cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SRL-Enabled QoS model for mobile ad hoc networks

Due to the dynamic network topology and bandwidth constraints of Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs), existing quality of service (QoS) models for wired networks, i.e. Integrated Service (InteServ) and Differentiated Service (DiffServ) are not applicable on MANETs. In this paper, we propose the SRL-Enabled QoS Model (SEQM) for MANETs by extending a QoS routing protocol: Supernode-based Reverse Labeling (SRL) algorithm, which considers QoS provisioning, specifically bandwidth and delay together. SRL utilizes a hierarchical structure to improve performance and enhance QoS routing. Besides extending SRL with on-demand service proxy, SEQM also includes dynamic traffic negotiation and resource provisioning. Preliminary simulation results show that SEQM performs effectively in terms of throughput and end-to-end delay.
Electrostrictive optical resonators for non-contact displacement measurement.

This paper describes a non-contact transduction mechanism for the measurement of linear displacements that is based on the electrostrictive properties of a polymeric optical resonator. The spherical resonators, with a diameter of ∼1 mm and an average optical quality factor of ∼106, are made using a commercially available polymer (Super Soft Plastic–Manufacturing Company). The spherical resonator is immersed in a homogeneous electric field that is generated by applying a voltage difference between two metallic plates. One of the plates is fixed, whereas the other one is movable. By changing the distance between the plates, the electric field intensity changes, leading to a variation of the mechanical forces (electrostrictive effect) acting on the resonator. This effect, in turn, leads to a change in the morphology of the optical resonator and therefore to a shift of its optical resonances. By tracking the shift of the optical modes, it is possible to determine the displacement of the movable plate. Our results indicate a sensitivity ranging from 0.008 to 0.642 pm/μm with a resolution on the order of a few hundreds of nanometers.
Sudden hearing loss in a melanoma patient on pembrolizumab: an etiology not to be omitted in the differential diagnosis

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for metastatic cancers. However, they have been associated with inflammatory adverse reactions in various organ systems. A recent article reported a case of sudden bilateral hearing loss that occurred in a patient with metastatic melanoma being treated with pembrolizumab. The authors attributed that complication to an autoimmune reaction secondary to the treatment. This commentary discusses the importance of considering the diagnosis of leptomeningeal metastasis in patients with metastatic melanoma who present with new cranial nerve deficits.
Political Theory as Political Culture

The political culture of Cuban Miami and the cultural strategies of the community’s civic organizations are examined. Political theory is the heart of the matter. The chapter provides the findings of the research. The data assessing the performance of the organizations when the general approach to civic engagement they share is accounted for are discussed.
Nosema ceranae disease of the honey bee ( Apis mellifera )

The presence of honey bees in our landscapes has long invoked images of vitality, diligence, and cooperation. Unfortunately, the current state of bee health paints a rather different picture. The survival of honey bees, as well as the livelihoods of those who benefit from their labor, is under threat from several detractors to bee health. Exposure to pesticides, poor forage, mite parasites, and pathogens has resulted in high annual death of colonies in the USA, Europe, and other parts of the world. Among the suspects thought to contribute to bee decline, the fungal pathogen, Nosema ceranae, is found at high prevalence in both healthy and declining colonies. Since N. ceranae is thought to be a recent parasite of Apis mellifera, much remains unknown about its pathology at the individual and colony levels, as well as how infection may interact and synergize with other stressors. A review of research conducted on N. ceranae infection is provided. Attention is given to observations on detection of infection, cytopathology, viability and infectivity of spores, and caste-specific effects to survival, development, physiology, and behavior. Research findings showing effects from interactions with pesticides and viruses are also provided. Comparisons are drawn between N. ceranae and what is known about a similar, long-recognized pathogen of A. mellifera, Nosema apis. When possible, suggestions for future research that could broaden understanding of N. ceranae and ultimately improve honey bee health are offered to link observations on individual bee pathology with pathology observed at the colony level.
UC-Secure Non-interactive Public-Key Encryption

The universal composability (UC) framework enables the modular design of cryptographic protocols by allowing arbitrary compositions of lower-level building blocks. Public-key encryption is unarguably a very important such building block. However, so far no UC-functionality exists that offers non-interactive encryption necessary for modular protocol construction. We provide an ideal functionality for non-committing encryption (i.e., public-key encryption secure against adaptive corruptions) with locally generated, and therefore non-interactive, ciphertexts. As a sanity check, we also provide a property-based security notion that we prove to be equivalent to the UC notion. We then show that the encryption scheme of Camenisch et al. (SCN '16) based on trapdoor permutations securely implements our notion in the random-oracle model without assuming secure erasures. This is the best one can hope to achieve as standard-model constructions do not exist due to the uninstantiability of round-optimal adaptively secure message transfer in the standard model (Nielsen, Crypto '02). We illustrate the modular reusability of our functionality by constructing the first non-interactive signcryption scheme secure against adaptive corruptions without secure erasures in the UC framework.
Examining University Leadership Preparation: An Analysis of Program Attributes and Practices:

This study uses data from the Initiative for Systemic Program Improvement through Research in Educational Leadership (INSPIRE) Preparation Program Features Survey to respond to national critiques o...
Draft Genome Sequence of the Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolate PA34.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious threat to patients suffering from cystic fibrosis. These organisms are exposed to a unique set of selective pressures within the lung. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a mucoid P. aeruginosa clinical isolate obtained from a cystic fibrosis patient colonized with P. aeruginosa.
Flow in Three-Dimensional Fracture Networks Using a Discrete Approach

The flow in a three-dimensional network of discrete fractures is calculated by the boundary element method. The flow in any one fracture is two-dimensional but these fractures may be connected in a three-dimensional network. Alternatively, the same method of calculation (and the same computer program) can compute two-dimensional flow in fractures and the intervening media. The intersections of the fractures present special problems which require the application of “circulation equations” (or “path equations”) for their solutions. Often such circulation equations can be replaced by “generic equations” with acceptable accuracy.
Inkjet-Printed Wideband Circularly Polarized Microstrip Patch Array Antenna on a PET Film Flexible Substrate Material

In this letter, a wideband right-hand circularly polarized high-gain 4 × 4 microstrip patch array antenna on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film flexible substrate material is investigated. A comparison between the planar and curved surface study is also presented to show impact of curving the array on antenna performance parameters since it is employing a flexible substrate material. Due to some unknown properties of the PET material, some disagreement is noticed between the simulated and measured results in reflection coefficient magnitude, axial ratio, and gain in addition to radiation patterns. The radiation patterns are consistent with some rise in cross-polarization levels.
A Prospective Observational Assessment of Unicortical Distal Screw Placement During Volar Plate Fixation of Distal Radius Fractures.

Purpose Although volar plating of the distal radius is performed frequently, the necessity of distal bicortical fixation in the metaphyseal and epiphyseal areas of the distal radius has not been proven. This study aimed primarily to quantify the ability of unicortical distal screws to maintain operative reduction of adult distal radius fractures and secondarily to determine if unicortical screw lengths could be predicted based on anatomical measurements. Methods This prospective trial enrolled 75 adult patients undergoing volar locking plate fixation of a unilateral distal radius fracture at a tertiary center. Study inclusion required screw fixation in the distal rows of the plate performed with unicortical screw placement. The primary outcome was maintenance of operative reduction, according to predefined parameters, quantified by comparing initial operative reduction to final reduction after fracture healing. Repeated measures analysis of variance analyzed for systematic change in radiographic parameters between injury, operative, and healed images. Correlation coefficients quantified the relationship of screw lengths with lunate width and other anatomical measurements. Results Seventy-five patients (mean age, 54 years ± 15 years; 79% women) were enrolled and followed to fracture union. Fracture severity varied and included AO type A (40%), B (12%), and C (48%) fractures. There was no significant change in mean lateral translation, intra-articular gap, intra-articular stepoff, radial inclination, or lateral tilt of the radius between the time of fixation and union for the cohort. Two patients lost reduction (increased dorsal tilt, 10°, 20°, respectively), potentially attributable to provision of unicortical fixation (3%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0%–9%). No extensor tenosynovitis or extensor tendon ruptures occurred. Eighty percent of screws were 18 mm or less and screw lengths were not correlated with lunate width or any other anatomical measurements. Conclusions Unicortical distal fixation during volar locking plate fixation effectively maintains operative reductions of distal radius fractures while potentially minimizing the incidence of extensor tendon ruptures. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic IV.
Judgmental Standard Setting: The Development of Objective Content and Performance Standards for Secondary-Level Solo Instrumental Music Assessment:

The purpose of this study was to describe the development of content and performance standards for a rubric to evaluate secondary-level solo instrumental music performance using a modified bookmark...
Synthetic social relationships in animated virtual characters

We describe a multi-agent system based on the social behavior of the gray wolf (Canis lupus). This system, shown as an interactive installation at SIGGRAPH 2001, allows several participants to direct semi-autonomous wolf pups in a virtual pack. The heart of the system is a simple, biologically-inspired mechanism by which synthetic entities form social relationships with each other. This mechanism enables the virtual wolves to form relationships with each other that are both biologically plausible and engaging to participants in the installation. Systems like the one described in this paper could be of use in a variety of domains, for example, as platforms for simulation, as educational aids, and as entertainment media.
ALKALOID TERATOGENS FROM LUPINUS, CONIUM, VERATRUM, AND RELATED GENERA

I. ABSTRACT Certain naturally occurring congenital deformities in domestic livestock are produced by quinolizidine, piperidine, and steroidal alkaloid teratogens from members of the Lupinus, Conium, and Veratrum genera when plants are ingested during gestation. The considerable structural and configurational specificity among the teratogens have allowed speculations about compounds from other plants that are probably teratogens. Some of the speculations have been verified.
Selective Branching of Plasmonic Photosynthesis into Hydrocarbon Production and Hydrogen Generation

Electrocatalytic and photocatalytic carbon fixation suffer from a major challenge: the undesirable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) typically outcompetes the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), amount...
N-Acyl Homoserine Lactone Analog Modulators of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Rhll Quorum Sensing Signal Synthase

Virulence in the Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa relies in part on the efficient functioning of two LuxI/R dependent quorum sensing (QS) cascades, namely, the LasI/R and RhlI/R systems that generate and respond to N-(3-oxo)-dodecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone and N-butyryl-l-homoserine lactone, respectively. The two acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) synthases, LasI and RhlI, use 3-oxododecanoyl-ACP and butyryl-ACP, respectively, as the acyl-substrates to generate the corresponding autoinducer signals for the bacterium. Although AHL synthases represent excellent targets for developing QS modulators in P. aeruginosa, and in other related bacteria, the identification of potent and signal synthase specific inhibitors has represented a significant technical challenge. In the current study, we sought to test the utility of AHL analogs as potential modulators of an AHL synthase and selected RhlI in P. aeruginosa as an initial target. We systematically varied the chemical functionalities of the AHL headgroup, acyl chain tail, and head-to-tail linkage to construct a small library of signal analogs and evaluated them for RhlI modulatory activity. Although the native N-butyryl-l-homoserine lactone did not inhibit RhlI, we discovered that several of our long-chain, unsubstituted acyl-d-homoserine lactones and acyl-d-homocysteine thiolactones inhibited while a few of the 3-oxoacyl-chain counterparts activated the enzyme. Additional mechanistic investigations with acyl-substrate analogs and docking experiments with AHL analogs revealed two distinct inhibitor and activator binding pockets in the enzyme. This study provides the first evidence of the yet untapped potential of AHL analogs as signal synthase modulators of QS pathways.
Safety and tolerability of Meningococcus B vaccine in patients with chronical medical conditions (CMC).

Invasive meningococcal disease is a serious global health threat in the world; in 2016, the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention reported 3280 confirmed cases (including 304 deaths) of Invasive Meningococcal Diseases in Europe. In Italy, in 2017 were reported 200 cases 41% of which due to menB serogroup. From January 2013 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has authorized the marketing of the meningococcal B vaccine 4CMenB. The study aimed to evaluate and complement the safety profile of 4CMenB in high risk children accessing the vaccine service of the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital. All individuals aged six weeks or more receiving the meningococcal 4CMenB (Bexsero®) vaccine that approached the vaccine Centre at the Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital in Rome, were asked to participate. All parents or caregivers of vaccinated individuals in the study period, were recruited and requested to answer to a questionnaire on adverse events following immunization (AEFI) observed after 7 days, starting from the date of vaccination. During the study period (October 2016–October 2017), we collected 157 completed questionnaires (out of 200 distributed). Of those 132 were first doses and 25 were booster administered doses. The median age of the study population was 4.5 years (range 0.29 to 26.8 years), the majority of subjects were high-risk individuals (64%) with chronic health conditions. Overall, 311 adverse events were reported in the 7 days after vaccine administration. In particular 147 events (47%) after administration of first dose and 58 (19%) after the booster doses. A large majority of those events, were of little clinical importance and concentrated in the 24 h after vaccine administration. No hospitalizations or Emergency Department access were reported. Results of our study demonstrated that the Bexsero® vaccine is almost well tolerated, with a low incidence of severe AEFIs. Our results also shown that the occurrence of AEFIs is similar within healthy and high risk children.
‘Apartheid’ Sudan: Rebel Narratives of the “Southern Problem”

The chapter examines the emergence of an exile movement of rebels from the South, namely, the Sudan African National Union (SANU), that developed the discourse of the “Southern Problem” to advocate for the region’s self-determination. Among the range of discursive strategies the rebels employed was the analogy to Apartheid South Africa. A critical comparison designed to elicit international sympathy, the analogy was designed to enable the Southern cause to gain international visibility. The chapter shows that the analogy had limitations as SANU confronted the slippery nature of explaining racialisation and racism in Sudan to international audiences. Drawing on the parlance of the period—influenced by Negritude and Black Nationalism—SANU used racial essentialism to make the case for Southern secession. In sum, by focusing on this rivalry of ideas, this chapter holds that an intellectual history approach offers a vital reading of the conflict in Sudan.
Fostering Student Sensitivity to Diversity and Inclusion in Today’s Classroom

Engaging diversity and fostering inclusion – across various dimensions (nationality-ethnicity, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic development, among others) – are critical to the teaching goals of the two co-presenters of this Inclusive Classroom Track proposal. The authors are comparativist political scientists who engage issues of diversity and inclusion in different -- yet interconnected-- ways. One of us uses an early-in-the-semester task, drawing upon personality types (Myers-Briggs Test Indicator) and a policy task (enhancing inclusion of Native Americans into the American societal mainstream), to sensitize his students to diversity at the most basic level. The other of us develops a collaborative classroom experience that spans students in the U.S. and Ukraine. Drawing on the "Global Classrooms" program, he is able to foster international interaction and collaboration in tackling group-level diversity and cross-national acceptance. Our combined efforts are intended to foster enhanced student sensitivity to diversity and inclusion.
Accuracy of Dermoscopy vs. Visual Inspection for Diagnosing Melanoma in Adults.

The addition of dermoscopy to in-person visual inspection of skin lesions increases specificity and sensitivity in the detection of melanoma. In-person evaluation with dermoscopy is more accurate than image-based assessment.
Readability of Online Information on Celiac Disease: A Brief Report

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition characterized by an intolerance to dietary gluten for those with a genetic predisposition. The Internet has become a key source of information about C...
Engendering Sex: Birth Certificates, Biology and the Body in Anglo American Law

In this paper, I will explore the legal ramifications of gender/sex trouble for transgender individuals. I will argue that the current difficulties and deficiencies of legal sex for transgender people are due to the way that this legal regime has conceptualized legal sex as a historical ideal and utilized it as a regulatory concept. Then I will examine the ways in which feminist theory of the body has complicated sex and gender arguing that the U.S. legal regime should respond to these insights and complications by re-conceptualizing legal sex in a way that recognizes not only the “lived gender” of individuals but the culturally constructed nature of legal sex. I will show that the legal regime should use lived gender to inform and reform legal sex so that the concept of legal sex is mindful of considerations and conversations occurring in feminist theory that focuses on the sexed/gendered body.
Adherence to NCCN Guidelines for Genetic Testing in Breast Cancer Patients: Who Are We Missing?

Genetic predisposition accounts for 5–10% of all breast cancers (BC) diagnosed. NCCN guidelines help providers identify appropriate candidates for counseling and testing. Concerns about underutilization of genetic testing have spurred interest in broader peri-diagnostic testing. We evaluated surgeon adherence to NCCN guidelines and studied patterns of testing in newly diagnosed BC patients. A total of 397 patients were identified with newly diagnosed BC treated at our institution between 2016 and 2017 with no prior genetic testing. Eligibility for genetic testing based on NCCN criteria, referral, and patient compliance were recorded. In total, 212 of 397 (53%) met NCCN testing criteria. Fifty-nine of 212 (28%) patients went untested despite meeting one or more criteria. Fourteen of 59 (24%) of these were referred but did not comply. Most common criteria for meeting eligibility for testing both in the overall cohort and among missed patients were family history-based. Age > 45 years old and non-Ashkenazi Jewish descent were predictive of missed referral (p < 0.01). We identified pathogenic mutations in 16 of 153 (10%) patients who did undergo testing (11 (7%) BRCA1 or 2 and 5 (3%) with other predisposition gene mutations) or 16 of 397 (4%) among the overall group. Our data highlight the underutilization of genetic testing. Even in the setting of a full-service breast center with readily available genetic counseling, there is a substantial miss rate for identifying eligible patients, related to assessment of family history, patient age, and ethnicity, as well as patient compliance. Broader peri-diagnostic testing should be considered, and higher compliance rates with patients referred should be sought.
Correlating actual one-year weight loss with predicted weight loss by the MBSAQIP: bariatric surgical risk/benefit calculator

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has released a Bariatric Surgical Risk/Benefit Calculator, an online tool with which patients and providers can input patient preoperative information and predict their 1-year weight loss. We seek to validate our institutional data with the national database and investigated patient factors that influence lack of treatment effect after bariatric surgery. A retrospective review of all prospectively collected data of bariatric surgeries performed at Yale New Haven Hospital from 2017 to 2018 was conducted. By entering data into the MBSAQIP Calculator, the 1-year predicted Body Mass Index was calculated and compared to the actual weight loss. Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction (Prism 8, GraphPad). The average difference between the actual and predicted weight loss at 1-year for 327 patients was 3.6 BMI points. When the actual weight loss was compared to predicted BMI at 1 year, a high correlation was found (R = 0.6, P = 0.003). We examined the outliers with a comparison of weight loss for those patients who’s BMI fell within 5 points of the predicted versus those whose BMI recorded above 5. It was discovered those patients who had higher than 5 BMI points than predicted, had higher preoperative BMI (46.1 vs 43.6, P = 0.008). The MBSAQIP calculator is a useful tool to guide surgeons with decision-making and informed consent. Our institution’s 1-year weight loss data correlated closely with that predicted. From the outliers, we found that patients who did not meet the predicted weight loss had significantly higher preoperative BMI. This may alter preoperative discussions with class 3 or over obese patients regarding expected weight loss and warrant investigations with the national database to develop modifications of the calculator.
Joint Bidding Strategy in Day-ahead Electricity Market and FTR Auction Market

Transmission congestion can lead to price separation at different buses in electricity markets. This may cause differences between the payment to the generation companies and the revenues collected from the loads, called merchandise surplus or congestion charge or congestion revenue. Through the Financial Transmission Right (FTR) auction, the Independent System Operator (ISO) redistributes the merchandise surplus to market participants (MPs). Although the FTR auction is conducted at a different time than the Day-ahead (DA) market, the two markets are related because the MP’s FTR position will be settled based on the DA market prices. For this reason, MPs may intend to develop a joint bidding strategy for FTR and DA markets in order to maximize its total profit in the two markets. This paper therefore proposes a bi-level optimization model in which the upper-level sub-problem formulates the profit maximization problem for a strategic generation company, and the lower-level sub-problem mimics a quasi ISO model. In this work, the strategic MP is considered to be price-taker in the FTR market and price-maker in the DA market, which allows the MP to influence the DA market price to benefit its combined portfolio value in two markets. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed model, it has been studied on a 6-bus test system. The results show that an optimal bidding strategy may choose to have a reduced profit in the DA market, while making a significantly higher profit in the FTR market so that the total profit is maximized.
Predicting Outcomes in Sporadic and Hereditary Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma over Two Decades

Background: Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality in advanced cases. Hence, we aimed to identify factors at the time of MTC surgery that predict ...
XBP1 links the 12-hour clock to NAFLD and regulation of membrane fluidity and lipid homeostasis.

A distinct 12-hour clock exists in addition to the 24-hour circadian clock to coordinate metabolic and stress rhythms. Here, we show that liver-specific ablation of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) disrupts the hepatic 12-hour clock and promotes spontaneous non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We show that hepatic XBP1 predominantly regulates the 12-hour rhythmicity of gene transcription in the mouse liver and demonstrate that perturbation of the 12-hour clock, but not the core circadian clock, is associated with the onset and progression of this NAFLD phenotype. Mechanistically, we provide evidence that the spliced form of XBP1 (XBP1s) binds to the hepatic 12-hour cistrome to directly regulate the 12-hour clock, with a periodicity paralleling the harmonic activation of the 12-hour oscillatory transcription of many rate-limiting metabolic genes known to have perturbations in human metabolic disease. Functionally, we show that Xbp1 ablation significantly reduces cellular membrane fluidity and impairs lipid homeostasis via rate-limiting metabolic processes in fatty acid monounsaturated and phospholipid remodeling pathways. These findings reveal that genetic disruption of the hepatic 12-hour clock links to the onset and progression of NAFLD development via transcriptional regulator XBP1, and demonstrate a role for XBP1 and the 12-hour clock in the modulation of phospholipid composition and the maintenance of lipid homeostasis. Hepatocyte 12-hour rhythms have a role in cellular stress and metabolic functions. Here, the authors demonstrate disrupting the 12-hour clock through deletion of XBP1 is associated with the development of NAFLD as well as disruption of phospholipid composition and the maintenance of lipid homeostasis.
COVID-19 Stress and Coping and Associations With Internalizing Problems in 4th Through 12th Grade Students

The current study examined (a) the associations of COVID-19 stress with anxiety and depression and whether those associations differed by gender or grade level, and (b) how different coping strateg...
Decision-Making and Multisensory Combination Under Time Stress:

Using a video game platform, we examined how vision-based decision making was affected by a concurrent, potentially conflicting auditory stimulus. Electroencephalographic responses showed that by 1...
Abstract LB249: Development of 3D organoid raft cultures of colon cancer as a model to screen the therapeutic efficacy of PRIMA-1Met (APR-246)

Background: Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. Hence, new drugs and faster screening models are needed. However, costly experiments for determining the therapeutic efficacy of drugs in animals before they reach clinical trials make the process difficult. To address this issue, we developed an alternative strategy to screen drugs against human tumors. 3D tumor organoids are termed Organoid Raft Cultures (ORCs) due to the strategy involved in culturing tumors ex vivo on collagen beds with grid supports to maintain their morphological structure and molecular makeup. Methodology: After receiving informed consent of patients and IRB approval at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, patients with histologically confirmed colon cancers were recruited. Portions of collected colon tumors were then implanted into the flanks of mice to generate Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDXs). Once their volumes reached 2000 mm2, tumors were excised, and ORCs were generated. This approach addresses two concerns: 1) how well are the morphological features retained when the tumors are grown ex vivo, and 2): can we accomplish faster screening of the efficacy of drugs. In the present study, we used a tumor in which we identified, by DNA-sequencing, a TP53 missense mutation at amino acid R248Q (a change from arginine to glutamine). We tested PRIMA-1Met (APR-246), an agent that reactivates mutant p53 by causing a conformational change and restores its function as a tumor suppressor. Excised xenograft tumor tissue was cut into small pieces and seeded on mucosa-stromal equivalent consisting of buffered collagen and fibroblasts in 24-well plates and allowed to grow for 2-3 days. Next, the tissue assembly was detached and placed on raft shaped stainless steel grids in 6-well plates containing ORC media. These cultures, termed ORCs, were then divided into groups of APR-246 treated and untreated. After 7 days, tissues were formalin fixed, and slides of 5-micron thickness were cut for Hematoxylin and eosin (HE 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr LB249.
Cocaine hydrolase blocks cocaine-induced dopamine transporter trafficking to the plasma membrane.

Cocaine blocks dopamine uptake via dopamine transporter (DAT) on plasma membrane of neuron cells and, as a result, produces the high and induces DAT trafficking to plasma membrane which contributes to the drug seeking or craving. In this study, we first examined the dose dependence of cocaine-induced DAT trafficking and hyperactivity in rats, demonstrating that cocaine at an intraperitoneal dose of 10 mg/kg or higher led to redistribution of most DAT to the plasma membrane while inducing significant hyperactivity in rats. However, administration of 5-mg/kg cocaine (ip) did not significantly induce DAT trafficking or hyperactivity in rats. So the threshold (intraperitoneal) dose of cocaine that can significantly induce DAT trafficking or hyperactivity should be between 5 and 10 mg/kg. These data suggest that when a cocaine dose is high enough to induce significant hyperactivity, it can also significantly induce DAT trafficking to the plasma membrane. Further, the threshold brain cocaine concentration required to induce significant hyperactivity and DAT trafficking was estimated to be ~2.0 ± 0.8 μg/g. Particularly, for treatment of cocaine abuse, previous studies demonstrated that an exogenous cocaine-metabolizing enzyme, for example, CocH3-Fc(M3), can effectively block cocaine-induced hyperactivity. However, it was unknown whether an enzyme could also effectively block cocaine-induced DAT trafficking to the plasma membrane. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that the enzyme is also capable of effectively blocking cocaine from reaching the brain even with a lethal dose of 60-mg/kg cocaine (ip) and, thus, powerfully preventing cocaine-induced physiological effects such as the hyperactivity and DAT trafficking.
Relationships among Conceptualizations of Flourishing in Therapeutic Recreation

Human flourishing or living well is widely accepted as a principal outcome of therapeutic recreation (TR) services but multiple conceptualizations of what it means to live well found in the TR literature raise questions of association and compatibility. The present investigation extends previous explorations of connections among the numerous notions, specifically appraising the relationship of Seligman’s theory of Flourishing to MacIntyre’s broadened theory of Flourishing, the Leisure and Well- Being Model, and the Flourishing through Leisure Model. Results indicate the two theories portray distinct views of flourishing and that a complementary relationship exists among Seligman’s theory and the two practice models. When considered as a whole, the extant body of scholarship supplies the profession with a solid philosophical and scientific foundation for promoting human flourishing.Subscribe to TRJ
Salicylate coordination in metal-protochelin complexes.

Molybdenum (Mo) is an essential trace element for bacteria that is utilized in myriad metalloenzymes that directly couple to the biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon. In particular, Mo is found in the most common nitrogenase enzyme, and the scarcity and low bioavailability of Mo in soil may be a critical factor that contributes to the limitation of nitrogen fixation in forests and agroenvironments. To overcome this scarcity, microbes produce exudates that specifically chelate scarce metals, promoting their solubilization and uptake. Here, we have determined the structure and stability constants of Mo bound by protochelin, a siderophore produced by bacteria under Mo-depleted conditions. Spectrophotometric titration spectra indicated a coordination shift from a catecholate to salicylate binding mode for MoVI-protochelin (Mo-Proto) complexes at pH < 5. pKa values obtained from analysis of titrations were 4.8 ± 0.3 for MoVIO2H3Proto- and 3.3 ± 0.1 for MoVIO2H4Proto. The occurrence of negatively charged Mo-Proto complexes at pH 6 was also confirmed by mass spectrometry. K-edge Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy confirmed the change in Mo coordination at low pH, and structural fitting provides insights into the physical architecture of complexes at neutral and acidic pH. These findings suggest that Mo can be chelated by protochelin across a wide environmental pH range, with a coordination shift occurring at pH < 5. This chelation and associated coordination shift may impact biological availability and mineral surface retention of Mo under acidic conditions.
Invariant Measures for Diffusion Processes in Conuclear Spaces

Let Φ be a nuclear space whose topology is given by an increasing sequence ∥⋅∥ p , p ≥ 0, of Hilbertian norms. Let Φ p be the completion of Φ with respect to the norm ∥⋅∥ p . Let Φ _ p , Φ’ be the dual spaces of Φ p , Φ respectively.
Environmental justice in Latin America : problems, promise, and practice

Environmental justice concerns form an important part of popular environmental movements in many countries. Activists, scholars, and policymakers in the developing world, for example, increasingly use the tools of environmental justice to link concerns over social justice and environmental well-being. Environmental Justice in Latin America investigates the emergence of a distinctively Latin American environmental justice movement, offering analyses and case studies that examine both the promise and the limits of environmental justice in Latin America and the Caribbean -- both as a rallying point for popular mobilization and as a set of principles for analysis and policymaking. After considering such conceptual issues as the connection between environmental conditions and race, trade, and social justice, the book presents a series of case studies. These studies focus first on industrial development, examining such topics as social tension over "megadevelopment" projects in Argentina and the concentrated industrial waste hazards of the export assembly plants on the U.S.-Mexico border, and then on the power and politics involved in land and resource use. Other chapters explore ecotourism, inequitable land distribution in Brazil, the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability over the former U.S. Navy bombing range in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and water policy in Chile, Bolivia, and Mexico. Taken together, the analyses and case studies suggest that environmental justice -- which highlights both broader issues of global injustice and local concerns -- holds tremendous promise as a way to understand and address environmental inequities in Latin America and elsewhere. ContributorsHenri Acselrad, David V. Carruthers, Jordi Diez, Katherine T. McCaffrey, Sarah A. Moore, Peter Newell, Tom Perreault, Carlos Reboratti, Reyes Rodriguez, Juanita Sundberg, Stefanie Wickstrom, Wendy Wolford, Michele Zebich-Knos.
Expression of Human C5a in E. Coli

Host defense mechanisms against tissue damage, bacterial and viral infections, fungi, parasites and other foreign intruders rely on several systems. The best known are specific cellular and humoral immune responses, but other non-specific mechanisms are of comparable importance. After a first encounter with a novel infectious agent, mammalian organisms need one to two weeks to raise sufficient neutralizing antibody titers. In this time non-specific, broad-range systems such as the complement proteins play a critical role for the survival of the organism. The complex set of reactions characterized as the acute inflammatory response is another mechanism to control damage inflicted on the organism from the outside environment. Not surprisingly, some of these defense systems are interrelated. The focus of this study is the classical C5a anaphylatoxin peptide, which regulates both a number of important inflammatory processes and, indirectly, aspects of the immune response reaction.
Applications and Research Problems of Subgroup Mining

Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) is a data analysis process which, in contrast to conventional data analysis, automatically generates and evaluates very many hypotheses, deals with complex, i.e. large, high dimensional, multi relational, dynamic, or heterogeneous data, and produces understandable results for those who “own the data”. With these objectives, subgroup mining searches for hypotheses that can be supported or confirmed by the given data and that are represented as a specialization of one of three general hypothesis types: deviating subgroups, associations between two subgroups, and partially ordered sets of subgroups where the partial ordering usually relates to time. This paper gives a short introduction into the methods of subgroup mining. Especially the main preprocessing, data mining and postprocessing steps are discussed in more detail for two applications. We conclude with some problems of the current state of the art of subgroup mining.
Constructing 2D Shapes by Inward Denting

Constructing a two dimensional shape from a given set of point sites is a well-known problem in computational geometry. We present a critical review of the existing algorithms for constructing polygonal shapes from given point sites. We present a new approach called 'inward denting' for constructing polygonal shapes. We then extend the proposed approach for modeling polygons with holes. We also present experimental investigations of the quality of the solutions generated by the proposed algorithm. For obtaining experimental results we implemented the proposed algorithm in Java programming language. The experimental results show that the perimeter of the generated shape is at most 33% more than the length of the minimum spanning tree.
On Pictures in Prose.

For some time now, researchers and educators have questioned the value of pictures for prose-learning. However, there is abundant empirical evidence to document the positive value of pictures. Consistent learning gains are associated with the use of pictures when experiments adhere to these five ground rules: (1) prose passages are presented orally; (2) the subjects are children; (3) the passages are fictional narratives; (4) the pictures overlap the story content; and (5) learning is demonstrated by factual recall.
Radar attenuation and temperature within the Greenland Ice Sheet

The flow of ice is temperature-dependent, but direct measurements of englacial temperature are sparse. The dielectric attenuation of radio waves through ice is also temperature-dependent, and radar sounding of ice sheets is sensitive to this attenuation. Here we estimate depth-averaged radar-attenuation rates within the Greenland Ice Sheet from airborne radar-sounding data and its associated radiostratigraphy. Using existing empirical relationships between temperature, chemistry, and radar attenuation, we then infer the depth-averaged englacial temperature. The dated radiostratigraphy permits a correction for the confounding effect of spatially varying ice chemistry. Where radar transects intersect boreholes, radar-inferred temperature is consistently higher than that measured directly. We attribute this discrepancy to the poorly recognized frequency dependence of the radar-attenuation rate and correct for this effect empirically, resulting in a robust relationship between radar-inferred and borehole-measured depth-averaged temperature. Radar-inferred englacial temperature is often lower than modern surface temperature and that of a steady state ice-sheet model, particularly in southern Greenland. This pattern suggests that past changes in surface boundary conditions (temperature and accumulation rate) affect the ice sheet's present temperature structure over a much larger area than previously recognized. This radar-inferred temperature structure provides a new constraint for thermomechanical models of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Electrical Trees, Physical Mechanisms and Experimental Techniques

The sections in this article are 1 History 2 Stages of Electrical Treeing 3 Partial Discharges 4 Differences Between Electrical and Water Trees 5 Initiation Mechanisms of Electrical Treeing 6 Degenerate Region 7 Threshold Voltage of Tree Inception 8 Tree Propagation 9 Electrical Treeing Tests 10 Factors Affecting Electrical Treeing 11 Tree Retardation
Oxidative stress and cell cycle checkpoint function

Oxidative stress and the damage that results from it have been implicated in a wide number of disease processes including atherosclerosis, autoimmune disorders, neuronal degeneration, and cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are ubiquitous and occur naturally in all aerobic species, coming from both exogenous and endogenous sources. ROS are quite reactive and readily damage biological molecules, including DNA. While the damaging effects of ROS on DNA have been intensively studied, the effects of oxidative damage on cell cycle checkpoint function have not. Here will we review several biologically important ROS and their sources, the cell cycle, checkpoints, and current knowledge about the effects of ROS on initiating checkpoint responses.
Insertional activation of c-myc by reticuloendotheliosis virus in chicken B lymphoma: nonrandom distribution and orientation of the proviruses.

Abstract Chicken syncytial virus, a member of the reticuloendotheliosis virus family, can induce chicken B lymphomas indistinguishable from those caused by avian leukosis virus. Previously, we have demonstrated that the chicken syncytial virus proviruses in these tumors are linked to the proto-oncogene c-myc. We have now determined the arrangement of chicken syncytial virus proviruses in 22 tumors. The results indicate that these proviruses, without exception, are integrated upstream from the second c-myc exon. At least 70% of these insertion sites are clustered in a 0.5-kilobase region immediately preceding the exon. The proviruses are all arranged in the same transcriptional orientation as c-myc. This type of provirus organization bears strong resemblance to that of the avian leukosis virus proviruses involved in c-myc activation.
Ethyl α‐Nitrobutyrate

Ethyl α-nitrobutyrate reactant: Ethyl α-bromobutyrate (58.5 g., 0.30 mole) product: ethyl α-nitrobutyrate product: Ethyl α-nitropropionate product: Ethyl α-nitrocaproate product: Ethyl α-nitroisobutyrate product: Ethyl α-nitroisovalerate product: Ethyl α-phenyl-α-nitroacetate Keywords: replacement reactions, miscellaneous
Influence of the A118G Polymorphism of the OPRM1 Gene and Exon 3 VNTR Polymorphism of the DRD4 Gene on Cigarette Craving After Alcohol Administration.

Introduction The current study examined whether the presence of the G allele of the A118G polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene (rs1799971) and the long allele of exon 3 VNTR polymorphism of the DRD4 gene moderate the effect of alcohol administration on urge to smoke. These polymorphisms have been associated with greater alcohol induced-urge to drink. Urge to drink and alcohol consumption increase urge to smoke. Therefore, these polymorphisms may also sensitize urge to smoke after alcohol consumption. Methods Individuals smoking 10-30 cigarettes per day and reporting heavy drinking were recruited from the community. Caucasians (n = 62), 57.3% male, mean age 39.2, took part in a three-session, within-subjects, repeated-measures design study. Participants were administered a placebo, 0.4 g/kg, or 0.8 g/kg dose of alcohol. A118G genotype, exon 3 VNTR genotype, and urge to smoke (baseline and three times after receiving alcohol) were assessed. Results G allele carriers showed greater urge to smoke across all assessments. Additionally, a significant interaction indicated that G carriers, compared to homozygotes (AA), evinced a significantly greater increase in urge to smoke after high dose alcohol relative to placebo. The interaction between condition, DRD4 polymorphism, and time was not significant. Conclusions Presence of G allele of the A118G polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene may lead to greater increases in urge to smoke after a high dose of alcohol. Pharmacotherapies targeted to opiate receptors (eg, naltrexone) may be especially helpful in aiding smoking cessation among G carriers who are heavy drinkers.
Morning Plasma Cortisol Levels in Infants Treated with Topical Fluorinated Glucocorticosteroids

The plasma cortisol levels of 17 infants of mean age 12.1 months taken at 8 AM were measured before and after application of a topical fluorinated glucocorticosteroid. There was a statistically significant depression of plasma cortisol value in 11 infants at days 3, 7, and 14 after therapy. All of the plasma cortisol levels returned to normal. For the entire group of 17 infants, however, there was no significant depression of plasma cortisol levels. Even in the usual office use of topical glucocorticosteroids, one must be aware of the possiblity of percutaneous absorption.
Hospitality and Hostility in Judges 4

The customs that make up the hospitality code in the ancient Middle East, as portrayed in the biblical narrative, demonstrate the intent to maintain the honor of person, household and community by offering service and protection to strangers. Analogies between the code of hospitality found in the biblical narrative and more modem communities in the Middle East are striking. A model of behavior operates, which attempts to transform the hostile stranger into a non-threatening guest. However, if the protocol of custom is violated by either the guest or host, all restraints and protections are set aside and the host may become hostile. The episode in Judges 4 is explained by the application of the hospitality model. The author/editor manipulates customary expectations by using a scheme of systematic violation of the code of hospitality in working toward the climactic and ironic end.