cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impaired production of BMP-15 and GDF-9 mature proteins derived from proproteins WITH mutations in the proregion

Mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15) and growth and differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) genes have been identified in women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and mothers of dizygotic twins. Here, we show that biological activities of the conditioned media from human embryonic kidney 293F cells transfected with two representative BMP-15 and GDF-9 mutants identified in the affected women have significantly reduced biological activities compared with the corresponding wild-type. Moreover, this difference is due to decreased production of the mature proteins, attributed most likely to impaired posttranslational processing of the proprotein. As genetic studies of the BMP-15 and/or GDF-9 genes in ewes established that a reduction of these proteins is associated with an increased ovulation rate, it is conceivable that women affected with these mutations may have an increased probability of bearing dizygotic twins during active reproductive ages before diagnosis with POI at later ages due to an earlier exhaustion of ovarian reserve.
Identification of document structure and table of content in magazine archives

In this paper, we present a generic approach for reliable identification of the table of content (TOC) pages in scanned documents. We use multiple sources of information to obtain a reliable assessment of the TOC pages and the position of articles. These sources are produced by using three methods: title matching, section keyword matching, and numeric content. Finally a combination component is used to score potential TOC pages and select the best candidates. The system is used to identify the table of content, locate the beginning of articles, aid the process of advertisement identification (where present), and in general, identify the structure of scanned documents for the process of article extraction and online deployment of digital content. Results of applying the algorithms to an 80-years archive of Time weekly magazine are presented.
Position-dependent and promoter-specific regulation of gene expression in Trypanosoma brucei

Trypanosoma brucei evades the mammalian immune response by a process of antigenic variation. This involves mutually exclusive and alternating expression of telomere-proximal variant surface glycoprotein genes (vsgs), which is controlled at the level of transcription. To examine transcription repression in T.brucei we inserted reporter genes, under the control of either rRNA or vsg expression site (ES) promoters, into various chromosomal loci. Position-dependent repression of both promoters was observed in the mammalian stage of the life cycle (bloodstream forms). Repression of promoters inserted into a silent ES was more pronounced closer to the telomere and was bi-directional. Transcription from both ES and rRNA promoters was also efficiently repressed at a non-telomeric vsg locus in bloodstream-form trypanosomes. In cultured tsetse fly midgut-stage (procyclic) trypanosomes, in which vsg is not normally expressed, all inserted rRNA promoters were derepressed but ES promoters remained silent. Our results suggest that vsg promoters and ectopic rRNA promoters in bloodstream-form T.brucei are restrained by position effects related to their proximity to vsgs or other features of the ES. Sequences present in rRNA promoters but absent from vsg ES promoters appear to be responsible for rRNA promoter-specific derepression in procyclic cells.
Integration of thin film optoelectronic devices onto micromachined movable platforms

The integration of a thin film optoelectronic device onto a micromachined movable platform is reported in this letter. This micro-opto-mechanical system, consisting of a thin film AlGaAs/GaAs double heterostructure p-i-n detector integrated onto a polyimide micromachined platform on silicon, has applications which range from fiber optic coupling to sensors. Fiber optic coupling is demonstrated using a stationary fiber positioned above the thin film detector. By applying a voltage between the platform and actuation strips, the platform moves and a change in fiber to detector coupling is observed. >
Molecular Biomechanics: The Molecular Basis of How Forces Regulate Cellular Function

Recent advances have led to the emergence of molecular biomechanics as an essential element of modern biology. These efforts focus on theoretical and experimental studies of the mechanics of proteins and nucleic acids, and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of stress transmission, mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in living cells. In particular, single-molecule biomechanics studies of proteins and DNA, and mechanochemical coupling in biomolecular motors have demonstrated the critical importance of molecular mechanics as a new frontier in bioengineering and life sciences. To stimulate a more systematic study of the basic issues in molecular biomechanics, and attract a broader range of researchers to enter this emerging field, here we discuss its significance and relevance, describe the important issues to be addressed and the most critical questions to be answered, summarize both experimental and theoretical/computational challenges, and identify some short-term and long-term goals for the field. The needs to train young researchers in molecular biomechanics with a broader knowledge base, and to bridge and integrate molecular, subcellular and cellular level studies of biomechanics are articulated.
Culture on the weekend: Maghrebin women’s adaptation in France

Conducts in‐depth interviews with 45 female North African immigrants to France about what they preferred and disliked in each country and about their own cultural behaviours. Cites individuals were concerned at the cold and distant interactions of the French and their relationship to money together with the stress of living in France, and liked the opportunities for employment and education and the greater freedoms for women. Considers the adaptations these women make towards French cultural norm and the specific traditions they actively maintain.
Dual Treatment of Hemichorea-Hemiballismus Syndrome with Tetrabenazine and Chemodenervation

Background: Hemichorea–hemiballismus involves unilateral involuntary flailing movements and random jerking movements involving proximal or distal muscles. We describe a case of hemichorea–hemiballismus with dystonia after stroke. Treatment with tetrabenazine and chemodenervation produced beneficial responses. Effective treatment of both hemichorea–hemiballismus and dystonia due to stroke has not been reported. Case Report: A 65-year-old male developed left hemichorea–hemiballismus and dystonia after a right hemisphere stroke. He underwent initial treatment with neuroleptics and anticonvulsants without improvement. Subsequent treatment with tetrabenazine improved the hemichorea–hemiballismus and chemodenervation reduced the dystonia. Discussion: Hemichorea–hemiballismus associated with dystonia can be improved with both tetrabenazine and chemodenervation.
Parent stars of extrasolar planets – XII. Additional evidence for trends with v sin i, condensation temperature and chromospheric activity

Several recent studies have reported differences in v sin i, abundance–condensation temperature trends and chromospheric activity between samples of stars with and without Doppler-detected planets. These findings have been disputed, and the status of these results remains uncertain. We evaluate these claims using additional published data and find support for all three.
Shared protection in wavelength-routed optical mesh networks under dynamic traffic and no wavelength conversion

Survivable RWA under dynamic traffic involves the setup and tear down of lightpaths dynamically at random times with the objective of reducing blocking rates. Moreover due to the QoS requirements, the RWA is not only required to utilize network resources efficiently during the setup of lightpaths for newly arriving demands, but it is also required not to interrupt lightpaths that are in progress. These constraints dictate the optimization of the RWA for each individual connection request separately as it arrives with the objective of allocating minimum bandwidth based on the network status at the time of the arrival. This paper proposes a new algorithm for shared protection RWA under dynamic traffic for wavelength-routed mesh network with no wavelength conversion. The algorithm is based on the iterative two step approach proposed for networks, with full wavelength conversion. Two wavelength assignment schemes were evaluated and the results are presented.
Efficient spoken term detection using confusion networks

In this paper, we present a fast, vocabulary independent algorithm for spoken term detection (STD) that demonstrates a word-based index is sufficient to achieve good performance for both in-vocabulary (IV) and out-of-vocabulary (OOV) terms. Previous approaches have required that a separate index be built at the sub-word level and then expanded to allow for matching OOV terms. Such a process, while accurate, is expensive in both time and memory. In the proposed architecture, a word-level confusion network (CN) based index is used for both IV and OOV search. This is implemented using a flexible WFST framework. Comparisons on 3 Babel languages (Tagalog, Pashto and Turkish) show that CN-based indexing results in better performance compared with the lattice approach while being orders of magnitude faster and having a much smaller footprint.
Binding, proteolytic, and crystallographic analyses of mutations at the protease-inhibitor interface of the subtilisin BPN'/chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 complex.

A series of mutants of chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2), at residues that interact with the inhibited enzyme subtilisin BPN‘, were studied to determine the relative importance of intermolecular contacts on either side of the scissile bond. Mutants were tested for inhibition of subtilisin, rates of hydrolysis by subtilisin, and ability to acylate subtilisin. Additionally, crystal structures of the mutant CI2 complexes with subtilisin were obtained. Ordered water molecules were found to play an important role in inhibitor recognition, and features of the crystal structures, in combination with biochemical data, support a transition-state stabilization role for the P1 residue in subtilisin catalysis. Consistent with the proposed mechanism of inhibition, in which rapid acylation is followed by religation, leaving-group contacts with the enzyme were found to be more critical determinants of inhibition than acylating-group contacts in the mutants studied here.
Formal verification of lateral and temporal safety buffers for state-based conflict detection

This article presents an analytical definition of lateral and temporal safety buffers to be used in state-based conflict detection algorithms. A lateral buffer is a distance to be added to the minimum lateral separation to accommodate for uncertainty in the surveillance information. A temporal buffer is a time to be added to the lookahead conflict detection time to accommodate for dropped surveillance messages due to signal attenuation. These safety buffers are defined using precise mathematical statements and the main theorems give numerical upper bounds on the probability of a missed alert. A particular case is considered where absolute bounds on the errors in position and velocity information are known. In this case, under well-defined assumptions provided in this article, safety buffers are given that guarantee mathematically that the probability of a missed alert is zero. The results are presented as theorems, which were formally proven using a mechanical theorem prover.
TAPHONOMY OF MODERN MARINE BAHAMIAN MICROBIALITES

Extensive study of modern Bahamian stromatolites has resulted in a comprehensive model for their formation. Modern Bahamian thrombolites—microbial deposits with a mottled, clotted fabric— have not, however, received the same degree of study. Current models link the Bahamian thrombolites with the presence of a mixed-bacterial-and-metaphyte benthic ecosystem, whereas stromatolite formation is linked with an almost exclusively bacterial benthic ecosystem. By focusing on the preserved fabrics of several specimens, including an entire column 1.5 meters tall, we have developed a new model for the genesis of the clotted, thrombolitic fabric. Our findings demonstrate that variations in the amount and style of penecontemporaneous diagenesis, rather than differences in surficial benthic ecosystems, are the predominate cause of the disparate carbonate fabrics present in the Bahamian microbialites examined. More specifically, the irregular, clotted fabric that characterizes the thrombolites is the result of remodeling a precursor fabric. This remodeling is caused by physical and metazoan disruption, penecontemporaneous micritization, secondary cementation, and localized carbonate dissolution. This new model of syndepositional remodeling of a laminated fabric to a well-cemented, clotted one may be applicable to some ancient thrombolites.
Kinetics of the gas phase reactions of chlorine atoms with a series of formates

Abstract Relative rate techniques were used to study the reactivity of Cl atoms with a series of formates in 700 Torr of N 2 diluent at 296 K. Rate constants were determined for the following compounds: methyl formate, (1.30 ± 0.13) × 10 −12 ; ethyl formate, (9.57 ± 1.27) × 10 −12 ; n -propyl formate, (4.65 ± 0.47) × 10 −11 ; and n -butyl formate, (1.12 ± 0.14) × 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . These results are consistent with previous relative rate studies but are approximately 20–30% lower than the results from an absolute rate study of the reactivity of chlorine atoms towards esters. Likely explanations for the discrepancy are discussed.
How to Strengthen Ad Mail by Building a Digital Information Market

The US Postal Service suffered a $5B loss in FY 2013 following on a $15.9B loss the year before. One of the challenges has been the diversion of revenues from physical ad mail to online channels such as Google and Facebook. This paper articulates the design of an information market that could help physical ads compete with digital ads. The proposed mechanism offers a closed loop information feedback with attractive properties. (i) Recipients can declare what mail they do not want and become protected thereafter. (ii) Advertisers may learn what recipients do want. (iii) Recipients are rewarded for data they volunteer. (iv) The mechanism provides a simple means to convert offline contact to online purchase. (v) A data layer facilitates business partnership with USPS in order to offer new services. (vi) A new type of stamp provides USPS with a new source of revenue.
Congestion pricing effects on firm and household location choices in monocentric and polycentric cities

Abstract This paper develops a spatial general equilibrium model to explore the land use effects of three roadway congestion pricing strategies in both monocentric and polycentric city settings, where household and firm locations and wage rates are endogenously determined. Simulation results show how marginal cost pricing (MCP) of travel in the polycentric setting can cause many jobs (16% in this example) to leave the central business district (CBD) and relocate to a relatively dense but suburban ring. To achieve city-wide welfare gains, efficient land use regulations should permit such job decentralization. Simulations also illuminate how simple, distance-based tolls generate lower welfare improvements, but stimulate similar land use effects. A cordon toll imposed in monocentric cities may agglomerate all firms in a smaller CBD or re-agglomerate parts of firms in a sub-center ring of development. Overall, results highlight how an urban economic model enabling endogenous business and household decisions can illuminate various travel, congestion pricing, and land use connections.
Nipple Aspirate Fluid Hormone Concentrations and Breast Cancer Risk

Prior reports identify higher serum concentrations of estrogens and androgens as risk factors for breast cancer, but steroids in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) may be more related to risk. Incident breast cancer cases and mammography controls were recruited. Sex steroids were measured in NAF from the unaffected breasts of cases and one breast of controls. Menopausal status and menstrual cycle phase were determined. NAF steroids were purified by HPLC and quantified by immunoassays. Conditional logistic regression models were used to examine associations between NAF hormones and case-control status. NAF samples from 160 cases and 157 controls were evaluable for hormones. Except for progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), the NAF and serum concentrations were not significantly correlated. NAF estradiol and estrone were not different between cases and controls. Higher NAF (but not serum) DHEA concentrations were associated with cases, particularly among estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cases (NAF odds ratio (OR) = 1.18, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.02, 1.36). NAF DHEA was highly correlated with NAF estradiol and estrone but not with androstenedione or testosterone. Higher progesterone concentrations in both NAF and serum were associated with a lower risk of ER-negative cancer (NAF OR = 0.69, 95 % CI 0.51, 0.92). However, this finding may be explained by case-control imbalance in the number of luteal phase subjects (2 cases and 19 controls). The significantly higher concentration of DHEA in NAF of cases and its correlation with NAF estradiol indicates a potentially important role of this steroid in breast cancer risk; however, the negative association of progesterone with risk is tentative.
Controlling Environment and Contact Materials to Optimize Ohmic Microrelay Lifetimes

There has been a recent resurgence in interest in developing ohmic switches to complement transistors in order to address challenges associated with electrical current leakage. A critical limitation in ohmic switches remains the reliability of their electrical contacts. These contacts are prone to hydrocarbon induced contamination which progressively inhibits signal transmission, eventually leading to device failure. We report on progress made towards controlling the contamination phenomenon. We discuss how contact materials and operating environment affect device performance, showing that RuO2 coated microswitch contacts operating in the presence of O2 experience very limited contaminant accumulation even in hydrocarbon-rich environments. We then demonstrate that devices which have experienced contamination can recover their original performance by being operated in clean N2:O2 environment. Finally, we suggest that this resistance recovery is associated with the chemical transformation of the contaminant as opposed to its removal and that the transformed contaminant may shield the Pt coating from oxidation.
Recent Developments in Neurobiology

Part I of this series reviewed the principles of synaptic transmission and discussed neurotransmitters; this section reviews neurotransmitter receptors. Because synaptic mechanisms are the critical link in interneuronal communication, it is not surprising that many of the effects of psychotropic drugs are mediated by either blockade or facilitation of synaptic transmission. In particular, many important psychopharmacologic agents exert their primary effects on neurotransmitter receptors, the membrane-bound macro-molecules that transduce neurotransmitter binding into intracellular signals.
Growth and Obesity Among Older Single Ventricle Patients Presenting for Fontan Conversion.

Introduction:Long-term growth outcomes and the prevalence of obesity among older single ventricle (SV) patients have not been well characterized. We investigated these parameters, as well as the impact of obesity on survival, in an older cohort of SV patients presenting for Fontan conversion.Methods:We analyzed preoperative height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of patients who underwent Fontan conversion. Overweight and obese were defined as BMI ≥85 percentile and ≥95 percentile for patients <20 years and BMI 25 to 30 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2 for patients ≥20 years, respectively. Postoperative transplant-free survival was assessed among obese, overweight, and normal weight patients.Results:We evaluated 139 patients presenting for Fontan conversion at a median age of 23.2 years. Patients had shorter stature compared to the normal population (mean Z score −0.6, P < .001). Younger patients had lower BMI compared to the normal population (<20 years: mean Z score −0.5, P = .02), while older patients had elevate...
Providing Preventive Services to Men: A Substantial Challenge?

When organizing preventive healthcare for men, primary care physicians face several challenges. First, many preventive care services are both time and labor intensive, adding stress and strain to the already sparse resources of physicians and their staff. Second, patients often bring multiple, competing agendas to the visit, adding even more time pressure to the provision of preventive services; it is in these visits that acute care often takes precedence over preventive care [1]. Third, many primary care practices do not possess an adequate system to ensure timely provision of preventive healthcare services and adequate follow-ups for abnormal and/or unexpected results to their patients. Lastly, general biopsychosocial characteristics of male patients may place them at a unique disadvantage compared to women and need to be considered.
Herbivore effects on productivity vary by guild: cattle increase mean productivity while wildlife reduce variability.

Wild herbivores and livestock share the majority of rangelands worldwide, yet few controlled experiments have addressed their individual, additive, and interactive impacts on ecosystem function. While ungulate herbivores generally reduce standing biomass, their effects on aboveground net primary production (ANPP) can vary by spatial and temporal context, intensity of herbivory, and herbivore identity and species richness. Some evidence indicates that moderate levels of herbivory can stimulate aboveground productivity, but few studies have explicitly tested the relationships among herbivore identity, grazing intensity, and ANPP. Here, we used a long-term exclosure experiment to examine the effects of three groups of wild and domestic ungulate herbivores (megaherbivores, mesoherbivore wildlife, and cattle) on herbaceous productivity in an African savanna. Using both field measurements (productivity cages) and satellite imagery, we measured the effects of different herbivore guilds – separately and in different combinations – on herbaceous productivity across both space and time. Results from both productivity cage measurements and satellite NDVI demonstrated a positive relationship between mean productivity and total ungulate herbivore pressure, driven in particular by the presence of cattle. In contrast, we found that variation in herbaceous productivity across space and time was driven by the presence of wild herbivores (primarily mesoherbivore wildlife), which significantly reduced heterogeneity in ANPP and NDVI across both space and time. Our results indicate that replacing wildlife with cattle (at moderate densities) could lead to similarly productive, but more heterogeneous herbaceous plant communities in rangelands. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A theory of work gamification: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something cool?

Abstract A key assumption driving organizations' adoption of work gamification – applying principles of digital and computer games to work contexts – is that such efforts increase worker motivation, effectiveness, and performance. This paper presents a theory of work gamification, positioning work gamification as an intended enhancement of traditional performance management systems which promotes increased worker access to performance information, and improves task enjoyment. In addition to explaining why work gamification should be expected to have motivational and work effectiveness benefits, the theory also highlights the application and worker characteristics that may act as important boundary conditions to the efficacy of gamification applied to work. Theoretical and practical implications of work gamification are discussed.
Incidence Rate of Prediabetes Progression to Diabetes: Modeling an Optimum Target Group for Intervention.

Abstract Thirty-seven percent of US adults have prediabetes. Various interventions can delay diabetes progression; however, the optimum target group for risk reduction is uncertain. This study estimated rate of progression to diabetes at 1 and 5 years among a cohort of patients from 3 primary care clinics and modeled the potential magnitude in diabetes incidence risk reduction of an intervention program among specific subgroups. Records of 106,821 empaneled patients in 2005 were reviewed. Generalized population attributable risk (PAR) statistics were calculated to estimate the impact of reducing fasting blood glucose on diabetes progression. Multiple intervention effects (varying levels of glucose reduction along with multiple adherence rates) were examined for those with baseline glucose from 110 to 119 mg/dL and ≥120 mg/dL. Ten percent of patients (n = 10,796) met criteria for prediabetes. The 1- and 5-year diabetes incidence rate was 38.6 and 40.24 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Age and obesity w...
Power efficient circuit design

"Do you have a Ipod or a cell phone?" If I ask this question to you, Undoubtablly, I would expect the answer will be "Yes" because portable gears already become so popular that it almost can't be separated from our daily life. Again, if I ask you "do you like carry the battery charger during your travel?" definitely, the answer will be "No"...I think. So this brings my topic-How to do Power Efficient Circuit Design to make customers happier with portable devices. In this paper, how to reduce power consumption in analog design is discussed. An Analog CPU concept is introduced. To reduce power consumption in analog design, integrated power management, switching output driver and dynamic circuit operation are considered to be the most effective approach to be analyzed. In circuit design level, widely using weak inversion operation, continuous time architecture and transient current reduction are listed as considerable solutions to improve power efficiency in analog circuit design for portable applications.
Global E-Government

As the internet has spread in size and scope, its applications have included the interactions between many governments and their citizens. In addition to the growth of personal and commercial uses of the internet, electronic government, or e-government, expanded in tandem throughout the world. User-friendly graphical interfaces expedited this process enormously and opened the possibility of two-way flows of digital information between citizens and their states (and more recently, have paved the way for mobile governance, or m-government). There are many definitions of e-government (Yildiz 2007), but all essentially point to the use of information technologies (typically the internet) to facilitate the delivery of government information and services, restructure administrative procedures, and enhance citizen participation. Not surprisingly, the topic has drawn considerable scholarly.
Commentary on ‘investigation on molecular interaction studies of binary mixture of Dehpa and Petrofin at 298.15 K’

ABSTRACTThe Redlich–Kister equations reported in the published paper do not describe the observed excess molar volumes, excess molar refractions and excess molar refractions. Significant differences are noted between the observed excess quantities (based on mole fraction additivity) and calculated values based on the published Redlich–Kister polynomial equations.
Can comets be the only source of interplanetary dust

The steady-state of the meteoritic complex can be achieved by the present input rate of cometary dust, if the long-period and “new” comets release a sizeable fraction of their dust, in grains larger than 100 microns.
Injuries of Extracranial, Cranial, Intracranial, Spinal Cord, and Peripheral Nervous System Structures

Abstract This chapter is focused on injuries of extracranial, cranial, intracranial, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system structures, with emphasis on those disorders that appear to be related primarily to mechanical trauma. Extracranial hemorrhage consists of three major lesions: caput succedaneum, subgaleal hemorrhage, and cephalhematoma. These lesions are generally not serious, except for several uncommon complications. Skull fracture, the principal bony lesion of the newborn, may be linear, be depressed, or consist of occipital osteodiastasis. Intracranial hemorrhage, not unexpectedly, may result from mechanical factors, although among all types of intracranial hemorrhage, trauma per se is a prominent pathogenetic factor principally only for epidural and some cases of subdural hemorrhage. Subdural hemorrhage is discussed in Chapter 22 . Spinal cord injury is the most serious CNS parenchymal lesion related primarily to mechanical factors. Two major sites of injury are upper to mid-cervical, occurring mainly in cephalic deliveries and relating primarily to torsional factors, and lower cervical to upper thoracic, occurring mainly in breech deliveries and relating primarily to longitudinal or lateral tractional factors. MRI has proven valuable for both diagnosis and prognosis. Improvements in obstetrical practice have led to declines in incidence. Management is difficult, but new pharmacological, cellular, and rehabilitative interventions are on the horizon. Traumatic injury to peripheral nervous system structures is particularly dominated by brachial plexus injury. The mechanical forces underlying most cases are usually some combination of exogenous factors, such as downward lateral traction involving delivery of the head in a breech delivery or of the shoulder in cephalic deliveries and endogenous factors, such as very strong maternal expulsion forces. Other injuries to peripheral nervous system structures individually are uncommon but collectively are relatively common.
The Latest Technology of Traction Drive Half-Toroidal CVT

In recent years, CVTs (Continuously Variable Transmission) for automobiles has been steadily increasing in the background of global environmental issue. Improvements of fuel economy of the vehicles are one of the key items for reducing the CO2 gas generation. Comparing to conventional step gear transmissions, the continuously variable ratio changing provides the better fuel consumption with the optimized operation of internal combustion engines. Traction drive CVT has the capability especially for high power automotive applications. In November 1999, traction drive half-toroidal CVT units shown in Fig. 1, were installed in mass-production vehicles for the first time in the worldai][1]. This CVT has a simple structure, but it had not been commercialized for 120 years mainly because of poor endurance performance. In this application, one traction contact point is transmitting power of more than 50kW. A lot of tribological technologies have been provided to achieve such a large power transmission.
Juxtacrine Growth Stimulation of Mouse Mammary Cells in Culture

Mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMEC) from normal glands readily proliferate in culture when plated with lethally irradiated cells of the LA7 rat mammary tumour line (Ehmann et al., 1984). These cells can be sub-cultured at least 12 times (32 cell generations, if fresh feeders are added to the new cultures in numbers large enough to achieve confluency. Cells cultured in this manner appear normal with respect to morphology and dome formation. Their normality is also apparent when introduced into mouse mammary fat pads where they proliferate to form normal mammary ducts (Ehmann et al., 1987).
What Does It Mean for a Singularity to be Resolved

We have now seen and studied in quite some detail a general mechanism by which loop quantum cosmology can resolve singularities, based on the fundamental difference equation, and a very specific one of an effective bounce in a solvable model. In such a situation, and also in comparison with Wheeler–DeWitt quantizations, the question arises what it should mean, in general, for a singularity to be resolved. singularity
Sleeping, Waking, and Dreaming

Sleep is a global set of changes in brain, mind, and body function that is highly evolved in mammalian species, especially humans. It is actively controlled by the same subcortical neuronal circuits that generate waking and the within-sleep changes that result in dreaming. The science of sleeping, waking, and dreaming is incredibly useful to the understanding of human consciousness. The brain mechanisms controlling sleeping, waking, and dreaming can be quantified and modeled as three factors: activation, input–output gating, and modulation. A three-dimensional state-space model not only describes the three normal cardinal states but also defines many abnormal conditions such as coma, lucid dreaming, and disorders of sleep such as narcolepsy. The functional significance of sleep is increasingly evident in relation to energy conservation, information processing, and those adaptive behaviors that enhance survival and reproduction.
Achieving Racial Equity From the Bottom-Up? The Student Equity Policy in the California Community Colleges:

Can equity policies foster success and close the outcome gaps experienced by racially minoritized students in community colleges? Using a critical policy analysis and equity-mindedness framework, w...
“You Have to Have Money to Be Good”: How Capital Accumulation Shapes Latinas’ Pathways to College Sports

The number of Latina women enrolled in higher education is steadily growing yet the proportion of college student-athletes who identify as Latina has barely changed. This study uses Bourdieu’s conc...
Holistic Summer Undergraduate Research Program in High Performance Computing Research

This study investigated the effectiveness of a National Science Foundation-sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates Site in High Performance Computing (HPC) at South Dakota State University. In the 2018 program, ten first- and second-year students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines were engaged in an intensive ten-week program on the use and application of HPC in theoretical and applied research. The participants were engaged in an interdisciplinary program and were mentored by faculty and graduate students as they completed their project. Participants were provided instruction on the use of HPC, preparing posters and presentations, the Responsible Conduct of Research, and a variety of interpersonal skills. Feedback on the program was evaluated with daily journal entries prepared by the participants, Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) pre- and post-survey responses, one-on-one interviews, and the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking. Results of the 2018 cohort indicate that participants' attitudes toward their project discipline (e.g., engineering or biological sciences) are favorable. Participants' self-reported Research Skills also increased from the beginning to the end of the program. However, results suggest that their favorable attitudes decreased from the beginning to the end of the program. One hypothesis of why this occurred is that participants had unrealistic ideas about the time, effort, or duties of high-level research in math, engineering, and/or biological science disciplines. After the ten-week program, participants' views were more closely aligned with the reality of research work in the area.
Treatment of Rejection in Desensitized KT Patients

In the end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation is considered as an optimal treatment. As understanding of pathophysiology of antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), the challenges of sensitized kidney transplantation is increased with a tool of desensitizing protocol. In the sensitized kidney transplantation against donor-specific antibody (DSA) for human leukocyte antigen or ABO-incompatible antigen, the antibody-mediated rejection is still not been fully overcome. The many reports showed the rate of T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) has greatly decreased but the treatment of antibody-mediated rejection is still difficult. Antibody-mediated rejection is main risk of deterioration of renal function and graft loss in kidney transplantation. Antibody-mediated rejection therapy is currently known to be effective for removing or inhibiting the creation of donor-specific antibodies. Plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) are known to be helpful, but there is no defined protocol. Rituximab or bortezomib have been used to inhibit the production of antibody-producing plasma cells or B cells, but have not yet shown good results, and eculizumab, c1 esterase inhibitor, and IgG endopeptidase require additional studies.
Finding our balance? Revisiting the randomization revolution in development economics ten years further on

Abstract Ten years ago, we offered reflections on the power and pitfalls of randomized controlled trials in development economics, arguing that the research community had lost its balance between theory, observational data and randomized experiments. We remain convinced of both the importance and the limits of RCTs for development economics research. But with another decade of RCTs under our collective belts, three issues now strike us as having become increasingly important. First, ethical risks still loom large. Second, increasing evidence that many interventions have highly heterogeneous impacts, places a premium on reintegrating ex ante theorizing with RCT methods to understand the heterogeneity. In some cases, heterogeneity may imply RCTs are less desirable than other research methods. Third, the increasing use of RCTs to study informational, behavioral, and other perceptions-mediated interventions creates an opportunity for non-classical measurement error problems that undercut the statistical power of seemingly well-designed studies in ways that remain underappreciated.
Surgical treatment of children and youth with congenital melanocytic nevi: self- and proxy-reported opinions

The role of surgery in the management of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) is controversial. Data on surgical outcomes and predictors of satisfaction remain scarce. An online survey was employed following worldwide recruitment of youth aged 14–25 years (n = 44) and parents of children ≤ 18 years (n = 249) with CMN to query patterns of treatment and satisfaction with and opinions about the benefits of surgery. In proxy-reports, 121 of 249 (49%) and in self-reports 30 of 44 (75%) participants underwent CMN excision. The most common reasons for surgery were psychosocial determinants, aesthetic improvement, and melanoma risk reduction. The overall satisfaction with surgical management was good, although no predictors for satisfaction could be identified. Higher current age of the child was found to predict decision regret in proxy-reports. Most participants indicated that having a scar is more socially acceptable than a CMN. Opinions differed on whether surgery should be deferred until the child is old enough to be involved in the decision-making process. Whether and when to perform surgery in children with CMN is a multifaceted question. Awareness of common concerns as well as risks and benefits of surgery are essential to ensure critical reflection and balanced decision-making.
Acute serotonin 2A receptor activation impairs behavioral flexibility in mice.

Abstract Serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptors are the primary site of action of hallucinogenic drugs and the target of atypical antipsychotics. 5-HT2A receptors are also implicated in executive function, including behavioral flexibility. Previous studies showed that 5-HT2A receptor blockade improved behavioral flexibility in rodent models related to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. The current study instead was conducted to examine the impact of acute 5-HT2A receptor activation on behavior flexibility in the control C57BL/6 J strain. Because of the therapeutic potential of serotonergic hallucinogens and the unknown impact of many of these compounds on cognition, the present study examined how the 5-HT2A/2C agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) and the more selective 5-HT2A agonist 25CN-NBOH impacted behavioral flexibility in C57BL/6 J mice. Male mice were tested on a probabilistic spatial discrimination and reversal learning task after an intraperitoneal injection of vehicle, 2.5 mg/kg DOI, 1.0 mg/kg 25CN-NBOH, 1.0 mg/kg of the 5-HT2C receptor antagonist SER-082 or combined treatment with SER-082 (1.0 mg/kg) and 2.5 mg/kg DOI before testing of probabilistic reversal learning. All groups demonstrated comparable performance on the initial spatial discrimination, i.e. similar trials to criterion. DOI alone did not impair reversal learning, whereas 25CN-NBOH increased the number of trials to criterion during reversal learning. Because 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors have been shown to functionally antagonize each other in several behavioral paradigms, we also tested whether blockade of 5-HT2C receptors would unmask 5-HT2A receptor activation by DOI and impair reversal learning. Mice treated with SER-082 in combination with DOI required significantly more trials to reach criterion. In an additional experiment, a dose response experiment with 25CN-NBOH revealed that the 1.0 mg/kg dose tested in reversal learning did not affect locomotor activity. Together, these findings indicate that activation of 5-HT2A receptors impairs probabilistic reversal learning and that 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors exert opposing effects on behavioral flexibility in male mice.
A Bibliometric analysis of folate receptor research

The objective of this study was to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the entire field of folate receptor research. Folate receptor is expressed on a wide variety of cancers and certain immune cells. A Web of Science search was performed on folate receptor or folate binding protein (1969-to June 28, 2019). The following information was examined: publications per year, overall citations, top 10 authors, top 10 institutions, top 10 cited articles, top 10 countries, co-author collaborations and key areas of research. In total, 3248 documents for folate receptor or folate binding protein were retrieved for the study years outlined in the methods section search query. The range was 1 per year in 1969 to 264 for the last full year studied (2018). A total of 123,720 citations for the 3248 documents retrieved represented a mean citation rate per article of 38.09 and range of 1667 citations (range 0 to 1667). Researchers in 71 countries authored publications analyzed in this study. The US was the leader in publications and had the highest ranking institution. The top 10 articles have been cited 7270 times during the time frame of this study. The top cited article had an average citation rate of 110 citations per year. Network maps revealed considerable co-authorship among several of the top 10 authors. Our study presents several important insights into the features and impact of folate receptor research. To our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric analysis of folate receptor.
Conductivity of AlCl 3 -BMIC Ionic Liquid Mixtures Containing TiCl 4 at Different Temperatures and Molar Ratios

The conductivity of the mixture of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIC) ionic liquid with aluminum chloride (AlCl3) and titanium chloride (TiCl4) are systematically investigated over a range of temperature (70–110 °C) using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. The molar ratios of the components are changed to study the effect of molar ratio on the conductivity. The conductivity data are plotted against temperature to check whether it obeys the Arrhenius law. The activation energy and the density are calculated. The conductivity of the solution increases with increasing temperature for every composition. For varying molar ratio, conductivity increases with increasing TiCl4 content up to a certain composition then starts to decrease for each temperature. At room temperature, density of the solution increases with increasing TiCl4 content in the solution.
Exploring barriers to family planning service utilization and uptake among women in Iraq.

Background Family planning helps to avoid unwanted pregnancy and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Contraceptive prevalence is still relatively low (58%) in Iraq compared with other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, and the unmet need (12%) and total fertility (4.2 children per woman) rates are still high. Services are available free of charge or heavily subsidized in many public and private health facilities, yet many women may still not use them due to social, cultural, financial or health care services constraints. Aims This scoping review explores barriers to family planning services utilization and uptake among women in Iraq. Methods The review uses an adapted conceptual framework from quality of care and human rights-based frameworks to analyse published scientific studies. Results At policy level, the government has supported family planning but not enough resources were allocated. At the service level, low family planning promotion from health care providers (especially during antenatal care visits) along with provider bias for certain types of contraception, have contributed to inaccurate information and misconceptions. At the community and individual level, women's choice is still largely influenced by the husband's position on contraception as men are still considered the key decision-makers in regard to fertility. Valuing a large family is still a barrier to family planning services utilization and uptake whereas religion was found to support the use of family planning. Conclusion There is a need to provide promotional messages and encouraging mutual fertility decisions.
Perceived protectiveness of research safeguards and influences on willingness to participate in research: A novel MTurk pilot study.

Abstract Little is known about how individuals with mood disorders view the protectiveness of research safeguards, and whether their views affect their willingness to participate in psychiatric research. We conducted an online survey with 80 individuals (self-reported mood disorder [n = 25], self-reported good health [n = 55]) recruited via MTurk. We assessed respondents’ perceptions of the protectiveness of five common research safeguards, as well as their willingness to participate in research that incorporates each safeguard. Perceived protectiveness was strongly related to willingness to participate in research for four of the safeguards. Our findings add to a limited literature on the motivations and perspectives of key stakeholders in psychiatric research.