cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Telomeric Double Strand Breaks Facilitate Formation of 5\' C-Rich Overhangs in G1 Human Cells

Abstract Telomeres are repetitive nucleoprotein complexes that protect the ends of linear chromosomes and prevent their detection as double strand breaks (DSBs), thereby averting activation of a DNA damage response (DDR). While these functions are clearly essential for maintaining genome integrity, it is intriguing to consider how DSBs within telomeres themselves are handled. In cycling cells, telomeric DSBs can be repaired by homologous recombination (HR) and alternative nonhomologous end-joining (ALT NHEJ). Localization of 53BP1, an important regulator of resection at broken ends, to damaged telomeres has also only been observed in replicating cells. Here, we characterized the cellular response to enzymatically induced telomeric DSBs, specifically in non-replicating G1 normal human fibroblasts and cancer cells. Telomeric DSBs in G1 human cells elicited early signatures of a DDR in that gamma (γ)-H2AX and MDC1 were recruited to broken telomeres. Consistent with previous reports, 53BP1 was not observed at telomeric break sites in G1. Furthermore, evidence of classical NHEJ (cNHEJ), the primary pathway of DSB repair in G1 mammalian cells, was lacking at broken telomeres. Likewise, no evidence of classical HR-dependent repair of telomeric DSBs in G1 was observed, as neither RAD51, RAD52, nor repair associated DNA synthesis were detected. Rather, and consistent with rapid truncation events and overall telomere shortening, telomeric DSBs in G1 human cells facilitated formation of extensive tracks of RPA coated 5’ C-rich telomeric single-stranded (ss)DNA, an observation also supported by minimal dependence on conventional end-processing exonucleases MRE11, EXO1, or Apollo. Thus, telomeric DSBs in G1 human cells initiate an abbreviated DDR that results in extensive resection in the absence of 53BP1, facilitating formation of 5’ C-rich overhangs, a previously proposed marker of the recombination dependent, alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway, which presumably persist until recombination-mediated elongation and restoration is possible.
Four Weeks of Treatment With Rifaximin Fails to Significantly Alter Microbial Diversity in Rectal Samples of HIV-Infected Immune Non-Responders (ACTG A5286) Which May be Attributed to Rectal Swab Use.

Introduction: HIV-infected individuals have evidence of intestinal microbial translocation which is associated with immune activation and unfavorable clinical outcomes. Rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic which reduces microbial translocation in other disease states, was shown to have a marginal beneficial effect on microbial translocation, T-cell activation, and inflammation in a multisite randomized trial (ACTG A5286; NCT01466595) of HIV-infected persons with poor immunologic recovery receiving ART. Here, we report analysis of the rectal microbiome changes associated with that trial. Methods: HIV-1-infected individuals receiving ART with CD4-T cell count <350cells/mm 3 and viral suppression were randomized 2:1 to rifaximin or no therapy for 4 weeks. Rectal swabs were collected at baseline (pre-treatment) and at week 4 of rifaximin therapy. Genomic DNA extracted from rectal swab samples was analyzed using high throughput sequencing and quantitative PCR of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Results: Forty-eight HIV-infected participants (31 received rifaximin, 17 no treatment) were included. There was broad variability in the recovery of bacterial rRNA from the specimens at baseline. No major significant (FDR P <0.05) effects of rifaximin treatment on alpha- or beta- diversity or individual taxa were observed between or within the treatment arms, with analyses conducted at taxonomic levels from phylum to genus. Conclusions: Rifaximin did not meaningfully alter the diversity or composition of the rectal microbiome of HIV-infected individuals after 4 weeks of therapy, although rectal swab specimens varied widely in their microbial load.
Third generation sequencing in the clinical laboratory: Exploring the advantages and challenges of nanopore sequencing.

Metagenomic sequencing for infectious disease diagnostics is an important tool that holds promise for use in the clinical laboratory. Challenges for implementation so far include high cost, the length of time to results, and the need for technical and bioinformatics expertise. However, the recent technological innovation of nanopore sequencing from Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) has the potential to address these challenges. ONT sequencing is an attractive platform for clinical laboratories to adopt due to its low cost, rapid turnaround time, and user-friendly bioinformatics pipelines. However, this method still faces the problem of base-calling accuracy compared to other platforms. This review highlights the general challenges of pathogen detection in clinical specimens by metagenomic sequencing, the advantages and disadvantages of the ONT platform, and how research to date supports the potential future use of nanopore sequencing in infectious disease diagnostics.
"Power of Mom": A Mixed Methods Investigation of Mothers' Influence on Women's Contraceptive Attitudes and Behaviors.

Unintended pregnancy is an individual and public health problem with significant social and economic consequences. The literature has established that parents, especially mothers, play an important role in shaping the contraceptive attitudes and behaviors of young women and could therefore affect the likelihood of their daughter experiencing an unintended pregnancy. However, research has yet to fully explore the nuances of how mothers influence their daughters with respect to contraception. We conducted a mixed methods study to explore the impact of mothers on women’s contraceptive attitudes and behaviors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 86 women of reproductive age to identify potential patterns and explore the nature of mothers’ influences. We then analyzed medical and prescription claims for a cohort of 9813 pairs of women (mother–daughter proxies) enrolled in Medicaid, to determine if such patterns of contraceptive use held in a larger sample. In-depth interviews reveal how and why mothers shape women’s contraceptive attitudes and behaviors, particularly highlighting the nuances of communication, knowledge, and relationships. The statistical claims data supported such findings on a broader scale. For instance, across several types of contraceptives, including oral, injectable, and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), young women were significantly more likely to use a particular method if an older woman in the household (mother proxy) also used that method (AOR (95% CI) 1.99 (1.67–2.37), 2.06 (1.58–2.68) and 2.83 (1.64–4.88) respectively). This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the nuanced ways in which mothers influence women’s contraceptive behavior. In turn, it supports the importance of familial context—especially the influence of mothers—in contraception decision-making and suggests that interventions aimed at improving access to and uptake of effective methods of contraception consider this context in their design and implementation.
High cost child welfare cases: Child characteristics and child welfare services

Abstract The IV-E Waivers and Family First Prevention Services Act prioritize prevention services, including services that reduce out-of-home placements. Placement in out-of-home care is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes as well as high costs to society. Studies that focus on utilization of health services suggest that these costs are not evenly distributed among recipients, and that high utilizers make up a small percentage of individuals who utilize a disproportionate share of resources. The purpose of the paper is to examine child characteristics and child welfare services associated with high welfare costs, defined as the top decile of child welfare costs. Results indicate that older age of child, child sexual abuse and/or neglect, and inability of parent to provide care are associated with high child welfare costs. Parental substance abuse or domestic violence in the household are less common among children with high costs. High cost children are more likely to have serious behavioral problems perhaps reflecting the severity of these problems. Residential treatment and group home placements and services were also associated with having high costs.
Advances in the diagnosis of fungal pneumonias

Fungal infections are increasingly encountered in clinical practice due to more favorable environmental conditions and increasing prevalence of immunocompromised individuals. The diagnostic approac...
Physical Chemistry of the Protein Backbone: Enabling the Mechanisms of Intrinsic Protein Disorder.

Over the last two decades, it has become clear that well-defined structure is not a requisite for proteins to properly function. Rather, a spectrum of functionally-competent, structurally-disordere...
Improving Middle School Teachers’ Self-reported Use of Social Dynamics Management Practices

The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of a professional development program on sixth grade teachers’ use of social dynamics management (SDM) practices. SDM practices represent ...
Origins of pressure-induced enhancement in thermal conductivity of hybrid inorganic–organic perovskites

Responses of materials to high pressures unveil important insight into their structure–property relationships that are otherwise masked under ambient conditions. Here, using atomistic simulations, it is shown that the thermal conductivity of methylammonium lead iodide can be drastically increased by more than an order of magnitude with applications of ∼60 GPa hydrostatic pressures. The insights gained from the molecular dynamics simulations suggest that although the inorganic constituents contribute significantly to heat flow at ambient pressure, the organic constituents are largely responsible for the drastic increase in thermal conductivity at higher pressures. The application of hydrostatic pressure leads to severe octahedral distortions resulting in higher degrees of confinement of the organic molecules and the concomitant hardening of their vibrational density of states to high frequencies encompassing a very broad spectral range that are otherwise unavailable at ambient pressure. This is shown to drastically improve the overall thermal conductivity even though the contributions from the inorganic constituents remain largely unchanged throughout the pressure range studied in this work.
BIOMARKERS AND NEUROBEHAVIORAL DIAGNOSIS.

Abstract Our current diagnostic methods for treatment planning in Psychiatry and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities leave room for improvement, and null results in clinical trials in these fields may be a result of insufficient tools for patient stratification. Great hope has been placed in novel technologies to improve clinical and trial outcomes, but we have yet to see a substantial change in clinical practice. As we examine attempts at biomarker validation within these fields, we find that it may be the diagnoses themselves that fall short. We now need to improve neuropsychiatric nosologies with a focus on validity based not solely on behavioral features, but on a synthesis that includes genetic and biological data as well. The eventual goal is diagnostic biomarkers and diagnoses themselves based on distinct mechanisms, but such an understanding of the causal relationship across levels of analysis is likely to be elusive for some time. Rather, we propose an approach in the near-term that deconstructs diagnosis into a series of independent, empiric and clinically relevant associations among a single, defined patient group, a single biomarker, a single intervention and a single clinical outcome. Incremental study across patient groups, interventions, outcomes and modalities will lead to a more interdigitated network of knowledge, and correlations in metrics across levels of analysis will eventually give way to the causal understanding that will allow for mechanistically based diagnoses.
Firearm-Related Juvenile Death Correlates with Both Gun Ownership Rates and Leniency of Existing Firearm Laws Among US States

US rates of firearm-related death are vastly higher than that of other high-income countries. Further, firearms are now the second-leading cause of death among American children and black children are 10 times more likely to be killed by guns than white children. Currently, there exists tremendous variation among US states between the types of firearm-related laws employed and the number of firearms per capita. Similarly, US states have widely discrepant rates of firearm-related death among both their juvenile and overall populations. We set out to determine how rates of gun ownership and firearm-related …
A Comparison of the Biological Reactivity of Nitric Oxide and Peroxynitrite

Publisher Summary Despite differences in structure and chemical reactivity, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite may share similar biological reactivity. Both species modify critical residues in proteins, and NO induces S-nitrosylation of cysteine residues and peroxynitrite, most likely via its reaction with carbon dioxide, tyrosine nitration. In most cases, modification of a single residue per protein molecule is sufficient to induce a loss or gain of function. To maintain normal physiological function, the protein modification is reversible or the modified protein is repaired. Failure to repair the modified proteins may result in a pathological outcome. This chapter compares and contrasts the biological reactivity of NO and peroxynitrite with proteins. They react selectively with different proteins, causing local or even long-range structural alterations that modify protein function. Factors that determine the general biological reactivity of NO and peroxynitrite with biomolecules, and those that determine the reactivity with protein are reviewed.
Using a practicum experience in your database course

Providing active learning exercises to supplement passive learning activities such as lecture achieves positive educational results. The use of practicum experiences in junior-senior level computer science courses increases student familiarity with implementation and use of various computer technologies and provides the opportunity for students to increase confidence in their ability to work with unfamiliar software systems, to modify existing programs, and to pursue open-ended experiments without worrying about possible negative impact on the computer system they are using. This paper summarizes the design of new practicum experiences for five junior-senior level computer science courses and the implementation of the database management systems practicum.
The Millennium Problem and the Marketplace of Ideas: Insights into Freedom, Responsibility, and Technological Development

A close analysis of the Y2K problem provides valuable insight into the ethics of technology. We contend that the primary cause of the Y2K problem is a lack of, what John Stuart Mill calls, originality (and the related loss of freedom, diversity, and understanding) in the information technology (IT) industry. If the various IT companies had supported originality, then they would have empowered their employees to respond to the foreseen difficulties associated with the change of millennium long before these difficulties blossomed into the current worldwide problem. We contend that originality, which requires and nourishes both intellectual vigor and diversity, which require in turn freedom and variety of situation, not only develops a better marketplace, but a better world full of people who have reached their true human potential. It is thus incumbent upon the business world to adopt some form of originality.
Effects of self-enhancement and consistency on causal and trait attributions following success and failure in motor performance.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contributions of self-enhancement and consistency to causal and trait attributions of performance outcome (success and failure) in an achievement motor task. For this purpose, an experiment with a 2 × 2 × 2 (ego involvement x past outcome x present outcome) factorial design was conducted. Eighty college undergraduates performed ten practice trials on a motor task under the high or low ego-involving instructions and were told that they had performed much better or much worse than other college students. Following this past-outcome manipulation, subjects performed ten test trials and were given positive or negative feedback as in the case of the practice trials. The results supported the self-enhancement hypothesis in that: (a) causal and trait attributions to internal factors were greater following success than following failure on test trials and (b) trait attributions of task difficulty were greater under failure than under success on the t...
Effect of growth rate and starvation-survival on cellular DNA, RNA, and protein of a psychrophilic marine bacterium.

Abstract DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations from starved ANT-300 cell populations grown at different growth rates fluctuated corresponding to the three stages of starvation-survival on total and viable cell bases. During stage 1 of starvation-survival, two to three peaks in the concentration levels for all three macromolecules were characteristic. During stage 2, DNA per total cell dropped to between 4.2 and 8.3% of the original amount for all of the cell populations examined, and it stabilized throughout stage 3. The decrease in DNA per cell was also observed in electron micrographs of cellular DNA in unstarved compared with starved cells. The fluctuations of RNA and protein per total cell concentrations observed during stage 2 coincided in all cases, except for the cells from dilution rate (D) = 0.015 h−1. This ANT-300 cell population showed a decrease in RNA per total cell to only 29.2% and an increase in protein to 129.7% of the original amount after 98 days of starvation. During stage 3, DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations per total cell also stabilized to continuous levels. Cells from the faster-growth-rate cell populations of D = 0.170 h−1 and batch culture had elevated protein per total cell concentrations, which remained primarily residual during the starvation period. Starved cells from D = 0.015 h−1 had estimated nucleoid and cell volumes of 0.018 and 0.05 μm3, respectively, yielding a nucleoid volume/cell volume ratio of 0.40. We consider these data to indicate that slow-growth-rate cells are better adapted for starvation-survival than their faster-growth-rate counterparts.
External cavity multiwavelength semiconductor mode-locked lasers gain dynamics

The gain dynamics of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) were measured using pump-probe techniques for the amplification of 750 fs pulses, 6.5 ps pulses and multiwavelength pulses, obtained from an external cavity semiconductor mode-locked laser. Furthermore, the intracavity gain dynamics of an external cavity semiconductor mode-locked laser was measured under multiwavelength operation. The experimental results show how the inherent chirp in pulses from external cavity semiconductor mode-locked lasers result in a slow gain depletion without significant fast gain dynamics. This mitigates gain competition between wavelength channels and nonlinearities in the gain media (SOA), enabling the multiwavelength operation of external cavity semiconductor mode-locked lasers. Numerical simulations support the experimental results.
Studies of flow separation and stalling on one- and two-element airfoils at low speeds

Research has been conducted on the nature of airfoil behavior at pre- and post-separated angles of attack. Detailed wind tunnel studies have been made of boundary layer and wake fields for the GA(W)-1 airfoil, and the airfoil with a 0.3 chord Fowler flap. Experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions from a multi-element viscous flow computer program. Theoretical predictions are reasonably accurate for unseparated flows, but have serious errors when separation is present. Some recent techniques for modeling post-separated flow behavior are discussed in light of the present experiments.
An α-d-Galactosyl-binding Lectin from Bandeirae simplicifolia Seeds ISOLATION BY AFFINITY CHROMATOGRAPHY AND CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract An α-d-galactosyl binding lectin was purified from Bandeiraea simplicifolia seeds by affinity chromatography. Melibiose was oxidized to the corresponding aldonic acid, and condensed with aminoethyl-Bio-Gel P-300 in the presence of a water-soluble carbodiimide to afford a specific adsorbent which retained B erythrocyte hemagglutinating activity from the seed extract. Elution with galactose-containing buffer displaced the bound lectin which appeared homogeneous by disc gel electrophoresis, pH 4.3, immunoelectrophoresis, gel filtration, and sedimentation analysis. Multiple bands were obtained upon electrophoresis at pH 9.5 and isoelectric focusing. The lectin (mol wt 114,000) is composed of four apparently identical subunits and contains 6.7% by weight carbohydrate (mannose, glucosamine, fucose, and xylose). A metalloprotein, the lectin requires Ca2+ for hemagglutinating activity. Amino acid analysis revealed a high content of acidic and hydroxylic amino acids, only trace amounts of methionine, and one cysteine per subunit. Modification of cysteine with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) resulted in complete loss of hemagglutinating activity. Inactivation was partially reversible upon reduction with dithiothreitol. The lectin agglutinates B and AB erythrocytes very strongly, A1 cells weakly, and does not agglutinate A2 or O cells. Polysaccharides and glycoproteins with terminal, nonreducing α-d-galactosyl residues reacted with the lectin to form precipitin bands by Ouchterlony double diffusion, whereas those with terminal β-d-galactosyl residues did not (the galactomannan of Torulopsis gropengiesseri excepted). Polysaccharide precipitating activity of the lectin exhibited an unusually broad pH optimum (6.0 to 11.0), was inhibited by EDTA, destroyed by dialysis of the lectin against acetic acid to remove bound metal, and restored by addition of a divalent metal cation. Glycosides of α-d-galactopyranose were the best inhibitors examined by the hapten inhibition technique. Interestingly, UDP-galactose was shown to inhibit polysaccharide precipitation. Lactose, l-arabinose, d-fucose, d-glucose, and d-mannose were noninhibitory. We suggest that Bandeirae simplicifolia lectin, the first α-d-galactopyranosyl binding lectin (anti-B lectin) to be purified and characterized, will be valuable not only as a serological reagent, but in studies of polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and cell membrane structure.
State estimation with quantized measurements: Approximate MMSE approach

This paper addresses the problem of state estimation with quantized measurements. In a system with quantized measurements, due to the nonlinearity of the quantizer, estimating the system state is a nonlinear and non-Gaussian estimation problem even if the system is linear and Gaussian. A numerical algorithm for approximate minimum mean square error (MMSE) state estimation with quantized measurement is proposed. Performance evaluation and comparison of the proposed algorithm with the theoretical solution, the posterior Cramer-Rao lower bound (PCRLB), and other existing methods by simulation of a typical aircraft altitude tracking scenario in air traffic control (ATC) systems are presented.
Hypertension in an urban slum in northeastern Brazil

capital of the state of Bahia. This NIAID-supported longitudinal project was established to primarily study the natural history of leptospirosis and determining the effectiveness of community-based interventions, such as improved sanitation. This research has also led to the collection of basic demographic and health data on blood pressures and cardiovascular disease outcomes relevant to leptospirosis, and has given a unique picture of the burden of hypertension and other noncommunicable diseaeses in this unique population. Results (Scientific Abstract)/Collaborative Partners (Programmatic Abstract): We work closely with the Fiocruz, the research branch of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Our team also has a longstanding relationship with teh Urban Health Council of the Residents’ Association of Pau da Lima. Summary/Conclusion: The worldwide growth of slums presents a significant challenge to global public health. Limited data suggest that all health outcomes, both communicable and noncommunicable, are worse in slums that are by their nature illegal, comprised of overcrowded and poorly built communities that have limited access to safe water, sanitation, and other services. Yet, accurate health statistics in these communities are difficult to obtain and interventions are limited by their informal relationship to the state. Large investments in the study of disease in these communities may have multiple returns. For instance, the study of rheumatic disease may provide important information on cardiovascular disease outcomes in these communities. The implications of this kind of “double-dipping” challenges certain aspects of research design, but if done responsibly, may also provide a wealth of information where information is sparse, and further draw closer those who study communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
¡Vamos a Jugar Counters! Learning Mathematics Through Funds of Knowledge, Play, and the Third Space

Drawing on Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT), funds of knowledge, and third space, this article presents a model for practitioners and researchers to think about how Latina/o, bilingual children develop explicit mathematics strategies through multilingual and multigenerational interactions. Using data collected through fieldwork in an urban afterschool club, this article illustrates how nonschool activities that draw on children's funds of knowledge (especially Spanish use) can foster robust problem-solving interactions. When activities are purposefully designed to build on productive tensions between the sometimes conflicting goals of participants, these “third spaces” lead to movement in the zone of proximal development. Multiple vignettes from the Counters game are presented to demonstrate how parents, undergraduates, and graduate students purposefully interact with children to facilitate movement from “informal” spaces to more “formal” spaces of mathematics. With the population of Latina/o bi...
Evolution of the glossopterid gymnosperms from Permian Gondwana

Our understanding of the glossopterid gymnosperms from the Permian of Gondwana has recently been greatly enhanced through the study of anatomically preserved plant remains in cherts from several localities in Australia and Antarctica. Studies ofGlossopteris leaves, leaf-stem attachment, stem structure and wood anatomy,Vertebraria roots, ovule- and pollen-bearing reproductive structures and putative glossopterid pollen and ovules demonstrate that the glossopterids were a diverse group of sophisticated gymnosperms. Comparative studies of different Permian chert floras show that while some glossopterid elements are widespread, other taxa appear to be more localized in their distribution. As information from petrified plant-bearing cherts becomes available, it can be used to reconstruct whole glossopterid plants and establish their paleogeographic distribution.
Chaotic Nonlinear Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

Stimulated Brillouin scattering is analyzed in finite systems which have a boundary reflective to light. The linear instability is considerably altered from that for the usual transmitting boundaries. In the nonlinear regime the scattered light intensity may behave chaotically in time and exhibit rich frequency spectra including shifts corresponding to fractional harmonics of the fundamental acoustic wave. Simulation results compare favorably with data from laser-plasma-interaction experiments.
Cortical stimulation and suppression of activity in the rat.

Abstract Low-frequency electrical stimulation at sites in the frontal cortex of the rat will suppress running in an activity wheel, but will have no effect on general activity measured in a stabilimeter. This confirms a prediction made from the effects of frontal lesions on these two kinds of activity. No evidence of abnormality in the EEG was observed following frontal stimulation. Stimulation in the frontal cortex probably influences the same inhibitory processes that are modified by frontal lesions. Further results indicate that the differential effects of frontal stimulation on running and general activity may be partly due to differences in response effort required.
Coastal barriers — Nomenclature, processes, and classification issues

Abstract The designation “coastal barrier”, related terms and their varied interpretations, and critical concepts in coastal plain and nearshore geology, underwent numerous reincarnations over the years. This designation was first applied to shore-parallel sand and gravel-built ocean-front islands and spits that separate open marine environments from paralic inshore environments that they shelter. A more recently recognized third category includes mainland strandplain, chenier, and dunefield barriers, either as original components of mainland coasts or subsequently welded to the coastal plain. A parallel but closely related terminology, developed mostly in Australia and Brazil, identifies several specific process categories recognizable in the three basic barrier groups. In the absence of lagoons and tidal wetlands, shore ridges that front and are contiguous with the mainland coastal plain have been mistakenly assigned to the barrier island category. Greatly diminished wave energy and consequently minor littoral drift volumes account for the relative rarity and much smaller dimensions of prograded landforms in estuarine islands and bay shore beaches in paralic-inshore basins. Due to wave and related littoral drift processes, however diminished in comparison with open marine shores, morphological similarities between aggraded landforms of open marine through estuarine settings are to be expected. However, the multitude of proposed “fetch-limited”, diminished wave energy estuarine islands, characterized by diminutive narrow beaches, sand spits, even occasional small dunes, and miniature strandplains, lack the essential functional attributes intrinsic to true barrier islands. While barrier islands may form even on relatively low wave energy and/or sediment-deficient marine shores, the term is inappropriate for islands located in low-energy paralic basins, including estuaries, or in coastal plains where frontal shore ridges are not backed by lagoons. Landforms erroneously ascribed in a variety of facies settings as barrier islands or islands frequently are mainland-attached beach ridge plains or beach-fringed marshlands instead. Narrow marshland beaches and mainland strandplain barriers are segmented into short islands by intervening narrow tidal creeks, fluvial distributary channels, or storm cuts that separate them. Improved fundamental and functional definitions of barrier islands, their comparison with the many genetic categories of islands and mainland shore beaches found in estuarine basins and wetlands should lead to a better understanding of paralic island evolution processes on the global scale.
Obesity, diabetes and heart disease: effects of globalization on population health, preventive efforts, and the importance of social change

Globalization has had an impact on many systems that affect daily living. Internationally, food systems have undergone substantial changes including increased availability and affordability of processed foods and an unprecedented inundation of the food supply with low-cost caloric sweeteners and more efficient production of fatty oils. These changes in the food supply have had an impact on the nutritional status of many by contributing to a paradoxical increase in obesity in countries with historically high rates of malnutrition. This higher global prevalence of obesity has been implicated in the increase in leading causes of death, namely diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This paper includes an introductory section highlighting the notable effects of globalization on our food systems followed by a more in-depth discussion of obesity, diabetes, and CVD, and its related conditions considered as significant health consequences of these changes. To address the pervasive nature of these problems, sev...
DHX9 helicase is involved in preventing genomic instability induced by alternatively structured DNA in human cells

Sequences that have the capacity to adopt alternative (i.e. non-B) DNA structures in the human genome have been implicated in stimulating genomic instability. Previously, we found that a naturally occurring intra-molecular triplex (H-DNA) caused genetic instability in mammals largely in the form of DNA double-strand breaks. Thus, it is of interest to determine the mechanism(s) involved in processing H-DNA. Recently, we demonstrated that human DHX9 helicase preferentially unwinds inter-molecular triplex DNA in vitro. Herein, we used a mutation-reporter system containing H-DNA to examine the relevance of DHX9 activity on naturally occurring H-DNA structures in human cells. We found that H-DNA significantly increased mutagenesis in small-interfering siRNA-treated, DHX9-depleted cells, affecting mostly deletions. Moreover, DHX9 associated with H-DNA in the context of supercoiled plasmids. To further investigate the role of DHX9 in the recognition/processing of H-DNA, we performed binding assays in vitro and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays in U2OS cells. DHX9 recognized H-DNA, as evidenced by its binding to the H-DNA structure and enrichment at the H-DNA region compared with a control region in human cells. These composite data implicate DHX9 in processing H-DNA structures in vivo and support its role in the overall maintenance of genomic stability at sites of alternatively structured DNA.
Follicular Fluid Prolactin and the Periovulatory Prolactin Surge in the Mare

Abstract Prolactin may play multiple roles in equine reproduction. Prolactin appears to be associated with seasonal reproduction, and fluctuating prolactin levels during the estrous cycle suggest that it may play a role in estrous cyclicity as well. The purpose of this research was to investigate the activity of prolactin during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle. In experiment 1, prolactin concentrations were determined from plasma samples collected at least every other day throughout the estrous cycle. Periovulatory (ovulation ± 1 day) prolactin concentrations were compared with concentrations during early diestrus (days 2−10 postovulation). In experiment 2, prolactin concentrations were measured in follicular fluid collected from 74 follicles of various sizes. Follicles were grouped into small (≤20 mm), medium (21−35 mm), and large (>35 mm) size categories. Prolactin concentrations increased during the periovulatory period in cycling mares. This periovulatory surge was superimposed on baseline prolactin concentrations that varied with season. Prolactin was present in significant quantities in the follicular fluid. Follicular fluid prolactin concentrations were lowest in small follicles and increased in medium and large follicles. Concentrations did not differ between medium and large follicles. Follicular fluid prolactin concentrations were lower in autumnal follicles compared with summer follicles of comparable size. It is possible that the short-term surge in circulating prolactin around ovulation could be linked to the significant levels of prolactin in follicular fluid. Ovulation releases a relatively large volume of fluid into the peritoneum. The prolactin in this fluid could be a contributor to the periovulatory prolactin surge.
History and Prevalence of Doping in the Marathon

Anti-doping activism represents the mainstream of the current anti-doping campaign and includes both an ethical critique of doping and a call for the sharpening of sanctions. At the same time, evolving evidence indicates that systemic doping in some sports has existed on a larger scale than most observers thought possible. Doping has historical roots in the physiological demands of extreme endurance sport. The Victorian philosophy of sportsmanship and fair competition that emphasises the importance of a capacity for self-restraint and expresses a code of honour, once associated with the gentleman ideal, is the basis of the current anti-doping movement. The problem with this focus is the assumption that there is a contradiction between high-performance endurance sports and doping practices that is not found in the historical record. Compared with the hundreds of professional cyclists who have tested positive for banned substances in recent decades, the list of offenders in the marathon is very short. At the same time, the low number of positive tests is an inadequate basis for estimating the extent of doping among elite marathon runners today. A better understanding of this phenomenon would require something like anthropological fieldwork conducted in this subculture.
Temperature distributions in tumor models heated by self-regulating nickel-copper alloy thermoseeds.

Needle‐shaped thermoseeds have been manufactured from an alloy consisting of 70.4% nickel and 29.6% copper. The magnetic properties of the alloy were measured at various temperatures and from this the heating power produced by a thermoseed exposed to an electromagnetic induction field was computed as a function of the seed temperature. Calorimetric measurements were also performed. From these data, temperature distributions in simple tumor models assumed to be heated by an array of nickel–copper implants were computed. It was found that the nickel–copper implants produce substantially better temperature homogeneity than readily available constant power seeds, especially in tumors with unpredictable rates of blood perfusion or when the implant arrangement is not perfectly regular. Since such conditions are likely to be present in actual patients, the nickel–copper implants should be very useful in clinical hyperthermia.
Exoelectron Emission for the Study of Surface Fatigue Wear

An apparatus has been constructed for studying exoelectron emission from steel bearing balls which have been run in a Barwell four-ball surface fatigue wear tester. The test ball is periodically removed from the tester, cleaned to remove its oil film, transferred to a vacuum chamber, and illuminated by ultraviolet light. The emitted exoelectrons originating at new surface area generated on the ball during fatigue testing are detected by an electron multiplier. By rotating the ball and measuring the exoelectron emission as a function of position, the source or sources of the emission can be localized. The resolution of the research apparatus is presently limited to 0.27 mm, the width of the scanning spot. Exoelectron emission decay results indicate a relatively slow drop in emission with time. Preliminary results indicate that the fatigue failure occurs at one of several sites which have given enhanced electron emission. Presented at the 31st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 10–13, 1976
Quantitative variation in striate receptive fields of cats as a function of light and dark adaptation.

1. A digital computer was employed to map quantitatively the receptive fields of units in cats' striate cortex. The computer presented point visual stimuli via a digital oscilloscope, synchronously sampled unit spike response, and composed a post stimulus time-histogram of response at each stimulated matrix point. 2. Animals were prepared under diethyl ether anesthesia, immobilized with a mixture of gallamine triethiodide and d-tubocurarine, and lightly anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Light and dark adapted conditions were contrasted in terms of effect on organization of striate receptive fields. 3. Striate response was analyzed temporally by means of post stimulus time-histograms. Phasic early on-, phasic late on-, tonic on-, phasic early off-, and phasic late off-response components were distinguished. The mechanism, differential behavior in light and dark adapted conditions, and functional significance of these components were investigated. 4. From unit response at all stimulated positions, an explicit temporal interval was chosen to coincide with each discrete component of response. Net firing rate during this interval was represented as a terrain value at appropriate spatial coordinates; a contour generating program was then employed to construct a continuous surface of excitability or “fractional receptive field map.” Quantitative spatial representation of successive components of response allowed for afferent “circuit analysis” and functional predictions of moving border and contrast sensitivity. 5. The qualitative categories of simple and complex striate unit are analyzed in the light of quantitatively determined receptive field maps. It is suggested that the distinction is not a fundamental one, but that there exists a continuum of complexity between geniculate-dominated and cortically-dominated striate units. Quantitative point stimulation appears to be an adequate and most general way of characterizing “complex” units. 6. Receptive fields obtained under light and dark adapted conditions are contrasted with the aid of firing rate, latency, and synchronicity maps. In summary, it was the case that processes observed at the ganglion and geniculate cell level were expressed and emphasized cortically. Functional changes in striate response led to an enhancement of contrast perception and spatial acuity in light adapted conditions and the development of absolute sensitivity at the cost of resolution in darkness.
Effect of data compression on diagnostic accuracy in digital hand and chest radiography

Image compression is essential to handle a large volume of digital images including CT, MR, CR, and digitized films in a digital radiology operation. The full-frame bit allocation using the cosine transform technique developed during the last few years has been proven to be an excellent irreversible image compression method. This paper describes the effect of using the hardware compression module on diagnostic accuracy in hand radiographs with subperiosteal resorption and chest radiographs with interstitial disease. Receiver operating characteristic analysis using 71 hand radiographs and 52 chest radiographs with five observers each demonstrates that there is no statistical significant difference in diagnostic accuracy between the original films and the compressed images with a compression ratio as high as 20:1.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A new cavity perturbation technique for accurate measurement of dielectric parameters

A new set of equations have been developed for cavity perturbation technique for the measurement of complex permittivity at microwave frequencies. These newly derived formulas are more general than the standard forms in that the material sample under investigation could have a sample length shorter than the height of the cavity resonator. These new equations have been proved to be adequate in yielding accurate results by measuring different samples with different lengths. The cavity under consideration is a rectangular cavity and operated in TE 10L mode
LEGAL ADVICE ABOUT ACTS ALREADY COMMITTED

This paper considers a model of the provision of information about legal rules to parties when they have already committed acts to which the rules apply.’ The provision of advice about legal rules in these circumstances is, of course, one of the main tasks of lawyers in the setting of litigation. (Why individuals often obtain advice only after they have acted, not before, is discussed in our conclusion.) We begin in section I by observing that advice has no clear influence on the information received by a tribunal: advice may lead to the presentation either of more or of less information. We also note that advice can only reduce the sanction imposed on a person; it thus tends to reduce expected sanctions. We then consider how the prospect of being able to obtain legal advice if a person comes before a tribunal will affect his choice among possible acts. Because the future availability of legal advice reduces expected sanctions, advice tends to encourage the commission of acts subject to sanctions. Indeed, this consequence of advice led Bentham (1827) to argue that legal advice is socially undesirable. We find, however, that advice may be socially irrelevant or desirable, as well as undesirable. An important reason for our conclusion is that the level of sanctions sometimes can be raised to offset the diluting effect of legal advice. In the course of our analysis, we make two additional, related observations bearing on the social value of legal advice. First, legal advice provided after parties act should not be thought, a priori, to channel behavior in accordance with legal rules; only advice provided before parties decide how to act should have this general tendency. Second, even if advice does result in a tribunal receiving more (or less) information, this need not be socially beneficial (or detrimental) because it does not clearly enhance the tribunal’s ability to induce parties to behave better.* Our analysis is illustrated with an example in section 2. Our conclusion in section 3 comments on differences between the legal advice we study and legal advice offered before parties act, why it often is rational for individuals to obtain legal advice after they act rather than beforehand, and several other issues.
Victims of rape: the physician's role in treatment.

Physicians are seeing an increasing number of women who have experienced rape. Proper collection of physical evidence and thorough documentation during the initial examination are essential for potential use in the legal system. Psychological support and follow-up care for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), the victim's emotional recovery, and return to normal functioning are also the sine qua non components for the woman's transition from victim to survivor of rape. In the past 2 years several articles have been published on the initial physical examination after the rape. In addition, there are increasing numbers of publications on the emotional and follow-up components of care. This article is an attempt to demonstrate the need for both components of care. Language: en
Endoscopic gastrocnemius recession: Preliminary report on 18 cases

A technique of endoscopic gastrocnemius recession was evaluated. Fifteen patients undergoing 18 procedures were prospectively studied with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. There were 9 women and 6 men (mean age, 44.1 ± 22.6 years). One patient had an isolated recession; the others had various adjunctive flatfoot or reconstructive procedures. Pre- and postoperative ankle dorsiflexion was evaluated, as was the amount of time before patients could perform a single-leg heel raise postoperatively. The mean preoperative ankle dorsiflexion with the knee extended was −8.7° ± 3.5°, which improved from a mean 14.9° at 3 months postoperatively to a mean 6.2° ± 2.6°. At 12 months postoperatively, this value was 3.6° ± 1.8°, a net postoperative improvement of 12.6° ( P
On the probability of finding a water molecule in a nonpolar cavity

Measurements of solubility and vapor pressure indicate that the cost of making a cavity in a nonpolar solvent that is large enough to accommodate a single water molecule is just balanced by the attraction between the water molecule and the walls of the cavity. As a result of this unexpected coincidence, the equilibrium constant for entry of an isolated water molecule from the vapor phase into cyclohexane is almost exactly unity at room temperature. Molecules smaller than water prefer the vapor phase, whereas molecules larger than water prefer cyclohexane. In equilibrium with liquid water, the tendency of single water molecules to enter small nonpolar cavities, such as may be present in mutant proteins, is expected to be vanishingly small.