cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Widow, a Child, and Two Lineages: Exploring Kinship and Attachment in Chuuk

This article brings together a life span perspective on emotional attachments and recent anthropological studies of the formation of personal and cultural understandings of kinship. It argues three main points. First, people share idealized cultural models of attachment that associate particular kinds of need fulfillment with particular kinds of kin-based social relationships. Second, these idealized models are the products of typical relational histories of reciprocated need fulfillment that are significant during various periods of the life span beginning in infancy and continuing into adulthood. Third, these idealized models of attachment shape the ongoing construction and legitimization of kin-based social relationships in everyday life. After reviewing the relevant literature regarding the formation of emotional attachments in social relationships, I address the main understandings of kinship and emotional attachments for adults who live in Chuuk Lagoon (formerly Truk). This analysis involves two parts. First, a description of an observed ethnographic case offers a real world example of how certain core cultural premises of kinship are brought to bear on actual constructions of kinbased identity, Second, an analysis of data from a survey of perceived social support reveals the basic structure of association between kin-based social identities and expectations of need fulfillment. The article concludes with a brief discussion of how the idealized cultural models of kinship and attachment are expressed in everyday practice and shape active negotiations of kinship in Chuuk. [Key words: kinship, attachment, Chuuk, Pacific]
Synthesis of Phospholipid by Foam Cells Isolated from Rabbit Atherosclerotic Lesions

In a preliminary study, foam cells from atherosclerotic lesions have been isolated by incubation of the intima with collagenase and elastase. The composition and metabolism of homogeneous preparations of foam cells obtained in this way have been compared with other parts of the atherosclerotic intima. About 1% of the cholesterol and phospholipid of the intima was present in the cells obtained. The phospholipids of the foam cells contained a lower percentage of lecithin and of sphingomyelin and a higher percentage of "phosphatidyl ethanolamine" than the other parts of the intima. The isolated foam cells incubated in vitro incorporated P32-phosphate into phospholipid at a rate of about 0.5 mµmoles/106 cells/hr. The P32 was incorporated mainly into lecithin and phosphatidyl inositol with smaller amounts incorporated into phosphatidyl ethanolamine, sphingomyelin and lysolecithin. The amount of P32 incorporated into phospholipid by the foam cells was compared with that incorporated into phospholipid by other p...
Optimal Linkage Design for Bicycle Power Transmission Using Symmetric Four-Bar

Use of a symmetric crank-rocker four-bar linkage is presented as an alternative to the standard bicycle crank. With the coupler being the driven link, a kinematic and force-transmission analysis is presented. Results of constrained nonlinear optimization for geometric synthesis show a substantial improvement in mechanical efficiency compared to the state of the art. Dead-center positions are also eliminated. Potential applications to other linear-to-rotary power transmission devices, such as internal-combustion engines, are also discussed.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Perceptions of Communication Choice and Usage Among African American Hearing Parents: Afrocentric Cultural Implications for African American Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children

In a qualitative study employing an exploratory design, the researcher explored the perceptions of communication choice and usage among 14 African American hearing parents of deaf and hard of hearing children. Semistructured, in-depth thematic interviews were used with a modified grounded-theory approach in which themes were analyzed and coded. Four thematic challenges and opportunities related to communication choice and usage were found: (a) oral tradition— nommo , (b) sign and oral— diunital , (c) literacy, and (d) racial/ethnic cultural socialization. Afrocentric implications for deaf and hard of hearing children are explored based on research observations pertaining to the significance of the oral tradition in African American culture and the socialization of African American deaf and hard of hearing children in the context of African American hearing families.
The active and passive components of extravascular coronary resistance

Intramyocardial stresses compress the coronary arteries raising their resistance to flow. The present study measures the relative contribution of ventricular pressure and the contractile state of the myocardium to this extravascular component of the coronary resistance. The extravascular resistance, which was found to be as much as one third of the total coronary resistance at normal ventricular and perfusion pressures, consists of two components. The major component, which persists when myocardial tension development is prevented, is attributed to passive stresses which are in equilibrium with the ventricular pressure. It accounts for 75% of the extravascular resistance. The remaining 25% is due to a modification of these passive stresses by active contraction of the myocardium. Massive increases in contractility resulted in only an additional 19% increase in the extravascular resistance. It is concluded that changes in contractility per se have only a slight effect on the amount of compression experienced by the coronary arteries and that ventricular pressure is the major determinant of the extravascular resistance.
Analysis of ordered dither for arbitrary sampling lattices and screen periodicities

Ordered dither is considered a simple and effective method of image binarization. For rectangular lattices, it has been shown that this method of spatially periodic quantization causes aliasing in the frequency domain, resulting in a degradation of halftone image quality. This result is extended by deriving an expression for the spectrum of the halftoned image, generalized for any sampling lattice and any screen periodicity. This expression will show the explicit relationship between screen function and halftone image quality. Using this expression, the nonlinearities associated with four optimized screens are analyzed to determine which screens are best suited to halftone rectangularly and hexagonally sampled images. >
Vitamin D status and functional performance in peripheral artery disease

The clinical implications of low vitamin D in peripheral artery disease (PAD) are unknown. We hypothesized that among individuals with PAD, lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D would be associated with poorer functional performance, more adverse calf muscle characteristics, and poorer peripheral nerve function. Participants were 402 men and women with PAD who underwent measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (DiaSorin radioimmunoassay) along with 6-minute walk testing, measurement of walking velocity at usual and fastest pace, computed tomography-measured calf muscle density, and peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Among PAD participants, 20.4% had 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels < 30 nmol/L, consistent with deficient vitamin D status. Adjusting for age, sex, and race, lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were associated with poorer 6-minute walk performance (p trend = 0.002), slower usual-paced 4-meter walking velocity (p trend = 0.031), slower fast-paced 4-meter walking velocity (p trend = 0.043), and lower calf muscle density (p trend = 0.031). After additional adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and diabetes, none of these associations remained statistically significant. However, lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D were associated with poorer peroneal NCV (p trend = 0.013) and poorer sural NCV (p trend = 0.039), even after adjusting for age, sex, race, BMI, comorbidities, smoking, physical activity, and other confounders. In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency is common among people with PAD encountered in clinical settings. After adjusting for BMI and diabetes mellitus, we found no significant associations of lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D with poorer functional performance or calf muscle characteristics. Associations of low vitamin D levels with poorer peripheral nerve function require further study.
AUTONOMOUS PARKING STRATEGY

Parallel parking can be a difficult task for novice drivers or drivers who seldom drive in congested city where parking space is limited. Parking Assist is an innovative system designed to aid the driver in performing sometimes difficult parallel parking maneuvers. Many companies are developing such systems with major automakers, such as Valeo, Aisin Seiki, Hella, Robert Bosch, and TRW. For example, Toyota IPA (Intelligent Parking Assist) system uses a rear view camera and automatically steer the vehicle into the parking spot with driver controlling braking. This paper describes the development of parking path planning strategies based on available parking space. A virtual turn center will first be defined and derived based on vehicle configuration. Required parking space for one or two cycle parking maneuver will then be determined. Path planning strategies for both one and two turn parking maneuvers will be developed next. Finally CarSim simulation will be performed to verify the design.Copyright © 2008 by General Motors
Cardioprotection mediated by sphingosine-1-phosphate and ganglioside GM-1 in wild-type and PKCε knockout mouse hearts

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) protects neonatal rat cardiac myocytes from hypoxic damage through unknown signaling pathways. We tested the hypothesis that S1P-induced cardioprotection requires acti...
Factors Associated With Place of Death Among the Chinese Oldest Old

Based on 6,444 deceased respondents ages 80 to 105 years from the first three waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, the authors use multilevel modeling to examine how community development, individual sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and health resources affect place of death. Results show that 92% of Chinese oldest old die at home, with 7% dying in hospitals and 1% at institutions. Analyses indicate that residents from relatively developed communities in China tend to have a higher chance of hospital and/or institutional deaths; individuals with higher socioeconomic status (SES) and worsening health are more likely to experience hospital deaths; those who have pension and/or public and/or collective free medical services are more likely to die in hospitals and/or institutions. The authors also propose a theory about place of death consisting of three evolutionary stages, which might explain the disparity in patterns of place of death in different societies.
Bilateral hearing loss is associated with decreased nonverbal intelligence in US children aged 6 to 16 years

Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate the association between hearing loss and nonverbal intelligence in US children. Study Design The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) is a cross-sectional survey (1988–1994) that used complex multistage sampling design to produce nationally representative demographic and examination data. Methods A total of 4,823 children ages 6 to 16 years completed audiometric evaluation and cognitive testing during NHANES III. Hearing loss was defined as low-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) >25 dB (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) or high-frequency PTA >25 dB (3, 4, 6, 8 kHz) and was designated as unilateral or bilateral. Nonverbal intelligence was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised block design subtest. Low nonverbal intelligence was defined as a standardized score <4, two standard deviations below the standardized mean of 10. Results Mean nonverbal intelligence scores differed between children with normal hearing (9.59) and children with bilateral (6.87; P = .02) but not unilateral (9.12; P = .42) hearing loss. Non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity and family income <$20,000 were associated with 3.92 and 1.67 times higher odds of low nonverbal intelligence, respectively (odds ratio [OR]: 3.92; P < .001; OR: 1.67; P = .02). Bilateral hearing loss was independently associated with 5.77 times increased odds of low nonverbal intelligence compared to normal hearing children (OR: 5.77; P = .02). Unilateral hearing loss was not associated with higher odds of low nonverbal intelligence (OR: 0.73; P = .40). Conclusions Bilateral but not unilateral hearing loss is associated with decreased nonverbal intelligence in US children. Longitudinal studies are urgently needed to better understand these associations and their potential impact on future opportunities. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:2176–2181, 2014
Hard-sphere statistics along the metastable amorphous branch

Using simulation techniques that we discussed in a previous work, we create random dense hard-sphere systems above the freezing point ~i.e., along the metastable branch! and measure key quantities that characterize the structure for such high densities. These include certain statistics of the void space, nearest-neighbor statistics, and the mean coordination number. Our numerical results turn out to be generally in very good agreement with recent theoretical predictions. @S1063-651X~98!07707-1#
Working-Class Democracy in America: Sean Wilentz and the Jacksonian Worker

As soon as he landed in New York City on May 11, 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville was recording the impressions that would be the foundation for Democracy in America, his magisterial volumes on American society in the age of Jackson. *'Never before has a people found for itself such a happy and fruitful basis of life. Here freedom is unrestrained, and subsists by being useful to every one without injuring anybody." Thanks to George Wilson Pierson's reading of Tocqueville's diaries we know whom he met on his travels; the list is a dazzling one. For New York City alone it included the banker Nathaniel Prime, former Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, Chancellor James Kent, John R. Livingston Jr., Henry Dwight Sedgwick, John Duer, Ogden Hoffman, Philip Hone. Although Sean Wilentz's Chants Democratic devotes substantial space to aspects of life in New York City in the 1830s, although it too seeks to evaluate American society on a grand scale, and although its cast of characters is enor mous, Tocqueville does not appear, not even once. It is as though the New York City that he and Gustave de Beaumont visited was located on a planet other than the one Wilentz describes. Although the elite with whom Tocque ville spoke had much to do with setting the political context in which Wilentz's cast acted out their lives, virtually none except the prolific diarist Philip Hone appear in Wilentz's narrative. Two nations lived in juxtaposition but only im plicit interaction. Chants Democratic challenges Tocqueville's definition of what it is important to understand about antebellum New York, and, by exten sion, antebellum America. Tocqueville found in America a prosperous republic that was sharply dif
Pulsed Evaporative Transient Thermometry on isolated microstructures

Thin film evaporation promises ultra-high heat transfer rates for thermal management, however, few measurements provide fundamental insight into the evaporation process to achieve the theoretical limits. Here, we demonstrate a new metrology technique, Pulsed Evaporative Transient Thermometry (PETT), which utilizes a series of heating pulses of an isolated microstructure, where the transient thermal response is obtained to temporally resolve heat transfer coefficients during the evaporation process. We demonstrated the approach using a model system of unoxidized and oxidized copper microwires with a temporal resolution of 0.5 seconds. Distinct heat transfer signatures were obtained from PETT combined with optical microscopy to elucidate the effect of surface morphology on the evaporation process and heat transfer coefficients. The proposed metrology technique enables increased understanding of thin film evaporation on a variety of micro and nanostructures to realize advanced thermal management solutions.
Synchrotron X-ray Scattering of ZnO Nanorods: Periodic Ordering and Lattice Size

We demonstrate that synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) is a powerful technique for studying the structure and self-organization of zinc-oxide nanostructures. Zinc-oxide nanorods were prepared by a solution-growth method that resulted in uniform nanorods with 2-nm diameter and lengths in the range 10–50 nm. These nanorods were structurally characterized by a combination of small-angle and wide-angle synchrotron XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Small-angle XRD and TEM were used to investigate nanorod self-assembly and the influence of surfactant/precursor ratio on self-assembly. Wide-angle XRD was used to study the evolution of nanorod growth as a function of synthesis time and surfactant/precursor ratio.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus ScrC Modulates Cyclic Dimeric GMP Regulation of Gene Expression Relevant to Growth on Surfaces

In Vibrio parahaemolyticus, scrC participates in controlling the decision to be a highly mobile swarmer cell or a more adhesive, biofilm-proficient cell type. scrC mutants display decreased swarming motility over surfaces and enhanced capsular polysaccharide production. ScrC is a cytoplasmic membrane protein that contains both GGDEF and EAL conserved protein domains. These domains have been shown in many organisms to respectively control the formation and degradation of the small signaling nucleotide cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP). The scrC gene is part of the three-gene scrABC operon. Here we report that this operon influences the cellular nucleotide pool and that c-di-GMP levels inversely modulate lateral flagellar and capsular polysaccharide gene expression. High concentrations of this nucleotide prevent swarming and promote adhesiveness. Further, we demonstrate that ScrC has intrinsic diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase activities, and these activities are controlled by ScrAB. Specifically, ScrC acts to form c-di-GMP in the absence of ScrA and ScrB; whereas ScrC acts to degrade c-di-GMP in the presence of ScrA and ScrB. The scrABC operon is specifically induced by growth on a surface, and the analysis of mutant phenotypes supports a model in which the phosphodiesterase activity of ScrC plays a dominant role during surface translocation and in biofilms.
Motion in a Newtonian Force Field Modified by a General Force III Application: The Entry Problem

In the present paper the entry problem is discussed as an application of papers published by one of the authors during the last years.1(a)(b)(c)
Geo-Coding Survey Truck Route Data: GIS Analytical Applications

The application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has been widely accepted in a number of areas, i.e. transportation, utility network, land-use, city planning, and policy planning. Transportation policy planners and transportation network analysts, for instance, use the GIS software to analyze highway traffic and congestion problems in urban areas as well as planning for new highway infrastructure and maintenance. This paper is the first attempt in the freight transportation area to develop an automatic algorithm which allows identifying specific segments of highways used by each observed truck using the application of the GIS software. This paper utilizes data collected from the Strategic Freight Transportation Analysis (SFTA) truck survey which examined truck movements in the state of Washington. The survey includes approximately 24,000 observations of trucks traveling within (or through) the state of Washington with information on origin city and state, destination city and state, truck type, truck weight, type of commodity on board and the list of highways utilized. With known origins, destinations and the list of highways used, Arc-Info may be utilized to specifically identify unique route segments used by each truck and assign geographic attributes to the route data. Utilizing several different software features within ArcMap, including the Utility Network Analysis tool, data from a traditional relational database is input into the GIS software where several logical conditions are examined to identify unique route attributes associated with each survey response. The logical conditions examined include many attributes collected on the roadside questionnaire and help minimize error associated with the geo-coding process. This process is then automated and applied to the entire database. Many different analytical capabilities related to freight highway flows are then possible and applicable once specific routes have geographic properties, several of which are provided in this paper. These include specific highway segment properties and traffic profile, including upstream/downstream contribution of freight flows by different highways and commodities throughout the highway network.
GPS comics: seeing thru walls

In the digital era, the comics medium is transported from print to computer screen. Current digital comics (web comics or online comics) are confined to computer screen and use the affordances of digital medium in a limited way. GPS Comics: Seeing thru Walls is a GPS based comics story that expands the comic canvas and explores the idea of location-based comics. In Seeing thru Walls, in order to receive the meaning in a comic frame the player must experience a sensory detail (a smell, sound, breeze or an object) in her surroundings in the physical world. The concept of location-based comics is an unexplored idea and gives artists new meaning making strategies.
Stretch-related changes in lung cAMP after partial pneumonectomy

In rats, left pneumonectomy (PNX) initiates rapid compensatory hyperplastic growth of the right lung. Previous work indicated that increased polyamine uptake associated with post-PNX distortion or ...
Similarity index for seismic data sets using adaptive curvelets

In this paper, we propose a distance measure to evaluate visual similarity between two images. The algorithm searches for adaptive curvelet parameters that better represent a reference image. Next, the distance between the reference image and other images is computed as a weighted sum of distances between histograms of adaptive curvelet coefficients. The algorithm is tested on a data set of exemplary seismic activities. The developed measure is shown to be effective in extracting correct matches from the data set.
The science and technology of advanced structural ceramics

In recent years, the pace of developments in structural ceramics has accelerated, bringing both monolithic and composite materials closer to broad application. Although an improved scientific understanding of these materials has led to substantial advancements, their inherent brittleness remains a major challenge to use in demanding applications. There are several methods under study that may enable the materials’ properties to be mastered, but costs will have to be brought in line with competing materials to ensure widespread use.
980PBCR-ABL KINASE DOMAIN MUTATIONS AND OTHER MUTATIONS ON THE RESPONSE TO NILOTINIB IN BCR ABL –POSITIVE CHRONIC MYELOID LEUKEMIA - A STUDY FROM EASTERN INDIA

ABSTRACT Aim: The emergence of ABL point mutations is the most frequent cause for imatinib resistance in CML patients and can occur during any phase of the disease. The treatment of CML has changed with the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI).The aim of the study is to investigate two potential resistance mechanisms i.e., mutations of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase domain (TKI) and additional chromosomal abnormalities (ACA), during 1st and 2nd generation TKI treatment in CML. Methods: Between September 2002 and February 2012, 66 patients with Ph-positive CML and imatinib resistance or intolerance were treated with nilotinib and were analyzed. Karotyping and BCR-ABL TKD mutation screening are performed in 66 imatinib-resistant CML patients who were on imatinib at the time of loss of hematologic response (HR), cytogenetic (CyR)or molecular response (MR).Imatinib-resistance mutation analysis (Qualitative) were detected by nested RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Out of 66 patients, 34 received escalated imatinib, 32 received nilotinib. Results: In 66 BCR-ABL-positive imatinib-resistant patients,11 different BCR-ABL TKD mutations were detected. Lack of HR was noted in 20 patients where CyR was not evaluated. Imatinib resistance mutation analysis was promoted by no HR (n = 12); loss of HR after achieving CyR (n = 27); failure to achieve CyR milestones (n = 19); loss of CyR (n = 6); development of extra medullary BC (n = 2),The analysis revealed no mutations in 33 patients, M351T in10 patients, G250E in 7 patients, F317L in 7 patients, M244V in 4 patients, E355G in 3 patient, and T315I in 2 patients. The seven novel mutations (F317L, G250E, M244V, M351T, F359V, T315I, E355G) were seen in our patient population. T315I was found in 2/66 patients who demonstrate loss of response. Conclusions: Compared with other western studies the incidence of the T315I mutation is very low in our study population. For patients with TKI resistance, mutation and ACA screening may play a role in identifying patients with poorer prognosis.If nilotinib-resistant mutation was detected, we preferred dasatinib .We plan for bosutinib, panotinib omacetaxine (SC route) in third line therapy in nilotinib-resistant, different mutation-positive CML. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Analysis of epidemiological features of hand foot and mouth disease(HFMD) in nurseries of Zhuhai City

Objective To understand the epidemiological features of hand foot and mouth disease( HFMD) in nurseriesof Zhuhai city in 2012. Methods The data of HFMD in nurseries of Zhuhai city in 2012 were collected andepidemiologically analyzed. Results Total 148 cluster infections of HFMD were reported in nurseries averagely with 2 to 14cases in each events and averagely the infection occurred for every 8.1 days. The incidence of cluster infection of HFMD inurban nurseries was significant higher than that of nurseries rural area(χ2=11.95, P0.05). Age of the HFMD cases was from 1years to 6 years, most of them were 3 years old or below, accounting for 57.4%(691/1203) of total cases. The detection rate ofEV71(39.3%) was the highest. Statistically significant difference was observed between the duration of disease, the onset of thefirst case, and the time interval of first survey(r=0.580, P0.05). No statistical significance was found between the duration ofdisease epidemic in HFMD caused by different pathogenic types(F=0.523, P=0.595). The concentration of disinfection waterand the height of classroom UV lamp above ground showed statistically significant difference between the observation groupand control group(P0.05).Conclusion The principal pathogen of HFMD in Zhuhai in 2012 was EV71 and CoxA16(61.9%). The disinfection quality in nurseries and the strictly abide by the technical criteria for disinfection might be possiblefactor influencing cluster infection and duration of HFMD.
Extended cervical esophagomyotomy for cricopharyngeal dysfunction

Forty adult patients have undergone a 7 to 10 cm cervical esophagomyotomy (from the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage to behind the clavicle) for cricopharyngeal dysfunction. A Zenker's diverticulum was present in 12 patients (30%) and in five was recurrent. Preoperative symptoms included cervical dysphagia (85%), expectoration of saliva (40%), and intermittent hoarseness (30%). Four patients were being fed through tubes because of total inability to swallow. "Heartburn" was experienced by one half of the patients, but only 12 had acid or food regurgitation. The duration of symptoms ranged from 1 month to 11 years (average 3.9 years). Weight loss had occurred in 15 patients (38%) and ranged from 5.5 to 40.9 kg (average 16 kg). Barium swallows showed no abnormalities in 10 patients. Abnormal findings included a Zenker's diverticulum (12), prominent cricopharyngeal sphincter (11), nasopharyngeal reflux or incoordinated initiation of deglutition, or both (seven), a sliding hiatal hernia (11), and abnormal esophageal motility (seven). Esophageal manometry revealed abnormalities of upper esophageal sphincter (UES) function in only 16 patients. Of 36 patients undergoing standard acid reflux testing, one third had moderate-to-severe gastroesophageal reflux. Seven patients underwent staple resection of a Zenker's diverticulum at the time of cervical esophagomyotomy. Postoperative complications included transient vocal cord paresis (four), vocal cord paralysis (one), and salivary fistula (one). There were no postoperative deaths. After 2 to 48 months (average 16 months) of follow-up, 34 patients (85%) have had a good to excellent result, and six (15%) have not been benefited by operation.
High Resolution Real Time Scanning of the Abdomen

Abdominal scanning provides a challenge for ultrasonography. Bowel gas and ribs often interfere with the resultant image. Much of these problems can be overcome by high resolution real time scanning.
Substantivism about truth

Substantivism is a general philosophical methodology advocating a substantive approach to philosophical theorizing. In this article, I present an overview of this methodology with a special emphasis on the field of truth. I begin with a framework for understanding what is at stake in the substantivist–deflationist debate and describe the substantivist critique of deflationism. I then proceed to discuss contemporary substantivism as a positive methodology, present examples of recent substantivist theories of truth, delineate several principles of philosophical substantivism, and connect it to contemporary thought about the nature and methods of philosophy. Due to limitations of space, I am unable to discuss all the forms contemporary substantivism has taken. But I try to give a clear sense of the central principles, challenges, and promise of this methodology.
Psychological Aspects of Childhood Cancer

Eiser (1990) has recently commented that, relative to the number of children affected by different chronic diseases, the psychological adjustment of pediatric cancer patients has received a disproportionate amount of attention by researchers. There are fewer than 10,000 children newly diagnosed with cancer per year, yet there has been a steadily increasing number of psychological studies of these children and their families. Increased interest in pediatric cancer is due, at least in part, to recognition that the medical treatment for cancer is typically more prolonged and aversive than treatment for most other childhood illness. Further, both the disease and its treatment may have potentially damaging and permanent effects on the child’s cosmetic, personal-social and neuropsychological functioning. Consequently, perhaps more than most other chronic or potentially life-threatening diseases, the diagnosis of and treatment for cancer places extraordinary demands on the psychological well-being of the child and family (Eiser, 1990). Lastly, rapid and dramatic improvements in the prognosis of children with cancer have resulted in a marked increase in the number of children who survive the disease. Thus interest in childhood cancer is fueled by concerns about the quality of life of long-term survivors (Mulhern et al., 1989).
Flavored little cigar smoke induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in airway epithelia

Addition of flavors reduces the harsh taste of tobacco, facilitating the initiation and maintenance of addiction among youths. Flavored cigarettes (except menthol) are now banned. However, the legislation on little cigars remains unclear and flavored little cigars are currently available for purchase. Since inhaled tobacco smoke directly exerts toxic effects on the lungs, we tested whether non-flavored and flavored little cigar smoke exposure had the potential for harm in cultured pulmonary epithelia. We cultured Calu-3 lung epithelia on both 96-well plates and at the air–liquid interface and exposed them to smoke from non-flavored Swisher Sweets and flavored (sweet cherry, grape, menthol, peach and strawberry) Swisher Sweets little cigars. Irrespective of flavor, acute little cigar smoke exposure (10×35 ml puffs) significantly increased cell death and decreased the percentage of live cells. Chronic exposure (10×35 ml puffs per day for 4 days) of smoke to Calu-3 cultures significantly increased lactate dehydrogenase release, further indicating toxicity. To determine whether this exposure was associated with increased cell death/apoptosis, a protein array was used. Chronic exposure to smoke from all types of little cigars induced the activation of the two major apoptosis pathways, namely the intrinsic (mitochondrial-mediated) and the extrinsic (death receptor-mediated) pathways. Both flavored and non-flavored little cigar smoke caused similar levels of toxicity and activation of apoptosis, suggesting that flavored and non-flavored little cigars are equally harmful. Hence, the manufacture, advertisement, sale and use of both non-flavored and flavored little cigars should be strictly controlled.
Formulations for Modeling Voltage Sources with RLC Impedances in the FDTD Method

Voltage sources are modeled with constant resistive internal impedances when simulated in the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method in most of the applications. However, some applications, such as an RFID tag antenna in radiation mode, require modeling of voltage sources with frequency dependent complex impedances. If the frequency dependent behavior of the complex impedance of a voltage source follows that of an RLC circuit, the voltage source can be modeled with an RLC internal impedance in the FDTD method for wide-band simulations. This paper presents FDTD formulations to model a voltage source with an RLC impedance for the cases where the RLC circuit is a series or a parallel connected RL, RC, or an RLC configuration.
Nicotine biomarkers and rate of nicotine metabolism among cigarette smokers taking buprenorphine for opioid dependency

Abstract Background Individual differences in the rate of nicotine metabolism contribute to differences in tobacco use, dependence, and efficacy of smoking cessation treatments and can be assessed using the nicotine metabolite ratio (NMR), a validated biomarker for CYP2A6 activity. Despite the high cigarette smoking rates observed in opioid users, no data have been reported on NMR among this population as they has been largely excluded from previous studies that have examined the relationship between tobacco use characteristics and rate of nicotine metabolism. Methods A linear regression model was used to examine the relationship between tobacco use characteristics and NMR among smokers taking buprenorphine for opioid dependency (N = 141). The relationship between buprenorphine dose and NMR was also examined. All participants were enrolled in an intervention designed to promote cigarette-smoking cessation, though participants did not need to stop smoking to enroll. Results and conclusions Rate of nicotine metabolism assessed using the NMR was positively associated with cigarettes smoked in the past 24 h, but was not related to time to first cigarette or past year quit attempts. Dose of buprenorphine was not associated with NMR, suggesting no association with rate of nicotine metabolism. Our results suggest that NMR is related to tobacco use among persons enrolled in opioid treatment, as reported in general population smokers and may be a useful biomarker to include in future research assessing efficacy of tobacco cessation interventions in this population.
Transcriptomic Profiling of Posterior Polymorphous Corneal Dystrophy

Purpose To investigate the molecular basis of posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) by examining the PPCD transcriptome and the effect of decreased ZEB1 expression on corneal endothelial cell (CEnC) gene expression. Methods Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of corneal endothelium from two PPCD-affected individuals (one with PPCD3 and one of unknown genetic cause) compared with two age-matched controls, and primary human CEnC (pHCEnC) transfected with siRNA-mediated ZEB1 knockdown. The expression of selected differentially expressed genes was validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and/or assessed by in situ hybridization in the corneal endothelium of four independent cases of PPCD (one with PPCD3 and three of unknown genetic cause). Results Expression of 16% and 46% of the 104 protein-coding genes specific to ex vivo corneal endothelium was lost in the endothelium of two individuals with PPCD. Thirty-two genes associated with ZEB1 and 3 genes (BMP4, CCND1, ZEB1) associated with OVOL2 were differentially expressed in the same direction in both individuals with PPCD. Immunohistochemistry staining and RNA-seq analyses demonstrated variable expression of type IV collagens in PPCD corneas. Decreasing ZEB1 expression in pHCEnC altered expression of 711 protein-coding genes, many of which are associated with canonical pathways regulating various cellular processes. Conclusions Identification of the altered transcriptome in PPCD and in a cell-based model of PPCD provided insight into the molecular alterations characterizing PPCD. Further study of the differentially expressed genes associated with ZEB1 and OVOL2 is expected to identify candidate genes for individuals with PPCD and without a ZEB1 or OVOL2 mutation.
Hydrogen-Bonded Complexes of Silica with Organic Compounds

At ordinary temperature in water solution, labile bonds are formed between the neutral oxygen or nitrogen atoms of alcohols, ketones, ethers, amides and the hydrogen atoms of silanol groups, SiOH. The resulting Si-O-H-C hydrogen bonds are formed both in the case of the SiOH groups of polysilicic acid and with those on the surface of silica particles but apparently not with those of monosilicic acid, Si(OH)4, which is a weaker acid. Hydrogen bond formation is promoted by the presence of salt and by lower temperature, but becomes weaker above 60°C. Hydrogen bonds do not form near negatively charged −SiO− sites which increasingly populate the silica surface above pH 7. This is probably due to steric hindrance by nearby counter cations. The complexes are much more stable when many hydrogen bonds can be formed in parallel; for example, between a long polyethylene oxide molecule and the surface of a particle of colloidal silica. Phase separation occurs when a hydrophobic complex is formed and separates as a coacervate. Precipitation occurs when silica particles act as crosslinks between polymer molecules. Denaturation of protein occurs when the affinity of amide and basic nitrogen groups for the silica surface distorts the natural molecular conformation. In addition to H-bonding, certain compounds form chelate type bonds which are probably involved in the metabolism of silicon.
Galaxy evolution: A dusty black hole duo

The discovery of a dual active galactic nucleus demonstrates how to efficiently search for them in dusty, merging galaxies — and could yield more results in the future.
Musical Example To Visualize Abstract Quantum Mechanical Ideas

Quantum mechanics is a notoriously difficult subject to learn, due to a lack of real-world analogies that might help provide an intuitive grasp of the underlying ideas. Discrete energy levels and absorption and emission wavelengths in atoms are sometimes described as uniquely quantum phenomena, but are actually general to spatially confined waves of any sort. Here, we provide an experiment demonstrating the acoustic spectroscopy of a drum. We show that a struck drum emits sounds of discrete frequencies (tones), and that the lifetime of each emitted tone is directly related by Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle to its line width in the drum’s frequency spectrum. We also show that a still drum absorbs only those same frequencies when exposed to monochromatic sound from an audio speaker. The resonant motion of the drum membrane is too fast to see by eye (>60 Hz), but can be observed with the aid of a strobe light. The observed resonant modes of the drum are the eigenfunctions of a particle trapped in an infi...
The History of Parenteral Alimentation

Ever since William Harvey announced his theory of circulation in 1615, man has attempted to cure disease by cleansing or enriching the blood with infusion of intravenous remedies. Among the first to investigate this means of therapy was another famous Englishman, Sir Christopher Wren. He performed intravenous infusion in animals and discussed the benefits of blood transfusion, a technique that was undertaken in animals by Richard Lower in 1665 and ten years later by Jean Baptiste Denis who transfused sheep blood into humans. Fortunately, when these early studies met with little success or frequently even with disaster, the initial enthusiasm for human experimentation declined. Gauthier invented a technique for the distillation of water in 1717, and sixteen years later Stephen Hales produced “dropsy” in humans by infusing water intravenously. The study of metabolism was initiated by Lavoisier later in that century, and in 1792 glucose was discovered by Lobowitz.
Marginally fast cooling synchrotron models for prompt GRBs

Previous studies have considered synchrotron as the emission mechanism for prompt Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). These works have shown that the electrons must cool on a timescale comparable to the dynamic time at the source in order to satisfy spectral constraints while maintaining high radiative efficiency. We focus on conditions where synchrotron cooling is balanced by a continuous source of heating, and in which these constraints are naturally satisfied. Assuming that a majority of the electrons in the emitting region are contributing to the observed peak, we find that the energy per electron has to be $E\gtrsim 20$ GeV and that the Lorentz factor of the emitting material has to be very large $10^3\lesssim \Gamma_{\rm em} \lesssim 10^4$, well in excess of the bulk Lorentz factor of the jet inferred from GRB afterglows. A number of independent constraints then indicate that the emitters must be moving relativistically, with $\Gamma'\approx 10$, relative to the bulk frame of the jet and that the jet must be highly magnetized upstream of the emission region, $\sigma_{\rm up}\gtrsim 30$. The emission radius is also strongly constrained in this model to $R\gtrsim 10^{16}$cm. These values are consistent with magnetic jet models where the dissipation is driven by magnetic reconnection that takes place far away from the base of the jet.
Studies of Taiwan’s Feminist Discourses and Women’s Movements

In the twentieth century, Taiwanese feminists have selectively appropriated various strands of Western feminism to improve women’s status and meet women’s needs. In this article, several scholarly works pertaining to the analysis of various strands of Taiwanese feminism, and the historical development of women’s movements published in the 1990s, as well as after, will be reviewed and discussed. The lifting of martial law in 1987 created the political climate that enabled Taiwanese feminists to lift their self-censorship and contribute to the diversification of feminist discourses and NGO s in Taiwanese civil society. The mid-1990s was another watershed in the transformation of Taiwanese feminist discourses and women’s movement strategies.
Prevalence of Urgency in Patients with LUTS Due to BPE

To review recent data on the prevalence and treatment of the symptom of urgency in men with benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). In recent years, researchers have moved to separate out individual lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) to see the individual impact. A recent registry trial put the prevalence of urgency at 38% in men with BPE. Other studies have reported urgency present in 64% of men with LUTS. While urgency is not as frequent a complaint in BPE as nocturia and frequency, it does have an impact on health-related quality of life. It is not increased in men with diabetes or the metabolic syndrome. Contributing factors may include prostate inflammation and decreased bladder blood flow from outlet obstruction. While some response is seen with treatment with alpha-blockers, more recently, anticholinergic and beta 3 medications are being used for refractory urgency in men with BPE. Urinary urgency is commonly reported in men with benign prostatic enlargement and is just beginning to be better evaluated with screening tools commonly used in overactive bladder patients. Specific medical therapy for urgency is helping to improve the response rate above traditional BPE therapy.
Molecular Photochemistry on Surfaces: Role of Adsorbate-Substrate Structure

Recent surface photochemistry experiments — CF3I and SO2 on Ag(111), and ASH3 on GaAs(100) — are briefly described, emphasizing the important role played by the local surface structure.
Methods in Behavioral Teratology

The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate the reader’s understanding of commonly used experimental designs and behavioral test procedures, and to enhance his or her ability to design experiments and to interpret behavioral test results within the context of behavioral teratology studies. A “primer” approach has been taken because it is assumed that this book may serve as an introduction to the area of behavioral teratology for many of its readers. The information that follows is targeted at new investigators whose academic backgrounds are in disciplines other than experimental psychology, but it is hoped that the material will serve as a useful reference source for all readers. Much of the information will be “second nature” for the experienced investigator, but hopefully, it will be valuable for individuals embarking on careers in this area. The major topics to be covered are (a) general experimental design: considerations for increasing the sensitivity of the experiment; (b) guidelines for the selection of methods; (c) a glossary of test methods; and (d) the interpretation of results.
Development of Focused Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Coils for Treating Schizophrenia

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has the potential to treat a variety of psychiatric and neurological disorders. TMS has been used with success to treat major depressive disorder; however, researchers have been exploring the TMS therapy for many other neurological disorders including schizophrenia. Unfortunately, because the disorder is not well understood and exhibits an extremely wide range of symptoms, a successful therapy has proven to be challenging. Although the symptoms are diverse, auditory hallucinations are one of the most common positive symptoms and show the most promise for treatment using TMS. The primary auditory cortex (PAC) is thought to be one region of the brain mediating such hallucinations. Furthermore, this region is relatively small, which makes it difficult to isolate from surrounding cortical regions. In order to attempt to stimulate this area alone without stimulating the surrounding areas, a coil that provides more focused stimulation is desirable. The commercial “figure-of-eight coil” (FOE) is very popular for TMS research; however, another coil, the quadruple butterfly coil (QBC), has proven to provide more focal stimulation than the FOE. To further investigate this, we have performed finite-element simulations with both the FOE and the novel QBC on heterogeneous head models derived from magnetic resonance images of both healthy and schizophrenic individuals. Our results show that when the QBC is above the PAC, it stimulates more targeted cortical matter than the FOE, while still retaining the depth necessary to stimulate the target volume sufficiently. Furthermore, this result remained consistent across the healthy and schizophrenic models. These results support the use of the QBC coil to provide focused stimulation beyond that provided by the FOE.