cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phosphorylation of the μ-Opioid Receptor at Tyrosine 166 (Tyr3.51) in the DRY Motif Reduces Agonist Efficacy

The effects of phosphorylation of the tyrosine residue in the highly conserved DRY motif expressed in the putative second cytoplasmic loop of the μ-opioid receptor were assessed after expression in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Tyrosine kinase activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or hydrogen peroxide treatment effectively increased phosphorylation of the tyrosine-166 in the μ-opioid receptor (MOR-Tyr166p) as measured by a novel phosphoselective antibody. We were surprised to find that the increase in MOR-Tyr166p immunoreactivity (ir) required coactivation by the opioid agonist [d-Ala2,methyl-Phe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO), as demonstrated by both Western blot imaging of membrane proteins and confocal microscopy of transfected cells; MOR-Tyr166p-ir did not significantly increase after either DAMGO, EGF, or H2O2 treatment alone. The increase in MOR-Tyr166p-ir was blocked by pretreatment with the opioid antagonist naloxone or the Src kinase inhibitor 4-amino-5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine. Consistent with these data, mutation of the tyrosine-166 to phenylalanine blocked the increased immunoreactivity, and untransfected HEK293 cells did not increase MOR-Tyr166p-ir after treatment. DAMGO increased guanosine 5′-O-(3-[35S]thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPγS) binding to membranes from cells expressing wild-type MOR or MOR-Y166F receptors in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment of the wild-type MOR-expressing cells with the combination of DAMGO and EGF completely blocked subsequent DAMGO stimulation of [35S]GTPγS binding membranes, whereas [35S]GTPγS binding to membranes from cells expressing mutated MOR(Y166F) was only partially inhibited. These results suggest that G-protein activation as measured by [35S]GTPγS binding can be regulated by DAMGO and EGF by convergent mechanisms and support the hypothesis that tyrosine phosphorylation within the DRY motif may reduce μ-opioid receptor–G-protein coupling efficiency.
Bioterrorism as a public health threat.

The threat of bioterrorism, long ignored and denied, has heightened over the past few years. Recent events in Iraq, Japan, and Russia cast an ominous shadow. Two candidate agents are of special concern—smallpox and anthrax. The magnitude of the problems and the gravity of the scenarios associated with release of these organisms have been vividly portrayed by two epidemics of smallpox in Europe during the 1970s and by an accidental release of aerosolized anthrax from a Russian bioweapons facility in 1979. Efforts in the United States to deal with possible incidents involving bioweapons in the civilian sector have only recently begun and have made only limited progress. Only with substantial additional resources at the federal, state, and local levels can a credible and meaningful response be mounted. For longer-term solutions, the medical community must educate both the public and policy makers about bioterrorism and build a global consensus condemning its use.
The Bonding Effect in Cross-Listed Chinese Companies: Is it Real?

A common explanation offered for PRC companies’ listing overseas is that they receive a price premium because listing overseas demonstrates a willingness to submit to the more shareholder-protective regulatory regime of the foreign jurisdiction and stock market. This explanation is commonly known as the bonding hypothesis. There is some empirical support for the proposition that listing overseas does indeed bring a price premium, although issues of causality are difficult to sort out. If it is true that investors view an overseas listing of a Chinese firm as something worth paying a premium for, the question remains, however, as to whether that view is well founded. Investors in overseas markets may find themselves left out in the cold when things go wrong, and indeed the Risk Factors section of PRC firms’ IPO prospectuses routinely caution investors that successfully suing the company or its management will be difficult or impossible. This paper will examine the degree to which Chinese listed companies and their management do in fact, in a practical and realistic way, bind themselves to overseas state and market norms when such companies list abroad. It will argue that the actual binding effect of an overseas listing is small and that investors are mistaken to pay a premium for it. This conclusion, if correct, has at least two important implications beyond China. First, it casts into doubt the semi-strong form of the efficient capital markets hypothesis, because it means that there is publicly available information that does not seem to be adequately incorporated into stock prices. Second, it suggests that the bonding hypothesis needs to be examined on an empirical, country-by-country basis to see whether the bonding is in fact anything more than an illusion.
Shape Effects on Resistance in Flood-Plain Channels

For flow computation in flood plain channels, the flow cross section is usually divided into subsections to ensure hydraulic homogeneity. However, the question of whether or not to include the division lines as part of the wetted perimeter still remains unanswered. In this study, efforts have been made to determine division lines having zero shear stress so that they need not be included in the wetted perimeter. Laminar flow cases were solved to gain qualitative insight into the shape effects on resistance and location of division lines. For turbulent flows, division lines were determined from velocity distribution patterns; and resistance coefficients for both laminar and turbulent flows are lower than those in wide rectangular channels having the same boundary materials. New formulas are proposed for computation of discharge in both main-channel and flood-plain portions.
A BIG BOOK AND A SMALL BOOK ON SELECTION.

implications for reinforcement and sexual selection theory. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 45:219-234. RYAN, M. J., AND A. S. RAND. 1995. Female responses to ancestral advertisement calls in the tungara frog. Science 269:390-392. SEARCY, W. A. 1992. Song repertoire and mate choice in birds. Am. Zool. 32:71-80. SZATHMARY, E., AND J. MAYNARD SMITH. 1995. The major transitions in evolution. Nature 374:227-232. TINBERGEN, N. 1963. On aims and methods of ethology. Z. Tierpsychol. 20:410-433. WYTTENBACH, R. A., M. L. MAY, AND R. R. Hoy. 1996. Categorical perception of sound frequency by crickets. Science 273:15421544. ZENTNER, M. R., AND J. KAGAN. 1996. Perception of music by infants. Nature 383:29.
ENTHUSIASM FOR ULTRASOUND FOR OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING IS PREMATURE

Ultrasound shows promise for osteoporosis screening, but before the medical community embraces it, many questions need to be answered.
Newborn Who Has a Rash

A newborn has a “blueberry muffin” rash. ### Prenatal History: 17-year-old primigravida Hispanic mother who recently emigrated from Mexico and received only late prenatal care ### Birth History: The mother denied any illness or rash during pregnancy and had no known sick contacts. ### Physical Examination:
Development of Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies and Their Mapping by Monomeric gp120 in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Humans and Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus SHIVSF162P3N-Infected Macaques.

ABSTRACT To improve our understanding of the similarities and differences between neutralizing antibodies elicited by simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected rhesus macaques and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected humans, we examined the plasma of 13 viremic macaques infected with SHIVSF162P3N and 85 HIV-1-infected humans with known times of infection. We identified 5 macaques (38%) from 1 to 2 years postinfection (p.i.) with broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against tier 2 HIV-1. In comparison, only 2 out of 42 (5%) human plasma samples collected in a similar time frame of 1 to 3 years p.i. exhibited comparable neutralizing breadths and potencies, with the number increasing to 7 out of 21 (30%) after 3 years p.i. Plasma mapping with monomeric gp120 identified only 2 out of 9 humans and 2 out of 4 macaques that contained gp120-reactive neutralizing antibodies, indicating distinct specificities in these plasma samples, with most of them recognizing the envelope trimer (including gp41) rather than the gp120 monomer. Indeed, a total of 20 gp120-directed monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) isolated from a human subject (AD358) and a Chinese rhesus macaque (GB40) displayed no or limited neutralizing activity against tier 2 strains. These isolated MAbs, mapped to the CD4-binding site, the V3 loop, the inner domain, and the C5 region of gp120, revealed genetic similarity between the human and macaque immunoglobulin genes used to encode some V3-directed MAbs. These results also support the use of envelope trimer probes for efficient isolation of HIV-1 bnAbs. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 vaccine research can benefit from understanding the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) in rhesus macaques, commonly used to assess vaccine immunogenicity and efficacy. Here, we examined 85 HIV-1-infected humans and 13 SHIVSF162P3N-infected macaques for bnAbs and found that, similar to HIV-1-infected humans, bnAbs in SHIV-infected macaques are also rare, but their development might have been faster in some of the studied macaques. Plasma mapping with monomeric gp120 indicated that most bnAbs bind to the envelope trimer rather than the gp120 monomer. In support of this, none of the isolated gp120-reactive monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) displayed the neutralization breadth observed in the corresponding plasma. However, the MAb sequences revealed similarity between human and macaque genes used to encode some V3-directed MAbs. Our study sheds light on the timing and development of bnAbs in SHIV-infected macaques in comparison to HIV-1-infected humans and highlights the use of envelope trimer probes for efficient recovery of bnAbs.
5-Fluorouracil in the Treatment of Keloids and Hypertrophic Scars: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Hypertrophic (HTSs) and keloid scars are common dermatological complaints produced by disruption of the normal wound-healing process. Despite a wide array of therapeutic options available to treat these lesions, HTSs and keloids continue to pose a significant challenge to clinicians in everyday practice. The chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a well-known treatment option reserved for recalcitrant HTSs and keloid lesions. We present clinicians with a comprehensive review of the published data concerning the use of 5-FU in the treatment of HTSs and keloids. The current evidence suggests that 5-FU is a safe and practical alternative for the treatment of HTSs and keloids as it may substantially improve the appearance of proliferative scars and reduce the chance of recurrence. This therapeutic option is most effective in conjunction with adjuvant therapy such as corticosteroids. Additional randomized controlled clinical trials with large sample sizes should be conducted to corroborate the existing efficacy and safety data in patients with HTSs and keloids.
SUPRAGLOTTIC MYXEDEMA: TWO CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

ABSTRACT Objective: We report 2 patients who presented with clinical symptoms of acute upper airway obstruction from presumed supraglottic myxedema and compare their clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management with previously reported cases. Methods: Clinical data, laboratory results, imaging, and procedure reports were reviewed for both cases. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE using the terms “supraglottic myxedema,” “myxedema,” and “laryngeal edema.” Relevant references were selected and reviewed. Results: A 63-year-old man presented with confusion and facial and neck edema. The patient was subsequently intubated for airway protection. During intubation the epiglottis could not be visualized due to airway edema. Thyroid function testing revealed elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and low free thyroxine (FT4). Computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck without contrast noted nonspecific mild, diffuse edema within the subcutaneous soft tissues. A 70-year-old man with a history of pa...
Knowledge Management as an Emerging Field of Business Intelligence Research: Foundational Concepts and Recent Developments

A number of prior studies have been conducted to assess the extent of progress within these stages in the BI area. Among them, a study of Eom [1] has provided bibliometric evidence that the decision support system has made meaningful progress over the past three and a half decades (1969–2004). The primary data for this study were gathered from a total of 498 citing articles in the BI/DSS area over the past eight years (2005–2012). This study, based on author cocitation analysis (ACA), presents two important findings. First, the empirical consensus of BI researchers reveals that the focus of business intelligence research is shifting to knowledge management and data mining. Second, since ACA is a supporting quantitative tool that must be used with further qualitative analysis of bibliographic data, we examined the foundational concepts of knowledge management provided by the most influential scholars and their most frequently cited publications.
The Development of Commerce

Early phases of commerce may be traced back many centuries, but most of its development has taken place over the past two hundred years. Two hundred and fifty years ago, very little of the commerce and trade we know today existed, and indeed could not. Our modern commercial system depends on reliable, fast communications and large-scale production of goods, and these have developed only in the last two centuries.
The effect of information, and communication topologies on input-to-state stability of platoon

This paper studies the stability of platoon of vehicles under different communication topologies based on the notion of input-to-state stability. Input-to-state stability (ISS) relates the effect of leaders' input on formation stability and provides an effective tool to study how the kinematics of interconnections of platoon members could affect the platoon stability.
Can Rights of Nature Make Development More Sustainable? Why Some Ecuadorian lawsuits Succeed and Others Fail

Summary In 2008, Ecuador became the world’s first country to include rights of Nature (RoN) in its constitution. The constitution presents RoN as a tool for building a new form of sustainable development based on the Andean Indigenous concept sumak kawsay ( buen vivir in Spanish), which is rooted in the idea of living in harmony with Nature. While much is written on the ethical arguments regarding RoN (and buen vivir), few studies analyze how RoN might be implemented. We fill this gap by explaining why some efforts to apply Ecuador’s RoN laws succeeded while others failed. We compare 13 RoN lawsuits using an original framework for analyzing the pathways and strategies RoN advocates (and their opponents) use to build (and counter) momentum behind judicial processes meant to buttress the enforcement of contested RoN norms. The case descriptions and analysis draw on primary documents and in-depth interviews conducted during 2014–15. Through process tracing, we identified key structural conditions and strategic decisions shaping the outcomes in each case. Our findings as of 2016 reveal unexpected pathways of influence involving a symbiotic process among civil society, state agencies, and the courts. Surprisingly, civil society pressure was the least successful pathway, as activists lost high-profile lawsuits. Nevertheless, they facilitated judicial momentum by working on less-politicized local cases and training lower-level judges. Instrumental use of RoN laws by the state produced unintended consequences, including establishing precedent and educating judges. Knowledgable judges are unilaterally applying RoN in their sentencing, even when neither claimants nor defendants allege RoN violations. Ecuador’s cases demonstrate how “weak” RoN laws can strengthen, providing important insight into the global contestation over sustainable development and the strategies and legal tools being used to advance a post-neoliberal development agenda rooted in harmony with nature.
Academic Public Good

Public good is generally defined as a benefit to or the well-being of society. However, articulating the centrality of the public good mission proves to be an easier task than understanding the degree to which the mission is being fulfilled. Higher education institutions typically identify a mission to articulate a purpose and a guiding framework for existence. There is an ongoing need to describe the aspects of what is public and to communicate the macro historical impact of higher education that has eluded a clear definition. This chapter creates a clear framework for understanding academic public good and positions each chapter as one perspective on the impact of university–community engagement. The seven chapters include education for elderly citizens, digital cultural preservation, creative tourism, the role of industry, transnational higher education, and social philosophy.
The CDK8 Complex and Proneural Proteins Together Drive Neurogenesis from a Mesodermal Lineage

Summary At least some animal species can generate neurons from mesoderm or endoderm, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We screened for C. elegans mutants in which the presumptive mesoderm-derived I4 neuron adopts a muscle-like cell fate. From this screen, we identified HLH-3, the C. elegans homolog of a mammalian proneural protein (Ascl1) used for in vitro neuronal reprogramming, as required for efficient I4 neurogenesis. We discovered that the CDK-8 Mediator kinase module acts together with a second proneural protein, HLH-2, and in parallel to HLH-3 to promote I4 neurogenesis. Genetic analysis revealed that CDK-8 most likely promotes I4 neurogenesis by inhibiting the CDK-7/CYH-1 (CDK7/cyclin H) kinase module of the transcription initiation factor TFIIH. Ectopic expression of HLH-2 and HLH-3 together promoted expression of neuronal features in non-neuronal cells. These findings reveal that the Mediator CDK8 kinase module can promote non-ectodermal neurogenesis and suggest that inhibiting CDK7/cyclin H might similarly promote neurogenesis.
TRENDS IN PULMONARY HYPERTENSION HOSPITALIZATIONS: INSIGHTS FROM A NATIONAL DATABASE

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious unrelenting disorder that affects the functionality and quality of life of patients in addition to significantly decreasing their life span. The true prevalence of PH in general population is unknown. We evaluated hospitalization (HOSP) trends of
Design and Assembly of Worm Gear Reducer

Worm gear speed reducers are comprised of the terms “gearbox” and “speed reducer” that are used interchangeably in the world of power transmission and motion control. Gearboxes are used for speed reduction and torque multiplication. A hybrid term of “gear reducer” is also commonly used when talking about gearboxes. This is simply a gearbox (or speed reducer, or gear reducer) with a motor directly mounted to the input. A gearbox designed using a worm and worm-wheel will be considerably smaller than one made from plain spur gears and has its drive axes at 90° to each other. With a single start worm, for each 360° turn of the worm, the worm-gear advances only one tooth of the gear. Therefore, regardless of the worm's size (sensible engineering limits notwithstanding), the gear ratio is the "size of the worm gear - to - 1". Given a single start worm, a 20 tooth worm gear will reduce the speed by the ratio of 20:1. With spur gears, a gear of 12 teeth (the smallest size permissible, if designed to good engineering practices) would have to be matched with a 240 tooth gear to achieve the same ratio of 20:1. Therefore, if the diametrical pitch of each gear was the same, then, in terms of the physical size of the 240 tooth gear to that of the 20 tooth gear, the worm arrangement is considerably smaller in volume. This paper talks about the 3-D design and assembly of a worm gear reducer using the design software tool from PTC, Creo Parametric 2.0. This CAD tool was instrumental in designing the 20 individual parts and hence creating the assembly of the gear reducer as a w hole. This project was aimed to test and optimize the CAD knowledge and sharpen the design skills. Creo Parametric is a very user-friendly design software which was very useful for this purpose. Furthermore, certain manufacturing activities like facing, cutting, milling and drilling activities were also completed on the designed parts. The manufacturing changes were reviewed in Vericut. Thus, to sum it up, designing a worm gear reducer takes a lot of patience and hard work, eventually leading to the potential development of 3-D design attributes.
The impact of different contract structures on IT investment in logistics outsourcing

Abstract The information technology (IT) capabilities of third-party logistics (3PL) providers are important for manufacturers because they enable manufacturers to optimize their operations. However, there exists an “IT gap,” or discrepancy between manufacturers' expectations and their satisfaction with the IT capabilities of 3PL providers. Previous studies suggest that 3PL providers' IT investments are critical and necessary for developing superior IT capabilities, which, in turn, contribute to firm performance. To motivate 3PL providers to invest in developing their IT capabilities and, thus, reduce the “IT gap,” we analyze a 3PL provider's IT investment, as well as its impact on supply chain profit, under four logistics outsourcing contract structures: a fixed-price contract, a contract contingent on the on-time delivery rate, a profit-sharing contract, and a revenue-sharing contract. We find that the 3PL provider's IT investment is higher under the contingent and profit-sharing contract structures than it is under the other two contract structures. The 3PL provider's IT investment under the contingent contract is no more than that of the profit-sharing contract. Additionally, we find that the contingent and profit-sharing contracts result in a higher profit within the supply chain than the other two contract structures do, and that the supply chain profits under contingent and profit-sharing contracts are dependent on the 3PL provider's IT investment. The results provide 3PL buyers and providers guidance in terms of using contract structures to motivate IT investment in logistics outsourcing.
Improving short-term electricity price forecasting using day-ahead LMP with ARIMA models

Short-term electricity price forecasting has become important for demand side management and power generation scheduling. Especially as the electricity market is becomes more competitive, a more accurate price prediction than the day-ahead locational marginal price (DALMP) published by the independent system operator (ISO) will benefit participants in the market by increasing profit or improving load demand scheduling. Hence, the main idea of this paper is to use autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to obtain a better LMP prediction than the DALMP by utilizing the published DALMP, historical real-time LMP (RTLMP) and other useful information. First, a set of seasonal ARIMA (SARIMA) models utilizing the DALMP and historical RTLMP are developed and compared with autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models that use the differences between DALMP and RTLMP on their forecasting capability. A generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model is implemented to further improve the forecasting by accounting for the price volatility. The models are trained and evaluated using real market data in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) region. The evaluation results indicate that the ARMAX-GARCH model, where an exogenous time series indicates weekend days, improves the short-term electricity price prediction accuracy and outperforms the other proposed ARIMA models.
Optimized Co-extraction and Quantification of DNA From Enteric Pathogens in Surface Water Samples Near Produce Fields in California

Pathogen contamination of surface water is a health hazard in agricultural environments primarily due to the potential for contamination of crops. Furthermore, pathogen levels in surface water are often unreported or under reported due to difficulty with culture of the bacteria. The pathogens are often present, but require resuscitation, making quantification difficult. Frequently, this leads to the use of quantitative PCR targeted to genes unique to the pathogens. However, multiple pathogen types are commonly in the same water sample, both gram + and gram -, leading to problems with DNA extraction. With Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes as target, a method was optimized to co-extract all three and quantify the level of each using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Multiplexed target genes in STEC were virulence genes, shiga toxin 2 (stx2) and hemolysin (ehx). Likewise, multiplexed targets in Listeria and Salmonella were the virulence genes listeriolysin (hly) and invasion protein A (invA). Water samples were processed using microbiological techniques for each of the pathogens and duplicate water samples were quantified by ddPCR. A significant correlation was found between culture and ddPCR results indicating detection primarily of culturable cells by ddPCR. Average virulence gene levels were 923, 23 k, 69 and 152 copies per sample for stx2, ehx, hly and invA, respectively. Additionally, stx2, ehx and inv levels were significantly correlated (P < 0.05, R = 0.34) with generic E. coli MPN levels in the duplicate samples. Indirect quantification with ddPCR will improve understanding of prevalence of the pathogens and may reduce risks associated with contaminated surface water.
Adjuvant etoposide plus cisplatin (EP) for pathologic stage (PS) II nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT).

4552Background: The risk of relapse after primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for patients (pts) with PS IIA NSGCT is 10-20% and increases to over 50% for pts with PS IIB NSGCT. C...
Best Practices in Reengineering: What Works and what Doesn't in the Reengineering Process

(1996). Best Practices in Reengineering: What Works and what Doesn't in the Reengineering Process. Quality Management Journal: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 10-12.
Comparison of Methods for General Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Models

We extend the usual nonlinear mixed-effects model (Lindstrom and Bates, 1990) to’analyze either a subset of the individual regression parameters or a characteristic of the curve, when the characteristic is expressed as a nonlinear function of the individual regression curve parameters. We also compare methods of estimation for these models proposed by Lindstrom and Bates (1990), Vonesh and Carter (1992), and a two-stage estimator proposed by Pocock et al. (1981) and Berkey and Laird (1986). Based on simulations, when the model is correctly specified, the Lindstrom-Bates estimators have the smallest bias and MSE, and when the model is misspecified, the two-stage estimators are optimal. Unless the random effects enter linearly and the variances are small, the Vonesh-Carter method produces biased estimates and standard errors. In addition, the two-stage method can easily analyze characteristics of the regression curve without resorting to reparametrization. We apply these results to a study of factors affecting small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCCL) tumor growth in mice.
Antecedents and Outcomes of Absorptive Capacity- A Meta-Analysis

Absorptive capacity (AC) is a firm’s ability to identify, integrate and exploit external knowledge. Absorptive capacity is a key concept in knowledge management and IS literature. Although there have been over 600 studies involving AC, there is little consensus regarding its conceptualization and operationalization. To further understand AC and its antecedents and outcomes, we meta-analyzed 67 studies on it. Our findings suggest that prior knowledge, external sources, social integration, R&D intensity, activation triggers, and external power relationships are positively associated with AC, which in turn improves firm’s overall performance. However, surprisingly, we find that R&D intensity (one of the most commonly used measures of AC) is distinct from AC and is only weakly correlated with AC. The implications and future research directions are also discussed.
Abstract 2059: Alcohol enhances estrogen-responsive breast cancer neovascularization

The pleiotropic effects of estrogen in breast cancer development have been observed at both the initiation and progression phases. Interestingly, alcohol, as a dietary component, has been observed to possess estrogenic activity, but the synergistic interaction between alcohol and estrogen and its cellular targets remains undefined. Our previous study identified neovascularization as a cellular target of estrogen that was mediated by the mobilization of bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BM-EPCs) and their subsequent incorporation within the tumor mass. The present study was undertaken to define the synergistic interaction between estrogen and alcohol using a cell culture model. To examine the effects of both estrogen and alcohol on breast cancer progression, we developed an in vitro model using the murine mammary tumor cell line, TG1-1, and the murine endothelial cell line, SVEC4-10. Neovascularization was assayed by the tubulogenesis and scratch wound assays as well as quantitating the expression of various provasculogenic markers. Conditioned media, generated by culturing the murine mammary cancer cell line, TG1-1, in estrogen and ethanol, was observed to enhance tubule formation and migration of the murine endothelial cell line, SVEC4-10. In addition, the TG1-1 conditioned media enhanced the prosurvival MAP kinase-signaling pathway in SVEC4-10 cells. Presumably, the observed enhancement of both endothelial cell tubulogenesis and migration is in part attributed to provasculogenic proteins secreted by TG1-1 cells. In order to address this, Western blot analysis using TG1-1 cell lysates indicated an increase in VEGF, MMP-9, and eNOS expression in presence of alcohol and estrogen. As a whole, our data suggest that both estrogen and alcohol function to enhance expression of key provasculogenic molecules in breast cancer cells, which in turn modulates the morphologic, migratory, and survival properties of endothelial cells. Citation Format: Natalie C. Cruz, Rachana Maniyar, Robert Suriano. Alcohol enhances estrogen-responsive breast cancer neovascularization [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2059.
Adaptive Framework for Emotional Engagement in Child-Robot Interactions for Autism Interventions

Socially assistive robots have been used extensively in designing therapy interventions for children on the autism spectrum. One of the maj or challenges facing this field is the difficulty in sustaining the child's engagement in a designed activity for longitudinal studies once the novelty of the robot wears off. Another major challenge is the design of intervention strategies that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of every child. This paper presents a novel adaptive framework that addresses both these problems by implementing intervention methods that are tailored to each individual child.
The balance between adhesion and contraction during cell division.

The ability to divide is a fundamental property of a living cell. The 3D orientation of cell division is essential for embryogenesis, maintenance of tissue organization and architecture, as well as controlling cell fate. Much attention has been placed on the mitotic spindle’s role in placing itself along the cell’s longest axis, where a shape sensing mechanism between a population of microtubules extending from mitotic centrosomes to the cell cortex occurs. However, contractile forces at the cell cortex also likely play a decisive role in determining the final placement of daughter cells following division. In this review, we discuss recent literature that describes the role of these contractile forces and how these forces could be balanced by mitotic adhesion complexes.
Genotypic differences between strains of the opportunistic pathogen Corynebacterium bovis isolated from humans, cows, and rodents.

Corynebacterium bovis is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen shown to cause eye and prosthetic joint infections as well as abscesses in humans, mastitis in dairy cattle, and skin disease in laboratory mice and rats. Little is known about the genetic characteristics and genomic diversity of C. bovis because only a single draft genome is available for the species. The overall aim of this study was to sequence and compare the genome of C. bovis isolates obtained from different species, locations, and time points. Whole-genome sequencing was conducted on 20 C. bovis isolates (six human, four bovine, nine mouse and one rat) using the Illumina MiSeq platform and submitted to various comparative analysis tools. Sequencing generated high-quality contigs (over 2.53 Mbp) that were comparable to the only reported assembly using C. bovis DSM 20582T (97.8 ± 0.36% completeness). The number of protein-coding DNA sequences (2,174 ± 12.4) was similar among all isolates. A Corynebacterium genus neighbor-joining tree was created, which revealed Corynebacterium falsenii as the nearest neighbor to C. bovis (95.87% similarity), although the reciprocal comparison shows Corynebacterium jeikeium as closest neighbor to C. falsenii. Interestingly, the average nucleotide identity demonstrated that the C. bovis isolates clustered by host, with human and bovine isolates clustering together, and the mouse and rat isolates forming a separate group. The average number of genomic islands and putative virulence factors were significantly higher (p<0.001) in the mouse and rat isolates as compared to human/bovine isolates. Corynebacterium bovis’ pan-genome contained a total of 3,067 genes of which 1,354 represented core genes. The known core genes of all isolates were primarily related to ‘‘metabolism” and ‘‘information storage/processing.” However, most genes were classified as ‘‘function unknown” or “unclassified”. Surprisingly, no intact prophages were found in any isolate; however, almost all isolates had at least one complete CRISPR-Cas system.
Kerry Egan, On Living

Kerry Egan, On Living (New York: Riverhead Books, 2016), 224 pp., $24.00 (hbk), ISBN: 1594634815.
Targeting dePARylation selectively suppresses DNA repair–defective and PARP inhibitor–resistant malignancies

While poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) plays an important role in DNA repair, the role of dePARylation in DNA repair remains elusive. Here, we report that a novel small molecule identified from the NCI database, COH34, specifically inhibits poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG), the major dePARylation enzyme, with nanomolar potency in vitro and in vivo. COH34 binds to the catalytic domain of PARG, thereby prolonging PARylation at DNA lesions and trapping DNA repair factors. This compound induces lethality in cancer cells with DNA repair defects and exhibits antitumor activity in xenograft mouse cancer models. Moreover, COH34 can sensitize tumor cells with DNA repair defects to other DNA-damaging agents, such as topoisomerase I inhibitors and DNA-alkylating agents, which are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Notably, COH34 also efficiently kills PARP inhibitor–resistant cancer cells. Together, our study reveals the molecular mechanism of PARG in DNA repair and provides an effective strategy for future cancer therapies.
Exceptional prosodification effects revisited in Gradient Harmonic Grammar

This paper presents an analysis of exceptional prosodification effects, in which exceptional lexical items appear to follow a regular pattern that is found in a different prosodic context. These patterns have been analysed as cases of prosodic prespecification, where morphemes select a non-default prosodic representation. I argue that prespecification approaches should be reconsidered, and that such patterns are predicted without morpheme-specific prosody in Gradient Harmonic Grammar, a weighted constraint system with gradiently active symbols. Exceptional prosodification effects result from the interaction of two influences on constraint penalties: (i) scaling of constraint violations by prosodic context and (ii) contrastive activity values in underlying forms. This interaction is illustrated with the distribution of French nasal vowels and linking [n]. This approach reduces the amount of structure posited for URs, and provides new arguments for a more uniform syntax–prosody mapping.
Associations between adiposity measures and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D among police officers

OBJECTIVE Studies show that serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), a biomarker for vitamin D status, are lower in persons with higher adiposity levels and that police officers have been found to have a high prevalence of obesity. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between several adiposity measures and 25(OH)D, and also compare those measures to determine the best one that predicts insufficiency of 25(OH)D (<20 ng/mL) among police officers in the Northeast area of the United States. METHODS Participants were 281 police officers (71.5% men) from the Buffalo Cardio-Metabolic Occupational Police Stress Study (2011-2016). Associations of body mass index (BMI), abdominal height (AbHt), waist circumference (WC), WC-to-height ratio (WCHtR), percent body fat (PBF), and fat mass index (FMI) with 25(OH)D were obtained using multiple regression models after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, season, multivitamin supplement use, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of each adiposity measure to identify insufficient 25(OH)D concentrations. RESULTS The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30) was 50.7% in men and 21.3% in women. Mean levels of 25(OH)D were 32.4 ng/mL in men and 34.4 ng/mL in women. After adjustment for covariates, PBF and FMI among men were inversely associated with 25(OH)D: PBF (β ± SE = -2.40 ± 1.01, P = .018); FMI (-2.21 ± 0.93, .018). Among women, no adiposity measure was associated with 25(OH)D. PBF was the best predictor of insufficient 25(OH)D concentrations regardless of gender (AUC = 0.878). CONCLUSION Adiposity measures were inversely associated with 25(OH)D, but differed between female and male officers.
Delocalization transition in dimensional crossover in layered media

A crossover between localized and diffusive wave propagation is observed in transmission through random layered media with transverse disorder. The crossover occurs at the point at which the beam spread equals the transverse coherence length.
The Use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children

The prevalence of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNSs) in the food supply has increased over time. Not only are more children and adolescents consuming NNSs, but they are also consuming a larger quantity of NNSs in the absence of strong scientific evidence to refute or support the safety of these agents. This policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics is intended to provide the pediatric provider with a review of (1) previous steps taken for approved use of NNSs, (2) existing data regarding the safety of NNS use in the general pediatric population, (3) what is known regarding the potential benefits and/or adverse effects of NNS use in children and adolescents, (4) identified gaps in existing knowledge and potential areas of future research, and (5) suggested talking points that pediatricians may use when discussing NNS use with families.
The Roles of Caregivers of Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Date Presented 04/06/19 Most adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) need continued support to live in the community, yet little is known about the roles of unpaid caregivers. Caregivers of 31 adults with ASD were interviewed. Caregiver roles included 1) meeting and managing daily needs; 2) obtaining services and supports; and 3) providing support when needed. The results, which have policy and service implications for OT, highlight the multiple caregiving roles these aging caregivers enact. Primary Author and Speaker: Nancy Bagatell
Students plans to obtain a license to carry on campus after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 11

This study examines factors predicting possession of a license to carry and plans to obtain a license to carry for the purpose of carrying a concealed handgun on campus after the passage of Texas Senate Bill 11 (SB11). Utilizing plans to obtain a license to carry we examine four models each with a more refined dependent variable to determine the factors specifically related to campus carry. The study uses a sample of university students at a midsize university in Texas to examine these relationships. Campus security concerns both before and after implementation of SB11 are discussed.
VALIDATION AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF THE ARABIC VERSIONS OF THE MINI–MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION – 2 AND MINI-COG TEST

Introduction The elderly population is increasing around the world, and the prevalence of dementia increases with age. Hence, it is expected that the number of people with dementia will increase significantly in the coming years. The Mini–Mental Status Examination – 2 (MMSE-2) and Mini-Cog are widely used tests to screen for dementia. These scales have good reliability and validity and are easy to administer in clinical and research settings. Aim: The purpose of this study was to validate the Arabic versions of MMSE-2 and Mini-Cog. These scales were assessed against the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for dementia, as the gold standard. Methods The standard versions of the MMSE-2 and Mini-Cog were translated to Arabic following the back-translation method. Then, a trained rater administered these tests to 134 Arab elderly aged .60?years. A physician, blind to the results of these two tests, assessed the participants for vascular dementia or probable Alzheimer's disease, based on the DSM-IV-TR criteria. Results The sample included 67.2% Qataris. The mean age was 74.86?years (standard deviation =7.71), and 61.9% did not attend school. The mean of the adjusted scores of MMSE-2 based on age and education level was 19.60 (standard deviation =6.58). According to DSM-IV-TR, 17.2% of the participants had dementia. Sensitivity and specificity of the MMSE-2 and the Mini-Cog together were 71.4% and 61.6%, respectively, which were better than those of each test alone. Conclusions Together, the Arabic versions of MMSE-2 and Mini-Cog are good screening tools for cognitive impairment in Arabs. The adaptation of these scales to Arabic-speaking communities will also make it possible to explore with more detail the epidemiology of dementia and facilitate comparisons with international studies in regard to risk factors, prognosis and treatment. This research was funded by: Medical Director's Grant Competition of HMC in Doha, Qatar (grant number: GC 1011A)
Extraforaminal Cervical Selective Nerve Root Block-Description of a Posterolateral Approach With Cone Beam-Based CT Guidance.

Background Cervical selective nerve root blocks (C-SNRBs) maintain utility for presurgical planning in patients with cervical radiculopathy. Traditional fluoroscopic or stationary computed tomography (CT)-guided methods have been associated with complications, including catastrophic neurologic insults, while ultrasound guidance has been investigated based on its theoretical advantages. Maximizing patient safety by obtaining superior anatomic and procedural details promotes the exploration for better alternative guidance. Methods We describe a novel approach of posterolateral (PL) extraforaminal (EF) C4 SNRB using cone beam-based CT (CBCT)/fluoroscopy, which was performed on 3 separate occasions for 1 patient with suspected right C4 radiculopathy for presurgical evaluation. CBCT/fluoroscopy uniquely provides the function of both CT and fluoroscopy using a C-arm machine. It allows precise 3-dimensional needle planning and sophisticated 2-dimensional needle guidance, while ensuring tight needle control and detailed monitoring of contrast spread. Results A successful right C4 SNRB was repeatedly achieved, as evidenced by postprocedural paresthesias over the C4 dermatomal distribution and periradicular contrast spread. Additionally, the patient reported symptomatic relief (with regard to pain scores and neck range of motion), leading to cancelation of his surgical plan. Conclusion We propose the PL-EF approach as the safest protocol for C-SNRBs. When compared with fluoroscopy or CT, CBCT/fluoroscopy is an advanced imaging system that provides superior anatomic neurovascular detail, while offering precise needle control, contrast media monitoring, and easy operation in an office setting. These advanced features support it as the ideal guidance method for maximizing both the safety and efficiency of the PL-EF C-SNRB approach. However, the claimed advantages cannot be concluded without increasing its accessibility to pain specialists and conducting a prospective study with a large sample size.
The formation of suspicion: A vignette study:

Being suspicious is part of police training, and is emphasized in police culture. Tversky and Kahneman argued that people make decisions based on a limited number of heuristic factors to reduce a c...
Remote, non-genetic modulation of cellular activity using hybrid-nanomaterials

Photostimulation using Au and Si-based nanomaterials has shown promise for optical stimulation of cells. However, these methods still suffer from key limitations: the need for high laser power, low thermal conversion efficiency, and unproven long-term stability. We report a breakthrough hybrid-nanomaterial for remote and non-genetic light-induced control of targeted cell activity. We combine one-dimensional (1D) nanowires (NWs) and two-dimensional (2D) graphene flakes grown out-of-plane with tailor-made physical properties for highly controlled photostimulation. Photostimulation using NW templated 3D fuzzy graphene (NT-3DFG) is flexible due to its broadband absorption and does not generate cellular stress. Our light-based platform adds a powerful toolset to the basic scientists studying cell signaling within and between tissues.