cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract #5122: \#945;-TEA sensitizes human breast cancer cells to Doxorubicin-induced apoptosis via death receptor dependent and independent mechanisms

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO The apoptotic-inducing properties of the combination of RRR-\#945;-tocopherol derivative \#945;-TEA (RRR-\#945;-tocopherol ether-linked acetic acid analog) and doxorubicin were investigated in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Sub-apoptotic levels of \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin, in comparison to single agents (i) significantly enhanced apoptosis as measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, cleavage of PARP, and activation of caspases 8 and 9, (ii) activated both pJNK1/2 and pc-Jun, and (iii) enhanced Fas and Fas Ligand protein levels. siRNA knockdown of JNK and c-Jun as well as Fas and Fas Ligand reduced \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Doxorubicin significantly increased levels of DR5 protein expression. Combinations of \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin did not further increase protein levels of DR5 protein in comparison to doxorubicin alone. Knockdown of DR5 using siRNA blocked \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Treatment of the breast cancer cells with sub-apoptotic levels of doxorubicin enhanced protein levels of survival factors pAkt, pERK, pmTOR and their downstream mediators pBad (Ser 136 and Ser 112), and cFLIP; whereas, \#945;-TEA in combination with doxorubicin reduced the expression of these survival factors. Inhibitors of PI-3K/Akt, MEK/ERK and mTOR as well as siRNA to cFLIP enhanced the ability of sub-apoptotic levels of doxorubicin to induce apoptosis, suggesting that \#945;-TEA's ability to prevent doxorubicin-induced pro-survival factors (i.e. pAkt, pERK and pmTOR, cFLIP) plays a role in enhanced sensitivity to the combinations of \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin. In summary, data show enhanced apoptosis in cells treated with \#945;-TEA + doxorubicin is due to activation of JNK, Fas and DR5 apoptotic signaling pathways and down-regulation of doxorubicin-induced survival factors Akt, ERK, mTOR, and c-FLIP. T32 ES007247, "Training in Molecular Toxicology/Environmental Disease, Public Health Services Grant CA59739 and The Clayton Foundation For Research. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5122.
The Equity of School Facilities Funding: Examples from Kentucky

While there is an extensive literature analyzing the relative equity of state funding systems for current operating revenues, there is a dearth of research on capital funding systems. This article presents an analysis of the school capital funding system in Kentucky since 1990, using the operating-revenue analysis concepts of horizontal equity, vertical equity, and fiscal neutrality. In general one could tentatively conclude that Kentucky’s capital-funding system was reasonably equitable until an expansion of district options in 2003–04 was followed by greater measures of inequity. This analysis points to specific methods for Kentucky to restore equity to its school capital funding structure as well as a model for analysis of other capital funding systems.
A global census of nitrogenase diversity

Summary The global diversity of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms was assessed through construction and analysis of an aligned database of 16 989 nifH sequences. We conclude that the diversity of diazotrophs is still poorly described and that many organisms remain to be discovered. Our analyses indicate that diversity is not distributed evenly across phylogenetic groups or across environments and that some of the most diverse assemblages and environments remain the most poorly characterized. The majority of OTUs were rare, falling in the long tail of the frequency distribution. The most dominant OTUs fell into either the Cyanobacteria or the α, β, and γ Proteobacteria, and five of these dominant OTUs do not have any representatives cultivated in isolation. Soils contained the greatest diversity of nifH sequences of all of the environments surveyed. Cluster III, which is dominated by nifH sequences from obligate anaerobes, was found to contain the greatest diversity of all nifH lineages and is also the group for which diversity is the least sampled. Our findings provide context for ongoing efforts to explore diazotroph diversity, indicating specific groups and environments that remain poorly characterized.
Higher levels of protective parenting are associated with better young adult health: exploration of mediation through epigenetic influences on pro-inflammatory processes

The current investigation was designed to examine the association of parenting during late childhood and early adolescence, a time of rapid physical development, with biological propensity for inflammation. Based on life course theory, it was hypothesized that parenting during this period of rapid growth and development would be associated with biological outcomes and self-reported health assessed in young adulthood. It was expected that association of parenting with health would be mediated either by effects on methylation of a key inflammatory factor, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), or else by association with a pro-inflammatory shift in the distribution of mononuclear blood cells. Supporting expectations, in a sample of 398 African American youth residing in rural Georgia, followed from age 11 to age 19, parenting at ages 11-13 was associated with youth reports of better health at age 19. We found that parenting was associated with changes in TNF methylation as well as with changes in cell-type composition. However, whereas methylation of TNF was a significant mediator of the association of parenting with young adult health, variation in mononuclear white blood cell types was not a significant mediator of the association of parenting with young adult health. The current research suggests the potential value of examining the health-related effects of parenting in late childhood and early adolescence. Further examination of protection against pro-inflammatory tendencies conferred by parenting appears warranted.
Preparing Parents for Adoption: An Agency Experience

To prepare for the complexities of family formation, 78 prospective adoptive parents participated in Pre-Adopt, a psychosocial educational orientation program offered by one private nonprofit agency. The five-session curriculum included an overview of adoption policies and procedures, discussion of the child placement process, exploration of couples' adoption concerns and expectations about child characteristics, information about adoption laws and birth-parent/child searches, and examination of anticipatory fantasies about birth parents. Program evaluation yielded statistically significant and clinically meaningful findings about changes in emotional readiness to adopt, parenting knowledge, and satisfaction with group participation, adoption policies and agency practices. Practice implications are considered.
Associative parallel lexing

Presents near constant time associative parallel lexing (APL) algorithms. The best time complexity thus far claimed is O(logn) (n denotes the number of input characters for the parallel prefix lexing (PPL) algorithm. The linear state recording step in the PPL algorithm, which needs to be done only once for each grammar has been ignored in claiming the log n time complexity for the PPL algorithm. Furthermore, the PPL algorithm does not consider recording line numbers for the tokens and distinguishing identifier tokens as keywords or user-identifiers. The APL algorithms perform all of these functions. Thus, without considering the efforts spent on these functions, the APL algorithm takes constant time since every step depends on the length of the tokens, not on the length of the input. Generalizing and including these extra functions, the APL algorithm takes near constant time. >
Liver-Resident CD103+ Dendritic Cells Prime Antiviral CD8+ T Cells In Situ

The liver maintains a tolerogenic environment to avoid unwarranted activation of its resident immune cells upon continuous exposure to food and bacterially derived Ags. However, in response to hepatotropic viral infection, the liver's ability to switch from a hyporesponsive to a proinflammatory environment is mediated by select sentinels within the parenchyma. To determine the contribution of hepatic dendritic cells (DCs) in the activation of naive CD8(+) T cells, we first characterized resident DC subsets in the murine liver. Liver DCs exhibit unique properties, including the expression of CD8α (traditionally lymphoid tissue specific), CD11b, and CD103 markers. In both the steady-state and following viral infection, liver CD103(+) DCs express high levels of MHC class II, CD80, and CD86 and contribute to the high number of activated CD8(+) T cells. Importantly, viral infection in the Batf3(-/-) mouse, which lacks CD8α(+) and CD103(+) DCs in the liver, results in a 3-fold reduction in the proliferative response of Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells. Limiting DC migration out of the liver does not significantly alter CD8(+) T cell responsiveness, indicating that CD103(+) DCs initiate the induction of CD8(+) T cell responses in situ. Collectively, these data suggest that liver-resident CD103(+) DCs are highly immunogenic in response to hepatotropic viral infection and serve as a major APC to support the local CD8(+) T cell response. It also implies that CD103(+) DCs present a promising cellular target for vaccination strategies to resolve chronic liver infections.
A non-parametric model to address overdispersed count response in a longitudinal data setting with missingness.

Count responses are becoming increasingly important in biostatistical analysis because of the development of new biomedical techniques such as next-generation sequencing and digital polymerase chai...
Control and Functions of Fixational Eye Movements

Humans and other species explore a visual scene by rapidly shifting their gaze 2-3 times every second. Although the eyes may appear immobile in the brief intervals in between saccades, microscopic (fixational) eye movements are always present, even when attending to a single point. These movements occur during the very periods in which visual information is acquired and processed and their functions have long been debated. Recent technical advances in controlling retinal stimulation during normal oculomotor activity have shed new light on the visual contributions of fixational eye movements and their degree of control. The emerging body of evidence, reviewed in this article, indicates that fixational eye movements are important components of the strategy by which the visual system processes fine spatial details, enabling both precise positioning of the stimulus on the retina and encoding of spatial information into the joint space-time domain.
The Role of Diazepam Loading for the Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients

Background: Alcohol withdrawal accounts for a significant amount of hospitaladmissions andcan quickly progressto the developmentof delirium tremens (DTs), seizures, and death. Rapid identification and management of alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is vital and can be managedwitha numberof different treatment strategies. Diazepam loading is a treatment strategy that utilizes the pharmacokinetics of this agent to achieve a rapid reduction in symptoms followed by sustained benefit over a period of days. Objective: The purpose of this review is to evaluate the role of diazepam loading for AWS. Methods: A literature search of four databases—Pubmed, PsychInfo, Biosis, and Embase—was conducted to identify publications between 1960 and August 2011 that described the use of diazepam loading for the treatment of AWS. Eight trials, both open‐label and controlled trials were identified. Only four randomized controlled‐trials (RCTs) have been published and they are reviewed in this paper. Results:Includedtrialsofhospitalizedinpatientsfoundthatdiazepam loading provided rapid symptom relief as well as reduced the incidence of seizures and duration of DTs. In patients diagnosed with severe DTs, rapidly administered doses of diazepam produced a quick calming effect. While no adverse events resulting from diazepam loadingwerenoted,noformal assessmenttoolwas usedto evaluateits safety. Larger randomized controlled‐trials are needed to better evaluate safety outcomes. Conclusions: Diazepam loading is an effective treatment option for hospitalized patients experiencing AWS. Diazepam loading uses the concept of symptom‐triggered therapy, a mainstay of current AWS treatment, while exploiting its prolonged elimination half‐life and eliminating the need for additional pharmacologic therapy. Studies reviewed found diazepam loading significantly improved a number of important outcomes in AWS, including time in DTs, compared to traditional treatment strategies. (Am J Addict 2013;22:113–118)
The synthesis of 23,24-14C-ecdysone.

Abstract The synthesis of 23,24-14C-ecdysone, using 3,4-14C-2-methyl-3-butyn-2-yl tetrahydropyranyl ether, is described.
Congenital Contractual Arachnodactyly

A previously unreported case of congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) is described. This hereditary connective tissue abnormality resembles Marfan's syndrome in certain respects, but is characterized by camptodactyly rather than joint laxity, as well as by congenital contractural deformities of the knees and elbows. In addition, there is a peculiar, fairly characteristic deformity of the external ear. Like Marfan's syndrome, it is transmitted in autosomal dominant fashion. Despite the superficial skeletal resemblance, however, the cardiovascular and ocular complications of Marfan's do not seem to occur and therefore differentiation of the two syndromes is important.
Cover Picture: The Synthesis of Carboracycles Derived from B,B′‐Bis(aryl) Derivatives of Icosahedral ortho‐Carborane (Chem. Eur. J. 12/2003)

The cover picture shows a space-filling model of a macrocycle consisting of four bis-aryl-substituted icosahedral ortho-carborane modules that are tethered with propylene linkers (carbon: gray, boron: green, hydrogen: white). All eight para-functionalized aryl groups are attached to a propylene chain carrying a terminal sulfonate group (sulfur: yellow, oxygen: blue). This amphiphilic octasulfonate anion exemplifies the first water-soluble carboracycle. The hydrophobic cavity in the cycle is clearly viable and adjustable by inter-cage linker modification. The development of new supramolecular chemistry and its use in molecular recognition employing solvent systems that range from organic to aqueous represent future applications of these novel carboracycle derivatives. For more details concerning the synthesis and characterization of these multifunctionalized carborane-based macrocycles see the article by M. F. Hawthorne et al. on p. 2732 ff.
Peroxide-dependent sulfenylation of the EGFR catalytic site enhances kinase activity

A sensitive probe that detects protein sulfenylation in cells reveals that sulfenylation of the active site cysteine in EGFR enhances its kinase activity. Protein sulfenylation is a post-translational modification of emerging importance in higher eukaryotes. However, investigation of its diverse roles remains challenging, particularly within a native cellular environment. Herein we report the development and application of DYn-2, a new chemoselective probe for detecting sulfenylated proteins in human cells. These studies show that epidermal growth factor receptor–mediated signaling results in H2O2 production and oxidation of downstream proteins. In addition, we demonstrate that DYn-2 has the ability to detect differences in sulfenylation rates within the cell, which are associated with differences in target protein localization. We also show that the direct modification of epidermal growth factor receptor by H2O2 at a critical active site cysteine (Cys797) enhances its tyrosine kinase activity. Collectively, our findings reveal sulfenylation as a global signaling mechanism that is akin to phosphorylation and has regulatory implications for other receptor tyrosine kinases and irreversible inhibitors that target oxidant-sensitive cysteines in proteins.
Implementation of the equation of radiative transfer on block-structured grids for modeling light propagation in tissue

We present the first algorithm for solving the equation of radiative transfer (ERT) in the frequency domain (FD) on three-dimensional block-structured Cartesian grids (BSG). This algorithm allows for accurate modeling of light propagation in media of arbitrary shape with air-tissue refractive index mismatch at the boundary at increased speed compared to currently available structured grid algorithms. To accurately model arbitrarily shaped geometries the algorithm generates BSGs that are finely discretized only near physical boundaries and therefore less dense than fine grids. We discretize the FD-ERT using a combination of the upwind-step method and the discrete ordinates (SN) approximation. The source iteration technique is used to obtain the solution. We implement a first order interpolation scheme when traversing between coarse and fine grid regions. Effects of geometry and optical parameters on algorithm performance are evaluated using numerical phantoms (circular, cylindrical, and arbitrary shape) and varying the absorption and scattering coefficients, modulation frequency, and refractive index. The solution on a 3-level BSG is obtained up to 4.2 times faster than the solution on a single fine grid, with minimal increase in numerical error (less than 5%).
Making “secondary intervention” work in a three-tier responsiveness-to-intervention model: findings from the first-grade longitudinal reading study of the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities

Responsiveness-to-intervention (RTI) is a method for both preventing and helping to identify learning disabilities. An important feature is its multi-tier structure: primary intervention (tier 1) refers to classroom instruction; secondary intervention (tier 2) usually involves more intensive pullout, small-group instruction; and tertiary intervention (tier 3) typically denotes most intensive special education. Despite RTI’s popularity and promise, there are many questions about how to implement it effectively and efficiently. So, in 2001, the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education funded the National Research Center on Learning Disabilities to conduct two large-scale, field-based, longitudinal, and experimental RTI studies. Both studies, one in reading and one in math, were conducted at first grade, with annual follow up for 3 years in the reading study and 2 years in the math study. This article summarizes findings from the reading study, which was designed to answer three basic questions about RTI’s pivotal secondary intervention: Who should participate in it? What instruction should be conducted to decrease the prevalence of reading disabilities? How should responsiveness and non-responsiveness be defined?
Behavioral and endocrine characteristics of the reproductive cycle in wild muriqui monkeys, Brachyteles arachnoides.

The analysis of fecal ovarian steroids provides a powerful noninvasive method to obtain insights into ovulatory cycles, gestation length, and the timing of sexual interactions relative to the periovulatory period in wild primates. Techniques developed to collect and assay feces from free-ranging muriqui monkeys (Brachyteles arachnoides) for estradiol and progesterone yield the first explicit reproductive data on this species, and provide the first opportunity to evaluate the timing of observed copulations with muriqui ovarian cycles. Hormonal profiles from seven females indicate average cycle lengths of 21.0 ± 5.4 days (n=20). Females conceived after 3–6 ovulatory cycles. Gestation length averaged 216.4 ± 1.5 days for the five females for which conception cycles were sampled. Discrete copulation periods spanned an average of 2.1 ± 1.2 days (n=29), with intervals between these concentrated periods of copulations averaging 15.6 ± 6.7 days (n=20). There were no significant differences among females in cycle lengths, copulation period lengths, or copulation interval lengths. Ejaculation was visible following 71.8 ± 26.7% of copulations during the females' preovulatory periods. All females copulated outside the periovulatory period. The proportion of copulation days outside the periovulatory period was slightly greater (p=0.08) for primiparous females (64.8 ± 28.3%) than for multiparous females (28.7 ± 19.7%). Am. J. Primatol. 42:299–310, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Freelance technical writers: does temporary work promote ethical issues?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether freelance technical writers experience greater ethical issues than do their permanently employed counterparts. Because freelance technical writers work at the whim of the client, it is possible that the perhaps tenuous nature of this relationship may leave freelance technical writers feeling obligated to complete projects about which they have ethical concerns.Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative study was conducted through an e‐mail survey, a more detailed e‐mail interview, and a phone interview.Findings – A clear majority of the respondents in this study have never had ethical issues with their clients and fell that they, not permanently employed writers, are at an ethical advantage in their work.Research limitations/implications – The respondents for this study worked for clients from a wide variety of fields and industries. Conducting additional research with controls in place to focus on specific, individual fields could prove very e...
Rod ERG of the mudpuppy: effect of dim red backgrounds.

Abstract his investigation measures the size of a- and b-wave responses of the ERG to a wide range of flash intensities presented against steady Ganzfeld backgrounds of various luminances. For each background, the response size plotted logarithmically against log intensity closely fits a fixed “H2 curve” whose position is defined by its “apex point”. The effect of background upon light sensitivity is measured by the abscissa of the apex point; the effect upon signal scaling, by the ordinate. A-waves and b-waves are differently affected.
METHANE AND CHLOROCARBONS IN THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

Until the early 1970s my research group was largely concerned with laboratory studies of gas phase tracer chemistry, usually using molecules containing radioactive labels such as 14C or tritium. Adecade ago we expanded these tracer studies from the laboratory to the atmosphere, and began with an attempt to determine the eventual fate there ofCC13F, trichlorofluoromethane, colloquially known as Fluorocarbon-11. This compound was discovered in the atmosphere in 1970 by Jim Lovelock, and shown by him in 1971 to be present everywhere in the troposphere [1]. I first heard of Lovelock's observations early in 1972 in the context of a proposal that this molecule could serve as a very useful tracer of atmospheric motions because of its chemical inertness. I found Lovetock's discovery intriguing, and began to consider the general problem of the possible atmospheric behavior of molecules which are not very chemically reactive under most circumstances. Ftuorocarbon-ll has a companion molecule, CClzF2 (Fluorocarbon-12), which is also produced industrially in substantial quantities and was soon found in the atmosphere as well. When Mario Molina joined my research group in 1973 as a postdoctoral associate, we began a systematic investigation of the possible chemical reactivity of CC13F and CC12F 2 in the atmosphere. The three most important reaction routes which can remove gaseous organic molecules from the atmosphere are direct solar photolysis, solubility in rain, and reaction in the troposphere with free radicals such as hydroxyl. However, examination of these possibilities in 1973 led Molina and me to conclude that none of them would be effective for CC13F or CC12F 2. They are transparent in the visible and near ultraviolet wavelengths, and therefore cannot be photolyzed in the troposphere. They are insoluble in water, and are therefore not removed by rain. And they do not react with hydroxyl radicals. Because none of these primary removal processes affects CC13F or CC12F2, they must have relatively long lifetimes in the atmosphere, and be removed by some secondary process which would be of only minor importance for reactive gaseous molecules. Our investigation settled on solar ultraviolet photolysis in the stratosphere as the major removal process for CCI3F and CC12F2, as shown in reactions (1) and (2), [2, 3] and subsequent study has confirmed this dominant role 4- v
The influence of chemical cues and conspecific density on the temperature selection of a freshwater snail (Melanoides tuberculata)

Abstract 1. The effects of predation risk (via chemical cues) and conspecific density on temperature selection of the freshwater snail Melanoides tuberculata were assessed within a circular thermal gradient. 2. Chemical cues from crushed conspecifics elicited the strongest avoidance response of snails in isothermal conditions. 3. Following the addition of chemical cues to the thermal gradient, snails became more active and did not exhibit significant preference for any area within the gradient. Thus, average selected temperatures were higher when exposed to chemical cues. 4. Although average selected temperatures increased with density of snails within the gradient, differences among densities were non-significant. 5. This species seems to modify its thermoregulatory behavior when exposed to chemical cues (i.e. predation risk) suggesting that snails favor predator avoidance over thermal selection when presented with both demands.
Determination of Protein in Dairy Products by Dye-Binding

Abstract Procedures are given showing the convenience of dye-binding methods applied to such products as fortified milks, evaporated and dried milks, ice cream, and sherbet. For cheese products the dye-binding capacity is lowered by the aging process, because protein breakdown products bind less dye. Parallel results were found using either Orange G or Acid Orange-12 (Udy's dye). The latter dye has some advantage in added sensitivity. Both dyes are bound less as the ratio of protein to dye in the reaction mixture increases. The factor for converting milligrams of dye bound to protein is related to the concentration of free dye remaining. The content of nonfat milk solids in many dairy products may be estimated from the protein content by assuming a constant per cent protein in the mixed milk used in the product.
Portability of three consumer products.

Abstract Three consumer products (a television set, a personal computer and a typewriter), all considered portable by their respective manufacturers, were evaluated experimentally for portability. Products were not considered portable if the physical and subjective workloads resulting from carrying them over specified distances were excessive. Twenty-two males and six females participated in the experimental investigation and carried the three products for distances of 45·72, 91·44. 137·16 and 182·88 m. Their pulse and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) of the arms and whole body were recorded and used as measures of physical and perceived workloads. Both physiological and subjective responses to carrying products were significantly influenced by the type of product and carrying distance, regardless of the gender of the person performing the carrying. The results of this study and the design guidelines provided in the literature for one-handed and two-handed carrying tasks led to the conclusion that, of the three products, only the television set could be considered portable.
Project-Based Independent Study Capstone Course

This paper describes a unique project-based course used successful by the ABET-Accredited Civil Engineering Program at the United States Military Academy (USMA) to greatly enhance the academic program. The three general project classifications available within this senior course are service-based (i.e., USMA, the Army, local community, etc.), competition-based (i.e., steel bridge, concrete canoe, timber bridge, Big Beam), and research-based. The exceptional student work provided at little to no cost to the client has opened up a ground swell of service and research projects now constantly offered to the program coordinator by prospective clients. The authors believe these independent study projects are successful due to their students being prepared through open-ended design in nearly every course we offer and through some initial project-based learning in earlier courses. The mix of these open-ended projects usually ensures that each student can list a minimum of 3-5 project choices that meet their individual needs for a challenging, yet rewarding academic experience. Approximately 90-98 percent of the senior CE majors each year choose to work on one of these open-ended projects. With 45 to 60 CE majors graduating each year, it is easy to understand that one faculty member cannot advise the required 15-20 projects each spring. So many, if not all, of the CE program’s 17 faculty must buy-in to the project-based senior program from the onset. It will be shown through student assessment that this form of experience not only challenges, but also motivates the students like no other aspect of their academic experience. The students are providing a solution to a real world problem for a real client. The assessment will show that the students find project-based learning demanding, but enjoyable and worthwhile because it forces them to push the boundaries of their knowledge through initiative, self-study, perseverance, and creativity.
Molecular Roadblocks for Cellular Reprogramming

During development, diverse cellular identities are established and maintained in the embryo. Although remarkably robust in vivo, cellular identities can be manipulated using experimental techniques. Lineage reprogramming is an emerging field at the intersection of developmental and stem cell biology in which a somatic cell is stably reprogrammed into a distinct cell type by forced expression of lineage-determining factors. Lineage reprogramming enables the direct conversion of readily available cells from patients (such as skin fibroblasts) into disease-relevant cell types (such as neurons and cardiomyocytes) or into induced pluripotent stem cells. Although remarkable progress has been made in developing novel reprogramming methods, the efficiency and fidelity of reprogramming need to be improved in order increase the experimental and translational utility of reprogrammed cells. Studying the mechanisms that prevent successful reprogramming should allow for improvements in reprogramming methods, which could have significant implications for regenerative medicine and the study of human disease. Furthermore, lineage reprogramming has the potential to become a powerful system for dissecting the mechanisms that underlie cell fate establishment and terminal differentiation processes. In this review, we will discuss how transcription factors interface with the genome and induce changes in cellular identity in the context of development and reprogramming.
Assessing Visual-Spatial Creativity in Youth on the Autism Spectrum

The goal of this study was to develop a measure of creativity that builds on the strengths of youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The assessment of creativity focused on the visual-spatial abilities of these youth using 3D modeling software. One of the objectives of the research was to develop a measure of creativity in an authentic learning environment that built on the interests and creative talents of youth with ASD. Traditional creativity tests may underestimate the creativity of youth with ASD because of the tests’ constrained nature, such as having a time limit, being limited to paper and pencil, testing in an over- or understimulating environment, and overlooking visual-spatial ability. A random selection of 27 student 3D design projects (out of approximately 100 projects) was assessed using dimensions of fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration. The validity of this assessment was examined by comparing the creativity scores of the 27 projects to the creativity scores given by a t...
Motivation and Learning Environment Differences in Inner-City Middle School Students.

Abstract The problems of students in inner-city schools were addressed by drawing upon two distinct and emerging theoretical frameworks: (a) educationally resilient students and (b) classroom learning environments. The motivation and learning environment of 75 resilient and 75 nonresilient students from an inner-city middle school located in a major metropolitan city in the south central region of the United States were compared. Resilient students were defined as those students who had scored on or above the 90th percentile on standardized achievement test scores in mathematics for a 2-year period; nonresilient students were those who had scored on or below the 10th percentile on standardized achievement test scores in mathematics for the same period. The multivariate analysis and univariate post hoc tests revealed that resilient students had significantly higher perceptions of involvement, task orientation, rule clarity, satisfaction, pacing, and feedback than nonresilient students did. Resilient studen...
Bifurcation analysis of a model for hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle

A model for hormonal control of the menstrual cycle with 13 ordinary differential equations and 41 parameters is presented. Important changes in model behavior result from variations in two of the most sensitive parameters. One parameter represents the level of estradiol sufficient for significant synthesis of luteinizing hormone, which causes ovulation. By studying bifurcation diagrams in this parameter, an interval of parameter values is observed for which a unique stable periodic solution exists and it represent an ovulatory cycle. The other parameter measures mass transfer between the first two stages of ovarian development and is indicative of healthy follicular growth. Changes in this parameter affect the uniqueness interval defined with respect to the first parameter. Hopf, saddle-node and transcritical bifurcations are examined. To attain a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle in this model, a balance must be maintained between healthy development of the follicles and flexibility in estradiol levels needed to produce the surge in luteinizing hormone.
High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of Solanum steroidal alkaloids

Methode de separation et de dosage de ces glycoalcaloides impliques dans la resistance aux insectes et dans la qualite culinaire des tubercules comestibles (pomme de terre). La separation des alcaloides satures et insatures est realisee par CLHP en phase inversee
WDTC1, the ortholog of Drosophila adipose gene, associates with human obesity, modulated by MUFA intake.

Adipose (adp) is an obesity gene in Drosophila and mice with crucial functions in fat metabolism. We investigated the correlation between genetic variation of the WDTC1 locus, the ortholog of adp, and human obesity. Five WDTC1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 935 and 1,115 adults of two ethnically diverse US populations. In the Boston Puerto Rican population, we demonstrated that two WDTC1 SNPs strongly associated with obesity. Homozygote and heterozygote carriers of the major allele i22835A, representing ∼96% of the population, had significantly higher mean BMI (31.5 and 31.0 kg/m2, respectively) than noncarriers (28.6 kg/m2). Conversely, homozygotes of the minor allele i22835G were leaner and were 74% less likely to be overweight or obese (odds ratio (OR) = 0.26, P = 0.003) compared to homozygote carriers of the major allele. Haplotype analyses based on two SNPs further supported these findings. In addition, we found a strong interaction of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake by genotype in this population. As dietary MUFA intake increased, minor allele carriers of SNP i22835A>G had higher BMIs, whereas major allele carriers had lower BMIs. A white population also exhibited a pattern of association between WDTC1 genotypes and obesity although of a different nature. Those WDTC1 variants which associated with obesity likely have experienced strong positive selection in human history, when food supply was unpredictable. Given the high frequency of the major alleles in both populations, we suggest that WDTC1 variation may be an important risk factor contributing to obesity in these populations.
Nonlinear dynamics and the problem of slip at material interfaces

Abstract The problem of dry friction between two metallic interfaces is discussed from the perspective of large scale molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For flat interfaces between identical metals, two-dimensional MD simulations using embedded-atom-method potentials for copper have shown a variety of phenomena associated with a velocity weakening of the tangential force at high relative velocities (approaching significant fractions of the transverse sound speed). These include dislocation generation, dislocation motion both parallel and normal to the sliding interface, large plastic deformation, nucleation of microstructure, diffusive coarsening of microstructure, and material mixing. The early time behavior of a flat sliding interface is dominated by dislocation motion parallel to the interface. For this early stage, lower-dimensional models are useful in interpreting some of the simulation data. A two-chain forced Frenkel-Kontorova model reproduces some of the behavior of the larger scale simulations when the phenomenological damping is taken to be consistent with the MD simulations. This model exhibits four velocity regimes of steady state flow which will be discussed. Some of the implications for the nucleation of microstructure will be addressed.
Quantitative Local Atomic Displacements from Huang Scattering Normalized by Thermal Diffuse Scattering

The three-dimensional (3-D) pattern of atomic displacements at the core of a small defect or defect cluster embedded in a bulk crystal is possible to measure in principle, but difficult to obtain in practice, especially if quantitative displacements are desired. Here, it is demonstrated that a least-squares fit to the single-crystal X-ray Huang-scattering distribution surrounding an intense Bragg peak is a practical means of obtaining quantitative displacements when thermal diffuse scattering is used as an internal intensity standard. After fitting a model based on local Kanzaki forces embedded within an elastic continuum, the use of finite-defect and point-defect methods of computing and interpreting the pattern of local displacements are compared and contrasted. To make the analysis general with regard to both crystal symmetry and defect symmetry, numerical Fourier transforms are employed rather than pursuing analytical expressions for the displacements.
Fast generation and display of iso-surface wireframes

Abstract The paper presents a method for generating and displaying wireframe approximations to surfaces of constant value (or iso-surfaces ). Input to the method is a data grid , a volume decomposition with each of whose vertices is associated a scalar value. During a preprocessing phase, the method constructs a threshold-independent data structure based upon the given data grid. The data structure relates the edges of an iso-surface wireframe to the edges of the data grid, for all possible threshold values. During the subsequent rendering phase, the data structure supports efficient generation and display of the iso-surface wireframe corresponding to any selected threshold value. The technique is efficient enough to form the basis for an interactive software system for visualizing iso-surfaces.
Multiscale fiber-reinforced composites prepared by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding

Carbon nanotube (CNT)/aramid fiber epoxy composites were produced using a new manufacturing method proposed in this study. The rheological and morphological experiments of the CNT/PEO nanocomposites indicates that the PEO nanocomposites have a good dispersion state of the CNTs. The flexural mechanical properties of the aramid fiber/CNT epoxy composites were measured. The CNTs dispersed in the epoxy resin between the aramid fibers were observed using field emission scanning electron miscroscope (FESEM). It was found that the flexural properties of the multiscale fiber-reinforced composites were higher than those of aramid fiber/epoxy composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 28:458–461, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers.
Electronic Absorption Spectrum and Decay Kinetics of the Benzyl Radical in Solution

DURING studies of the transient optical spectra of the intermediates produced in the flash photolysis of various substituted aromatic compounds in aqueous solution (L. J. Mittal, J. P. M. and E. H., unpublished work), in addition to the characteristic spectrum of the benzyl radical with λmax at 318 nm and at ∼307 nm we observed a strong absorption at wavelengths below 290 nm.
An Investigation of the Limit of Detection and the Scattering Dependence of the Optical Precipitate Profiler (OPP)

The Optical Precipitate Profiler (OPP) and similar instruments are establishing themselves as routine techniques for measuring bulk micro-defect density (BMD) and denuded zone depths in semiconductor wafers. This task has traditionally been done by means of the cleave-and-etch technique in which defects are counted on a cleaved edge of an etched wafer using an optical microscope. The OPP makes this task faster, simpler and more accurate. In addition it can perform the measurement on a whole wafer. We have used the OPP to measure defect density and scattering intensities from a set of silicon wafers with different precipitate sizes. The wafers were all given the same nucleation heat treatment but the precipitates were then grown at 1000°C for 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 hours. The size distributions and densities of the precipitates in each wafer were determined by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). In a second experiment wafers with precipitate densities varying over four orders of magnitude as determined by cleaveand-etch were also measured by the OPP. From these experiments we have estimated that the OPP can detect defects with an equivalent radius of 16 ± 8 nm and larger. We have also found that the scattering voltage (strength) depends on the precipitate radius, r3, as approximately r3 and that there is an upper number density limit above which the OPP is unable to measure the precipitate density accurately. For our setup this upper density limit was about 1.5 - 2.0 × 1010 defects/cm3 as measured by cleave-and-etch.
Inhalation of Ortho-Phthalaldehyde Vapor Causes Respiratory Sensitization in Mice

Ortho-Phthalaldehyde (OPA) has been approved for high-level sterilization of heat-sensitive medical instruments and is increasingly being used as a replacement in the healthcare industry for glutaraldehyde, a known sensitizer. Numerous case reports have been published indicating workers and patients experiencing respiratory problems, anaphylaxis, skin reactivity, and systemic antibody production. Our laboratory previously demonstrated that OPA is a dermal sensitizer in mice. The goal of the present study was to determine if OPA is a respiratory sensitizer following inhalation exposure. Mice were exposed to OPA vapor and airway and lymph nodes were examined for cytokine gene expression and alterations in lymphocyte populations. Inhalation of OPA for 3 days resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in lymphocyte proliferation, mainly B lymphocytes, in the draining lymph nodes. A secondary challenge of mice with OPA resulted in a dramatic increase in the population of B lymphocytes expressing IgE. Expression of Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and anti/proinflammatory (IL-10, TNFα, and IL-1β) cytokine genes was upregulated in the lymph nodes and the nasal mucosa. Mice exposed to the higher concentrations of OPA-produced OPA-specific IgG1 antibodies indicating systemic sensitization. These findings provide evidence that OPA has the potential to cause respiratory sensitization in mice.
Psychobiology of Sleep Disturbances in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Sleep disturbances are prominent complaints of PTSD patients. Some, but not all, of the polysomnographic studies support the occurrence of sleep disruption. The main dimensions of sleep disturbance in the disorder relate to arousal regulation and REM-related functions of dreaming and memory processing. Both of these issues are relevant to the pathogenesis of PTSD and manifestations of the disorder during wake states. Studies elucidating the effects of treatment on sleep parameters are an important direction for future research.
Enabling cost-effective high-current burst-mode operation in superconducting accelerators

Abstract Superconducting (SC) accelerators are very efficient for CW or long-pulse operation, and normal conducting (NC) accelerators are cost effective for short-pulse operation. The addition of a short NC linac section to a SC linac can correct for the energy droop that occurs when pulsed high-current operation is required that exceeds the capability of the klystrons to replenish the cavity RF fields due to the long field fill-times of SC structures, or a requirement to support a broad range of beam currents results in variable beam loading. This paper describes the implementation of this technique to enable microseconds of high beam-current, 90 mA or more, in a 12 GeV SC long-pulse accelerator designed for the MaRIE 42-keV XFEL proposed for Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Molecular Analysis of Turfgrass Rusts Reveals the Widespread Distribution of Puccinia coronata as a Pathogen of Kentucky Bluegrass in the United States.

Abstract Over the past 10 years, rust diseases have become increasingly prevalent on certain cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass. This pattern suggests that new races or new species of rust fungi may have emerged. To test this hypothesis, 66 samples of turfgrass rust fungi collected from across the United States were evaluated based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-5.8S rDNA region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three species: Puccinia coronata, P. graminis, and P. striiformis, comprising 67, 28, and 5% of the samples, respectively. P. coronata was frequently found in association with Kentucky bluegrass, a host–pathogen relationship that has not been previously reported. Comparison of molecular analyses with the use of standard field identification techniques—host association and pustule pigmentation—showed that 58% of the Kentucky bluegrass samples would have been incorrectly diagnosed using nonmolecular criteria. To avoid such misidentifications, a real-time polymerase chain reaction d...
Ethical concerns in grievance arbitration

Although the use of arbitration has become commonplace in the organizational world, the ethical issues surrounding arbitration have never been fully explored. The paper reviews ethical issues in arbitration, particularly in terms of forensic bias parallels, that may affect decision-making and make the arbitrator's decision questionable. Finally, the maintenance of fairness in the arbitration process, and the importance of an ethically acceptable system of organizational justice are also discussed.