cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowdsourcing the Installation and Maintenance of Indoor Navigation Infrastructure

Indoor navigation systems, especially for people with visual impairments, often require intensive data collection and instrumentation to install and maintain over time. The most accurate navigation systems require experts to install many Bluetooth beacons or similar technologies throughout the environment. After hardware installation, data samples must be collected to construct a signal model of the environment to be navigated. The demands of this intense upfront workload and ongoing updates pose barriers for widespread adoption of navigation systems. This document describes LuzDeploy, a system to break these installation and maintenance workflows into small, simple tasks that be completed by volunteers with little to no training. A Facebook Messenger bot coordinates the overall deployment by assigning volunteers to beacon placement, data collection, or quality assurance tasks that take only a few minutes to complete. These tasks may be batched to do more or less work, depending on the amount of time the volunteer is able to contribute. LuzDeploy allows building owners and managers to distribute the difficult task of installation and maintenance. By making these workloads easier for non-experts, LuzDeploy aims to increase adoption of indoor navigation systems and make unfamiliar spaces more accessible to people who wish to navigate independently.
New flow cytometric procedure for the analysis of drug effects on topoisomerase II-DNA binding

3968 Topoisomerase II (Topo II) is the target of many clinically important antitumor drugs. The best-known drugs of this class are known as Topo II poisons, which stabilize cleavable complexes of Topo II covalently linked to DNA. Other Topo II inhibitors, usually categorized as catalytic inhibitors, affect other steps in Topo II-catalyzed DNA decatenation. Topo II poisons are generally identified through biochemical assays, by their ability to increase Topo II cleavable complex formation. These cell-free assays are laborious, require a large amount of material, and do not identify other types of Topo II inhibitors. We have developed a new rapid assay for agents that increase Topo II-DNA association in situ, based on flow cytometric analysis of the retention of a Topo II-GFP fusion protein in the nuclei of permeabilized cells. GFP fusions of the wild-type Topo IIα and its non-functional mutant (gifts of Dr. W.T. Beck) were stably transfected into a derivative of 293 cells, a transformed human embryonic kidney cell line. Cells were treated with 0.05% Triton X-100 and GFP fluorescence of permeabilized nuclei was analyzed by FACS. Wild type Topo II-GFP was retained much more efficiently than the mutant Topo II-GFP, indicating that Topo II-GFP retention reflected functional Topo II-DNA interactions. We have used this assay to analyze the effects of 20-minute exposure to different types of Topo II inhibitors and topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin. Topo II-GFP retention was unaffected by camptothecin but increased by most of the tested Topo II inhibitors. In contrast, Topo II inhibitors had no effect on the retention of the Topo II mutant. The strongest increase in Topo II-GFP retention was observed with classical Topo II poisons, teniposide and etoposide, as well as with bisdioxopiperazine derivatives (ICRF-193 and MST-16), recently shown to constitute a different class of Topo II poisons. One of the tested catalytic inhibitors, merbarone, also increased Topo II-GFP retention, albeit to a lesser degree than the Topo II poisons, whereas another catalytic inhibitor (novobiocin) had no effect. These results confirm Topo II-DNA complex stabilization by bisdioxopiperazines and reveal important differences in the effects of catalytic inhibitors on Topo II-DNA interaction. In contrast to the biochemical assays for Topo II-DNA binding, our method rapidly measures such interactions in situ, requires a small amount of material, does not use radioactive materials, and can detect both covalent and non-covalent Topo II-DNA interactions. This method should be useful both for mechanistic analysis and for de novo identification of Topo II-targeting compounds. This study is supported by NIH Grants RO1 CA95727 (I.B.R.) and RO1 CA97107 (R.M.S.).
E-Cigarette Surveillance With Social Media Data: Social Bots, Emerging Topics, and Trends.

Background: As e-cigarette use rapidly increases in popularity, data from online social systems (Twitter, Instagram, Google Web Search) can be used to capture and describe the social and environmental context in which individuals use, perceive, and are marketed this tobacco product. Social media data may serve as a massive focus group where people organically discuss e-cigarettes unprimed by a researcher, without instrument bias, captured in near real time and at low costs. Objective: This study documents e-cigarette–related discussions on Twitter, describing themes of conversations and locations where Twitter users often discuss e-cigarettes, to identify priority areas for e-cigarette education campaigns. Additionally, this study demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between social bots and human users when attempting to understand public health–related behaviors and attitudes. Methods: E-cigarette–related posts on Twitter (N=6,185,153) were collected from December 24, 2016, to April 21, 2017. Techniques drawn from network science were used to determine discussions of e-cigarettes by describing which hashtags co-occur (concept clusters) in a Twitter network. Posts and metadata were used to describe where geographically e-cigarette–related discussions in the United States occurred. Machine learning models were used to distinguish between Twitter posts reflecting attitudes and behaviors of genuine human users from those of social bots. Odds ratios were computed from 2x2 contingency tables to detect if hashtags varied by source (social bot vs human user) using the Fisher exact test to determine statistical significance. Results: Clusters found in the corpus of hashtags from human users included behaviors (eg, #vaping), vaping identity (eg, #vapelife), and vaping community (eg, #vapenation). Additional clusters included products (eg, #eliquids), dual tobacco use (eg, #hookah), and polysubstance use (eg, #marijuana). Clusters found in the corpus of hashtags from social bots included health (eg, #health), smoking cessation (eg, #quitsmoking), and new products (eg, #ismog). Social bots were significantly more likely to post hashtags that referenced smoking cessation and new products compared to human users. The volume of tweets was highest in the Mid-Atlantic (eg, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and New York), followed by the West Coast and Southwest (eg, California, Arizona and Nevada). Conclusions: Social media data may be used to complement and extend the surveillance of health behaviors including tobacco product use. Public health researchers could harness these data and methods to identify new products or devices. Furthermore, findings from this study demonstrate the importance of distinguishing between Twitter posts from social bots and humans when attempting to understand attitudes and behaviors. Social bots may be used to perpetuate the idea that e-cigarettes are helpful in cessation and to promote new products as they enter the marketplace.
Developing an Open Textbook for Learning and Instructional Design Technology

Despite the emphasis on open educational resources in our field, there are surprisingly few examples of open textbooks in our field, as well as in graduate education generally, despite the findings from research that these books can be affordable, high quality, and advantageous to students and faculty. In this article I describe one process for creating an open introductory textbook. I discuss design decisions, technological choices, and lessons learned, including suggestions for other potential book creators, in an attempt to encourage further development of open book scholarship. I also share initial data on student perceptions about the book, and my conclusions about the textbook creation process.
Public versus internal conceptions of addiction: An analysis of internal Philip Morris documents.

Background Tobacco addiction is a complex, multicomponent phenomenon stemming from nicotine’s pharmacology and the user’s biology, psychology, sociology, and environment. After decades of public denial, the tobacco industry now agrees with public health authorities that nicotine is addictive. In 2000, Philip Morris became the first major tobacco company to admit nicotine’s addictiveness. Evolving definitions of addiction have historically affected subsequent policymaking. This article examines how Philip Morris internally conceptualized addiction immediately before and after this announcement. Methods and findings We analyzed previously secret, internal Philip Morris documents made available as a result of litigation against the tobacco industry. We compared these documents to public company statements and found that Philip Morris’s move from public denial to public affirmation of nicotine’s addictiveness coincided with pressure on the industry from poor public approval ratings, the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), the United States government’s filing of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) suit, and the Institute of Medicine’s (IoM’s) endorsement of potentially reduced risk products. Philip Morris continued to research the causes of addiction through the 2000s in order to create successful potentially reduced exposure products (PREPs). While Philip Morris’s public statements reinforce the idea that nicotine’s pharmacology principally drives smoking addiction, company scientists framed addiction as the result of interconnected biological, social, psychological, and environmental determinants, with nicotine as but one component. Due to the fragmentary nature of the industry document database, we may have missed relevant information that could have affected our analysis. Conclusions Philip Morris’s research suggests that tobacco industry activity influences addiction treatment outcomes. Beyond nicotine’s pharmacology, the industry’s continued aggressive advertising, lobbying, and litigation against effective tobacco control policies promotes various nonpharmacological determinants of addiction. To help tobacco users quit, policy makers should increase attention on the social and environmental dimensions of addiction alongside traditional cessation efforts.
Personelle und räumliche Organisation

Um den oben beschriebenen Anforderungen gerecht zu werden und eine patientenorientierte Behandlung durchfuhren zu konnen, mus eine geburtshilfliche Anasthesieabteilung entsprechend personell ausgestattet sein. Folgende Aufgabenbereiche sind dabei zu beachten:
Structural Optimization of Internal Structure of Aircraft Wings with Curvilinear Spars and Ribs

A new framework for optimization of the internal structure of transport aircraft wings having curvilinear spars and ribs (SpaRibs) is described. SpaRibs are parameterized by third-order B-splines w...
Why do trauma survivors become depressed? Testing the behavioral model of depression in a nationally representative sample.

Abstract Despite accumulated evidence linking trauma exposure to major depressive disorder (MDD), there is limited understanding as to why some trauma survivors subsequently develop MDD. The behavioral model of depression points to a negative reinforcement cycle of trauma-related avoidance and depressed mood, but no study has evaluated this framework in trauma survivors. This study tested the hypothesis that traumatic stress symptom-related interference with daily activities and with relationships and self-medicating traumatic stress symptoms with alcohol and with drugs would predict MDD onset in a nationally representative sample after controlling for established risk factors. Data were drawn from Waves 1 and 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) using two samples: adults reporting lifetime trauma exposure but no history of MDD at Wave 1 (n = 8301) and a subset of those participants who met criteria for lifetime PTSD prior to Wave 1 (n = 1055). Younger age, female gender, a greater number of different trauma types, traumatic stress-related interference with daily activities, and self-medicating traumatic stress symptoms with alcohol significantly predicted MDD onset in both groups. Findings underscore the role of traumatic stress-related interference and self-medication in the development of MDD.
Ultra-short duration direct acting antiviral prophylaxis to prevent virus transmission from hepatitis C viremic donors to hepatitis C negative kidney transplant recipients

We conducted an adaptive design single-center pilot trial between October 2017 and November 2018 to determine the safety and efficacy of ultra-short-term perioperative pangenotypic direct acting antiviral (DAA) prophylaxis for deceased hepatitis C virus (HCV)-nucleic acid test (NAT) positive donors to HCV negative kidney recipients (D+/R-). In Group 1, 10 patients received one dose of SOF/VEL (sofusbuvir/velpatasvir) pretransplant and one dose on posttransplant Day 1. In Group 2A (N = 15) and the posttrial validation (Group 2B; N = 25) phase, patients received two additional SOF/VEL doses (total 4) on Days 2 and 3 posttransplant. Development of posttransplant HCV transmission triggered 12-week DAA therapy. For available donor samples (N = 27), median donor viral load was 1.37E + 06 IU/mL (genotype [GT]1a: 70%; GT2: 7%; GT3: 23%). Overall viral transmission rate was 12% (6/50; Group 1:30% [3/10]; Group 2A:13% [2/15]; Group 2B:4% [1/25]). For the 6 viremic patients, 5 (83%) achieved sustained virologic response (3 with first-line DAA therapy; and two after retreatment with second-line DAA). At a median follow-up of 8 months posttransplant, overall patient and allograft survivals were 98%, respectively. The 4-day strategy reduced viral transmission to 7.5% (3/40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8%-20.5%) and could result in avoidance of prolonged posttransplant DAA therapy for most D+/R - transplants.
Spectroscopic optical coherence refraction tomography

In optical coherence tomography (OCT), the axial resolution is often superior to the lateral resolution, which is sacrificed for long imaging depths. To address this anisotropy, we previously developed optical coherence refraction tomography (OCRT), which uses images from multiple angles to computationally reconstruct an image with isotropic resolution, given by the OCT axial resolution. On the other hand, spectroscopic OCT (SOCT), an extension of OCT, trades axial resolution for spectral resolution and hence often has superior lateral resolution. Here, we present spectroscopic OCRT (SOCRT), which uses SOCT images from multiple angles to reconstruct a spectroscopic image with isotropic spatial resolution limited by the OCT lateral resolution. We experimentally show that SOCRT can estimate bead size based on Mie theory at simultaneously high spectral and isotropic spatial resolution. We also applied SOCRT to a biological sample, achieving axial resolution enhancement limited by the lateral resolution.
Mania Associated With Supratherapeutic Tacrolimus Levels in a Patient With No Psychiatric History

Abstract Neurological side effects of tacrolimus have been well documented in the literature, while psychiatric symptomatology, especially mania, have rarely been reported. We report the case of a 64 year old man with no psychiatric history who developed mania with supratherapeutic serum concentrations of tacrolimus. The patient was treated with a mood stabilizer and an atypical antipsychotic while tacrolimus was discontinued and his other immunosuppressants were continued.
Characterization of Rhesus Macaque Liver-Resident CD49a+ NK Cells During Retrovirus Infections.

CD49a+ tissue resident NK cells have been implicated in memory-like NK cell responses, but while this population is well-characterized in mice and in humans, they are poorly described in non-human primates (NHP) which are particularly critical for modeling human viral infections. Others and we have shown that memory-like NK cells are enriched in the liver and because of the importance of NHP in modeling HIV infection, understanding the immunobiology of CD49a+ NK cells in SIV-infected rhesus macaques is critical to explore the role of this cell type in retroviral infections. In this study mononuclear cells isolated from livers, spleens, and peripheral whole blood were analyzed in acutely and chronically lentivirus-infected and experimentally-naive Indian rhesus macaques (RM). NK cells were then identified as CD45+CD14-CD20-CD3-NKG2A/C+ cells and characterized using multiparametric flow-cytometry. Our data show that in RM, CD49a+ NK cells increase in the liver following retroviral infections [median = 5.2% (naive) vs. median = 9.48% (SIV+) or median = 16.8% (SHIV+)]. In contrast, there is little change in CD49a+ NK frequencies in whole blood or spleens of matched animals. In agreement with human and murine data we also observed that CD49a+ NK cells were predominantly Eomeslow T-betlow, though these frequencies are elevated in infected animal cohorts. Functionally, our data suggests that infection alters TNF-α, IFN-γ, and CD107a expression in stimulated CD49a+ NK cells. Specifically, our analyses found a decrease in CD49a+ CD107a+ TNFα+ IFNγ- NK cells, with a simultaneous increase in CD49a+ CD107a+ TNFα- IFNγ+ NK cells and the non-responsive CD49a+ CD107a- TNFα- IFNγ- NK cell population following infection, suggesting both pathogenic and inflammatory changes in the NK cell functional profile. Our data also identified significant global differences in polyfunctionality between CD49a+ NK cells in the naive and chronic (SHIV+) cohorts. Our work provides the first characterization of CD49a+ NK cells in tissues from RM. The significant similarities between CD49a+ NK cells from RM and what is reported from human samples justifies the importance of studying CD49a+ NK cells in this species to support preclinical animal model research.
Teacher Use of Student Performance Data to Make Instructional Decisions: Practices in Programs for Students with Moderate to Profound Disabilities

Best practices in programs for students with moderate to profound disabilities include the regular collection and use of direct observational data on student performance. Unfortunately, research indicates that teachers who have training in data collection and analysis often do not apply these skills. This study sought to examine the actual decision-making practices of skilled teachers who regularly collected observational data on their students with severe disabilities. A questionnaire was completed by 57 teachers who averaged 6 years' teaching experience. The respondents had been recommended by teacher trainers, program administrators, and researchers in special education as having training and experience in data collection and education of students with severe disabilities. The results of participants' responses to this questionnaire yielded a favorable portrait of experienced teachers trained to use data for program monitoring with students with severe disabilities. The respondents did collect and exam...
Reducing CO 2 emissions in heavy-duty spark ignited engines for electric power using alternative fuels

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions can be reduced through newer powertrain concepts with electrification, efficiency optimization, and through alternative fuels. The focus of this work is on alternative fuels and optimizing engine efficiency for selected fuels on a large bore engine (> 170 mm). We surveyed alternative fuels with a lower carbon to hydrogen ratio than diesel fuel, or fuels without carbon. Examples of such fuels are: natural gas (including liquified natural gas (LNG) and its variability), methanol, ethanol, liquefied petroleum gas, ammonia, and hydrogen. The knock limited loads and possible efficiency targets were estimated using a closed cycle simulation with chemical kinetics. The achievable power densities and emitted CO2 levels are presented. In addition to simulation, single cylinder test results are presented for natural gas fuels. The total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis focused on a high fuel use application, in this case, stationary electric power generation. Natural gas is a good alternative fuel for heavy duty applications based on cost and availability.
Judicial Appointments Without Representation? An Examination of Female Judges and Women's Rights in Ghana

The judicial branch of government remains the least under studied branch of government. The judiciary plays an important role when it comes to translating the rights of women into action through the interpretation of laws and their implications for women. Within the last five years, the continent has witnessed increases in the number of female judge appointments to the bench, with the appointment of the first female Chief Justices in Ghana and Nigeria. This paper argues that an increase in the number of female judges is a good indicator of the symbolic representation of women’s rights. However, one issue not addressed in the literature is whether these representational gains translate into substantive legal gains for women? Using Ghana as a case study, this paper explores the pertinent question whether female judges make a difference in judicial decisions when it comes to cases involving women as both plaintiffs and defendants? This question, if answered in the affirmative, can provide a basis for both women’s rights organizations and gender advocates to push for an increase in the number of women in the judicial systems and other government institutions as an avenue to advance women’s rights issues within the sub-continent.
Flexible multi-agent algorithm for distributed decision making

This article presents an algorithm for decentralized control and decision making among a number of unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). The approach is scalable and adaptable to a variety of specific mission tasks. Additionally, the algorithm could easily be adapted for use on land or sea-based systems. Each UAS involved in an automated decision making process uses a selection of both predefined and derived parameters with corresponding predetermined weights to develop a score. These scores, and associated “scorecards,” are then iteratively distributed to all involved agents, ranked, and used to determine task participants. Simulation as well as flight testing shows the algorithm provides appropriate team assignments in a variety of situations while remaining robust to agent dropouts, inconsistent communications, and dynamic situations.
Between War and Peace: Considering the Statecraft of Cyberspace from the Perspective of the U.S. State Department

This paper considers how cyber-enabled diplomacy may be undertaken by the United States. While cyber warfare has been a popular topic of discussion over the past decade, less has attention has been directed at the use of cyber instruments (information technology, social media, the blogosphere, etc.) in diplomatic engagement. Considered here is the debate regarding cybersecurity issues and how that debate factors into U.S. diplomatic initiatives. Covered are the: (a) framing of the issue; (b) emergence of cyberspace as an issue for diplomacy; (c) coverage of major incidents for consideration; and (d) prescriptive elements for inter-agency and intra-State Department policy development and collaboration.
Motor recovery of the upper extremities in traumatic quadriplegia: a multicenter study.

Clinicians need to know recovery of neurologic function in the upper extremities after traumatic quadriplegia to prognosticate function in self-care, to determine the effectiveness of various interventions, and to develop a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. This study was undertaken to determine the extent of recovery of key muscles of the arms in motor complete quadriplegic subjects. The hypothesis stated that patients with some motor power (grades 1.0 to 2.5/5) in muscles in the zone of partial preservation would recover at an earlier time and to a greater extent than those with no motor power (grade 0/5). One hundred fifty subjects, C4, C5, and C6 motor complete, were entered in the study within one week of injury from four centers. Serial muscle examinations of the biceps, wrist extensors, and triceps on the right and left sides were performed up to 24 months after spinal cord injury. The pattern of recovery in the key muscles of the 67 subjects with some motor power in the zone of partial preservation to grade 3/5 was significantly greater than the 83 subjects with no motor power (68% to 82% vs 14% to 36%, p less than .001) at three to six months postinjury. The plateau of the median manual muscle test score determined the extent of recovery and reached grade 4/5 in subjects with some motor power at three to six months. The pattern of recovery revealed more subjects with some motor power improved to grade 3/5 at all intervals earlier than those with no motor power (p less than .005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
When the going gets tough: Grit predicts costly perseverance

In this research, we investigate how grittier individuals might incur some costs by persisting when they could move on. Grittier participants were found to be less willing to give up when failing even though they were likely to incur a cost for their persistence. First, grittier participants are more willing to risk failing to complete a task by persisting on individual items. Second, when they are losing, they expend more effort and persist longer in a game rather than quit. Gritty participants have more positive emotions and expectations toward the task, which mediates the relationship between grit and staying to persist when they are losing. Results show gritty individuals are more willing to risk suffering monetary loss to persist.
Chapter 3 Antidepressant Agents

Publisher Summary The major concerns in current anti-depression therapy are delayed onset of activity, less than ideal efficacy, the importance of proper patient selection, and biochemical predictors of treatment response and side effects. There are various obstacles. Urinary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels appear not to predict the treatment response. Platelet serotonin (5-HT) uptake does not show a circadian rhythm in delusional and nondelusional depressed patients unlike healthy subjects. Placebo responders are likely to be nonendogenous depressives and have a shorter length of illness with less severe symptomatology. The search has continued to identify new “second generation” monoamine uptake inhibitors and to identify selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A or B. The α2-adrenergic antagonists offer a new therapy for the treatment of depression, although the efficacy of these agents is yet to be studied conclusively in human. Data pertaining to the effects of depressive illness and treatment with anti-depressants on %-adrenergic receptors have been studied. Platelet α2-adrenoceptors appeared to be elevated in drug-free depressed patients and anti-depressant treatment returned these values to normal. A more rapid onset of anti-depressant effect and fewer adverse drug effects than existing therapeutic agents remain as the important hurdles for the newer agents undergoing clinical evaluation.
Chip power density and module cooling technology projections for the current decade

Several cooling technologies were examined with the intent of quantifying their cooling capabilities based on practical applications or constraints. Several air cooling concepts were examined: a heat sink attached to the module, a heat sink attached directly to the chip, and a heat pipe heat sink attached directly to the chip. Water cooling concepts were also examined: water cooled cold plate attached to a module and a bellows cooling concept that brings the water closer to the chip. And finally, liquid immersion cooling schemes were examined: Jet impingement, flow through a heat sink attached to the chip, and spray cooling. Both fluoroinerts cooling and water cooling were considered. Fluroinert cooling in general does not fair as well as water cooling. Water cooling by far has the greatest cooling extendibility, and when applied directly to the chip is the only technology considered in this study capable of handling heat fluxes in excess of 200 W/cm/sup 2/.
The electrochemical reduction of pertechnetate in aqueous hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate media

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of pertechnetate in aqueous hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP) media buffered at pH 7,5 and 3 was performed at a hanging, mercury drop electrode by fast linear seep voltammetry. The primary reduction of pertechnetate in HEDP was found to be an irreversible activation controlled process for which heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants were calculated. The measurement of peak current as a function of scan rate for the primary reduction of pertechnetate revealed a two-electron transfer at pH 7 and 5, and a three-electron transfer at pH 3 in this media. Isolation of the primary reduction by cyclic voltammetry enabled the observation of technetium, diphosphonate complex reactive intermediates. The electrochemical reduction of pertechnetate in aqueous phosphate media is reviewed and possible mechanisms for the reduction of pertechnetate in complexing media are discussed.
Molecular structure and mass spectrum of dicarbonylbis(tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)molybdenum

Abstract The crystal structure on dicarbonylbis(tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)molybdenum has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data collected by counter methods. The structure consists of monomeric units with each Mo atom bonded to two carbonyl and two Ph4C4 groups. Excluding phenyl substituents, the local symmetry about Mo is very nearly C2υ. Both cyclobutadiene (CBD) groups are asymmetrically bonded to Mo, and the spread in Mo—C(CBD) distances (2.26 to 2.38 A;) is significantly larger than that found with other structures containing substituted cyclobutadiene groups. The carbonyl groups show several short intramolecular C⋯C contacts with the cyclobutadiene C atoms (2.68 to 3.03 A;) and with each other (2.63 A;). They appear to be wedged between the Ph4C4 groups and to be responsible for the asymmetric bonding of the cyclobutadiene groups. The mass spectrum, which shows the characteristic fragmentation pattern of cyclobutadienemetal complexes, suggests a relatively high thermal stability for the title compound. Crystallographic data are as follows: space group P21/n; unit cell a 20.15(2), b 18.82(3), c 11.03(1) A;, β 91.59(6)°; V 4181 A;3; dcalc for Z = 4 is 1.380 and dobs is 1.365(7) g/cm3. A total of 1659 reflections with F2 ≥ 2σ were used to refine the structure to final values of RF = 0.063 and RwF = 0.041.
Communication Apprehension: Levels of First–Generation College Students at 2–Year Institutions

The study explored the oral communication apprehension (CA) levels of first-generation college students at a 2-year case study community institution. Overall and general-context CA were measured using the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension-24 (PRCA-24). The survey was sent by e-mail to 2,040 institutionally-identified first-generation 2-year college students. A total of 161 responses were received from students. In addition to taking the PRCA-24, students were asked to describe how they dealt with an apprehensive communication experience. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a thematic analysis. First-generation 2-year college students had a CA profile similar to reported levels for national norms. Further, students were shown to use a variety of ways to deal with their CA. Students used elements of communication-orientation motivation, intrapersonal communication, guided visualization, skills training, physical self-regulation, preparation, practice, humor, and a combination app...
Evaluation of three mediterranean forage legumes for biological nitrogen fixation

Abstract Continuous grain cropping in many areas of the world has reduced soil N levels to a degree such that agricultural production is now largely dependent upon nitrogen fertilizer. Through the identification of highly effective legume and Rhizobium strain combinations, however, increased production of protein‐rich livestock forage and green manure is possible. Three common Mediterranean legumes, Lupinus albus, Medicago truncatula, and Trifolium alexandrium were chosen to be tested for symbiotic N‐fixation ability with various available strains of Rhizobium. Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments were conducted for six weeks to evaluate shoot, root, and nodule dry weight, nodule number, nodule acetylene reduction activity, and total plant N. For L. albus, four single strains, 96A5, 96A19, 96B15, and 96B23, and one commercially available multiple strain ‘H’, produced acetylene reduction activity from 100 to 190 μmoles ethylene evolved/h/gdw of nodules. Since plant dry weights and total plant N values...
A quantitative and histological comparison of gus expression with different promoter constructs used in microprojectile bombardment of peanut leaf tissue

β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression driven with different promoter constructs was quantitatively and histologically compared in peanut leaf tissue following microprojectile bombardment. X-Gluc staining patterns varied with the construct used. Tissues bombarded with the pAC2GUS construct had larger foci and a greater percentage of area staining blue. pEmuGN exhibited the greatest numbers of blue spots compared to pAC2GUS and pTRA140. Histological evaluations of blue staining foci showed a diffusion gradient of blue precipitate from a central, prominently-staining cell outward to as many as seven cell layers. The intensity of X-gluc product in centrally-staining cells varied. Gold microprojectile particles were usually located within the three surface cell layers. Depending on the plasmid construct, 72–90% of the centrally-staining cells had at least one gold particle. However, the presence of GUS expression did not appear to require a microprojectile within the nucleus, which was observed in 37% or fewer of the centrally-staining cells. With the pAC2GUS construct, staining patterns varied with location within leaflets and had an “edge effect,” i.e., blue spots were frequently larger at the margin versus central regions. This enhanced activity could be anticipated with an actin promoter in the more mitotically active marginal leaf cells. Total GUS activity as determined by fluorometric analyses was correlated with the percentage of X-gluc stained area. The pAC2GUS construct exhibited the highest total GUS activity among the three constructs.
Increasing the Potential of Bioactive Glass as a Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering

Bioactive glass is known for its potential as a bone scaffold due to its ability to stimulate osteogenesis and differentiation of stem cells into bone cells. In an attempt to investigate if we can increase these potentials, we decorated the structure of the bioactive glass made by the sol-gel technique with 3 peptides sequences from different proteins known for their potentials to stimulate the osteogensis process (fibronectin, BMP-2 and protein kinase CKI). This material was tested with Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) and MC-3T3 preosteoblasts to see the difference in the effect on uncommitted and committed cells. The bioactive glass sol with and without the peptides was dip coated onto glass cover slips, leading to a film of the material, surface decorated with the peptides of choice. The two cell types were seeded onto the materials in standard proliferation medium without additives for differentiation induction. Cells were also grown on tissue culture treated cover slips with and without differentiation induction media as positive and negative controls, respectively. The cells were grown on the materials for a total of five weeks, and were tested at four time points (weekly from week two) by immunocytochemical assays to investigate the levels of different osteogenic markers (osteopontin, osteocalcin and osteonectin) and by qRT-PCR to investigate the mRNA potential of the same proteins. On the native bioactive glass samples, the hMSCs and the MC-3T3s adhered poorly. On peptide-decorated samples, the hMSC adhered poorly, however, the MC-3T3 cells appear to differentiate at a rate that is equal to or faster than the positive control, indicating that the peptide effect is similar to that achieved by traditional BMP-2 soluble protein techniques. This supports our hypothesis that adding specific peptide sequences known for their effects in cells adhesion, proliferation and differentiation can increase the potential of the bioactive glass as a scaffold for bone tissue engineering. The data, however, leads to some questions regarding the MC-3T3 cell model for use in further studies.
A role for myosin-1A in the localization of a brush border disaccharidase.

To gain insight regarding myosin-1A (M1A) function, we expressed a dominant negative fragment of this motor in the intestinal epithelial cell line, CACO-2BBE. Sucrase isomaltase (SI), a transmembrane disaccharidase found in microvillar lipid rafts, was missing from the brush border (BB) in cells expressing this fragment. Density gradient centrifugation, affinity purification, and immunopurification of detergent-resistant membranes isolated from CACO-2BBE cells and rat microvilli (MV) all indicate that M1A and SI reside on the same population of low density (∼1.12 g/ml) membranes. Chemical cross-linking of detergent-resistant membranes from rat MV indicates that SI and M1A may interact in a lipid raft complex. The functional significance of such a complex is highlighted by expression of the cytoplasmic domain of SI, which results in lower levels of M1A and a loss of SI from the BB. Together, these studies are the first to assign a specific role to M1A and suggest that this motor is involved in the retention of SI within the BB.
Quasi-invariance for the pinned Brownian motion on a Lie group

We give a new proof of the well-known fact that the pinned Wiener measure on a Lie group is quasi-invariant under right multiplication by finite energy paths. The main technique we use is the time reversal. This approach is different from what B. Driver used to prove quasi-invariance for the pinned Brownian motion on a compact Riemannian manifold.
Sexual dimorphism in the craniofacial growth of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).

Variation between the sexes during ontogeny is frequently overlooked in discussions of the phylogenetic patterns of adult sexual dimorphism. Different growth trajectories can produce identical degrees and direction of adult dimorphism and the possibility exists that similarities in adults may be the result of differing growth patterns, suggesting independent evolutionary pathways among species to the seemingly identical adult morphology. We quantified the sexual dimorphism in craniofacial skeletal growth of Cavia porcellus, the guinea pig, using longitudinally collected radiographs. Guinea pigs have male-biased sexual dimorphism in size and in growth parameters, despite literature reports to the contrary. These results, analyzed with equivalent data for five species of rodents, and two outgroups representing similarly sized mammals, a rabbit and a marsupial, indicate that some aspects of sexual differences in growth follow phylogenetic lines, while others are a function of whether the species has male- or female-biased dimorphism. J. Morphol. 259:172–181, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Automated three-dimensional signature model for assessing brain injury in emergent stroke

This presentation will focus on the value of established and newer MR methods that can be applied to the diagnosis and management of ischemic stroke with emphasis on future applications of MR to provide previously unmet needs of the treating clinician and clinical trials. Time alone is an inadequate indicator of the therapeutic window, especially when the time of stroke onset is uncertain. Thus, there is a need to predict the evolution of stroke in a way that more precisely and with greater resolution identifies the progression of cellular damage at the moment of investigation. This also would be of value for thrombolysis when knowledge of the degree and extent of tissue necrosis and the consequent potential for brain hemorrhage is of the utmost importance. To provide this, we perform postprocessing of diffusion-, T(1)- and T(2)-weighted images to produce the apparent diffusion coefficient of water, and T(1) and T(2) maps that are then further processed to provide maps and quantitation of the tissue signatures of ischemic histopathology. By these means, we can accomplish objective volumetric analysis of infarct size and of the proportions of potentially viable and salvageable tissue. We will show how this has the potential to predict long-term stroke outcome and facilitate decision-making in terms of safety of reperfusion strategies and the appropriateness of cytoprotective treatment. The value of our approach is to replace time as the therapeutic window and extend the opportunity of treatment to those patients presenting beyond the stringent time limits employed in current investigative clinical trials. Further, used as a surrogate marker of clinical outcome, this form of stroke analysis may speed proof of principle clinical trials in small numbers of stroke patients.
Life Strains, Alienation, and Drinking Behavior

This paper examines the effect on drinking behavior of chronic strains deriving from on-going work circumstances, and intermittent strains deriving from transitions imposed by life events: unemployment; economic strain; and stress experience (e.g., death in the family, serious illness, etc.). The respondent's personal resources for coping with these life strains are also examined by way of three measures of alienation: the sense of powerlessness, self-esteem, and social integration. The interaction of situational strains and individual alienation is a primary focus. Regression and covariance analyses, using a sample of some 500 male respondents, indicate that (1) unemployment in itself is of relatively little consequence, (2) powerlessness is the most consistent predictor of alcohol use and abuse, and (3) the combination of stress experience and high powerlessness typifies those who are most vulnerable to high drinking quantity and drinking problems.
PS1-22: A Systematic Review of Web-Based Cancer Prognostic Calculators: Can They Support Patient-Centered Communication with Cancer Patients?

Background/Aims Information about cancer prognosis is a main topic of interest for cancer patients and clinicians alike. Prognostic information can help with decisions about treatment, lessen patients’ uncertainty and empower them to participate in the decision making process. Calculating and communicating cancer prognostic information can be challenging due to the high complexity and probabilistic nature of the information. Furthermore, prognostic information is further complicated by the potential interplay between cancer and other comorbid medical conditions. The purpose of this presentation is to present findings from a systematic review of web-based interactive prognostic calculators and assess how they might support patient-centered communication of prognostic information with cancer patients.
Alteration of Neutrophil Function in BCG-Treated and Non-Treated Swine after Exposure to Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract Salmonella typhimurium infection in swine causes an enterocolitis followed by a persistent carrier state, but little is known about the mechanisms that allow this organism to colonize and persist in host tissues. Neutrophils provide a first line of defense against invading pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium . The purpose of this study was to evaluate porcine neutrophil function after in vivo exposure to Salmonella and to determine if the immunomodulator, bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), exerts any effect on neutrophil function or on the colonization and persistence of S. typhimurium in the pig. Compared to negative controls, neutrophils from pigs exposed to S. typhimurium exhibited significantly decreased iodination, cytochrome-C reduction, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, random migration, and chemotaxis ( P ≤0.05). Neutrophil bactericidal activity against S. typhimurium was significantly enhanced. Most of the significant differences were noted in the first two days after exposure to Salmonella . Often the functional alterations were biphasic, peaking again 7–10 days after exposure. BCG alone significantly depressed random migration and cytochrome-C reduction in unstimulated neutrophils. The clinical course, colonization pattern, and persistence of Salmonella were similar between pigs receiving BCG and untreated pigs. These data suggest that S. typhimurium infection causes a depression in oxidative metabolism and motility, yet an increase in overall bactericidal activity against S. typhimurium in circulating porcine neutrophils. It also appears that BCG treatment, as reported here, does not enhance resistance of pigs to S. typhimurium colonization or reduce the number of persistent organisms in the porcine ileum.
Effect of snuff extract on the replication and synthesis of viral DNA and proteins in cells infected with herpes simplex virus

Abstract The water-extractable component of snuff (snuff extract) inhibits the replication of herpes simplex virus (HSV) by suppressing the synthesis of viral DNA. This process probably causes HSV to be oncogenic. To further understand the mechanism of inhibitory action of snuff extract on HSV replication, the effect of snuff extract on the synthesis of viral DNA and proteins in type 1 HSV (HSV-1) infected cells was investigated. Snuff extract inhibited the synthesis of viral DNA and altered the production of certain classes of viral proteins. The syntheses of ICP4, a viral α-protein, and ICP8, a β-protein, were not generally reduced by noncytotoxic concentrations of snuff extract (where ICP = infected cell polypeptide). However, snuff extracts significantly inhibited the production of ICP gC (glycoprotein C), a γ 2 -protein, and the inhibition was in a concentration-dependent fashion: the higher the concentration of snuff extracts, the greater the inhibition. Based on the fact that the production of α- and β-proteins is absolutely necessary for and precedes the viral DNA synthesis and that viral γ 2 -proteins are mostly produced by the newly synthesized viral DNA, it is concluded that snuff extract inhibits HSV-1 DNA replication directly rather than indirectly via the alteration of viral protein synthesis.
The role of somatostatins in the regulation of metabolism in fish

Somatostatins (SS) are a structurally and functionally diverse family of peptide hormones. Somatostatins possess a wide variety of biological functions, including numerous secretotropic, developmental, and metabolic effects. Studies on fish have revealed considerable insight into the role of SS on the regulation of intermediary metabolism. Somatostatins promote both lipid and carbohydrate breakdown in fish and lamprey. Such actions are mediated by secretotropic effects of SS. For example, SS inhibit insulin (INS); insulin deficiency favors lipolysis and glycogenolysis over lipogenesis and glycogenesis. Somatostatins also directly stimulate the breakdown of stored triacylglycerols (TG) and glycogen in storage tissues. In addition, SS interact with the growth and reproductive axes of fish, findings that suggest SS serve to modulate energy partitioning among various growth, development and reproductive processes.