cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Structure of α-Parvin CH2-Paxillin LD1 Complex Reveals a Novel Modular Recognition for Focal Adhesion Assembly

α-Parvin is an essential component of focal adhesions (FAs), which are large multiprotein complexes that link the plasma membrane and actin cytoskeleton. α-Parvin contains two calponin homology (CH) domains and its C-terminal CH2 domain binds multiple targets including paxillin LD motifs for regulating the FA network and signaling. Here we describe the solution structure of α-parvin CH2 bound to paxillin LD1. We show that although CH2 contains the canonical CH-fold, a previously defined N-terminal linker forms an α-helix that packs unexpectedly with the C-terminal helix of CH2, resulting in a novel variant of the CH domain. Importantly, such packing generates a hydrophobic surface that recognizes the Leu-rich face of paxillin-LD1, and the binding pattern differs drastically from the classical paxillin-LD binding to four-helix bundle proteins such as focal adhesion kinase. These results define a novel modular recognition mode and reveal how α-parvin associates with paxillin to mediate the FA assembly and signaling.
Sarcoma stem cells: do we know what we are looking for?

Sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of cancers thought to originate from malignant transformation of mesenchymal cells. There is increasing evidence that many, if not all, sarcomas contain within them tumor-initiating, or “cancer stem,” cells responsible for the initiation, maintenance, and potentially relapse and metastasis of the tumor. Various techniques have been adopted in recent years to identify putative sarcoma stem cell populations. The goal of this paper is to summarize the criteria used to identify a stem cell population, describe the more prominent markers and techniques used to isolate cancer stem cells in sarcomas, and review the evidence for the existence of cancer stem cells in sarcomas.
Magnitude-sensitive preference formation`

Our understanding of the neural computations that underlie the ability of animals to choose among options has advanced through a synthesis of computational modeling, brain imaging and behavioral choice experiments. Yet, there remains a gulf between theories of preference learning and accounts of the real, economic choices that humans face in daily life, choices that are usually between some amount of money and an item. In this paper, we develop a theory of magnitude-sensitive preference learning that permits an agent to rationally infer its preferences for items compared with money options of different magnitudes. We show how this theory yields classical and anomalous supply-demand curves and predicts choices for a large panel of risky lotteries. Accurate replications of such phenomena without recourse to utility functions suggest that the theory proposed is both psychologically realistic and econometrically viable.
The mechanism for transcriptional activation of the human ATA2 transporter gene by amino acid deprivation is different than that for asparagine synthetase

After amino acid deprivation, the mRNA content for both asparagine synthetase (AS) and the system A transporter ATA2 is increased. The purpose of the reported experiments was to characterize the molecular mechanism for the ATA2 gene and to contrast the ATA2 regulatory characteristics with those of AS. Amino acid limitation was initiated by incubation of HepG2 human hepatoma cells in either amino acid-free Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer or culture medium lacking the single amino acid histidine. For ATA2, like AS, the elevated mRNA content was due to increased transcription. However, there were fundamental differences between the mecha- nisms for nutrient regulation of the AS and ATA2 genes. When cells were deprived of amino acids, there was a lag period of 4 h before an increase in AS mRNA occurred, whereas the elevation of ATA2 mRNA was readily detectable at 2- 4 h. Consistent with these observations, de novo protein synthesis was absolutely required for the activation of the AS gene, but the increase in ATA2 mRNA was largely independent of protein synthesis. Furthermore, in contrast to AS, transcription from the ATA2 gene was not increased by glucose deprivation. Given this lack of ATA2 transcriptional activation by glucose starvation and that the induction of the AS gene by glucose or amino acid starvation is mediated by common genomic elements, it is likely that the ATA2 gene does not contain the same genomic amino acid-responsive cis-elements as the AS gene. J. Nutr. 132: 3023-3029, 2002.
OS/2 cleanroom environment: a progress report on a cleanroom tools development project

CASE tools to support the cleanroom software development process are being developed for the OS/2 and Presentation Manager environment following the SAA and CUA standards. The paper presents a brief description of the tools, and reports the metrics from design, functional verification and statistical certification testing of the first seven increments of the project. >
The Effects of Message Framing on College Students' Career Decision Making:

Social cognitive career theory posits that verbal persuasion can affect individuals' career self-efficacy, outcome expectations, goals and/or intentions, and behaviors. Prospect theory holds that negatively framed messages can have a powerful effect on people's cognitions related to adopting particular behaviors in situations of uncertainty. Drawing from these two theories, this study explored the effect that persuasive messages have on college students' career decision-making cognitions and behaviors. Results indicated that written persuasive messages enhanced college students' career decision-making outcome expectations, intentions, and behaviors. How the message was framed (whether gain or loss framed) did not differentially affect students' career cognitions, yet students in the loss-framed condition engaged in more career-related behaviors in the week following the message than students in the gain-framed condition.
An Examination of the Relationships Between Personality, Attitudes, and Cognitions Relevant to Alcohol-Impaired Driving Tendencies

Previous research has explored the domain of legal and educational prevention in regard to the phenomena of accidents and injuries caused by drinking and driving. Most investigations of psychological factors attempt to distinguish characteristics of drunk drivers relative to the general driving population or controls matched on driving risk variables. In contrast, the present research concentrated on the examination of the process by which empirically derived personality and general attitudinal constructs operate within a cognitive framework to influence the decision to drive. Four conceptual models were proposed that suggested the presence of direct, indirect, and moderated effects of personality and general attitudinal constructs on cognitions relevant to drunk-driving tendencies. Support was observed for a model suggesting the presence of indirect, direct, and moderating effects for the general attitudinal construct driving aggression, and support for an indirect effects model for the personality variable emotional control. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of utilizing personality and general attitudinal constructs to improve short term cognitive-based interventions.
Measuring field efficacy of Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema riobrave for suppression of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, larvae

Abstract The plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar, is a major pest of pome and stone fruit. Our objective was to determine the ability of Steinernema feltiae and Steinernema riobrave to control C. nenuphar larvae in soil. Nematodes were applied at 100 infective juveniles/cm2 in peach orchards at two locations (Byron, GA and Quincy, FL) in 2002 and 2003. Treatments were compared to an untreated control and, in Byron only, application of imidacloprid. Two methods of evaluation were used to test efficacy; in Byron, 50 (2002) or 100 (2003) larvae were buried in plots 3 days prior to treatment applications, whereas in Quincy, larvae entered the soil from 100 naturally infested peach fruits placed in each plot prior to treatment. Treatment efficacy was based on average number of adults emerged/plot (captured in wire cone cages). In all trials (regardless of method), S. riobrave was the only treatment that caused a significant reduction in weevil emergence. S. riobrave applications resulted in greater than 97% C. nenuphar control in two out of three trials, and 77.5% control in the fourth trial. The lower level of control in the fourth trial was likely due to a prolonged period of larval exit from infested fruit into soil and lower temperatures during this period. Timing applications in accordance with pest phenology and environmental conditions appear to be critical in achieving high levels of efficacy. The observed high levels of C. nenuphar control by S. riobrave are intriguing and justify further studies.
Methodology for maintainability-based risk assessment

A software product spends more than 65% of its lifecycle in maintenance. Software systems with good maintainability can be easily modified to fix faults or to adapt to changing environment. We define maintainability-based risk as a product of two factors: the probability of performing maintenance tasks and the impact of performing these tasks. In this paper, we present a methodology for assessing maintainability-based risk to account for changes in the system requirements. The proposed methodology depends on the architectural artifacts and their evolution through the life cycle of the system. We illustrate the methodology on a case study using UML models
Gender Differences in the Effects of Physical and Emotional Symptoms on Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Heart Failure

Background: Physical and emotional symptoms are common in heart failure. These symptoms are theorized to affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL), but their impact is likely mediated by variab...
Molecular mechanism of spectral tuning in sensory rhodopsin II.

Sensory rhodopsin II (SRII) is unique among the archaeal rhodopsins in having an absorption maximum near 500 nm, blue shifted roughly 70 nm from the other pigments. In addition, SRII displays vibronic structure in the Imax absorption band, whereas the other pigments display fully broadened band maxima. The molecular origins responsible for both photophysical properties are examined here with reference to the 2.4 A crystal structure of sensory rhodopsin II (NpSRII) fromNatronobacterium pharaonis . We use semiempirical molecular orbital theory (MOZYME) to optimize the chromophore within the chromophore binding site, and MNDO-PSDCI molecular orbital theory to calculate the spectroscopic properties. The entire first shell of the chromophore binding site is included in the MNDO-PSDCI SCF calculation, and full single and double configuration interaction is included for the chromophore ﷿-system. Through a comparison of corresponding calculations on the 1.55 A crystal structure of bacteriorhodopsin (bR), we identify the principal molecular mechanisms, and residues, responsible for the spectral blue shift in NpSRII. We conclude that the major source of the blue shift is associated with the significantly different positions of Arg-72 (Arg-82 in bR) in the two proteins. In NpSRII, this side chain has moved away from the chromophore Schiff base nitrogen and closer to the ‚-ionylidene ring. This shift in position transfers this positively charged residue from a region of chromophore destabilization in bR to a region of chromophore stabilization in NpSRII, and is responsible for roughly half of the blue shift. Other important contributors include Asp-201, Thr-204, Tyr-174, Trp-76, and W402, the water molecule hydrogen bonded to the Schiff base proton. The W402 contribution, however, is a secondary effect that can be traced to the transposition of Arg-72. Indeed, secondary interactions among the residues contribute significantly to the properties of the binding site. We attribute the increased vibronic structure in NpSRII to the loss of Arg- 72 dynamic inhomogeneity, and an increase in the intensity of the second excited 1 Ag* - -like state, which now appears as a separate feature within the Imax band profile. The strongly allowed 1 Bu* + -like state and the higher-energy 1 Ag* - -like state are highly mixed in NpSRII, and the latter state borrows intensity
Effect of sildenafil on pulmonary artery pressure, systemic pressure, and nitric oxide utilization in patients with left ventricular assist devices.

Background Pulmonary artery hypertension can complicate the early postoperative care of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Inhaled nitric oxide (INO) is frequently used to manipulate pulmonary resistance after LVADs have been placed. We evaluated the effect of oral sildenafil therapy on pulmonary artery pressure, systemic pressure, and nitric oxide utilization. Methods After Institutional Review Board approval, the records of 10 consecutive adult patients with LVADs and pulmonary hypertension who received sildenafil were reviewed. Demographics, surgical history, INO use, inotrope requirements, and hemodynamic response to oral sildenafil at multiple intervals were collected. Hemodynamic data were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance of repeated measures with correction for multiple comparisons. Results There were 8 men and 2 women with 6 Heartmate XVE LVADs and 4 Thoratec LVADs (both, Thoratec, Pleasanton, California). When weaning was attempted, 8 patients who received INO demonstrated rebound pulmonary hypertension or increased right heart dysfunction. All patients were on inotropic therapy with dobutamine and milrinone. Sildenafil produced a significant reduction in pulmonary artery systolic pressure within 90 minutes of oral administration ( p = 0.042). Significant changes in systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and heart rate were not observed. All 8 patients receiving INO were weaned within 12 hours without recurrent pulmonary hypertension. All 10 patients were weaned from inotropic support within 72 hours. No patient suffered right-side heart failure requiring intervention. Conclusions Oral sildenafil represents a useful adjunctive therapy for patients with LVADs. In our series, it provided additional reduction of pulmonary artery pressure, and facilitated weaning from INO and inotropes without deleterious hemodynamic consequences.
Follow-up or Surveillance 18F-FDG PET/CT and Survival Outcome in Lung Cancer Patients

The value of performing follow-up PET/CT imaging more than 6 mo after the conclusion of therapy—either as a routine practice or because of clinically suspected recurrence—is not well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the added value of followup PET/CT to the clinical assessment and survival outcome of lung cancer patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 261 biopsy-proven lung cancer patients at a single tertiary center. In total, 488 follow-up PET/CT scans done 6 or more months after the completion of initial treatment were included in this study. Median follow-up from the completion of primary treatment was 29.3 mo (range, 6.1–295.1 mo). Overall survival (OS) benefit was measured using Kaplan–Meier plots with a Mantel–Cox log-rank test. A multivariate Cox regression model was provided with clinical covariates. Results: Of the 488 PET/CT scans, 281 were positive and 207 negative for recurrence. Overall median survival from the time of the PET/ CT study was 48.5 mo. The median survival of PET-positive and PETnegative groups was 32.9 and 81.6 mo, respectively (P , 0.0001). A subgroup analysis demonstrated a similar difference in OS for 212 scans completed between 6 and 24 mo after treatment (P 5 0.0004) and 276 scans completed after 24 mo (P 5 0.0006). In the context of clinical assessment, PET/CT identified recurrence in 43.7% (107/245) of scans without prior clinical suspicion and ruled out recurrence in 15.2% (37/243) of scans with prior clinical suspicion. There was a significant difference in OS when grouped by clinical suspicion (P 5 0.0112) or routine follow-up (P , 0.0001). In a multivariate Cox regression model, factors associated with OS were age (P , 0.0001) and PET/CT result (P 5 0.0003). An age-stratified subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant difference in OS by PET scan result among patients younger than 60 y and between 60 and 70 y but not in those older than 70 y (P , 0.0001, P 5 0.0004, and P 5 0.8193, respectively). Conclusion: 18 F-FDG PET/CT performed for follow-up more than 6 mo after the completion of primary treatment adds value to clinical judgment and is a prognostic marker of OS in lung cancer patients, regardless of the timing of the follow-up scan, and especially in patients younger than 70 y.
After the Fall of Qaddafi: Political, Economic, and Security Consequences for Libya, Mali, Niger, and Algeria

On 20 October 2011, Muammar Qaddafi, the leader of Libya, was killed by members of a local militia in his hometown of Sirte. Qaddafi’s death and his regime’s end fractured a security structure that had brought some stability to Libya, Mali, Niger, and to a much lesser extent southern Algeria. Because of his regime’s demise, a new swathe of instability that comprises fractured, compromised, or failed states has emerged in the Sahelian region, giving ample opportunities to militant entrepreneurial groups that have organized and are inhibiting the re-creation of more stable states and societies.
Comparison of the deformations of brain tissues caused by tumor in seizure and non-seizure patients

It is unclear why some patients with brain tumors present with seizures while others do not. As deformations of the brain due to the tumor growth are suspected to be in part responsible for seizures, we decided to compare the differences between the brain deformations in patients presenting with seizures versus those who did not. We modeled the brain deformations by estimating the non-linear transformation which registers the postoperative image - assumed to represent the normal brain - to the preoperative image - representing the brain deformed by the tumor - on a dataset of 19 brain tumor patients. We then estimated the determinant of the Jacobian of the corresponding deformation field and built histograms of the distribution of the deformations for each image. Statistical tests performed on the histograms of seizure and non- seizure patients led to some significant differences suggesting that a higher ratio of tissue compression could be the cause of seizures.
End-of-Life Care among Head and Neck Cancer Patients:

Objective. This study is designed to (1) determine the perceived quality of care received by patients with head and neck cancer at the end of their lives, in order to (2) better anticipate and improve upon the experiences of future patients.Study Design. Cross-sectional survey.Setting. Single-institution, academic tertiary care medical center.Subjects and Methods. A validated survey instrument, the Family Assessment of Treatment at the End of life (FATE), was administered to families of patients who died of head and neck cancer (n = 58). The primary outcome was the overall FATE score. Independent variables included clinical characteristics, treatments received, and the care provided at the time of death.Results. Overall FATE scores and the domains assessing management of symptoms and care at the time of death did not vary by disease status (logoregional vs distant metastasis) at the end of life (P = .989). The location of death in the home or in hospice (vs hospital) significantly improves scores in all 3...
Comparative hydraulic and anatomic properties in palm trees (Washingtonia robusta) of varying heights: implications for hydraulic limitation to increased height growth

As trees grow taller, the energetic cost of moving water to the leaves becomes higher and could begin to limit carbon gain and subsequent growth. The hydraulic limitation hypothesis states that as trees grow taller, the path length and therefore frictional resistance of water flow increases, leading to stomatal closure, reduced photosynthesis and decreased height growth in tall trees. Although this hypothesis is supported by the physical laws governing water movement in trees, its validation has been complicated by the complex structure of most tree species. Therefore, this study tested the hydraulic limitation hypothesis in Washingtonia robusta (H. Wendl.), a palm that, while growing to tall heights, is still structurally simple enough to act as a model organism for testing. There were no discernable relationships between tree height and stomatal conductance, stomatal densities, guard cell lengths, leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA) or sap flux, suggesting that these key aspects of hydraulic limitation are not reduced in taller palms. Taller palms did, however, have higher maximum daily photosynthetic assimilation rates, lower minimum leaf water potentials that occurred earlier in the day and fewer, smaller leaves than did shorter palms. Leaf epidermal cells were also smaller in taller palms compared with shorter ones. These findings are consistent with hydraulic compensation in that tall palms may be overcoming the increased path length resistance through smaller, more efficient leaves and lower leaf water potentials than shorter palms.
A reanalysis of mouse ENCODE comparative gene expression data

Recently, the Mouse ENCODE Consortium reported that comparative gene expression data from human and mouse tend to cluster more by species rather than by tissue. This observation was surprising, as it contradicted much of the comparative gene regulatory data collected previously, as well as the common notion that major developmental pathways are highly conserved across a wide range of species, in particular across mammals. Here we show that the Mouse ENCODE gene expression data were collected using a flawed study design, which confounded sequencing batch (namely, the assignment of samples to sequencing flowcells and lanes) with species. When we account for the batch effect, the corrected comparative gene expression data from human and mouse tend to cluster by tissue, not by species.
Signs of recovery in the optical networking arena

Optical networks were the focus of considerable interest in the telecommunication industry in the late 1990s. This interest has weakened during the downturn of 2000-2001 and throughout the post-bubble era. Today, there are signs of a comeback for optical networking. These signs can be observed in commercial networks (those of telecommunication and cable companies) and in emerging research and education (R&E) network initiatives. In this paper, we examine the current status of optical networking in both commercial and R&E networks.
SELF-OWNERSHIP AND WORLD OWNERSHIP: AGAINST LEFT-LIBERTARIANISM

Left-libertarianism is a version of Lockean libertarianism that combines the idea that each person is the full rightful owner of herself and the idea that each person should have the right to own a roughly equal amount of the world's resources. This essay argues against left-libertarianism. The specific target is an interesting form of left-libertarianism proposed by Michael Otsuka that is especially stringent in its equal world ownership claim. One criticism advanced is that there is more tension than Otsuka acknowledges between private ownership of self and equal ownership of the world. This emerges once one notices that self-ownership should not be conceived merely in a thin, formal way but also as a thicker substantive insistence on wide individual freedom. A second criticism is that in other respects the formal idea of self-ownership that Otsuka and other left-libertarians embrace is an extreme doctrine that merits rejection.
Treatment of exudative age-related macular degeneration: many factors to consider.

Now is an exciting time in history for research in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Treatment options available for our patients are rapidly evolving, and visual outcomes are dramatically improving. Recent publications of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies highlight an important step forward in the management of exudative AMD (eAMD).1, 2 In June of 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use intravitreal of ranibizumab (Lucentis ™) for treatment of patients with eAMD. Interestingly, preliminary studies suggest that the off-label use of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin ®) may also improve visual function in eAMD.3, 4 Following these initial reports, uncontrolled case series have demonstrated beneficial effects of intravitreal bevacizumab for the treatment of eAMD.5–7 Prior to FDA approval of ranibizumab, retina specialists began to use off-label bevacizumab, a practice that continued after approval of ranibizumab, and driven largely by cost. National media attention on this issue is intense. Two recent front-page articles from the Wall Street Journal highlight the financial issues surrounding these drugs. First, Chase reports the financial dilemma that physicians face by choosing to use the FDA approved ranibizumab ($2000/injection) versus ‘off-label’ bevacizumab ($20–$100/injection) for the treatment of eAMD with an estimated future Medicare annual savings of $1–3 billion.8 One month later, Anand reported that Wall Street research analyst Steven Harr urged Genentech, the maker of both drugs, to “lower the price of a key drug”, in reference to bevacizumab for colon cancer, suggesting that high drug costs are “bad for business.”9 In this same article, Genentech’s net income for 2006 was up 40% from 2005, reported to be $2.1 billion on a reported revenue of $9.3 billion.9 Pegaptanib (Macugen®) is not an antibody, rather an aptamer, that selectively binds the VEGF-165 isomer, injected intravitreal, and has also been studied in rigorous clinical trials. Treated eyes did not have the impressive improvement in visual acuity that ranibizumab reported; nevertheless, pegaptanib was shown to be better than placebo at preventing vision loss in eAMD, and had an excellent safety profile.10
Resveratrol directly targets COX-2 to inhibit carcinogenesis†

Targeted molecular cancer therapies can potentially deliver treatment directly to a specific protein or gene to optimize efficacy and reduce adverse side effects often associated with traditional chemotherapy. Key oncoprotein and oncogene targets are rapidly being identified based on their expression, pathogenesis and clinical outcome. One such protein target is cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which is highly expressed in various cancers. Research findings suggest that resveratrol (RSVL; 3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) demonstrates nonselective COX-2 inhibition. We report herein that RSVL directly binds with COX-2 and this binding is absolutely required for RSVL's inhibition of the ability of human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells to form colonies in soft agar. Binding of COX-2 with RSVL was compared with two RSVL analogues, 3,3',4',5',5-pentahydroxy-trans-stilbene (RSVL-2) or 3,4',5-trimethoxy-trans-stilbene (RSVL-3). The results indicated that COX-2 binds with RSVL-2 more strongly than with RSVL, but does not bind with RSVL-3. RSVL or RSVL-2, but not RSVL-3, inhibited COX-2-mediated PGE(2) production in vitro and ex vivo. HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells express high levels of COX-2 and either RSVL or RSVL-2, but not RSVL-3, suppressed anchorage independent growth of these cells in soft agar. RSVL or RSVL-2 (not RSVL-3) suppressed growth of COX-2(+/+) cells by 60% or 80%, respectively. Notably, cells deficient in COX-2 were unresponsive to RSVL or RSVL-2. These data suggest that the anticancer effects of RSVL or RSLV-2 might be mediated directly through COX-2.
Pleural Space as a Site of Ectopic Gene Delivery: Transfection of Pleural Mesothelial Cells With Systemic Distribution of Gene Product

Study objectives Successful ectopic gene therapy requires the transfection of the cells at the ectopic site, with local and systemic delivery of the gene product. This study aimed to evaluate the pleural mesothelial surface as a potential site for ectopic gene therapy. Design A secreted placental alkaline phosphatase (PALP) plasmid was injected bilaterally into the pleural spaces of seven rabbits via a chest tube, while an irrelevant reporter plasmid was injected into seven control rabbits. Blood was collected at baseline and at 24, 48, and 72 h after the injections. Pleural fluid was collected by lavage at 24, 48, and 72 h after the injections. The PALP level was measured by chemiluminesence. Measurements and results Significant expressions of PALP proteins were observed in the serum of the treatment rabbits, with a threefold increase over baseline at 24 h, a ninefold increase at 48 h, and a twofold increase at 72 h. The serum PALP levels in the control rabbits remained at baseline levels at all time points. The pleural fluid PALP levels peaked at 24 h and decreased over the next 72 h. Mimicking the in vivo pattern, pleural mesothelial cells transfected in vitro demonstrated a similar increase in PALP levels. Conclusions The results of the present short-term pilot study suggest that pleural mesothelial cells can be successfully transfected with plasmids, with increases in both the local and systemic levels of the gene product. The pleural space should be further evaluated for ectopic gene therapy.
“Step Up for Foot Care”Addressing Podiatric Care Needs in a Sample Homeless Population

Background: Studies have shown that lower-extremity problems in the homeless population have significant public health and economic implications. A combined community service and research project was performed to identify and address the foot and ankle care needs in a sample homeless population in San Francisco, California. Methods: A 37-question survey regarding general demographic characteristics, foot hygiene practices, associated risk factors, and self-reported lower-extremity pathologic conditions was completed by 299 homeless individuals who met the inclusion criteria. The service project included education on proper foot care and the distribution of footwear. Results: The participants demonstrated mostly good efforts regarding foot hygiene but had high-risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, and extended hours on their feet. More than half of the homeless individuals surveyed experienced foot pain. Approximately one in five had edema and neuropathic symptoms. The most commonly reported foot p...
The Effect of Hybrid Lecture Delivery on Learning Outcomes in an MBA Course

The consensus of studies of undergraduate principles of economics is that the online format is inferior to the traditional lecture format. However in the handful of studies of principles taught at the MBA level the evidence tilts to the conclusion of no significant difference. This study contributes to the MBA literature by employing a research design that appropriately handles sample selection bias and by using a fixed effects model to correct for bias from unobservable variables. The results are that the effect of the online format on learning outcomes is not significantly different from that of the traditional format. It is reasoned that the outcome differs from that of studies of undergraduates because graduate students are relatively more mature and relatively more adept at learning independently.
Attitudes Toward the News Media and American Voting Behavior

As an institution, the news media in the United States are highly unpopular. Yet, we know little about the consequences of this unpopularity for American politics. This paper examines the effect of attitudes toward the news media on voter decision-making. Utilizing a simple Bayesian model of voting, I predict those with negative attitudes toward the press will base their votes more on partisan predispositions and less on contemporary messages. Analyses of American National Election Studies and General Social Survey data are consistent with these expectations. Among those with more negative attitudes toward the news media, party identification has more influence and current economic conditions less influence on voting preferences. I estimate declining confidence in the institutional press could account for 47 percent of the increase in partisan voting over the past 35 years. Negative attitudes toward the media appear to be an important source of polarization in the American political system.
Chemical and Catalytic Properties of Elemental Carbon

Elemental carbon particles contain many defects—dislocations in their graphitic structure — which constitute the active sites. Carbon atoms located at these sites show strong tendencies to react with other molecules because of residual valencies. The interaction of oxygen and water occurs in air, resulting in the incorporation of oxygen and hydrogen with carbon particles. Nearly every type of oxygen-containing functional group known in organic chemistry has been postulated in the carbon particle. The nature of these oxygen functional groups can affect the chemical reactivity of carbon particles. Very little is known about the surface nitrogen functional groups on carbon particles, however. We will discuss the interaction of elemental carbon with NH3, leading to the formation of nitrogenous functional groups. The possible environmental influence of these nitrogenous functional groups will be presented.
Motoo Kimura and James Crow on the Infinitely Many Alleles Model.

![Figure][1] Kimura and Crow’s 1964 article is justly regarded as one of the foundational articles of evolutionary molecular genetics. It is based on what they called the “infinite alleles” model (now called the “infinitely many alleles” model). This model was motivated by the
Clarity in applied and interdisciplinary conversation analysis

Acknowledging the perils of interdisciplinary and applied conversation analysis, this essay argues for clarity in articulating relationships between methods, addressing, in particular, the language...
Missile Longitudinal Autopilot Design Using a New Model- Following Robust Neuro-Adaptive Controller

Neural networks have become popular in recent years in designing robust and adaptive controllers for dynamic systems because of their universal function approximation property. This paper develops solutions for a model-following controller which is applicable for general systems of known order with different kinds of uncertainties, such as missing functions in the differential equations (unmodeled dynamics) and/or parameter variations. The controller design is carried out in two steps: (i) synthesis of a set of neural networks that capture the unmodeled dynamics and parametric uncertainties of the plant on-line (ii) computation of a controller that drives the states of the plant to that of a desired nominal model. The neural network weight update rule has been derived using the Lyapunov theory that guarantees both stability of the error dynamics as well as boundedness of the weights. The novelty of the new technique is that it can be used in conjunction with any known control design technique for the nominal model and makes the plant behavior robust to unmodeled dynamics and parametric uncertainties. This powerful approach has been applied in designing a missile longitudinal autopilot controller and numerical results from simulation studies have been presented here.
The Diminished Coagulation of the Blood in Anaphylactic Shock in the Dog

In a recent study carried on in this laboratory an attempt was made to formulate a method of procedure for the investigation of the coagulation of the blood in cases of purpura and allied conditions. Following the publication of that work' it occurred to us that it might be of interest to apply the method to a study of the changes in the blood following anaphylactic shock, it being well known that one of the phenomena of anaphylactic shock is the delay or loss of the coagulability of the blood.
Identification of ROS Using Oxidized DCFDA and Flow-Cytometry

Cells constantly generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) during aerobic metabolism. The ROS generation plays an important protective and functional role in the immune system. The cell is armed with a powerful antioxidant defense system to combat excessive production of ROS. Oxidative stress occurs in cells when the generation of ROS overwhelms the cells' natural antioxidant defenses. ROS and the oxidative damage are thought to play an important role in many human diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, other neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. Thus, establishing their precise role requires the ability to measure ROS accurately and the oxidative damage that they cause. There are many methods for measuring free radical production in cells. The most straightforward techniques use cell permeable fluorescent and chemiluminescent probes. 2'-7'-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) is one of the most widely used techniques for directly measuring the redox state of a cell. It has several advantages over other techniques developed. It is very easy to use, extremely sensitive to changes in the redox state of a cell, inexpensive and can be used to follow changes in ROS over time.
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita of the lower extremity: report of two siblings.

SUMMARY The purpose of treatment of arthrogryposis of the lower extremities is to achieve a stable functional weight bearing position of the affected joints. One cannot expect to achieve normal mobility and gait unless the process is mild. Achieving a functional weight bearing position of a joint may be extremely difficult, requiring repeated surgical procedures. Maintenance of correction, although often imperfect, is vital during the growing period.
How well trained are nursing home administrators

Nursing home administrators represent wide variations in academic training. General education levels do not seem to affect administrative preparation in key domains of practice--specific academic fields of study are more relevant. Hence, sole emphasis on higher educational requirements for licensure appears to be a misdirected strategy for improving quality of care and enhancing management efficiencies in nursing homes. Educational paradigms studied have strengths and weakness in furnishing various job skills. These results are helpful in defining strategic actions for addressing both current deficiencies and future training needs. A specialized long-term care model that incorporates appropriate clinical and business skills is recommended. The roles of continuing education and executive educational offerings also need streamlining. These initiatives would require a joint effort from policymakers, academicians, and practitioners.
Aortic valve implantation in the calf: a successful approach using Heartport cannulation and minimally invasive techniques.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for mechanical prosthetic valvular testing has not been performed in calves because of anatomic difficulties, and sheep have traditionally been used in this situation. Hemodynamically, however, the calf constitutes an excellent model due to vigorous myocardial contractility, high stroke volumes and high cardiac output, and so has been used for preclinical evaluation of mechanical assist devices and mechanical valves in the mitral and tricuspid positions, which can be approached with relative surgical ease. Recently, a juvenile bovine model has been used to test a newly developed mechanical valve in the aortic position. METHODS Ten calves (body weight 91+/-11 kg) underwent AVR with a 21-mm mechanical prosthesis via a small left intercostal thoracotomy with the aid of a Heartport cannulation device. A standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit was used. To circumvent the short bovine ascending aorta and to gain additional space to perform the aortotomy, two aortic cannulas were inserted for arterial-systemic perfusion. Nine calves each received a 21-mm experimental trileaflet aortic central flow valve prosthesis, and one calf received a 21-mm St. Jude Medical prosthesis. RESULTS Mean CPB duration was 154.2+/-44.4 min, and mean ischemic time 80.1+/-15.9 min. Mean study duration was 42.6+/-53.7 days. Three calves were killed prematurely: two on days 2 and 7 due to complications arising from inadvertent entrapment of the right coronary artery ostium by a suture, and one on day 0 due to an accidental overdose of magnesium. Three calves, all of which had a first-version test valve, were killed electively due to valve malfunction secondary to early valvular thrombosis. Four animals (three with the final version valve and one with a standard valve as a control) survived until killed electively (range: 33-172 days). CONCLUSION Results indicate that replacement of the native bovine aortic valve with a mechanical prosthesis can be performed safely in calves. Complication-free survival of up to six months can be achieved in the growing calf, provided that the test valve design satisfies minimum hemodynamic and coagulation criteria.
Kava (Piper methysticum).

Kava is a plant indigenous to the Pacific Rim and the Hawaiian Islands whose root and rhizome are used to prepare a non-fermented beverage with relaxant effects that is used for social and recreational purposes.
The Unusual Substrate Specificity of a Virulence Associated Serine Hydrolase from the Highly Toxic Bacterium, Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is the causative agent of the highly, infectious disease, tularemia. Amongst the genes identified as essential to the virulence of F. tularensis was the proposed serine hydrolase FTT0941c. Herein, we purified FTT0941c to homogeneity and then characterized the folded stability, enzymatic activity, and substrate specificity of FTT0941c. Based on phylogenetic analysis, FTT0941c was classified within a divergent Francisella subbranch of the bacterial hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) superfamily, but with the conserved sequence motifs of a bacterial serine hydrolase. FTT0941c showed broad hydrolase activity against diverse libraries of ester substrates, including significant hydrolytic activity across alkyl ester substrates from 2 to 8 carbons in length. Among a diverse library of fluorogenic substrates, FTT0941c preferred α-cyclohexyl ester substrates, matching with the substrate specificity of structural homologues and the broad open architecture of its modeled binding pocket. By substitutional analysis, FTT0941c was confirmed to have a classic catalytic triad of Ser115, His278, and Asp248 and to remain thermally stable even after substitution. Its overall substrate specificity profile, divergent phylogenetic homology, and preliminary pathway analysis suggested potential biological functions for FTT0941c in diverse metabolic degradation pathways in F. tularensis.
Enhancer of Zeste Homology 2 (Ezh2), an Epigenetic Regulator: A Possibility for Prostate Cancer Treatment

Mounting evidence of epigenetic dysregulation in cancer development has received lots of attention from cancer researchers and physicians. Enhancer of zeste homology 2 (Ezh2), an epigenetic regulator, plays an important role in cellular growth and survival. Ezh2 is a catalytic core protein, which belongs to Poly comb Repressor Complex 2 (PRC2). Ezh2 encodes histone methyltransferase, which induces the trimethylation of histone3 lysine27 (H3K27) and is involved in gene repression. The expression of Ezh2 is increased in breast, colon, lung, pancreatic and prostate cancer. Increased expression of Ezh2 is associated with the development and progression of malignant cancers, especially with the prostate cancer. Therefore, studies on Ezh2 inhibition have added more focus towards drug discovery and development to combat cancers. Thus, this offers great potential for the development of second-generation cancer therapies. Therefore, in this chapter we provide an analysis of novel cancer treatment methods that target epigenetic factors such as Ezh2. We will examine key examples of Ezh2 regulation in prostate cancer as well as novel drug concepts that employ epigenetic targets. This chapter will also provide a glimpse of recent successes in cancer epigenetic drug discovery and consider important epigenetic factors for scientific success in combating cancer.
Unsupervised Learning from Noisy Networks with Applications to Hi-C Data

Complex networks play an important role in a plethora of disciplines in natural sciences. Cleaning up noisy observed networks, poses an important challenge in network analysis Existing methods utilize labeled data to alleviate the noise effect in the network. However, labeled data is usually expensive to collect while unlabeled data can be gathered cheaply. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework to mine useful structures from noisy networks in an unsupervised manner. The key feature of our optimization framework is its ability to utilize local structures as well as global patterns in the network. We extend our method to incorporate multi-resolution networks in order to add further resistance to high-levels of noise. We also generalize our framework to utilize partial labels to enhance the performance. We specifically focus our method on multi-resolution Hi-C data by recovering clusters of genomic regions that co-localize in 3D space. Additionally, we use Capture-C-generated partial labels to further denoise the Hi-C network. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework in denoising the network and improving community detection results.
Delineation of MGMT promoter hypermethylation as a predictive biomarker for the A071102 clinical trial of veliparib combined with temozolomide (TMZ) using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) GBM models.

2052 Background: Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors have potent sensitizing effects in pre-clinical models. This study was focused on identifying potential biomarkers of response to TMZ combined...
“You Would Think I Could Pull It Off Differently:” Insight Gleaned From a Teacher Educator Turned Classroom Teacher

This paper reports on the question of what happens when someone who has become almost fully ingrained in the world of teacher education returns full-time to teach high school social studies. Using oral narrative methodology, findings describe the unanticipated challenges the participant encountered during his re-entry period to the classroom. The implications of this study suggest a need for increased attention to be placed on how teachers and teacher educators of mainstream cultures might best obtain the cultural sensitivity and practical experiences needed to engage diverse learners in meaningful learning.
A framework for writing measurement requirements and its application to the planned europa mission

Science-engineering communication is critical to the success of any science-driven mission. The process of building this understanding relies on a shared language for communicating science needs and engineering results, which can be particularly difficult on large space-science missions where many different institutions contribute to the science team. The Science Traceability Matrix can be used to formalize this communication pathway, but it has limited use in the development of the science requirements flowdown, and varies in format, scope and content from mission to mission. There are many guidelines on developing well-constructed requirements in general, but very little is published on how to actually write these science-driven requirements in a systematic way. This paper discusses the measurement-domain science traceability and alignment framework, or M-STAF, which was developed to help frame the conversation between scientists and engineers in the development of measurement requirements. The M-STAF provides a common language that can be used to ensure consistency across instruments, completeness in the coverage of the requirements, and traceability of the engineering work to the science objectives of the project. This work discusses the framework in the context of other communication tools and its implementation on a flight project. The general framework is presented through the lens of its potential application on the planned Europa Mission.