cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of cyclosporine on 3-methylcholanthrene-induced carcinogenesis and immune responses in the rat.

Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA) was used to immunosuppress male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with the chemical carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC).Rats treated with low doses of CsA (2.5 or 5 mg/kg) given 2 days prior to an injection of 3MC, and then daily for 2 weeks or twice weekly for 10 weeks did not develop tumors.Rats treated with 2.5 mg/kg CsA for 2 weeks beginning 5 days after a single 3MC injection had tumor incidence similar to rats treated with 3MC only.To further examine the effects of CsA on immune function, groups of rats were then treated with 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg CsA daily for 14 days and immune function assessed by measuring delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), natural killer cell (NK) activity, and production of interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon (IFN), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and specific IgG antibody.Natural killer cell cytotoxicity was enhanced and antibody production was suppressed in rats treated with all doses of CsA tested.Interleukin 2 production was elevated at the two lower doses, but antibody production, DTH reactions and synthesis of IL-2 and IFN were suppressed with the higher dose treatments (10, 20 mg/kg CsA).The enhanced NK activity seen in rats treated with the lower doses of CsA may be due to the increase in IL-2 production, while enhancement of NK activity at higher doses may be due to other mechanisms.The tumor data suggest that CsA does not prevent tumor formation in our chemicalinduced model due to an increase in NK activity, since this enhancement was seen even when tumors did develop normally.
Computer Experience, Self-Concept and Problem-Solving: The Effects of Logo on Children's Ideas of Themselves as Learners:

The effects of LOGO programming experiences on children's ideas of themselves as learners were examined. Two measures of children's ideas about themselves as learners, the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility (IAR) Scale and performance on an attention task after noncontingent success and failure feedback, were employed with third-grade children before and after four and a half months of LOGO computer programming experiences. The selection of these measures was based on previous work by Carol Dweck and her colleagues on achievement motivation. The control group received computer programming experience, which in contrast to LOGO, did not emphasize the decomposition of complex problems or the recognition of errors as a natural part of problem-solving. As predicted, the children who received LOGO experience showed significant increases on the IAR scale (i.e., increases in internal locus-of-control) and a differential pattern of responding after noncontingent success feedback as compared to the control gro...
The trouble with infinitism

One way to solve the epistemic regress problem would be to show that we can acquire justification by means of an infinite regress. This is infinitism. This view has not been popular, but Peter Klein has developed a sophisticated version of infinitism according to which all justified beliefs depend upon an infinite regress of reasons. Klein's argument for infinitism is unpersuasive, but he successfully responds to the most compelling extant objections to the view. A key component of his position is his claim that an infinite regress is necessary, but not sufficient, for justified belief. This enables infinitism to avoid a number of otherwise compelling objections. However, it commits infinitism to the existence of an additional feature of reasons that is necessary and, together with the regress condition, sufficient for justified belief. The trouble with infinitism is that any such condition could account for the connection between justification and truth only by undermining the rationale for the regress condition itself.
Promoter Activation via a Cyclic AMP Response Element in Vitro

Transcription activation via activating transcription factor cyclic AMP response element binding (ATF/CREB) sites in vitro was explored using transcription and permanganate assay for open complex formation. These sites were used to drive transcription from an adenovirus major late core sequence. Under conditions where activation is strong, 20-50-fold, ATF/CREB is required for preinitiation complexes to reach the open complex stage. Complete opening requires activator, ATP, and initiating nucleotides. In exploration of postinitiation steps, no stimulation of promoter clearance was observed but a modest stimulation of the rate of continuous transcription occurred. High amounts of DNA template, commonly used in in vitro studies, allows some templates to open without activator, but leaves the nucleotide requirements intact. This leads to a drastic lowering of the dependence on ATF/CREB. Taken together, the data indicate that ATF/CREB activates this system primarily by stimulating the formation of functional preinitiation complexes.
Partitioning and desorption behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from disparate sources.

Abstract Contaminated sediments pose a unique challenge for risk assessment or remediation because the overlying water column may transport contaminants offsite or to ecological receptors. This research compares the behavior of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on marine sediments from two sites. The first site was affected by shipping activities and the second was impacted by a creosote seep. Organic carbon:water partitioning coefficients ( K oc values) were measured with three solutions. Desorption was measured using Tenax beads. PAHs from the ship channel had lower K oc values than those from the creosote facility. For example, the average log K oc value of ship channel pyrene was significantly lower than that of creosote facility pyrene (4.39±0.35 and 5.29±0.09, respectively, when tested in 5 mM calcium chloride). These results were consistent with the greater desorption of pyrene, phenanthrene and benzo( a )pyrene from the ship channel than from the creosote facility sediments. Organic compound desorption from sediments can be considered to be a two-stage process, with a labile fraction that desorbs quickly and a refractory fraction that desorbs much more slowly. In both sediments, more than 75% of the benzo( a )pyrene was found to have partitioned into the refractory phase. The amounts of phenanthrene and pyrene that partitioned into the refractory phase were lower. Linear correlations of log K oc with log ( C R / C L ) (where C R and C L are the fractions of the compound in the refractory and labile phases, respectively, at time zero) showed that partitioning measurements made with the US EPA's Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure fluid (US EPA, 1996) most closely matched predictions of desorption behavior. The data imply that with a larger data set, it may be possible to relate simple partitioning measurements to desorption behavior. Partitioning measurements were used to predict water concentrations. Despite having higher concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs [cPAHs, the seven PAHs categorized by the US EPA (2004) as class B2 carcinogens], creosote facility sediments were predicted to produce lower aqueous concentrations of cPAHs. These results indicate that both sediment and contaminant characteristics will impact contaminant release from sediments.
Transformation ofSchizophyllum commune: An analysis of specific properties

Abstract Several properties of transformation in the basidiomycete, Schizophyllum commune , were examined. The transformation efficiency of protoplasts made from germinating basidiospores is dependent upon the length of time that the spores are incubated under conditions that promote germination. Protoplasts prepared from ungerminated spores transform at least 10 times more efficiently than protoplasts prepared from germlings (25 μm in length) or from mycelium. Transformation frequencies of 1000 transformants/μg of control plasmid DNA and 10 7 protoplasts are sufficient for obtaining transformants with 2 × 10 7 protoplasts and 10 μg of bank DNA from a genomic plasmid library. The probability of cotransforming with two plasmids is dependent on the DNA concentrations of each; concentrations can be adjusted to yield nearly 100% cotrasformants. The presence of a nonselected plasmid in the reaction mix improves the transformation frequency of a selected marker carried on another plasmid; this is not true if linear fragments of Schizophyllum genomic DNA are used as the nonselected DNA. Transformation of a Schizophyllum protoplast does not require its fusion to another protoplast.
An exploratory study into the purchase decision process used by leisure travelers in hotel selection.

The purchase decision process used by leisure travelers in the selection of hotel accommodations is quite complex. This research, although exploratory in nature, empirically investigates the relationships among various cues hypothesized to impact purchase decisions. Cues used by leisure travelers in the evaluation of the more "intangible" purchase criteria of security, dependability, service quality, convenience, and reputation were identified. Based on the findings, the authors identified marketing and promotional strategies appropriate for retaining current customers and attracted new customers.
Pedagogues, Periodicals, and Paranoia

Over the past year, several published volumes have argued that American politics is careening out of control, toward a slippery slope of twenty-first century theocracy. Most of these books present tendentious interpretations of contemporary politics as matter-of-fact analysis. The reader is assumed to hold the same interpretive bias and warned of the dangers of a new and powerful American “fundamentalism.” The current article explores a historical parallel to today’s trend. Nearly a century ago, the Progressive Education movement sought to undermine the pedagogical dominance of traditional, literature-based education, preferring a more socially-conscious curriculum. The striking similarities between John Dewey’s anti-traditional approach and the present-day anti-theocracy faction are multitude—and worth our consideration. The seeds of Progressive Education are now producing weeds of anti-religious sentiment across America’s political landscape—a cultural phenomena that is constricting the growth of a much needed civil discourse.
New mechanisms and functions of actin nucleation

In cells the de novo nucleation of actin filaments from monomers requires actin-nucleating proteins. These fall into three main families--the Arp2/3 complex and its nucleation promoting factors (NPFs), formins, and tandem-monomer-binding nucleators. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanism of actin nucleation by both well-characterized and newly identified nucleators, and explore current insights into their cellular functions in membrane trafficking, cell migration and division. The mechanisms and functions of actin nucleators are proving to be more complex than previously considered, with extensive cooperation and overlap in their cellular roles.
Using System Dynamics as an Evaluation Tool: Experience from a Demonstration Program.

Evaluators are often faced with many challenges in the design and implementation of a program's evaluation. Because programs are entangled in complex networks of structures and stakeholders, they can be challenging to understand, and they often pose issues of competing and conflicting goals. However, by using a systems mapping approach to evaluation design, evaluators can identify and diagram the relationships between different variables and learn about their potential impact and unintended consequences on a program's processes. In this article, we describe how using a systems approach and causal loop mapping approach during an evaluation of a demonstration program for people with developmental disabilities helped evaluators to better understand the program's implementation and the variation in the program's outcomes.
Integrating Mindfulness Meditation and Somatic Awareness into a Public Educational Setting

Experiential learning in meditation and self-awareness can be valuably integrated into the college and university curriculum. Along with this promotion of experiential learning, greater attention s...
In vitro synthesis and secretion of ecdysteroids by Drosophila melanogaster ovaries

The ovaries of adult Drosophila melanogaster were shown to produce and secrete ecdysteroids in vitro by an ecdysteroid radioimmunoassay. The major secretory products were determined by HPLC/RIA analysis to be ecdysone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, and a highly polar fraction. Based on competitive binding studies, the secreted ecdysteroids contain 2–3 times more 20-hydroxyecdysone than ecdysone.
In Vitro Modulation of Cartilage Shape Plasticity by Biochemical Regulation of Matrix Remodeling

With consideration of the need for cartilage grafts of specific sizes and shapes in orthopedics and other fields, immature cartilage explants and grafts have recently been molded in vitro and in vivo. Nonsurgical correction of cartilage deformities and malformations often uses mechanical stimuli and further demonstrates the plasticity of cartilage shape. Cartilage shape plasticity appears to diminish with maturation, coincident with changes in matrix composition. This study's objectives were to characterize shape plasticity of articular cartilage from immature and mature bovines and test whether altering proteoglycan and collagen (COL) remodeling modulates shape plasticity in vitro. Cartilage explants were analyzed fresh on day 0 or after 14 days of culture in the presence of β-d-xyloside to suppress glycosaminoglycan accumulation or β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) to inhibit lysyl oxidase-mediated COL crosslinking. Culture with β-d-xyloside and BAPN differentially regulated cartilage size, composition, and s...
In vitro inhibition of prostaglandin H synthase by compounds from the exocrine secretions of lace bugs.

Abstract 1. Selected lace bug-derived and related compounds were shown to be in vitro inhibitors of mammalian and insect derived prostaglandin H synthase. 2. Two compounds, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone and 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone, were significantly better inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis than aspirin, whereas 2-nonyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone and 1-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl) dodecan-1-one were equivalent to aspirin. 3. 2,4-Dihydroxyacetophenone was less effective in inhibiting the prostaglandin H synthase and 2-nonyl-5-hydroxychromanone showed no inhibition. 4. Three compounds, 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone, 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone and l-(2,6-dihydroxyphenyl) dodecan-1-one were equal to aspirin in PSI inhibition with fat body preparations of the American cockroach Periplaneta americana L.
Where media turn during crises: A look at information subsidies and the Virginia tech shootings

This pilot study explored the use of official and nonofficial sources as information subsidies in coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings and introduced a new type of information subsidy—new technology sources. Results indicated that reporters used significantly more new technology sources as information subsidies during the first two days of the crisis compared to the latter stage of the crisis, and that nonofficial sources were used to a greater extent than official sources. This study advances the literature on information subsidies by introducing a new type of subsidy, new technology, and therefore provides a benchmark for future studies on the use of new technology as an information subsidy in news coverage.
Evaluation of the cause of nasal and ocular symptoms associated with lawn mowing

A number of individuals with perennial or seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis state that their symptoms may suddenly worsen on exposure to lawn mowing. Many allergists have believed that this was related to the agitation of molds deposited on the grass. We studied 50 consecutive new patients with rhinitis using history, skin testing, total and specific IgE assays, and nasal smears. Twenty-five patients gave histories of minimal or no change in their nasal symptoms with exposure to lawn mowing, whereas 11 patients had definite, but mild, symptoms, and 14 patients had severe symptoms. Positive skin tests to grasses, trees, and weed pollens were more frequent in those patients with symptoms exacerbated by lawn mowing (p less than 0.03). Symptomatic patients also had higher serum concentrations of total IgE (p less than 0.008) and grass-pollen specific IgE (p = 0.0004). The frequencies of positive skin tests to ragweed pollens, house dust, molds, and grass leaves, as well as the percentage of nasal eosinophils, were not different in the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. No significant association was found between symptoms and IgE antibodies to molds or grass-leaf extract. We believe that the increased nasal and ocular symptoms coincident with lawn mowing are allergic phenomena significantly associated with skin test sensitivity and specific IgE antibodies to grass pollens but not with sensitivity or specific IgE to molds or grass-leaf extract.
Thermal‐Stress Fracture of a Thermomechanically Strengthened Aluminosilicate Ceramic

The thermal-stress fracture behavior of an aluminosilicate ceramic thermomechanically strengthened by surface compression was investigated using quenching in silicone oil. Comparison with the behavior of the unstrengthened ceramic showed that the strengthening increased the critical quenching-temperature difference required to initiate fracture and also increased the strength retained. The room-temperature strength was not increased further when the strengthened material was quenched from temperatures above the softening point. On the basis of a simple mechanical model, the observations of the critical quenching-temperature difference and strength retained in the temperature range of brittle behavior were verified theoretically. It is concluded that, to improve thermal-stress resistance of ceramics and to avoid catastrophic failure, strengthening by surface compression is to be preferred to increasing the inherent strength of the material.
Imaging findings in 75 pediatric patients with pancreaticobiliary maljunction: a retrospective case study

Background Pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM) is often associated with congenital choledochal cyst, protein plugs and pancreatitis. Early diagnosis and timely treatment largely depend on imaging. We assessed a series of PBM in children, comparing imaging procedure with histological and pathological findings with regard to diagnosis.
Modeling yield, cost, and quality of an NoC with uniformly and non-uniformly distributed redundancy

In this paper, we propose a quality metric for an NoC and model the yield and cost of a spare-enhanced multi-core chip subject to a given quality constraint. Our experiments show that the overall quality of a mesh-based NoC depends more on the reliability of the inner links than the outer links; therefore, a non-uniform distribution of spare wires could be more effective and cost efficient than a uniform approach.
Down-Payment Constraints: Tax Policy Effects in a Growing Economy With Rental and Owner-Occupied Housing:

This article develops a simulation model of a growing economy where house-holds make life cycle consumption decisions and also choose whether to own or rent housing. A major feature of the model is that newly formed households face a down-payment constraint which may limit the amount of housing they purchase or induce them to rent rather than buy housing. More generally, the constraint may alter the desired path of wealth accumulation. The model is used to simulate the effects of tax policy changes on the steady-state equilibrium, including its capital intensity, its mix of housing and nonhousing capital, and the relative proportion of owned and rental housing.
Processing Respiratory Muscle Signals Of Preterm Infants

This document presents a digital signal processing method for the processing of electromyographic (EMG) signals from respiratory muscles of premature infants. The EMG signals are digitized at I000 Hz, filtered and processed to eliminate ECG contamination.
Image-based identification of low-dimensional POD models of noninvasive thermal therapies

Planning and model-based control of noninvasive thermal therapies require site- and patient-specific thermal response and power deposition models of the target. In this paper, we describe an approach to the identification of low-dimensional treatment models based on magnetic resonance temperature imaging of the patient. First, proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of MRI thermal images is used to identify a reduced set of basis functions, which capture spatial correlations within images. Next, the multivariate autoregression of image projections into the manifold, spanned by reduced-order POD basis, is used to identify low-dimensional discrete models of patient's thermal response and specific absorption rate (SAR) of noninvasively transduced energy. Compared to the results of Niu and Skliar (2005), the developed approach is more suitable for real time model re-identification, which may be necessary during high-temperature therapies, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and other ablation treatments, which are known to substantially change blood perfusion and tissue properties. The developed approach was validated during MR thermal imaging experiments with tissue phantom noninvasively heated by focused ultrasound. The results demonstrate that the developed method utilizes medical imaging to identify accurate low-dimensional models of therapies suitable for treatment planning and model-based treatment control with imaging feedback.
The Great Devonian Controversy: The Shaping of Scientific Knowledge Among Gentlemanly Specialists

Martin Rudwick teaches the History of Science at Princeton University (Princeton, N.J.). Formerly and for a number of years, he was a geologist and paleontologist; this very good book began with his work over 20 years ago. The volume appeared in print almost 2 years ago and has been reviewed frequently, but it is so important that this reviewer feels it should be called to the attention of members of AGU and readers of Eos.
Analytical solution for modulation sidebands associated with a class of mechanical oscillators

Abstract Sideband structures are a commonly observed phenomenon in measured vibro-acoustic signatures of many types of mechanical systems, and especially in rotating machinery. Such spectral information is often used for fault diagnostic applications as well as noise and vibration control studies. A new theory is developed that examines in a critical manner the commonly held belief that simple amplitude and frequency or phase modulation processes are responsible for generating such sidebands, and instead provides a more logical explanation. A class of viscosity damped mechanical oscillators is examined having spatially periodic stiffness and displacement excitation functions that are exponentially modulated by the instantaneous vibratory displacement of the inertial element. To this end, a new family of dual domain periodic differential equations is introduced which is shown to be more pertinent to the study of force modulation inherent to many mechanical systems, such as a gear pair. Analytical expressions are then derived to predict sideband amplitudes in terms of key system parameters. The harmonic balance method and direct time domain integration techniques are employed to study various subsets of the problem.
Impact of Output Non-Quasi-Static Effect on Consistency Between Two Cutoff Frequency Extraction Methods in Bipolar Transistor Simulation

In device simulation, fT is typically extracted at a single low frequency, e.g. 1 MHz, using gm/2piC. This is generally believed to give the same fT as traditional -20 dB/decade slope extrapolation of |h21| at high frequencies. A large discrepancy between the two fT extraction methods is observed, and the degree of discrepancy is found to depend on BGN and temperature. We explain the discrepancy as a consequence of output NQS effect and develop a new fT equation including output NQS effect. The BGN model dependence can then be understood through ac current gain betaac. New methods of simulating fT are developed, which maintain the simplicity of gm/2piC extraction while giving the same results as -20 dB/decade extrapolation.
Traces behind the Esmeraldas Shore: Prehistory of the Santiago‐Cayapas Region, Ecuador

Traces behind the Esmeraldas Shore: Prehistory of the Santiago-Cayapas Region, Ecuador. Warren R. DeBoer. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1996. 234 pp.
Spectral representation of three-dimensional global data by expansion in normal mode functions

Abstract To represent atmospheric data spectrally in three indices (zonal wavenumber, and meridional and vertical modal indices), we propose to use three-dimensional normal mode functions (NMF's) to express the wind and mass fields simultaneously. The NMF's are constructed from the eigensolutions of a global primitive equation model and they are orthogonal functions. The vertical parts are obtained from the solutions of the vertical structure equation with the equivalent height as the eigenvalue. The vertical modal index is associated with a different value of the equivalent height. The horizontal parts of NMF's are Hough harmonics with zonal wavenumber and meridional modal index as two-dimensional scalings. The expansion of global data in terms of NMF's permits the partition of energy into two distinct kinds of motions-gravity-inertia modes and rotational modes of Rossby/Haurwitz type. Both kinds of motion are also partitioned into different vertical modes. Results of the spectral distribution of atmosph...
The Idea of the Corporation as a Person: On the Normative Significance of Judicial Language

The objective of this chapter is to discuss, perhaps to answer, such questions as: of what significance is it for the corporation to be thought of as a person? Of what significance is it for the corporation to be treated as a person? The focus of the chapter, then, is not on the corporation as a person as such but on the idea of the corporation as a person and its social role. To this end, an analysis of more universal applicability is brought to bear on this question. There are therefore two levels of discussion: the general analysis and its application to the idea of the corporation as a person. The argument is that ideas (such as the idea of the corporation as a person) are inexorably embodied in legal definitions in such ways as to influence our view of the world and therefore economic and political behaviour, policy, and performance, and that in consequence of this recognition, the embodiment of certain ideas in law becomes an object of control.
Endothelin-1 activates phospholipases and channels at similar concentrations in porcine coronary arteries

Sensitivity of endothelin-1 (ET-1)-ion channel interactions has been proposed to exceed that of ET-1-phospholipase activation in vascular smooth muscle. We wanted to determine whether short-circuiting ion channels with staphylococcal α-toxin pores would shift the ET-1-force relation to the right as predicted from the above proposal. Medium size porcine coronary arteries (outer diameter 0.7–1.5 mm) were mounted on isometric force transducers. ET-1 concentration response curves were compared between intact rings and those subjected to α-toxin treatment with Ca buffered at 0.1 μM. The EC50 for treated rings (1.5 ± 1.0 nM, n = 5 pigs) was similar to that for intact rings (1.9 ± 0.4 nM). The Ca sensitivity of the α-toxin-treated rings (EC50 = 0.43 ± 0.08 μM) was similar to that reported by other laboratories for intact and α-toxin-treated arteries and was shifted eightfold to the left by a high concentration of ET-1 (10 nM). Measurements of [32P]phosphatidic acid ([32P]PA) levels were used to evaluate phosphol...
'Hip Hop-Tivism': Digital Activism in the Age of Social Media

Many political scholars argue that the Hip Hop generation is politically apathetic. Our paper seeks to answer the question: In what ways are millennial more likely to be civically engaged? We argue that they that the Hip Hop generation is politically active. We develop predictions that the youth utilizes social media as an outlet for political activism. We will demonstrate that the Hip Hop generation engages in digital activism. This is important because it shows that although the Hip Hop generation is less likely to utilize traditional forms of political participation, digital media can be used to gauge the political pulse of the hip-hop generation in the new millennium.
Impact of Maintenance Steroids versus Rapid Steroid Withdrawal in African-American Kidney Transplant Recipients: Comparison of Two Urban Centers.

Background: Rapid steroid withdrawal (RSW) is used increasingly in kidney transplantation but long-term outcomes in African-American (AA) recipients are not well known. We compared 1 and 5 year transplant outcomes in a large cohort of AA patients who were maintained on continued steroid therapy (CST) to those who underwent RSW. Methods: Post-transplant courses of A as receiving kidney allografts from 2003-2011 at two urban transplant centers in Chicago were followed. Prior to outcome analysis, we used Inverse Probability of Treatment Weights (IPTW) to match the two groups on a set of baseline risk factors. Graft and patient survival, GFR at 1 and 5 years, incidence and type of rejection, incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM), delayed graft function, CMV and BK viremia were compared. Results: There were 150 AA recipients in the CST analytic group and 157 in the RSW analytic group. Graft and patient survival was similar between the two groups. Rates of CMV viremia were higher in the RSW compared to the CST analytic group at 1 year. Biopsy-proven acute rejection and PTDM were similar between the RSW and CST groups. Conclusions: In AA recipients, RSW has similar long-term outcomes to CST.
Metabolite Profiling and a Transcriptional Activation Assay Provide Direct Evidence of Androgen Receptor Antagonism by Bisphenol A in Fish

Widespread environmental contamination by bisphenol A (BPA) has created the need to fully define its potential toxic mechanisms of action (MOA) to properly assess human health and ecological risks from exposure. Although long recognized as an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, some data suggest that BPA may also behave as an androgen receptor (AR) antagonist. However, direct evidence of this activity is deficient. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a metabolomic approach using in vivo exposures of fathead minnows (FHM; Pimephales promelas) to BPA either alone or in a binary mixture with 17β-trenbolone (TB), a strong AR agonist. Changes in liver metabolite profiles in female FHM in response to these exposures were determined using high resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate and univariate statistics. Using this approach, we observed clear evidence of the ability of BPA to mitigate the impact of TB, consistent with an antiandrogenic MOA. In addition, a transcriptional activation assay with the...
GLOBAL INTRACORONARY INFUSION OF ALLOGENEIC CARDIOSPHERE-DERIVED CELLS IMMEDIATELY AFTER CORONARY REPERFUSION IMPROVES EJECTION FRACTION AND REMOTE ZONE FUNCTION INDEPENDENT OF CHANGES IN INFARCT VOLUME

Regional intracoronary administration of cardiosphere-derived cells (icCDCs) to healed infarcts reduces infarct volume but does not improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). We tested the hypothesis that this reflects the failure to prevent remote zone remodeling and determined whether this
Carbon dioxide capture using Escherichia coli expressing carbonic anhydrase in a foam bioreactor.

ABSTRACTThe present study reports CO2 capture and conversion to bicarbonate using Escherichia coli expressing carbonic anhydrase (CA) on its cell surface in a novel foam bioreactor. The very large gas–liquid interfacial area in the foam bioreactor promoted rapid CO2 absorption while the CO2 in the aqueous phase was subsequently converted to bicarbonate ions by the CA. CO2 gas removal in air was investigated at various conditions such as gas velocity, cell density and CO2 inlet concentration. Regimes for kinetic and mass transfer limitations were defined. Very high removal rates of CO2 were observed: 9570 g CO2 m−3 bioreactor h−1 and a CO2 removal efficiency of 93% at 4% inlet CO2 when the gas retention time was 24 s, and cell concentration was 4 gdw L−1. These performances are superior to earlier reports of experimental bioreactors using CA for CO2 capture. Overall, this bioreactor system has significant potential as an alternative CO2 capture technology.
Pretty as a website: examining aesthetics on nonsurgical cosmetic procedure websites

Nonsurgical cosmetic procedures have increased 356 per cent from 1997 to 2011 (American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, 2011) and are now one of the fastest growing medical specialties in the US. Although these procedures may seem deceptively simple, they harbor serious potential for health complications. Yet, even though the majority of patients report turning to media, particularly websites, as a significant source of procedure information, little scholarly research has been devoted to nonsurgical cosmetic procedure marketing. Because these websites sell beauty, the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) suggests that aesthetics may play a crucial role in swaying potential patients. Sampling from the top 10 cities for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, this study conducted a content analysis of 285 nonsurgical cosmetic procedure (NCP) websites to examine their use of aesthetics on the homepage and the top five procedure pages (Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing and chemic...
Trends in hospitalizations for gastrointestinal bleeding among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Rochester, Minnesota, 1950-1991.

Objective. Estimates of the incidence of significant gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vary and population based estimates of this event have been unavailable. We examine the incidence of this event in a well defined cohort of patients with RA. Methods. The study cohort consisted of patients with RA incident in Rochester, MN, between 1950 and 1974 and reported by Linos, et al (Am J Epidemiol 1980 ;111 : 87-98). These patients were followed for up to 40.5 yrs, and retrospective analysis of hospitalization for GI bleeding was performed. Results. A total of 58 patients with RA were hospitalized for GI bleeding, including 46 patients who had a first episode of bleeding after the diagnosis of RA was made, for a first episode incidence rate of 0.52% per person-year of followup. These 46 patients experienced 72 hospitalizations for GI bleeding. Patients diagnosed with RA after 1963 and patients older than 53 yrs of age at the time of diagnosis of RA had a higher incidence of hospitalization for GI bleeding. Overall survival among all patients with RA was slightly less than expected in the general population, while survival in patients hospitalized for GI bleeding was significantly lower than that of nonhospitalized patients. In a nested case-control study, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use was found to be a significant risk factor for hospitalization for GI bleeding (odds ratio 3.25 :1 compared with nonusers). Conclusion. Estimates of the overall incidence of hospitalization for GI bleeding in this population based cohort of patients with RA may be somewhat lower than some reported for referral populations, but an upward trend in recent years is noted.
Sagittal plane kinematics predict kinetics during walking gait in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Abstract Background Alterations in mechanical loading following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction may lead to the development of knee osteoarthritis. Feedback that cues a change in knee kinematics during walking gait may influence mechanical loading, yet it remains unknown if knee kinematics predict kinetics during walking gait. Our aim was to determine if sagittal plane knee kinematics predict kinetics during walking gait in anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed individuals. Methods Forty-one individuals with a history of primary, unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction completed a motion capture walking gait analysis. Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used in order to determine the amount of variance in the kinetic variables of interest (peak vertical ground reaction force, instantaneous and linear vertical ground reaction force loading rate) that was individually predicted by the kinematic variables of interest (knee flexion angle at heelstrike, peak knee flexion angle, and knee flexion excursion). Findings Knee flexion excursion of the injured limb significantly predicted 11% of the variance in peak vGRF of the injured limb after accounting for gait speed and peak knee flexion angle (ΔR 2 = 0.11, P = 0.004). After accounting for gait speed and knee flexion angle at heelstrike, knee flexion excursion significantly predicted 16% of the variance in the injured limb peak vertical ground reaction force (ΔR 2 = 0.16, P = 0.001). No kinematic variable predicted vertical ground reaction force loading rate. Interpretation Altering knee flexion excursion may be useful as a future therapeutic target for modifying peak vertical ground reaction force during walking gait following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Not all predicted CRISPR–Cas systems are equal: isolated cas genes and classes of CRISPR like elements

The CRISPR–Cas systems in prokaryotes are RNA-guided immune systems that target and deactivate foreign nucleic acids. A typical CRISPR–Cas system consists of a CRISPR array of repeat and spacer units, and a locus of cas genes. The CRISPR and the cas locus are often located next to each other in the genomes. However, there is no quantitative estimate of the co-location. In addition, ad-hoc studies have shown that some non-CRISPR genomic elements contain repeat-spacer-like structures and are mistaken as CRISPRs. Using available genome sequences, we observed that a significant number of genomes have isolated cas loci and/or CRISPRs. We found that 11%, 22% and 28% of the type I, II and III cas loci are isolated (without CRISPRs in the same genomes at all or with CRISPRs distant in the genomes), respectively. We identified a large number of genomic elements that superficially reassemble CRISPRs but don’t contain diverse spacers and have no companion cas genes. We called these elements false-CRISPRs and further classified them into groups, including tandem repeats and Staphylococcus aureus repeat (STAR)-like elements. This is the first systematic study to collect and characterize false-CRISPR elements. We demonstrated that false-CRISPRs could be used to reduce the false annotation of CRISPRs, therefore showing them to be useful for improving the annotation of CRISPR–Cas systems.
Letter teaching in parent–child conversations

Talk about letters is an important part of the home literacy environment. Such talk has been studied primarily through questionnaires, but these are limited in the amount of information they provide. Here we analyzed conversations between 55 U.S. children and their parents who were visited in their homes every 4 months when the child was between 1.2 and 4.8 years old. We examined the aspects of alphabet knowledge that parents and children discussed, the materials they used, and how these varied with the age of the child and the socioeconomic status of the family. Children primarily focused on identifying letters, while parents also emphasized letter writing and spelling. Talk about the associations between letters and sounds, which is critical in learning to read and write, was less common than anticipated based on the results of questionnaire studies. Teachers should thus not overestimate the knowledge of letter sounds that children acquire at home.
Sensor-Based Assistive Devices for Visually-Impaired People: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Directions

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there are 285 million visuallyimpaired people worldwide. Among these individuals, there are 39 million who are totally blind. There have been several systems designed to support visually-impaired people and to improve the quality of their lives. Unfortunately, most of these systems are limited in their capabilities. In this paper, we present a comparative survey of the wearable and portable assistive devices for visuallyimpaired people in order to show the progress in assistive technology for this group of people. Thus, the contribution of this literature survey is to discuss in detail the most significant devices that are presented in the literature to assist this population and highlight the improvements, advantages, disadvantages, and accuracy. Our aim is to address and present most of the issues of these systems to pave the way for other researchers to design devices that ensure safety and independent mobility to visually-impaired people.
Using demand response to improve power system voltage stability margins

Electric power systems with high penetrations of fluctuating renewable generation may operate close to their stability limits. Demand response can be used to improve power system stability. For example, it is already used to provide frequency control, improving frequency stability. This paper presents a new demand response strategy that uses fast-acting flexible loads to change the loading pattern while keeping the total load constant, improving steady-state voltage stability without affecting the system frequency. The new loading pattern is maintained only for a short period of time until the generators can be re-dispatched. Our goal is to find a permissible loading pattern that maximizes the smallest singular value of the power flow Jacobian matrix, which serves as a measure of voltage stability. The corresponding non-convex optimization problem is solved with an iterative linear programming approach that uses eigenvalue sensitivities and a linearization of the AC power flow equations. Using two IEEE test cases as illustrative examples, we show that the loading patterns resulting from the proposed approach give smallest singular values that are very close to those obtained from a brute force search. The results are also compared to another voltage stability measure given by the maximum loading margin for uniformly varying power injections.
Forecasting electron cyclotron current drive stabilization of neoclassical tearing modes in ITER

The ITER baseline design relies on ECCD to stabilize confinementdegrading disruptive NTMs [1]. However, the EC power required will take a toll on the fusion gain Q. The MDC-8 group (in existence since 2005) has the goal to provide a range of data to benchmark the Rutherford tearing stability equation for NTM evolution, allowing predictions for ITER ECCD requirements to be validated. Experimental contributors have included ASDEX UPGRADE, DIII-D, EAST, FTU, HL-2A, JT-60U, KSTAR, TEXTOR and TCV. While any m/n tearing mode island can reduce confinement, the m=2, n=1 mode at q=2 is particularly damaging. This mode is at a relatively large minor radius in the low q95∼3 safety factor of ITER and thus close to the resistive wall; with the relatively low rotation in ITER (large inertia, small torque), an uncontrolled mode will rapidly lock at low tearing mode amplitude with subsequent disruption [2]. While progress is being made in modeling of the stability space and control [3] and experiments are promising, implementation still needs to be successfully demonstrated experimentally.The ITPA consensus is that ITER's 24 1-MW gyrotrons will provide more than sufficient EC power from the upper launch mirrors to drive narrow (but not too narrow) ECCD at q=2 for stabilization, with good alignment. Broadening of the ECCD, by edge turbulence for example, is a concern that would demand more EC power but also make alignment easier. Pre-emption at lower CW power or active stabilization by early mode onset detection and higher peak (possibly lower average) pulsed power are issues still under continuing investigation.Most EC-NTM experimental studies so far are at relatively high q95 with smaller radius at q=2 and thus higher Te for better current drive efficiency, higher rotation and weaker wall coupling. DIII-D, for example, is now well poised to pursue ECCD NTM stabilization at both low q95 and at low rotation in the 2017 campaign. The MDC-8 as a whole is proceeding to narrow the experimental focus for a comparison of observations from different devices. This will establish the physics basis for successful stabilization in ITER.
A new approach for embedding causal sets into Minkowski space

This paper reports on recent work toward an approach for embedding causal sets into two-dimensional Minkowski space. The main new feature of the present scheme is its use of the spacelike distance measure to construct an ordering of causal set elements within anti-chains of a causal set as an aid to the embedding procedure.
The Epigenetic Revolution: Finding the Imprint of the Environment on the Genome

DNA is secondarily modified and is packaged in proteins, regulating its expression and ultimately determining the differentiation of cells into the many cell types of the body. Epigenetics, which is for the first time being applied to whole genomes, is the study of such variation and its relation to function. It appears possible to unravel complex gene by environment interactions by direct study of the epigenetic signatures of different genotypes and different environmental exposures.
The Role of Chronic Viral Infection in Immunologic Disease

We know a fair amount about how immunologic disease develops and how immunologic reactions trigger humoral and cellular mediators to produce tissue injury. This knowledge has accumulated over the past two decades largely because of the technological and conceptual developments in the field of immunology. These developments have allowed us, first, to quantitate the very basic elements of immunologic reactions: the presence and class of immunoglobulin molecules, the components of complement, and the various kinds of lymphocytes and, second, to determine in which disease states abnormalities of these elements occur. We have been able to link immunologic abnormalities with diseases that, 20 years ago, completely eluded our understanding. Present assays for immune complexes, for auto-antibodies and for abnormally reactive lymphocytes provide the results suggesting specific immunopathologic mechanisms at work in human diseases such as glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, a variety of vasculidites, thyroiditis and many other endocrine abnormalities, hepatitis, myasthenia gravis and probably less clearly understood diseases such as multiple sclerosis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. In spite of this combination of very sophisticated immunologic information and suspicion, which is really what it is, we have very little understanding of etiologic agents in most of these diseases.
Why hotel guests go mobile? Examining motives of business and leisure travelers.

Employing the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this paper aims to examine two groups of hotel guests—business travelers and leisure travelers’ different motives of using mobile technolog...
Accurate Measurement In California's Safety-Net Health Systems Has Gaps And Barriers.

Patient safety in ambulatory care has not been routinely measured. California implemented a pay-for-performance program in safety-net hospitals that incentivized measurement and improvement in key ...