cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crime News and Racialized Beliefs: Understanding the Relationship Between Local News Viewing and Perceptions of African Americans and Crime

A survey of Los Angeles County adults was undertaken to determine whether exposure to the overrepresentation of Blacks as criminals on local news programs, attention to crime news, and news trust predicted perceptions of Blacks and crime. After controlling for a number of factors including the diversity of respondents’ neighborhood and neighborhood crime rate, attention to crime news was positively related to concern about crime. In addition, attention to crime news was positively associated with harsher culpability ratings of a hypothetical race-unidentified suspect and a Black suspect but not a White suspect. Finally, heavier consumption of Blacks’ overrepresentation as criminals on local television news was positively related to the perception of Blacks as violent. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in light of chronic activation and accessibility of stereotypical constructs.
The Neurogenetics of Nice: Receptor Genes for Oxytocin and Vasopressin Interact With Threat to Predict Prosocial Behavior

Oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor genes influence prosocial behavior in the laboratory and in the context of close relationships. These peptides may also promote social engagement following threat. However, the scope of their prosocial effects is unknown. We examined oxytocin receptor (OXTR) polymorphism rs53576, as well as vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) polymorphisms rs1 and rs3 in a national sample of U.S. residents (n = 348). These polymorphisms interacted with perceived threat to predict engagement in volunteer work or charitable activities and commitment to civic duty. Specifically, greater perceived threat predicted engagement in fewer charitable activities for individuals with A/A and A/G genotypes of OXTR rs53576, but not for G/G individuals. Similarly, greater perceived threat predicted lower commitment to civic duty for individuals with one or two short alleles for AVPR1a rs1, but not for individuals with only long alleles. Oxytocin, vasopressin, and their receptor genes may significantly influence prosocial behavior and may lie at the core of the caregiving behavioral system.
Incoherence and Irrationality

Summary To judge a belief, emotion, or action irrational is to make a normative judgment. Can such judgments be objective? It is argued that in an important class of cases they can be. The cases are those in which a person has a set of attitudes which are inconsistent by his or her own standards, and those standards are constitutive of the attitudes. Constitutive standards are standards with which an agents' attitudes and intentional actions must generally accord if judgments of irrationality are to be intelligible. Resume Juger irrationnelles une croyance, une emotion ou une action, c'est faire un jugement normatif. De tels jugements peuvent-ils ětre objectifs? On montre qu'ils peuvent l'ětre dans une classe importante de cas: ceux ou une personne a un ensemble d'attitudes qui sont inconsistantes avec ses propres normes, ces normes etant constitutives des attitudes considerees. Les normes constitutives sont des normes avec lesquelles les attitudes et les actions intentionnelles des agents doivent s'accorder pour que les jugements d'irrationalite deviennent intelligibles. Zusammenfassung Wenn wir einen Glauben, eine Emotion oder eine Handlung als irrational beurteilen, so fallen wir ein normatives Urteil. Kann ein solches objektiv sein? Es wird argumentiert, dass dies fur eine wichtige Klasse von Fallen zutrifft. Die Falle sind diejenigen, in welchen eine Person eine Menge von Haltungen hat, die nach ihren eigenen Massstaben unvereinbar sind, und wo diese Massstabe fur die Haltungen konstitutiv sind. Konstitutive Massstabe sind solche, mit denen die Haltungen und absichtlichen Handlungen des Handelnden im allgemeinen ubereinstimmen mussen, wenn Urteile uber Irrationalitat verstandlich sein sollen.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Androgen Deficiency in Human Immunodeficiency Virus—Infected Men and Women

Androgen deficiency is a common endocrine abnormality among men and women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Low testosterone concentrations are associated with lower CD4 cell count, advanced stage of illness, medication use, and weight loss. Signs and symptoms may be nonspecific. The most useful laboratory indicator is the serum bioavailable (free) testosterone concentration. A number of different testosterone preparations for treatment of androgen deficiency in HIV-infected men now exist. Administration of im testosterone significantly increases weight and lean body mass, energy, quality of life, and depression scores in HIV-infected men with low testosterone levels. Newer transdermal and gel preparations provide more-consistent steady-state dosing but are not as well tested, and sufficient testosterone concentrations may not be achieved with their use. Androgen deficiency is also common among HIV-infected women. Preliminary studies suggest that use of physiological testosterone administration, to achieve testosterone levels within the normal range, is of benefit in HIV-infected women, but further studies are necessary to define the therapeutic role of androgen therapy in this population.
Simulating and evaluating best management practices for integrated landscape management scenarios in biofuel feedstock production

Sound crop and land management strategies can maintain land productivity and improve the environmental sustainability of agricultural crop and feedstock production. This study evaluates a strategy of incorporating landscape design and management concepts into bioenergy feedstock production. It examines the effect of land conversion and agricultural best management practices (BMPs) on water quality (nutrients and suspended sediments) and hydrology. The strategy was applied to the watershed of the South Fork Iowa River in Iowa, where the focus was on converting low-productivity land to provide cellulosic biomass and implementing riparian buffers. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was employed to simulate the impact at watershed and sub-basin scales. The study compared the representation of buffers by using trapping efficiency and area ratio methods in SWAT. Landscape design and management scenarios were developed to quantify water quality under (i) current land use, (ii) partial land conversion to switchgrass, and (iii) riparian buffer implementation. Results show that implementation of vegetative barriers and riparian buffer can trap the loss of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and sediment significantly. The effect increases with the increase of buffer area coverage. Implementing riparian buffer at 30 m width is able to produce 4 million liters of biofuels. When low-productivity land (15.2% of total watershed land area) is converted to grow switchgrass, suspended sediment, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and nitrate loadings are reduced by 69.3%, 55.5%, 46.1%, and 13.4%, respectively. Results highlight the significant role of lower-productivity land and buffers in cellulosic biomass and provide insights into the design of an integrated landscape with a conservation buffer for future bioenergy feedstock production. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Serum free light chains, interferon-alpha, and interleukins in systemic lupus erythematosus

ObjectiveInterleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-alpha (IFN-α), and free light chains (FLCs: lambda, kappa) have all been noted to be of importance in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we quantified and explored the relationship between these inflammatory mediators and disease activity in SLE; and stratified by their current anti-dsDNA antibody status.MethodsSeventy-seven SLE patients underwent assessment of disease activity using the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI). Serum FLC (lambda, kappa, and total), IL-6, IL-10, and IFN-α were quantified. Demographics of disease characteristics were determined by chart reviews. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney test, chi square, and linear regression analyses.ResultsMean (SD) age of the patients was 44.9 ± 12.7 years; SLEDAI (mean ± SD) was 3.4 ± 4.0. Serum lambda FLC levels had a moderate correlation (r = 0.46 with physician global assessment, 0.44 with SLEDAI) and the strongest correlation with disease activity as compared wi...
Operating Characteristics in Photoelectric Tubes

This paper gives a discussion of the characteristics of photoelectric tubes which are important in the engineering applications of such tubes. Definitions of photometric terms are given together with the introduction of a few special terms essential to photoelectric tube work. Curves are given showing both the static and dynamic characteristics of a typical tube. A simple mathematical analysis is given of the elementary photoelectric tube circiuit. An appendix of photometric formula. and conversion factors is provided.
Incidence of TCR and TCL1 gene translocations and isochromosome 7q in peripheral T-cell lymphomas using fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Translocations involved TCRA in 2.9% of cases and TCRB in 1.1%. Isochromosome 7q was detected in 2 cases of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, and 2 cases of ALK-negative ALCL. One of the latter cases also had a translocation of TCRA, and further studies confirm a novel t(5;14) translocation.
Alternating Host Cell Tropism Shapes the Persistence, Evolution and Coexistence of Epstein–Barr Virus Infections in Human

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infects and can persist in a majority of people worldwide. Within an infected host, EBV targets two major cell types, B cells and epithelial cells, and viruses emerging from one cell type preferentially infect the other. We use mathematical models to understand why EBV infects epithelial cells when B cells serve as a stable refuge for the virus and how switching between infecting each cell type affects virus persistence and shedding. We propose a mathematical model to describe the regulation of EBV infection within a host. This model is used to study the effects of parameter values on optimal viral strategies for transmission, persistence, and intrahost competition. Most often, the optimal strategy to maximize transmission is for viruses to infect epithelial cells, but the optimal strategy for maximizing intrahost competition is for viruses to mainly infect B cells. Applying the results of the within-host model, we derive a model of EBV dynamics in a homogeneous population of hosts that includes superinfection. We use this model to study the conditions necessary for invasion and coexistence of various viral strategies at the population level. When the importance of intrahost competition is weak, we show that coexistence of different strategies is possible.
Clinical Predictors of Accurate Prehospital Stroke Recognition

Background and Purpose—Prehospital activation of in-hospital stroke response hastens treatment but depends on accurate emergency medical services (EMS) stroke recognition. We sought to measure EMS stroke recognition accuracy and identify clinical factors associated with correct stroke identification. Methods—Using EMS and hospital records, we assembled a cohort of EMS-transported suspect, confirmed, or missed ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack cases. The sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) for EMS stroke recognition were calculated using the hospital discharge diagnosis as the gold standard. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine the association between Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale use and EMS stroke recognition. Results—During a 12-month period, 441 EMS-transported patients were enrolled; of which, 371 (84.1%) were EMS-suspected strokes and 70 (15.9%) were EMS-missed strokes. Overall, 264 cases (59.9%) were confirmed as either ischemic stroke (n=186) ...
Optimal control of systems with delayed observation sharing patterns

We present an input-output point of view of certain optimal control problems with constraints on the processing of the measurement data. In particular, considering linear controllers and plant dynamics, we present solutions to the l/sup 1/, /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// and /spl Hscr//sup 2/ optimal control problems under the so-called one-step delay observation sharing pattern. Extensions to other decentralized structures are also possible under certain conditions on the plant. The main message from this unified input-output approach is that, structural constraints on the controller appear as linear constraints of the same type on the Youla parameter that parametrizes all controllers, as long as the part of the plant that relates controls to measurements possesses the same off diagonal structure required in the controller. Under this condition, l/sup 1/, /spl Hscr//sup /spl infin// and /spl Hscr//sup 2/ optimization transform to nonstandard, yet convex problems. Their solution can be obtained by suitably utilizing the duality, Nehari and projection theorems respectively.
ProteomeWeb: a web-based interface for the display and interrogation of proteomes.

The analysis of proteomes, i.e., the proteins expressed by biological organisms under a given set of conditions at a given time, requires separating complex protein mixtures into discrete protein components, measuring their relative abundances, and identifying the individual protein components. Many types of data are generated during the course of proteome analysis, including graphic images of the protein profiles, flat files containing numeric data, spreadsheets for assimilating numeric data, and relational database tables for integrating data from multiple experiments. As part of a project to describe the proteomes of microbes of interest to the U.S. Department of Energy, a World-Wide Web-based interface has been developed for the display of protein profiles generated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The web interface is capable of obtaining protein identifications on the fly, interrogating the quantitative data in the context of available genome sequence information, and relating the proteome data to existing metabolic pathway databases. Analysis of protein expression profiles is expedited, providing the capability to efficiently determine the gene locations for proteins modulated in abundance in response to different growth conditions and to locate the positions of the proteins within specific metabolic pathways. The proteome of the archaeon Methanococcus jannaschii, a microbe for which the complete genome sequence is available, is used to demonstrate the capabilities of this evolving web interface (http://proteomeweb.anl.gov).
Corruption, Investment and Economic Growth: Theory and International Evidence

This paper analyzes the real effects of corruption on a firm’s production function. Using an augmented-Solow Growth model, with multifactor productivity as a function of corruption, a closed-form solution is derived for real GDP per capita, economic growth and physical capital per capita, at steady-state. With the a priori assumption of a negative relationship between corruption and multifactor productivity, it is shown that corruption negates a society’s standard of living, economic growth and investment level. OLS results of the closed-form solutions not only support this theoretical finding for a full cross-section of countries, but they also reveal that corruption may have a positive concave effect on economic variables for the OECD sample. Nonlinear least squares estimates of the elasticities of physical and human capital, with the inclusion of the corruption index, confirm that the productivity of inputs is impacted.
Repair of Anomalous Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery by Aortic Implantation

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), a rare congenital cardiac lesion, is an important cause of myocardial ischemia and infarction in children, and carries a high mortality in the first year of life. In the current era, repair of ALCAPA is most commonly performed by aortic implantation. Coronary elongation techniques are available for cases where the ectopic coronary artery originates at point in the pulmonary artery that is distant from the aortic root. In cases where clinically significant mitral regurgitation (MR) is present mitral valve repair is usually not performed. The early outcomes for aortic implantation of ALCAPA are excellent in the current era, with survival rates exceeding 90%. A small number of children, those who present with cardiogenic shock and very poor ventricular function, may require post-repair mechanical circulatory support using ECMO or LVAD and still have high survival rates and expect good long-term recovery. Following repair of ALCAPA by aortic implantation, ventricular functional parameters such as depressed ejection fraction, ventricular dilation and MR should recover within 8 months of repair.
Non-viral therapeutic approaches to ocular diseases: An overview and future directions

Currently there are no viable treatment options for patients with debilitating inherited retinal degeneration. The vast variability in disease-inducing mutations and resulting phenotypes has hampered the development of therapeutic interventions. Gene therapy is a logical approach, and recent work has focused on ways to optimize vector design and packaging to promote optimized expression and phenotypic rescue after intraocular delivery. In this review, we discuss ongoing ocular clinical trials, which currently use viral gene delivery, but focus primarily on new advancements in optimizing the efficacy of non-viral gene delivery for ocular diseases. Non-viral delivery systems are highly customizable, allowing functionalization to improve cellular and nuclear uptake, bypassing cellular degradative machinery, and improving gene expression in the nucleus. Non-viral vectors often yield transgene expression levels lower than viral counterparts, however their favorable safety/immune profiles and large DNA capacity (critical for the delivery of large ocular disease genes) make their further development a research priority. Recent work on particle coating and vector engineering presents exciting ways to overcome limitations of transient/low gene expression levels, but also highlights the fact that further refinements are needed before use in the clinic.
Modelling a learner's affective state in real time to improve intelligent tutoring effectiveness

ABSTRACTThis paper introduces, describes, and evaluates real-time models of affective states of individual learners interacting with Intelligent Tutoring Systems. Computer-based instructors, like human instructors, should use affective information for adapting instruction. This requires an accurate representation of individual learner state during tutoring; however, models described in the literature are generalised and constructed offline. Such total population models have faced validation difficulty with individuals, while individualised models have had difficulties with offline creation and online use. The simultaneous creation and utilisation of an individualised model from sensor-based physiological measurements presents an attractive alternative. We present and evaluate approaches for building affective models during the tutoring session which address the difficulties present in real-time data streams. Additionally, this work examines the impact of occasional direct user query on model quality. The ...
An Epidemic Model of Mass Killing and Public Support in Civil War

If civil war is a contest for popular support, why would a government ever embark on a policy of disproportionate force and mass killing? The logic of civilian defection expects such an approach to easily backfire, as civilians respond to massive losses by opposing the side that inflicted them. Yet even if civilians balance against the side they believe most likely to kill them, massive violence can still occur and – when it does – is sometimes seen as a key source of success. Using an epidemic model of popular support dynamics, this paper derives a set of conditions under which mass killing can occur in civil war. Such conditions emerge when combatants have imperfect information about civilian defection, when learning is slow, or when one side initially enjoys an asymmetric advantage in levels of active support or flows of recruits.
IDEALS IN PARTIALLY ORDERED SETS

is. The study of partially ordered sets is a kind of abstract mathematics of the most general sort, compared with the theory of algebraic integers which gave rise to ideal theory. I should like to say a few words about the distinction which is often made between abstract mathematics and the other kind, which may be called classical mathematics. Classical mathematics is based on the real number system, or equivalently on the system of positive integers or on the complex number system. Abstract mathematics is based on set theory. It studies the consequences of quite arbitrary postulate systems. From the point of view of the abstract mathematician, the real number system is a particular ordered field, or a particular locally compact topological ring; in other words, one of a class of similar abstract systems, and not necessarily more interesting than the others. From this same point of view, classical mathematics is a special case of a more general abstract theory. Actually, all mathematics is equally abstract. The real number system is no more concrete than, say, the theory of groups. Neither deals with the physical universe. To be sure, classical mathematics has seemed to be the kind most useful in applications to the sciences. However, perhaps this is an illusion, due to the time lag between the development of a theory and its application. The classical mathematics of the last century is being applied now. The abstract mathematics now being developed may turn out to be just as useful in the next century. Perhaps it will be found that you can kill just as many people just as efficiently using the theory of quasi-groups or p-adic fields as you can with the real number system. Of course many mathematicians will disagree with this view. But it is true now, just as it has been found to be true in the past, that mathematical results arrived at with no thought of their possible use are being applied to situations not imagined by their originators.
Effect of nitrogen mustard on nephrotoxic nephritis in rats.

Conclusions1. Pretreatment with nitrogen mustards failed to protect rats injected with nephrotoxic serum against the development of acute or chronic nephritis but did appear to modify certain early manifestations of the disease. 2. No consistent effect on the proteinuria of rats with chronic nephritis was produced by the administration of nitrogen mustards.
Contribution on the carcinogenic effect of dibenzopyrenes

Nach Synthese und/order sorgfaltiger Reinigung wurden neun hexacyclische Verbindungen im Pinselungstest im Vergleich zu Benzo(a)-pyren an der Maus auf ihre krebserzeugende und Tumor-Initiatowirkung gepruft. Es ergaben sich folgende Reihen der Aktivitaten: Als Vollcarcinogen sind Benzo(a) pyren (X) stark aktiv; dibenzo(a, h)pyren (IV), Dibenzo(a, l)pyren(I), und Dibenzo(a, i)pyren (V) aktiv; Dibenzo(a, e)pyren (II) und Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyren (IX) schwach aktiv und Dibenzo(a, l)pyren (III), Dibenzo (cd-jk)pyren (VI), Benzo(ghi)perylen (VII) und Naphtho(2,3-e)pyren (VIII) inaktiv. Im Tumor-Initiatortest, in dem 2,5% Grotonol als Promotor verwendet wurde, waren stark aktiv die Kohlenwasserstoffe X und IV; aktiv I und V; schwach aktiv II, VIII und IX; inaktiv die Verbindungen III, VI und VII. Die Ergebnisse der biologischen Versuche werden mit Berechnungen und Testen der Aktivitaten dieser polycyclischen Kohlenwasserstoffe verglichen. Da viele dieser Verbindungen in der Umwelt des Menschen vorkommen, sind die Beobachtungen von akademischer wie auch praktischer Bedeutung.
Interferon-γ Production by Peripheral Lymphocytes Predicts Survival of Tumor-Bearing Mice Receiving Dual PD-1/CTLA-4 Blockade

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are transforming the way cancer is treated. However, these therapies do not benefit all patients and frequently cause significant immune-related adverse events. Biomarkers that identify patients with a favorable early response to therapy are essential for guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes. In this report of our study, we present evidence that shortly after administration of dual PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade, the proinflammatory capacity of peripheral lymphocytes is predictive of tumor progression and survival outcomes in multiple murine models. Specifically, we observed that the quantity of interferon-γ (IFNγ) produced by peripheral lymphocytes in response to CD3/CD28 stimulation was robustly correlated with subsequent survival outcomes. In the tumor models and early time points assessed in this study, this relationship was considerably more predictive than a host of other potential biomarkers, several of which have been previously reported. Overall, these findings suggest that measuring the capacity of peripheral lymphocytes to produce IFNγ may help identify which patients are benefitting from combination anti-PD-1/anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(8); 650-7. ©2016 AACR.
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy: History, Applications, and Related Optical Sectioning Techniques

Confocal microscopy is an established light microscopical technique for imaging fluorescently labeled specimens with significant three-dimensional structure. Applications of confocal microscopy in the biomedical sciences include the imaging of the spatial distribution of macromolecules in either fixed or living cells, the automated collection of 3D data, the imaging of multiple labeled specimens and the measurement of physiological events in living cells. The laser scanning confocal microscope continues to be chosen for most routine work although a number of instruments have been developed for more specific applications. Significant improvements have been made to all areas of the confocal approach, not only to the instruments themselves, but also to the protocols of specimen preparation, to the analysis, the display, the reproduction, sharing and management of confocal images using bioinformatics techniques.
Communication Dynamics of Immigrant Integration

Researchers across disciplines share an enduring interest in the social impacts of immigration. I review key intersections between communication and immigrant integration scholarship in order to demonstrate how communication research and theory can address gaps in the literature on immigrant integration. These applications also reveal how communication theories, when extended to the integration experiences of immigrants and their children, more robustly reflect the increasing diversity of our globalizing societies. The conclusion provides suggestions for future inquiry at the nexus of these fields.
DYNAMICALLY RECONFIGURABLE DATA-INTENSIVE SERVICE COMPOSITION

The distributed nature of services poses significant challenges to building robust service-based applications. A major aspect of this challenge is finding a model of service integration that promotes ease of dynamic reconfiguration, in response to internal and external stimuli. Centralized models of composition are not conducive for data-intensive applications such as those in the scientific domain. Decentralized compositions are more complicated to manage especially since no service has a global view of the interaction. In this paper we identify the requirements for dynamic reconfiguration of data-intensive composite services. A hybrid composition model that combines the attributes of centralization and decentralization is proposed. We argue that this model promotes dynamic reconfiguration of data-intensive service compositions.
Ex Vivo Confocal Spectroscopy of Autofluorescence in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose We investigated the autofluorescence (AF) signature of the microscopic features of retina with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using 488 nm excitation. Methods The globes of four donors with AMD and four age-matched controls were embedded in paraffin and sectioned through the macula. Sections were excited using a 488 nm argon laser, and the AF emission was captured using a laser scanning confocal microscope (496–610 nm, 6 nm resolution). The data cubes were then analyzed to compare peak emission spectra between the AMD and the controls. Microscopic features, including individual lipofuscin and melanolipofuscin granules, Bruch’s Membrane, as well macroscopic features, were considered. Results Overall, the AMD eyes showed a trend of blue-shifted emission peaks compared with the controls. These differences were statistically significant when considering the emission of the combined RPE/Bruch’s Membrane across all the tissue cross-sections (p = 0.02). Conclusions The AF signatures of ex vivo AMD RPE/BrM show blue-shifted emission spectra (488 nm excitation) compared with the control tissue. The magnitude of these differences is small (~4 nm) and highlights the potential challenges of detecting these subtle spectral differences in vivo.
Minimally invasive surgery for lumbar synovial cysts with coexisting degenerative spondylolisthesis

Background About one third of lumbar synovial cysts are associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis. Segmental instability is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis and recurrence of synovial cysts and lumbar fusion has been advocated as a treatment of choice in the presence of spondylolisthesis. In patients with spondylolisthesis, minimally invasive resection of lumbar synovial cysts, without fusion, could minimize surgically induced segmental instability while providing good pain relief. Methods Clinical and radiological outcomes of lumbar synovial cyst patients with and without spondylolisthesis were retrospectively compared. Pain outcomes were assessed with modified Macnab criteria. Results Fifty-three patients (18 with grade 1 spondylolisthesis) underwent minimally invasive synovial cyst resection and all had either excellent or good pain outcome at ≤ 8 post- operative weeks (P = 1.000, n = 53). At > 8 post-operative weeks (mean (SD) follow-up of 200 (175) weeks), excellent or good outcomes were noted in 89% of patients without spondylolisthesis and in 75% of patients with spondylolisthesis (P = 0.425, n = 40). Four patients developed a new grade 1 spondylolisthesis at a mean follow-up of 2.6 ± 2.1 years. Nine patients were assessed for spondylolisthesis measurements at 1.2 ± 1.3 years of follow up and no significant difference was observed (5 ± 0 vs 5 ± 1 mm; P = 0.791). Two patients without spondylolisthesis and none of the patients with spondylolisthesis had a synovial cyst recurrence. Conclusion Patients with concomitant lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis and synovial cyst can have good short- and long-term clinical outcomes with minimally invasive surgery without fusion. Post-operative segmental instability does not appear to be significant in patients with spondylolisthesis. All patients included in this article signed an informed consent for the use of their medical information for research.
Elevated Plasma Arginase Levels in Hemoglobinopathies.

The decreased bioavailability of arginine (Arg) and the resulting lower nitric oxide (NO) production has been shown to be an important factor in the pathology of sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia. Vascular alterations leading to pulmonary hypertension are important factors of heart failure and death in these hemoglobinopathies. Red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis in these patients will release arginase into the circulation and contribute to the reduction of plasma Arg levels, change the Arg-to-ornithine ratio, and increase other downstream amino acid metabolites. Such compounds, including proline and polyamines, may contribute to vascular and airway remodeling. To study the contribution of arginase released from RBC, we measured the arginase activity and arginase protein concentration in the plasma and RBC lysates of normal controls, SCD patients, and thalassemia patients. Arginase activity was determined by the conversion of 14 C-labeled guanidine-L-arginine to 14 C-labeled urea, then to 14 CO 2 by urease and trapped as Na 2 14 CO 3 for scintillation counting. Arginase and hemoglobin concentration were measured by ELISA (BioVendor, Candler, NC and Bethyl Labs Inc., Montgomery, TX respectively). Mean cellular hemoglobin concentration was measured with a Coulter Counter (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA) or Technicon H3 analyzer (Tarrytown, NY). RBC were separated by density gradient centrifugation with OptiPrep (Axis Shield, Dundee, UK). Arginase specific activity (SA) was calculated by dividing the activity by the concentration to yield mole of Arg metabolized per g of arginase per hour. We found a higher level of arginase in the plasma and RBC of SCD and thalassemia patients as compared to normal controls. These levels correlated with cell-free hemoglobin content (plasma) or reticulocyte count (RBC). The light density fraction ( We conclude that low levels of intravascular hemolysis of RBC with increased arginase content in SCD and thalassemia, play a role in the altered Arg metabolism and decreased NO production. While the reason for high levels of arginase in the RBC as well as complete clinical impact of elevated arginase activity in plasma remain to be determined, dysregulated Arg metabolism and a shift toward Arg catabolic products, may be associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension and mortality in SCD and thalassemia.
A NEW METHOD TO QUANTIFY AND REDUCE THE NET PROJECTION ERROR IN WHOLE-SOLAR-ACTIVE-REGION PARAMETERS MEASURED FROM VECTOR MAGNETOGRAMS

Projection errors limit the use of vector magnetograms of active regions (ARs) far from the disk center. In this Letter, for ARs observed up to 60° from the disk center, we demonstrate a method for measuring and reducing the projection error in the magnitude of any whole-AR parameter that is derived from a vector magnetogram that has been deprojected to the disk center. The method assumes that the center-to-limb curve of the average of the parameter's absolute values, measured from the disk passage of a large number of ARs and normalized to each AR's absolute value of the parameter at central meridian, gives the average fractional projection error at each radial distance from the disk center. To demonstrate the method, we use a large set of large-flux ARs and apply the method to a whole-AR parameter that is among the simplest to measure: whole-AR magnetic flux. We measure 30,845 SDO/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager vector magnetograms covering the disk passage of 272 large-flux ARs, each having whole-AR flux >1022 Mx. We obtain the center-to-limb radial-distance run of the average projection error in measured whole-AR flux from a Chebyshev fit to the radial-distance plot of the 30,845 normalized measured values. The average projection error in the measured whole-AR flux of an AR at a given radial distance is removed by multiplying the measured flux by the correction factor given by the fit. The correction is important for both the study of the evolution of ARs and for improving the accuracy of forecasts of an AR's major flare/coronal mass ejection productivity.
Abstract 2923: A novel cell-penetrating peptide targeting ATF5 (CP-d/n-ATF5) exerts anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo against a broad spectrum of human cancers

Background The purpose of this study was to validate the anti-neoplastic activity of a novel ATF5-targeted therapeutic approach against various recalcitrant human malignancies. Activating transcription factor 5 (ATF5) is a member of the cAMP response element binding (CREB)/ATF subfamily of basic leucine zipper transcription factors and has been shown to be overexpressed in many human cancers. CP-d/n-ATF5 is a novel peptide specifically designed to contain a cell-penetrating domain and a domain inhibiting the function of ATF5 in a unique and novel targeted therapeutic approach. This therapeutic strategy was tested among a large panel of different therapy refractory human cancers including glioblastoma, melanoma, breast, prostate-, lung- and pancreatic cancer. Methods Cellular viability was assessed by MTT-assays. The induction of apoptosis was examined by staining for annexin V/propidium iodide or JC-1 (loss of mitochondrial membrane potential) prior to flow cytometric analysis. Western blotting was performed for further molecular analysis detecting caspase cleavage and expression of Bcl-2 family members. Subcutaneous xenograft models were used to examine the anti-neoplastic effects of CP-d/n-ATF5 in vivo. Results Our data show that CP-d/n-ATF5 yields a significant increase in apoptosis across a panel of 10 different cancer cell lines when compared to treatment with a mock-mutated control peptide or penetratin. On the molecular level, treatment with CP-d/n-ATF5 resulted in a marked down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Mcl-1 and Bcl-2. This effect was amplified in a synergistic manner by adding either ABT-263 or TRAIL to a combined targeted therapeutic approach. In vivo, treatment with CP-d/n-ATF5 resulted in a significant reduction of tumor growth in a heterotopic glioblastoma- and an orthotopic melanoma model. Conclusions The novel ATF5-targeting compound CP-d/n-ATF5 provides a broad and pronounced anti-neoplastic activity against human cancers in vitro and in vivo. On the molecular level, this effect is at least in part due to a shift of the cellular homeostasis towards a pro-apoptotic cellular phenotype by inhibiting anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. Overall, CP-d/n-ATF5 may represent a promising novel anti-cancer agent. Citation Format: Georg Karpel-Massler, Chang Shu, Lily Chau, James M. Angelastro, Lloyd A. Greene, Markus D. Siegelin. A novel cell-penetrating peptide targeting ATF5 (CP-d/n-ATF5) exerts anti-cancer activity in vitro and in vivo against a broad spectrum of human cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2923. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2923
Association of Smoking in the Home With Lung Cancer Worry, Perceived Risk, and Synergistic Risk.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine the association of smoking in the home with lung cancer worry, perceived risk, and synergistic risk, controlling for sociodemographics, family history of lung cancer, and health-related self-concept. The hypothesis is that participants with smoking in the home would have higher scores for lung cancer worry, perceived risk, and synergistic risk. . DESIGN Cross-sectional baseline survey. . SETTING Participants recruited from an outpatient clinic and pharmacy at University of Kentucky HealthCare, an academic medical center. . SAMPLE 515 homeowners from a larger randomized, controlled trial aimed at reducing exposure to radon and secondhand smoke (SHS). . METHODS Homeowners were selected via quota sampling so that about half would have a smoker or smokers in the home. . MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Lung cancer worry and perceived risk; perception of synergistic risk of radon and SHS exposure; demographics. . FINDINGS Participants with smoking in the home had higher rates of lung cancer worry and perceived risk. In addition, those with less education and a family history of lung cancer and who were current smokers had higher lung cancer worry and perceived lung cancer risk scores. Predictors of perception of synergistic risk were marital status and health-related self-concept. . CONCLUSIONS Homeowners with smoking in the home, less education, and a family history of lung cancer had greater lung cancer worry and perceived lung cancer risk. Lung cancer risk reduction interventions with vulnerable populations are needed. . IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Nurses are in a unique position to target high-risk populations and identify opportunities to create teachable moments to reduce environmental risks of radon and tobacco smoke exposure.
The number of atoms in a primefree atomic domain

ABSTRACTWe study the number of atoms and maximal ideals in an atomic domain with finitely many atoms and no prime elements. We show in particular that for all m,n∈ℤ+ with n≥3 and 4≤m≤n3 there is an atomic domain with precisely n atoms, precisely m maximal ideals and no prime elements. The proofs involve an interplay of commutative algebra, algebraic number theory and additive number theory.
Interpreting slavery at museums and historic sites, edited by Kristin L. Gallas and James DeWolf Perry

The presentation of slavery, given its intersections with race, class and region, as well as its continuing relevance to contemporary American society, is a sensitive and inescapable challenge. As ...
Shaping membrane vesicles by adsorption of a semiflexible polymer

The adsorption of polymers onto fluid membranes is a problem of fundamental interest in biology and soft materials, in part because the flexibility of membranes can lead to nontrivial coupling between polymer and membrane configurations. Here, we use Monte Carlo computer simulations to study the adsorption of a semiflexible polymer onto a fluid membrane vesicle. Polymer adsorption can significantly impact both the vesicle and polymer shapes, and we identify distinct classes of configurations that emerge as a function of polymer persistence length, membrane bending rigidity, adsorption strength, and vesicle size. Large-scale deformations of the vesicle include invaginations of the membrane that internalize the polymer in a membrane bud. The buds range from disk-like shapes surrounding a collapsed polymer to tubular deformations enveloping rod-like polymers. For small vesicles, polymer adsorption also induces dumbbell-like vesicle shapes with a narrow membrane constriction circled by the polymer. Vesicles with sufficiently small or large bending rigidities adopt configurations similar to those without the polymer present. We further characterize statistical properties of the membrane and polymer configurations and identify distinct classes of polymer configurations that emerge within membrane buds. Analysis of idealized polymer-membrane configurations provides additional insight into transitions between bud shapes.
Circulating microRNAs and prediction of asthma exacerbation in childhood asthma

Circulating microRNAs have shown promise as non-invasive biomarkers and predictors of disease activity. Prior asthma studies using clinical, biochemical and genomic data have not shown excellent prediction of exacerbation. We hypothesized that a panel of circulating microRNAs in a pediatric asthma cohort combined with an exacerbation clinical score might predict exacerbation better than the latter alone. Serum samples from 153 children at randomization in the Childhood Asthma Management Program were profiled for 754 microRNAs. Data dichotomized for asthma exacerbation one year after randomization to inhaled corticosteroid treatment were used for binary logistic regression with miRNA expressions and exacerbation clinical score. 12 of 125 well-detected circulating microRNAs had significant odd ratios for exacerbation with miR-206 being most significant. Each doubling of expression of the 12 microRNA corresponded to a 25–67% increase in exacerbation risk. Stepwise logistic regression yielded a 3-microRNA model (miR-146b, miR-206 and miR-720) that, combined with the exacerbation clinical score, had excellent predictive power with a 0.81 AUROC. These 3 microRNAs were involved in NF-kβ and GSK3/AKT pathways. This combined circulating microRNA-clinical score model predicted exacerbation in asthmatic subjects on inhaled corticosteroids better than each constituent feature alone. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00000575 .
Cancer-Selective Apoptosis by Tumor Suppressor Par-4

Tumor suppressor genes play an important role in preventing neoplastic transformation and maintaining normal tissue homeostasis. Par-4 is one such tumor suppressor which is unique in its ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving the normal cells unaffected. The cancer cell specific activity of Par-4 is elicited through intracellular as well as extracellular mechanisms. Intracellularly Par-4 acts through the inhibition of pro-survival pathways and activation of Fas mediated apoptosis whereas extracellular (secreted Par-4) acts by binding to cell surface GRP78 leading to activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Many studies have highlighted the importance of Par-4 not only in preventing cancer development/recurrence but also as a promising anticancer therapeutic agent.
Duty to Warn in the Era of Next Generation Sequencing.

To address growing ethical and legal concern, in 1998 the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) issued a policy statement outlining conditions that must be met for a physician to disclose genet...
Sustaining safety and delivery of oral chemotherapy utilizing lean methodology.

266Background: An oral chemotherapy safety event prompted analysis of related workflows utilizing lean quality improvement methodology. This analysis identified high variation in prescription processing, lack of standardized safety checks, inefficient use of pharmacy time, and inadequate data collection. Our goal was to create an oral chemotherapy protocol that could ensure patients have the right oral chemotherapy agent, at the right dose, at the right time, with independent and efficient safety checks by nursing, pharmacy, and providers. Methods: Multidisciplinary teams participated in two kaizen workshops. utilizing lean methodology. Primary workshop objectives were (1) develop safety standards for oral chemotherapy similar to those for intravenous chemotherapy; (2) make workflows more efficient; and (3) have workflows that enable data collection and process control. The first workshop standardized oral chemotherapy prescription processing though a single workflow in the EMR. This enabled robust data c...
THE USE OF NESTING BOXES TO STUDY THE BIOLOGY OF THE MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE ( PARUS GAMBELI ) AND ITS IMPACT ON SELECTED FOREST INSECTS

Nesting boxes were placed on trees in five plots consisting of 50 boxes each in northeastern California in 1966. The boxes were spaced at 100 m intervals in a grid. The Mountain Chickadee was the most common occupant and the habits of these birds during nesting are described.
Inductive factors for generation of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Abstract Despite significant advances in treatment of ischemic heart disease, it is still responsible for most morbidity and mortality worldwide. The death of cardiomyocytes can cause lethal heart dysfunction, but these endogenous adult cardiomyocytes have limited regenerative capacity, making the treatment of this disease highly difficult. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes have emerged as a promising cell source to regenerate damaged heart tissue. Numerous studies have been made to develop robust and efficient differentiation methods employing various inductive factors for generation of cardiomyocytes from human pluripotent stem cells, however, there is still scope for improvement such as scalable generation of functional cardiomyocytes. Understanding the effects of the inductive factors on cardiomyocyte differentiation and the underlying mechanism may provide important clues to address existing challenges. In this chapter, we discuss the roles of the inductive factors including cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic cues in cardiomyocyte differentiation and how they act on human pluripotent stem cells and many intermediate cell types during differentiation.