cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fifteen Minutes of Fame: The Power of Blogs in the Lifecycle of Viral Political Information

This empirical study addresses dynamics of viral information in the blogosphere and aims to fill gaps in the literature. In this study, we present a new methodology which enables us to capture the dynamism and the time-factor of information diffusion in networks. Moreover, we argue that the blogosphere is not monolithic and illuminate the role of four important blog types: elite, toppolitical, top-general and tail blogs. We also create a map of the ‗life cycle‘ of blogs posting links to viral information, specifically viral videos at the 2008 US presidential election. Finally, we show that elite and top-general blogs ignite the virality process, which means that they get the chance to frame messages and influence agenda setting, while, top-political and tail blogs act as followers in the process. To accomplish this, we gathered data on blogs (n=9,765) and their posts (n=13,173) linking to 65 of the top US presidential election videos that became viral on the Internet during the period between March 2007 and June 2009.
Camera trajectory estimation using inertial sensor measurements and structure from motion results

This paper describes an approach to estimating the trajectory of a moving camera based on the measurements acquired with an inertial sensor and estimates obtained by applying a structure from motion algorithm to a small set of keyframes in the video sequence. The problem is formulated as an offline trajectory fitting task rather than an online integration problem. This approach avoids many of the issues usually associated with inertial estimation schemes. One of the main advantages of the proposed technique is that it can be applied in situations where approaches based on feature tracking would have significant difficulties. Results obtained by applying the procedure to extended sequences acquired with both conventional and omnidirectional cameras are presented.
Effect of Glycine max cultivar and weed control on weed seed characteristics

Abstract Group IV Glycine max cultivars, chlorimuron postemergence, and paraquat + sodium chlorate applied as preharvest desiccants were evaluated for their effect on weed seed production and viability. Early-maturing G. max cultivars reduced seed weight, seed production, and seedling growth in Ipomoea lacunosa in most instances and usually reduced seed weight, germination, emergence, and growth in Sesbania exaltata by allowing harvest prior to physiological maturity of these weeds. Tall, late-maturing G. max decreased weed seed production and seed weight of both species, presumably through increased competitiveness of G. max. The seeds produced by weeds that emerged after chlorimuron application were usually lower in weight, germination, and emergence, and growth of seedlings was reduced because most weeds present at the time of application were controlled. Thus, only late-emerging or stunted plants were present to produce seed. Preharvest desiccation of late-maturing S. exaltata parent plants with paraq...
The California Civil Rights Initiative: An Interpretive Guide

This article analyzes the meaning of the California Civil Rights Initiative, the California anti-race/sex-preferences constitutional amendment. No grand meta-theories, just detailed clause-by-clause analysis.
Fully quantified spectral imaging reveals in vivo membrane protein interactions

Here we introduce the fully quantified spectral imaging (FSI) method as a new tool to probe the stoichiometry and stability of protein complexes in biological membranes. The FSI method yields two dimensional membrane concentrations and FRET efficiencies in native plasma membranes. It can be used to characterize the association of membrane proteins: to differentiate between monomers, dimers, or oligomers, to produce binding (association) curves, and to measure the free energies of association in the membrane. We use the FSI method to study the lateral interactions of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2), a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) superfamily, in plasma membranes, in vivo. The knowledge gained through the use of the new method challenges the current understanding of VEGFR2 signaling.
The Year of the Gun: Second Amendment Rights and the Supreme Court

This Essay looks at issues that the Supreme Court can duck - and those that it can't - in deciding the District of Columbia Second Amendment case, D.C. v. Heller. It also looks at political and institutional pressures placed on the Supreme Court by the Heller case.
State's Weird Law Skewed Au Pair Case

The larger lesson of the nanny case is not about child abuse or sympathy for youthful offenders or TV in the courtroom. It is about the damaging effects of an archaic criminal code - damaging not only to defendants and victims but to all of us. Yet several states and the federal system have codes at least as archaic as Massachusetts'.
Critical appraisal of aspect of behavior of country residents for tourist destination competitiveness of India and Singapore

Tourism today is a leisure activity of the masses. People today travel to international destinations to break the regular monotony of life. They are mainly attracted by either the scenic beauty of its nature or by fascinating leisure, sports and adventure activities offered by the destination. But the competitiveness of the destination is also affected by the behavior of country residents of the destination. The paper makes an attempt to compare the competitiveness of India as well as Singapore on behavior of country residents’ issue. The foreign tourists’ perception of various variables of this attribute of Indian tourism industry is compared with that of Singapore tourism which are based on different articles of destination competitiveness, the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR) issued by World Economic Forum and also from various published media. Primary data through questionnaires containing 5 point Likert scale and secondary data from web resources and books are used in the paper. The findings show that the behavior of government officials, taxi/auto rickshaw drivers, level of education of service providers is found to be much better in case of Singapore and the society is also found to be more open and friendly. This finding is also supported by the secondary data as on the pillar of human resources of TTCI index, 2011 Singapore bags 2nd position and India is on the 96th position and on the pillar of affinity for travel and tourism industry Singapore secures 12th position and India is poorly placed on 116th position.
Alterbiographic Transmutations of Genre in Jamaica Kincaid's “Biography of a Dress” and Autobiography of My Mother

(2003). Alterbiographic Transmutations of Genre in Jamaica Kincaid's “Biography of a Dress” and Autobiography of My Mother. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 85-104.
MBE Growth of Artificially-Layered Magnetic Metal Structures on Semiconductors+

In this review, recent developments in MBE growth of artificially-layered magnetic metal structures on semiconductor substrates are considered. It is seen that the ability to seed specific orientations of such structures and to probe their structural and chemical properties with a variety of in situ probes are key advantages of MBE over more conventional deposition techniques.
Idiopathic autonomic denervation in eight patients presenting with functional gastrointestinal disease. A causal association

Gut dysmotility may result from disease of the extrinsic neural pathways supplying the gut. We report the results of studies on sweating, cardiovascular, and sudomotor reflexes in eight prospectively evaluated patients with apparently functional gastrointestinal disorders. There was no personal or family history of neurologic disease, except for one patient with known atony of the bladder. Motility of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine were, respectively, abnormal in two, six, and seven patients and showed either uncoordination of contractions between segments or postcibal hypomotility. All had generalized or patchy anhidrosis; quantitative sudomotor axon reflex tests were also abnormal in four patients and borderline in one. Plasma levels of catecholamines were abnormal in one patient. All patients had evidence of sympathetic denervation: preganglionic in two patients, postganglionic in five patients, and mixed in one patient. Three patients also had abnormal heart-rate responses to deep breathing, suggesting parasympathetic dysfunction. No underlying cause for the autonomic dysfunction was identified in any of these patients despite extensive investigations. Thus, these data support the hypothesis that apparently functional gastrointestinal disorders may be due to idiopathic autonomic denervation.
Scan evidence of decrease in size of intrahepatic tumors after chemotherapy. A case report.

Three cases are presented in which there was scan-documented metastatic tumor in the liver. Use of chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluo-rouracil or adriamycin) was followed by a decrease in the size of the lesions. Hepatic scans can provide one of the few objective criteria of the response to chemotherapy.
Positional cloning of the Chediak-Higashi syndrome gene: genetic mapping of the beige locus on mouse chromosome 13.

BACKGROUND Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a systemic disorder of human and mouse (beige, bg) that is characterized by aberrant intracellular protein kinesis and lysosomal trafficking. Affected individuals exhibit a severe primary immune deficiency that principally affects the function of granulocytes and cytolytic lymphocytes and partial oculocutaneous albinism, platelet dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. Chediak-Higashi syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive Mendelian trait in human and mouse and maps on proximal mouse Chromosome 13. METHODS To clone positionally the defective gene in CHS, we have generated a large number of backcross mice who segregate for beige. Genomic DNA from these mice was genotyped for 26 genetic markers known to map on proximal mouse Chromosome 13. RESULTS By segregation analysis, bg was localized to a 0.24 centiMorgan interval and was shown to cosegregate with 6 genetic markers (Nid, Estm9, D13Mit56, D13Mit162, D13Mit237, and D13Mit240). Two of these loci, Nid and Estm9, are genes and represent candidates for bg. Nidogen (Nid) encodes an extracellular matrix protein that is a component of basement membranes. Estm9 is a sequence that is transcribed ubiquitously in mouse embryos and encodes a protein of unknown function. Mutation analysis of Nid and Estm9 was undertaken in 6 bg alleles; no differences were observed between bg and coisogenic controls by analysis of Northern blots, Southern blots, or by quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSIONS These studies indicate that a genomic rearrangement affecting Nid or Estm9 does not underlie bg. The bg locus has been localized on mouse Chromosome 13 with sufficient precision to enable rapid cloning of the bg non-recombinant interval and eventual identification of the gene for Chediak-Higashi syndrome among sequences within the interval.
Spatiotemporal Snowfall Variability in the Lake Michigan Region: How is Warming Affecting Wintertime Snowfall?

AbstractThis study has investigated the spatiotemporal structure and changes in Lake Michigan snowfall for the period 1950–2013. With data quality caveats acknowledged, a larger envelope of stations was included than in previous studies to explore the data using time series analysis, principal component analysis, and geographic information systems. Results indicate warming in recent decades, a near-dearth of serial correlation, midwinter dependence on teleconnection patterns, strong sensitivity of snowfall to temperature, peak snowfall variability and dependence on temperature within the lake-effect belt, an increasing fraction of seasonal snowfall occurring from December to February, and temporal behavior consistent with the previously reported trend reversal in snowfall.
Once Daily High-dose Radiation (≥60 Gy) Treatment in Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Objective: To investigate outcomes and prognostic factors in patients treated with once daily high-dose (≥ 60 Gy) radiation therapy (HDRT) and concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy in limited stage small cell lung cancer (LSSCLC). While we await current phase III trials to determine optimal radiation dose fractionation schemes in LS-SCLC, we report our experience in LS-SCLC with once daily HDRT. We hypothesized that HDRT would achieve similar efficacy and tolerability as twice daily therapy. Methods: We conducted a single institution retrospective review of all patients with LS-SCLC who underwent curative intent treatment from 2005-2013. Patients treated with HDRT (≥ 60 Gy) and concurrent chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin and etoposide) were included in our analysis. Clinicopathologic variables assessed include gender, performance status, time to treatment, response to treatment, toxicity, volumetric tumor response at 3 months and use of prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI). Results: 42 patients with LS-SCLC who initiated concurrent chemoradiation from 2005 to 2013 were included in the analysis. 38 patients (90%) completed definitive treatment to the lung; 16 (38%) also completed PCI. Median failure free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) were 11.9 and 23.1 months, respectively. Two-year and 5 year OS rates were 47% (CI=30-62%) and 21% (CI=7-38%), respectively. On univariate analysis, PCI was associated with improved FFS but this was not significant (p=0.18). Gender was the only co-variate significantly associated with statistical differences in FFS (p=0.03) and OS (p=0.02). Grade 3 and 4 esophagitis were 10.5% and 2.6%, respectively. Pre-HDRT tumor volume and 3-month post-treatment tumor volume were both associated with FFS (p<0.01) but not OS. Conclusion: In this single institution series, daily HDRT demonstrated a 2 year OS of 47% in LS-SCLC. This compares well to the historical survival of daily fractionation (47%) from INT 0096 reported by Turrisi et al. Male gender was predictive of significantly worse FFS and OS. Once daily HDRT has similar OS to twice-daily radiation schemes; however, further studies assessing once daily HDRT for LS-SCLC are warranted.
How an agency’s responsibilities and political context shape government strategic planning: evidence from US Federal agency quadrennial reviews

This paper extends the strategic planning literature by developing four original propositions about factors that affect the conduct of strategic reviews by government agencies. The propositions hig...
Correspondence: Oncogenic MYC persistently upregulates the molecular clock component REV-ERBα.

Correspondence: Oncogenic MYC persistently upregulates the molecular clock component REV-ERBα
A changing natural history of HER2-positive breast cancer metastatic to the brain in the era of new, targeted therapies.

584Background: The prognosis of advanced HER2+ breast cancer has evolved with the wide adoption of HER2-targeted therapies. Given the frequency and clinical importance of breast cancer brain metast...
ACC 2017 tutorial session: Bio-inspired network dynamics and control

Group food retrieval in ants is a valuable source of design inspiration for multi-robot cooperative manipulation strategies in uncertain environments with limited or absent GPS and communication. This ant behavior is scalable with the number of transporters and robust to the type of payload and terrain. In this talk, I will describe our efforts to decipher the ants' behavioral mechanisms by developing dynamical models from experimental data on ant group retrieval of various artificial loads. Our models characterize the ants' roles during transport, their stochastic transitions between roles, and the resulting configuration of the load over time. The models replicate the observed ant team dynamics both in simulation and in experiments with small mobile robots. These results support the hypothesis that coordinated transport arises from ant behaviors that depend on each ant's local measurements of its own state and that of the load, without requiring information about the states of other transporters.
Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring: A Tool to Drive Improvement and Measure Impact

Background Hand hygiene (HH) is a basic principle of infection control, yet national HH adherence rates are only 40%. Challenges to improving HH rates include finding effective ways to promote and sustain change and collecting unbiased observations to measure the success of interventions. Our institution implemented an electronic HH (eHH) monitoring system on select hospital units with the goal of using this technology to both improve and measure HH rates.
Optic Neuritis: A Model for the Immuno-pathogenesis of Central Nervous System Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases

Evidence for the tenuous regulation between the immune system and central nervous system (CNS) can be found with examples of interaction between these organ systems gone awry. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the prototypical inflammatory disease of the CNS and is characterized by widely distributed inflammatory demyelinating plaques that can involve the brain, spinal cord and/or optic nerves. Optic neuritis (ON), inflammatory injury of the optic nerve that frequently occurs in patients with MS, has been the focus of intense study in part given the readily accessible nature of clinical outcome measures. Exploring the clinical and pathological features of ON in relation to other inflammatory demyelinating conditions of the CNS, namely MS and neuromyelitis optica, provides an opportunity to glean common and distinct mechanisms of disease. Emerging data from clinical studies along with various animal models involving ON implicate innate and adaptive immune responses directed at glial targets, including myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein and aquaporin 4. Resolution of inflammation in ON is commonly observed both clinically and experimentally, but persistent nerve injury is also one emerging hallmark of ON. One hypothesis seeking evaluation is that, in comparison to other sites targeted in MS, the optic nerve is a highly specialized target within the CNS predisposing to unique immunologic processes that generate ON. Overall, ON serves as a highly relevant entity for understanding the pathogenesis of other CNS demyelinating conditions, most notably MS.
Interrelationships among microstructures of otoacoustic emissions and hearing thresholds

Otoacoustic emission (OAE) amplitudes, phases, and delays often exhibit ripples with small changes in stimulus frequency. Similar microstructure patterns are observed in behavioral hearing thresholds and loudness judgements for pure tones. Here, we summarize work demonstrating that there is a common microstructure in hearing thresholds and OAEs elicited by single tones—referred to as stimulus-frequency OAEs (SFOAEs)—when presented at near-threshold levels. The periodicity and strength of this microstructure are related to SFOAE delay and magnitude, respectively. Such relationships are consistent with this microstructure arising from multiple intracochlear reflections of SFOAE energy between its region of generation and the middle ear boundary—an idea proposed by David Kemp in his first reports describing the discovery of emissions from the ear. The details of OAE generation and propagation explain why similar but not identical microstructures are also observed in the ear canal pressure in response to tones (which is the vector sum of the stimulus and SFOAE pressures) and in two-tone evoked distortion-product OAE spectra, as well as why microstructures shift in frequency as the result of cochlear or middle ear manipulations.Otoacoustic emission (OAE) amplitudes, phases, and delays often exhibit ripples with small changes in stimulus frequency. Similar microstructure patterns are observed in behavioral hearing thresholds and loudness judgements for pure tones. Here, we summarize work demonstrating that there is a common microstructure in hearing thresholds and OAEs elicited by single tones—referred to as stimulus-frequency OAEs (SFOAEs)—when presented at near-threshold levels. The periodicity and strength of this microstructure are related to SFOAE delay and magnitude, respectively. Such relationships are consistent with this microstructure arising from multiple intracochlear reflections of SFOAE energy between its region of generation and the middle ear boundary—an idea proposed by David Kemp in his first reports describing the discovery of emissions from the ear. The details of OAE generation and propagation explain why similar but not identical microstructures are also observed in the ear canal pressure in response to tone...
Mesoporous cobalt/manganese oxide: a highly selective bifunctional catalyst for amine–imine transformations

Herein, we discuss a heterogeneous catalytic protocol using cobalt doped mesoporous manganese oxide for amine–alcohol cross-coupling to selectively produce symmetric or asymmetric imines. Thorough investigations on the surface chemistry and physical properties of the material revealed its outstanding oxidation–reduction properties and reaction mechanism which was supported by quantum mechanical calculations done by using density functional theory (DFT).
Public perceptions of traumatic brain injury: predictors of knowledge and the effects of education.

ABSTRACTAim: Existing research suggests that the public demonstrates inadequate knowledge about traumatic brain injury (TBI), indicating a need for public education initiatives; however, limited re...
Whole blood screening test for factor V Leiden using a Russell viper venom time-based assay

Factor V Leiden (FVR506Q) is a genetic defect in the factor V (FV) molecule that confers resistance to proteolysis by activated protein C (APC) and is the most common abnormality detected in patients studied for hereditary thrombophilia. The initial screening test for this abnormality was a comparison of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in the presence and absence of APC, expressed as a ratio. But this has been shown to lack sensitivity for the FV mutation. Other clot-based screening tests, such as the modified APTT, using FV-deficient plasma, or the Russell viper venom (RVV) time assay have improved sensitivity. Eighty-seven samples were studied using the RVV-based assay. This assay was performed on platelet-poor plasma (PPP-RVV) and whole blood (WB-RVV). All samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the FV Leiden defect: 77 were PCR negative; 10 were PCR positive. Using a threshold ratio of 1.8, all samples were correctly categorized in the PPP-RVV and the WB-RVV tests, showing an observed sensitivity and specificity of 1.0. These results suggest that an RVV-based assay using whole blood could be an effective screening test for this common abnormality.
Chapter 49 Game theory and industrial organization

Abstract In this article, we consider how important developments in game theory have contributed to the theory of industrial organization. Our goal is not to survey the theory of industrial organization; rather, we consider the contribution of game theory through a careful discussion of a small number of topics within the industrial organization field. We also identify some points in which developments in the theory of industrial organization have contributed to game theory. The topics that we consider are: commitment in two-stage games and the associated theories of strategic-trade policy and entry deterrence; asymmetric-information games and the associated theories of limit pricing and predation; repeated games with public moves and the associated theory of collusion in markets with public demand fluctuations; mixed-strategy equilibria and purification theory and the associated theory of sales; and repeated games with imperfect monitoring and the associated theory of collusion and price wars. We conclude with a general assessment concerning the contribution of game theory to industrial organization.
Case Management: Myths and Realities:

Case-management services are provided in diverse practice fields and program settings. The author explores reasons for the popularity of case management and examines myths and realities that have d...
Causes of false-negative auscultation of regurgitant lesions: a Doppler echocardiographic study of 294 patients.

Few data are available regarding the prevalence and causes of false-negative auscultation (mis-auscultation) of aortic (AR), mitral (MR), or tricuspid regurgitation (TR), and there are no such data that are relevant when the patient’s pretest probability of having regurgitation is unknown. The authors therefore studied 294 patients examined by pulsed Doppler echocardiography. On 755 examinations (2.57 examinations per patient), Doppler velocity patterns typical of AR, MR, or TR were found in 63, 96, and 49 patients, respectively. For all three murmurs, mis-auscultation was the rule, rather than the exception, with sensitivities of auscultation ranging from 0 to 37%, depending (but weakly) on the site of the murmur and the years of training of the observer. Specificity of auscultation was high (85% to 100%). The factors associated with the mis-auscultation of AR were poor image quality in the echocardiograms, absence of cardiomegaly, and less experience of the examiner. The probability of missing MR increased in the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) or if the examiner had less experience. The likelihood of missing TR by auscultation was increased by CAD, obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or the absence of cardiomegaly. This study suggests that there is a high prevalence of “silent” murmurs, and that not hearing a regurgitant murmur does not suffice to rule out the presence of regurgitation.
Intramolecular N -Acyliminium Ion-Olefin Cyclization in the Synthesis of Optically Pure Isoquinoline Derivatives: Control of Stereochemistry and Application to Synthesis of Morphine Alkaloids

The 3-[2-(cyclohex-1-eneyl)ethyl]-[1,3]oxazoline-2,4-dione derivatives 9, 14 and 16 were subjected to hydride reduction followed by acid-catalyzed olefin-N-acyliminium ion cyclization to afford a series of perhydroisoquinolines 10, 11a, 11b, 19a-19c, 20a, 20b and 21. A mechanism was proposed that accounts for the observed stereoselectivity of the cyclization reactions based on the neighboring group participation by a benzoate group.
Broadening Our Scope: A Pilot Curriculum in Bioethics for Pathology Graduate Medical Trainees, the Emory University Experience.

Despite mandates from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and American Board of Pathology, little guidance is available for educating pathology trainees on bioethics. We endeav...
Scientific Discovery Games for Biomedical Research

Over the past decade, scientific discovery games (SDGs) have emerged as a viable approach for biomedical research, engaging hundreds of thousands of volunteer players and resulting in numerous scientific publications. After describing the origins of this novel research approach, we review the scientific output of SDGs across molecular modeling, sequence alignment, neuroscience, pathology, cellular biology, genomics, and human cognition. We find compelling results and technical innovations arising in problem-oriented games such as Foldit and Eterna and in data-oriented games such as EyeWire and Project Discovery. We discuss emergent properties of player communities shared across different projects, including the diversity of communities and the extraordinary contributions of some volunteers, such as paper writing. Finally, we highlight connections to artificial intelligence, biological cloud laboratories, new game genres, science education, and open science that may drive the next generation of SDGs.
Electrochemical studies of cobalt(II) diphenylazodioxide complexes

Abstract The electrochemical behavior of the unusual cobalt(II) diphenylazodioxide complex salts [Co(az)4](PF6)2 1 and [Co(bpy)(az)2](PF6)2 2 has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. Each complex displays two quasireversible redox couples, which are proposed to correspond to a reduction of Co(II) to Co(I), followed by a ligand-based reduction. Irreversible reductions of 1 are observed at more negative potentials, and are proposed to arise from deposition of elemental Co and the decomposition of transiently formed Co(-I) species. Spectroelectrochemical experiments on both 1 and 2, involving electrolytic reduction followed by reoxidation, are consistent with the quasireversibility observed in the CV measurements.
Futurology and Conclusions

This chapter provides a conclusive picture of the suggested ethical framework for Global Governance for Health Research. The final chapter of this book examines the trends and possible developments in the future, along with the existing and potential threats and promises in the realm of Global Governance for Health Research. The sixth chapter also includes some suggestions for future research. This chapter includes a brief analysis of the recently emerged challenge of Neoliberalism, populistic isolationism, and protectionism in developed countries. It ends with providing some practical and ethical recommendations and suggestions for future research.
The perils of using registry data to compare the survival and cost of radical cystectomy and trimodality therapy in bladder cancer.

Radical Cystectomy and trimodality therapy with maximal transurethral resection of bladder tumor followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy are standard curative treatment options for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). There are no robust randomized data available to determine the comparative effectiveness between these treatment modalities. Both treatment approaches are supported by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and American Urological Association guidelines (1,2). However, fundamental differences in the two therapeutic approaches and associated risks create a divergent choice for clinicians and patients, which can introduce some complexity in decision making.
14-3-3 sigma, a p53 regulator, suppresses tumor growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4916 The 14-3-3 sigma gene product, upregulated by p53 in response to DNA damage, is involved in cell-cycle checkpoint control and is a human cancer epithelial marker down-regulated in various tumors. However, its role and function have not been established in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a tumor of epithelial origin. Recently, we found that 14-3-3 sigma interacts with p53 in response to DNA damage and stabilizes the expression of p53. In addition, we also showed that overexpression of 14-3-3 sigma inhibits oncogene-activated tumorigenicity. In the present study, we investigated the tumor suppressive role of 14-3-3 sigma in NPC cells. We found that 14-3-3 sigma was not properly upregulated by p53 in response to DNA damage in two non-isogenic NPC cell lines. We also found that 14-3-3 sigma interacted with protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt and negatively regulated the activity of Akt. Overexpression of 14-3-3 sigma inhibited NPC cell growth and blocks DNA synthesis. 14-3-3 sigma overexpression also led to inhibition of anchorage-independent growth of NPC cells. In addition, we found that 14-3-3 sigma sensitized NPC cells to apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent 2-Methoxyestradiol. 14-3-3 sigma overexpression in both NPC cell lines reduced the tumor volume in nude mice, which could have significance for clinical application. These findings provide an insight into the roles of 14-3-3 sigma in NPC and suggest that approaches that modulate 14-3-3 sigma activity may be useful in the treatment of NPC.
Psychological Abuse and Depressive Symptoms in Dating Women: Do Different Types of Abuse Have Differential Effects?

The purpose of the current study was to examine potential differential effects of two forms of psychological abuse, emotional/verbal and dominance/isolation, on women's depressive symptoms. It was expected that emotional/verbal abuse would have a direct impact on both concurrent and prospective depressive symptoms among dating women. In contrast, it was expected that the depressogenic effect of dominance/isolation abuse would be moderated by level of perceived interpersonal control. Women who perceived themselves to have high levels of interpersonal control were hypothesized to be less negatively affected by partner dominance/isolation behaviors than their low control counterparts. Although the effects of both types of abuse on concurrent depressive symptoms were relatively weak, more robust longitudinal effects were found. Emotional/ verbal abuse at Time 1 did not predict Time 2 depressive symptoms after controlling for depressive symptoms at Time 1. In contrast, dominance/isolation abuse at Time 1 significantly predicted increases in depressive symptoms over time, and this effect was moderated by level of perceived interpersonal control in the expected direction. Implications for future research and clinical intervention/prevention efforts are discussed.
Evaluating the Impact of ESPAC-1 on Shifting the Paradigm of Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

BACKGROUND In 2004, the European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-1 long-term data concluded that adjuvant chemotherapy provided a survival benefit for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), whereas adjuvant chemoradiation was associated with worse overall survival. In this study, we investigated how long it took for US practice patterns to change following this trial. METHODS The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients with stage I-III PDAC who underwent R0 or R1 resection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy or chemoradiation between 1998 and 2015. A multivariate analysis was performed to determine predictors of receiving adjuvant chemoradiation in the post-ESPAC-1 era. RESULTS Between 1998 and 2015, adjuvant chemotherapy use increased from 2.9% to 51.6%, whereas adjuvant chemoradiation decreased from 49.5% to 22.9%. In 2010, adjuvant chemotherapy utilization surpassed that of chemoradiation. For patients diagnosed in the post-ESPAC-1 era, adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 7733) and chemoradiation (n = 6969) groups were compared. Patients who underwent adjuvant chemoradiation were younger, had private insurance, underwent surgery at nonacademic centers, and had more pathologically advanced cancers (all P < 0.01). After 2010, R1 resection was the strongest independent predictor of adjuvant chemoradiation use by multivariate analysis (OR 2.05, CI 1.8-2.3, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Adjuvant chemotherapy use exceeded that of adjuvant chemoradiation 6 y after the final publication of ESPAC-1 in 2004, highlighting the challenges of disseminating and adopting clinical data. After 2010, R1 disease was the most significant predictor of receiving adjuvant chemoradiation. Prospective studies are underway to definitively address the role of adjuvant chemoradiation in PDAC.
Palatability of Horse Treats: Comparing the Preferences of Horses and Humans

Abstract Despite its importance to product development, few data compare preferences for horses with human consumers. The objectives of this research were to compare treat preferences of horses against horse owners. Product A was a disk-shaped cinnamon-flavored flax-based treat, and product B was a textured apple-flavored oat-based treat. Horses were presented with two treat products in a paired preference test which comprised separate olfaction and consumption periods. Consumers evaluated the treats separately for purchase intent as well as hedonic testing of sensory attributes. No difference was observed for first product sniffed, consumed, or finished during the horse preference test. However, moderate positive correlations were observed between first product sniffed and consumed (P = .01, ф = 0.40) as well as first product consumed and finished (P
Characterization of a prototype miniature digital ureteroscope tip for enabling office-based thulium fiber laser lithotripsy

Laser lithotripsy is performed in a hospital operating room at high cost. Many lower ureter stones could potentially be treated in a less expensive, office-based procedure, if smaller ureteroscopes were available. Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy enables use of smaller (50-150-µm-core) optical fibers than Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy, saving cross-sectional space within the working channel for exploitation in developing smaller ureteroscopes. A prototype, miniature, flexible, 40k digital ureteroscope tip was tested. Calibration, lighting, imaging, saline irrigation rate studies, and saline temperature safety studies were performed using a porcine ureter model, ex vivo.
Magnetism and Spin Dynamics in Room-Temperature van der Waals Magnet Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdWs) materials have gathered a lot of attention recently. However, the majority of these materials have Curie temperatures that are well below room temperature, making it challenging to incorporate them into device applications. In this work, we synthesized a room-temperature 2D magnetic crystal Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ with a Curie temperature $T_c$ = 332 K, and studied its magnetic properties by vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy. The experiments were performed with external magnetic fields applied along the $c$-axis ($H\parallel c$) and the $ab$-plane ($H\parallel ab$), with temperatures ranging from 300 K to 10 K. We have found a sizable Lande $g$-factor difference between the $H\parallel c$ and $H\parallel ab$ cases. In both cases, the Lande $g$-factor values deviated from $g$ = 2. This indicates a possible contribution of orbital angular momentum to the magnetic moment but may also be caused by lack of saturation at FMR. The FMR measurements also show a broadened linewidth at low temperatures; together with the VSM data, our measurements indicate that magnetic domains of different orientations develop within Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ in both $H\parallel ab$ and $H\parallel c$ cases, with a higher level of randomness in the $H\parallel c$ case, especially at lower temperatures. Our experiments highlight key information regarding the magnetic state and spin scattering processes in Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$, which promote the understanding of magnetism in Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$, leading to implementations of Fe$_5$GeTe$_2$ based room-temperature spintronic devices.
The compatibility performance of fuel system elastomers with two dioxolane molecules as blends with diesel

The compatibility of 17 elastomers with two dioxolane molecules was assessed by volume change and hardness measurements. Each molecule was blended with diesel in concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 30 ...
Exploring Treatment for Depression in Parkinson’s Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Depression is a highly prevalent, often underrecognized and undertreated comorbidity of Parkinson's disease closely correlated to health-related quality of life. National trends in depression care for patients with Parkinson's disease are not well documented. This paper identifies a cohort of patients with Parkinson's disease from nationally representative survey data and analyzes trends in depression care. Using data from the 2005-2006 through 2015-2016 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), individuals were classified as Parkinson's patients by reported medication use. PHQ-9 scores were used to identify individuals screening positive for depression. A composite treatment variable examined the reported use of mental health services and antidepressant medication. Survey participants with probable PD screened positive for depression, reported the use of antidepressant medication, and reported visits to mental health services more frequently than the control group. Survey participants with PD who screened positive for depression were more likely to report limitations in physical functioning due to an emotional problem than controls. While depression is highly prevalent among individuals with Parkinson's disease, they are more likely to receive any treatment. Further research is required to investigate differences in patterns of treatment, contributing factors of emotions to limitations in physical functioning, and appropriate interventions.
The Rockefeller University Graduate Tracking Survey System

Background It is essential to track the careers and accomplishments of the graduates of translational research training programs to assess the impact of the programs and to improve them. The major obstacle is the lack of a convenient method to collect the information in a comprehensive and standardized manner. Methods We have developed a Web-based electronic Graduate Tracking Survey System (GTSS) that prepopulates the graduate's information on publications, grants, patents, and clinical trials from public data sources, thus insuring a uniform data format, facilitating survey completion, and facilitating the aggregation of data at individual or multiple sites. GTSS questions are designed to assess whether trainees make important contributions that improve human health, and to track related “surrogate” career development indicators of likely future success. Results The GTSS has been in use at Rockefeller University since 2011 and has been adopted by 21 other Clinical and Translational Science Award programs. Conclusions The GTSS provides an efficient and convenient mechanism to track the graduates of a wide variety of training programs. It has the potential to aggregate standardized data across institutions, thus providing benchmarks for the assessment of individual training programs and data for program improvement.
trans activation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is sequence specific for both the single-stranded bulge and loop of the trans-acting-responsive hairpin: a quantitative analysis.

Abstract We have used site-directed mutagenesis to delineate sequence specific domains within the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) trans-acting-responsive (TAR) RNA element that are required for trans activation by the viral Tat protein. Our data in part corroborate a recent report [S. Feng and E. C. Holland, Nature (London) 334:165-167, 1988] that five nucleotides within the loop (+29 to +33) of the TAR hairpin are important for trans activation. We, however, found no absolute requirement for the CUGGG loop sequence. Mutants with substitutions within the loop retained between 9 and 50% activity compared with the wild type. A second sequence, important for trans activation, was found in the 3-base bulge loop (+22 to +24) of the TAR hairpin. Cross-trans-activation studies of mutant HIV-1 TAR elements with the HIV-2 Tat protein suggest that a similar recognition event(s) forms the basis for trans activation of HIV-1 and HIV-2.
The Auction Algorithm for Assignment and Other Network Flow Problems

The auction algorithm is an intuitive method for solving the classical assignment problem. It outperforms substantially its main competitors for important types of problems, both in theory and in practice, and is also naturally well suited for parallel computation. The algorithm represents a significant departure from the cost improvement idea that underlies primal simplex and dual ascent methods; at any one iteration, it may deteriorate both the primal and the dual cost, although in the end it does find an optimal primal solution. We derive the algorithm from first principles, explain its computational properties, and discuss its extensions to transportation and transhipment problems.
CLCA adhesion in site-specific cancer metastasis

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the calcium-activated chloride channels (CLCA) adhesion in site-specific cancer metastasis. The discovery and cloning of CLCA proteins is made possible by the isolation and purification of a protein called “lung endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1” (Lu-ECAM- 1) and the eventual cloning of this molecule. Lu-ECAM-1 was identified during a comprehensive search for molecular principles involved in organ preference of metastasis. The molecules mediate vascular arrest of blood-borne cancer cells through the tumor cell β4 integrin. Preliminary data indicate that upon β4/CLCA ligation, a slew of signaling cascades are activated within the interacting cell pair that appears to promote survival and initial metastatic growth. Some effects of such signaling appear not to involve chloride channel activity, whereas others appear to depend upon chloride channel activity. The ion channels with adhesion functions seem to indicate that in some channels ligands may serve such a gating function, whereas in others the adhesion quality appears to be independent of channel function. The adhesion property of CLCA proteins poses an intriguing novel concept in site-specific cancer metastasis and an opportunity to study the putative gating functions of the β4 integrin and the cellular effects of signaling cascades that are activated and maintained by the β4/CLCA ligation.
Methodological issues in nutrition surveillance: the CDC experience.

Abstract Nutrition surveillance systems serve to provide state- and locality-specific data that are useful for the management of public health nutrition programs. Current systems, such as the Pediatric and Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance Systems coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), collect program-based data focused on nutrition problems in infants, children, and pregnant women. These systems provide highly useful information, but also present significant methodological challenges relating to representativeness, quality control, and indicator sensitivity/specificity. As the importance of nutritional risk factors for chronic disease is increasingly recognized, the concept of nutrition surveillance must be expanded beyond maternal and child nutrition to include nutrition-related behaviors and risk factors in adolescents and adults. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), coordinated by CDC, collects telephone survey data that include information on nutrition-related issues such as overweight, weight-loss practices, and cholesterol screening. In addition, a school-based surveillance system is being established by CDC in coordination with state education agencies to assess adolescent health behaviors, including nutrition. The operation of these nutrition surveillance systems presents significant methodological issues that must be considered in interpreting and using the data for public health purposes.
Human Health Effects of Environmental Pollutants: New Insights

While a variety of effects of toxic chemicals are known in animals exposed both in the laboratory and in situ, it has proven more difficult to obtain definitive information relating harm to humans resulting from environmental contamination. Until quite recently it has been generally assumed that cancer was the human disease of greatest importance. In fact, the majority of regulations of exposure to toxic chemicals by most governments are designed on the basis of presumed cancer risk. The evidence that hazardous chemicals can cause cancer is strong, and concern of cancer risks is appropriate. However, recent evidence has triggered a reevaluation of the assumption that cancer is the sole disease of concern. New evidence has emerged suggesting that exposure to hazardous chemicals may lead to a variety of non-cancer endpoints, and that these effects may occur at low concentrations. Of particular concern is evidence for irreversible effects on the embryo and very young children which influence intelligence, attention span, sexual development and immune function. Some of these actions appear to be direct effects on the brain and other organ systems while others are mediated via disruption of endocrine systems. While these effects are subtle and difficult to quantify, the aggregated evidence is sufficiently compelling as to necessitate reevaluation of those health outcomes upon which regulations are based.