cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on CFTR chloride secretion and the host immune response

In the healthy lung the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is rapidly eliminated by mucociliary clearance, a process that is dependent on the activity of the CFTR anion channel that, i...
Inherited Neuromuscular Disorders: Presentation, Diagnosis, and Advances in Treatment

This article reviews presentation of inherited neuromuscular disorders, including how to differentiate them from other causes of hypotonia and gross motor delay. Focus is on disorders that have, or may soon have, therapies to improve strength or slow down disease progression. With the recent explosion in genetic testing, the number of genes known to cause inherited neuromuscular disorders has increased exponentially in the last 10 years. Understanding the genetic basis has led to the potential for new therapeutics, aimed both at correcting the genetic deficiency and improving downstream factors to help improve overall function and health. As new treatments for inherited neuromuscular disorders become available, the importance of early diagnosis will be more important than ever for some of these previously lethal disorders.
MEDU-42. BCL-XL DISRUPTION AS A POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC AVENUE FOR MEDULLOBLASTOMA TREATMENT

AbstractMedulloblastoma is distinct among malignant brain tumors in being typically sensitive to radiation therapy. We have previously shown that the radiation sensitivity of medulloblastomas depends on the function of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. We tested whether this pathway could be activated directly, without radiation, by disrupting the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-xL. Analysis of mice with conditional deletion of Bcl-xL in cerebellar progenitors showed that absence of BCL-xL caused progenitors to undergo apoptosis when exiting the cell cycle. Bcl-xL deletion in SHH-driven medulloblastomas in SmoM2 mice impaired tumor growth and caused focal regions of tumor necrosis. However, Bcl-xL-deleted medulloblastomas eventually progressed, so that ultimately Bcl-xL-deleted SmoM2 mice did not survive longer than SmoM2 mice with intact BCL-xL. Gene expression microarray analysis showed up-regulation of the cell cycle regulator Cdk2 in Bcl-xL-deleted tumors, consistent with the idea that tumor cells that remained in the cell cycle were protected from BCL-xL dependent apoptosis. To address this mechanism, in on-going work, we are combining Bcl-xL deletion with SHH inhibition, testing the hypothesis that forced cell cycle exit will sensitize medulloblastomas to Bcl-xL disruption. Combined targeting of proliferative program driven by SHH and the apoptosis program, may open a new avenue for medulloblastoma treatment.
From Behavioral Facilitation to Inhibition: The Neuronal Correlates of the Orienting and Reorienting of Auditory Attention.

Successful adaptive behavior relies on the ability to automatically (bottom-up) orient attention to different locations in the environment. This results in a biphasic pattern in which reaction times (RT) are faster for stimuli that occur in the same spatial location (valid) for the first few hundred milliseconds, which is termed facilitation. This is followed by faster RT for stimuli that appear in novel locations (invalid) after longer delays, termed inhibition of return. The neuronal areas and networks involved in the transition between states of facilitation and inhibition remain poorly understood, especially for auditory stimuli. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were therefore collected in a large sample of healthy volunteers (N = 52) at four separate auditory stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs; 200, 400, 600, and 800 ms). Behavioral results indicated that facilitation (valid RT invalid RT) present at the three longer SOAs. fMRI results showed several brain areas varying their activation as a function of SOA, including bilateral superior temporal gyrus, anterior thalamus, cuneus, dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus, and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC)/anterior insula. Right VLPFC was active during a behavioral state of facilitation, and its activation (invalid - valid trials) further correlated with behavioral reorienting at the 200 ms delay. These results suggest that right VLPFC plays a critical role when auditory attention must be quickly deployed or redeployed, demanding heightened cognitive and inhibitory control. In contrast to previous work, the ventral and dorsal frontoparietal attention networks were both active during valid and invalid trials across SOAs. These results suggest that the dorsal and ventral networks may not be as specialized during bottom-up auditory orienting as has been previously reported during visual orienting.
Effectiveness of a Low-Cost, Graduate Student-Led Intervention on Study Habits and Performance in Introductory Biology

Institutions have developed diverse approaches that vary in effectiveness and cost to improve student performance in introductory science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses. We developed a low-cost, graduate student-led, metacognition-based study skills course taught in conjunction with the introductory biology series at Miami University. Our approach aimed to improve performance for underachieving students by combining an existing framework for the process of learning (the study cycle) with concrete tools (outlines and concept maps) that have been shown to encourage deep understanding. To assess the effectiveness of our efforts, we asked 1) how effective our voluntary recruitment model was at enrolling the target cohort, 2) how the course impacted performance on lecture exams, 3) how the course impacted study habits and techniques, and 4) whether there are particular study habits or techniques that are associated with large improvements on exam scores. Voluntary recruitment attracted only 11-17% of our target cohort. While focal students improved on lecture exams relative to their peers who did not enroll, gains were relatively modest, and not all students improved. Further, although students across both semesters of our study reported improved study habits (based on pre and post surveys) and on outlines and concept maps (based on retrospectively scored assignments), gains were more dramatic in the Fall semester. Multivariate models revealed that, while changes in study habits and in the quality of outlines and concept maps were weakly associated with change in performance on lecture exams, relationships were only significant in the Fall semester and were sometimes counterintuitive. Although benefits of the course were offset somewhat by the inefficiency of voluntary recruitment, we demonstrate the effectiveness our course, which is inexpensive to implement and has advantage of providing pedagogical experience to future educators.
Nanometer Calibration Particles: What is Available and What is Needed?

Information on available polystyrene calibration spheres is presented regarding the particle diameter, uncertainty in the size, and the width of the size distribution for particles in a size range between 20 and 100 nm. The use of differential mobility analysis for measuring the single primary calibration standard in this size range, 100 nm NIST Standard Reference Material®1963, is described along with the key factors in the uncertainty assessment. The issues of differences between international standards and traceability to the NIST Standard are presented. The lack of suitable polystyrene spheres in the 20–40 nm size range will be discussed in terms of measurement uncertainty and width of the size distributions. Results on characterizing a new class of ‘molecular’ particles known as dendrimers will be described and the possibilities of using these as size calibration standards for the size range from 3 to 15 nm will be discussed.
Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma

Well-differentiated liposarcomas and atypical lipomatous tumors are low-grade fatty malignancies that share the same histopathology. PET/MR imaging is a useful modality to noninvasively differentiate these low-grade malignances from benign lipomas and higher-grade sarcomatous lesions.
Predicting Runoff using Artificial Neural Networks

An artificial neural network was constructed that has the same structure as application of a unit hydrograph. This network was trained using eight rainfall-runoff events simultaneously, and the trained network verified using sixteen events observed on a 12.2 km2 watershed located in north central Missouri. The results were quite good.
Other Electrolyte Abnormalities

Electrolyte derangements affecting magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus are common in the surgical ICU and may lead to life-threatening conditions. Measurements can be affected by multiple factors including drugs, volume status, renal function, and even the presence of other electrolyte abnormalities. Although routine replacements to achieve normal values are a common practice, their effect on outcomes remains debatable. In addition, whether these electrolyte abnormalities themselves lead to worse outcomes or they comprise a marker for the degree of illness is also controversial. In this chapter, we provide a clinically relevant review of these electrolyte abnormalities with the goal to provide the clinician with useful information that can be utilized in the daily management of the critically ill surgical patient.
White English in Blackface or, Who Do I Be?

(1973). White English in Blackface or, Who Do I Be? The Black Scholar: Vol. 4, The Black Child, pp. 32-39.
Gap inhomogeneities and the density of states in disordered d-wave superconductors

We report on a numerical study of disorder effects in 2D $d$-wave BCS superconductors. We compare exact numerical solutions of the Bogoliubov--de Gennes (BdG) equations for the density of states $\ensuremath{\rho}(E)$ with the standard T-matrix approximation. Local suppression of the order parameter near impurity sites, which occurs in self-consistent solutions of the BdG equations, leads to apparent power-law behavior $\ensuremath{\rho}(E)\ensuremath{\sim}|E{|}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ with nonuniversal $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ over an energy scale comparable to the single-impurity resonance energy ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}_{0}$. We show that the novel effects arise from static spatial correlations between the order parameter and the impurity distribution.
The Primal Emergence of the Authoritarian Father-Leader

With threat and loss, people become more tribal, and a profound and disturbing aspect of this is the emergence of the authoritarian father-leader. Under threat and loss, the tribe becomes more dogmatic and authoritarian, seeing the world in black versus white without shades of gray. When mixed with dogmatism and its own push toward rigid interpretation of events and solutions, a leader who speaks in clear, simple, and usually simplistic terms about solutions and about aggressively protecting the tribe gains affinity. The archetypal leaders of extremist movements must be harsh and a fighting force toward the threatening outsider, but are often loving and compassionate to their loyal followers. They must appear powerful and willing to act ruthlessly to protect the tribe.
Overview of PCR-Based Technologies and Multiplexed Gene Analysis for Biomarker Studies

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become an invaluable tool for the assessment of the presence and type of nucleic acids in tissues and body fluids. It is the in vitro enzymatic synthesis and amplification of specific DNA sequences. It can amplify one molecule of DNA or RNA into billions of copies in a few hours. This enables mutation tracking for management of any cancer, which is particularly crucial in targeted therapies. Novel applications include analysis of blood for circulating DNA for tumor-associated mutations. RNA analysis has been extensively used for quantification of gene expression. This forms the basis of multiple gene expression assays including multigene panels that are being developed for prognostic and predictive purposes. This chapter will provide a brief overview of the basics of PCR and the current applications in clinical oncology.
J. M. Synge and travel writing of the Irish revival

In the summer of 1915, shortly before he delivered his famous eulogy at the grave of Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, Patrick Pearse travelled to the Connemara Gaeltacht with various family members as wel...
Study on the properties of dextran-linked adenine nucleotide derivatives

A simple method is described for the preparation of dextran-linked coenzyme derivatives. Several different 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-adenine nucleotide coenzymes and their derivatives were covalently attached to dextran by incubation with bromohydroxypropyl derivatives of dextran at room temperature in an alkaline medium. The polymer-linked adenine nucleotide derivatives were separated from the free coenzyme derivatives by a Sephadex G-50 column. The prepared dextran derivatives have ligand densities ranging from 20 to 100 μmol/g of dextran derivatives depending on the conditions of coupling and derivatives. NMR studies revealed that proton resonances of the polymer-linked coenzymes exhibit short transverse relaxation times (T2) but long longitudinal relaxation times (T1) This phenomenon was interpreted in terms of the anisotropic motions of the dextran-bound coenzyme derivatives in which the fast axial motions and slow restricted transverse motions of the bound coenzyme derivatives are postulated. These observations could properly explain why the polymer-linked coenzymes exhibit lower biological activity, but similar binding affinity to most enzymes.
Southeast Asia-China Economic Interactions in the Late First to Mid-Second Millennium C.E.: Narrative, Sources, and Pedagogical Objectives

This essay provides an overview of the economic interactions between China and Southeast Asia during the late first and early second millennia C.E.. It positions the development of this relationship within the context of the Old World, and looks at how the interactions manifested in the ports that grew as a result of the economic exchanges that took place, the transportation networks that were developed to facilitate the exchanges, the growth in the demand and production of products from both regions, the migration of traders, and the development of economic codependency between both economies. The essay also provided sub-topics and online sources with which this topic could be approached in a classroom, including art materials, archaeological information, and textual documentation.
Trimodality therapy for atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor is associated with improved overall survival: A surveillance, epidemiology, and end results analysis

BACKGROUND Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs) are rare aggressive central nervous system tumors. The use of radiation therapy (RT) remains controversial, especially for patients younger than three years of age. The purpose of the current investigation is to robustly analyze the impact of RT among pediatric AT/RT patients using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS SEER 18 Custom Data registries were queried for AT/RT (ICD-0-3 9508/3). A total of 190 pediatric AT/RT patients were identified, of whom 102 underwent surgery + chemotherapy and 88 underwent trimodality therapy. Univariate and multivariable analyses using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression modeling were performed. Propensity-score matched analysis with inverse probability of treatment weighting was performed to account for indication bias. The landmark method was used to account for immortal time bias. RESULTS The majority of patients were <3 years old (75.8%). Patients <3 were more likely to be treated without RT as compared with older patients (62% vs 38%). Doubly robust MVA identified distant disease as a negative prognostic factor (HR 2.1, P = 0.003), whereas trimodality therapy was strongly protective (HR 0.39, P < 0.001). Infants (<1), toddlers (1-2), and older children (3+) all benefited from trimodality therapy, with largest benefit for infants (HR 0.34, P = 0.02) and toddlers (HR 0.31, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The current study provides further evidence that trimodality therapy improves clinical outcomes among patients with AT/RT. This finding was most pronounced for younger patients; therefore, further studies are needed to confirm this finding in this vulnerable population.
"A Good and Easy Speculation": Spatial Conflict, Collusion and Resistance in Late Sixteenth-Century Munster, Ireland

In the late sixteenth-century England stepped up the pace of its colonization of Munster, the southwesternmost of Ireland's four provinces. As is often the case with episodes of colonial expansion, there were elements in Ireland who variously participated directly in the English plans, colluded with them, or else resisted them. By examining the archival and archaeological remains of cognitive and material spatial dynamics, this paper analyzes how the negotiation of spatial material culture contributed to the processes of domination by, resistance to, and collusion with the colonizing English in late sixteenth-century Munster.
Abstract 373: Regulation of Hypoxia by Chromatin Reader Protein Kinase C Binding Protein 1 (PRKCBP1)

PRKCBP1 (also known as RACK7 and Zmynd8) is a polyvalent chromatin reader known to cooperatively bind acetylated and methylated nucleosomes. Recently it has been shown to regulate transcription and...
Outcomes of Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Athletes

Abstract Objectives The aims of this study were to assess outcomes of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) performed on athletes at a tertiary care center and to characterize its efficacy and physiological effects. Background The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increased in highly trained athletes and poses unique management challenges. Methods Athletes were identified through a database of patients undergoing PVI from January 2000 through October 2015. Outcomes of AF ablation were defined in accordance with published guidelines. Available electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and exercise treadmill testing data were also analyzed. Results The study population included 144 athletes (93% men; mean age 50.4 ± 8.6 years; 97 paroxysmal, 38 persistent, and 9 long-standing persistent) with median follow-up of 3 years. Single-procedure freedom from arrhythmia was 75%, 68%, and 33% at 1 year for paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent AF, respectively. Multiple-procedure freedom from arrhythmia off antiarrhythmic drugs was 86%, 76%, and 56% in respective groups at the end of follow-up (mean 1.4 ± 0.7 ablations per athlete). Compared with a matched cohort of nonathletes who underwent PVI, there was no difference in arrhythmia recurrence (log-rank p = 0.23). Excluding long-standing persistent AF, longer diagnosis-to-ablation time was the only variable in Cox proportional hazards analyses associated with arrhythmia recurrence (adjusted heart rate per log increase: 1.92; 95% confidence interval: 1.40 to 2.73; p 1 year; p Conclusions PVI is an effective therapy in athletes with paroxysmal and persistent AF, and arrhythmia recurrence was no different from that among matched nonathletes. Early ablation was associated with improved success rates. Sustained cardioautonomic effects were observed following ablation, but exercise capacity was preserved.
New Tissue-Specific Metastasis Models in Adult Nude Mice

We have recently developed several models for studying human tumor metastasis in adult nude mice.
Post-Traumatic Retroperitoneal Hematoma Caused by Superior Rectal Artery Pseudoaneurysm

BACKGROUND Pseudoaneurysms are a known pathology commonly recognized after disruption of the vascular wall leads to the development of a hematoma. Although pseudoaneurysms are common, occurrence in the location of the superior rectal artery is exceedingly rare, has been documented in the literature only 7 times, and can be extremely dangerous. Patients can present with vague abdominal complaints, pain, gastrointestinal bleeding, and development of hematomas, and can progress to hemodynamic instability related to hypovolemia. This phenomenon requires swift recognition and patient management, as well as stabilization, to achieve desired results and minimize morbidity and mortality. CASE REPORT We report the case of a 79-year-old man who presented after minor trauma with gastrointestinal bleeding and was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal hematoma. Although he was stabilized and discharged, conventional angiography diagnosing and treating his causative superior rectal artery pseudoaneurysm was not completed until a second traumatic event resulted in recurrent presentation with worsened symptoms and retroperitoneal hematoma enlargement. CONCLUSIONS Superior rectal artery pseudoaneurysm is a rarely-reported phenomenon, usually occurring after a traumatic event. It can lead to significant anemia, hypovolemic shock, blood transfusion, and other serious consequences. It can be difficult to diagnose given its location and obscurity. However, upon diagnosis, swift treatment is recommended, for which a variety of both surgical and endovascular approaches have been employed to prevent exsanguination.
Academic collaborations with industry: lessons for the future.

Academic centers and industry partners have had love–hate relationships for more than a century. Despite many examples of socially beneficial collaborations between academia and industry, it has become increasingly difficult to find an arrangement where neither clinicians/researchers working with industry nor industry itself is demonized. Regardless, we must incentivize innovation. Preclinical research is primarily funded by the government, whereas 70% of clinical research is supported by industry. Due to external political pressure and industry’s concern about lack of control over content, industry’s support of continuing medical education (CME) has shrunk to 10% from 40% and has led to diversion of funding to non-CME events. Despite scrutiny of clinical faculty members’ interactions with industry, corporate philanthropy is much sought after by academic institutions. Developing new therapeutics requires both academia and industry to transparently and ethically partner with creation of innovative start-ups, sharing of non-proprietary clinical trial data, and in postmarketing surveillance. The search continues for truly symbiotic relationships between academia and industry.
Merkle Hash Grids Instead of Merkle Trees

Merkle grids are a new data organization that replicates the functionality of Merkle trees while reducing their transmission and storage costs by up to 50 percent. All Merkle grids organize the objects whose conformity they monitor in a square array. They add row and column hashes to it such that (a) all row hashes contain the hash of the concatenation of the hashes of all the objects in their respective row and (b) all column hashes contain the hash of the concatenation of the hashes of all the objects in their respective column. In addition, a single signed master hash contains the hash of the concatenation of all row and column hashes. Extended Merkle grids add two auxiliary Merkle trees to speed up searches among both row hashes and column hashes. While both basic and extended Merkle grids perform authentication of all blocks better than Merkle trees, only extended Merkle grids can locate individual non-conforming objects or authenticate a single non-conforming object as fast as Merkle trees.
NMDA receptor-independent LTP in mammalian nervous system

Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic transmission is a form of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity that exists at most synapses in the nervous system. In the central nervous system (CNS), LTP has been recorded at numerous synapses and is a prime candidate mechanism associating activity-dependent plasticity with learning and memory. LTP involves long-lasting increase in synaptic strength with various underlying mechanisms. In the CNS, the predominant type of LTP is believed to be dependent on activation of the ionotropic glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), which is highly calcium-permeable. However, various forms of NMDAR-independent LTP have been identified in diverse areas of the nervous system. The NMDAR-independent LTP may require activation of glutamate metabotropic receptors (mGluR) or ionotropic receptors other than NMDAR such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR), serotonin 5-HT3 receptor or calcium-permeable AMPA receptor (CP-AMPAR). In this review, NMDAR-independent LTP of various areas of the central and peripheral nervous systems are discussed.
Can we detect conditioned variation in political speech? two kinds of discussion and types of conversation.

Previous work has demonstrated that certain speech patterns vary systematically between sociodemographic groups, so that in some cases the way a person speaks is a valid cue to group membership. Our work addresses whether or not participants use these linguistic cues when assessing a speaker’s likely political identity. We use a database of speeches by U.S. Congressional representatives to isolate words that are statistically diagnostic of a speaker’s party identity. In a series of four studies, we demonstrate that participants’ judgments track variation in word usage between the two parties more often than chance, and that this effect persists even when potentially interfering cues such as the meaning of the word are controlled for. Our results are consistent with a body of literature suggesting that humans’ language-related judgments reflect the statistical distributions of our environment.
Fine-needle aspiration performance during cytopathology fellowship: what do the ACGME case logs show us?

Introduction Cytopathology fellows are required to enter their fine-needle aspiration (FNA) case numbers in an online data collection system, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Case Log system. This study reviewed this data to examine trends in FNA case numbers during fellowship training. Methods A retrospective review of the ACGME Accreditation Data System (ADS) FNA Case Log data was performed for academic years 2006-2019. For 2006-2016, total and average numbers of FNAs performed per academic year were available. After 2016, data also included the number of programs and trainees, national averages, standard deviation, minimum, median, maximum, and percentiles for the number of FNAs performed. Results The number of FNAs documented by cytopathology fellows has gradually increased from 2006 (average 10.9) to 2013 (average 18.6) and dramatically increased in 2014 (average 38.0). Averages have remained greater than 30 FNAs documented per academic year since 2014, with some variation. However, a decline was observed in 2019, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions FNA procedures reported in the ACGME Case Log System indicate vast differences in cytopathology fellowship educational experiences and settings. After logging FNAs becoming an ACGME requirement in 2013, the average number of FNAs has been greater than 30 per year and provides some guidance for programs with respect to the number of FNAs being reported by cytopathology fellows nationally.
Inhibition of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, the rate-limiting enzyme of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide salvage pathway, to target glioma heterogeneity through mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Background Tumor-specific metabolic processes essential for cell survival are promising targets to potentially circumvent intratumoral heterogeneity, a major resistance factor in gliomas. Tumor cells preferentially using nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in the salvage pathway for synthesis of NAD, a critical cofactor for diverse biological processes including cellular redox reactions, energy metabolism and biosynthesis. NAMPT is overexpressed in most malignancies, including gliomas, and can serve as a tumor-specific target. Methods Effects of pharmacological inhibition of NAMPT on cellular oxygen consumption rate, extracellular acidification, mitochondrial respiration, cell proliferation, invasion and survival were assessed through in vitro and ex vivo studies on genetically heterogeneous glioma cell lines, glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) and mouse and human ex vivo organotypic glioma slice culture models. Results Pharmacological inhibition of the NAD salvage biosynthesis pathway using a highly specific inhibitor, KPT-9274, resulted in reduction of NAD levels and related downstream metabolites, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptosis in vitro in cell lines and ex vivo in human glioma tissue. These effects were mediated by mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage and increased oxidative stress leading to apoptosis in GSCs independent of genotype, IDH status or MGMT promoter methylation status. Conversely, NAMPT inhibition had minimal in vitro effects on normal human astrocytes (NHA) and no apparent in vivo toxicity in non-tumor-bearing mice. Conclusions Pharmacological NAMPT inhibition by KPT9274 potently targeted genetically heterogeneous gliomas by activating mitochondrial dysfunction. Our preclinical results provide a rationale for targeting the NAMPT-dependent alternative NAD biosynthesis pathway as a novel clinical strategy against gliomas.
Sex differences in diurnal rhythms of food intake in mice caused by gonadal hormones and complement of sex chromosomes.

We measured diurnal rhythms of food intake, as well as body weight and composition, while varying three major classes of sex-biasing factors: activational and organizational effects of gonadal hormones, and sex chromosome complement (SCC). Four Core Genotypes (FCG) mice, comprising XX and XY gonadal males and XX and XY gonadal females, were either gonad-intact or gonadectomized (GDX) as adults (2.5 months); food intake was measured second-by-second for 7 days starting 5 weeks later, and body weight and composition were measured for 22 weeks thereafter. Gonadal males weighed more than females. GDX increased body weight/fat of gonadal females, but increased body fat and reduced body weight of males. After GDX, XX mice had greater body weight and more fat than XY mice. In gonad-intact mice, males had greater total food intake and more meals than females during the dark phase, but females had more food intake and meals and larger meals than males during the light phase. GDX reduced overall food intake irrespective of gonad type or SCC, and eliminated differences in feeding between groups with different gonads. Diurnal phase of feeding was influenced by all three sex-biasing variables. Gonad-intact females had earlier onset and acrophase (peak) of feeding relative to males. GDX caused a phase-advance of feeding, especially in XX mice, leading to an earlier onset of feeding in GDX XX vs. XY mice, but earlier acrophase in GDX males relative to females. Gonadal hormones and SCC interact in the control of diurnal rhythms of food intake.
Measuring patient satisfaction in the Pharmacy Specialty Immunization Clinic: a pharmacist-run immunization clinic at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System

Objective The aim was to measure patient satisfaction with the Pharmacy Specialty Immunization Clinic (PSIC), a pharmacist-run vaccination clinic. Methods Patient satisfaction was measured using a non-validated instrument containing 10 items with a five-point Likert scale (strongly agree, agree, not sure, disagree and strongly disagree). Patients who were seen at the PSIC and who received at least one vaccination were eligible to take part in the patient satisfaction survey. Priority index, a method used to identify areas where limited resources can be used to maximize patient satisfaction, was calculated for the different items of the instrument to determine areas for quality improvement. This study was conducted at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS). Key findings A total of 188 (55.1%) out of 341 patients who received at least one vaccine in the PSIC completed the survey. Prior to any encounter with the PSIC, patients perceived that the VASDHS was doing a good job providing vaccinations (92.5% answered agree or strongly agree). This perception continued when asked about overall satisfaction after receiving vaccination through the PSIC (86.9% answered agree or strongly agree). When asked about the time the pharmacist spent with the patient, nearly all answered that the pharmacist spent as much time as necessary (97.8% answered agree or strongly agree). Patient satisfaction with pharmacist counselling was equally well received and reflected good communication between patient and pharmacist (97.8% answered agree or strongly agree). In regard to pharmacist competency, 98.9% (n= 184) of patients agreed that pharmacists in the PSIC administered vaccinations appropriately. Priority index identified access to the vaccine as an area where performance-improvement efforts should be committed to improve patient satisfaction. Conclusions Patients perceived good overall satisfaction with the pharmacist-run immunization clinic in terms of professionalism and access to vaccination. Priority index identified access to vaccination as a focus for future quality improvement.
Public Choice at the Intersection of Environmental Law and Economics

Management of environmental assets begins with a commons and ends with various legal institutions that assign property rights and control. Each step in the evolution of these legal institutions involves collective decision making. Public Choice analysis helps to explain the decision making process and institutional characteristics that emerge. A survey of Public Choice literature that addresses environmental issues illustrates how Public Choice sheds light on outcomes for the U.S. experience. In the absence of Public Choice theory, law and economics scholars would be hard pressed to explain why costly forms of environmental regulation seem preferred to apparently more efficient institutions and why the body politic seemingly accepts a high-cost, low-output outcome.
Development of an actively modelocked and Q-switched oscillator for laser fusion program at LLL

The large Nd:glass laser-fusion systems such as Argus and Shiva require short-pulse oscillators that are very reliable and predictable. The requirements go well beyond what can reasonably be expected from a passively mode-locked laser. An actively mode-locked and Q-switched oscillator has now been developed that is extremely reliable and predictable, and satisfies all the requirements for the present Nd: glass laser systems. These systems require pulses that are adjustable from less than 100 ps to more than 1 ns, with less than 5% shot-to-shot variation in pulse energy and pulse width. Single-pulse energy from 100 μJ to 1 mJ is sufficient.
Effects of refuges on the evolution of resistance to transgenic corn by the western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte

BACKGROUND Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte is a major pest of corn and causes over a billion dollars of economic loss annually through yield reductions and management costs. Corn producing toxins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been developed to help manage D. v. virgifera. However, previous studies have demonstrated the ability of this species to evolve resistance to Bt toxins in both laboratory and field settings. RESULTS We used an experimental evolution approach to test the refuge strategies for delaying resistance of D. v. virgifera to corn producing Bt toxin Cry34/35Ab1. In the absence of refuges, D. v. virgifera developed resistance to Bt corn after three generations of selection. In some cases, non-Bt refuges reduced the level of resistance compared with the strain selected in the absence of refuges, but refuge strains did show reduced susceptibility to Bt corn compared with the unselected strain. CONCLUSIONS In this study, non-Bt refuges delayed resistance to Bt corn by D. v. virgifera in some cases but not others. Combining the refuge strategy with pyramids of multiple Bt toxins and applying other pest management strategies will likely be necessary to delay resistance of D. v. virgifera to Bt corn. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Structuring software engineering learning within open source software participation

Software engineering students need to understand the major phases of software development such as requirements elicitation, design, etc., as well as the documentation that supports these activities. Students also need to understand the critical need for excellent communication both within development teams as well as with customers, managers, and other stakeholders. Student participation in Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) projects provides an opportunity for students to gain a range of software engineering knowledge and skills via interaction with software professionals. However, many FOSS projects have minimal or incomplete documentation and frequently the documentation that does exist lacks organization. This presentation demonstrates the use of IEEE standard-based document templates within a FOSS project to scaffold student learning.
Axial and appendicular bone density predict fractures in older women

To determine whether measurement of hip and spine bone mass by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) predicts fractures in women and to compare the predictive value of DEXA with that of single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) of appendicular sites, we prospectively studied 8134 nonblack women age 65 years and older who had both DEXA and SPA measurements of bone mass. A total of 208 nonspine fractures, including 37 wrist fractures, occurred during the follow-up period, which averaged 0.7 years. The risk of fracture was inversely related to bone density at all measurement sites. After adjusting for age, the relative risks per decrease of 1 standard deviation in bone density for the occurrence of any fracture was 1.40 for measurement at the proximal femur (95% confidence interval 1.20-1.63) and 1.35 (1.15-1.58) for measurement at the spine. Results were similar for all regions of the proximal femur as well as SPA measurements at the calcaneus, distal radius, and proximal radius. None of these measurements was a significantly better predictor of fractures than the others. Furthermore, measurement of the distal radius was not a better predictor of wrist fracture (relative risk 1.64: 95% CI 1.13-2.37) than other sites, such as the lumbar spine (RR 1.56; CI 1.07-2.26), the femoral neck (RR 1.65; CI 1.12-2.41), or the calcaneus (RR 1.83; CI 1.26-2.64). We conclude that the inverse relationship between bone mass and risk of fracture in older women is similar for absorptiometric measurements made at the hip, spine, and appendicular sites.
A tandem ion analyzer of large radius

Abstract A mass spectrometric facility has been designed and constructed comprising two electrostatic and two magnetic 90° lenses, each with a mean radius of curvature of 122 cm. Both the electrostatic and magnetic components can be operated independently or programmed in tandem, permitting mass and energy resolution of primary ions and secondary species produced in collision processes. A special ion-detector systems provides “on-line” monitoring of the primary ion beam and counting of secondary ions and neutral atoms at counting rates from 1/sec to 10 7 /sec. Special features of the instruments make it useful in investigations of ion energy loss, charge exchange, sputtering, and ion implantation, as well as for isotopic abundance measurements.
Bibliosupervision: A Multiple-Baseline Study Using Literature in Supervision Settings

ABSTRACT In this article, the authors examine the impact of the Graham Model of Bibliosupervision on the supervisory working alliance for a small group of supervisees. Specifically, this study examined the effectiveness of a supervision approach using children's literature as part of the process. A multiple-baseline research design was utilized measured by the Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory Trainee Form (Efstation, Patton, & Kardash, 1990). Further, participant comments were collected and reported. Overall, the participants of the study (N = 3) found this approach helpful for them in their work with their supervisors.
Functional Reconstitution of an Immunoglobulin Antigen Receptor in T Cells

Humoral immune responses are initiated by binding of antigen to the immunoglobulins (Igs) on the plasma membrane of B lymphocytes. On the cell surface, Ig forms a complex with several other proteins, two of which, MB-1 and B29, have been implicated in receptor assembly. We have reconstituted Ig receptor function in T lymphocytes by transfection of cloned receptor components. We found that efficient transport of IgM to the surface of T cells required coexpression of B29. Furthermore, IgM and B29 alone were sufficient to reconstitute antigen-specific signal transduction by Ig in the transfected T cells. Crosslinking of IgM with either antireceptor antibodies or antigen induced a calcium flux, phosphoinositol turnover, and interleukin secretion in T cells. These experiments establish a requirement for B29 in Ig receptor function, and suggest that the signaling apparatus of T and B cells is structurally homologous.
Batch monoethylamine degradation via nitrate respiration

Monoethylamine (MEA) degradation via nitrate respiration was evaluated in batch experiments using suspended growth bacterial cultures grown under low growth rate conditions. It was found that, under the conditions tested, MEA was highly degradable when the initial TOC/MLVSS ratio used in a batch experiment was < 0.35, beyond which, however, MEA inhibition was evident. The composition of the medium solution used to cultivate the bacterial cultures was critical in MEA degradation via nitrate respiration. In this study, the best MEA degradation was attained when cobalt (0.45 mg/l), copper (0.5 mg/l), molybdenum (0.5 mg/l), and yeast extract (1.0 mg/l) were all present in the medium solution. Ammonia was formed as an end product from MEA degradation via nitrate respiration. The MEA-N initially added in a batch experiment could be accounted for as NH+4-N when the assimilatory requirements for nitrogen were negligible during the sampling period.
Signal-detection outcomes on heartbeat and respiratory resistance detection tasks in male and female subjects

Male and female subjects were compared on heartbeat, respiratory resistance, and light-tone signal-detection tasks. Subjects judged whether a series of 10 tones was coincident with their heartbeats; whether an external load added to the airway was either present or absent during targeted inspiratory cycles; and whether a series of 10 light flashes was matched with auditory tones presented following a fixed delay of either 50 or 100 ms. Nonparametric indices of perceptual sensitivity and response bias indicated that men were more sensitive than women on the resistive load task (p < .05) and on the heartbeat task (p = .07). Performance on the light-tone task was virtually identical. All subjects used a stricter criterion on the respiratory resistance task than on either the heartbeat or the light-tone task; women employed a stricter criterion than men on the heartbeat task. The gender differences may be understood in terms of lateralization of central processing of somesthetic sensory information.
The role of genetic diversity in cancer

The role of genetic heterogeneity within neoplasms is increasingly recognized as important for understanding the dynamics of cancer progression, cancer stem cells, and therapeutic resistance, and there is interest in intratumoral heterogeneity measurements as potential biomarkers for risk stratification. In this issue of the JCI, Park et al. characterize this genetic diversity in carcinoma in situ and in invasive regions from 3 types of human breast cancers and lay the groundwork for translation of these measures to the clinic.
PETE: A device/circuit analysis framework for evaluation and comparison of charge based emerging devices

This paper describes PETE, a tool that has been developed for circuit/system level evaluation of nanoscaled devices. The motivation behind developing this tool is the fact that traditional device metrics like CV/Ion, Ioff or CV2f can no longer capture the true potential of semiconductor devices and underestimate or overestimate system level performance. At the same time, the development and deployment of compact models for any new device is a time-consuming effort, a task that can only be undertaken once the potential of the de established. Towards this end, we have developed PETE, so that device and circuit designers can perform a fast and reasonably accurate estimation of any new device without having to develop compact models. The inputs to PETE can be numerical I?V and C?V characteristics (derived from experiments or device simulations), and the tool can numerically evaluate a wide array of circuit/system level metrics pertaining to performance and power of logic gates, ring oscillators and mega-cells. We have evaluated four emerging device technologies, namely, 15nm Silicon MOSFET transistors, Multi transistors, Band-to-band-tunneling transistors, and Ferroelectric FETs with PETE and the results obtained are within a 5% level of inaccuracy when compared to a traditional SPICE based approach. PETE has been deployed on the nanoHUB (nanohub.org) for public use, and its simple web interface ensures that even a non-expert in circuits can obtain accurate estimation of performance-power trade new technology.
Rehabilitation in Women with Breast Cancer

The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in women has undergone profound changes in the past century. Although much research and clinical attention has been focused on saving the lives of women with this condition, less focus has been on rehabilitation aspects. This postacute care should be a distinct phase of treatment. The field of physical medicine and rehabilitation has much to offer women who undergo extremely toxic although life-prolonging therapies for breast cancer. The focus of rehabilitation should include improving strength and cardiovascular conditioning, alleviating pain and improving fatigue. With respect to exercise, this can help women to physically recover from treatment and potentially prevent cancer recurrence. Many exciting opportunities will be available for rehabilitation specialists to improve the care of women with breast cancer and to participate in research in the field of oncology rehabilitation.
Automatic Extraction of Named Entity Translingual Equivalence Based on Multi-Feature Cost Minimization

Translingual equivalence refers to the relationship between expressions of the same meaning from different languages. Identifying translingual equivalence of named entities (NE) can significantly contribute to multilingual natural language processing, such as crosslingual information retrieval, crosslingual information extraction and statistical machine translation. In this paper we present an integrated approach to extract NE translingual equivalence from a parallel Chinese-English corpus.Starting from a bilingual corpus where NEs are automatically tagged for each language, NE pairs are aligned in order to minimize the overall multi-feature alignment cost. An NE transliteration model is presented and iteratively trained using named entity pairs extracted from a bilingual dictionary. The transliteration cost, combined with the named entity tagging cost and word-based translation cost, constitute the multi-feature alignment cost. These features are derived from several information sources using unsupervised and partly supervised methods. A greedy search algorithm is applied to minimize the alignment cost. Experiments show that the proposed approach extracts NE translingual equivalence with 81% F-score and improves the translation score from 7.68 to 7.74.
A Problem in Potential Theory and Zero Asymptotics of Krawtchouk Polynomials

In this paper we investigate the asymptotics of the zeros of normalized Krawtchouk polynomials k"n(Nx, p, N) when the ratio of the parameters n/N->@a as n, N->~. For this purpose we consider in detail a particular constrained energy problem on the interval [0, 1] in the presence of an external field. We find the support and the density of the constrained extremal measure for all possible values of the parameter @a.