cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiation-induced genomic instability.

Purpose: This report reviews the data obtained in the author's laboratory over the past two decades, which support the hypothesis that radiation can induce a genome-wide process of instability in mammalian cells that is transmitted over many generations of cell replication leading to an enhanced frequency of genetic changes occurring among the progeny of the original irradiated cell. Methods: Endpoints examined are malignant transformation, delayed reproductive failure, chromosomal aberrations and mutagenesis; the relationship between these endpoints is not clear. Results: The instability phenotype was induced in approximately 10-20% of the irradiated cell population with doses of 4-12Gy, and may be induced by much smaller doses. Mutational instability can be induced by either X-rays or alpha -particles; the spectrum of DNA structural changes in mutations arising in such unstable populations differed significantly from that for direct radiationinduced mutations. Evidence is also presented for the occurren...
Decoding Substitution Ciphers by Means of Word Matching with Application to OCR

A substitution cipher consists of a block of natural language text where each letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a distinct symbol. As a problem in cryptography, the substitution cipher is of limited interest, but it has an important application in optical character recognition. Recent advances render it quite feasible to scan documents with a fairly complex layout and to classify (cluster) the printed characters into distinct groups according to their shape. However, given the immense variety of type styles and forms in current use, it is not possible to assign alphabetical identities to characters of arbitrary size and typeface. This gap can be bridged by solving the equivalent of a substitution cipher problem, thereby opening up the possibility of automatic translation of a scanned document into a standard character code, such as ASCII. Earlier methods relying on letter n-gram frequencies require a substantial amount of ciphertext for accurate n-gram estimates. A dictionary-based approach solves the problem using relatively small ciphertext samples and a dictionary of fewer than 500 words. Our heuristic backtrack algorithm typically visits only a few hundred among the 26! possible nodes on sample texts ranging from 100 to 600 words.
A method to evaluate the consequences of member failure in jacket-type offshore platform structures

Determining the importance of a member to a structure is a necessary part of reliability based design. The importance of a member can be determined by computing the change in the behavior of the structure if the member were to fail. Once the importance of the member is known, the member should be categorized in a rational manner so that similar members can be designed with the same system consequence factor. To determine the significance of a member to a structure, a computationally efficient structural reanalysis algorithm is needed so the cost of design does not become excessive. A reanalysis algorithm and a proposed classification system for the members in jacket-type offshore platforms is presented in this paper.
Stress transfer of four mandibular implant overdenture cantilever designs

Statement of problem The influence of implant number and cantilever design on stress distribution on bone has not been sufficiently assessed for the mandibular overdenture. Purpose The purpose of this simulation study was to measure, photoelastically, the biologic behavior of 2 or 3 implants retaining different designs of cantilevered bar mandibular overdentures and to compare load characteristics. Materials and methods Two photoelastic models of a human edentulous mandible were fabricated having 2 or 3 screw-type implants (Nobel Biocare, 3.75 × 10mm) embedded in the parasymphyseal area. Bar frameworks using a 7-mm cantilever were fabricated for both models. A clip-retained and a plunger-retained (SwissLoc) prosthesis were fabricated as superstructures for each framework. Vertical loads of 15 and 30 pounds were applied unilaterally to the first molar and 15 pounds to the first premolar on each of the 4 standardized overdenture prostheses. The cantilever was removed from the 2-implant framework and the clip-retained prosthesis was loaded similarly on the first molar with 25 pounds. Stresses that developed in the supporting structure were monitored photoelastically and recorded photographically. Results While all 4 prostheses demonstrated low stress transfer to the implants, the plunger-retained prosthesis caused more uniform stress distribution to the ipsilateral terminal abutment compared to the clip-retained prosthesis and provided retention security under tested loads. The plunger-retained prosthesis retained by 2 implants provided better load sharing from the ipsilateral edentulous ridge than the clip-retained prosthesis retained by 3 implants, and lower resultant stresses were seen on the implants. Conclusions Under load, all prosthetic designs demonstrated a low stress transfer to the ipsilateral abutment and to the contralateral side of the arch. The plunger-retained prosthesis retained by 2 implants demonstrated a more uniform stress transfer to the ipsilateral terminal abutment than the clip-retained prosthesis retained by 3 implants and provided more retention, given the implant configuration, prosthetic design and arch form.
Child, adolescent, and adult victims of residential fire. Psychosocial consequences

Behavior of children, adolescents, and adults during and after a residential fire was objectively assessed. Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences of the nighttime residential fire immediately and 1 month following the fire were obtained. Also, the extent of agreement between children/adolescent and adult functioning was determined. Eight children and adolescents and 12 adults were individually interviewed. Results showed that individuals' reactions to residential fire could be assessed, and several PTSD-related symptoms were expressed. A follow-up study in which 25 adolescent boys whose dormitory had been totally destroyed by fire were compared to 13 boys who had not experienced the fire showed similar findings. These findings add to the dearth of literature concerning children and adolescents in fire-related disasters.
Using hyperbranched oligomer functionalized glass fillers to reduce shrinkage stress

Objective Fillers are widely utilized to enhance the mechanical properties of polymer resins. However, polymerization stress has the potential to increase due to the higher elastic modulus achieved upon filler addition. Here, we demonstrate a hyperbranched oligomer functionalized glass filler UV curable resin composite which is able to reduce the shrinkage stress without sacrificing mechanical properties.
What structures, besides adhesions, prevent spread cells from rounding up?

Abstract The outline of cells in sparse cultures consists predominantly of concave and convex segments; straight segments are rare and ephemeral. The convex segments are areas of active cell expansion. The concave segments are stationary and web-shaped, similar in profile to the cables of a suspension bridge. In 3T3 fibroblasts, we have found a single microfilament bundle following the outline of every webbed edge and have called it the actin edge-bundle (AEB). While the AEB is composed predominantly of actin, alpha-actinin and myosin are also present. In contrast to normal stress fibers, AEBs are more resistant to several treatments that depolymerize F-actin. Once an AEB disassembles, however, the webbed edge collapses and retracts, suggesting that the actin edge-bundle is a specialized cytoskeletal structure that supports the webbed edges of interphase 3T3 fibroblasts. The stability of AEBs is independent of microtubules. We suggest that the microfilament bundles that frequently line the lateral contacts between epithelial cells in vivo may be related to the actin edge-bundle.
Place-making and Its Impact on International Graduate Student Persistence

This study explored the impact of place-making activities on the persistence of graduate international students at an American university. Sixteen international graduate students over the age of 18...
Childhood risk factors for persistence of violence in the transition to adulthood: a social development perspective

This study examined violent behavior from ages 13 to 21 and identified predictors at age 10. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of developmental patterns of violence. The sample is from a study of 808 youth interviewed annually from age 10 to 16 years, and again at ages 18 and 21. Over 28% of the youth in the sample reported nonviolence throughout adolescence and into early adulthood. Most youth (55%) engaged in violence in adolescence but desisted from violence in early adulthood, while 16% persisted in violent behavior at age 21. Violence in adolescence was best predicted by male gender, Asian American ethnicity (a protective factor), childhood fighting, early individual characteristics, and early antisocial influences. Adult persistence of violence was best predicted by male gender, early school achievement (which was protective), and early antisocial influences. Early prosocial development was also protective against violence persistence for females. Implications for prevention are discussed. Language: en
In vivo radioprotective effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony- stimulating factor in lethally irradiated mice

The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo radioprotective effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in lethally irradiated BALB/c mice. We initially analyzed the effects of increasing doses of rhG-CSF on survival of mice receiving 700 cGy (LD100/30) single dose total body irradiation (TBI). While 1 microgram/kg to 100 micrograms/kg doses of rhG-CSF were not radioprotective, a dose-dependent radioprotection was observed at 200 micrograms/kg to 4,000 micrograms/kg rhG-CSF. We next compared four different rhG-CSF treatment regimens side by side for their radioprotective effects in LD100/30 irradiated mice. One hundred percent of control mice receiving phosphate buffered saline died within 21 days after TBI with a median survival of 14 days. The median survival was prolonged to 20 days and the actuarial 60-day survival rate was increased to 27% when mice received 2,000 micrograms/kg rhG- CSF 24 hours before TBI (P = .0002; Mantel-Peto-Cox). Similarly, the median survival time was prolonged to 24 days and the actuarial 60-day survival rate was increased to 33%, when mice were given 2,000 micrograms/kg rhG-CSF 30 minutes before TBI. Optimal radioprotection was achieved when 2,000 micrograms/kg rhG-CSF was administered in two divided doses of 1,000 micrograms/kg given 24 hours before and 1,000 micrograms/kg given 30 minutes before TBI. This regimen prolonged the median survival time of LD100/30 irradiated mice to more than 60 days and increased the actuarial 60-day survival rate to 62% (P = .0001; Mantel-Peto-Cox). By comparison, no survival advantage was observed when mice received rhG-CSF 24 hours post-TBI. Similar radioprotective effects were observed when mice were irradiated with 650 cGy (LD80/30). The presented findings provide conclusive evidence that rhG-CSF has significant in vivo radioprotective effects for mice receiving LD100/30 or LD80/30 TBI.
Cellular breakdown within the arterial wall. An ultrastructural study of the coronary artery in young and aging rats.

The coronary arteries were studied by electron microscopy in normal rats weighing 65 to 535 gm; fixation was accomplished by perfusion for 20 min at 110–130 mm Hg. In rats of all ages (but especially in the oldest) the arterial wall contained deposits of abnormal intercellular material, consisting of granules, vesicles, myelin figures and other debris. These deposits were present in the intima and media, but rare in the adventitia; there was suggestive evidence that medial cells phagocytized some of the material. The adventitia was characterized by 1–4 layers of cells with extremely thin protoplasmic expansions wrapped around the vessel (“veil cells”) and containing lysosome-like bodies as well as phagosomes. These findings, taken as a whole, suggest the following sequence of events. During normal life, the media produces cellular debris, by cell death as well as by fragmentation of cellular processes; part of these debris are phagocytized by smooth muscle cells, part diffuse outward to the adventitia where they are taken up by specialized cells (the “veil cells”). However, due to relative inadequacy of phagocytosis in the media, the debris continue to accumulate and form intercellular deposits that increase with age. It is possible that this natural phenomenon may by itself set a maximal limit to the life-span of the arterial wall.
Abstract 5077: Signaling through the cytoplasmic tail of MUC1 directly activates transcription of the metastasis promoting growth factor CTGF in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Transmembrane mucin MUC1 is highly expressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma and contributes to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Differential phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic tail of MUC1 (MUC1.CT) by growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases is associated with morphogenetic signal transduction, as it enables interactions with signal transducers and leads to nuclear accumulation of MUC1.CT. MUC1.CT contains no known DNA binding motif but localizes to promoters of genes implicated in tumorigenesis in complex with transcription factors, modulating their regulatory activity. Using microarray analysis, we identified genes differentially transcribed in S2013 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells stably overexpressing MUC1. These data were correlated with transcriptional targets of MUC1.CT identified on a genome-wide scale in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells using a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter array methodologies (ChIP-on-chip). We further investigated the transcriptional regulation of one novel target, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), by MUC1.CT. CTGF is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and is a known mediator of tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Overexpression of MUC1 significantly increased CTGF expression in pancreatic tumor cells in response to EGF, PDGF-BB, or HGF stimulation. The MUC1.CT becomes phosphorylated by EGFR, PDGFR-beta, and c-Met and overexpression of MUC1 constructs harboring mutations within the target phosphorylation motifs for these receptor tyrosine kinases reduced CTGF expression. We determined that MUC1.CT directly regulated the CTGF gene transcription through co-occupancy with transcription factors at several regions within and surrounding the CTGF promoter. MUC1 overexpression promoted localization of mutant p53 (R273H) and beta-catenin to the CTGF promoter, while decreasing occupancy by a repressor of CTGF transcription, c-Jun. We propose that MUC1, when overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma, enables expression of CTGF in response to growth factor stimulations by promoting mutant p53 and beta-catenin transcriptional activity and alleviating CTGF transcriptional repression by c-Jun. Taken together, these results reveal a novel signaling pathway that selectively induces CTGF expression in MUC1-overexpressing pancreatic tumor cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5077.
Phase-Function Normalization in the 3-D Discrete-Ordinates Solution of Radiative Transfer—PART I: Conservation of Scattered Energy and Asymmetry Factor

The conditions for which conversation of scattered energy and phase-function asymmetry factor after discrete-ordinates methods (DOM) directional discretization for 3-D radiative transfer in anisotr...
Lenalidomide-associated hypothyroidism.

Lenalidomide is a novel immune modulatory drug widely used in multiple myeloma with trials ongoing in lymphoma and many other diseases. We report a case of lenalidomide-associated hypothyroidism pr...
Direct Sequence Analysis of Hantavirus S Gene in Rodent Lung Tissue

Objective: To make a new method that direct sequence analysis of hantavirus S gene in rodent lung tissue by RT-PCR and nucleotide sequencing method. Methods: The total RNA extracted directly from with positive HV antigen rodent lung tissue was amplied by RT-PCR method. The purified viral cDNA was cloned into pMD-18T vector and S gene sequence was detected. Results: Hantavirus S segment was successfully amplified by RT-PCR T/A technique, and it was 1 701 nt in length with only one ORF (from 37 nt~1 326 nt) and 429 amino acids, in accordance with S segment of isolate TJJ 16. Conclusion: The method can be used for molecular characterization study in rodent lung tissues with positive HV antigen and negative virus sepaiation and find a epidemic analysis method of HV among rodents.
Quantitative Assay of Dopamine Receptor Subtypes

Dopamine, acting as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is involved in the regulation of a variety of behaviors in man and animals. Studies carried out over the last decade have shown that not all of the responses attributed to the release of dopamine are mediated through the same kind of receptor. Cools and Van Rossum (1976) first proposed the existence of two types of receptors for dopamine in an attempt to explain results obtained in studies of the effects of dopamine and apomorphine on stereotypy and locomotor activity. However, precise pharmacological characterization of receptors is difficult if only behavioral models are utilized. Biochemical studies have shown that stimulation of dopamine receptors can result, in some tissues, in an increase in the accumulation of cyclic AMP through activation of dopamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase (Kebabian and Greengard, 1971). Not all dopamine receptors, however, appear to act through increases in cyclic AMP levels.
Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 5 Immune Signaling by HMGB1

Human High Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB-1) is an ubiquitously expressed nuclear protein which primarily functions as an architectural chromatin binding factor that binds to DNA in a structure specific manner. Recently, it has been linked to the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases regulating the innate immune system by two specific toll-like receptors (TLRs) such as TLR2 and TLR4. Here we present human HMGB-1 as an inflammatory regulator for TLR5 in immune signaling. The binding modes between these two proteins were demonstrated by a variety of cellular, biophysical and structural studies. The cellular assays revealed that HMGB1/TLR5 interaction invokes an elevation of downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, internuclein-8 (IL-8) which are critical in MyD88 dependant inflammatory pathways. Flourescence anisotropy assays revealed the binding constant (Kd) of 2.2uM between these two proteins with a further validation of interaction sites by solution NMR spectroscopy. For NMR structural studies 15N, 13C uniform labeled full length and tailless HMGB1 proteins was expressed and purified from E.coli BL21(DE3)pLysS cells and the 2D HSQC spectra were used for backbone and side chain residue chemical shift mapping from previously published spectra. Change in chemical shifts showed the direct molecular interactions between the acidic tail of HMGB1with the extracellular domain of TLR5 in physiological conditions. Thus, our studies not only provide compelling new insights into the TLR5 signal transduction by HMGB1 but also open the avenue of future therapeutic development.
Does academic performance or personal growth share a stronger association with learning environment perception

This study was conducted to characterize the relative strength of associations of learning environment perception with academic performance and with personal growth.
A paper-based immunoassay to determine HPV vaccination status at the point-of-care.

Abstract Objective To develop and evaluate a paper-based point-of-care HPV serology test to determine if an individual has received two or more HPV immunizations. Methods The paper-based immunoassay was constructed using a nitrocellulose lateral flow strip with adsorbed HPV16 virus-like particles serving as the capturing moiety. Three capture zones containing virus-like particles were placed in series to allow for visual discrimination between high and low HPV16 plasma antibody concentrations. A plasma separation membrane was used to allow whole blood to be applied directly to the assay. All reagents were dried on glass fiber pads during device fabrication and were rehydrated with buffer at the time of use. A pilot study consisting of 35 subjects with a history of zero, one, two or three HPV vaccines was conducted to evaluate the immunoassay. The completed paper-based immunoassays were scanned for visual interpretation by three researchers who were blinded to the true results and separately evaluated quantitatively using MATLAB. Results For the 28 tests valid for analysis, fifteen subjects reported receiving two or more HPV vaccines, three reported receiving one, and ten reported having no HPV vaccinations. The paper-based immunoassays for all fifteen subjects who reported having received two or more HPV vaccines were judged positive by all researchers. Twelve of the thirteen tests from individuals reporting one or zero vaccinations were deemed negative by all observers. One test from an unvaccinated individual was judged positive by two out of three reviewers. Quantitatively, all tests were correctly separated between the two groups. Conclusions We successfully designed and tested a HPV serology test amenable to the point-of-care. The device showed promising results in a pilot study for discriminating between those who received two or more HPV vaccinations and those who did not. Furthermore, this device offers a platform for producing other semi-quantitative point-of-care serological tests.
Fraud detections for online businesses: a perspective from blockchain technology

The reputation system has been designed as an effective mechanism to reduce risks associated with online shopping for customers. However, it is vulnerable to rating fraud. Some raters may inject unfairly high or low ratings to the system so as to promote their own products or demote their competitors. This study explores the rating fraud by differentiating the subjective fraud from objective fraud. Then it discusses the effectiveness of blockchain technology in objective fraud and its limitation in subjective fraud, especially the rating fraud. Lastly, it systematically analyzes the robustness of blockchain-based reputation systems in each type of rating fraud. The detection of fraudulent raters is not easy since they can behave strategically to camouflage themselves. We explore the potential strengths and limitations of blockchain-based reputation systems under two attack goals: ballot-stuffing and bad-mouthing, and various attack models including constant attack, camouflage attack, whitewashing attack and sybil attack. Blockchain-based reputation systems are more robust against bad-mouthing than ballot-stuffing fraud. Blockchain technology provides new opportunities for redesigning the reputation system. Blockchain systems are very effective in preventing objective information fraud, such as loan application fraud, where fraudulent information is fact-based. However, their effectiveness is limited in subjective information fraud, such as rating fraud, where the ground-truth is not easily validated. Blockchain systems are effective in preventing bad mouthing and whitewashing attack, but they are limited in detecting ballot-stuffing under sybil attack, constant attacks and camouflage attack.
Chemical structure influence on NAPL mixture nonideality evolution, rate-limited dissolution, and contaminant mass flux

Abstract The influence of chemical structure on NAPL mixture nonideality evolution, rate-limited dissolution, and contaminant mass flux was examined. The variability of measured and UNIFAC modeled NAPL activity coefficients as a function of mole fraction was compared for two NAPL mixtures containing structurally-different contaminants of concern including toluene (TOL) or trichloroethene (TCE) within a hexadecane (HEXDEC) matrix. The results showed that dissolution from the NAPL mixtures transitioned from ideality for mole fractions > 0.05 to nonideality as mole fractions decreased. In particular, the TCE generally exhibited more ideal dissolution behavior except at lower mole fractions, and may indicate greater structural/polarity similarity between the two compounds. Raoult's Law and UNIFAC generally under-predicted the batch experiment results for TOL:HEXDEC mixtures especially for mole fractions ≤ 0.05. The dissolution rate coefficients were similar for both TOL and TCE over all mole fractions tested. Mass flux reduction (MFR) analysis showed that more efficient removal behavior occurred for TOL and TCE with larger mole fractions compared to the lower initial mole fraction mixtures (i.e.
THE QUALITY OF TABULATED DECK LOG SWELL OBSERVATIONS

To determine the areas of data deficiencies, the totals of sea and swell observations were summarized by unit Marsden squares for the world. An interesting result of this summary was a comparison of the totals of sea and swell observations. The totals of swell observations averaged two-thirds those of sea observations. Although this ratio was fairly representative of the ocean basins, considerable variation occurred in semi-enclosed seas where swell observations averaged only one-tenth those of sea observations. A few ocean basin locations had totals of swell observations that approached those of sea observations, but no Marsden square had more swell observations than sea observations. Strangely enough, swell tabulations, in areas where the ratio of swell to sea observations were smallest (semi-enclosed basins), appeared least reliable although it was suspected at the time that this was probably due to smallness of the sample. Subsequent additions of card decks have neither changed these ratios appreciably nor the suspect reliability. Thus, due to the relative sparseness of observations in some areas and the inexplainable ratios of swell to sea observations in others, the quality of observations contained in IBM listings have for some time been questioned.
Concurrent surrogate model selection (COSMOS): optimizing model type, kernel function, and hyper-parameters

This paper presents an automated surrogate model selection framework called the Concurrent Surrogate Model Selection or COSMOS. Unlike most existing techniques, COSMOS coherently operates at three levels, namely: 1) selecting the model type (e.g., RBF or Kriging), 2) selecting the kernel function type (e.g., cubic or multiquadric kernel in RBF), and 3) determining the optimal values of the typically user-prescribed hyper-parameters (e.g., shape parameter in RBF). The quality of the models is determined and compared using measures of median and maximum error, given by the Predictive Estimation of Model Fidelity (PEMF) method. PEMF is a robust implementation of sequential k-fold cross-validation. The selection process undertakes either a cascaded approach over the three levels or a more computationally-efficient one-step approach that solves a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. Genetic algorithms are used to perform the optimal selection. Application of COSMOS to benchmark test functions resulted in optimal model choices that agree well with those given by analyzing the model errors on a large set of additional test points. For the four analytical benchmark problems and three practical engineering applications --- airfoil design, window heat transfer modeling, and building energy modeling --- diverse forms of models/kernels are observed to be selected as optimal choices. These observations further establish the need for automated multi-level model selection that is also guided by dependable measures of model fidelity.
We can do it, but I wouldn't like it: Gender, interests, and occupational perceptions

The present study sought to investigate whether individuals continue to view occupations as sex-typed and to examine the relationship between gender traits and perceptions of occupations. Participants assigned Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) adjectives to job descriptions representative of Holland’s six RIASEC types and also completed measures of vocational interests, gender identity, and attitudes toward women. Chi-square analyses were utilized to determine the extent to which participants assigned the BSRI adjectives to RIASEC types, while property vector fitting was used to examine whether the order predictions of the RIASEC model were met by the assignment of BSRI adjectives. Multivariate analyses of variance and covariance were utilized to evaluate gender differences and differences by condition in perceptions of the masculinity and femininity of RIASEC types and to examine the contributions of vocational interests, gender identity, and attitudes toward women in accounting for gender differences and differences by condition in perceptions of masculinity and femininity of RIASEC types. The results provided evidence that sex-typing of occupations continues to be prevalent. The findings also demonstrated that differences in perceptions of the RIASEC types were not consistent with the past literature on sex differences in interests of the RIASEC types. Implications for career counseling models and practice, limitations of the current study, and future directions are discussed.
Adoption of BIM in architectural design firms

BIM is the trend of the future. User acceptance models of new technology have been empirically investigated in the construction industry only in a small group of studies. Three models are proposed ...
Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Traits and Parenting Stress: The Utility of Using a Physiological Measure of Parental Stress

Caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report greater stress due to unique parenting demands (e.g.; Estes et al. in Brain Dev 35(2):133-138, 2013). Stress is often studied through self-report and has not been extensively studied using physiological measures. This study compared parenting stress in mothers of children with and without ASD traits. Twenty-seven mother-child dyads participated in an interaction task while measuring mother's heart rate variability (HRV) and mothers self-reported stress levels. Results demonstrated that while self-report and physiological stress measures were not correlated, ASD symptomology did account for HRV change score (i.e., more severe ASD symptoms were positively related to HRV change). This may reflect an atypical coping response. Implications for using physiological indicators for studying parenting stress are explored.
Anti-Müllerian hormone is a survival factor and promotes the growth of rhesus macaque preantral follicles during matrix-free culture.

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) plays a key role during ovarian follicular development, with local actions associated with a dynamic secretion profile by growing follicles. While results for AMH effects on antral follicle growth and function are consistent among studies in various species, any effects on preantral follicle development remain controversial. Therefore, experiments were conducted to investigate the direct actions and role of AMH during follicle development at the preantral stage. Macaque-specific short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) targeting AMH mRNA were incorporated into adenoviral vectors to decrease AMH gene expression in rhesus macaque follicles. Secondary follicles were isolated from adult macaque ovaries and cultured individually in the ultra-low-attachment dish containing defined medium supplemented with follicle-stimulating hormone and insulin for 5 weeks. Follicles were randomly assigned to treatment groups: (a) control, (b) nontargeting control shRNA-vector, (c) AMH shRNA-vector, (d) AMH shRNA-vector + recombinant human AMH, and (e) recombinant human AMH. Follicle survival and growth were assessed. Culture media were analyzed for steroid hormone and paracrine factor concentrations. For in vivo study, the nontargeting control shRNA-vector and AMH shRNA-vector were injected into macaque ovaries. Ovaries were collected 9 days postinjection for morphology and immunohistochemistry assessment. Decreased AMH expression reduced preantral follicle survival and growth in nonhuman primates. Supplemental AMH treatment in the culture media promoted preantral follicle growth to the small antral stage in vitro with increased steroid hormone and paracrine factor production, as well as oocyte maturation. These data demonstrate that AMH is a critical follicular paracrine/autocrine factor positively impacting preantral follicle survival and growth in primates.
Rapid feedback of chemical vapor deposition growth mechanisms by operando X-ray diffraction

An operando x-ray diffraction system is presented for elucidating optimal laser assisted chemical vapor deposition growth conditions. The technique is utilized to investigate deposition dynamics of boron-carbon materials using trimethyl borate precursor. Trimethyl borate exhibits vastly reduced toxicological and flammability hazards compared to existing precursors, but has previously not been applied to boron carbide growth. Crystalline boron-rich carbide material is produced in a narrow growth regime on addition of hydrogen during the growth phase at high temperature. The use of the operando x-ray diffraction system allows for the exploration of highly nonequilibrium conditions and rapid process control, which are not possible using ex situ diagnostics.
A space for countering colorblind discourse: constructions of police-perpetrated homicides of African-American males

This qualitative study assesses how police-perpetrated homicides of African-American males are constructed in the public sphere. Similar studies on the discourse surrounding the topic have focused ...
The structural effects of affective and cognitive elaboration in formation of customer–brand relationship

ABSTRACTCustomer–brand relationships exist in many tourism categories; however, these relationships are rarely specified in the integrated resort category. Because an integrated resort consists of ...
Liver reirradiation for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver metastasis

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of administering liver reirradiation to patients with primary liver tumors or liver metastasis. Methods and materials A total of 49 patients (with 64 individual tumors) who received liver reirradiation at our institution between June 2008 and December 2016 were identified for retrospective review. Patients were treated to the same, different, or a combination of previously treated liver tumors for recurrent primary (53%) or metastatic (47%) disease using photons or protons. Clinical and treatment-related factors were compiled and patients were monitored for toxicity and evidence of classic or nonclassic radiation-induced liver disease. Survival was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and cumulative incidence of local failure (LF) was used to estimate LF using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Results The median age at the time of reirradiation was 72 years and the median interval between radiation courses was 9 months. At a median follow-up of 10.5 months, 36 patients (73%) had died, 9 patients (18%) were alive, and 4 patients (8%) were lost to follow-up. The median survival for the cohort was 14 months. The overall 1-year estimate of LF was 46.4%. The 1-year estimates of LF for liver metastases and hepatocellular carcinoma were 61.0% and 32.5%, respectively. The average prescription dose was similar between the reirradiation and initial courses (equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions EQD2: 65.0 vs 64.3 Gyα/β = 10, respectively) but the average dose to the untreated liver was lower at the time of reirradiation (EQD2: 10.5 vs 13.9 Gyα/β = 3, respectively, P = .01). Among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the average normal liver dose was significantly larger for patients who exhibited a worsening of Child-Pugh score after reirradiation compared with those who did not (1210 cGy vs 759 cGy, P = .04). With regard to toxicity, 85.7% of patients experienced grade 1 to 2 toxicity, 4.1% developed grade 3, and only 2 patients (4.1%) met the criteria for radiation-induced liver disease after reirradiation. Conclusions Liver reirradiation may be an effective and safe option for select patients; however, further prospective study is necessary to establish treatment guidelines and recommended dosing.
Formation of protoporphyrin from haemoglobin in vitro

1. The formation of protoporphyrin from red blood cells or purified haemoglobin in aqueous perchloric acid media without the prior isolation of haemin is described. The reaction is carried out in the absence of oxygen and in red light. Even traces of oxygen inhibit the reaction by oxidative destruction of protoporphyrin and by the oxidation of haem to haematin. 2. Perchloric acid releases iron and protoporphyrin from haemoglobin at similar rates, but the amount of protoporphyrin in the filtrate varies with the solubility of protoporphyrin in the concentration of perchloric acid used. The yield of protoporphyrin may reach 50–60%. Less than 5μg. of haemoglobin/ml. can be detected by measuring the fluorescence of the porphyrin released. 3. A porphyrin other than protoporphyrin is obtained in small amounts. Its possible identity is discussed. 4. If sodium sulphite is present as a reducing agent the exclusion of oxygen is not required, but the porphyrin formed is more polar and more soluble in water than protoporphyrin. The presence of oxygen appears to be necessary for the formation of this polar porphyrin.
Islam and Nazi Germany’s War. By David Motadel. (Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2014. Pp.viii, 512. $22.50.)

This outstanding book is both unique and somewhat conventional in its treatment of the role of Islam in Nazi Germany's military and political strategy during World War II. Its uniqueness lies in it...
ICU Emergencies Simulation Curriculum for Critical Care Fellows: Neurologic Emergencies.

Introduction The management of neurologic emergencies is an important component of critical care fellowship training. Additional training in neurocritical care has been demonstrated to improve clin...
ERCP-Related Perforations

Iatrogenic perforations related to endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are an uncommon adverse event, occurring in 0.14–1.3% of cases, and are associated with a mortality of up to 8%. The most widely utilized classification system was proposed by Stapfer et al. and characterizes perforations based on mechanism and location. Type I perforations occur on the lateral duodenal wall secondary to endoscope trauma, type II are sphincterotomy-related, type III are perforations of the bile duct or pancreatic duct with endoscopic tools, and type IV are miniscule and identified with free air on fluoroscopic imaging. Studies utilizing this classification system demonstrate that patients with type III and IV perforations do well with conservative management alone, whereas patients with type I and II perforations frequently require surgical management and are more likely to have poor outcomes. There remain many unanswered questions pertaining to the exact role of surgical, endoscopic, and medical therapy, especially in patients with type I, II, and III perforations. In this chapter we will focus on perforation related to ERCP, outlining a diagnostic and management strategy as it pertains to classification, and emphasize a management algorithm that can be used to better approach this serious adverse event.
Resolution of electron and proton transfer events in the electrochromism associated with quinone reduction in bacterial reaction centers

We have measured the electrochromic response of the bacteriopheophytin, BPh, and bacteriochlorophyll, BChl, cofactors during the QA −QB → QAQB − electron transfer in chromatophores of Rhodobacter (Rb.) capsulatus and Rb. sphaeroides. The electrochromic response rises faster in chromatophores and is more clearly biexponential than it is in isolated reaction centers. The chromatophore spectra can be interpreted in terms of a clear kinetic separation between fast electron transfer and slower non-electron transfer events such as proton transfer or protein relaxation. The electrochromic response to electron transfer exhibits rise times of about 4 µs (70%) and 40 µs (30%) in Rb. capsulatus and 4 µs (60%) and 80 µs (40%) in Rb. sphaeroides. The BPh absorption band is shifted to nearly equivalent positions in the QA − and nascent QB − states, indicating that the electrochromic perturbation of BPh absorption from the newly formed QB − state is comparable to that of QA − . Subsequently, partial attenuation of the QB − electrochromism occurs with a time constant on the order of 200 µs. This can be attributed to partial charge compensation by H+ (or other counter ion) movement into the QB pocket. Electron transfer events were found to be slower in detergent isolated RCs than in chromatophores, more nearly monoexponential, and overlap H+ transfer, suggesting that a change in rate-limiting step has occurred upon detergent solubilization.
Selective Conversion of Carbon Dioxide to Formaldehyde via a Bis(silyl)acetal: Incorporation of Isotopically Labeled C1 Moieties Derived from Carbon Dioxide into Organic Molecules.

The conversion of carbon dioxide to formaldehyde is a transformation that is of considerable significance in view of the fact that formaldehyde is a widely used chemical, but this conversion is challenging because CO2 is resistant to chemical transformations. Therefore, we report here that formaldehyde can be readily obtained from CO2 at room temperature via the bis(silyl)acetal, H2C(OSiPh3)2. Specifically, formaldehyde is released from H2C(OSiPh3)2 upon treatment with CsF at room temperature. H2C(OSiPh3)2 thus serves as a formaldehyde surrogate and provides a means to incorporate CHx (x = 1 or 2) moieties into organic molecules. Isotopologues of H2C(OSiPh3)2 may also be synthesized, thereby providing a convenient means to use CO2 as a source of isotopic labels in organic molecules.
Climbing fiber synapses rapidly inhibit neighboring Purkinje cells via ephaptic coupling

Abstract Climbing fibers (CFs) from the inferior olive (IO) provide strong excitatory inputs onto the dendrites of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PC), and trigger distinctive responses known as complex spikes (CSs). We find that in awake, behaving mice, a CS in one PC suppresses conventional simple spikes (SSs) in neighboring PCs for several milliseconds. This involves a novel form of ephaptic coupling, in which an excitatory synapse nonsynaptically inhibits neighboring cells by generating large negative extracellular signals near their dendrites. The distance dependence of CS-SS ephaptic signaling, combined with the known divergence of CF synapses made by IO neurons, allows a single IO neuron to influence the output of the cerebellum by synchronously suppressing the firing of potentially over one hundred PCs. Optogenetic studies in vivo and dynamic clamp studies in slice indicate that such brief PC suppression can effectively promote firing in neurons in the deep cerebellar nuclei and motor thalamus.
In Vitro Pharmacodynamic Analyses Help Guide the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus faecium and Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacter cloacae Bacteremia in a Liver Transplant Patient.

Background Infections due to multidrug-resistant pathogens are particularly deadly and difficult to treat in immunocompromised patients, where few data exist to guide optimal antimicrobial therapy. In the absence of adequate clinical data, in vitro pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) analyses can help to design treatment regimens that are bactericidal and may be clinically effective. Methods We report a case in which in vitro pharmacodynamic analyses were utilized to guide the treatment of complex, recurrent bacteremias due to vancomycin-, daptomycin-, and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecium and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex in a liver transplant patient. Results Whole-genome sequencing revealed unique underlying resistance mechanisms and explained the rapid evolution of phenotypic resistance and complicated intrahost genomic dynamics observed in vivo. Performing this comprehensive genotypic and phenotypic testing and time-kill analyses, along with knowledge of institution and patient-specific factors, allowed us to use precision medicine to design a treatment regimen that maximized PK/PD. Conclusions This work provides a motivating example of clinicians and scientists uniting to optimize care in the era of escalating antimicrobial resistance.
Phase Transformations in Thermally Treated Gas-Atomized Al 7075 Powder

Al 7075 is a heat-treatable Al–Mg–Zn alloy widely used in the aerospace industry. Recently, it has found application as feedstock for metal additive manufacturing (MAM). It has been shown that wrought alloy compositions in powder form differ in microstructure and properties from their conventional form. Given this, it is important to understand the microstructure of the powders prior to use in MAM processes. This work studies as-atomized gas-atomized Al 7075 powders and the effect of thermal treatments on microstructure. Extensive electron microscopy revealed the presence of T-phase, Al7Cu2Fe, and Mg2Si in the as-atomized condition. Thermal treatments were performed at 465 °C and 480 °C to homogenize the microstructure; however, S-phase was unexpectedly present in the samples treated at 465 °C. In both 465 °C and 480 °C treatments, T-phase was not fully dissolved after the 60-min treatment. Guided by thermodynamic modeling, these results indicate a shift in local equilibria in these powders.
Accounting for overdispersion of lethal lesions in the linear quadratic model improves performance at both high and low radiation doses.

Purpose: The linear-quadratic (LQ) model represents a simple and robust approximation for many mechanistically-motivated models of radiation effects. We believe its tendency to overestimate cell ki...
Teacher Candidates Talking (but Not Talking) about Dis/ability and Race in Preschool.

In educational contexts, including early childhood settings, ableism and racism circulate interdependently to define normalcy and deviance. Book reading offers an important platform for dismantling...