cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DIRECT EVIDENCE FOR SIR2 MODULATION OF CHROMATIN STRUCTURE IN YEAST RDNA

The yeast SIR2 gene maintains inactive chromatin domains required for transcriptional repression at the silent mating‐type loci and telomeres. We previously demonstrated that SIR2 also acts to repress mitotic and meiotic recombination between the tandem ribosomal RNA gene array (rDNA). Here we address whether rDNA chromatin structure is altered by loss of SIR2 function by in vitro and in vivo assays of sensitivity to micrococcal nuclease and dam methyltransferase, respectively, and present the first chromatin study that maps sites of SIR2 action within the rDNA locus. Control studies at the MATα locus also revealed a previously undetected MNase‐sensitive site at the a1‐α2 divergent promoter which is protected in sir2 mutant cells by the derepressed a1‐α2 regulator. In rDNA, SIR2 is required for a more closed chromatin structure in two regions: SRR1, the major S IR ‐Responsive Region in the non‐transcribed spacer, and SRR2, in the 18S rRNA coding region. None of the changes in rDNA detected in sir2 mutants are due to the presence of the a1‐α2 repressor. Reduced recombination in the rDNA correlates with a small, reproducible transcriptional silencing position effect. Deletion and overexpression studies demonstrate that SIR2 , but not SIR1 , SIR3 or SIR4 , is required for this rDNA position effect. Significantly, rDNA transcriptional silencing and rDNA chromatin accessibility respond to SIR2 dosage, indicating that SIR2 is a limiting component required for chromatin modeling in rDNA.
Adaptive sliding mode control with sliding mode observer for a microelectromechanical vibratory gyroscope

This paper presents a novel adaptive sliding mode control with a sliding mode observer for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscope. The proposed adaptive sliding mode controller with a sliding mode observer can estimate the unmeasured velocities, angular velocity, and damping and stiffness coefficients of the gyroscope in the presence of parameter variations and external disturbance. A novel adaptive sliding mode controller with a proportional and integral sliding surface is derived and the stability condition of the closed-loop feedback system is established. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive sliding mode controller with sliding mode observer.
Complex projective spaces as PL fibrators

Abstract The main result affirms that C Pn is a codimension 2n + 2 PL fibrator. Techniques of the paper reveal a large role for the cohomology cup product operator in detecting approximate fibrations.
Can the antidysphoric and anxiolytic profiles of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors be related to their ability to increase brain 3α, 5α- tetrahydroprogesterone (allopregnanolone) availability?

Abstract Neurosteroids synthesized in the nervous system are potent modulators of synaptic activity. Allopregnanolone (ALLO) is of great significance for neuropsychiatric research because it binds with high affinity at nanomolar concentration to various gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) A receptor subtypes and potently facilitates GABA action at these receptors. Fluoxetine and paroxetine, two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), when administered to rats increase brain ALLO content without altering the brain content of other steroids, including ALLO's precursor 5α dihydroprogesterone. Moreover the improvement in depression symptomatology following administration of fluoxetine or fluvoxamine to unipolar depressed patients for 8–10 weeks is related to the increase of ALLO content in cerebrospinal fluid. Because ALLO via its action at GABA A receptors may relieve anxiety and dysphoria, the increase in ALLO brain content elicited by fluoxetine or other SSRIs may participate in the beneficial anxiolytic and antidysphoric clinical action of this class of drugs. Preliminary experiments suggest that the effect of SSRIs on ALLO biosynthesis is independent from serotonin reuptake inhibition and may be due to a specific SSRI action on the enzymes that synthesize ALLO from its precursor.
Frictional Investigation for Magnetorheological Finishing (MRF) of Optical Ceramics and Hard Metals

Drag force and normal force are measured in real time for spots taken on optical glasses and hard ceramics using the magnetorheological finishing (MRF) process. Removal rates increase nonlinearly with shear stress for these materials.
A sensitive method for quantitation of γ-hydroxybutyric acid and γ-butyrolactone in brain by electron capture gas chromatography

Abstract A new and sensitive method for the quantitation of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and its lactone precursor γ-butyrolactone (GBL), has been developed and successfully utilized to determine the endogenous content of these compounds in a single rat brain. The method involves conversion of endogenous GHB into GBL and extracting the GBL with CHCl 3 . The concentrated CHCl 3 extract is treated with BF 3 methanol reagent to produce methyl γ-hydroxybutyrate. Introduction of electron capturing groups was accomplished by further reacting the methyl γ-hydroxybutyrate with heptafluorobutyric anhydride in the presence of pyridine. Prior to quantitation by electron capture gas chromatography, the sample was cleaned up by thin layer chromatography (tlc) using a preabsorbent plate which removed many extraneous peaks as well as CHCl 3 used as the solvent. The effciency of the procedure was evaluated by carrying [1- 14 C]GBL through the derivatization. This indicated that about 15% of the starting labeled GBL was converted to the final electron capturing product. δ-Valerolactone was used as an internal standard.
Laryngotracheal separation using skin flap formation: a novel surgical procedure

Laryngotracheal separation is often performed to prevent intractable aspiration for children with severe mental and physical disabilities. However, tracheo-innominate artery fistula after surgery can occur as a severe complication and cause fatal hemorrhage. We have therefore developed a novel procedure to prevent tracheo-innominate artery fistula. Surgery was performed by making an H-shaped incision and creating skin flaps. The trachea was not raised anteriorly and the skin flaps were sutured to the trachea. We performed this procedure on nine patients, and no major complications occurred in any case. This procedure can be expected to reduce the occurrence of tracheo-innominate artery fistula.
Anilide Linker Group as a Participant in Intramolecular Electron Transfer

The photochemical properties of derivatives of 10-methylacridinium ion that have been modified by substitution with anilide moieties (e.g., -C6H4NHCO-) at the 9-position have been examined. Intramolecular electron transfer involving the anilide group as electron donor and the acridinium ring as electron acceptor was verified by observation of the quenching of fluorescence associated with the local acridinium chromophore and by the recording of electron transfer phototransient spectra in the picosecond time domain. The amidobiphenyl linkage was a superior electron donor and displayed rapid forward and reverse photoinduced electron transfer with rate constants for the latter reaching 5.2 × 1011 s-1 (CH3CN solvent).
Casein micelle structure : What can be learned from milk synthesis and structural biology?

At the heart of the skim milk system are the colloidal casein–calcium–transport complexes termed the casein micelles. The application of physical chemical techniques such as light, neutron, and X-ray scattering and electron microscopy has yielded a wealth of experimental detail concerning the structure of the casein micelle. From these experimental data bases have arisen two conflicting models for the internal structure of the casein micelle. One model emphasizes protein submicellar structures as the dominant feature, while the other proposes that inorganic calcium phosphate nanoclusters serve this function. These models are critically examined in light of our current information regarding the biological processes of protein secretion. In addition two primary tenets of structural biology are applied: that protein structure gives rise to function and that competent protein–protein interactions (associations) will lead to efficient transit through the mammary secretory apparatus. However, a set of complex equilibria governs this process which may be completed only after the final step in the processes: milking. In this light an overwhelming argument can be made for the formation of proteinacious complexes (submicelles) as the formative agents in the synthesis of casein micelles in mammary tissue. Whether these submicelles persist in the milk has been questioned. However, perturbations in micellar equilibria allow for the reemergence of submicellar particles in dairy products such as cheese. Thus protein–protein interactions appear to be important in milk and dairy products from the endoplasmic reticulum to the cheese cutting board. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
An active regimen of weekly paclitaxel and estramustine in metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives The efficacy of weekly high-dose paclitaxel in androgen-independent prostate carcinoma and its cytotoxic synergy with estramustine led to the evaluation of a weekly schedule of paclitaxel and estramustine in this Phase II trial. Methods Patients were eligible if they had metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma with objective progression or rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels despite androgen deprivation therapy and antiandrogen withdrawal. Prior radiation and/or one prior chemotherapy regimen was permitted. A Zubrod performance status of 2 or less and adequate bone marrow and hepatic and renal function were required. Estramustine was administered orally at a dose of 280 mg three times daily on days 1 to 3, 8 to 10, and 15 to 17. Paclitaxel (150 mg/m 2 ) was administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion on days 2, 9, and 16. Therapy was repeated every 28 days (one cycle). Results Twenty-eight patients were enrolled (median age 71.5 years). Fifteen patients had measurable disease (nine nodal and seven visceral) and 13 had bone-only metastases. A total of 116 cycles of therapy were delivered (median 4 cycles per patient, range 1 to 12). Nine patients required dose reduction. The predominant toxicities consisted of grade 3 neuropathy in 6 patients and grade 3 and 4 neutropenia in 4 patients, with one hospitalization for febrile neutropenia. Three patients had thrombotic manifestations: one deep venous thrombosis and two non-Q wave myocardial infarctions. Of the 28 patients, 26 were assessable for response. Of 13 patients with measurable disease, 5 demonstrated a partial response (1 in the liver and 4 in the lymph nodes), and 8 of 13 patients with bone-only metastases had a 50% or greater decrease in PSA level. Three patients had a 90% or greater decline in PSA. The overall PSA response rate was 61.53% (95% confidence interval 38.1% to 74.2%). The median time to progression was 4.64 months, and the median survival was 13 months. Conclusions The combination of weekly estramustine and paclitaxel is active in metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer.
Evidence-based quantification of uncertainties induced via simulation-based modeling

Abstract The quantification of uncertainties in simulation-based modeling traditionally focuses upon quantifying uncertainties in the parameters input into the model, referred to as parametric uncertainties. Often neglected in such an approach are the uncertainties induced by the modeling process itself. This deficiency is often due to a lack of information regarding the problem or the models considered, which could theoretically be reduced through the introduction of additional data. Because of the nature of this epistemic uncertainty, traditional probabilistic frameworks utilized for the quantification of uncertainties are not necessarily applicable to quantify the uncertainties induced in the modeling process itself. This work develops and utilizes a methodology – incorporating aspects of Dempster–Shafer Theory and Bayesian model averaging – to quantify uncertainties of all forms for simulation-based modeling problems. The approach expands upon classical parametric uncertainty approaches, allowing for the quantification of modeling-induced uncertainties as well, ultimately providing bounds on classical probability without the loss of epistemic generality. The approach is demonstrated on two different simulation-based modeling problems: the computation of the natural frequency of a simple two degree of freedom non-linear spring mass system and the calculation of the flutter velocity coefficient for the AGARD 445.6 wing given a subset of commercially available modeling choices.
Beneficial (!) effect of neutron irradiation on mechanical properties of mild steel in blue brittle range

Abstract Contrary to the generally observed radiation embrittlement we found improved yield strength, ductility and toughness at 473K while neutron irradiation resulted in decreased ductility and toughness at ambient temperature. This beneficial effect of neutron radiation exposure is attributed to the interaction of radiation-produced defects with interstitial impurity atoms.
Effect of medium pH on p-aminohippurate accumulation by slices of rat renal cortex.

Nierenschnitte von verschiedenen Arten akkumulieren PAH mit zunehmendem pH-Wert des Mediums bei einem deutlichen Maximum zwischen pH 7.4 und pH 8.0
A comparative study of impulse-resistant metal sandwich plates

Abstract The performance of metal sandwich plates under impulsive blast loads is compared to that of solid plates made of the same material and having the same weight. Three core geometries are considered: pyramidal truss, square honeycomb and folded plate. Plates of infinite length and clamped along their sides are subject to uniform impulsive load. The momentum impulse is applied to the face sheet towards the blast in the case of the sandwich plate, while it is distributed uniformly through the thickness of the solid plate. Large impulses are considered that are sufficient to produce lateral plate deflections more than 10% of the plate width. Fracture is not considered; the plates are assumed to have sufficient ductility to be able to sustain the deformations. A limited study of weight optimization is carried out for each of the core types with respect to the respective geometric parameters, including core and face sheet thickness, core member aspect ratios and relative density. A well-designed sandwich plate can sustain significantly larger blast impulses than a solid plate of the same weight. If the blast medium is water, fluid–structure interaction can reduce the momentum imparted to a sandwich plate by almost a factor of two relative to that imparted to a solid plate of the same weight, and, consequently, the relative benefit of the sandwich plate is significantly enhanced over its solid counterpart.
Dissipation Effects on the Superconductor-Insulator Transition in 2D Superconductors

Results on the superconductor to insulator transition in two-dimensional films are analyzed in terms of a coupling of the system to a dissipative bath. Upon lowering the temperature the parameter that controls this coupling becomes relevant and a wide range of metallic phase is recovered.
Coenzyme AdoB12 vs AdoB12·− homolytic CoC cleavage following electron transfer: A rate enhancement ≥1012

Abstract Comparison of the 25°C CoC bond homolysis rate constant of adenosyl-cobalamin (coenzyme B 12 ) vs that for electrochemically reduced adenosyl-cobalamin radical anion indicates a rate enhancement of at least 10 12±2 upon the addition of one antibonding electron. Even though electrochemical reduction promotes CoC homolysis by virtually the same amount as the 10 12±2 enzymic activation seen for adenosylcobalamin, electron-transfer activation of the CoC homolysis in adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme reactions is considered unlikely, based on four lines of evidence.
IL-27 Limits Central Nervous System Viral Clearance by Promoting IL-10 and Enhances Demyelination

IL-27 is a pleiotropic member of the IL-6 and IL-12 cytokine family composed of the IL-27p28 and the EBV-induced gene 3. IL-27 and its receptor mRNA are both upregulated in the CNS during acute encephalomyelitis induced by the JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) and sustained during viral persistence. Contributions of IL-27 to viral pathogenesis were evaluated by infection of IL-27Rα-chain–deficient (IL-27Rα−/−) mice. The absence of IL-27 signaling accelerated virus control within the CNS associated with increased IFN-γ secreting virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Abrogation of IL-27 signaling did not affect virus-specific CD8+ T cell–mediated IL-10 production or cytolytic activity or Foxp3+ regulatory T cell populations. However, IL-10 production by virus-specific CD4+ T cells was reduced significantly. Despite increased T cell–mediated antiviral function in IL-27Rα−/− mice, the virus persisted in the CNS at similar levels as in wild-type mice. Nevertheless, IL-27Rα−/− mice exhibited decreased clinical disease during persistence, coincident with less severe demyelination, the hallmark tissue damage associated with JHMV infection. Overall, these data demonstrate that in contrast to viral infections at other sites, IL-27 does not play a proinflammatory role during JHMV-induced encephalomyelitis. Rather, it limits CNS inflammation and impairs control of CNS virus replication via induction of IL-10 in virus-specific CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, in contrast to its protective role in limiting CNS autoimmunity and preventing immunopathology, these data define a detrimental role of IL-27 in promoting demyelination by delaying viral control.
Viral Blip Dynamics during Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), there has been a dramatic decrease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related mortality. In diverse cohorts, most HAART-treated patients attain “undetectable” levels of plasma viral RNA ( 400 copies/ml were three times more likely to experience sustained viral rebound and to have impaired CD4 cell rises relative to those that maintained undetectable viral loads (VLs; <400 copies/ml). In contrast, Havlir et al. (6) found that blips in patients treated with protease inhibitor-based HAART regimens were not associated with virologic failure over 4.5 years of observation, and Sklar et al. (22) found that the occurrence of transient viremia was independent of whether the patient was HAART naive or experienced or currently taking protease inhibitors or not. Also, such viremia did not appear to affect the risk of developing sustained viremia. Whether blips represent random events or follow some pattern that could provide information about ongoing events in patients with “undetectable” VLs is the focus of the present study. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics of viral blips by analyzing plasma VL data from eight prospective studies of combinations of antiviral therapy in heterogeneous cohorts of HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals (Table ​(Table11). TABLE 1. Treatment and baseline characteristics at the time of antiretroviral treatment initiation, as well as the time of observation during the period of viral load suppression, the number of viral load measurements taken during this period, and the frequency ...
Specificities of Cell Permeant Peptidyl Inhibitors for the Proteinase Activities of μ-Calpain and the 20 S Proteasome

Cell-permeant peptidyl aldehydes and diazomethylketones are frequently utilized as inhibitors of regulatory intracellular proteases. In the present study the specificities of several peptidyl inhibitors for purified human mu-calpain and 20 S proteasome were investigated. Acetyl-LLnL aldehyde, acetyl-LLM aldehyde, carbobenzyloxy-LLnV aldehyde (ZLLnVal), and carbobenzyloxy-LLY-diazomethyl ketone produced half-maximum inhibition of the caseinolytic activity of mu-calpain at concentrations of 1-5 x 10(-7) M. In contrast, only ZLLnVal was a reasonably potent inhibitor of the caseinolytic activity of 20 S proteasome, producing 50% inhibition at 10(-5) M. The other inhibitors were at least 10-fold less potent, producing substantial inhibition only at near saturating concentrations in the assay buffer. Further studies with ZLLnVal demonstrated that its inhibition of the proteasome was independent of casein concentration over a 25-fold range. Proteolysis of calpastatin or lysozyme by the proteasome was half-maximally inhibited by 4 and 22 microM ZLLnVal, respectively. Thus, while other studies have shown that ZLLnVal is a potent inhibitor of the hydrophobic peptidase activity of the proteasome, it appears to be a much weaker inhibitor of its proteinase activity. The ability of the cell permeant peptidyl inhibitors to inhibit growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied because this organism expresses proteasome but not calpains. Concentrations of ZLLnVal as high as 200 microM had no detectable effect on growth rates of overnight cultures. However, yeast cell lysates prepared from these cultures contained 2 microM ZLLnVal, an amount which should have been sufficient to fully inhibit hydrophobic peptidase activity of yeast proteasome. Degradation of ubiquitinylated proteins in yeast extracts by endogenous proteasome was likewise sensitive only to high concentrations of ZLLnVal. The higher sensitivity of the proteinase activity of calpains to inhibition by the cell permeant inhibitors suggests that calpain-like activities may be targets of these inhibitors in animal cells.
Hidden Lives of Seals

Opening the underwater world of marine mammals to human view is one of the most difficult challenges facing marine scientists. “First glimpse at hidden life of seals” by Richard Stone (Special News Report, “Science in Antarctica,” 30 Jan., [p. 657][1]) reports on the exciting work of Terrie Williams and Randy Davis, who have managed to attach a tiny camera to the head of an Antarctic Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli), thereby recording its environment during deep dives. Setting the stage for underwater work on the Weddell seal were preliminary observations by scuba divers ([1][2]), observations from an observation chamber below the ice, combined with behavioral and acoustics studies ([2][3]), and previous use of a camera attached to a seal ([3][4]). 1. [↵][5]1. C. Ray, 2. D. O. Lavallee , Zoologica 49, 121 (1964). [OpenUrl][6] 2. [↵][7]1. W. E. Schevill, 2. W. A. Watkins , ibid. 50, 45 (1965); [OpenUrl][8] 1. W. A. Watkins , Oceanus 12, 22 (1965); [OpenUrl][9] 1. C. Ray , BioScience 15, 274 (1965); [OpenUrl][10] 1. C. Ray , Antarct. J. U.S. 11, 105 (1967). [OpenUrl][11] 3. [↵][12]1. J. A. Thomas, 2. R. A. Kastelein, 3. A. Ya. Supin 1. R. W. Davis, 2. D. Wartzok, 3. R. Elsner, 4. H. Stone , in Marine Mammal Sensory Systems, J. A. Thomas, R. A. Kastelein, A. Ya. Supin, Eds. (Plenum, New York, 1992), pp. 631-642. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.279.5351.657 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DZoologica%26rft.volume%253D49%26rft.spage%253D121%26rft.atitle%253DZOOLOGICA%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253Dibid.%26rft.volume%253D50%26rft.spage%253D45%26rft.atitle%253DIBID%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DOceanus%26rft.volume%253D12%26rft.spage%253D22%26rft.atitle%253DOCEANUS%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [10]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBioScience%26rft.volume%253D15%26rft.spage%253D274%26rft.atitle%253DBIOSCIENCE%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [11]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAntarct.%2BJ.%2BU.S.%26rft.volume%253D11%26rft.spage%253D105%26rft.atitle%253DANTARCT%2BJ%2BUS%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [12]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text"
I Too Am Feminist: The Journey of a Black Male Transformative Feminist Family Therapist

ABSTRACT Working with men in the capacity of as trainee, client or colleague is very challenging. Maintaining mutually beneficial and non-exploitive relationships requires a balance of nurturance and accountability. Through autobiography, self-reflection and critique of family systems training and Africentric thought, this paper provides a framework for supporting men to develop a feminist family therapy ideology. In addition, I introduce the Patriarchy to Partnership Trajectory, a clinical tool and assessment, which can be used to assist men in transforming their lives and establishing equitable and just relationships.
Silver Alerts and the Problem of Missing Adults with Dementia

In the months following the introduction of the National AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert plan used to locate missing and abducted children, Silver Alert programs began to emerge. These programs use the same infrastructure and approach to find a different missing population, cognitively impaired older adults. By late 2008, 17 states had enacted Silver Alert policies, and several more planned to take advantage of National Silver Alert grant funding to initiate policies in 2009. To date, however, no research has examined the efficacy of such programs, which have widely varying parameters and criteria to initiate the alerts. In this study, we empirically examine the 17 existing state Silver Alert and related policies. The analysis includes an examination of the varieties of programs: dementia related and AMBER extension, the dates of enactment, the criteria for activation, and the process of activation. We conclude with two salient questions that emerged from the analysis. We examine these questions and make recommendations for future research, including examining whether Silver Alerts are an appropriate response to address the problem of missing adults with dementia or cognitive impairments and examining the costs and benefits of the programs including determining how best to balance efforts to keep cognitively impaired elders safe while keeping their basic human rights of autonomy and empowerment intact.
Assessing Stress in Families of Children with ADHD: Preliminary Development of the Disruptive Behavior Stress Inventory (DBSI)

This paper describes the initial development of the Disruptive Behavior Stress Inventory (DBSI). This 40-item measure, which provides indices of the number of stressors experienced during the past 6 months and the rated stressfulness of these events, is designed to assess behavior-related family stress experienced by families of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Findings provide strong support for the internal consistency of the DBSI and suggest adequate test-retest reliability. Support for the validity of the measure is suggested by findings that DBSI stress indices differentiate between parents of children with ADHD and those with no history of this disorder. Additional support is provided by findings that scores on the DBSI also differentiate between parents of children with ADHD, combined type and parents of children with ADHD, inattentive type. It is suggested that this measure may provide useful clinical information regarding stress levels in families of children with ADHD and that it may be of potential value as an ADHD treatment outcome measure.
Advocating for immediate postpartum LARC: increasing access, improving outcomes, and decreasing cost.

Unintended pregnancy, endemic in the United States Expulsion rates appear to be lower with postplacental (within (US), carries significant health and economic consequences and disproportionately affects poor women and women of color [1,2]. Rapid repeat pregnancy—defined as a pregnancy within 12 to 18 months after delivery—can occur if women are unsuccessful at initiating contraception [3]. Improving postpartum initiation of effective contraception including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), the intrauterine device (IUD) and contraceptive implant, is a key strategy to reduce unintended pregnancy and health inequities. However, nonreimbursement by insurers for both LARC devices and the immediate insertion procedure, is a critical barrier to the provision of postpartum LARC during the hospital admission for a birth. Recently, coalitions in three states have successfully advocated for modification of Medicaid policy to allow reimbursement for immediate postpartum placement, both for the devices and the insertion procedure, separate from the global fee for delivery. By removing a key financial barrier, these policy changes signal an important advance in provision of the most effective forms of immediate postpartum contraception. Immediate postpartum LARC insertion is safe and supported by recent clinical guidelines [4,10]. According to the US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, both the levonorgestrel (LNG) IUD and copper IUD may be inserted prior to hospital discharge after vaginal or cesarean delivery in both breastfeeding and nonbreastfeeding women.
Ethnicity Matters: Transnational Ethnic Alliances and Foreign Policy Behavior

This article investigates the influence of transnational ethnic alliances on the international interactions of states. Transnational ethnic alliances exist when both states in a dyad contain members of the same ethnic group. We argue that two types of dyads will experience higher levels of conflict than other dyads: (1) those where an advantaged minority in state A has an ethnic tie to a nonadvantaged minority in state B, and (2) those with a transnational ethnic alliance where the group in one of the states is politically mobilized. Using data from the COPDAB, Minorities at Risk, Polity II, COW, and Penn World Tables projects we find support for these contentions.
Modulation of CD4 co-receptor limits spontaneous autoimmunity when high-affinity transgenic TCR specific for self-antigen is expressed on a genetically resistant background

Myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) 139‐151 is an immunodominant peptide that induces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in H-2 s SJL/J mice. While PLP 139‐151-specific TCR transgenic (tg) 4E3 mice develop fulminant spontaneous disease on the susceptible SJL/J background, spontaneous EAE is dramatically reduced on the H-2 s congenic B10.S background. On this resistant background, we observed a high frequency of positively selected tg CD42CD82 (DN) thymocytes and peripheral DN tg T cells. Splenic DN tg T cells responded to anti-CD3 stimulation similarly to CD41 cells, but proliferative and cytokine responses to PLP 139‐151 were blunted, implying that CD4 coreceptor down-regulation modulated T cell responses to the self-antigen in vitro. Adoptive transfer of tg DN CD3hi cells into RAG-deficient wild-type (WT) recipients induced EAE less efficiently than transfer of CD41 T tg cells indicating the blunted responses of DN tg T cells to self-antigen in vivo. The frequency of tg DN T cells was irrespective of thymic expression of the autoantigen. These data implicate that down-regulation of CD4 co-receptor in the thymus, which is independent from the expression of thymic autoantigen, results in a blunted response to the autoantigen in the periphery and limits the incidence of spontaneous autoimmunity in genetically resistant mice bearing a large autoreactive tg T cell repertoire.
A dynamic programming algorithm for cache memory partitioning for real-time systems

An algorithm for optimally partitioning two-level memory systems for deterministic, real-time performance is presented. The algorithm finds the optimal solution in polynomial time, which supports on-line reconfiguration of memory resources in response to changing requirements. >
Morphology and gas barrier properties of thin SiO x coatings on polycarbonate: Correlations with plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition conditions

Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of SiOx coatings on thermoplastics provides a viable route for production of transparent composite materials with high fracture toughness and high gas barrier properties, which are important considerations in the food packaging and biomedical device industries. By examining several series of systematically varied SiOx/polycarbonate composites, we have identified design correlations between coating characteristics (thickness, density, surface roughness, and O2 transmission) and deposition conditions (time, power, pressure, and flow rates). Of particular interest is the observation that the thermal activation energy for O2 permeation through these composites increases (by up to 17 kJ/mol) as their barrier efficacy increases.
Quilt Packaging: High-Density, High-Speed Interchip Communications

ldquoQuilt packagingrdquo (QP), a new superconnect paradigm for interchip communication, is presented. QP uses conducting nodules that protrude from the vertical facets of integrated circuits to effect a dense, fast, and reduced-power method of interfacing multiple die together within a package or on a multichip module. The concept of QP is presented along with a discussion of advantages over traditional system-on-chip and other system-in-package technologies. A process flow and results of chip fabrication are detailed. Simulations show expected signal propagation between adjacent die of greater than 200 GHz, and measurements of interconnected chips confirming low losses and resonance-free operation to at least 40 GHz have been achieved.
Incorporating Test Inputs into Learning

In many applications, such as credit default prediction and medical image recognition, test inputs are available in addition to the labeled training examples. We propose a method to incorporate the test inputs into learning. Our method results in solutions having smaller test errors than that of simple training solution, especially for noisy problems or small training sets.
Post-anesthesia deafness in dogs and cats following dental and ear cleaning procedures

Abstract Objective The present study was performed to document hearing loss in dogs and cats following procedures performed under anesthesia. Most cases of reported hearing loss were subsequent to dental and ear cleaning procedures. Study design Prospective and retrospective case survey. Animals Subjects were dogs and cats with deafness, personally communicated to one author, cases discussed on a veterinary information web site, and cases communicated through a survey of general practice and dental specialist veterinarians. Methods Reported deafness cases were characterized by species (dog, cat), breed, gender, age, and dog breed size. Results Sixty–two cases of hearing loss following anesthesia were reported between the years 2002 and 2009. Five additional cases were reported by survey respondents. Forty–three cases occurred following dental procedures. Sixteen cases occurred following ear cleaning. No relationship was observed between deafness and dog or cat breed, gender, anesthetic drug used, or dog size. Geriatric animals appeared more susceptible to post–anesthetic, post–procedural hearing loss. Conclusions Deafness may occur in dogs and cats following anesthesia for dental and ear cleaning procedures, but the prevalence is low. The hearing loss appears to be permanent. Clinical relevance Deafness can be a consequence following anesthesia for dental or ear cleaning procedures. Older animals may have greater susceptibility.
Identification of Safety Risks for High-Performance Sustainable Construction Projects

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC)-sponsored Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building program represents the largest program in the United States for the measurement, verification, and certification of green buildings. A recent study found that LEED-certified buildings have accounted for a higher injury rate than comparative traditional non-LEED buildings. This finding served as the impetus for the present study, which aimed to identify and evaluate the safety and health risks associated with the design elements and construction management practices implemented to achieve LEED certification. To explore this topic, six detailed case studies and two validation case studies were conducted following a strict protocol developed from guiding literature. The results indicate that (1) workers on LEED construction projects are exposed to work at height, with electrical current, near unstable soils, and near heavy equip- ment for a greater period of time than workers on traditional projects; (2) workers are exposed to new high-risk tasks such as constructing atria, installing green roofs, and installing photovoltaic (PV) panels; and (3) some credits result in a positive impact on construction worker safety and health when low volatile organic compound (VOC) adhesives and sealants are specified. It is expected that these results can be used by practitioners to focus attention and resources on new highrisk work environments. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000446. © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
CT training of nuclear medicine residents in the United States, 2013-2014.

Abstract Purpose In 2011, the ACGME Nuclear Medicine (NM) Residency Review Committee revised the NM program requirements, which increased CT training for NM residents. This article examines the effect of this revision. Methods Requests were e-mailed to all NM program directors asking that their residents be given the opportunity to complete an online survey regarding their CT training. Subsequently, an identical online survey regarding CT training was e-mailed directly to all members of the NM Residents Organization of the American College of NM asking that they complete the survey regarding their CT training if they had not already done so. Results Resident responses, compared with those from a similar 2011 survey, indicate a perception that CT training and CT expertise gained in ACGME-accredited NM programs have improved. However, some NM residents are not provided with the opportunity to develop critical skills in interpreting and dictating CT scans during their time on dedicated CT services. The survey indicates that experience gained during NM residency in head and neck/neuroradiology, emergency, and musculoskeletal CT is marginal at best. A slight majority felt that CT training should be further increased. Conclusions Compared with a 2011 survey of NM residents and the 2011 implementation of expanded CT training requirements, a follow-up survey seems to indicate improvement in CT training for most NM residents. Nevertheless, an opportunity clearly remains to further improve the breadth and depth of CT skills during NM residency. However, whether such an improvement will result in a reversal of multiyear downward trends in the number of NM residents and training programs in the United States is not clear.
The evolution of pelvic aspiration in archosaurs

Movements of the pelvic girdle have recently been found to contribute to inspiratory airflow in both crocodilians and birds. Although the mechanisms are quite different in birds and crocodilians, participation of the pelvic girdle in the production of inspiration is rare among ver- tebrates. This raises the possibility that the pelvic musculoskeletal system may have played a role in the ventilation of basal archosaurs. Judging from the mechanism of pelvic aspiration in croco- dilians and the structure of gastralia in basal archosaurs, we suggest that an ischiotruncus muscle pulled the medial aspect of the gastralia caudally, and thereby helped to produce inspiration by increasing the volume of the abdominal cavity. From this basal mechanism, several archosaur lin- eages appear to have evolved specialized gastralia, pelvic kinesis, and/or pelvic mobility. Kinetic pubes appear to have evolved independently in at least two clades of Crocodylomorpha. This con- vergence suggests that a diaphragmatic muscle may be basal for Crocodylomorpha. The pelvis of pterosaurs was long, open ventrally, and had prepubic elements that resembled the pubic bones of Recent crocodilians. These characters suggest convergence on the pelvic aspiratory systems of both birds and crocodilians. The derived configuration of the pubis, ischium and gastralia of non-avian theropods appears to have enhanced the basal gastral breathing mechanism. Changes in structure of the pelvic musculoskeletal system that were present in both dromaeosaurs and basal birds may have set the stage for a gradual reduction in the importance of gastral breathing and for the evo- lution of the pelvic aspiration system of Recent birds. Lastly, the structure of the pelvis of some ornithischians appears to have been permissive of pubic and ischial kinesis. Large platelike pre- pubic processes evolved three times in Ornithischia. These plates are suggested to have been in- strumental in an active expansion of the lateral abdominal wall to produce inspiratory flow. Thus, many of the unique features found in the pelvic girdles of various archosaur groups may be related to the function of lung ventilation rather than to locomotion.
A Missed Opportunity to Abandon the Reasonable Observer Framework in Sacred Text Cases: McCreary County v. ACLU of Kentucky & Van Orden v. Perry

This Article examines the reasonable observer framework in Establishment Clause cases, specifically in relation to the two most recent Ten Commandments decided by the Supreme Court. Part One describes the evolution of Establishment Clause jurisprudence from the three-prong Lemon test to Justice O'Connor's endorsement test and the various definitions of a reasonable observer as applied by federal courts. Part Two summarizes the history of Ten Commandment cases in the United States Supreme Court and examines, in detail, McCreary County v. ACLU and Van Orden v. Perry, the two recent sacred text decisions. Part Three analyzes and describes the inherent problems with the reasonable observer framework. Finally, Part IV recommends the elimination of the current reasonable observer framework and proposes the adoption of a new framework which presumes an improper purpose when the government displays a sacred text. This proposed presumption of unconstitutionality test may be rebutted if the government demonstrates that the sacred text is used either in a de minimis fashion or is sufficiently narrowly tailored such that a logical connection exists between the sacred text and the surrounding theme at the site of the display. Substituting this new framework in the adjudication of sacred text cases would eliminate the current problem of different results for identical displays.
América se hurga el ombligo

Resumen “America se hurga el ombligo” examina el dialogo a distancia que sostienen los autores modernistas y real-maravillosos para formular un algoritmo que racionalice la respuesta americana frente a la dilucion, asimilacion y coaccion de las identidades locales con que nos regala la globalizacion. El ensayo se compone de tres secciones. La primera contiene una descripcion de los aportes modernistas a la construccion de una identidad continental y sus contradicciones; la segunda, los esfuerzos de los autores real-maravillosos por refinar un nuevo perfil del latinoamericano a partir de la propuesta modernista; finalmente, la tercera seccion propone ejemplos de aplicacion del principio rector ofrecido por los autores real-maravillosos. Resumo "A America se hurga el ombligo" examina um dialogo, sustentado a distância, entre os autores modernistas e “real-maravillosos” da primeira metade do seculo XX. Depois de reconstruir essos intercâmbios, o artigo revela um algoritmo com o qual os latino-americanos tem enfrentado a diluicao, assimilacao e cooptacao de identidades regionais provocada pelo processo de globalizacao. O artigo contem tres seccoes. A primeira descreve as contribuicoes dos autores modernistas para a construcao de uma identidade latino-americana pos-colonial e suas contradicoes. A segunda destaca os refinamentos autores “real-maravillosos” tem operado sobre o perfil cultural da America Latina oferecido por contribuicoes dos modernistas. Finalmente, a terceira parte apresenta tres exemplos de aplicacao do principio geral proposto pelos autores real maravilhosos. Abstract “America se hurga el ombligo” examines a dialogue, sustained at a distance, between Modernist and Real-Marvelous authors of the first half of the Twentieth Century. Upon reconstructing these exchanges, the article uncovers an algorithm with which Latin Americans have faced the dilution, assimilation, and cooptation of regional identities brought about by the process of Globalization. The article contains three sections. The first one describes Modernist authors’ contributions to the building of a postcolonial Latin American identity and its contradictions. The second one highlights the refinements Real-Marvelous authors operated upon the novel Latin American cultural profile offered by Modernists’ contributions. Finally, the third part presents three applications of the general principle proposed by the Real Marvelous authors.
Sexual Behavior of the Gray Short-Tailed Opossum (Monodelphis domestica)

Sexual behavior was studied in captive specimens of the gray short-tailed opossum ( Monodelphis domestica ), a small, Brazilian, didelphid marsupial. A “switch-male” procedure in which males are alternated in breeding pairs was devised to encourage mating. Nonreceptive females are strongly aggressive toward males. Male courtship behavior includes strategies aimed at reducing this aggressive response. In copulation, the male clasps the female's ankles with his hind feet and the pair usually lies upon the right side. Copulation involves intravaginal thrusting, locking, and apparently a single intromission and ejaculation. These behavior patterns are compared with those of other commonly studied didelphids. Since M. domestica will breed in the laboratory, it may prove to be a practical marsupial model for studies of early mammalian development.
Evaluating the Effect of Endogenous Interferential Substances on Enzymatic Methods for Determining Potassium,Sodium,Chloride

Objective To evaluate the effect of endogenous substances in hemolyzed,icteric,lipemic and uremic samples on enzymatic methods for determining potassium(K~+),sodium(Na~+),chloride(Cl~-).Methods According to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards EP7-P,the K~+,Na~+ and Cl~-in normal serum,hemolyzed,icteric,lipemic and uremic samples were analyzed by indirect ion-selective electrodes(ISE) and enzymatic methods.The all results were statistically analyzed.Results In normal samples,the Na~+ and Cl~-of enzymatic methods were higher than those of ISE(P0.05),while K~+ had no significant bias between two methods.The hemolysis and icterus had no interferences on the results of K~+,Na~+ and Cl~-analyzed by enzymatic methods(P0.05).The enzymatic values of K~+ and Cl~-were not affected by lipemia(TG15mmol/L),while Na~+ had negative bias in lipemic samples,there was no correlation of the negative bias with the serum concentration of triglyceride(r=0.06) and cholesterol(r=0.10).The enzymatic methods could not be used in determining K~+,Na~+ and Cl~-in grossly lipemic samples(TG15mmol/L).In uremic samples,enzymatic K~+ values showed negative bias(P0.05),the deviations correlated only weakly with urea nitrogen and creatinine(r=0.26,r=0.31).Whereas enzymatic Na~+ and Cl~-values showed positive bias which had no correlation with urea nitrogen and creatinine(r=0.05,r=0,07).Conclusion The hemolysis,icterus,middle or lightly lipemia have no significant effects on enzymatic methods for determining K~+,Na~+ and Cl~-.However the enzymatic methods can not be used in determining K~+,Na~+ and Cl~-in grossly lipemic and uremic samples.