cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfotransferase Gene Induction by Bile Acid Activated Farnesoid X Receptor

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (STD) is a hydroxysteroid sulfo-conjugating enzyme with preferential substrate specificity for C-19 androgenic steroids and C-24 bile acids. STD is primarily expressed in the liver, intestine and adrenal cortex. Earlier studies have shown that androgens inhibit the rat Std promoter function through a negative androgen response region located between −235 and −310 base pair positions (Song, C. S., Jung, M. H., Kim, S. C., Hassan, T., Roy, A. K., and Chatterjee, B. (1998) J. Biol. Chem.273, 21856–21866). Here we report that the primary bile acid chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) also acts as an important regulator of the Std gene promoter. CDCA is a potent inducer of the Std gene, and its inducing effect is mediated through the bile acid-activated farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a recently characterized member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The ligand-activated FXR acts as a heterodimer with the 9-cis-retinoic acid receptor (RXR) and regulates the Std gene by binding to an upstream region at base pair positions −169 to −193. This specific binding region was initially identified by bile acid responsiveness of the progressively deleted forms of the Std promoter in transfected HepG2 hepatoma and enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells. Subsequently, the precise RXR/FXR binding position was established by protein-DNA interaction using in vitro footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift analyses. Unlike all other previously characterized FXR target genes, which contain an inverted repeat (IR) of the consensus hexanucleotide half-site (A/G)G(G/T)TCA with a single nucleotide spacer (IR-1), the bile acid response element of the Std promoter does not contain any spacer between the two hexanucleotide repeats (IR-0). A promoter-reporter construct carrying three tandem copies of the IR-0 containing −169/−193 element, linked to a minimal thymidine kinase promoter, can be stimulated more than 70-fold in transfected Caco-2 cells upon CDCA treatment. Autoregulation of the STD gene by its bile acid substrate may provide an important contributing role in the enterohepatic bile acid metabolism and cholesterol homeostasis.
Understanding strategic interactions in television commercials: A developmental study

Abstract The purpose of this study was to introduce an assessment procedure designed to explain developmental differences in understanding television advertising messages. Goffman's sociological concept of the “strategic interaction” and “recursive thinking,” the social analogue of Inhelder and Piaget's analysis of formal operational reasoning, provided the conceptual framework for our experimental paradigm. Four commercials for children's food products containing strategic interactions between two siblings were shown to 84 children, adolescents, and young adults. Participants were assessed for their understanding of the actors' behaviors and thoughts and for their understanding of the intent and persuasive strategy of the advertiser. Results indicated effects for both grade and commercial structure. The implications of these findings for social-cognitive development and for policy affecting children and television advertising are discussed.
Comment on Donald L. Redfoot's “Long‐term care reform and the role of housing finance”

At this writing, the Clinton administration’s proposal for reforming the nation’s health care system has just been released. The proposal includes an optional state-federal program that provides some coverage for long-term care, including home and community-based care for disabled persons. But there is no mention of housing. This iteration in the development of longterm care policy is only the latest in a long history of academic studies of the long-term care system and congressional proposals to reform it. Housing has essentially always been excluded. One must recognize this history of neglect to fully appreciate the significance of Don Redfoot’s article, “Long-Term Care Reform and the Role of Housing Finance.” The article joins what is unfortunately only a handful of writings that have addressed the link between housing and broader social welfare issues—in this case, long-term care (e.g., Cohen 1969; Newman 1990; Newman and Schnare 1992; Noelker 1982; Sussman 1979). Redfoot’s effort and publication of his article in Housing Policy Debate certainly increase the odds that at least the housing sector may begin to pay serious attention to the need to conceptualize the role of housing in long-term care. For this alone, Don Redfoot and Fannie Mae deserve much credit. Redfoot reviews a litany of ills associated with the current system of long-term care and, particularly, nursing homes: high costs that have grown faster than the general inflation rate; inappropriate placement in nursing homes of many elderly who do not require the level or intensity of services provided; the requirement that elderly persons pauperize themselves to qualify for Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs; and discrimination against nursing home applicants whose disability levels generate unacceptable cost-reimbursement ratios. His preferred solution to these problems is universal coverage for long-term care services—a much more extensive program than the optional capped block grant for home and community-based
Reflections and Future Directions for Privilege Studies

Previous literature on social identities focused largely on the oppression of people with marginalized identities without much attention paid to privileged, or dominant, group members. In conclusion to this special issue on privilege, I synthesize the authors’ contributions and current research on various forms of group privilege. The authors vary in their approach to dissecting privilege, either intersectionally or examining a single group's privilege. This body of work is imperative to the growing academic field of Privilege Studies, as well as encouraging more mainstream discourse about privilege and oppression.
What Is the Functional Significance of Hippocampal Pathology in Schizophrenia

The hippocampal formation (HF) is one of the brain structures most consistently altered in schizophrenia, yet the contribution of HF pathology to severe mental illness is poorly understood. We present evidence that our current ignorance is attributable to the fact that the anterior HF is heavily involved in schizophrenia but has been inadequately examined by schizophrenia investigators. We propose that the anterior HF in humans, and its counterpart in rodents (ventral HF), constrain diverse responses to psychological stimuli and that disruption of this function contributes to schizophrenia. While current data suggest that hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia most likely result from the role of the anterior HF in the integrated neurocircuit that includes the prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and ventral tegmental area, better characterized and phylogenetically preserved neurocircuits may be similarly affected by anterior HF pathology and account for associated findings of the disorder. We propose that focusing on the impact of ventral HF pathology on these simpler circuits and functions in rodents may provide insight into the pathophysiology of severe mental illness in humans. We review several associated findings in schizophrenia to assess the likelihood that each could be a product of this putative anterior HF dysfunction and could therefore be productively studied in rodents by probing ventral HF function.
DNase Inhibits Gardnerella vaginalis Biofilms In Vitro and In Vivo

Bacterial vaginosis is a highly prevalent and poorly understood polymicrobial disorder of the vaginal microbiota, with significant adverse sequelae. Gardnerella vaginalis predominates in bacterial vaginosis. Biofilms of G. vaginalis are present in human infections and are implicated in persistent disease, treatment failure, and transmission. Here we demonstrate that G. vaginalis biofilms contain extracellular DNA, which is essential to their structural integrity. Enzymatic disruption of this DNA specifically inhibits biofilms, acting on both newly forming and established biofilms. DNase liberates bacteria from the biofilm to supernatant fractions and potentiates the activity of metronidazole, an antimicrobial agent used in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis. Using a new murine vaginal colonization model for G. vaginalis, we demonstrate >10-fold inhibition of G. vaginalis colonization by DNase. We conclude that DNase merits investigation as a potential nonantibiotic adjunct to existing bacterial vaginosis therapies in order to decrease the risk of chronic infection, recurrence, and associated morbidities.
Hybrid Density Functional Methods Empirically Optimized for the Computation of 13C and 1H Chemical Shifts in Chloroform Solution

Two hybrid generalized-gradient approximation density functionals, WC04 and WP04, are optimized for the prediction of (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts, respectively, using a training set of 43 molecules in chloroform solution. Tests on molecules not included in the training set, namely six stereoisomeric methylcyclohexanols and a β-lactam antibiotic, indicate the models to be robust and moreover to provide results more accurate than those from equivalent B3LYP, PBE1, or mPW1PW91 calculations, particularly for the prediction of downfield resonances in nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. However, linear regression of the B3LYP, PBE1, and mPW1PW91 predicted values on the experimental data improves the accuracy of those models so that they are comparable to WC04 and WP04.
A Case-Control Study of the Epidemiology of Benign Breast Diseases with Reference to Oral Contraceptive Use

A matched case-control study was made of 384 pairs of women aged 20 to 44 years admitted to 2 hospitals in New Haven Connecticut. Also the epidemiology of benign breast diseases is compared to the epidemiology of breast cancer. The study patients were admitted for biopsy of benign breast mass; controls were admitted to general surgery services. Pathology reports of the biopsies were: 209 cystic hyperplasia 123 fibroadenoma 32 with both cystic hyperplasia and fibroadenoma and 20 with other conditions. Cystic hyperplasia cases were older (p less than .01). Frequency or length of breast-feeding was similar in both groups. Long-term oral contraceptive use was slightly greater in the control group (p less than .01). Results suggest that women with benign breast disease were more likely to be nulliparous or have fewer children than controls. Thus there appear to be some similarities between the epidemiology of benign breast diseases and that of breast cancer in women under age 45 years and that the number of pregnancies and the age at first pregnancy may be related to the risk.
Navaho Pictorial Weaving, 1880‐1950

Navajo Pictorial Weaving, 1880-1950: Folk Images of Native Americans. Tyrone Campbell. Joel Kopp and Kate Kopp. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1995. 128 pp. 178 color plates, notes, selected bibliography, index. $29.95 (paper).
Economic Grand Rounds: The Myth of Medical Cost Offset

dating parity in insurance coverage for medical and behavioral health services, mental health advocates reinforce the impression that behavioral health care should be held to different standards than medical services? Medical services primarily exist to improve patients’ well-being, not to increase a patient’s earnings or an employer’s bottom line (through, for example, increased productivity).
Genomics and proteomics in chemical warfare agent research: Recent studies and future applications

Medical research on the effects of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) has been ongoing for nearly 100 years, yet these agents continue to pose a serious threat to deployed military forces and civilian populations. CWAs are extremely toxic, relatively inexpensive, and easy to produce, making them a legitimate weapon of choice for terrorist organizations. While the mechanisms of action for many CWAs have been known for years, questions about their molecular effects following acute and chronic exposure remain largely unanswered. Global approaches that can pinpoint which cellular pathways are altered in response to CWAs and characterize long-term toxicity have not been widely used. Fortunately, innovations in genomics and proteomics technologies now allow for thousands of genes and proteins to be identified and subsequently quantified in a single experiment. Advanced bioinformatics software can also help decipher large-scale changes observed, leading to mapping of signaling pathways, functional characterization, and identification of potential therapeutic targets. Here we present an overview of how genomics and proteomics technologies have been applied to CWA research and also provide a series of questions focused on how these techniques could further our understanding of CWA toxicity.
Mechanical torques generated by optically pumped atomic spin relaxation at surfaces

It is argued that a valuable method of observing certain types of surface-atom interactions may lie in mechanical torques generated through the spin-orbit relaxation of valence electronic spins of optically pumped atoms at surfaces. The unusual feature of this phenomenon is that the less probable spin-orbit relaxation becomes highly visible as compared with the much more rapid paramagnetic relaxation, because of an enhancement, typically by as much as a factor 10/sup 9/, in the torques delivered to mechanical structures, by virtue of a very large effective moment arm. Spin-orbit relaxation operates through an exchange of translational momentum which, in turn, can be identified with the delivery of a gigantic angular momentum (in units of h) relative to a distant axis about which mechanical motion is referred. The spin-orbit relaxation strongly depends upon the atomic number of the surface atoms and the strength of interaction with the optically pumped atoms. Being dominated by high-atomic-number surface atoms, spin-orbit relaxation rates may not be too strongly influenced by minor surface contamination of lighter-weight optically active atoms.
Racial Battle Fatigue for Latina/o Students: A Quantitative Perspective

Previous literature demonstrates that as a result of racial microaggressions and hostile campus racial climates, Latina/o students often state they experience psychological, physiological, and behavioral stress responses during and after racialized incidents on campuses. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively test the racial battle fatigue framework for Latina/o students using structural equation modeling. Findings suggest that psychological stress responses for Latinas/os are most impacted by racial microaggressions in the racial battle fatigue framework.
An adaptive learning damage estimation method for structural health monitoring

Structural health monitoring is an important problem of interest in many civil infrastructure and aerospace applications. In the last few decades, many techniques have been investigated to address ...
Glucose-regulated protein GRP78 is up-regulated in prostate cancer and correlates with recurrence and survival

Chemotherapy resistance is a significant contributor to treatment failure and death in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. One unexplored mechanism for drug resistance is the induction of stress response proteins referred to as the glucose-regulated proteins (GRPs). We sought to determine the level of expression of GRP78, the best characterized GRP in lymph node-positive prostate cancer. Archived, paraffin-embedded, radical prostatectomy specimens were obtained from 153 patients with lymph node-positive prostate cancer (stage D1). The level of GRP78 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. We assessed the expression and specificity of GRP78 immunoreactivity in benign prostatic tissue, prostate cancer, and lymph node metastasis. We correlated the intensity of immunopositivity with prostate cancer recurrence and survival. Whereas immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that all prostate tissue was immunoreactive for GRP78, the intensity of expression was markedly higher in the primary tumor compared with areas of benign epithelium. GRP78 expression was also evident in lymph node metastases although less intensely than in the primary tumor. Patients with strong GRP78 immunoreactivity in the primary tumor are at higher risk for clinical recurrence (relative risk = 2.0, P = .019) and death (relative risk = 1.8, P = .024) than patients with weak GRP78 expression. This finding confirms that GRP78 protein expression is significantly higher in prostate cancer than in benign prostatic tissue. The intensity of expression is significantly associated with survival and clinical recurrence. GRP78 has considerable potential not only as a prognostic indicator but also as a potential therapeutic target.
Using CSP look-back techniques to solve exceptionally hard SAT instances

While CNF propositional satisfiability (SAT) is a sub-class of the more general constraint satisfaction problem (CSP), conventional wisdom has it that some well-known CSP look-back techniques — including backjumping and learning — are of little use for SAT. We enhance the Tableau SAT algorithm of Crawford and Auton with look-back techniques and evaluate its performance on problems specifically designed to challenge it. The Random 3-SAT problem space has commonly been used to benchmark SAT algorithms because consistently difficult instances can be found near a region known as the phase transition. We modify Random 3-SAT in two ways which make instances even harder. First, we evaluate problems with structural regularities and find that CSP look-back techniques offer little advantage. Second, we evaluate problems in which a hard unsatisfiable instance of medium size is embedded in a larger instance, and we find the look-back enhancements to be indispensable. Without them, most instances are "exceptionally hard" — orders of magnitude harder than typical Random 3-SAT instances with the same surface characteristics.
Exploring active decision support: the JANUS project

A description is given of the authors' research approach for developing active decision support systems. They provide a detailed discussion of research framework, methodology, and system architecture for developing advanced forms of process support and intellectual support. The authors present the details of the JANUS system, their research prototype. They discuss the contributions of the JANUS work and summarize their experiences and plans for the future. >
Printing CIELAB images on a CMYK printer using trilinear interpolation

The Color Rendering project at IBM Almaden Research Center is examining the problem of how to display and print quality color images. For this work we need a printer calibrated to a device independent color space. In this paper, we describe a system for printing CIELAB images on a CMYK printers, and focus particularly on calibration methods. We use tri-linear interpolation to convert CIELAB colors to CMY or CMYK colorants. We obtain the interpolation table by inverting a tetrahedral linear interpolation of a calibration table constructed by measuring printed color patches. Since tetrahedral interpolation has a simple analytical inverse, we can produce the inverted table much more quickly than with the numerical methods needed to invert a multilinear interpolation, even though we have to measure more patches to obtain the same accuracy. To cover the full printer gamut, we found it necessary to add some out-of-gamut entries to the inverted interpolation table. These entries must be obtained by extrapolation, and increase the errors interpolating colors on and near the gamut surface. To date we have calibrated a DuPont 4Cast to print CIELAB colors using CMY colorants. We discuss our results with this calibration, how we propose to add black, and how we fit gamut mapping into the processing.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Competence to Stand Trial Evaluations of Sovereign Citizens: A Case Series and Primer of Odd Political and Legal Beliefs

Sovereign citizens hold a variety of beliefs that challenge the legitimacy of the United States government and criminal justice system. In criminal cases, sovereign citizens typically raise a variety of seemingly strange objections to the proceedings that can cause court participants to believe the defendant is not competent to stand trial. The author's case files were reviewed to identify all defendants who espoused sovereign citizen beliefs during a court-ordered competence-to-stand-trial evaluation. This case series consisted of nine evaluations completed between 2003 and 2012. A review of the outcomes in these cases showed that sovereign citizens typically have the capacity to understand criminal proceedings and assist an attorney.
Insights into dimerization and four-helix bundle formation found by dissection of the dimer interface of the GrpE protein from Escherichia coli.

The GrpE heat shock protein from Escherichia coli has a homodimeric structure. The dimer interface encompasses two long α-helices at the NH2-terminal end from each monomer (forming a “tail”), which lead into a small four-helix bundle from which each monomer contributes two short sequential α-helices in an antiparallel topological arrangement. We have created a number of different deletion mutants of GrpE that have portions of the dimer interface to investigate requirements for dimerization and to study four-helix bundle formation. Using chemical crosslinking and analytical ultracentrifugation techniques to probe for multimeric states, we find that a mutant containing only the long α-helical tail portion (GrpE1–88) is unable to form a dimer, most likely due to a decrease in α-helical content as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy, thus one reason for a dimeric structure for the GrpE protein is to support the tail region. Mutants containing both of the short α-helices (GrpE1–138 and GrpE88–197) are able to form a dimer and presumably the four-helix bundle at the dimer interface. These two mutants have equilibrium constants for the monomer–dimer equilibrium that are very similar to the full-length protein suggesting that the tail region does not contribute significantly to the stability of the dimer. Interestingly, one mutant that contains just one of the short α-helices (GrpE1–112) exists as a tetrameric species, which presumably is forming a four-helix bundle structure. A proposed model is discussed for this mutant and its relevance for factors influencing four-helix bundle formation.
Development of a rationally designed, low abuse potential, biogenic amine releaser that suppresses cocaine self-administration

Convergent lines of evidence support a dual deficit model of stimulant withdrawal, where reductions in synaptic dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) (5-HT) contribute to dysphoria, drug craving, and relapse. Thus, we predicted that a nonamphetamine compound with substrate activity at DA and 5-HT transporters (i.e., a dual DA/5-HT releaser) would be an effective medication for treating stimulant addictions. Ideally, this type of medication would alleviate withdrawal symptoms, suppress cocaine self-administration, and lack side effects commonly associated with central nervous system stimulants. In the present work, more than 350 compounds were screened in vitro for activity as substrate-type releasing agents at DA, 5-HT, and norepinephrine transporters. These efforts identified PAL-287 (1-napthyl-2-aminopropane) as a nonamphetamine compound with potent substrate activity at biogenic amine transporters. In vivo microdialysis in rats demonstrated that PAL-287 (1–3 mg/kg i.v.) increased extracellular DA and 5-HT in frontal cortex, but effects on 5-HT were somewhat greater. PAL-287 induced substantially less locomotor stimulation than (+)-amphetamine, a drug that increases only extracellular DA. Administration of high-dose (+)-methamphetamine or (±)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine to rats produced long-lasting depletion of cortical 5-HT, whereas PAL-287 (18 mg/kg i.p. × 3) did not. PAL-287 displayed little or no reinforcing properties in rhesus monkeys trained to self-administer cocaine, yet PAL-287 produced a dose-dependent decrease in responding for cocaine when infused at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg/h. Collectively, the findings reported here demonstrate that nonamphetamine monoamine releasing agents such as PAL-287 might be promising candidate medications for the treatment of stimulant dependence.
Planning for future success in pediatric heart failure and cardiac transplantation

Abstract Over the past 3 decades, there have been tremendous advancements in the care of children with heart failure and after cardiac transplantation. To spur future knowledge and progress, investigators with interests in cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and transplantation discussed new directions and challenges to research in these areas at the Third International Conference on Cardiomyopathy in Children. The identification of predictors of myocardial recovery and transplant-free survival was emphasized as an important focus of research. A priority was the development of registries, databases, and trials that are able to span the continuum of heart failure care and enable more powerful and cost-effective studies to be implemented. The improvements in survival of children with heart failure as well as longer survival after transplant stimulated discussions on the need for quality of life measures and patient-centered outcomes to be incorporated into future research aims so that beneficial interventions can be realized. Current literature and key points implementing these future aims and directions are discussed further in this commentary.
Morphology of ceramic particulates formed in a premixed oxygen/acetylene flame from liquid precursor droplets

Abstract This study concerns high temperature flame synthesis of ceramic deposits utilizing a mono-disperse stream of droplets composed of an aqueous precursor. The droplets were injected into an oxy-acetylene flame. Mono-disperse droplets were generated with an electrostatic spray technique. High-speed droplet images suggest evidence of shedding of small particulates from the droplet surface as they enter the flame. Flame temperatures were measured by a spectroscopic technique utilizing chemiluminescence from the Q1 branch of hydroxyl (OH) radical A2Σ+ → X2Π(0, 0) rotational band. Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the extracted samples was performed to identify the types of deposits. The thermophoretically obtained samples show a morphology transition at flame equivalence ratios between 1.1 and 1.5. Large droplets in cooler flames impact onto the substrate as gelated material or liquid, whereas, smaller droplets traversing higher temperatures yield sintered poly-crystalline particulates. Raman analysis of multi-pass deposits indicates presence of tetragonal phase of the yttria-stabilized zirconia.
The effect of physician staffing model on patient outcomes in a medical progressive care unit

Abstract Purpose Although evidence supports the impact of intensivist physician staffing in improving intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes, the optimal coverage for progressive care units (PCU) is unknown. We sought to determine how physician staffing models influence outcomes for intermediate care patients. Materials and Methods We conducted a retrospective observational comparison of patients admitted to the medical PCU of an academic hospital during 12-month periods of high-intensity and low-intensity staffing. Results A total of 318 PCU patients were eligible for inclusion (143 high-intensity and 175 low-intensity). We found that low-intensity patients were more often stepped up from the emergency department and floor, whereas high-intensity patients were ICU transfers (61% vs 42%, P = .001). However, Mortality Probability Model scoring was similar between the 2 groups. In adjusted analysis, there was no association between intensity of staffing and hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.99; P = .69) or PCU mortality (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.38-2.45; P = .69). There was also no difference in subsequent ICU admission rates or in PCU length of stay. Conclusions We found no evidence that high-intensity intensivist physician staffing improves outcomes for intermediate care patients. In a strained critical care system, our study raises questions about the role of the intensivist in the graded care options between intensive and conventional ward care.
Transference Paradigms At Play In Psychoanalytically Oriented Group Therapy with Female Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

This article presents a psychoanalytically oriented model of group treatment for female adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Two key treatment issues--the survivor's struggle to trust her own mind and her tenacious allegiance to an omnipotent, all-bad self-representation--are used to illustrate ways in which the transference/countertransference matrix of the group permits members to enact, identify, and work through central internalized relational configurations. The group therapist's role is to maintain transitionality, a focus on process, and the capacity for play. Language: en
Tax Penalties Facing Parents and Married Couples: Some Relief on the Way

Once the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 is fully implemented, the marriage penalty will be eliminated for some couples and mitigated for others. The relief is due primarily to the doubling of the standard deduction and doubling of the endpoint of the 15% bracket for married filing jointly. However, phase-in of these provisions will not commence until 2005 and will not be completed until 2009. Similarly, when the Act is fully implemented the family penalty will be substantially reduced, but not eliminated. Family penalty relief is due primarily to (1) increase in the phase-out of the earned income tax credit for married couples filing jointly, (2) increase in the amount of the Child Tax credit, (3) increase in statutory maximums for Child Care credit, and (4) elimination of the phase-out of dependency exemptions. However, because of the many different effective dates and phase-ins the tax relief provided by these provisions vary greatly. Mitigation of the family penalty will not be fully realized until the year 2010. The authors discuss the tax impact of marriage, and of having children, and describe the changing environment in the coming years as the Act takes effect.
Optical Elastography for Determining Strain in Coronary Vessels

The disruption of structurally compromised coronary plaque is thought to be the primary event causing heart attack. We have developed a new method for characterizing these vulnerable plaques using OCT and elastography.
Online Pet Supply Retailing

From 1995 to 1999, the U.S. experienced a period of tremendous growth in its information technology (IT) sector. The IT industry, although it accounted for less than 10% of the U.S. economy's total output, contributed disproportionately to economic growth. One market that was particularly contentious was online pet supply retailing. Pet supply retailing had an estimated worth of $31 billion in 1997, and in the late 1990s, several startups and brick-and-mortar-based companies launched online retail stores, hoping to become the premiere (and perhaps the only) online pet supplies retailer. Two companies emerged as pure play frontrunners: Oakland-based Petstore.com and San Francisco-based Pets.com. In the years that followed, online pet supply retailers were widely regarded by the media as epitomizing the excesses and the follies of dot-com speculative mania in the late 1990s that culminated in the 2000 stock market crash. In 2008, CNet pronounced Pets.com as one of the greatest dot-com disasters in history. But what led to the failure, and subsequent crucifixion, of these one-time media darlings? Were Petstore.com and Pets.com the victim of poor strategic decisions, a prohibitive and crowded market, investor attitudes that destroyed their chances of success, or perhaps just bad luck or bad timing?
The autoinhibitory C-terminal SH2 domain of phospholipase C–γ2 stabilizes B cell receptor signalosome assembly

The binding of antigen to the B cell receptor (BCR) stimulates the assembly of a signaling complex (signalosome) composed initially of the kinases Lyn, spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), and Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk), as well as the adaptor protein B cell linker (BLNK). Together, these proteins recruit and activate phospholipase C-γ2 (PLC-γ2), a critical effector that stimulates increases in intracellular Ca(2+) and activates various signaling pathways downstream of the BCR. Individuals with one copy of a mutant PLCG2 gene, which encodes a variant PLC-γ2 that lacks the autoinhibitory C-terminal Src homology 2 (cSH2) domain, exhibit PLC-γ2-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (PLAID). Paradoxically, although COS-7 cells expressing the variant PLC-γ2 show enhanced basal and stimulated PLC-γ2 activity, B cells from PLAID patients show defective intracellular Ca(2+) responses upon cross-linking of the BCR. We found that the cSH2 domain of PLC-γ2 played a critical role in stabilizing the early signaling complex that is stimulated by BCR cross-linking. In the presence of the variant PLC-γ2, Syk, Btk, and BLNK were only weakly phosphorylated and failed to stably associate with the BCR. Thus, BCRs could not form stable clusters, resulting in dysregulation of downstream signaling and trafficking of the BCR. Thus, the cSH2 domain functions not only to inhibit the active site of PLC-γ2 but also to directly or indirectly stabilize the early BCR signaling complex.
Rotating Field EC-GMR Sensor for Crack Detection at Fastener Site in Layered Structures

Eddy current-based techniques have been investigated for the inspection of embedded cracks under fastener heads in riveted structures. However, these techniques are limited in their ability to detect cracks that are not perpendicular to induced current flows. Further, the presence of a steel fastener of high permeability produces a strong signal that masks relatively smaller indication from a crack. In this paper, a rotating electromagnetic field is designed to rotate the applied magnetic fields and related eddy currents electrically so that the sensor shows uniform sensitivity in detecting cracks in all radial directions around fastener sites. Giant magnetoresistive sensors are employed to image the normal component of this rotating field, to detect different crack orientations at aluminum and ferromagnetic fastener sites. Numerical model-based studies and experimental validation are presented.
Investigation of Thin Film for High Emissivity Infrared Micro Emitter

A platinum infrared emitter by Joule's heat, about 0.5×0.5mm2 of a pattern size, has been fabricated with micro lithography process of the platinum film on a quartz glass substrate, A hafnium oxide buffer film was used. The heat characteristics of the emitter were examined with thermography and a spectroradiometer. The maximum temperature of the heating emitter is confirmed to be 600°C at least. The platinum film emitter has the emissivity less than 0.1 and is nearly equivalent to gray body in wavelength 4-14μm. The emissivities of ceramics films on the platinum film were investigated to obtain the higher emissivity. The emissivities of oxide ceramics thin films are different from that of bulk targets and less than them. In Corning 7059 thin films, however, the higher emissivity values rather than that of the target is obtained at film thickness 6.7μm in wavelength 7-11μm. The highest value of emissivity of the thick film was 0.96 at wavelength 9.5μm.
Subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermidae) penetration into sand treated at various thicknesses with termiticides

Penetration of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), into sand treated with 1 of the 4 termiticides, Dursban, Biflex, Dragnet, or Prevail, at treatment thicknesses of 0.15-5 cm was studied using a laboratory bioassay. Neither termite species penetrated sand containing ≥100 ppm termiticide, even when the treated barrier was only 0.15 cm thick. Sand treated with 10 ppm Dursban at ≤0.63 cm was breached by both termite species. Sand treated with 10 ppm Dragnet or Biflex was broken through by C. formosanus only when the treatment thickness was 0.15 cm. Prevail at 10 ppm prevented penetration by both termite species. Sand treated with 1 ppm Dursban at thickness of 2.5 cm did not prevent penetration by C. formosanus . Biflex was not penetrated by R. flavipes at any concentration or thickness. C. formosanus broke through the sand treated with 1 ppm Biflex when the treatment was ≤0.63cm thick. Dursban caused higher mortality than other pyrethroid termiticides.
Anxiety as Avoidance: Defensive Information Processing as Measured by Decreased Information Intake in Habituation to a Tone:

High and low anxious men and women were tested for habituation to a tone. Mean first habituation trial, of low-amplitude electro-dermal responding, occurred significantly sooner for subjects high in anxiety than for those low in anxiety. Analysis indicates defensive information processing occurs under anxiety.
Filtration Recovery of Extracellular DNA from Environmental Water Samples

qPCR methods are able to analyze DNA from microbes within hours of collecting water samples, providing the promptest notification and public awareness possible when unsafe pathogenic levels are reached. Health risk, however, may be overestimated by the presence of extracellular DNA (eDNA) that is corecovered by the filtration procedure which is the most commonly used method to concentrate target microbes from environmental waters. Using C. parvum 18S rRNA gene fragment as a representative of eDNA, we examined the impact of filters (types and pore sizes) and physiochemical properties of surface water samples on the recovery of spiked DNA. Our results indicated that binding affinities of various filter membranes were quantifiably different for eDNA fragments with the polycarbonate (PC) binding the least and mixed cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate (MCE) binding the most as evidenced by up to 16% recovery of the spiked plasmid DNA with a pore size of 0.2 μm. Water quality parameters also had a distinct influence on the recovery of eDNA which was enhanced by the presence of high total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations and reduced pH. At pH 5.5, with 150 mg/L of clay, DNA recovery was increased to as much as 18%. By shielding the negative charge, thus increasing the interaction of DNA and colloids, the increase of Na(+) and Ca(2+) concentrations resulted in more DNA binding and consequently more recovery from environmental water samples. Therefore, in addition to analytical uncertainties, potential differences in qPCR data from filtered waters characterized with low pH and high TSS and ionic strength should be considered in pollution assessments.
The chemical, mechanical, and physical properties of 3D printed materials composed of TiO2-ABS nanocomposites

AbstractTo expand the chemical capabilities of 3D printed structures generated from commercial thermoplastic printers, we have produced and printed polymer filaments that contain inorganic nanoparticles. TiO2 was dispersed into acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and extruded into filaments with 1.75 mm diameters. We produced filaments with TiO2 compositions of 1, 5, and 10% (kg/kg) and printed structures using a commercial 3D printer. Our experiments suggest that ABS undergoes minor degradation in the presence of TiO2 during the different processing steps. The measured mechanical properties (strain and Young’s modulus) for all of the composites are similar to those of structures printed from the pure polymer. TiO2 incorporation at 1% negatively affects the stress at breaking point and the flexural stress. Structures produced from the 5 and 10% nanocomposites display a higher breaking point stress than those printed from the pure polymer. TiO2 within the printed matrix was able to quench the intrinsic f...
Clinical problem-solving. Half a loaf.

Stage A 27-year-old woman had severe hypertension and hirsutism during the last trimester of a normal pregnancy. In the six months after the delivery of her child, she noticed increasing skin pigmentation and continued weight gain, and insulin-requiring diabetes mellitus developed. Her prepregnancy weight was 160 lb (73 kg), and her weight six months after delivery was 240 lb (109 kg). Her previous health had been excellent, and she had no family history of obesity or endocrine disease. She was not a smoker. Response I see patients with hypertension, hirsutism, and diabetes mellitus associated with weight gain in my practice . . .
The Experimental study of crown microleakage after Carisolv processing of root canals

AIM:To evaluate the effect of Carisolv as root canal preparation agent on crown microleakage.METHODS:Forty-eight extracted teeth which were dyed with methylene blue were randomly divided into 3 groups,and the root canals were prepared with 20g/L chlorine yaming,Carisolv and EDTA respectively.All 48 root canals were filled by cold lateral condensation technique.Root canal crown microleakage was determined by scanning electron microscope.The length of micorleakage was measured by dye penetration test.SPSS 16.0 software package was used for statistical analysis.RESULTS:The crown microleakage of Carisolv treated root canals was significantly higher than that of EDTA group(P0.05),while it showed no significant difference with chlorine yaming group(P0.05).CONCLUSION:Carisolv affects the microleakage of root canals.
The Pediatric Measure of Participation (PMoP) short forms

Multi-center cross-sectional cohort study. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate short forms (SFs) of participation for child- and parent-reported outcomes following spinal cord injury (SCI). Three pediatric orthopedic hospitals in the United States. The expert panel used calibration data from the pediatric computerized adaptive test (CAT) development study (convenience sample of 381 children and adolescents with SCI and 322 parents or caregivers) to select SF items. The panel selected items for two domains (participation self—relevant to what I want to do; participation friends—relevant to what my friends do), with parent and child versions for each domain. Psychometric analyses included group reliability, Cronbach’s alpha, agreement (SFs and item banks), percent of sample with highest (ceiling) and lowest (floor) scores by level of lesion (paraplegia/tetraplegia), and test information function. Group reliability and Cronbach’s alpha values are acceptable (0.74–0.92) and agreement (intraclass correlation coefficients for SFs and total item banks) is strong (0.89–0.95). Floor effects were minimal for people with tetraplegia and paraplegia (0–1.19%). Ceiling effects were minimal for people with tetraplegia (0–3.13%) and slightly higher, but acceptable, for people with paraplegia (8.06–14.02%). Test information function for the SFs was sufficiently high over the range of scores for the majority of the sample. Pediatric Measure of Participation (PMoP) SFs are acceptable for use when CATs are not feasible. The study was funded by the Shriners Hospitals for Children Research Grant 79142 (Mulcahey, PI) and the Boston ROC Grant 5R24HD065688-05 (Jette, PI).
Gating of reafference in the external cuneate nucleus during self-generated movements in wake but not sleep

Nervous systems distinguish between self- and other-generated movements by monitoring discrepancies between planned and performed actions. To do so, corollary discharges are conveyed to sensory areas and gate expected reafference. Such gating is observed in neonatal rats during wake-related movements. In contrast, twitches, which are self-generated movements produced during active (or REM) sleep, differ from wake movements in that they reliably trigger robust neural activity. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the gating actions of corollary discharge are absent during twitching. Here, we identify the external cuneate nucleus (ECN), which processes sensory input from the forelimbs, as a site of movement-dependent sensory gating during wake. Whereas pharmacological disinhibition of the ECN unmasked wake-related reafference, twitch-related reafference was unaffected. This is the first demonstration of a neural comparator that is differentially engaged depending on the kind of movement produced. This mechanism explains how twitches, although self-generated, trigger abundant reafferent activation of sensorimotor circuits in the developing brain.
Organizing Temporary, Subcontracted, and Immigrant Workers: Lessons from Change to Win’s Warehouse Workers United Campaign

Since 2008, Warehouse Workers United (WWU) has organized thousands of low-wage warehouse workers in Southern California’s Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, many of whom are temporary, subcontracted, and immigrant workers. Warehouse Workers Resource Center (WWRC), formed in 2011, has provided additional legal services and other resources to warehouse workers. Combining protest tactics, a legal and media strategy, and a commodity chain organizing strategy, WWU and WWRC helped warehouse workers to win back millions of dollars of stolen wages and to pass new regulatory legislation for employers of warehouse workers. In coalition with other labor organizations, they also obtained an agreement by Walmart to improve its workplace safety standards. This case study, based on field research and interviews with key informants, provides important lessons for those seeking to organize marginalized workers in other industries and regions.
Response to a standard behavioral weight loss intervention by age of onset of obesity.

SummaryBackground The purpose of this study was to examine weight loss, physical activity, fitness and diet changes in response to a standard behavioral weight loss intervention in adults with self-reported juvenile onset (n = 61) or adult onset (n = 116) obesity. Methods Participants (n = 177; 43.0 ± 8.6 years; body mass index [BMI] = 33.0 ± 3.4 kg m−2) engaged in an 18-month standard behavioral weight loss intervention. Participants were randomized into three different intervention groups as part of the larger parent trial. BMI, physical activity, fitness and diet were assessed at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Separate adjusted mixed models were constructed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Results There was significant weight loss, increased physical activity, improved fitness and reduced caloric intake over time (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in these outcome variables by obesity onset group. However, there was a significant group by time interaction for fitness (p = 0.001), with the adult onset making significantly greater gains in fitness from baseline to 6 months (p < 0.001); however, this difference was no longer present at 12 or 18 months. Conclusions With the exception of fitness at 6 months, weight loss, physical activity and diet did not differ between juvenile onset and adult onset participants, suggesting that those with juvenile onset obesity are equally responsive to a standard behavioral weight loss intervention in adulthood.