cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MCR-1 Inhibition with Peptide-Conjugated Phosphorodiamidate Morpholino Oligomers Restores Sensitivity to Polymyxin in Escherichia coli.

In late 2015, the first example of a transferrable polymyxin resistance mechanism in Gram-negative pathogens, MCR-1, was reported. Since that report, MCR-1 has been described to occur in many Gram-negative pathogens, and the mechanism of MCR-1-mediated resistance was rapidly determined: an ethanolamine is attached to lipid A phosphate groups, rendering the membrane more electropositive and repelling positively charged polymyxins. Acquisition of MCR-1 is clinically significant because polymyxins are frequently last-line antibiotics used to treat extensively resistant organisms, so acquisition of this mechanism might lead to pan-resistant strains. Therefore, the ability to inhibit MCR-1 and restore polymyxin sensitivity would be an important scientific advancement. Peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PPMOs) are antisense molecules that were designed to target mRNA, preventing translation. Peptide conjugation enhances cellular entry, but they are positively charged, so we tested our lead antibacterial PPMOs by targeting an essential Escherichia coli gene, acpP, and demonstrated that they were still effective in mcr-1-positive E. coli strains. We then designed and synthesized two PPMOs targeted to mcr-1 mRNA. Five clinical mcr-1-positive E. coli strains were resensitized to polymyxins by MCR-1 inhibition, reducing MICs 2- to 16-fold. Finally, therapeutic dosing of BALB/c mice with MCR-1 PPMO combined with colistin in a sepsis model reduced morbidity and bacterial burden in the spleen at 24 h and offered a survival advantage out to 5 days. This is the first example of a way to modulate colistin resistance with an antisense approach and may be a viable strategy to combat this globally emerging antibiotic resistance threat.IMPORTANCE Polymyxin use has been increasing as a last line of defense against Gram-negative pathogens with high-level resistance mechanisms, such as carbapenemases. The recently described MCR-1 is a plasmid-mediated mechanism of resistance to polymyxins. MCR-1 is currently found in Gram-negative organisms already possessing high-level resistance mechanisms, leaving clinicians few or no antibacterial options for infections caused by these strains. This study utilizes antisense molecules that target mRNA, preventing protein translation. Herein we describe antisense molecules that can be directly antibacterial because they target genes essential to bacterial growth or blockade of MCR-1, restoring polymyxin sensitivity. We also demonstrate that MCR-1 antisense molecules restore the efficacies of polymyxins in mouse models of E. coli septicemia. Considering all things together, we demonstrate that antisense molecules may be effective therapeutics either alone when they target an essential gene or combined with antibiotics when they target specific resistance mechanisms, such as those seen with MCR-1.
Stepwise Approach To Writing Journal-Style Lab Reports in the Organic Chemistry Course Sequence

An approach is described that gradually transitions second-year organic chemistry students to writing full The Journal of Organic Chemistry (JOC) style lab reports. The primary goal was to introduce students to and build rhetorical skills in scientific and technical writing. This was accomplished by focusing on four main strategies utilizing a stepwise method where assignments progress from lower- to higher-level writing tasks, collaborative writing, journal-style lab reports, and imitation. This approach is built upon work from numerous educators and combines them into a unique pedagogical writing tool to enhance student learning.
Efficacy of Online Laboratory Science Courses

The overall goal of this study was to evaluate student experiences in online laboratory courses in order to inform the design and improvement of lab activities in a distance education program. Students were surveyed about their satisfaction and perceptions of usability and learning in both hands-on (at home) and computer-based simulation (virtual) labs in a variety of natural science courses. We also attempted to evaluate the effectiveness of several online chemistry courses taught with either hands-on kits or virtual laboratory activities, and examined the performance of students concurrently enrolled in lecture and laboratory chemistry courses versus those enrolled in a lecture only courses. The majority of survey respondents felt their online laboratory experience was the same as or better than their prior experiences in the traditional setting. Survey data also show that students believe their laboratory experiences reinforced and improved their understanding of concepts presented in lectures and the textbook, and thus may have helped them perform better on course assessments. Our data on performance suggest that students enrolled in online science courses do as well or better than their peers enrolled in traditional courses. The data also suggest that students who take lecture and laboratory concurrently outperform their lecture-only peers, independent of course (i.e., general or organic chemistry) or delivery method (i.e., online or traditional).
Cultural Antecedents to Community: An Evaluation of Community Experience in the United States, Thailand, and Vietnam

To what extent does community experience differ between low context and high context societies? Prior literature theorizes that community experience consists of two separate, yet highly related concepts: community attachment, an individual's general rootedness to a place, and community satisfaction, how well an individual's community meets their societal needs. We test this conceptualization of community experience across communities in the US and two Southeast Asian nations: Thailand and Vietnam. We argue that Southeast Asian nations constitute "high context" societies with relatively high social integration and solidarity while the US is more individualized and less socially integrated and thus constitutes a "low context" society. Our results provide empirical evidence that individuals' experience of community varies between low and high context societies. These results demonstrate that cultural context continues to matter in regards to the lived experience of community and researchers need to remain vigilant in accounting for such differences as they seek to examine the concept of community more broadly.
Regularized Stochastic Canonical Equation K3 for Symmetric Random Matrices with Infinitely Small Entries

A distinctive feature of normalized spectral functions of symmetric random matrices with independent entries on the main diagonal and above is their convergence to a nonrandom distribution function as the dimensions of the matrices increase. Moreover, under quite general assumptions it is possible to deduce a canonical equation for the limit spectral function of matrices with asymptotically constant entries(MACE), which plays a crucial role in the theory of random matrices. We call this equation a stochastic canonical equation.
Our Threatened Agricultural Resources

Agricultural production in the United States has almost become synonymous with success. Certainly, no one would argue against its being a cornerstone of American greatness, nor suggest that the significant yield increases and corresponding labor decreases of the past several decades were undesirable. Certainly not. Yet, an uneasiness has begun to surface in certain quarters, as the long-term costs of American agriculture gradually become apparent.
Echo Distinction of Left-To-Right Shunts from Non-Structural Heart Disease (NHD) in Infancy

Diagnostic separation of infants with NHD and signs of cardiac failure (hypoglycemia, sepsis, myocarditis, hypoxemia) from those with large L-R shunts (PDA, VSD) is crucial in newborn management. Echocardiographic studies of 200 infants allowed the separation of these two groups and their distinction from normal by the assessment of mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF) and the ratio of left atrial to aortic root diameter at the end systole (LA/Ao). In normal premature and full-term infants VCF averaged 1.51± 0.04 (SE), this value was significantly higher in the large shunt group (2.12 ± 0.081, P< 0.001) and lower in the NHD infants (1.18 ± o.06, P< 0.001). LA/Ao ratios were comparable in the large shunt and NHD groups (1.14 ± 0.1 and 1.26 ± 0.2 respectively) and both were significantly higher than in normals (0.77 ± 0.01, P<0.001). No significant VCF or LA/Ao differences from normal were observed in infants with small L-R shunts. These reproducible echo indices provide a means for solving difficult and important problems in differential diagnosis. Since appropriate directional changes in these indices accompanied medical or surgical therapy, their determination was of major assistance in patient management.
The Anatomy of the Renal Circulation

There is no organ with a blood vascular system more complex than that of the mammalian kidney. To draw an analogy with electrical circuits, the renal vasculature represents an intricate system of constantly varying resistances, arranged in series and parallel, which control the flow of energy required for the many homeostatic roles the kidney must play. Morphologic studies demonstrate the many different routes which blood may take in its passages through the kidney. Such studies cannot capture the dynamic nature of the renal circulation but are important nonetheless in delineating the anatomic substrate upon which functional and disease-related alterations in vessel structure and caliber take place.
Home Range and Homing

We have dealt with dispersion and habitat selection, so how does home range relate to dispersion patterns and habitat selection? A home range might be defined simply as an area in which an animal “normally” lives and which contains many essential requirement, e.g., food, cover, and water (Brown 1973). Further, a home range is exclusive of migrations, emigrations, or erratic wanderings and is specified without reference to presence or absence of aggressive behavior. If an animal establishes a home range in a given habitat, the animal is using that habitat, so has the habitat selection taken place? This is an important question to ask with regard to home ranges, as is how large is a home range and does its use or size vary seasonally, with sex class, or with age class, etc.? Moreover, what factors affect placement or size of home ranges? Is there a distinction among home range, core areas, and territories, or are these interchangeable terms? As we shall see, there are many other questions regarding home range.
Building an Urban LTSER: The Case of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study and the D.C./B.C. ULTRA-Ex Project

There is growing scientific interest, practical need, and substantial support for understanding urban and urbanising areas in terms of their long-term social and ecological trajectories: past, present, and future. Long-term social-ecological research (LTSER) platforms and programmes in urban areas are needed to meet these interests and needs. We describe our experiences as a point of reference for other ecologists and social scientists embarking on or consolidating LTSER research in hopes of sharing what we have learned and stimulating comparisons and collaborations in urban, agricultural, and forested systems. Our experiences emerge from work with two urban LTSERs: the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) and the District of Columbia-Baltimore City Urban Long-Term Ecological Research Area-Exploratory DC-BC ULTRA-Ex project. We use the architectural metaphor of constructing and maintaining a building to frame the description of our experience with these two urban LTSERs. Considering each project to be represented as a building gives the following structure to the chapter: (1) building site context; (2) building structure; and (3) building process and maintenance.
The effectiveness of danazol on subsequent fertility in minimal endometriosis.

Sixty-five patients with minimal endometriosis were studied for the purpose of prospectively comparing conservative medical management in the form of danazol with no therapy in the treatment of this disease. After completion of the basic infertility evaluation and correction of additional factors affecting fertility, a diagnostic laparoscopy, dilatation and curettage (D and C), and tubal lavage were performed. A randomly selected card determined whether the patient received no treatment for 6 months or danazol for 6 months followed by no treatment for 6 months. The dosage of danazol was 800mg daily for the first 2 months, 600mg daily for the next 2 months, and 400mg daily for the final 2 months. The mean age of both the danazol-treated group and the group that received no danazol was 31 years. Conception occurred in 30% of the danazol-treated patients and 50% of the untreated patients. These results suggest that infertile patients with minimal endometriosis should be given an opportunity to conceive after laparoscopy, D and C, and tubal lavage. This would seem particularly true in older patients, where a 6-month delay in permitting attempts at conception represents a significant interval of time.
Roundup™ With Corticosterone Functions as an Infodisruptor to Antipredator Response in Tadpoles

Larval amphibians are frequently exposed to multiple stressors in aquatic environments, so understanding how individual stressors and synergisms of multiple stressors affect amphibians is integral to conservation efforts. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is a common pollutant found in aquatic environments. Exposure to glyphosate induces morphological, behavioral, and physiological changes in tadpoles possibly via infodisruption. Urban aquatic environments may have environmentally relevant levels of glyphosate, as well as higher concentrations of exogenous corticosterone (CORT) than rural areas. Elevated CORT levels also affect the morphology and physiology of tadpoles. Dragonfly larvae are common predators of tadpoles, and tadpoles often show elevated CORT and reduced activity in the presence of dragonfly larvae. We tested the hypothesis that combined effects of exogenous CORT and Roundup exposure would affect the antipredator behavior, morphology, and stress hormone responses of Gulf coast toad, Incilius nebulifer, tadpoles. We exposed tadpoles to one of four treatments: Roundup, CORT, Roundup+CORT, or control, for 7 days. Tadpoles exposed to CORT or Roundup+CORT had elevated CORT release rates. Tadpoles exposed to exogenous CORT had lower tail depth compared to tadpoles in other treatments. Subsequently, we exposed tadpoles to dragonfly diet cues. Tadpoles increased activity after predator cue exposure when they had previously been exposed to Roundup+CORT. Taken together, our results suggest that there may be synergistic effects between Roundup and exogeneous CORT on organismal behavior but not their physiology or morphology. It appears that glyphosate is an infordisruptor, that prevents tadpoles from demonstrating adaptive antipredator responses, which may contribute to population declines.
Optimization of Production and Packaging Schedules in a Mixed Discrete/Continuous Manufacturing Environment

This research was driven by the need for a more efficient production scheduling system in a consumable liquid product division of a large consumer products company. The manufacturing process under inspection consists of continuous and discrete elements, on both production and packaging lines. The production lines are split into continuous production lines and batch production lines which produce the product in fixed batch amounts. Then there are several bottling lines, some of which package a particular bottle size and others that can package multiple bottle sizes. The main objective of this research was to reduce the amount of time it takes for the client to create production and bottling schedules. An optimization model was developed to automate this process and provide the client with the best possible schedule. The objective of the model is to minimize cost by minimizing the number of switches across the production and bottling lines, as well as minimizing the amount of overproduction. Inputs into the model include model parameters, like the number of shifts to schedule, and monthly demand numbers for each stock keeping unit (SKU). The variables being solved for are the amount of each flavor to be produced across the production lines during each shift, and the number of bottles of each SKU to be bottled across the bottling lines during each shift. Due to the unique constraints and resources of the client, a custom formulation using mixed integer programming was necessary to achieve these objectives. Overall, our model fell short in some areas but succeeded in others. Our analysis showed that the model had a 13% average decrease in production switches but an 87% average increase in bottling switches compared to the current manual scheduling system. However, the ability of our system to create a good enough initial schedule reduces the time it takes expert human schedulers to develop a final schedule by up to 85%. Runtime and computational constraints barred us from creating an optimal, cost-minimized solution for our client, and future work can be directed toward solving these issues.
Effects of online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cognitive processing: A meta-analysis and recommendations for future studies.

Abstract Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), applied while subjects are performing a task, is widely used to disrupt brain regions underlying cognition. However, online rTMS has also induced “paradoxical enhancement”. Given the rapid proliferation of this approach, it is crucial to develop a better understanding of how online stimulation influences cognition, and the optimal parameters to achieve desired effects. To accomplish this goal, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed with random-effects models fitted to reaction time (RT) and accuracy data. The final dataset included 126 studies published between 1998 and 2016, with 244 total effects for reaction times, and 202 for accuracy. Meta-analytically, rTMS at 10 Hz and 20 Hz disrupted accuracy for attention, executive, language, memory, motor, and perception domains, while no effects were found with 1 Hz or 5 Hz. Stimulation applied at and 10 and 20 Hz slowed down RTs in attention and perception tasks. No performance enhancement was found. Meta-regression analysis showed that fMRI-guided targeting and short inter-trial intervals are associated with increased disruptive effects with rTMS.
Chapter 3 – Single-phase liquid flow in minichannels and microchannels

Publisher Summary Microfabrication technology opens up a whole new set of possibilities for incorporating enhancement structures derived from the past experience in compact heat exchanger development. Microchannels are used in a variety of devices incorporating a single-phase liquid flow. The early applications involved micromachined devices such as micropumps, microvalves, and microsensors. The developments in the microelectromechanical devices naturally require heat removal systems that are equally small. The laminar flow-friction factor and the heat transfer equations derived from theoretical considerations are expected to hold in microchannel applications in the absence of any changes in the transport processes or any new physical phenomenon. Large values of relative roughness are more commonly encountered in microchannels. This chapter also presents an overview of single-phase enhancement techniques and various enhancement configurations that may be considered especially with silicon microfabrication technology.
Targeted Therapies for Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the 2nd most common lymphoma in the USA/Western Europe. While incurable, the majority of patients are able to survive at least a decade with this disease. Response duration though varies, and subset of patients will relapse within 24 months of initial therapy (POD24). These patients have shortened survival compared to those who achieve more durable responses. Treatment interventions for patients are varied and include observation, radiation, or systemic therapies. Treatment outcomes have improved considerably over the last several decades with the introduction of new agents such as the CD 20 antibody rituximab and more recently with the advent of more targeted therapy. Most of the newer agents work differently from cytotoxic chemotherapy and either inhibit tumor-specific mutations, survival pathways, or harness the immune systems. While outcomes with traditional cytotoxic agents have been historically poor in certain subtypes such as POD24 and rituximab refractory disease, the reported outcomes with the newer agents have been encouraging as evident by several new drug approvals in FL. The biggest impact has been in the relapsed/refractory setting where we have approval of the immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide given in combination with rituximab. Based on the AUGMENT study, this agent has been approved for patients with R/R FL after one previous line of therapy. The EZH2 inhibitor, tazemetostat, was approved recently for patients with a known EZH2 mutation after one prior line of therapy or for FL patients who are deemed intolerant to other agents given the impressive safety profile in all patients. Finally, there is a plethora of agents that are designed to harness the immune system to combat this lymphoma. The data for these agents is still very early but nonetheless very impressive. In summary, FL is an incurable lymphoma without any standard of care options but has numerous treatments that have demonstrated some degree of efficacy. Recently we have made enormous strides in the understanding of some of the biological drivers of this disease which has allowed for refinement of treatment options. Moving forward, I would anticipate that we will continue to explore the use of agents that target specific mutations or utilize the immune system to hopefully one day achieve a cure.
Predicting outcomes of abdominal surgical emergencies in the elderly population using a CT muscle gauge.

Frailty has been shown to be an independent negative predictor of surgical outcomes in geriatric patients. Traditional measurements of muscle strength and mass are impractical in emergency settings, and computed tomography (CT)-measured skeletal muscle mass has been proposed as an alternative. However, the cutoff values for low muscle mass are still unknown, and their impact on abdominal emergencies in the elderly population is unclear. A total of 462 young trauma patients aged 18–40 years were analyzed to establish sex-specific reference cutoff values for the CT-measured muscle index (MI) and muscle gauge (MG) values. The impacts of low MI and MG values were investigated in 1192 elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) undergoing abdominal surgery. The sex-specific cutoff values for MI and MG were determined by adopting European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 guidelines. The correlation between MG and aging was significantly stronger than that between MI and ageing. With regard to the MG, the L4 psoas muscle gauge (L4 PMG) was further investigated in an elderly cohort owing to its high predictive value and ease of use in the clinical setting. A low L4 PMG value was an independent risk factor for overall complications and mortality in elderly patients with abdominal emergencies. The current study was the largest study investigating the correlations between MG values and aging in the Asian population. A low L4 PMG value may help surgeons during preoperative decision making regarding geriatric patients with abdominal emergencies.
Cyclin D2 Overexpression Enhances the Efficacy of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Myocardial Repair in a Swine Model of Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Human induced pluripotent stem cells with normal (wild-type) or upregulated (overexpressed) levels of CCND2 (cyclin D2) expression were differentiated into cardiomyocytes (CCND2WTCMs or...
On the cover Turán number of Berge hypergraphs

Abstract For a fixed set of positive integers R , we say H is an R -uniform hypergraph, or R -graph, if the cardinality of each edge belongs to R . For a graph G = ( V , E ) , a hypergraph H is called a Berge- G , if there is an injection i : V ( G ) → V ( H ) and a bijection f : E ( G ) → E ( H ) such that for all e = u v ∈ E ( G ) , we have { i ( u ) , i ( v ) } ⊆ f ( e ) . We define the cover Turan number of a graph G , denoted as ex ˆ R ( n , B G ) , as the maximum number of edges in the 2-shadow of an n -vertex Berge- G -free R -graph, where the 2-shadow H of a hypergraph H is a graph such that an edge e ∈ E ( H ) if and only if e ⊆ h for some h ∈ E ( H ) . In this paper, we show an Erdős–Stone–Simonovits-type upper bound on the cover Turan number of graphs and determine the cover Turan density of all graphs when the host hypergraph is 3-uniform.
Digital Infrastructure as a Component of Emergency Medical Services Transformation

The importance of digital infrastructure for the transformation of emergency medical services as one of the priority areas of public policy and public authorities are considered. Some approaches to the definition of digital infrastructure are studied. This study made it possible to identify the components of the digital infrastructure of emergency medical services and outline its role in the health care ecosystem. The approach to the application of the modular architecture of the digital infrastructure of emergency medical services as a conceptual basis for the integration of information systems of different departments into a single emergency system is considered. Exist two groups of mechanisms that influence the formation of the digital infrastructure of emergency medical services and indicate the causal links that explain how their use can lead to the transformation of emergency medical services. The range of tasks that are solve due to the digital infrastructure aimed at improving the efficiency, accuracy of diagnosis and provision of emergency medical services is outlined. New opportunities are opening up to improve the quality of emergency medical services provision in a human-centered health care system based on a digital infrastructure, the central elements of which are the exchange of information contained in electronic records and patient health cards and mobile digital devices, diagnostics and information transfer. The list of problems on the way of emergency medical services transformation is formulated and some recommendations for their solution are offered, the formulation of which is based on the analysis of existing practices and own long-term experience at the emergency medical services system.
Pell’s Equation, Superirregularity and Randomness

Our starting point is the well-known Pell’s equation, a standard part of any introductory course on number theory. The theory of Pell’s equation, while mostly elementary, is nevertheless one of the most beautiful chapters in the whole of mathematics. Also, it is very important, since the concept of units plays a key role in algebraic number theory.
Medieval Sexuality: A Research Guide

Originally published in 1990. Well-annotated bibliographical entries cover works on history, religion, medicine, philosophy, law and literature in western Europe from about the third century A.D. through the end of the medieval period. The primary sources are organised thematically, and separately from secondary sources. Languages covered include English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, and Latin. The focus is on sexuality and sexual attitudes, not on the related topics of marriage and family. Detailed indexes are also included.
Confidence intervals for functions of variance components

A simple general method is proposed for constructing confidence intervals for arbitrary functions of variance components in balanced normal theory models. The method produces the commonly known exact (X and F distribution based) confidence intervals for expected mean squares and ratios of them. The concept of "surrogate variables" is introduced as part of the description of the method. '^Equaltail" and "shortest-length" confidence intervals from this method can be easily computed using Monte Carlo simulations. The two-way random effects model without interaction is considered. It is shown that the proposed method produces intervals that are comparable in confidence coefficient and average length to those produced by the best existing methods.
The scientist and social policy on aging.

When I first accepted your invitation and suggested that I would speak about the auto-immunological response of social policy on aging, I had in mind the pursuit of an analogue to the auto-immunological theory of aging. As Walford pointed out many years ago, the theory postulates that a progressively increasing immunegenetic diversification of the dividing cell populations of vertebrates occurs with increasing age. This gradual diversification leads to loss of recognition patterns between the body cells which loss of is manifested by auto-immune-like reactions. Thus, aging is considered a generalized, mild but prolonged type of auto-immune phenomenon (1). My thought was that I could postulate that the aged are part and parcel of the normal cell structure of society. As societies aged, social values came under pressure and the body politic did not distinguish well between normal cells and deviant cells. Leo Simmons’ seminal study of the aged (2) in seventy-one societies noted great variation among them in the treatment of the aged, ranging from the most profound respect and reverence to callous rejection, abandonment and deprivation. It appeared, according to Simmons, that the degree of cultural achievement might be viewed as the independent variable against which one might look at treatment of the elderly. But in all societies there are some elderly and it is fair to say that aging and growing old is viewed as normal among mankind’s various cultures.
Obstacles Confronting Technology Initiatives As Seen through the Experience of Science Teachers: A Comparative Study of Science Teachers' Beliefs, Planning, and Practice.

There currently exists unparalleled discrepant growth between technological advancements and educators' understanding of appropriate classroom technology implemenation. The Tech Tools™ teacher enhancement program was designed to provide teachers with hardware and expertise with state-of-the-art science and math microcomputer technologies. This study was conducted as an examination of the implementation of current technologies in teacher education and school settings for the purpose of informing other science, mathematics, and technology reform efforts. For over two years researchers gathered data from surveys, interviews, and on site visits and observations explicating the 1) teacher knowledge and beliefs, 2) computer use for instruction, 3) hardward access, and 4) school support for technology use. Results revealed teachers given identical equipment and training implemented similar technologies in vastly different ways. Discrepancies in implementation of technology were best explained through the lenses of teachers' existing practice and beliefs about their school context. Recommendations are given regarding technology implementation, teacher education, and evaluation of technology initiatives.
The Standard Model of Particle Physics

Pursuit of answers to fundamental questions of life and nature is time invariant. The atomic hypothesis of matter was first brought up by Democritus in 400 B.C. Democritus stated that everything consists of atoms which are physically but not geometrically indivisible.
Two Strikes Against Them?: Exploring the Influence of a History of Poverty and Growing Up in an Alcoholic Family on Alcohol Problems and Income

ABSTRACT The relationship between poverty and substance abuse is complex and mitigated by many factors. While poverty is a risk factor for adolescent substance abuse, there is little research documenting the relationship beyond adolescence. Using a systematic sample of 1,268 cases from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, this study investigated whether there are synergistic, intergenerational effects of poverty and alcoholism. Results suggest that a co-occurring history of family alcoholism and poverty has a nonlinear relationship with alcohol problems and income as an adult. Young adults who were poor six or more years and lived with an alcoholic relative for nine or more years are at greater risk of having low income and problems with alcohol asan adult compared to others. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.
Testing for causality

Abstract A general definition of causality is introduced and then specialized to become operational. By considering simple examples a number of advantages, and also difficulties, with the definition are discussed. Tests based on the definitions are then considered and the use of post-sample data emphasized, rather than relying on the same data to fit a model and use it to test causality. It is suggested that a Bayesian viewpoint should be taken in interpreting the results of these tests. Finally, the results of a study relating advertising and consumption are briefly presented.
Cyborg Babies: From Techno-Sex to Techno-Tots

Cyborg Babies: From Techno-Sex to Techno-Tots. Robbie Davis-Floyd and Joseph Dumit. eds. New York and London: Routledge, 1998. x+358 pp.
Novel Functions of Hendra Virus G N-Glycans and Comparisons to Nipah Virus

ABSTRACT Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV) are reportedly the most deadly pathogens within the Paramyxoviridae family. These two viruses bind the cellular entry receptors ephrin B2 and/or ephrin B3 via the viral attachment glycoprotein G, and the concerted efforts of G and the viral fusion glycoprotein F result in membrane fusion. Membrane fusion is essential for viral entry into host cells and for cell-cell fusion, a hallmark of the disease pathobiology. HeV G is heavily N-glycosylated, but the functions of the N-glycans remain unknown. We disrupted eight predicted N-glycosylation sites in HeV G by conservative mutations (Asn to Gln) and found that six out of eight sites were actually glycosylated (G2 to G7); one in the stalk (G2) and five in the globular head domain (G3 to G7). We then tested the roles of individual and combined HeV G N-glycan mutants and found functions in the modulation of shielding against neutralizing antibodies, intracellular transport, G-F interactions, cell-cell fusion, and viral entry. Between the highly conserved HeV and NiV G glycoproteins, similar trends in the effects of N-glycans on protein functions were observed, with differences in the levels at which some N-glycan mutants affected such functions. While the N-glycan in the stalk domain (G2) had roles that were highly conserved between HeV and NiV G, individual N-glycans in the head affected the levels of several protein functions differently. Our findings are discussed in the context of their contributions to our understanding of HeV and NiV pathogenesis and immune responses. IMPORTANCE Viral envelope glycoproteins are important for viral pathogenicity and immune evasion. N-glycan shielding is one mechanism by which immune evasion can be achieved. In paramyxoviruses, viral attachment and membrane fusion are governed by the close interaction of the attachment proteins H/HN/G and the fusion protein F. In this study, we show that the attachment glycoprotein G of Hendra virus (HeV), a deadly paramyxovirus, is N-glycosylated at six sites (G2 to G7) and that most of these sites have important roles in viral entry, cell-cell fusion, G-F interactions, G oligomerization, and immune evasion. Overall, we found that the N-glycan in the stalk domain (G2) had roles that were very conserved between HeV G and the closely related Nipah virus G, whereas individual N-glycans in the head quantitatively modulated several protein functions differently between the two viruses.
Direct oxidation of hydrocarbons in a solid-oxide fuel cell

The direct electrochemical oxidation of dry hydrocarbon fuels to generate electrical power has the potential to accelerate substantially the use of fuel cells in transportation and distributed-power applications1. Most fuel-cell research has involved the use of hydrogen as the fuel, although the practical generation and storage of hydrogen remains an important technological hurdle2. Methane has been successfully oxidized electrochemically3,4,5,6, but the susceptibility to carbon formation from other hydrocarbons that may be present or poor power densities have prevented the application of this simple fuel in practical applications1. Here we report the direct, electrochemical oxidation of various hydrocarbons (methane, ethane, 1-butene, n-butane and toluene) using a solid-oxide fuel cell at 973 and 1,073 K with a composite anode of copper and ceria (or samaria-doped ceria). We demonstrate that the final products of the oxidation are CO2 and water, and that reasonable power densities can be achieved. The observation that a solid-oxide fuel cell can be operated on dry hydrocarbons, including liquid fuels, without reforming, suggests that this type of fuel cell could provide an alternative to hydrogen-based fuel-cell technologies.
Reusable and Extensible High Level Data Distributions

This paper presents a reusable design of a data distribution framework for data parallel high performance applications. Distributions are a means to express locality in systems composed of large numbers of processor and memory components connected by a network. Since distributions have a great effect on the performance of applications, it is important that the distribution strategy is flexible, so its behavior can change depending on the needs of the application. At the same time, high productivity concerns require that the user is shielded from error-prone, tedious details such as communication and synchronization. We propose an approach to distributions that enables a user to refine a distribution type and adjust it to optimize the performance of thee application. Additionally, the low-level communication and synchronization details are concealed from a programmer, resulting in increased productivity. To emphasize the generality of our distribution machinery, we present its abstract design in the form of a design pattern, which is independent of a concrete implementation. To illustrate the applicability of our distribution framework design, we outline the implementation of data distributions in terms of the Chapel high productivity programming language.
Software Development Management

The sections in this article are 1 The Software Development Life Cycle 2 The Qualitative Aspects of Software Management 3 The Quantitative Aspects of Software Management 4 Process Improvement 5 Maturity Models 6 Avoiding Schedule Slippage 7 Conclusions Keywords: cost estimation; development time; early prediction; maturity models; metrics; product; process; schedule slippage; SDLC; software development; software management; staffing
Immunohistochemical mapping of enkephalin containing cell bodies, fibers and nerve terminals in the brain stem of the rat

Enkephalin immunoreactive perikarya, fibers and nerve terminals, visualized by the indirect immunohistofluorescent method in colchicine-pretreated animals, are localized in many discrete regions of the rat brain stem. These specific immunohistofluorescent patterns are similar after staining with selective primary antisera directed against either methionine-enkephalin or leucine-enkephalin. Cell bodies are found in the substantia gelatinosa and interpolaris zones of the trigeminal nuclear complex, the nucleus of the solitary tract, in the vicinity of the nucleus raphe magnus, in the dorsal cochlear, medial vestibular, and paraolivary nuclei and, dorsal to this last region, in the parabrachial nuclei and the dorsal tegmental nucleus of Gudden, in the periaqueductal gray matter and interpeduncular nucleus and along the borders of the lateral lemniscus and medial geniculate. In some areas, such as the parabrachial region, nucleus of the solitary tract and substantia gelatinosa of the trigeminal nucleus, these perikarya are associated with densities of fibers and terminals. Other regions, such as the dorsal cochlear nucleus and the vicinity of the nucleus raphe magnus, contain cell bodies associated with low densities of processes and terminals. In still other nuclei, such as the nucleus of the facial nerve and the locus coeruleus, fiber and terminal densities without associated cell bodies are evident. Many of these enkephalin localizations can be rationalized on the basis of known actions of opiate drugs and the brain stem distribution of opiate receptors.
Binocular summation in vernier acuity

Monocular and binocular abutting line vernier acuities were measured as a function of contrast. Over a range of contrasts from near the line-detection threshold to approximately 20 times threshold, binocular vernier thresholds are lower (better) than monocular thresholds by approximately 50–60%, similar to the binocular improvement found for the detection of both a thin line and a dipole. At higher contrasts the binocular advantage diminishes, apparently as a result of saturation.
The optokinetic nystagmus and ocular pigmentation of hypopigmented mouse mutants

We tested the optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) reflex of various hypopigmented mutant mice and ultrastructurally examined the pigmentation of various ocular structures in these mutants. Using electron microscopy we examined the pigmentation of the choroid and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and measured the numerical density, volume density, and distribution of RPE melanosomes of mice with the following phenotypes: (1) wild type, (2) mutants that have abnormal or no OKN in response to horizontally moving, full-field stimulation, and (3) other mutants that have normal OKN but reduced choroidal pigmentation. We also measured the OKN of all these mice in response to horizontally moving stimuli that were restricted to the nasal or to the temporal retina. We found that in the mutants with normal OKN the numerical density of melanosomes in the RPE was within the range found for wild type, while the numerical density was reduced for the mutants with abnormal OKN. For one mutant with normal RPE pigmentation and normal OKN, the choroidal pigmentation was nearly absent. For the genotypes with abnormal OKN the volume density of the RPE melanosomes and percent apical melanosomes were sometimes greater and sometimes less than normal. The OKN patterns of these mice fell into the following categories: (1) wild type; (2) field-restriction dependent OKN with small following movements but no OKN in response to full-field stimulation, normal OKN in response to stimulation of the nasal retina, and OKN of reversed direction in response to stimulation of the temporal retina; (3) oblique with slow oblique following movements and reduced numbers of OKNs with oblique quick phases in response to horizontally moving, full-field stimulation, nearly normal OKN in response to stimulation of the nasal retina, and OKN of reversed direction in response to stimulation of the temporal retina. The horizontal component of the oblique response to full-field stimulation was in the same direction for the two eyes, but the vertical component was in the opposite direction. (4) Slow, small amplitude, with no or very small following movements in response to full-field stimulation, following movements in response to stimulation of the nasal retina and reversed "following" movements in response to stimulation of the temporal retina but few or no quick phases of the OKN for any stimulus condition. These results show that a variety of abnormalities of the OKN occur for hypopigmentation mutants of the mouse.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
The molecular biology of memory: CAMP, PKA, CRE, CREB-1, CREB-2, and CPEB

The analysis of the contributions to synaptic plasticity and memory of cAMP, PKA, CRE, CREB-1, CREB-2, and CPEB has recruited the efforts of many laboratories all over the world. These are six key steps in the molecular biological delineation of short-term memory and its conversion to long-term memory for both implicit (procedural) and explicit (declarative) memory. I here first trace the background for the clinical and behavioral studies of implicit memory that made a molecular biology of memory storage possible, and then detail the discovery and early history of these six molecular steps and their roles in explicit memory.
The Dance with The Discipline.

SUMMARY The author became acquainted with The Discipline only recently and this article describes two pastoral visits in which The Discipline provides guidance for interactive presence. Thus this material represents how the author seeks to grasp and integrate it into her clinical practice in a short time.
3‐Amino‐5‐phenyl‐1‐(2‐pyridyl)pyrrolidines. Synthesis and stereochemistry

Stereoselective syntheses of trans- and cis-3-amino-5-phenyl-1-(2-pyridyl)pyrrolidine (21 and 24) are reported. Evidence for the relative stereochemistries of 21 and 24 was obtained by preparation of the bicyclic lactams exo- and endo-7-phenyl-1,4-diazabicyclo[3.2.1.]octan-3-one (16 and 19) from precursors of 21 and 24.
A Review of Laminated Composite Plate Buckling

A brief overview is presented of considerations involved in the buckling of composite plates made of laminae having continuous, parallel fibers. Such plates are governed by orthotropic or anisotropic plate buckling theory for laminates which are symmetrically stacked with respect to the plate midplane. Unsymmetric laminates require a more complicated theory with bending-stretching coupling. Additional complicating factors are considered, including: interior holes, shear deformation, sandwich construction involving other materials, local effects, nonlinear stress-strain relationships, hygrothermal effects, and external stiffeners. Postbuckling behavior and the effects of initial imperfections are also described. Some representative results from the extensive literature (352 references) are included to aid in describing the various effects.
Use of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales in child clinical research.

Although the FACES has become a widely used instrument for assessing children's family relations, the possible linearity vs. curvilinearity of its cohesion and adaptability scales has been treated inconsistently by investigators. This study evaluated whether samples of adolescent repeat offenders, young adult prisoners, and adolescent nonoffenders were discriminated better by a linear or curvilinear treatment of the FACES scores. Between-groups comparisons showed that significant effects were observed for each of the three curvilinear measures (cohesion-curvilinear, adaptability-curvilinear, distance-from-center) and only one of the two linear measures (cohesionlinear). These findings support the superiority of a curvilinear treatment of the FACES. In light of these findings, it is suggested that investigators who use FACES evaluate the linearity of the scales and determine whether a linear or curvilinear treatment of the data produces more meaningful results.
Optimization of the p-GaN window layer for InGaN/GaN solar cells

In this work we report on the optimization of the p-GaN window layer for InGaN/GaN solar cells. We studied the effect of p-GaN thickness and growth temperature on the electrical performance. By optimizing the window thickness of In x Ga 1−x N solar cells with X In ≈0.04 we maximized short wavelength response and produced solar cells with 82% FF and Voc of 2 V and enhancement of Jsc of 80% over un-optimized devices. We also studied the effect of growth temperature of the window layer, and found that the electrical performance was greatly improved with higher growth temperatures. By increasing the p-GaN growth temperature from 890 °C to 1040 °C, reverse bias leakage was reduced by three orders of magnitude, Voc increased from 0.85 to 1.65 V and peak output power increased by nearly 100% for devices with X In ≈0.08. Surface pit density was also significantly decreased by increasing growth temperature and seems to be an important mechanism for leakage in these devices.