cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Risk Communication on Consumption and Consumer Well-Being

In this monograph, we build on the risk communication and the psychology of information processing and decision-making literatures, while extending this work through an explicit discussion of the philosophical foundations of risk communication, regulations, and the implications for communication and policy decisions. In addition, we explore the multidimensional context in which individuals confront risks and make trade-offs with respect to the costs and benefits in specific situations. We discuss various examples of risk-related products and behaviors, which are offered to illustrate the issues that arise when addressing risk in a multidimensional context where scientific information is incomplete and/or ambiguous and there are economic and social costs, as well as benefits, associated with any policy related to communicating and managing risk. Questions remain about how government and policy can respond to the increasing pace of technology change. The regulatory process is, by definition, slow and has difficulty keeping up with the accelerating dynamics of the environment. Are there more responsive market mechanisms that can substitute for government regulation, while still providing protection to individuals? Finally, as society creates “safer” products and processes, there is the potential for triggering more severe risks as a result of the feeling of safety and security.
Controlling Flow Speeds of Microtubule-Based 3D Active Fluids Using Temperature.

We present a method for using temperature to tune the flow speeds of kinesin-driven, microtubule-based three-dimensional (3D) active fluids. This method allows for tuning the speeds in situ without the need to manufacture new samples to reach different desired speeds. Moreover, this method enables the dynamic control of speed. Cycling the temperature leads the fluids to flow fast and slow, periodically. This controllability is based on the Arrhenius characteristic of the kinesin-microtubule reaction, demonstrating a controlled mean flow speed range of 4–8 µm/s. The presented method will open the door to the design of microfluidic devices where the flow rates in the channel are locally tunable without the need for a valve.
Abstract P260: Determinants of Statin Response: A Secondary Analysis of the Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER)

Introduction: Wide variability in LDLC change is observed with statins, yet determinants of statin response are uncertain. Hypotheses: Some markers of inflammation are associated with decreased sta...
Embodied energy of rice husk ash for sustainable cement production

Abstract After water, concrete is the second most used material in the world. Using life cycle assessments, concrete has typically been found to be 80% of a residential building by weight. Cement production consumes large amounts of energy, motivating a search for sustainable alternatives. Rice husk ash produced in controlled combustion has been found to be a viable replacement for cement. Renewable and sustainable, rice husks have the potential to produce energy while yielding an ash product for use in concrete. A “cradle to gate” Embodied Energy study incorporated the combustion process and transportation of rice husk ash to a concrete mixing facility. The main energy losses in the process were found to be furnace inefficiency, feed preheating, and auxiliary equipment. Rice husk ash transportation was found to be unimportant in comparison. For one kg of pozzolanic rice husk ash an embodied energy of -26 MJ was found, with the negative sign indicating that energy is produced in the overall process. A comparison of rice husk ash’s embodied energy to the high and positive embodied energy of Portland cement should encourage further investigation into replacing some of cement binder with pozzolanic rice husk ash for use in building materials.
Examining Postdisaster Behavior Through a Criminological Lens: A Look at Property Crime

Disaster sociology has a rich and undeniably valuable history. Among other things, it has revealed much about the behavior of disaster survivors. In recent years, criminologists have turned their a...
SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays in Control and Unknown Populations Demonstrate the Necessity of Virus Neutralization Testing

Background: To determine how serologic antibody testing outcome links with virus neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 to ascertain immune protection status, we evaluated a unique set of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection and viral neutralization. Methods: Herein, we compare several analytic platforms with 15 positive and 30 negative SARS-CoV-2 infected controls followed by viral neutralization assessment. We then applied these platforms in a clinically relevant population: 114 individuals with unknown histories of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: In control populations, the best performing antibody detection assays were SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG (specificity 87%, sensitivity 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 93%), spike IgG3 (specificity 93%, sensitivity 97%, PPV 93%, NPV 97%), and nucleocapsid (NP) protein IgG (specificity 93%, sensitivity 97%, PPV 93%, NPV 97%). Neutralization of positive and negative control sera showed 100% agreement. 20 unknown individuals had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with 16 demonstrating virus neutralization. The antibody assays that best predicted virus neutralization were RBD IgG (misidentified 2), spike IgG3 (misidentified 1), and NP IgG (misidentified 2). Conclusion: These data suggest that meaningful evaluation of antibody assay performance requires testing in an unknown population. Further, these results indicate coupling of virus neutralization analysis to a positive antibody test is required to categorize patients based on SARS-CoV-2 immune protection status following virus exposure or vaccine administration. One of the antibody detection platforms identified in this study followed by the pseudoneutralization or focus reduction assay would provide a practical testing strategy to assess for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies with optimal prediction of correlates to neutralizing immunity.
Cholesterol homeostasis in the vertebrate retina: Biology and pathobiology.

Abstract Cholesterol is a quantitatively and biologically significant constituent of all mammalian cell membrane, including those that comprise the retina. Retinal cholesterol homeostasis entails the interplay between de novo synthesis, uptake, intraretinal sterol transport, metabolism, and efflux. Defects in these complex processes are associated with several congenital and age-related disorders of the visual system. Herein, we provide an overview of the following topics: (a) cholesterol synthesis in the neural retina; (b) lipoprotein uptake and intraretinal sterol transport in the neural retina and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE); (c) cholesterol efflux from the neural retina and the RPE; and (d) biology and pathobiology of defects in sterol synthesis and sterol oxidation in the neural retina and the RPE. We focus, in particular, on studies involving animal models of monogenic disorders pertinent to the above topics, as well as in vitro models using biochemical, metabolic, and omic approaches. We also identify current knowledge gaps and opportunities in the field that beg further research in this topic area.
The Illustrative 3D Bioprinting in Cartilage Repair

Chondral and osteochondral lesions are extremely challenging scenarios in orthopedic health due to their lack of regenerative and repair abilities. 3D bioprinting is an emerging technology with great applications in this field, as it can be used to build constructs that can mimic cartilage anatomy and physiology. 3D bioprinting is the process of dispensing a biocompatible material (bio-ink) in a precise layer-by-layer pattern, creating a three-dimensional cellular construct that preserves cell function and viability and can be expected to mimic the physiological behavior of the native tissue. It is a three-step process: preprinting, where a design is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software to generate a GCode, which is read by the 3D printer; bioprinting, where a cell-laden hydrogel is extruded in a layer-by-layer fashion creating a 3D rendering of the design; and post-printing, where a construct may be incubated and put through various analyses to evaluate properties of the construct and cell viability after undergoing the mechanical stress of printing. This chapter describes and illustrates the workflow of 3D printing and bioprinting, important considerations in the selection of biomaterials, criteria for an ideal bio-ink, and applications of 3D bioprinting in the field of medical research and healthcare and finally its application into cartilage repair.
The student evaluation of teaching and likability: what the evaluations actually measure

For several decades research into the student evaluation of teaching has periodically found an association between how well students like an instructor and the evaluations. The association has been...
Tracking the wildlife trade: Usability of shipment identifiers in the CITES Trade Database

Abstract To improve the usability of the CITES Trade Database, UNEP-WCMC recently released data on trade in CITES species in a new shipment-by-shipment format. The aims of this study were to determine the extent to which the shipments of CITES Appendix I species reported by exporters and importers can be matched with respect to individual identifiers and the reported volume of individual combinations of terms and units. The CITES Trade Database contains 618,750 rows (with 373,031 individual identifiers (IDs)) on the trade in animals listed in CITES Appendix I for the period 1996–2018. Only 18.1% of IDs were usable for tracing the movement of CITES samples and appeared in 216,041 (34.9%) rows. Almost two-thirds of IDs appeared only once in the dataset and are therefore not usable in terms of trade tracing. Although another 63,603 IDs appeared more than once in the dataset, they always appeared in only one of the identifier fields and at the same time only as either a reporter type E (exporters) or type I (importers) and therefore also have zero value for trade tracing. Furthermore, no identifier was assigned to shipments in 35,395 rows (5.7%). For the highest number of combinations of terms and units, the matchable volume represented a maximum of 10% of the total volume of trades. Importantly, for the most traded combination of term and unit, i.e., live animals reported in the number of individuals, more than half of the traded volume (56.3%) was in matchable shipments.
Development and Evaluation of Resident-Championed Point-of-Care Ultrasound Curriculum for Internal Medicine Residents

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a powerful clinical tool that has seen widespread adoption, including in Internal Medicine (IM), yet standardized curricula designed by trained faculty are scant. To address the demand for POCUS education at our institution, we created a resident-championed curriculum with support from skilled faculty across multiple specialties. Our objective was to teach postgraduate year (PGY)-3 IM residents the basics of POCUS for evaluation of the pulmonary, cardiac, and abdominal systems through resident-developed workshops. The goal of acquisition of these skills was for resident education and to inform decisions to pursue further patient testing. Methods: Three half-day workshops were created to teach residents how to obtain and interpret ultrasound images of the pulmonary, cardiac, and abdominal systems. Workshops were comprised of didactic teaching and practical ultrasound instruction with expert supervision of clinicians within and outside of IM. Residents were asked to complete a written survey before and after each workshop to assess confidence, knowledge, and likelihood of future POCUS use. Results: Across the three workshops (pulmonary, cardiac, and abdominal), 66 sets of pre- and post-workshop surveys (32 pulmonary, 25 cardiac, and 9 abdominal) were obtained and analyzed. Confidence in and knowledge regarding POCUS use increased significantly across all three workshops. Likelihood of future use increased in the cardiac workshop. Conclusions: We implemented a resident-championed POCUS curriculum that led to improved attitudes and increased knowledge of POCUS for PGY-3 IM residents.
Genome-wide ultraconserved elements exhibit higher phylogenetic informativeness than traditional gene markers in percomorph fishes

Ultraconserved elements (UCEs) have become popular markers in phylogenomic studies because of their cost effectiveness and their potential to resolve problematic phylogenetic relationships. Although UCE datasets typically contain a much larger number of loci and sites than more traditional datasets of PCR-amplified, single-copy, protein coding genes, a fraction of UCE sites are expected to be part of a nearly invariant core, and the relative performance of UCE datasets versus protein coding gene datasets is poorly understood. Here we use phylogenetic informativeness (PI) to compare the resolving power of multi-locus and UCE datasets in a sample of percomorph fishes with sequenced genomes (genome-enabled). We compare three data sets: UCE core regions, flanking sequence adjacent to the UCE core and a set of ten protein coding genes commonly used in fish systematics. We found the net informativeness of UCE core and flank regions to be roughly ten-fold and 100-fold more informative than that of the protein coding genes. On a per locus basis UCEs and protein coding genes exhibited similar levels of phylogenetic informativeness. Our results suggest that UCEs offer enormous potential for resolving relationships across the percomorph tree of life.
Ileal Loop Bladder-Interposition Conduit

The urinary bladder can be the site of primary malignant tumors requiring its resection. It also can be invaded by soft tissue sarcomas of the pelvis, adenocarcinomas of the rectum, or gynecologic malignancies that, when extensive, necessitate the en bloc resection of the entire bladder or the bulk of it. In such cases, reconstruction is needed in order to restore the function of the urinary tract.
Incidence of Severe Upper Extremity Injuries and Minor Skin Injuries in Frontal Automobile Crashes

The objective of this study was to investigate severe upper extremity injuries and minor skin injuries resulting from frontal automobile crashes and to determine the effects of frontal airbags. The National Automotive Sampling System database files from 1993 to 2000 were examined in a study that included 25,464 individual cases that occurred in the United States. An analysis of the cases indicated that occupants exposed to an airbag deployment were statistically more likely to sustain a severe upper extremity injury (2.7%), than those occupants not exposed to an airbag deployment (1.6%) (p=0.01). The paper explains how 0.7% of occupants exposed to an airbag deployment sustained a severe upper extremity injury specifically from the airbag. In addition, when in crashes with an airbag deployment, older occupants were at a higher risk for severe upper extremity injury, as well as occupants in crashes with higher changes in velocity. A further analysis of the cases indicated that occupants exposed to an airbag deployment sustained a minor skin injury nearly twice as often (59.9%) as those occupants not exposed to an airbag deployment (35.9%). Using the chi square test of independence for survey data, seatbelt use (p=0.46), and seat position (p=0.10) were found to be statistically significant in predicting risk of airbag induced skin injuries; however, occupant sex was a significant indicator of risk, with females being more likely to sustain an airbag induced skin injury than males (p=.01).
Sufficient Stability Conditions for Constrained Robot Maneuvers: Theory and Experiments

This work presents a nonlinear stability analysis for constrained robotic motion, which accounts for external disturbances, sensor noises, parameter uncertainties, and the dynamics of the total system comprised of the robot and the environment Manipulator control is implemented with both a Computed Torque [1] trajectory controller, which regulates the robot position, and a compliance controller, which modulates contact forces. Two sufficient conditions for stability are derived. The first condition guarantees stability of the robot and a finitely stiff environment when a compliance compensator (operating on the contact force) supplements the trajectory controller; this condition may be simplified for systems omitting force sensor feedback. This criterion shows that, for a fixed trajectory controller, the compliance controller's L ? -gain must vary in inverse proportion to the environment stiffness to guarantee stability and that, in the vicinity of a singularity point, robot stability cannot be guaranteed. The second stability criterion shows that, for a robot contacting a very stiff environment, the compliance compensator's gain must vary in inverse proportion to the trajectory compensator's gain.
Design principle of wing rotational hinge stiffness

A design principle for selecting the stiffness of a wing rotational flexure hinge on bio-inspired flapping wing robots is presented. In this work, a systematic approach of selecting rotational stiffness values such that the primary mode of resonance occurs at harmonics of the wing stroke frequency is proposed. Using the quasi-steady aerodynamic model as a basis, simulations were performed to assess the effects of wing hinge stiffness on the rotational dynamics, while also evaluating effects on the mean lift coefficient. Based on the results from simulation, an operating mode for the optimal wing hinge stiffness is proposed. As verification, test wings incorporating a flexible rotational hinge were fabricated from laser machined composites and tested at a range of flapping frequencies. Wing kinematics were then extracted from high speed video and the resulting lift generation was evaluated. Experimental data from wing-hinge stiffnesses designed such that the primary mode of rotational resonance occurs near twice the flapping frequency showed near optimal cycle-averaged lift at targeted frequencies and low sensitivity to wing parameter variation. As a result, for a given set of vehicle parameters, the proposed principle serves as design guideline from which an initial rotational hinge stiffness can be selected and iterated to achieve optimal lift.
Fifteen years of genomewide scans for selection: trends, lessons and unaddressed genetic sources of complication

Genomewide scans for natural selection (GWSS) have become increasingly common over the last 15 years due to increased availability of genome-scale genetic data. Here, we report a representative survey of GWSS from 1999 to present and find that (i) between 1999 and 2009, 35 of 49 (71%) GWSS focused on human, while from 2010 to present, only 38 of 83 (46%) of GWSS focused on human, indicating increased focus on nonmodel organisms; (ii) the large majority of GWSS incorporate interpopulation or interspecific comparisons using, for example F(ST), cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity or the ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions; (iii) most GWSS focus on detection of directional selection rather than other modes such as balancing selection; and (iv) in human GWSS, there is a clear shift after 2004 from microsatellite markers to dense SNP data. A survey of GWSS meant to identify loci positively selected in response to severe hypoxic conditions support an approach to GWSS in which a list of a priori candidate genes based on potential selective pressures are used to filter the list of significant hits a posteriori. We also discuss four frequently ignored determinants of genomic heterogeneity that complicate GWSS: mutation, recombination, selection and the genetic architecture of adaptive traits. We recommend that GWSS methodology should better incorporate aspects of genomewide heterogeneity using empirical estimates of relevant parameters and/or realistic, whole-chromosome simulations to improve interpretation of GWSS results. Finally, we argue that knowledge of potential selective agents improves interpretation of GWSS results and that new methods focused on correlations between environmental variables and genetic variation can help automate this approach.
Sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization.

Publisher Summary The chapter describes the understanding of the physics and physical chemistry of sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization in solutions and in red cells. The polymerization of sickle cell hemoglobin has probably become the best understood of all protein self-assembly systems. The structure of the hemoglobin S molecule, the structure of the various aggregated forms of hemoglobin S, and the structural analysis of the polymers are discussed in the chapter. The chapter discusses the thermodynamics of hemoglobin S polymerization, and includes a description of the nonideal behavior of concentrated hemoglobin S solutions and the effects of physiologically relevant variables, especially oxygen, and the presence of non-S hemoglobins on the polymerization process. Understanding the polymerization process is not only important for understanding the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease, but is critical to the major problem of developing a specific therapy that could be used in the treatment of patients. The kinetic and thermodynamic studies have played a major role by providing relevant and sensitive assays for potential therapeutic agents. The results of the thermodynamic and kinetic studies of solutions are used to explain various properties of cells, including morphological and rheological properties.
Test: when is enough enough?

The focus of this panel is the trade-off between excessive testing and acceptable shipped quality levels. How much testing is enough? We all strive to ship our customers high quality product, or at least a product that meets our customers' quality expectations. Often improvements in shipped quality levels can be made by plugging obvious holes in a device's test suite, sometimes simply by increasing the fault coverage of an existing test. However, at other times, there are no obvious deficiencies in the test methodology and the hunt begins for new failure mechanisms, fault models, and test methods to detect them. Many times the enhanced tests not only improve the shipped quality level, but also drive an unacceptable decrease in yield. This decrease in yield is the result of catching defects that would have appeared in the field (the intent of enhancing the manufacturing test), but also can be the result of an over zealous culling of manufactured product which results in scrapping product that would never have failed in the field.
Electrical Accuracy of Selsyn Generator-Control Transformer System

THE military requirements for high accuracy position control systems have placed emphasis on the need for a voltage signal source which can indicate electrically a mechanical shaft position. In addition this signal source must have high accuracy, marked dependability, and the capability of continuous mechanical rotation. A modification of the conventional Selsyn generator-motor system1 has been developed and used extensively to fill this need.
TREATMENT OF COMMON BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN A PEDIATRIC CLINIC

123 children (median age 4.5 years) were referred from a well-baby clinic to a behavior clinic established to evaluate the suitability and efficacy of behavioral techniques as applied in a medical setting by pediatricians. The clinic's permanent staff are a behavioral psychologist and an attending pediatrician. Rotating students, house staff and fellows are taught a standard approach to history-taking and treatment in a one-hour lecture and appropriate readings. Proficiency is generally acquired in two or three supervised sessions. Thirty different individual behavior problems were treated: Trouble sleeping (N=33) and eating (25), bedwetting (19) toileting problems (11) temper tantrums and other minor disobedience (20) and others (dawdling, phobias, hairpulling, medicine refusal, functional pain, etc (36). Also referred were children (46) with multiple behavior problems, i.e. "hyperactivity" and general home and school disobedience. Parents and children were seen together in 1 to 3, 30-minute sessions. Using a parent rated behavior check list and standardized interviews, follow-ups were conducted at 2 weeks and 6 months. 75.3% of parents with single complaints reported resolution. Only 21% of those with multiple problems benefited from the contact. 90% of those parents with single problems who could give a good description of the pediatrician's advice reported resolution; only 7% of those with poor recall were successful. However, of those parents with hyperactive children, parental recall of advice made no apparent difference in success rate.
Bounds on Scott rank for various nonelementary classes

Ideally we would like to answer the following question. Suppose T is a first order theory and there is a bound ~<0~1 on the Scott rank of countable models of T. What can we say about 7? In I-S] Sacks points out that ~ < 6~(T) and asks if this can be improved to ~ < co~. If T has only countably many countable models, then Martin 's conjecture would imply ~ < ~o. 2. While this question seems very difficult, it is possible to obtain exact bounds on Scott rank in some more abstract settings. For example in [ K M S ] we showed that i fE is S~ equivalence relation where every class is Borel and there is a bound on the Borel rank of the equivalence classes, then ~ < 7,1 (we define 7z 1 below) and 7~ is the optimal bound. In this paper we will consider bounds on Scott rank for PCL~I -sentences. Basically we will show that 62~(~o) is an optimal bound on the Scott ranks of countable models a PCL~ -sentence ~o and 7~0P) is an optimal bound on the well founded models of an L,ol`o-sentence ~p. These results are proved in Sect. 2 and Sect. 3. In Sect. 4 we examine bounds on Scott rank for these classes when we also consider uncountable models. In this case the bounds coincide. The results of Sect. 4 were obtained earlier in unpublished work by Nadel and Stavi.
The Cern (g-2) measurements

Measurements of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon are reviewed. The emphasis is put on the first one of a series of three CERN experiments which led to an experimental value ofa=1165922.9 (8.5)·10−9 (±7.2ppm), and which compares well with the present theoretical resulta=1165919.2 (1.8)·10−9 (±1.5ppm).
Impact of molecular mass on the elastic modulus of thin polystyrene films

Abstract Surface wrinkling was used to determine the elastic modulus at ambient temperature of polystyrene (PS) films of varying thickness and relative molecular mass ( M n ). A range of M n from 1.2 kg/mol to 990 kg/mol was examined to determine if the molecular size impacts the mechanical properties at the nanoscale. Ultrathin films exhibited a decrease in modulus for all molecular masses studied here compared to the bulk value. For M n > 3.2 kg/mol, the fractional change in modulus was statistically independent of molecular mass and the modulus began to deviate from the bulk as the thickness is decreased below ≈50 nm. An order of magnitude decrease in the elastic modulus was found when the film thickness was ≈15 nm, irrespective of M n . However, an increase in the length scale for nanoconfinement was observed as the molecular mass was decreased below this threshold. The modulus of thin PS films with a molecular mass of 1.2 kg/mol deviated from bulk behavior when the film thickness was decreased below ≈100 nm. This result illustrates that the modulus of thin PS films does not scale with molecular size. Rather, the quench depth into the glass appears to correlate well with the length scale at which the modulus of the films deviates from the bulk, in agreement with molecular simulations from de Pablo and coworkers [31] and recent experimental work [35] .
Microcirculation in young adults with cystic fibrosis: retinal and conjunctival vascular changes in relation to diabetes.

Conjunctival biomicroscopy and retinal photography were utilized in 67 patients with cystic fibrosis, ages 15 to 26 years, to detect a possible prediabetic vascular change. Examination revealed venular congestion and tortuosity as well as venular and arteriolar red cell aggregation. These changes were related to the severity of the cystic fibrosis and not to glucose intolerance. Both clinical and chemical diabetes occur more frequently in older patients with cystic fibrosis than in normal subjects. The diabetes is not related to the severity of the cystic fibrosis. A prediabetic vascular change could not be reliably detected by this study.
Drafting New York Civil-Litigation Documents: Part VIII - The Answer

This article, which concentrates on writing affirmative defenses in an answer to a complaint, is the eighth in a multi-part series on drafting civil-litigation papers in New York.
Enzymatic pattern of glucose metabolic pathways in pyruvate kinase-deficient erythrocytes.

Abstract It has been shown that in some cases of congenital non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemia (CNSHA) with pyruvate kinase deficiency, the primary defect may be related to diminished magnesium-stimulated ATPase activity, followed by elevation of the erythrocyte ATP level. ATP as the end product of glycolysis inhibits by negative feedback control the activities of key glycolytic enzymes involved in energy production, i.e. pyruvate kinase (PK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK). Erythrocyte-deficient PK, however, is insensitive to the stimulating effect of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP), which is normally a positive effector of PK. Both competing effectors, i.e. ATP and FDP, seem to show specific interaction. PK, inactive in the presence of high concentrations of ATP, seems to lose its sensitivity to FDP. This effect persists until ATP molecules are present in excess. In vitro incubation of deficient PK with ATPase resulted in increased PK activity as well as in recovery of its sensitivity to the stimulating effect of FDP. The same effects were obtained in vivo by administering magnesium levulinate intravenously to CNSHA patients with PK deficiency. This may indicate that magnesium ions stimulate deficient ATPase activity and lead to diminution of ATP as a negative effector for other regulatory enzymes.
Relaxin promotes prostate cancer progression.

Purpose: To understand the role of relaxin peptide in prostate cancer, we analyzed the expression of relaxin and its receptor in human prostate cancer samples, the effects of relaxin signaling on cancer cell phenotype in vitro , and the effects of increased serum relaxin concentrations on cancer progression in vivo . Experimental Design: The relaxin and its receptor leucine-rich repeat containing G protein–coupled receptor 7 (LGR7) expression were studied by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (11 benign and 44 cancer tissue samples) and by relaxin immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays containing 10 normal and 69 cancer samples. The effects of relaxin treatment and endogenous relaxin/LGR7 suppression via short interfering RNA in PC-3 and LNCaP cells were analyzed in vitro . The effect of transgenic relaxin overexpression [Tg( Rln1 )] on cancer growth and survival was evaluated in autochthonous transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP). Results: The relaxin mRNA expression was significantly higher in recurrent prostate cancer samples. In tissue microarrays of the 10 normal tissues, 8 had low staining in epithelial cells, whereas only 1 of 9 high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions had low expression ( P = 0.005) and only 29 of 65 cancers had low expression ( P = 0.047). Stimulation with relaxin increased cell proliferation, invasiveness, and adhesion in vitro . The suppression of relaxin/LGR7 via short interfering RNAs decreased cell invasiveness by 90% to 95% and growth by 10% to 25% and increased cell apoptosis 0.6 to 2.2 times. The Tg( Rln1 ) TRAMP males had shorter median survival time, associated with the decreased apoptosis of tumor cells, compared with non-Tg( Rln1 ) TRAMP animals. Conclusions: Relaxin signaling plays a role in prostate cancer progression.
Outcomes after spinal cord injury: comparisons as a function of gender and race and ethnicity.

Abstract Krause JS, Broderick L. Outcomes after spinal cord injury: comparisons as a function of gender and race and ethnicity. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:355–62. Objective To identify gender and racial and ethnic differences in subjective well-being (SWB), participation, and general health ratings in participants with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design A multisite, cross-sectional study that used stratified sampling to identify and maximize participation among groups of people traditionally underrepresented in SCI research. Setting Four Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems participated in the data collection. The primary site was a large southeastern specialty hospital; the other 3 were in the western and mountain regions of the United States. Participants A total of 512 participants, 475 of whom were included in the analysis. This group included relatively equal portions of whites, African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics. Approximately 40% of the sample was women. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures The primary outcome measures included 2 measures of SWB (Life Situation Questionnaire-Revised, Older Adult Health and Mood Questionnaire), 1 measure of participation (Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique), and several items from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results The majority of racial and ethnic differences in SWB related to specific life areas (eg, economics, employment), rather than more global outcomes (eg, engagement, health), with whites generally reporting the best outcomes, followed by African Americans. American Indians, and whites generally reported the highest participation scores, whereas limited differences were noted between the racial and ethnic groups on health indicators. Women reported lower satisfaction with health, more poor mental health days, and lower SWB related to home life, but higher SWB related to interpersonal relations. Conclusions There are racial and ethnic differences in outcomes after SCI focused primarily on subjective outcomes in areas in which racial and ethnic minorities have traditionally been disadvantaged. The results of this study direct rehabilitation professionals to the outcomes that need to be targeted for intervention to eliminate inequities in outcomes for all persons with SCI.
Magnetic properties of SmN

Abstract Specific heat results for SmN give clear evidence of magnetic order at 18.2 K. Susceptibility results are less convincing, but indicate an ordering temperature in the range 13–15 K. In neutron diffraction experiments, we have found no evidence of magnetic order at temperatures above 1.6 K. By combining these apparently conflicting results with observations of the low-temperature induced form factor and of the inelastic neutron cross-section, we have been able to deduce values for the crystal-field and exchange parameters which allow a consistent interpretation of all the experimental results. We find that A 4 〈 r 4 〉 = (251 ± 20) K, A 6 〈 r 6 〉 = (20 ± 13) K, and the exchange interaction is ferromagnetic. For these cryst field parameters the orbital and spin contributions to the ground-state moment almost cancel exactly, giving a nearly zero ground state moment and a very unusual magnetic form factor. The strong temperature dependence of the induced form factor, expected for Sm 3+ ions, has been confirmed.
Dowling-Degos disease (reticulate pigmented anomaly of the flexures): A clinical and histopathologic study of 6 cases

Abstract Background: Few case series describing Dowling-Degos disease (DDD) have been reported. Objective: Our purpose was to review the clinical and histopathologic findings in DDD. Methods: We reviewed the clinical and histopathologic findings in 6 patients with DDD who were evaluated at the Mayo Clinic. Results: In addition to the typical flexural pigmented reticulate macules, comedo-like lesions on the back or neck or both were present in all 6 patients; 3 patients had pitted perioral scars, and 3 patients reported pruritus of affected flexural areas. Five patients were female, 5 patients had onset of pigmentation before age 24 years, and 3 patients had a family history of DDD. One patient had additional pigmentation involving the dorsum of the hands and proximal nailfolds and fingernail dystrophy. Histopathologically, pigmented rete ridge elongation with thinning of suprapapillary epithelium, dermal melanosis, and perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltration were consistently observed. Conclusion: Comedo-like lesions, pruritus, and pitted perioral scars are common features in association with the reticulate flexural pigmentation. Histopathologically, pigmented rete ridge elongation and dermal melanosis of biopsy specimens from flexural areas are seen. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:462-7.)
Thymidylate synthetase catalyzed dehalogenation of 5-bromo-and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridylate

Abstract Thymidylate synthetase catalyzes a facile dehalogenation of 5-bromo-and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridylate in the presence of dithiothreitol. The chloro and fluoro nucleotides are not dehalogenated under similar conditions. A mechanism for this reaction is proposed which is in complete accord with previously ascertained features of the catalytic mechanism as well as model chemical reactions. This reaction is likely an important pathway in the biological dehalogenation of 5-halogenated uracil derivatives.
RISK FACTORS FOR MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS TREATED WITH THE INTERLEUKIN-6 RECEPTOR INHIBITOR TOCILIZUMAB

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in modulating cardiovascular (CV) risk. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with the interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor tocilizumab have marked reductions in C-reactive protein but modest increases in lipid parameters. The relative contributions of inflammation and lipids to CV risk in this population have not been fully defined. Methods: Data were compared from RA patients with (n = 50) and without (n = 3936) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in tocilizumab phase 3 trials. Univariate Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to evaluate MACE risk factors at baseline, after 24 weeks of tocilizumab treatment and changes from baseline to 24 weeks with time to MACE as the time variable; multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were fit to obtain best prediction of time to MACE. Results: Univariate modeling showed baseline age, prior cardiac disorders, statin use, RA disease activity score (DAS28), total cholesterol/highdensity lipoprotein ratio, apolipoprotein-B and apolipoprotein-B/apolipoprotein-A1 ratio as predictive of MACE on tocilizumab. Baseline age, history of prior cardiac disorders, DAS28, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio were robust predictors of MACE in multivariate modeling. Posttreatment decreases in inflammation markers and lipid increases up to week 24 did not predict future MACE. However, higher levels of RA disease activity measures: swollen joints (hazard ratio [HR] [95% CI]=1.092 [1.051-1.136], p<0.0001) and DAS28 (HR=1.351 [1.118, 1.633], p=0.0018) at week 24 were associated with increased risk of future MACE. Conclusion: Baseline traditional CV risk factors (age and lipid/atherogenic indices) as well as RA disease activity measures are predictive of MACE in RA patients on tocilizumab. Lipid increases observed on tocilizumab therapy do not appear to confer increased CV risk, whereas reductions in RA disease activity lowered CV risk. Taken together, these data suggest that efforts aimed at aggressive screening and treatment of traditional CV risk factors combined with lowering of RA disease activity may be a means of lowering risk of MACE in this population.
The effect of hexavalent chromium on the critical thermal maximum and body burden ofClioperla clio (Plecoptera:Perlodidae)

Clioperla clio (Plecoptera:Perlodidae) nymphs exposed to eight levels of hexavalent chromium experienced 0.03% (control) to 76.0% lethality after 96 hr at 9.0°C and had an LC50 of 101.3 mg/L (95% C.I.=88.9 – 118.1 mg/L). Nymphs exposed to sublethal levels of Cr+6 in EPA hardwater at 9.0°C had statistically significant reduction in upper temperature tolerance measured as critical thermal maximum (CTMCONTROL > $$CTM_{LC_{10} }$$ > $$CTM_{LC_{30} } = CTM_{LC_{50} }$$ , range 31.46–29.49°C). The “ecological death” endpoint criterion resulted in low variability for controls (C.V.=2.4%). Exposed nymphs digested with nitric acid had mean body burdens ranging from 1.37 (μg total Cr/g dry weight) for those exposed to 5.25 mg/L, to 26.71 for the 143.25 mg/L exposure group. As Cr+6 exposure increased, body burden of nymphs increased linearly, and CTM significantly decreased. Since the 96-hr LC50 greatly exceeds Cr+6 measured in the field and the critical thermal maxima are at least 10°C greater than the adult emergence temperature, it is unlikely that environmentally realistic combinations of Cr+6 and temperatures will have adverse impacts on mature nymphs ofClioperla clio in nature if adverse conditions are of short duration.
Ozone profiles at McMurdo Station, Antarctica during the spring of 1993 ; record low ozone season

Record low ozone was measured by balloon-borne ozonesondes (40 flights) at McMurdo Station, Antarctica (78 deg S) during the 1993 austral spring. Total column ozone declined by 55% from an initial 275 Dobson Units (DU) on 30 August to a minimum of 130 +/- 7 DU on 2 October. Ozone within the 12-20 km showed a 95% decrease from an initial 138 DU in August to a record low 7 DU on 19 October. Probable cause of the 1993 record low ozone, based on balloon-borne observations at McMurdo include: the presence of the Pinatubo volcanic aerosol layer between 11 and 16 km (though decreased from the 1992 season); a colder than normal stratosphere over McMurdo (183 K minimum); and a relatively stable polar vortex which delayed the intrusion of high levels of ozone from outside the polar vortex wall until after 22 October. These conditions provided an optimum environment for the formation of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), essential to the heterogeneous chemistry that subsequently leads to the catalytic destruction of ozone by reactive chlorine.
Thrombin induces an inflammatory phenotype in a human brain endothelial cell line

In this study, we utilized the human brain endothelial cell line, hCMEC/D3, to determine the effects of the coagulation factor, thrombin, on the human blood–brain barrier (BBB). We show that thrombin increased the mRNA and cell surface levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in hCMEC/D3 cells. Thrombin similarly upregulated several chemokines implicated in human neurological conditions. Additionally, the paracellular permeability of the human BBB in vitro was also increased following thrombin treatment. Overall, this study demonstrates that thrombin can effectively induce an inflamed phenotype in an in vitro human BBB.
Literacy through Movement: An Organizational Approach

(2001). Literacy through Movement: An Organizational Approach. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 72, No. 1, pp. 39-48.
Friedländer Approach for the Incorporation of 6-Bromoquinoline into Novel Chelating Ligands

Nitration of 3-bromobenzaldehyde followed by sodium dithionite reduction provides 5-bromo-2-aminobenzaldehyde, which undergoes the Friedlander condensation with a variety of enolizable ketones to afford bidentate and tridentate 6-bromoquinoline derivatives. These species may be dimerized with Ni(0) to form biquinolines or treated under Sonogashira conditions to afford 6-alkynyl derivatives. Examination of optical properties indicate an unusually high emission quantum yield for 6,6‘-biquinolines.
A study of free-jet and enclosed supersonic diffusion flames

An experimental study has been made of supersonic diffusion flames produced by the subsonic and supersonic free-jet injection of hydrogen into a high-enthalpy air-stream. The air-stream was flowing at a Mach number=1.98 and had a total temperature of approximately 1900°K and a static pressure of 14.7 psia. An axial, mid-stream mode of fuel injection was adopted. For the case of hydrogen injected subsonically, combustion was found to be complete (i.e. the concentration of unreacted hydrogen was negligible), at a distance of approximately 9 inches from the point of injection. For the supersonic injection of hydrogen this distance was increased by approximately 30%, for the range of fuel velocities used. The tests were repeated with methane as the injected fuel, but ignition did not occur even with the methane preheated to 480°K, or when a bluff-body was inserted into the flow to create shock conditions. The above flames were then enclosed in various combustors of simple geometry, either of constant-area, constant-divergence or some combination of these two. For the conditions specified above, combustion in the diffusional mode was found to be impossible in a constantarea combustor. A diffusion flame was initiated in a combustor which consisted of a short parallel section followed by a section with a divergence of approximately 1°. However no combustion took place within a completely divergent duct even though the divergence was less than 1°. An exponential relationship between pressure, area and length has been proposed, and a one-dimensional analytical treatment for the case of heat addition in a non-constant-area duct is included in this paper. This assumption is shown to be experimentally reasonable and to result in gas dynamic equations which include the effect of process length.
Diffusion of protons in the outer radiation belt.

Recent observations by DAVIS and WILLIAMSON (1963) and DAVIS etal. (1964) in the L = 2 to 8 earth radii region of the outer radiation belt confirm the existence of large fluxes of 0.1 to 10 MeV protons. Except for the more energetic protons beyond L = 5, the intensities appear to be very stable over times of the order of years. An outstanding feature of these protons is the large but smooth Variation in their spectra with L and equatorial pitch angle.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist binding in tiger salamander nasal cavity

Binding of the iodinated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, buserelin, was examined in the nasal cavities of tiger salamanders using in vitro autoradiography. Binding of [125I]buserelin was seen within the chemosensory epithelium of the main nasal cavity and Jacobson's (vomeronasal) organ. Highest levels of binding were observed over the chemosensory neuron dendrites. Given the apparent lack of GnRH-immunoreactive fibers within the chemosensory epithelium as we have observed in a previous study, these observations suggest that GnRH may diffuse from fibers in the lamina propria of the chemosensory mucosa into the sensory epithelium to modulate chemosensory reception.