cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It's not just the basal ganglia: Cerebellum as a target for dystonia therapeutics

Dystonia is a common movement disorder that devastates the lives of many patients, but the etiology of this disorder remains poorly understood. Dystonia has traditionally been considered a disorder of the basal ganglia. However, growing evidence suggests that the cerebellum may be involved in certain types of dystonia, raising several questions. Can different types of dystonia be classified as either a basal ganglia disorder or a cerebellar disorder? Is dystonia a network disorder that involves the cerebellum and basal ganglia? If dystonia is a network disorder, how can we target treatments to alleviate symptoms in patients? A recent study by Chen et al, using the pharmacological mouse model of rapid-onset dystonia parkinsonism, has provided some insight into these important questions. They showed that the cerebellum can directly modulate basal ganglia activity through a short latency cerebello-thalamo-basal ganglia pathway. Further, this article and others have provided evidence that in some cases, aberrant cerebello-basal ganglia communication can be involved in dystonia. In this review we examine the evidence for the involvement of the cerebellum and cerebello-basal ganglia interactions in dystonia. We conclude that there is ample evidence to suggest that the cerebellum plays a role in some dystonias, including the early-onset primary torsion dystonia DYT1 and that further studies examining the role of this brain region and its interaction with the basal ganglia in dystonia are warranted. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Fighting global poverty

Many different indicators are used to monitor poverty and poverty-related deprivations. Two kinds of legitimacy worries may arise about any such indicator: one regarding its reliability as a measure of progress and another regarding the uses to which it is being put. This essay will touch upon both worries, beginning with the latter.
Changing multiple health risk behaviors in CHOICES.

Abstract Multiple health behavior change (MHBC) intervention trials to date have only considered behaviors that were directly targeted. Research has yet to consider how untargeted behaviors can affect change in behaviors directly targeted by an intervention or how changes in targeted behaviors might lead to changes in other, untargeted behaviors. This study addresses these gaps with a secondary analysis of change in risk drinking (targeted behavior) and smoking (behavior that was not addressed) in the efficacy trial of CHOICES, an intervention for the prevention of alcohol-exposed pregnancies. Measures included the Timeline Followback for daily alcohol consumption and questions about smoking behavior. Participants were women of childbearing age who were at risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy at baseline. Baseline smokers were less likely to change their drinking behavior than baseline non-smokers at nine months (n = 579) with Odds Ratio (OR) of 0.681 (95% CI = 0.471–0.985); 41.1% of smokers vs 50.6% of non-smokers reduced drinking to below risk levels (
Selenium and vitamin E for prostate cancer: post-SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) status.

Various formulations of selenium and vitamin E, both essential human dietary components, have been shown to possess a therapeutic and preventive effect against prostate cancer. Fortuitous results of clinical trials also implied a risk-reduction effect of selenium and vitamin E supplements. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), using oral selenium and vitamin E supplementation in disease-free volunteers, was designed to test a prostate cancer chemoprevention hypothesis. SELECT was terminated early because of both safety concerns and negative data for the formulations and doses given. Here, we review and discuss the studies done before and since the inception of SELECT, as well as the parameters of the trial itself. We believe that there is a lack of appropriate in vivopreclinical studies on selenium and vitamin E despite many promising in vitrostudies on these agents. It seems that the most effective doses and formulations of these agents for prostate cancer chemoprevention have yet to be tested. Also, improved understanding of selenium and vitamin E biology may facilitate the discovery of these doses and formulations.
Disorders of the chest wall and diaphragm

The clinical presentations of chest wall and diaphragmatic disorders are extremely diverse, and the attention of the emergency physician is often directed to a more obvious problem. The common denominator of these disorders is their effect on respiratory mechanics, a discussion of which precedes the review of specific disorders.
Noise Path Synthesis with Nonlinear Joints

An efficient synthesis approach is developed which permits thecalculation of the steady-state frequency response of an assembly whichis comprised of linear components and nonlinear joints. Receptancematrices are used to characterize the linear components, which permitscondensation of the system to just the joint degrees-of-freedom.Furthermore, the calculated nonlinear joint forces are then used tostudy the power flow in the assembly, as well as detailed dynamicbehavior within the components. Integrated into the technique is acontinuation scheme which permits efficient parametric studies.
NETWORK ANALYSIS IN THE STUDY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Summary Studies of science and technology have used the social network concept beginning with the idea of a “scientific community.” An increase in the use of quantitative network analysis has characterized the past two decades, as techniques have diffused into the field from mainstream sociology and from communication research. Three main classes of studies are considered: (1) those which focus on intra-organizational ties; (2) those which focus on interorganizational relations (including quantitative studies of “specialties”); (3) bibliometric networks (linkages of technical products rather than personnel). Our review of network approaches illustrates their power and generality but reveals serious deficiencies at all levels of analysis.
Strategies for Success in Plating of Complex Proximal Tibia Fractures

Tibial plateau fractures can be a difficult to manage for even the most skilled orthopaedic surgeons. The soft tissue envelope and degree of comminution, in conjunction with the complex anatomy of the proximal tibia, pose challenges to obtaining and maintaining reduction, and in turn, to good functional outcomes. In this chapter, we will discuss how to tackle the numerous obstacles one may encounter when surgically treating these fractures and provide tips on how to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Rheumatic Mitral and Aortic Valve Disease- A Case Report from USA

Although virtually eradicated in the United States, rheumatic heart disease still carries a sinister outcome causing significant mortality and morbidity in developing countries in Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands where it still remains in endemic form. Our case involves a 35-year-old female patient born and raised in India who recently migrated to the United States. Her echocardiogram revealed severe combined aortic and mitral valve stenosis and severe aortic regurgitation. We hereby analyze echocardiographic findings in concomitant rheumatic aortic and mitral valve disease with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function. We also discuss treatment implications with combined surgical replacements of both valves with mechanical prostheses. Cardiovasc. j. 2018; 11(1): 81-85
Abstract IA23: Metabolic complexity in cancer cells and tumors

Metabolism is dynamic and responds to a wide range of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors. In cancer, cell-intrinsic influences on metabolism include somatically acquired mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, many of which regulate metabolic activity. Cell-extrinsic factors include nutrient access, which may become limiting due to inadequate vasculature and intense fuel utilization, and metabolic interactions with stromal and immune cells. A major challenge in cancer metabolism research is to understand how these various factors culminate in the metabolic phenotype of an intact tumor, and ultimately to identify which altered pathways represent potential therapeutic targets. We have taken two parallel approaches to understand metabolic complexity in human cancer. The first uses a combination of multiparametric imaging and intraoperative stable isotope infusions to assess metabolic fluxes in patients with solid tumors, and to compare fluxes between tumors and adjacent benign tissue. Genomic, histologic, and metabolic analysis of tumor samples allows us to correlate various intrinsic and extrinsic factors to specific aspects of the metabolic phenotype. The second approach uses standardized culture conditions to assess cell-intrinsic heterogeneity of metabolic preferences and dependencies in large panels of human cancer cell lines. This approach has uncovered liabilities associated with specific molecular subtypes of non-small cell and small cell lung cancer. I will discuss the application of these two approaches to metabolic heterogeneity in human cancer, with an emphasis on features relevant to intact tumors and therapeutic liabilities. Citation Format: Ralph J. DeBerardinis. Metabolic complexity in cancer cells and tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Pediatric Cancer Research: From Basic Science to the Clinic; 2017 Dec 3-6; Atlanta, Georgia. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(19 Suppl):Abstract nr IA23.
Predictors of Extended Length of Hospital Stay in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Posterior Segmental Instrumented Fusion: An Analysis of 407 Surgeries Performed at a Large Academic Center.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to (1) compare patient and procedure-specific characteristics among those who had short versus long hospital stays and (2) identify independent risk factors that may correlate with extended length of hospital stay (LOS) in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who underwent posterior segmental instrumented fusion (PSIF). SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Reducing the LOS and identifying risk factors associated with extended admission have become increasingly relevant to healthcare policy makers. There is currently limited research identifying risk factors that correlate with extended stay in patients undergoing PSIF for AIS. METHODS A single-institution, longitudinally maintained database was queried to identify 407 patients who met specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Based on the distribution and median LOS in the cohort (4 days), patients were divided into those who had long versus short LOS. In both groups, patient demographics, comorbidities, preoperative scoliosis curve measurements, surgery-related characteristics, and complications were analyzed. A univariate and multivariate regression analysis was then conducted to identify independent risk factors associated with extended LOS. RESULTS Patients who had extended LOS tended to be women (84.6% vs. 75%, P = 0.01), had more levels fused (9 ± 2 vs. 7 ± 2 levels, P < 0.001), had more major postoperative complications (0.8% vs. 7.4%, P = 0.002), had more blood loss during surgery (723 ± 548 vs. 488 ± 341 cm, P < 0.001), and received less epidural analgesia for pain control (69% vs. 89%, P < 0.001). Except for higher thoracic kyphosis, long LOS patients did not have worse preoperative radiographic curve parameters. Multivariate logistic analysis identified female sex, having ≥9 ± 2 levels of fusion, operative blood loss, major postoperative complications, lack of epidural analgesia, and higher thoracic kyphosis as independent risk factors correlating for extended LOS. CONCLUSION Independent risk factors identified by this study may be used to recognize patients with AIS at risk of prolonged hospital stay. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
Signaling of the ErbB Receptor Family in Carcinogenesis and the Development of Targeted Therapies

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of tyrosine kinases (RTKs) plays several crucial roles in the proliferation of many types of cells—notably epithelial—and many other cells as well as in the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of carcinomas. Activation of the ErbB receptors, either by their ligand or by genetic amplification or mutations, has been associated with many aspects of transformation. As a result, many therapeutic agents have been developed which target distinct receptors or receptor complexes within this family. Currently, therapeutic drugs specifically targeting ErbB receptors have been approved for colorectal, head and neck, lung, breast, esophageal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. Herein, we review the discovery of the ErbB receptors, signaling pathways by activated receptors, and clinical application of ErbB inhibitors. Also discussed are the challenges for the still-developing future of ErbB inhibitors.
Efficiency of two enzymes immobilized to the same surface and acting in sequence

Phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were immobilized to striazine trichloride activated cellulose to determine if perparations having two enzymes immobilized to the same surface could carry out the sequential reaction, glucose-1-P to glucose-6-P, glucose-6-P to 6-phosphogluconate more efficiently than preparations in which the enzymes were immobilized to separate particles or free in solution. The results of experiments examining the effect of dilution on the sequential rate indicate greater efficiency by enzymes immobilized to the same surface.
Adaptive Control of a Hybrid Energy Storage System for Wave Energy Conversion Application

A hybrid energy storage system (HESS), that comprises of a battery and a supercapacitor, is utilized to absorb the power and energy oscillations for a wave energy conversion system so as to inject a smooth power to the grid. Continuous variation in the wave profile presents a formidable challenge in terms of the power and energy allocation among the battery and supercapacitor. In this paper, an adaptive control strategy is proposed, wherein the power and energy sharing between the battery and super-capacitor are dynamically decided based on an optimization algorithm. The proposed algorithm is aimed at optimizing the total losses in the hybrid energy storage system while simultaneously maximizing the battery lifetime. Circuit simulation and experimental results from a hardware prototype are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Differences in Pathology, Staging, and Treatment between HIV+ and Uninfected Patients with Microscopically Confirmed Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is substantially higher among HIV-infected (HIV+) than uninfected persons. It remains unclear if HCC in the setting of HIV infection is morphologically distinct or more aggressive. Methods: We evaluated differences in tumor pathology in a cohort of HIV+ and uninfected patients with microscopically confirmed HCC in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015. We reviewed pathology reports and medical records to determine Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage (BCLC), HCC treatment, and survival by HIV status. Multivariable Cox regression was used to determine the hazard ratio [HR; 95% confidence interval (CI)] of death associated with HIV infection after microscopic confirmation. Results: Among 873 patients with HCC (399 HIV+), 140 HIV+ and 178 uninfected persons underwent liver tissue sampling and had microscopically confirmed HCC. There were no differences in histologic features of the tumor between HIV+ and uninfected patients, including tumor differentiation (well differentiated, 19% vs. 28%, P = 0.16) and lymphovascular invasion (6% vs. 7%, P = 0.17) or presence of advanced hepatic fibrosis (40% vs. 39%, P = 0.90). There were no differences in BCLC stage (P = 0.06) or treatment (P = 0.29) by HIV status. After adjustment for risk factors, risk of death was higher among HIV-infected than uninfected patients (HR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.02–1.85). Conclusions: We found no differences in HCC tumor characteristics or background hepatic parenchyma by HIV status, yet HIV was associated with poorer survival. Of note, pathology reports often omitted these characteristics. Impact: Systematic evaluation of HCC pathology by HIV status is needed to understand tumor characteristics associated with improved survival.
A communication-centric approach for designing flexible DNN accelerators

Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have demonstrated highly promising results across computer vision and speech recognition, and are becoming foundational for ubiquitous AI. The computational complexity of these algorithms and a need for high energy-efficiency has led to a surge in research on hard- ware accelerators. To reduce the latency and energy costs of accessing DRAM, most DNN accelerators are spatial in nature, with hundreds of processing elements (PE) operating in parallel and communicating with each other directly. DNNs are evolving at a rapid rate, and it is common to have convolution, recurrent, pooling, and fully-connected layers with varying input and filter sizes in the most recent topologies. They may be dense or sparse. They can also be partitioned in myriad ways (within and across layers) to exploit data reuse (weights and intermediate outputs). All of the above can lead to different dataflow patterns within the accelerator substrate. Unfortunately, most DNN accelerators support only fixed dataflow patterns internally as they perform a careful co-design of the PEs and the network-on-chip (NoC). In fact, the majority of them are only optimized for traffic within a convolutional layer. This makes it challenging to map arbitrary dataflows on the fabric efficiently, and can lead to underutilization of the available compute resources. DNN accelerators need to be programmable to enable mass deployment. For them to be programmable, they need to be configurable internally to support the various dataflow patterns that could be mapped over them. To address this need, we present MAERI, which is a DNN accelerator built with a set of modular and configurable building blocks that can easily support myriad DNN partitions and mappings by appropriately configuring tiny switches. MAERI provides 8-459% better utilization across multiple dataflow mappings over baselines with rigid NoC fabrics.
An Authentic Research Project in Animal Behavior as an Introductory Physics Laboratory Exercise

Many university and high school introductory physics courses include a laboratory portion where students follow a manual to conduct “cookbook” experiments. Here, we present an authentic research project for introductory physics students that focuses on kinematics that can be done outside a formal laboratory space. This experiment can be done in a high school or a university setting. Because it is not confined to a formal laboratory space, students can perform the experiment outside of a formal time period dedicated for labs, and over the course of a semester. This activity was developed as a part of an integrated science and mathematics program where students used their knowledge in kinematics to observe the psychology of animal behavior. Students were guided to write a research proposal for their experiment and to carry it out over a semester. The following describes the activity, experimental methods, and sample data.
Severity of Thrombocytopenia at the Time of Platelet Transfusion Influences Post-Transfusion Platelet Kinetics and the Effects of Platelets on Plasma Cytokines in a Model of Murine Neonatal Sepsis

Thrombocytopenia affects 20-30% of neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and up to 70% of those born extremely prematurely, with sepsis being one of the most frequent causes. Since preterm neonates also have a high bleeding risk, it has been widely accepted that they should receive platelet transfusions at higher platelet count (PC) thresholds than older children or adults. However, there is no consensus regarding what the appropriate threshold should be, particularly in critically ill infants. Surveys and observational studies have revealed extraordinary world-wide variability in neonatal platelet transfusion thresholds, with North-American neonatologists typically using more liberal thresholds (i.e. PC Disclosures Stowell: Grifols: Honoraria. Sola-Visner: Sysmex America, Inc.: Other: Laboratory equipment on loan, Research Funding.
Alternative Reactivity of Leucine 5-Hydroxylase Using an Olefin-Containing Substrate to Construct a Substituted Piperidine Ring

Applying enzymatic reactions to produce useful molecules is a central focus of chemical biology. Iron and 2-oxoglutarate (Fe/2OG) enzymes are found in all kingdoms of life and catalyze a broad array of oxidative transformations. Herein, we demonstrate that the activity of an Fe/2OG enzyme can be redirected when changing the targeted carbon hybridization from sp3 to sp2. During leucine 5-hydroxylase catalysis, installation of an olefin group onto the substrate redirects the Fe(IV)-oxo species reactivity from hydroxylation to asymmetric epoxidation. The resulting epoxide subsequently undergoes intramolecular cyclization to form the substituted piperidine, 2S,5S-hydroxypipecolic acid.
An Evaluation of Phylogenetic Workflows in Viral Molecular Epidemiology

The use of computational techniques to analyze viral sequence data and ultimately inform public health intervention has become increasingly common in the realm of epidemiology. These methods typically attempt to make epidemiological inferences based on multiple sequence alignments and phylogenies estimated from the raw sequence data. Like all estimation techniques, multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic inference tools are error-prone, and the impacts of such imperfections on downstream epidemiological inferences are poorly understood. To address this, we executed multiple commonly-used workflows for conducting viral phylogenetic analyses on simulated viral sequence data modeling HIV, HCV, and Ebola, and we computed multiple methods of accuracy motivated by transmission clustering techniques. For multiple sequence alignment, MAFFT consistently outperformed MUSCLE and Clustal Omega in both accuracy and runtime. For phylogenetic inference, FastTree 2, IQ-TREE, RAxML-NG, and PhyML had similar topological accuracies, but branch lengths and pairwise distances were consistently most accurate in phylogenies inferred by RAxML-NG. However, FastTree 2 was orders of magnitude faster than the other tools, and when the other tools were used to optimize branch lengths along a fixed topology provided by FastTree 2 (i.e., no tree search), the resulting phylogenies had accuracies that were indistinguishable from their original counterparts, but with a fraction of the runtime. Our results indicate that an ideal workflow for viral phylogenetic inference is to (1) use MAFFT to perform MSA, (2) use FastTree 2 under the GTR model with discrete gamma-distributed site-rate heterogeneity to quickly obtain a reasonable tree topology, and (3) use RAxML-NG to optimize branch lengths along the fixed FastTree 2 topology.
The COVID chronicles an employee assistance program’s observations and responses to the pandemic

This article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspective of a large academic health system’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It builds on a growing literature documenting ...
A Platoon Matching Approach for the Estimation of Arterial Travel Time Distributions

Estimating Arterial Travel Time distributions on a regular basis is a challenging task for urban traffic agencies. Even though high-resolution loop detector data is usually available, the lack of other data modes and ground-truth labels hinders travel time estimation approaches that rely on such additional information.Among the approaches relying exclusively on loop detector data are deterministic physics-based approaches (which use the mechanics of a virtual probe moving down a signalized arterial) and cost-minimization approaches (which directly estimate travel times from detector counts).In this work, we propose and evaluate a hybrid model that uses virtual probe trajectories to indicate probable arrival and departure windows within which we apply a sequence alignment algorithm on high-resolution loop detector data to match platoons. Our approach naturally generalizes to real probe trajectory data, improving accuracy when such data is available. Simulation-based results show that our approaches enable us to calculate a good estimate of arterial travel time distributions and are robust to noise. Thus, our methods can be used both with standalone archived loop detector data and in conjunction with trajectory data from connected vehicles.
Analysis of Postpartum Uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives Before and After Implementation of Medicaid Reimbursement Policy

The postpartum period is a time of high unmet contraception need. Providing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), particularly in the immediate postpartum period, is one strategy to meet contraceptive needs. This practice may also prevent unintended and short interpregnancy interval pregnancies. In recent years, state Medicaid programs have implemented reimbursement policies for LARC use in the inpatient setting. The purpose of this study was to assess the uptake of inpatient postpartum LARCs at a large urban hospital with a sizable Medicaid population, before and after policy implementation. Using billing records from January 2015 and December 2017, we extracted data on patient demographics and LARC uptake before Medicaid policy change (2015) and after policy change (2016 and 2017). Implant and intrauterine device insertions were classified as inpatient postpartum (0–7 days after birth), outpatient postpartum (1–8 weeks after) or interval (9+ weeks after). In the 3-year study period, 2091 LARC insertions occurred, of which 700 (33.5%) were inpatient postpartum, 429 (20.5%) outpatient postpartum, and 962 (46.0%) interval. After policy implementation, inpatient postpartum LARC insertions increased from 2.6 per 100 deliveries to 16.8 per 100 deliveries. Significant differences in uptake were seen in Black and Hispanic populations. The number of outpatient postpartum LARCs remained stable and tubal sterilizations decreased. Implementation of reimbursement policies contributed to a sharp uptake of inpatient postpartum LARCs. Improved access to effective, reversible contraception could reduce the number of unplanned and short interpregnancy interval pregnancies, ultimately lowering rates of maternal morbidity and mortality.
LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-BINDING PROTEIN, SOLUBLE CD14, AND INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE PRODUCTION AMONG TERM AND PRETERM PREGNANCIES EXPOSED TO CLINICAL CHORIOAMNIONITIS

Objective Intrauterine infections and the resulting maternal and fetal inflammatory response have been recognized as contributors to morbidity and mortality, especially among preterm infants. Bacterial endotoxin binds to lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and CD14. The interaction of endotoxin-LBP-CD14 complexes with toll-like and others receptors leads to production of inflammatory cytokines. We examined the relationship between cytokines, LBP and CD14 among term and preterm pregnancies with or without clinical chorioamnionitis. Methods We measured cytokine concentrations (IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, TNFa) in maternal postpartum plasma and supernatants from LPS-stimulated cord blood mononuclear cells from 44 preterm (24–36 weeks gestation) and 52 term newborns (37–42 weeks) with Luminex multiplexing. LBP and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in maternal and cord plasma were measured with ELISA. We diagnosed clinical chorioamnionitis using Gibbs criteria, and defined significance as p Results Plasma concentrations of fetal LBP versus fetal sCD14 and maternal LBP versus maternal sCD14 correlated significantly (Spearman correlation = +0.46, p Conclusions Previous reports have shown that elevated sCD14 and LBP can promote pro-inflammatory immunity, especially in the extravascular compartment. Our findings suggest an association between clinical chorioamnionitis, fetal LBP and sCD14 and maternal inflammatory cytokines, which in turn might predispose these newborns to pathological inflammatory conditions.
An Examination of Risk Factors for Tobacco and Cannabis Smoke Exposure in Adolescents Using an Epigenetic Biomarker

Objective: Evolving patterns of nicotine and cannabis use by adolescents require new tools to understand the changing epidemiology of these substances. Here we describe the use of a novel epigenetic biomarker sensitive to both tobacco and cannabis smoke in a longitudinal sample of high-risk adolescents. We examine risk factors for positivity for this epigenetic biomarker in comparison to positivity for conventional serum biomarkers of nicotine and cannabis use. Method: Eastern Iowa 10th graders who had a friend or family member who smoked were eligible to participate in a longitudinal study over 10-12th grades. Subjects provided self-report data on nicotine, tobacco, and cannabis use patterns as well as blood samples that were used for serum cotinine and THC assays. DNA was prepared for analysis of methylation at the CpG cg05575921, a sensitive indicator of smoke exposure. Relationships between positivity for each these biomarkers and a variety of risk factors, including demographics, family and peer relationships, psychopathology, willingness to smoke, and perceptions of typical cigarette and cannabis users, were examined at the 10th (n = 442), 11th (n = 376), and 12th (n = 366) grade timepoints. Results: A increasing proportion of subjects were positive for cotinine (5-16%), THC (3-10%), and cg05575921 methylation (5-7%) across timepoints, with some overlap. Self-reported combusted tobacco and cannabis use was strongly correlated with all biomarkers, whereas cg05575921 methylation was not correlated with reported e-cigarette use. Dual users, defined as those positive for nicotine and THC in the 12th grade showed the greatest cumulative smoke exposure, indicated by cg05575921 methylation. Subjects reported more positive attitudes toward cannabis users than cigarette smokers, and willingness to smoke and positive perceptions of tobacco and cannabis smokers were significant risk factors for biomarker positivity across timepoints. Conclusion: We conclude that measurement of cg05575921 methylation in adolescents is a useful tool in detecting tobacco smoking in adolescents, and may be a novel tool for the detection of cannabis smoking and cannabis and tobacco co-use, though non-combusted forms of nicotine use do not appear to be detectable by this method.
Allocation of Private External Loans

Let us consider next the pattern of allocation of capital entering through private channels. Although these investments were guided mainly by the market forces at home and abroad, they must also be seen against the background of economic policies we have broadly outlined. Furthermore, the allocation of foreign private capital must be avaluated in conjunction with the allocation of foreign capital by the governments, and, more generally, within the framework of the aggregate investment activity.
Mountain-Block Hydrology and Mountain-Front Recharge.

In semiarid climates, a significant component of recharge to basin aquifers occurs along the mountain front. Traditionally called “mountain-front recharge” (MFR), this process has been treated by modelers of basins as a boundary condition. In general, mountain-front recharge estimates are based on the general precipitation characteristics of the mountain (as estimated, e.g., by the chloride mass balance and water balance methods), or by calibration of a basin groundwater model. These methods avoid altogether the complexities of the hydrologic system above the mountain front, or at best consider only traditional runoff process. Consequently hydrology above the mountain front is an area ripe for significant scientific advancement. A complete view would consider the entire mountain block system and examine hydrologic processes from the slope of the highest peak to the depth of the deepest circulating groundwater. Important aspects above the mountain front include the partitioning of rainfall and snowmelt into vegetation-controlled evapotranspiration, surface runoff, and deep infiltration through bedrock, especially its fractures and faults. Focused flow along mountain stream channels and the diffuse movement of groundwater through the underlying mountain block would both be considered. This paper first defines some key terms, then reviews methods of studying MFR in arid and semiarid regions, discusses hydrological processes in the mountain block, and finally addresses some of the basic questions raised by the new mountain-block hydrology approach, as well as future directions for mountain-block hydrology research.
Persistence of Antibody After Administration of Monovalent and Combined Live Attenuated Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccines

Hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies were retained in comparable levels eight years after vaccination with Enders' original Edmonston and more attenuated Moraten (Attenuvax) and Schwarz line measles vaccines. Neutralizing antibody persisted without substantial decline in titer for at least 9.5 years after administration of Jeryl Lynn mumps virus vaccine (Mumpsvax). Antibodies were retained without important decline in children and adults for at least 7.5 and 7 years, respectively, after administration of HPV-77 duck-modified rubella vaccine (Meruvax). The patterns of antibody persistence 7.5 years after administration of combined measles-mumps-rubella (M-M-R) and mumps-rubella (Biavax) vaccines, 6 years after administration of measles-rubella vaccine (M-R-VAX), and 4 years after administration of measles-mumps vaccine (M-M-VAX) were the same as for the monovalent vaccines, indicating no alteration in the retention of immunity. Subclinical reinfection evidenced by increase in homologous antibody titer was observed to follow vaccination the same as occurs after natural infection.
How to Write a Research Manuscript

This unit provides a step-by-step guide to help you turn your high-quality data into a high-quality manuscript for publication in a scientific journal. It covers all aspects of the writing process, including: choosing a journal to which to submit your paper, how to proceed through writing each section, formulating your “story,” making figures, soliciting constructive criticism, and navigating the review process. Curr. Protoc. Essential Lab. Tech. 2:A.5C.1-A.5C.18. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: manuscript; journal; figure; review; publication
Perceiving Benefits in the Cancer Experience

The potential for benefits to be construed under stressful circumstances has become a topic of interest for researchers studying psychological reactions to adversity. This paper examines benefit-construal following one such stressful event—cancer. A simple framework is presented to organize qualitative and quantitative data from various literatures, including psychology, nursing, oncology, and social work, into 3 areas in which cancer survivors frequently report deriving benefits: life perspective, interpersonal relationships, and the self. This typology helps to clarify the extent and nature of benefit-finding in cancer survivors and provides directions for future research.
Using Monosodium Glutamate to Initiate Ethanol Self-Administration in Inbred Mouse Strains

Voluntary oral ethanol consumption in rodents is generally limited by strong taste-aversion in these species. Historically, this has been overcome by combining ethanol with a sweetener, typically sucrose or saccharine, and then slowly ‘fading’ away the sweetener. While useful in most instances, this approach has not proven as successful for some inbred strains of mice (e.g. DBA/2J) despite consistent evidence in the literature that these same strains express strong conditioned place preference for intraperitoneal- or intragastric-administered ethanol. Importantly, DBA/2J mice express a polymorphism in a ‘sweet’ taste receptor subunit gene that reduces the potency of sweet substances in these mice. We hypothesized that the presence of this polymorphism might help explain the contrasting behavioral findings of weak voluntary oral ethanol consumption following sucrose-fade yet robust conditioned place-preference for ethanol in this strain. To test this, we compared ethanol consumption initiated by either a ‘traditional’ sucrose-fade or a fade from an alternative tastant, monosodium glutamate (MSG). We found that in both C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice the MSG-fade produced robust increases in home-cage ethanol consumption relative to the traditional sucrose-fade. This increased ethanol intake following MSG-fade was evident across a range of ethanol concentrations. Our findings suggest the potential utility of the MSG-fade to establish stable voluntary oral ethanol consumption in mice, particularly ethanol ‘non-preferring’ strains like DBA/2J, and lend additional support to the notion that ethanol consumption in DBA/2J mice is limited by pronounced taste aversion.
Vasodilator action of calcium antagonists in coronary arteries in vitro.

Calcium antagonists have routinely been assumed to inhibit the contractions of arterial smooth muscle through block of membrane channels. The effects of nifedipine and diltiazem on contractions were examined in in vitro preparations of cattle coronary artery, one of the key therapeutic targets of calcium antagonists, to determine if alternate mechanisms of action are involved. Contractions elicited in calcium-free Krebs, in the presence of U 46619, to potassium channel inhibitors (4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium) and to a Na+-K+-ATPase inhibitor (ouabain), were antagonized by low concentrations of nifedipine (3 × 10− 9 - 3 × 10− 8M) and by diltiazem (3 × 10− 8 and 1 × 10− 7 M). Contractions produced in calcium-free Krebs to KCl (50 mM) were antagonized similarly by calcium antagonists. Contractions to depolarizing agents in calcium-free Krebs were antagonized at lower concentrations of nifedipine than comparably elicited responses in Krebs containing 2.3 mM calcium. In addition, higher concentrations of nifedipine were required to antagonize contractions to extracellular calcium, produced in preparations maintained in calcium-free Krebs in the presence of KCl (50 mM), than were needed to block contractions to KCl or to potassium channel inhibitors elicited in calcium-free Krebs. Pretreatment of preparations in calcium-free Krebs with ryanodine (30 μM) did not reduce the nifedipine-sensitive contractions elicited in calcium-free Krebs. It is concluded that at least some of the therapeutic effects of calcium antagonists on arterial tone may be the consequence of antagonism at vascular smooth muscle cell site(s) at which calcium is released or interacts, rather than of block of calcium entry through membrane L channels.
Defining Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) is a mixed modal form of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) exhibiting a polar stationary phase similar to normal-phase liquid chromatography (NPLC), a mobile phase with similar components to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC), and retention of highly polar and charged analytes similar to ion-exchange systems. HILIC employs a mostly organic mobile phase with a small amount of aqueous buffer. The aqueous buffer forms a stagnant water-rich layer on the more polar stationary phase allowing for specific retention of charged and/or highly polar analytes that are usually poorly retained in reversed-phase formats. HILIC contains many parameters that can be developed to provide specific retention. Other advantages of HILIC include decreased back pressure and increased ionization when coupled to an electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometer owing to high organic mobile phases. This article aims to define HILIC as a delineated form of HPLC and a viable option for orthogonal retention to reversed-phase mechanisms. Stationary phases are introduced, mobile-phase components examined, and method development explained. Keywords: HILIC; liquid chromatography; mass spectrometer; polar analytes
Effect of biomineralized manganese on pitting corrosion of type 304l stainless steel

During the past few years, biomineralized manganese has been shown to cause ennoblement of various stainless steels to open circuit potentials of 300–400 mV/SCE. We have demonstrated that ennoblement, caused by biologically deposited manganese minerals, along with a relatively low stainless steel pitting potential, caused by the presence of chloride, is sufficient to initiate and drive active pitting corrosion. Stainless steel samples (type 304L), chemically or microbiologically ennobled with manganese dioxide, were exposed to a 0.35% w/v NaCl solution; an environment otherwise not corrosive against the 304L stainless steel. In the first case, steel samples were ennobled by electroplating the sample with a thin film of manganese dioxide, except for a small anodic area. In the latter case, the manganese dioxide was deposited on the steel within biofilms of the manganese oxidizing bacterium Leptothrix discophora SP-6. After 24 h exposure to the chloride solution the samples were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Both types of ennobled samples were found severely pitted, whereas reference samples (w/o manganese minerals) had remained intact. Einfluss von biomineralischem Mangan auf die Lochkorrosion von nichtrostendem Stahl des Typ 304L In den letzten Jahren hat es sich gezeigt, dass biomineralisiertes Mangan die Veredelung von nichtrostendem Stahl zu freien Korrosionspotentialen von 300–400 mV/SCE verursachen kann. Wir haben gezeigt, dass die Veredelung von nichtrostendem Stahl durch mikrobiologisch gebildete Manganminerale kombiniert mit einem relativ niedrigen Lochkorrosionspotential des nichtrostenden Stahls in chloridhaltigem Wasser hinreichend ist, um aktive Lochkorrosion zu initiieren. Proben von nichtrostendem Stahl (Typ 304L), chemisch oder mikrobiologisch veredelt mit Manganoxid, wurden einer 0,35% w/v NaCl-Losung ausgesetzt; ein Milieu, das normalerweise bei 304L nichtrostendem Stahl keine Korrosion herbeifuhren kann. In dem ersten Experiment wurden die Stahlproben mit Ausnahme von einem kleinen anodischem Bereich mit einem dunnen Manganoxidfilm veredelt. In dem zweiten Experiment wurde das Manganoxid in Biofilmen, bestehend aus dem Mangan-oxidierenden Bakterium Leptothrix discophora SP-6, auf dem Stahl abgelagert. Nach 24 h in der Chloridlosung wurden die Proben mit Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM) untersucht. Bei beiden Typen von Veredelung wurden wesentliche Lochkorrosionsangriffe gefunden, gleichzeitig waren Kontrollproben (ohne Manganminerale) intakt.
Ring-Opening Polymerization of ε-Caprolactone Initiated by Ganciclovir (GCV) for the Preparation of GCV-Tagged Polymeric Micelles

Ganciclovir (GCV) is a nucleoside analogue with antiviral activity against herpes viral infections, and the most widely used antiviral to treat cytomegalovirus infections. However, the low bioavailability and short half-life of GCV necessitate the development of a carrier for sustained delivery. In this study, guanosine-based GCV was used as the initiator directly in ring-opening polymerization of e-caprolactone (e-CL) to form hydrophobic GCV-poly(caprolactone) (GCV-PCL) which was then grafted with hydrophilic chitosan to form amphiphilic copolymers for the preparation of stable micellar nanoparticles. Successful synthesis of GCV-PCL and GCV-PCL-chitosan were verified by 1H-NMR analysis. Self-assembled micellar nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering and zetasizer with an average size of 117 nm and a positive charge of 24.2 mV. The drug release kinetics of GCV was investigated and cytotoxicity assay demonstrated that GCV-tagged polymeric micelles were non-toxic. Our results showed that GCV could be used directly in the initiation of ring-opening polymerization of e-CL and non-toxic polymeric micelles for GCV delivery can be formed.
Diagnosis of urethral diverticula in females

Female urethral diverticula are probably a more common cause of symptomatology than is generally suspected. Radiologic techniques may play a key role in their demonstration. Particularly in the patient with clinical findings referable to the urethral area, fluoroscopy of the urethra as part of cystography as well as the use of urethral catheters may be helpful in diagnosis.
Low-frequency radiation from point sources in a fluid-filled borehole

Far‐field displacement fields have been derived for an impulsive point force acting on a fluid‐filled borehole wall under the assumption that the borehole diameter is small compared to the wavelength involved. The displacements due to an arbitrary source can be computed easily by combining the solutions for the impulsive sources. In general, the borehole source generates not only longitudinal and vertically polarized shear waves, but also horizontally polarized shear waves. This study also indicates that only the axisymmetric motion around the borehole due to normal stress is affected by the fluid in the borehole. In the long‐wavelength limit, the presence of the fluid does not affect the radiation from tangential sources into the surrounding medium.
Alcohol and non-traffic unintended injuries

In a review of the English language literature on alcohol and unintentional injury we identified 21 studies on falls, 36 on drownings and 32 on burns from 1947-1986. The proportion of fatal and non-fatal fall victims who had been drinking ranged from 21-77%, and 18-53% respectively. In three more recent studies, 35-63% of persons fatally injured in falls had been drinking. In five other studies 13-37% of persons injured in non fatal falls had been drinking. In our earlier review of drowning studies with complete ascertainment and duration of submergence specified, 27-47% of those who drowned had positive BAC's. In eight subsequent studies, alcohol was identified in 21-47% of drowning deaths. In our earlier review alcohol was involved in 9-86% of burn deaths. In five more recent US studies, alcohol was found in 12-61% of fatally injured burn victims. Case control studies are needed to establish whether alcohol increases the risk of trauma. Studies are also needed of interventions to reduce the proportion of these injuries where alcohol is involved.
Scholastic performance of short-statured children with hypopituitarism.

Summary School achievement was satisfactory in 9 of 10 children with short stature due to hypopituitarism. The influence of a stable family and the stimulus of the educational system appear to have provided these children with a means to acceptance through social and academic performance. Psychological studies yielded no information that could be generalized but tended rather to emphasize individual characteristics.
Modeling resource-coupled computations

Increasingly massive datasets produced by simulations beg the question How will we connect this data to the computational and display resources that support visualization and analysis? This question is driving research into new approaches to allocating computational, storage, and network resources. In this paper we explore potential solutions that couple system resources in new ways.Examples of what we mean by resource-coupled computations abound. For example, remote visualization is an activity that may couple data and large computation resources at the shared facility to client software and display hardware at the remote site. In situ analysis and visualization contemporaneously merges simulation and analysis onto the shared resource of the supercomputing platform. Co-analysis approaches seek to directly couple simulations running on a primary supercomputer to live analysis running on an optimized visualization and analysis platform over a high-performance network.Consequently, we are working on a systems approach to modeling the end-to-end activity of extracting understanding from computational models. In this paper we present our methods and results from experiments.