cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Photoperiod, Daylength, and Feeding Schedule on Tadpole Growth and Development

The metamorphic rate of Rana pipiens tadpoles was studied under different photoperiods, daylengths, and feeding schedules. Tail resorption and hindlimb growth and development induced by immersion in 30 μg/l thyroxine (T4) were accelerated under longer photoperiods and continuous light when 6L: 18D, 12L: 12D, 18L: 6D, and 24L regimes were compared. Constant light exposure did not produce faster development than an 18 hr photoperiod, and initially was less effective. The rate of spontaneous and T4-induced metamorphosis was greater the shorter the day on 9L:9D, 12L: 12D, or 15L: 15D cycles, although all groups received the same overall amount of light, but in different dosages. When feeding schedule but not the LD cycle was varied, groups of tadpoles fed on 18, 24, or 30 hr regimes showed no differences in growth and development rate on 19L: 5D, and only random variations under continuous light. Differences in metamorphic rate on 18, 24, or 30 hr days are not due to the feeding schedules, but to the LD cycles. From these experiments we conclude that illumination, particularly the length and frequency of the photoperiod, affects the utilization of T4. Development rates independent of the total amount of illumination, but related to daylength and light schedule, suggest interaction of light with an endogenous timing mechanism.
An evaluation of extended validation and picture-in-picture phishing attacks

In this usability study of phishing attacks and browser antiphishing defenses, 27 users each classified 12 web sites as fraudulent or legitimate. By dividing these users into three groups, our controlled study measured both the effect of extended validation certificates that appear only at legitimate sites and the effect of reading a help file about security features in Internet Explorer 7. Across all groups, we found that picture-in-picture attacks showing a fake browser window were as effective as the best other phishing technique, the homograph attack. Extended validation did not help users identify either attack. Additionally, reading the help file made users more likely to classify both real and fake web sites as legitimate when the phishing warning did not appear.
DNA analysis: new kid on the block.

Nishimura reviews GeneTool 1.0, a sequence analysis program designed for use by smaller research groups and individual scientists.
Structural biology. Adding to the antifreeze agenda.

Antifreeze proteins enable certain organisms to survive cold conditions, and are best known in fish. Examples from grass and two species of insect have now also been characterized.
Acute cutaneous graft versus host disease: a clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic study.

Acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a major complication of bone marrow transplantation. This study was undertaken to characterize the histopathologic alterations in early lesions of GVHD and to improve our understanding about the disease process. Histopathologic and immunoperoxidase studies of skin tissue were carried out in 20 patients of GVHD. Sixty percent had grade II histopathologic changes in the skin, grade I and III changes were observed in 35% and 5% respectively. Follicular involvement could be observed in all cases beyond grade I. Immunoperoxidase study revealed 0PD4 (+) (T-helper) cells in dermis and 0PD4 (−) (probably cytotoxic/suppressor) cells in epidermis.
Drug interactions with smoking

Purpose. The mechanisms for drug interactions with smoking and clinically significant pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions with smoking are reviewed. Summary. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are some of the major lung carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. PAHs are potent inducers of the hepatic cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzymes 1A1, 1A2, and, possibly, 2E1. After a person quits smoking, an important consideration is how quickly the induction of CYP1A2 dissipates. The primary pharmacokinetic interactions with smoking occur with drugs that are CYP1A2 substrates, such as caffeine, clozapine, fluvoxamine, olanzapine, tacrine, and theophylline. Inhaled insulin’s pharmacokinetic profile is significantly affected, peaking faster and reaching higher concentrations in smokers compared with nonsmokers, achieving significantly faster onset and higher insulin levels. The primary pharmacodynamic drug interactions with smoking are hormonal contraceptives and inhaled corticosteroids. The most clinically significant interaction occurs with combined hormonal contraceptives. The use of hormonal contraceptives of any kind in women who are 35 years or older and smoke 15 or more cigarettes daily is considered contraindicated because of the increased risk of serious cardiovascular adverse effects. The efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids may be reduced in patients with asthma who smoke. Conclusion. Numerous drug interactions exist with smoking. Therefore, smokers taking a medication that interacts with smoking may require higher dosages than nonsmokers. Conversely, upon smoking cessation, smokers may require a reduction in the dosage of an interacting medication.
MBE grown mid-infrared type-II quantum-well lasers

We have employed molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) for the growth of mid-infrared (MIR) type-II quantum-well laser structures. These lasers consist of strain-balanced InAs/InGasb/InAs/AlSb type-II quantum wells lattice-matched to the AlSb cladding layers. We have demonstrated optically pumped lasers emitting from 3 to 4.3 μm under pulsed operation. For the 3.2-μm lasers, stimulated emission was observed at temperatures up to 350 K. The characteristic temperature T 0 at operation temperatures above ambient was 68 K. Here, we discuss the optimization of the MBE growth of MIR type-II quantum-well lasers, including substrate temperatures, V/III beam-equivalent pressure ratios, and shutter sequencing for better interface control and laser performance.
The Rhetorical Form of the Hellenistic Jewish and Early Christian Sermon: A Response to Lawrence Wills

In a study recently published in this journal, Lawrence Wills has identified, in a wide range of Hellenistic-Jewish and early Christian literature, a recurring pattern that is sometimes characterized in those sources as a “word of exhortation” (λόγος παρακλήσeως: Acts 13:15; Heb 13:22; cf. Acts 2:40; 1 Macc 10:24; 2 Macc 7:24; 15:11; Apostolic Constitutions 8.5). Toward the end of his article, Wills suggests that the form of this word of exhortation may define a point on a larger rhetorical trajectory within Greco-Roman Hellenism, and that “we can perhaps go further and note the actual compositional techniques that have passed over from Greek rhetoric into Jewish and Christian oratory.” In this assessment Wills is, I believe, quite correct, and in this essay I wish to build upon, and at specific points to refine, his analysis of the form of Hellenistic-Jewish and early Christian sermons.
Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation by Rb-E2F segregate by biological pathway

The E2F family of transcription factors are critical regulators of the cell cycle and have also been implicated in apoptosis, development, DNA damage checkpoints, and differentiation. Retinoblastoma (Rb) proteins interact with E2F to regulate transcription, and several mechanisms have been proposed for Rb-E2F transcriptional regulation. We designed microarray-based experiments to characterize the relative contributions of each mechanism, and unexpectedly, we found that distinct functional gene groups show preference for one mechanism over the others. We propose that such a distribution may provide signaling specificity to enable regulatory proteins to turn on or off entire pathways that determine cell fate.
Commentary: Enough is enough

Fifty years after the original 1964 US Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health three paths can lead the world to largely eliminating tobacco use altogether: (i) expand current practices for demand reduction, (ii) make use of current legislators to build programs into the future, and (iii) think out of the box with new ideas, such as reducing nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. It is possible to believe that tobacco use can be eliminated before the 100th anniversary.
Atomistic simulation of mechanical properties of diamond and silicon carbide by a field theory

This paper presents a multiscale field theory and its application in modelling and simulation of atomistic systems involving three-body interaction forces. Atomistic formulation of the multiscale field theory is introduced. Numerical simulations based on the field theory are performed to investigate the material behaviours of diamond and silicon carbide at the atomic scale. We have obtained the tensile strength and the elastic modulus that approach that obtained by first principles calculations for both diamond and silicon carbide. Their nanoscale deformation and failure mechanism are revealed. It is interesting to observe that under tensile loading, unlike silicon carbide, diamond has gone through a phase transformation as well as local amorphization before failure. The potential application of this atomic field theory is discussed.
Boundary Spanners Revisited A Qualitative Inquiry into Cross-system Reform through the Experience of Youth Service Professionals

While collaborative change models are gaining momentum in human services, more needs to be known about those leading the changes in a contemporary context. The professional experiences of those who...
Group Treatment of Situationally Orgasmic Women

Abstract It appears that an all women's group treatment program is successful for two-thirds of the women who enter the program in terms of teaching them to experience orgasm with their partner more frequently and in different ways and that these changes are maintained. The program is most effective for those women in casual relationships and relationships which are of a committed or very serious nature but which have not been in existence for over 11/2 years. In those relationships that are committed, but over 3 years' duration, the results are more mixed. It may be possible that additional conjoint treatment may increase the effectiveness of the program for these couples, but this hypothesis requires further research.
Semantic Satiation: Replication and Test of Further Implications:

A set of six basic list words with corresponding lists of: I. close semantic similarity (S-words); 2, word associates (A-words); and 3. controls (C-words) with neither of the foregoing properties; was selected. Three experimental lists containing two words of each type of correspondence were constructed. A nine-scale semantic differential representing the three major factors of connotative meaning was assembled. Thirty male undergraduates were randomly assigned to an experimental list. Ss rated the basic list and the corresponding list words on the semantic differential first. Words and scales were presented individually on cards for the satiation condition, S first repeating a B-word for 15 sec., then immediately rating a corresponding word against a single scale (54 pairings altogether). Immediately after all the pairings were completed, S rated the B-words on a standard semantic differential form again. Polarity difference scores (difference between pre- and post-satiation ratings) were obtained for all words for all 5s. The binomial expansion was used to test for differences in rating change from zero for the basic and corresponding list words. Sign tests were used to contrast the different word types. There was a significant satiation effect only for B-words, but since even these were not significantly different from the controls, one hesitates to admit wordspecific satiation effects. An exact replication of Lambert and Jakobovits' experiment is dictated by the very weak support found in the present experiment. If the satiation phenomenon is found to be replicable on a Minnesota sample, then Osgood's theory of representational mediation processes should be questioned as the satiacion effect should generalize to semantically similar words-which it definitely did not in the present study.
The pyrolysis of isopropyl 5-chloro-2-hydroxycarbanilate during gas chromatography

Abstract Isopropyl 5-chloro-2-hydroxycarbanilate has been shown to thermally degrade to 5-chloro-2-benzoxazolinone and unidentified polymeric products. Isopropyl 2-acetoxy-5-chlorocarbanilate was thermally degraded to N-acetyl 5-chloro-2-benzonazolinone and polymeric products. When isopropyl 2-acetoxy-5-chlorocarbanilate was pyrolyzed in the presence of dimethylamine isopropyl 2-hydroxy-5-chlorocarbanilate 5-chloro-2-benzoxazolinone and 3-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea were isolated. The acetylated carbamate was shown to be thermally more stable than the hydroxy analog.
Isolation and characterization of polyoma nucleoprotein complexes

A method for the isolation of polyoma nucleoprotein complexes has been developed using neuraminidase treatment of infected cell lysates. At least three distinct forms of polyoma virion intermediates were identified by their [3H]thymidine labeling kinetics and sedimentation coefficients: a rapidly labeled 95 S "replicating complex" which chases to a 75 S minichromosome and then to a 240 S virion structure. The general properties of these distinct intermediates were similar to those found for SV40. In contrast to SV40, however, a continuum of labeled polyoma viral DNA sedimented between 240 S and 95 S. These complexes were characterized by their release from cell debris with neuraminidase, precipitation with antivirion antibody, complete disruption in 1 M NaCl, and association with hemagglutinating (HA) activity. These intermediates may represent incremental capsid protein additions to the 75 S minichromosome, hypothesized in the current models for SV40 assembly. The ability to isolate a complete complement of polyoma subviral complexes provides a basis for studying the growth defect of polyoma host-range mutants, and the properties of neuraminidase release, hemagglutination, and specific immunoprecipitation suggest purification steps for further characterization of these virion assembly intermediates.
Lexical Cues of Interaction Involvement in Dyadic Instant Messaging Conversations

We explore how people express and interpret lexical cues of interaction involvement in dyadic conversations via instant messaging (IM) in two studies. In Study 1, an experiment with 60 participants, we manipulated level of involvement in a conversation with a distraction task. We examined how participants' uses of verbal cues such as pronouns were associated with their involvement in text-only IM conversations. We found that use of personal pronouns, assent words, cognitive words, and definite articles were significant indicators of a participant's involvement. In Study 2, an online survey with 50 participants, we examined how two lexical cues of involvement, personal pronouns and assent words, were perceived and interpreted. We found that communicators using few personal pronouns and many assent words were evaluated as more involved in their conversations. Our results contribute to theoretical development in computer-mediated communication and have implications for design of technologies to better suppor...
Association between asthma, asthma symptoms and C-reactive protein in US adults: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002.

Background and objectives: CRP is elevated in several inflammatory diseases; however, little is known about its association with asthma. Methods: The study evaluated the associations between CRP, asthma and asthma symptoms using data on 8020 adults ≥20 years of age from the latest US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results: The prevalence estimates of current asthma, wheezing and nocturnal cough were 3.6% (95% CI: 2.9–4.4), 14.7% (95% CI: 13.7–15.8) and 4.6% (95% CI: 3.8–5.3), respectively. Geometric mean of CRP was 0.20 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.19–0.21). The majority of female (69.5%) respondents were in the fourth (highest) quartile of CRP. Mean CRP levels were significantly higher in non-Hispanic blacks as compared with non-Hispanic whites. The adjusted odds of current asthma and past asthma (as compared with no asthma) were 1.60 (95% CI: 1.02–2.53) and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.07–1.91), respectively, greater in the fourth quartile of CRP. The adjusted odds of presence of both wheezing and nocturnal cough were 2.18 and 3.40 in the third and fourth quartile of CRP, respectively. Conclusions: This study shows that adults with asthma and asthma symptoms have higher levels of CRP. The potential use of CRP as a clinically useful marker for asthma severity and control should be further explored.
A microarray analysis of sex- and gonad-biased gene expression in the zebrafish: Evidence for masculinization of the transcriptome

In many taxa, males and females are very distinct phenotypically, and these differences often reflect divergent selective pressures acting on the sexes. Phenotypic sexual dimorphism almost certainly reflects differing patterns of gene expression between the sexes, and microarray studies have documented widespread sexually dimorphic gene expression. Although the evolutionary significance of sexual dimorphism in gene expression remains unresolved, these studies have led to the formulation of a hypothesis that male-driven evolution has resulted in the masculinization of animal transcriptomes. Here we use a microarray assessment of sex- and gonad-biased gene expression to test this hypothesis in zebrafish. By using zebrafish Affymetrix microarrays to compare gene expression patterns in male and female somatic and gonadal tissues, we identified a large number of genes (5899) demonstrating differences in transcript abundance between male and female Danio rerio. Under conservative statistical significance criteria, all sex-biases in gene expression were due to differences between testes and ovaries. Male-enriched genes were more abundant than female-enriched genes, and expression bias for male-enriched genes was greater in magnitude than that for female-enriched genes. We also identified a large number of genes demonstrating elevated transcript abundance in testes and ovaries relative to male body and female body, respectively. Overall our results support the hypothesis that male-biased evolutionary pressures have resulted in male-biased patterns of gene expression. Interestingly, our results seem to be at odds with a handful of other microarray-based studies of sex-specific gene expression patterns in zebrafish. However, ours was the only study designed to address this specific hypothesis, and major methodological differences among studies could explain the discrepancies. Regardless, all of these studies agree that transcriptomic sex differences in D. rerio are widespread despite the apparent absence of heterogamety. These differences likely make important contributions to phenotypic sexual dimorphism in adult zebrafish; thus, from an evolutionary standpoint, the precise roles of sex-specific selection and sexual conflict in the evolution of sexually dimorphic gene expression are very important. The results of our study and others like it set the stage for further work aimed at directly addressing this exciting issue in comparative genomics.
A Statistically Precise and Relatively Simple Method of Estimating the Bio-Assay with Quantal Response, Based on the Logistic Function

(1953). A Statistically Precise and Relatively Simple Method of Estimating the Bio-Assay with Quantal Response, Based on the Logistic Function. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 48, No. 263, pp. 565-599.
Seasonality in conception of births and influence on late initiation of prenatal care.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether there is a summer peak in conception of births to adolescents (up to 17 years) compared with older teenagers (18–19 years) and adults (20–29 years), and to assess the influence of season of conception on late initiation of prenatal care. Methods: We analyzed 1,178,607 singleton births to women aged 29 years and younger in Texas between 1994 and 1998. Dates of conception were estimated using last menstrual period and clinical estimates of gestation. Proportions of births conceived per month were assessed for seasonal patterns. Proportions of births with late initiation of prenatal care were also compared by month of conception. The outcomes were further stratified by sociodemographic variables. Results: There was a consistent summer trough (7.5% in August) and year-end peak (9.1% in December) in conception of births to adolescents (P Conclusion: Adolescents giving birth in Texas were not more likely to conceive in the summer. They did present seasonal patterns of conception and late initiation of prenatal care similar to older women.
CPA Firm Alumni as a Marketing Resource

One way accounting firms can identify potential sources of referrals and new business is to look to past employees, or alumni, Although major firms recognize the importance of maintaining relationships with their alumni, no prior research has directly examined alumni systems in CPA firms or other business organizations. Therefore, an exploratory study was conducted to identify characteristics of employee and alumni programs that appear to influence the marketing value of alumni. Results indicate that several variables affect an alumnus' identification with and predisposition to benefit the firm. Suggestions are offered on ways the firm can positively influence these variables. Many implications also apply to other types of professional services firms.
Manipulation of Clinical Materials Using AC Electrokinetics

AC electrokinetics is a promising approach for sample preparation and reaction enhancement in lab-on-a-chip devices. However, relative little has been done on the electrokinetic manipulation of physiological fluids and buffers with similar properties, such as conductivity. Herein, electrokinetic manipulation of fluids with a wide range of conductivities has been studied as a function of voltage and frequency. AC electrothermal flow is determined to dominate the fluid motion when the applied frequency of the AC potential is above 100 kHz. Interestingly, experimental data deviate from theoretical prediction for fluids with high conductivities (> 1 Sm−1 ). The deviation can be understood by voltage modulated electrochemical reactions and should be accounted for when manipulating clinical materials with high conductivities. The study will provide useful in sights in designing lab-on-a-chip devices for manipulating clinical samples in the future.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Patterns of communication channel use in the maintenance of long‐distance relationships

The present study focuses on associations between communication channel use and relational maintenance by individuals in long‐distance romantic relationships. Survey data were collected from 114 individuals in long‐distance relationships (LDRs). Results indicate that use of communication channels covaries such that there are positive relationships between the use of oral channels (face‐to‐face and telephone), positive relationships between the use of written channels (internet and letters), but negative relationships between the use of oral and written communication channels. Second, the use of each communication channel was positively associated with relational maintenance, with telephone use in particular associated with the use of relational maintenance strategies. Telephone use was also positively associated with relational commitment and satisfaction, and Internet use was positively associated with trust. Finally, amount of face‐to‐face interaction could successfully distinguish between LDR types, wi...
Paediatric experiences with work-hour limitations.

Objectives To evaluate the perceived impact of work-hour limitations on paediatric residency training programmes and to determine the various strategies used to accommodate these restrictions. Methods A three-page pre-tested survey was administered to programme directors at the 2004 Association of Paediatric Programme Directors meeting. The impact of work-hours was evaluated with Likert-type questions and the methods used to meet work-hour requirements were compared between large programmes (≥30 residents) and small programmes. Results Surveys were received from 53 programme directors. The majority responded that work-hour limitations negatively impacted inpatient continuity, time for education, schedule flexibility and attending staff satisfaction. Supervision by attending staff was the only aspect to significantly improve. Perceived resident satisfaction was neutral. To accommodate work-hour limitations, 64% of programmes increased clinical responsibility to existing non-resident staff, 36% hired more non-resident staff and 17% increased the number of residents. Only one programme hired additional non-clinical staff. Large programmes were more likely to use more total methods on the inpatient wards (P < 0.01) and in the intensive care units (P < 0.05) to accommodate work-hour limitations. Conclusions Programme directors perceived a negative impact of work-hours on most aspects of training without a perceived difference in resident satisfaction. While a variety of methods are used to accommodate work-hour limitations, programmes are not widely utilizing non-clinical staff to alleviate clerical burdens.
Pore-scale Characterization of Organic Immiscible-Liquid Morphology in Natural Porous Media Using Synchrotron X-Ray Microtomography

The objective of this study was to quantitatively characterize the pore-scale morphology of organic immiscible liquid residing within natural porous media. Synchrotron X-ray microtomography was used to obtain high-resolution, three-dimensional images of solid and liquid phases in packed columns. The image data were processed to generate quantitative measurements of organic-liquid blob morphology. Three porous media, comprising a range of particle-size distributions, were used to evaluate the impact of porous-medium texture on blob morphology. The sizes and shapes of the organic-liquid blobs varied greatly, ranging from small spherical singlets (> or = 0.03 mm in diameter) to large, amorphous ganglia with mean lengths of 4-5 mm. The smaller blobs were composed primarily of singlets, which comprised approximately half of all blobs for all three media. Conversely, large, complex blobs comprising four or more bodies composed 11-24% of the total number of blobs. However, the majority of the total organic-liquid surface area and volume was associated with the largest blobs. The ratio of median blob size to median grain size was close to unity for all three systems. The distribution of blob sizes was greatest for the porous medium with the broadest particle-size and pore-size distributions. These results illustrate the utility of synchrotron X-ray microtomography for characterizing fluid distributions at the pore scale in natural porous media.
Modeling, Control and Application of Piezoelectric Actuators

Nanotechnology is a growing area that educators are interested in attracting students to. Smart materials have become the workhorse in a multitude of nanotechnology. One example is the piezoelectric actuators which are used for nano-positioning in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The majority of today’s engineering and technology students are unaware of the remarkable properties of smart materials as well as their applications in nanotechnology. Therefore, providing students with the knowledge and experience of piezoelectric actuators is the crucial step in integrating nanotechnology into engineering and technology education. One course module has been developed for introducing modeling, control, and application of piezoelectric actuators to undergraduate students at Jackson State University. This module includes classroom lectures, demonstrations, and actual exercises. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the teaching module and provides some initial student feedback. The course module description and covered topics are presented in detailed. The course module presented in this paper can easily and seamlessly be integrated to the existing engineering and technology courses.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A developmental study of semantic effects on recognition memory

Abstract Three experiments evaluated color specificity knowledge and related semantic effects on recognition memory. Experiment I provided the necessary baseline data to show that preschool and college students know the appropriate color of objects. Experiment II revealed semantic effects on recognition of children but not adults. In Experiment III a delay was introduced and adults showed semantic effects as well. The chroma of color-specific and non-color-specific items was remembered relatively well, although chroma recognition for these item types was somewhat different. The semantic effects on very young children's memory suggest deep level interpretive processing in children younger than those generally showing deliberate deployment of memory strategies.
Looming cognitive style and quality of life in a cancer cohort

OBJECTIVE Looming cognitive styles (LCS) bias the velocity of potential threats and have been implicated in anxiety and depression vulnerability. This study aims to explore their contribution to impaired quality of life (QOL), beyond that of depression and anxiety, in a cancer cohort. METHOD In a cross-sectional design, an ambulatory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cohort completed a psychological battery that included the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, the SF-36 Health Survey, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACT), the Looming Cognitive Style Questionnaire (LCSQ), and the Looming Cancer measure. RESULTS The Looming Cancer measure correlated significantly with overall QOL (FACT-G, p = 0.005). This effect was largely due to the contribution of emotional QOL (Mental Component Score: SF-36, p = 0.001; FACT-emotional, p = 0.001) and functional QOL (FACT-functional, p = 0.001). Looming, unlike anxiety and depression, did not correlate with a worse physical QOL (Physical Component Score: SF-36, FACT-physical). Looming did not impact on social QOL. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that looming predicted 5.4% of the varience on the FACT-emotional, 5.1% on the Mental Component Score (SF-36), and 9.3% on the mental health subscale (SF-36), above and beyond the varience predicted by a constellation of psychosocial factors (including age, marital status, education, income) and the combined effect of depression and anxiety. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS LCS predicts worse emotional and functional QOL, above and beyond the contribution of anxiety, depression, and other psycho-social variables. This suggests that it makes a unique contribution to a worse QOL. Nevertheless, the looming construct still remains primarily a research tool in psycho-oncology at this time.
Induction of ovarian cancer and DNA adducts by dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in the mouse

Tobacco smoking is an etiological factor of ovarian cacner; however, the mechanisms remain largely undefined. Therefore, as an initial investigation, we examined the carcinogenicity and DNA adducts formation in the ovary of mice treated with DB[a,l]P, a tobacco smoke constituent and environmental pollutant. Ovarian tumors in B6C3F1 mice were induced by direct application of DB[a,l]P (24, 12, 6, and 3 nmol/mouse, three times a week for 38 weeks) into the oral cavity of mice. At 6 nmol, DB[a,l]P induced the highest total ovarian tumor incidence (79%), but the incidence of malignancy was only 15%. However, at the dose of 12 nmol, the total ovarian tumor incidence was 75%, and the incidence of malignancy was 65%. In addition to ovarian tumors, at the dose of 24 nmol, DB[a,l]P induced lesions in sites distal from the ovaries including the skin, mammary, lung, and oral tissues, which were rare at doses lower than 24 nmol. Another bioassay was conducted to detect and quantify DNA adducts induced by DB[a,l]P (24 nmol, three times a week for 5 weeks) in the ovary at 48 h and 1, 2, and 4 weeks after the last administration of DB[a,l]P. DNA was isolated, and the dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol-13,14-epoxide (DB[a,l]PDE)-DNA adducts were analyzed by a LC-MS/MS method. DB[a,l]P resulted in the formation of (-)-anti-cis-DB[a,l]PDE-dA and (-)-anti-trans-DB[a,l]PDE-dA adducts, which were 0.8 and 1.6 fmol/10(6) dA, respectively, in ovaries of mice within 48 h, and the level of adducts decreased over a week. Our results indicated that DB[a,l]P can be metabolized to form (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE; the latter may, in part, account for DB[a,l]P-induced ovarian cancer. This animal model should assist to better understand the mechanisms, account for the induction of ovarian cancer by tobacco carcinogens, and facilitate the development of chemopreventive agents against ovarian cancer.
The 1999 Hector Mine Earthquake, Southern California: Vector Near-Field Displacements from ERS InSAR

Two components of fault slip are uniquely determined from two line-of-sight (LOS) radar interferograms by assuming that the fault-normal component of displacement is zero. We use this approach with ascending and descending interferograms from the ERS satellites to estimate surface slip along the Hector Mine earthquake rupture. The LOS displacement is determined by visually counting fringes to within 1 km of the outboard ruptures. These LOS estimates and uncertainties are then transformed into strike- and dip-slip estimates and uncertainties; the transformation is singular for a N-S oriented fault and optimal for an E-W oriented fault. In contrast to our previous strike-slip estimates, which were based only on a descending interferogram, we now find good agreement with the geological measurements, except at the ends of the rupture. The ascending interferogram reveals significant west-sidedown dip-slip (approximately 1.0 m) which reduces the strike-slip estimates by 1 to 2 m, especially along the northern half of the rupture. A spike in the strike-slip displacement of 6 m is observed in central part of the rupture. This large offset is confirmed by subpixel cross correlation of features in the before and after amplitude images. In addition to strike slip and dip slip, we identify uplift and subsidence along the fault, related to the restraining and releasing bends in the fault trace, respectively. Our main conclusion is that at least two look directions are required for accurate estimates of surface slip even along a pure strike-slip fault. Models and results based only on a single look direction could have major errors. Our new estimates of strike slip and dip slip along the rupture provide a boundary condition for dislocation modeling. A simple model, which has uniform slip to a depth of 12 km, shows good agreement with the observed ascending and descending interferograms.
The influence of olfactory context on Pavlovian conditioning and its expression in preweanling (16-day-old) and adult rats

In a series of experiments, we tested the responses of preweanling (16 days postpartum) and adult rats to a specific olfactory context that was present during conditioning and testing of a brightness-location aversion. The first set of experiments established that (1) contrary to previously published effects with other distinctive contexts during conditioning and testing, a novel olfactory context impaired conditioning and its expression in preweanlings; (2) if the preweanlings were previously familiarized with the olfactory context, its presence impaired neither conditioning nor its expression; and (3) although conditioning in the absence of the olfactory context was equivalent for adults and preweanlings, the novel olfactory context had no effect on conditioning or its expression in adults. In the next set of experiments, we tested whether a conditioned aversion had been formed to the olfactory context. It was determined that although preweanlings acquired a substantial aversion to the olfactory context, whether novel or familiar, adults gave no indication of conditioning to the novel olfactory context. A final set of experiments established that preweanlings acquired an association between (or unitized) the CS + and the context. These results add to previous indications that preweanlings may be especially sensitive to redundant or irrelevant features of the conditioning episode.
Experience with retroperitoneoscopy in pediatric surgical oncology

Retroperitoneoscopy (RS) has been successfully introduced in adult oncology for diagnostic procedures, staging, and surgical treatment. Its value for children has rarely been reported. This report describes the authors’ experience using RS in the diagnosis and staging of cancer for children and adolescents. All RS procedures performed at the authors’ institution between 2004 and 2010 were reviewed. The authors’ operative technique entails a 10- to 12-mm flank incision followed by finger and balloon dissection of the retroperitoneal areolar tissue, with carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation used to push the peritoneal lining medially. One to two additional working ports are placed above the iliac rim and below the costal margin. In cases of peritoneal tear with leakage of CO2 and progressive retroperitoneal impingement, a Veress needle is placed in the umbilicus for pressure release. This review included 16 patients with a median age of 16.4 years (range, 4.4–29.8 years) who underwent RS for lymph node sampling (9 cases), diagnostic biopsy (6 cases), or resection of a metastatic nodule (1 case). Four complications were encountered (3 conversions to open surgery and 1 self-limited gross hematuria). The mean operative time was 123.3 ± 33.5 min. The patients required 1.1 ± 0.8 days of intravenous analgesia on the average. The mean hospital stay was 1.7 ± 0.6 days. The authors believe that RS is a safe surgical technique for access to the retroperitoneum in pediatric patients. In cases of a peritoneal tear, placement of a Veress needle in the umbilicus effectively prevents conversion to open surgery. Retroperitoneoscopy should be considered for children who need biopsies, lymph node dissections, or resections of primary tumors in the retroperitoneum.
Preschoolers Learning Hmong and English: Lexical-Semantic Skills in L1 and L2.

Picture naming and picture identification tasks were used to investigate lexical-semantic skills in young children learning Hmong as a first language (L1) and English as a second language (L2). A total of 19 children, ages 3;4 (years;months)-5;2, participated in this study. Performance on lexical tasks was analyzed as a function of development (older and younger participants), language (Hmong and English), modality (receptive and expressive skills), and the nature of total or "composite" vocabulary scores (translation equivalents or singles, reflecting comparable forms in both languages as compared to concepts lexicalized into only 1 language). Older participants outperformed younger participants in English, but not Hmong, indicating a relative stabilization of L1 skills, alongside more robust growth in L2. The difference between expressive and receptive performance was also much greater in Hmong than English. Composite scores were always greater than single language scores and the proportion of translati...
LRBM: A Restricted Boltzmann Machine Based Approach for Representation Learning on Linked Data

Linked data consist of both node attributes, e.g., Preferences, posts and degrees, and links which describe the connections between nodes. They have been widely used to represent various network systems, such as social networks, biological networks and etc. Knowledge discovery on linked data is of great importance to many real applications. One of the major challenges of learning linked data is how to effectively and efficiently extract useful information from both node attributes and links in linked data. Current studies on this topic either use selected topological statistics to represent network structures, or linearly map node attributes and network structures to a shared latent feature space. However, while approaches based on statistics may miss critical patterns in network structure, approaches based on linear mappings may not be sufficient to capture the non-linear characteristics of nodes and links. To handle the challenge, we propose, to our knowledge, the first deep learning method to learn from linked data. A restricted Boltzmann machine model named LRBM is developed for representation learning on linked data. In LRBM, we aim to extract the latent feature representation of each node from both node attributes and network structures, non-linearly map each pair of nodes to the links, and use hidden units to control the mapping. The details of how to adapt LRBM for link prediction and node classification on linked data have also been presented. In the experiments, we test the performance of LRBM as well as other baselines on link prediction and node classification. Overall, the extensive experimental evaluations confirm the effectiveness of the proposed LRBM model in mining linked data.
Biochemical Characterization of the Chondroitinase B Active Site

Chondroitinase B from Flavobacterium heparinum is the only known lyase that cleaves the glycosaminoglycan, dermatan sulfate (DS), as its sole substrate. A recent co-crystal structure of chondroitinase B with a disaccharide product of DS depolymerization has provided some insight into the location of the active site and suggested potential roles of some active site residues in substrate binding and catalysis. However, this co-crystal structure was not representative of the actual enzyme-substrate complex, because the disaccharide product did not have the right length or the chemical structure of the minimal substrate (tetrasaccharide) involved in catalysis. Therefore, only a limited picture of the functional role of active site residues in DS depolymerization was presented in previous structural studies. In this study, by docking a DS tetrasaccharide into the proposed active site of the enzyme, we have identified novel roles of specific active site amino acids in the catalytic function of chondroitinase B. Our conformational analysis also revealed a unique, symmetrical arrangement of active site amino acids that may impinge on the catalytic mechanism of action of chondroitinase B. The catalytic residues Lys-250, Arg-271, His-272, and Glu-333 along with the substrate binding residues Arg-363 and Arg-364 were mutated using site-directed mutagenesis, and the kinetics and product profile of each mutant were compared with recombinant chondroitinase B. Mutating Lys-250 to alanine resulted in inactivation of the enzyme, potentially attributable to the role of the residue in stabilizing the carbanion intermediate formed during enzymatic catalysis. The His-272 and Glu-333 mutants showed diminished enzymatic activity that could be indicative of a possible role for one or both residues in the abstraction of the C-5 proton from the galactosamine. In addition, the Arg-364 mutant had an altered product profile after exhaustive digestion of DS, suggesting a role for this residue in defining the substrate specificity of chondroitinase B.
Effect of controlled disorder on the electrical properties of TTF-TCNQ (tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane): High-temperature regime

The results of a study of the effects of controlled disorder on the electrical conductivity of the one-dimensional conductor, tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TTF-TCNQ), are reported. We find that radiation-induced defects lead to effects which are relatively easy to establish from studies on a given set of crystals, and do not rely on subsequent synthesis and crystal growth. The temperature of the conductivity maximum increases with defect concentration [$\frac{{\mathrm{dT}}_{M}}{\mathrm{dc}}\ensuremath{\simeq}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{2}$ K/(percent defects)], whereas the associated disorder suppresses the phase transitions to lower temperature. The first transition, associated with the onset of long-range order in pure TTF-TCNQ shifts downward with an initial slope of 1.5 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{2}$ K/(percent defects). The 38-K transition, associated with the final locking of the charge-density waves shifts to lower temperatures with an initial slope of 2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{2}$ K/(percent defects). The data have been analyzed in the temperature range above the conductivity maximum to obtain quantitative information on the overall question of the importance of defects on the electrical transport properties of quasi-one-dimensional conductors. Both the conductivity peak ratio and the absolute magnitude of the room-temperature conductivity are extremely sensitive to induced defects at the level of 20 to 1000 ppm. The results are discussed in the context of the Peierls instability and the structural data available for the TTF-TCNQ system.
The matricellular protein CCN1 induces fibroblast senescence and restricts fibrosis in cutaneous wound healing

Cellular senescence is a recognized mechanism of tumour suppression; however, its contribution to other pathologies is not well understood. We show that the matricellular protein CCN1 (also known as CYR61; cysteine-rich protein 61), which is dynamically expressed at sites of wound repair, can induce fibroblast senescence by binding to integrin alpha(6)beta(1) and the heparan sulphate proteoglycans (receptors involved in cell adhesion). CCN1 induces DNA damage response pathways and activates p53 and the RAC1-NOX1 complex, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS). This results in the ROS-dependent activation of the p16(INK4a)/pRb pathway, leading to senescence and concomitant expression of antifibrotic genes. Senescent fibroblasts accumulate in granulation tissues of healing cutaneous wounds and express antifibrotic genes in wild-type mice. These processes are lost in knockin mice that express a senescence-defective Ccn1 mutant, resulting in exacerbated fibrosis. Topical application of CCN1 protein to wounds reverses these defects. Thus, fibroblast senescence is a CCN1-dependent wound healing response in cutaneous injury that functions to curb fibrosis during tissue repair.
Segmentation of salt allochthons

Progradation of the northern Gulf of Mexico slope differentially loaded a stretching allochthonous salt sheet at least 80 km long. Loading segmented the landward margin of the allochthon into smaller salt structures: (1) irregular, rootless salt massifs separated by ovoid intrasalt basins; (2) rootless salt stocks within a linear basin; and (3) isolated remnant salt rollers overlying a discontinuity marking the level from which the allochthon was displaced. During partitioning, salt migrated basinward to feed the leading edge of the allochthon. Most salt structures on the upper continental slope are thought to have formed by segmentation of much larger allochthonous sheets.
Electric field-decoupled electroosmotic pump for microfluidic devices

An electric field-free electroosmotic pump has been constructed and its pumping rate has been measured under various experimental conditions. The key component of the pump is an ion-exchange membrane grounding joint that serves two major functions: (i) to maintain fluid continuity between pump channels and microfluidic conduit and (ii) to ground the solution in the microfluidic channel at the joint through an external electrode, and hence to decouple the electric field applied to the pump channels from the rest of the microfluidic system. A theoretical model has been developed to calculate the pumping rates and its validity has been demonstrated.