cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromosomal markers in study of colon cancer.

Examination of a relatively small subset of information pertaining to colon tumors indicates that examples in each category (including predisposing markers of chromosomal instability, causally relevant markers, correlation between karyotypic atypia and biological malignancy, and some tumors with no detectable chromosome changes) can all be found. This discussion began with questions about the purposes that markers could serve: some of those questions with reference to colon tumors can be answered. For the most part, the presence of chromosomal aberrations can indeed distinguish between the normal and the tumor cell and, in this sense, help to define the tumor. Moreover, some specific chromosomal alterations appear to be preferentially associated with colon tumors. If the specificity can be better defined, then, like the other specific tumor-chromosome associations, those in colonic mucosa may help to identify and localize gene functions important in the growth, development, or regulation of this specialized tissue. In any event, chromosomal aberrations are of value, not only in confirming the diagnosis, but also by their associations with different behavioral patterns in both malignant and premalignant lesions. Their definition, therefore, may have predictive value for the individual patient. In particular, inability to find such alterations, while it is not evidence of a nontumorous state, in a known malignancy may at least contribute some information about the biology of that particular tumor.
The Chrysophyte Genera Synuropsis Schiller, Volvochrysis Schiller, Synochromonas Korshikov, Pseudosynura Kisselew, Pseudosyncrypta Kisselew, Chrysomoron Skuja, and Syncrypta Ehrenberg

Abstract A revision of the chrysophyte genus Synuropsis Schiller is proposed and its taxonomic status is validated. The closely related genera Volvochrysis Schiller, Synochromonas Korshikov, Pseudosynura Kisselew, Pseudosyncrypta Kisselew, and Chrysomoron Skuja are reexamined and placed in synonymy with Synuropsis. A key to the six species now recognized of Synuropsis is given.
SCYTODES VS. SCHIZOCOSA: PREDATORY TECHNIQUES AND THEIR MORPHOLOGICAL CORRELATES

Wolf spiders (Lycosidae) typically subdue prey using their legs for capture and their fangs for the injection of venom. Spitting spiders (Scytodidae), in contrast, subdue prey by entangling them, at a distance, in a spitted mixture of silk, glue, and venom that immobilizes and may also kill them. We selected individuals of Schizocosa duplex (Lycosidae) and Scytodes sp. (Scytodidae) of approximately the same mass and carapace width to provide a quantitative assessment of their relative allocations of biomass to morphological features that might be expected to vary with prey-capture technique. As expected, the wolf spiders allocated significantly more to legs, chelicerae, and fangs, and significantly less to the venom glands, than did the spitting spiders. Further comparisons of the legs and chelicerae of the two species provided surprises. First, the legs of Scytodes were 42% longer than those of Schizocosa despite smaller overall allocation to the legs in Scytodes. And second, although the relative sizes of the chelicerae differ greatly, the shapes of the chelicerae of Schizocosa and Scytodes were not significantly different despite the radically different tasks those structures must fulfill.
Employing fuzzy concept for digital improvisational theatre

This paper describes the creation of a digital improvisational theatre game, called Party Quirks, that allows a human user to improvise a scene with synthetic actors according to the rules of the real-world Party Quirks improv game. The AI actor behaviors are based on our study of communication strategies between real-life actors on stage and the fuzzy concepts that they employ to define and portray characters. This paper describes the underlying fuzzy concepts used to enable reasoning in ambiguous environments, like improv theatre. It also details the development of content for the system, which involved the creation of a system for animation authoring, design for efficient data reuse, and a work flow centered on Google Docs enabling parallel data entry and rapid iteration.
Stochastic Birth and Death Processes

In this section we will study two models for the growth of a single species population. We will recognize that in nature, births and deaths do not occur with clockwork precision, but rather happen probabilistically. Although this will complicate the mathematics considerably, one added aspect of reality will become available. Specifically, we will be able always to deal with integer numbers of organisms, thus avoiding the limitations inherent to models in which population size is treated as a continuous variable.
Searching for the Rotational Spectrum of CH2OH

Hydroxymethyl radical (CH2OH) is a radical fragment of methanol, and an important molecule in understanding astrochemistry. Its precursor is abundant, its isomer has already been detected towards B1-b, and it is a key intermediate in the production of more complex hydrocarbons, but its rotational spectrum is not yet known. Identification of this fragment and its isomer CH3O in spectral data could improve our understanding of the development of chemical complexity in space, and could also be used to constrain models of desorption and branching ratios of methanol photodissociation. We sought to measure the rotational spectrum of CH2OH to open the door for its observation in space. Spectrum predictions were made based on infrared experiments by Roberts et al., and a millimeter-wave absorption cell, operating in the 70–500 GHz range was used to search for the rotational spectrum of CH2OH. A number of candidate lines were found, but none could be clearly identified as belonging to CH2OH. Previously unmeasured lines of CH3O were also determined. Future work will involve increasing the production efficiency of CH2OH and searching for its b-type spectrum.
Altered Sensitivity of Aspirin-Acetylated Prostaglandin G/H Synthase-2 to Inhibition by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Aspirin (ASA) acetylates Ser516 of prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) resulting in a modified enzyme that converts arachidonic acid to 15(R)-hydroxy-eicosatetraeroic acid [15(R)-HETE]. ASA has pharmacological benefits that may not all be limited to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, and this study was initiated to further investigate the properties of ASA-acetylated PGHS-2 and of the mutation of Ser516 to methionine, which mimics ASA acetylation. Both the S516M mutant and ASA-acetylated form of PGHS-2 (ASA-PGHS-2) synthesize 15(R)-HETE and have apparent K(m) values for arachidonic acid within 10-fold of the apparent K(m) value for untreated PGHS-2. The time courses of turnover-dependent inactivation were similar for reactions catalyzed by PGHS-2 and ASA-PGHS-2, whereas the PGHS-2(S516M) showed a decrease in both the initial rate of 15-HETE production and rate of enzyme inactivation. The production of 15-HETE by modified PGHS-2 was sensitive to inhibition by most nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including selective PGHS-2 inhibitors. As observed for the cyclooxygenase activity of PGHS-2, the inhibition of 15-HETE production by indomethacin was time-dependent for both ASA-PGHS-2 and PGHS-2(S516M). However, two potent, structurally related NSAIDs, diclofenac and meclofenamic acid, do not inhibit either ASA-PGHS-2 or the PGHS-2(S516M) mutant. These results demonstrate that the sensitivity to inhibition by NSAIDs of the 15-HETE production by ASA-treated PGHS-2 is different than that of prostaglandin production by PGHS-2 and that Ser516 plays an important role in the interaction with fenamate inhibitors. The results also indicate that the conversion of arachidonic acid to 15-HETE by ASA-PGHS-2 is an efficient process providing a unique mechanism among NSAIDs that will not lead to arachidonic acid accumulation or shunting to other biosynthetic pathways.
Influence of Surface Charge of Phospholipids on their Clot-Promoting Activity.

SummaryElectrophoretic mobilities and thromboplastic activities of emulsions of mixtures of phospholipids derived from beef brain and egg yolk were determined. The studies included mixtures of varying amounts of phosphatidyl serine in lecithin, phosphatidyl serine in phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidic acid in lecithin. It was concluded that the manifestation of “thromboplastic activity”by a particular phospholipid emulsion will depend largely upon the surface charge of the particles. The possibility of other factors involved was not excluded.
Survey on the epidemiology of suspected circulating cases induced by variants of vaccine poliovirus in Jiangsu Province

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the procedures of processing the suspected circulating cases of vaccine poliovirus variants. Methods Diagnosis of the cases were verified and individual cases were investigated. Acute flaccid paralysis(AFP) cases were actively searched in local hospitals, and the working situation of AFP monitoring system were evaluated. Meanwhile, the poliovirus carrying rate of stool samples and the coverage of oral poliovirus vaccine(OPV) immunization from close contacts were investigated. Results Type 3 poliovirus were isolated simultaneously from samples of 3 AFP cases. Compared to the VP1 region of the reference Sabin 3 strain, the isolates showed genetic differences of 0.44%, 0.55%, and 0.44%, respectively by sequence analysis. The disease occurrence sites of 3 AFP cases were far from each other, and all of them had OPV history. No poliovirus was found from stool samples of close contacts, and the vaccination coverage in local children was very high. Conclusion The vaccine poliovirus variants did not circulate in local area. To prevent circulation of vaccine poliovirus variants and the import of wild-type poliovirus, the quality of AFP surveillance, OPV immunization coverage rate and epidemic emergency ability must be improved.
Echocardiographic diagnosis of interrupted aortic arch

Objective To evaluate the echocardiographic characteristics of interrupted aortic arch (IAA). Methods Eight patients suspected of IAA were carefully and overallly scaned with echocardiography from subcostal, apex, paresternal and suprasternal windows, and the images were analysed segmentally for diagnosis. Results Eight cases of IAA were exactly diagnosed by echocardiography (8/8,100%). Characteristic echocardiographic findings of IAA were diaplayed in these patients. Aortic arch was difficult to show in suprasternal windows, and aortic arch was usually long, straight, and interrupted, the blood flow broke down, and the descending aorta connected with pulmonary artery through patent ductus arteriosus, usually accompanied with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. Conclusion Suprasternal view is helpful to the echocardiographic diagnosis of IAA. [
Mucosal Regulatory T Cells and T Helper 17 Cells in HIV-Associated Immune Activation.

Abstract Residual mucosal inflammation along with chronic systemic immune activation is an important feature in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and has been linked to a wide range of co-morbidities including malignancy, opportunistic infections, immunopathology and cardiovascular complications. Although combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can reduce plasma viral loads to undetectable levels, reservoirs of virus persist, and increased mortality is associated with immune dysbiosis in mucosal lymphoid tissues. Immune-based therapies are pursued with the goal of improving CD4+ T-cell restoration, as well as reducing chronic immune activation in cART-treated patients. However, the majority of research on immune activation has been derived from analysis of circulating T cells. How immune cell alterations in mucosal tissues contribute to HIV immune dysregulation and the associated risk of non-infectious chronic complications is less studied. Given the significant differences between mucosal T cells and circulating T cells, and the immediate interactions of mucosal T cells with the microbiome, more attention should be devoted to mucosal immune cells and their contribution to systemic immune activation in HIV infected individuals. Here we will focus on mucosal immune cells with a specific emphasis on CD4+ T lymphocytes such as T helper 17 cells and CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play crucial roles in maintaining mucosal barrier integrity and preventing inflammation respectively. We hypothesize that pro-inflammatory milieu in cART treated patients with immune activation significantly contributes to enhanced loss of Th17 cells and increased frequency of dysregulated Tregs in the mucosa, which in turn may exacerbate immune dysfunction in HIV infected patients. We also present initial evidence to support this hypothesis. A better comprehension of how pro-inflammatory milieu impacts these two types of cells in the mucosa will shed light on mucosal immune dysfunction and HIV reservoirs, and lead to novel ways to restore immune functions in HIV+ patients.
Cryosurgery for Non-melanoma Skin Cancer: A Cost Analysis

There have been rapid increases in the number of skin cancers diagnosed in the United States and worldwide with associated burgeoning costs. Despite recent focus by insurers, government regulators and patients on reducing healthcare expenditure and promoting cost-effective care, the US utilization of Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of skin cancer has increased by 466 % from 1996 to 2012, while the utilization of less expensive destructive modalities like cryosurgery has decreased. Understanding the relative costs and cost effectiveness of skin cancer treatments including cryosurgery will be critical in making cost conscious, evidence based skin cancer treatment decisions.
Thermal Flattening in 3D FPGAs Using Embedded Cooling (Abstract Only)

Thermal management is one of the key concerns in modern high power density chips. A variety of thermal cooling techniques that have been in use in industrial applications are now also being applied to integrated circuits. In this work, we explore the integration of thermal aware CAD techniques with embedded cooling solutions to achieve smoother thermal profiles in 3D FPGAs. We also present some results on coolant temperatures and flow rates and their effect on thermal gradients on the chip.
Pancreatic Pseudocyst: Operative Versus Endoscopic Approach

Management of pancreatic pseudocyst requires multidisciplinary planning and nuanced clinical judgment. While open surgical management has long been the mainstay of therapy, laparoscopic and endoscopic approaches have been increasingly adopted in routine practice. Few data from randomized controlled trials exist to compare laparoscopic and endoscopic techniques. Most experienced practitioners agree that the least invasive approach possible is generally preferable, although ultimately management decisions must be individualized for each patient based on specific clinical and anatomic circumstances. Specifically, the location of the pseudocyst in relation to enteral structures that are easily reached by endoscope is critical in determining whether endoscopic drainage is appropriate. To illustrate the complex management decisions and technical aspects, we present and discuss three cases of pancreatic pseudocyst managed by endoscopic, laparoscopic, and open surgical techniques.
REVITALIZING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA: THE PARTICIPATORY RURAL APPRAISAL (PRA) APPROACH REVISITED

Agricultural productivity in Nigeria and its overall contribution to the nations Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has continued to decline or stagnate with the discovery of oil as a major revenue earner for the nation. In other to stem this situation, successive regimes initiated and implemented various policies and programmes but they all failed to re-vitalize the agricultural sector. This paper is of the contention that promoting sustainable agriculture is crucial to Nigeria’s economic development. To achieve this, the paper posits that a viable, realistic and sustainable approach to re-vitalizing the agricultural sector must use the rural farmers and people as its building blocks. The paper therefore, recommend the Participatory Rural Approach (PRA) approach in which the farmers take an active and influential part in shaping decisions that will ultimately affect their lives by been involved in government policy formulation, adoption, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Pain management for primary care providers: A narrative review of high-impact studies, 2014-2016

Objective This manuscript reviews high-impact, peer-reviewed studies published from January 2014 to March 2016 that are relevant to pain management in primary care. Given the recent release of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain" emphasizing the primacy of nonopioid treatment, we focused our review on nonopioid pain management. Design Narrative review of peer-reviewed literature. Methods We searched three article summary services and queried expert contacts for high-impact, English-language studies related to the management of pain in adults in primary care. All authors reviewed 142 study titles to arrive at group consensus on article content domains. Within article domains, individual authors selected studies approved by the larger group according to their impact on primary care clinical practice, policy, and research, as well as quality of the study methods. Through iterative discussion, 12 articles were selected for detailed review, discussion, and presentation in this narrative review. Results We present key articles addressing each of six domains of pain management: pharmacotherapy for acute pain; interventional treatments; medical cannabis; complementary and integrative medicine; care management in chronic pain; and prevention. Within each section, we conclude with implications for pain management in primary care. Conclusions There is growing evidence for multiple nonopioid treatment modalities available to clinicians for the management of pain in primary care. The dissemination and implementation of these studies, including innovative care management interventions, warrant additional study and support from clinicians, educators, and policy-makers.
Autoimmune Sclerosing Cholangitis: a Review of the Overlap between Autoimmune Hepatitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Children

Pediatric patients with autoimmune liver disease (ALD) frequently demonstrate clinical, histopathologic, cholangiographic, and serologic overlap between primary sclerosing cholangitis and autoimmune hepatitis, termed autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC). Several large, collaborative studies have shed light on the epidemiology and natural history of ASC in the last 5 years. A detailed genetic and environmental description of the pathogenesis remains lacking however. Here, we review recent advancements in knowledge on ASC in children, and their implications on the management of this rare disease. Consensus diagnostic criteria for ASC do not exist, and we recommend labeling a patient as ASC only when clinical criteria for each of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are separately met. Treatment of ASC is based on the lobular component of inflammation, which behaves similar to AIH and responds to standard immunosuppression regimens. The cholangiopathy of ASC behaves like PSC and currently dictates prognosis as there is no effective therapy and no response to immunosuppression. Rates of liver transplantation for ASC are identical to those of PSC. Rather than specifically labeling patients as ASC, the most important tasks for clinicians managing ALD are to detect treatable autoimmune lobular inflammation in PSC patients and to identify cholangiopathy in AIH patients with persistent biochemical abnormalities prior to therapeutic escalation.
GeoGame analytics – A cyber-enabled petri dish for geographic modeling and simulation

Abstract As researchers start to conceptualize human-environmental interactions through coupled human and natural systems research, the non-linear, dynamic, heterogeneous, feedback loops that are characteristic of those systems challenges a long-standing Newtonian paradigm of systems reducible to component parts, deterministic behavior, and the existence of equilibrium. As an alternative, complex systems researchers often use agent-based models (ABM) or multi-agent systems (MAS) to model and simulate complexity in human-environmental interactions. This paper briefly reports on the development of a novel cyberinfrastructure portal solution called GeoGames. This computing environment integrates and leverages web-GIS and multiplayer online game technology to enable simulations of real-world scenarios of coupled human and natural systems applicable to anything from cities, urban regions to other human settlements. While there are some similarities between GeoGames and games like SimCity, and Civilization, a fundamental idea underlying the GeoGames approach is the focus on creating an on-line world that mirrors (c.f. Gelernter, 1991 ) authentic real-world geography, realized by a full range of GIS supported mapping and processing services (Ahlqvist, Loffing, Ramanathan, & Kocher, P). In the context of our prototype platform we present the emerging area of Spatial Game Analytics (Drachen & Schubert, 2013) that provides an uncharted area for data-intensive geospatial scenario analysis. Our example scenario is a game that models the relationships of land management on hydrology and water quality. Our presentation is illustrated with examples from our own prototype platform that has generated a significant amount of user data on game play decisions and behavior. Exploratory GeoGame analytics are used to mine the spatial behavior of hundreds of players in order to identify how variations in the rules (land use policies) and varying locations (spatial configurations) affect the simulation outcomes.
The MISER criterion for imbalance in the analysis of covariance

Abstract This paper describes a new statistical technique for comparing unbalanced experimental designs that will be modeled by the univariate analysis of covariance. We propose treating the imbalance in the design by Minimizing the Inflation of the Standard Error of a contrast (MISER). We also discuss attributing the increased variance caused by imbalance in a design to particular covariates. The effect of implementing the proposed MISER criterion is to generate a design that is sensitive to treatment effect differences. The MISER criterion is applied to a social experiment involving offering cash incentives to induce high quality young men to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Focus, Patient-centeredness, and Performance: An Empirical Examination in US Hospitals

Although hospitals strive to achieve high clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, many struggle to achieve both concurrently. Using rigorous empirical analysis with secondary data from 2,898 US...
Association between baseline cognitive impairment and postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing surgery for adult spinal deformity

OBJECTIVE Postoperative delirium is common in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery and is associated with a longer and more costly hospital course, functional decline, postoperative institutionalization, and higher likelihood of death within 6 months of discharge. Preoperative cognitive impairment may be a risk factor for the development of postoperative delirium. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between baseline cognitive impairment and postoperative delirium in geriatric patients undergoing surgery for degenerative scoliosis. METHODS Elderly patients 65 years and older undergoing a planned elective spinal surgery for correction of adult degenerative scoliosis were enrolled in this study. Preoperative cognition was assessed using the validated Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) examination. SLUMS comprises 11 questions, with a maximum score of 30 points. Mild cognitive impairment was defined as a SLUMS score between 21 and 26 points, while severe cognitive impairment was defined as a SLUMS score of ≤ 20 points. Normal cognition was defined as a SLUMS score of ≥ 27 points. Delirium was assessed daily using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and rated as absent or present on the basis of CAM. The incidence of delirium was compared in patients with and without baseline cognitive impairment. RESULTS Twenty-two patients (18%) developed delirium postoperatively. Baseline demographics, including age, sex, comorbidities, and perioperative variables, were similar in patients with and without delirium. The length of in-hospital stay (mean 5.33 days vs 5.48 days) and 30-day hospital readmission rates (12.28% vs 12%) were similar between patients with and without delirium, respectively. Patients with preoperative cognitive impairment (i.e., a lower SLUMS score) had a higher incidence of postoperative delirium. One- and 2-year patient reported outcomes scores were similar in patients with and without delirium. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive impairment is a risk factor for the development of postoperative delirium. Postoperative delirium may be associated with decreased preoperative cognitive reserve. Cognitive impairment assessments should be considered in the preoperative evaluations of elderly patients prior to surgery.
Antioxidants, Healthy Diet, and Diabetes: Oxidative Stress and Nutrition in Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by an increased macrovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as by typical microangiopathic complications (retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy). Oxidative stress is considered the main cause of these complications. Indeed, it causes a complex dysregulation of cell metabolism and cell–cell homeostasis that has been implicated in both the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction—the two most relevant mechanisms in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, as well as in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. Such considerations raise the concept that an antioxidant therapy may be of utility in these patients. To test this hypothesis, several studies have been carried out, although with conflicting results. In this chapter, we will focus on the effects of an “antioxidant therapy” and a “healthy” diet in diabetic subjects.
An Economic Assessment of Selected Integration and Automation Technologies

This paper presents a critical analysis of the economic impacts of past, ongoing, and planned research of BFRL’s construction systems integration and automation technologies (CONSIAT) program. The CONSIAT program is an interdisciplinary research effort within BFRL to develop key enabling technologies, standard communication protocols, and advanced measurement technologies needed to facilitate the delivery of fully-integrated and automated project process (FIAPP) products and services to the construction industry. BFRL is participating in a public-private partnership focused on early commercialization of FIAPP products and services. The results of this analysis demonstrate that the use of FIAPP products and services will generate substantial cost savings to the capital facilities industry. The present value of savings nationwide expected from the use of FIAPP products and services in capital facilities over the next 15 years exceeds $3.5 billion. The present value of cost savings due to the public-private partnership’s efforts focused on early commercialization of FIAPP products and services is expected to exceed $280 million.
Friedrich Wegener and the Nature of Fame

Friedrich Wegener was born April 7, 1907, in Varel and died July 9, 1990, in Lubeck. Between these historical brackets is the story of a life worth telling.
Real Option Identification Framework for Mine Operational Decision-Making

Identification of opportunities for applying real options (RO) in mining operations is a major challenge to decision-makers. In order to make optimal decisions in uncertain times, managers require a full understanding of the relationships between risk, uncertainty and flexibility. RO analysis, which captures the value of any managerial flexibility that may exist in a project, provides a proactive management of uncertainty. Thus, it enhances optimal decision-making. However, it is important that a structured framework is created to identify project uncertainties and areas available to cultivate flexibility. In this paper, uncertainty identification framework in a mining operation is proposed, and areas for managerial flexibility and their application domains within the mining cycle are mapped as well. To avoid complex mathematical models, which hinder the adoption of RO analysis in mining operations, a relationship between risk measure (beta) and flexibility (flexibility index) is derived and applied. This implies that if a project beta is known, then the expected option values and volatility of future cash flows can be precisely estimated. Once the option value is calculated using the derived equation, a modified smooth pasting condition with the mean value theorem is subsequently applied to estimate the optimal value. This combination of beta, flexibility index and mean value theorem can be used as a decision criterion for screening various options within a mining project.
Power sources for search and rescue 406 MHz beacons

The results of a study directed at the selection of a commercially available, safe, low cost, light weight and long storage life battery for search and rescue (Sarsat) 406 MHz emergency beacons are presented. In the course of this work, five electrochemical systems (lithium-manganese dioxide, lithium-carbon monofluoride, lithium-silver vanadium oxide, alkaline cells, and cadmium-mercuric oxide) were selected for limited experimental studies to determine their suitability for this application. Two safe, commercially available batteries (lithium-manganese dioxide and lithium-carbon monofluoride) which meet the near term requirements and several alternatives for the long term were identified.
Prolonged Prepregnant Maternal High-Fat Feeding Reduces Fetal and Neonatal Blood Glucose Concentrations by Enhancing Fetal β-cell Development in C57BL/6 Mice

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal obesity on offspring's glucose metabolism during the perinatal period. Maternal obesity was established by feeding C57BL/6 mice with a high-fat (HF) diet before or during pregnancy. Our results showed that prolonged prepregnant HF feeding but not HF feeding during pregnancy significantly reduced fetal and neonatal blood glucose concentrations. Remarkably, elevated blood insulin concentrations and increased activation of insulin signaling were observed in fetuses and neonates from prepregnant HF-fed dams. In addition, significantly larger β-cell areas were observed in pancreases of fetuses and neonates from prepregnant HF-fed dams. Although there was no significant change in placental cross-sectional area or GLUT 1 expression, prepregnant HF feeding significantly enhanced the expression of genes that control placental fatty acid supply. Interestingly, reducing fatty acid supply to the placenta and fetus by placental-specific knockout of adipose triglyceride lipase not only reduced fetal β-cell area and blood insulin concentration but also attenuated prepregnant HF feeding-induced reduction in offspring blood glucose concentrations during the perinatal period. Together, these results indicate that placental and fetal fatty acid supply plays an important role in fetal β-cell development, insulin secretion, and glucose metabolism. Prolonged prepregnant maternal HF feeding resembles pregravid maternal obesity in mice, which reduces fetal and neonatal blood glucose concentrations by enhancing fetal β-cell development and insulin secretion.
An analysis of the relationship of character strengths and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis

To examine the relationship of character strengths and quality of life (QOL) in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, this study examined the relationship of the 24 character strengths in Peterson and Seligman’s model with QOL and three negative effects of MS (disability, fatigue, and depression). It also investigated whether the three negative effects of MS mediate the relationship of each of the character strengths and QOL. Six hundred and twenty-four individuals with MS completed an online survey measuring character strengths, QOL, as measured by the Leeds Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Scale, disability, fatigue, and depression. SPSS was used to complete the correlational analysis, and Hayes’ PROCESS macro for SPSS was used to conduct the mediation analyses. The strengths endorsed most frequently by the participants were honesty, kindness, and fairness. The least-endorsed strengths were self-regulation, zest, and spirituality. The strengths with the strongest association with QOL were zest, hope, and gratitude. Disability was not found to mediate any of the relationships between character strengths and QOL. Many of the character strengths were associated with QOL both directly and indirectly through fatigue and depression. Many of the character strengths in the Peterson and Seligman model enhance QOL in persons with MS, both directly and through their influence on negative effects of MS. The results provide support for the development of character strengths interventions to impact QOL, both directly and indirectly through improvements to MS-related symptoms such as fatigue and depression.
Facts and Myths about Misperceptions

Misperceptions threaten to warp mass opinion and public policy on controversial issues in politics, science, and health. What explains the prevalence and persistence of these false and unsupported beliefs, which seem to be genuinely held by many people? Though limits on cognitive resources and attention play an important role, many of the most destructive misperceptions arise in domains where individuals have weak incentives to hold accurate beliefs and strong directional motivations to endorse beliefs that are consistent with a group identity such as partisanship. These tendencies are often exploited by elites who frequently create and amplify misperceptions to influence elections and public policy. Though evidence is lacking for claims of a "post-truth" era, changes in the speed with which false information travels and the extent to which it can find receptive audiences require new approaches to counter misinformation. Reducing the propagation and influence of false claims will require further efforts to inoculate people in advance of exposure (for example, media literacy), debunk false claims that are already salient or widespread (for example, fact-checking), reduce the prevalence of low-quality information (for example, changing social media algorithms), and discourage elites from promoting false information (for example, strengthening reputational sanctions).
Can We Be Casual about Being Causal

The demonstration of causal relationships among variables has been central to the social sciences for their entire existence, but there has been an upsurge of concern about causal inference over at...
Dissemination of Evidence-Based Treatments for Children and Families in Practice Settings

Children’s mental health stakeholders have identified dissemination and implementation of psychological treatments as a key goal for the field. This chapter provides an overview of dissemination and implementation science related to child and adolescent mental health treatment and services research broadly. Systematic reviews have identified hundreds of published randomized controlled studies of treatments for child and adolescent behavioral health problems, yielding many treatment programs that demonstrate significant clinical gains relative to control conditions. Despite the array of options, many youths experiencing clinically significant behavioral health problems do not receive adequate treatment. The authors review the conceptual underpinnings of this research, provide a brief overview of relevant factors, summarize several influential models, and comment on the research and practical applications of dissemination and implementation. The authors note that there has been a proliferation of empirical and theoretical work as well as organizational developments related to dissemination and implementation of psychological treatments. These developments are encouraging in order to build a science that improves the lives of the many youth and families struggling with behavioral health concerns.
Polarizability of Pyruvate Anion in Small Water Clusters

Pyruvate anion is important in a broad array of physicochemical processes ranging from glucose homeostasis to atmospheric reactions. However, the electronic polarizability of the moiety has not bee...
Engineering: A Long Hard Road-Worth the Effort

In 1983, there was a basketball coach at North Carolina State University who believed in his team despite the odds against it. His team was not expected to compete well that year but had surprised opponent after opponent. When his team was invited to the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament that year, it was not expected to advance beyond the first or second round. In pursuit of a national title, the coach cont inued to instill that "you can" attitude in his players. To everyone's surprise, perhaps even to the coach, the team won the national championship. The coach's belief was fully supported.
The Impact of Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Sri Lanka Telecom

This paper aims to examine the relationship among Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), job satisfaction and Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and the mediating effects of job satisfaction on the relationship between CSR and OCB. In order to achieve the study objectives, primary data was collected from 150 employees of selected regional divisions of Sri Lanka Telecom. A simple mediation analysis was used to test the research model. The findings of the study revealed that a positive and significant relationship exists among the study variables. Moreover, the empirical findings of the study indicate that job satisfaction of employee mediates the relationship between CSR and OCB. The empirical findings support the theoretical argument of the study. The findings of the study will be useful and important in understanding empirical knowledge regarding the relationship among CSR, job satisfaction and OCB.
Moire Interferometry for Composites

With its high sensitivity and high spatial resolution, moire interferometry is capable of analyzing strains in laminated composites on a ply-by-ply basis. It is an optical technique that produces contour maps of in-plane U and V displacement fields. The paper describes the experimental technique and presents diverse applications. Examples are taken from studies of free-edge effects, where compressive loading causes severe transverse and shear strains; shear tests, that show the importance of whole-field analysis of the strain distributions; metal-matrix specimens, which document concentrations of strains in the matrix and show anomalous movements between groups of fibers; thermal strains, which result from steady-state changes of temperature.
Uncoupling by Acetic Acid Limits Growth of and Acetogenesis by Clostridium thermoaceticum.

When cells of the anaerobic thermophile Clostridium thermoaceticum grow in batch culture and homoferment glucose to acetic acid, the pH of the medium decreases until growth and then acid production cease, at about pH 5. We postulated that the end product of fermentation limits growth by acting as an uncoupling agent. Thus, when the pH of the medium is low, the cytoplasm of the cells becomes acidified below a tolerable pH. We have therefore measured the internal pH of growing cells and compared these values with those of nongrowing cells incubated in the absence of acetic acid. Growing cells maintained an interior about 0.6 pH units more alkaline than the exterior throughout most of batch growth (i.e., ΔpH = 0.6). We also measured the transmembrane electrical potential (ΔΨ), which decreased from 140 mV at pH 7 at the beginning of growth to 80 mV when the medium had reached pH 5. The proton motive force, therefore, was 155 mV at pH 7, decreasing to 120 mV at pH 5. When further fermentation acidified the medium below pH 5, both the ΔpH and the ΔΨ collapsed, indicating that these cells require an internal pH of at least 5.5 to 5.7. Cells harvested from stationary phase and suspended in citrate-phosphate buffer maintained a ΔpH of 1.5 at external pH 5.0. This ΔpH was dissipated by acetic acid (at the concentrations found in the growth medium) and other weak organic acids, as well as by ionophores and inhibitors of glycolysis and of the H+-ATPase. Nongrowing cells had a ΔΨ which ranged from about 116 mV at external pH 7 to about 55 mV at external pH 5 and which also was sensitive to ionophores. Since acetic acid, in its un-ionized form, diffuses passively across the cytoplasmic membrane, it effectively renders the membrane permeable to protons. It therefore seems unlikely that mutations at one or a few loci would result in C. thermoaceticum cells significantly more acetic acid tolerant than their parental type.
A new liquid aerosol generator: II. The effect of reheating and studies on the condensation zone

Abstract If the aerosol emanating from the generator recently described by us (1) is reheated and subsequently condensed, an aerosol having a significantly narrower size distribution is formed. The stability and reproducibility of the earlier generator is maintained with this added regenerator. Condensation occurs in a paraboloidal-shaped isothermal region. Theoretical heat transfer calculations agree with the temperature measurements and predict precisely the observed shape of the paraboloidal condensation zone. Theoretical estimates of the size of the nuclei have been made using values of the supersaturation in the condensation zone obtained from experiment. The radial variation of the size distribution of the aerosol as well as its continued growth downstream from the condensation zone has been measured. The formation of the aerosol is primarily an equilibrium process. Growth is very rapid after the onset of nucleation.
Isospin quintets in the 1p and s-d shells

The pion double-charge exchange reaction (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) has been used to measure the ground-state masses of $^{12}\mathrm{O}$, $^{16}\mathrm{Ne}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Si}$, and $^{32}\mathrm{Ar}$. The mass excesses were found to be 32.059(48), 24.051(45), 10.682(52), and - 2.181(50) MeV, respectively. These are the first reported measurements of the masses of $^{24}\mathrm{Si}$ and $^{32}\mathrm{Ar}$ and the values for $^{12}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{16}\mathrm{Ne}$ are improved over previous results. Good agreement with the isobaric multiplet mass equation $M=a+b{T}_{z}+c{{T}_{z}}^{2}$ is obtained for the known members of all four quintets.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Pion double-charge exchange, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{9}\mathrm{C}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{12}\mathrm{O}$, $^{13}\mathrm{C}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{13}\mathrm{O}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{16}\mathrm{Ne}$, $^{24}\mathrm{Mg}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{24}\mathrm{Si}$, $^{32}\mathrm{S}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}, {\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}})^{32}\mathrm{Ar}$, $E=180$ MeV, measured $Q$ and $\frac{d\ensuremath{\sigma}}{d\ensuremath{\Omega}}$ (5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}).
Growth Response of Nitrosomonas europaea to Amino Acids

Growth responses of Nitrosomonas europaea to individual amino acids or vitamins was observed in log-phase cultures, as was the incorporation of carbon-14 labeled amino acids. Nitrite formation and protein synthesis were increased by l-glutamic acid, l-aspartic acid, l-serine, and l-glutamine. l-Lysine, l-histidine, l-threonine, l-valine, l-methionine, and l-arginine were inhibitory. The other amino acids had no effect on growth. All of the uniformly labeled amino acids added at low concentrations were taken up by growing cells and distributed into cell fractions. From 1 to 12% of the added radioactivity was present in cells analyzed in late log phase, depending on the amino acid; glycine and l-serine caused accumulation of the label to the greatest extent, whereas l-aspartic and l-glutamic acids were among those incorporated to the least extent. Aspartic acid increased both cell protein and nitrite values, but did not alter the ratio of protein to nitrite from that found in controls.
Data Mining, Software Packages for

The term data mining refers to the identification—within a typically large database—of new, valid, and interesting patterns. While data mining has become most popular in the context of, for example, database marketing, most of the methods under the data mining umbrella have been widely applied in biostatistics. We describe which main applications of data mining have arisen recently in biostatistics, and introduce the reader to some of the available data mining software packages with a reference to biostatistical needs. Keywords: association analysis; CART; data mining; Kohonen maps; MARS; microarray data; neural nets; pharmacovigilance; SAS Enterprise Miner, XLMiner
Dyserythropoiesis in a child with pyruvate kinase deficiency and coexistent unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is the commonest enzyme deficiency in the glycolytic pathway leading to hemolytic anemia secondary to decreased Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in the red cells. synthesis. PK deficiency due to mutations in the PKLR (1q21) gene leads to highly variable clinical presentation ranging from severe fetal anemia to well compensated anemia in adults. We describe dyserythropoiesis in the bone marrow of a child with transfusion dependent anemia and unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) mimicking Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia type I (CDA type I). Persistently low erythrocyte PK levels and double heterozygous mutations present in the PKLR gene confirmed the diagnosis of PK deficiency.
Evolutions of Cultural Contractual Understanding: Exploring Biracial Women's Communicative Experiences

Building off of the limited research on multiracial communicative experiences, this research explores how social-cultural norms situated within macrolevel societal structures (e.g., one-drop rule) are negotiated in the everyday lives of 20 college-aged multiracial women. In an effort to obtain an understanding the nature of the participant's lived experience as a multiracial woman, a semistructured interview protocol was used and data analysis was consistent with phenomenological methodology as outlined by McCracken (1988) and the work of Owen (1984). Using cultural contracts theory as our theoretical frame, the results of the thematic analysis provided valuable insight into the lived experiences of women as they negotiate their identities via different cultural contracts over time. The authors conclude with a discussion of research and theoretical implications.
Density and Speed of Sound Measurements on Five Fatty Acid Methyl Esters at 83 kPa and Temperatures from (278.15 to 338.15) K

The densities and speeds of sound of five fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were measured at approximately 83 kPa (atmospheric pressure in Boulder, CO) at temperatures from (278.15 to 338.15) K. The FAMEs measured were the five primary components of biodiesel fuel, namely, methyl palmitate, methyl stearate, methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate. The densities and speeds of sound were measured concurrently with a commercial instrument equipped with a vibrating U-tube densimeter and pulse-echo speed of sound measurement cell. The densities of the FAMEs agreed with and expanded upon limited available literature values. The speed of sound measurements provide much needed experimental data for equation of state development.