cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of fibrin glue in percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Abstract Objectives To report our experience with the use of fibrin glue during tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We addressed the safety of this approach and evaluated its use for any clinical benefit with respect to length of hospital stay, bleeding, analgesic usage, and urinary extravasation. Methods This was a retrospective review of 43 patients who underwent tubeless percutaneous nephrolithotomy. In 20 consecutive patients (one bilateral), percutaneous tracts were injected with 2 to 3 mL of Tissel Vapor Heated sealant at the conclusion of the procedure. The fibrin glue was instilled during simultaneous removal of the percutaneous sheath. These 20 patients were compared with a control group (23 consecutive patients) in which fibrin glue was not used. The length of hospitalization, hematocrit drop, analgesic use, stone burden, operative times, postoperative complications, and any noted computed tomography scan findings were compared. Results Postoperatively, the average length of hospital stay was less in the experimental than in the control group by 0.71 day (P Conclusions The use of fibrin glue is safe in percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedures and additional prospective randomized studies are needed to evaluate for any clinical benefit.
Assessing the 'relative value' of diabetic patients treated through an incentivized, corporate compliance model.

Primary Care clinics in the United States continue to incentivize doctors to adhere to clinical guidelines regarding record keeping and managing specific patient disorders. This paper offers a case study of a US physician working in a system of total compliance. This narrative will illustrate how a specific system has emerged that pays doctors an end-of-year bonus for achieving compliance in four specific areas: record keeping, service hours, customer satisfaction surveys, and maintaining tight control of diabetic patients. In particular, special attention is paid to the emphasis on ‘the numbers’ within the corporate compliance model, and specifically, the relative value units (RVUs) used for structuring billing, labeling patients, and organizing the day-to-day activities of doctors. Although incentivized models of compliance have proved effective in managing both doctors and patients, especially in the UK, ‘gaming’ the system can occur. This paper identifies one example of how patients assume a hidden ri...
Revisiting patient communication training: an updated needs assessment and the AGENDA model.

Abstract Objective To assess physician needs for patient-centered communication training for medical consultations and to develop an updated patient training curriculum. Methods An online needs assessment was distributed through physician email listserves at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Frequency tabulation and content analyses were conducted to assess patient communication themes. Results Responses were received from 336 physicians. Physicians reported that patients are reluctant to ask questions when they do not understand information related to their medical condition, treatment plan, or medical advice. Furthermore, physicians reported that a lack of patient negotiation inhibits patient-centered communication and may negatively influence patient adherence and compliance. Based on these results the AGENDA model was created for patient training and consists of (1) agenda setting; (2) goals for health; (3) expressing concerns, questions, and negotiations; (4) navigating health literacy issues; (5) disclosing detailed information; and (6) active types of listening. Conclusion This study supports revisiting patient communication training and tailoring future training interventions to specific communities. Practice implications The AGENDA model can be used to train patients to enhance patient-centered communication with physicians. Additionally, patient communication training could help to address the barriers to care identified by the physicians in our study.
Explaining Sibling Similarities: Perceptions of Sibling Influences

This study examined older siblings’ influence on their younger brothers and sisters by assessing the connections between youth's perceptions of sibling influence and sibling similarities in four domains: Risky behavior, peer competence, sports interests, and art interests. Participants included two adolescent-age siblings (firstborn age M=17.34; second-born age M=14.77) from 191 maritally intact families. Analyses revealed that second-borns’ perceptions of influence were positively linked to siblings’ reports of intimacy and temporal involvement, but not to reports of negativity. Further, sibling similarities were most evident when younger siblings reported sibling influence and when their older brothers and sisters reported high engagement, competence, or interest in a particular domain. Discussion focuses on the challenges of documenting sibling influence and the need to refine its measurement.
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF COMBINED PROLAN AND ANTERIOR PITUITARY THERAPY

Intensive experimental and clinical observations during the past decade have definitely established that sex function and body growth depend totally upon stimuli from the anterior lobe of the hypophysis, and that the latter, to a degree, also stimulates the adrenals, thyroid and possibly other glands of internal secretion. In the absence of adequate quantities of the gonad-stimulating hormone in pituitary extracts for therapeutic use, the discovery in 1928 by Aschheim and Zondek (1) of a substance in the urine of pregnant women capable of evoking an ovarian response in the rodent qualitatively identical with that of implants and extracts of anterior lobe tissue met Avith the fondest hope that a therapeutic agent for functional menstrual disorders was at last available in sufficient quantity to meet the needs of the medical profession. Disappointment followed the realization that only 10 per cent of amenorrheic women respond to treatment with the product when it is employed as the sole agent. Functional ut...
Peptide Self-Replication via Template-Directed Ligation

A 32-residue α-helical peptide with a sequence similiar to that of the GCN4 leucine zipper region is shown to catalyze its own formation by accelerating the amide bond formation of a 17-residue peptide, preactivated as a thiobenzyl ester, and a 15-residue peptide with a N-terminal cysteine. The self-replication process displays parabolic growth characteristics as revealed by a detailed kinetic analysis. Control reactions with single-mutant peptides strongly support a mechanism in which a ternary and/or quaternary complex of the product with both peptide fragments act(s) as the catalytically active intermediate(s). Furthermore, these experiments reveal a remarkable sequence selectivity, as evidenced by the loss of autocatalytic activity as a result of a single replacement of leucine or valine residues with an alanine at the recognition interface.
Effect of Age on the Lysine and Sulfur Amino Acid Requirement of Growing Chickens

Abstract Several 14-day growth assays were conducted to determine the dietary lysine and sulfur amino acid (SAA) requirement of the chick during the periods 14 to 28 days and 41 to 56 days posthatching. A sesame meal-gelatin diet supplemented with essential amino acids but limiting in both lysine and SAA and containing 3200 kcal. M.E./kg. was fed at 23% and 20% protein during the 14- to 28-day and 42- to 56-day periods, respectively. The lysine requirement for maximal growth rate was found to be a constant (4.62) percent of the protein with increasing age. The SAA requirement expressed as a percent of the protein, however, decreased from 3.05 ± 0.07% during the third and fourth week to 2.56 ± 0.15% during the seventh and eighth week of the chick’s life.
A Theory Explaining Biological Correlates of Criminality

Despite major advances in understanding the biological basis of human behaviour, the most popular theories of criminal behaviour remain restricted to those that consider only learning and social en...
Necessary and sufficient conditions for an optimal controlled switching problem

We formulate an optimal switching control problem for nonlinear dynamical systems consisting of finitely many subsystems and with positive cost assigned at each switching time. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions for optimality of an associated cost for this controlled switching problem.
Detection and estimation of an unknown narrow-band signal in severely nonstationary noise

The problems of detection and estimation of an unknown narrowband signal in a severely nonstationary interference environment are addressed. The interference is viewed as a stochastic process n(m,t) in two variables (m representing the sensor, and t the time); if t is fixed the corresponding process is stationary but if m is fixed it is nonstationary. A uniform linear array is assumed, and it is also assumed that the carrier frequency is known and that the direction of arrival (DOA) of the desired signal does not change. The detection problem is discussed for a known DOA, and it is shown that it is a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector. The approach taken here is an application/extension of the multiwindow method for spectrum estimation and harmonic analysis introduced by D.J. Thomson (1982). How the signal is estimated if present and how to estimate the DOA are briefly discussed. >
Luminescent Inorganic Polymer Sensors for Vapour Phase and Aqueous Detection of TNT

Photoluminescent conjugated organic polymers have been applied to the detection of nitroaromatic explosives, such as TNT. The low energy unoccupied π* orbitals in nitroaromatics can accept an electron from the excited state of luminescent polymers. This electron transfer quenching of luminescence provides detection limits as low as the parts per trillion (ppt) range. Photoluminescent organometallic polymetalloles and metallole copolymers have been synthesized and may also be used for the detection of nitroaromatic explosives such as picric acid, trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), and nitrobenzene. These soluble polymers are extended oligomers with a degree of polymerization of about 10 to 20 metallole units, and show high sensitivity for detecting nitroaromatics in solution or the vapour phase. The efficiency of photoluminescence quenching follows the order TNT > DNT > nitrobenzene, which is correlated with their reduction potentials. Quenching of photoluminescence is primarily attributable to electron transfer from the lowest excited state of metallole polymers to the π* LUMO of the nitroaromatic analyte. Quenching of photoluminescence is a static process, since the excited state lifetime is invariant with varying quencher concentration. Each metallole polymer has a unique ratio of quenching efficiency to the corresponding analyte and each analyte has a variety of different responses to different metallole polymers, which could be used to specify the analyte by pattern recognition methods. These inorganic polymers are robust and insensitive to common interferents, such as organic solvents and inorganic acids.
Objectives and Context of Software Measurement, Analysis and Control

This paper focuses on the what and why of measurement in software development, and the impact of the context of the development organization or of specific projects on approaches to measurement, analysis, and control. It also presents observations on contextual issues based on studies of the major Japanese software producers.
Vision based trajectory tracking of space debris in close proximity via integrated estimation and control

The increasingly cluttered environment in space is placing a premium on techniques capable of tracking and estimating the trajectory of space debris. Unlike the debris smaller than 1 cm or larger than 10 cm, it is always a challenge for spacecraft or satellite mission designers to consider explicitly the ones ranged from 1 cm to 10 cm a priori. To tackle this challenge, this paper presents a vision based debris' trajectory tracking method in close proximity using two cameras onboard satellites in a formation. Also to differentiate the target debris from other clutters, data association is investigated. A two-stage nonlinear robust controller is developed to adjust the attitude of the satellites such that the desired field of view can be achieved for the target debris. Capabilities of the proposed integrated estimation and control methods are validated in the simulations.
pHluorin2: an enhanced, ratiometric, pH-sensitive green florescent protein.

Green florescent protein (GFP) variants that are sen-sitive to changes in pH are invaluable reagents for the analysis of protein dynamics associated with both endo- and exocytotic vesicular trafficking. Ratiomet-ric pHluorin is a GFP variant that displays a bimodal excitation spectrum with peaks at 395 and 475 nm and an emission maximum at 509 nm. Upon acidi-fication, pHluorin excitation at 395 nm decreases with a corresponding increase in the excitation at 475 nm. GFP2, a GFP variant that contains mammalian-ized codons and the folding enhancing mutation F64L, displays ~8-fold higher florescence compared to pHluorin upon excitation at 395 nm. Using GFP2 as a template, an enhanced ratiometric pHluorin (pHluorin2) construct was developed to contain fully mammalianized codons, the F64L mutation and ten of the thirteen pHluorin-specific mutations. As a result, pHluorin2 displays markedly higher flores-cence when compared to pHluorin while maintaining the ratiometric pH-sensitivity. Unlike native pHluorin, pHluorin2 expressed in the ligand-binding domain of the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor is readily detectable by confocal microscopy and dis-plays a marked increase in florescence upon ligand-induced endocytosis to intracellular vesicles. Thus, pHluorin2 displays enhanced florescence while sustaining ratiometric pH-sensitivity, representing a significant improvement for this methodological ap-proach.
The Self‐Assembly of Anticancer Camptothecin–Dipeptide Nanotubes: A Minimalistic and High Drug Loading Approach to Increased Efficacy

S)-Camptothecin (CPT)-conjugated dipep- tides are reported that preassemble into nanotubes with diameters ranging from 80-120 nm. These nanoassemblies maintain a high (~ 47 %) drug loading and exhibit greater drug stability (i.e., resistance to lactone hydrolysis), and consequently greater efficacy against several human cancer cells (HT-29, A549, H460, and H23) in vitro com- pared with the clinically used prodrug irinotecan. A key and defining feature of this system is the use of the CPT- conjugated dipeptide as both the drug and precursor to the nanostructured carrier, which simplifies the overall fabrication process.
Loss Differentiation and Improved SNR Estimates at the Physical Layer in Wireless LANs

Collisions, sudden fades, and wireless channel errors are a significant source of packet loss in wireless LANs. However, higher level protocols typically have no way to determine the cause of packet loss, and generally make assumptions about the source of packet failure that may be incorrect. Accurate information about the source of packet loss could be valuable information to an upper layer. In addition, collisions and fades adversely affect SNR estimation algorithms, which are also useful for higher level protocols. We propose a physical layer algorithm that can both isolate the cause of packet loss, be it noise, collision or fade, and accurately determine the actual SNR regardless if the packet has been corrupted by collision or fade.
Design and technology challenges for sub-0.5 mu m CMOS and bipolar

The design and technology problems that must be solved in order to realize the potential performance of sub-0.5- mu m CMOS and bipolar devices are discussed. High-field and high-current-density effects are among the most important issues. The goal is to prevent these effects from becoming problems and yet achieve performance as expected from scaling. It is seen that there are no simple solutions. It is a matter of trading off performance with process complexity and/or reliability in an optimal manner. Scaling CMOS to about 50-nm channel length appears to be quite possible. However, scaling bipolar to much below 0.25 mu m requires more understanding of the device physics and major technology breakthroughs. >
Nrf2 Activation Involves an Oxidative-Stress Independent Pathway in Tetrafluoroethylcysteine-Induced Cytotoxicity

Tetrafluoroethylcysteine (TFEC), a metabolite of the industrial gas tetrafluoroethylene, can cause both nephrotoxicity and limited hepatotoxicity in animal models, and this is associated with the covalent modification of specific intramitochondrial proteins including heat shock protein 60 (HSP60), mitochondrial HSP70 (mtHSP70), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), aconitase, and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (alphaKGDH). Using the murine TAMH cell line as a useful in vitro model for TFEC toxicity, we demonstrate a rapid and sustained induction of Nrf2, a member of the "cap-and-collar" transcription factor family, following exposure to cytotoxic concentrations of TFEC. A functional correlate was also established with the rapid translocation of cytosolic Nrf2 into the nucleus. In addition, transcriptional and translational upregulation of known Nrf2 regulated genes including glutamate cysteine ligase (GCL), both catalytic and modulatory subunits, heme oxygenase-1, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms were detected. While Nrf2 activation is often linked to perturbation of cellular thiol status and/or oxidative stress, we were unable to detect any significant depletion of cellular glutathione or oxidation of mitochondrial membrane cardiolipin or increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS). These data suggest Nrf2 activation is likely independent of classical oxidative stress or, at best, a result of a transient, low-level redox stress. Moreover, supporting evidence indicates an early endoplasmic reticular (ER) stress response after TFEC treatment, with a time-dependent upregulation of the ER responsive genes gadd34, gadd45, gadd153, and ndr1 . These findings suggest an alternative pathway for Nrf2 activation, i.e., Nrf2 phosphorylation through ER-mediated protein kinases such as PKR-like endoplasmic reticular kinase (PERK). Overall, the results implicate a role for Nrf2 in the cellular response to TFEC toxicity and suggest a previously unrecognized role for the ER in this model of mitochondrially initiated cytotoxicity.
OA14.05. Hypnosis for hot flashes: results from a randomized clinical trial and future directions

Purpose Hot flashes are a significant clinical problem for many women. Currently there are limited options to hormone replacement therapy as non-hormonal pharmacological agents are associated with only modest activity and many adverse side effects. Hypnosis is one mind-body therapy that seems particularly promising for treating hot flashes and was investigated in the present study. This study examined the efficacy of hypnosis in reducing both self-reported and physiologically determined hot flash frequency and severity among post-menopausal women.
Telemetric electromyographic monitoring in elderly incontinent men

Urinary incontinence is a serious social, psychological, economic, and medical problem for elderly people. However, the pathophysiology of incontinence in the elderly is unclear. Previous studies have shown an irregular occurrence of incontinence events regarding incontinence volume, time between episodes, and residual urine volume. In this study, telemetric monitoring of external anal electromyography (EMG), rectus abdominis EMG, bladder pressure, and incontinence detection were done. Involuntary detrusor contractions occurred which were associated with an increase in sphincteric EMG activity and followed by either continence or incontinence. A fall in sphincteric EMG activity was associated with incontinence, while a fall in detrusor pressure was associated with continence. A detrusorsphincter activity interaction appears to exist during involuntary detrusor contractions which may result in either continence or incontinence, depending upon whether the detrusor or the sphincter activity is predominant. The irregular detrusor-sphincter activity represents a possible etiology of the irregular occurrence of urinary incontinence patterns in elderly patients. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Interrogating a Hexokinase-Selected Small Molecule Library for Inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum Hexokinase

Parasites in the genus Plasmodium cause disease throughout the tropic and subtropical regions of the world. P. falciparum, one of the deadliest species of the parasite, relies on glycolysis for the generation of ATP while it inhabits the mammalian red blood cell. The first step in glycolysis is catalyzed by hexokinase (HK). While the 55.3-kDa P. falciparum HK (PfHK) shares several biochemical characteristics with mammalian HKs, including being inhibited by its products, it has limited amino acid identity (~26%) to the human HKs, suggesting that enzyme-specific therapeutics could be generated. To that end, interrogation of a selected small-molecule library of HK inhibitors has identified a class of PfHK inhibitors, isobenzothiazolinones, some of which have 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of <1 μM. Inhibition was reversible by dilution but not by treatment with a reducing agent, suggesting that the basis for enzyme inactivation was not covalent association with the inhibitor. Lastly, six of these compounds and the related molecule ebselen inhibited P. falciparum growth in vitro (50% effective concentration [EC50] of ≥ 0.6 and <6.8 μM). These findings suggest that the chemotypes identified here could represent leads for future development of therapeutics against P. falciparum.
An Investigation Into the Effect of Subcooled Liquid Inertia on Flow-Change-Induced Transient Flow Surges in Horizontal Condensing Flow Systems

The objective of this research is to investigate large-scale transient flow surges of the condensate leaving in-tube condensing flow systems because of perturbations in the inlet vapor flow rate, and the influence of the subcooled liquid inertia of the condensate on these transient responses. Small changes in the inlet vapor flow rate momentarily cause large transient flow surges in the outlet liquid flow rate. Condensate inertia is seen to destabilize the system into an underdamped behavior where the flow rate can overshoot the final steady-state position several times. A one-dimensional, two-fluid, distributed parameter system mean void fraction (SMVF) model of the time-dependent distribution of liquid and vapor within the two-phase region is developed for predicting these transient characteristics, which it is seen to do quite well, especially when consideration is given to the complex nature of the problem.
Involvement of the nonhomologous end joining DNA repair pathway in the bystander effect for chromosomal aberrations.

Abstract Little, J. B., Nagasawa, H., Li, G. C. and Chen, D. J. Involvement of the Nonhomologous End Joining DNA Repair Pathway in the Bystander Effect for Chromosomal Aberrations. Radiat. Res. 159, 262–267 (2003). Cells of mouse knockout cell lines for Ku80 (now known as Xrcc5), Ku70 (now known as G22p1), DNA-PKcs (now known as Prkdc) and PARP (now known as Adprt) were synchronized in G1 phase and exposed to very low fluences of α particles. The frequency of gross chromosomal aberrations was scored at the first postirradiation metaphase. At the two lowest doses examined, aberrations were induced in 4–9% of wild-type cells and 36–55% of Xrcc5−/− cells, whereas only 2–3% of the nuclei were traversed by an α particle and thus received any radiation exposure. G22p1−/− cells responded similarly to Xrcc5−/− cells, whereas Prkdc−/− and Adprt−/− cells showed an intermediate effect. The frequency of aberrations per nuclear traversal increased approximately 30-fold for Xrcc5−/− and G22p1−/− cells at the lowest mea...
Roman Commemorative Portraits: Women with the Attributes of Venus

Commemorative portraiture was an integral part of Roman culture. In addition to public statuary, private funereal monuments were highly valued. Funerary portrait-statues and reliefs showing women in the guise of Venus, either partially clad or with drapery slipping from their shoulders, were produced throughout the imperial era. The focus of this paper is the commemorative portraiture of non-elite women with the attributes of Venus. These works formally recall the images of Aphrodite in classical sculpture. However, the key to understanding these portraits is not their formal connection to the Greek Aphrodite but the significance of Venus in the Roman context. As the genetrix of the Roman people through her son Aeneas, Venus signified motherhood. Further, with Mars, the father of Romulus and Remus, as her consort, Venus was hailed the divine matron of Roman families. Consequently, the Romans considered it fitting that their wives and mothers be remembered in images likening them to this goddess. I propose that these classicising portraits of Roman women as Venus were a reaffirmation of women’s traditional roles as wives and mothers. Future publications will explore the relationship between these portraits and the status of women in the Empire.
Optimizing Mobile Application Communication for Challenged Network Environments

Designing mobile applications for challenged network environments necessitates new abstractions that target deployment architects, non-developers who are charged with adapting an ensemble of off-the-shelf software to a deployment context. Data transfer is integral to mobile application design and deployments have inherent and contextual requirements that determine what data should be transferred and when. In this paper, we investigate building mobile applications in challenged network environments by focusing on abstractions to support disconnected environments and areas of sparse heterogeneous connectivity. We explore and characterize various methods of transmitting data using: existing synchronization tools, peer-to-peer communication, and sparse networks. We also introduce a new software tool called ODK Submit to help streamline application customization to challenged network environments.
Retrospective Application of 2010 Revised McDonald MS Diagnostic Criteria to a Pediatric MS Cohort (P01.154)

Objective: To determine the utility of revised 2010 MS diagnostic criteria in a pediatric MS cohort. Background In adults, early diagnosis of MS and implementation of disease modifying therapy (DMT) has been shown to reduce long term disability. McDonald criteria, initially published in 2001 and revised in 2005, enabled diagnosis of MS after an initial demyelinating event (IDE) by allowing accumulation of T2 and gadolinium enhancing lesions on serial cranial or spinal cord MRIs to serve as a surrogate for dissemination in time and space. Revised 2010 MS diagnostic criteria now allows a single brain MRI with >1 T2 lesion in at least 2 regions and 1 asymptomatic enhancing lesion to fulfill dissemination in time and space. However, this streamlined diagnosis of MS has not been validated in pediatric demyelinating patients. Design/Methods: Retrospective chart review of pediatric MS patients from 1998-2011 with application of 2010 MS diagnostic criteria. Results: The cohort consisted of 77 pediatric MS patients with all their neuroimaging available for review (68% female, 43% black, 57% white). Mean age of demyelinating symptom onset was 13.4 ± 0.4 years. Optic neuritis was an initial symptom in 10 patients (9 unilateral, 1 bilateral). Four patients presented with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with encephalopathy and another four were initially followed for radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS). The rest exhibited pyramidal or brainstem syndromes. Of the 67 patients whose initial MRIs were performed with gadolinium, 42% (n=28) fulfilled 2010 McDonald diagnostic criteria, including 1 ADEM and 1 RIS. There was no difference with respect to age, race or sex between patients fulfilling 2010 criteria and those who did not. Conclusions: 2010 criteria may enable earlier diagnosis of MS in adolescents Further study is necessary to assess validity of these criteria in younger pediatric demyelinating patients. Supported by: National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Disclosure: Dr. Ness has received research support from EMD Serono. Dr. Simasathien has nothing to disclose.
The selfie skin examination

CLINICAL CHALLENGE Skin self-examination (SSE) has been associatedwith a reduced risk ofmelanoma incidence and a decrease in melanoma mortality. Technological advances have made SSE more convenient, allowing patients to take photographs of their nevi on mobile devices for review with a dermatologist. In an effort to improve visualization of hard-to-see areas, such as the back of the body, the use of 2 mirrors during SSE was previously recommended. However, patients using this 2-mirror technique still lack the ability to get a close-up view of nevi in these areas. The back is recognized as one of the most common sites of melanoma in men. In addition, thicker melanomas present more often on the areas not easily visualized during SSE. Thus, an effective and efficient modality to better visualize these hard-to-see areas is necessary.
Spinal Cord Injury: Indications for Operative Intervention

Indications for surgery in the patient with a spinal cord injury may be either neurosurgical or orthopedic or a combination of the two. Neurologic and radiologic evaluations are described and types of treatment discussed.
Pion-pair contribution to the decay KL--> pi 0 gamma gamma.

A simple prediction for the decay ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$, obtained from the rescattering to two photons of the ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ intermediate state in the process ${K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$, is compared with a recent calculation based on chiral perturbation theory. The ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ rescattering model predicts a two-photon effective mass spectrum peaked at slightly higher ${m}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}}$ than in chiral perturbation theory, and a branching ratio $B({K}_{L}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma})\ensuremath{\approx}7.5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}$. Implications are discussed for the corresponding decay of the charged kaon.
Prostate Cancer Among Asian Americans

Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men, is a clinically heterogeneous disease. Some tumors remain indolent with little impact on morbidity and survival, while others are aggressive and rapidly progress to advanced and lethal disease. Studies of prostate cancer incidence have shown considerably higher incidence rates among Asian-American men living in the United States (US) relative to Asian men living in Asian countries. Although differences in screening practices by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing likely account for some of the differences in incidence, the adoption of Western lifestyles with migration to the US may play a role and involve the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Epidemiological studies have examined migration-related risk factors among Asian Americans, capitalizing on the unique heterogeneity of specific Asian populations by generational status and acculturation. Age, race/ethnicity, family history, and genetic susceptibility are established risk factors for prostate cancer. Additional risk factors that have been implicated include hormonal and infection/inflammatory factors, body mass index, diabetes, physical activity, smoking, and dietary intake of animal and polyunsaturated fat, soy products, and green tea. In this chapter, we summarize our current understanding of the epidemiology of prostate cancer in Asian-American populations.
A HISTORY OF HYDROCLIMATOLOGY

The science of hydroclimatology has undergone a long history of development from the speculative ideas of the ancient Greeks, to the theoretical reasoning of late Renaissance scholars, to the beginning of quantification with the basic collection of needed data in the 17th and 18th centuries, and finally to the expansion of observing networks to a near-global coverage in the last century. The development of the concept of potential evapotranspiration and its use in a climatic water budget by Thornthwaite in the middle of the twentieth century has provided a significant merging of basic hydroclimatic data to achieve useful estimates of such factors as moisture storage in the soil, water deficit, streamflow, groundwater recharge, and evapotranspiration on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. These hydroclimatic factors have great utility in a variety of applied studies. Recent developments in hydroclimatology have involved improving data-gathering networks, achieving new understanding of the reliability and ac...
A Research Note Antimicrobial Activity of (+)-Tuberine.

A new alkaloid, (+)-tuberine isolated from Haplophyllum tuberculatum , had high antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 1 μg/ml. (+)-Tuberine was slightly inhibitory to Escherichia coli .
Abstract 3335: Targeting Egr1 selectively radioprotects normal tissues while killing cancer cells

Radiotherapy is a common therapeutic modality for a wide range of malignancies. Normal tissue toxicity reduces the therapeutic index of radiotherapy and decreases the quality of life for cancer survivors. Apoptosis is a key element of the radiation response in normal tissues like the hippocampus and small intestine, and results in neurocognitive disorders and intestinal malabsorption. The Early Growth Response 1 (Egr1) transcription factor mediates radiation-induced apoptosis since it activates the transcription of pro-apoptosis genes in response to ionizing radiation (IR). Therefore, we hypothesized that the genetic abrogation of Egr1 and the pharmacological inhibition of its transcriptional activity could attenuate radiation-induced apoptosis in normal tissues. We demonstrated that Egr1 null mice had less apoptosis in the hippocampus and intestine following irradiation as compared to their wild-type littermates. Alternatively, mice treated with Mithramycin A, a drug that prevents binding of Egr1 to target promoters, also displayed reduced apoptosis following irradiation in the intestine as compared to mice treated with vehicle. In cell culture based studies, shRNA-mediated silencing of Egr1 expression dampened apoptosis and enhanced the clonogenic survival of irradiated HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells and IEC6 intestinal epithelial cells. Mechanistically, these events involved an abrogation of p53 induction by IR and an increase in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax expression. In contrast, targeted silencing of Egr1 in two cancer cell lines (GL261 glioma cells, HCT116 colorectal cancer cells) was not radioprotective, since it reduced their growth while also sensitizing them to radiation-induced death. These results strongly support the potential of targeted silencing of Egr1 in order to improve the therapeutic index of radiotherapy and minimize the normal tissue complications associated with radiation therapy. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Diana Yi Zhao, Keith M. Jacobs, Dennis E. Hallahan, Dinesh Thotala. Targeting Egr1 selectively radioprotects normal tissues while killing cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 3335. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-3335
An Engineered TET Enzyme for Inducible Epigenomic Remodeling and Editing

The Ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) dioxygenases catalyzes conversion of 5mC into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and further oxidized species to mediate active DNA demethylation. Here we engineered a TET2 enzyme to enable temporal and spatial control of 5mC oxidation and subsequent modulation of epigenetic states at high precision in mammalian cells. We further demonstrated the use of this chemically-inducible system to test causal relationships among DNA hydroxymethylation, chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the human genome.
Dynamic aeroelastic behavior of wind turbine rotors in rapid pitch-control actions

Abstract Pitch control comprises a significant proportion of current wind turbine load-control approaches. Collective pitching is used in restricting the overall power generation at high winds, whereas individual pitching has the added advantage of mitigating cyclic loads that are detrimental in fatigue damage of the turbines. Currently, there are many studies on conventional pitching control that account for long-term variations in wind speeds and associated high loads, but a smaller number of studies in short-term pitch action. The present study focuses on the use of rapid pitch control for handling short-term variations in wind conditions and load fluctuations within one cycle of rotation, with special attention to the prognosis of the aeroelastic response of the rotor. We use a numerical model capable of handling the complexities of the multi-physics dynamics of a wind turbine rotor. Based on a nonlinear adaptive ODE algorithm, it provides a natural way to integrate the various multi-physics aspects of wind turbine dynamics, including the control system and the coupled response of the aerodynamics and the structural deformations of the rotor. Results are presented for the case study of the NREL-5MW Reference Wind Turbine, and their significance for wind-turbine rotors in general is discussed.
Mothers' Judgment in Moments of Anger.

The influence of anger on mothers' judgments of children and socialization was examined. When in angry, happy, and neutral moods, 48 mothers made judg ments about their own 7-year-olds and also about unknown children seen on videotape. Compared with emotionally-neutral mothers, angry mothers ex pected their children to act more negatively and evaluated their children's cur rent problems as more serious. On the videotape task, angry mothers expected that interactions would become more negative, compliance would be more dif ficult to obtain, and greater sternness would be required. When children were noncompliant, angry mothers made more negative attributions about those chil dren, became more upset, and evaluated disapproving responses more favora bly. Anger had more pronounced effects on judgments when children's behav ior was ambiguous than when it was clearly negative. The findings support proposals that anger activates anger-consistent cognitions, induces negative pa rental judgment, and thereby may negatively bias parents' reactions.
Introduction to Learning and Cognition in Autism

From the perspective of social policy our understanding of autism is summarized in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III-R) (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). Some would argue that progress in research knowledge is also reflected in the several versions of DSM. These can be summarized as follows: In DSM I and II, autism was not identified as a distinct disorder (1950–1968). Both research and working hypotheses were formulated around Freudian assumptions. These have no significant empirical research support, and proved to be erroneous and ineffective in the long run. The next revision, DSM-III (1980), included autism, defined by the four criteria carried over from Kanner: (1) impaired social relationships, (2) delayed and deviant communication, (3) restricted interests, and (4) onset before 30 months. Autism was largely hypothesized to be a cognitive disorder (Rutter, 1983), with operating definitions often related to the discrepancy scores between performance and verbal subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). The next revision, DSM-III-R (1987), identified 16 criteria for autism, resulting in a more complex diagnostic decision process. The greater complexity was helpful in accommodating more complex research formulations on the study of social reciprocity, new methodologies, and neurobiological correlates from neuroimaging studies.
Deep mutational scanning of S. pyogenes Cas9 reveals important functional domains

RNA-guided endonucleases (RGENs) have invigorated the field of site-specific nucleases. The success of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) has led to the discovery of several other CRISPR-associated RGENs. As more RGENs become available, it will be necessary to refine their activity before they can be translated into the clinic. With this in mind, we sought to demonstrate how deep mutational scanning (DMS) could provide details about important functional regions in SpCas9 and speed engineering efforts. Consequently, we developed a nuclease screening platform which could distinguish active Cas9 mutants. We screened a library of 1.9 × 107 with over 8500 possible non-synonymous mutations and inferred the effects of each mutation using DMS. We demonstrate that the RuvC and HNH domains are the least tolerant regions to mutation. In contrast, the Rec2 and PI domains tolerate mutation better than other regions. The mutation information defined in this work provides a foundation for further SpCas9 engineering. Together, our results demonstrate how DMS can be a powerful tool to uncover features important to RGEN function. Application of this approach to emerging RGENs should enhance their engineering and optimization for therapeutic and other applications.
PCR in Integrated Microfluidic Systems

Miniaturized integrated DNA analysis systems offer the potential to provide unprecedented advances in cost and speed relative to current benchtop-scale instrumentation by allowing rapid bioanalysis assays to be performed in a portable self contained device format that can be inexpensively mass-produced. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been a natural focus of many of these miniaturization efforts, owing to its capability to efficiently replicate target regions of interest from small quantities template DNA. Scale-down of PCR has proven to be particularly challenging, however, due to an unfavorable combination of relatively severe temperature extremes (resulting in the need to repeatedly heat minute aqueous sample volumes to temperatures in the vicinity of 95°C with minimal evaporation) and high surface area to volume conditions imposed by nanoliter reactor geometries (often leading to inhibition of the reaction by nonspecific adsorption of reagents at the reactor walls). Despite these daunting challenges, considerable progress has been made in the development of microfluidic devices capable of performing increasingly sophisticated PCR-based bioassays. This chapter reviews the progress that has been made to date and assesses the outlook for future advances.
Automated Latent Growth Curve Model Fitting: A Segmentation and Knot Selection Approach

Latent growth curve models are widely used in the social and behavioral sciences to study complex developmental patterns of change over time. The trajectories of these developmental patterns frequently exhibit distinct segments in the studied variables. Latent growth models with piecewise functions for repeated measurements of variables have become increasingly popular for modeling such developmental trajectories. A major problem with using piecewise models is determining the precise location of the point where the change in the process has occurred and uncovering the related number of segments. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an optimization procedure that can be used to determine both the segments and location of the knots in piecewise linear latent growth models. The procedure is illustrated using empirical data in order to detect the number of segments and change points. The results demonstrate the capabilities of the procedure for fitting latent growth curve models.
Attitudes toward tobacco advertising among Hispanic migrant farm workers.

The existing literature surrounding the effects of transnational tobacco advertising, advertising near or around U.S. borders, on migrant farm workers have been virtually ignored. The purpose of this study was to determine the media literacy skills among migrant farm workers and gather information regarding attitudes and beliefs surrounding tobacco use. Results indicate that migrant Hispanic farm workers believe that smoking is highly popular in the United States and a necessary part of American culture. The data also revealed low media literacy skills regarding tobacco advertising and protobacco attitudes among Hispanic migrant farm workers. As a result, the current study suggests that this population has specific needs for basic media literacy skills regarding tobacco use. Therefore, health education specialists can develop educational strategies that will address tobacco advertising and media literacy skills among migrant farm workers.
Calcium influx in induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells.

Murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) have served as a model for examining the regulation of erythroid differentiation. However, the role of Ca2+ in the signal transduction pathways regulating differentiation remains unclear. To begin to address this uncertainty we have characterized the regulation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and the possible role of calcium channels during induced differentiation in MELC. MELC can be induced to terminal differentiation using the polar/apolar compound hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). We found that HMBA stimulated Ca2+ influx within 3 to 6 minutes and that Ca2+ entry was required but not sufficient for MELC growth and differentiation. Nifedipine (1 to 10 mumol/L), a calcium channel antagonist, blocked HMBA-induced Ca2+ influx and inhibited differentiation by approximately 60%. Depolarization of the MELC membrane did not induce Ca2+ influx and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings failed to detect a voltage-activated Ca2+ current, suggesting that MELC do not express detectable levels of a functional voltage-dependent calcium channel (VDCC). However, a cDNA probe encoding a portion of the alpha 1 subunit of the cardiac VDCC detected an approximately 8-kb mRNA on Northern blots of total MELC RNA. Taken together, these data show that Ca2+ influx is an early event associated with HMBA-induced differentiation in MELC, blockade of this calcium influx inhibits induced differentiation, and a voltage- insensitive dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channel may be involved in Ca2+ influx in MELC.
Dynamics in Neutral DIET from Chemisorbed Molecules

Experimental advances since the time of DIET II [1] challenge the theorist to analyze desorption events in quantitative detail. We have chosen to begin such an endeavor by studying the dynamics of neutral DIET. There are several theoretical advantages in studying high-probability neutral, as opposed to low-probability ion, stimulated desorption. While in either case the initial state is often well characterized since the ground state potential energy surface is mapped out by thermal desorption and molecular scattering experiments, only the low-lying excitations are well known from photoemission and inverse- photoemission. Currently the experimental capability exists to look in unprecedented detail at these neutral events. This supplies the theorist with experimentally measured trans translational, vibrational, rotational [2,3] and angular distributions [4] arising from a small number (possibly only one) excited electronic configuration. (Typically one valence excitation is much longer- lived than all others, that is the shallowest excitation of each symmetry providing it is not degenerate with the bulk [5]). In contrast, the low probability events, such as positive ion desorption from metals, may result from a multitude of excitations which are all short-lived, but none of which can be eliminated on the basis of lifetime. Furthermore, the role of minority sites cannot be separated. In this paper we consider in quantitative detail the dynamics of the neutral NO desorption event. Although this is the only system we consider here many of the concepts and methods are general and have already been extended to desorption of physisorbed rare gases [6].