cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TLR2 enhances ovarian cancer stem cell self-renewal and promotes tumor repair and recurrence

Primary ovarian cancer is responsive to treatment, but chemoresistant recurrent disease ensues in majority of patients. Recent compelling evidence demonstrates that a specific population of cancer cells, the cancer stem cells, initiates and sustains tumors. It is therefore possible that this cell population is also responsible for recurrence. We have shown previously that CD44+/MyD88+ epithelial ovarian cancer stem cells (CD44+/MyD88+ EOC stem cells) are responsible for tumor initiation. In this study, we demonstrate that this population drives tumor repair following surgery- and chemotherapy-induced tumor injury. Using in vivo and in vitro models, we also demonstrate that during the process of tumor repair, CD44+/MyD88+ EOC stem cells undergo self-renewal as evidenced by upregulation of stemness-associated genes. More importantly, we show that a pro-inflammatory microenvironment created by the TLR2-MyD88-NFκB pathway supports EOC stem cell-driven repair and self-renewal. Overall, our findings point to a specific cancer cell population, the CD44+/MyD88+ EOC stem cells and a specific pro-inflammatory pathway, the TLR2-MyD88-NFκB pathway, as two of the required players promoting tumor repair, which is associated with enhanced cancer stem cell load. Identification of these key players is the first step in elucidating the steps necessary to prevent recurrence in EOC patients.
Detection of benzodiazepines and tribenzazolams by TRIAGE: confirmation by solid-phase extraction utilizing SPEC.3ML.MP3 microcolumns and GC-MS.

A new point-of-care urine drugs-of-abuse testing device, the BIOSITE TRIAGE, was evaluated for detection of benzodiazepines (BNZs). TRIAGE utilizes a unique, competitive, visual immunoassay methodology to simultaneously detect seven classes of drugs of abuse. Because of the unique ASCEND Multimmunoassay technology, conflicting results may arise when TRIAGE is compared with conventional immunoassay techniques. Apparent TRIAGE BNZ false-positive results may occur when gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) confirmation utilizes oxazepam as the analyte used to confirm the presence of BNZs. TRIAGE BNZ results were correlated with those of Syva EMIT, (n = 106, overall agreement 85%). Both negative and positive urine samples were tested by GC-MS for the following drugs: oxazepam, nordiazepam, desalkylflurazepam, OH-ethylflurazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, alpha-OH-alprazolam and alpha-OH-triazolam. Urine samples were extracted using the new ANSYS SPEC.3ML.MP3 solid-phase extraction microcolumn. The ANSYS procedure for BNZs was modified to include desalkylflurazepam, OH-ethylflurazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, alpha-OH-alprazolam, and alpha-OH-triazolam. Deuterated oxazepam and alpha-OH-alprazolam were used as internal standards. Limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged from 25 to 100 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 25 ng/mL for all analytes. Individual analytes demonstrated within-run precision and between-run precision ranging from 0.9 to 4.7% CV and 1.3 to 16.9% CV, respectively. All analytes were linear from their LOQs to 1000 ng/mL.
Bifurcation of rotating liquid drops: results from USML-1 experiments in Space

Experiments on rotational bifurcation of liquid drops, in which the drops were levitated and spun using acoustic fields in a low-gravity environment, were conducted during the first United States Microgravity Laboratory (USML-1) Space Shuttle flight. The experiments have successfully resolved the discrepancies existing between the previous experimental results and the theoretical predictions. In the case of a spherical drop, for which theory exists, the results agree well with the predictions. In the case of flattened drops, the experiments have extablished a family of curves, with the spherical drop as the limiting case.
Strong singularity, disjointness, and strong finite additivity of finitely additive measures

Abstract The most striking difference between finitely additive measures and countably additive measures is that the Hahn decomposition theorem may be only approximate if countable additivity fails. A corollary is that whereas two singular countably additive measures are disjoint in giving full measure to disjoint sets, this is usually only approximately true without countable additivity. One natural question is “Which finitely additive measures are disjoint from all singular measures?” In the Stone space setting, the question becomes “Which Radon measures have support disjoint from all singular Radon measures?” If so, the support is a P1-set of Atalla which is more general than a P-set. Construction of such measures is considered at length. Existence of nonmolecular nonatomic measures based on P1-points with support a P1-set is equivalent to the existence of a P1-homeomorph of βN in the Stone space. If (X, Σ, μ) is a positive localizable measure space, then BA(Σ) has L ∞∗ (X, Σ, μ) as a band and and L1(X, Σ, μ) as a subband. It is shown that the band complementary to L ∞∗ (X, Σ, μ) consists of measures disjoint to μ so supp(μ) is a P1-set in the Stone space of Σ. A notion of strong singularity to μ intermediate to disjointness and singularity is shown to be equivalent to strong finite additivity (admitting countable partitions by null sets) for elements of L ∞∗ (X, Σ, μ) . The band of L ∞∗ (X, Σ, μ) orthogonal to L1(X, Σ, μ) consists of strongly finitely additive measures precisely when the measure algebra Σμ satisfies the λ-chain condition for a nonreal valued measurable cardinal λ or when the maximal ideal space of L∞(X, Σ, μ) does not have real valued measurable cellularity. A μ in BA(Σ) has a countably additive ideal of negligible sets iff it is not strongly finitely additive on any set of positive measure. On the Stone space, this corresponds to Radon measures with P-sets as supports. Even for purely finitely additive measures of this type, much of countable additive measure theory holds, for null functions are precisely those with null support. It is not known for Σ = 2x whether purely finitely additive measures of this type exist. Their existence may be independent of ZFC and/or other axioms such as Martin's, real-valued measurable cardinal, or measurable cardinal. A locally compact space Y is sham-compact so that C(X) = Cb(X) = Cc(X) precisely when its remainder in any compactification is a P-set. In this case M(X) = Mb(x) = Mc(X). The latter strong of identities is the definition of sham-sham compact spaces. These are characterized by having a P1-set as remainder in any compactification. New examples of sham-compact open subsets of the maximal ideal space Zμ of a positive localizable measure space (X, Σ, μ) are given based on Maharam's homogeneity character. However, no open subset of Zμ can be sham-sham compact without being sham compact. This is true when Zμ is replaced by any compact space which locally the support of a Radon measure.
Host factors regulating post-integration latency of HIV

A recent study has provided important clues towards the identity of the host genes that conspire to promote post-integration latency of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Various genes controlling transcription, histone deacetylation and proteasome-mediated protein degradation have emerged as potential players. If the desired, but difficult, goal of complete virus eradication in HIV-infected patients is ever to be realized, the latent reservoir of HIV proviruses must be cleared. Understanding the molecular basis for viral latency is the key first step.
Dialogic Interviewing and Flickers of Transformation: An Examination and Delineation of Interactional Strategies That Promote Participant Self-Reflexivity

This article identifies practices in qualitative interviews that evoke research participant reflexivity and change. By engaging interviews in a dialogic manner, researchers can encourage participant perspective-taking and non-judgmental involvement that can lead to flickers of transformation. The study draws on empirical material from three different projects to locate critical incidents of dialogic interviewing. We propose a typology of dialogic interviewing strategies that accompany reflexivity—namely, (a) probing questions, (b) member reflections, and (c) counterfactual prompting. These strategies illustrate the transformative power of dialogic interviewing and serve as a guide for researchers who desire their interviews to not only be methods for gathering knowledge but also methods for intervention and critical reflection.
Theoretical model of critical issues in informed consent in HIV vaccine trials

The informed consent process (ICP) for HIV vaccine trials poses unique challenges and would benefit from improvements to its historically based structure and format. Here, we propose a theoretical framework that provides a basis for systematically evaluating and addressing these challenges. The proposed framework follows a linear pathway, starting with the precondition of voluntariness, three main variables of valid decision-making (competency, provision of information and understanding) and then the consequential outcome of either refusal or consent to participate. The existing literature reveals that culturally appropriate provision of information and resultant understanding by the vaccine trial participant are among the most significant factors influencing the authenticity of valid decision-making, though they may be overridden by other considerations, such as individual altruism, mistrust, and HIV-related stigma. Community collaborations to foster bidirectional transmission of information and more cul...
INFLAMMATION OF THE UMBILICAL CORD AND NEONATAL ILLNESS.

Abstract Although amnionitis was associated with cord inflammation, most instances of cord inflammation in infants born after prolonged rupture of fetal membranes occurred without apparent clinical infection in either mother or infant. Of 31 positive cords, 19 (16 per cent) were not associated with intrauterine or neonatal infection. In addition, 4 of 14 instances of clinical amnionitis were found with negative cords. Consequently, cord inflammation was neither a sensitive nor a specific indicator of intrauterine infection. Cord inflammation was more closely related to generally poor condition of the infant at birth, as evidenced by low Apgar scores and respiratory abnormalities. These lower scores and the respiratory abnormalities may be a result of antenatal hypoxia and prematurity.
Influence of Calcium and Phosphorus, Lactose, and Salt-to-Moisture Ratio on Cheddar Cheese Quality: pH Buffering Properties of Cheese

The pH buffering capacity of cheese is an important determinant of cheese pH. However, the effects of different constituents of cheese on its pH buffering capacity have not been fully clarified. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical species and chemical equilibria that are responsible for the pH buffering properties of cheese. Eight cheeses with 2 levels of Ca and P (0.67 and 0.47% vs. 0.53 and 0.39%, respectively), residual lactose (2.4 vs. 0.78%), and salt-to-moisture ratio (6.4 vs. 4.8%) were manufactured. The pH-titration curves for these cheeses were obtained by titrating cheese:water (1:39 wt/wt) dispersions with 1 N HCl, and backtitrating with 1 N NaOH. To understand the role of different chemical equilibria and the respective chemical species in controlling the pH of cheese, pH buffering was modeled mathematically. The 36 chemical species that were found to be relevant for modeling can be classified as cations (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+), anions (phosphate, citrate, lactate), protein-bound amino acids with a side-chain pKa in the range of 3 to 9 (glutamate, histidine, serine phosphate, aspartate), metal ion complexes (phosphate, citrate, and lactate complexes of Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+), and calcium phosphate precipitates. A set of 36 corresponding equations was solved to give the concentrations of all chemical species as a function of pH, allowing the prediction of buffering curves. Changes in the calculated species concentrations allowed the identification of the chemical species and chemical equilibria that dominate the pH buffering properties of cheese in different pH ranges. The model indicates that pH buffering in the pH range from 4.5 to 5.5 is predominantly due to a precipitate of Ca and phosphate, and the protonation equilibrium involving the side chains of protein-bound glutamate. In the literature, the precipitate is often referred to as amorphous colloidal calcium phosphate. A comparison of experimental data and model predictions shows that the buffering properties of the precipitate can be explained, assuming that it consists of hydroxyapatite [Ca5(OH)(PO4)3] or Ca3(PO4)2. The pH buffering in the region from pH 3.5 to 4.5 is due to protonation of side-chain carboxylates of protein-bound glutamate, aspartate, and lactate, in order of decreasing significance. In addition, pH buffering between pH 5 to 8 in the backtitration results from the reprecipitation of calcium and phosphate either as CaHPO4 or Ca4H(PO4)3.
Ordering multiple continuations on the stack

Passing multiple continuation arguments to a function in CPS form allows one to encode a wide variety of direct-style control constructs, such as conditionals, exceptions, and multi-return function calls. We show that, with a simple syntactic restriction on the CPS language, one can prove that these multi-continuation arguments can be compiled into stack frames in the traditional manner. The restriction comes with no loss in expressive power, since we can still encode the same control mechanisms.In addition, we show that tail calls can be generalized efficiently for many continuations because the run-time check to determine which continuation to pop to can be avoided with a simple static analysis. A prototype implementation in Scheme48 shows that our analysis is very precise.
Pharmacotherapy of perinatal HIV.

Summary Continued spread of HIV infection among women has led to the use of antiretrovirals in pregnant women and their newborns. Regional strategies to prevent mother-to-child transmission are evolving. Altered drug disposition during pregnancy may require altered dosing or ‘boosted’ therapies to avoid treatment failure. Maturing drug elimination pathways in newborns must also be considered for effective therapy. Potential teratogenic effects and increased sensitivity to antiretroviral toxicities might be encountered in this population. Use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to suppress viral replication combined with formula feeding can reduce the rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission to less than 2%. In resource-limited settings, less intensive regimens including zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine still substantially reduce mother-to-child transmission. Although difficult to perform, clinical trials to determine the safety, pharmacokinetics and optimal dosing of antiretroviral in pregnant women and their newborns are urgently needed.
Sequence analysis of VP7 gene of a bovine rotavirus with G6 subtype

Group A rotaviruses play an important role in the etiology of neonatal diarrhea in animals (Paul and Lyoo, 1993). Several recent advances helped in defining the roles of the outer capsid proteins VP4 and VP7 in the protective immune response to rotavirus infection. In the binary system of classification of rotaviruses the types based on the VP7 protein are referred to as G types (Estes and Cohen, 1989). Rotaviruses belonging to G6 type are most commonly associated with rotaviral diarrhea in calves (Paul and Lyoo, 1993; Parwani et al., 1993). We have been investigating the extent of genetic diversity occurring in the VP7 gene among different field isolates of G6 type. Here we report the detection of an isolate, VMRI-29, which appears to be a G6 subtype.
Systems pharmacogenomics in yeast.

Evaluation of: Lee W, St Onge RP, Proctor M et al.: Genome-wide requirements for resistance to functionally distinct DNA-damaging agents. PLoS Genet. 1(2), e24 (2005) [2]. Despite intense study, the mechanistic and therapeutic differences in cellular responses to DNA-damaging agents are not fully understood. In order to expand knowledge of DNA damage, the authors of this study assayed the effects of 12 anticancer agents on the complete pool of approximately 4700 homozygous deletion strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The screens identified genes in well-characterized DNA, in addition to genes whose role in DNA-damage-response pathways had not previously been established.
Evaluation of an Enhanced Role-Based Access Control model to manage information access in collaborative processes for a statewide clinical education program.

Abstract Background Managing information access in collaborative processes is a critical requirement to team-based biomedical research, clinical education, and patient care. We have previously developed a computation model, Enhanced Role-Based Access Control (EnhancedRBAC), and applied it to coordinate information access in the combined context of team collaboration and workflow for the New York State HIV Clinical Education Initiative (CEI) program. We report in this paper an evaluation study to assess the effectiveness of the EnhancedRBAC model for information access management in collaborative processes when applied to CEI. Methods We designed a cross-sectional study and performed two sets of measurement: (1) degree of agreement between EnhancedRBAC and a control system CEIAdmin based on 9152 study cases, and (2) effectiveness of EnhancedRBAC in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy based on a gold-standard with 512 sample cases developed by a human expert panel. We applied stratified random sampling, partial factorial design, and blocked randomization to ensure a representative case sample and a high-quality gold-standard. Results With the kappa statistics of four comparisons in the range of 0.80–0.89, EnhancedRBAC has demonstrated a high level of agreement with CEIAdmin. When evaluated against the gold-standard, EnhancedRBAC has achieved sensitivities in the range of 97–100%, specificities at the level of 100%, and accuracies in the range of 98–100%. Conclusions The initial results have shown that the EnhancedRBAC model can be effectively used to manage information access in the combined context of team collaboration and workflow for coordination of clinical education programs. Future research is required to perform longitudinal evaluation studies and to assess the effectiveness of EnhancedRBAC in other applications.
Mutual Hairless Rat Skin Permeation-Enhancing Effect of Ethanol/Water system and Oleic Acid

The mutual hairless rat skin permeation-enhancing effect of ethanol (EtOH)/water systems and oleic acid (OA) was investigated with model lipophilic (estradiol, progesterone, levonorgestrel) and hydrophilic drugs (zalcitabine, didanosine, zidovudine). The aqueous solubility and hairless rat skin permeation rate of each drug, saturated in various compositions of EtOH/water system (with and without OA), was determined at 37°C. The hairless rat skin permeation rates of ethanol from EtOH/water systems (with and without OA) were also measured to investigate the skin permeation-enhancing mechanism of EtOH/water systems and OA. Both saturated solubility and steady-state permeation rates of each drug in EtOH/water systems increased exponentially as the volume fraction of ethanol increased, reached the maximum value, and then decreased with further increases in the ethanol volume fraction. Moreover, the hairless rat skin permeation rate of each drug had a good linear relationship with that of ethanol up to 70% (v/v) of ethanol in the EtOH/water system. The addition of OA in the EtOH/water system (70:30 and 60:40 for lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs, respectively) further enhanced the skin permeation rate of both ethanol and drugs. However, > 2.0% (v/v) OA was required to achieve the plateau level in the skin permeation rate of lipophilic drugs, whereas only 0.3% (v/v) OA was required for hydrophilic drugs. The skin permeation rate of ethanol also increased with the addition of OA in the EtOH/water systems (70:30 and 60:40), reached the plateau level with < 1.0% (v/v) OA, and did not significantly change with higher OA concentration. These results suggest that the addition of OA in the EtOH/water system is a useful method to enhance the hairless rat skin permeation rate of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, with more enhancement for hydrophilic drugs.
Bacteroid Proline Catabolism Affects N2 Fixation Rate of Drought-Stressed Soybeans

In prior work, we observed that soybean (Glycine max L. cv Merr.) seeds inoculated with a mutant Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain unable to catabolize Pro (Pro dehydrogenase− [ProDH−]) resulted in plants that, when forced to depend on N2 fixation as the sole source of nitrogen and subjected to mild drought stress, suffered twice as large a loss in seed yield as did plants inoculated with the parental strain. Here, we used a continuous gas flow system to measure H2 evolution as a function of time and leaf water potential (ΨL). Since one H2 is produced for every N2 fixed as an obligate part of the mechanism of N2 fixation, these measurements serve as the basis for continuous monitoring of the N2 fixation rate. In five replicate experiments, the slope of the decline in N2 fixation rate in response to water stress was always greater for plants inoculated with the mutant strain unable to catabolize Pro or take up H2 (ProDH−, hup−) than it was for plants inoculated with the parental strain (ProDH+, hup−). In aggregate, the probability that this difference occurred by chance alone was 0.005. In combination with the earlier result, this is consistent with bacteroid catabolism of Pro synthesized in response to mild drought stress having a positive impact on N2 fixation rate and seed yield.
Bounds on eigenvalues of related Hamiltonian operators

A theorem is presented which allows one to obtain a bound on the ground-state eigenvalue of an operator equation, given the eigenvalue of another related equation. The equations are related by the «potential» in one equation being the square of the «potential» in the other. The theorem is related to the Ritz variational principle, but allows one to obtain the bound without having to integrate a «trial function». Some examples are given of the application of this theorem to the Schrodinger equation.
Top-of-the-Line Corrosion in The Presence of Hydrocarbon Co-Condensation in Flowing Condition

During the transportation of wet gas, temperature gradient between the internals of the pipeline and the outside environment leads to the condensation of water vapor. Freshly condensed water is very corrosive and can lead to the so-called Top-of-the-Line Corrosion (TLC). However, a certain fraction of hydrocarbons will co-condense along with the water vapor resulting in two immiscible liquids at the pipe wall with a different wettability and different corrosivity. To elucidate the role of co-condensation, corrosion tests in the absence and presence of hydrocarbon were conducted. In the experiments, hot vapors of water and n-heptane saturated with CO2 were generated and transported through a one-inch internal diameter condenser tube, with 2 carbon steel samples located at the inlet and outlet of the tube. Condensation took place on the inner surface of the tube and was related to the TLC. Corrosion rate was evaluated by the weight loss method. In the absence of co-condensation, corrosion rates increased with water condensation rates. In the presence of n-heptane co-condensation, water condensation rates had less influence on the corrosion rates. Iron carbonate (FeCO3) was observed only in the co-condensation scenario, suggesting the change of the chemistry of condensed water.
Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia.

Background Medical marijuana (MMJ) laws and policies have evolved rapidly over the past decade in the United States. Public health concerns over the impact of these laws might be influenced by the degree of MMJ participation, but little is known about changes to this population over time. Trends in registered MMJ participation are described for 13 states in the US and District of Columbia (DC) since 2001.
Electoral Polarization: Definition, Measurement, and Evaluation

Politicians, pundits, and scholars alike have characterized the American electorate as highly polarized. However, little attention has been paid to defining and measuring this research concept. Accordingly, we define electoral polarization as an alignment of citizens with respect to a set of liberal and conservative poles on a left-right continuum. The poles can be either the endpoints on the continuum or the party means. Using this definition, we theorize that there are three distinct types of polarization: divergence, dispersion, and distributional polarization. To evaluate our theory we use survey data from 1944 through 2010 to develop measures of the mean, dispersion, and skewness of Democrat and Republican identifiers’ relative liberalism/conservatism through time. Our analysis of these data shows that people are more polarized now than they were in 1950. However, the polarization is asymmetrical, with a large concentration of Republicans nearer the right pole. In contrast, Democrats have hardly changed distributionally since 1950.
Interresponse time reinforcement: Transition and steady states

A schedule of reinforcement was used in which reinforcement was delivered to only those responses with associated interresponse times (IRTs) falling within a prescribed temporal interval. For each of three different groups of rats, a different value was used for the lower bound of the reinforcement interval. In all cases, the width of the interval was equal to the lower bound. This schedule was put into effect following regular reinforcement of all IRTs. The probability of short IRTs, and the mode and interquartile range of the IRT distributions were computed as a function of the number of sessions exposure to the IRT reinforcement schedule.
Ammonia, Total Reduced Sulfides, and Greenhouse Gases of Pine Chip and Corn Stover Bedding Packs.

Bedding materials may affect air quality in livestock facilities. Our objective in this study was to compare headspace concentrations of ammonia (NH₃), total reduced sulfides (TRS), carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) when pine wood chips (Pinus spp.) and corn stover (Zea mays L.) were mixed in various ratios (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, and 100% pine chips) and used as bedding with manure. Air samples were collected from the headspace of laboratory-scaled bedded manure packs weekly for 42 d. Ammonia concentrations were highest for bedded packs containing 0, 10, and 20% pine chips (equivalent to 501.7, 502.3, and 502.3 mg m⁻³, respectively) in the bedding mixture and were lowest when at least 80% pine chips were used as bedding (447.3 and 431.0 mg m⁻³, respectively for 80 and 100% pine chip bedding). The highest NH₃ concentrations were observed at Day 28. The highest concentration of TRS was observed when 100% pine chips were used as bedding (11.4 µg m⁻³), with high concentrations occurring between Days 7 and 14, and again at Day 35. Greenhouse gases were largely unaffected by bedding material but CH₄ and CO₂ concentrations increased as the bedded packs aged and N₂O concentrations were highly variable throughout the incubation. We conclude that a mixture of bedding material that contains 30 to 40% pine chips may be the ideal combination to reduce both NH₃ and TRS emissions. All gas concentrations increased as the bedded packs aged, suggesting that frequent cleaning of facilities would improve air quality in the barn, regardless of bedding materials used.
Influence of Tree Species Density and Composition on Parasitism of the Spruce Budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.)

Canonical analysis was applied to examine association between parasitism rates of spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Tortricidae), and tree species composition and density. No statistically significant association was evident between parasitism rates by the early larval parasitoids Apanteles fumiferanae Viereck (Braconidae) and Glypta fumiferanae (Viereck) (Ichoeumonidae) and the density of 13 species of trees. Such association is masked by redistribution of spruce budworm larvae following attack by these two species of parasitoids. A statistically significant association was shown for pupal tachinid parasitoids including Actia interrupta Curran, Aplomya caesar (Aldrich), Phyrxe pecosensis (Townsend), and Itoplectis conquisitor (Say) (Ichneumonidae). A strong negative correlation was shown for these species with densities of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Miller, spruces, Picea spp., hemlock, Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr., and beech, Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. Tree species influence where these parasitoids search, but when tree density increases, regardless of the species, parasitism rates decrease. Tree species density and composition apparently does not influence parasitism by the larval parasitoid Meteorus trachynotus Viereck (Braconidae) or the pupal parasitoid Ephialtes ontario (Cresson) (Ichoeumonidae).
Exploring the effect of media images on women’s leadership self-perceptions and aspirations:

Across two experimental studies, the present research explores how media images depicting counterstereotypical roles for women, compared to those that depict stereotypical roles for women, affect women’s gender role beliefs (Study 1) and responses to a leadership situation (Study 2). Study 1 predicted and found that women exposed to images depicting counterstereotypical roles subsequently reported stronger nontraditional gender role beliefs than women exposed to images depicting stereotypical roles. Study 2 then directly assessed the effect of media images of women on female participants’ self-reported responses following a leadership task. Women exposed to media images of women in counterstereotypical roles reported less negative self-perceptions and greater leadership aspirations than women exposed to images of women in stereotypical roles. Moreover, negative self-perceptions mediated the relationship between media images and leadership aspirations. Implications for increasing women’s representation in ...
Study on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Domestic Heat Resistant Conductors

Heat resistant aluminum alloy conductor is a new type of conductor that significantly increases current carrying capacity.Promoting its application in transmission lines has great economical and social benefits.In recent years,large amount of test data of domestic thermal resistant aluminum alloy conductor show that the main mechanical and electrical properties of domestic conductors have reached or exceeded imported counterparts,which made it possible for large-scale use in our nation's grids.
Fitness Level is Associated with Sex-Specific Regional Fat Differences in Normal Weight Young Adults.

OBJECTIVES To characterize regional body composition and insulin sensitivity differences between young adults who were normal weight with either high or low fitness determined by VO2 peak. We hypothesized that higher fitness levels would be associated with reduced visceral fat (VAT) and improved insulin sensitivity. DESIGN A cross-sectional comparison of normal weight males and females with high or low fitness matched on age and sex. METHODS A total of 38 (20M/18F) individuals were recruited for this study. Thirty-two young adults (18M/14F) were matched on age (mean 22.5 ± 3 yrs.) and BMI (22.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2) and sex and classified by high or low fitness based on VO2 peak difference (≥ 8ml/kg/min). Total and regional body composition, including VAT, was measured by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. An analysis of variance compared regional body composition and insulin sensitivity between high and low fitness young adults with a normal BMI. RESULTS Higher fitness was associated with significantly lower percent body fat, lower android fat mass and higher insulin sensitivity in males (-7.2%, P<0.001; -0.5kg, P=0.048; 5.6mg/kg (FFM)/min, p=0.002). In females, higher fitness was associated with significantly lower percent body fat, lower leg fat but no difference in insulin sensitivity (-6.7%, P=0.001; -2.7kg, P<0.001; 2.5 mg/kg(FFM)/min, P=0.40). No differences in VAT were observed between high and low fitness groups. Interestingly in females, there was no difference in total lean mass, trunk lean mass or leg lean mass (P=0.59, P=0.17, P=0.99). CONCLUSION Higher fitness does not influence VAT in normal weight individuals. Sex influenced regional fat and insulin sensitivity differences between high fitness and low fitness groups.
Reduction of “Dark-Gate” defects in replacement-metal-gate process and middle-of-line contacts for advanced planar CMOS and FinFET technology

We systematically analyzed that the "dark-gate" defects were detected by e-beam and bright field inspection as one of the top yield limiters (i.e. the defects of gate-to-contact shorts/leakage) and correlated these to physical failure modes in multiple steps through RMG and MOL process steps. A few effective/novel solutions in the process steps are successfully demonstrated with planar CMOS technology, and are useful for robust RMG/MOL process and yield step-up with 128Mb SRAM/Logic for both planar CMOS and FinFET technology.
Multicompartment Drug Release System for Dynamic Modulation of Tissue Responses

Pharmacological modulation of responses to injury is complicated by the need to deliver multiple drugs with spatiotemporal resolution. Here, a novel controlled delivery system containing three separate compartments with each releasing its contents over different timescales is fabricated. Core-shell electrospun fibers create two of the compartments in the system, while electrosprayed spheres create the third. Utility is demonstrated by targeting the foreign body response to implants because it is a dynamic process resulting in implant failure. Sequential delivery of a drug targeting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and an antifibrotic is characterized in in vitro experiments. Specifically, macrophage fusion and p65 nuclear translocation in the presence of releasate or with macrophages cultured on the surfaces of the constructs are evaluated. In addition, releasate from pirfenidone scaffolds is shown to reduce transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced pSMAD3 nuclear localization in fibroblasts. In vivo, drug eluting constructs successfully mitigate macrophage fusion at one week and fibrotic encapsulation in a dose-dependent manner at four weeks, demonstrating effective release of both drugs over different timescales. Future studies can employ this system to improve and prolong implant lifetimes, or load it with other drugs to modulate other dynamic processes.
Reactions to Arthropod Bites

Arthropod bites result in injury through (1) mechanical damage that is dependent on the type of mouthparts, (2) introduction of toxic compounds that include neurotoxins, anticoagulants, and inflammatory compounds, and (3) induction of adaptive inflammation including immediate-type and delayed-type hypersensitivity. While many arthropods will bite in self-defense, those that feed on blood are a common cause of significant pathology. This includes mosquitoes, lice, and bedbugs that specifically target human host as well as a wide array of zoonotic ectoparasites that attempt to feed on humans incidentally.
A two-stage stochastic program for multi-shift, multi-analyst, workforce optimization with multiple on-call options

Motivated by a cybersecurity workforce optimization problem, this paper investigates optimizing staffing and shift scheduling decisions given unknown demand and multiple on-call staffing options at a 24/7 firm with three shifts per day, three analyst types, and several staffing and scheduling constraints. We model this problem as a two-stage stochastic program and solve it with a column-generation-based heuristic. Our computational study shows this method only needs 3 min to produce solutions within 6% of a true lower bound of the optimal for 99% of over 150 test cases.
Using Online Practice Spaces to Investigate Challenges in Enacting Principles of Equitable Computer Science Teaching

Equity is a core component of many computer science teacher preparation programs. One promising approach is addressing unconscious bias in teachers, which may impact teacher expectations and interactions with students. Since early intervention literature indicates that asking individuals to suppress biases is counterproductive, our work uses online interactive case studies as practice spaces to focus on teaching decisions that may be impacted by unconscious bias. Our initial findings indicate that when embedded within teacher preparation programs, practice spaces produce rich learning opportunities, and our analysis yields insights into how beliefs or biases may interfere with principles of equity like disrupting preparatory privilege.
Use of nonergot alkaloid-producing endophytes for alleviating tall fescue toxicosis in stocker cattle

Grazing studies were conducted to determine cattle growth performance, evaluate toxicosis, and compare grazing behavior in stocker cattle grazing nonergot alkaloid-producing endophyte-infected (AR542 or AR502), endophyte-free (E-), or wild-type toxic endophyte-infected (E+) Jesup, Georgia-5, and Kentucky-31 tall fescue. Replicated 0.81-ha tall fescue paddocks were established at the Central Georgia Branch Station at Eatonton and the Northwest Georgia Branch Station at Calhoun during October 1998 and were stocked with beef cattle for autumn and spring periods from fall 1999 through spring 2002. Mean ergot alkaloid concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) on E+ pastures than the other treatments at both locations. At Calhoun and Eatonton, post-treatment serum prolactin concentrations were decreased (P < 0.01) on E+ compared with AR542, AR502, and E- tall fescue. Cattle on AR542, AR502, and E- pastures had lower (P < 0.05) post-treatment rectal temperatures than cattle grazing E+ tall fescue during spring at Eatonton and Calhoun. Calf ADG was higher (P < 0.05) on AR542, AR502, and E- as compared with E+ tall fescue during autumn and spring grazing at Eatonton, and at Calhoun, cattle on E+ pastures had lower (P < 0.05) ADG in both autumn and spring. Gain/hectare was higher (P < 0.05) on AR542, AR502, and E- than on E+ during autumn at Eatonton and during spring at both locations. In autumn at Calhoun, gain/hectare was greater (P < 0.05) on AR502 and E- compared with E+ tall fescue. During April, May, and June, cattle grazing E+ pastures at Eatonton spent more (P < 0.01) time idling, more (P < 0.01) time standing, and used more (P < 0.01) water than cattle on AR542 and E- tall fescue. Daily prehensions and biting rate were each higher (P < 0.01) on AR542 and E- tall fescue than E+ tall fescue in both grazing seasons. There were no differences among pasture treatments for bite size in either spring (P = 0.50) or autumn (P = 0.34). Steers grazing E+ pastures had lower DMI than steers grazing AR542 and E- pastures during spring (P < 0.10) and lower DMI than steers grazing E- pastures during autumn (P < 0.05). Daily steer water usage was decreased (P < 0.10) in E+ pastures compared with AR542 and E- pastures during late fall. These results indicate that nonergot alkaloid-producing endophyte technology is a promising option for alleviating tall fescue toxicosis in stocker cattle.
HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY | Methods

Practitioners of historical archaeology use a variety of methods and sources in their research. The principle method relies on historical research and the linking of written information with excavated materials, but methods from other disciplines are also used because of the huge body of information upon which historical archaeologists can draw.
Dis-epistemologies of Abolition

There are various critiques laid out against the framework of carceral abolition (as it appears currently in prison abolition and deinstitutionalization): that it is abstract, only critiques but does not suggest specific solutions; that it is a utopian vision of the world; and that it is unrealistic in the world we currently occupy. Throughout this article I will demonstrate how such critiques can be conceptualized as strengths of these movements and frameworks for liberation. I argue that carceral abolition (as it appears in prison abolition and deinstitutionalization) is a form of knowledge, an ethical position. My first claim is that this knowledge is rooted in maroonage and I show the consequences of not engaging with abolition from intersectional frameworks. My second claim is that we can understand abolition as a dis-epistemology that rejects ways of knowing tied to certainty, optimism and certain notions of futurity and temporality.
Pharm-MD; an open-label, randomized controlled, phase II study to evaluate the efficacy of a pharmacist-managed diabetes clinic in high-risk diabetes patients - study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Millions of Americans are currently living with diabetes and approximately 1.5 million cases are being diagnosed each year. Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. In addition, the economic burden of the disease has resulted in billions of dollars in health care costs. In spite of these investments, the United States lags behind other developed countries on diabetes life expectancy and disease-related deaths. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of a pharmacist-managed diabetes clinic (PMDC) model on diabetes core measures. Our hypothesis is that a PMDC would have a significant positive impact on the diabetes measures and will result in higher-quality care at a lower price. This study is a randomized, open-label, controlled, parallel-group trial which will be conducted in the outpatient clinic at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. Patients will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: standard of care (SOC) or standard of care plus PMDC (SOC + PMDC). Included in the study will be patients older than 18 years of age with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and a hemoglobin A1c ≥ 9%, who are established with a primary care resident and who have not been seen in the PMDC within the last 3 months. The primary outcome is the change in hemoglobin A1c, measured at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes include the impact on all diabetes core measures, patient quality of life, harms, and cost impact related to the intervention. If the results of this trial are consistent with the previous retrospective analysis that a pharmacy clinic has a significant impact in controlling hemoglobin A1c levels as well as other diabetes core measures to improve clinical outcomes, it will constitute a scaffold for a future multicenter, randomized controlled trial. In addition, these results may influence future diabetes guidelines, leading to the inclusion of a PMDC as the standard of care. The impact of these results on the economic burden, life expectancy, and diabetes-related deaths are needed and have yet to be studied. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03377127 . Protocol version: registered on 10 February 2018; version #1.
Is there potential for the approval of monoclonal antibodies to treat thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy?

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO, aka Graves’ orbitopathy or thyroid eye disease) represents the ocular manifestation of thyroid autoimmunity, most commonly occurring in Graves’ disease (GD) ...
Metamorphosis, Transition, and Insect Biology in the Octavia E. Butler Archive

Science fiction author Octavia Butler has been read as an essentialist, a Black feminist philosopher of science, a heteronormative writer, a radical queer thinker, and everything in between. In par...
Title IX Mandated Reporting: The Views of University Employees and Students

Per Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, many university employees are mandated reporters of sexual assault. University employees (N = 174) and students (N = 783) completed an online survey assessing knowledge and opinions of this reporting requirement. University employees and students generally reported being quite knowledgeable of reporting requirements. Most university employees indicated they would report an incident disclosed by a student, but students were fairly ambivalent about whether they would disclose to faculty members. Nearly one in five students (17.2%) indicated that Title IX reporting requirements decreased their disclosure likelihood. These findings suggest that mandated reporting policies, as well as how they are presented to students and faculty, should be examined in order to increase compliance and facilitate disclosure.
Psychotropic medication characteristics for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders.

Abstract Objective: Characteristics of psychotropic medication use have rarely been investigated for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders. Methods: The prevalence of psychotropic medication use was obtained at the beginning of a school year for a cohort of 77 students attending a self-contained middle school for special education students with emotional and/or behavioral problems, in the suburban New York City area. Demographics, intelligence quotient (IQ) and achievement testing, and objective measures of both psychopathology and school functioning were gathered. Results: Overall, psychotropic medication was used in 77.9% of the participants; 52.0% received more than one medication. The most commonly prescribed medicines were atypical antipsychotics (49.4%) followed by attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications (48.0%). Usage patterns for specific diagnostic presentations were examined, and appeared consistent with current clinical practice. Persistent el...
Facile synthesis of (±)‐, (+)‐, and (‐)‐galanthamine

The Amarylidacea alkaloid galanthamine (1a) is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that has been evaluated as a potential agent for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We report a very efficent synthesis of (±)-galanthamine [(±)-1a] from readily available isovanillin and tyramine. We have separated racemic galanthamine into its diastereoisomeric (1S)-camphanate esters and obtained both natural (-)- and unnatural (+)-galanthamine by lithium aluminum hydride removal of the acyl group.