cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The influence of prey-scent stimuli on predatory behavior of the North American copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Viperid snakes strike, envenomate, and release mammalian prey to prevent being harmed by the prey; snakes must then track prey in the process of strike-induced chemosensory searching. Because rattlesnakes prefer to track and consume envenomated prey, it would seem that the scent of envenomated tissue is key to the tracking process. After striking rodents, rattlesnakes also retain a specific chemical search image of prey items. I examined this behavioral pattern in copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) from three US populations with documented dietary biases toward mammals (Kansas), lepidopteran larvae (Texas), and amphibians (Louisiana), respectively. Experiments were conducted to assess whether copperheads form a specific search image of nonenvenomated mouse, hornworm, and frog prey items. Additional experiments tested the relative importance of envenomated tissue to prey scent. Results indicate that copperheads do not form a specific search image of prey items. Preference for nonenvenomated prey items is in the order mouse . hornworm . frog for all three populations; therefore, the innate behavioral preference for types of prey does not match the dietary biases noted in the literature. Envenomated mice and hornworms were preferred to all nonenvenomated prey items, but most trials involving envenomated frogs did not suggest envenomated prey preference. Overall, these results suggest that when the snakes search for prey, envenomated tissue stimuli are more important to snakes than scents arising from the prey itself. Searching and consumption behaviors seem to be independent, suggesting that strike-induced chemosensory searching and consumption are more complicated behavioral processes than previously recognized.
Challenging Entertainment: Enjoyment, Transportation, and Need for Cognition in Relation to Fictional Films Viewed Online

This study used brief, fantastical fiction films viewed on a computer to extend research into the multiple dimensions of audiences' responses to entertainment media. One hundred sixty participants viewed one of two films and completed measures of transportation into the film, perceptions of the film as fun and meaningful, and need for cognition. Transportation was associated with both fun and meaningfulness perceptions, which were correlated with each other. Need for cognition predicted meaningfulness directly and indirectly through transportation. This trait was associated with fun only indirectly, via transportation.
Abstract 15214: Chlamydia Pneumoniae-Induced Foam Cell Formation Requires Nlrp3 Inflamasome Activation

Background and Objective: Foam cell formation (FCF) due to excessive accumulation of cholesterol by macrophages is a pathological hallmark of atherosclerosis. C. pneumoniae (Cp) promotes FCF in the presence of ox-LDL but the mechanism is unclear. Here we investigated the role of the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in Cp induced FCF and the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in macrophages. Methods: Peritoneal macrophages from wild-type (WT), Nlrp3-/-, and Caspase1-/- mice were treated with live Cp. in the presence or absence of ox-LDL or IL-R antigonist, Anakinra. Intracellular lipids was assessed by Oil Red O staining to measure FCF. The expression of inflammatory cytokine IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, cholesterol efflux transportor ABCA1, ABCG1, cholesterol uptake receptor CD36, Class B scavenger receptor (SR-B) and Cellular lipid synthesis and homeostasis transcription factor, Sterol regulatory element-binding protein- 2 (SREBP2) were examined in mRNA level by real-time RT-PCR and protein level by ELISA, FACS or Western blot analysis. Results: peritoneal macrophages infected with Cp resulted in large accumulation of lipid droplets and FCF while co-cultured with LDL, and the secretion of IL-1 α and IL-1β cytokines were significant higher compared with the LDL treatment cells. Cp induced FCF increasing could be blocked by IL-1R antagonist, Anakinra treatment. FCF increasing was also attenuated in NLRP3 and Caspase1 KO macrophages compared to WT cells. Cp and ox-LDL induced IL-1β and IL-1 α secretion was blocked in Nlrp3-/- and Casasep1-/- cells. Additionally, the cholesterol efflux transporter ABCA1 and ABCG1 was expressed at much higher levels in Nlrp3-/- and Caspase1-/- macrophages compared to WT cells and Cp stimulation increased CD36 and SREBP2 in Wt cells and not in Nlrp3-/- and Casp1-/- macrophages. Conclusion: These data suggest that Cp infection facilitates foam cell formation in the presence of oxLDL by producing IL-1 cytokines through the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and that IL-1 signaling is involved in cholesterol metabolism.
The 19-hydroxylase of the gerbil adrenal gland: a mitochondrial enzyme.

AbstractThe adrenal gland of the Mongolian gerbil produces nearly equal amounts of 19-hydroxy- and of 11β-hydroxycorticosteroids (Oliver and Peron, Steroids4, 351 (1964)). The intracellular location of the 19-hydroxylase (OHase) was studied by determining the activities of both the 19- and 11β-OHase enzymes in gerbil adrenal homogenate and subcellular fractions. Adrenal preparations were incubated in vitro in the presence of exogenous steroid precursor, androstenedione (A), testosterone (T), or deoxycorticosterone (DOC), plus a source of reducing equivalents. When adrenal homogenate was incubated with A plus isocitrate, the only two products detected were 19-hydroxy A and 11β-hydroxy A; the two were formed at virtually identical rates. With subcellular fractions, the capacity for 19-hydroxylation coincided with that for 11β-hydroxylation; the highest activities were in adrenal mitochondria. For adrenal mitochondria the two hydroxylation reactions were (1) enhanced by the addition of Ca2+ to incubations co...
Tumor Susceptibility Genes.

Cancer develops and progresses as the result of accumulated genetic damage or mutations. These mutations are most commonly described as either oncogenes, which positively regulate cell growth, or tumor suppressor genes, which negatively regulate cell growth. When oncogenes are mutated, cell growth signals are enhanced; mutations in tumor suppressor genes lead to a reduction in the level of growth retarding activities. While it was hypothesized that advances in molecular genetics would lead to the identification of specific mutations that cause common solid tumors, progress was relatively slow until approximately 20 years ago. The first genetic mutations were identified in patients with hereditary tumors such as retinoblastoma and familial colonic polyposis. With the development of positional cloning techniques and the discovery of polymerase chain reaction methodology, the identification of genetic mutations in familial tumors increased such that newly identified mutations in familial cancer syndromes are now commonplace. Some of the genetic mutations identified in hereditary cancer are shown in the Table. This review focuses on examples of molecular genetic discoveries in solid tumors, and their importance in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with two malignancies, retinoblastoma and familial colon carcinoma.
Measurements of DC Magnetic Susceptibility in Low Fields for Bi-2223 Ag-Sheathed Tapes

In measurements of DC magnetic susceptibility for a Bi-2223 superconducting tape, the data in zero field cooling (ZFC) mode well reflected characters of samples having individual critical current densities (Jc). It was considered that the behavior of ZFC susceptibility in low field region was almost caused by properties of superconducting grain junctions which strongly dominated a transport Jc. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between Jcand ZFC susceptibility in detail. The first point revealed by the susceptibility measurement was that the existence of the 2212 phase shielded by 2223 phase, which was invisible to XRD observation, when the grain junctions were intentionally broken. The second was about the strength of junction. In a high Jcsample, a most part of junction connected under very low field at 77 K. The disconnection rapidly occurred around 40 Oe which corresponded to the self-field calculated from the critical current in no external field.
The Caveats of Corticotropin Stimulation Test in Diagnosing Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Case Reports and Literature Review

Corticotropin stimulation test (CST) is commonly used to diagnose secondary adrenal insufficiency. We present two patients who underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery for pituitary macroadenoma. Both patients had additional pituitary hormone deficiencies before and after the surgery. The patients were maintained on glucocorticoid (GC) replacement for at least 3 months after the surgery. In the remote follow-up period, they underwent conventional CST with resultant cortisol levels above 18 ug/dL. This led to discontinuation of GC treatment. Few months later, both patients developed clinically evident adrenal insufficiency. Providers should be cautious interpreting the results of CST in patients with pituitary disorders. The 250-ug CST with standard cortisol cutoff has low sensitivity and can give falsely reassuring results. Thus, it is prudent to use a higher cortisol threshold to define intact hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. J Endocrinol Metab. 2016;6(5):154-157 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jem366w
A new approach for modeling of flow number of asphalt mixtures

Flow number of asphalt-aggregate mixtures is an explanatory parameter for the analysis of rutting potential of asphalt mixtures. In this study, a new model is proposed for the determination of flow number using a robust computational intelligence technique, called multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP). MGGP integrates genetic programming and classical regression to formulate the flow number of Marshall Specimens. A reliable experimental database is used to develop the proposed model. Different analyses are performed for the performance evaluation of the model. On the basis of a comparison study, the MGGP model performs superior to the models found in the literature.
Expression of the CYP3A and CYP2C11 enzymes in a nutritionally obese rodent model: Response to phenobarbital treatment

In this study, the overfed rat was employed as a model for examining the influence of obesity on the regulation of hepatic cytochromes P450 3A and 2C11 (CYP3A and CYP2C11, respectively). These proteins represent the predominant constitutive hepatic P450 enzymes of male rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically fed a standard pelleted diet or an energy-dense diet which typically results in significant increases in body weight, serum triglyceride levels and liver lipid content. Obesity did not influence baseline levels of spectral cytochrome P450 content. Similar baseline activities of CYP3A (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation), comparative CYP3A protein levels (Western blot) and steady-state CYP3A mRNA (slot blot), were found in rats fed either diet. Likewise, obesity did not appear to influence CYP2C11 at the enzyme activity (testosterone 2 alpha-hydroxylation) or mRNA levels. Half of the animals in each group received 20 mg phenobarbital (intraperitoneal injection) per animal every 12 hours for three consecutive days. This resulted in similar phenobarbital plasma concentrations in both groups. Phenobarbital treatment increased the concentrations of total cytochrome P450 in both lean and obese rats to the same extent. CYP3A activity, protein and mRNA levels were induced to a similar magnitude in rats fed either diet. Furthermore, obesity did not influence CYP2C11 activity or mRNA levels following administration of phenobarbital. A lack of an effect of obesity and the altered lipid environment on the regulation of CYP3A and CYP2C11 is in contrast to other enzymes studied previously. It is apparent that the consequences of obesity on hepatic cytochrome P450 may be enzyme-specific.
The Role of Extent of Surgical Resection and Lymph Node Assessment for Clinical Stage I Pulmonary Lepidic Adenocarcinoma: An Analysis of 1991 Patients

Abstract Background This study examined the association of extent of lung resection, pathologic nodal evaluation, and survival for patients with clinical stage I (cT1–2N0M0) adenocarcinoma with lepidic histologic features in the National Cancer Data Base. Methods The association between extent of surgical resection and long-term survival for patients in the National Cancer Data Base with clinical stage I lepidic adenocarcinoma who underwent lobectomy or sublobar resection was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Results Of the 1991 patients with cT1–2N0M0 lepidic adenocarcinoma who met the study criteria, 1544 underwent lobectomy and 447 underwent sublobar resection. Patients treated with sublobar resection were older, more likely to be female, and had higher Charlson/Deyo comorbidity scores, but they had smaller tumors and lower T status. Of the patients treated with lobectomy, 6% (n = 92) were upstaged because of positive nodal disease, with a median of seven lymph nodes sampled (interquartile range 4–10). In an analysis of the entire cohort, lobectomy was associated with a significant survival advantage over sublobar resection in univariate analysis (median survival 9.2 versus 7.5 years, p = 0.022, 5-year survival 70.5% versus 67.8%) and after multivariable adjustment (hazard ratio = 0.81, 95% confidence interval: 0.68–0.95, p = 0.011). However, lobectomy was no longer independently associated with improved survival when compared with sublobar resection (hazard ratio = 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.77–1.27, p = 0.905) in a multivariable analysis of a subset of patients in which only those patients who had undergone a sublobar resection including lymph node sampling were compared with patients treated with lobectomy. Conclusions Surgeons treating patients with stage I lung adenocarcinoma with lepidic features should cautiously utilize sublobar resection rather than lobectomy, and they must always perform adequate pathologic lymph node evaluation.
The Role of Prosodic Structure in the L2 Acquisition of Spanish Stop Lenition.

This study tests the hypothesis that late first-language English / second-language Spanish learners (L1 English / L2 Spanish learners) acquire spirantization in stages according to the prosodic hierarchy (Zampini, 1997, 1998). In Spanish, voiced stops [b d g] surface after a pause or nasal stop, and continuants [β ð ɣ] surface postvocalically, among other contexts. We adopt an Optimality Theoretic analysis of the phenomenon that assumes that postvocalic continuants surface due to the ranking of prosodic positional faithfulness constraints below a markedness constraint that prohibits stops in postvocalic position. L1 English speakers are presumed to start with a ranking in which prosodic positional faithfulness outranks the markedness constraint. In line with the Gradual Learning Algorithm (Boersma and Hayes, 2001), gradual demotion of the relevant faithfulness constraints is predicted in L2 Spanish, extending the prosodic domain until continuants surface postvocalically across domains. A cross-section ...
An Extended IEEE 118-Bus Test System With High Renewable Penetration

This article describes a new publicly available version of the IEEE 118–bus test system, named NREL-118. The database is based on the transmission representation (buses and lines) of the IEEE 118-bus test system, with a reconfigured generation representation using three regions of the US Western Interconnection from the latest Western Electricity Coordination Council (WECC) 2024 Common Case [Transmission expansion planning home and GridView WECC database]. Time-synchronous hourly load, wind, and solar time series are provided for one year. The public database presented and described in this manuscript will allow researchers to model a test power system using detailed transmission, generation, load, wind, and solar data. This database includes key additional features that add to the current IEEE 118-bus test model, such as the inclusion of ten generation technologies with different heat rate functions, minimum stable levels and ramping rates, GHG emissions rates, regulation and contingency reserves, and hourly time series data for one full year for load, wind, and solar generation.
Changing Demographics of Marijuana Initiation: Bad News or Good?

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses an article in the journal dealing with an increase in the rate of marijuana initiation during college in America, and it mentions the Monitoring the Future study and marijuana use by high school seniors between 2013 and 2015.
Mathematical Equation for Precise Burr Hole Placement in Stereotactic Deep Brain Stimulation Lead Placement

Frame-based stereotactic lead placement for deep brain stimulation requires a carefully planned trajectory and approach. Point of entry at the cortex is usually selected to be over a gyrus avoiding veins. The angle of lead entry into the skull is different from the perpendicular direction of the burr drill. If the burr hole is not placed properly, the inner plate of the skull may be in the way of the lead, which creates a snowball effect of complications from trajectory readjustment to improperly fitting hardware. Using trigonometric principles, we elucidated a mathematical equation that predicts the precise position of the burr hole in order for the lead to enter exactly in the middle of the opening.
Terahertz spectroscopic material identification using approximate entropy and deep neural network

Terahertz spectroscopy and imaging are a rapidly developed technique with important applications in many areas, such as medical imaging, security, chemistry, biochemistry, astronomy, communications, and manufacturing, to name a few. However, terahertz spectroscopy and imaging produce excessively high dimensional data which is prohibitive for common methods developed in the area of image processing. In this paper, we report our recent study on a novel classifier based on feature extraction using approximate entropy (ApEn). The classifier is initiated by analyzing the complexity of the terahertz spectrum, which is then combined with a deep neural network for material classification. Experimental results show that approximate entropy based features have high sensitive for detecting metal matrix composites, the accuracy of identification is up to 96.3%. Related algorithms for ApEn feature extraction and material classification are illustrated. An optimal parameter-embedding dimension, subject to classification accuracy for ApEn is studied.
Evaluating the Reliability, Coverage, and Added Value of Crowdsourced Traffic Incident Reports from Waze

Traffic managers strive to have the most accurate information on road conditions, normally by using sensors and cameras, to act effectively in response to incidents. The prevalence of crowdsourced ...
Carol D. Litchfield: Salt of the Earth

Carol D. Litchfield (1936–2012) was a pioneer as a woman in oceanographic microbiology and biochemistry and a professor at both Rutgers State University of New Jersey and George Mason University in Virginia. She spent time in bioremediation industrial work but is especially noted for her work in oceans and in halophilic (high-salt) environments. Working in salt production facilities, she characterized the microbiota of salterns and developed techniques for industrial microbiology. Carol also worked in natural hypersaline systems, such as Great Salt Lake. She relished in learning new techniques and using multiple approaches to explore a problem. Her body of work extends from studies of many of the Earth’s environments to discussions about the possibility of extreme life off our planet. Carol was also an amateur historian and amassed a collection of artifacts centered on the salt industry, which are now housed in a museum and available to researchers. This chapter, by Bonnie Baxter and Kendall Tate-Wright, covers Dr. Litchfield’s life and career and features interviews with former students and colleagues that reveal Carol’s talents and underscore her passion for mentoring, perhaps her most important contribution to science.
Help Wanted: Presidential Prioritization of Appointments

Though there is extensive scholarly description of the incentives, constraints, and appointment choices made by new administrations, as well as the ritual scoring of how newly-inaugurated presidents fare in matching the appointment rates of previous, we still know little about how presidents systematically choose which positions get filled first. Because of three main challenges--the scale and complexity of the executive branch compared to the presidential campaign and advisory staff , principal-agent problems, and time constraints--presidents cannot easily ll every position. They have to identify the priority positions in each agency on which they will focus at the start of the administration. This paper outlines how a combination of presidential electoral motivation and an emphasis on management teams rather than individual appointments explains why and how presidents prioritize appointments within agencies. Analyzing a new dataset of appointee entry and exit dates from three cabinet departments in the first terms of presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, I find that presidents prioritize the secretary's immediate management team and the offices for public affairs and congressional relations. The paper draws out implications of the findings for our understanding of appointment politics and the presidency more generally.
Expression and Channel Properties of α-Bungarotoxin-Sensitive Acetylcholine Receptors on Chick Ciliary and Choroid Neurons

Cell-specific expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) was examined using ciliary and choroid neurons isolated from chick ciliary ganglia. At embryonic days 13 and 14 (E13,14) the ne...
Disseminated Peritoneal Leiomyomatosis After Uterine Artery Embolization

Disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis (DPL) is a rare variant of extrauterine leiomyomatosis with reported spontaneous and iatrogenic occurrences. It has been associated with hysterectomy and myomectomy. To our knowledge, reports have not yet substantiated occurrence following uterine artery embolization (UAE), which has become a routine minimally invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of symptomatic leiomyomata. This report presents the case of a nulliparous premenopausal woman with no other contributory history who presented with DPL 3 years after UAE. The presentation of this patient suggests the potential for a causal relationship between UAE and DPL.
Data-driven decision making in an introductory physics lab

A new lab activity for first-year introductory physics teaches students to use data to drive decision-making in science and engineering processes. Using the popular PDCA (plan-do-check-act) cycle, students manufacture a small sample of ball bearings out of modeling clay. By statistically analyzing their sample, they determine whether a larger shipment will meet tolerance levels specified by the lab TA. They then make decisions on ways to change their manufacturing process to improve results, employing another round of data analysis to confirm whether the change improved their process. Judging by student comments, such an activity reinforces the conceptual basis for numerous statistical properties, helps distinguish many commonly confused statistical concepts, and reinforces the use of data in process management. This activity can be incorporated into either algebra-based or calculus-based physics labs and, because it does not rely on background knowledge of physics concepts, should prove ideal for the early weeks of lab instruction.
Coxeter group actions on Saalschützian F34(1) series and very-well-poised F67(1) series

Abstract In this paper we consider a function L ( x → ) = L ( a , b , c , d ; e ; f , g ) , which can be written as a linear combination of two Saalschutzian F 3 4 ( 1 ) hypergeometric series or as a very-well-poised F 6 7 ( 1 ) hypergeometric series. We explore two-term and three-term relations satisfied by the L function and put them in the framework of group theory. We prove a fundamental two-term relation satisfied by the L function and show that this relation implies that the Coxeter group W ( D 5 ) , which has 1920 elements, is an invariance group for L ( x → ) . The invariance relations for L ( x → ) are given two classifications based on two double coset decompositions of the invariance group. The fundamental two-term relation is shown to generalize classical results about hypergeometric series. We derive Thomaeʼs identity for F 2 3 ( 1 ) series, Baileyʼs identity for terminating Saalschutzian F 3 4 ( 1 ) series, and Barnesʼ second lemma as consequences. We further explore three-term relations satisfied by L ( a , b , c , d ; e ; f , g ) . The group that governs the three-term relations is shown to be isomorphic to the Coxeter group W ( D 6 ) , which has 23 040 elements. Based on the right cosets of W ( D 5 ) in W ( D 6 ) , we demonstrate the existence of 220 three-term relations satisfied by the L function that fall into two families according to the notion of L-coherence. The complexity of the coefficients in front of the L functions in the three-term relations is studied and is shown to also depend on L-coherence.
Beyond the Binary: Constitutional Challenges to Male/Female Sex Classification Systems

Transgender people have challenged legal restrictions on their ability to change their gender markers on their official documents for decades. In contrast, intersex people and other people who do not identify as either male or female have only recently objected to the rules limiting gender indicators to the binary classifications of M and F. A number of courts, legislatures, and government agencies now recognize people’s nonbinary gender, but the acceptance is far from universal. Under the current system, individuals may have an M on one official document, an F on another, and an X/I on a third document. This patchwork quilt system is likely to remain intact until a court determines that denying someone the right to identify as something other than M or F is unconstitutional. This article explores the constitutional implications of denying someone the ability to identify as neither male nor female. It concludes that government agencies that deny people the ability to self-identify as a sex other than male or female may violate the United States Constitution’s equal protection and substantive due process guarantees.
Stable Discretization of Time-Domain Solvers

Applications at the intersection of quantum and EM physics are becoming more prevalent in the engineering community. Interestingly, many of these applications require solving purely classical EM problems to characterize the most important dynamics of the system. As a result, computational electromagnetics (CEM) can play a vital role in this new area. However, the classical problems that typically need to be solved are the broadband analysis of near-field scattering problems in complicated regions with multiscale and/or subwavelength features. Recently, potential-based time domain integral equations (TDIEs) have been investigated to solve these traditionally challenging CEM problems [1], [2]. However, for these methods to be applicable, they must be robustly stable when analyzing complicated geometries over broad bandwidths.
Phonetic cues influence judgment of syntax

This speech perception experiment provides evidence of interaction between phonetic and syntactic cues associated with socio-/ethnolects. These phonetic and syntactic (socio)linguistic cues were crossed in stimuli recorded by speakers of African American English (AAE), Southern Standard British English (BrE), and General American English (GAE). Thus, some of the sentences listeners heard contain 'matching' cues—for example, a have raising question with BrE phonetic features—while the others contain “mismatching” cues much less likely to have been experienced together by listeners. Listeners (n = 30) rated the spoken utterances' acceptability on a scale of 1 to 5; response time was recorded. The mixed-effects linear regression fitted to the Z-transformed data shows BrE and AAE constructions are more acceptable when the phonetic cues match. The effect is most robust for the BrE accent; compared to estimates for the GAE accent ( β = 0:9538, p < 0.001), those for the BrE accent are overall lower (β = −0.106, p = 0.048). The penalty is effectively counteracted, however, when the BrE voice is producing the associated syntactic construction (β = 0:181, p = 0:017). Response time data also suggests stimuli with matching cues are processed faster (t = -2:3586, p = 0:01856).To my knowledge, this is the first experimental evidence of an effect of accent on syntactic acceptability.This speech perception experiment provides evidence of interaction between phonetic and syntactic cues associated with socio-/ethnolects. These phonetic and syntactic (socio)linguistic cues were crossed in stimuli recorded by speakers of African American English (AAE), Southern Standard British English (BrE), and General American English (GAE). Thus, some of the sentences listeners heard contain 'matching' cues—for example, a have raising question with BrE phonetic features—while the others contain “mismatching” cues much less likely to have been experienced together by listeners. Listeners (n = 30) rated the spoken utterances' acceptability on a scale of 1 to 5; response time was recorded. The mixed-effects linear regression fitted to the Z-transformed data shows BrE and AAE constructions are more acceptable when the phonetic cues match. The effect is most robust for the BrE accent; compared to estimates for the GAE accent ( β = 0:9538, p < 0.001), those for the BrE accent are overall lower (β = −0.106, ...
The Involvement of Peroxyl Free Radicals in Tumor Initiation and Promotion

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the involvement of free radicals in carcinogenesis (1–4). Much of the research emphasis has focused on intermediates of oxygen reduction such as superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical (2). Organic analogs of superoxide anion and its protonated form, perhydroxyl radical, have received less attention but may be just as important biologically as reduced oxygen intermediates. Our laboratory is interested in the role of hydroperoxide-dependent oxidations in carcinogenesis and much of our research is concerned with the chemistry and biology of peroxyl radicals generated by metal-catalyzed fragmentations of unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxides. We believe evidence exists to support the hypothesis that peroxyl free radicals contribute to metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens (e.g., polycyclic hydrocarbons) in the initiation phase of tumorigenesis; circumstantial evidence implicates peroxyl radicals in tumor promotion as well.
Gaps in the teeth: Coming together to address oral needs in the terminally ill

For the hospice patient needing palliative care, quality of life must encompass all aspects of comfort management. Often, medical and dental professionals and caregivers under their management in both homes and institutions hesitate or simply do not elect to offer oral care for patients nearing the end of life. This may be due to many factors, including difficulties encountered in patient compliance or lack of education as to how and why such care should be delivered to the hospice patient. This article aims to clarify the reasons why the hospice patient, cognizant or not, needs properly and regularly implemented oral care and why both medical and dental professionals have an ethical responsibility to concomitantly address the current void that exists in delivering it.
A beneficial cardiometabolic health profile associated with dietary supplement use: A cross-sectional study

Abstract. As a follow-up to an earlier study demonstrating healthier cardiometabolic profiles among long-term multiple dietary supplement (LTMDS) users, we examined if cardiometabolic health benefi...
Drivers of transcriptional variance in human intestinal epithelial organoids.

Human intestinal epithelial organoids (enteroids and colonoids) are tissue cultures used for understanding the physiology of the intestinal epithelium. Here, we explored the effect on the transcrip...
Commentary on "Systemic candidiasis and cytomegalovirus infection in the setting of artificial cardiac device deployment"

Thangam and associates [1] report the case of an unfortunate elderly male with history of coronary artery disease who developed an acute myocardial infarction due to occlusion of the right coronary artery. This was complicated by the development of a ventricular septal defect and refractory heart failure requiring implantation of cardiac devices including intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular assist device (VAD) and ultimately total artificial heart (TAH). Despite all efforts, the patient expired ~3 months after the AMI event.
Towards natural interfaces to interact with physical systems using smart mobile devices

As machines in most industries continue to grow in complexity, user interfaces play an increasingly important role in allowing operators to naturally interact with such machines. In this paper, we present a versatile approach that can enable operators to interact with a variety of machines using smart mobile devices. A low-cost, embedded system-based setup and an easy-to-implement communication method to wirelessly interface smart mobile devices with physical systems are presented. An application development and evaluation approach is adapted from human-computer interaction research and employed to investigate the functionality and usability of mobile-mediated interactions with physical systems. The approach is applied to the design of a mobile application to interact with a DC servomotor test bed using an iPhone.
From International Institutionalism to Revolutionary Expansionism: The Foreign Policy Discourse of Contemporary Russia

The purpose of this essay review is to explore the foreign policy discourse in contemporary Russia. The argument is made that Russian foreign policy is still open to the influence of ideas across the political spectrum and that examining the discourse extant in the society is useful in revealing the country's competing schools of thought. Four schools of thought are identified that have different definitions of security and different policy goals. After defining the four schools' security assumptions, attention is directed toward analyzing the images each has of Russia as an international actor and about Russia's international environment. The essay concludes with a consideration of the grand strategies that follow from each school’s proposals and offers a preliminary assessment of the possible evolution of Russian foreign policy drawing on the relative status of each school.
An analytical study of FairOM: a fair overlay multicast protocol for Internet-scale distributed systems

Fairness emerges as an important research issue in overlay multicast because spreading the multicasting load evenly among participants can eliminate potential traffic hot spots, thus improving the system's quality of service (QoS). In this paper, we analyze FairOM and compare it with non-FairOM approaches from two aspects: tree height and number of sessions that can be supported, which measure FairOM from a single-session's and multiple-session's point of view, respectively.
Sandbagging: Default Rules and Acquisition Agreements

In the M&A world, a buyer "sandbags" a seller when, knowing the seller has materially breached a warranty, it closes the deal and then asserts a post-closing claim. Traditionally, the buyer must have relied on the warranty, without knowledge of the breach, in order to prevail. The modern trend, with some exceptions, permits the buyer to sue without regard to knowledge. Parties, in both cases, can contract around the default rule — so that the default rule should affect how acquisition agreements are structured. Yet, a survey of publicly available deals, from July 2007 to June 2011, reveals that — regardless of default rule — roughly forty-five to fifty-five percent of contracts contain a pro-sandbagging provision, and roughly forty to fifty percent are silent. Why the similarity in contract provisions? First, the law around sandbagging is unsettled. Buyers who particularly value a sandbagging right may develop standard solutions, relying on the certainty of express contractual language rather than the default rule. Second, under a pro-sandbagging standard, sellers have limited incentive to request an anti-sandbagging provision and buyers have limited incentive to agree to it. The compromise is often silence — with the right to sandbag set by the default rule rather than agreement. Thus, the claim that a buyer's "purchase" of warranties includes a sandbagging right, often used to justify a pro-sandbagging default rule, is open to question. In neither case does a pro-sandbagging default rule reflect a buyer's interest in sandbagging. Rather, bargaining is more likely under an anti-sandbagging default rule, in which case those who particularly value a sandbagging right must expressly negotiate for it.
The use of prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing emergency primary cesarean section

Abstract The use of short-course (24-hour) prophylactic antibiotics was studied in 84 consecutive afebrile patients who underwent emergency primary cesarean section. There was a significant reduction in the incidence of postoperative endomyometritis in the group given prophylactic antibiotics (12/45, 26.7%) compared to the control group not given prophylactic antibiotics (20/39, 51.3%), p
A ‘learning platform’ approach to outcome measurement in fragile X syndrome: a preliminary psychometric study

Background Clinical trials of medications to alleviate the cognitive and behavioural symptoms of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) are now underway. However, there are few reliable, valid and/or sensitive outcome measures available that can be directly administered to individuals with FXS. The majority of assessments employed in clinical trials may be suboptimal for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) because they require face-to-face interaction with an examiner, taxing administration periods, and do not provide reinforcement and/or feedback during the test. We therefore examined the psychometric properties of a new computerised ‘learning platform’ approach to outcome measurement in FXS. Method A brief computerised test, incorporated into the Discrete Trial Trainer©– a commercially available software program designed for children with ID – was administered to 13 girls with FXS, 12 boys with FXS and 15 matched ID controls aged 10 to 23 years (mental age = 4 to 12 years). The software delivered automated contingent access to reinforcement, feedback, token delivery and prompting procedures (if necessary) on each trial to facilitate responding. The primary outcome measure was the participant's learning rate, derived from the participant's cumulative record of correct responses. Results All participants were able to complete the test and floor effects appeared to be minimal. Learning rates averaged approximately five correct responses per minute, ranging from one to eight correct responses per minute in each group. Test–retest reliability of the learning rates was 0.77 for girls with FXS, 0.90 for boys with FXS and 0.90 for matched ID controls. Concurrent validity with raw scores obtained on the Arithmetic subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III was 0.35 for girls with FXS, 0.80 for boys with FXS and 0.56 for matched ID controls. The learning rates were also highly sensitive to change, with effect sizes of 1.21, 0.89 and 1.47 in each group respectively following 15 to 20, 15-min sessions of intensive discrete trial training conducted over 1.5 days. Conclusions These results suggest that a learning platform approach to outcome measurement could provide investigators with a reliable, valid and highly sensitive measure to evaluate treatment efficacy, not only for individuals with FXS but also for individuals with other ID.
Feasibility and Implementation of a Literature Information Management System for Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Cancers with Imaging

This work examines the feasibility and implementation of information service-orientated architecture (ISOA) on an emergent literature domain of human papillomavirus, head and neck cancer, and imaging. From this work, we examine the impact of cancer informatics and generate a full set of summarizing clinical pearls. Additionally, we describe how such an ISOA creates potential benefits in informatics education, enhancing utility for creating enduring digital content in this clinical domain.
Designing broadcasting algorithms in the postal model for message-passing systems

In many distributed-memory parallel computers and high-speed communication networks, the exact structure of the underlying communication network may be ignored. These systems assume that the network creates a complete communication graph between the processors, in which passing messages is associated with communication latencies. In this paper we explore the impact of communication latencies on the design of broadcasting algorithms for fully connected message-passing systems. For this purpose, we introduce thepostal model that incorporates a communication latency parameter λ ≥ 1. This parameter measures the inverse of the ratio between the time it takes an originator of a message to send the message and the time that passes until the recipient of the message receives it. We present an optimal algorithm for broadcasting one message in systems withn processors and communication latency λ, the running time of which is Θ((λ logn)/log(λ + 1)). For broadcastingm ≥ 1 messages, we first examine several generalizations of the algorithm for broadcasting one message and then analyze a family of broadcasting algorithms based on degree-d trees. All the algorithms described in this paper are practical event-driven algorithms that preserve the order of messages.
Is leukoreduction of blood components for everyone

docarditis: a 10-year comparative analysis. Circulation. 1978;58:589-597. 7. McAnulty JH, Rahimtoola SH. Surgery for infective endocarditis. JAMA. 1979; 242:77-79. 8. Wilson WR, Giuliani ER, Danielson GK, Geraci JE. Management of complications of infective endocarditis. Mayo Clin Proc. 1982;57:162-170. 9. DiNubile MJ. Surgery in active endocarditis. Ann Intern Med. 1982;96:650659. 10. Alsip SG, Blackstone EH, Kirklin JW, Cobbs CG. Indications for cardiac surgery in patients with active infective endocarditis. Am J Med. 1985;78(suppl 6B): 138-148. 11. Delahaye F, Ecochard R, de Gevigney G, et al. The long term prognosis of infective endocarditis. Eur Heart J. 1995;16(suppl B):48-53. 12. Moon MR, Stinson EB, Miller DC. Surgical treatment of endocarditis. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 1997;40:239-264. 13. Alexiou C, Langley SM, Stafford H, et al. Surgery for active culture-positive endocarditis: determinants of early and late outcome. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000;69: 1448-1454. 14. Middlemost S, Wisenbaugh T, Meyerowitz C, et al. A case for early surgery in native left-sided endocarditis complicated by heart failure: results in 203 patients. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1991;18:663-667. 15. Jault F, Gandjbakhch I, Rama A, et al. Active native valve endocarditis: determinants of operative death and late mortality. Ann Thorac Surg. 1997;63:17371741. 16. Yusuf S, Zucker D, Peduzzi P, et al. Effect of coronary artery bypass graft surgery on survival: overview of 10-year results from randomized trials by the Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Trialists Collaboration. Lancet. 1994;344:563570. 17. Hasbun R, Vikram HR, Barakat LA, Buenconsejo J, Quagliarello VJ. Complicated left-sided native valve endocarditis in adults: risk classification for mortality. JAMA. 2003;289:1933-1940. 18. Fine MJ, Auble TE, Yealy DM, et al. A prediction rule to identify low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:243-250. 19. Tischler MD, Vaitkus PT. The ability of vegetation size on echocardiography to predict clinical complications. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 1997;10:562-568. 20. De Castro S, Magni G, Beni S, et al. Role of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography in predicting embolic events in patients with active infective endocarditis involving native cardiac valves. Am J Cardiol. 1997;80:1030-1034.
Observations of ionospheric electron content using a geostationary satellite

Abstract Observations of the telemetry transmissions from Syncom III at the University of Hawaii and at Stanford University have permitted the diurnal variation of electron content to be calculated. Typical diurnal curves are shown for both stations and their characteristics are found to be markedly different. A diurnal range of at least 30:1 is found in Hawaii but only 10:1 at Stanford. Large day-to-day and even hour-to-hour variability is observed, especially in Hawaii. The nighttime levels at both stations are nearly constant and the sunrise increase is nearly identical every day. The diurnal variation of slab thickness is not properly understood. Several new studies are suggested, including the calculation of production rates, loss rates and the correlation with airglow and other geophysical phenomena.
Comparison of experimental charge collection waveforms with PISCES calculations

Calculations of the charge collection transient, performed using PISCES v5.0n (Aerospace modified) are compared with previous experimental measurements for energetic He, B, Si, and Fe ions incident on 1, 3, and 10 ohm-cm silicon diodes. Lumped circuit elements are used to represent resistances, capacitance, and inductance attached to the charge collection region. PISCES does not satisfactorily reproduce the changes in the charge collection waveform that occur when bias voltage, ion, or resistivity is changed. >
Glucagon tolerance test in glycogen storage disease.

Summary 1. Glucagon injected intravenously in a patient with generalized glycogen storage disease produces a normal rise in blood sugar, even in a starving state. Such a blood sugar response excludes the possibility of von Gierke's disease and of Cori's disease. 2. Glucagon injected intravenously in a patient with either von Gierke's disease or with Cori's disease does not produce a normal rise in blood sugar provided the patient has been kept starving. 3. Glucagon injected intravenously in a patient with von Gierke's disease does not produce a rise in blood sugar even when done 2 hours after the patient has been given a substantial meal. 4. Glucagon injected intravenously in a patient with Cori's disease does produce a normal rise in blood sugar provided the patient has been given a substantial meal two hours prior to testing. 5. It is important to starve the patient long enough (not less than 14 hours) prior to the second glucagon tolerance test. Thus, a sufficient degradation of the outer branches of the glycogen molecule in Cori's disease is assured. Normal individuals react with a normal glucagon tolerance curve even after 48 hours of starvation. No other metabolic disorders are presently known which might interfere with this test. Equivocal results can be obtained in cases where the deficiency of glucose-6-phosphatase is only moderate. The more rare forms of glycogen storage disease (other than Types 1 and 3) can only be ruled out with the test.
Cardiac toxicity of arsenic trioxide

Unnikrishnan et al have reported the occurrence of torsades de pointes in 3 of 19 patients treated with arsenic trioxide.[1][1] The propensity for arsenic to cause reversible Q-T interval prolongation is well known and has previously been characterized.[2][2] To minimize the risk of long Q-T–