cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Murine Melanomas Expressing High Levels of SDF-1 Repel and Escape Control by Tumor Specific T-Cells.

Most antigenic tumors are able to evade the immune system despite T cell recognition of tumor specific antigens. The chemokine, stromal derived factor- 1 (SDF-1 or CXCL12) is constitutively expressed by both normal and neoplastic tissues and is involved in tumor growth, metastasis and modulation of the anti-tumor immune response. We have previously shown that human T cells are repelled by the chemokine SDF-1, in a concentration-dependent and CXCR4 receptor-mediated manner. We proposed that the repulsion of tumor-specific T cells from a tumor expressing SDF-1 may represent a novel mechanism of immune evasion. B16 melanoma cells stably expressing OVA were genetically modified to constitutively express SDF-1 using a bicistronic MSCV2.2 retroviral transfer vector encoding murine SDF-1α and EGFP. SDF-1 generated by transduced cells was 58 ± 28.5 ng/ml/1x106 cells/24 hours as measured by ELISA. Immunization of mice with irradiated B16/OVA cells lead to destruction of B16/OVA.MSCV control tumors but not tumors expressing high levels of SDF-1 (p=0.0001). Failure to reject B16/OVA.SDF-1 tumors was associated with a reduction of T cell infiltration compared to control B16/OVA.MSCV (p=0.001). Similarly, early recruitment of adoptively-transferred OVA-specific CD8+ T cells into B16/OVA.SDF-1 tumors was significantly reduced in comparison to B16/OVA.MSCV control tumors as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and real-time magnetic resonance imaging of nanoparticle labeled CTLs (p=0.018). Transferred memory OVA-specific CD8+ T-cells demonstrated antitumor activity against B16/OVA.MSCV control tumors but not against B16/OVA-SDF-1 tumors (p=0.04). Isolation and FACS analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes showed a 4-fold reduction of T cells in B16/OVA.SDF-1 compared to B16/OVA.MSCV control tumors (p=0.005). The in-vitro killing activity of tumor specific CD8+ T cells against B16/OVA.SDF-1 tumors was significantly reduced compared to B16/OVA.MSCV control tumors when measured in 51Cr release assay performed in a flat-bottom well system where cytotoxicity was dependent on effector cell migration (p=0.0004). Preincubation of OT-I CD8+ T cells with the CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 restored their cytolytic activity against B16/OVA.SDF-1 cells (p=0.045). These data support the thesis that the active movement of tumor-specific T cells away from SDF-1, termed fugetaxis, may provide a novel mechanism by which a tumor evades challenge by immune effector cells and raises the possibility of the development of a novel immunotherapeutic approach to cancer.
Change in Capitol: How a 60 Minutes Exposé and the STOCK Act Affected the Investment Activity of U.S. Senators

A hedged portfolio mimicking the buys and sells of U.S. Senators earns an 8.8% annualized abnormal return before 60 Minutes exposed arguably unethical trading activity by Senators. “Insiders” presented anecdotal evidence that Senators were using non-public information to time trades and prompted the passage of the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (STOCK) Act. We find Senators’ pre-60 Minutes sells were particularly well-timed, occurring four to six weeks before drops in securities’ prices, so Senators avoid 16.77% in annualized abnormal portfolio losses. We find little evidence of outperformance after “Insiders” – returns to the Senator sell portfolios are 24% lower post-60 Minutes.
Outcomes of extraskeletal osteosarcoma patients and role of perioperative chemotherapy.

11025Background: Extraskeletal osteosarcoma (EO) is a rare malignant neoplasm that produces osteoid, bone, and chondroid material without direct attachment to bone or periosteum. The mainstay of tr...
PREPARATION OF TRANSPLUTONIUM METALS AND COMPOUNDS

ABSTRACT As greater quantities of the transplutonium elements became available, it was possible not only to expand the number of experiments on these elements, but to perform measurements that required at least milligram amounts of material. The preparative scene also changed, and by necessity the ability to prepare the larger samples had to precede such measurements on them. This article provides a brief review of both past and currently used methods for preparing several selected compounds and the metallic state of the first five transplutonium elements. The intent here is not to thoroughly review all the preparative techniques that have been used, or all the compounds that have been prepared, but rather to discuss preparative techniques for some of the more frequently encountered materials, and to indicate some of the important aspects to be considered when carrying out preparative work on these elements.
Combination antiretroviral therapy improves cognitive performance and functional connectivity in treatment-naïve HIV-infected individuals

Our study aimed to investigate the short-term effect of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on cognitive performance and functional and structural connectivity and their relationship to plasma levels of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Seventeen ARV treatment-naive HIV-infected individuals (baseline mean CD4 cell count, 479 ± 48 cells/mm3) were age matched with 17 HIV-uninfected individuals. All subjects underwent a detailed neurocognitive and functional assessment and magnetic resonance imaging. HIV-infected subjects were scanned before starting cART and 12 weeks after initiation of treatment. Uninfected subjects were assessed once at baseline. Functional connectivity (FC) was assessed within the default mode network while structural connectivity was assessed by voxel-wise analysis using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and probabilistic tractography within the DMN. Tenofovir and emtricitabine blood concentration were measured at week 12 of cART. Prior to cART, HIV-infected individuals had significantly lower cognitive performance than control subjects as measured by the total Z-score from the neuropsychological tests assessing six cognitive domains (p = 0.020). After 12 weeks of cART treatment, there remained only a weak cognitive difference between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected subjects (p = 0.057). Mean FC was lower in HIV-infected individuals compared with those uninfected (p = 0.008), but FC differences became non-significant after treatment (p = 0.197). There were no differences in DTI metrics between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals using the TBSS approach and limited evidence of decreased structural connectivity within the DMN in HIV-infected individuals. Tenofovir and emtricitabine plasma concentrations did not correlate with either cognitive performance or imaging metrics. Conclusions: Twelve weeks of cART improves cognitive performance and functional connectivity in ARV treatment-naive HIV-infected individuals with relatively preserved immune function. Longer periods of observation are necessary to assess whether this effect is maintained.
SeisFlows—Flexible waveform inversion software

Abstract SeisFlows is an open source Python package that provides a customizable waveform inversion workflow and framework for research in oil and gas exploration, earthquake tomography, medical imaging, and other areas. New methods can be rapidly prototyped in SeisFlows by inheriting from default inversion or migration classes, and code can be tested on 2D examples before application to more expensive 3D problems. Wave simulations must be performed using an external software package such as SPECFEM3D. The ability to interface with external solvers lends flexibility, and the choice of SPECFEM3D as a default option provides optional GPU acceleration and other useful capabilities. Through support for massively parallel solvers and interfaces for high-performance computing (HPC) systems, inversions with thousands of seismic traces and billions of model parameters can be performed. So far, SeisFlows has run on clusters managed by the Department of Defense, Chevron Corp., Total S.A., Princeton University, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
On robust detection of brain stimuli with Ramanujan Periodicity Transforms

Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) are the brain responses to repetitive visual stimuli. The ability to detect the underlying frequencies of VEPs is crucial to advancing Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs). This paper considers the detection of such frequencies using a Ramanujan Periodicity Transform based model. We analyze the performance of a generalized likelihood ratio detector and derive the exact distributions of the sufficient statistics under hypotheses corresponding to different stimulus frequencies using confluent hyper-geometric functions, along with flexible approximate distributions. Choosing stimulation periods with non-overlapping divisors is shown to enhance the detection performance. Our analysis provides guidelines for efficient design of stimulus waveforms for BCIs.
Something Less Than Joyful

Contemporary Jewish Americans are not a monolithic population; to the contrary, they are very diverse in religious beliefs and affiliations. Nevertheless, most seem to take for granted that their infant sons should be circumcised. With only the vaguest understanding of the traditional liturgy, and content to accept claims for medical or “hygienic” benefits, many choose circumcision by a physician for their infant sons, and have little or no interest in religious prescriptions. Even most of those who accept ritual circumcision have very little understanding of what happens or why. Although many circumcision liturgies have been extensively modified and “sanitized” nowadays, the traditional liturgy includes three features that might cause considerable unease if understood: biblical passages referring to wallowing in blood, human sacrifice, and a “peace pact” following a double murder. This paper explains the significance of the passages in their ritual context, then describes how authors of contemporary books addressed to mainstream audiences try to construct acceptable interpretations of the passages and justifications for continuation of the rite. Most Jewish Americans now say that they observe only those ritual practices (if any) that contribute to their “spiritual” welfare. If and when hospitals discontinue “routine” circumcisions, Jewish-American parents will need to decide whether to accept a ritual procedure that is so obviously inappropriate for life in contemporary America.
Diagnostic performance of morphine-augmented hepatobiliary imaging for acute cholecystitis

2807 Objectives Morphine-augmented hepatobiliary imaging (MAHBI) has been shown to have high accuracy for acute cholecystitis. However, clinical experience and more recent data suggest MAHBI is susceptible to false positive results. This study aims to re-evaluate the diagnostic performance of MAHBI for acute cholecystitis. Methods An IRB approved, HIPAA compliant, retrospective chart review of patients who underwent MAHBI from 2005 through 2015 was performed. Inclusion criteria included the presence of a surgical pathology report and/or a final clinical diagnosis within 3 months of MAHBI. Patients who had received a narcotic just prior to MAHBI, were inadequately prepared (were not fasting 4-24 hours or did not receive CCK administration prior to MAHBI), and those with either a biliary stent or recent hepatobiliary surgery were excluded. Patients with a non-patent biliary tract to the small bowel on imaging were also excluded. In patients who had surgery, a pathology report listing findings of acute cholecystitis with or without gangrene and necrosis, was the reference standard. Fibrosis and other chronic findings were considered negative. Patient demographics and referral setting were also recorded. Data was statistically analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results After our inclusion and exclusion criteria 42 patients were accepted: mean age 55 ±20 (SD) years; range 15-91 years; 22 (52%) males. BMI was 28 ±5 (SD). CCK was administered to 8 (19%) patients prior to imaging. The mean dose of radiopharmaceutical was 8.7 ±2.1 (SD) mCi. 33% (14/52) patients were referred from outpatient setting, 17% (7/42) from inpatient setting, and 50% (21/42) from emergency department. Based on clinicopathological reference standard, 31% of the study population had acute cholecystitis. Diagnosis was confirmed with pathology in 19 (45%) patients, and on 3 month or longer clinical follow-up on all others. Average time between imaging and surgery was 7 ±9 (SD) days. MAHBI demonstrated a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI: 64-100%), specificity of 76% (95% CI: 56-90%), a positive predictive value of 63% (95% CI: 38-84%), and a negative predictive value of 96% (95% CI: 78-100%). Conclusions MAHBI has excellent sensitivity and a high negative predictive value for acute cholecystitis. However, the false positive rate is also relatively high, which decreases its accuracy and is also consistent with prior reports. The relatively high false positive rate should be taken into consideration during surgical decision making in patients with a positive MAHBI study.
Viability of litter-stored Pinus taeda L. seeds after simulated prescribed winter burns

Stratified loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seeds were placed at three depths in a reconstructed forest floor and subjected to simulated prescribed winter burns. Within the forest floor, pine seeds were placed at the L/upper-F interface, upper-F/lower-F interface, and lower-F/mineral-soil interface. Wind was generated by electric box-fans. Seeds that survived the burns were transferred to moist sand flats for 30-day germination tests. About 96% of seeds placed at the two upper layers in the forest floor were either destroyed by the fires or failed to germinate. Germinative capacity of seeds placed at the lower-F/mineral-soil interface averaged 79% as compared to 97% for unburned control seeds.
Just like a circus: the public consumption of sex differences.

The study of sex differences is a rich, productive area of neuroscience, yielding findings that inform our understanding of basic biology and hold promise for clinical applications. There is a tremendous, problematic mismatch, however, between the actual implications of this research and what has generally been communicated to the public. The message communicated by the media, popular press, and in some cases researchers is often inaccurate with respect to what can and cannot be concluded from the data. This misrepresentation of findings has led to a crisis in public education and threatens to do the same in public health. Here, I suggest a number of ways that neuroscientists might address this growing problem. First, we should acknowledge that the term ‘sex difference’ is usually interpreted by the media and the public as evidence for dichotomous categories that do not actually exist. Because data rarely sort so cleanly into sex-specific categories, clearer presentation of the nature and size of sex differences is warranted. The term ‘sex effect’ may be preferable to ‘sex difference’ when the effect is not large. Second, factors that covary with sex, particularly experience, should be considered as causes of sex differences before the idea of “hardwiring” is invoked. Finally, we should be more vigilant about how our own findings are conveyed to policymakers and the public and speak out when they are misrepresented.
Crystal structure of F95Q epi-isozizaene synthase, an engineered sesquiterpene cyclase that generates biofuel precursors β- and γ-curcumene.

Abstract The saturated hydrocarbon bisabolane is a diesel fuel substitute that can be derived from sesquiterpene precursors bisabolene or curcumene. These sesquiterpenes are generated from farnesyl diphosphate in reactions catalyzed by eponymous terpenoid cyclases, but they can also be generated by engineered terpenoid cyclases in which cyclization cascades have been reprogrammed by mutagenesis. Here, we describe the X-ray crystal structure determination of F95Q epi-isozizaene synthase (EIZS), in which the new activity of curcumene biosynthesis has been introduced and the native activity of epi-isozizaene biosynthesis has been suppressed. F95Q EIZS generates β- and γ-curcumene regioisomers with greater than 50% yield. Structural analysis of the closed active site conformation, stabilized by the binding of 3 Mg2+ ions, inorganic pyrophosphate, and the benzyltriethylammonium cation, reveals a product-like active site contour that serves as the cyclization template. Remolding the active site contour to resemble curcumene instead of epi-isozizaene is the principal determinant of the reprogrammed cyclization cascade. Intriguingly, an ordered water molecule comprises part of the active site contour. This water molecule may also serve as a final proton acceptor, along with inorganic pyrophosphate, in the generation of curcumene regioisomers; it may also contribute to the formation of sesquiterpene alcohols identified as minor side products. Thus, the substitution of polar side chains for nonpolar side chains in terpenoid cyclase active sites can result in the stabilization of bound water molecules that, in turn, can serve template functions in isoprenoid cyclization reactions.
Directed Synthesis of Micro-Sized Nanoplatelets of Gold from a Chemically Active Mixed Surfactant Mesophase

We report the synthesis of gold nanoparticles of controllable size and morphology from ordered mesophasetemplates comprised of iso-octane, sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) and lecithin along withan aqueous phase containing auric acid (HAuCl4), the gold precursor. Highly facettednanoparticles are formed by the reduction of HAuCl4 directly by the dioctyl sulfosuccinatetermini of AOT. In sharp contrast, rapid reduction of the gold precursor by the addition of sodium borohydrideNaBH4 in the aqueous phase results in spherical nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticlescan be adjusted by varying the auric acid concentration as well as the volume fraction of the aqueous phase.The value of this technique is the ease with which nanoscale particles of different shape and size can beformed, with concomitant impact on their physical and chemical properties.
CHAPTER 7 – EIGENVALUE PROBLEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on eigenvalue problems. Eigenvalue problems arise in a number of different areas of mathematics. The differential equation and the boundary conditions constitute an eigenvalue problem. In an eigenvalue problem, associated with a linear homogeneous differential equation of arbitrary order n, each linear homogeneous boundary condition can involve the values of the unknown function and its first n – 1 derivatives at the two points a and b. The chapter discusses second-order eigenvalue problems with two boundary conditions and describes the properties of self-adjoint problems. Eigenvalue problems can be classified as self-adjoint or nonself-adjoint. If a self-adjoint problem has any eigenvalues, they must be real. Self-adjoint problem does not guarantee that any eigenvalues exist. However, a self-adjoint problem possesses infinitely many eigenvalues.
Application of wind energy into the transportation sector

The global transport sector is heavily dependent on fossil fuels as a vital source of energy. This has adversely affected the climate. This climate change necessitates that technologies employing renewable and clean energy should be utilized in the global transportation sector. To address this issue, in this study, a small wind turbine was implemented on a vehicle, such that it is able to capture the air when the vehicle is in motion to generate the required energy to run the vehicle. Consequently, theoretical modeling and experimental calculation were conducted to confirm the utilization of wind by the turbine of the running vehicle to generate electricity through the conversion process of its electrical subsystem, thereby powering the vehicle as a self-sufficient energy mechanism that can be commercialized. The results show that a car moving at 10 kph produces 8 kWh, for an average wind speed of 2 kph. As a standard car requires 20 kWh to get fully energized, the results indicate that it is possible to fully charge the car and run it for 200 kilom if the car runs at 10 kph for two hours during charging. Consequently, if the car runs at 60 kph, it will take require 20 min to get fully charged and run for the same distance. The findings of this research suggest that the large-scale adoption of wind energy, which is completely clean and available in abundance, to run vehicles can be an innovative solution to meet the energy demand of the global transportation sector.
Investigating the morphological and genetic divergence of arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus) populations in lakes of arctic Alaska

Polymorphism facilitates coexistence of divergent morphs (e.g., phenotypes) of the same species by minimizing intraspecific competition, especially when resources are limiting. Arctic char (Salvelinus sp.) are a Holarctic fish often forming morphologically, and sometimes genetically, divergent morphs. In this study, we assessed the morphological and genetic diversity and divergence of 263 individuals from seven populations of arctic char with varying length-frequency distributions across two distinct groups of lakes in northern Alaska. Despite close geographic proximity, each lake group occurs on landscapes with different glacial ages and surface water connectivity, and thus was likely colonized by fishes at different times. Across lakes, a continuum of physical (e.g., lake area, maximum depth) and biological characteristics (e.g., primary productivity, fish density) exists, likely contributing to characteristics of present-day char populations. Although some lakes exhibit bimodal size distributions, using model-based clustering of morphometric traits corrected for allometry, we did not detect morphological differences within and across char populations. Genomic analyses using 15,934 SNPs obtained from genotyping by sequencing demonstrated differences among lake groups related to historical biogeography, but within lake groups and within individual lakes, genetic differentiation was not related to total body length. We used PERMANOVA to identify environmental and biological factors related to observed char size structure. Significant predictors included water transparency (i.e., a primary productivity proxy), char density (fish·ha-1), and lake group. Larger char occurred in lakes with greater primary production and lower char densities, suggesting less intraspecific competition and resource limitation. Thus, char populations in more productive and connected lakes may prove more stable to environmental changes, relative to food-limited and closed lakes, if lake productivity increases concomitantly. Our findings provide some of the first descriptions of genomic characteristics of char populations in arctic Alaska, and offer important consideration for the persistence of these populations for subsistence and conservation.
Competing Charismas and Commodified Christians: Shifting Alliances in the Charismatic Landscape in West Africa

While Pentecostal/charismatic believers profess the social, material, and emotional advantages of their community and faith in the Holy Spirit, both members and nonmembers express ambivalences about the social effects of the church. My non-charismatic research informants in Togo compare community members to scarce resources over which charismatic churches must vie to increase their own wealth and prestige. They understand the charismatic, religious landscape to be a competitive marketplace where leaders employ malevolent tactics to succeed in a zero-sum game of member acquisition. Driven by competition, members and non-members alike claim that church leaders exploitatively and malevolently employ sorcery to retain and attract members, and encourage their members to prioritize the social and financial responsibilities of their church families over those of their kin. Thus, members must often choose to which group they will share their loyalty and resources. Family members of charismatic Christians or rival charismatic Christians may in turn feel jealous or neglected, causing friction in familial relationships and the community at large. In this paper I will therefore show that the growth and presence of charismatic churches, the charismas of its leaders, and their promises of material prosperity, are morally ambiguous for both members and non-members.
Genome size evolution in the beetle genus Diabrotica

Diabrocite corn rootworms are one of the most economically significant pests of maize in the United States and Europe and an emerging model for insect-plant interactions. Genome sizes of several species in the genus Diabrotica were estimated using flow cytometry along with that of Acalymma vittatum as an outgroup. Within the Diabrotica subgroups fucata and virgifera, genome sizes ranged between 1.59 - 1.68 gigabase pairs (Gb) and between 2.31- 2.65 Gb, respectively, and the Acalymma vittatum genome size was around 1.69 Gb. This result indicated that a substantial increase in genome size occurred in the ancestor of the virgifera group. Further analysis of fucata group and virgifera group genome sequencing reads indicated that the genome size difference between the Diabrotica subgroups could be attributed to a higher content of transposable elements, mostly miniature inverted-transposable elements (MITEs) and LTR gypsy-like elements.
Pilot scale (10 kg) production and characterization of epoxidized sucrose soyate

Abstract The objective of this study was to develop and characterize the performance of a reactor and refining units that would produce 10 kg of epoxidized sucrose soyate (ESS) with a process timeframe and resin quality similar to the 300 g laboratory scale in order to meet the increasing demand for multiple applications in coatings and composite materials. Scale up challenges involve maintaining suitable reaction temperature and time, achieving high double-bond conversion, minimizing side reactions, and avoiding excessive refining time. To accomplish this, a 38 L stainless steel steam-jacketed GROEN kettle was modified for use as an epoxidation reactor. The modifications helped achieve adequate mixing, heat transfer and temperature control. Consequently, the reaction temperature was successfully controlled between 55 and 65 °C by varying the H2O2 addition rate and the fluid temperature in the reactor’s jacket. Twenty 7–10 kg batches were produced which had similar resin quality as the lab scale, an overall 84.9% resin yield, and >98% conversion of double bonds after batch three. The total production days were reduced from 8 to 4 after a 40 L refining funnel was fabricated for washing, gravity phase separation, and filtration, and an explosion-proof solvent extraction unit was adapted for devolatilizing hexane used during refining. The overall heat transfer coefficient of the jacket was determined to be 1069 W m−2 K−1.
Intermolecular Reaction during Photolysis of Diazoacetyl α-Chymotrypsin

Abstract Photolysis of 14C-labeled diazoacetyl α-chymotrypsin incorporates radiocarbon into the protein; O-carboxymethyl-tyrosine had previously been found in the hydrolysate of the photolysis product. Now this tyrosine residue has been identified as number 146 in the amino acid sequence by partial degradation of the protein, followed by enzymic release of the labeled residue. It has been further identified by showing that photolysis of diazoacetyl δ-chymotrypsin (where the carboxyl end of tyrosine 146 is not free) yields little if any carboxymethyltyrosine. These and other data suggest that the reaction with tyrosine 146 occurs in the chymotrypsin dimer, between one "subunit" and its neighbor.
The Molecular Properties of Human Growth Hormone

Abstract The stability of human growth hormone to acid, alkali, and urea has been evaluated by fluorescence, absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. In accord with previous studies on other growth hormones and prolactins, similar molecular transitions were observed although small shifts in parameters were found among the different proteins. It is of interest to find such a resemblance in properties between human growth hormone and ovine prolactin since the number of residues occupying identical positions is less than 20% and the longest identical sequence is a tripeptide.
Team-Based Learning in a Large Introductory U.S. Government Class

This article describes and evaluates an implementation of team-based learning (TBL) in a large (180 student) section of a U.S. government course. The author argues that TBL presents an opportunity for instructors of large classes to increase student engagement with the course content as well as student interaction with the instructor and with each other. An assessment of these claims is presented, based on open-ended responses to Student Evaluations of Instruction and a student attitude survey.
Perceived Stress and Elder Abuse: A Population-Based Study of Adult Protective Services Cases in Chicago

Objectives To characterize the relationship between perceived stress and Adult Protective Services (APS) elder abuse cases in a population-based sample. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Chicago. Participants community-dwelling, older adults (N = 8,558; mean age 74 ± 7, 62% female, 64% African American). Measurements Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), APS database linkage. Results Bivariate and adjusted analyses showed that perceived stress was significantly higher in APS clients than in participants without any APS interaction for various subtypes of abuse (e.g., abuse from a perpetrator and self-neglect). This relationship was strongest for those with a confirmed history of abuse from a perpetrator, with a medium-large effect size (t = −5.8, P < .001, Cohen D = −0.6). Those in the highest stress tertile had a likelihood of having confirmed history of abuse from a perpetrator that was nearly three times as great as that of those in lower stress tertiles (odds ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval = 1.2–6.2). Analyses of individual PSS items revealed a robust relationship between distress items and APS involvement. Items reflecting coping were inconsistently associated with elder abuse. Conclusion Clients of APS have higher levels of perceived stress, and abuse from a perpetrator strengthens this relationship. Therefore, victims of abuse from a perpetrator may be at the highest risk of stress-related consequences and should be targeted for intervention efforts that enhance empowerment and effective coping strategies.
A Serial Position Effect in “Incidental Learning”

(1955). A Serial Position Effect in “Incidental Learning”. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 53, No. 2, pp. 293-298.
Motivational Interviewing in Groups

Abstract Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a counseling approach that has strong empirical support in individual interventions. There is emerging evidence that MI can be adapted, with a few critical modifications, to a group therapy format. Few published reports, however, have addressed the process of using MI in groups. We detail a number of recently developed strategies for adapting MI to groups and use transcripts from a cocaine abuse study to illustrate the application of MI to the group setting. We also present coding results from the group sessions using the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) scale to assess MI treatment fidelity.
Lack of correlation between hepatic mitochondrial membrane structure and functions in ethanol-fed rats

A current hypothesis suggests that alterations in the chemical composition and the subsequent changes in the structure of the membrane could account for the functional derangements observed in the hepatic mitochondria of animals fed ethanol for extended periods. An examination of this hypothesis reveals that the liver mitochondria of ethanol-fed rats show a dissociation between the respiratory functions and the lipid composition and microviscosity of the membranes.
A node-centric analysis of metagraphs and its applications to workflow models

Business processes and its related workflow systems have received greater interest in practice and research in the last decade. Many analytical methodologies for analysis and design of workflow systems emerged. A recent formal approach to study workflows using a graph-theoretic method called 'metagraphs' has demonstrated effectiveness for analysing connectivity and interactions of information and resources between workflow components. However, past works in analysis of metagraph are element-based. Since nodes in metagraphs represent either the input or output of an activity it is natural to process information contained in a node taken as a unit. This paper takes a node-centric view on metagraphs that is a major departure from the element-based approach today. The change in focus requires provisioning an analysis framework under the node-centric views. New basic constructs including, but not limited to, concepts such as: 'surplus sets', 'deficit sets', 'state of a path', and 'node-centric view of adjacency matrices' are introduced. The approach produces computational feasible systems for elements that are over supplied and/or under supplied from a source node to a target node of any path of the metagraph. Such information could be valuable for designing workflow systems. Also, the node-centric approach is shown to be an extension of the basic constructs of element-view metagraphs and is a complementary method for validating information requirements of workflow modelling. Illustrative examples are given.
HCC in Older Patients

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous disease, with many poorly-defined prognostic patient subsets. Identification of discrete subsets will aid rational patient and treatment selection. A database with 778 biopsy-proven, unresectable and untransplantable HCC patients who were followed from diagnosis till death was interrogated. Using a moving average algorithm, patients were ordered by survival and then survival cohorts were analyzed according to standard liver function and CT characteristic parameters. We found characteristic age clustering groupings by survival. In the older age patients, two survival sub-groups were identified, with 45–80 days in one and 330–1,250 days survival in the other group. The longer surviving group had the lowest serum bilirubin and AFP levels and the lowest tumor mass. Remarkably, the trends for both AFP and bilirubin were similar, suggesting that they were not independent variables. This idea was supported by the similar correlation of typical AFP with GGTP, ALKP and SGOT levels. A large HCC cohort showed significant age clustering characteristics for survival, especially in older patients. AFP, bilirubin and age were found to be inter-related factors for HCC severity and survival.
Tropospheric Temperatures and Southern Hemisphere Circulation

Abstract This note documents improvements in the Southern Hemisphere midlatitude circulation associated with a revised convective scheme that was implemented in a version of the NCAR Community Climate Model. Perpetual July and January runs are performed for a standard control and an experiment with a revised convective parameterization. No other boundary conditions in the model are changed (e.g., sea-surface temperatures or sea ice, which are prescribed from observations). The most notable result is a warmer troposphere at all latitudes that is closer to the observed than to the control. Since the warming is greatest in the tropics, the equator-to-pole temperature gradient is increased in both July and January. As a consequence, the midlatitude u wind maximum is stronger at both times of the year in the lower and mid-troposphere. Sea-level pressure is also lower at high southern latitudes in the circumpolar trough surrounding Antarctica. Greatest improvements of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) circulation in...
Reactivation of ethanol-calcium-isolated cilia from Tetrahymena pyriformis.

Cilia isolated from Tetrahymena after ciliary shedding is induced by the addition of CaCl2 or other salts to cells suspended in an ethanol solution (4, 6, 11) have been studied chemically and enzymatically (4, 6, 11, 12, 13), but until now have never been shown to be capable of motility in the presence of ATP. In contrast to this, Gibbons (7) has demonstrated the reactivation of glycerol-isolated cilia by techniques similar to those developed for grasshopper sperm tails (8) and Polytoma flagella (2). However, the glycerol technique is much less satisfactory than the ethanol-calcium method for isolating pure cilia. This paper describes the reactivation, which can be obtained with ATP or ADP, of cilia isolated by an ethanol-calcium method (6), followed by glycerination or other treatments.
Animal models and childhood behavioral disturbances: dopamine depletion in the newborn rat pup.

Abstract Abnormalities in catecholamine metabolism have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various psychiatric disturbances of childhood, including minimal brain or cerebral dysfunction (MBD), childhood psychosis, affective disturbances, and the syndrome of chronic multiple tics. Developmental research on the relationship between brain function and behavior can be facilitated by appropriate animal models, interpreted conservatively. When rat pups are selectively depleted of brain dopamine by treatment with 6-hydroxydopamine in the newborn period, they display a constellation of behaviors similar to those seen in childhood MBD: hyperactivity, disturbed habituation, cognitive deficits, and "normalization" with stimulant medication. As adults, dopamine-depleted rats exhibit aberrations in mothering. This and similar models may help clarify certain aspects of the developmental associations between alterations in brain physiology, abnormal psychological mechanisms, and the emergence of behavioral deviance.
The impact of body mass index and Western advertising and media on eating style, body image and nutrition transition among Jordanian women.

Objectives: To identify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and Western advertising and media on the stage of the nutrition transition among Jordanian women, and to evaluate their impact on eating styles and body image. Design: A randomised cross-sectional survey that included a variety of culturally measured Likert-type scales and body size images. In addition, BMI was calculated based on measured height and weight. Setting: In the homes of the participants. The data were collected by female interviewers who worked for the Jordan Department of Statistics. Subjects: The sample was based on a random and representative selection of 800 mostly urban Jordanian women. A pre-test sample of 100 women was also used to validate the instruments. Results: Women tended to agree that they ate based on emotional cues. They had high levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours and 42.1% were considered restrained eaters. However, these women also had higher than expected body esteem levels and desired a healthy body size. As expected, being obese was associated with a desire to lose weight, being a restrained and emotional eater, and having more disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Similarly, Western advertising and media were associated with restrained and emotional eating, desired weight loss, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Conclusions: There is a need to develop health education materials that explain the influence of obesity on health and the negative psychological and physical consequences of restrained and emotional eating, building on the current cultural preferences of healthy body size. Further implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
On second-law analysis and the failed promise of finite-time thermodynamics

A critique of finite-time thermodynamics is provided, and suggestions are made for the disposition of finite-time articles by reviewers, technical editors, and authors.
TH‐A‐116‐03: Photon and Proton Radiotherapy of the Lung Would Benefit From 4D Dose Calculation Techniques

Purpose: To compare the effects of respiratory motion by calculating four‐dimensional (4D) dose accumulation on proton and photon radiotherapy plans for a stage III lung cancer cohort.Methods and Materials: This study used passively scattered proton therapy (PSPT) and photon intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans designed to meet the same criteria for an ongoing clinical trial. For 20 patients, 4D dose evaluation was calculated on both the PSPT and IMRT plans by accumulating individual phase dose using an intensity‐based in‐house deformable image registration algorithm. The resulting 4D dose accumulation method was compared against current standard of three dimensional (3D) dose as calculated on the average CT. Results: Both proton and photon plans demonstrated dosimetric differences when accounting for respiratory motion using 4D dose calculation methods. Reported 4D‐3D values are mean plus one standard deviation. 4D‐3D difference in PTV 95% dose coverage was >2% for 5 IMRT (0.5±1.1Gy) and 4 PSPT plans (0.5±0.8Gy). The structural doses most affected by respiratory motion were normal structures distal to the tumor, such as esophagus V65 (IMRT: −0.5±1.2Gy, PSPT: −0.4±1.4), mean heart (IMRT: − 0.4±0.6 Gy, PSPT: −0.3±0.9 Gy) and spinal cord maximum (IMRT: 0.0±0.2Gy, PSPT: 1.5±2.9Gy). No correlations were found between tumor motion and the change in 4D dose difference for any lung, heart, or spine dose‐volume index. Conclusions: The use of 4D dose evaluation techniques at time of treatment planning revealed small but significant respiratory motion induced deviations from the 3D planned dose for both photon and proton therapy. In both modalities, differences between 3D and 4D dose distributions are patient dependent; no population trends were found correlating dose differences to the extent of tumor motion. The implementation of 4D dose calculation methods for proton and photon lung cancer radiotherapy plans may help identify patients for whom respiratory motion alters the planned dose distribution. This project is supported by grant P01CA021239 from the National Cancer Institute.
Doxorubicin’s effect on MEK activity predicts its chemotherapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Introduction: HCC is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Historically, doxorubicin (DOX) was widely used against unresectable HCC with variable response rates. Methods: We hypothesized that doxorubicin combined with MEK-ERK targeted therapy may provide enhanced anti-tumor effects. Three HCC lines (HepG2, Hep3B, and PLC) were treated with DOX (100–1000nM) and a MEK enzyme inhibitor, U0126 (1–5mcM), alone or in combination. Growth, apoptosis, and ERK expression/ MEK activity were respectively determined by MTS assay and trypan blue excluded counts, DNA fragmentation ELISA and FLICA, and immunoblot. Results: DOX treatment in Hep3B and PLCs effectively decreased MEK activity as evidenced by decreased phospho-ERK (1–48hrs). Contrarily, in HepG2s, DOX increased phospho-ERK. ERK expression remained unchanged with DOX. DOX dose-dependently decreased cell proliferation in Hep3Bs (IC50 = 100nM) and PLCs (IC50 = 300nM) at 48–72 hrs. Up to 5X higher doses resulted in equivalent decreases in HepG2s. U0126 decreased phospho-ERK in all three HCC lines. In contrast to DOX, the HepG2s were most sensitive to U0126. The combination of DOX with U0126 in HepG2s resulted in 34% greater inhibition of proliferation and a synergistic increase in apoptosis. DOX upregulated the expression of Bcl-xL in HepG2s, an effect blocked with U0126. Conversely, combination treatment in Hep3B and PLC cells resulted in protection against cell death. Conclusions: DOX's effect on MEK activity predicts its chemotherapeutic response in HCC. Furthermore, this effect may also determine the utility of MEK inhibitor combination treatment.
Terbinafine-induced hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation

Drug-induced liver disease accounts for about 50% of acute or subacute liver failure in the United States. United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) data suggest 8%-20% of liver transplantation in this country per year is for fulminant liver failure due to drugs. Even though the most common medication implicated in acute liver injury is acetaminophen (75%), there are numerous other drugs that are responsible for acute and chronic liver injury. A variety of antifungal medications are known to cause a wide range of liver injury from a mild hepatocellular-cholestatic injury pattern to acute/subacute liver failure. Terbinafine is one of the antifungals that have been associated with such liver injuries. We report a case of terbinafine-induced severe liver failure requiring liver transplantation.
Obstructive Uropathy from Locally Advanced and Metastatic Prostate Cancer: An Old Problem with New Therapies

Abstract Despite stage migration to more organ-confined disease in the era of prostate-specific antigen, the complications of advanced prostate cancer are still relatively common. Urinary tract obstruction in advanced and metastatic prostate cancer can have a varied presentation, because it may occur in multiple anatomic locations at any point in the natural history of the disease. In all cases, management depends on the current stage of disease, technical feasibility of potential therapeutic interventions, and overall prognosis of the patient. This review highlights a practical approach to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of obstructive uropathy from prostate cancer.
Terminal degeneration demonstrated by the Fink-Heimer method following lateral ventricular injection of 6-hydroxydopamine.

Degenerating terminals were mapped by the Fink-Heimer method after lateral or fourth ventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). This method marks dopaminergic terminals and has the advantage that noradrenergic terminals are not stained. Fink-Heimer stained degenerating terminals were seen bilaterally in specific patterns in many nuclei known to have a dopaminergic innervation: neostriatum, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, the dorsolateral and ventral parts of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, lateral septal nucleus, amygdala, and layers II–III of anterior cingulate cortex. Detailed maps are provided of the dopaminergic innervation in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in relation to the cytoarchitectural subdivisions of this nucleus. A Fink-Heimer stained terminal field was discovered in the lateral parabrachial nucleus, suggesting the presence of a previously unreported dopaminergic innervation of this nucleus. It was also noted that nonspecific degeneration near the injection site was much worse after lateral ventricle than after fourth ventricle injection.
DNA fingerprinting on trial

In the rush to use the tremendous power of DNA fingerprinting as a forensic tool, the need for standards has been overlooked.