cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Genome mapping resolves structural variation within segmental duplications associated with microdeletion/microduplication syndromes

Abstract Segmental duplications (SDs) are a class of long, repetitive DNA elements whose paralogs share a high level of sequence similarity with each other. SDs mediate chromosomal rearrangements that lead to structural variation in the general population as well as genomic disorders associated with multiple congenital anomalies, including the 7q11.23 (Williams-Beuren Syndrome, WBS), 15q13.3, and 16p12.2 microdeletion syndromes. These three genomic regions, and the SDs within them, have been previously analyzed in a small number of individuals. However, population-level studies have been lacking because most techniques used for analyzing these complex regions are both labor- and cost-intensive. In this study, we present a high-throughput technique to genotype complex structural variation using a single molecule, long-range optical mapping approach. We identified novel structural variants (SVs) at 7q11.23, 15q13.3 and 16p12.2 using optical mapping data from 154 phenotypically normal individuals from 26 populations comprising 5 super-populations. We detected several novel SVs for each locus, some of which had significantly different prevalence between populations. Additionally, we refined the microdeletion breakpoints located within complex SDs in two patients with WBS, one patient with 15q13.3, and one patient with 16p12.2 microdeletion syndromes. The population-level data presented here highlights the extreme diversity of large and complex SVs within SD-containing regions. The approach we outline will greatly facilitate the investigation of the role of inter-SD structural variation as a driver of chromosomal rearrangements and genomic disorders.
Discipline and Commoditize: How U-Visas Exploit the Pain of Gender-Based Violence:

U-Visas are granted to immigrant survivors of gender-based crimes. I use critical discourse analysis to examine 100 U-visa cases. I present two arguments. First, U-Visa adjudication establishes a p...
Oxygen separation in a vortex tube with applied magnetic field

The large scale and efficiency of air separation units remain key barriers towards modular, distributed liquid oxygen systems. Identifying new physical separation mechanisms, or novel combinations of established methods, could enable the development of smaller, more modular air separation systems. This paper investigates the combination of centrifugal separation with paramagnetism of liquid oxygen in a vortex tube. The magnetic field is applied via externally mounted 1.5-T bar magnets along the length of the periphery of the vortex tube. Calibrated air mixtures with 21.1-21.4% oxygen and the remainder nitrogen are tested. Inlet vortex tube fluid conditions are held between 89 and 90 K and 305-320 kPa and expanded to 162-286 kPa. Gas chromatography analysis on the calibrated air samples shows the magnetic field gradient on the vortex tube produces up to a 42.09% purity as opposed to 27.95% purity in identical trials without a gradient. Purity and yield are shown to be inversely related in the periphery and directly related in the core. The results indicate a potential to increase oxygen purity and yield in a more compact form factor.
The Advantage of 3D Design of Mine Gas Drainage Borehole

Coal and gas outburst is the sudden release of in-situ stress, and the release intensity is beyond people's control. The measures to prevent and control coal and gas outburst are to build a safety barrier for the mining and excavation face by means of prevention and control engineering, construction of gas drainage borehole, artificial release of ground stress or reduction of the sudden high-intensity release of underground potential damage energy. The design of coal mine gas drainage boreholes under two-dimensional and three-dimensional conditions will be quite different. Through comparison, it can be seen that the borehole design based on three-dimensional modeling can play a better role in prevention and control of coal and gas outburst.
Dendrimers as Drug Carriers for Cancer Therapy

The efficacy of anticancer agents is often limited due to treatment-related toxicity, poor pharmacokinetics, and inadequate drug accumulation in the tumor. Advances made in the field of cancer nanomedicine have made it possible to reduce the toxicity, alter the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, increase site-specific drug delivery, and enhance the efficacy of many therapeutic agents by using nanoparticles as drug carriers. These nanocarriers can be composed of polymers, lipids, proteins, or inorganic materials. Among these delivery systems, dendrimers form a separate class of branched polymer nanoparticles that has shown great promise in cancer drug delivery. In this chapter, we describe the application of dendrimers as nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery in cancer. We discuss the structures, properties, and various synthesis methods for dendrimers suitable for anticancer drug delivery. Further, we describe various types of dendrimers with appropriate examples in different therapeutic modalities of cancer. Recent examples of drug and gene delivery using dendrimers and their advantages are also presented. The application of tumor-targeted delivery systems using dendrimers is described. The chapter concludes with a description of current challenges with dendrimer-based drug delivery and efforts made to bring these promising systems to the forefront of cancer treatment.
The Impact of Increasing Stratospheric Radiative Damping on the QBO Period

Abstract. Stratospheric radiative damping increases as atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration rises. We use the one-dimensional mechanistic models of the QBO to conduct sensitivity experiments and find that when atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration increases, the simulated QBO period shortens due to the enhancing of radiative damping in the stratosphere. This result suggests that increasing stratospheric radiative damping due to rising CO2 may play a role in determining the QBO period in a warming climate along with wave momentum flux entering the stratosphere and tropical vertical residual velocity, both of which also respond to increasing CO2.
Asthma-COPD overlap prevalence among employed adults, United States, 2014–2018

A subgroup of patients with overlapping clinical features of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been associated with worse health outcomes than asthma or COPD alone. To describe the proportion of working adults who have been diagnosed with asthma-COPD overlap (ACO), the 2014–2018 U.S. National Health Interview Survey data for participants aged ≥18 years who were employed at any time during the 12 months prior to the interview were analyzed. Participants told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma and reported that they still have asthma were considered to have current asthma, and those told that they had COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis were considered to have COPD. Participants with both current asthma and COPD had ACO. Data were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. Among an estimated annual average of 166 million working adults, 5.9% had current asthma alone, 2.5% had COPD alone, and 1.1% had ACO. Prevalence of ACO was highest among those aged ≥65 years (2.0%); females (1.5%); those of black, non-Hispanic race (1.3%); with ≤high school education (1.3%); and current smokers (1.9%). Health care and social assistance (1.5%) industry and personal care and service (2.1%) occupations were associated with the highest ACO prevalence. Persons with ACO were more likely to have emergency department (prevalence ratio=6.1) and frequent physician office visits (prevalence ratio=2.0) than those who did not have ACO, current asthma, or COPD. Implementation of treatment according to the recommendations may lead to improved ACO burden and better patient outcomes. Continued surveillance is important to inform policy and intervention activities.
Predicting the Patriarchal Politics of Pandemics From Mary Shelley to COVID-19

I examine the predictive powers of the political science fictions of Mary Shelley, Octavia Butler, and Margaret Atwood for understanding the patriarchal-or men-dominant-dynamics of the politics of pandemics in the twenty-first century Like her literary followers in post-apocalyptic plague literature, Butler and Atwood, Shelley foresaw that the twenty-first century would be the age of lethal pandemics Their post-apocalyptic fictions also projected the ways that patriarchal and authoritarian forms of populism could shape the cultural circumstances that can turn a local outbreak of a new and deadly contagious disease, like COVID-19, into a politically chaotic and economically devastating global plague Modern feminist political science fiction born of Shelley's great pandemic novel The Last Man (1826) is seemingly clairvoyant not because of any supernatural powers of the authors but rather because of their studied attention to the wisdom of plague literature, the lessons of epidemic history, and the political dynamics of patriarchy and populism
Variability Study of Ferroelectric Field-Effect Transistors towards 7nm Technology Node

The random variation sources have a significant influence on the performance of ferroelectric field-effect transistor (FeFET). In this work, comparative analysis on the process variation induced variability of FeFET towards a 7 nm technology node has been conducted, including different device structures from bulk to FDSOI and FinFET. The random ferroelectric/dielectric phase variation (PV), the metal work function variation (WFV) and the line-edge roughness (LER) effects are incorporated in TCAD simulations to quantitatively investigate their impacts on the threshold voltage variation. Especially, the Voronoi diagram is employed to realistically model the ferroelectric grain distributions and to accurately simulate the impact of PV on FeFET characteristics.
Acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with placental ACE-2 shedding

Human placental tissues have variable rates of SARS-CoV-2 invasion resulting in consistently low rates of fetal transmission suggesting a unique physiologic blockade against SARS-CoV-2. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-2, the main receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is expressed as cell surface and soluble forms regulated by a metalloprotease cleavage enzyme, ADAM17. ACE-2 is expressed in the human placenta, but the regulation of placental ACE-2 expression in relation to timing of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is not well understood. In this study, we evaluated ACE-2 expression, ADAM17 activity and serum ACE-2 abundance in a cohort of matched villous placental and maternal serum samples from Control pregnancies (SARS-CoV-2 negative, n=8) and pregnancies affected by symptomatic maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections in the 2 nd trimester ("2 nd Tri COVID", n=8) and 3rd trimester ("3 rd Tri COVID", n=8). In 3 rd Tri COVID as compared to control and 2 nd Tri-COVID villous placental tissues ACE-2 mRNA expression was remarkably elevated, however, ACE-2 protein expression was significantly decreased with a parallel increase in ADAM17 activity. Soluble ACE-2 was also significantly increased in the maternal serum from 3 rd Tri COVID infections as compared to control and 2 nd Tri-COVID pregnancies. These data suggest that in acute maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections, decreased placental ACE-2 protein may be the result of ACE-2 shedding. Overall, this work highlights the importance of ACE-2 for ongoing studies on SARS-CoV-2 responses at the maternal-fetal interface.
An overview of the global variability in radiated energy and apparent stress

A global study of radiated seismic energies E R and apparent stresses T a reveals systematic patterns. Earthquakes with the highest apparent stress occur in regions of intense deformation and rupture strong lithosphere. In oceanic settings, these are strike-slip earthquakes (T a up to 27 MPa) occurring intraplate or at evolving ends of transform faults. At subduction zones and intracontinental settings, these are strike-slip earthquakes with T a up to 7 MPa. Normal-fault earthquakes exhibit a more complex pattern. Higher T a 's (up to 5 MPa) are found for intraslab events at depths from 35 to 70 km that occur near zones of intense deformation such as a sharp slab bend or the juncture of colliding slabs. Lower T a 's (< 1 MPa) are found for normal-fault earthquakes at the outer rise and outer trench wall or deep in flat warm slabs. The lowest average τ a (0.3 MPa) is found for thrust-fault earthquakes at subduction zones. The variation of average apparent stress with tectonics suggests a relationship with lithospheric strength and fault maturity. Mature faults, such as plate boundaries that have experienced large cumulative slip, appear to have low strength and tend to yield earthquakes with low apparent stresses. Immature faults, in contrast, are stronger and yield high apparent stresses because either they are the result of fresh-rock fracture or at least their cumulative fault slip is quite small. These results have implications of use to the seismic engineering community because E R and its magnitude counterpart M e are reliable indicators of the potential for damaging ground motion.
A Further Examination of Customer Satisfaction-Based Financial Market Mis-Pricing

Some past research has provided results suggesting that the financial markets mis-price customer satisfaction, i.e., firms advantaged in customer satisfaction are posited to earn positive future-period abnormal stock returns. By allowing for differences across sectors in the economy, we provide evidence that any mis-pricing, if it exists, is not widespread but rather is limited to firms in the computer and internet sector. Analyses based on unconditional risk covariates and analyses using conditional risk covariates estimated from short-window, high frequency data support this finding.
Industrial cluster involvement and organizational adaptation: An empirical study in international industrial clusters

Purpose – The research of industrial cluster and organizational adaptation can be traced back to early strategic management and organization theory. This paper initiates an attempt to empirically examine the relationship between a firm's involvement in an industrial cluster and its adaptive outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – Field survey research method was used and data were collected from four international industrial clusters which consist of 188 company responses. Regression analysis and path analysis were used to analyze the data.Findings – The paper found that the degree of a firm's involvement in an industrial cluster affects its adaptation outcomes. But the nature of the adaptation benefits depends, to a large degree, on the type of cluster involvement.Research limitations/implications – Using self‐reported data could be a potential limitation of this paper. It would be preferable to have other forms of data for a study.Practical implications – Industrial clusters are widely considered a netwo...
Formalizing Mirror Theory

Mirror theory is a theory of (morpho-) syntax introduced in (Brody, 1997). Here I present a formalization of the theory, and study some of its language theoretic properties.
Is the increased risk of myocardial infarction in cigarette smokers due to psychological traits?: An attempted exploration using psychological questionnaire responses☆

Abstract Cigarette smoking assessed in a multiphasic health checkup was almost twice as frequent in 222 men who subsequently developed a first myocardial infarction as in 228 controls. Responses to many items in a psychological questionnaire, also given at the checkup, were associated with both smoking and subsequent infarction. Subdividing the study group according to their responses to such items, individually and in combination, failed to eliminate the apparent relation of smoking to subsequent infarction in most subjects. However, in one-quarter of subjects giving the highest number of those responses that were more frequent both in smokers and in infarction cases, the relation of smoking to infarction was not evident. Although smoking remained a risk factor in most subjects, the data suggest that the importance of smoking as a coronary risk factor may vary with psychological status.
Genetic diversity of Halodule wrightii using random amplified polymorphic DNA

Abstract The genetic diversity of three populations of the seagrass Halodule wrightii from Christmas Bay, a Flour Bluff cooling pond in Corpus Christi, and Florida Bay was determined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). The purpose was to determine if these populations were multiclonal or monoclonal and to see if any genotypes were shared between them. Approximately 72% of the loci were polymorphic and reproducible. Corpus Christi had the highest average heterozygosity. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that approximately 60% of genetic variation was found among populations indicating a highly structured species. AMOVA also showed that 10% of the genetic variation may be due to geographic differences. UPGMA cluster analysis showed every individual except one clustered within its population. All individuals appeared to have unique genotypes. Corpus Christi clustered more closely to Florida Bay than to Christmas Bay. The similar habitats of Corpus Christi and Florida Bay may be acting as a selection agent causing these unexpected results.
Environmental tritium as a hydrometeorologic tool in the Roswell basin, New Mexico, II. Tritium patterns in groundwater

Abstract The tritium input function was correlated with tritium—time profiles of seven wells. The profiles of these wells were also correlated among each other. Correlation was greatly facilitated by the slug-flow characteristics of the confined fractured carbonate aquifer, and the sharp periodicity of precipitation over the recharge area of this semi-arid basin. Two distinct subregions, characterized by different circulation patterns, were recognized in the basin. Random sampling over an extensive area during a two-year period was sufficient to yield valuable information about residence times and permeability contrasts.
"It Takes a Village:" Familial Messages Regarding Dating Among African American Adolescents.

There is a dearth of research regarding the influence of family members on adolescent dating. This study explored messages that African American adolescents received from family members regarding dating attitudes, norms and behaviors. Qualitative interviews were conducted with sexually experienced urban African American heterosexual adolescents (N = 51) between the ages of 15–17. Analyses revealed that participants received a diversity of messages from a range of both nuclear and extended family members, and that these messages were organized around three temporal phases of dating: initiation, maintenance, and termination. Types and sources of messages are discussed, as well as implications for intervention development.
Developing Student Character: Community College Professors Who Share Power

This phenomenological study examined the definitions, values, and experiences of seven community college professors who have tried to promote student character development by sharing some of their power in the classroom. Power sharing is a participative gesture, and participative teachers can encourage students to become more engaged in their own learning processes. This participative style of teaching may develop into a partnership between students and teachers. This requires students to make decisions, be responsible for their learning, and work collaboratively with others. Through the practice and habit of making decisions, students may be able to promote their own character development. To facilitate this development, these faculty members focused on awareness, care, student engagement, group dynamics, academic integrity, a welcoming environment, and a sharing attitude. The essential theme of developing character emerged from my reflections of the data gathered from the face-to-face interviews. Five s...
Plasma choline concentrations in children requiring long-term home parenteral nutrition: a case control study.

BACKGROUND Low plasma free choline concentration has been associated with elevated serum hepatic aminotransferase concentrations and hepatic steatosis in adults who need home parenteral nutrition (HPN). We sought to determine if plasma free choline is similarly reduced in children who need home total parenteral nutrition (TPN). METHODS We compared the plasma free choline concentration in 21 children who required long-term HPN with 31 normal controls. Patients had received HPN for 75 +/- 13 (SD) months (range 3-206 months). All control children ingested a normal, mixed, nonvegetarian diet. RESULTS The mean plasma free choline concentration in the children receiving HPN was significantly lower than normal children (6.6 +/- 4.3 vs 8.0 +/- 2.3 nmol/mL, p = .002). Plasma free choline concentration was correlated with age (r = -0.43, p = .049). Using multiple linear regression analysis for age, sex, and squared age (considered in order to account for possible nonlinearity between choline and age), HPN children showed a steady and significant decline in plasma free choline concentration with increased age at the rate of 0.03 nmol/mL per month. Plasma lipid bound choline concentration did not vary with age. No relationship was seen between either plasma free and lipid bound choline concentration and amount of daily IV lipid infusion. A significant negative correlation was observed between plasma free choline concentration and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminostransferase (ALT) (r = -0.72, p = .04 and r = -0.80, p = .02, respectively). CONCLUSION Our data support the notion that patients who need long-term HPN without significant enteral feeding have a significant risk for the development of choline deficiency with its associated hepatic dysfunction.
Brain glucose metabolism in chronic marijuana users at baseline and during marijuana intoxication

Despite the widespread abuse of marijuana, knowledge about its effects in the human brain is limited. Brain glucose metabolism with and without delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (main psychoactive component of marijuana) was evaluated in eight normal subjects and eight chronic marijuana abusers with positron emission tomography. At baseline, marijuana abusers showed lower relative cerebellar metabolism than normal subjects. THC increased relative cerebellar metabolism in all subjects, but only abusers showed increases in orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, and basal ganglia. Cerebellar metabolism during THC intoxication was significantly correlated with the subjective sense of intoxication. The decreased cerebellar metabolism in marijuana abusers at baseline could account for the motor deficits previously reported in these subjects. The activation of orbitofrontal cortex and basal ganglia by THC in the abusers but not in the normal subjects could underlie one of the mechanisms leading to the drive and the compulsion to self-administer the drug observed in addicted individuals.
How Polyelectrolyte Adsorption Depends on History: A Combined Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflection and Surface Forces Study

We present a systematic study of how adsorption history affects the thickness, surface forces, and interfacial rheology of a model cationic polymer. The polymer was quaternized poly-4-vinylpyridine, QPVP (weight-average degree of polymerization nw = 325 and 98% quaternized with ethyl bromide). The main comparisons concerned one-step adsorption from solution at a variable salt concentration up to 0.5 M NaCl, versus two-step adsorption (initial adsorption from buffer solution without added salt, then NaCl added later). The aqueous solutions were buffered at pH = 9.2 such that the surfaces (mica in the case of surfaces forces (SFA) experiments, oxidized silicon in the case of in situ infrared (FTIR-ATR) experiments) in each case carried a large negative charge. The SFA and FTIR-ATR experiments gave consistent estimates of the amount of polymer adsorbed, confirming the expectation that adsorption should be driven by electrostatic attraction to the surface of large opposite charge. The adsorbed amount showed l...
Visual light spectroscopy reflects flow-related changes in brain oxygenation during regional low-flow perfusion and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Objectives Regional low-flow perfusion has been used to minimize ischemic brain injury during complex heart surgery in children. However, optimal regional low-flow perfusion remains undetermined. Visible light spectroscopy is a reliable method for continuous determination of capillary oxygen saturation (SgvO2). We used visible light spectroscopy to follow deep and superficial brain SgvO2 during cardiopulmonary bypass, regional low-flow perfusion, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Methods Visible light spectroscopy probes were inserted into the superficial and deep brain of neonatal (3.9-4.5 kg) piglets, targeting the caudate and thalamic nuclei. The piglets were subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass and cooled to a rectal temperature of 18°C using pH stat. Regional low-flow perfusion was initiated through the innominate artery at 18°C, and pump flows were adjusted to 40, 30, 20, and 10 mL/kg/min for 10-minute intervals followed by 30 minutes of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Regional low-flow perfusion was reestablished, and flows were increased in a stepwise manner from 10 to 40 mL/kg/min. SgvO2 was continuously monitored. Carotid flow was measured using a flow probe, and cerebral blood flow (milliliters per kilogram body weight per minute) was calculated. Results There were no significant differences between the deep and superficial brain tissue oxygenation during regional low flow brain perfusion before deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. However, after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, the superficial brain SgvO2 was lower than the deep brain SgvO2 (24 ± 12 vs 55.3 ± 8, P = .05, at flows of 30 mL/kg/min, and 34.2 ± 17 vs 62.5 + 8, P = .06, at a flow rate of 40 mL/kg/min). During regional low-flow perfusion, SgvO2 was maintained at flows of 30 to 40 mL/kg/min (cerebral blood flows of 15 to 21 mL/kg/min and 19 to 24 mL/kg/min, respectively), but was significantly lower at pump flows of 20 mL/kg/min (cerebral blood flow of 10 to 14 mL/kg/min) and 10 mL/kg/min (cerebral blood flow of 5 to 9 mL/kg/min) compared with the values obtained just before regional low-flow perfusion (pre–deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, 37 ± 6 vs 65.5 ± 4.4, P P P P Conclusions Regional low-flow perfusion at pump flows of 30 to 40 mL/kg/min with resulting cerebral blood flows of 14 to 24 mL/kg/min was adequate in maintaining both deep and superficial brain oxygenation. However, lower pump flows of 20 and 10 mL/kg/min, associated with cerebral blood flow of 9 to 14 mL/kg/min, resulted in significantly reduced SgvO2 values.
Src family tyrosine kinases regulate adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of 5′-inositol phosphatase SHIP2 during cell attachment and spreading on collagen I

Inositol phosphatases play an important role in regulation of cellular levels of lipid second messengers. Recently we have reported a novel function for SHIP2 in cell adhesion and spreading. In this study, we further characterize the adhesion-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP2 and examine the role of Src family tyrosine kinases in the regulation of SHIP2 function. SHIP2 was tyrosine phosphorylated during cell attachment and spreading on collagen I, but not on fibronectin, collagen IV, laminin or poly-L-lysine. SHIP2 tyrosine phosphorylation, induced by plating on a collagen-I-coated surface but not by epidermal growth factor or insulin treatment of cells, was completely blocked by small molecule inhibitors of Src family kinases. SHIP2 could be phosphorylated in vitro by recombinant Src kinase and tyrosines 986-987 in the NPXY motif of SHIP2 appear to be the major sites of phosphorylation for Src both in vitro and in vivo. An activated form of Src induced strong tyrosine phosphorylation of SHIP2 while a dominant-negative form decreased collagen-I-dependent SHIP2 phosphorylation. SHIP2 associated with the adapter protein Shc via its NPXY motif during cell spreading on collagen I in a Src activity-dependent manner. Expression of SHIP2 with mutated NPXY motif caused deregulation of lamellipodia formation during spreading on collagen I. These observations indicate that SHIP2 is regulated by Src family kinases during cell attachment and spreading on collagen I and suggest an important role for SHIP2 as a part of a signaling pathway that regulates actin cytoskeleton remodeling.
Effect of gamma-radiation on the thermal conductivity of polypropylene.

Polypropylene thermal conductivity temperature dependence variations caused by Co 60 gamma radiation
Abstract 227: Estrogen receptor-α and tumor initiating cells are novel targets of diallyl trisulfide in breast cancer cells

Epidemiological studies suggest a protective role for Allium vegetables, such as garlic, against breast and other cancers. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS) is a promising oil-soluble anticancer metabolite generated after cutting or chewing of Allium vegetables. We have shown previously that DATS inhibits viability of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) and a cell line derived from spontaneously developed tumor of a mouse mammary tumor virus-neu mouse by causing apoptosis induction. We also found that a non-tumorigenic normal human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A) is resistant to cell death induction by DATS. Studies by others have demonstrated in vivo efficacy of DATS against MCF-7 xenografts in nude mice. The present study builds upon these observations and identifies novel targets of DATS in breast cancer cells. MCF-7 and T47D cells exposed to DATS exhibited downregulation of estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) protein, which peaked between 12 and 24 h post-treatment. Diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide analogs were relatively less effective in suppressing protein level of ER-α compared with DATS. The 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced expression of pS2, an ER-α target gene product, was also decreased in the presence of DATS. Downregulation of ER-α protein expression resulting from DATS treatment was accompanied by a decrease in nuclear level of ER-α, suppression of ER-α mRNA, and inhibition of ERE2e1b-luciferase reporter activity. Moreover, apoptotic cell death induced by DATS was partially but statistically significantly attenuated in the presence of E2 in MCF-7 cells as well as by overexpression of ER-α in MDA-MB-231 cells. DATS treatment inhibited breast cancer stem cell (bCSC) population as evidenced by flow cytometric analysis of CD44high/CD24low/epithelial specific antigen positive population, aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 activity, and mammosphere frequency in MCF-7 and SUM159 cells. Inhibition of bCSC by treatment with DATS was associated with downregulation of EZH2 and Kruppel-like factor 4 proteins in both MCF-7 and SUM159 cells. In conclusion, the present study identifies ER-α and bCSC as novel targets of DATS in mammary cancer cells. This study was supported by the grant RO1 CA113363-09 awarded by the National Cancer Institute. Citation Format: Eun-Ryeong Hahm, Su-Hyeong Kim, Shivendra V. Singh. Estrogen receptor-α and tumor initiating cells are novel targets of diallyl trisulfide in breast cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 227. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-227
A photonic interconnection network for hardware accelerator enabled utility computing

High-bandwidth connectivity provided by WDM optical interconnects is an important enabler for delocalized hardware accelerators in utility computing. We validate a proposed architecture with an experiment that leverages optical interconnects to demonstrate error free (BER<;10e-12) active switching and multicasting of FPGA generated and received packets.
Laboratory experiments on thin-walled tubes at large finite strain: Symmetry, coaxiality, rigid body rotation, and the role of invariants, for the applied stress σ = RTRT, the cauchy stress σ∗ = [IIIV]−1FTRT, and the left cauchy-green stretch tensor V = FRT

From laboratory measurements extending back to the mid-1960s, a frame indifferent general continuum theory for large finite plastic strain in ordered solids has been developed. Its foundations are based on a stress σ that replaces the Cauchy stress σ∗ in the applicable constitutive statements. With W the work per unit volume in the underformed reference configuration, a work function W = traceσV, established from experiment, is consistent with an internal constraint on the left Cauchy-Green stretch tensor, trace V = 3, in whose presence simple shear becomes inadmissible. Compatible with this internal constraint, the decrease in volume during deformation is measured. Also shown in the laboratory is the fact that even when determined just prior to catastrophic collapse, the measured rigid body rotation is too small to play other than a negligible role. In this article, laboratory experimental results are presented which reveal that the Cauchy stress σ∗, the stress σ of the present theory, and the left Cauchy-Green stretch tensor V, are all coaxial and symmetric. Moreover, for the approximation R = I, the second invariant T of the deviatoric stress S and the second invariant Γ of the finite strain E = V − I provide a universal parabolic rule that applies for stress paths of arbitrary composition and direction. This general nonlinear theory of finite strain plasticity during loading is shown here to square in detail with a recently published general nonlinear theory of finite strain elasticity derived from the analytical foundations of rational mechanics by Beatty and Hayes [1992].
Inhibition of European Corn Borer Mating by cis-11-Tetradecenyl Acetate, a Borer Sex Stimulant

In an incubator atmosphere permeated with an estimated concentration of 3.8 × 10-9 M of cis -11-tetradecenyl acetate per liter of air, mating of Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) was inhibited.
Electric field of Ions in solution probed by hyper-Rayleigh scattering

The electric field of dissolved ions accounts for the narrow spike at zero frequency shift, with the polarization signature of a polar longitudinal collective mode, in the high resolution hyper-Rayleigh light scattering (HRS) spectrum for liquid water and other polar solvents. This peak in the HRS spectrum probes both the structure factor and the fluctuation time for the ion charge density in solution. The experimental results for KCl–D2O solutions are consistent with the Debye–Huckel charge structure factor and determine the diffusion coefficient and static local field factor.
Read Smarter, Not Harder: Global Reading Comprehension Strategies

As students move through the grades, the demands of comprehending increasingly complext text increase, and some students begin to struggle. What are the differences between skilled and struggling readers? How can educators teach students to become more proficient readers? This Teaching Tip describes research into middle-level students' reading strategies and gives an overview of global comprehension strategies. It makes the case for explicit teaching of such strategies as Asking questions about context clues Identifying a range of textual and visual clues Frontloading text Skimming text The authors also urge teachers to invite their students to describe the strategies they currently apply as a way to better understand the repertoire students may possess. Understanding students' current reading strategies can help teachers point the way toward more proficient comprehension.
Grapho-morphological awareness in Spanish L2 reading: how do learners use this metalinguistic skill?

This paper contributes to the literature on the transferability of grapho-morphological awareness (GMA) for second language (L2) learners by analysing L2 learners’ knowledge of morphology in reading. GMA helps readers to identify grammatical categories, infer meanings of unfamiliar words, and access stored lexical information. Previous research indicates that L2 GMA is influenced by first language (L1) GMA. In this paper, L1 Spanish speakers (n = 30) and L1 English speakers learning Spanish as an L2 (n = 46) completed two timed lexical decision tasks in English (only English speakers) and Spanish, a reading task, a Cloze Task, and an oral interview (only English speakers). Results indicate that L2 learners show a native-like word recognition pattern, providing evidence for language-specific processing. Also, L2 learners could recognise and decompose words into morphemes and roots throughout the different tasks, which implies that they neither ignore morphology nor follow a whole-word reading approach. The...
Abstract 2007: The NF-kB pathway is constitutively active in endometrial cancer.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC The NF-κB Pathway is Constitutively Active in Endometrial Cancer Metastatic endometrial cancer (EC) is a disease for which therapeutic options are limited and prognosis is poor. Although 75% of endometrial cancers are diagnosed at an early stage and cured by surgery, 15-20% develop metastases and die from their disease. Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) occurs in less than 10% of patients, but has a worse clinical outcome. Prior studies suggest that NF-kB signaling may play a role in UPSC. We therefore proceeded with a detailed investigation of the NF-κB pathway in EC. Methods: A set of 11 endometrial cancer cell lines, representing endometrioid EC and UPSC, were tested for sensitivity to a specific inhibitor of IKKβ after 3 days of drug treatment using XTT assay. Western blot was used to assess changes in NF-κB proteins after treatment of sensitive UPSC cell lines ARK-1 and ACI-126 with IKKβ inhibitor over a time series ranging from 15 min to 24h. RNA was extracted from ARK-1 and ACI-126 cell lines after 48h treatment with IKK-2 inhibitor IV or DMSO control, and after transfection of the same cell lines with IκBα super-repressor or empty vector control. RNA was hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus2.0 microarray platform for gene expression profiling and the data was analyzed using mAdb. Gene and protein expression was examined in patient samples to verify biologic relevance. Results: Six of 11 cell lines were sensitive to IKKβ inhibitor with IC50s ranging between 4 and 10uM. The highest sensitivity occurred in two UPSC cell lines ARK-1 and ACI-126. Following pharmacologic IKKβ inhibition, nuclear levels of NF-κB p65 decreased by 3h and began to increase again from 6h to 24h. Cytoplasmic NF-κB p65 increased from 15 min to 3h and then began to fall. Gene expression profiling after IKKβ inhibition, either by drug treatment or by mutant IkBa super-repressor, revealed an overlapping gene signature in the two UPSC cell lines. The genes were co-expressed across the gene expression profiles of patients with EC, and were significantly highest in African American women with UPSC. Conclusions: There is aberrant signaling through the NF-κB pathway in a subset of EC. An IKKβ target gene signature shows that this pathway is most relevant in African American women with UPSC. Therefore, targeting NF-kB may provide a novel treatment strategy for this underserved population with a rare variant of EC. Citation Format: Anne M. Noonan, Yovanni Casablanca, George L. Maxwell, Christina M. Annunziata. The NF-kB pathway is constitutively active in endometrial cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2007. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2007
Electrical-noise measurements on chromium films

Electrical-noise measurements on chromium films prepared by molecular-beam epitaxy revealed details of the dynamics of both the polarization (\ensuremath{\eta}) and wave-vector (Q) domains of the spin-density waves. Individual resistivity steps from Q domains were easily resolved, from which the domain sizes, the kinetics of individual domains, and domain interactions could be inferred. Similar measurements were made on \ensuremath{\eta} domains and statistical analysis of the variance in the octave noise power indicates they also switch between discrete stable orientations. The asymmetry in the noise magnitude along different crystal directions was measured and related to the underlying symmetry.
Molecular regulators of brain function: A new view

A working hypothesis is proposed based on two mutually dependent concepts: neurons may be functionally regulated not only by presently known neurotransmitters but by many kinds of informational substances. Known informational substances are considered in categories corresponding to major regulators of the central nervous system, including transmitters, peptides, hormones, "factors" and various proteins. Many new informational substances are being discovered by the application of DNA technology. Alongside neuronal circuitry that forms the basis for conventional neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, and that operates through conventional synaptic junctions, is a system here called parasynaptic, i.e. in "parallel with" synapse-linked circuitry. In the parasynaptic system, informational substances reach specific target cell receptors by diffusion from release points through extracellular fluids. The parasynaptic system has the same degree of selectivity as synaptic circuitry but possesses, in addition, a domain of versatility and plasticity lacking in "hardwired" circuitry; the latter is, however, also influenced by highly potent informational substances in the ambient extracellular fluid.
“You Always End up Feeling Like You’re Some Hypochondriac”: Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Experiences Addressing Depression and Pain

Objective Little is known regarding how providers should use information about intimate partner violence (IPV) to care for depressed patients. Our objective was to explore what depressed IPV survivors believe about the relationship between abuse, mental health, and physical symptoms and to elicit their recommendations for addressing depression.
Plane waves in simple elastic solids and discontinuous dependence of solution on boundary conditions

Abstract Using stress as the dependent variable instead of the deformation gradient, plane waves of finite amplitude in simple elastic solids are studied. For isotropic materials there are two plane polarized simple waves as well as shock waves and one circularly polarized simple wave which can also be regarded as a shock wave. With the aid of the stress paths for simple waves and shock waves in the stress space introduced here, one can see clearly what combination of simple waves and/or shock waves is needed to satisfy the initial and boundary conditions. We use second order isotropic hyperelastic materials to illustrate the ideas. In one example we show that the solution requires as many as four simple waves. In another we show that depending on the boundary condition there are more than eight possible solutions to the problem. We also present an example in which the solution does not depend continuously on the boundary condition. This implies that in experiments if the applied load at the boundary is not properly controlled, any slight deviation in the applied load would result in a finite different response in the material.
Treatment of trichotillomania using positive coverants and response cost: A case report

A 17 yr-old female with a 6-yr history of compulsive hair and eyelash pulling was treated using positive coverants as a reward for avoidance of an urge to pull, and simple response cost for each hair pulled. A significant decrement in pulling and an increase in hair length were observed over 22 wk of treatment and maintained at a 3-mo follow-up.
Intervalence (charge-resonance) transitions in organic mixed-valence systems. Through-space versus through-bond electron transfer between bridged aromatic (redox) centers.

Intervalence absorption bands appearing in the diagnostic near-IR region are consistently observed in the electronic spectra of mixed-valence systems containing a pair of aromatic redox centers (Ar•+/Ar) that are connected by two basically different types of molecular bridges. The through-space pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is dictated by an o-xylylene bridge in the mixed-valence cation radical 3•+ with Ar = 2,5-dimethoxy-p-tolyl (T), in which conformational mobility allows the proximal syn disposition of planar T•+/T redox centers. Four independent experimental probes indicate the large through-space electronic interaction between such cofacial Ar•+/Ar redox centers from the measurements of (a) sizable potential splitting in the cyclic voltammogram, (b) quinonoidal distortion of T•+/T centers by X-ray crystallography, (c) “doubling” of the ESR hyperfine splittings, and (d) a pronounced intervalence charge-resonance band. The through (br)-bond pathway for intramolecular electron transfer is...
Accuracy of digital angiography for quantitation of normal coronary luminal segments in excised, perfused hearts

Abstract The accuracy of coronary artery diameter determination by digital angiography was assessed by imaging 39 coronary segments of excised dog and human hearts and comparing these segments with pathologic sections 0.76 to 3.31 mm in luminal diameter. Digital images were obtained postmortem both during contrast injection using a fixed-pressure coronary perfusion system and after fixation when the coronary size was maintained by injection of a barium-gelatin casting mixture. Digital data were analyzed with commercially available, automated edge-detection software using a coronary catheter as the calibration standard. Coronary diameter measured during contrast injection was not significantly different from that measured after casting and fixation. Digital data from both methods correlated well with diameters from pathologic sections (injected, r = 0.85; fixed, r = 0.91). Linear regression parameters comparing pathologic diameters with the contrast injection method were slope = 0.82, intercept = 0.42 mm, and standard error of the estimate = 0.27 mm. Parameters for the comparison of pathology with casted coronary data were slope = 0.95, intercept = 0.16 mm, and standard error of the estimate = 0.23 mm. Intra- and interobserver variability were 3% (0.05 mm) and 4% (0.07 mm), respectively. These data indicate that when a coronary catheter as a calibration standard is used, coronary artery dimensions can be accurately measured by automated digital angiography techniques.
Unit Root Testing for Functionals of Linear Processes

We consider the unit root testing problem with errors being nonlinear transforms of linear processes. When the linear processes are long-range dependent, the asymptotic distributions in the unit root testing problem are shown to be functionals of Hermite processes. Functional limit theorems for nonlinear transforms of linear processes are established. The obtained results differ sharply from the classical cases where asymptotic distributions are functionals of Brownian motions.The author thanks the referee and Professor B. Hansen for their valuable suggestions. The work is supported in part by NSF grant DMS-04478704.