive way, helps students understand roles as something they choose rather than something they are, and gives every student new ways to shine in class by helping them discover their own unique roles that can contribute positively to the whole classroom group.