cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Management of Alcohol use Disorder among Older Adults.

The prevalence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) among older adults in the United States is rising, but remains underdiagnosed, underreported, and inadequately managed. This review highlights the medical, social, and cultural factors of AUD in older adults and provides guidelines for its screening, evaluation, and management. The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional challenges and barriers to care, as older adults may have disproportionate worsening of anxiety, depression, and substance use resulting from increased isolation related to physical distancing and shelter-in-place guidelines. All older adults should be routinely screened for AUD with standardized screening tools. If a patient’s screening results are positive, a clinician should conduct a brief assessment, which may be supplemented by laboratory tests. Most older adults at risk for alcohol misuse do not need specialized SUD treatment, but most can benefit from Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) to prevent substance misuse before it occurs. Medications for the treatment of AUD in older adults include naltrexone, acamprosate, disulfiram, gabapentin and topiramate. Psychosocial treatments, including mutual help groups, are equally important.
Laser Enhanced Plating and Etching: A Review

Experiments on laser enhanced plating and etching are reviewed with particular emphasis on applications to microelectronic materials. Depositions of nickel, gold and copper are described, obtained by using a focused argon laser to provide maskless patterning onto premetallized glass substrates. The theory for the enhancement is discussed in terms of photothermal effects, i.e., increased charge transfer and mass transfer rates as well as a shift in the equilibrium potential with increased local temperature. The highest deposition rates have been obtained using a collinear laser-jet configuration. Results for gold and copper using this system will be described. The laser etching of stainless steel, silicon and a number of ceramics is discussed using both electroetching and chemical machining techniques.
Interleukin-8 is regulated by a Src/STAT3 pathway in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells that is NF-κB independent

4835 Human pancreatic tumors often overexpress the angiogenesis-promoting factor Interleukin-8 (IL-8), due, in part, to increased activity of the transcription factor NF-κB. Recently, we have demonstrated that Src, constitutively active in >70% of pancreatic tumors, also deregulates IL-8 expression. This study examined whether Src-mediated IL-8 expression is NF-κB-dependent or-independent. The effects of Src activity on IL-8 expression in pancreatic tumor cell lines were determined by pharmacologic inhibition of Src and creation of stable clones with reduced Src activity by siRNA technology. The role of STAT3 in IL-8 expression was assessed by transient transfection of dominant negative and activated STAT3 constructs, followed by determination of IL-8 promoter activity using reporter constructs and IL-8 expression by ELISA. Finally, the effects of Src inhibition on NF-κB transcriptional activity and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation were assessed. We demonstrate that reduced expression or activity of Src significantly decreased IL-8 expression (P
A robust approach to numeric discovery

Abstract IDS is an integrated discovery system that forms taxonomic hierarchies, notes qualitative relations, and finds numeric laws. This paper focuses on the system's algorithm for numeric discovery. We describe the basic method in terms of heuristic search through a space of numeric terms, provide a simple example, and show how IDS uses the algorithm to find three classes of numeric relations. We then evaluate the system's law-finding ability through experiments with artificial domains, examining the effect of system parameters, noise level, number of irrelevant terms, and law complexity on both asymptotic accuracy and learning rate. Finally, we consider the algorithm's relation to other numeric methods and outline directions for future work.
PATERNITY BETWEEN LAW AND BIOLOGY: THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAMIC LAW OF PATERNITY IN THE WAKE OF DNA TESTING

: The discovery of DNA paternity tests has stirred a debate concerning the definition of paternity and whether the grounds for such a definition are legal or biological. According to the classical rules of Islamic law, paternity is established and negated on the basis of a valid marriage. Modern biomedical technology raises the question of whether paternity tests can be the sole basis for paternity, even independently of marriage. Although on the surface this technology seems to challenge the authority of Islamic law in this area, the paper argues that classical Islamic rulings pertaining to paternity issues continue to hold higher authority even in cases of conflict with modern technology-based alternatives. Through closer analysis, the paper traces the emergence of a differentiation in the function of DNA tests between identity and paternity verification. While the former is accepted without reservation, the latter is approved only when it does not violate the rulings of Islamic law.
A performance improvement and error floor avoidance technique for belief propagation decoding of LDPC codes

In this work, we introduce a unique technique that improves the performance of the BP decoding in waterfall and error-floor regions by reversing the decoder failures. Based on the short cycles existing in the bipartite graph, an importance sampling simulation technique is used to identify the bit and check node combinations that are the dominant sources of error events, called trapping sets. Then, the identified trapping sets are used in the decoding process to avoid the pre-known failures and to converge to the transmitted codeword. With a minimal additional decoding complexity, the proposed technique is able to provide performance improvements for short-length LDPC codes and push or avoid error-floor behaviors of longer codes
Inflammatory cytokines overcome age-related defects in CD4 T cell responses in vivo

Age-related decreases in immune function are thought to contribute to the reduced efficacy of vaccinations seen in elderly populations. Our previous in vitro studies demonstrated that naive CD4 T cells from aged TCR-transgenic mice proliferate less than young cells and generate poorly functioning effectors due to decreased IL-2 production. In this current study, we show that this age-related defect in CD4 T cell response also occurs in vivo and that it is correlated with reduced NF-κB activation. After transfer to young hosts, CD4 T cells from aged transgenic mice proliferate less and produce reduced levels of IL-2 upon immunization with Ag and alum. Introducing a combination of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6, or the use of an adjuvant such as CFA that induces these cytokines, markedly enhanced responses of these aged CD4 T cells, so that they proliferated and produced IL-2 similar to young cells. This enhancement is correlated with the enhanced activation of the transcription factor NF-κB in aged cells. We suggest that induction of inflammatory cytokines via adjuvants may enhance the efficacy of vaccinations in elderly populations.
Sidestepping the cosmological constant with football shaped extra dimensions

We present an exact solution for a factorizable brane-world spacetime with two extra dimensions and explicit brane sources. The compactification manifold has the topology of a two-sphere, and is stabilized by a bulk cosmological constant and magnetic flux. The geometry of the sphere is locally round except for conical singularities at the locations of two antipodal branes, deforming the sphere into an American-style football. The bulk magnetic flux needs to be fine-tuned to obtain flat geometry on the branes. Once this is done, the brane geometry is insensitive to the brane vacuum energy, which only affects the conical deficit angle of the extra dimensions. Solutions of this form provide a new arena in which to explore brane-world phenomenology and the effects of extra dimensions on the cosmological constant problem.
Image Threshold and Segmentation

The process of reducing a gray scale or color image to a binary (black and white) image in which distinct features are isolated (usually for measurement) is called thresholding or segmentation. The words refer to slightly different but overlapping sets of procedures. Thresholding usually implies the selection of a range of gray scale or color values that distinguish the features from the background. It is widely used and very fast since it operates globally on images, but often does not provide perfect delineation of features because some pixels (particularly along feature edges) are misclassified, and features may touch each other. Segmentation implies the separation of features from the background and each other, usually based on local comparison of pixel values along feature boundaries. These methods are often slow, may not find all of the features present, and sometimes require assumptions about the shape or size of the features. Keywords: thresholding; segmentation; gray level; color images; boundaries; feature selection; split-and-merge
Lexical Characteristics of Anticipatory and Consummatory Anhedonia in Schizophrenia: A Study of Language in Spontaneous Life Narratives

Objectives The extent to which anticipatory anhedonia (an important determinant of outcome in schizophrenia) is determined by interpersonal characteristics, cognitive biases, or even artifacts of measurement remains unclear. The present study aims to provide understanding cognitive, affective and phenomenological characteristics of this construct by examining the lexical characteristics of life narratives with schizophrenia with computerized lexical analysis. Method A total of 41 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder completed the Indiana Psychiatric Illness Interview, and the lexical characteristics of these narratives were examined for their relationships to both anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia. Results Results revealed that relatively higher levels of both anticipatory and consummatory anhedonia were linked with fewer past-related words and by lesser use of first-person plural pronouns. Conclusions This may suggest anhedonia is linked to diminished access to past narrative episodes and a lesser sense of shared important moments with others.
Junk Bonds, Bank Debt, and Financing Corporate Growth

Junk bonds have been portrayed as an important alternative source of debt finance for high-growth firms that rely extensively on bank debt. We investigate the role of junk bonds in corporate finance, using a sample of firms that issued junk bonds to pay down bank loans. Bank debt paydowns are the most frequent reason firms issue junk bonds. Sample firms are extremely fast growing, and the junk bond issues typically follow operating earnings declines. Our tests indicate that the looser contractual restrictions in junk bonds enable the firms to maintain financial flexibility, defined as a capital structure's ability to support activities at low transaction and opportunity cost. Alternative explanations for the bond issues have no support. For example, we find no evidence that managers reduced their reliance on bank debt to avoid monitoring by banks. Sample firms obtained most of their bank debt through revolvers, which can also provide flexibility, and firms typically reborrowed from banks to finance continued high growth. See also the related papers "Information Effects of Spin-offs, Equity Carve-outs, and Targeted Stock Offerings" by Stuart Gilson, Paul Healy, Christopher Noe, and Krishna Palepu; and "Valuation of Bankrupt Firms" by Stuart Gilson, Edith Hotchkiss, and Richard Ruback
Discovering Temporal Patterns in Multiple Granularities

Many events repeat themselves as the time goes by. For example, an institute pays its employees on the first day of every month. However, events may not repeat with a constant span of time. In the payday example here, the span of time between each two consecutive paydays ranges between 28 and 31 days. As a result, regularity, or temporal pattern, has to be captured with a use of granularities (such as day, week, month, and year), oftentimes multiple granularities. This paper defines the above patterns, and proposes a number of pattern discovery algorithms. To focus on the basics, the paper assumes that a list of events with their timestamps is given, and the algorithms try to find patterns for the events. All of the algorithms repeat two possibly interleaving steps, with the first step generating possible (called candidate) patterns, and the second step verifying if candidate patterns satisfy some user-given requirements. The algorithms use pruning techniques to reduce the number of candidate patterns, and adopt a data structure to efficiently implement the second step. Experiments show that the pruning techniques and the data structure are quite effective.
Dune formation on late Holocene sandy bay barriers along Lake Michigan's Door Peninsula: The importance of increased sediment supply following the Nipissing and Algoma high lake-level phases

This study focuses on the geomorphology and geochronology of dunes formed on three sandy barrier systems at Clark, Europe and Kangaroo Lakes in Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula. The Lake Michigan shoreline in the peninsula contains abundant evidence for fluctuations in lake level with paleo-shoreline fea tures that lie up to ~7 m above the present shoreline. Dunes are not very common along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Wisconsin, but the three bay barriers studied contain beach ridges that were buried by varying depths of eolian sand in the form of low relief sandsheets as well as parabolic and transverse dunes that have relief of up to 21 m. The purpose of this study was to document when the barriers formed and when the subsequent eolian activity occurred. The chronology presented here for barrier emplacement and dune development is based on 65 optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) samples which were collected from littoral sediment in the barriers (n = 17) and the overlying eolian sand (n = 48). Sediment samples were collected using bucket augers or a vibracoring device at depths ranging from 0.5 to 4.1 m below the ground surface. The OSL ages show that barriers in each of the study sites were constructed between ~5.9 and 3.9 ka, corresponding closely to the Nipissing high lake phase. OSL ages falling between 3.3 and 2.5 ka at the Kangaroo Lake site suggest the portion of the barrier closest to Lake Michigan formed during the Algoma phase. The majority of the eolian ages fall into two primary groups that overlap with or are slightly younger than the ages acquired from the barriers. These results suggest eolian activity ended between 4.5 and 3.7 (n = 20 ages) and 2.5 and 1.8 (n = 11 ages) ka. Both geomorphic and geochronological evidence suggests that dune development occurred rapidly when sand supply increased as lake levels fell following these two transgressive events.
Chemistry of a Burning Propellant Surface

Combustion of energetic solids is the basis of rocket propulsion for space exploration and military technologies. Accurate models of combustion that contain chemical and fluid-mechanical details are greatly needed because atmospheric contamination and cost considerations limit ground-based testing. International disarmament treaties mandate disposal of stockpiled energetic materials. However, conventional disposal methods, such as open-pit burning and detonation, are increasingly restricted by environmental regulations. Description of the gaseous emission products frequently must be given before combustion is authorized. Manipulation of the combustion process may be necessary. Hence, combustion processes must be understood and predicted with ever greater accuracy.
Effect of general sparse matrix algorithm on optimization of space structures

We investigate the effect of a general sparse matrix approach on the optimization of large structures using the optimality criteria approach and the Cholesky lower upper decomposition method for the solution of the resulting linear simultaneous equations
Viral DNA synthesis is required for the efficient expression of specific herpes simplex virus type 1 mRNA species.

Inhibition of HSV-1 DNA synthesis with either ~abinosyladenine plus the adenosine deaminase inhibitor pentostatin, or with arabinosylthymine, showed a viral mRNA population identical to that seen prior to viral DNA replication (early) by the criteria of quantitative hybridization, specific mRNA species identifiable by Southern blot hybridization of size~aetionated RNA, and migration of polypeptides resolved by in vitro translation of purified viral mRNA. The amount of viral mRNA associated with infected cell polyribosomes was determined by quantitative DNA excess solution hybridization. At 2 hr postinfection (p.i.) (before viral DNA synthesis) and in drug-treated cells at 6 hr p.i., the majority of the polyadenylated RNA was cell specific with some virus-specific RNA detectable. In contrast, at 6 hr p.i., in the absence of drugs (during m~imum viral DNA synthesis), nearly all the polyadenylated polyribosomal RNA was viral. Blot hybridization of size-fractionated viral RNA confirmed several specific differences between the viral mRNA species occurring before and after HSV-1 DNA synthesis, which have been reported previously from this laboratory. These differences also were reflected in the in &ro translation products encoded by the viral mRNAs. The mRNA species and the eneoded polypeptides that were present in the absence of viral DNA synthesis are a subset of those viral mRNA species and polypeptides expressed in the presence of viral DNA synthesis. The viral mRNA species fall into several groups based on their relative abundance at various times of infection. These data suggest that, in the normal virus infection cycle, the onset of viral DNA synthesis is necessary for normal expression of later viral genes.
The Chemistry of Lissoclinum Patella

Lissoclinum patella is the source of a family of cyclic peptides characterized by the presence of thiazole amino acids. Detailed analysis of 2D COSY 45 NMR data for the Lissoclinum peptides revealed homoallylic coupling between the α-amino protons both through the peptide bonds and the oxazoline rings. This data was used to reassign the structures of the patellamides A-C, and to assign structures to three new metabolites prelissoclinamide-2, prepatellamide-B-formate and preulicyclamide.
Intramolecular energy transfer in the isomerization of cyclobutanone

Abstract We report the use of the results of calculations of the rate constant for the unimolecular isomerization of cyclobutanone to test a modified version of the Zhao–Rice classical MRRKM theory. The modification consists of using, in place of the Zhao–Rice approximation for the rate of intramolecular energy transfer, the local Lyapunov function which describes the divergence of initially nearby trajectories started in the region of the cantorus. The rate of isomerization of cyclobutanone obtained from trajectory calculations is used as the standard for comparison of the two calculations of the rate of intramolecular energy transfer which are shown to yield very similar, although not identical, rate constants.
The effect of alkanols on Ca2+ transport in brain mitochondria.

Ethanol stimulates the Na(+)-dependent Ca2+ efflux in brain mitochondria and inhibits the Na(+)-independent Ca(2+)-efflux. Here, we studied the effects of n-alkanols on the various Ca2+ transport processes in brain mitochondria. Only short-chain alcohols (i.e. methanol, ethanol and propanol) stimulated Na+/Ca2+ exchange. The inhibition of H+/Ca2+ exchange was significant only with ethanol. Short-chain alcohols inhibit while long-chain alcohols activate the cyclosporin-sensitive Ca(2+)-efflux. These data suggest that the mechanism of the alkanols' effects on Na+/Ca2+ exchange, H+/Ca2+ exchange and the cyclosporin sensitive pore are entirely different. Alkanols have no effect on the electrogenic Ca2+ uniporter. Ethanol did not affect the apparent K0.5 for Na+ (7.5 mM) of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Similarly, the magnitude of the effect of ethanol did not depend on matrix Ca2+ concentration, suggesting that short-chain alkanols do not stimulate the rate of Na+/Ca2+ exchange by increasing the affinity of the carrier to Ca2+in or Na+out. High concentrations of K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ enhanced the ethanol effect. It is possible that high surface potential attenuates the effect of ethanol. It is suggested that ethanol stimulation of Na+/Ca2+ exchange depends on the modulation of the surface dielectric constant.
In situ ATR-SEIRAS study of electrooxidation of dimethyl ether on a Pt electrode in acid solutions

Abstract The electrooxidation of dimethyl ether (DME) was studied on a Pt film electrode in HClO 4 solution using surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and cyclic voltammetry. (CH 2 OCH 3 ) ad and η 2 (O, C)-H 2 CO are inferred as the adsorbed intermediates resulting from the dissociative adsorption of DME in the hydrogen adsorption region. Adsorbed CO was also found, with coverages increasing rapidly upon DME adsorption, probably due to the further dissociation of (CH 2 OCH 3 ) ad and η 2 (O, C)-H 2 CO. In the main oxidation region no adsorbed species, excluding CO, were found. However, for low DME concentration (0.025 M), vibration bands associated with adsorbed CH 3 COO or CH 3 OCOO were observed between 0.3 and 0.95 V. These results lead to the conclusion that the reaction products could depend on the concentration of the fuel. Additional discussion of the reaction mechanism is also presented.
Approach to Single Molecule Detection Using Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS): A Study Using Rhodamine 6G on Colloidal Silver

We have measured surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectra of rhodamine 6G (R6G) at concentrations as low as 8 × 10-16 M in colloidal silver solution activated by NaCl ions. The spectra were measured with a fiber-optic probe using the 514.5-nm argon-ion laser line as excitation source and a charge-coupled-device (CCD) detection system. The correlation of SERRS photo counts and R6G concentration was found to be linear between 8 × 10-11 and 8 × 10-14 M concentrations within our experimental accuracy. Experiments conducted with small scattering volumes show that fewer than 100 R6G molecules are sufficient to give rise to a SERRS spectrum with reasonable signal-to-noise ratio. These results demonstrate that in certain cases SERRS can achieve detection limits comparable to those for fluorescence spectroscopy, and at the same time provides higher structural specificity than fluorescence. The possibilities of using SERRS for single molecule detection are discussed.
THE UNIFICATION OF MILK CONTROL IN THE UNITED STATES.

portunity, the response has already been sufficient to be decidedly encouraging. Summarizing, we believe that: 1. Annual complete medical examinations by private physicians is the goal towards which school health examinations should strive. 2. There is no single type of examination that is equally suitable for all communities. 3. In choosing a type of examination we must evaluate the various possible methods in terms of results which may be accomplished under local conditions. 4. Each type of examination may prove suitable under certain conditions. 5. The use of the teacher as an aid in school health work, including the health examination, should be actively encouraged.
Geometric Refinement of the Crystal Structure of β-Mg 2 SiO 4

THE prediction of the details of a complicated inorganic crystal structure by calculation from first principles is not yet possible. Various attempts have been made to use electrostatic energy calculations of the Born-type for the prediction of the crystal structure of simple compounds, but these have met with limited success1,2. One aspect which has not been explored systematically is the influence of purely geometrical factors on interatomic distances and bond angles. When we consider the case of a crystal structure based on anion closest-packing and composed of octahedral and tetrahedral coordinations it is obvious that it could be undistorted only if, first, the tetrahedral cation–anion distances are 0.612 and the octahedral cation–anion distances are 0.707 (both relative to an anion–anion distance of 1.00), and, second, the individual cation–anion distances within each coordination polyhedron all have the same values. Usually, neither of these conditions is satisfied in actual crystal structures; therefore the coordination polyhedra are deformed in such a way as is geometrically necessary to make them fit each other within the structure.
Risky business: Partisan volatility and electoral choice in Canada, 1988

Abstract This paper investigates the effects of partisanship, issue concerns and party leader images on voting behaviour in the November 1988 Canadian federal election. The 1988 campaign, characterized by a heated debate between the governing Progressive Conservatives and the opposition Liberals concerning the (de)merits of free trade with the United States, produced a second consecutive Conservative parliamentary majority for only the first time since the end of World War I. This result, coming in the wake of the 1984 ‘Tory tide’ that dealt the then governing Liberals their worst defeat in Canadian history raises the possibility that the 1980s was a period of partisan realignment. Such a realignment, if it occurred, would mark a major change in an electorate that long has been distinguished by partisan weakness and instability (Meisel, 1975; LeDuc et al. , 1984). However, analyses of national cross-sectional and panel survey data gathered throughout the 1980s 1 demonstrate conclusively that there has been no realignment and that, similar to earlier elections, voting in 1988 was strongly affected by highly volatile short-term forces. Post-1988 surveys show that partisanship remains weak and unstable, and it is very likely that such forces will remain ascendant in the foreseeable future.
Betsey Holsbery's school: place, gender, and memory

Historical memory is constantly being reframed though images and objects presented as capturing the past. In the USA, the nineteenth-century country or one-room school has come to symbolize an authentic American experience and seen as evidence of the lost pure and simpler time. Central to the work of the rural school was the teacher, and in the nineteenth century, this was almost always the woman teacher. This article explores the work of one woman teacher, Betsey Holsbery, and the ways in which memorials to her help construct a picture of an idyllic and unchanging past in one rural town while ignoring the profound cultural and demographic changes the town underwent.
Osteoporosis and Somatization of Anxiety

Chronic stress can now be physiologically traced as a significant player in the creation of osteoporotic bones. The present pilot study involved 100 women ( N = 42 have been diagnosed with osteopenia, N = 21 have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, N = 37 had a non-osteoporotic condition) who participated in the Hellenic Society of Osteoporosis Association Support. Correlations between somatic symptoms of anxiety and osteoporosis, and among medications and somatization in women were explored. Assessments were based on a self-report demographic questionnaire and on the Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST) administered for detection of anxiety disorder and somatization. Statistical analysis detected non-significant differences regarding the correlation between anxiety symptomatology or somatization due to osteoporosis and osteopenia diagnosis. The same pattern is observed among women’s age group, the occupational and marital status. Hypothesis that the osteoporosis and osteopenia group would manifest significant relationships with the age group and medicines was confirmed, as well as between somatization and medicines that women with osteoporosis and osteopenia undertake. The results suggest that women are not prone to manifest anxiety or somatization in relation to the osteoporosis condition. However, the majority of women with osteoporosis and osteopenia consume more than two medicines other than those for osteoporosis. This quantity and combination they undertake appear to contribute and deteriorate their anxiety/somatization symptomatology. Further research based on a larger sample would give more definite results.
Hubble Space Telescope Observations of the Shocks in Supernova Remnant SN 1987A

We present observations of supernova remnant SN 1987A made with the Hubble Space Telescope. The bright spot previously observed on the inner circumstellar ring by the Wide Field/Planetary Camera at a position angle ? 31? has brightened by nearly a factor of 2 in seven months. Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) spectra confirm that this spot is the result of a ~ 300 km s-1 shock entering the inner circumstellar ring at the first point of contact by the supernova blast wave. High-velocity (? 15,000 km s-1) Ly? and H? emission are apparent in the STIS spectra as well. This emission comes in part from neutral hydrogen in the debris crossing a reverse shock located at ? 75% of the radius of the inner boundary of the inner circumsteller ring and confined within ?30? of the equatorial plane.
Female Human iPSCs Retain an Inactive X Chromosome

Generating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) requires massive epigenome reorganization. It is unclear whether reprogramming of female human cells reactivates the inactive X chromosome (Xi), as in mouse. Here we establish that human (h)iPSCs derived from several female fibroblasts under standard culture conditions carry an Xi. Despite the lack of reactivation, the Xi undergoes defined chromatin changes, and expansion of hiPSCs can lead to partial loss of XIST RNA. These results indicate that hiPSCs are epigenetically dynamic and do not display a pristine state of X inactivation with two active Xs as found in some female human embryonic stem cell lines. Furthermore, whereas fibroblasts are mosaic for the Xi, hiPSCs are clonal. This nonrandom pattern of X chromosome inactivation in female hiPSCs, which is maintained upon differentiation, has critical implications for clinical applications and disease modeling, and could be exploited for a unique form of gene therapy for X-linked diseases.
Synthesis and transacylating reactivity of β-cyclodextrin ethylenediamines

The synthesis of the ethylenediamine-connected cyclodextrin dimer is reported, together with the syntheses of several reference cyclodextrinylamines. Each compound displayed enhanced transacylation or transphosphorylation of activated substrates, with the primary amine-bearing monocyclodextrin compound showing the greatest activity. No special rate advantage was observed for this cyclodextrin dimer, although such effects do exist in other cycloextrin dimers reported previously.
Catalytic role of a conserved cysteine residue in the desulfonation reaction by the alkanesulfonate monooxygenase enzyme.

Abstract Detailed kinetic studies were performed in order to determine the role of the single cysteine residue in the desulfonation reaction catalyzed by SsuD. Mutation of the conserved cysteine at position 54 in SsuD to either serine or alanine had little effect on FMNH2 binding. The kcat/Km value for the C54S SsuD variant increased 3-fold, whereas the kcat/Km value for C54A SsuD decreased 6-fold relative to wild-type SsuD. An initial fast phase was observed in kinetic traces obtained for the oxidation of flavin at 370 nm when FMNH2 was mixed against C54S SsuD (kobs, 111 s− 1) in oxygenated buffer that was 10-fold faster than wild-type SsuD (kobs, 12.9 s− 1). However, there was no initial fast phase observed in similar kinetic traces obtained for C54A SsuD. This initial fast phase was previously assigned to the formation of the C4a-(hydro)peroxyflavin in studies with wild-type SsuD. There was no evidence for the formation of the C4a-(hydro)peroxyflavin with either SsuD variant when octanesulfonate was included in rapid reaction kinetic studies, even at low octanesulfonate concentrations. The absence of any C4a-(hydro)peroxyflavin accumulation correlates with the increased catalytic activity of C54S SsuD. These results suggest that the conservative serine substitution is able to effectively take the place of cysteine in catalysis. Conversely, decreased accumulation of the C4a-(hydro)peroxyflavin intermediate with the C54A SsuD variant may be due to decreased activity. The data described suggest that Cys54 in SsuD may be either directly or indirectly involved in stabilizing the C4a-(hydro)peroxyflavin intermediate formed during catalysis through hydrogen bonding interactions.
Self-consistent electronic structure of the (001) surface of lithium and the initial forces of ionic relaxation☆

Abstract We present calculations of the initial relaxing forces on the ionic planes of the (001) surface of lithium. The calculation makes use of our self-consistent conduction electron charge density for a 13-layer film, and yields a significant inward relaxing force on the outermost plane. A comparison calculation with a Morse potential shows that the Morse potential is completely inadequate in this system.
Network modeling identifies molecular functions targeted by miR-204 to suppress head and neck tumor metastasis.

Due to the large number of putative microRNA gene targets predicted by sequence-alignment databases and the relative low accuracy of such predictions which are conducted independently of biological context by design, systematic experimental identification and validation of every functional microRNA target is currently challenging. Consequently, biological studies have yet to identify, on a genome scale, key regulatory networks perturbed by altered microRNA functions in the context of cancer. In this report, we demonstrate for the first time how phenotypic knowledge of inheritable cancer traits and of risk factor loci can be utilized jointly with gene expression analysis to efficiently prioritize deregulated microRNAs for biological characterization. Using this approach we characterize miR-204 as a tumor suppressor microRNA and uncover previously unknown connections between microRNA regulation, network topology, and expression dynamics. Specifically, we validate 18 gene targets of miR-204 that show elevated mRNA expression and are enriched in biological processes associated with tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). We further demonstrate the enrichment of bottleneckness, a key molecular network topology, among miR-204 gene targets. Restoration of miR-204 function in HNSCC cell lines inhibits the expression of its functionally related gene targets, leads to the reduced adhesion, migration and invasion in vitro and attenuates experimental lung metastasis in vivo. As importantly, our investigation also provides experimental evidence linking the function of microRNAs that are located in the cancer-associated genomic regions (CAGRs) to the observed predisposition to human cancers. Specifically, we show miR-204 may serve as a tumor suppressor gene at the 9q21.1–22.3 CAGR locus, a well established risk factor locus in head and neck cancers for which tumor suppressor genes have not been identified. This new strategy that integrates expression profiling, genetics and novel computational biology approaches provides for improved efficiency in characterization and modeling of microRNA functions in cancer as compared to the state of art and is applicable to the investigation of microRNA functions in other biological processes and diseases.
One core positive prostate biopsy is a poor predictor of cancer volume in the radical prostatectomy specimen

ABSTRACTPurpose: In view of the recent increase in patients presenting with only 1 core positive for prostate carcinoma, we examined the correlation in tumor volume between the biopsy and the subsequent radical prostatectomy specimen.Materials and Methods: We studied a total of 169 consecutive prostate biopsies with matched radical prostatectomy specimens and selected 48 patients with only 1 positive core.Results: Cancers found in the biopsy regardless of their size were associated with a wide range of cancer volume in the radical prostatectomy specimens, and the amount of cancer in the biopsy was a poor predictor of the volume of cancer in the prostatectomy specimen. Even with a cancer of 3 mm. or less in the biopsy, 57% of patients had cancer of clinically significant volume (greater than 0.5 ml.). Other modalities for the evaluation of prostate cancer such as Gleason score and clinical stage were not helpful in segregating patients with clinically significant from those with insignificant volume of can...
Synthesis of N-trifluoroacetyl-l-acosamine, N-trifluoroacetyl-l-daunosamine, and their 1-thio analogs

Abstract A simple and efficient route to N -trifluoroacetyl- l -acosamine ( 13 ), N -trifluoroacetyl- l -daunosamine ( 12 ), and their 1-thio analogues ( 18 and 20 ) is described. Stereoselective reduction of oxime 5 with borane, followed by trifluoroacetylation resulted in the arabino methyl glycoside ( 8 ), which, on mild acid hydrolysis gave N -trifluoroacetyl- l -acosamine ( 13 ) in an overall yield of 33%, based on l -rhamnal ( 1 ). Upon oxidation of the C-4 hydroxyl group and stereoselective reduction of the resulting ketone 11 , compound 8 of l - arabino configuration was converted into N -trifluoroacetyl- l -daunosamine ( 12 ) in a one-flask sequence with an overall yield of 28% calculated for 1 . Benzyl 1-thio- N -trifluoroacetyl-α- l -acosaminide ( 18 ) was synthesized from enone 2 on Michael-type addition of phenylmethanethiol, followed by oximation, stereoselective reduction with borane and subsequent trifluoroacetylation. 4- O -Acetyl-1- S -acetyl- N -trifluoroacetyl-1-thio-β- l -daunosamine 20 was prepared from 12 via the corresponding glycosyl chloride derivative.
Tile-based parallel coordinates and its application in financial visualization

Parallel coordinates technique has been widely used in information visualization applications and it has achieved great success in visualizing multivariate data and perceiving their trends. Nevertheless, visual clutter usually weakens or even diminishes its ability when the data size increases. In this paper, we first propose a tile-based parallel coordinates, where the plotting area is divided into rectangular tiles. Each tile stores an intersection density that counts the total number of polylines intersecting with that tile. Consequently, the intersection density is mapped to optical attributes, such as color and opacity, by interactive transfer functions. The method visualizes the polylines efficiently and informatively in accordance with the density distribution, and thus, reduces visual cluttering and promotes knowledge discovery. The interactivity of our method allows the user to instantaneously manipulate the tiles distribution and the transfer functions. Specifically, the classic parallel coordinates rendering is a special case of our method when each tile represents only one pixel. A case study on a real world data set, U.S. stock mutual fund data of year 2006, is presented to show the capability of our method in visually analyzing financial data. The presented visual analysis is conducted by an expert in the domain of finance. Our method gains the support from professionals in the finance field, they embrace it as a potential investment analysis tool for mutual fund managers, financial planners, and investors.
Coatings and surface modification by methane plasma polymerization

Polymers formed from plasma-polymerized methane were employed to modify the surface properties of silicone rubber membrane. Polymers were evaluated based on the energy input parameter W/FM, where W is the discharge power, F is the monomer flow rate, and M is the molecular weight of the monomer. Dealing with the characteristics of plasma polymerization and the deposited polymer film, the effect of pumping rate on deposition rate and the coating thickness, surface energy, and gas permeabilities of methane-plasma-polymer-coated silicone rubber membrane were investigated in three plasma regions. Because more reactive species are expelled at high pumping rates, the monomer-deficient region is reached at lower W/FM in the high pumping rate system than that in the low pumping rate system. The composite parameter W/FM had a strong influence on coating thickness, gas permeability, surface energy, and the polar component of the surface energy but little effect on its dispersion component. Examination of gas permeabilities indicated that coating thickness was another important controlling factor on the properties of plasma polymer.
Measurement-based techniques for evaluation of human interfaces

Summary form only given. In order to enhance objectivity and realism of human reliability assessment (HRA) methods, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) initiated a program to systematically collect data on reliability of control room crew actions during simulator training exercises. The operator reliability data have been used to modify the original human cognitive reliability model (HCR), which feature a skill-, rule-, and knowledge-based classification of human actions to a procedure-based cue-response classification. This improved approach allows for the explicit integration of the impact of operating procedures into probabilistic risk analyses (PRAs). Insights gained from the data are being used by EPRI to provide additional guidance to utility analysts on the detailed logic modeling of human actions and its integration with system logic models in the SHARP1 (systematic human action reliability procedure) framework. >
MECHANISM FOR NICOTINE-INDUCED UP-REGULATION OF WNT SIGNALING IN HUMAN ALVEOLAR INTERSTITIAL FIBROBLASTS

ABSTRACTNicotine exposure alters normal homeostatic pulmonary epithelial-mesenchymal paracrine signaling pathways, resulting in alveolar interstitial fibroblast (AIF)-to-myofibroblast (MYF) transdifferentiation. Since the AIF versus MYF phenotype is determined by the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and Wingless/Int (Wnt) signaling, respectively, the authors hypothesized that nicotine-induced AIF-to-MYF transdifferentiation is characterized by the down-regulation of PPARγ, and the up-regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. As nicotine is known to activate protein kinase C (PKC) signaling, the authors also hypothesized that in AIFs, nicotine-induced up-regulation of Wnt signaling might be due to PKC activation. Embryonic human lung fibroblasts (WI38 cells) were treated with nicotine (1 × 10−6 M) for either 30 minutes or 24 hours, with or without 30-minute pretreatment with calphostin C (1 × 10−7 M), a pan-PKC inhibitor. Then the authors examined the activation of PKC (p-P...
Does Calorie Information Promote Lower Calorie Fast Food Choices Among College Students

This experiment evaluated effects of calorie information on college students' fast food choices. Women chose lower calorie meals, lower calorie items, and lower priced meals when calorie information was provided than when it was not. Men's selections were unaffected. Providing calorie information at point of purchase could have positive implications for public health.
Laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia facilitated by robotic assistance

Background Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is the standard operation for achalasia. The incidence of esophageal perforation is approximately 5% to 10%. Data about the safety and utility of robotically assisted Heller myotomy (RAHM) are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of RAHM for the treatment of esophageal achalasia.
Suppression of phytohemagglutinin induced splenocyte proliferation during concurrent infection with Eimeria nieschulzi and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.

Results suggest that infection withEimeria nieschulzi (Protozoa) interferes with splenocyte proliferation induced by infection withNippostrongylus brasiliensis (Nematoda).
The interpretation and application of belief functions

Abstract As is well known, the Dempster-Shafer mathematical theory of evidence, which employs the use of belief functions, has been used to perform uncertain inference in expert systems and artificial intelligence. As is also well known, many fault this discipline for two reasons: (1) Dempster-Shafer theory is not probability theory, and there exist cogent arguments for using only probability theory to perform uncertain inference; (2) As shown by a number of authors, mechanical applications of belief functions can lead to quite unacceptable results. In a 1990 special issue of the International Journal of Approximate Reasoning, which was devoted to a discussion of belief functions, these criticisms were forwarded and various interpretations of belief functions were offered. In his response to the discussion in the special issue, Shafer showed the problems with these criticisms and interpretations, and he once again explained how he meant for belief functions to be interpreted. In this article, this defense...
Decreased nerve sensitivity and decreased cuticular penetration as mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids in a (1R)-trans-permethrin-selected strain of the house fly

Abstract A fenthion-resistant strain of the house fly ( Musca domestica L.) was selected with bioresmethrin resulting in ca. 90-fold resistance to the selecting agent. This strain was subsequently selected with (1 R )- trans -permethrin producing ca. 140-fold resistance to this latter insecticide. The permethrin-resistant (147-R) strain was highly cross-resistant to several other pyrethroids and demonstrated resistance to knockdown by these insecticides as well as by DDT. The sensitivity of the central nervous system to four pyrethroids was investigated. The 147-R strain was 2.6-fold less sensitive to (1 R )- trans -ethanoresmethrin than the susceptible (NAIDM-S) strain, and >43-fold and >67-fold less sensitive to (1 R,S )- cis, trans -tetramethrin and (1 R )- trans -permethrin, respectively. It also displayed decreased penetration of (1 R,S )- trans -[ 14 C]permethrin when compared to the NAIDM-S strain. Lower nerve sensitivity and decreased cuticular penetration are potential mechanisms of resistance to pyrethroids in house flies in the United States.
Supernormal phase of atrioventricular (A-V) conduction due to potassium A-V alternans with first-degree A-V block

Abstract 1. 1. Supernormal phase of A-V conduction was recorded for the first time under experimental conditions in an intact mammal (dog). Potassium was the agent responsible for depression of A-V conduction and appearance of supernormal conduction. 2. 2. This observation bridges the gap between the previously described supernormal phase in compressed and fatigued heart muscle preparation, on one hand, and in the human heart, on the other hand, and supports strongly the existence of supernormal phase of A-V conduction in the clinically reported cases.
Schizophrenia classification using functional network features

This paper focuses on discovering statistical biomarkers (features) that are predictive of schizophrenia, with a particular focus on topological properties of fMRI functional networks. We consider several network properties, such as node (voxel) strength, clustering coefficients, local efficiency, as well as just a subset of pairwise correlations. While all types of features demonstrate highly significant statistical differences in several brain areas, and close to 80% classification accuracy, the most remarkable results of 93% accuracy are achieved by using a small subset of only a dozen of most-informative (lowest p-value) correlation features. Our results suggest that voxel-level correlations and functional network features derived from them are highly informative about schizophrenia and can be used as statistical biomarkers for the disease.