cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exotic Becomes Erotic: A Developmental Theory of Sexual Orientation

A developmental theory of erotic/romantic attraction is presented that provides the same basic account for opposite-sex and same-sex desire in both men and women. It proposes that biological variables, such as genes, prenatal hormones, and brain neuroanatomy, do not code for sexual orientation per se but for childhood temperaments that influence a child's preferences for sex-typical or sex-atypical activities and peers. These preferences lead children to feel different from oppositeor same-sex peers--to perceive them as dissimilar, unfamiliar, and exotic. This, in turn, produces heightened nonspecific autonomic arousal that subsequently gets eroticized to that same class of dissimilar peers: Exotic becomes erotic. Specific mechanisms for effeeting this transformation are proposed. The theory claims to accommodate both the empirical evidence of the biological essentialists and the cultural relativism of the social constructionists.
High speed high accuracy motion detection and tracking on the parallel pipelined projection engine

Summary form only given. The use of the Radon transform in analyzing single image frames has been demonstrated to yield accurate and robust detection of straight edges in the presence of noise, variable light conditions, and various texture disturbances near those edges. The possibility of using similar ideas for high-accuracy detection and tracking of motion in the image is being explored. When tracking pure translation, the algorithm commences with an initialization phase. Projections are taken through a range of 180 degrees , and a search in projection space for dominant linear features is performed. With a priori knowledge, this initial search can be reduced and a particular object of interest can be recognized in the projection domain. When tracking pure rotation, an initialization phase is again employed. For each subsequent image frame, M orientation angles are investigated, where M is the possible angular rotation between image frames divided by the desired resolution of angular orientation. M can be reduced by appropriate interpolation. The Radon transform is performed in real-time on an architecture called the parallel pipelined projection engine. >
The defamation trap in employee references

Abstract Delamation occurs when one person intentionally and falsely speaks ill about another. But where does that leave managers who are asked for references after dismissing employees under trying circumstances?
Designing integration flows using hypercubes

The design and implementation of an ETL (extract-transform-load) process for a data warehouse proceeds from a conceptual model to a logical model, and then a physical model and implementation. The conceptual model conveys at a high level the data sources and targets, and the transformation steps from sources to targets. The current state of the art is to express the conceptual model informally using text descriptions and diagrams. This makes the process of deriving a logical model time-consuming and error-prone. Our work is towards a system that covers the whole ETL lifecycle by injecting several layers of optimization and validation throughout the whole process starting with the business level objectives and ending with flow execution. In this paper, we focus on the ETL conceptual layer and present a solution that assists consultants in their task of defining the needs and requirements at the early stages of an integration project. We present a conceptual model for ETL based on hypercubes and hypercube operations. This is a formal model that captures the semantics of ETL at a high-level but that can also be machine-translated into a logical model for ETL. The use of hypercubes at the conceptual level renders a design that can be easily understood by business users and so reduces design and development time and produces a result that accurately captures service level agreements and business requirements.
Software product innovation in agile usability teams: an analytical framework of social capital, network governance, and usability knowledge management

As the practice of software engineering matures, project teams are leveraging the expertise of those with a background in other domains such as usability. This paper proposes a model and agenda for understanding and improving social interaction on agile usability software teams. We argue that social interaction on multidisciplinary agile usability teams, as a means to integrating the software development and usability domains, impacts how usability knowledge is managed, and thus, software product innovation. This work contributes: 1) a background, analysis, and discussion of the various agile usability integration strategies to-date; 2) a model for investigating the social interaction in agile usability teams; 3) a research, practice, and policy agenda for future work toward improving the social interaction in multidisciplinary agile usability software teams.
Religion in Strategic Leadership: A Positivistic, Normative/Theological, and Strategic Analysis

This paper presents positivistic, normative/theological, and strategic analyses of the application of religion to the practice of strategic leadership in business. It is argued that elements of religion can enrich several components of strategic leadership. Furthermore, it is argued that the question of whether religion ought to be applied involves the more basic question of whether there is a common basis or a meta-framework relating theological and normative analyses. Finally, because the strategic value of religion in strategic leadership involves varying costs and benefits, an optimal level of integration can be established by applying a cost/benefit analysis to a framework of four ways of relating religion to the business arena based on the degree of integration.
Determination of the active metabolites of sibutramine in rat serum using column-switching HPLC.

A simple and direct analysis using column-switching HPLC method was developed and validated for the quantification of active metabolites of sibutramine, N-mono-desmethyl metabolite (metabolite 1, M1) and N-di-desmethyl metabolite (metabolite 2, M2) in the serum of rats administered sibutramine HCl (5.0 mg/kg, p.o.). Rat serum was directly injected onto the precolumn without sample prepreparation step following dilution with mobile phase A, i. e., methanol–ACN–20 mM ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0 with phosphoric acid) (8.3:4.5:87.2 by volume). After the endogenous serum components were eluted to waste, the system was switched and the analytes were eluted to the trap column. Active metabolites M1 and M2 were then back-flushed to the analytical column for separation with mobile phase B, i. e., methanol–ACN–20 mM ammonium phosphate buffer (pH 6.0 with phosphoric acid) (35.8:19.2:45 by volume) and detected at 223 nm. The calibration curves of active metabolites M1 and M2 were linear in the range of 0.1–1.0 μg/mL and 0.15–1.8 μg/mL. This method was fully validated and shown to be specific, accurate (10.4–10.7% error), and precise (1.97–8.79% CV). This simple and rapid analytical method using column-switching appears to be useful for the pharmacokinetic study of active metabolites (M1 and M2) of sibutramine.
Effects of Accent and Age on the Transcription of Medically Related Utterances: A Pilot Study

This pilot study investigated the effect speaker language and participant age had on the transcription of medically related utterances. Utterances were produced by native and nonnative English speakers. Sixty adults across three age groups participated. Measures of total number of words correct indicated participants had significantly higher scores on items produced by the native English speaker compared to the nonnative English speakers. Young adults had statistically significant higher scores compared to the other age groups. Findings from this study indicate that the presence of an accent and the age of the listener may affect accurate transcription of medically related utterances.
The proteolytic enzymes of microorganisms. VII. A study of some of the properties of two proteases isolated from Mortierella renispora Dixon-Stewart.

Two proteases isolated from the culture medium of Mortierella renispora Dixon-Stewart (PRL 26) had different isoelectric points but similar pH optimums. The components were inhibited by equal amounts of ovomucoid. Heat studies showed that the constituent moving towards the cathode (cathodic component) was more stable at 58 °C. than the anodic component. The enzyme located in the cathodic component hydrolzyed chloroacetyl-L-tyrosine. The same fraction also hydrolyzed N-carbobenzoxy-α-L-glutamyl-DL-alanine and to a much lesser extent N-carbobenzoxy-α-L-glutamyl-L-glutamic acid. No enzymatic activity could be detected against glycylglycine, diglycylglycine, glycyl-L-proline, seryl-serine, or α-benzoyl-L-argininamide.
Immunosuppression for pancreas transplantation with an emphasis on antibody induction strategies: review and perspective

A review of recent literature was performed to identify trends and evaluate outcomes with respect to immunosuppression in pancreas transplantation (PTX). In the past decade, the majority of PTXs were performed with depleting antibody induction, particularly in the setting of either calcineurin inhibitor minimization, corticosteroid withdrawal or both. Maintenance immunosuppression consisted of predominantly tacrolimus (TAC)/mycophenolatemofetil, TAC/mycophenolic acid or TAC/sirolimus with or without corticosteroids. Depending on PTX category, donor and recipient risk factors, case mix and immunosuppressive regimen, the 1-year incidence of acute rejection has decreased to 5-20%. Current 1-year rates of immunological pancreas graft loss range between 1.8 and 6%. Depleting antibody induction and either TAC/mycophenolatemofetil or TAC/sirolimus maintenance therapy with early steroid withdrawal have become the mainstay of immunosuppression in PTX. However, the development of non-nephrotoxic, nondiabetogenic, and nongastrointestinal toxic regimens is highly desirable to improve quality of life in all solid organ transplant recipients.
Hydrolysis of Methylparaben

The hydrolysis of methylparaben in aqueous solution at 70, 80, and 85° in pH range from 6 to 8 has been studied.
Reducing Library Development Cycle Time through an Optimum Layout Create Flow

One of the major roadblocks in reduction of library generation cycle time is the layout generation phase. The two methods of doing automatic layout generation are synthesis and migration. The tools that are available for layout generation, each have it's own limitations. This paper describes how we have developed an integrated methodology for generating standard cell layouts using synthesis and migration. The placement engine of the synthesis tool was replaced by the Simulated Annealing based placer as well as the routing engine of the synthesis tool was made more intelligent and robust by using our own algorithms. The migration flow was also enhanced to suit requirements that were specific to ASIC cell libraries. This paper also presents the strategy we developed of an optimum combination of synthesis and migration for reducing the cycle time for generation of cell layouts. This strategy has enabled us to remove the bottleneck of the layout generation cycle time. The paper also touches upon how we have extended the flow to handle the "what-if" experiments that are carried out at a library definition phase.
Standards of Evidence in Qualitative Research: An Incitement to Discourse

In a climate of increased accountability, standardization, federal control, and politicization of education research and scholarship, this article briefly reviews various positions outlined by qualitative researchers about quality in qualitative inquiry, showing how these are implicated in the acquisition, conceptualization, and use of qualitative evidence. It concludes by identifying issues in and challenges to setting standards of evidence for qualitative researchers in education.
Evaluation of Meteorological Models MM5 and HOTMAC Using PAFEX-I Data

Abstract Two meteorological models, the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5) and the hydrostatic version of the Higher-Order Turbulence Model for Atmospheric Circulation (HOTMAC), were employed to simulate circulation and surface temperature in the Phoenix, Arizona, valley under weak synoptic forcing. The performances of these models were evaluated using field data collected during the first Phoenix Air Flow Experiment (PAFEX-I). MM5 showed a reasonable agreement with observations of the surface energy budget and surface temperature. The local flow, which was largely governed by thermodynamics, was also simulated well by MM5. In HOTMAC, a relatively uniform wind field was attributed to hydrostatic dynamics, active vertical mixing, and the zero-gradient lateral boundary condition used. The cold bias observed in HOTMAC results appears to be caused by the attenuation of shortwave irradiance within the canopy layer and the assumption of ...
Chloroplast Protein Targeting

Plastids, exemplified by chloroplasts, are a diverse group of essential organelles that distinguish plant cells. The biogenesis of these organelles is essential to plant growth and development, and relies on the import of >2500 nuclear-encoded proteins from the cytoplasm. The import of the large majority of these proteins is dependent on the Toe-Tic machinery of the chloroplast envelope. However, an ever increasing number of new pathways for targeting proteins to numerous chloroplast sub-compartments have been identified. Furthermore, it appears that the multiple targeting pathways and the regulation of import play direct roles in the differentiation and specific functions of distinct plastid types during plant growth and development. This chapter summarizes the state of the field, emphasizing the mechanisms of targeting proteins to and across the plastid envelope, and to chloroplast sub-compartments.
Design of Guyed Towers by Interaction Diagrams

A systematic procedure for selecting suitable design dimensions for guyed towers, using interaction diagrams, is presented. The dimensions considered are the cross-sectional area of the legs and the transverse face distance of the tower mast. The interaction diagrams developed give an over-all picture of the effect of changes in dimensions of the leg area or face distance on the critical design stresses and span deflections for the tower. The design method is illustrated by the design of an 1,100-ft guyed television tower.
Evidence for Compensatory Photosynthetic and Yield Response of Soybeans to Aphid Herbivory

The soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura, an exotic species in North America that has been detected in 21 U.S. states and Canada, is a major pest for soybean that can reduce maximum photosynthetic capacity and yields. Our existing knowledge is based on relatively few studies that do not span a wide variety of environmental conditions, and often focus on relatively high and damaging population pressure. We examined the effects of varied populations and duration of soybean aphids on soybean photosynthetic rates and yield in two experiments. In a 2011 field study, we found that plants with low cumulative aphid days (CAD, less than 2,300) had higher yields than plants not experiencing significant aphid pressure, suggesting a compensatory growth response to low aphid pressure. This response did not hold at higher CAD, and yields declined. In a 2013 controlled-environment greenhouse study, soybean plants were well-watered and fertilized with nitrogen (N), and aphid populations were manipulated to reach moderate to high levels (8,000-50,000 CAD). Plants tolerated these population levels when aphids were introduced during the vegetative or reproductive phenological stages of the plant, showing no significant reduction in yield. Leaf N concentration and CAD were positively and significantly correlated with increasing ambient photosynthetic rates. Our findings suggest that, given the right environmental conditions, modern soybean plants can withstand higher aphid pressure than previously assumed. Moreover, soybean plants also responded positively through a compensatory photosynthetic effect to moderate population pressure, contributing to stable or increased yield.
Low Tesla,dynamic and half-dose Gd-DTPA enhanced MR in scanning of children's pituitary gland

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of low Tesla,dynamic and half-dose Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI in examining of children's pituitary gland diseases.Methods The dynamic and half-dose Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI scanning of 57 children's pituitary glands which were corresponded with laboratory biochemical test results and the follow-up of treatment results were retrospectively analysed.Results 100% images were acquired by low Tesla,dynamic and half-dose Gd-DTPA enhanced MRI scanning,of 54 cases with pituitary hyperplasia,2 cases with pituitary cysts,the last case was normal.All mentioned above 57 MRI diagnosis matched with clinical laboratory biochemical test results and medicine treatment results.Conclusion The imaging test technique of dynamic and half-dose Gd-DTPA contrast enhancement in low Tesla MRI is relatively easy for children and is feasible to rule out pituitary tumor before medicine administration in sexal precocity and abnormal development.
Attentional Modulation of Eye Torsion Responses

Eye movements generally have both reflexive and voluntary aspects, but torsional eye movements are usually thought of as a reflexive response to image rotation around the line of sight (torsional OKN) or to head roll (torsional VOR). In this study we asked whether torsional responses could be modulated by attention in a case where two stimuli rotated independently, and whether attention would influence the latency of responses. The display consisted of rear-projected radial "pinwheel" gratings, with an inner annulus segment extending from the center to 22 degrees eccentricity, and an outer annulus segment extending from 22 degrees out to 45 degrees eccentricity. The two segments rotated around the center in independent random walks, stepping randomly 4 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise at 60 Hz. Subjects were asked to attend to one or the other while keeping fixation steady at the center of the display. To encourage attention on one or the other segment of the display, subjects were asked to move a joystick in synchrony with the back and forth rotations of one part of the image while ignoring the other. Eye torsion was recorded with the scleral search coil technique, sampled at 500 Hz. All four subjects showed roughly 50% stronger torsion responses to the attended compared to unattended segments. Latency varied from 100 to 150 msec across subjects and was unchanged by attention. These findings suggest that attention can influence eye movement responses that are not typically under voluntary control.
Prolactin-Induced Protein in Breast Cancer

Prolactin-induced protein (PIP) is a 17-kDa single polypeptide chain that is secreted by a number of normal apocrine cells, such as milk, saliva, and seminal fluid. PIP is widely expressed in breast cancer and is commonly used as a diagnostic biomarker for the histopathological diagnosis of this disease. Expression of PIP in breast cancer is regulated by androgen and prolactin through a number of transcription factors and signaling cross-talks, including STAT5, Runx2, and CREB1. Notably, PIP is induced by a positive feedback loop between androgen receptor (AR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). The available data indicate that PIP has an aspartyl protease activity that can degrade fibronectin. Importantly, PIP is necessary for outside-in activation of integrin-β1 signaling pathway and regulation of key downstream signaling targets of this pathway such as interaction of integrin-β1 with integrin-linked kinase 1 (ILK1) and ErbB2. Furthermore, the importance of PIP in cell proliferation has been demonstrated by the fact that purified PIP promotes growth of breast cancer cells and PIP expression is necessary for the proliferation of T-47D and MDA-MB-453 cell lines. In addition to cell proliferation, PIP mediates invasion of breast cancer cells in a process that partially depends on the degradation of fibronectin by this protein. Therefore, PIP is a breast cancer-related protein that is expressed in a majority of breast tumors and has a significant function in the biology of this disease.
Foster Care and Child Well-Being: A Promise Whose Time Has Come

Children in foster care, and those who have emancipated from care, experience high rates of cognitive, academic, physical, social, emotional and behavior problems and are more likely to experience negative outcomes. The federal Administration on Children, Youth and Families recently called for increased attention to child well-being outcomes, expanding the focus beyond the traditional child welfare outcomes of safety and permanency. Adopting a child well-being framework, this chapter aims to briefly review the history of foster care in the US, review the efficacy of programs designed to promote well-being for youth in foster care, discuss the challenges of adapting existing evidence-based programs for this population, and finally review some adaptations of evidence-based programming for youth in foster care. We conclude that although there have been some programs that have demonstrated efficacy in improving social, emotional, and behavioral well-being in maltreated children and adolescents in foster care, there are not nearly enough evidence-based interventions to meet the significant needs of these youth and their families.
Non-invasive biomedical patch sensor to measure intracranial pressure

This study was focused on the development of a non-invasive mobile skin sensor for measuring intracranial pressure (ICP). Current techniques are limited to surgical implantations or methods that require highly specialized equipment and training. Additionally, surgical implantations carry risk of infection. To overcome these disadvantages we designed an electromagnetic resonance skin sensor patch to measure ICP. Fluctuations in the sensor's magnetic field were correlated with volumetric changes inside the cranial cavity of a human skull. These results provide evidence for an innovative method which avoids the disadvantages of current methods.
A USV-Based Automated Launch and Recovery System for AUVs

In this paper, a concept design for automated launch and recovery (L&R) of a small autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) from an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) is described and its feasibility is assessed through modeling and simulation. The design is being implemented on a selected catamaran USV for deployment of a REMUS 100 AUV. The concept for launch involves lowering the AUV into the water from the center of the USV while the latter is in motion. Recovery and retrieval involves aligning the two vehicles together through acoustic positioning, lowering of a thin line with an outrigger-type depressor wing from a winch on the USV, latching of the line by the AUV using a custom pincer-type onboard mechanism, and subsequent reeling of the line for vehicle retrieval. The USV being considered can operate effectively in low to moderate sea states. The length of the recovery line can be adjusted to facilitate AUV recovery from deeper locations beneath the USV in higher sea state. The L&R process is modeled in OrcaFlex to assess its feasibility and to conduct a parametric study in support of developing optimal operations of the launch and recovery system (LARS). The resulting system is being implemented on a USV.
Safety of Hip Anchor Insertion From the Midanterior and Distal Anterolateral Portals With a Straight Drill Guide: A Cadaveric Study

Background:During arthroscopic labral refixation, suture anchors are typically inserted from either the midanterior (MA) portal or the distal anterolateral (DALA) portal; however, no studies have previously compared these techniques.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to compare acetabular rim accessibility and associated complication rates of anchor insertion from these portals. We hypothesized that rim access would be better from the DALA portal. Additionally, we hypothesized that articular surface perforation would occur more commonly from the MA portal while psoas tunnel perforation would occur more commonly from the DALA portal.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:Sixteen pelvic cadaveric specimens (32 hips) were obtained and arthroscopic surgery performed in the supine position. Suture anchors were placed at 7 predetermined locations (9-, 11-, 12-, 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-o’clock positions). Hips were treated as matched pairs, such that one hip from each specimen had all anchors p...
The voter model

As in the Wright–Fisher and Moran models, the two configurations in which all the individuals have the same type or share the same opinion are absorbing states for the voter model. However, at least starting with infinitely many individuals of each type, the time to fixation to one of these absorbing states is almost surely infinite, which allows for the possibility of interesting transient or long-term behaviors. In fact, even though it does not depend on any parameter, the voter model exhibits very rich dynamics with various behaviors depending on the spatial dimension. This contrasts with the contact process that has behavior similar in any dimension.
A practical method for the determination of total selenium in environmental samples using isotope dilution‐hydride generation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry

A safe, practical, and accurate method for the determination of selenium (Se) in range of environmental samples was developed. Small sample masses, 5–20 mg, were amended with 82Se enriched isotope for the isotope dilution (ID), preceding a multi-step wet digestion with nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Samples were incubated in an autoclave for 3 h at 20 psi and 126°C. Digestates were subsequently reduced with concentrated hydrochloric acid to Se(IV) the most favorable valence for hydride generation (HG). The solutions were then analyzed on an ICP-MS equipped with Flow Injection system (FIAS-400). Polyatomic, isobaric, and background interferences were removed through the use of HG and ID with an 82Se enriched isotope spike. Recoveries for certified reference materials were determined and averaged 96% for biological tissues (NRCC DOLT3, DOLT4, DORM2, TORT2, and TORT3, and NIST 2976) and 108% for estuarine sediment (NRCC PACS2) with an average coefficient of variation for replicate measurements of ∼ 3.5%. Limit of detection was 0.13 ng Se g−1 dry weight or 0.19 ng Se L−1. This method can be broadly applied to biological tissues, sediments, suspended particulates, and water samples with minimal modifications making this method highly useful for assessing the ecotoxicology of total Se in aquatic ecosystems.
La razón y la esencia

Vivimos tan absortos en la racionalidad que ni siquiera nos preguntamos si existe otra manera de abordar la experiencia educativa y aun cuando existen dilemas y conflictos que nos aquejan, seguimos intentando encontrar la solucion con los mismos elementos que nos generan el malestar. Claramente hemos sucumbido en una practica que ademas de generar malestar tambien se ha vuelto peligrosa porque no parece favorecer el desarrollo pleno del ser humano. ?Sera posible, a pesar del dominio de la razon echar un vistazo en otra direccion? ?A otra posibilidad del hacer que nos muestre otro camino de entendimiento?
The Impact of urban greenways on residential concerns: Findings from the Atlanta BeltLine Trail

Urban greenways are receiving increased attention due to the implications they have for the sustainable development of 21st century cities. Although preferences of greenway users have been heavily investigated, research on residents’ perceptions of living in close proximity to these greenways pales in comparison. With this gap in mind, residents living within two socio-economically different neighborhoods adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine Trail were surveyed about common neighborhood concerns and how the BeltLine’s development alleviates or exacerbates these concerns. By simultaneously asking residents about both neighborhood concerns and the BeltLine’s impact on these concerns, modified Importance-Performance (IPA) graphs were created with four quadrants depicting where the BeltLine is successful and areas where it has aggravated problems. From the 381 responses received, the top five most important neighborhood concerns were crime, property taxes, vandalism, property values, and places for outdoor recreation. The BeltLine was perceived by residents to be improving property values, places for outdoor recreation, and social spaces for gathering, while slightly increasing litter, crime, vandalism, and property taxes. This can be seen on the graphs where most of negatively connoted concerns fell in the “Concentrate here” quadrant with the positively connoted concerns falling in the “Keep up the good work” quadrant. T-test results revealed that the affluent Northside neighborhood viewed the impacts of the trail as more positive than the transitioning Southwest neighborhood. Results suggest that greenway planners should tailor greenway development projects towards individual neighborhoods as they are likely to have different concerns and expectations of urban greenways.
Bioethics and Armed Conflict: Moral Dilemmas of Medicine and War: Michael L. Gross (MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2006), 384 pages, $65.

When I served on active duty as a judge advocate in the United States Army, I frequently taught classes to soldiers on the law of war. One principle I discussed was Article 12 of the Geneva Convent...
18F-FDG:18F-NaF PET/MR multi-parametric imaging with kinetics-based bone segmentation for enhanced dual-tracer PET quantification

Dual-tracer Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging involves the administration of two tracers for their co-registered evaluation within the same imaging subject and session. Previously, the concept of mixing 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF or 18F-Fuoride) tracers had been proposed in oncology to enable characterization of a wider spectrum of tumor types from a single PET/CT exam. In this study, we are proposing an optimized F18-FDG:F18-NaF cocktail PET/MR imaging framework to enable multi-parametric PET/MR assessments of enhanced quantification. Our aims are: (i) to benefit from the superior soft tissue characterization from MR and, thus, enable more accurate PET lesion localization, (ii) significantly reduce radiation exposure, therefore allowing for multiple low-dose exams to closely monitor treatment response in oncology, (iii) facilitate multi-parametric evaluations for cardiovascular diseases too, and iv) exploit the high bone uptake rate of the cocktail NaF compound to improve PET/MR attenuation correction. For that purpose, we introduced a clinically feasible single-bed dynamic 18F-FDG:18F-NaF PET/MR protocol employing the same recommended dosage as for single-tracer PET studies. Subsequently, the dynamic PET images were robustly analyzed with the Patlak method to produce tracer uptake rate Ki parametric images. Then, the bone regions were segmented from the Ki and PET images and included as a fifth tissue class in the co-registered MR Dixon-based 4-class attenuation map. Our series of rabbit dual-tracer PET/CT and PET/MR exams, as well as the subsequent human carotid PET/MR studies, suggested a maximum FDG:NaF ratio of 4:1. This cocktail synthesis yielded sufficient signal for the robust segmentation of the major bone tissues, while FDG count statistics remained high. Finally, an average 15% improvement was observed for PET FDG:NaF bone quantification with the proposed 5-tissue class attenuation correction method.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with Hypericum perforatum L extract induced significant in vitro cytotoxicity of human bladder cancer cells

4321 Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modality for the treatment of cancer involving excitation of photosensitizers with harmless visible light producing reactive oxygen species. The major biological effects of PDT are apoptosis of tumor cells, destruction of the blood supply and activation of the immune system. The objective of this study is to compare in an animal model of metastatic cancer, PDT alone and PDT combined with low-dose cyclophosphamide (CY). Since the tumor we used is highly metastatic it is necessary to generate anti-tumor immunity using PDT to effect total cures and this immunity may be potentiated by cyclophosphamide (CY). In our model we used J774 cells (a Balb/c reticulum cell sarcoma line with the characteristics of macrophages). One million cells were injected subcutaneously in the leg of Balb/c mice. Mice had primary tumors surgically removed at different time points after tumor cell injection, and all mice died of distant metastases even when surgery was as early as 24 hours post-injection. We used the following PDT regimens: benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD, 2mg/kg injected IV followed after 15 min by 150 J/cm2 of 690-nm light) and Photofrin (PF, 10 mg/kg injected IV followed after 24 hours by 150 J/cm2 635-nm light). CY (50 mg/kg IP was injected 48 hours before light delivery. In addition to following mice for tumor response and survival we studied the induction of tumor specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity through a non-radioactive cytotoxicity assay and quantification of suppressor T cells as one of the possible mechanisms of action for CY. BPD-PDT led to complete regression of the primary tumor in more than half the mice but no permanent cures were obtained. BPD-PDT in combination with CY led to 65% permanent cures but was associated with more treatment related deaths. PF-PDT alone did not lead to regression of primary tumors, while PF-PDT in combination with CY gave mainly regression of primary tumors followed by local recurrence around day 45. Permanent cures were obtained in 18% of mice. CY alone gave no permanent cures. We conclude that BPD-PDT in combination with CY gives best overall results and that this is attributable to immune system activation in addition to PDT-mediated destruction of the tumor.
A tutorial of integrating duality and branch and bound in earliness–tardiness scheduling with idle insertion time problems

We present a conceptual tutorial of the value of the dual representation to branching strategies of idle insertion time in a single-machine scheduling problem. We consider the problem where schedul...
Oxidant injury to hepatic mitochondrial lipids in rats with dietary copper overload: Modification by vitamin E deficiency

To examine the role of oxidant damage to subcellular membranes in the pathogenesis of copper hepatotoxicity, the effects of dietary copper overload and varying states of vitamin E on biochemical, histological, and ultrastructural features of rat liver were investigated. Weanling male rats were pair-fed for 8 weeks on diets containing normal or high levels of copper in combination with either deficient, sufficient, or excessive vitamin E. Hepatic microsomes and mitochondria, isolated by differential centrifugation, showed similar enrichment and recovery among all experimental groups. Evidence of in vivo peroxidation of membrane lipids (generation of conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances) was present in mitochondrial but not microsomal preparations from copper-overloaded rats. Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and cholylglycine (which were increased in all copper-overloaded rats), as well as mitochondrial thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances, were more elevated in vitamin E-deficient rats. In copper-overloaded rats, liver histology showed changes of acute and chronic hepatocyte injury with mild periportal fibrosis; electron microscopy showed abundant copper-containing lysosomes and dilated cristae of hepatocyte mitochondria, findings similar to those in the liver of humans with copper-overload disorders. These findings suggest that an oxidant injury to hepatocyte mitochondria may be one of the initiating factors in hepatocellular damage that leads to hepatic lesions in copper-overload states in humans.
Hybrid.media: High velocity video ingestion in an in-memory scalable analytical polystore

Recent advances in image recognition algorithms are making it possible to query databases for static images which look like a desired target image. This technology is expanding to image recognition within video files as image recognition algorithms advance. Blending the ideas of static image query with video image recognition leads to the subject of our present work. Hybrid.media is our work in progress to ingest video files into an Hybrid In-Memory Polystore Database [Gubanov, 2017], [Podkorytov et al., 2017] and add query support for finding those video files. This work will provide the basis for future work to query videos containing specific items based on content in a video.
Transient external force induces phenotypic reversion of malignant epithelial structures via nitric oxide signaling

Non-malignant breast epithelial cells cultured in three-dimensional laminin-rich extracellular matrix (lrECM) form well organized, growth-arrested acini, whereas malignant cells form continuously growing disorganized structures. While the mechanical properties of the microenvironment have been shown to contribute to formation of tissue-specific architecture, how transient external force influences this behavior remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that brief transient compression applied to single malignant breast cells in lrECM stimulated them to form acinar-like structures, a phenomenon we term 'mechanical reversion.' This is analogous to previously described phenotypic 'reversion' using biochemical inhibitors of oncogenic pathways. Compression stimulated nitric oxide production by malignant cells. Inhibition of nitric oxide production blocked mechanical reversion. Compression also restored coherent rotation in malignant cells, a behavior that is essential for acinus formation. We propose that external forces applied to single malignant cells restore cell-lrECM engagement and signaling lost in malignancy, allowing them to reestablish normal-like tissue architecture.
Heterobimetallic {PtMn} and {PtFe} lantern complexes with exceptionally long metallophilic contacts

Abstract A new series of heterobimetallic lantern complexes, [PtM(SAc)4(pySMe)] (M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co (3), Ni (4), Zn (5)), as well as additions to the previously reported series, [PtM(SAc)4(pyNH2)] (M = Mn (6), Fe (7)), have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized. Notably, compounds 1 and 6 are the first crystallographically characterized, neutral Pt-Mn containing lantern complexes. Compounds 2 and 7 are the first examples of Pt-Fe containing lantern complexes with a pyridine based axial ligand. These newly synthesized complexes have been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and UV–vis (1–7), 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies (5), and solution magnetic susceptibility (1–4 and 6–7) and analyzed in comparison to our previously reported lantern families. Compounds 2–4 are isomorphous and contain two crystallographically independent dimers with the same staggered conformations. One dimer has a typical Pt⋯Pt metallophilic interaction ranging from 3.2198(6) to 3.2913(6) A while the other has a much longer contact ranging from 3.3212(6) to 3.4533(6) A. These latter contacts suggest metallophilic interactions that are the longest reported to date in any system. Solid state variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies suggest antiferromagnetic coupling between the 3d metal centers in the two lantern complexes of the dimeric forms of 2, 3, and 4.
Properties of Complex Shaped SiO2 Glass Lens by New Manufacturing Method

Complex shaped lens such as hemispheric lens with a square flange made of SiO2 glass was fabricated with a new manufacturing method. The lens and DUV-LED (Deep ultraviolet light-emitting diode) were joined with Au-Sn foil to prevent deterioration by humidity and these properties were measured. The angle of half intensity is decreased from 120° to 40° due to the condensing effect of the lens. It is possible to fabricate DUV-LED with the lens with excellent condensing effect and reliability.
Human bloodsucking parasite in service of materials science.

Trypanosoma is a genus of single-cell eukaryote organisms—parasites living in the bloodstream (or sometimes inside cells) of humans or other mammals and causing a number of serious diseases (such as Leishmaniasis, African trypanosomiasis [sleeping sickness], American trypanosomiasis [Chagas disease], and others). In most cases, they are transmitted by blood-feeding invertebrates, such as flies or mosquitos. They are also called kinetoplastids, because their major distinguishing feature is a subcellular structure known as the kinetoplast—their form of mitochondrial DNA. Truly surprising at first glance, the kinetoplast is a sort of a chainmail composed of thousands of concatenated DNA rings. While a lot is known about kinetoplasts’ biology, Klotz et al. (1) in PNAS offer a fresh view, abstracting from kinetoplast biological function and considering it as a peculiar material. Kinetoplasts were known to biologists a long time ago, but their structure came to light only starting around 1970 (see, e.g., review in ref. 2 and references therein). Interestingly, several related developments happened at about the same time. Perhaps unbeknown to one another, Vinograd and Hudson (3) observed a simple DNA catenane in human HeLa cell mitochondria; Sauvage and coworkers (4) invented protocols for chemical synthesis of molecular catenanes; and de Gennes (5), thinking of possible polymer gel structures, came up with the idea of the so-called olympic gel—a macroscopic network of concatenated ring polymers (ref. 5, section 5.1.2). The kinetoplast is actually just like an olympic gel, but more subtle. It consists of covalently closed (but, surprisingly, not supercoiled) DNA rings of 2 distinct types, minicircles and maxicircles. There are typically up to 10,000 minicircles, each about 0.5 to 3 kbp, and a few dozen maxicircles, each about 20 to 50 kbp. To place these numbers in context, persistence length of dsDNA is about 50 nm, or 150 bp, so maxicircles … [↵][1]1Email: ayg1{at}nyu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Extraction of an Erythropoietin-Producing Factor from a Particulate Fraction of Rat Kidney

1. A two-step method for the extraction of erythropoietin from hypoxic kidneys has been developed which allows residual plasma erythropoietin in renal vasculature to be separated from that of intracellular origin. 2. Renal extracts have been purified by DEAE cellulose chromatography and found to contain 2 major erythropoietically active fractions. One bears strong resemblance to plasma erythropoietin. The other component is unique in that it has practically no erythropoietic-stimulating activity unless previously incubated with normal rat serum. This activation phenomenon is used to identify this kidney component as the renal erythropoietic factor (REF). The REF has the capacity to produce erythropoietin or become erythropoietically active when incubated with normal rat serum. 3. Differential centrifugation technics revealed that the REF is confined to particles present in the light mitochondrial fraction of kidney. 4. Extracts of the light mitochondrial fraction of kidneys from normal rats produced significant amounts of erythropoietin when incubated with normal serum. The quantity found, however, was less than that evoked by similar extracts of kidneys from hypoxic rats. 5. The product of the incubation extracts of the renal light mitochondrial fraction with normal rat serum showed the same log dose/response regression as sheep plasma erythropoietin standard. 6. It is hypothesized that either (a) the REF is a precursor of erythropoietin which must be complexed with a carrier present in normal serum in order to become physiologically active, or (b) the renal factor is an enzyme which produces erythropoietin by its action on a particular serum protein.
Medical Leave Associated With COVID-19 Among Emergency Medical System Responders and Firefighters in New York City.

This cohort study examines use of medical leave among emergency medical service (EMS) responders and firefighters in New York, New York, during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic compared with earlier periods.
Pseudouridine synthases modify human pre-mRNA co-transcriptionally and affect splicing

Abstract Eukaryotic messenger RNAs are extensively decorated with modified nucleotides and the resulting epitranscriptome plays important regulatory roles in cells 1. Pseudouridine (Ψ) is a modified nucleotide that is prevalent in human mRNAs and can be dynamically regulated 2–5. However, it is unclear when in their life cycle RNAs become pseudouridylated and what the endogenous functions of mRNA pseudouridylation are. To determine if pseudouridine is added co-transcriptionally, we conducted pseudouridine profiling 2 on chromatin-associated RNA to reveal thousands of intronic pseudouridines in nascent pre-mRNA at locations that are significantly associated with alternatively spliced exons, enriched near splice sites, and overlap hundreds of binding sites for regulatory RNA binding proteins. Multiple distinct pseudouridine synthases with tissue-specific expression pseudouridylate pre-mRNA sites, and genetic manipulation of the predominant pre-mRNA modifying pseudouridine synthases PUS1, PUS7 and RPUSD4 induced widespread changes in alternative splicing in cells, supporting a role for pre-mRNA pseudouridylation in alternative splicing regulation. Consistently, we find that individual pseudouridines identified in cells are sufficient to directly affect splicing in vitro. Together with previously observed effects of artificial pseudouridylation on RNA-RNA6–8 and RNA-protein 9–11 interactions that are relevant for splicing, our results demonstrate widespread co-transcriptional pre-mRNA pseudouridylation and establish the enormous potential for this RNA modification to control human gene expression.
Reply to Downing, Jacobs, and Schneider

We thank our reviewers for their discussions and we appreciate the opportunity to dialogue about our work with Sandra. Some responses express our shared point of view, others our individual reflect...
Threat appraisals, neuroticism, and intrusive memories: a robust mediational approach with replication

Background: The appraisal of a stressor substantially influences how we adapt to it. We used an experimental paradigm to test and replicate the effects of threat appraisals on subsequent intrusive ...