cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RePAIR: Recommend political actors in real-time from news websites

Extracting a structured representation of political events from news reports is at the intersection of the computational and social sciences. A traditional approach is to use dictionary-based pattern lookups to identify actors and actions involved in potential events. A key complication of this approach is updating the dictionaries with new actors (e.g., when a new president takes office). Currently, the dictionaries are curated by humans, updated infrequently, and at a high cost. This means that tools dependent on the actor dictionaries (e.g., PETRARCH) overlook events when actors are missing in the dictionary. Since these tools use only the syntactic structure of the sentence (e.g., parse tree, etc.) for their event coding, missing actors will generate events which fail to capture actual political interaction. To overcome these issues, we propose a framework RePAIR to recommend new political actors in real-time from the political news articles with RSS feeds related to national/international politics across the globe. The framework identifies semantic structure of a sentence using an Automatic Content Extraction (ACE) method and uses a frequency based actor ranking algorithm to recommend the most frequent new political actors over multiple time windows. We also suggest the associated role of recommended new actors from the role of co-occurred political actors in the existing CAMEO actor dictionary. Further we integrate an external knowledge base (e.g., Wikipedia) into our framework to capture the evolving roles of existing actors over time and recommend new roles for them. Furthermore, we consider PETRARCH and BBN ACCENT event coders for actor recommendation, and a graph-based actor role recommendation using weighted label propagation as baselines and compare them with our framework. Experimental results show our approaches outperform them significantly.
Dual Pathways from Reactive Aggression to Depressive Symptoms in Children: Further Examination of the Failure Model.

The failure model posits that peer rejection and poor academic performance are dual pathways in the association between early aggressive behavior and subsequent depressive symptoms. We examined this model using an accelerated longitudinal design while also incorporating proactive and reactive aggression and gender moderation. Children in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades (n = 912; ages 6–12; 48% female) were rated three times annually by their primary teachers on measures of proactive and reactive aggression, peer rejection, academic performance, and depressive symptoms. Using Bayesian cross-classified estimation to account for nested and planned-missing data, path models were estimated to examine whether early reactive aggression predicted subsequent peer rejection and academic performance, and whether these, in turn, predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. From 1st to 3rd grade, reactive aggression predicted peer rejection (not academic performance), proactive aggression predicted academic performance (not peer rejection), and academic performance and peer rejection both predicted depressive symptoms. From 3rd to 5th grade, however, neither peer rejection nor academic performance predicted subsequent depressive symptoms. Results were not moderated by gender. Overall, these findings provide mixed and limited support for the failure model among school-age children. Early reactive aggression may be a key risk factor for social problems, whereas proactive aggression may be linked to improved academic functioning. The “dual pathways” of peer rejection and academic performance may operate during early but not later elementary school. Limitations and implications are discussed.
Disruptive Behavior Disorders: Assessment and Differential Diagnosis

The disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) of childhood are composed of a heterogenous collection of symptoms that vary for individual children and their settings. As a result, no single approach can be used in isolation to evaluate a child. This article reviews assessment measures helpful in diagnosing a DBD and discusses the distinguishing characteristics of the various DBDs.
Non-Nicotine Pharmacotherapy for Smoking Cessation

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) has been the mainstay of smoking cessation therapy for >15 years. However, 70 to 90% of smokers fail to quit despite NRT. Non-nicotine medications have been investigated as alternative therapies to achieve smoking cessation. NRT is believed to work by relieving withdrawal symptoms, and perhaps by desensitising nicotinic cholinergic receptors. Non-nicotine medications may work in a variety of ways, including nicotinic cholinergic receptor agonism (lobeline), nicotine-like effects on neurotransmitter systems (antidepressants, clonidine), nicotinic cholinergic receptor antagonism (mecamylamine) and sensory stimulation/aversion (citric or ascorbic acid inhalants or spray, silver acetate). The only non-nicotine drug approved for smoking cessation in the US is the antidepressant amfebutamone (bupropion). Two large clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of the drug, with cessation ratios more than twice that of placebo. Amfebutamone is effective in increasing smoking cessation regardless of a history of or current depression, and is generally well tolerated, although it occasionally produces agitation and in excessive doses can cause seizures. Clinical trials suggest the benefit of a number of other non-nicotine medications: the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline, the antihypertensive clonidine, and silver acetate. A mecamylamine-nicotine combination may be effective, and sensory stimulants, such as citric or ascorbic acid inhalers or sprays, might enhance the effects of nicotine or other pharmacotherapies. The availability of non-nicotine medications expands the options for smoking cessation therapy. A stepped care approach for the selection of pharmacotherapies is presented in this review. With this approach, initial therapy would involve an attempt to quit using over-the-counter nicotine products. If this fails, therapy with other forms of NRT, such as nicotine nasal spray, or non-nicotine medication such as amfebutamone or other antidepressants, and/or intensive behavioural therapy, should be tried. Failure to quit at the second step should lead to combinations of nicotine and non-nicotine therapies, as well as clonidine and other newer treatments. Future prospects for the pharmacotherapy of smoking cessation include the use of nicotine receptor subtype-specific agonists and antagonists, targeted to deal with specific reinforcement and/or specific withdrawal symptoms. Also of future interest is the development of nicotine antibodies that might neutralise the effects of nicotine. It is hoped that ultimately medications can be matched with the individual characteristics of a smoker, and that smoking cessation could be facilitated in most smokers.
Seasonal changes in critical enzymes of lipogenesis and triacylglycerol synthesis in the marmot (Marmota flaviventris)

Fatty acid metabolism and triacylglycerol synthesis are critical processes for the survival of hibernating mammals that undergo a prolonged fasting period. Fatty acid synthase, fatty-acid-CoA ligase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase, and monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activities were measured in liver and in white and brown adipose tissue, in order to determine whether enzymes of lipogenesis and triacylglycerol synthesis vary seasonally during hibernation in the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris). Compared with mid-winter hibernation, fatty acid synthase activity was higher in all three tissues during early spring when marmots emerged from hibernation and in mid-summer when they were feeding, consistent with the synthesis of fatty acids from the carbohydrate-rich summer diet. Fatty-acid-CoA ligase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activities were highest in summer in white adipose tissue when triacylglycerol synthesis would be expected to be high; diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity was also high in brown adipose tissue during spring and summer. In liver, however, diacylglycerol acyltransferase specific activity was highest during hibernation, suggesting that triacylglycerol synthesis may be prominent in liver in winter. Monoacylglycerol acyltransferase activity, which may aid in the retention of essential fatty-acids, was 80-fold higher in liver than in white or brown adipose tissue, but did not vary seasonally. Its dependence on palmitoyl-CoA suggests that a divalent cation might play a role in enzyme activation. The high hepatic diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity during hibernation suggests that the metabolism of very low density lipoprotein may be important in the movement of adipose fatty acids to brown adipose tissue and muscle during the rewarming that occurs periodically during hibernation. These studies suggest that enzymes of lipid metabolism vary seasonally in the marmot, consistent with requirements of this hibernator for triacylglycerol synthesis and metabolism.
Anatomical connectivity in the central nervous system revealed by diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI)

This work explains the basic principles of diffusion weighted and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods. Both theoretical and experimental aspects are included. Scalar measures derived from diffusion tensors including new anisotropy measures in terms of entropy are presented. Fiber-tract mapping problem is discussed. Limitations of diffusion tensor MRI are included. Directional coherence tensor formalism to smooth the diffusion tensor data is presented. A brief discussion of new approaches to diffusion imaging, such as diffusion spectrum imaging and high angular resolution diffusion imaging, are also discussed. Results from diffusion weighted and diffusion tensor imaging are presented from excised rat spinal cord and brain images acquired at 17.6T.
Endoscopic Training, Present and Future: The Impact of Electronic (Video) Endoscopy and Computer Simulation on the Teaching Process

Endoscopy continues its turbulent evolution from being largely unregulated and self-taught toward a carefully monitored and regulated subspecialty of gastroenterology. The introduction and widespread acceptance of video endoscopy has had a major impact on endoscopic training and practice. Despite 30 years’ experience of flexible endoscopy, however, the training process remains poorly understood. Currently we have no way to predict an individual‘s aptitude for endoscopy. Computerized simulation of endoscopic procedures may address this problem, with wide- reaching implications for would-be endoscopists, trainees seeking advanced training, and established endoscopists wishing to learn new techniques.
Age, Cohort, and Social Change: Parental and Spousal Education and White Women’s Health Limitations From 1967 to 2012:

A large body of research finds that the association between educational attainment and health is at historic highs for White women. Rapid changes in labor force participation, access to high-paying jobs, and gender attitudes have radically altered the meaning of education for women's lives and their dependence on the socioeconomic attainments of their families. Drawing on three nationally representative longitudinal surveys conducted from 1967 to 2012, this study examines how personal, parental, and spousal attainments contribute to the widening education gap in health for successive cohorts of White women ( N = 8,405). Overall, the health of women did not change substantially across cohorts, but results did uncover cohort differences among low-educated women that were linked to parental and spousal educational attainments and personal earnings. These findings confirm growing educational inequalities in health and demonstrate the importance of historical context and family attainments when examining cohort variation in the education-health relationship.
Database project as source of reinforcement and discovery

A database project that reinforces course concepts directly can serve as a starting point for students' discovery of syntax variations among dialects of SQL. This paper describes a semester-long project that mirrors course topics as they are covered during the term, and reports student experience with discovering the differences between two open source relational database management systems. The student experience points to the need for future lab assignments that more deliberately expose students to this discovery.
Resilience as a focus of suicide research and prevention.

Suicide is a major medical and social problem. Decades of suicide research have mostly focused on risk factors for suicidal behaviour while overlooking protective factors such as resilience that may help to address this important public health issue. Resilience is the capacity and dynamic process of adaptively overcoming stress and adversity while maintaining normal psychological and physical functioning. Studies conducted over the past 10-15 years suggest that resilience is a protective factor against suicide risk. Resilience is becoming a focus of suicide research and prevention. Building resilience should be a part of universal, selective, and indicated suicide prevention interventions. Promoting resilience may reduce suicide risk in the general population, in groups at elevated suicide risk, and among high-risk individuals. Building resilience in the general population may reduce the incidence of stress-related disorders and, consequently, suicidal behaviour. Improving resilience should be a part of a treatment plan of every psychiatric patient. Mental health professionals will probably have the best success in reducing suicide risk in psychiatric patients if they actively concentrate on increasing stress resilience using both psychosocial and pharmacological interventions. It is critically important to move forward the development of pharmacological and psychological interventions for enhancing resilience.
Differential Effects of Strategic Planning and Task Structure on L2 Writing Outcomes

This study investigated the effects of strategic planning and task structure (personal, narrative, and decision-making tasks) on L2 writing outcomes. One hundred and twenty intermediate English as ...
Frontostriatal Resting State Functional Connectivity in Resilient and Non-Resilient Adolescents with a Family History of Alcohol Use Disorder.

Objectives: Youth with parental substance use disorder (family-history positive [FH+]) are at an elevated risk for substance use problems, but not all FH+ youth experience this outcome. Frontostriatal brain networks involved in inhibitory control and reward responsivity underlie risk-taking behaviors, but the role of these networks in substance use heterogeneity among FH+ youth has not been examined. The present study examined resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) in frontostriatal networks in FH+ youth with and without risky substance use. Methods: Participants were 36 FH+ adolescents (mean age 14.96 years at the scan date; 36% female) from a longitudinal, community-based functional magnetic resonance imaging study enriched for parental alcohol use disorder. Groups were based on the absence (resilient) or presence (high-risk) of at least one occasion of any substance use by age 14 and also use of at least two different types of substances by the most recent substance use assessment (mean age 16.89 years). Bilateral masks of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the nucleus accumbens were used for seed-based RSFC due to the importance of these regions in executive control and salience networks, respectively. Results: Compared with FH+/high-risk youth, FH+/resilient youth displayed greater connectivity between the left DLPFC seed and the left posterior cingulate cortex. No other brain regions showed significantly different RSFC between resilient and high-risk groups. Conclusion: FH+/resilient youth showed stronger synchrony between brain regions associated with cognitive control, particularly those associated with flexible adaptation of thoughts and behaviors. Although preliminary, the results of this study set the stage for a continued focus on risk-group heterogeneity to better identify neural markers of resilience against substance use problems in vulnerable populations.
Where Stool is a Drug: International Approaches to Regulating the use of Fecal Microbiota for Transplantation

Regulatory agencies vary widely in their classification of FMT, with significant impact on patient access. This article conducts a global survey of national regulations and collates existing FMT classification statuses, ultimately suggesting that the human cell and tissue product designation best fits FMT's characteristics and that definitional objectives to that classification may be overcome.
Adopting, Integrating, and Evaluating Computational Creativity Exercises and an Experience Report

In this workshop, participants will learn about how to integrate computational thinking and creative thinking activities that have been shown to significantly improve student learning and performance in their classes via rigorous research investigations. In particular, participants will be familiarized with the suite of Computational Creativity Exercises (CCEs) (which are non-programming-based, group-based, active learning exercises), practice hands-on how to complete such an CCE, learn about how to integrate and adapt them into their courses, and be exposed to the educational research studies behind the development, design, and administration of these CCEs. Participants will also learn how to conduct evidence-based educational research studies. Workshop sessions will include presentations, panel-based Q&A, an experience report, breakout group discussions, and hands-on activities. A suite of resources including the survey instruments, CCEs, implementation strategies, and research findings will be shared post-workshop. More information can be found at cse.unl.edu/agents/ic2think/CCEWorkshop2021.
Influence Propagation with Multiple Stages over Random Multiplex Networks

Complex contagion models have been developed to understand a wide range of social phenomena such as adoption of cultural fads, the diffusion of belief, norms, and innovations in social networks, and the rise of collective action to join a riot. Most existing works focus on contagions where individualsâ€™ states are represented by binary variables, and propagation takes place over a single isolated network. However, characterization of an individualâ€™s standing on a given matter as a binary state might be overly simplistic as most of our opinions, feelings, and perceptions vary over more than two states. Also, most real-world contagions take place over multiple networks (e.g., Twitter and Facebook) or involve multiplex networks where individuals engage in different types of relationships (e.g., co-worker, family, etc.). To this end, this paper studies multi-stage complex contagions that take place over multi-layer or multiplex networks. Under a linear threshold based contagion model, we first give analytic results for the expected size of global cascades, i.e., cases where a randomly chosen node can initiate a propagation that eventually reaches a positive fraction of the whole population. Then, analytic results are confirmed by an extensive numerical study. In addition, we demonstrate how the dynamics of complex contagions is affected by the structural properties of the networks. In particular, we reveal an interesting connection between the assortativity of a network and the impact of hyper-active nodes on the cascade size.
Exploring and Understanding Participants’ Perceptions of Facial Emoji Likert Scales in Online Surveys: A Qualitative Study

The present study aims to explore participants’ experiences in interacting with a facial emoji Likert scale in online surveys to understand their perceptions, interpretations, and opinions of emojis in online surveys. A qualitative research approach has been adopted. This article contributes to the existing body of knowledge on emojis and online survey questionnaires by presenting a detailed exploratory qualitative study of 42 participants’ insights, perceptions, and interpretations of the facial emoji Likert scale in a specific context (i.e., a course evaluation survey). The data analysis reveals seven categories that emerged from the transcribed interviews and the interviewers’ written notes from the cognitive interviews regarding participants’ perceptions of interacting with the facial emoji–based Likert scale.
Real-world evidence highlights sizeable gap in adopting early palliative care referral in patients with advanced cancers.

e24147Background: Early referral to palliative care (PC) for patients w/ adv cancer is supported by compelling evidence from large RCTs demonstrating a lower symptom burden, higher QOL, and increas...
Justice-Involved Girls and Women, Health and Pregnancy, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Concerns

Much of the quality research and information that scholars and professionals have at their fingertips regarding the lived experiences of justice-involved girls and women has only just emerged in recent years. It should not be a surprise, then, to realize that much of the quality information that exists on mental health, substance use, and even pregnancy is only at the precipice of being thoroughly discussed and explored—with any related inherent problems being addressed in a way that is responsive to the needs of this group. This chapter discusses what is known in these areas and details some of the bleeding edge research and progress that has been made in recent times locally and abroad.
Tobacco Taxation and Its Prospective Impact on Disparities in Smoking Initiation and Progression Among Young Adults.

Abstract Purpose Limited research exists on tobacco taxes and cigarette smoking initiation and progression, particularly across different sociodemographic groups in young adulthood. This project examines how cigarette pack price in late adolescence prospectively relates to smoking initiation and progression by 21 years of age, focusing on differences across demographics. Methods Data are from the longitudinal Monitoring the Future project (2001–2017). Monitoring the Future examines drug use behaviors with nationally representative samples of 12th graders annually. Subsamples of 12th graders are followed up longitudinally. We examined past 30-day cigarette smoking among baseline never smokers (N = 9,232) and daily smoking among youths who were not daily cigarette smokers at baseline (N = 15,141). Using logistic regression, we examined state-level cigarette pack price at a modal age of 18 years and smoking at follow-up ages 19–20 years; we used interaction terms to assess differences across sociodemographic groups (by gender, race/ethnicity, and parental education). Results For each dollar increase in price at baseline, the odds of initiation by age 19–20 years were reduced by 12% (adjusted odds ratio = .88; 95% confidence interval = .78, .99) and the odds of progression to daily smoking were reduced by 16% (adjusted odds ratio = .84; 95% confidence interval = .76, .92). After adjusting for multiple testing, for both outcomes there were no statistically significant interactions between price and demographics. Conclusions Cigarette prices in late adolescence were associated with a prospective reduction in cigarette smoking initiation and progression among young adults, with limited differences across sociodemographic characteristics. Higher cigarette prices can prevent smoking initiation and progression; however, complementary interventions are needed to reduce initiation and progression among subgroups disproportionately affected by tobacco.
Quantum circuit designs of carry lookahead adder optimized for T-count T-depth and qubits

Abstract Quantum circuits of arithmetic operations such as addition are needed to implement quantum algorithms in hardware. Quantum circuits based on Clifford+T gates are used as they can be made tolerant to noise. The trade-off of gaining fault tolerance from using Clifford+T gates and error-correcting codes is the high implementation overhead of the T gate. As a result, the T-count and T-depth performance measures have become important in quantum circuit design. Due to noise, the risk for errors in a quantum circuit computation increases as the number of gate layers (or depth) in the circuit increases. As a result, low depth circuits such as quantum carry lookahead adders (QCLA)s have caught the attention of researchers. This work presents two QCLA designs each optimized with emphasis on T-count and T-depth or qubit cost, respectively. In-place and out-of-place versions of each design are shown. The proposed QCLAs are compared against the existing works in terms of T-count and T-depth. The proposed QCLAs for out-of-place addition achieve average T-count savings of 54.34% and 37.21%, respectively. The proposed QCLAs for out-of-place addition achieve up to a 33.33% reduction in T-depth. The proposed QCLAs for in-place addition achieve average T-count savings of 65.31% and 30.63%, respectively. When compared to existing works, the proposed QCLAs for in-place addition achieves T-depth savings ranging from 33.33% to 95.56%.
Unified Mechanics of Thermo-mechanical Analysis

This chapter describes the implementation of unified mechanics theory (UMT) for thermo-mechanical analysis. Implementation will use viscoplasticity, because thermo-viscoplastic model is necessary for metals/alloys operating at 0.3Tm or higher where Tm is the melting temperature in Kelvin. Formulation is provided in great detail for finite element implementation. This chapter included only a small strain formulation. Size effect is introduced using the Cosserat couple stress theory.
Gunshot Fracture of the Femoral Neck: Internal Fixation and Immediate Proximal Femoral Valgus Osteotomy: A Case Report.

CASE We report on a 22-year-old patient with a comminuted femoral neck fracture because of a low-velocity gunshot wound. Treatment consisted of reduction and internal fixation with a fixed angled blade plate and immediate valgus osteotomy. He went on to uneventful healing and an excellent clinical result. CONCLUSIONS A comminuted gunshot femoral neck fracture in a young patient is a rare and potentially devastating injury. If stable, and there are no other associated emergent injuries, reduction, internal fixation, and immediate valgus osteotomy should be considered.
Using Collaborative Work Technology to Support Active Learning

AbstractReconsideration of traditional pedagogical approaches in college teaching has resulted in the employment of various active learning strategies to foster critical thinking and collaborative decision making. One response has been to incorporate technology into teaching, most often computer-assisted instruction. However, this does not address the collaborative aspects of learning. This article describes an alternative instructional model, one that uses a group decision support system (GDSS) to support the development of collaborative skills as well as active learning and critical thinking. Analysis of qualitative student evaluative data across six iterations of the model identified issues related to the benefits and limitations of the use of GDSS for classroom instruction.
Inspecting a user interface

This chapter includes some key elements of a heuristic evaluation. Understanding the client's needs is critical to designing a successful evaluation. They are well suited to formative assessments where a fast turnaround and broad coverage are important. An inspection is performed by a panel of evaluators and is selected for their collective skills and individual professionalism. Each evaluator individually takes on the role of a user attempting to satisfy a goal within a well-defined scenario. Use a checklist to log a set of observations. Observations are mapped to one or more user goals and to a set of implicated views. Good observations are clear, specific, and supported by theory. A professional and balanced writing style is important. Observations are not findings; they are raw data used as input to qualitative analysis that derives a set of findings. It also explains that an effective report is structured around the convenience of the reader rather than the intellectual heritage of the analyst. An inverse pyramid style enables readers to stop when they have sufficient information. Both business impact and actionable recommendations are likely to be of interest to a commercial reader.
Increased body mass index has a deleterious effect on in vitro fertilization outcome.

Purpose: Few studies have addressed the effect of weight on IVF outcome, with some showing a decrease in IVF success and some showing no change in overweight women (BMI > 25 kg/m2) compared to women with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2).
Turbulence model predictions for the inhomogeneous mixing layer

The plane mixing layer between two streams of different densities and velocities is studied using a complete, phenomenological model of turbulence. The model is an extension of that described by Saffman (1974). The properties of similarity solutions are computed, and compared with experimental data. The qualitative dependence on velocity ratio, density ratio, compressibility and adverse pressure gradient is predicted correctly. The quantitative agreement is satisfactory.
The Value of Longitudinal Facial and Dental Casts Records in Clinical Research and Treatment Analysis

Correction of dental crossbites and the maintenance of palatal form will be discussed in detail using both removable and fixed palatal appliances.
Hybrid model studies of magnetic field diffusion in high-$beta$ pinches

A hybrid model was derived which includes all nontrivial field components and an anisotropic anomalous resistivity. It was applied to the ZT-1 reverse field diffuse pinch. For a proper choice of anomalous resistivity, the calculated and observed fields are in good agreement. Impurities are found to cause the plasma to implode to a smaller radius and to result in lower electron temperatures and higher ion temperatures. (auth)
Holocene atmospheric CO2 increase as viewed from the seafloor

[1] Three scenarios have been proposed to explain the 20-ppm post-8000 BP rise in atmospheric CO2 content. Indermuhle et al. [1999] call on a climate-induced decrease in terrestrial biomass. W. F. Ruddiman (personal communication, 2002) calls on an anthropogenically induced decrease in terrestrial biomass. Broecker et al. [2001] suggest instead that this rise in CO2 was a response to a CaCO3 preservation event induced by an early Holocene increase in terrestrial biomass. The biomass decline hypothesis not only rests on shaky 13C data, but also requires an unreasonably large decrease in biomass (195 ± 40 GtC). While evidence for a decrease in deep sea carbonate ion concentration over the last 8000 years reconstructed from CaCO3 size index and foraminifera shell weight measurements appears to support the idea that the CO2 rise was caused by a change in the inventory of terrestrial biomass, the decrease appears to be too large to be explained solely in this way. Regardless, the CO3= decline cannot be used to distinguish between the late Holocene biomass decrease and early Holocene biomass increase scenarios. Only when a convincing 13C record for atmospheric CO2 has been generated will it be possible to make this distinction.
L'Archéologie en Tunisie (XIXe-XXe siècles): Jeux généalogiques sur l'Antiquité

Clementine Gutron begins her book with a quote by Paul-Albert Fevrier (d. 1991), paying homage to the archaeologist and historian of late antiquity who played a central role in the development of t...
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase as a novel regulator of 17β-estradiol-induced cell growth through a control of the estrogen receptor/IGF-1 receptor/PDZK1 axis

We and others have extensively investigated the role of PARP-1 in cell growth and demise in response to pathophysiological cues. Most of the clinical trials on PARP inhibitors are targeting primarily estrogen receptor (ER) negative cancers with BRCA-deficiency. It is surprising that the role of the enzyme has yet to be investigated in ER-mediated cell growth. It is noteworthy that ER is expressed in the majority of breast cancers. We recently showed that the scaffolding protein PDZK1 is critical for 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced growth of breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that E2-induced PDZK1 expression is indirectly regulated by ER and requires IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R). The breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and BT474 were used as ER(+) cell culture models. Thieno[2,3-c]isoquinolin-5-one (TIQ-A) and olaparib (AZD2281) were used as potent inhibitors of PARP. PARP-1 knockdown by shRNA was used to show specificity of the effects to PARP-1. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of PARP inhibition on estrogen-induced growth of breast cancer cells and examine whether the potential effect is linked to PDZK1 and IGF-1R expression. Our results show that PARP inhibition pharmacologically by TIQ-A or olaparib or by PARP-1 knockdown blocked E2-dependent growth of MCF-7 cells. Such inhibitory effect was also observed in olaparib-treated BT474 cells. The effect of PARP inhibition on cell growth coincided with an efficient reduction in E2-induced PDZK1 expression. This effect was accompanied by a similar decrease in the cell cycle protein cyclin D1. PARP appeared to regulate E2-induced PDZK1 at the mRNA level. Such regulation may be linked to a modulation of IGF-1R as PARP inhibition pharmacologically or by PARP-1 knockdown efficiently reduced E2-induced expression of the receptor at the protein and mRNA levels. Overall, our results show for the first time that PARP regulates E2-mediated cell growth by controlling the ER/IGF-1R/PDZK1 axis. These findings suggest that the relationship between ER, PDZK1, and IGF-1R may be perturbed by blocking PARP function and that PARP inhibitors may be considered in clinical trials on ER(+) cancers.
Electromyography-related pain: muscle selection is the key modifiable study characteristic.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of patient, provider, and study characteristics on electromyography (EMG)-related pain. Methods: Patients undergoing EMG rated their EMG-related pain after each muscle was studied on a 100-point visual analog scale (VAS). Investigators recorded the order in which the muscles were sampled, the total time spent with the needle in each muscle, and whether electrical endplate noise was noted. Results: A total of 1781 muscles were studied in 304 patients. Eleven muscles were associated with significantly more or less pain than the others. Endplate noise was associated with more pain (5.4 mm, 95% CI 2.8–7.0). There was a small, but significant effect from needling time (0.02 mm, 95% CI 0.00–0.04). Conclusions: Among factors that electromyographers can control, muscle selection has the greatest impact on pain. Our data include an extensive list of muscle-specific EMG-related pain scores. Provider and other study characteristics have little or no impact on EMG-related pain. Muscle Nerve 49:570–574, 2014
STABILITY AND TRANSITION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL BOUNDARY LAYERS

▪ Abstract The recent progress in three-dimensional boundary-layer stability and transition is reviewed. The material focuses on the crossflow instability that leads to transition on swept wings and rotating disks. Following a brief overview of instability mechanisms and the crossflow problem, a summary of the important findings of the 1990s is given.
Studies on synthetic polypeptide antigens IV. The metabolic fate of the antigen

The metabolic fate of the synthetic polypeptide antigen G56L38T6 following intravenous injection in the rabbit has been studied. The response to the primary injection of the antigen was either the usual three-phase elimination pattern associated with the virgin exposure to a heterologous protein antigen or the rapid elimination pattern associated with previous exposure to the antigen. On subsequent injections of the antigen, however, all of the animals showed the usual type of accelerated antigen disapperance. The related synthetic polypeptides G59L41 and G100 elicited no anamnestic response in animals previously sensitized to G56L38T6.
Partial elucidation of the oligosaccharide chains of the human barium α2-glycoproteins

Abstract Periodate oxidation of the human-plasma Ba-α2-glycoproteins destroys rapidly the largest part of their sialic acid. This acid is thus occupying the terminal position of the oligosaccharide chains of these glycoproteins. Periodate oxidation of the “sialic acid free” Ba-α2-glycoproteins destroys preferentially galactose which, therefore, is considered to be the penultimate monosaccharide of the oligosaccharide chains. Sialic acid appears to be linked through its carbonyl group to carbon number three of the galactose. Native and “sialic acid free” Ba-α2-glycoproteins exhibit average isoionic points at pH 4.8 and 5.1, respectively. The latter are isoelectric at pH 4.6 and 5.1.
Rate of convergence of the method of fundamental solutions and hyperinterpolation for modified Helmholtz equations on the unit ball

Approximate solutions of boundary value problems of homogeneous modified Helmholtz equations on the unit ball are explicitly constructed by the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) with the order of approximation provided. Hyperinterpolation is used to find particular solutions of non-homogeneous equations, and the rate of convergence of solving boundary value problems of non-homogeneous equations is derived. Numerical examples are shown to demonstrate the efficiency of the methods.
Effect of feeding peroxidized dried distillers grains with solubles to sows and progeny on growth performance and metabolic oxidative status of nursery pigs.

This experiment evaluated the effects of including peroxidized corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) in diets for sows and nursery pigs on growth performance, vitamin E (VE), and Se status, and the incidence of mulberry heart disease (MHD) of nursery pigs. Sows (n = 12) were fed corn-soybean meal diets (C-SBM) or C-SBM diets with DDGS (40% and 20% in gestation and lactation, respectively) for 3 parities. In the third parity, 108 weaned pigs (BW = 6.6 ± 0.36 kg) were blocked by BW within litter, assigned to pens (2 pigs/pen; 5 and 4 pens per litter for groups 1 and 2, respectively), and pens were assigned 1 of 3 nursery diets: 1) corn-soybean meal (CON), 2) 30% peroxidized DDGS (Ox-D), and 3) 30% Ox-D with 5 × NRC (1998) level of VE (Ox-D+5VE) for 7 wk, in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement of sow and nursery diets (n = 9 pens/treatment). The peroxidized DDGS source in nursery diets contained concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide values that were 25 and 27 times greater than a reference corn sample. Sow colostrum, milk, and serum, as well as pig serum and liver samples, were analyzed for α-tocopherol and Se concentrations. Pig serum was analyzed for glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), TBARS, and sulfur-containing AA (SAA). Pig hearts were evaluated for gross and histopathological lesions indicative of MHD, but none were detected. Pigs from sows fed DDGS tended to have reduced (P = 0.07) VE in serum during lactation and reduced VE at weaning (P 0.1) by nursery diet. Feeding Ox-D or Ox-D+5VE increased (P < 0.05) serum α-tocopherol compared with CON (2.5, 2.8, and 3.4 ± 0.09 µg/mL, respectively), but TBARS and GPx were not affected by nursery diet. Serum concentration of SAA was 40% to 50% greater (P < 0.01) for pigs fed Ox-D or Ox-D+5VE compared with those fed C-SBM, which was likely due to greater (P < 0.01) SAA intake for pigs fed Ox-D. The antioxidant properties of SAA may have spared VE and Se and masked any effect of Ox-D on metabolic oxidation status. Therefore, increasing the dietary VE concentration was unnecessary in nursery diets containing Ox-D.
Forward Hedging the Exchange Risks of U.S. Equity Investments in the U.K., Germany and France

This paper simulates forward hedging of foreign exchange risks for U.S. investments in U.K., German and French equities. Rolling OLS and SUR regressions are used to obtain monthly exposure coefficients (hedge ratios), and the micro-market mechanics of the exchange rate bid-ask spread are considered throughout. While the coefficient of variation favors not hedging, no statistically significant differences are found between no hedge and hedge strategies. However, hedging produces a nontrivial incidence of cases where liquidated foreign equity values are less than amounts sold forward. The results, robust to rising and falling dollar sub-periods, do not support forward hedging.
Dust Inhalation Exposures from the Handling of Small Volumes of Powders

Worker exposure to airborne particulates was simulated in a laboratory under controlled conditions. Small volumes, 3.8 L (1 gal.), of finely divided powders were transferred at 1-min intervals to 23-L (6-gal.) containers over 30-min time intervals. A high-volume filter array in the exit vent of the specially designed exposure laboratory was used both to control the ventilation rate and to determine the emission factor of the pouring operation. The room ventilation rate, method of transfer, and drop height were varied, and the resulting particulate concentrations were monitored by personal and area samplers. The four powders studied were talc, sodium chloride, Portland cement, and Direct Yellow 4 dye. Based on this study, a model was developed to predict potential worker exposure from the pouring of small volumes of powders. The model is based on the following major conclusions. First, the space- and time-averaged concentration of suspended particulate matter at breathing height agrees well with the mean c...
Cascading behavior in social and economic networks

At a local level, networks mediate the interactions between pairs of individuals; and when these pairwise interactions are linked together across multiple steps in the network, larger patterns of cascading behavior can develop. Depending on the context, such cascades can represent desirable outcomes for the system -- such as the spread of a product or social movement that is promoted by word-of-mouth effects -- or they can represent destructive outcomes -- such as the outbreak of a disease or a financial crisis. Here we consider a range of models for cascading behavior, focusing in particular on these phenomena in social and information networks. Our discussion will draw on several themes in the study of cascading behavior, including the following issues.
An integrated approach to disassembly planning and demanufacturing operation

Industrial demanufacturing is a practice of growing importance due to increasing environmental and economic pressures. However, very little research focuses on it from a system perspective. This paper presents a disassembly planning and demanufacturing scheduling method for an integrated flexible demanufacturing system. Workstation Petri net and Product Petri net are proposed for its hierarchical and modular modeling in order to derive the disassembly path with the maximal end-of-life value. Scheduling Petri net is introduced to schedule the demanufacturing resources. The proposed methodology and algorithms are demonstrated through the disassembly of personal computers in an integrated flexible demanufacturing system.
Size fractionation upon adsorption of fulvic acid on goethite : equilibrium and kinetic studies

Abstract We examined adsorption equilibrium and kinetics of an aquatic fulvic acid (XAD-8 resin extract) onto goethite (α-FeOOH). Molecular weight distributions were determined using high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). Overall adsorption isotherms and those of the most abundant intermediate molecular weight (IMW) fraction (1250–3750 Da) fit the Langmuir adsorption equation, as is commonly observed for humic substances. However, this overall fit masked the non-Langmuir isotherm shape of high and low molecular weight (HMW, LMW, respectively) fractions. We observed preferential adsorption of HMW fractions at low pH and of IMW fractions at higher pH. We also observed preferential adsorption of components with higher absorbance normalized to moles C (e 280 ), probably reflecting greater aromaticity. Over the first 6 h of adsorption experiments, adsorbed organic carbon increased and weight average molecular weight ( M w ) of the organic matter remaining in solution decreased, consistent with slower adsorption of higher molecular weight components. Observations of fractionation upon adsorption agreed well with a field study showing lower M w and lower e 280 organic matter in deeper ground water relative to surface and shallow ground water.
Did you learn something useful today? An analysis of how perceived utility relates to perceived learning and their predictiveness of satisfaction with training

A popular taxonomy for categorizing outcomes of training is the four-level model formulated by Kirkpatrick (1959). The first level in the model consists of reactions to training. Kirkpatrick recognized only affective reactions, but more recent reformulations of the model posit other types of reactions, including utility and perceptions of learning. We studied the relationship between three types of reaction measures (Kirkpatrick level 1) in six cohorts of first-year college students participating in an evaluation of an orientation training program. The assessed reactions were amount learned, the usability of the information, and satisfaction with the training program. A substantial correlation (.6 to .7) exists between self-assessed learning and the perceived usefulness of the information. Usefulness was almost as good as amount learned in predicting satisfaction with the training. The findings underscore the importance of using relevance strategies to make information appear useful.
Nonlinear realization of supersymmetric AdS space isometries

The isometries of AdS{sub 5} space and supersymmetric AdS{sub 5}xS{sub 1} space are nonlinearly realized on four-dimensional Minkowski space. The resultant effective actions in terms of the Nambu-Goldstone modes are constructed. The dilatonic mode governing the motion of the Minkowski space probe brane into the covolume of supersymmetric AdS{sub 5} space is found to be unstable and the bulk of the AdS{sub 5} space is unable to sustain the brane. No such instability appears in the nonsupersymmetric case.