cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Obesity, metabolism and the microenvironment: Links to cancer

Historically, cancer research has focused on identifying mutations or amplification of genes within the tumor, which informed the development of targeted therapies against affected pathways. This work often considers tumor cells in isolation; however, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the microenvironment surrounding tumor cells strongly influences tumor onset and progression. This is the so-called “seed and soil” hypothesis wherein the seed (cancer cell) is fed and molded by the metabolites, growth factors, modifications of the extracellular matrix or angiogenic factors provided by the soil (or stroma). Currently, 65% of the US population is obese or overweight; similarly staggering figures are reported in US children and globally. Obesity mediates and can exacerbate, both normal and tumor microenvironment dysfunction. Many obesity-associated endocrine, metabolic and inflammatory mediators are suspected to play a role in oncogenesis by modifying systemic nutrient metabolism and the nutrient substrates available locally in the stroma. It is vitally important to understand the biological processes linking obesity and cancer to develop better intervention strategies aimed at curbing the carcinogenic events associated with obesity. In this review, obesity-driven changes in both the normal and tumor microenvironment, alterations in metabolism, and release of signaling molecules such as endocrine, growth, and inflammatory mediators will be highlighted. In addition, we will discuss the effects of the timing of obesity onset or particular “windows of susceptibility,” with a focus on breast cancer etiology.
Binding of 5' guanylyl imidodiphosphate to turkey erythrocyte membranes and effects on β adrenergic activated adenylate cyclase

Abstract 5'-Guanylyl-imidodiphosphate (Gpp(NH)p), an analog of GTP, augments isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase causing greater activation of the enzyme than with 7 mm sodium fluoride. The effect occurs with a Km for Gpp(NH)p of 10-7 m. A similar Km was observed for the slight stimulation of the enzyme by the nucleotide in the absence of added hormone. The greatly enhanced stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity by isoproterenol in the presence of Gpp(NH)p is blocked completely by propranolol. The latter does not, however, abolish the stimulation of basal activity produced by the nucleotide. The Km for isoproterenol activation of adenylate cyclase is decreased one order of magnitude by Gpp(NH)p. Gpp(NH)p binds to the cell membranes with a Km equivalent to that found for effects on adenylate cyclase activity. Propranolol does not inhibit binding of the nucleotide, but unlabeled Gpp(NH)p and other nucleotides competitively displace labeled Gpp(NH)p from its binding sites with apparent affinities comparable to the order of potencies for augmenting catecholamine-stimulated adenylate cyclase. Displacement of Gpp(NH)p from the binding site by GTP or ITP (GTP was 100 times as effective as ITP) decreases enzyme activity activated by isoproterenol in the presence of Gpp(NH)p. Thus, a high affinity purine nucleotide site is involved in regulating the catalytic function of the adenylate cyclase complex. The apparent affinity of the site for ATP is much lower than for GTP or Gpp(NH)p. This finding indicates that, although ATP is clearly the substrate for the enzyme, it is GTP and not ATP that interacts at the regulatory site (identified as a Gpp(NH)p binding site).
Reconstructability Analysis Detection of Optimal Gene Order in Genetic Algorithms

The building block hypothesis implies that genetic algorithm efficiency will be improved if sets of genes that improve fitness through epistatic interaction are near to one another on the chromosome. We demonstrate this effect with a simple problem, and show that information‐theoretic reconstructability analysis can be used to decide on optimal gene ordering.
General constant expressions for system programming languages

Most mainstream system programming languages provide support for builtin types, and extension mechanisms through userdefined types. They also come with a notion of constant expressions whereby some expressions (such as array bounds) can be evaluated at compile time. However, they require constant expressions to be written in an impoverished language with minimal support from the type system; this is tedious and error-prone. This paper presents a framework for generalizing the notion of constant expressions in modern system programming languages. It extends compile time evaluation to functions and variables of user-defined types, thereby including formerly ad hoc notions of Read Only Memory (ROM) objects into a general and type safe framework. It allows a programmer to specify that an operation must be evaluated at compile time. Furthermore, it provides more direct support for key meta programming and generative programming techniques. The framework is formalized as an extension of underlying type system with a binding time analysis. It was designed to meet real-world requirements. In particular, key design decisions relate to balancing expressive power to implementability in industrial compilers and teachability. It has been implemented for C++ in the GNU Compiler Collection, and is part of the next ISO C++ standard.
Blood Flow in Seven Regions of the Brain during Endotoxin Shock in the Dog

SummaryThis study was performed to determine regional cerebral blood flow during endotoxin shock using the labeled-mi-crosphere particle distribution technique. The labeled microspheres were 15 μm in diameter. Twenty-six anesthetized and ventilated dogs were given 2 mg/kg of E. coli endotoxin. Regional flows were determined before endotoxin and at 2 or 4 hr of shock. Perfusion pressure and blood flow in all areas of the brain sampled were significantly decreased at 2 and 4 hr of shock. The percentage decrease in blood flows at 4 hr of shock of the regions sampled were: pons, 39%; medulla, 43%; hypothalamus, 46%; thalamus, 51%; cortex, 51%; cerebellum, 50%; and pituitary, 52%. Regional resistances of the pons, medulla, and hypothalamus were significantly decreased at 2 and 4 hr of shock. On the other hand, resistances of the cerebellum, cortex, thalamus, and pituitary were not significantly different from control values at either time. We conclude that blood flows to all brain regions measured are severely...
The Interaction of Volcanism and Sedimentation in the Proximal Areas of a Mid-tertiary Volcanic Dome Field, Central Arizona, U.S.A.

ABSTRACT Exposures of an Oligocene small-volume dome field in central Arizona, USA, provide an excellent example of the interaction of volcanism and sedimentation in a proximal volcanic setting. Volcanism in the field began with eruption of a shoshonite cinder cone and lava flows, which were emplaced onto braided-stream gravels. Stream sediments aggraded to the top of the lava flows before eruption of an amphibole-trachyte dome and its derivative pyroclastic flows. Deposition from the pyroclastic flows was punctuated by fluvial sedimentation, which took the form of both sheetflow reworking and debris-flow and hyperconcentrated-flow deposition. The lack of pronounced channel formation may indicate that inter-eruptive periods were brief. Two principles of volcaniclastic sedimentation are well documented in this study: First, active aggradation may preserve proximal deposits that are normally eroded quickly from a volcano. This aggradation is seen in the interstratification of braided-stream gravels derived from outside the area of volcanism with dome-derived primary pyroclastic deposits. The growing dome apparently did not form a large topographic feature, and thus did not overwhelm the preservation caused by regional aggradation. The landscape response to volcanism was highly complex, and the response of the stream system to short-term volcanic processes merely accentuated the effects occurring due to longer-term tectonic subsidence. Second, because sediments in the proximal areas of the dome were preserved, the interaction of the regional dispersal system with the dome complex is clear. Pyroclastic deposits were in some cases localized in channels. Reworked pyroclastic deposits have structures indicative of sheetflow or mass flow, but are entirely pyroclastic in composition. Deposits strongly influenced by the regional system are also mass flows or sheetflows, but they contain appreciable concentrations of non-volcanogenic material, and were deposited by debris-choked braided streams.
Identification of a 251-bp fragment of the PAI-1 gene promoter that mediates the ethanol-induced suppression of PAI-1 expression.

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk for coronary heart disease. This cardioprotection may be due to ethanol enhancement of fibrinolysis. Fibrinolysis involves the interaction of plasminogen activators (PAs) and the plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1). Factor(s) that decrease endothelial cell (EC) PAI-1 expression increase fibrinolysis and may decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease. Methods: Five promoter deletion fragments were generated from a 1.1-kb PAI-1 promoter fragment and ligated to a luciferase reporter gene. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transiently transfected with these PAI-1 deletion constructs. A 251-base pair (bp) fragment of the PAI-1 promoter, positions −800 to −549, was cloned upstream of a heterologous promoter/enhancer. ECs luciferase activity was measured in the absence/presence of 20 mM ethanol. Electrophoresis mobility shift assays were performed with nuclear extracts from untreated and ethanol-treated ECs using this 251-bp fragment. Results: Deletion analysis showed a region between position −800 and −549 mediated ethanol repression of luciferase activity. This 251-bp promoter fragment also repressed the activity of a heterologous promoter/enhancer in the presence of ethanol. Using the labeled 251-bp fragment, nuclear extracts from ethanol-treated ECs contained two inducible bands and one enhanced band. Non-ethanol treated nuclear extracts also contained a band that was not observed in ethanol-treated samples. Competition using 100-fold molar excess of unlabeled probe abolished these four bands. Conclusions: Repression of PAI-I gene transcription in cultured HUVECs exposed to ethanol may involve the interaction of several transcription factors with binding sites localized between positions −800 and −549 of the PAI-1 gene promoter.
Masculinity, reform, and clerical culture: Narratives of episcopal holiness in the Gregorian Era

Historical narrations of the Gregorian Reform tend to cultivate a certain machismo. The traditional narrative emphasizes a struggle for dominance between two men, Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV, which escalated from epistolary sparring to armed combat and culminated in a dramatic scene in which one man was on his knees before the other at Canossa. Even the newer narratives, such as the late Karl Leyser's “Gregorian Revolution,” while highlighting broad social and religious transformations attendant upon the movement, still privilege a revolutionary cadre, a handful of reformers (all male, of course) gathered around Gregory VII, who artfully channeled the discontents of the masses into a permanent reordering of western society.
Enhanced Sp1 DNA-binding activity in murine keratinocyte cell lines and epidermal tumors

Altered regulation of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is frequently observed in epidermal tumors. We have shown that the transcription factor Sp1 is one of the regulators of ODC expression and that Sp3 antagonizes this Sp1-mediated activation of ODC expression. These results led us to examine the levels and binding activity of Sp1 and Sp3 in nuclear extracts prepared from cultured murine keratinocytes, transformed keratinocyte cell lines and epidermal tumors. Here we show that the Sp1 DNA-binding activity is higher in established keratinocyte cell line extracts than in primary keratinocyte extracts. Sp1 message levels and Sp1 DNA-binding activity was found to be low in 20-week papillomas and high in squamous cell carcinomas. These results suggest that increased levels of Sp1 and enhanced Sp1 DNA binding activity are correlated with epidermal tumor progression. Based on these results, we propose that increased Sp1 DNA binding may augment the proliferative capacity of tumor cells through overexpression of Sp1-responsive genes, possibly including ODC.
Effects of increased dietary fat and exercise on skeletal muscle lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity in male rats.

Background Elevated dietary fat increases oxidative metabolism and has been linked to increased oxidative stress, while exercise training may augment antioxidant capacity. Most studies examining oxidative stress in skeletal muscle employ extremely high levels of dietary fat and/or intense exercise training that may not adequately model human diet and activity patterns.
A maximum likelihood approach to frequency-wavenumber analysis

This paper is concerned with the likelihood ratio detection and maximum likelihood estimation of plane waves traversing a small array on irregularly placed sensors. A new detection statistic is proposed. This statistic is related to the high resolution procedure of Capon, however it has a known null distribution in the case that no signal is present. Given that a wave is present, the asymptotic distribution of the maximum likelihood estimate of the wave parameters is derived. The problems of detection and estimation are distinguished. They are approached via the fundamental statistical procedures of likelihood ratio testing and maximum likelihood estimation. The solutions of both problems are found to be based upon the same quantity, the maximum likelihood statistic. The development leads to a clarification of the interrelationships and comparative properties of the conventional, the least squares, the high resolution and the new procedure. The approach is via Fourier inference.
Fault tolerant algorithms for orderings and colorings

Summary form only given. A k-forward numbering of a graph is a labeling of the nodes with integers such that each node has less than k neighbors whose labels are equal or larger. We obtain three self-stabilizing (s-s) algorithms for finding a k-forward numbering, provided one exists. One such algorithm also finds the k-height numbering of graph, generalizing s-s algorithms by Bruell et al. and Antonoiu et al. for finding the center of a tree. Another k-forward numbering algorithm runs in polynomial time. There is a strong connection between k-forward numberings and colorings of graphs. We use a k-forward numbering algorithm to obtain an s-s algorithm that is more general than previous coloring algorithms in the literature, and which k-colors any graph having a k-forward numbering. Special cases of the algorithm 6-color planar graphs, thus generalizing an s-s algorithm by Ghosh and Karaata, as well as 2-color trees and 3-color series-parallel graphs. We discuss how our s-s algorithms can be extended to the synchronous model.
Prices Of Pharmaceuticals In Poor Countries Are Much Lower Than In Wealthy Countries

Keeping pharmaceuticals affordable in poor countries is important for public health. Economic models suggest that manufacturers should be able to charge substantially lower prices in those markets than in industrialized countries without drastically reducing their profits. We report the results of a study of thirty drugs in twenty-nine countries, showing that many prices are already substantially discounted in middle-income and developing countries, compared to prices in the United States and other industrialized countries, and do not exceed long-run marginal costs. We also argue that the so-called peak load pricing model offers an economic foundation for fair drug pricing in the case of developing countries, and is a better solution than other pricing models to the problem of how to reduce drug prices in these countries to the level of manufacturers' marginal costs.
Nucleation and Growth of Silver Nanoparticles by AB and ABC-Type Atomic Layer Deposition

In this work, we report synthesis strategies to produce Ag nanoparticles by AB-type and ABC-type atomic layer deposition (ALD) using trimethylphosphine- (hexafluoroacetylacetonato) silver(I) ((hfac)Ag(PMe3)) and formalin (AB-type) and (hfac)Ag(PMe3), trimethylaluminum, and H2O (ABC-type). In situ quartz crystal microbalance measurements reveal a Ag growth rate of 1−2 ng/cm 2 /cycle by ABC-type ALD at 110 °C and 2−10 ng/cm 2 /cycle for AB-type ALD at 170−200 °C. AB-type Ag ALD has a nucleation period before continuous linear growth that is shorter at 200 °C. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that AB-type Ag ALD particles have an average size of ∼1.8 nm after 10 cycles. ABC-type Ag ALD particles have an average size of ∼2.2 nm after 20 cycles. With increasing ALD cycles, ABC-type Ag ALD increases the metal loading while maintaining the particle size but AB-type Ag ALD results in the formation of bigger particles in addition to small particles. The ability to synthesize supported metal nanoparticles with well-defined particle sizes and narrow size distributions makes ALD an attractive synthesis method compared to conventional wet chemistry techniques.
Smart Electromagnetic Sensors for Damage Identification

This paper investigates sensitivity issues for eddy current sensors in order to enhance the ability to use these simple, inexpensive sensors to determine flaw geometry. Using a parameterized two-dimensional flaw, scalar metrics are developed to relate the forward solution of the electromagnetic dynamics to the inverse problem of damage geometry reconstruction. The sensitivity or limitations of these metrics are identified. Then, the concept of sensitivity enhancing control is applied to enrich the data set in order to improve damage geometry reconstruction.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
An integrated approach to accelerate data and predicate computations in hyperblocks

To exploit increased instruction-level parallelism available in modern processors, we describe the formation and optimization of tracenets, an integrated approach to reducing the length of the critical path in data and predicated computation. By tightly integrating selective path expansion and path optimization within hyperblocks, our algorithm is able to produce highly optimized code without exploring the exponentially large number of paths included in a hyperblock. Our approach extracts more of the implicit predicate correlations in hyperblocks and uses a precise model of predicate correlations to aggressively accelerate data and predicate computations. Experimental results indicate that tracenets can significantly reduce the number of dynamic execution cycles.
Successful removal of football helmet face-mask clips after 1 season of use.

Context Whereas many researchers have assessed the ability to remove loop straps in traditional face-mask attachment systems after at least 1 season of use, research in which the effectiveness of t...
Relationship between host attack rates and CO 2 -baited insect flight trap catches of certain Symphoromyia species.

Correlation coefficients of 0.612 and 0.884, respectively, for the numbers of females of Symphoromyia sackeni and members of the S. pachyceras complex attacking deer versus those caught in traps emitting ca 2.4 liters CO2/min. established that trap catches excellently reflected the day-to-day activity of the host-seeking portion of the fly populations as measured by their proportional activity at unrestrained hosts. The adjusted x¯ numbers of females attacking hosts per day were nearly identical to the x¯ numbers of females caught in traps per day. As traps also proportionately caught females in the same gametogenic states as those collected from deer, we conclude that the traps functioned as substitutes for deer for these host specific flies, particularly with respect to the numbers of the S. pachyceras complex caught each day versus the numbers attacking deer. This is the first report of a trap which quantitatively functions as a substitute for the natural host with respect to the daily attack rate of a hematophagous arthropod. There were highly significant differences among sites with regard to trap catches of both S. sackeni and members of the S. pachyceras complex. Catches of the latter were proportional to the percentage canopy cover surrounding trap sites, whereas wind direction had the greatest effect on the numbers of S. sackeni caught at each site. The relationships between canopy Cover, trap locations and catches, and wind directions showed that both S. sackeni and members of the S. pachyceras complex responded to the traps by orienting in an upwind direction and that the flies were being attracted from distances of up to 50 to 60 m. Comparison of the ratios of S. sackeni to the S. pachyceras complex at deer to their ratios in traps showed that the former species remained near its peak population density whereas the population of the latter declined rapidly during the study. Other data indicated that the traps were less attractive for S. sackeni than for members of the S. pachyceras complex. Although S. sackeni was considerably more abundant during the study than the members of the S. pachyceras complex, and the species which we nearly always caught in fewer numbers than expected in the traps, it was the species whose segments of the populations were strikingly trapped out from about a 5-ha area by a concentration of 5 traps. This seeming paradox is c1arified by postulated differences in the behavior of S. sackeni and members of the S. pachyceras complex. In addition to Symphoromyia species, CO2-baited traps caught large numbers of many obligate and facultative mammalophilic bloodfceding species. None or only few of any specieswere caught in unbaited traps.
Oxygen delivery to tissues

For health, well perfused tissues, oxygen uptake is determined primarily by metabolic need rather than by oxygen supply. Tissue hypoxia supervenes when tissue oxygen tension (PO2) falls below a critical point, and the point where this occurs can be predicted from the systemic oxygen delivery or extraction ratio. A growing body of evidence suggest that tissue oxygen extraction may be impaired in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis. In these syndromes the minimum oxygen delivery needed to maintain a normal oxygen uptake appears to be increased, as tissues become hypoxic despite high levels of delivery. However, controversy surrounds every phase of this observation, from its experimental basis, to potential causes, to its implications for patient care. In this review, we discuss the physiology of oxygen transport, the determinants of tissue oxygenation in normal and pathological states, and the therapeutic implications of oxygen transport.
Towards the SocioScope: an information system for the study of social dynamics through digital traces

Over the past decade there has been an explosion in the deployment of pervasive systems like cell phone networks and content aggregators on the Internet that produce massive amounts of data as by-products of their interaction with users. This data is related to the actions and opinions of people and thereby to the overall dynamics of cities, how they function and evolve over time.Here we propose the implementation of a new information system, the SocioScope, that streamlines the operations of data gathering and data storage and that supports the diverse needs of the research community, local authorities, enterprises, and citizens. Our SocioScope allows for the collection, integration, and study of different types of spatiotemporal data.We present two use cases and an analysis of the requirements for the system. We introduce the multi-tier architecture that supports data gathering, storage, integration, analysis, and visualization. We describe the technical implementation of each module of the system and of the security mechanism for data access control. We conclude with a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of the study of digital traces and with an brief illustration of future directions of work.
Transition states and minimum energy pathways for the collapse of carbon nanotubes

Carbon nanotubes CNTs can undergo collapse from their customary cylindrical configurations to ribbons. The energy minima corresponding to these two states are identified using either atomistic molecular mechanics or the theory of finite crystal elasticity with reduced dimensionality. The minimum energy path between these two minima is found using the nudged elastic band reaction-pathway sampling scheme. The energetics of CNT collapse is explored for both single- and multi-walled CNTs as well as small bundles. The process has a strong diameter dependence, with collapse being more favorable for the larger diameter tubes, but is nearly independent of chirality. The saddle point always lies close to the collapsed state, and the absolute barrier energies— even for fairly short tube lengths—are sufficiently high, even when the reaction is highly exothermic, that thermal activation cannot initiate collapse via this pathway. The hydrostatic pressure required to buckle and collapse CNTs of various diameters is discussed.
MicroNester Coils as an Adjunct to Endovascular Embolization

Objectives/Background In June 2003, detachable balloons were removed from the US market and were supplanted with coil embolization for parent artery sacrifice in difficult or nonsurgical aneurysms and other vascular pathologies. The current series examines the use of MicroNester pushable coils (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN) as a low-cost and effective adjunct to detachable coils in the treatment of selected neurovascular pathologies. Methods A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing neurointerventional procedures from November 2003 through May 2008 was performed to identify patients in whom MicroNester coils were used as part of treatment. Analysis of coil type and number as well as pathology was performed. Results MicroNesters were used in 26 cases, of which 21 were for arterial sacrifice—19 for the internal carotid artery and 2 for the vertebral artery. Fourteen were performed for intracranial aneurysms, 3 for pseudoaneurysms, 2 for carotid cavernous fistulae, 1 for a carotid blowout, and 1 for an arteriovenous malformation. Five additional procedures were transvenous, for treatment of dural arterial venous fistulae. The mean number of coils for artery sacrifice was 13, with an average of 10 MicroNesters. For transvenous embolizations, the means were 30 and 6, respectively. Conclusion MicroNesters are not the coil of choice for most neurointerventional procedures because they are not retrievable. However, when parent artery sacrifice or transvenous occlusion of dural arteriovenous fistulas is the goal, MicroNesters are a relatively inexpensive and equally effective alternative to more expensive, detachable coils and can reduce the procedural costs by $3600 to $6000 for the current series.
A comprehensive and systematic model of user evaluation of web search engines: II. an evaluation by undergraduates

This paper presents an application of the model described in Part I to the evaluation of Web search engines by undergraduates. The study observed how 36 undergraduate used four major search engines to find information for their own individual problems and how they evaluated these engines based on actual interaction with the search engines. User evaluation was based on 16 performance measures representing five evaluation criteria: relevance, efficiency, utility, user satisfaction, and connectivity. Non-performance (user-related) measures were also applied. Each participant searched his/ her own topic on all four engines and provided satisfaction ratings for system features and interaction and reasons for satisfaction. Each also made relevance judgements of retrieved items in relation to his/her own information need and participated in post-search interviews to provide reactions to the search results and overall performance. The study found significant differences in precision PR1, relative recall, user satisfaction with output display, time saving, value of search results, and overall performance among the four engines and also significant engine by discipline interactions on all these measures. In addition, the study found significant differences in user satisfaction with response time among four engines, and significant engine by discipline interaction in user satisfaction with search interface. None of the four search engines dominated in every aspect of the multidimensional evaluation. Content analysis of verbal data identified a number of user criteria and users evaluative comments based on these criteria. Results from both quantitative analysis and content analysis provide insight for system design and development, and useful feedback on strengths and weaknesses of search engines for system improvement.
A review of HER2-targeted therapy in breast and ovarian cancer: lessons from antiquity - CLEOPATRA and PENELOPE

Although breast and ovarian cancer have notable distinctions, there may exist parallel pathways that can be exploited for therapeutic gain. For example, the therapeutic arena in breast cancer has benefited greatly from available endocrine therapies as well as novel drugs designed to target the HER2 receptor, including trastuzumab, lapatinib, T-DM1 and pertuzumab. CLEOPATRA, a Phase III randomized clinical trial studying pertuzumab in women with HER2-amplified metastatic breast cancer, was practice-changing in 2014. Its counterpart, the Phase III randomized PENELOPE trial, was activated following promising Phase II data and studied pertuzumab in an enriched ovarian cancer patient population with low HER3 mRNA. This review will trace the development of anti-HER2 therapies in breast and ovarian cancer.
Ice Cloud Backscatter Study and Comparison with CALIPSO and MODIS Satellite Data

An invariant imbedding T-matrix (II-TM) method is used to calculate the single-scattering properties of 8-column aggregate ice crystals. The II-TM based backscatter values are compared with those calculated by the improved geometric-optics method (IGOM) to refine the backscattering properties of the ice cloud radiative model used in the MODIS Collection 6 cloud optical property product. The integrated attenuated backscatter-to-cloud optical depth (IAB-ICOD) relation is derived from simulations using a CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite) lidar simulator based on a Monte Carlo radiative transfer model. By comparing the simulation results and co-located CALIPSO and MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) observations, the non-uniform zonal distribution of ice clouds over ocean is characterized in terms of a mixture of smooth and rough ice particles. The percentage of the smooth particles is approximately 6% and 9% for tropical and midlatitude ice clouds, respectively.
A Behavioral Measure of Costly Helping: Replicating and Extending the Association with Callous Unemotional Traits in Male Adolescents

BACKGROUND: Some conduct-disordered youths have high levels of callous unemotional traits and meet the DSM-5's "with limited prosocial emotions" (LPE) specifier. These youths often do aggressive, self-benefitting acts that cost others. We previously developed a task, the AlAn's game, which asks participants to repeatedly decide whether to accept or reject offers in which they will receive money but a planned charity donation will be reduced. In our prior work, more "costly helping" (i.e., rejecting the offered money and protecting the donation) was associated with lower callous unemotional traits. Here we extend that prior work in a larger sample of adolescent male patients with serious conduct problems and controls, and test whether this association is mediated specifically by a Moral Elevation response (i.e., a positive emotional response to another's act of virtue). METHODS: The adolescent male participants were: 45 patients (23 with LPE) and 26 controls, who underwent an extensive phenotypic assessment including a measure of Moral Elevation. About 1 week later participants played the AlAn's game. RESULTS: All AlAn's game outcomes demonstrated significant group effects: (1) money taken for self (p = 0.02); (2) money left in the charitable donation (p = 0.03); and, (3) costly helping (p = 0.047). Controls took the least money and did the most costly helping, while patients with LPE took the most money and did the least costly helping. Groups also significantly differed in post-stimulus Moral Elevation scores (p = 0.005). Exploratory analyses supported that the relationship between callous unemotional traits and costly helping on the AlAn's game may be mediated in part by differences in Moral Elevation. CONCLUSIONS: The AlAn's game provides a standardized behavioral measure associated with callous unemotional traits. Adolescents with high levels of callous unemotional traits engage in fewer costly helping behaviors, and those differences may be related to blunting of positive emotional responses. Language: en
Comparative Studies of Histamine Release and Potassium Efflux From Human Leukocytes.

SummarySimultaneous studies of anaphylactic and cytotoxic reactions have been carried out with aliquots of the same population of human leukocytes. The two phenomena have been shown to differ in the following respects. The anaphylactic reaction proceeds in the absence of added serum factors, and the release of histamine is not accompanied by the loss of intracellular potassium. In contrast, the cytotoxic process requires the presence of fresh serum and leads to a rapid efflux of intracellular potassium. Loss of this cation may be followed by a release of histamine, at elevated antibody levels. Possible limitations in the interpretation of the potassium release findings have been discussed.
Coupling Electrochemistry with Probe Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

A new coupling of electrochemistry with mass spectrometry (MS) using probe electrospray ionization (PESI) is presented. Due to the high salt tolerance of PESI, the detection of electrochemical reaction products in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) is realized for the first time. Furthermore, PESI-MS allows the analysis of electrochemical reaction products on different or multiple electrode surfaces. In addition, peptides and proteins fractionated through isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the presence of an external electric field can also be directly analyzed by using PESI-MS, suggesting a new and rapid characterization means for the IEF technique. This study reveals the versatility of EC/PESI-MS, which could have an impact in electrochemistry and bioanalysis fields.
Physiologic properties and somatotopic organization of the primate motor thalamus

1. To examine the functional organization of the primate "motor" thalamus, neuronal activity was studied systematically in awake behaving monkeys throughout the nucleus ventralis lateralis, pars or...
The Relationship Between Liver Function,Condition of Myocardiac Enzymology and Coronary Artery Lesion in Children with Kawasaki Disease

OBJECTIVE To explore the correlation of liver function and condition of myocardiac enzymology with coronary artery lesion(CAL) in hospitalized KD children.METHOD 58 children with KD,including 28 children who have CAL and 30 have no CAL after echocardiography on coronary artery condition of KD children.Liver function and myocardiac enzymology tests will be taken by automatic biochemical analysator.RESULT Alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and γ-aminoacyl transferase(GGT) KD children who have CAL are(93.5±46.85)U/L and(87.25±70.61)U/L,both are significantly higher than non-CAL group,(47.8±39.24)U/L,(29.6±17.54)U/L.However,there's no significant difference between the two groups in aspartic acid aminopherase(AST),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),creatine kinase(CK),lactate dehydrogenase(HB-DH) and creatine kinase isozyme(CK-MB).CONCLUSION Increasing of ALT and GGT could be one of the reference for estimating coronary artery desease in KD patient.
Epidemiological Studies of Chonorchis sinensis in the Groups in Nanshan District of Shenzhen City

Objective To find out the status of infection of Chonorchis sinensis in the population living in Nanshan District of Shenzhen.Method Cluster sampling method was used in this study.ELISA-based liver fluke detection kit was used to detect IgG antibody of Chonorchis sinensis in serum.Result A total of 5185 subjects were examined,the infection rate was 5.77%.The infection rate in the group of civil servants,local workers,mobile workers,and volunteers was 6.47%,3.04%,1.59%,and 32.26%,respectively.The infection rate of male subject was higher than the female.The infection rate was high in the age group of 40.Conclusion The incidence of Chonorchis sinensis infection in Nanshan District is low.Civil servants are the target group of disease prevention.It is important to strengthen the public health education.
Romantic and dating behaviors among single parents in the United States

Little research has focused on the dating attitudes and behaviors of singles with dependent-age children. Using data collected from a nationally representative U.S. probability sample of single adults, we provide findings on dating attitudes and behaviors among 747 single parents in the United States, aged 21 years and older, who had one or more children under the age of 18 years. Findings show gender differences between single men and single women concerning how they balance being a single parent and make time for dating. Both single fathers and single mothers considered their child's opinion about their dating life, and most parents involved their child(ren) once they knew they wanted or had established a committed romantic relationship with a new partner.
Job Analysis and Hiring Practices for National Account Marketing Positions

National Account Marketing (NAM), a selling method growing in importance across virtually every product and service classification, has received little attention in the sales management literature. This exploratory study was undertaken to learn how firms plan and carry out the hiring of people for NAM positions. In addition, relationships were explored between performance in the NAM job and personal as well as organizational variables. Implications for NAM managers and recommendations for further research are also offered.
Kinetic Modeling of the Release of Ethylene Oxide from Sterilized Plastic Containers and its Interaction with Monoclonal Antibodies

Ethylene oxide (ETO) is commonly used to sterilize plastic containers, but the effects of residual amounts left after sterilization on protein therapeutics are still not well understood. Here we focus primarily on the factors that influence concentrations of ETO migrating from ETO-treated plastic containers into aqueous solution. A study was designed to investigate the kinetics of this process at various temperatures, and the kinetic data could be fit with a model based on a combination of Fickean diffusion and first-order chemical reaction (to account for observed hydrolysis of ETO). The diffusion and reaction rate constants thus obtained obey Arrhenius-like temperature dependence. These results indicate that for analytical methods involving extraction into water, measurements of residual ETO in a container must account for the effects of ETO hydrolysis. Further, the effects of salt concentration and pH of the fluid in the container on accumulated ETO levels were explored. Finally, interactions of ETO with anti-streptavidin (AntiSA) Immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) and IgG2 antibodies were studied, with ETO adducts found on all methionine residues when incubated in solutions spiked with ETO at concentrations that could be reached (based on the kinetic studies) in ETO-treated plastic vials. Overall, the likelihood of observable ETO-protein modifications upon storage in ETO-sterilized containers will depend on a complex interplay of protein properties, formulation details, storage conditions, and amount of residual ETO initially in the container. LAY ABSTRACT: Ethylene oxide (ETO) is commonly used to sterilize plastic containers, but the effects of residual amounts left after sterilization on protein therapeutics are still not well understood. Here we describe experiments exploring the factors that influence concentrations of ETO migrating from ETO-treated plastic containers into aqueous solution over time. Additionally, interactions of ETO with model antibodies were studied, with ETO adducts found on all methionine residues when incubated in solutions spiked with ETO at concentrations that could potentially be reached in ETO-treated plastic vials. Overall, the likelihood of observable ETO-protein modifications upon storage in ETO-sterilized containers will depend on a complex interplay of protein properties, formulation details, storage conditions, and amount of residual ETO initially in the container.
Acute Kidney Injury Is Prevalent Among Pediatric Admissions for Acute Chest Syndrome

Abstract Background: Growing evidence shows that acute kidney injury (AKI) leads to chronic kidney disease in pediatric and adult populations. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) that develop acute chest syndrome (ACS) are at risk for developing AKI due to the hypoxic, acidic environment in the renal medulla, the use of nephrotoxic agents (vancomycin, NSAIDs), hyposthenuria and potential dehydration experienced by patients prior to admission for ACS. As AKI and acute lung injury are linked by systemic organ cross-talk, AKI with or without oliguria, may exacerbate the pathologic state of ACS. For these reasons, improving our understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of AKI during sickle cell crisis is paramount. Methods: We conducted a six year retrospective observational evaluation of 236 episodes of ICD-9 defined ACS among 166 admitted pediatric patients. We excluded patients admitted for one day or had normal CXR throughout hospitalization despite being coded as ACS. AKI was defined by KDIGO definition of either a ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or 50% increase in serum creatinine (SCr) from baseline. Forty eight episodes were excluded as a baseline SCr was not identified. Variables analyzed included age, gender, SCD genotype, length of stay, CBC (baseline and admission), current SCD therapy, transfusion intervention and length of stay (LOS). Per institutional standard of care, patients with ACS are treated with Vancomycin, Azithromycin, and Ceftriaxone and receive NSAIDS (ibuprofen or toradol) for pain/fevers but the type/timing of transfusion is determined by SCD provider preferences. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations between clinical variables and AKI for all patients and severe phenotypes. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine if AKI was independently associated with hospital length of stay. Results: The mean age of patients admitted with ACS was 9 years (range 0.8yrs-19) and 61% were male. Genotypes included SS (79%) SB0 thalassemia (4%), SB+ thalassemia (5%), SC (12%) and SD (1%). AKI was identified in 13 of 188 (7%) episodes of ACS. The majority of cases developed AKI within two days of admission and resolved 2.5 days later. Compared to children without AKI, those with AKI had a lower admission hemoglobin (6.3 vs 7.5 g/dL, p=0.02), lower decrease in hemoglobin from baseline (3.2 vs. 1.3 g/dL, p Conclusion: This study demonstrates that AKI is prevalent during admissions for ACS and is highly associated with a drop in Hb and increase in WBC on admission and the need for exchange transfusion. While AKI presented and resolved early during hospitalization, it is strongly associated with a prolonged hospital course. The impact of AKI on the pathophysiology of ACS in the acute setting as well as its role in progression to SCD nephropathy should be studied prospectively. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
The Effectiveness of Adlerian-Based Encouragement Group Counseling with College Students in Turkey

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Adlerian E5 psychoeducational group counseling on university students’ authenticity and social interest. The study’s design was quasi-experimental, with pre- and posttest control groups. Participants in the experimental group participated in E5 group counseling, and the control group participants met weekly for open, experiential group-counseling sessions. The results indicated that participants in E5 groups reported significantly higher scores for all subscales and total scores of authenticity, but not for social interest. These findings provide the first empirical support for the impact of E5 group counseling. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
LTA4H regulates cell cycle and skin carcinogenesis

Leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), a bifunctional zinc metallo-enzyme, is reportedly overexpressed in several human cancers. Our group has focused on LTA4H as a potential target for cancer prevention and/or therapy. In the present study, we report that LTA4H is a key regulator of cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase acting by negatively regulating p27 expression in skin cancer. We found that LTA4H is overexpressed in human skin cancer tissue. Knocking out LTA4H significantly reduced skin cancer development in the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-initiated/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-promoted two-stage skin cancer mouse model. LTA4H depletion dramatically decreased anchorage-dependent and -independent skin cancer cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Moreover, our findings showed that depletion of LTA4H enhanced p27 protein stability, which was associated with decreased phosphorylation of CDK2 at Thr160 and inhibition of the CDK2/cyclin E complex, resulting in down-regulated p27 ubiquitination. These findings indicate that LTA4H is critical for skin carcinogenesis and is an important mediator of cell cycle and the data begin to clarify the mechanisms of LTA4H's role in cancer development.
Viral Aggregation: Impact on Virus Behavior in the Environment

Aggregates of viruses can have a significant impact on quantification and behavior of viruses in the environment. Viral aggregates may be formed in numerous ways. Viruses may form crystal like structures and aggregates in the host cell during replication or may form due to changes in environmental conditions after virus particles are released from the host cells. Aggregates tend to form near the isoelectric point of the virus, under the influence of certain salts and salt concentrations in solution, cationic polymers, and suspended organic matter. The given conditions under which aggregates form in the environment are highly dependent on the type of virus, type of salts in solution (cation, anion. monovalent, divalent) and pH. However, virus type greatly influences the conditions when aggregation/disaggregation will occur, making predictions difficult under any given set of water quality conditions. Most studies have shown that viral aggregates increase the survival of viruses in the environment and resis...