cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A constitutively active and nuclear form of the MAP kinase ERK2 is sufficient for neurite outgrowth and cell transformation

Abstract Background: Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are ubiquitous components of many signal transduction pathways. Constitutively active variants have been isolated for every component of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 MAP kinase pathway except for the ERK itself. Results: To create an activated ERK2 variant, we fused ERK2 to the low activity form of its upstream regulator, the MAP kinase kinase MEK1. The ERK2 in this fusion protein was active in the absence of extracellular signals. Expression of the fusion protein in mammalian cells did not activate endogenous ERK1 or ERK2. It was sufficient, however, to induce activation of the transcription factors Elk-1 and AP-1, neurite extension in PC12 cells in the absence of nerve growth factor, and foci of morphologically and growth-transformed NIH3T3 cells, if the fusion protein was localized to the nucleus. A cytoplasmic fusion protein was without effect. Conclusions: Activation of ERK2 is sufficient to cause several transcriptional and phenotypic responses in mammalian cells. Nuclear localization of activated ERK2 is required to induce these events.
Biosynthesis of isoprenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and flavonoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Industrial biotechnology employs the controlled use of microorganisms for the production of synthetic chemicals or simple biomass that can further be used in a diverse array of applications that span the pharmaceutical, chemical and nutraceutical industries. Recent advances in metagenomics and in the incorporation of entire biosynthetic pathways into Saccharomyces cerevisiae have greatly expanded both the fitness and the repertoire of biochemicals that can be synthesized from this popular microorganism. Further, the availability of the S. cerevisiae entire genome sequence allows the application of systems biology approaches for improving its enormous biosynthetic potential. In this review, we will describe some of the efforts on using S. cerevisiae as a cell factory for the biosynthesis of high-value natural products that belong to the families of isoprenoids, flavonoids and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. As natural products are increasingly becoming the center of attention of the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, the use of S. cerevisiae for their production is only expected to expand in the future, further allowing the biosynthesis of novel molecular structures with unique properties.
Citation analysis as a literature search method for systematic reviews

Systematic reviews are essential for evaluating biomedical treatment options, but the growing size and complexity of the available biomedical literature combined with the rigor of the systematic review method mean that systematic reviews are extremely difficult and labor-intensive to perform. In this article, I propose a method of searching the literature by systematically mining the various types of citation relationships between articles. I then test the method by comparing its precision and recall to that of 14 published systematic reviews. The method successfully retrieved 74% of the studies included in these reviews and 90% of the studies it could reasonably be expected to retrieve. The method also retrieved fewer than half of the total number of publications retrieved by these reviews and can be performed in substantially less time. This suggests that the proposed method offers a promising complement to traditional text-based methods of literature identification and retrieval for systematic reviews.
The effects of the previous outcome on probabilistic choice in rats.

This study examined the effects of previous outcomes on subsequent choices in a probabilistic-choice task. Twenty-four rats were trained to choose between a certain outcome (1 or 3 pellets) versus an uncertain outcome (3 or 9 pellets), delivered with a probability of .1, .33, .67, and .9 in different phases. Uncertain outcome choices increased with the probability of uncertain food. Additionally, uncertain choices increased with the probability of uncertain food following both certain-choice outcomes and unrewarded uncertain choices. However, following uncertain-choice food outcomes, there was a tendency to choose the uncertain outcome in all cases, indicating that the rats continued to “gamble” after successful uncertain choices, regardless of the overall probability or magnitude of food. A subsequent manipulation, in which the probability of uncertain food varied within each session as a function of the previous uncertain outcome, examined how the previous outcome and probability of uncertain food affected choice in a dynamic environment. Uncertain-choice behavior increased with the probability of uncertain food. The rats exhibited increased sensitivity to probability changes and a greater degree of win–stay/lose–shift behavior than in the static phase. Simulations of two sequential choice models were performed to explore the possible mechanisms of reward value computations. The simulation results supported an exponentially decaying value function that updated as a function of trial (rather than time). These results emphasize the importance of analyzing global and local factors in choice behavior and suggest avenues for the future development of sequential-choice models.
High-index-contrast multilayer hollow waveguides for mid-IR laser delivery

Hollow glass waveguides (HGWs) have been researched extensively for the efficient transmission of radiation over a broad spectral range spanning from the visible region to the far-IR. One such HGW film structure consists of a metallic substrate with overlaying multilayer dielectric thin film stack of alternating high and low refractive index films. The optical properties of such multilayer thin film stacks are well established and provide a method for developing photonic bandgap fibers with exceptionally low attenuation losses at a desired wavelength. Transmission losses can be minimized in multilayer waveguides through two main approaches; either maximizing the number of alternating layer pairs or maximizing the index contrast between adjacent films. In practice, it has been shown that for liquid-phase deposition-based procedures, the former approach leads to compounding surface and interface roughness, negating the low-loss advantage of a multilayer waveguide. Thus, this research focuses on maximizing index contrast between adjacent dielectrics in an attempt to minimize the number of films required to achieve acceptable transmission characteristics both in theory and in practice. In this study, multilayer waveguides are fabricated using three dielectric materials: silver iodide, lead sulfide, and cyclic olefin copolymer. Through exploitation of their high index contrast, these materials are used to develop low-film-count multilayer waveguides designed for enhanced transmission at both Er:YAG and CO2 laser wavelengths.
Elevated osmolytes in rainbow smelt: the effects of urea, glycerol and trimethylamine oxide on muscle contractile properties.

ABSTRACT Rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax , experience a wide range of temperatures in their native habitat. In response to cold, smelt express anti-freeze proteins and the osmolytes glycerol, trimethylamine N -oxide (TMAO) and urea to avoid freezing. The physiological influences of these osmolytes are not well understood. Urea destabilizes proteins, while TMAO counteracts the protein-destabilizing forces of urea. The influence of glycerol on muscle function has not been explored. We examined the effects of urea, glycerol and TMAO through muscle mechanics experiments with treatments of the three osmolytes at physiological concentrations. Experiments were carried out at 10°C. The contractile properties of fast-twitch muscle bundles were determined in physiological saline and in the presence of 50 mmol l −1 urea, 50 mmol l −1 TMAO and/or 200 mmol l −1 glycerol in saline. Muscle exposed to urea and glycerol produced less force and displayed slower contractile properties. However, treatment with TMAO led to higher force and faster relaxation by muscle bundles. TMAO increased power production during cyclical activity, while urea and glycerol led to reduced oscillatory power output. When muscle bundles were exposed to a combination of the three osmolytes, they displayed little change in contraction kinetics relative to control, although power output under lower oscillatory conditions was enhanced while maximum power output was reduced. The results suggest that maintenance of muscle function in winter smelt requires a balanced combination of urea, glycerol and TMAO.
Effect of lattice mismatch on phonon transmission and interface thermal conductance across dissimilar material interfaces

When phonons transport across a material interface, they experience reflection, transmission, and mode conversion, which results in a local temperature jump at the interface and thus dramatically changes the thermal conductivity of nanostructured materials. Phonon transmission across lattice-matched interfaces has been studied extensively in recent years with the atomistic Green's function (AGF) approach, which usually uses one unit cell to represent the cross section along the interface. However, modeling phonon transmission across realistic material interfaces is much more challenging because realistic interfaces are usually lattice-mismatched ones with atomic reconstruction, defects, and species mixing, which demands a larger cross-sectional area for the AGF simulation. In this paper, an integrated molecular dynamics (MD) and AGF approach is developed to study the phonon transmission across lattice-mismatched interfaces. MD simulation is used to simulate atomic reconstruction close to the interface. The recursive AGF approach is then employed to calculate frequency-dependent phonon transmission across lattice-mismatched interfaces with defects and species mixing, which addresses the numerical challenge in calculating phonon transmission for a relatively large cross-sectional area with reduced computational cost. The study of the relaxed interface formed from two semi-infinite bulk materials shows that lattice mismatch increases the lattice disorder and decreases the adhesion energy, which in turn lowers phonon transmission and reduces the interface thermal conductance across lattice-mismatched interfaces. Low-frequency phonons can be significantly scattered by increasing the defect size across the interface, while high-frequency phonons can be scattered almost completely (phonon transmission 0.1) across an alloyed layer as thin as 2.27 nm. The effect of lattice mismatch on phonon transmission becomes smaller for interfaces with defects and species mixing. The effect of annealing temperature on the Si/Ge interface thermal conductance was studied. A significant reduction of the Si/Ge interface thermal conductance was observed for a lattice-mismatched interface when annealed at high temperature, which agrees well with the available experimental data in literature.
Protolytic cleavage of Hg-C bonds induced by 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-selone: synthesis and structural characterization of mercury complexes.

Multinuclear (1H, 77Se, and 199Hg) NMR spectroscopy demonstrates that 1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazole-2-selone, H(sebenzimMe), a structural analogue of the selenoamino acid, selenoneine, binds rapidly and reversibly to the mercury centers of HgX2 (X = Cl, Br, I), while X-ray diffraction studies provide evidence for the existence of adducts of composition [H(sebenzimMe)]xHgX2 (X = Cl, x = 2, 3, 4; X = I, x = 2) in the solid state. H(sebenzimMe) also reacts with methylmercury halides, but the reaction is accompanied by elimination of methane resulting from protolytic cleavage of the Hg–C bond, an observation that is of relevance to the report that selenoneine demethylates CysHgMe, thereby providing a mechanism for mercury detoxification. Interestingly, the structures of [H(sebenzimMe)]xHgX2 exhibit a variety of different hydrogen bonding patterns resulting from the ability of the N–H groups to form hydrogen bonds with chlorine, iodine, and selenium.
The People’s Pageant: The Stage as Native Space in Anishinaabe Dramatic Interpretations of Hiawatha

What are the cords that connect us to what is not broken? One of the ways . . . is through the power of the word as invocation, through naming, and honouring, the living and the dead who came before us. Another way is by bringing our deities and cultural heroes to the stage, being inhabited by them, and becoming their reflections and manifestations. But this can’t be done in isolation. Creation stories are about transformation. . . . The transformative impulse does not come from individuals acting alone. It comes from building alliances, linking arms. It needs families, clans, Nations. It needs alliances across Nations. . . . It needs collaboration. —Monique Mojica (Kuna/Rappahannock) and Ric Knowles (5)
Survey and Analysis on Nutrition and Health Literacy among Migrant Workers in a Construction Site of Shenyang

[Objective] To investigate the status of nutrition and health literacy of migrant workers in a construction site,and to provide basis for relevant policy making.[Methods]A total of 380 male migrant workers in a construction site were cluster sampled for a hybrid survey by self-administered questionnaire and interview.Nutrition literacy and dietary behavior data were analyzed by t test,ANOVA and χ2 test.[Results]Among the migrant workers investigated,the average score of nutrition knowledge was 9.1±2.8,and the awareness rate was 37.9%.There was a significant difference in the average scores between low score group(8.1±2.1,awareness rate: 33.8%) and high score group(13.0±1.1,awareness rate: 54.2%)(P0.05).Education was a significant influencing factor of average score(P0.05).The proportion for occasional or no eating/drinking of milk,eggs,fruits,animal liver,bean products and meat in migrant workers was 90.0%,66.5%,60.5%,92.9%,57.6% and 45.6% respectively,and that was significantly higher in the low score group(91.8%,70.4%,65.1%,95.0%,58.9% and 48.7% respectively) than in the high score group(82.9%,51.3%,42.1%,84.3%,52.6% and 32.9% respectively)(P0.05).[Conclusion]Migrant workers show low levels of nutrition and health literacy and poor dietary behavior.Nutrition education should be provided to this group of workers.
Contamination of erythropoietin by endotoxin: in vivo and in vitro effects on murine erythropoiesis.

Endotoxin was detected in all erythropoietin preparations tested and was removed from four lots, without loss of erythropoietic activity, by adsorption with limulus amebocyte lysate. Comparison of adsorbed (endotoxin-depleted) and nonadsorbed (endotoxin-containing) erythropoietin preparations demonstrated significant inhibition of CFU- e and BFU-e in vitro by nonadsorbed erythropoietin at concentrations higher than 0.25 U/ml and 2.0 U/ml, respectively. CFU-e and BFU-e were inhibited significantly by readdition in vitro of 10(-5)-10(-3) mug of endotoxin per unit of limulus-adsorbed erythropoietin. Administration of saline or 6 U of nonadsorbed or adsorbed erythropoietin twice a day for 4 days of CF1 mice resulted in reticulocyte counts of 2.1%, 9.9%, and 15.9%, respectively. Nonadsorbed erythropoietin resulted in a 29% decrease in erythropoiesis, a 42% decrease in CFU-e, and a 16% increase in granulopoiesis in the marrow, whereas adsorbed erythropoietin caused a 28% increase in erythropoiesis, no significant change in CFU-e and a 19% decrease in granulopoiesis in the marrow. Both preparations resulted in marked increases in splenic erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis. The effects of adsorbed erythropoietin are similar to those produced following stimulation of hematopoiesis by endogenous erythropoietin. Hemopoietic changes induced by nonadsorbed erythropoietin in vivo and in vitro are affected substantially by contamination of the erythropoietin preparations with endotoxin.
A Case of Bordetella brochiseptica at a Military Medical Facility in Hawai'i: Phenotypic and Molecular Testing of an Uncommon Human Pathogen.

Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) is rarely implicated in human disease. Human infections typically occur in the context of immunosuppression and while human infection has been sporadically reported in the literature, the majority of these reports are largely descriptive and do not explore the molecular and phenotypic properties of the isolates in question. Here we report the isolation and characterization of a B. bronchiseptica isolate derived from an HIV positive patient at Tripler Army Medical Center on O‘ahu. This case represents the first published report of human infection of B. bronchiseptica in the state of Hawai‘i and the most detailed description of the biochemical and molecular features of a Hawaiian isolate to date.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents.

Significant progress has occurred over the past 10 years in the understanding and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. With the recognition that one half to one third of adults experience onset of the disorder in childhood and adolescence, early identification and treatment of the disorder become essential to reduce potential long-term ramifications. Models for etiopathogenesis suggest a neuropsychiatric disorder and are supported by identification of an immune-related subtype, association with other neurological diseases, brain-imaging studies, and peripheral blood findings. Pharmacological and behavioral treatments have been shown to have efficacy in reducing compulsive behaviors and obsessive thoughts. Although treatable, many children have only a partial response. Based on the current child and adolescent literature, an overview of childhood obsessive-compulsive disorder is presented. (Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 62[4, Suppl. A], A49-A64).
Endoscopic-powered rhinoplasty.

Objectif: Presenter une nouvelle technique d'affinement du dorsum nasal durant la rhinoplastie. Materiel et Methode: Chez quinze patients nous avons utilise la dissection assistee' du dorsum nasal lors de rhinoplasties esthetiques et de reconstruction. La technique est presentee et ses beneficies discutes. Resultats: Les resultats postoperatoires sont acceptables chez tous les patients. Il semble que le saignement per-operatoire et les ecchymoses subsequentes soient diminues. Nous n'avons rencontre aucune complication. Conclusion: La rhinoplastie endoscopique et assistee est une excellente approche pour le dorsum nasal. Elle permet de sculpter le dorsum de facon precise, sous vision directe, tout en permettant aux assistants de bien voir l'intervention. L'equipement de microdebridement standard peut etre utilise de facon simple et securitaire. Cette technique doit etre consideree dans les situations ou un affinement precis du dorsum nasal est necessaire.
Environmental Control of Gene Expression in Rhizobium meliloti

Soil bacteria are frequently exposed to several stress conditions of which nutrient starvation is an important one. The manner in which the stressed bacteria respond to these changing conditions, is of vital importance for their survival, persistence and succesful competition in the soil. In our study, we examined the behaviour of Rhizobium meliloti under nitrogen, carbon and oxygen limitation. A collection of 5000 R. meliloti mutant strains was generated, using a Tn5lux derivative and 67 Tn5lux containing strains were found to be induced by starvation (21 for N-starvation, 12 for C-starvation and 34 for O2-limitation). Some of these strains were found to respond to 2 or 3 stresses.
Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract: Open Questions and Controversies

Hospital-acquired bacterial infections are common complications of severe illness and appear to cause adverse patient outcomes. Most of these “secondary” infections are preceded by colonization of one or more mucosal surfaces by newly acquired or translocated bacterial species. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) is based on the rationale that prevention of such colonization will prevent subsequent infections. An additional rationale added in recent years is that reducing the bacterial population in the gut might reduce exposure of the host to circulating bacteria and/or bacterial products in circumstances in which gut permeability is abnormally high.
An Integrated Model of Type of Commitment and Trust on Quantitative and Qualitative Outcomes of Negotiation

The belief that trust and commitment have a positive influence on negotiations is pervasive among negotiation researchers (Fischer & Ury, 1981; Raiffa, 1982). Researchers have tested direct effects of trust and commitment on negotiation outcomes as well as mediated effects (e.g. of cooperation) and moderated effects (e.g. of information sharing). Further, outcomes have been measured in terms of some tangible currency of exchange (Rubin & Brown, 1975) or in relational terms (Anderson & Narus, 1990). Parallel streams of research in this area continue in the fields of marketing and management.
Article Four of Nostra Aetate and Christian-Jewish Relations

This chapter concentrates on Vatican II’s groundbreaking document Nostra Aetate that provided the impetus for a substantial renovation of the perceptions Christians have toward other religions. The fourth article forged a new vision for the church’s relationship with the Jewish people. The chapter explores the significance of this, especially its impact on Christian theology vis-a-vis Second Temple Judaism. It begins by reviewing classical Christian thought which emphasized the displacement of the “old” Israel by Christianity (the “new” Israel). It then discusses the premises undergirding Nostra Aetate 4 and concludes by examining the developments in Christian theology and biblical studies in light of the new Christian-Jewish relationship.
Reactive Oxygen Species and Protein Oxidation in Neurodegenerative Disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), once viewed chiefly as damaging byproducts of cellular function, may be better understood as being primarily integral participants of normal biological processes, but that can indeed produce damage at higher concentrations. They may oxidize specific targets in proteins, with definite regulatory consequences, and enzymes that subsequently reduce and restore their targets have been identified. However, increased levels of reactive oxygen species, oxidized proteins, and protein aggregates are hallmarks of most degenerative diseases of aging, and of aging itself. Organisms have devised sophisticated processes for sensing, correcting or recycling such aberrant molecules. In the context of aging-related neurodegenerative diseases, this review discusses the nature of ROS, their reactions with lipids and proteins, and the oxidative products of these reactions. Emphasis is given to the role of all of these as signaling molecules both under normal and degenerative conditions.
Effects of a Straw Phonation Protocol on Acoustic Measures of an SATB Chorus Singing Two Contrasting Renaissance Works.

Background Researchers have found that semi-occluded vocal tract (SOVT) exercises may increase vocal economy by reducing phonation threshold pressure and effort while increasing or maintaining consistent acoustic output. This research has focused solely on individual singers. Much singing instruction, however, takes place in choral settings. Choral singers may use different resonance strategies or unconsciously adjust their singing based on the ability to hear their own sound in relation to others. Results of studies with individual singers, then, may not be directly applicable to choral settings. Objective The purpose of this investigation was to measure the effect of an SOVT protocol (ie, straw phonation) on acoustic changes of conglomerate, choral sound. Study design This is a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest design. Methods Participants in this study constituted an intact SATB choir (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) (N = 15 singers) who performed from memory two unaccompanied pieces of varied tempos from memory, participated in a 4-minute straw phonation protocol with a small stirring straw, and then sang each piece a second time. Results The long-term average spectrum results indicated small, statistically significant increases in spectral energy for both pieces in the 0-10 kHz (.32 and .20 dB Sound Pressure Level) and 2-4 kHz regions (.46 and .25 dB SPL). Conclusion These results, although not likely audible to average hearing humans, seem consistent with the assertion that singers enjoy vocal benefits with consistent or increased vocal output. SOVT exercises, therefore, may be useful as a time-efficient way to evoke more efficient and economical singing during choral warm-up and voice building procedures.
Improving Stability Margins via Time-Delayed Vibration Control

Time-delayed vibration control of a two degree-of-freedom mechanical system approximates state-derivative feedback and reduces sensitivity and improves the stability margins. Additional sensors are not required since state derivatives are approximated using available measurements and time delays. A Lambert W method based design approach is used to solve the resulting delay differential equations. Simulation results demonstrate excellent performance with improved stability margins over state feedback control only.
Regressive or progressive ? the effect of tobacco taxes in Ukraine

Tobacco taxes are usually considered regressive as the poorest individuals allocate larger shares of their budget towards the purchase of tobacco related products. However, because these taxes also discourage tobacco use, some of the most adverse effects and their economic costs are reduced, including lower life expectancy at birth, higher medical expenses, increased years of disability among smokers, and the effects of secondhand smoke. This paper projects the effects of an increase in the tobacco tax on household welfare in Ukraine. It considers three price-elasticity scenarios among income deciles of the population. Results show that although tobacco taxes are often criticized for being regressive in the short-run, a more comprehensive scenario that includes medical expenses and working years, the benefits of tobacco taxes far exceed the increase in tax liability, benefitting in large measure lower income households. Our results also indicate that lower health expenditure seems to be the main driver because of the reduction in tobacco-related diseases that require expensive treatments. Tobacco taxes are also associated with positive distributional effects related to the higher long-term price elasticities of tobacco consumption.
Mothering through precarity: women’s work and digital media; Interrogating motherhood

Together, Lynda Ross’s Interrogating Motherhood and Julia Wilson and Emily Chivers Yochim’s Mothering through Precarity provide a comprehensive study into contemporary mothering. The authors find t...
Does mixed crop‐livestock farming lead to less diversified diets among smallholders? Evidence from Laos

Malnourishment continues to remain a challenge in developing countries. As the undernourished are largely smallholder farmers, it is widely assumed that farm diversification and mixed crop‐livestock agricultural systems can help alleviate this problem. However, empirical evidence in this context is limited. Hence, we use a two‐year panel's data from Laos to examine whether farm production diversity as well as a mixed crop‐livestock farming system improves household dietary diversity among smallholder farmer. The results from the fixed effects regression indicate that although farm production diversity does lead to a higher dietary diversity, the effect diminishes with continued farm diversification. The counterfactual analysis from the endogenous switching regression reveals that mixed crop‐livestock farming systems do not necessarily enhance dietary diversity. However, we further find that purchasing food from the markets plays an important role in enhancing the dietary diversity of rural smallholder farmers.
Adnexal torsion in a patient with Müllerian agenesis undergoing ovarian stimulation: a case report

Background: As assisted reproductive technologies become increasingly available to patients, more women with Mullerian agenesis may undergo ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval to have genetically-related offspring. The risk of ovarian torsion is increased in patients utilizing assisted reproductive technologies compared to patients who do not undergo these treatments. Case: A 25-year-old G0 with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome presented to the emergency room two days after oocyte retrieval with an acute abdomen. During laparoscopy, she was found to have torsion of her left ovary. Summary and Conclusion: As more young women with Mullerian agenesis present for fertility treatment, this anatomically unique patient cohort may be at an especially high risk for ovarian torsion. Physicians should recognize this risk and counsel their patients on this risk when discussing fertility options in patients with Mullerian agenesis.
Hybrid control for global stabilization of nonlinear systems

Stabilization of an equilibrium solution of nonlinear control systems has been extensively studied. Many elegant and important results are now available. Most of these results make use of smooth feedback to provide stabilization only within a local region containing the equilibrium. In this paper, we consider a class of nonlinear control systems, that includes nonholonomic control systems, and hence is known to present stabilization difficulties using smooth feedback. There are good theoretical and practical reasons for using hybrid feedback controllers to achieve closed loop stabilization for this class of systems. This paper presents a summary of one such hybrid feedback control approach, that guarantees global asymptotic stability. The development is a step towards a synthesis of classical nonlinear control methodology and intelligent control methodology.
Nitric Oxide Synthase in a Lesion Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons degenerate in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the prominent cholinergic groups of the upper brainstem have been reported to be preserved in this disease (Woolf et al., 1989). While the etiology of cell death in AD is unknown, excitotoxic and/or oxidative mechanisms may explain part of it (Jeandel et al., 1989; Pappolla et al., 1992). Although such mechanisms themselves may not be part of the initiating event(s) in neurodegeneration of AD, they may contribute significantly. It seems possible that the observed differential vulnerability of rostral and caudal cholinergic cells in AD may be explained by differential tolerance for oxidative stress, and that this might relate to their differential expression of protection mechanisms against free radicals. Degeneration of neurons in AD may not be due to a sudden release of glutamate or radicals; more likely it is the involvement of a slowly evolving process that would stress more vulnerable neuronal populations. One possibility is that an on-going activation of neuroglia could secondarily lead to slow neuronal death. Neuroglia are known to release both growth promoting factors and cytotoxic agents after injury to the brain. One of these toxic agents may be nitric oxide (NO).
Deterministic Test Generation Algorithms

The previous chapter provided an understanding of test generation and showed where and how test generation is used in digital system testing.
The effect of a conceptual model-based approach on ‘additive’ word problem solving of elementary students struggling in mathematics

Whole number arithmetic is the foundation of higher mathematics and a core part of elementary mathematics. Awareness of pattern and underlying problem structure promote the learning of whole number arithmetic. A growing consensus has emerged on the necessity to provide students with the opportunity to engage in algebraic reasoning earlier in their education. In fact, the U.S. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics curriculum standards and the nationwide mathematics reform call for algebra readiness in elementary mathematical learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Conceptual Model-based Problem Solving (Xin, Conceptual model-based problem solving: Teach students with learning difficulties to solve math problems. The Netherlands: Sense Publishers, 2012) intervention program, with the Singapore bar model method (Kaur, The model method—A tool for representing and visualising relationships, In: Conference proceedings of ICMI study 23: Primary mathematics study on whole numbers, pp 448–455, 2015) serving as the bridge towards symbolic mathematical model equations, on enhancing additive word problem-solving performance of elementary students who are struggling in mathematics. Findings from this study indicate the promise of this program. Through representing a range of additive word problem situations in one cohesive mathematical model equation, students are prepared for generalized problem-solving skills.
Characteristics and outcomes of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer undergoing early phase immune checkpoint inhibitor clinical trials

Abstract Objective To describe the clinical outcomes associated with the use of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in recurrent ovarian malignancy. Methods Women with recurrent ovarian cancer treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor between 1/2012 and 8/2017 were included. RECIST criteria determined disease status, and immune related adverse events (irAE) were graded per trial protocols. Predictors of response, irAE, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were investigated. Results Forty-four women were included with a median age of 53 years, median of 4 prior lines of chemotherapy, and most commonly high grade serous pathology (59.1%). 3 patients had partial response and 3 had pseudoprogression, for a response rate of 14.2%. In subset analysis of high grade serous (HGSOC) pathology, platinum sensitivity at time of checkpoint inhibitor therapy was correlated with response (p = 0.01). There were 28 grade 3/4 irAEs in 21 patients (47.7%). Combination therapy rather than monotherapy predicted irAE (OR 5.7, CI 1.6–20.9, p = 0.02). The most common severe irAE was elevation in hepatic or pancreatic enzymes in 12 total patients (13.6% each). Interestingly, the number of genes mutated was protective from hepatic/pancreatic AE (p = 0.02). Conclusions While response rate was similar to prior literature, in patients with HGSOC platinum sensitivity at time of checkpoint inhibitor initiation was correlated to response. Grade 3/4 hepatic and pancreatic enzyme elevations were more common in ovarian cancer patients than has been previously reported in other tumor types. The number of genes mutated was inversely correlated to risk of this type of irAEs but not to total irAEs.
Light sheet theta microscopy for quantitative imaging of large cleared samples

Conference Presentation for "Light sheet theta microscopy for quantitative imaging of large cleared samples"
An overview of Ames experimental aerothermodynamics

This paper reviews the recent experimental research activities on aerothermodynamics within NASA Ames Research Center. The activities included in this review are those in (1) the electric arc-driven shock tubes, (2) the combustion-driven shock tube, (3) the ballistic ranges, and (4) the arc-jet wind tunnel facilities. The paper is a collection and collation of the papers published previously in the open literature on the activities in these facilities. The paper highlights the contributions made by each facility in the high temperature real-gas flow regimes.
Comparing Web-Based and Classroom-Based Memory Training for Older Adults: The ACTIVE Memory Works™ Study

Objectives To compare the efficacy of a web-based versus a classroom-based memory training program in enhancing cognition and everyday functioning in older adults, and program satisfaction and acceptability. Method Participants (N = 208; mean age = 71.1) were randomly assigned to a web-based or classroom-based training, or to a wait-list control condition. Cognitive and everyday functioning measures were administered at baseline, immediate, and 6 months post-training; both training groups evaluated program satisfaction and acceptability at immediate post-training. Repeated-measures analyses of variance assessed training effects on cognitive and functioning outcomes; independent-samples t tests assessed group differences in program satisfaction and acceptability. Results Compared to controls, neither training group showed a significant improvement on measures of memory or everyday functioning as assessed by dependence or difficulty on instrumental activities of daily living over time. Training effects did not transfer to non-trained cognitive abilities. The web-based group was as satisfied with the training as the classroom-based group (p > .05). Discussion Although no significant training effects were found, we demonstrated that a web-based platform is an acceptable and feasible mode to provide memory training to healthy older adults. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential of web-based memory training programs for improving cognition and function in cognitively healthy older adults.
Motivation for Leadership: An Evaluation of Rationale and Characteristics of Leadership Identity

Date Presented 04/04/19 A guidepost of Vision 2025, OT is influential in changing policies, environments, and complex systems, and the profession needs to hone leadership skills amid students and practitioners. Students’ perceptions of leadership abilities were evaluated for leadership themes. Thoughts of needing years of experience and being granted permission to lead were among the included themes. Leadership is an important issue for the profession as a whole. Primary Author and Speaker: Suzanne Rappaport
Ambulatory Sequences: Ecologies of Learning by Attending and Observing on the Move

There is a growing corpus of research in the educational sciences that explores the multiple ways in which mobility, or people’s movement from place to place and through places, both constitutes an...
Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)-Based Prospective Hospital Payment System can be well adopted for Acute Care Surgery: Taiwanese Experience with Acute Cholecystitis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common procedure for cholelithiasis paid by diagnostic-related groups (DRGs) systems. However, acute cholecystitis (AC) patients usually have heterogeneous conditions that compromise the successful implementation of DRGs. We evaluated the quality/efficiency of treating AC patients under the DRG system in Taiwan. All AC patients who underwent LC between October 2015 and December 2016 were included. Patient demographics, treatment outcomes, and financial results were analyzed. Patients were reimbursed by one of the two DRG schemes based on their comorbidities/complications (CC): DRG-1, LC without CC; and DRG-2, LC with CC. Hospitals were reimbursed the costs incurred if they were below the lower threshold (balanced sector); with the outlier threshold if costs were between the lower and outlier thresholds (profitable sector); and with the outlier threshold plus 80% of the exceeding cost if costs were higher than the outlier threshold (profit-losing sector). Among 246 patients, 114 were paid by DRG-1, and 132 were by DRG-2. In total, 195 of 246 patients underwent LC within 1 day after admission, and patients with mild AC had shorter hospital stays than those with moderate or severe AC. The complication rate was 7.3% with only one mortality. In total, 92.1% of patients in DRG-1 and 90.9% of patients in DRG-2 were profitable. The average margin per patient was 11,032 TWD for DRG-1 and 24,993 TWD for DRG-2. DRGs can be well adopted for acute care surgery, and hospitals can still provide satisfactory services without losing profit.
Kinase-mediated RAS signaling via membraneless cytoplasmic protein granules

Receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-mediated activation of downstream effector pathways such as the RAS GTPase/MAP kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is thought to occur exclusively from lipid membrane compartments in mammalian cells. Here, we uncover a membraneless, protein granule-based subcellular structure that can organize RTK/RAS/MAPK signaling in cancer. Chimeric (fusion) oncoproteins involving certain RTKs including ALK and RET undergo de novo higher-order assembly into membraneless cytoplasmic protein granules that actively signal. These pathogenic biomolecular condensates locally concentrate the RAS activating complex GRB2/SOS1 and activate RAS in a lipid membrane-independent manner. RTK protein granule formation is critical for oncogenic RAS/MAPK signaling output in these cells. We identify a set of protein granule components and establish structural rules that define the formation of membraneless protein granules by RTK oncoproteins. Our findings reveal membraneless, higher-order cytoplasmic protein assembly as a distinct subcellular platform for organizing oncogenic RTK and RAS signaling.
A Relational Marxist Critique of Posthumanism in Archaeology

In archaeology, a Posthumanism has arisen from the ashes of post-modernism and declared that Marxism is dead in archaeology. Archaeological advocates of the posthumanist theory of Symmetrical Archaeology cherry-pick ideas to dismiss Marxism out of hand without considering the depth and nuances of different Marxist theories. They misrepresent the relational dialectic as oppositional thinking and ignore the fundamental dualism of their own polemic. They equate humans and things by arguing that they share a common ontology. A relational Marxism resolves the dualistic nature of their polemic and shows that things, animals and people may be studied relationally while still recognizing ontological differences. Marxism lives.
Epidemiology of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Facilities.

This cohort study describes the burden of coronavirus disease 2019 among people detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement compared with the US population.
Development and initial validation of ability levels to interpret pediatric spinal cord injury activity measure and pediatric measure of participation scores.

Purpose To develop ability levels and descriptions to interpret Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Activity Measure (PEDI-SCI AM) and Pediatric Measure of Participation (PMoP) scores. Methods Mixed-methods approach to 1.) create item maps using PEDI-SCI AM and PMoP calibration data; 2.) employ bookmarking methods and an iterative consensus process including semi-structured interviews, focus groups and surveys to establish PEDI-SCI AM and PMoP level score cut-points and descriptions; 3.) use calibration sample data to examine mean score differences across levels [analyses of variance (ANOVAs)] and assess the sample distribution (%) across levels; 4.) repeat in a separate validation sample; 5.) develop level descriptions. Throughout the mixed methods approach, the sample participants include children with spinal cord injury (SCI), parents of children with SCI, and professionals who work with children with SCI. Results Four or five ability levels were identified for each PEDI-SCI AM and PMoP domain along with descriptions for each level. ANOVA results revealed significant overall differences for level mean scores and pairwise comparisons (p 80%) was achieved for all PEDI-SCI AM and some PMoP level descriptions. Conclusion PEDI-SCI AM and PMoP score cut-points identify different levels of activity and participation among children with SCI. These levels and descriptions provide clinical relevance for PEDI-SCI and PMoP numeric scores.
Trends in Differences Across Subgroups of Adults in Preventive Services Utilization.

Background There were large differences across subgroups of adults in preventive services utilization before 2010. The Affordable Care Act had numerous provisions aimed at increasing utilization as well as at reducing disparities. Objective This study examines whether preventive services utilization changed over time, across subgroups of adults defined by race/ethnicity, insurance coverage, poverty status, Census region, and urbanicity. Methods Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component are used to examine service utilization before the passage of the Affordable Care Act (2008/2009), after the implementation of the preventive services mandate and the dependent coverage provision (2012/2013), and after Medicaid expansions (2015/2016). Four preventive services are examined for adults aged 19-64-general checkups, blood cholesterol screening, mammograms, and colorectal cancer screening. Multivariate logistic regression models are used to predict preventive services utilization of adult subgroups in each time period, and to examine how differences across subgroups changed between 2008/2009 and 2015/2016. Results There were modest increases in utilization between 2008/2009 and 2015/2016 for blood cholesterol and colorectal cancer screenings. For 3 of 4 preventive services, differences between the Northeast and the Midwest regions narrowed. However, large gaps in utilization across income groups and between those with and without coverage persisted. Disparities across racial/ethnic groups in general checkups persisted over time as well. Conclusion While some differences have narrowed, large gaps in preventive service utilization across population subgroups remain.
King Receives 2013 Ivan I. Mueller Award for Service and Leadership: Response

Thank you, Matt. I am honored to receive an award named for someone who has not only been an inspiration to me throughout my career but whose critical role in the formation of the International GPS (now GNSS) Service (IGS) has made possible both my own research and my ability to assist others in the art of GPS data analysis.
A dominant negative PPARγ mutant shows altered cofactor recruitment and inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

Aims/hypothesis PPARγ, a member of the nuclear hormone receptor family of transcription factors, plays a key role in adipocyte differentiation and insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to identify a potential dominant negative murine PPARγ mutant and to characterize the in vitro functional properties of this mutant.