cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Next Generation Strategies for Geroprotection via mTORC1 Inhibition

Inhibition of mTORC1 (mechanistic Target Of Rapamycin Complex 1) with the pharmaceutical rapamycin prolongs the lifespan and healthspan of model organisms including rodents, with evidence now emerging that rapamycin and its analogs may also have rejuvenative effects in dogs and humans. However, the side effects associated with long-term rapamycin treatment, many of which are due to inhibition of a second mTOR complex, mTORC2, have seemed to preclude the routine use of rapamycin as a therapy for age-related diseases. Here, we discuss recent findings suggesting that strong, chronic inhibition of both mTOR complexes may not be necessary to realize the geroprotective effects of rapamycin. Instead, modestly but specifically inhibiting mTORC1 via a variety of emerging techniques, including intermittent or transient treatment with rapamycin derivatives, or specific dietary regimens, may be sufficient to promote health and longevity with reduced side effects. We will also discuss prospects for the development of new molecules that, by harnessing the detailed molecular understanding of mTORC1 signaling developed over the last decade, will provide new routes to the selective inhibition of mTORC1. We conclude that therapies based on the selective inhibition of mTORC1 may soon permit the safer treatment of diseases of aging.
miR-125a-5p Functions as Tumor Suppressor microRNA And Is a Marker of Locoregional Recurrence And Poor prognosis in Head And Neck Cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short single-stranded RNAs, measuring 21 to 23 nucleotides in length and regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through mRNA destabilization or repressing protein synthesis. Dysregulation of miRNAs can lead to tumorigenesis through changes in regulation of key cellular processes such as cell proliferation, cell survival, and apoptosis. miR-125a-5p has been implicated as a tumor suppressor miRNA in malignancies such as non-small cell lung cancer and colon cancer. However, the role of miR-125a-5p has not been fully investigated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We performed microRNA microarray profiling of HNSCC tumor samples obtained from a prospective clinical trial evaluating the role of postoperative radiotherapy in head and neck cancer. We also mined through The Cancer Genome Atlas to evaluate expression and survival data. Biological experiments, including cell proliferation, flow cytometry, cell migration and invasion, clonogenic survival, and fluorescent microscopy, were conducted using HN5 and UM-SCC-22B cell lines. miR-125a-5p downregulation was associated with recurrent disease in a panel of high-risk HNSCC and then confirmed poor survival associated with low expression in HNSCC via the Cancer Genome Atlas, suggesting that miR-125a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor miRNA. We then demonstrated that miR-125a-5p regulates cell proliferation through cell cycle regulation at the G1/S transition. We also show that miR-125a-5p can alter cell migration and modulate sensitivity to ionizing radiation. Finally, we identified putative mRNA targets of miR-125a-5p, including ERBB2, EIF4EBP1, and TXNRD1, which support the tumor suppressive mechanism of miR-125a-5p. Functional validation of ERBB2 suggests that miR-125a-5p affects cell proliferation and sensitivity to ionizing radiation, in part, through ERBB2. Our data suggests that miR-125a-5p acts as a tumor suppressor miRNA, has potential as a diagnostic tool and may be a potential therapeutic target for the management and treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Electrochemical and Spectral Probes of Metal/Ligand Orbital Mixing in Ru(NH3)4(bpy)2+ and Ru(NH3)4(phen)2+

An electrochemical variational method has been used to examine experimentally the extent of metal/ligand orbital mixing and electronic coupling in complexes of the type Ru{sup 11}(NH{sub 3}){sub 4}L{sup 2+} (L = 2,2{prime}-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline). From the experiments, strong localization of d{pi} electrons at the ruthenium metal center is indicated. Nevertheless, some mixing of d{pi}(Ru) and {pi}*(bpy; phen) is detected, implying a significant degree of delocalization (ca. 25%). These results differ substantially from those derived from metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) oscillator strength measurements. The latter indicate less than 2% delocalization. The difference is particularly surprising in view of the fact that both approaches derive from Mulliken charge-transfer theory and the two are employed at similar (but not identical) levels of approximation. The origin of the discrepancies is unclear, but may be related to the choice of charge-transfer distance which must necessarily be made in the optical analysis. Independent estimates of electronic delocalization, based on partial oxidation-state markers in vibrational Raman spectra, corroborate the electrochemical findings.
Melanoma Ex Blue Nevus With GNA11 Mutation and BAP1 Loss: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cutaneous melanomas may demonstrate a variety of histopathological features and genetic abnormalities. Melanomas that arise in the setting of blue nevi, also known as "malignant blue nevus" or melanoma ex blue nevus (MBN), share a similar histopathological and mutational profile with uveal melanoma. Most uveal melanomas show characteristic GNA11 or GNAQ mutations; additional BAP1 mutation or loss is associated with the highest risk of metastasis and worst prognosis. However, the significance of BAP1 loss in melanomas ex blue nevus remains unclear. We present a case of MBN arising from the scalp of a 21-year-old woman. The diagnosis was established on histopathological findings demonstrating a markedly atypical melanocytic proliferation with increased mitotic activity, necrosis, and a focus of angiolymphatic invasion. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the absence of BAP1 nuclear expression within tumor cells. Next generation sequencing detected GNA11 Q209L mutation and BAP1 loss (chromosome 3p region loss), supporting the diagnosis. We reviewed another 21 MBN cases with reported BAP1 status from the literature. MBN with BAP1 loss presented at a younger average age (41 vs. 61 years), demonstrated larger average lesion thickness (9.0 vs. 7.3 mm), and had a higher rate of metastasis (50% vs. 33%) compared with BAP1-retained MBN. BAP1 expression studies may assist in the diagnosis and management of MBN, but further research is needed.
Adjuvant and ablative therapies for low-risk UTUC: avenues to enhance kidney preservation.

Extirpative surgery for all patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) risks overtreatment and associated morbidity. Endoscopic approaches are particularly applicable for low-risk disease albeit with the potential for ipsilateral upper tract recurrence. Adjuvant and ablative intracavitary therapies are current and future strategies that could improve disease outcomes and increase adoption of kidney preservation for UTUC.
Imaging Techniques for Assessment of Dynamically Unstable Sports Related Foot and Ankle Injuries

Foot and ankle instability can be seen both in acute and chronic settings, and isolating the diagnosis can be difficult. Imaging can contribute to the clinical presentation not only by identifying abnormal morphology of various supporting soft tissue structures but also by providing referring clinicians with a sense of how functionally incompetent those structures are by utilizing weight-bearing images and with comparison to the contralateral side. Loading the affected joint and visualizing changes in alignment provide clinicians with information regarding the severity of the abnormality and, therefore, how it should be managed.
Are Renewable Energy Technologies Competitive

The electricity generation cost of a technology is often measured in terms of levelized cost of electricity or LCOE despite fundamental flaw is that it treats the intermittent and no-dispatchable renewable technologies equally with the fully dispatchable electricity generation technologies. The LCOE of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, has been rapidly falling over time as the capital costs that include not only the cost of equipment but also the entire installation of the plant is falling including balance of system (BoS) and soft costs. One would wonder why have the costs of renewable energy, particularly solar, falling down? A comparison of LCOE reported by various sources or studies is often misleading, and therefore such a comparison should be avoided. technologies. The objective of this article is to illustrate the levelized costs of electricity generation with the values of LCOE estimated from various sources. We also present the declining trends of renewable energy costs and try to explain the potential drivers of the decline. We also explain the factors that affect the LCOE and present renewable energy cost trends with the discussion of the potential drivers of the declining trend and how.
Gender Differences in Poverty and Household Composition Through the Life-Cycle: A Global Perspective

This paper uses household surveys from 89 countries to look at gender differences in poverty in the developing world. In the absence of individual-level poverty data, the paper looks at what can we learn in terms of gender differences by looking at the available individual and household level information. The estimates are based on the same surveys and welfare measures as official World Bank poverty estimates. The paper focuses on the relationship between age, sex and poverty. And finds that, girls and women of reproductive age are more likely to live in poor households (below the international poverty line) than boys and men. It finds that 122 women between the ages of 25 and 34 live in poor households for every 100 men of the same age group. The analysis also examines the household profiles of the poor, seeking to go beyond headship definitions. Using a demographic household composition shows that nuclear family households of two married adults and children account for 41 percent of poor households, and are the most frequent household where poor women are found. Using an economic household composition classification, households with a male earner, children and a non-income earner spouse are the most frequent among the poor at 36 percent, and the more frequent household where poor women live. For individuals, as well as for households, the presence of children increases the household likelihood to be poor, and this has a specific impact on women, but does not fully explain the observed female poverty penalty.
Tree mortality in western U.S. forests forecasted using forest inventory and Random Forest classification

Climate change is projected to significantly affect the vulnerability of forests across the western United States to wildfires, insects, disease, and droughts. Here, we provide recent mortality estimates for large trees for 53 species across 48 ecological sections using an analysis of 23,215 Forest Inventory plots and a Random Forest classification model. Models were also used to predict mortality in future FIA inventories under the RCP 4.5 emissions scenario. Model performance indicated species identity as the most important predictor of mortality under both current and future scenarios, with contributions from climate and soil variables. Our results show relatively high levels of recent mortality in the Middle and Southern Rocky Mountains driven by high mortality in Populus tremuloides, Pinus contorta, Pinus albicaulis, and Abies lasiocarpa. Low levels of mortality were observed in several species, with <1% annual mortality observed throughout all other sections. Future mortality was predicted to increase significantly for most species and correlated well with recent mortality at the species level, but not at the plot level. These results suggest that future attempts to model or predict widespread forest mortality would benefit from more research on vulnerable species and that significant mortality events in some species may not be important for dynamics across all systems.
Current trends in incidence, characteristics, and surgical management of metastatic breast cancer to the spine: A National Inpatient Sample analysis from 2005 to 2014.

Abstract Management of metastatic breast cancer to the spine (MBCS) incorporates a multimodal approach. Improvement in screening and nonsurgical therapies may alter the trends in surgical management of MBCS. The objective of this study is to assess trends in surgical management of MBCS and short-term outcomes based on the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. The NIS database was queried for patients with MBCS who underwent surgery from 2005 to 2014. The weighted frequencies of spinal decompression alone, spinal stabilization +/- decompression, and vertebral augmentation were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the effect of patient characteristics on outcomes stratified by procedure. The most common procedure performed was vertebral augmentation (11,114, 53.4%), followed by stabilization +/− decompression (6,906, 33.2%) and then decompression alone (3,312, 13.4%). The total population-adjusted rate of surgical management for MBCS remained stable, while the rate of spinal stabilization increased (P
ABAS-II and Work Skills and Attitudes

Publisher Summary Systematic and coordinated instruction is needed to facilitate the acquisition of work skills and attitudes. Young people and adults with disabilities, especially those with moderate to severe disabilities, often must be explicitly taught work skills and other personal qualities that are associated with work, including the acquisition of work-related social skills. Further, many such individuals require ongoing support to enable them to acquire the work-related skills and attitudes and to acquire and sustain continuous work. This chapter provides a broad theoretical context for understanding the importance of adaptive behavior and skills related to work skills and attitudes, qualities that can and should be assessed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative elements of work skills are those that are observable and measurable. The Work adaptive skill area in Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II provides a sampling of items related to work skills and attitudes. Work skills and attitudes are intricately interconnected and synergistic and should not be separated. Professionals are encouraged to obtain ABAS-II data from two or more respondents.
Abstract 14681: Uber Analysis of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test Variables and Mortality in Patients with Heart Failure: the Henry Ford HospITal CardioPulmonary EXercise Testing (FIT-CPX) Project

Introduction: Numerous metrics derived from the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) are associated with outcomes among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However few studies have examined the independent prognostic value of all variables assessed simultaneously. Purpose: Retrospective analysis to describe the relationship between all CPX measures and the composite outcome of mortality, left ventricular assist device (LVAD), or cardiac transplant (CT). Methods: Patients (n= 1,201; 33% female; age= 55 ± 13 y) with a CPX between 1997 and 2010 and confirmed HFrEF (ejection fraction [EF] < 40%) were identified. Death data through 2011 was obtained from the National Death Index. The association with the composite endpoint was evaluated separately for 30 CPX measures with adjustment for age, gender, EF, and beta-blocker therapy using Cox regression. Forward stepwise Cox regression was performed to identify which of the CPX variables contribute the most to outcome prediction. Results: During a median follow-up of 3.75 years there were 576 (48%) events. When tested separately, nearly all CPX variables (except heart rate reserve/metabolic reserve and peak respiratory exchange ratio) were associated (p<0.05) with the composite endpoint. The top 5 predictors are shown in the Table. Stepwise Cox regression revealed that only % predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2, Wald= 76.1), ventilatory power (peak systolic blood pressure/VE-VCO2 slope, Wald= 58.0), and EF (Wald= 27.0) independently predicted outcomes. Conclusion: When considering all variables measured during a CPX test, % predicted peak VO2 was the variable with the strongest independent association to outcomes in this cohort of patients with HFrEF. The % predicted peak VO2 may represent a key variable in determining when to consider a patient for an LVAD or CT. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Metabolism of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid. A new role for carnitine.

Abstract The fungus Fusarium oxysporum converts cyclopropanecarboxylic acid to γ-hydroxybutyric acid through the intermediate cyclopropanecarboxylate-X, a derivative of cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (Schiller, J. G., and Chung, A. E. (1970) J. Biol. Chem. 245, 5857). Inclusion of dl-carnitine in the incubation mixture of whole cells of the fungus with [1-14C]cyclopropanecarboxylic acid resulted in an increase in the amount of [1-14C]cyclopropanecarboxylate-X synthesized. Authentic [1-14C]cyclopropanecarboxylate dl-carnitine has the same retention volume on Sephadex G-10 and LH-20 chromatography as does cyclopropanecarboxylate-X. Both compounds behave similarly on thin layer chromatography in several solvent systems. Cyclopropanecarboxylate dl-carnitine is converted by cellfree extracts of the fungus to γ-hydroxybutyric acid as is cyclopropanecarboxylate-X. These results indicate that the intermediate cyclopropanecarboxylate-X is cyclopropanecarboxylate carnitine.
Transplacental effect of nitrosamines in Syrian hamsters. IV. Metabolites of dipropyl- and dibutylnitrosamine.

The present investigations showed that assumed and established metabolites of dipropylnitrosamine and dibutylnitrosamine reach the Syrian hamster fetus after subcutaneous (s.c.) treatment of their mothers (at day 14 of gestation). The compounds [2-hydroxypropylpropylnitrosamine, HPPN; 2-oxopropylpropylnitrosamine, OPPN; methylpropylnitrosamine, MPN; N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine, BHP; and 4-hydroxybutylbutylnitrosamine, HBBN] were still present in the examined tissue (maternal blood, placenta, fetus, amniotic fluid) 4–6 h after s.c. injection. The overall incidence of transplacentally induced tumors was lower in the F1- than in the P-generation and comparatively longer latencies were also observed in the F1-generation. However, in some groups low incidences were found of tumors which did not occur in the mothers (i.e., nasal cavities: BHP, HBBN; trachea: HBBN; lungs: HPPN, BHP, HBBN; liver: OPPN, MPN, BHP, HBBN). Compared to exposure at early gestation, the transplacental carcinogenic effect increased at day 14 of gestation. Neoplasms originating in other organs were not associated with a transplacental effect of the examined nitrosamines.
Batch-fabricated scanning micromirrors using localized plastic deformation of silicon

We have demonstrated batch-processed scanning micromirrors using self-aligned and localized plastic deformation of silicon such that the whole process is compatible with on-chip microelectronics. The micromirrors are made of single-crystal silicon and actuated by self-aligned vertical comb-sets at a resonant frequency of 4.13 kHz with optical scanning angles up to 50.9 degrees under driving voltages of 30 V/sub dc/ plus 14 V/sub PP/. After continuous operation of 6 billion cycles at the maximum scanning angle, there appears to be no observable degradation or fatigue of the plastically deformed silicon torsion bars. Novel designs for torsional springs to prevent the buckling problem due to the non-uniform thermal expansion by localized heating are also presented.
A Systematic Review of the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Adults With Intellectual Disability, 2003–2010

Research regarding the prevalence of psychiatric conditions co-occurring with intellectual disability in adults was reviewed. Particular attention was paid to the qualities of sampling and diagnostic methodology, which have been identified as needs in two recent reviews. Sixteen articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2003 and 2009 met inclusion criteria for this review. Overall prevalence rates for co-occurring psychiatric symptoms or disorders reported in these studies ranged from 13.9% to 75.2% with much of this variation due to differences in the diagnostic criteria utilized and the specific samples examined. Results indicated that although several studies have evidenced improvement in methodology, problems remain regarding sampling and general lack of consistency regarding diagnostic definitions and tools. Suggested directions for future research include expansion of geographic and cultural diversity in participants, increased use of population-based sampling, and improved concurrence re...
iEMS for large scale charging of electric vehicles: Architecture and optimal online scheduling

The problem of large scale charging of electric vehicles (EVs) is considered. An architecture for the energy management system (EMS) is proposed based on the concept of network switched charging where chargers are controlled by a scheduler that optimizes the overall operating profit of the service provider. It is assumed that the EMS has access to collocated renewable sources (e.g. solar power) and can supplement the renewable with purchased electricity from the grid. The renewable source may vary arbitrarily, and requests of all EVs accepted for service must be completed by their respective deadlines. Under a deterministic model for arbitrary arrivals, charging requests, and service deadlines, online scheduling of EV charging is formulated as a multi-processor deadline scheduling problem for which the optimal scheduler maximizes the competitive ratio against the best offline scheduler. An online scheduling algorithm, referred to as TAGS, is proposed based on the principle of threshold admission and greedy scheduling. TAGS has the complexity of O(n log n) where n is the number of EVs in the facility. It is shown that, when the price offered to the EV customers is higher than the purchasing price of electricity from the grid, TAGS achieves the competitive ratio of 1. Otherwise, TAGS achieves the maximum competitive ratio given by the inverse of a real root of a certain polynomial. Simulations are used to evaluate the performance of TAGS against standard benchmarks and for the setting of optimal charging price.
The Natural Product Domain Seeker NaPDoS: A Phylogeny Based Bioinformatic Tool to Classify Secondary Metabolite Gene Diversity

New bioinformatic tools are needed to analyze the growing volume of DNA sequence data. This is especially true in the case of secondary metabolite biosynthesis, where the highly repetitive nature of the associated genes creates major challenges for accurate sequence assembly and analysis. Here we introduce the web tool Natural Product Domain Seeker (NaPDoS), which provides an automated method to assess the secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene diversity and novelty of strains or environments. NaPDoS analyses are based on the phylogenetic relationships of sequence tags derived from polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes, respectively. The sequence tags correspond to PKS-derived ketosynthase domains and NRPS-derived condensation domains and are compared to an internal database of experimentally characterized biosynthetic genes. NaPDoS provides a rapid mechanism to extract and classify ketosynthase and condensation domains from PCR products, genomes, and metagenomic datasets. Close database matches provide a mechanism to infer the generalized structures of secondary metabolites while new phylogenetic lineages provide targets for the discovery of new enzyme architectures or mechanisms of secondary metabolite assembly. Here we outline the main features of NaPDoS and test it on four draft genome sequences and two metagenomic datasets. The results provide a rapid method to assess secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene diversity and richness in organisms or environments and a mechanism to identify genes that may be associated with uncharacterized biochemistry.
Effects of waste disposal on benthic faunal succession on the abyssal seafloor

Strategies to predict, and thus limit, potentially detrimental environmental impacts of abyssal disposal of wastes are severely limited by our lack of knowledge of deep-sea processes and lack of opportunity to directly study waste disposal in abyssal environments. Probable successional sequences following burial of benthic faunas by sewage sludge and dredged material on the abyssal seafloor are drawn by analogy with well-known processes in shallow-marine water. Scales of change and recovery of abyssal benthic faunas from episodic deposition of waste material are examined by extrapolation from what is currently known about turbidite sedimentary provinces, in particular, the Venezuela Abyssal Plain and the Great Meteor East area of the Madeira Abyssal Plain. Results suggest that initial benthic faunal recolonization would take place within years following episodic depositions of waste on the abyssal seafloor. Anoxic conditions or chemical inhibitory effects may delay initial benthic recolonization for hundreds of years. Establishment of equilibrium benthic faunal assemblages probably takes hundreds to potentially thousands of years. Potentially detrimental effects dictate that the surface areas of individual waste deposits should be minimized and the deposits should be isolated by capping with nontoxic materials or chemical barriers.
Plasma androstenedione and oestrone levels before and after the menopause. I. Glandular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium

Plasma androstenedione (A) levels and plasma oestrone (E1) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in a total of 135 healthy women (the control group), around the menopause. Both A and E1 plasma levels were found to drop significantly in the post-menopausal women (P <0.001). The mean plasma levels of A and El found in these healthy women were compared with the same plasma levels found in a total of 96 hospitalized women who were found to have various gynaecological disorders. Out of the total 96 patients, 29 were post-menopausal and had adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The mean plasma levels of A and E1 were not significantly different in comparison with the norm. The mean body weight of the tumour patients was slightly higher than the mean body weight of the healthy women. There were 25 other patients, around the menopause, who had glandular hyperplasia of the endometrium. The mean plasma levels of androstenedione found in these women were significantly higher than the mean levels found in the healthy group of women; both groups were similar in body weight. The oestrone levels found in these patients were within the normal range. The remaining 42 patients, around the menopause, were affected with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, without endometrial hyperplasia. The plasma androstenedione levels were within the normal range. Oestrone plasma levels were not measured in this group of women. This study investigates the possible differences found in the endocrine plasma levels of women with glandular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.
Deep zonal winds can result from shallow driving in a giant-planet atmosphere

A simple model shows that acceleration of Jupiter and Saturn's multiple jets at altitudes confined near the top of the adiabatic region (e.g., at a few bars pressure) can produce jets that penetrate deeply into the molecular envelope. This result disproves the common assertion that jet acceleration near the outer margin can only produce zonal winds that are confined to these outer layers.
Eat, drink, shop: constructing Sammi Cheng as global consumer

As the Hong Kong film industry struggles to regain its once prominent place in the global market, it turns increasingly to Cantopop stars to entice local audiences. Cantopop star and actress Sammi Cheng is one of the Hong Kong film industry's most bankable stars, leading a barrage of romantic comedies to box office success. Cheng's films, endorsements and fan discourse work together to brand her as a global consumer, yet her image maintains a local sensibility, embodying a key tension in arguments about globalisation as well as the contradictions of life in Hong Kong following the handover to China. This article argues that Cheng's celebrity is indicative of and perpetuates the gendered contradictions of global consumer culture, imploring young women to participate, but carefully policing their behaviour. Cheng serves as a model consumer for her young fans, yet her films often denigrate her consumption as excessively feminine and pathological. In four of her most popular films, Needing You (2000), Love on...
Influence of food and diet on gastrointestinal drug absorption: a review.

The literature concerning the influence of food, and also fluid volumes, on drug absorption is reviewed. In most cases, the absorption of drugs from the gastrointestinal tract is reduced or delayed by food. However, some drugs are unaffected by food, while the absorption of a small number of drugs is increased. Observed effects of food on drug absorption are the net result of various factors, including the influence of food on gastrointestinal physiology and also physicochemical interactions between drugs, drug dosage forms, and dietary components. The intensity of food-drug interactions may be influenced by the type of food and by the time interval between eating and drug administration. Large coadministered fluid volumes tend to promote drug absorption. The clinical significance of changes in drug bioavailability due to these factors is discussed.
Visible versus non-visible rejection: Consequences of appearance-based rejection sensitivity

Abstract Individuals with high Appearance-based Rejection Sensitivity (Appearance-RS) anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to rejection based on their physical appearance. In the present research, we hypothesized that high Appearance-RS individuals would show heightened emotional, cognitive, and motivational responses to an ambiguous experience of rejection, but only when their appearance was visible to others. Consistent with predictions, high Appearance-RS participants reported more negative affect and interpreted ambiguous appearance commentary (but not general commentary) more negatively following ambiguous rejection in a visible versus non-visible situation. Findings remained even after controlling for sex, self-esteem, and general rejection sensitivity. Appearance-RS did not differentially predict desire for future social interaction as a function of visible versus non-visible rejection. Implications for motivation and well-being are discussed.
Elevated temperature testing with the torsional split Hopkinson bar

The torsional split-Hopkinson-bar technique is modified for high-strain-rate testing at elevated temperatures by heating the specimen rapidly and keeping the rest of the apparatus at room temperature. Tests have been conducted with specimens made of several materials (Haynes-188, 1020 steel, and 1151 steel) at temperatures ranging from 650°C to 1060°C and strain rates on the order of 1000 s−1.
Efficient sharing (broadcasting) of multiple secrets

Instead of using the conventional m-out-of-n perfect secret sharing scheme to protect a single secret among n users, the authors propose a secret sharing scheme based on one cryptographic assumption to protect multiple secrets. It is shown that, with this relaxation of the security requirement, secret sharing and some related secret-sharing problems, such as cheater detection and secret broadcasting, can be solved very efficiently.
Doubly Robust Estimates for Binary Longitudinal Data Analysis with Missing Response and Missing Covariates

Longitudinal studies often feature incomplete response and covariate data. Likelihood-based methods such as the expectation–maximization algorithm give consistent estimators for model parameters when data are missing at random (MAR) provided that the response model and the missing covariate model are correctly specified; however, we do not need to specify the missing data mechanism. An alternative method is the weighted estimating equation, which gives consistent estimators if the missing data and response models are correctly specified; however, we do not need to specify the distribution of the covariates that have missing values. In this article, we develop a doubly robust estimation method for longitudinal data with missing response and missing covariate when data are MAR. This method is appealing in that it can provide consistent estimators if either the missing data model or the missing covariate model is correctly specified. Simulation studies demonstrate that this method performs well in a variety of situations.
The impact of nursing surveillance on failure to rescue

Greater amounts of nursing surveillance is thought to decrease failure to rescue but studies to date have used nurse staffing levels as a proxy for nursing surveillance. The purpose of this nursing effectiveness study was to examine the unique treatment effect of nursing surveillance on failure to rescue. Data were abstracted from 9 electronic clinical data repositories including the nursing documentation system that used the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) to record nursing care. Nursing surveillance was quantified as "high use" when the subjects received it an average of 12 times per day or more. Propensity scores were used to match subjects who had received high-dose nursing surveillance with subjects who received low-dose nursing surveillance (average of less than 12 times a day). The results indicate that when nursing surveillance is performed an average of 12 times a day or greater, there is a significant (p = .0058) decrease in the odds of experiencing failure to rescue (odds ratio [OR] = 0.52) compared to when surveillance was delivered an average of less than 12 times a day. Additional unique variables included in this study are robust levels of nurse staffing based on hourly data, medical treatments, pharmaceutical treatments, and nursing treatments. The use of propensity scores helped determine the unique contribution of nursing surveillance on failure to rescue in this observational study.
Carrier dynamics in In(Ga)As/Ga(Al)As self-organized quantum dots

Self-organized quantum dots are being incorporated in the active regions of interband lasers, modulators, and infrared detectors and sources. The unique hot-carrier relaxation rates in quantum dots play an important role in defining the device characteristics. We have conducted extensive theoretical and experimental studies of carrier dynamics in In(Ga)As/Ga(Al)As self-organized quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Experimental techniques used include small and large-signal modulation of lasers and femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy. It is found that the intersubband electron relaxation rates, which are strongly temperature dependent, are determined by electron-hole scattering in the dots. Theoretical calculations also show that electron-hole scattering is the dominant mechanism for the relaxation of hot carriers. It is also found that a phonon bottleneck exists in the dots for very weak excitations. The implications of these results on device performance will be discussed.
Patient adherence and persistence with oral anticancer treatment

Given the recent significant increase in the use of oral therapies in cancer management, an understanding of patients' adherence to and persistence with oral therapy is crucial. Nonadherence and early cessation may be substantial barriers to the delivery of valuable therapies, and may impair health. Potential obstacles to adherence and persistence include personal characteristics, treatment features, and system factors. Techniques for measuring adherence and persistence include self-report, pill counts, microelectronic monitoring systems (MEMS), prescription database analysis, and the assessment of serum or urine drug levels. This review article describes available data regarding adherence and persistence among patients with cancer, as well as studies of interventions to improve adherence. All reports of studies of adherence with oral cancer therapy that the authors could find on PubMed or in the reference sections of these PubMed-located articles were included. Adherence and persistence rates ranged from 16% to 100% with different therapies and different methods of measurement. Studies that included educational, behavioral, and multidimensional interventions to improve adherence were also described.
Validation of live animal ultrasonic measurements of body composition in market lambs.

Market lambs from the state fair of Virginia (n = 172) were ultrasonically evaluated by 4 scan technicians and 3 image interpreters to determine accuracy of ultrasonic estimates of loin muscle area (ULMA), backfat thickness (UBF), and body wall thickness (UBW). Lambs were initially scanned at the preferred magnification setting of each technician; 2 chose 1.5x and 2 chose 2.0 x . Lambs were then scanned a second time for ULMA and UBF with machine magnification settings changed from 1.5 to 2.0 ×, or vice versa, midway through the second scan. Lambs were then slaughtered, and analogous measurements [carcass loin muscle area, carcass backfat thickness, and carcass body wall thickness (CBW)] were recorded on chilled carcasses. Pooled, residual correlation coefficients within technicians and interpreters between ultrasonic measurements from the first scan and carcass measurements were 0.66 for loin muscle area, 0.78 for backfat thickness, and 0.73 for body wall thickness, but were reduced to 0.43, 0.69, and 0.50, respectively, by inclusion of linear effects of carcass weight in the model. Mean bias for technicians and interpreters ranged from -1.30 to -2.66 cm 2 for loin muscle area, -0.12 to -0.17 cm for backfat thickness, and 0.14 to -0.03 cm for body wall thickness; prediction errors ranged from 1.86 to 2.22 cm 2 , 0.12 to 0.14 cm, and 0.35 to 0.38 cm, respectively. Pooled correlations between repeated measures were 0.67 for ULMA, 0.79 for UBF, and 0.68 for UBW at the same magnification and 0.73 for ULMA and 0.76 for UBF across different magnification settings. Mean differences between repeated measures were more variable among technicians and interpreters than statistics comparing ultrasound to carcass measures. Standard errors of repeatability ranged from 1.61 to 2.45 cm 2 for ULMA, 0.07 to 0.11 cm for UBF, and 0.36 to 0.42 cm for UBW. The effect of changing magnification setting on technician and interpreter repeatability was small for UBF and ULMA. The accuracy of prediction of CBW from UBW was similar to that achieved for backfat thickness; further assessment of the value of ultrasonic measurements of body wall thickness in lambs is warranted. These results indicate that ultrasound scanning can reliably predict carcass loin muscle area and backfat thickness in live lambs and, accordingly, has value in selection programs to improve composition. Development of certification standards for US lamb ultrasound technicians based on results of this study and others is proposed.
Bortezomib Induces Apoptosis of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-Transformed B Cells and Prolongs Survival of Mice Inoculated with EBV-Transformed B Cells

Bortezomib, an inhibitor of the 26S proteasome, is currently approved for treatment of multiple myeloma and is being studied for therapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We found that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive B cells with type III latency were more susceptible to killing by bortezomib than those with type I latency. Bortezomib induced apoptosis of EBV lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) by inducing cleavage of caspases 8 and 9; apoptosis was inhibited by pretreatment with a pan-caspase inhibitor. Bortezomib reduced the levels of the p50 and p65 components of the canonical NF-kappaB pathway and reduced the level of p52 in the noncanonical NF-kappaB pathway, which is induced by EBV LMP1. Bortezomib inhibited expression of cIAP-1, cIAP-2, and XIAP, which are regulated by NF-kappaB and function as inhibitors of apoptosis. Bortezomib did not inhibit expression of several other antiapoptotic proteins, including Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL. Finally, bortezomib significantly prolonged the survival of severe combined immunodeficiency mice inoculated with LCLs. These findings suggest that bortezomib may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of certain EBV-associated lymphomas.
Substituent dependent dimensionalities in cobalt isophthalate supramolecular complexes and coordination polymers containing dipyridylamine ligands

Abstract Hydrothermal synthesis has afforded cobalt 5-substituted isophthalate complexes with 4,4′-dipyridylamine (dpa) ligands, showing different dimensionalities depending on the steric bulk and hydrogen-bonding facility of the substituent. [Co(tBuip)(dpa)(H2O)]n (1, tBuip = 5-tert-butylisophthalate) is a (4,4) grid two-dimensional coordination polymer featuring 2-fold parallel interpenetration. [Co(MeOip)2(Hdpa)2] (2, MeOip = 5-methoxyisophthalate) is organized into 3-fold parallel interpenetrated (4,4) grids through strong N–H+⋯O− hydrogen bonding. {([Co(OHip)(dpa)(H2O)3])3·2H2O}n (3, OHip = 5-hydroxyisophthalate) possesses 1-D chain motifs. The 5-methyl derivative {[Co(mip)(dpa)]·3H2O}n (4, mip = 5-methylisophthalate) has a 3-D 658 cds topology. {[Co(H2O)4(Hdpa)2](nip)2·2H2O} (5, nip = 5-nitroisophthalate) and {[Co(sip)(Hdpa)(H2O)4]·2H2O} (6, sip = 5-sulfoisophthalate) are coordination complexes. Antiferromagnetic superexchange is observed in 1 and 4, with concomitant zero-field splitting. Thermal decomposition behavior of the higher dimensionality complexes is also discussed.
Malignant neoplasms and the Leser-Trélat sign.

The Leser-Trelat sign is characterized by the sudden appearance and rapid increase in both the size and number of seborrheic keratoses. This paraneoplastic syndrome is most frequently associated with adenocarcinoma (67%), with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract being the most common primary tumor site (72%). However, in 22% of cases, the syndrome has been associated with lymphoproliferative malignant neoplasms. We describe herein a patient with the Leser-Trelat sign who had a lymphocytic lymphoma and later was found to have an adenocarcinoma of the large bowel. Report of a Case An obese, 59-year-old woman had a recent history of easy fatigability and malaise. Two months before, she had noticed the sudden appearance of many "warts" on her face and neck. On physical examination, multiple, 2- to 6-mm, seborrheic keratoses and numerous pigmented filariform papillomas were present on the neck and malar regions (Figure). Examination of the abdomen disclosed moderate hepatosplenomegaly. Findings from
Preoperative assessment and premedication in paediatrics

Preoperative assessment and premedication represent important preparatory steps to ensuring a smooth and effective induction of anaesthesia. A thorough review of the child's medical history, previous anaesthetics, medications, allergies and family history is essential to design the optimal anaesthetic for the child and his/her surgery. Risks must be addressed with the parents as appropriate based on the local standards. Preoperative anxiolysis may assume several strategies, with premedication with a pharmacologic agent very common and most successful. This review focuses on the preoperative assessment and premedication for children undergoing elective surgery.
Structural arrangement of lens fiber cell plasma membrane protein MP20

Abstract The membrane topology of the bovine lens fiber cell plasma membrane protein MP20 has been examined using anti-peptide antibodies and the hydrophobic label 3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-( m -[ 125 I]iodophenyl)diazerine ([ 125 I]TID). The specificity of the affinity-purified anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies, directed against four separate hydrophilic segments of MP20, was established by immunodot blots, Western immunoblotting and ELISA. Western immunodetection of protease-treated, urea-washed lens membranes indicated that each of the segments of MP20 identified by the anti-peptide antibodies was accessible to proteases indicating their likely extramembranous location. Immunoelectron microscopy of junctional lens membrane immunolabeled with MP20 anti-peptide antibodies directed against two segments predicted to be on the extra-cellular face of the lens fiber cell plasma membrane suggests these segments may actually be located on the cytoplasmic plasma membrane face. Transmembrane segments of MP20, identified using the hydrophotic photo-affinity label [ 125 I]TID, were isolated and sequenced. Only three of the four previously proposed transmembrane segments of this protein were significantly labeled with this reagent. Based on these results and previously reported information regarding MP20, a new topological model is proposed for the arrangement of MP20 in the lens fiber cell plasma membrane. The new topological model of MP20 includes two α-helical and two β-strand transmembrane segments.
Effects of sinus gland extract on mandibular organ size and methyl farnesoate synthesis in the crawfish.

Abstract Eyestalk inhibition of farnesoic acid O -methyl transferase, which mediates the final step of methyl farnesoate synthesis in the mandibular organ of the crawfish Procambarus clarkii , was evaluated. Eyestalk removal caused a 20–100-fold increase in methyl transferase activity 8–12 days following surgery. The surge in activity following eyestalk removal in males was approximately 4 days ahead of that of the females. This was accompanied by a three-fold increase in mandibular organ protein content. Methyl transferase inhibition was accomplished in vitro after only a 15-min exposure to sinus gland extract. The inhibition obtained by injecting animals in vivo was noticeably attenuated 6 h following injection. The contrast of the short-lived inhibition with the growth and prolonged increase following eyestalk removal suggests that the eyestalk exerts both chronic and acute effects on the mandibular organ.
Identification of glutathione modifications by cigarette smoke

Abstract Although it has been recognized for decades that cigarette smoke (CS) is toxic to respiratory tract tissues, and that glutathione (GSH) and other thiols are able to ameliorate some of the adverse effects of CS, the precise interactions between thiols and critical CS components are only partially characterized. In the present study, we used HPLC and MALDI-MS approaches to more rigorously characterize the products of CS reactions with GSH, the major cellular thiol and an important antioxidant constituent in respiratory tract lining fluids, in an attempt to increase our understanding of mechanisms of CS respiratory tract toxicity. Exposure of solutions of GSH to gas phase CS resulted in its rapid depletion, and about 50% of this depletion could be accounted for by reaction with acrolein and crotonaldehyde, the two major α, β-unsaturated aldehydes in CS. Similar aldehyde adducts with GSH could also be detected in cells exposed to CS, although the relative yields were limited, presumably because of further reactions of these adducts and/or their excretion. Further characterization of in vivo thiol-aldehyde formation in respiratory tract cells can be expected to provide significant insights into the mechanisms of CS toxicity.
Transient expression of pentameric IgM on the surface of NZB B cells

Abstract In contrast to normal B lymphocytes, splenic B cells from autoimmune NZB mice express on their surface greater amounts of IgM than IgD. We have found that the predominant μ chain species present on these cells is derived from pentameric secretory IgM which can be radioiodinated during transient association with the cell membrane. If the contribution from 19S IgM is discounted, then the surface IgM:IgD ratio of NZB mice is only moderately higher than that of B cells from normal strains.