cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of prosody on pitch and voice quality of White Hmong tones

White Hmong contrasts two high-falling tones (one breathy, the other modal) and two low tones (one modal level-tone, the other creaky low-falling). Perceptual studies [Garellek et al. (2013)] have shown that listeners rely on breathy voice to distinguish between the high-falling tones, but ignore creaky voice when distinguishing between the low tones. We test whether such differences stem from prosodic variation, by examining tokens from stories read by native speakers. Vowels were annotated for phrasal position and neighbouring tones. We obtained f0 and voice quality measures. Results support and help elucidate previous perceptual research: (1) the breathy high-falling tone is breathy in all prosodic positions, (2) the breathy high-falling tone has a prosodically-variable f0, (3) the creaky low-falling tone has a prosodically-stable f0. The creaky low-falling tone is creakier than the modal low tone in all positions. Therefore, listeners may ignore f0 in the identification of the breathy high-falling ton...
Some Genetic Considerations in the Development of Sexual Oriention

This last several years has seen several studies which have caught popular attention. Bouchard and colleagues (e.g., Bouchard et al., 1990) demonstrated uncanny similarities in behavior of twins reared apart. LeVay (1991), demonstrated the existence of a particular portion of the hypothalamus in homosexual men to be smaller than it is in heterosexual men but the same size as found in heterosexual women. And Bailey and Pillard (1991) and Whitam, Diamond and Martin (1993) showed a significant concordance for homosexuality among twins, more so for monozygotic twins than dizygotic. These studies renewed focus on nature-nurture issues in the etiology of behavior.
Mass transfer and evolution in long-period binary systems.

In the earliest studies of close binary evolution (Paczynski 1967; Kippenhahn, Kohl, and Weigert 1967; Plavec, et al. 1968), it was assumed that the total mass and orbital angular momentum of a binary system are conserved during mass transfer. This assumption of convenience actually succeeds quite well in producing model post-mass-transfer binaries which closely resemble classical Algol-type systems, and helium-star binaries such as KS Per and u Sgr as well (Plavec 1973; Schonberner and Drilling 1983). Among longer-period interacting binaries, however, there are strong reasons to believe that these simple assumptions break down. For example, it is well-known that single stars may lose a very substantial fraction of their mass in a stellar wind during ascent of the giant and asymptotic-giant branches (e.g., Kudritzki and Reimers 1978). In addition, many highly-evolved short-period binaries, such as the cataclysmic variables, appear to owe their origins to very long-period progenitors (Paczynski 1976; Ritter 1976; Webbink 1976). These latter systems evidently evolved through a common envelope phase (Paczynski 1976; Meyer and Meyer-Hofmeister 1979), in which the giant progenitor of the present white dwarf devoured its companion star, and ultimately was divested of its envelope by the release of orbital energy as that companion spiralled toward its core.
Ankle Fracture-Dislocations: A Review

Ankle fractures are common musculoskeletal injuries that may result in tibiotalar joint dislocations. Ankle fracture-dislocations occur via similar mechanisms as ankle fractures, although the persi...
Design of novel lipidated peptidomimetic conjugates for targeting EGFR heterodimerization in HER2 + cancer.

Abstract The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family is known to be involved in cell signaling pathways. The extracellular domain of EGFR consists of four domains, of which domain II and domain IV are known to be involved in the dimerization process. Overexpression of these receptors is known to play a significant role in heterodimerization of these receptors leading to the development of cancer. We have designed peptidomimetic molecules to inhibit the EGFR heterodimerization interaction that have shown antiproliferative activity and specificity for HER2-positive cancer cell lines. Among these, a peptidomimetic, compound 5, exhibited antiproliferative activity at low nanomolar concentrations in HER2-overexpressing cancer cell lines. To improve the stability of this peptidomimetic, we have designed and synthesized a novel conjugate of peptidomimetic compound 5 with a lipid, stearic acid. The antiproliferative activity of this conjugate was evaluated in HER2-positive cancer cell lines. Results suggested that the conjugate exhibited selective antiproliferative activity in HER2-overexpressing breast and lung cancer cell lines and was able to block HER2:HER3 heterodimerization. Also, the conjugate showed improved stability with a half-life of 5 h in human serum compared to the half-life of 2 h for parent compound 5. The binding affinity of the conjugate to HER2 protein was evaluated by SPR analysis, and the mode of binding of the lipid conjugate to domain IV of HER2 protein was demonstrated by docking analysis. Thus, this novel lipid conjugate can be used to target HER2-overexpressing cancers.
Validation of an In Vivo Medical Image-Based Young Human Lumbar Spine Finite Element Model

Mathematical models of the human spine can be used to investigate spinal biomechanics without the difficulties, limitations and ethical concerns associated with physical experimentation. Validation of such models is necessary to ensure the modeled system behavior accurately represents the physics of the actual system. The goal of this work was to validate a medical image-based nonlinear lumbosacral spine finite element model of a healthy 20-year-old female subject under physiological moments. Range of motion, facet joint forces, and intradiscal pressure were compared with experimental values and validated finite element models from the literature. The finite element model presented in this work was in good agreement with published experimental studies and finite element models under pure moments. For applied moments of 7.5 N·m, the range of motion in flexion-extension, axial rotation and lateral bending were 39°, 16° and 28°, respectively. Excellent agreement was observed between the finite element model and experimental data for intradiscal pressure under pure compressive loading. The predicted facet joint forces were lower than those of experimental results and validated finite element models for extension and torsion, likely due to the non-degenerate properties chosen for the intervertebral discs and morphology of the young female spine. This work is the first to validate a computational lumbar spine model of a young female subject. This model will serve as a valuable tool for predicting orthopedic spinal injuries, studying the effect of intervertebral disc replacements using advanced biomaterials, and investigating soft tissue degeneration.
Classification of human ovarian cancer using functional, spectral, and imaging features obtained from in vivo photoacoustic imaging

We report in this pilot study the diagnostic results of in vivo imaging of patients with ovarian lesions, using a co-registered photoacoustic and ultrasound (PAT/US) system. A total of 39 ovaries from 24 patients were imaged in vivo. PAT functional features, i.e., blood oxygen saturation (sO2) and relative total hemoglobin (rHbT), PAT image features, and PAT spectral features within a region of interest (ROI) in each ovarian tissue were extracted. To select the significant features, a t-test on each feature was performed, and the independent predictors were determined by evaluating correlation between each pair of predictors. To classify the ovarian lesions, we employed a generalized linear model (GLM) and a support vector machine (SVM). We used these classifiers first to distinguish benign/normal lesions from ovaries with invasive epithelial tumors and then to separate normal/benign lesions from all types of ovarian tumors. We developed classifiers once by inclusion of PAT functional features to assess the best diagnostic performance of the classifiers when multiple wavelengths data are available. Second time, we excluded the PAT functional features from the features set to evaluate the best diagnostic performance if only a single wavelength is available. Our results show that using functional features improves the classification performance, especially for distinguishing normal/benign ovarian lesions from all types of tumors. In this case, an area under ROC curve (AUC) of 0.92, 0.93 of testing data was achieved using a GLM and SVM classifier when functional features were included in the feature set while excluding these features resulted in an AUC of 0.89, 0.92, respectively.
American Urological Association Nonmuscle Invasive Bladder Cancer Risk Model Validation-Should Patient Age be Added to the Risk Model?

Purpose:We evaluated the AUA (American Urological Association)/SUO (Society of Urologic Oncology) nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer risk model to predict nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer recurrenc...
Talking about the weather: Two construals of precipitation events in English

Weather expressions such as It is raining have proven challenging for linguistic researchers; not only do weather expressions often have special linguistic properties, but languages show considerable variation in the morphosyntactic expression of such events. The main claim pursued here is that, in English, precipitation happenings can be linguistically construed as events (in the sense of Levin & Rappaport Hovav 2005) in two ways: as substance emission events—the sky is construed as emitting the precipitation—or as directed motion events—the precipitation is construed as moving down towards the earth due to gravity. Each construal involves a distinct event structure and, thus, is associated with its own pattern of syntactic behavior. When a precipitation happening is construed as a substance emission event, a type of activity, the verb expressing it shows the hallmarks of an unergative. When a precipitation happening or a substance emission happening is construed as a directed motion event, a type of scalar change event, the verb expressing it shows the hallmarks of an unaccusative. This paper focuses on English, but briefly discusses how the proposed analysis of English can illuminate the diverse behavior of weather verbs across languages. The availability of two construals sheds light on the expression of precipitation events in Romance languages, particularly on the continuing controversy about whether weather verbs are unaccusative or unergative.
How to Bring One’s Knowledge to Improve the Lives of Others

This essay describes the career path of a single individual, and as such it is not necessarily a generalizable experience. That said, some of the lessons learned can be generalizable. Foremost is that an academic career can have ups and downs and doors can open that were never anticipated or planned. Being willing to take on new challenges, even in unchartered areas, can be the most fulfilling, especially when the reasons for doing so are grounded in with a vision and sense of mission, passion, and purpose. Each phase of one’s career can provide skills that inform a later part of the life journey, even when they were never planned or anticipated to do so. Looking back on one’s career and seeing how its various threads connected into one’s personal tapestry is much easier than looking forward.
Informal STEM: Learning with Robotics and Game Design in an Urban Context.

This mixed methods study examined how engagement in robotics and game design influenced students’ self-efficacy, STEM attitudes, and computational thinking (CT) skills. Predominantly African-Americ...
Bacterial dispersion associated with various patient face mask designs during simulated intravitreal injections.

Purpose We sought to investigate bacterial dispersion with patient face mask use during simulated intravitreal injections. Design Prospective cross-sectional study. Methods Fifteen healthy subjects were recruited for this single-center study. Each participant was instructed not to speak for 2 minutes, simulating a “no-talking” policy, while in an ophthalmic examination chair with an blood agar plate secured to the forehead and wearing various face masks (no mask, loose fitting surgical mask, tight-fitting surgical mask without tape, tight-fitting surgical mask with adhesive tape securing the superior portion of the mask, N95 mask, and cloth mask). Each scenario was then repeated while reading a 2-minute script, simulating a talking patient. The primary outcome measures were the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) and microbial species. Results During the “no-talking” scenario, subjects wearing a tight-fitting surgical mask with tape developed fewer CFUs compared with subjects wearing the same mask without tape (difference 0.93 CFUs [95% confidence interval 0.32-1.55]; P = .003). During the speech scenarios, subjects wearing a tight-fitting surgical mask with tape had significantly fewer CFUs compared with subjects without a face mask (difference 1.07 CFUs; P = .001), subjects with a loose face mask (difference 0.67 CFUs; P = .034), and subjects with a tight face mask without tape (difference 1.13 CFUs; P .99) and “speech” (P = .831) scenarios. No oral flora were isolated in “no-talking” scenarios but were isolated in 8 of 75 (11%) cultures in speech scenarios (P = .02). Conclusion The addition of tape to the superior portion of a patient's face mask reduced bacterial dispersion during simulated intravitreal injections and had no difference in bacterial dispersion compared with wearing N95 masks.
Abstract IA-05: Deep learning radiomics in cancer imaging

Radiographic medical images contain a vast wealth of information allowing for accurate non-invasive tumor characterization and ultimately improving cancer care. Radiomics enables the extraction of mineable high-dimensional features from images, quantification of tumor phenotypes for survival, recurrence, and treatment response prediction, and ultimately better patient stratification. Recent advances in AI, deep learning in particular, has allowed for the automated extraction of imaging features without the need for pre-definition. In this talk, we will be exploring deep learning radiomics applications in cancer patients from both single time point and longitudinal imaging data. We will also be identifying challenges regarding the stability, reproducibility, and transparency of such approaches. Citation Format: Ahmed Hosny. Deep learning radiomics in cancer imaging [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Diagnosis, and Imaging; 2021 Jan 13-14. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2021;27(5_Suppl):Abstract nr IA-05.
High Speed Memory Operation in Channel-Last, Back-gated Ferroelectric Transistors

Scaled ferroelectric transistors (L g =76 nm) in a back- gated configuration are fabricated with a channel-last process flow. Using this approach, optimization of the ferroelectric gate oxide film can be decoupled from that of the semiconductor channel to reduce parasitic interfaces. As a result, ferroelectric transistors with 3σ memory window for fast programming time of 10 ns (including an instantaneous read-after-write) at 1.8 V and high endurance of 1012 cycles are demonstrated for the first time.
Interventional Therapies for Pain in Cancer Patients: a Narrative Review

Pain is a prevalent symptom in the lives of patients with cancer. In light of the ongoing opioid epidemic and increasing awareness of the potential for opioid abuse and addiction, clinicians are progressively turning to interventional therapies. This article reviews the interventional techniques available to mitigate the debilitating effects that untreated or poorly treated pain have in this population. A range of interventional therapies and technical approaches are available for the treatment of cancer-related pain. Many of the techniques described may offer effective analgesia with less systemic toxicity and dependency than first- and second-line oral and parenteral agents. Neuromodulatory techniques including dorsal root ganglion stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation are increasingly finding roles in the management of oncologic pain. The goal of this pragmatic narrative review is to discuss interventional approaches to cancer-related pain and the potential of such therapies to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.
The Role of Norms in Modern-Day Government Ethics

Many scholars, policymakers, advocacy groups, members of the media, and citizens-at-large are lamenting the perceived decrease in adherence to norms and ethics by certain government officials over the past few years. Informal mechanisms — whether they be norms, ethics, customs, or a “gentleman’s word” — have long been relied upon to ensure certain standards of behavior within all aspects of society. The American government is no exception. From America’s founding, the rule of law created the backstop for its governmental processes, but the virtue of its leaders remained a constant component of its success. To be fair, the country has seen more than its fair share of dark times; times of great discord, dispute, and division. And when these dark times occur, the questions confronting America are why has her leaders failed her and what should be done in response? This Essay seeks to respond at least in part, to these two questions. It begins by acknowledging that America is in the midst of a crisis of leadership as a result of a failure by government officials to adhere to basic norms and accepted ethical standards. The Essay argues that the country’s current predicament is attributable, at least in part, to the failure of stigma to rein in — or serve as a check — on government official’s behavior. The (i) rise of social media (ii) paired with an increasingly politically polarized environment has crippled the power of social norms to serve as an effective mechanism for encouraging certain types of behavior in government officials. As a result, this Essay argues that it is necessary to look for other mechanisms that can be used to fill the gaps left by the failure of social norms to rein in officials’ behavior. This Essay discusses three: (i) the adoption of formal legal interventions to shore up and restore certain expectations of acceptable behavior for government officials, (ii) a renewed commitment to the notion that the proper role of the lawyer is that of a professional whose role is to pursue the public good, and (iii) the role of private pressure to facilitate certain expectations of acceptable conduct. When adherence to norms and appeals to ethics fail, it suggests it may be time for law, lawyers, and the public to intervene.
Game-Based Learning Analytics for Supporting Adolescents’ Reflection

Reflection is critical for adolescents’ problem solving and learning in game-based learning environments (GBLEs). Yet challenges exist in the literature because most studies lack a theoretical perspective and clear operational definition to inform how and when reflection should be scaffolded during game-based learning. In this paper, we address these issues by studying the quantity and quality of 120 adolescents’ written reflections and their relation to their learning and problem solving with Crystal Island, a GBLE. Specifically, we (1) define reflection and how it relates to skill and knowledge acquisition; (2) review studies examining reflection and its relation to problem solving and learning with emerging technologies; and (3) provide direction for building reflection prompts into GBLEs that are aligned with the learning goals built into the learning session (e.g., learn about microbiology versus successfully solve a problem) to maximize adolescents’ reflection, learning, and performance. Overall, our findings emphasize how important it is to examine not only the quantity of reflection but also the depth of written reflection as it relates to specific learning goals. We discuss the implications of using game-learning analytics to guide instructional decision making in the classroom.
Monobloc Dual Mobility With a Minimum 5-Year Follow-Up: A Safe and Effective Solution in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Instability constitutes over 20% of revisions after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Dual mobility (DM) designs were introduced as a solution to this problem. However, the few publications that have reported promising results for monobloc DM constructs have been limited by sample size or length of follow-up. The purpose of this study is to evaluate mid-term outcomes (minimum 5-year follow-up) of a single-surgeon series utilizing a monobloc DM acetabular component in patients with high risk for dislocation. Methods This is a single-surgeon consecutive series of 207 primary THAs implanted with a monobloc DM component in patients who were considered at high risk for dislocation. Patient demographics and case-specific data were collected retrospectively. All patients had a minimum of 5-year follow-up. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to assess continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were analyzed using the chi-square test. Survival probability was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Radiographic analysis did not reveal acetabular radiolucency in any patients, and there were no revisions for aseptic loosening. In addition, there were no dislocations. Seven of 205 patients (3.4%) were revised, 5 on the femoral side due to periprosthetic fracture and the remaining two for infection. Survivorship of the acetabular component from revision was 99%. The mean Veteran RAND (VR-12) physical score improved from 7 (standard deviation [SD]: 13.7) preoperatively to 9.5 (SD: 17.6) at the final follow-up. Similarly, the hip disability osteoarthritis score improved from 8 (SD: 17.9) preoperatively to 21.2 (SD: 37). Conclusion Monobloc DM components reliably prevent dislocation after primary THA in high-risk patients. At mid-term follow-up, this DM monobloc component demonstrates excellent implant survivorship, radiographic fixation, and improved functional outcomes.
Generation of a GLO-2 deficient mouse reveals its effects on liver carbonyl and glutathione levels.

Abstract Objective Hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase (aka as GLO-2) is a component of the glyoxalase pathway involved in the detoxification of the reactive oxoaldehydes, glyoxal and methylglyoxal. These reactive metabolites have been linked to a variety of pathological conditions, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease and may be involved in the aging process. The objective of this study was to generate a mouse model deficient in GLO-2 to provide insight into the function of GLO-2 and to determine if it is potentially linked to endogenous oxalate synthesis which could influence urinary oxalate excretion. Methods A GLO-2 knock out mouse was generated using CRISPR/Cas 9 techniques. Tissue and 24-h urine samples were collected under baseline conditions from adult male and female animals for biochemical analyses, including chromatographic measurement of glycolate, oxalate, glyoxal, methylglyoxal, D-lactate, ascorbic acid and glutathione levels. Results The GLO-2 KO animals developed normally and there were no changes in 24-h urinary oxalate excretion, liver levels of methylglyoxal, glyoxal, ascorbic acid and glutathione, or plasma d -lactate levels. GLO-2 deficient males had lower plasma glycolate levels than wild type males while this relationship was not observed in females. Conclusions The lack of a unique phenotype in a GLO-2 KO mouse model under baseline conditions is consistent with recent evidence, suggesting a functional glyoxalase pathway is not required for optimal health. A lower plasma glycolate in male GLO-2 KO animals suggests glyoxal production may be a significant contributor to circulating glycolate levels, but not to endogenous oxalate synthesis.
Exercise-Induced Activation and Human Performance: A Review

Abstract This paper presents a theory and reviews the literature dealing with the relationship between exercise-induced changes in activation (EIA) and performance of various motor and cognitive tasks. The relationship theoretically takes the form of an inverted U, with performance optimal at some intermediate level of EIA. However, not all tasks have the same optimal level of EIA. Tasks that require a great deal of inhibition (e.g., steadiness) are performed best at very low levels of EIA and tasks that require disinhibition (e.g., arm speed) are performed best at very high levels of EIA. For tasks at either end of the inhibition continuum the relationship between EIA and performance seems to be linear. For intellective tasks, intensity of concomitant exercise is negatively and monotonically related to performance. Prior exercise seems to be curvilinearly related to intellective performance with optimal performance occurring following light exercise that raises the heart rate to about 90-120 bpm.
Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project: Material Support at the Supreme Court

Since September 11, 2001, the majority of “national security” cases to make it to the Supreme Court have dealt with America’s military strategy in the War on Terrorism - namely our policies at Guantanamo Bay. Although these cases have focused on detention authority and due process rights in a time of war, they represent only one facet of what is at least a two-front war. Alongside our military efforts, the United States has been engaged in domestic law enforcement to target international terrorist groups long before September 11th. At the forefront of that battle is the “material support” statute - 18 U.S.C. § 2339B. Although both maligned and lauded, subject to numerous amendments and frequent litigation, the constitutional challenges have never made their way to our nation’s highest court - until now. This term, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in Humanitarian Law Project v. Holder (HLP) a case with significant national security implications. The case is already well underway, with briefs being submitted by both the government and a wide variety of interested amici on both sides. Oral arguments are scheduled for February 23, 2010, but there are a lot of materials and arguments to digest first. This report will summarize and discuss the facts and arguments in HLP, attempting to put the challenge into context of everyday criminal prosecutions. Unlike most of the legal analysis sure to make it way into the press, this article will focus solely on the real-world, practical effects of the statute. Part I will provide a brief overview of the litigation and background on the parties and issues involved. Tracing the procedural history of Humanitarian Law Project from its roots as an attempt to enjoin government counter-terrorism efforts in the 1990s to the Supreme Court 12 years later, the challenge serves as an excellent case-study for evaluating the constitutionality of a critical national security tool. Part II will analyze the legal questions presented by the case from a policy standpoint. While briefly discussing the technical legal questions upon which the court will ultimately issue its ruling, this section will contextualize the case, explaining the possible implications of the court’s ruling.
Witmer, Lightner (1861–1956)

In 1896, Lightner Witmer established the first psychological clinic at the University of Pennsylvania. This event is universally recognized as marking the beginning of the science and profession of clinical psychology—although not yet by that name. In 1907, Witmer founded the journal The Psychological Clinic, and in the first issue he called for the establishment of a new helping profession, to be called clinical psychology.
GCR1, a transcriptional activator in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, complexes with RAP1 and can function without its DNA binding domain

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, efficient expression of glycolytic and translational component genes requires two DNA binding proteins, RAP1 (which binds to UASRPG) and GCR1 (which binds to the CT box). We generated deletions in GCR1 to test the validity of several different models for GCR1 function. We report here that the C-terminal half of GCR1, which includes the domain required for DNA binding to the CT box in vitro, can be removed without affecting GCR1-dependent transcription of either the glycolytic gene ADH1 or the translational component genes TEF1 and TEF2. We have also identified an activation domain within a segment of the GCR1 protein (the N-terminal third) that is essential for in vivo function. RAP1 and GCR1 can be co-immunoprecipitated from whole cell extracts, suggesting that they form a complex in vivo. The data are most consistent with a model in which GCR1 is attracted to DNA through contact with RAP1.
A Suboptimal Control Design for Mechanical Manipulators

This paper presents the development of a closed loop suboptimal control with nonlinear feedback component for the control of mechanical manipulators. The feedback control law is composed of a nonlinear feedback for quasi-linearization and a linear quadratic control law with switching function. The switching function is used for stabilizing the quasi-linear system. The total computational time for the proposed control law is of order O(n3) where n is the number of degree of freedom of the manipulator.
All Flesh Shall See it Together

Symposium: Difference, Solidarity and Law: Building Latina/o Communities Through LatCrit Theory. LatCrit Theory, a new school of thought, produced a “critique of the black-white paradigm,” that required and yet requires a good deal of working through. This essay, a friendly critique of that critique, begins that working through, and does so using the materials and insights of the Beat Generation and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Race, in this essay, emerges as a form of violence, not difference. Race, within the LatCrit critique of the black-white paradigm, has been treated as “socially constructed,” but only in part. Only in part because the LatCrit critique of the black-white paradigm often presents whiteness and blackness, especially blackness, as natural, pre-political, and timeless essences.
Gamma Ray Burst Afterglow Observations

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most luminous explosions in the universe. We present an overview of the observational history of GRBs and the mechanisms involved, then focus on one burst in particular, GRB 070125 and our observational campaign. Finally, we present the results of a model of the global optical response to GRBs, and make recommendations as to how we could improve the global response in preparation for upcoming satellite missions.
Branding yoga: The cases of Iyengar Yoga, Siddha Yoga and Anusara Yoga

Andrea R. Jain is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Her research interests include the history and development of yoga, theories of religion, and religion in relation to the body, especially with regard to sexual and ascetic religious phenomena. More specifically, her research focuses on the transnational construction and global popularization of modern yoga. Her current research projects include a book on the intersections of modern yoga and consumer culture, studies on Christian and Hindu protests against the popularization of yoga, and studies on modern yoga gurus.
Initiation of abstinence in adolescents treated for marijuana use disorders.

Abstract This study assessed the time to initiation of marijuana abstinence in an adolescent treatment-seeking sample, and identified variables that were predictive of abstinence. Adolescents ( N =69), ages 14 to 18 were randomly assigned to one of two 14-week behavioral treatments. Abstinence was measured with twice-weekly urine toxicology plus teen and parent reports. Discrete-time survival and hazard functions were conducted. The majority of adolescents achieved at least 1week of abstinence, and 51% achieved 6weeks of abstinence. Initiation of abstinence occurred by the sixth treatment week for 94% of teens with any abstinence suggesting that alternative, clinical approaches should be considered for those not responding by week 6. Teens with a drug negative urinalysis at intake, and teens that had two parents participating in treatment were more likely to achieve at least 6weeks of abstinence. These findings, if replicated, can be used to inform clinical and research strategies that might lead to enhanced treatment efficacy and cost effectiveness for substance abuse treatment programming.
Leaf-cutting ants and avoided plants: Defences against Atta texana attack

Leaf-cutting ants (Formicidae; Attini) characteristically never attack some common plant species in their habitats. These plants may be defended against the ants in several ways. In Texas, mature leaves of Sapindus saponaria (Sapindaceae) and Celtis reticulata (Ulmaceae) are unpalatable to Atta texana Buckley foragers, while mature leaves of Berberis trifoliata (Berberidaceae) are palatable to the ants, but are too tough to cut. Young Celtis leaves and and young Berberis leaves are palatable and can be cut by the ants, however. These young leaves may escape attack by remaining palatable a brief amount of time (new Celtis leaves), or by occurring patchily in space and time (new Berberis leaves).
Response of Linear Systems to Magnitude Limited Random Excitation

Magnitude limited random excitation effect on linear system response, using single degrees of freedom model representing idealized mechanical structure
Observations on some potentially asymmetric gallium(III) compounds

Abstract Attempts to resolve the potentially asymmetric tris(oxalato)gallate(III) ion by fractional crystallization, precipitation, or extraction techniques involving its salts with l -strychnine, l -quinine, d -cinchonine, and d -tris(ethylenediamine)-cobalt(III) have been unsuccessful. Inasmuch as the tris(oxalato)-gallate(III) ion in aqueous solution gives immediate precipitation of calcium oxalate with calcium ion and undergoes essentially instantaneous exchange with oxalate ion containing carbon-14, it is concluded that the ion is probably too unstable to retain asymmetry long enough to permit resolution. Negative results have been obtained in attempts to resolve the ethylene-diaminetetraacetatoaquogallate(III) ion by fractional extraction of its l -brucine salt. Tris(ethylene-diamine)cobalt(III) ion has been found to precipitate the tris(oxalato)gallate(III) ion quantitatively without precipitating oxalate ion.
A Boundary Condition for Significantly Reducing Boundary Reflections with a Lagrangian Mesh

Reflections from the terminating mesh boundaries are an important consideration in the selection of the calculational grid size for the numerical solution of hyperbolic equations. An adjusted damper system along the boundaries is the technique for significantly reducing the boundary reflections which are discussed here. Fixed, scattering, and damped boundary conditions are compared for a two-dimensional calculation of an elastic material subjected to a sinusoidally varying pressure. The damping condition resulted in reflections which were about 11 percent of the amplitude of the reflection from a fixed or free boundary, and about 33 percent of that from a scattering boundary. 4 figures. (RWR)
Stably Transfected Antisense Granzyme B and Perforin Constructs Inhibit Human Granule-Mediated Lytic Ability

Abstract In human NK cells and CTL it has been shown that release of lytic molecules is, at least in part, responsible for the lysis of target cells (TC). Of the various types of molecules thought to be involved in cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC), perforin and the serine proteases (granzymes A and B) are the best described. Using mammalian expression vectors (pRSV-neo and pSV 2 -neo), antisense constructs for perforin and granzyme B were independently electroporated into YT-INDY, a human non-MHC-restricted, IL-2-independent, cytotoxic lymphocyte. Transfected YT-INDY was then selected for expression of the plasmid by antibiotic G418 resistance. The presence of plasmid was confirmed by detection of the integrated plasmid G418 resistance gene using PCR. The presence of antisense perforin in YT-INDY (YT-xPFP) inhibited lytic ability by >95% compared to YT-INDY transfected with plasmid alone or plasmid with unrelated antisense (YT-neo, YT-ctrl, respectively). Likewise, the presence of antisense GrB (YT-xGrB) inhibited the lytic ability of YT-INDY by >95%. Western analysis revealed a 30% decrease in the level of perlatin and a 55% decrease in granzyme B protein levels compared to YT-neo. Northern analysis using oligo probes complementary to perforin and granzyme B mRNA showed a decrease in their respective message levels. In conclusion, stably transfected antisense constructs for perforin and granzyme B essentially eliminated the lytic ability of YT-INDY. These results strongly indicate that both perforin and granzyme B are required by this human cytotoxic lymphocyte for effective TC lysis.
Understanding Structural Isomerization during Ruthenium-Catalyzed Olefin Metathesis: A Deuterium Labeling Study

A deuterium labeling study was undertaken to determine the mechanism of olefin isomerization during the metathesis reactions catalyzed by a second-generation Grubbs catalyst (2). The reaction of allyl-1,1-d2 methyl ether with 2 at 35 °C was followed by 1H and 2H NMR spectroscopy. The evidence of deuterium incorporation at the C-2 position of the isomerized product, trans-propenyl methyl ether, led to the conclusion that a metal hydride addition−elimination mechanism was operating under these conditions. Consequently, complex 8, an analogue of 2 bearing deuterated o-methyl groups on the aromatic rings of the NHC ligand, was synthesized to investigate the role of the NHC ligand in the formation of hydride species. Thermal decomposition of benzylidene 8 and methylidene 8‘ was monitored by 2H NMR spectroscopy; no deuteride complex was detected in either case. The decomposition mixtures were tested for isomerization activity with benchmark 1-octene but did not match the isomerization rates observed with 2 unde...
Inner approximation-solvability of nonlinear equations

Abstract Results on the inner approximation-solvability are generalized to the case of uniformly o-monotone operators in an A -properness setting.
YIELD AND PROXIMATE ANALYSIS OF MEAT FROM TURKEYS FED TWO SOURCES OF SUPPLEMENTAL FAT

Yield of meat, skin and waste from selected parts of turkeys (12-22 weeks) fed supplemental soybean oil and blended fat was determined. Meat was analyzed for protein, moisture, and fat. Males fed blended fat had increased breast yield of 21.4%, compared to 20.4% for those fed soybean oil. Turkeys fed blended fat had statistically greater protein and fat content (20.2% and 5.9%, respectively) in drum/thigh meat than those fed soybean oil. Soybean oil produced significantly more wing meat (5.4%), compared to 5.2% for blended fat. Turkeys fed soybean oil also had more moisture in drum/thigh meat (73.2%), compared to 72.8% for blended fat.
The dynamic stress intensity factor for a crack due to arbitrary rectilinear screw dislocation motion

The dynamic stress intensity factor for a stationary semi-infinite crack in an elastic plane due to the rectilinear motion of a screw dislocation is obtained analytically. The intensity factor is studied for its dependence on the (initial) dislocation position, orientation and speed. The speed is subsonic and possibly non-uniform. The position and orientation are arbitrary, so that crack-dislocation intersection is considered. It is assumed that a dislocation traveling toward the crack surface arrests upon arrival. It is found that, in general, dislocation motion initiation and arrest cause discontinuities in the intensity factor. In the latter instance, the factor takes on a constant value and, in the case of arrest on the crack surface, this value depends only on the initial dislocation position.
Abstract 3014: Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor maintains stemness and tumorigenic potential of glioblastoma stem cells

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Glioblastoma (GBM) stem cells (GSCs) are a subpopulation of tumor cells that display stem-like characteristics (stemness) and play unique roles in tumor propagation, therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. It is becoming increasingly important to identify novel therapeutic targets in GSC for anti-GBM therapies. Here, we demonstrate that hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) is hyper-expressed in GBM tumors and supports the self-renewal and tumorigenic potential of GSCs. HMMR silencing impairs GSC self-renewal and inhibits the expression of GSC markers and regulators. HMMR silencing suppresses GSC-derived tumor growth and extends the survival of mice bearing GSC xenografts. HMMR overexpression promotes GSC self-renewal and intracranial tumor propagation. In human GBM tumor specimens, HMMR expression is positively correlated with the expression of cell-stemness-associated markers and regulators. Our findings identify HMMR as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting GSCs, suggesting therapeutic applications against GBM. Citation Format: Jessica Tilghman, John Laterra, Mingyao Ying. Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor maintains stemness and tumorigenic potential of glioblastoma stem cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3014. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3014
Early intervention in schizophrenia: a critique.

Objective – Two forms of early intervention in psychosis are currently being proposed — intervention before the onset of illness with at-risk individuals and intervention after the onset of psychosis. Method – The risks and potential benefits associated with these two approaches were examined using published data and Bayes probability theorem. Results -Claims for benefits from early intervention in established psychosis go back more than two hundred years to the nineteenth-century advocates for asylum construction. Theoretical support for early intervention in psychosis rests on data suggesting that a longer duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is associated with poor outcome. The association of DUP with outcome, however, appears to be inseparable from the confounding influence of the good outcome expected in recent-onset psychosis. Although some researchers advocate treating people with premorbid features of psychosis or other high-risk indicators, adequate screening measures and effective interventions are not yet available. The most promising current screening measure, if applied to the general population, would be accurate only two percent of the time. The accuracy of these measures can be improved by screening only those patients who are referred to a clinic, but this strategy will result in many cases in the population-at-large being overlooked. Discussion – The risks and potential benefits associated with the two early intervention approaches are very different. The provision of optimal treatment early in psychosis could produce benefits, but people with brief, good-prognosis psychotic episodes are likely to receive unnecessary treatment. Screening the general population or patients referred to a clinic will have little public health impact on the incidence of schizophrenia. There is likely to be considerable negative impact on those who are inaccurately labeled as being at imminent risk of psychosis and are treated accordingly.
Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from plug-in hybrid vehicles: implications for policy.

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which use electricity from the grid to power a portion of travel, could play a role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transport sector. However, meaningful GHG emissions reductions with PHEVs are conditional on low-carbon electricity sources. We assess life cycle GHG emissions from PHEVs and find that they reduce GHG emissions by 32% compared to conventional vehicles, but have small reductions compared to traditional hybrids. Batteries are an important component of PHEVs, and GHGs associated with lithium-ion battery materials and production account for 2–5% of life cycle emissions from PHEVs. We consider cellulosic ethanol use and various carbon intensities of electricity. The reduced liquid fuel requirements of PHEVs could leverage limited cellulosic ethanol resources. Electricity generation infrastructure is long-lived, and technology decisions within the next decade about electricity supplies in the power sector will affect the potential for l...
Mobility of Native Americans

Alone woodsman erecting a log cabin, wagon trains curling across the prairies, fur trappers high in the mountains, Indian war parties, gold strikes, frontier marshalls and gunmen—of such stuff the legends of the American West have been formed and in the popular imagination they are the Westward Movement. Of course, serious historians have long recognized that this is merely a fascinating but veneer-like overlay which disguises a massive movement of people from East to West.
Blood pressure responses and metabolic effects of hydrochlorothiazide and atenolol.

Hypertension is estimated to affect 1 billion of the world’s adult population and generally requires life-long treatment with one or more classes of antihypertensive therapy.1 Two antihypertensive classes, thiazide diuretics and β-blockers, are recommended as first-line therapies by current United States guidelines and are frequently used as initial therapy in newly diagnosed patients or as part of combination antihypertensive therapy.2 However, derangements in multiple metabolic parameters are common and well-known adverse effects of these antihypertensive classes. Both thiazide diuretics and β-blockers have been associated with increased glucose levels and an increased risk of diabetes.3–6 Additionally, adverse lipid effects, including increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) have been observed following thiazide diuretic and β-blockers therapy.7 Such effects may mitigate some of the cardiovascular benefits afforded by the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effects of these drugs. Finally, elevated serum uric acid (UA) during treatment with thiazide diuretics may increase the risk of developing gout. Little is known of the mechanisms behind these common adverse effects, despite being extensively studied.8 Furthermore, relatively few variables are shown to consistently predict the occurrence or magnitude of these drug-induced adverse metabolic effects (AMEs).2,3 However, an important clinical question is whether those individuals with the greatest BP response to these agents are also the most likely to develop drug-induced AMEs during therapy. If these effects are correlated, AMEs may share predictors of BP response. We aimed to determine whether BP response was associated with adverse effects on serum glucose, UA, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and weight in a population of patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or atenolol.
A cadaver study in preparation for facial allograft transplantation in humans: Part II. Mock facial transplantation

Background:The authors have performed mock facial transplantation by harvesting total facial-scalp flaps from donors and transferring them to recipient cadavers.Methods:A total of 10 fresh human cadavers were dissected. In the donor, the authors have measured the time of facial-scalp flap harvesting