cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationships of Coping Responses to Physical Health Status and Life Satisfaction Among Older Women

This study examined a model specifying the causal links between the physical, functional, and subjective components of physical health status and life satisfaction among older women, and assessed the effects of three coping responses (direct-action, positive-cognitive, and passive-cognitive coping) at each point in the process. Based on interview data with 281 older women, a series of regression analyses indicated that, before the inclusion of the coping variables, physical conditions directly contributed to functional impairment, and both indirectly lowered life satisfaction through their direct negative effects on subjective health assessments. Further analyses indicated that positive-cognitive coping buffered the effects of physical conditions at each point in the model, that passive-cognitive coping generally had deleterious effects on health status, although it prevented negative health assessments from lowering life satisfaction, and that direct-action coping had little effect. These findings emphasize the importance of a multidimensional conceptualization of physical health status in understanding its relationship with life satisfaction as well as the specific functions of coping at different points in the process for older women.
Kinetic Pathways To Control Hydrogen Evolution and Nanocarbon Allotrope Formation via Thermal Decomposition of Polyethylene

Polyethylene-based plastic materials are nonbiodegradable in nature and have a profound negative impact on our environment. Efficient disposal of plastic wastes in an efficient, environmental friendly fashion or chemical fixation of plastics into useful intermediates remains an outstanding problem. We employ temperature accelerated reactive molecular dynamics (TARMD) simulations to identify the kinetic pathways during thermal pyrolysis of polyethylene (PE). This allows for attainment of a dual objective viz. (1) clean fuel production via controlled hydrogen evolution and (2) formation of novel nanocarbon allotropes. Detailed atomistic picture of high temperature thermal decomposition that leads to partial or complete dehydrogenation of PE is presented. We identify the various reaction pathways for PE decomposition at high temperatures and demonstrate that a quenching-cooling strategy holds promise for tailoring the degree of graphitic order within the nanocarbon materials while simultaneously fine-tuning ...
The Genus Bolbodimyia Bigot (Diptera, Tabanidae)

Since specimens of the tabanid genus Bolbodimyia are rather infrequently collected, and since the species are rather uniform in structure, there has been some doubt as to the limits of the species and several of the described species have been synonymized. Recently some specimens came to hand that did not fit any of those previously described, and so I have re-examined the genus as a whole. Loans obtained through the kindness of Joseph Bequaert of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Graham Fairchild of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, H. Oldroyd of the British Museum, L. L. Pechuman of the California Spray Chemical Corporation, Fritz Peus of the Zoological Museum of the University of Berlin, and C. B. Philip of the U. S. Public Health Service, brought the total number of specimens I have seen to 56. These appear to fall into 10 species. The color patterns appear to be quite constant, and in my opinion indicate specific differences not always reflected by structural differences or by geographical isolation.
R-mode analysis for influencing factors determiniation of karst underground river quality in southwest China——Take Zhaidi underground river as an example

Hydrogeochemical data of Zhaidi underground river are analyzed using R-mode method. Four main factors which affect the quality of underground river are recognized. The first main factor mainly composed of Ca2 +,HCO-3and total hardness,shows the influence of the leaching in calcite. The second factor,made up of K++ Na+and Cl-,reflects the soluble salt in aquifers. The third main factor,composed of SO2-4and NO-3,represents the impacts of human activities,such as the use of fertilizer and pesticide,the pollution of sewage from life. The forth main factor,pH and Mg2 +,reflects the influence of the leaching in dolomite under weak alkali environment.
Graphic format for teaching long-term control of systemic arterial pressure.

Circulatory homeostasis is a difficult notion. The graphic format presented here facilitates the teaching of long-term control of systemic arterial blood pressure and cardiac output. It is based on...
7. Evidence-based guideline of intraoperative spinal monitoring with SSEP & TcMEP

Evidence-based guidelines assist patients, physicians and carriers to determine which techniques are of established value to improve outcome. The Institute of Medicine recommends processes by which literature is assessed as evidence of effectiveness on achieving improved outcome. Following such guidance, assessment of spinal cord monitoring demonstrates an established value to alert the surgical team to adverse changes. Based on those alerts, the guidelines recommend that the surgical team take action to identify and reverse the cause of adverse changes. New Institute of Medicine recommendations take into account not only prospective and retrospective controlled studies in peer reviewed literature, but also a procedure of accounting for expert opinions for procedures in which controlled studies are not practical. Expert opinion is relevant to assessments about neurophysiologic intraoperative monitoring in which denial of monitoring is not an ethical study arm.
12-Lipoxygenase Regulates Platelet Reactivity and Thrombosis Through Formation Of Unique Oxylipins

Abstract Platelet activation plays a central role in hemostasis and thrombosis and is regulated through a complex milieu of intracellular signaling events vital for prevention of excessive clot formation and vessel occlusion. There is strong evidence that oxylipins (oxygenated fatty acids) derived from omega-3 (ω-3) and w-6 fatty acids offer cardio-protection; however the underlying mechanism for this protection is not well understood. Previously, we showed that ex vivo fatty acid supplementation of human platelets with the ω-6 fatty acid (dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA)) significantly inhibited platelet-induced aggregation. The anti-platelet effect exerted by DGLA depended on oxidation by 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) to form unique oxylipins with inhibitory activity toward platelet function. Here, for the first time, we show the underlying signaling mechanisms by which 12-LOX functions as an essential regulator of endogenous fatty acid metabolism protecting against excessive platelet activation and thrombosis. To delineate the mechanisms by which 12-LOX regulates platelet reactivity, we investigated upstream signaling correlates leading to platelet aggregation, including calcium mobilization, Rap1 activation, and GP IIb/IIIa activation. Using mice deficient in platelet 12-LOX (12-LOX-/-), we were able to show functional 12-LOX is required for the regulation of DGLA inhibition of PAR4- and collagen-mediated platelet aggregation. Platelets from wild-type mice treated with DGLA or 12-HETrE (oxidized form of DGLA) showed significant suppression of platelet-mediated aggregation, whereas DGLA was unable to suppress platelet aggregation in platelets from 12-LOX-/- mice. Importantly, treatment with 12-HETrE significantly attenuated platelet aggregation in 12-LOX-/- mice. Further, DGLA was unable inhibit calcium mobilization and Rap1 activation in mice deficient for 12-LOX, while calcium mobilization and Rap1 activation were significantly inhibited by 12-HETrE. Overall, our data support 12-LOX playing an important role in both hemostasis and thrombosis. The loss of 12-LOX activity results in an inability of fatty acids to be oxidized to their respective bioactive lipid products. The formation of these oxylipins (12-HETrE in particular) is essential for prevention of platelet activation leading to atherothrombus formation and stroke. Hence, this study is the first to show that the anti-platelet effect mediated by fatty acids is due in large part to their oxylipins production by 12-LOX and the formation of potently anti-platelet metabolites. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Conformal Equivalence of the half string 3-vertex and the Sciuto, Caneschi-schwimmer-veneziano 3- vertex

In this paper we construct the operator connecting the three vertex in half string eld theory and the dual model vertex of Sciuto, Caneshi Schwimmer and Veneziano (SCSV). This construction results in an explicit conformal transformation linking the two interactions in the matter sector at all levels. Thus establishing the equivalence in the matter sector between the two theories at least for N = 3..
PRECISION MEDICINE IN ADRENAL DISORDERS: THE NEXT GENERATION.

ABSTRACT Objective: Discuss exciting new research in the area of adrenal disorders that has emerged in the last few years. Advances in genetics, biochemical diagnosis, and imaging modalities that have set new standards for diagnosis and treatment are described. Methods: A literature review was conducted on adrenal disorders using PubMed. Results: We highlight new developments in adrenal diseases from new genes discovered in aldosterone-producing adenomas, cortisol-producing tumors to pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas. In addition, we discuss new information regarding the question of whether nonfunctional adrenal adenomas are really functional or not. In congenital adrenal hyperplasia, emerging steroids that might be helpful in the near future for diagnostic purposes are discussed. New types of imaging are now available to identify endocrine neoplasms to help clinicians find lesions after biochemical confirmation. Conclusion: The tremendous knowledge gained thus far in adrenal diseases sets the stage for not only new precision treatment modalities for individualized care but also for prevention. Abbreviations: ACC = adrenal cortical carcinoma; APA = aldosterone-producing adenoma; APCC = aldosterone-producing cell cluster; CAH = congenital adrenal hyperplasia; CT = computed tomography; DOTATATE = [68Ga]-DOTA(0)-Tyr(3)-octreotate; FDG = fluorodeoxyglucose; FH = fumarate hydratase; MR = miner-alocorticoid; MDH2 = malate dehydrogenase 2; PCC = pheochromocytoma; PET = positron emission tomography; PGL = paraganglioma; SCS = subclinical cortisol-secreting; SDHB = succinate dehydrogenase subunit B; TCGA = The Cancer Genome Atlas
Peri-procedural risk stratification and management of patients with Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome (WS) is a congenital, multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, connective tissue, and central nervous systems in 1 in 10 000 live births. Cardiovascular involvement is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with WS, and noninvasive and invasive procedures are common. Sudden cardiovascular collapse in patients with WS is a well-known phenomenon, especially in the peri-procedural period. Detailed guidelines for peri-procedural management of patients with WS are limited. The goal of this review is to provide thoughtful, safe and effective management strategies for the peri-procedural care of patients with WS with careful consideration of hemodynamic impacts of anesthetic strategies. In addition, an expanded risk stratification system for anesthetic administration is provided.
Effects of acute alcohol on excitability in the CNS

Alcohol has many effects on brain function and hence on human behavior, ranging from anxiolytic and mild disinhibitory effects, sedation and motor incoordination, amnesia, emesis, hypnosis and eventually unconsciousness. In recent years a variety of studies have shown that acute and chronic exposure to alcohol can modulate ion channels that regulate excitability. Modulation of intrinsic excitability provides another way in which alcohol can influence neuronal network activity, in addition to its actions on synaptic inputs. In this review, we review "low dose" effects [between 2 and 20 mM EtOH], and "medium dose"; effects [between 20 and 50 mM], by considering in turn each of the many networks and brain regions affected by alcohol, and thereby attempt to integrate in vitro physiological studies in specific brain regions (e.g. amygdala, ventral tegmental area, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, cerebellum etc.) within the context of alcohol's behavioral actions in vivo (e.g. anxiolysis, euphoria, sedation, motor incoordination). This article is part of the Special Issue entitled "Alcoholism".
Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for whole brain radiotherapy: not only for hippocampal sparing, but also for reduction of dose to organs at risk.

Abstract A prospective clinical trial, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 0933, has demonstrated that whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) using conformal radiation delivery technique with hippocampal avoidance is associated with less memory complications. Further sparing of other organs at risk (OARs) including the scalp, ear canals, cochleae, and parotid glands could be associated with reductions in additional toxicities for patients treated with WBRT. We investigated the feasibility of WBRT using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) to spare the hippocampi and the aforementioned OARs. Ten patients previously treated with nonconformal WBRT (NC-WBRT) using opposed lateral beams were retrospectively re-planned using VMAT with hippocampal sparing according to the RTOG 0933 protocol. The OARs (scalp, auditory canals, cochleae, and parotid glands) were considered as dose-constrained structures. VMAT plans were generated for a prescription dose of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Comparison of the dosimetric parameters achieved by VMAT and NC-WBRT plans was performed using paired t-tests using upper bound p -value of 100% ) of 8.4 ± 0.3 Gy and maximum dose of 15.6 ± 0.4 Gy, respectively. A statistically significant dose reduction ( p
Despair as a Cause of Death: More Complex Than It First Appears

The article discusses the notion of despair as a cause of death in relation to an issue article on increasing mortality among some white subpopulations in the U.S. Topics include health inequities facing African Americans in relation to white Americans, rural-urban differences in health outcomes, and gender differences in changes to mortality.
Metastases: Exploring the impact of foreign fighters in conflicts abroad

This article examines the historical impact of foreign fighters and how the international community has sought to counter this threat. It argues that foreign fighters have contributed significantly...
Gadolinum-gold core-shell nanocrystals: Potential contrast agents for molecular MRI with high T1 relaxivity

Abstract Gold-coated gadolinium nanocrystals have been synthesized and their relaxivities, R1 and R2, found to be 19.7 and 21.7 s−1 mM−1 respectively at a 9.4 T applied field. R1 is more than 3 times higher than commercial Gd3+ chelate contrast agents on a per Gd atom basis and over 3000 times higher on a per nanocrystal (molecule) basis. Furthermore, the R2/R1 ratio, 1.1, is near ideal for a T1 contrast agent. Colloids of the PVP coated Gd@Au nanocrystals are stable in solution at physiological pH for more than a week. The Au shell protects the Gd from reaction over even in low pH solution. These results indicate that Gd@Au is an exceptionally promising candidate for development as an MRI T1 contrast agent for molecular imaging.
The lateral collateral ligament complex of the elbow: quantitative anatomic analysis of the lateral ulnar collateral, radial collateral, and annular ligaments.

Background Injury to the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL) complex of the elbow often results in posterolateral rotatory instability. Although surgical reconstruction of the LUCL is often required, gaps in our understanding of the LUCL complex remain. The purpose of this study was to provide a robust and accurate characterization of the lateral elbow ligamentous complex. Methods The LUCLs, radial collateral ligaments, and annular ligaments in 10 cadaveric elbows were 3-dimensionally digitized and reconstructed using computed tomography. Surface areas, origin and insertion footprint areas, distances between perceived footprint centers and geometric footprint centroids, distances to key landmarks, and ligament isometry were measured. Results The mean surface area of the LUCL was 229.3 mm2. The mean origin and insertion footprint areas were 26.0 mm2 and 22.9 mm2, respectively. The mean distance between the apparent centers and the geometric centroids of the footprints was 1 mm. The center of the LUCL origin was 10.7 mm distal to the lateral epicondyle and 8.2 mm from the capitellar articular margin. The center of the LUCL insertion was 3.3 mm distal to the apex of the supinator crest. The LUCL showed anisometric properties as elbow flexion increased (P Conclusions The LUCL origin center was 10.7 mm from the lateral epicondyle, whereas the insertion center was 3.3 mm from the apex of the supinator crest. The visually estimated footprint centers were generally within 1 mm of the geometric centroid. These geometries and distances to key landmarks will be informative for surgeons seeking to perform anatomic ligament reconstruction procedures.
(289) Conditioned Pain Modulation in Buprenorphine-Maintained Patients with Opioid Use Disorder

The number of persons on buprenorphine maintenance for opioid use disorder (OUD) is rising and these patients often have chronic pain. It is not clear whether the endogenous analgesic system, which is often dysregulated in chronic pain patients, is affected by buprenorphine maintenance. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) can evaluate endogenous analgesia; CPM is tested by applying a primary noxious stimulus alone and then simultaneously with a conditioning noxious stimulus on a remote body part. An efficient CPM results in an increase in primary pain threshold in the presence of the conditioning stimulus. A less efficient CPM is pro-nociceptive and results in lower primary pain threshold in the presence of the conditioning stimulus. This study assessed CPM in persons without chronic pain maintained on buprenorphine. CPM was tested by measuring pressure pain threshold at baseline and while undergoing a cold pressor test. Further, this study examined whether adjunct hydromorphone and/or buprenorphine, compared to placebo, effected CPM. Participants (N=13) with OUD who were maintained on 12mg or 16mg buprenorphine performed three study sessions, at least one week apart, where they underwent CPM at baseline and after cumulative doses of 32mg IV hydromorphone, 32mg IV buprenorphine, or placebo. Thirty-one percent of participants displayed less efficient CPM in at least one session prior to drug administration based on lower pressure pain threshold during cold-pressor testing compared to baseline. There were no significant differences in the proportion of individuals with less efficient CPM following 32mg IV hydromorphone (69%), 32mg buprenorphine (54%), or placebo (62%) (p=0.779). Results suggest that some buprenorphine-maintained individuals experience less efficient CPM. High doses of hydromorphone or buprenorphine did not improve CPM compared to placebo. Non-opioid analgesic strategies should be developed to address chronic pain in persons maintained on buprenorphine. Study medications provided by Indivior, Inc.
Autologous IgM, IgA, and complement binding to sickle erythrocytes in vivo. Evidence for the existence of dense sickle cell subsets

We have previously reported that sickle erythrocytes sedimenting at high specific density after gradient centrifugation exhibit increased IgG binding in vivo as compared with low-density paired samples. We have performed the present study to determine whether the opsonization of dense sickle cells in vivo could also involve autologous IgM, IgA, and complement. IgA, IgM, and complement binding in vivo to the surface of density-separated sickle erythrocytes was detected by flow cytometric analyses. IgM and complement C3 fragment binding was detected primarily on high-density sickle erythrocytes. With the exception outlined below, IgA binding was detected for all sickle cell fractions that sediment at densities > 1.085 g/mL. IgM, IgA, and complement C3 fragment binding was increased on high-density sickle erythrocytes as compared with low-density paired samples and exceeded that binding to normal erythrocytes by 30% +/- 10% (mean +/- range), 50% +/- 10%, and 41% +/- 5%, respectively. Two-color flow cytometry indicates that high-density sickle cell fractions contain at least two heterogeneous RBC subsets. One is an RBC subset that binds IgA in combination with IgM and C3, and the second subset is devoid of IgA yet binds IgM and C3. These findings indicate that high-density sickle cells exhibit a greater heterogeneity than has been reported in previous studies, which is based on autologous Ig binding in vivo; and suggest that RBC components of this most severely dehydrated sickle cell subpopulation could have heterogeneous origin and pathophysiologic significance. Although the functional role of IgA binding to human RBCs is unclear, our findings that IgM and complement bind to the same high-density sickle cell fractions suggest that both the IgM and the sickle erythrocyte-bound IgG determined in previous studies could mediate the deposition of complement on dense sickle cells in vivo. These findings support the hypotheses that irreversibly sickled cell-enriched high-density sickle RBC subpopulations could be removed from the circulation by erythrocyte phagocytosis that is enhanced by the presence of complement.
FusionSeg: Learning to Combine Motion and Appearance for Fully Automatic Segmentation of Generic Objects in Videos

We propose an end-to-end learning framework for segmenting generic objects in videos. Our method learns to combine appearance and motion information to produce pixel level segmentation masks for all prominent objects in videos. We formulate this task as a structured prediction problem and design a two-stream fully convolutional neural network which fuses together motion and appearance in a unified framework. Since large-scale video datasets with pixel level segmentations are problematic, we show how to bootstrap weakly annotated videos together with existing image recognition datasets for training. Through experiments on three challenging video segmentation benchmarks, our method substantially improves the state-of-the-art for segmenting generic (unseen) objects. Code and pre-trained models are available on the project website.
Cortical selectivity driven by connectivity: Innate connectivity patterns of the visual word form area

The human brain is a patchwork of different functionally specialized areas. What determines this functional organization of cortex? One hypothesis is that innate connectivity patterns shape functional organization by setting up a scaffold upon which functional specialization can later take place. We tested this hypothesis here by asking whether the visual word form area (VWFA), an experience-driven region that only becomes selective to visual words after gaining literacy, was already connected to proto language networks in neonates scanned within one week of birth. We found that neonates showed adult-like functional connectivity, and observed that i) the VWFA connected more strongly with frontal and temporal language regions than regions adjacent to these language regions (e.g., frontal attentional demand, temporal auditory regions), and ii) language regions connected more strongly with the putative VWFA than other adjacent ventral visual regions that also show foveal bias (e.g. fusiform face area, FFA). Object regions showed similar connectivity with language areas as the VWFA but not with face areas in neonates, arguing against prior hypotheses that the region that becomes the VWFA starts out with a selectivity for faces. These data suggest that the location of the VWFA is earmarked at birth due to its connectivity with the language network, providing novel evidence that innate connectivity instructs the later refinement of cortex.
Optimal Adjuvant Treatment Approach After Upfront Resection of Pancreatic Cancer: Revisiting the Role of Radiation Based on Pathologic Features.

OBJECTIVE To identify the survival benefit of different adjuvant approaches and factors influencing their efficacy after upfront resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA The optimal adjuvant approach for PDAC remains controversial. METHODS Patients from the National Cancer Database who underwent upfront PDAC resection from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed to determine clinical outcomes of different adjuvant treatment approaches, stratified according to pathologic characteristics. Factors associated with overall survival were identified with multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used to compare overall survival of different treatment approaches in the whole cohort, and propensity score matched groups. RESULTS We included 16,709 patients who underwent upfront resection of PDAC. On multivariable analysis, tumor size, grade, positive margin, nodal involvement, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), stage, lymph node ratio, not receiving chemotherapy, and/or radiation were predictors for worse survival. In the presence of at least 1 high-risk pathologic feature (nodal or margin involvement or LVI) chemotherapy with subsequent radiation provided the most significant survival benefit (median survivals: 24.8 vs 21.0 mo for adjuvant chemotherapy; HR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.77-0.86; P < 0.001 in propensity score matching). The addition of radiation to adjuvant chemotherapy did not significantly improve overall survival in those with no high-risk pathologic features (median survivals: 54.6 vs 42.7 mo for adjuvant chemotherapy; HR=0.90; 95% CI: 0.75-1.08; P = 0.25 in propensity score matching). CONCLUSIONS In the presence of any high-risk pathologic features (nodal or margin involvement or LVI), adjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiation provides a better survival advantage over chemotherapy alone after upfront resection of PDAC.
Text message reminders as an adjunct to a substance use intervention for adolescents and young adults: Pilot feasibility and acceptability findings.

ObjectiveText messaging has been proposed as a method for increasing the reach of interventions for harmful alcohol and other drug use. This paper describes the design of an automated text messagin...
Logspace Sequential Quadratic Programming for Design Optimization.

A novel approach to exploiting the log-convex structure present in many design problems is developed by modifying the classical Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) algorithm. The modified algorithm, Logspace Sequential Quadratic Programming (LSQP), inherits some of the computational efficiency exhibited by log-convex methods such as Geometric Programing and Signomial Programing, but retains the the natural integration of black box analysis methods from SQP. As a result, significant computational savings is achieved without the need to invasively modify existing black box analysis methods prevalent in practical design problems. In the cases considered here, the LSQP algorithm shows a 40-70% reduction in number of iterations compared to SQP.
Caregiver Perceptions of Environmental Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Eating and Active Living during the Summer: Results from the Project SWEAT Sub-Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine caregiver perceptions of summertime neighborhood-level environmental barriers and facilitators to healthy eating and active living in their elementary-age racial minority children. Methods: Caregivers with students in the prekindergarten–fifth grade were recruited from two schools located in low-income urban neighborhoods of Columbus, OH, with a predominantly Black population. Participants engaged in the research portion of the Healthy Eating Active Living: Mapping Attribute using Participatory Photographic Surveys (HEALth MAPPSTM) protocol, which included (1) orientation; (2) photographing and geotagging facilitators and barriers to HEALth on daily routes; (3) in-depth interview (IDI) discussing images and routes taken; (4) focus groups (FG). IDIs and FGs were transcribed verbatim. Analyses were guided by grounded theory and interpretive phenomenology and were coded by researchers (n = 3), who used comparative analysis to develop a codebook and determine major themes. Results: A total of 10 caregivers enrolled and 9 completed the IDIs. Five caregivers participated in focus groups. A majority (77.8%, n = 7) of caregivers identified as Black, female (88.9%, n = 8), and low income (55.6%, n = 5). IDI and FG themes included (1) walkway infrastructure crucial for healthy eating and active living; (2) scarce accessibility to healthy, affordable foods; (3) multiple abandoned properties; (4) unsafe activity near common neighborhood routes. Conclusions: Caregivers perceived multiple neighborhood-level barriers to healthy eating and activity during the summer months when school is closed. Findings from this study provide initial insights into environmental determinants of unhealthy summer weight gain in a sample of predominantly racial minority school-age children from low-income households.
Viability of Selected Microorganisms in Hydrocarbon Fuels

A laboratory study of the viability of selected microorganisms in a hydrocarbon fuel medium was carried out on 19 species of microorganisms, representative of the types found as natural contaminants in aircraft fuels. More species remained viable when inoculated in pure cultures than when inoculated in mixed (composite) cultures. Of the 19 species selected, 10 were still viable after 3 months and 5 were viable after 4 months in the pure culture inoculants. In the complete composite culture inoculant, the bacterial species which were viable at the end of 4 months were the same as those found in the pure culture inoculant. No fungi remained viable in the complete composite cultures after a 3-week period. The microorganisms which remain viable in a hydrocarbon fuel medium are considered indicative of a satisfactory inoculum to be used as a test culture in laboratory analysis of mechanical control techniques.
Steps to ensure accuracy in genotype and SNP calling from Illumina sequencing data

Accurate calling of SNPs and genotypes from next-generation sequencing data is an essential prerequisite for most human genetics studies. A number of computational steps are required or recommended when translating the raw sequencing data into the final calls. However, whether each step does contribute to the performance of variant calling and how it affects the accuracy still remain unclear, making it difficult to select and arrange appropriate steps to derive high quality variants from different sequencing data. In this study, we made a systematic assessment of the relative contribution of each step to the accuracy of variant calling from Illumina DNA sequencing data. We found that the read preprocessing step did not improve the accuracy of variant calling, contrary to the general expectation. Although trimming off low-quality tails helped align more reads, it introduced lots of false positives. The ability of markup duplication, local realignment and recalibration, to help eliminate false positive variants depended on the sequencing depth. Rearranging these steps did not affect the results. The relative performance of three popular multi-sample SNP callers, SAMtools, GATK, and GlfMultiples, also varied with the sequencing depth. Our findings clarify the necessity and effectiveness of computational steps for improving the accuracy of SNP and genotype calls from Illumina sequencing data and can serve as a general guideline for choosing SNP calling strategies for data with different coverage.
Models for Tumour Growth and Differentiation

Human tumour growth can typically be studied only during the last quarter of its development after the tumour has been detected and in the presence of therapeutic interference. The progress of a large tumour does not correlate well with its early, but undetected, stages of cell proliferation. Tumour proliferation is described by (i) the rate of individual cell division, (ii) the growth fraction of the cell population, and (iii) the rate of cell loss from the growing population such as through differentiation or cell death. Cell proliferation and differentiation are largely seen as opposed concepts such that a terminally differentiated cell can no longer proliferate or undergo malignant transformation or such that tumours typically represent a reduced level of cell differentiation. The concept of (proto)oncogenes and the opposed tumour-suppressor genes, both typically involved in cell proliferation control has been instrumental in defining the series of sequential genetic alterations that result in tumourigenesis. This has been complemented by cell culture, including three-dimensional models based on primary and immortalized lines. With the available tools of modern molecular biology, primary human cells have been transformed to a malignant phenotype through the sequential introduction of at least four genetic alterations. This phenotype is scored by tumourigenicity in an immunocompromised mouse model and significantly depends on the stromal microenvironment. Aided by in vitro models a limited number of genetic alterations have now been defined, of which some are found in virtually all human cancers. These can now be specifically targeted by rational drug design with increased selectivity and reduced cytotoxicity. Drugs to exploit the residual capacity of tumour cells to undergo differentiation are under investigation and promise loss of tumourigenesis with minimal impact on normal cell proliferation. Keywords: 3D tissue culture; anchorage independence; cell permeant peptides; cell transformation; contact inhibition; development; DNA transfection; differentiation cancer therapy; differentiation markers; focus formation; growth fraction; immortalized cell line; labelling index; (primary) cell culture; stem cells
The Importance of Structure Coefficients in Regression Research.

Multiple regression analysis is frequently and increasingly being employed in both experimental and non-experimental research. However, when data include predictor variables that are correlated, either unavoidably or due to conscious design choices, some regression results can become difficult to interpret. The paper presents an actual study to provide a heuristic demonstration that structure coefficients may be helpful in these cases.
Interferon-regulatory factor 1 is an immediate-early gene under transcriptional regulation by prolactin in Nb2 T cells.

Abstract The pituitary peptide hormone prolactin (Prl) is a potent inducer of Nb2 T lymphoma cell proliferation. To analyze the early genetic response to the mitogenic signals of Prl, a cDNA library was constructed from Nb2 T cells stimulated for 4 h with Prl and the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. Of 26 distinct clones isolated by differential screening, one clone, designated c25, exhibited extremely rapid but transient kinetics of induction by Prl and superinduction by Prl plus cycloheximide. Run-on transcription analysis indicated that c25 gene transcription was induced greater than 20-fold within 30 to 60 min of Prl stimulation. Surprisingly, DNA sequence analysis of c25 cDNA revealed that this Prl-inducible early-response gene is the rat homolog of the mouse transcription factor interferon-regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), sharing 91% coding sequence similarity with mouse IRF-1. At the protein level, rat IRF-1 shares 97% and 92% homology with mouse IRF-1 and human IRF-1, respectively, suggesting that this molecule has been functionally conserved throughout evolution. Our studies show that the gene for IRF-1 is an immediate-early gene in Prl-stimulated T cells, which suggests that IRF-1 is a multifunctional molecule. In addition to its role in regulating growth-inhibitory interferon genes, IRF-1 may, therefore, also play a stimulatory role in cell proliferation. The gene for IRF-1 is one of the earliest genes known to be transcriptionally regulated by Prl.
Neuroimaging in Psychiatric Disorders

One of the most exciting advances in psychiatric research has been the application of in vivo structural and functional neuroimaging to explore brain dysmorphology and metabolic dysfunction in psychiatric disorders. A central research issue in psychiatric neuroimaging is identification of a salient pattern of pathology which also reflects the clinical pathology of the disorder. The ability to visualize the brain in the living subject is especially important in investigations of psychiatric disturbances, because they tend to be nonfatal and manifest when individuals are relatively young. This chapter will review progress to date on three psychiatric conditions—schizophrenia, affective disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It will focus primarily on in vivo structural neuroimaging techniques of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and will relate these findings to functional imaging of glucose metabolism and blood flow with single positron emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET).
AIR: Advances in Respiration – Music therapy in the treatment of chronic pulmonary disease

The aim of this randomized control study is to examine the effect of a multimodal psycho-music therapy intervention on respiratory symptoms, psychological well-being and quality of life of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and other lung diseases as adjunct to Pulmonary Rehabilitation with a design of music therapy plus PR compared to Pulmonary Rehabilitation alone. Music therapy group treatment including music visualization, wind playing and singing was provided weekly. This was compared with standard care treatment. Adults ages 48 to 88 (mean 70.1) with moderate to severe GOLD stage II-IV lung disease as well as other diseases processes that lead to chronic airflow limitations were included (n = 98). Participants in both conditions were followed from baseline enrollment to six weeks post control/treatment. Outcome measures included the Beck Depression Inventory Scale 2nd edition-Fast Screen (BDI-FS), Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire Self-Reported (CRQ-SR), and Dyspnea Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Results showed improvement in symptoms of depression (LS mean -0.2) in the music therapy group with statistical divergence between groups (p = 0.007). The CRQ-SR demonstrated improvement in dyspnea (p = 0.01 LS mean 0.5) and mastery (p = 0.06 LS mean 0.5) in the music therapy group and fatigue (p = 0.01 LS mean 0.3). VAS demonstrated highly significant effect in the music therapy group between weeks 5 and 6 (p < 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that music therapy combined with standard PR may prove to be an effective modality in the management of pulmonary disease.
Fast dynamic voltage stability margin estimation by integration with intelligent load adjustments

A new fast computation scheme is developed in this paper to accurately estimate the dynamic voltage stability margin for power systems by adjusting the load increase ratio. This new technique can be easily integrated with existing methods to solve differential problems. The validity of our proposed approach is proven based on the well-known Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg (RKF) method, and can be extended to other explicit single-step methods easily. Numerical tests demonstrate that the new approach is very practical and has great potential for industry applications.
Strategies for multiscale modeling and simulation of organic materials: polymers and biopolymers

Abstract Advances in theory and methods are making it practical to consider fully first principles (de novo) predictions of structures, properties and processes for organic materials. However, despite the progress there remains an enormous challenge in bridging the vast range of distances and time scales between de novo atomistic simulations and the quantitative continuum models for the macroscopic systems essential in industrial design and operations. Recent advances relevant to such developments include: quantum chemistry including continuum solvation and force field embedding, de novo force fields to describe phase transitions, molecular dynamics (MD) including continuum solvent, non equilibrium MD for rheology and thermal conductivity and mesoscale simulations. To provide some flavor for the opportunities we will illustrate some of the progress and challenges by summarizing some recent developments in methods and their applications to polymers and biopolymers. Four different topics will be covered: (1) hierarchical modeling approach applied to modeling olfactory receptors, (2) stabilization of leucine zipper coils by introduction of trifluoroleucine, (3) modeling response of polymers sensors for electronic nose, and (4) diffusion of gases in amorphous polymers.
Intrinsic metal binding by a spliceosomal RNA.

A conserved stem-loop in the spliceosomal U6 snRNA is thought to play an important role in splicing of mRNA precursors. Recent work describes structural features of this stem-loop and highlights the significance of a previously noted catalytically important metal ion.
Diagnosis of "ASCUS" in women over age 50 is less likely to be associated with dysplasia.

Many investigators have found that cervical dysplasia is common when follow-up data are obtained from patients with a diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). This study tests the hypothesis that ASCUS in older women is less likely to predict dysplasia than in younger women, and quantifies the difference. We constructed a retrospective case/control cohort from patients diagnosed with ASCUS by our service in 1997. Follow-up information was obtained on 150 patients over age 50 and a temporally matched control cohort under age 50. In women under 50, our control group, we found that 29.5% of patients had dysplasia on follow-up. This number is similar to that seen in many studies in the literature. In comparison, women over 50 showed only 12.8% of patients with any level of dysplasia. This difference is statistically significant by chi-square analysis, at P = 0.0077. A diagnosis of ASCUS in women over 50 yrs old is 2.3-fold less likely to be associated with dysplasia than that diagnosis in younger patients.
Role of medial prefrontal cortex Narp in the extinction of morphine conditioned place preference

Narp knockout (KO) mice demonstrate an impaired extinction of morphine conditioned place preference (CPP). Because the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) has been implicated in extinction learning, we tested whether Narp cells in this region play a role in the extinction of morphine CPP. We found that intracranial injections of adenoassociated virus (AAV) expressing wild-type (WT) Narp into the mPFC of Narp KO mice rescued the extinction and the injection of AAV expressing a dominant negative form of Narp (NarpN) into the mPFC of WT mice impaired the extinction of morphine CPP. These findings suggest that Narp in the mPFC mediates the extinction of morphine CPP.
Macromolecular properties and subunit interactions of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase from alfalfa

Abstract Fraction 1 protein was extracted from alfalfa ( Medicago sativa ) and the purified protein identified with the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39). Results of enzyme activity, light-scattering, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetric measurements show: 1. 1. The enzyme is quite stable, showing no loss in activity after a year's storage, either at 4°C in buffer (0.02 M potassium phosphate, pH 7.5) solution or at −20°C as a precipitate in 60% (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 . Lyophilization of a salt-free solution of the enzyme produced mostly an insoluble product; lyophilization of a buffer solution of the enzyme produced a soluble product which retained most of its activity. 2. 2. The enzyme molecular weight (light scattering) is 497 000, and in buffer it neither dissociates into subunits at low concentration (6 μg/ml) nor forms molecular aggregates at high concentration (15 mg/ml). Treatment with p- chloromercuribenzoate at pH 7.5 and subsequent storage at pH 9 does not dissociate the subunit structure. 3. 3. In solution at pH 7.5, the enzyme has a compact conformation and helices make up 29% of the secondary structure. At pH 3.4, it is largely unfolded, but the subunits are still associated, and β- and disordered structures dominate the intrinsic region CD spectrum. 4. 4. The enzyme denatures at 76.2°C and has an enthalpy of denaturation of 6.3 cal/g. The presence of a single endotherm suggests that the subunits are tightly bound to each other and are denatured as a single unit.
P2Y2 and TrkA receptors interact with Src family kinase for neuronal differentiation.

Abstract The crosstalk between the P2Y2 G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) with TrkA receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) is an important mechanism that regulates neuronal differentiation. We show that Src family kinases (SFK) regulate P2Y2-TrkA molecular crosstalk. SFK inhibitors block ATPγS/P2Y2-promoted enhancement of NGF/TrkA signaling and neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells, abrogate the enhancement by ATPγS of neurite outgrowth in primary cultures of dorsal root ganglion neurons, and block co-immunoprecipitation of TrkA, P2Y2 receptors and SFK. These results identify SFK as mediating nucleotide-enhanced neurotrophin-dependent neuronal differentiation and thus, as a key convergence point for interaction between RTKs and GPCRs.
Comparison of Landsat TM and ERS-2 SAR data for discriminating among grassland types and treatments in eastern Kansas

The tallgrass prairies of North America are among the most biologically diverse grasslands in the world. The way these lands are managed can have significant impacts on the biophysical and compositional structure of plant and animal communities. Soil stability and other hydrologic factors are also affected by grassland utilization practices. To better understand how changing grassland management practices are impacting their respective ecosystems, we must be able to map and monitor changing land use practices over large geographic areas. We examined the potential of multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and ERS-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, and the combination of these two data sources for discriminating among three commonly used tallgrass land management practices in areas dominated by cool- and warm-season grass species in eastern Kansas. Our results showed that cool- and warm-season grasses could be discriminated with 90.1% accuracy using the TM data and 73.2% using the SAR data. The three grassland management practices were correctly classified 70.4% of the time using TM data and 39.4% using SAR data. When TM and SAR data were combined, the information contribution by SAR data to the discrimination of grasslands was statistically insignificant. From our findings, we believe Landsat TM data can be used to discriminate among various grassland types at a level of accuracy suitable for land use change monitoring and assessing the impacts of changing government land use policies such as the US Department of Agriculture's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).