cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monochloramine Disinfection Kinetics of Nitrosomonas europaea by Propidium Monoazide Quantitative PCR and Live/Dead BacLight Methods

Monochloramine disinfection kinetics were determined for the pure-culture ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) by two culture-independent methods, namely, Live/Dead BacLight (LD) and propidium monoazide quantitative PCR (PMA-qPCR). Both methods were first verified with mixtures of heat-killed (nonviable) and non-heat-killed (viable) cells before a series of batch disinfection experiments with stationary-phase cultures (batch grown for 7 days) at pH 8.0, 25°C, and 5, 10, and 20 mg Cl2/liter monochloramine. Two data sets were generated based on the viability method used, either (i) LD or (ii) PMA-qPCR. These two data sets were used to estimate kinetic parameters for the delayed Chick-Watson disinfection model through a Bayesian analysis implemented in WinBUGS. This analysis provided parameter estimates of 490 mg Cl2-min/liter for the lag coefficient (b) and 1.6 × 10−3 to 4.0 × 10−3 liter/mg Cl2-min for the Chick-Watson disinfection rate constant (k). While estimates of b were similar for both data sets, the LD data set resulted in a greater k estimate than that obtained with the PMA-qPCR data set, implying that the PMA-qPCR viability measure was more conservative than LD. For N. europaea, the lag phase was not previously reported for culture-independent methods and may have implications for nitrification in drinking water distribution systems. This is the first published application of a PMA-qPCR method for disinfection kinetic model parameter estimation as well as its application to N. europaea or monochloramine. Ultimately, this PMA-qPCR method will allow evaluation of monochloramine disinfection kinetics for mixed-culture bacteria in drinking water distribution systems.
The Use of Galiximab in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Monoclonal antibodies are expanding the therapeutic options for patients with B-cell lymphoma. Despite the antitumor activity of rituximab alone or in combination with systemic chemotherapy against various subtypes of B-cell lymphomas, a significant number of patients relapse or do not respond to initial therapy, stressing the need to identify novel molecular targets. CD80 is a surface glycoprotein and a member of the B7 family of costimulatory molecules. CD80 antigen is expressed in antigen-presenting cells, normal B cells, and various subtypes of B-cell lymphomas. Moreover, CD80 is an important regulator of T-cell activation. In addition, in vitro binding of CD80 by specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) results in growth inhibition and apoptosis of normal and malignant B cells. Galiximab is a primatized MoAb targeting CD80. Preclinical studies had shown significant antitumor activity as a single agent or in combination with rituximab against various B-cell lymphoma cell lines in vitro and in vivo. An initial phase I/II study with galiximab as a single agent in patients with relapsed B-cell lymphoma demonstrated its safety and antitumor activity and had provided a framework for future studies. Interestingly, and in contrast with what had been observed with other biologic agents, the time to best response for the responding patients was delayed, suggesting an alternative mechanism of action other than the traditional antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Ongoing and future studies are warranted to further evaluate the therapeutic role of galiximab in the treatment of patients with B-cell lymphomas in combination with rituximab or systemic chemotherapy.
Solving Puzzles With Missing Pieces: The Power of Systems Biology

Life is a program written in DNA. Starting in 1995, genome sequences detailing this program have ushered in a new point of view in biology: a true systems-level, or genome-scale, perspective. The genome sequence for an organism is analogous to having a component list for a circuit, except that many connections between components, and even some of the component functions themselves, are unknown. So how do we solve a puzzle when there are pieces missing? Enter systems biology. The combination of full genome sequences with over half a century of research in genetics, molecular biology, and biochemistry has enabled the genome-scale reconstruction of networks underlying well-studied cellular functions, such as metabolism. A quality-controlled reconstruction process effectively produces a circuit diagram of the metabolic network encoded in an organism's genome that can be modeled mathematically. Thus, a first principles ``bottom-up'' approach to systems biology rooted in fundamental mechanisms has arisen, and the quest to reveal the program that DNA encodes is underway. This article will familiarize you with some of the engineering concepts, methods, and applications in systems biology.
IRA and 401(k)-Type Plan Ownership

This paper examines the extent of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and 401(k)-type ownership by all Americans ages 21-64, regardless of work status, from November 1998 to February 1999, using the 1996 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) data. It includes average account balances for these plans and statistics on the number of years participants contributed to them. Finally, it breaks down ownership and balances into groups of those owning only an IRA, only a 401(k)-type plan, or both. The major findings include that 15.4 percent of Americans ages 21-64 owned an IRA in early 1999, with an average balance of $33,089. By comparison, 22.2 percent owned a 401(k)-type plan, with an average balance of $53,608. The median balance for IRAs was $12,000, and for 401(k)-type plans it was $15,000.
Three-dimensional Bayesian optical diffusion tomography with source-detector calibration

A reconstruction algorithm for three-dimensional optical diffusion tomography is presented that uses Bayesian regularization and iterative coordinate descent optimization incorporating estimation of source-detector coupling coefficients. Simulations show that this is an accurate and efficient approach.
Portable Lecture Capture that Captures the Complete Lecture

Lecture recording is not a new concept nor is high-resolution recording of multimedia presentations that include computer and whiteboard material. We describe a novel portable lecture capture system that captures not only computer content and video as do most modern lecture capture systems but also captures content from whiteboards. The white-board material is captured at high resolution and processed for clarity without the necessity for the electronic whiteboards required by many capture systems. Our presentation system also processes the entire lecture in real time. The system we present is the logical next step in lecture capture technology.
SY33-1CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL: HOW NICOTINE PROMOTES DRINKING VIA STRESS HORMONES

Although tobacco smoking is a well-known risk factor for alcohol abuse, the neural events contributing to this risk remain largely unknown. Nicotine and alcohol share many common cellular and molecular targets that converge upon the mesolimbic dopamine system. Our studies demonstrate that pre-exposure to nicotine increases alcohol self-administration and decreases alcohol-induced dopamine responses. The decreased dopamine response arises from increased inhibitory synaptic transmission onto midbrain dopamine neurons. Blocking stress hormone receptors prior to nicotine exposure prevents all interactions with alcohol that we measured, including the increased inhibition onto dopamine neurons, the decreased dopamine responses, and the increased alcohol self-administration. These results indicate that nicotine recruits neuroendocrine systems to influence reward-related responses to alcohol.
The Apocryphal Epistle to the Laodiceans and the Partitioning of Philippians

In the Harvard Theological Review for January 1994 Philip Sellew offers new external evidence for the partitioning of Philippians.' Observing that the pseudepigraphic Epistle to the Laodiceans,2 which draws extensively upon Philippians for both its content and structure,3 appears to skip over both Letters C (Phil 3:24:3 + 4:7-9) and A (Phil 4:1>20) of the critical reconstruction, Sellew proposes that the compiler of Laodiceans used a version of Philippians not unlike Letter B (Phil 1:1-3:1 + 4:>6 + 4:2s23). If substantiated, this new evidence
Preserving dignity and sense of worth in older adults.

This story is written by a 90-year-old World War II veteran who is revered by both his family and his community, including his nurse and other health professionals who supervise his care. His wife passed away several years ago, but because of the devotion of his family and his engagement with the community, a 24-hour network of care has been arranged, and he is able to remain in his home. For example, his professional caregivers taught him to draw up and administer his own insulin to control his diabetes. He and his wife had nine children, and one of them is a nurse. His family members take turns staying with him around the clock on weekends (Friday through Sunday), and they have hired a caregiver who stays with him for the other four days and nights. His remarkable story, told in his own words, follows below.
CRT-200.69 Incidence of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Compared to Myocardial Infarction: Pattern by Ethnic Variations

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is an increasingly recognized condition that often mimics myocardial infarction (MI). Distinction is important because the clinical course differs extensively, as TCM has favorable prognosis with full LV recovery. Although first reported in Japan, limited information
Change and Persistence in the World System: An Analysis of Global Trade Concentration, 1955–1975

This study extends the empirical investigation of world system theory to certain aggregate characteristics of the world economy. World system theory and a more conventional set of development assumptions are shown to generate divergent predictions of global change and persistence in export trade concentration. Certain conventional assumptions suggest that average concentration and the dispersion of concentration scores will tend to decline more or less systematically with advances in world development. Conversely, world system theory predicts that changes will occur in the relative positions of individual countries but that the global distribution of concentration levels will remain fairly stable over short periods of time. To evaluate these predictions against empirical data, a procedure for decomposing patterns of change is applied to two measures of trade concentration, first for a global sample of countries and then for subsamples representing the periphery, semi-periphery, and core. Results from the decompositions generally conformed to world system predictions by revealing very high levels of positional change within structural statuses of individual countries and negligible or small amounts of change in the core/semi-periphery/periphery structure. These implications rest on a thin evidential base and can be no more than suggestive until the further research that this analysis beckons is conducted on other features of change and persistence in the world system.
Analysis of the related factors affecting the premature anemia

Objective To investigate the factors that are associated with anemia of prematurity.Methods The research project recruited babies(n=168) admitted to Children' s Hospital of Hebei Province from Jan.2012 to Jun.2013.Preterm infants with anemia were divided into groups according to gestational age,birth weight,hemoglobin (Hb) at birth and mechanical ventilation requirement.The average time for onset of anemia and the lowest Hb value were compared.Results The average time for onset of anemia in preterm infants whose gestational age were 32 weeks and birth weight were 1500 g,were(12.9 ± 5.0) d and(12.5 ± 4.1) d respectively.Lowest Hb values were(94.3 ± 14.1) g /L and (90.0 ±10.3) g/L.When gestational age and birth weight increased,the severity of anemia lessened(P 0.05).The average time for onset of anemia in preterm infants whose initial Hb values were≤145 g/L was (7.1 ±1.4) d [the average Hb value was (100.0 ±9.2) g/L].Compared with preterm infants whose initial Hb values were 145 g /L,the time of anemia onset was earlier(P 0.05).The average time for onset of anemia in preterm infants who used mechanical ventilation was(10.5 ± 3.4) d,and the average Hb value was(88.7 ± 9.5) g /L.Compared with the non mechanical ventilation group,the time of anemia onset was earlier,and there was an increased severity of anemia(P 0.05).ConclusionsGestational age and birth weight were associated with anemia of prematurity.The average time for onset of anemia was earlier and the severity of anemia was greater when the gestational age and the birth weight decreased.The average time for onset of anemia was associated with initial Hb values.Mechanical ventilation was associated with increased severity of anemia due to multifactorial causes.
A Practitioner's Guide for Outstanding Cross-curricular Physical Education

This article describes how physical educators can easily embed math and literacy concepts into their curriculum to enhance student learning across disciplines.
Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of an 111In-labeled ST-peptide enterotoxin (ST) analogue for specific targeting of guanylin receptors on human colonic cancers.

Background: Human colonic cancer cells are known to express guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) receptors for guanylin and uroguanylin. E.Coli ST is a peptide with high metabolic stability that specifically binds to GC-C receptors. An in vitro evaluation of a new synthetic indium-111 labeled ST conjugate for specific targeting of human colonic cancers that express GC-C receptors was performed. Materials and Methods: A DOTA conjugated ST analogue DOTA-NCS-6-Ahx-Phe 19 -ST[1-19] (DOTA-NCS-ST) was synthesized and labeled with indium-111. 1. The non-radioactive indium analogue (In-DOTA-NCS-ST) was also prepared in macroscopic quantities. In-DOTA-NCS-ST was produced as a single species (>80% RCP) and purified by HPLC. Human colon cancer CaCO-2 and T-84 cells were used to evaluate the in vitro IC 50 values for GC-C receptor binding and determine the cell uptake and retention of radioactivity. Results: The DOTA-NCS-ST and In-DOTA-NCS-ST conjugates exhibit high in vitro binding affinity for GC-C receptors with IC 50 values <10 nM. The in vitro cell binding studies with the In-DOTA-NCS-ST conjugate demonstrated that 111 In-label ST internalizes in human colon cancer cells and exhibits long-term retention. Conclusion: The combination of radiolabeling efficacy and specific in vitro cell uptake and retention suggests that the DOTA-NCS-ST construct holds potential for the development of diagnostic or therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals labeled with trivalent radiometals for specific targeting of human colonic cancers.
Local Mechanical Perturbation Provides an Effective Means to Regulate the Growth and Assembly of Functional Peptide Fibrils

Mucin 1 (MUC1) peptide fused with Q11 (MUC1-Q11) having 35 residues has previously been shown to form amyloid fibrils. Using time-dependent and high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, it is revealed that the formation of individual MUC1-Q11 fibrils entails nucleation and extension at both ends. This process can be altered by local mechanical perturbations using AFM probes. This work reports two specific perturbations and outcomes. First, by increasing load while maintaining tip-surface contact, the fibrils are cut during the scan due to shearing. Growth of fibrils occurs at the newly exposed termini, following similar mechanism of the MUC1-Q11 nucleation growth. As a result, branched fibrils are seen on the surface whose orientation and length can be controlled by the nuclei orientation and reaction time. In contrast to the "one-time-cut", fibrils can be continuously fragmented by modulation at sufficiently high amplitude. As a result, short and highly branched fibrils accumulate and pile on surfaces. Since the fibril formation and assembly of MUC1-Q11 can be impacted by local mechanical force, this approach offers a nonchemical and label-free means to control the presentation of MUC1 epitopes, and has promising application in MUC1 fibril-based immunotherapy.
Doping of n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ polysilicon in a dual-gate CMOS process

The feasibility of fabricating dual-gate CMOS devices using the same implant to dope the polysilicon gates and to form shallow n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ source-drain junctions are demonstrated. With proper choices of polysilicon thickness, implant dose, and anneal conditions, flatband voltages approaching the degenerately doped values can be obtained simultaneously with the formation of shallow (less than 0.15 mu m) source-drain junctions. The process has been implemented in a high-performance 0.25 mu m CMOS technology, and threshold voltages within 100 mV of those expected from degenerate n/sup +/ and p/sup +/ polysilicon work functions have been achieved. There is a slight reduction in FET current due to a finite depletion width at the polysilicon/gate oxide interface, which is projected to become worse with thinner gate oxides. >
Is the SIS 3.0 Valid for Use at a Rehabilitation Setting in Korea for Patients with Stroke

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Stroke Impact Scale 3.0 (K-SIS 3.0) in patients with stroke. Methods: Patients with stroke longer than 3 months were invited to participate in the study at specialized rehabilitation centers in Busan. Information on patients was collected using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Modified Bathel Index (MBI), Beck Depres sion Index (BDI), WHODAS 2.0-12 item, and K-SIS. Floor and ceiling effects of each domain of K-SIS were examined. The internal consis tency of each domain of the K-SIS was calculated using Cronbach`s α. Correlation between K-SIS and each scale was assessed using Spearman`s correlation coefficient. Results: Ninety subjects participated in the study. The K-SIS was found to have excellent internal consistency (Cronbach`s α=0.93). Each domain of the consistency ranged from 0.86 to 0.94, except the emotion (α=0.51). Significant correlations were observed between MMSE and domains of memory and thinking, and communication (r=0.48 and 0.52 respectively). BDI was negatively related to domains of emotion, ADL, mobility, and participation (r=-0.43, -0.49, -0.52 and -0.33 respectively). Specific daily activity (MBI) and general func tioning (WHODAS 2.0) were also found to be closely related to the domains of ADL, mobility, and participation (ranging from r=-0.41 to r=-0.59). No ceiling and floor effect was observed. Conclusion: Excellent reliability and validity of K-SIS were obtained in the study and it could be suggested that K-SIS may be used for patients with stroke for collection of information on functioning in the clinical context.
Dasatinib and rapamycin synergistically inhibit the proliferation of cells expressing oncogenic KIT kinase via global inhibition of AKT-dependent signaling

5416 Activating mutations of KIT are found in association with several human neoplasms including subsets of patients with GIST, AML or systemic mast cell disorders (SM). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have proven clinical activity in these diseases, but responses are largely partial or incomplete. We previously demonstrated that dasatinib (formerly BMS-354825), a small-molecule low ATP-competitive inhibitor of SRC and ABL tyrosine kinases, potently inhibits imatinib-sensitive as well as -resistant mutant KIT isoforms. We now show that, inhibition of KIT phosphorylation (as a surrogate for kinase activation) does not completely inhibit AKT activity allowing continued activation of the mTOR-p70S6kinase pathway. In our study, we used mastocytosis, leukemia and hematopoietic cell lines with endogenous or exogenous mutant KIT isoforms (wildtype, D816V, D816Y, V560G). The inhibitory effect of dasatinib and/or rapamycin on KIT-dependent downstream pathways was evaluated by immunoblotting. In addition, the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of monotherapy vs. combination therapy were also evaluated. We report herein, that KIT activates downstream pathways important for cell viability and cell survival including the MAP Kinase (MAPK), STAT and PI3K/AKT pathways. Dasatinib inhibited KIT activation and resulted in decreased phosphorylation of members of the MAPK1/2, STAT3 and AKT pathways. Notably, dasatinib treatment abolished phosphorylation of AKT Ser-473 whereas AKT Thr-308 remained constitutively phosphorylated. This partial inhibition of AKT activity was insufficient to completely inhibit downstream kinases, such as p70S6Kinase, a known substrate of mTOR (Target Of Rapamycin). To determine the biological effect of more completely inhibiting AKT-dependent signaling, we tested combinations of dasatinib with rapamycin, using doses of that did not have any significant anti-tumor effects when administered as monotherapy. The combination of dasatinib and rapamycin demonstrated strong additive to synergistic inhibition of cellular proliferation and induction of apoptosis. We conclude that inhibition of oncogenic KIT signaling by dasatinib is insufficient to completely inhibit AKT-dependent signaling (e.g. p70S6kinase). Thus, combination therapy of KIT-dependent malignancies using a TKI such as dasatinib along with rapamycin may improve clinical efficacy compared with TKI monotherapy.
Organized Anarchies: The Role of the President in Today's University

Throughout my tenure as a college president, I often encountered visitors to the campus who, upon hearing my title, inevitably responded: “Oh, so you run the place.”Hardly.A college president is in...
Secure DIMM: Moving ORAM Primitives Closer to Memory

As more critical applications move to the cloud, there is a pressing need to provide privacy guarantees for data and computation. While cloud infrastructures are vulnerable to a variety of attacks, in this work, we focus on an attack model where an untrusted cloud operator has physical access to the server and can monitor the signals emerging from the processor socket. Even if data packets are encrypted, the sequence of addresses touched by the program serves as an information side channel. To eliminate this side channel, Oblivious RAM constructs have been investigated for decades, but continue to pose large overheads. In this work, we make the case that ORAM overheads can be significantly reduced by moving some ORAM functionality into the memory system. We first design a secure DIMM (or SDIMM) that uses commodity low-cost memory and an ASIC as a secure buffer chip. We then design two new ORAM protocols that leverage SDIMMs to reduce bandwidth, latency, and energy per ORAM access. In both protocols, each SDIMM is responsible for part of the ORAM tree. Each SDIMM performs a number of ORAM operations that are not visible to the main memory channel. By having many SDIMMs in the system, we are able to achieve highly parallel ORAM operations. The main memory channel uses its bandwidth primarily to service blocks requested by the CPU, and to perform a small subset of the many shuffle operations required by conventional ORAM. The new protocols guarantee the same obliviousness properties as Path ORAM. On a set of memory-intensive workloads, our two new ORAM protocols – Independent ORAM and Split ORAM – are able to improve performance by 1.9x and energy by 2.55x, compared to Freecursive ORAM.
DIFFERENTIAL MODULES AND THEOREM OF HUKUHARA–TURRITTIN

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on Hukuhara–Turrittin theorem. It presents an intrinsic meaning of this theorem in terms of differential modules. The theorem of Hukuhara–Turrittin gives complete information of formal solutions of a linear system of ordinary differential equations at a singular point. Such results are useful even in the study of nonlinear problems. The chapter presents the precise statement of the Theorem of Hukuhara–Turrittin. It explains the differential modules. The chapter also discusses the cyclic vectors and factorization of the polynomial.
Accessory gene regulator controls Staphylococcus aureus virulence in endophthalmitis.

Purpose. To evaluate the contribution of toxins to the severity of Staphylococcus aureus endophthalmitis. Methods. Experimental endophthalmitis was established by injecting rabbit eyes with wild type S. aureus ISP479 and the isogenic attenuated strain, ISP546, defective in expression of the global regulator locus agr. agr regulates expression of at least 19 exoproteins that are potentially important in the pathogenesis of endophthalmitis. Infections were evaluated using electroretinography, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and histology. Two concentrations (approximately 10 and 1000 organisms) of bacteria were injected. Results. The agr- strain consistently resulted in slower loss of b-wave response when compared to the wild type strain, irrespective of inoculum size. Clinical signs were less severe among the agr- group at 24 and 48 hours when 10 organisms were injected. However, when the number of bacteria injected was increased to 1000, earlier onset of clinical signs was observed, with both groups showing maximum cell and flare and a white fundal reflex at 48 hours after infection. Histologic examination of eyes enucleated 36 hours after inoculation revealed that the wild type strain induced focal retinal destruction and mild vitritis, whereas eyes infected with the agr- strain remained completely normal. Histologic examination carried out when loss of B-wave response was 100% revealed that retinal changes for both groups could not be distinguished. Conclusions. These data indicate that toxin production by S. aureus contributes to severity of endophthalmitis by accelerating the rate of onset of retinal damage. Therefore, toxin-targeting therapies instituted early in the course of infection could preserve retinal function. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 ;36 :1828-1836.
On a Parametrization of Purifications of a Qubit

This work provides, constructively, explicit one–one parametrizations of all purifications of a mixed state in dimension 2 and all joint purifications, if any, of two mixed states in the same dimension. The former is parametrized by SO(3, R), while the latter is parametrized by SO(2, R), except when the state being purified is already pure. These parametrizations are derived without any passage to the spectral decompositions of the state(s) being purified. Using this, we show how to calculate certain measures of quantum information. The appendix considers an alternative one–one parametrization of mixed states in C2 ⊗ C2, which provides a different explicit construction of joint purifications. PACS: 03.67-a; 03.67-Hk; 03.67-Lx
Multifocal visual evoked potentials and contrast sensitivity correlate with ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness in multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Objective To examine the relationship between optical coherence tomography (OCT) macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness (GCIPLT), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT) and visual function in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods Cirrus OCT, VERIS 60-sector multifocal visual evoked potential (mfVEP) and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity (CS) were obtained for 53 eyes with last optic neuritis (ON) > 6 months and 105 non-ON eyes in 90 patients. One eye (43 ON, 73 non-ON) was used for correlations when both had the same history. Global (G, 60 sectors) and central 5.6° (C, 24 sectors) mfVEP amplitude and latency were calculated as mean logSNR and median latency. Results Eyes showing abnormal mfVEP (amplitude or latency) vs OCT (GCIPLT or RNFLT) was 77% vs 69% (p = 0.33) in ON, 45% vs 22% (p Conclusions MfVEP measures and CS correlated well with GCIPLT and RNFLT in ON and non-ON. MfVEP amplitudes were more highly correlated with GCIPLT than RNFLT in ON. MfVEP detected significantly more defects than OCT in non-ON. Significance GCIPLT, mfVEP and CS provide useful measures of optic nerve integrity in RRMS.
Individualidade e deficiência: “Criatividade Compulsiva” na Comunidade Digital Global

The emergence of digital capital has given birth to “creationist capitalism” in which the creative economy has transformed the relationships between identity, social-belonging, selfhood, labor, and value (Davis & Boellstroff, 2016, p. 2107). According to a substantial body of research, these creative producers are predominantly male, white, heterosexual, and able-bodied. Yet, Davis’s and Boellstroff’s research in Second Life (SL), a rich, digital, global platform that is largely indebted to the disability community for its most innovative spectacles, has shown that “compulsively creative” men and women with disabilities throughout the world have found SL to be an opportunity to engage in the creative economy when employment in real life is not available. This article explores the global effects of SL in the lives of people with disabilities who spent several years meeting avatars in virtual disability communities. I will use a critical disability studies lens that defines disability not only as a social phenomenon but also as an embodied reality. This would include the body as self, a social entity in terms of position and orientation in the world, and as the “body politic,” which signifies the effects from institutional structures that control, regulate and exclude impaired bodies (Maybee, 2017). Therefore, the avatar body in a virtual place will be the primary site of exploration.
A Responsive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent for Detection of Excess Copper(II) in the Liver In Vivo

The design, synthesis, and properties of a new gadolinium-based copper-responsive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent is presented. The sensor (GdL1) has high selectivity for copper ions and exhibits a 43% increase in r1 relaxivity (20 MHz) upon binding to 1 equiv of Cu2+ in aqueous buffer. Interestingly, in the presence of physiological levels of human serum albumin (HSA), the r1 relaxivity is amplified further up to 270%. Additional spectroscopic and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies show that Cu2+ is coordinated by two carboxylic acid groups and the single amine group on an appended side chain of GdL1 and forms a ternary complex with HSA (GdL1-Cu2+-HSA). T1-weighted in vivo imaging demonstrates that GdL1 can detect basal, endogenous labile copper(II) ions in living mice. This offers a unique opportunity to explore the role of copper ions in the development and progression of neurological diseases such as Wilson's disease.
Underutilized strategies in traffic safety: Results of a nationally representative survey.

Objective: Numerous strategies proven to be effective in reducing crash fatalities have been underutilized in the United States, including sobriety checkpoints; automated enforcement; lower blood a...
The effects of the inactivation of Hydroxyproline dehydrogenase on urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion in mouse models of primary hyperoxaluria.

Abstract The major clinical manifestation of the Primary Hyperoxalurias (PH) is increased production of oxalate, as a consequence of genetic mutations that lead to aberrant glyoxylate and hydroxyproline metabolism. Hyperoxaluria can lead to the formation of calcium-oxalate kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis and renal failure. Current therapeutic approaches rely on organ transplants and more recently modifying the pathway of oxalate synthesis using siRNA therapy. We have recently reported that the metabolism of trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline (Hyp), an amino acid derived predominantly from collagen metabolism, is a significant source of oxalate production in individuals with PH2 and PH3. Thus, the first enzyme in the Hyp degradation pathway, hydroxyproline dehydrogenase (HYPDH), represents a promising therapeutic target for reducing endogenous oxalate production in these individuals. This is supported by the observation that individuals with inherited mutations in HYPDH (PRODH2 gene) have no pathological consequences. The creation of mouse models that do not express HYPDH will facilitate research evaluating HYPDH as a target. We describe the phenotype of the Prodh2 knock out mouse model and show that the lack of HYPDH in PH mouse models results in lower levels of urinary oxalate excretion, consistent with our previous metabolic tracer and siRNA-based knockdown studies. The double knockout mouse, Grhpr KO (PH2 model) and Prodh2 KO, prevented calcium-oxalate crystal deposition in the kidney, when placed on a 1% Hyp diet. These observations support the use of the Grhpr KO mice to screen HYPDH inhibitors in vivo. Altogether these data support HYPDH as an attractive therapeutic target for PH2 and PH3 patients.
Discovering Identity and Purpose in the Classroom: Theoretical, Empirical, and Applied Perspectives

Identity formation has long been considered a crucial developmental task that evolves into a deep sense of purpose. As many adolescents spend the majority of their waking hours within the school context, there is great potential to boost both identity and purpose through the educational setting—via curriculum and instruction, extracurricular opportunities, school climate and culture, purpose development classes, and guidance from teachers. This chapter reviews the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence for expecting links between identity and purpose. The challenges, opportunities, and benefits of addressing identity and purpose within the school context are also discussed. An innovative charter school program is unpacked as an illustration of how identity and purpose might be effectively fostered in the classroom. Conclusions and implications are examined in light of cultural sensitivity, diversity, and inclusion.
Sex Differences in the Epilepsies and Associated Comorbidities: Implications for Use and Development of Pharmacotherapies

The epilepsies are common neurologic disorders characterized by spontaneous recurrent seizures. Boys, girls, men, and women of all ages are affected by epilepsy and, in many cases, by associated comorbidities as well. The primary courses of treatment are pharmacological, dietary, and/or surgical, depending on several factors, including the areas of the brain affected and the severity of the epilepsy. There is a growing appreciation that sex differences in underlying brain function and in the neurobiology of epilepsy are important factors that should be accounted for in the design and development of new therapies. In this review, we discuss the current knowledge on sex differences in epilepsy and associated comorbidities, with emphasis on those aspects most informative for the development of new pharmacotherapies. Particular focus is placed on sex differences in the prevalence and presentation of various focal and generalized epilepsies; psychiatric, cognitive, and physiologic comorbidities; catamenial epilepsy in women; sex differences in brain development; the neural actions of sex and stress hormones and their metabolites; and cellular mechanisms, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling and neuronal-glial interactions. Further attention placed on potential sex differences in epilepsies, comorbidities, and drug effects will enhance therapeutic options and efficacy for all patients with epilepsy. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that often presents together with various comorbidities. The features of epilepsy and seizure activity as well as comorbid afflictions can vary between men and women. In this review, we discuss sex differences in types of epilepsies, associated comorbidities, pathophysiological mechanisms, and antiepileptic drug efficacy in both clinical patient populations and preclinical animal models.
Evaluation of sporadic bovine alkaline phosphatase interference in the Beckman Access unconjugated estriol (uE3) assay affecting maternal serum screening results.

Abstract Objectives Bovine alkaline phosphatase (BALP) mediated interference is a potential issue in the Beckman Access unconjugated estriol (uE3) assay. As the uE3 assay is a component of second trimester maternal serum screening characterizing this interference is essential for delivering accurate trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 risks. Design and methods Residual serum samples (n = 517) were measured by two different lots of uE3 assay. Scavenger BALP (sBALP) was added to all samples to remove potential BALP dependent interference and assessed using both lots of uE3 reagent. Results BALP mediated interference was observed in similar frequency in both lots of reagent (~3%), although the patterns of positive and negative interference differed between the lots. Pretreatment with sBALP improved lot-to-lot comparison. The presence of BALP related interference was not related to the concentration of endogenous human alkaline phosphatase. The use of polyethylene glycol and sBALP treatment appeared to mitigate BALP mediated interference equally well, and resulted in concordance in measured uE3 concentrations between reagent lots. Additionally, heterophile antibody interference was observed in two samples affected with BALP interference, and the heterophile antibody interference was resolved by both PEG and heterophile antibody blocking reagent treatment, but not sBALP treatment. While the maternal screen numeric risk for affected samples changed, the risk classification changed from a negative to positive screen in two samples. Conclusions Interference in the uE3 assay has the potential to affect maternal serum risk calculations in different reagent lots, and pretreatment of samples with scavenger BALP or PEG should be considered in cases of unexplained uE3 concentrations.
Women’s Experiences in Life, Death, and Burial: The St. Bride’s Parish Records

This chapter introduces the history of St. Bride’s as well as data from the St. Bride’s parish archive and discusses the longevity of the women buried there, as well as their causes and locations of death. Who were these women? How long did they live? Where, and how, did they die? These questions have direct bearing on one of the central questions of this book—was the corset responsible for maiming and killing women? If it is, then a deep look into the demographic data of St. Bride’s Parish will give us an idea of that. To examine these questions, Gibson collates burial record data from the years between 1770 and 1849 in the St. Bride’s parish. These data, recorded by the rectors of the parish, included names, ages, death dates, and burial ground location for all of the women, and location and cause of death for a subset of women. In total, there were 3815 recorded deaths in that 80-year span. Using the locations, Gibson maps the parish bounds, and discusses the inclusion of women from the prison and the local workhouses.
Characters of equivariant -modules on spaces of matrices

We compute the characters of the simple -equivariant holonomic -modules on the vector spaces of general, symmetric, and skew-symmetric matrices. We realize some of these -modules explicitly as subquotients in the pole order filtration associated to the of a generic matrix, and others as local cohomology modules. We give a direct proof of a conjecture of Levasseur in the case of general and skew-symmetric matrices, and provide counterexamples in the case of symmetric matrices. The character calculations are used in subsequent work with Weyman to describe the -module composition factors of local cohomology modules with determinantal and Pfaffian support.
FDA's Strategies to Close the Health Equity Gap among Diverse Populations.

This commentary provides an overview of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity.
Openness and Accountability in State Tax Policymaking

Using annual reports to shareholders and the SEC, Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ) demonstrated that many of the largest corporations in the country were paying minimal federal income taxes—indeed, some were receiving large refunds. CTJ’s work was instrumental in shaping public opinion in support of tax reform, which culminated with the Tax Reform Act of 1986. Unfortunately, CTJ’s work cannot be replicated at the state level because neither their annual reports nor any of the documents corporations file with the SEC provide state-by-state tax data. This article argues in favor of disclosing by name of corporation state income tax data. The article argues that disclosure will: (1) raise public consciousness about who bears the costs of government, and (2) facilitate greater public consideration and evaluation of corporate tax policies. The article outlines the weaknesses of the typical arguments against disclosure: (1) disclosure will violate a corporation’s right to privacy; (2) disclosure will reveal proprietary information; (3) disclosure will discourage the filing of accurate tax returns; (4) disclosure is not valuable because the public will not understand tax information; (5) disclosure will undercut the state’s “business climate”; and (6) statistical aggregates can be used instead of disclosing the names of corporations. The article concludes that the public interest favors the corporate disclosure of state tax information.
Use of gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy to identify and determine 1,3-pentadiene in cheese or mold cultures

Kopfraum-Gasproben, Capillarsaulen-Gaschromatographie und Massenspektrometrie wurden benutzt, um Pentadien-(1,3) in Kase oder Schimmelkulturen zu identifizieren und zu bestimmen. Pentadien-(1,3) wurde in sorbatbehandeltem schimmeligen Kase und in ein sorbat-behandeltes Kulturmedium, das mit einem pentadien-produzierenden Stamm vonPenicillium roqueforti geimpft war, gefunden. Sorbat-behandelter Kase oder Kulturmedien, die schimmelfrei waren, enthielten kein Pentadien-(1,3).
Comparison of chlorthalidone, a long-acting antihypertensive and diuretic agent, with chlorothiazide: Analysis of one hundred twenty-three cases

Abstract Thirty-two patients with chronic hypertensive vascular disease received alternate 6 week courses of 50 mg. of chlorthalidone daily, 100 mg. of chlorthalidone daily and 500 mg. of chlorothiazide twice daily. Serial studies demonstrated (1) that 50 to 100 mg. of chlorthalidone daily caused at least as great a reduction in arterial pressure as 500 mg. of chlorothiazide administered twice daily, (2) neither dose of chlorthalidone or chlorothiazide caused any change in the level of serum sodium, and (3) the reduction in serum potassium was similar following both diuretics. Ninety-one pregnant patients with edema received chlorthalidone in dosages varying between 50 mg. daily and 100 mg. every other day. It was found (1) that a single daily dose of 50 mg. of chlorthalidone was followed by at least as good a reduction in arterial pressure and frequently a greater diuresis than 500 mg. of chlorothiazide administered twice daily, and (2) continuous administration of chlorthalidone was not associated with the development of drug resistance.
Epigenetic reprogramming of the germ cell nuclear factor gene is required for proper differentiation of induced pluripotent cells.

Somatic cells have been reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells that recapitulate the pluripotent nature of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Reduced pluripotency and variable differentiation capacities have hampered progress with this technology for applications in regeneration medicine. We have previously shown that germ cell nuclear factor (Gcnf) is required for the repression of pluripotency genes during ES cell differentiation and embryonic development. Here we report that iPS cell lines, in which the Gcnf gene was properly reprogrammed, allowing expression of Gcnf, repress pluripotency genes during subsequent differentiation. In contrast, iPS clones in which the Gcnf gene was not reprogrammed maintained pluripotency gene expression during differentiation and did not differentiate properly either in vivo or in vitro. These mal-reprogrammed cells recapitulated the phenotype of Gcnf knockout (Gcnf−/−) ES cells. Reintroduction of Gcnf into either the Gcnf negative iPS cells or the Gcnf−/− ES cells rescued repression of Oct4 during differentiation. Our findings establish a key role for Gcnf as a regulator of iPS cell pluripotency gene expression. It also demonstrates that reactivation of the Gcnf gene may serve as a marker to distinguish completely reprogrammed iPS cells from incompletely pluripotent cells, which would make therapeutic use of iPS cells safer and more practical as it would reduce the oncogenic potential of iPS cells. STEM Cells 2013;31:2659–2666
Protein Degradation Unlocked

Protein quality control ensures that newly synthesized misfolded proteins are transported out of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and degraded by the proteasome. In his Perspective, [Sifers][1] explains the findings of two new studies ([ Molinari et al .][2], [ Oda et al .][3]) that identify an ER protein called EDEM as an important molecule in the degradation of misfolded proteins. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5611/1330 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/299/5611/1397 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/299/5611/1394
Wavelets with composite dilations

A wavelet with composite dilations is a function generating an orthonormal basis or a Parseval frame for L2(Rn) under the action of lattice translations and dilations by products of elements drawn from non-commuting matrix sets A and B. Typically, the members of B are shear matrices (all eigenvalues are one) while the members of A are matrices expanding or contracting on a proper subspace of Rn. These wavelets are of interest in applications because of their tendency to produce “long, narrow” window functions well suited to edge detection. In this paper, we discuss the remarkable extent to which the theory of wavelets with composite dilations parallels the theory of classical wavelets, and present several examples of such systems.
Streamer initiation in organic liquids under uniform field conditions

Results of a study of streamer initiation in organic liquids under uniform field conditions are presented. It is shown that, under pulse conditions, streamers can initiate from both the cathode and the anode, with the probability for the occurrence of the latter event being somewhat lower than that for the former. The significance of these findings is discussed in terms of initiation models developed for streamer initiation under nonuniform field conditions. >
Test of the National Death Index and Equifax Nationwide Death Search

The authors compared the ability of the National Death Index and the Equifax Nationwide Death Search to ascertain deaths of participants in the Nurses' Health Study. Each service was sent information on 197 participants aged 60-68 years in 1989 whose deaths were reported by kin or postal authorities and 1,997 participants of the same age who were known to be alive. Neither service was aware of the authors' information regarding participants' vital status. The sensitivity of the National Death Index was 98 percent and that of Equifax was 79 percent. Sensitivity was similar for women aged 65-68 years; however, for women aged 61-64 years, the sensitivity of the National Death Index was 97.7 percent compared with 60.2 percent for Equifax. The specificity of both services was approximately 100 percent. The contrast between the sources of these databases and the matching algorithms they employ has implications for researchers and for those planning health data systems.
Local measurements of correlated momentum and heat transport in the TFTR tokamak.

Simultaneous profile measurements of the toroidal rotation speed and ion temperature during unbalanced neutral beam injection in the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor show that the ion momentum and thermal diffusivities are comparable in magnitude (${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$\ensuremath{\approxeq}1.5${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{i}}$) and vary similarly with plasma current and minor radius. The correlation of ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varphi}}}$ and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{i}}$ is consistent with anomalous transport driven by collisionless electrostatic microinstabilities including ion-temperature-gradient-driven modes (${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}_{\mathrm{i}}$ modes) and collisionless trapped-electron modes.