cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence That Hydrogen Peroxide Blocks Hormone- Sensitive Cholesterol Transport into Mitochondria of Rat Luteal Cells*

In luteal and granulosa cells, hydrogen peroxide abruptly inhibits activation of adenylate cyclase by receptor-bound gonadotropin and blocks steroidogenesis. In the present studies a post-cAMP site of peroxide action on inhibition of steroidogenesis was investigated. Steroidogenesis, stimulated by dibutyryl or 8-bromo-cAMP, was inhibited by hydrogen peroxide. Yet, cAMP-dependent protein kinase activation in cytosol or intact cells was unaffected by peroxide treatment. Hydrogen peroxide also did not inhibit the activity of cholesterol esterase and acyl coenzyme-A:acyltransferase. Progesterone synthesis was maximally increased 5- to 50-fold with 25- and 22-hydroxycholesterol, respectively. Unlike that seen with cAMP analogs and LH, however, progestin synthesis stimulated by these cell- and mitochondria-permeant cholesterol analogs was not inhibited by hydrogen peroxide. Treatment of animals with amino-glutethimide produces a marked accumulation of steroidogenic cholesterol substrate and a large increase in hormone-independent steroidogenesis in subsequently isolated and washed luteal tissue. In this paradigm, hydrogen peroxide did not inhibit elevated basal progesterone synthesis in luteal cells produced by in vivo aminoglutethimide treatment, yet LH-stimulated steroidogenesis was blocked. However, treatment of luteal cells with hydrogen peroxide inhibited pregnenolone synthesis in isolated mitochondria, an effect partially reversed by the addition of luteal cell cytosol. In summary, while peroxide inhibited cAMP-dependent steroidogenesis, it did not appear to inhibit protein kinase activation or mobilization of cholesterol from intracellular esterified stores. Although peroxide inhibited pregnenolone synthesis, it had no effect on steroidogenesis when substrate was made available by either addition of cholesterol analogs or prior treatment with aminoglutethimide in vivo. We conclude, therefore, that hydrogen peroxide inhibits steroidogenesis by blocking intracellular transport of cholesterol to mitochondria or translocation of cholesterol across the outer mitochondrial membrane.
Peer Smoking and the Nicotinic Receptor Genes: An Examination of Genetic and Environmental Risks for Nicotine Dependence

Background Peer smoking provides a socially reinforcing context of friends' encouragement and approval that contributes to smoking behavior. Twin studies show correlations and interactions between peer substance use and genetic liability for substance use. However, none examined specific genes. Here we test the hypothesis that the nicotinic receptor genes CHRNA5 (rs16969968), CHRNA3 (rs578776), CHRNB3 (rs13277254) and CHRND (rs12466358) modify the risk for nicotine dependence associated with peer smoking. Methods Cases of current nicotine dependence [Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) ≥ 4] and smoking-exposed (smoked 100+ cigarettes life-time), but non-dependent controls (life-time FTND = 0) came from the Collaborative Genetic Study of Nicotine Dependence (n = 2038). Peer smoking was assessed retrospectively for grades 9–12. Results Peer smoking and the four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with nicotine dependence. A statistically significant interaction was found between peer smoking and rs16969968 (P = 0.0077). Overall risk of nicotine dependence was highest for the rs16969968 AA genotype. However, variance in nicotine dependence attributable to peer smoking was substantially lower among those with the AA genotype at rs16969968 than the lower-risk genotypes: AA = 2.5%, GA/AG = 11.2%, GG = 14.2%; P ≤ 0.004. Conclusions Peer smoking had a substantially lower effect on nicotine dependence among those with the high-risk AA genotype at the functional SNP rs16969968 (CHRNA5) than among those with lower-risk genotypes. Such results highlight the possibility that given drug exposure those with specific genetic risks may be less affected by social contexts and intervention strategies focused upon social factors could have less influence on those at highest genetic risk.
Practical Byzantine fault tolerance

This paper describes a new replication algorithm that is able to tolerate Byzantine faults. We believe that Byzantinefault-tolerant algorithms will be increasingly important in the future because malicious attacks and software errors are increasingly common and can cause faulty nodes to exhibit arbitrary behavior. Whereas previous algorithms assumed a synchronous system or were too slow to be used in practice, the algorithm described in this paper is practical: it works in asynchronous environments like the Internet and incorporates several important optimizations that improve the response time of previous algorithms by more than an order of magnitude. We implemented a Byzantine-fault-tolerant NFS service using our algorithm and measured its performance. The results show that our service is only 3% slower than a standard unreplicated NFS.
Physical interaction of the retinoblastoma protein with human D cyclins

The retinoblastoma protein (pRb) functions as a regulator of cell proliferation and in turn is regulated by cyclin-dependent kinases. Cyclins D1 and D3 can form complexes with pRb that resemble those formed by several viral oncoproteins and are disrupted by the adenovirus E1A oncoprotein and derived peptides. These cyclins contain a sequence motif similar to the pRb-binding conserved region II motif of the viral oncoproteins. Alteration of this motif in cyclin D1 prevents formation of cyclin D1-pRb complexes while enhancing the biological activity of cyclin D1 assayed in vivo. We conclude that cyclins D1 and D3 interact with pRb in a fashion distinct from cyclins A and E, which can induce pRb hyperphosphorylation, and that cyclin D1 activity may be regulated by its association with pRb.
Delayed Diagnosis of Enhancing Posterior Fossa Tumors Mimicking the Tela Choroidea of the Fourth Ventricle.

Background Posterior fossa brain tumors are common in children. Symptoms typically develop when the tumors have reached sufficient size to cause compression of adjacent neural structures or cause obstructive hydrocephalus. Many tumors in this region originate from the tela choroidea and choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle. Enhancement of the fourth ventricular tela choroidea and choroid plexus is uncommon in children, and when such enhancement is present, it may represent early tumor growth. Methods A 5-year-old girl with a history of congenital nystagmus, for whom initial work-up was reported as negative, presented again several years later with headache, nausea, and vomiting. She was found to have a large posterior fossa lesion on repeat neuroimaging that was retrospectively seen on the first neuroimaging scan as prominent enhancement in the region of the fourth ventricular choroid plexus. The second patient presented with congenital nystagmus and a lingual tremor and was found to have a slowly growing lesion situated in the fourth ventricle. Initial imaging was read as nodularly enhancing tela choroidea, but subsequent scans revealed enlargement of the lesion. Results The first patient underwent gross total resection, and neuropathology was consistent with an atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor. The patient has done well with postoperative adjuvant therapies. In the second patient, resection of the lesion revealed ependymoma; the patient has done well after adjuvant radiation therapy. Conclusions Pediatric patients who have enhancing tela choroidea or choroid plexus without an obvious mass lesion of the fourth ventricle may harbor early tumors. Surveillance imaging in these patients may be warranted given the aggressive nature of certain posterior fossa tumors in children. Failure to recognize abnormal enhancement patterns in this region may lead to delayed diagnosis.
Drug-loaded biodegradable microspheres for image-guided combinatory epigenetic therapy in cells

We synthesize drug-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres for image-guided combinatory epigenetic therapy in MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells. LY294002 and Nile Red are encapsulated in microspheres for sustained drug release and fluorescence microscopic imaging. Drug-loaded microspheres target MCF-10A cells through a three-step binding process involving biotinylated antibody, streptavidin, and biotinylated microspheres. LY294002 loaded microspheres and 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine are applied to MCF-10A cells for combinatory PI3K/AKT inhibition and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) demethylation. Our study implies the technical potential of disease targeting and image-guided combinatory epigenetic therapy using drug-loaded multifunctional biodegradable PLGA microspheres.
Grades and the Student Evaluation of Instruction: A Test of the Reciprocity Effect

For years researchers have shown a positive relationship between grades and the evaluations students give to instructors. Numerous reasons for this effect have been suggested and vigorously debated. In this study, we propose a new hypothesis for the relationship, called reciprocity, which states that students reward instructors who give them good grades and punish instructors who give them poor grades, irrespective of any instructor or preexisting student characteristic. Using within-class data we found that changes in grades in the last half of a term were met with systematic and corresponding changes in the evaluations students gave to their instructors. Further, we found a relationship between change in grades and change in evaluations when controlling for both student and instructor characteristics. Only a reciprocity effect fully explains the results.
Improving medical students' competence at breast examination

[1] Baessler K, Hewson AD, Tunn R, Schuessler B, Maher CF. Severe mesh complications following intravaginal slingplasty. Obstet Gynecol 2005;106:713–6. [2] Wai CY, Nihira MA, Drewes PG, Chang JS, Siddiqui MT, Hemsell DL. Actinomyces associated with persistent vaginal granulation tissue. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol 2005;13:53–5. [3] Mali B, Joshi JV, Wagle U, Hazari K, Shah R, Chadha U, et al. Actinomyces in cervical smears of women using intrauterine contraceptive devices. Acta Cytol 1986;30:367–71.
Exploratory Study of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Oxaliplatin With Systemic 5-Fluorouracil/Bevacizumab in Patients With Refractory Solid Tumor and Extensive Liver Metastases

Purpose This pilot clinical trial explored the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of regional hepatic therapy combined with systemic anticancer agents in patients with refractory solid tumors and extensive unresectable liver involvement, including those with compromised hepatic function.
An Evaluation with the Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (FAST) of Which Land-Surface Parameters Are of Greatest Importance in Atmospheric Modeling

Land-surface parameterizations based on a statistical-dynamical have been suggested recently to improve the representation of the surface forcing from heterogeneous land in atmospheric models. With this approach, land-surface characteristics are prescribed by probability density functions (PDFs) rather than single 'representative' values as in 'big-leaf' parameterizations. Yet the use of many PDFs results in an increased computational burden and requires the complex problem of representing covariances between PDFs to be addressed. In this study, a sensitivity analysis of a land-surface parameterization for atmospheric modeling was performed to evaluate the surface parameters most important to the variability of surface heat fluxes. The Fourier amplitude sensitivity test (FAST) used for this analysis determines the relative contribution of individual input parameters to the variance of energy fluxes resulting from a heterogeneous surface. By simultaneously varying all parameters according to their individual probability density functions, the number of computations needed is very much reduced by this technique. This analysis demonstrates that most of the variability of surface heat fluxes may be described by the distributions of relative stomatal conductance and surface roughness. Thus, the statistical-dynamical approach may be simplified by the use of only these two probability density functions.
Electrical Probing and Tuning of Molecular Physisorption on Graphene

The ability to tune the molecular interaction electronically can have profound impact on wide-ranging scientific frontiers in catalysis, chemical and biological sensor development, and the understanding of key biological processes. Despite that electrochemistry is routinely used to probe redox reactions involving loss or gain of electrons, electrical probing and tuning of the weaker noncovalent interactions, such as molecular physisorption, have been challenging, primarily due to the inability to change the work function of conventional metal electrodes. To this end, we report electrical probing and tuning of the noncovalent physisorption of polar molecules on graphene surface by using graphene nanoelectronic heterodyne sensors. Temperature-dependent molecular desorptions for six different polar molecules were measured in real-time to study the desorption kinetics and extract the binding affinities. More importantly, we demonstrate electrical tuning of molecule–graphene binding kinetics through electrosta...
3D transthoracic echocardiography to assess pulmonary valve morphology and annulus size in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot.

Background Accurate evaluation of the pulmonary valve (PV) is crucial before surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Aims To assess PV and pulmonary annulus (PA) morphology using three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in infants referred for surgical repair of TOF. Also, to compare PA measurements obtained by 3D TTE with those from other imaging modalities, including two-dimensional (2D) TTE and computed tomography (CT), with reference to surgical measurements. Methods 3D zoom mode was used to assess PV morphology. 2D TTE and CT PA diameters were compared to both vertical and horizontal diameters obtained from 3D datasets. Surgical PA diameters were measured using Hegar's dilators. Results A total of 29 patients with TOF (median [range] age 6 [3–24] months) were included and all successfully underwent 2D and 3D TTE; 22 also underwent CT. The number of pulmonary leaflets could be visualized in 24 patients (82.8%), with complete concordance with surgical findings. Vertical diameter was significantly longer than horizontal diameter (P < 0.001)–underlying PA eccentricity–and was more important in bicuspid than tricuspid valves. Correlations between 2D and 3D TTE diameters were good. Surgical diameter was better correlated with 2D and 3D diameters than with CT diameter. 3D minimum, 2D and CT diameters were significantly lower than surgical diameters, but 3D mean and maximum diameters were not. Conclusion 3D TTE is accurate to assess PV morphology and PA size in patients with TOF. 2D TTE and CT underestimate PA diameter with reference to surgical diameter, however 3D mean and maximum diameters did not differ significantly.
ADHD Symptomology and Social Functioning in College Students.

Objective: ADHD is no longer considered a disorder that children simply outgrow. Adults experience ADHD at high rates (2.5%-5%) and are impaired in multiple life domains, including social impairment. The purpose of this study was to examine emerging adults with varying degrees of ADHD symptomology in respect to social impairment, state and trait anger, romantic relationship satisfaction, and intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: College students, a subset of emerging adults, were recruited to complete measures online. Results: Data were analyzed using a series of multiple regressions. Higher levels of ADHD symptomology in college students were related to increased social impairment and higher levels of state and trait anger, but not romantic relationship satisfaction or rates of IPV. Conclusion: Anger management and social skills training may be beneficial treatment components for this group.
Smoothleaf and Hirsute Cottons: Response to Insect Pests and Yield in Arizona

Hirsute and semi-smoothleaf ( sm3 allele) cultivars and smoothleaf (Sm3 allele) isolines of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., were exposed to natural populations of insect pests for three seasons at Tempe, Ariz. Duplicate experiments in 1981 and 1982 included seven hirsute and one semi-smoothleaf cultivar and the respective smoothleaf isolines. From these experiments, we selected two hirsute cultivars and smoothleaf isolines, and re-evaluated them in 1983. Mean percent seed damage caused by pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), and mean seed cotton yield were not significantly different in the hirsute cultivars and smoothleaf isolines. Two hirsute cultivars and one smoothleaf isoline, however, had less seed damage than their opposite counterparts. One hirsute and one semi-smoothleaf cultivar yielded more seed cotton than the respective smoothleaf isolines. Mean number of abscised squares (flowerbuds), used as an index of plant bug (primarily Lygus hesperus Knight) damage, was significantly higher on the smoothleaf isolines, whereas mean number of “horseshoes” caused by the cotton leafperforator, Bucculatrix thurberiella Busck, was significantly lower on the smoothleaf isolines. The lack of resistance to pink bollworm and susceptibility to Lygus spp. of the smoothleaf isolines led us to decide not to incorporate Sm3 . into our breeding stocks. On the other hand, we are incorporating sm3 because it confers no extra susceptibility to Lygus spp. and seems to impart some resistance to the sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius).
Laboratory management and workload recording

The College of American Pathologists is concentrating considerable effort in developing methods for measurement of the various components in laboratory management. Among its accomplishments is the development in conjunction with the Canadian Association of Pathologists of a Workload Recording Method for Clinical Laboratories, which is rapidly becoming a standard in North America. The precision of its nomenclature and definitions permit valid measurement while the unit values (weighting factors) add discrimination. Valuable information is accumulating on ranges of productivity for technical-clerical staff in hospitals and independent laboratories. Productivity is generally similar in all hospitals with more than 50 beds and the median approximates 45 unit values/paid man-hour in general hospitals. Productivity tends to be somewhat higher in independent laboratories with their more circumscribed operations. The continuing value of the Workload Recording Method is now assured with the establishment of procedures for self-renewal. A ‘universal’ protocol is available for collection of data for timing studies with centralized computer analysis support. New timing studies are accepted only after joint agreement on their validity. The Workload Recording Method through measurement of productivity can identify staffing requirements and, since salaries are major laboratory costs, the unit values become important in cost-finding procedures. Standard cost-finding techniques using the Workload Recording Method are now in preparation by the College and will be followed by the development of charts of accounts and publication of a manual.
Early life exposure to environmental tobacco smoke alters immune response to asbestos via a shift in inflammatory phenotype resulting in increased disease development

AbstractAsbestos in combination with tobacco smoke exposure reportedly leads to more severe physiological consequences than asbestos alone; limited data also show an increased disease risk due to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Environmental influences during gestation and early lung development can result in physiological changes that alter risk for disease development throughout an individual’s lifetime. Therefore, maternal lifestyle may impact the ability of offspring to subsequently respond to environmental insults and alter overall disease susceptibility. In this study, we examined the effects of exposure to ETS in utero and during early postnatal development on asbestos-related inflammation and disease in adulthood. ETS exposure in utero appeared to shift inflammation towards a Th2 phenotype, via suppression of Th1 inflammatory cytokine production. This effect was further pronounced in mice exposed to ETS in utero and during early postnatal development. In utero ETS exposure led to incre...
Primary Oral Melanoma – A Non-Surgical Approach to Treatment via Immunotherapy

Introduction: Malignant melanoma is an aggressive form of cancer that commonly affects skin and rarely affects the oral cavity. With poorly understood risk factors and an often-asymptomatic presentation, oral melanoma is difficult to detect until advanced stages of disease. Treatment for oral melanomas has been primarily surgical, and survival rates have been low. However, in recent years, immunotherapy has shown much promise with increased patient survival.Case Presentation: A 49-year-old male was referred by his primary dentist to a periodontal clinic for management of an alleged unresolved periodontal abscess. The patient had completed full-mouth scaling and root planing and consequently developed a large mass in the left posterior maxilla. Incisional biopsies were performed in multiple locations in the maxillary gingivae, and interpretation revealed atypical melanocytic proliferation and primary melanoma. After appropriate work-up, the patient was treated with two different immunotherapy agents: 1) ip...
An unexpected fate: looking beyond the pericardial effusion.

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3][![Graphic][4] ][4] A previously healthy 20-year-old woman presented with subacute onset of dyspnea and chest pain. Chest computed tomography scan revealed a contrast-enhanced anterior mediastinal mass (A, arrow) and circumferential pericardial (A
Corrigendum: The Busier the Better: Greater Busyness Is Associated with Better Cognition

Reason for Corrigendum: In the originally published article, the scatterplots for Reasoning were incorrect in Figures ​Figures1,1, ​,2,2, although the reported statistics were accurate. The corrected Reasoning scatterplots appear in Figures ​Figures1,1, ​,22 below. This error does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The authors regret the mistake. Figure 1 Relationship between busyness and episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, reasoning, and crystallized knowledge in adults aged 50–89. Figure 2 Relationship between busyness and episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, reasoning, and crystallized knowledge in adults aged 50–89, after controlling for age.
Enhancement of plasmid-mediated transgene expression.

Abstract A large number of studies aimed at the treatment of cancer, autoimmune and metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, allergic diseases, as well as muscle disorders strengthen the fact that gene therapy could represent an alternative method to treat human diseases where conventional approaches are less effective. To improve transgene expression from plasmid vectors, DNA nuclear targeting sequences (DTSs) can be introduced in a vector backbone to increase in vivo expression up to 20-fold using electroporation (EP) delivery in muscle tissue. The purpose of this chapter is to represent a step-by-step strategy for the construction of a plasmid vector with enhanced efficiency of nuclear plasmid uptake and the methodic for the in vivo efficiency evaluation of the obtained expression vector.
Charge transport network dynamics in molecular aggregates

Due to the nonperiodic nature of charge transport in disordered systems, generating insight into static charge transport networks, as well as analyzing the network dynamics, can be challenging. Here, we apply time-dependent network analysis to scrutinize the charge transport networks of two representative molecular semiconductors: a rigid n-type molecule, perylenediimide, and a flexible p-type molecule, b B D T ( T D P P ) 2 . Simulations reveal the relevant timescale for local transfer integral decorrelation to be ∼ 100 fs, which is shown to be faster than that of a crystalline morphology of the same molecule. Using a simple graph metric, global network changes are observed over timescales competitive with charge carrier lifetimes. These insights demonstrate that static charge transport networks are qualitatively inadequate, whereas average networks often overestimate network connectivity. Finally, a simple methodology for tracking dynamic charge transport properties is proposed.
Abstract LB-058: Linker variation and structure-activity relationship analyses of salicylic, benzoic and hydroxamic acid-based small molecule Stat3 inhibitors

Benzoic acid, salicylic acid and hydroxamic acid-based small molecules have been reported that inhibit Stat3 activation. However, the structural basis for their Stat3-inhibitory activities are not clearly defined. To investigate the molecular determinants for activity and to derive structurally optimized analogs of improved pharmacokinetic parameters and potency, we conducted a computer-aided molecule optimization program and synthesized new analogs of the previously reported lead Stat3 inhibitors, BP-1-102 (IC50, 6.8 ± 2.5), SH4-54 (IC50 4.4 ± 0.3), and SH5-07 (IC50 3.9 ± 0.6). All three leads are based on N-methylglycinamide scaffold with its two amine moieties condensed with three different functionalities. The three functionalities or the CH2 group of the glycolamide scaffold were separately modified to generate a series of compounds, some of which show improved potency compared to the corresponding parental compounds. Specifically, H012, H070 and H072 had improved inhibitory activity against Stat3 DNA-binding activity in vitro, with IC50 of 3.0 ± 0.9, 2.4 ± 0.4, and 2.2 ± 0.9 μM, respectively. The replacement of the pentafluorobenzene or the cyclohexylbenzene with other components was detrimental to activity and led to decreased potency of the new analogues, as did the substitution of the benzene of the pTyr-mimetic moiety with heterocyclic components containing nitrogen and oxygen elements. Pharmacokinetic study showed that analog H058 has improved permeability in Caco-2 bidirectional permeability studies, compared to the lower relative permeability of the lead agents. Ala-based analogs, such as H048 and H058, were low in microsomal stability, presumably due to the labile methyl groups of the Ala. Select active analogs inhibited constitutive Stat3 activation and the DNA-binding activity of Stat3 in cancer cells, and they further decreased the growth, colony formation, and migration of human cancer cells harboring persistently active Stat3. Studies together demonstrate a significant progress towards developing a more suitable Stat3 inhibitor with drug-like features. Additional efforts are focused on refining the physicochemical properties to further improve the activity and efficacy and ultimately furnish suitable Stat3-inhibiting candidates for clinical application. Citation Format: Peibin Yue, Francisco Lopez-Tapia, Christine Brotherton-Pleiss, Marcus Tius, James Turkson. Linker variation and structure-activity relationship analyses of salicylic, benzoic and hydroxamic acid-based small molecule Stat3 inhibitors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-058.
Report on the NSF Workshop on Formal Methods for Security

The NSF workshop on Security and Formal Methods, held 19--20 November 2015, brought together developers of formal methods, researchers exploring how to apply formal methods to various kinds of systems, and people familiar with the security problem space.
The T'Aint of Taint: Memory and the Denial of Mixed Race in the U.S.

Since the United States Supreme Court ruled antimiscegenation law unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia (1967), commentators have heralded the onset of the "biracial baby boom." This type of law and thought, productive as it may be, treats mixed race as a new phenomenon, as if interracial intimacy had not occurred before then. This dissertation analyzes contemporary and historical cases of interracial denial that refer to this seemingly nonexistent past. Working from Nietzsche's conception of active forgetting and Lyotard's construction of the differend, I critique the construction of American collective memory that omits mixed race relationships. I do so by using a range of approaches, which include political, theoretical, legal, historical, and literary analysis. I turn to William Faulkner's Absalom! Absalom! and Charles Chesnutt's Marrow of Tradition to interrogate anachronistic interpretations of a mixed racial past. I also examine historical and current legal conflicts of miscegenation, including a testamentary dispute in antebellum South Carolina, and the interracial pasts of iconic American statesmen (Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Strom Thurmond). Additional chapters focus on the legal and mythical romance of Pocahontas, and membership struggles in the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. I claim that dominant conceptions of mixed race incorrectly rely upon present recollections of the past as seen through the eyes of law, specifically the antimiscegenist regime that preceded Loving. Thus, anachronistic interpretations of history that are informed or justified by law favor the skeptics and discredit the believers of assertions of mixed race. Despite discourse that explores the suppression of such pasts, boundaries remain that attest to a collective memory that fears and ignores their elimination.
EPID-19ASSOCIATION STUDY BETWEEN HFE POLYMORPHISMS AND SURVIVAL OF GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS IN TCGA DATABASE

The HFE protein is involved in iron metabolism. There are two (H63D and C282Y) HFE polymorphisms. These HFE polymorphisms have been associated with increased risk in a number of cancers. Previously, we reported gender affects H63D or C282Y glioblastoma (GBM) patients' overall survival. To confirm our finding in a bigger sample size, we analyzed the frequency of HFE genotype and survival of GBM patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. There were 329 GBM samples data available for HFE genotype. Among 329 samples, 296 samples have both HFE genotype data and clinical information. The 296 samples consist of 264 White, 6 Asian, 18 Black, and 8 unknown. H63D and C282Y HFE polymorphisms are more common in Caucasians than other ethnicities, thus we used 264 samples (167 male and 97 female) data in the present study. The frequency of H63D and C282Y is approximately 26.5% (24.2% heterozygote and 2.3% homozygote) and 7.6% (6.8% heterozygote and 0.8% homozygote). This rate is similar with that for the general Caucasian population reported in the literature. The Kaplan-Meier survive curve for the 264 GBM samples revealed no difference between WT HFE and H63D and C282Y GBM patients. In addition, there is no difference in the survival of male/female GBM patients based on HFE genotype. To exclude any possibility of regional difference in survival/HFE genotype in our data analysis, we used single sample collection site data (n = 100) from 264 samples as well. However, we still did not observe any statistical difference between HFE genotype and overall survival including gender effect. In conclusion, HFE polymorphisms do not impact GBM patient's survival in TCGA data set of GBM. The present data and our previous data suggest that environment factors may affect the difference of survival length in GBM patients with HFE mutations.
Which Information is Commonly Used for Patients with Stroke at Rehabilitation Settings

Purpose: To explore the functioning information in the current medical records for patients with stroke using the comprehensive Inter national Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) coreset for Stroke. Methods: Physical therapists, who have more than 3 years of clinical experience in neurologic therapeutic area, filled out the coreset for Stroke based on their patients` medical records, and an interview was conducted for them. Each of the categories in the coreset was ana lyzed using frequency and percentage analysis. Results: A total of ninety patients with stroke were evaluated. Five categories of neuromusculoskeletal and movement functions in the body function domain were rated as having problems in over 90% of the patients. Four categories of the body structure domain were found as having a problem in over 73% of patients. In the domain of activity and participation, eight categories related to function of domestic lives, areas of major life and mobility were identified as having a problem for more than 90% of those patients. In the environ mental factors, a category of health professionals was documented as facilitator in 87% of patients whilst nine categories, including products and technology, physical geography, services, systems and policies, were rated as barriers by more than 10% of patients. Conclusion: The current medical records of patients with stroke contain functioning information. Information regarding body function, and activity and participation was mainly focused on rehabilitation services. It is suggested that environmental factors should be includ ed to understand patients` life situation which may have impact on patients` functioning.
GeneNetwork: A Toolbox for Systems Genetics

The goal of systems genetics is to understand the impact of genetic variation across all levels of biological organization, from mRNAs, proteins, and metabolites, to higher-order physiological and behavioral traits. This approach requires the accumulation and integration of many types of data, and also requires the use of many types of statistical tools to extract relevant patterns of covariation and causal relations as a function of genetics, environment, stage, and treatment. In this protocol we explain how to use the GeneNetwork web service, a powerful and free online resource for systems genetics. We provide workflows and methods to navigate massive multiscalar data sets and we explain how to use an extensive systems genetics toolkit for analysis and synthesis. Finally, we provide two detailed case studies that take advantage of human and mouse cohorts to evaluate linkage between gene variants, addiction, and aging.
Effects of Sphingomyelin-rich Beta Serum on Lipid Metabolism in High Fat Diet-fed Mice

Dietary phospholipids are a potential source of bioactive lipids that may impact inflammation and lipid metabolism. One such dietary phospholipid, sphingomyelin (SM), has been shown to dose-depende...
Listeners respond to phoneme-specific spectral information when assessing speaker size from speech

Abstract Spectral information in speech sounds varies as a function of linguistic content, as well as the vocal-tract length (VTL) of the speaker. It is usually considered that human listeners rely on VTL information when assessing apparent speaker-size. However, a recent experiment (Barreda, 2016) found that listeners respond to the specific spectral-content of speech sounds rather than simply responding to speaker VTL information. This results in biases towards identifying certain phonemes with larger speakers independently of VTL information. To investigate this, listeners were asked to judge relative speaker-size based on vowel pairs differing in vowel quality and/or apparent speaker VTL. Additionally, one group of listeners was asked to report relative-height differences, while another group was trained to report relative-VTL differences directly. Results indicate that both groups of listeners exhibited substantial biases towards associating certain phonemes with larger speakers. In addition, listeners showed substantial variation both in their sensitivity to specific acoustic cues, and in their general approach to speaker size estimation. For example, some listeners rely primarily on VTL cues while others rely heavily on phoneme-specific spectral information.
X-ray Crystallographic Structure of a Giant Double-Walled Peptide Nanotube Formed by a Macrocyclic β-Sheet Containing Aβ16–22

This paper describes the supramolecular assembly of a macrocyclic β-sheet containing residues 16–22 of the β-amyloid peptide, Aβ. X-ray crystallography reveals that the macrocyclic β-sheet assembles to form double-walled nanotubes, with an inner diameter of 7 nm and outer diameter of 11 nm. The inner wall is composed of an extended network of hydrogen-bonded dimers. The outer wall is composed of a separate extended network of β-barrel-like tetramers. These large peptide nanotubes pack into a hexagonal lattice that resembles a honeycomb. The complexity and size of the peptide nanotubes rivals some of the largest tubular biomolecular assemblies, such as GroEL and microtubules. These observations demonstrate that small amyloidogenic sequences can be used to build large nanostructures.
Understanding environmental sounds in sentence context

There is debate about how individuals use context to successfully predict and recognize words. One view argues that context supports neural predictions that make use of the speech motor system, whereas other views argue for a sensory or conceptual level of prediction. While environmental sounds can convey clear referential meaning, they are not linguistic signals, and are thus neither produced with the vocal tract nor typically encountered in sentence context. We compared the effect of spoken sentence context on recognition and comprehension of spoken words versus nonspeech, environmental sounds. In Experiment 1, sentence context decreased the amount of signal needed for recognition of spoken words and environmental sounds in similar fashion. In Experiment 2, listeners judged sentence meaning in both high and low contextually constraining sentence frames, when the final word was present or replaced with a matching environmental sound. Results showed that sentence constraint affected decision time similarly for speech and nonspeech, such that high constraint sentences (i.e., frame plus completion) were processed faster than low constraint sentences for speech and nonspeech. Linguistic context facilitates the recognition and understanding of nonspeech sounds in much the same way as for spoken words. This argues against a simple form of a speech-motor explanation of predictive coding in spoken language understanding, and suggests support for conceptual-level predictions.
Social Capital in Schools: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis of the Equity of Its Distribution and Relation to Academic Achievement.

BackgroundSchools face pressure to promote equitable student outcomes as the achievement gap continues to persist. The authors examine different ways in which social capital has been conceptualized...
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study of the use of viscous oral cromolyn sodium for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Abstract Background There is a need for effective, nonsteroid pharmacologic therapies for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Cromolyn sodium offers an option because mast cells have been implicated in the symptomatology of EoE and cromolyn has been shown to have some anti-eosinophilic properties. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of cromolyn in decreasing esophageal eosinophilia in patients with EoE. Secondary outcomes included symptom improvement and adverse effects. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of viscous oral cromolyn for EoE in pediatric patients. Subjects were randomized to 100 mg (2–11 years of age) or 200 mg (12–17 years of age) of cromolyn or placebo 4 times daily. The medications were mixed with powdered sugar at home to make them viscous. Results Sixteen subjects (50% boys, median age 11.4 years) were enrolled. Nine were randomized to cromolyn and 7 were randomized to placebo. Cromolyn decreased the peak eosinophil count from 62.1 to 57.3 eosinophils per high-powered field ( P = .78) and placebo decreased the peak eosinophil count from 87.0 to 71.3 eosinophils per high-powered field ( P = .62) One subject randomized to cromolyn and none in the placebo arm had complete resolution of eosinophilia. Cromolyn decreased symptoms scores from a mean baseline score of 37.8 to a mean post-therapy score of 17.5, which was a 54% decrease ( P = .04). Placebo decreased the symptom scores from a baseline score of 32.2 to a post-therapy score of 23.3, which was a 28% decrease ( P = .05). Conclusion Cromolyn, when mixed into a viscous preparation, did not significantly decrease esophageal eosinophilia. However, it did decrease symptom scores (although not significantly more than placebo) and led to complete resolution in 1 subject.
Making Use of Manufacturing Process Variations: A Dopingless Transistor Based-PUF for Hardware-Assisted Security

Time to market is a vital aspect of electronic product development. When it comes to device technology, the time needed for the device fabrication processes to stabilize is relatively long. At the early stages of any device technology development, manufacturing variations are extensive. They are inevitable and unpredictable. Such manufacturing variations can be used advantageously to improve security and protect hardware and software IP. A physical unclonable function (PUF) uses the device manufacturing variations to extract unique and non-replicable keys which can be used for various applications such as cryptography and IP protection. This paper presents a hybrid oscillator arbiter PUF which uses the manufacturing variations of dopingless field-effect transistors (DLFETs) to achieve non-replicability and the results are compared with the more established FinFETs. The scalability of DLFETs is higher compared to current transistor technologies and the power consumption is lower. There is a 25% reduction in power consumption when compared to a 14 nm FinFET technology. The PUF designs presented in this paper are speed-optimized and power-optimized hybrid oscillator arbiter PUFs. The power-optimal design can be deployed in systems where power consumption should be low and the speed-optimal design can be implemented when speed of operation plays a vital role. Hence, these two designs can be deployed in two different application domains of current technologies such as the of Internet of Things.
Background to subsurface ventilation and environmental engineering

Ventilation is sometimes described as the lifeblood of a mine, the intake airways being arteries that carry oxygen to the working areas and the returns veins that conduct pollutants away to be expelled to the outside atmosphere. Without an effective ventilation system, no underground facility that requires personnel to enter it can operate safely.
Rural Adapted Physical Education Teacher Preparation Programs: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the teacher preparation programs in adapted physical education among colleges and universities in the United States. Twenty-two adapted physical educato...
Theoretical considerations in the preparation of Tc-99m MAA for pulmonary perfusion studies

The results of theoretical calculations in the preparation of Tc-99m MAA for lung perfusion studies using MAA from various commercial manufacturers combined with eluate from various size technetium generators are considered. Kit-generator incompatabilities based on specific activities are specified. Percent of elution yields required to prepare a particular product preparation are calculated.
Variation of key elements in soils and plant tissues in subalpine forests of the northern Rocky Mountains, USA

Abstract. The essential elements for the structure and function of forest ecosystems are found in relatively predictable proportions in living tissues and soils; however, both the degree of spatial variability in elemental concentrations and their relationship with wildfire history are unclear. Quantifying the association between nutrient concentrations in living plant tissue and surface soils within fire-affected forests can help determine how these elements contribute to biogeochemical resilience. Here, we present elemental concentration data (C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn) from 72 foliar and 44 soil samples from a network of 15 sites located in the fire-prone subalpine forests of the northern Rocky Mountains, USA Plant functional type is strongly correlated with carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) – C concentrations are highest in coniferous needles, and N concentrations are highest in broadleaved plant species. The average N / P ratio of foliage among samples is 9.8 ± 0.6 (μ ± 95 % confidence). This suggests that N is the limiting nutrient for these plants, however several factors can complicate the use of N / P ratios to evaluate nutrient status. Average C concentrations in organic soil horizons that were burned in regionally extensive fires in 1910 or 1918 CE are lower than those from sites that burned prior to 1901 CE (p
Methylomic profiles reveal sex-specific shifts in leukocyte composition associated with post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating mental disorder precipitated by trauma exposure. However, only some persons exposed to trauma develop PTSD. There are sex differences in risk; twice as many women as men, develop a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD. Methylomic profiles derived from peripheral blood are well-suited for investigating PTSD because DNA methylation (DNAm) encodes individual response to trauma and may play a key role in the immune dysregulation characteristic of PTSD pathophysiology. In the current study, we leveraged recent methodological advances to investigate sex-specific shifts in DNAm-based leukocyte composition that are associated with lifetime PTSD. We estimated leukocyte composition on a combined methylation array dataset (483 participants, [~]450k CpG sites) consisting of two civilian cohorts, the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study and Grady Trauma Project. Sex-stratified Mann-Whitney U test and two-way ANCOVA revealed that lifetime PTSD was associated with a small but significant elevation in monocyte proportions in males, but not in females (Holm-adjusted p-val < 0.05). No difference in monocyte proportions was observed between current and remitted PTSD cases in males, suggesting that this sex-specific peak shift reflects a long-standing trait of lifetime history of PTSD, rather than current state of PTSD. Associations with lifetime PTSD or PTSD status were not observed in any other leukocyte subtype and our finding in monocytes was confirmed using cell estimates based on a different deconvolution algorithm, suggesting that our sex-specific findings are robust across cell estimation approaches. Overall, our main finding of elevated monocyte proportions in males, but not in females with lifetime history of PTSD provides evidence for a sex-specific shift in peripheral blood leukocyte composition that is detectable in methylomic profiles and that reflects long-standing changes associated with PTSD diagnosis.
Imperial Plots: Women, Land, and the Spadework of British Colonialism on the Canadian Prairies

Sarah Carter’s newest study continues the work of reconceptualizing the history of the Canadian West, matching the scope and importance of other recent and groundbreaking works on the region, such ...
From Selective Exposure to Selective Information Processing: A Motivated Reasoning Approach

Literature suggests that while without doubt people engage in selective exposure to information, this does not entail that they also engage in selective avoidance of opinion-challenging information . However, cross-cutting exposure does not always lead to dispassionate deliberation. In this commentary I explore psychological conditions as they apply to attitude-based selection and make an argument that selectivity does not stop at exposure but continues as audiences engage with information they encounter and incorporate in their decision-making. I propose the theory of motivated reasoning as a rich theoretical underpinning that helps us understand selective exposure and selective information processing.