cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient-derived tumor xenograft models for melanoma drug discovery

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Cutaneous metastatic melanoma (MM) is an aggressive form of skin cancer, with treatment providing cures to a minority of patients. The multiple risk factors that contribute to MM development suggest that cutaneous melanomas embody a repertoire of altered genetic events requiring studies to better understand its biology in order to develop novel therapies.Areas covered: Patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) mouse models are noted to be superior for novel drug discovery and tumor biology studies due to their ability to maintain tumor heterogeneity and their use as real-time individualized patient models. In this review, the authors highlight the utility of PDTX models in advancing treatment options for patients with MM by creating invaluable preclinical models that exhibit patient-relevant treatment outcomes.Expert opinion: There is a strong necessity to reassess current approaches in which preclinical experiments are designed and executed in order to minimize unwarranted clinical tri...
Self-assembly of an α-Helical Peptide into a Crystalline Two-Dimensional Nanoporous Framework

Sequence-specific peptides have been demonstrated to self-assemble into structurally defined nanoscale objects including nanofibers, nanotubes, and nanosheets. The latter structures display significant promise for the construction of hybrid materials for functional devices due to their extended planar geometry. Realization of this objective necessitates the ability to control the structural features of the resultant assemblies through the peptide sequence. The design of a amphiphilic peptide, 3FD-IL, is described that comprises two repeats of a canonical 18 amino acid sequence associated with straight α-helical structures. Peptide 3FD-IL displays 3-fold screw symmetry in a helical conformation and self-assembles into nanosheets based on hexagonal packing of helices. Biophysical evidence from TEM, cryo-TEM, SAXS, AFM, and STEM measurements on the 3FD-IL nanosheets support a structural model based on a honeycomb lattice, in which the length of the peptide determines the thickness of the nanosheet and the pa...
Cluster success: fMRI inferences for spatial extent have acceptable false-positive rates.

In an editorial (this issue), I argued that Eklund, Nichols, and Knutsson’s ‘null data’ reflected resting-state/default network activity that inflated their false-positive rates. Commentaries on that paper were received by Nichols, Eklund, and Knutsson (this issue), Hopfinger (this issue), and Cunningham and Koscik (this issue). In this author response, I consider these commentaries. Many issues stemming from Nichols et al. are identified including: (1) Nichols et al. did not provide convincing arguments that resting-state fMRI data reflect null data. (2) Eklund et al. presented one-sample t-test results in the main body of their paper showing that their permutation method was acceptable, while their supplementary results showed that this method produced false-positive rates that were similar to other methods. (3) Eklund et al. used the same event protocol for all the participants, which artifactually inflated the one-sample t-test false-positive rates. (4) At p < .001, using two-sample t-tests (w...
Influence of Bimaxillary Surgery on Pharyngeal Airway in Class III Deformities and Effect on Sleep Apnea: A STOP-BANG Questionnaire and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Study.

Purpose To evaluate pharyngeal airway space (PAS; nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and total airway) volume and the correlation of an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypopnea syndrome screening questionnaire (STOP-BANG) with various mandibular setbacks during bimaxillary surgery and compare these findings with an age- and gender-matched skeletal Class I control group. Patients and Methods This retrospective cohort study was composed of patients with skeletal Class III discrepancy who underwent bimaxillary jaw surgery and were assessed with STOP-BANG score, cephalometry, and cone-beam computed tomography (of the PAS). The predictor variable was bimaxillary jaw surgery and included 4-, 6-, and 8-mm setbacks. The primary outcome variables were PAS volume, body mass index, and STOP-BANG score evaluated at 1 week before surgery and after comprehensive orthodontic treatment (11.25 ± 1.95 months). Other variables were grouped into the following categories: demographic and cephalometric parameters. Statistical intragroup and intergroup differences were assessed by paired t and independent t tests (P Results The study sample was composed of 48 patients (18 to 25 yr old); group I received 4-mm setback (n = 16), group II received 6-mm setback (n = 16), and group III received 8-mm setback (n = 16) mandibular surgery, and all test groups received 4-mm maxillary advancement. The entire study group was compared with a skeletal Class I control group (n = 16). The total PAS volume after orthodontic treatment in groups I and II showed a significant decrease compared with the presurgical PAS (P .05). In contrast, the total PAS volume in group III after orthodontic treatment (23,574 ± 1,394 mm3) was less than that in the control group (23,884 ± 1,543 mm3). Conclusion After surgery, patients with Class III discrepancy exhibited a decrease in oropharynx volume; however, the STOP-BANG score showed no change in risk factors scores for OSA at 4- to 8-mm setback surgery of the mandible in bimaxillary jaw surgery.
Relative Propensities of Cytochrome c Oxidase and Cobalt Corrins for Reaction with Cyanide and Oxygen: Implications for Amelioration of Cyanide Toxicity

In aqueous media at neutral pH, the binding of two cyanide molecules per cobinamide can be described by two formation constants, Kf1 = 1.1 (±0.6) × 105 M–1 and Kf2 = 8.5 (±0.1) × 104 M–1, or an overall cyanide binding constant of ∼1 × 1010 M–2. In comparison, the cyanide binding constants for cobalamin and a fully oxidized form of cytochrome c oxidase, each binding a single cyanide anion, were found to be 7.9 (±0.5) × 104 M–1 and 1.6 (±0.2) × 107 M–1, respectively. An examination of the cyanide-binding properties of cobinamide at neutral pH by stopped-flow spectrophotometry revealed two kinetic phases, rapid and slow, with apparent second-order rate constants of 3.2 (±0.5) × 103 M–1 s–1 and 45 (±1) M–1 s–1, respectively. Under the same conditions, cobalamin exhibited a single slow cyanide-binding kinetic phase with a second-order rate constant of 35 (±1) M–1 s–1. All three of these processes are significantly slower than the rate at which cyanide is bound by complex IV during enzyme turnover (>106 M–1 s–1...
1050 Decreasing unnecessary blood bank testing for laparoscopic hysterectomy

Background Reducing unnecessary preparation of blood components decreases cost and improves value. Standard surgical blood order schedules (SSBOS), which make recommendations on which procedures require a type and screen (T and S), have been shown to help reduce variability and improve patient safety. We explore how evidence-based interventions preoperatively optimise the process. Objectives Our aim was to standardise the process and implement an evidence-based process improvement to reduce unnecessary T and S samples for laparoscopic hysterectomy cases. Methods After IRB approval, we reviewed data from January 2014 to February 2016. Outcomes followed were: 1) T and S samples and 2) blood transfusion rates. Interventions were: 1) termination of routine ordering of T and S samples by pre-anaesthesia evaluation team (4/2015); and 2) implementation of a SSBOS guideline within a new EHR system (4/2016). We used statistical process control and descriptive statistics for analysis. Results At baseline, of 615 laparoscopic hysterectomy procedures, T and S obtained for 490 procedures (78%), 21 patients (3%) received at least 1 unit of blood. Of 490 procedures after Intervention-1, T and S obtained for 300 cases (61%), 18 patients (3%) received transfusion. Of 552 procedures after Intervention-2, T and S obtained for 144 cases (21%), 5 patients (1%) received transfusion (Table 1). Figure-1 shows a process control chart plotting the T and S samples over time with interventions at 5–2015 and 4–2016 which show a significant decrease in mean T and S samples. Conclusions Unnecessary preparation of blood products for operations with historically low rates of transfusion represents wasted phlebotomy, labour, and expense. Using laparoscopic hysterectomy as an example, we decreased unnecessary T and S using data to guide pre-operative testing.
Counterregulation rules in atherothrombosis.

The last decades have witnessed immense progress in understanding the mechanistic links between risk factors for atherosclerosis and the pathophysiology of atherothrombosis. Processes such as inflammation and oxidation have joined the traditional canon of risk factors that includes hyperlipidemia,
Toward connectionist parsing

The parsing of natural language is the product of dense interactions among various comprehension processes. We believe that traditional models have greatly underestimated the richness of these interactions. We propose a model for low-level parsing which is massively parallel, highly distributed, and highly connected. The model suggests a solution to the problem of word sense disambiguation which is psychologically plausible and computationally feasible. The paper outlines the general connectionist paradigm followed by a brief description of a three-level network to do parsing. Finally we trace through an example to illustrate the functioning of the model.
NAADP-dependent Ca2+ signaling regulates Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus pseudovirus translocation through the endolysosomal system

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections are associated with a significant mortality rate, and existing drugs show poor efficacy. Identifying novel targets/pathways required for MERS infectivity is therefore important for developing novel therapeutics. As an enveloped virus, translocation through the endolysosomal system provides one pathway for cellular entry of MERS-CoV. In this context, Ca2+-permeable channels within the endolysosomal system regulate both the luminal environment and trafficking events, meriting investigation of their role in regulating processing and trafficking of MERS-CoV. Knockdown of endogenous two-pore channels (TPCs), targets for the Ca2+ mobilizing second messenger NAADP, impaired infectivity in a MERS-CoV spike pseudovirus particle translocation assay. This effect was selective as knockdown of the lysosomal cation channel mucolipin-1 (TRPML1) was without effect. Pharmacological inhibition of NAADP-evoked Ca2+ release using several bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids also blocked MERS pseudovirus translocation. Knockdown of TPC1 (biased endosomally) or TPC2 (biased lysosomally) decreased the activity of furin, a protease which facilitates MERS fusion with cellular membranes. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of TPC1 activity also inhibited endosomal motility impairing pseudovirus progression through the endolysosomal system. Overall, these data support a selective, spatially autonomous role for TPCs within acidic organelles to support MERS-CoV translocation.
The Tao of The DAO: Taxing an Entity That Lives on a Blockchain

In this report, Shakow explains how a decentralized autonomous organization functions and interacts with the U.S. tax system and presents the many tax issues that these structures raise. The possibility of using smart contracts to allow an entity to operate totally autonomously on a blockchain platform seems attractive. However, little thought has been given to how such an entity can comply with the requirements of a tax system. The DAO, the first major attempt to create such an organization, failed because of a programming error. If successful examples proliferate in the future, tax authorities will face significant problems in getting these organizations and their owners to comply with the tax laws.
Foundations as interest groups

Foundations are traditionally viewed as civic-minded but politically neutral organizations. Yet foundations, if they choose, can become involved in a wide variety of activities aimed at influencing public policy. Here we lay out the rationale for thinking about foundations as interest groups in the American political system. There are differences between conventional interest groups and foundations to be sure, but there are similarities as well. The choices foundations make as to whether to consciously try to influence government appears to be guided by organizational norms, regulatory requirements, and the beliefs of boards, donors, and internal leadership.
Outcomes of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Analysis of National Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia with a prevalence of 15% of patients over 80 years. Coronary artery disease co-exists in 20-30% of patients with atrial fibrillation. The need for triple anticoagulation therapy makes the management of these patients challenging following PCI. METHODS Nationwide inpatient sample which is a set of longitudinal hospital inpatient databases was used to evaluate the outcome of patients with AF who underwent PCI. All patients undergoing PCI between 2002 and 2011 were included in the study. Specific ICD-9-CM codes were used to identify the study patients and their outcomes. RESULTS There were 3,226,405 PCIs during the time period of the study of which 472,609 (14.6%) patients had AF. AF patients were older and predominantly male (60%). The number of PCIs had a declining trend from 2002 to 2011. Age adjusted inpatient mortality was significantly higher in PCI AF group compared to the PCI non-AF group (100.82 ± 9.03 vs 54.07 ± 8.96 per 100,000; P < 0.01). Post PCI predictors of mortality were AF (OR 1.56, CI 1.53-1.59), CKD (OR 1.41, CI 1.37-1.46), PAD (OR 1.20, CI 1.15-1.24), acute myocardial infarction (OR 2.42 CI 2.37-2.46 and cardiogenic shock (OR 13.92 CI 13.60-14.24) P < 0.001. CONCLUSION AF is common in patients undergoing PCI and those AF patients have a higher age-adjusted all cause inpatient mortality. There is a decline in total number of PCIs over time in US. Atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, peripheral artery disease, MI and cardiogenic shock were associated with increased mortality following PCI.
Operator-adapted wavelets for finite-element differential forms

We introduce in this paper an operator-adapted multiresolution analysis for finite-element differential forms. From a given continuous, linear, bijective, and self-adjoint positive-definite operator L, a hierarchy of basis functions and associated wavelets for discrete differential forms is constructed in a fine-to-coarse fashion and in quasilinear time. The resulting wavelets are L-orthogonal across all scales, and can be used to derive a Galerkin discretization of the operator such that its stiffness matrix becomes block-diagonal, with uniformly well-conditioned and sparse blocks. Because our approach applies to arbitrary differential p-forms, we can derive both scalar-valued and vector-valued wavelets block-diagonalizing a prescribed operator. We also discuss the generality of the construction by pointing out that it applies to various types of computational grids, offers arbitrary smoothness orders of basis functions and wavelets, and can accommodate linear differential constraints such as divergence-freeness. Finally, we demonstrate the benefits of the corresponding operator-adapted multiresolution decomposition for coarse-graining and model reduction of linear and non-linear partial differential equations.
Flexible polyimide based 34-channel electrode arrays for mouse EEG measurement

Electroencephalogram (EEG) recording is a widely used method to measure electrical activity in the brain. Rodent EEG brain recording not only is noninvasive but also has the advantages to accomplish full brain monitoring, compared with that of the invasive techniques like micro-electrode-arrays. In comparison to other noninvasive recording techniques, EEG is the only technique that can achieve sub-ms scale time resolution, which is essential to obtain causal relationship. In this work, we demonstrated a simple microfabrication process for developing a high-density polyimide-based rodent EEG recording cap. A 34-channel rodent electrode array with a total size of 11mmx8mm, individual electrode diameter 240μm and interconnect wire linewidth 35μm was designed and fabricated. For the fabrication process, we first deposit 350nm SiO2 on a silicon substrate. We then fabricate 6-7μm thick first layer polyimide caps with fingers and contact holes. Gold deposition and then lithography etching of 34 channel contact-electrodes and their interconnects were fabricated in the second step. The third step was to cover metal interconnects with a 10μm thick second layer polyimide, which was fabricated with photolithography before the final film released by HF undercutting etching of SiO2 layer. Then the fabricated EEG cap is interfaced with a commercial 34-channel female connector, which is soldered with 34-line wires. These wires are then connected to an ADC to record the EEG data in computer for post-processing. With polyimide, the EEG cap is biocompatible, and flexible which makes it suitable for good contact with rodent skulls.
Optimal Placement and Sizing of Parking Lots for the Plug-In Electric Vehicles Considering the Technical, Social, and Geographical Aspects

This chapter studies the planning problem of parking lot sizing and placement in the electrical distribution network considering the security constraints of the system and modelling the technical, social, and geographical aspects of the problem. In this study, the planning problem is investigated from the local distribution company’s (DISCO) point of view to minimize the total cost of problem during the planning period considering the economic factors such as inflation and interest rates. The cost terms of planning problem include the investment cost to install the parking lots in the system and equip them with the charging/discharging stations, the present worth value of maintenance cost of parking lots and their equipment during the planning period, the present worth value of incentives paid to the drivers to motivate them to provide vehicle-to-grid (V2G) service at suggested parking lots during the planning interval, the present worth value of energy loss cost of branches during the planning time horizon, and the present worth value of energy not supplied (ENS) cost due to the power outage during the planning period. Herein, the feeder’s failure rate (FFR) and the electricity consumer’s load (residential, commercial, and industrial), as the voltage-dependent load (VDL), are modelled. Moreover, the real driving routes of vehicles in San Francisco are considered. In this study, several scenarios are defined to study the effect of different social classes of drivers, PEV penetration levels, PEV types (Citroen C-Zero and Tesla Model S), FFR model, and VDL model on the problem outputs. It is demonstrated that the abovementioned parameters can affect the security level of system (voltage profile of buses and apparent power of branches), the optimal value of problem outputs (hourly location and size of parking lots and hourly value of incentive), the problem indices (energy loss, ENS, and reliability indices of system), and the value of objective function of planning problem (minimum value of total cost of planning problem). Furthermore, it is noticed that ignoring the real models of FFR and VDL can negatively influence the optimal value of problem outputs and result in the misleading and unpractical consequences.
A modified surgical technique for Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in altered or abnormal anatomy

Abstract Purpose This paper describes a modified technique for the Descemet's Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratopasty (DSAEK) surgery in eyes with abnormal or altered anatomy. Certain anatomic abnormalities increase the level of surgical complexity, and lead to increased risk of donor lenticule detachment. These challenges include aniridia, abnormal iris, aphakia and hypotony from previous vitrectomy. Observations The Sheets glide was trimmed to 4mm in width and inserted into the clear-corneal wound. The “needle-push”/Fichman glide technique was used to insert the DSAEK donor graft. The modification of the technique involves maintaining the Sheets glide in the eye for the duration of the intraoperative air bubble. After confirming desired orientation of the graft, air was injected into the anterior chamber, creating a large air bubble between the graft and the Sheets glide. After 10 minutes, the Sheets glide was removed, and the main wound was closed. Conclusions and Importance This technique overcomes the challenges of posterior air bubble migration and posterior dislocation of the donor lenticule in eyes with altered anatomy.
The Role of Spatial Representations in CS Teaching and CS Learning

Walk into a CS1 classroom and you may see instructors communicating the properties of some abstract CS concept through gesture. Students may try to understand how a piece of code executes by sketching a code trace, drawing arrows and crossing out values while using spatial language like, …afterwards, the code comes back up here and then goes back down.
The Egalitarian Fallacy: Are Group Differences Compatible with Political Liberalism?

Many people greet evidence of biologically based race and sex differences with extreme skepticism, even hostility. We argue that some of the vehemence with which many intellectuals in the West resist claims about group differences is rooted in the tacit assumption that accepting evidence for group differences in socially valued traits would undermine our reasons to treat people with respect. We call this the egalitarian fallacy. We first explain the fallacy and then give evidence that self-described liberals in the United States are especially likely to commit it when they reason about topics like race and sex. We then argue that people should not be as worried as they often are about research that finds psychological differences between men and women, or between people of different racial or ethnic groups. We conclude that if moral equality is believed to rest on biological identity, ethnically diverse societies are in trouble.
SEC No-Action Letter Request

This article is a work of conceptual art in the form of a law review article. It argues that the sale of conceptual art violates the Securities Act of 1933. And it proposes to prove itself by requesting an SEC no-action letter holding that the sale of a work of conceptual art titled "SEC No-Action Letter Request" does not violate the securities laws.
A Multimodal Ca(II) Responsive Near IR-MR Contrast Agent Exhibiting High Cellular Uptake.

Ca(II) ions are critical for the proper function of neurons by contributing to synaptic signaling and regulating neuronal plasticity. Dysregulation of Ca(II) is associated with a number of pathologies that cause neurodegeneration, therefore the ability to monitor Ca(II) intracellularly is an important target for molecular imaging. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging is a promising modality for imaging changes in Ca(II) concentrations; however, the majority of Ca(II) responsive MR agents are limited to the extracellular space or hindered by poor cellular uptake. Here, we describe a new class of multimodal, bioresponsive Ca(II) magnetic resonance agents that are coupled to the NIR probe IR-783. This new design is based on previous generations of our Ca(II) MR agents but overcomes two significant challenges: 1) the presence of the NIR probe dramatically increases cellular uptake of the agent and 2) provides histological validation of the MR signal using NIR fluorescence imaging. IR-783 targets organic anion transpo...
Using a Neural Network Analysis to Assess Stressors in the Farming Community.

In the 1980s and 1990s, with decreasing numbers of full-time farmers and adverse economic conditions, chronic stress was common in farmers, and remains so today. A neural network was implemented to conduct an in-depth analysis of stress risk factors. Two Colorado farm samples (1992–1997) were combined (n = 1501) and divided into training and test samples. The outcome, stress, was measured using seven stress-related items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. The initial model contained 32 predictors. Mean squared error and model fit parameters were used to identify the best fitting model in the training data. Upon testing for reproducibility, the test data mirrored the training data results with 20 predictors. The results highlight the importance of health, debt, and pesticide-related illness in increasing the risk of stress. Farmers whose primary occupation was farming had lower stress levels than those who worked off the farm. Neural networks reflect how the brain processes signals from its environment and algorithms allow the neurons “to learn”. This approach handled correlated data and gave greater insight into stress than previous approaches. It revealed how important providing health care access and reducing farm injuries are to reducing farm stress.
Stability analysis of single-cross hybrids of maize (Zea mays L.)

Yield data from three experiments of maize single-cross trials grown at 5 to 8 locations in 1994, 1995, and 1996 were analyzed for stability using regression methods. Only single crosses grown in all locations and years (environments) were included in the analyses. Effects for environments, genotypes, genotype x environment, heterogeneity of regression (slopes), and deviations from regression were tested for significance. Slopes and deviation from regression were calculated for each single cross and slopes were tested for equality to 0.0 and 1.0. Slopes sums of squares were subdivided into sums of squares due to concurrence and non-concurrence. Subsets of each experiment were also analyzed to examine whether stability changed in environments stratified by mean yield levels or by years. The analysis of one experiment revealed significcint differences among single-cross slopes and non-concurrence. The other two experiments were unusual in that the tests for heterogeneity of slopes were not significant. Introduction Selection of superior genotypes is complicated by the fact that genotype performance varies according to the environment in which it is grown. Main effects of genotypes and environments are not additive,
Purification of Cas9-RNA complexes by ultrafiltration.

The discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized molecular biology, greatly accelerating the introduction of genetic modifications into organisms and facilitating the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics. For many applications, guide RNA and Cas9 protein are expressed, combined, and purified to produce a ribonucleic enzyme complex that is then added into a diagnostic device or delivered into cells. The objective of this work was to develop an ultrafiltration process for the selective purification of Cas9 ribonucleoprotein by removal of excess guide RNA. A His-tagged Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 protein was produced in Escherichia coli, purified by metal affinity chromatography, and complexed with a 40 kDa (124 nucleotide) single guide RNA. Ultrafiltration experiments were first performed on solutions containing either guide RNA or Cas9 protein to identify the effect of filtration conditions and membrane pore size on the selectivity. Shear-induced aggregation of the Cas9 led to significant fouling under some conditions. A diafiltration process was then developed using a Biomax® 300 kDa polyethersulfone membrane to selectively remove excess guide RNA from a solution containing Cas9-bound guide RNA and free guide RNA. These results demonstrate the potential of using ultrafiltration for the removal of excess RNA during the production of functional ribonucleoprotein complexes.
Parent and Sibling Science Support for Latinx Adolescents

Although previous literature indicates that parents and siblings each provide key support for Latinx adolescents’ academic success, most studies have not considered how parents and siblings work as a system to support adolescents in science. Informed by theories on family systems and family influence on youth’s achievement and education, this study aimed to (a) identify what Latinx adolescents believed were the most helpful ways that parents and siblings supported them in science, and (b) explore whether family science support varied based on parents’ science education. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews from 90 Latinx adolescents (mean age = 15.54 years; 38% girls; 84% born in the U.S.) were analyzed using inductive and deductive approaches. We found that parents and siblings supported Latinx adolescents in science through various home-based strategies: active engagement (classwork help and monitoring), academic socialization (encouragement, conversations about the future, and advice) and providing resources (material and social resources). Adolescents mentioned their older siblings were particularly helpful in providing class-specific support based on the science classes that they had previously taken. Additionally, our findings suggest that siblings relied more on classwork help from only older siblings in families where parents did not take any high school science classes compared to families where parents took some high school science classes. Overall, this study highlights the complementary science support that parents and siblings provide Latinx adolescents and the valuable role that siblings can play in Latinx families when parents have limited science education.
Recent Advances in Photoacoustic Tomography

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) that integrates the molecular contrast of optical imaging with the high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging in deep tissue has widespread applications in basic biological science, preclinical research, and clinical trials. Recently, tremendous progress has been made in PAT regarding technical innovations, preclinical applications, and clinical translations. Here, we selectively review the recent progresses and advances in PAT, including the development of advanced PAT systems for small-animal and human imaging, newly engineered optical probes for molecular imaging, broad-spectrum PAT for label-free imaging of biological tissues, high-throughput snapshot photoacoustic topography, and integration of machine learning for image reconstruction and processing. We envision that PAT will have further technical developments and more impactful applications in biomedicine.
Marching Across Generations? Education Benefits and Intra-Household Decision Making

We investigate how families resolve an important intrafamily household allocation problem — investing in their children’s postsecondary education — in the context of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. This legislation allowed service members to transfer education benefits to a family member in exchange for additional military service. Descriptive analysis reveals clear socioeconomic differences in patterns of transfer: utilization rates are highest among senior service members, who are better educated and earn higher wages, and are lowest among less educated, lower-wage junior soldiers. This pattern of use suggests that the transfer provision may have limited impact on intergenerational mobility for service members of low socioeconomic status.
Book Review: Student Engagement Techniques: A Handbook for College Faculty

Publisher Description: Keeping students involved, motivated, and actively learning is challenging educators across the country, yet good advice on how to accomplish this has not been readily available. Student Engagement Techniques is a comprehensive resource that offers college teachers a dynamic model for engaging students and includes over one hundred tips, strategies, and techniques that have been proven to help teachers from a wide variety of disciplines and institutions motivate and connect with their students. The ready-to-use format shows how to apply each of the book's techniques in the classroom and includes purpose, preparation, procedures, examples, online implementation, variations and extensions, observations and advice, and key resources.
NLRB v. Noel Canning Presents a Nonjusticiable Political Question

The Article asserts that it is a patent conflict of interest for the federal judiciary to review a challenge to the President’s alternative appointment process used to form, transform, and force integration (racial, gender and religious) of federal courts. The first black, female, and Jewish federal judges were recess appointed when their confirmation was obstructed by reactionaries in the Senate and on federal benches across the nation. African-American jurists such as Leon Higginbotham, Spottswood Robinson, William Hastie, and Thurgood Marshall first rose to the federal bench by recess appointments. This Article argues that the Noel Canning challenge to the President’s use of his recess appointment authority presents a nonjusticiable political question. Published in April 2014, two months prior to the Supreme Court’s ruling, the work draws from the author’s amicus briefs filed in Noel Canning and in related actions in the Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits. It also reflects a variety of author’s popular commentary on federal appointments. (The author has strongly supported the past four presidents’ appointment authority - ordinary and recess - without regard to the president’s political party. He has harshly criticized the escalating cycle of Senate confirmation obstruction and partisan payback.) The Recess Appointment Clause’s history, textual mandate, and structural logic recognize that only the President possesses the institutional competence to know when such discretionary appointment action is required to meet the executive’s Article II, Section 3 “Take Care” obligation. The Article discusses the unprecedented partisan confirmation obstruction that led to President Barack Obama’s modest exercise of his alternative appointment authority as required to prevent nullification of the NLRB. It exposes congressional pro forma sessions as scheduling shams intended only to obstruct the executive’s fulfillment of the "Take Care" duty. In arguing nonjusticiability, the Article references political-question precedent from John Marshall’s Marbury v. Madison 1803 ruling to Baker v. Carr to Goldwater v. Carter through Sonia Sotomayor’s Zivotofsky v. Clinton 2011 concurrence. The work fully applies Walter Nixon v. United States in which the Supreme Court determined that the judiciary should not review the Senate’s impeachment trial process because impeachment removal serves as an "important constitutional check" on the judiciary. The function of the "constitutional check" in both constitutional processes of presidential recess appointment and Senate impeachment removal concerns the composition and quality of the federal judiciary. The Article concludes by urging the Supreme Court to apply Professor Alexander Bickel’s prudential abstention doctrine.
Police Integrity in Croatia

The Croatian police, a centralized police agency, under the auspices of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior, have had a short but turbulent history. This chapter explores the contours of police integrity among the Croatian police. The chapter relies on the police integrity survey conducted in 2008/2009. The representative stratified sample of 966 police officers evaluated hypothetical scenarios describing various forms of police misconduct. We analyze the results across several measures of police integrity, such as the police officers’ knowledge of official rules, evaluations of police misconduct as serious, views about appropriate and expected discipline, and the code of silence. Our results suggest that most police officers had no problems recognizing described behavior as rule violating. The respondents’ evaluations of misconduct seriousness varied substantially across the scenarios. Although the behaviors described in the questionnaire are violations not only of the administrative rules but also of criminal law, our respondents expected dismissal for only two such cases, and expected milder disciplinary options for the rest. Finally, although the code of silence has weakened since the mid-1990s, our results show that it is still present among the Croatian police.
Diversity of aerosolized bacteria during land application of biosolids.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the diversity of bacterial communities associated with bioaerosols generated during land application of biosolids using 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) PCR. Methods and Results: Anaerobically digested Class B biosolids were land applied to an agricultural site located in South Central Arizona. Aerosol samples were collected downwind of the biosolids operations and were collected via the use of SKC Biosamplers and subsequently extracted for the presence of bacterial community DNA. All DNA was amplified using 16S rRNA primers, cloned and sequenced. All sequences were aligned and phylogenetic trees were developed to generate community profiles. The majority of aerosolized bacterial clone sequences belonged to the Actinobacteria and alpha- and beta-proteobacterial taxa. Aerosol samples collected downwind of soil aerosolization produced similar profiles. These profiles differed from upwind and background samples. Conclusions: No one clone sequence isolated from the aerosol samples could be solely attributed to biosolids; on the contrary, the majority appeared to have arisen from soil. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrates that in dry, arid climates the majority of aerosols associated with biosolids land application appear to be associated with the onsite soil.
Nerve growth factor treatment or cAMP elevation reduces Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III activity in PC12 cells.

Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase III (Ca2+/CaM kinase III) phosphorylates a protein of Mr = 100,000 (the 100-kDa protein), a major substrate for Ca2+/CaM-dependent protein phosphorylation found in many mammalian tissues and cell lines (Nairn, A.C., Baghat, B., and Palfrey, H.C. (1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 82, 7939-7943). Treatment of PC12 cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) or forskolin resulted in a decrease in the depolarization-dependent phosphorylation of the 100-kDa protein in intact cells and in a decrease in the Ca2+/CaM-dependent phosphorylation of the 100-kDa protein in cytosolic extracts. In experiments using cytosolic extracts, the initial effect of NGF on the phosphorylation of the 100-kDa protein was observed in less than 1 h, was maximal (70% decrease) after 12 h, and began to recover after 24 h. The effect of forskolin was more rapid and the maximal effect was greater (90-95% decrease). Decreased Ca2+/CaM kinase III activity was also found in PC12 cells treated with epidermal growth factor, 2-chloroadenosine plus isobutylmethylxanthine, or dibutyryl cAMP. The effect of forskolin did not reverse unless it was removed. Cycloheximide blocked the recovery of Ca2+/CaM kinase III activity observed following the removal of forskolin but did not affect the ability of forskolin to reduce kinase activity. Short-term treatment with phorbol ester had little effect on Ca2+/CaM kinase III activity; long-term treatment with phorbol ester, which results in the disappearance of enzymatically detectable protein kinase C, had no effect on the ability of NGF or 2-chloroadenosine to reduce Ca2+/CaM kinase III activity. The level of the 100-kDa protein as determined by immunological techniques was not changed by any treatment. These results suggested that the effect of treatment of PC12 cells with NGF or forskolin was to reduce the level of Ca2+/CaM kinase III per se.
MEIOTIC CHROMOSOME BEHAVIOR INFLUENCED BY MUTATION-ALTERED DISJUNCTION IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER FEMALES

The effects of a female-specific meiotic mutation, altered disjunction (ald: 361), are described. Although ald females show normal levels of meiotic exchange, sex- and 4th-chromosome nondisjunction occurs at an elevated level. A large proportion of the nondisjunction events is the result of nonhomologous disjunction of the sex and 4th chromosomes. These nonhomologous disjunction events, and probably all nondisjunction events occurring in ald females, are the result of two anomalies in chromosome behavior: (1) X chromosomes derived from exchange tetrads undergo nonhomologous disjunction and (2) the 4th chromosomes nonhomologously disjoin from larger chromosomes. There is at best a marginal effect of ald on the meiotic behavior of chromosomes 2 or 3. The results suggest that the ald+ gene product acts to prevent the participation of exchange X chromosomes and all 4th chromosomes in nonhomologous disjunction events. The possible role of ald+ in current models of the disjunction process is considered.
Experience with Z Developing a Control Program for a Radiation Therapy Machine

We are developing a control program for a unique radiation therapy machine. The program is safety-critical, executes several concurrent tasks, and must meet real-time deadlines. Development employs both formal and traditional methods: we produce an informal specification in prose (supplemented by tables, diagrams and a few formulas) and a formal description in Z. The Z description includes an abstract level that expresses overall safety requirements and a concrete level that serves as a detailed design, where Z paragraphs correspond to data structures, functions and procedures in the code. We validate the Z texts against the prose specification by inspection. We derive most of the code from the Z texts by intuition and verify it by inspection but a small amount of code is derived and verified more formally. We have produced about 250 pages of informal specification and design description, about 1200 lines of Z and about 6000 lines of code. Experiences developing a large Z specification and writing the program are reported, and some errors we discovered and corrected are described.
A hybrid system for seismic section segmentation controlled by an iterative quadtree construction algorithm

Present a hybrid system for seismic section segmentation that combines texture image classification using artificial neural networks and rule-based seismic section interpretation. In this system, ideal texture events are first extracted from a digitized seismic section using two-dimensional (2D) convolution masks. These texture feature measures are the input later in segmentation to a set of trained artificial neural networks to produce quantitative image descriptions that can be used directly in rule-based seismic section interpretation. The overall segmentation process is controlled by an iterative quadtree construction algorithm under which the image data are analyzed and interpreted at different spatial resolution levels in an iterative fashion.
The Incentive to Listen: Progressive Ambition, Resources, and Opinion Monitoring among State Legislators

This article argues that political ambitions combined with the resources offered by professional legislatures can enhance the prospects for representation of citizen interests because ambitious legislators have strong incentives to closely monitor constituent opinions while they wait for a strategic opportunity to run for higher office. The effect of ambition for higher office should be especially pronounced in professional legislatures that provide members with high salaries, staff, and office budgets to aid their efforts. The relationship between ambition, legislative professionalism, and behavior are tested using data drawn from a survey of upper and lower chamber members in eight state legislatures. The results show that legislators who are progressively ambitious spend more time monitoring public opinion than legislators who are non-ambitious or statically ambitious and that legislative resources augment this effect.
N-Acetyl-β-hexosaminidase B deficiency in cultured fibroblasts from a patient with progressive motor neuron disease

A patient with a 20-year history of progressive motor neuron disease was previously found to have profoundly low levels of N-acetyl-beta-hexosaminidase (Hex) in serum and leukocytes; Hex activity in cultured skin fibroblasts was in the low normal range. By thermal inactivation and cellulose acetate electrophoresis, the residual activity appeared to be Hex A. In the present study, the residual activity in cultured skin fibroblasts was further characterized as Hex A by thermal inactivation at reduced temperatures and ion exchange chromatography; no evidence was obtained for a diffusible inhibitor of Hex activity. After labeling with [3H]leucine, immunoprecipitation with polyclonal antibody to Hex B, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, both alpha and beta polypeptide chains were visualized, confirming the presence of Hex A. The results suggest that, in the patient's fibroblasts, a defect in beta-chain synthesis or processing precludes the self-association of beta-chains to form Hex B, but does not prevent the association of alpha- and beta-chains to form Hex A.
Application of the Baade-Wesselink inversion technique to SW Dra, X Ari and U Sgr

La technique d'inversion de Baade-Wesselink est appliquee a 3 etoiles pulsantes: 2 etoiles RR Lyrae, SW Dra et X Ari et une cepheide classique U Sgr. Dans cette methode, les courbes de lumiere et de couleur observees sont ajustees avec des series de Fourier et de nombreuses parametrisations de la brillance de surface sont utilisees. L'analyse montre que la methode donne un rayon stellaire acceptable pour SW Dra mais pas pour X Ari; les raisons probables de cette difference sont discutees. Un rayon est obtenu pour U Sgr mais avec une precision insuffisante. Les resultats sont compares a ceux d'autres auteurs et quelques avantages de cette technique d'inversion sont notes
Effect of Absolute Configuration on the Optical and NMR Properties of Oligonucleotides Containing Benzo[a]Pyrene Adducts at N 6 of Deoxyadenosine

Abstract For oligonucleotide duplexes derived from trans opening of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxides (BaP DEs) by the exocyclic N6-amino group of deoxyadenosine (dA), the hydrocarbon is intercalated toward the 5′-end of the modified strand when the configuration at the site of attachment of the base to the hydrocarbon (C-10) is R, and toward the 3′-end when this configuration is S. In oligonucleotide 11-mer duplexes modified by BaP DE-1 (benzylic 7-OH and epoxide oxygen cis) and DE-2 (7-OH and epoxide oxygen trans), as well as 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro BaP 9,10-epoxide, 10R adducts had consistently higher (5–9d°C) Tm values than the corresponding 10S adducts. Dodecamer duplexes from the HPRT gene with trans opened 10S (but not those with 10R) BaP DE-2 adducts at either of two adjacent dA residues exhibited blue shifts at ∼350 nm at temperatures well below the Tm. We propose that these blue shifts result from a conformation in which the hydrocarbon is not stacked with the DNA bases.