cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preterm infants are less likely to have a family-centered medical home than term-born peers

The family-centered medical home (FCMH) is the recommended healthcare delivery model for children. It is unknown how frequently preterm (PT) children receive care in a FCMH and how this affects health services use. We studied 18,397 children aged 0–3 years in the 2010/2011 National Survey of Children’s Health. We compared PT (<37 weeks) and full-term (FT) children on rates of FCMH and receiving prescribed health services. Regression models included sex, race, income, insurance status, and having a special health care need (SHCN). PT children were significantly less likely to have a FCMH (57% vs. 66%) compared to FT peers despite higher rates of SHCN (16% vs. 5%). PT children were less likely to receive prescribed services (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.34, 0.34); lacking a FCMH explained 69% of this effect. Ensuring PT children have access to medical homes may decrease unmet service needs post-hospital discharge.
Camp settlement and communal conflict in sub-Saharan Africa:

Are areas that host encamped refugees more likely to experience communal conflict, and under what conditions? Building on insights from the refugee studies literature suggesting that settling refug...
Experiences of counselor students of color in the classroom: a qualitative study

This study explored the experiences of counselor students of color in two multicultural courses in a master-level counseling program. Participants revealed their feelings surrounding a need to assu...
Supply Chain Analytics

Through examples and a case study, we shall learn how to apply data analytics to supply chain management with the intention to diagnose and optimize the value generation processes of goods and services, for significant business value.
k-planar crossing number of random graphs and random regular graphs

Abstract We give an explicit extension of Spencer’s result on the biplanar crossing number of the Erdős–Renyi random graph G ( n , p ) . In particular, we show that the k -planar crossing number of G ( n , p ) is almost surely Ω ( ( n 2 p ) 2 ) . Along the same lines, we prove that for any fixed k , the k -planar crossing number of various models of random d -regular graphs is Ω ( ( d n ) 2 ) for d > c 0 for some constant c 0 = c 0 ( k ) .
Pulse Crop Effects on Gut Microbial Populations, Intestinal Function, and Adiposity in a Mouse Model of Diet-Induced Obesity

The dietary fiber gap that is present in many countries co-exists with a low intake of grain legumes (pulses) that have 2-3 times more dietary fiber than cereal grains that are commonly recommended to increase fiber intake. Given the relationships among dietary fiber, gut health and chronic disease risk, a study was undertaken in a preclinical mouse model for obesity to examine how commonly consumed pulses, i.e., chickpea, common bean, dry pea and lentil, would impact gut microbes, intestinal function, and adiposity. Pulses were fed to C57BL/6 mice at similar levels of protein and fiber. Bacterial count in the cecum was elevated 3-fold by pulse consumption. At the phylum level, a 2.2- to 5-fold increase in Bacteriodetes relative to Firmicutes was observed. For Akkermansia muciniphila, a health-beneficial bacterium, differential effects were detected among pulses ranging from no effect to a 49-fold increase. Significant differences among pulses in biomarkers of intestinal function were not observed. Pulses reduced accumulation of lipid in adipose tissue with a greater reduction in the subcutaneous versus visceral depots. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 108 metabolites were highly different among pulse types, and several compounds are hypothesized to influence the microbiome. These results support recent recommendations to increase consumption of pulse-based foods for improved health, although all pulses were not equal in their effects.
Successful use of inhaled epoprostenol as rescue therapy for pediatric ARDS

Severe pediatric ARDS remains a significant challenge for clinicians, and management strategies are essentially limited to lung protective ventilation strategies, and adjunct approaches such as prone positioning, steroids, surfactant, and inhaled nitric oxide in unique situations. Inhaled nitric oxide produces pulmonary vasodilation in ventilated regions of the lung, shunting blood away from poorly ventilated areas and thus optimizing the ventilation perfusion ratio. A subset of patients with ARDS are known to be non-responders to nitric oxide, and selective pulmonary vasodilators such as Epoprostenol can be useful as rescue therapy in such cases. We describe a case of severe pediatric ARDS in the setting of pre-existing pulmonary hypertension and Trisomy 21, whose clinical course improved remarkably once inhaled Epoprostenol was initiated.
Epigenetic Regulation and Dietary Control of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a highly heterogeneous group of breast cancers, lacking expression of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). TNBC are characterized by a high level of mutation and metastasis, poor clinical outcomes and overall survival. Here, we review the epigenetic mechanisms of regulation involved in cell pathways disrupted in TNBC, with particular emphasis on dietary food components that may be exploited for the development of effective strategies for management of TNBC.
Structural water enhanced intercalation of magnesium ions in copper hexacyanoferrate nonaqueous batteries

Abstract In this article we investigate copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF) as a nonaqueous magnesium ion battery (MIB) cathode, and the positive influence of structural water on its Mg2+ storage properties. The hydrated and dehydrated forms of CuHCF (H- and D-CuHCF) each displayed excellent rate capabilities and extended lifetimes with zero capacity loss. However, H-CuHCF delivers a specific capacity 25% higher than that of D -CuHCF. Cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge discharge reveal a redox reaction present only in the hydrated CuHCF, which accounts for 25% of its total reversible capacity (63 mAh g−1 at 25 mA g−1). Furthermore, ex-situ FTIR reveals that the structural water of H-CuHCF remains in the lattice during charging/discharging. We propose that water provides partial electrostatic screening between the CuHCF lattice and Mg ions, while allowing an additional redox transition to become thermodynamically accessible.
The Role of Pet Companionship in Online and Offline Social Interactions in Adolescence

Adolescence is a prime developmental period to explore human-pet relationships and social competence, given that teens are becoming more autonomous, focusing on other attachment figures such as peers, romantic partners, and pets. Social technology is another salient developmental forum for enacting socially competent behaviors. Given the amount of time spent with social technologies (e.g., texting, gaming, browsing) in the adolescent years, we predicted strong associations between the quality of human-pet relationships, social competence, and social technology use. We analyzed a sample of 700 middle school students aged 11–16 (average age = 12.7) in the Northeast. We used logistic and linear regression models to explore how pet companionship is associated with social technology use and the quality of online social connections Adolescents with dog companions were more likely to check social media more frequently, give and receive online social support, and feel less social isolation. The more time spent with a pet, the more likely the adolescent played online games for leisure and browsed the Internet about animals. The more attached one was to a pet companion, the more likely an adolescent provided and received online social support.
First-Order Methods for Convex Constrained Optimization under Error Bound Conditions with Unknown Growth Parameters

We propose first-order methods based on a level-set technique for convex constrained optimization that satisfies an error bound condition with unknown growth parameters. The proposed approach solves the original problem by solving a sequence of unconstrained subproblems defined with different level parameters. Different from the existing level-set methods where the subproblems are solved sequentially, our method applies a first-order method to solve each subproblem independently and simultaneously, which can be implemented with either a single or multiple processors. Once the objective value of one subproblem is reduced by a constant factor, a sequential restart is performed to update the level parameters and restart the first-order methods. When the problem is non-smooth, our method finds an $\epsilon$-optimal and $\epsilon$-feasible solution by computing at most $O(\frac{G^{2/d}}{\epsilon^{2-2/d}}\ln^3(\frac{1}{\epsilon}))$ subgradients where $G>0$ and $d\geq 1$ are the growth rate and the exponent, respectively, in the error bound condition. When the problem is smooth, the complexity is improved to $O(\frac{G^{1/d}}{\epsilon^{1-1/d}}\ln^3(\frac{1}{\epsilon}))$. Our methods do not require knowing $G$, $d$ and any problem dependent parameters.
ERP Template Matching for EEG Single Trial Classification

Electroencephalography(EEG) signals have been used to assess the efficiency of recall based on the evaluation of memories remembered or forgotten. There is need for an EEG noise/outlier resistant algorithm with a good classification accuracy. In this paper, we present a new technique for EEG signal classification to study whether a person remembers faces he or she has seen or not. For this purpose, our method applies denoising using discrete wavelet transform, time-locked EEG activity before generating templates for each class that indicates whether a person remembered or forgot. This novel technique was compared with well-known classification algorithms such as Discriminant Analysis (DA), Support Vector machines (SVM using linear kernel) and Decision Trees (DT). Our Template Matching for EEG Single trial (ETMEST) technique outperformed them all. For all subjects, the average classification accuracy of ETMEST was 94%. Also, we applied this technique on a visually evoked potential EEG dataset based on c-VEP BCI speller system to detect symbol/alphabet recognition events. The results show this method can be reliably applied to EEG-based Communication, Brain Computer Interface(BCI) applications and other signal classification problems. It is additionally surmised from this investigation that during memory encoding, the signals from the frontal and temporal lobes are the strongest and during decoding, signals from the frontal and parietal lobes are the strongest.
Publication Quality Following Short Summer Cancer Research Internships

Publications of research conducted during short-term research education training programs serve as an outcome measure for students’ successes and a program’s value. We compared the impact of cancer publications from research conducted during a short-term cancer research education training program, to publications by program participants in the years following completion of the training program and earning an academic or professional degree. Bibliometrics and altmetrics from NIH, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and Scopus® that measure publication impact were collected on cancer publications by student interns in the CaRES (Cancer Research Experiences for Students) R25 program from 1999 to 2017; and on cancer publications in subsequent years by program alumni (students who completed CaRES). Publication characteristics and impact measures were described and compared. Of 558 publications, 206 (37%) were related to CaRES internship projects and 352 (63%) related to any cancer research in which program alumni engaged following their internships. CaRES project publications were cited more frequently and held a higher research interest score than later cancer publications by CaRES alumni but appeared in journals having lower impact factors (p < 0.05). A higher proportion of alumni were first authors of their publications as compared to first authorship by interns (p = 0.02). Research conducted during short-term cancer research programs can be scientifically meaningful and of comparable quality to publications by program alumni who engage in cancer research careers.
Deep Networks To Automatically Detect Late-Activating Regions Of The Heart

This paper presents a novel method to automatically identify late-activating regions of the left ventricle from cine Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echo (DENSE) MR images. We develop a deep learning framework that identifies late mechanical activation in heart failure patients by detecting the Time to the Onset of circumferential Shortening (TOS). In particular, we build a cascade network performing end-to-end (i) segmentation of the left ventricle to analyze cardiac function, (ii) prediction of TOS based on spatiotemporal circumferential strains computed from displacement maps, and (iii) 3D visualization of delayed activation maps. Our approach results in dramatic savings of manual labors and computational time over traditional optimization-based algorithms. To evaluate the effectiveness of our method, we run tests on cardiac images and compare with recent related works. Experimental results show that the proposed approach provides fast prediction of TOS with improved accuracy.
L-29, a soluble lactose-binding lectin, is phosphorylated on serine 6 and serine 12 in vivo and by casein kinase I

L-29, a mammalian soluble lactose-binding lectin, was previously shown to be phosphorylated in confluent 3T3 fibroblasts (Cowles, E. A., Agrwal, N., Anderson, R. L., and Wang, J. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 17706-17712), which contain a small amount of this protein. We have determined the site of phosphorylation on L-29, taking advantage of the abundance of L-29 (about 1% of total soluble cell protein) in confluent polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Approximately 15-20% of the L-29 is phosphorylated in these cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed phosphate incorporation only at serine. Analysis of chymotryptic and endoproteinase Asp-N-generated NH2-terminal fragments by Edman degradation showed that 90% of the phosphate was at Ser6 and 10% at Ser12. The sequence surrounding Ser6, which is conserved in all known L-29 sequences, indicated that this serine might be phosphorylated by casein kinase I or casein kinase II. Reaction of human recombinant L-29 with [gamma-32P]ATP and each of these casein kinases showed that only casein kinase I catalyzed significant incorporation of 32P into L-29; and, as with the L-29 from the MDCK cell extracts, most of the phosphate was incorporated at Ser6 and a small amount was incorporated at Ser12.
External Habit Formation and the Home Bias Puzzle

The equity home bias, the observed lack of international diversification in equity portfolios, is a persistent puzzle in international finance. We propose an explanation for this puzzle based on external habit formation preferences. Agents' utility depends on the difference between consumption and a slow-moving subsistence level. The subsistence level, or external habit, is a backward-looking moving average of national aggregate consumption. We assume that a small group of agents holds primarily domestic securities. We can think of these agents as small business owners who are forced to hold domestic assets for agency reasons. If the remaining agents have external habit formation utility, then they will mimic the domestic bias of this small group. We perform a calibration using consumption and asset return moments from several countries and show that this effect can potentially explain a large aggregate holding of domestic assets. The model performs especially well in explaining high equity home bias in small countries, where the observed lack of international diversification is most puzzling.
Polarity and developmental regulation of two PDZ proteins in the retinal pigment epithelium

PURPOSE Identification of binding partners for ezrin, an actin-binding protein crucial for morphogenesis of apical microvilli and basolateral infoldings in RPE cells. METHODS Rat eyes, rat primary RPE, the rat RPE-J cell line, and a clonal line of RPE-J cells transfected with human ezrin cDNA were analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoblot. Immunofluorescence localization of two ezrin-binding proteins was performed in cryosections of rat eyes of various ages and in monolayers extracted with the detergent Triton X-100 and fixed in paraformaldehyde. The interaction of both proteins with ezrin and gluthathione-S-transferase (GST)-ezrin fusion proteins was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblot. RESULTS Immunofluorescence microscopy of adult rat eyes detected a polarized distribution of ERM (ezrin, radixin, and moesin)-binding phosphoprotein of 50 kDa (EBP50) at the apical microvilli and synaptic-associated protein of 97 kDa (SAP97) at the basolateral surface of RPE cells, which overlapped with ezrin. These two PDZ (postsynaptic density protein [PSD-95]/disc large [DLG]-A/ZO-1) domain proteins had a similar polarized distribution and high resistance to detergent extractability, indicative of cytoskeletal association, both in primary cultures of rat RPE and in a clonal RPE-J cell line expressing high levels of transfected ezrin. RPE cell lysates from rat retinas of various postnatal ages revealed increasing levels of EBP50 and SAP97 compared with alphav integrin, a protein expressed at constant adult levels from birth. GST pull-down and immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated a direct interaction between EBP50 and SAP97 and ezrin. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that EBP50 localizes at the apical microvilli, whereas SAP97 localizes at the basolateral surface of RPE cells, probably through a direct interaction with ezrin.
Abstract B24: A phosphoproteomic comparison of oncogenic BRAF and MKK1/2 inhibition in human melanoma

The purpose of this study was to use phosphoproteomics to gain insight into the different clinical responses to BRAF inhibition, MKK1/2 inhibition, and combined BRAF/MKK inhibition. Experiments were designed to test whether BRAF inhibition may affect a distinct subset of targets that MKK1/2 inhibition does not and whether BRAF and MKK1/2 inhibitors work additively or synergistically when used in combination. To this end, we employed a SILAC-based method to quantify changes in the phosphoproteome of WM239A melanoma cells treated with a clinically relevant BRAF inhibitor (PLX4032; 10μM) or MEK1/2 inhibitor (AZD6244; 10μM) inhibitor. Phosphopeptides were enriched by titanium dioxide prior to fractionation on an electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ERLIC) column. In a set of three biological replicate experiments, we quantified changes at 23,986 phosphosites on 4,722 proteins. We identified 1,356 phosphosites that decreased in abundance, and 341 that increased in abundance, in response to treatment with either PLX4032 or AZD6244. The overwhelming majority of phosphosites were responsive to both inhibitors. Of the phosphosites that decreased in abundance, 13 responded only to PLX4032, suggesting that certain targets are regulated by BRAF but not MKK1/2. In contrast, we failed to identify any phosphosites that responded only to AZD6244. To determine whether the therapeutic benefit of combined BRAF and MKK1/2 inhibition may be a result of drug synergy, we treated cells either with a single inhibitor or with a combination of AZD6244 and PLX4032, each at submaximal doses (30 nM). We then compared the magnitude of the responses observed with the combination treatment to those observed for each drug alone. Comparison of observed versus predicted changes at 6,463 phosphosites demonstrated that the primary effect of the two inhibitors is additive. Taken together, we show that the combination of BRAF and MKK1/2 inhibitor leads to predominantly additive interactions, and that the BRAF inhibitor has a potential for regulating phosphorylation events that are not targeted by MKK1/2 inhibitor. Citation Format: Scott Stuart, Stephane Houel, Nan Wang, William Old, Natalie Ahn. A phosphoproteomic comparison of oncogenic BRAF and MKK1/2 inhibition in human melanoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Melanoma: From Biology to Therapy; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(14 Suppl):Abstract nr B24.
Market Power and/or Efficiency: A Structural Approach

This article separates oligopoly-power and cost-efficiency effects ofchanges in industrial concentration and assesses their impact on output prices in 32 food-processing industries. Empirical results indicate that although concentration inducescost efficiency in one-third of the industries, oligopoly-power effects either dominate cost efficiencyor reinforce inefficiency, resulting in higher output prices in most industries. The articlealso provides fresh econometric estimates of oligopoly power and economies of size for the industriesin question.
Direct Nuclear Pumped Lasers — Status and Potential Applications

Recent direct nuclear gumped leaser (DNPL) research is reviewed with emphasis on recent experiments at the U. of I11. employing three gas mixtures (Ne-N2, He-Ne-O2, and He-Hg). Lasing has been obtained in the cases of N2 and Hg, and gain has been observed in O2. All three mixtures are discussed with particular attention to He-Hg where visible laser output on the 6150-A ion transition in Hg+ has been achieved.
Streamlining ABO antibody titrations for monitoring ABO-incompatible kidney transplants.

Background We have monitored ABO antibody titers in 53 ABO-incompatible kidney transplants (INKTs) using a time-consuming, conventional test tube (CTT) method that included a 30-minute room temperature (RT) phase, followed by incubation for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C and conversion to the anti-human globulin (AHG) phase. Our studies have indicated that AHG ABO antibody titers are critical for clinical management, but RT titers do not supplement clinical decision making. Therefore, we assessed AHG titers by two methods: 1) a revised test tube (TT) method without RT and 2) an anti-immunoglobulin G (IgG) gel microcolumn (IgG gel) method with a goal of streamlining ABO antibody titrations. Study design and methods Fifty frozen samples from our INKT collection with anti-A and/or anti-B AHG titers of 2 to 512 were titrated by revised TT method with 30 minutes at 37 degrees C and conversion to AHG and by IgG gel method with 15 minutes at 37 degrees C and centrifugation. Results The titers using the revised TT and IgG gel methods had 64 and 52% concordance, respectively, with CTT AHG titers. Neither the revised TT AHG titers nor the IgG gel titers varied by more than one standard dilution from the CTT AHG titers, which is within acceptable limits for titration techniques. Conclusions The revised TT and IgG gel titers are comparable to the CTT AHG titers. The IgG gel method offers the best titer turnaround time, eliminating 45 minutes of incubation time alone. Implementation of this technique would benefit ABO INKT patients by providing titer results in a more timely manner.
Software Quality Estimation with Case-Based Reasoning

Abstract The software quality team of a software project often strives to predict the operational quality of software modules prior to software deployment. A timely software quality prediction can be used for enacting any preventive actions so as to reduce software faults from occurring during system operations. This is especially important for high-assurance systems where software reliability is very critical. The two most commonly used models for software quality estimation are, software fault prediction and software quality classification. Generally, such models use software metrics as predictors of a software module's quality, which is either represented by the expected number of faults or a class membership to quality-based groups. This study presents a comprehensive methodology for building software quality estimation models with case-based reasoning ( cbr ), a computational intelligence technique that is suited for experience-based analysis. A cbr system is a practical option for software quality modeling, because it uses an organization's previous experience with its software development process to estimate the quality of a currently under-development software project. In the context of software metrics and quality data collected from a high-assurance software system, software fault prediction and software quality classification models are built. The former predicts the number of faults in software modules, while the latter predicts the class membership of the modules into the fault-prone and not fault-prone groups. This study presents in-depth details for the cbr models so as to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the cbr technology as applied to software quality estimation.
Cointegration in the Oil Market Among Regional Blends

The integration of crude oil spot prices, from different geographic regions is examined using the residual-based cointegration test of Gregory and Hansen (1996), which allows for endogenously determined structural breaks. While traditionally, the focus has been on three global benchmark crudes (WTI, Brent and Dubai Fateh), herein the relationship among secondary, regional blends (Edmonton Par, Western Canadian Select, Bonny Light and Mexican Maya) is examined with implications for the ‘global pool’ hypothesis. Monthly data is examined, with particular emphasis placed on the Canadian perspective. The results indicate that the regional crudes, of similar and differing grades, are cointegrated with a structural break. Events with a direct impact on the crude market are linked to the structural breaks. Indirect impacts are attributed to events which appear to have affected crude oil prices via a decrease in demand, such as the economic uncertainty leading to and during the ‘Great Recession’. Keywords: Spot prices; cointegration; structural breaks JEL Classifications: C22; Q4
The Effects of Legibility and Display Size on Performance for RAPCOM and Spatial Display Formats

Information formatting in terms of optimal spatial and temporal parameters has become an important issue with the advent of computer automated displays. One temporal format involving sequential presentation of information, termed RAPCOM (for rapid comunication; cf., Matin and Boff, 1988), has the potential to increase performance in situations involving high information transfer rates. The present study investigated the relative contributions of two spatial parameters comparing RAPCOM with more conventional spatial formats involving simultaneous presentation of information. The parameters of character size and spatial separation were examined because they are important determinants of display legibility and visual search, respectively. Performance was assessed in terms of speed and accuracy for a task that required observers to recall integers presented in either an analog or digital format.The findings showed that accuracy performance decreased as the information became spatially separated. Specifically,...
A method using procedural parameters and callback functions to create a generic exchange-sorting module

A generic exchange-sorting module obviates the need for duplicating sort code in a program, thus promoting module reuse. This paper presents a method for using procedural parameters and callback functions to create a generic exchange-sorting module. Based on techniques with roots in functional programming using higher order functions, the method is fairly easy to understand. More importantly it is easy to use, even for beginning programmers. Using the rapid application development system Delphi and it's Object Pascal programming language, the method is presented in a way that highlights some useful features of Object Pascal that might not be well known to readers more familiar with the now-outdated standard Pascal or the currently popular C++.
Differential responses of grapevine rootstocks to water stress are associated with adjustments in fine root hydraulic physiology and suberization

Water deficits are known to alter fine root structure and function, but little is known about how these responses contribute to differences in drought resistance across grapevine rootstocks. The ways in which water deficit affects root anatomical and physiological characteristics were studied in two grapevine rootstocks considered as low-medium (101-14Mgt) and highly (110R) drought resistant. Rootstocks were grown under prolonged and repeated drying cycles or frequent watering ('dry' and 'wet' treatments, respectively), and the following parameters were evaluated: root osmotic and hydrostatic hydraulic conductivity (Lp os and Lp hyd, respectively), suberization, steady-state root pressure (P rs), sap exudation rates, sap osmotic potential, and exosmotic relaxation curves. For both rootstocks, the 'dry' treatment reduced fine root Lp, elicited earlier root suberization and higher sap osmotic potential, and generated greater P rs after rewatering, but the rootstocks responded differently under these conditions. Lp os, Lp hyd, and sap exudation rates were significantly higher in 110R than in 101-14Mgt, regardless of moisture treatment. Under 'dry' conditions, 110R maintained a similar Lp os and decreased the Lp hyd by 36% compared with 'wet' conditions, while both parameters were decreased by at least 50% for 101-14Mgt under 'dry' conditions. Interestingly, build-up of P rs in 110R was 34% lower on average than in 101-14Mgt, suggesting differences in the development of suberized apoplastic barriers between the rootstocks as visualized by analysis of suberization from fluorescence microscopy. Consistent with this pattern, 110R exhibited the greatest exosmotic Lp os (i.e. Lp os of water flowing from roots to the soil) as determined from relaxation curves under wet conditions, where backflow may have limited its capacity to generate positive xylem pressure. The traits studied here can be used in combination to provide new insights needed for screening drought resistance across grapevine rootstocks.
On the Measurement of Cholecystokinin

A hormone is a chemical transmitter that is secreted from one part of the body and circulates in the bloodstream to reach a distant target in another part of the body where it exerts its biologic effect. At its inception, this was a revolutionary concept that gave birth to an entire physiological and, later, medical discipline. Early on, hormones were discovered by their biologic actions. However, the physiology of hormones could not be assessed without quantification. Fundamental to the study of hormones was the ability to measure concentrations in the blood. Although biological assays have been the cornerstone of endocrinologic measurements, the development of the radioimmunoassay (RIA) completely changed the field of endocrinology (1). The attractive features of RIA include (a) applicability to most hormones, (b) ease of performance, and (c) relatively low cost, as well as high degrees of (d) accuracy, (e) sensitivity, and (f) specificity. Cholecystokinin (CCK) was discovered in 1928 on the basis of the ability of intestinal extracts to stimulate gallbladder contraction in dogs (2). Later it was recognized that CCK was a potent stimulant of pancreatic enzyme secretion (3). However, it was not until 1966, when CCK was purified, that the primary sequence was determined (4)(5). Early estimates of CCK-like activity in blood were based on biological assays such as pancreatic secretion or gallbladder contraction. However, these estimates were fraught with confounding problems that existed in whole animals, such as the effects of other hormones or neural influences. To circumvent these problems, a sensitive and specific in vitro bioassay was developed (6), but …
Ab initio investigation of the structures of NaOH hydrates and their Na+ and OH− coordination polyhedra

Plane-wave pseudopotential density functional methods using the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional were used to investigate theoretically the structures of five NaOH hydrate phases through optimization of lattice parameters and atomic coordinates. Although all the calculations were carried out with P 1 symmetry, we find in four of the five cases that the experimentally determined space group is maintained to high accuracy. Particular focus is placed on the coordination environments of Na+ and OH−. The Na-O distances are, in general, overestimated; however, the sodium ion coordination polyhedra are well reproduced by the theoretical calculations, including the fivefold coordinated sodium atom in the α-NaOH·4H2O structure. The theoretical calculations correctly predict that α-NaOH·4H2O is lower in energy than the metastable β-NaOH·4H2O phase; thus, the α phase is stable even in the absence of proton disorder. The octahedral coordination environment around OH− is calculated accurately, including the distances of the weak OH−OH2 hydrogen bonds in which the hydroxide ion acts as the proton donor. This work provides further evidence of the reliability of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional in hydrogen bonded systems, providing a direct, unambiguous test of the elusive hydroxide-water interaction.
DrJava: a lightweight pedagogic environment for Java

DrJava is a pedagogic programming environment for Java that enables students to focus on designing programs, rather than learning how to use the environment. The environment provides a simple interface based on a "read-eval-print loop" that enables a programmer to develop, test, and debug Java programs in an interactive, incremental fashion. This paper gives an overview of DrJava including its pedagogic rationale, functionality, and implementation.
A ferritin mediated photochemical method to synthesize biocompatible catalytically active gold nanoparticles: size control synthesis for small (∼2 nm), medium (∼7 nm) or large (∼17 nm) nanoparticles

Ferritin (Ftn) undergoes photo-induced charge separation reactions that oxidize organic substrates. The liberated electrons are transferred through the protein shell to reduce Au ions to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We systematically varied the concentrations of citrate (electron donor), Au3+ or Au+ (electron acceptor), and ferritin (photo catalyst) to determine if careful control of these reactant concentrations would: (1) provide size control; (2) alter the morphology of the resulting AuNPs; and (3) alter the catalytic activity of the resulting AuNPs. The size and phosphate content of the ferritin iron core was also evaluated for its influence in this photocatalysis reaction. We report that as the Ftn concentration was increased to an optimal range, the number of AuNPs increased and showed smaller size, more spherical shape, and narrower distribution. Increasing the citrate concentration (electron donor) increased the rate of AuNP formation producing more spherical, uniform sized AuNPs. Increasing the Au3+ concentrations increased the number and sizes of the AuNPs. Since Au3+ reduction requires 3-electrons we proposed that using Au+ would increase the rate of the reaction. The photochemical reaction with Au+ was faster and produced 2.4 ± 1.0 nm diameter AuNPs providing another method of size control. AuNPs were tested as reduction catalysts to convert 4-nitrophenol into 4-aminophenol. The smaller spherical AuNPs were better reduction catalysts than the larger AuNPs. In summary, using a single photochemical synthesis method we can reproducibly control the size, uniformity and catalytic activity of the resulting AuNPs simply by varying the concentrations or oxidation states of the reactants.
Spousal Concordance for Overall Health Risk Status and Preventive Service Compliance

Purpose In this study we examined spousal concordance for two aggregate measures of health risk status and compliance with preventive service recommendations among 9620 pairs of cohabitating, opposite-sex married couples. Methods Health risk appraisals were the primary data source to measure two outcome variables. Health risk status was compiled from 12 health risks and categorized into three levels (low-, medium-, and high-risk status). Overall preventive service compliance status was estimated by seven age-sex specific preventive service recommendations and dichotomized into lower and higher compliance status. For each of the husband and wife populations, we conducted proportional odds models and logistic regression models to assess spousal concordance for the two aggregate measures respectively. All models were adjusted for household income, one's characteristics (age, race, education, disease burden), and the same set of characteristics and the corresponding outcome variable from the spouse. Results A positive correlation within spousal pairs was statistically significant for both health risk status and compliance status (p Conclusions The analyses showed spousal concordance for aggregate measures of health behaviors. This study also provides some evidence for dominance of husband's education.
Hemolysis and lysosomal activation by solid state tyrosine.

L-Tyrosine crystals hemolyzed human erythrocytes. Erythrocytes within dialysis bags suspended in tyrosine suspensions were not significantly hemolyzed. Ortho and meta tyrosine caused less hemolysis than para tyrosine. L-Tyrosine crystals labilized lysosomal β-glucuronidase from rat liver lysosomal preparations. Sucrose, glucose, propylene glycol, Me2SO, polyethylene glycols, serum, albumin, globulins and cyclic AMP protected against the effect of tyrosine. Tyrosine analogues with a lower pK of the phenolic hydroxyl group than tyrosine, or with steric blockage of the phenolic hydroxyl group, had less hemolytic activity than tyrosine. It is proposed that tyrosine crystals in vitro possess membraneolytic effects by donation of phenolic hydrogens to membrane components.
Sensitive targeted quantification of ERK phosphorylation dynamics and stoichiometry in human cells without affinity enrichment.

Targeted mass spectrometry is a promising technology for site-specific quantification of posttranslational modifications. However, a major constraint is the limited sensitivity for quantifying low-abundance PTMs, requiring the use of affinity reagents for enrichment. Herein, we demonstrate the direct site-specific quantification of ERK phosphorylation isoforms (pT, pY, pTpY) and their relative stoichiometry using a sensitive targeted MS approach termed high-pressure, high-resolution separations with intelligent selection, and multiplexing (PRISM). PRISM provides effective enrichment of target peptides into a given fraction from complex mixture, followed by selected reaction monitoring quantification. Direct quantification of ERK phosphorylation in human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) was demonstrated from as little as 25 μg tryptic peptides from whole cell lysates. Compared to immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography, PRISM provided ∼10-fold higher signal intensities, presumably due to the better pe...
Inverted protein structure prediction

Today we know of over 1000 protein structures, which can be classified into approximately 120 distinct folding patterns. The database of known structures provides numerous examples of proteins that adopt very similar folds, with some in each folding class having similar sequences. But there are also examples of proteins with similar structures that share no obvious sequence similarity. Thus among the 60000 known amino acid sequences, there must be many that adopt the 120 known folds but cannot be identified based on sequence relationships alone. It is the goal of inverted protein structure prediction to determine whether an amino acid sequence adopts a known structure. Here, we review the recent, rapid progress in inverted structure prediction. The power of this new generation of methods is that, instead of looking for similarity in sequences, they attempt to match one-dimensional sequences directly to three-dimensional folds.
Fracture toughness of composite materials reinforced by debondable particulates

Abstract In this paper, cleavage cracking across a regular array of debondable particles was discussed through an energy analysis. It was found that the toughening effect of the particles is dominated by a parameter χ . Increasing the particle volume fraction or the particle size has beneficial effects to the overall fracture toughness.
Pulmonary and systemic vascular responses to hypoxia after chemical sympathectomy

Mongrel dogs were anesthetised and exposed to acute hypoxia (8% or 10% O2 for 10 min) before and again either 2 or 12 days after 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 80 mg . kg-1) pretreatment. Under normoxic conditions, systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance were reduced 2 days post 6-OHDA, but only systemic resistance was reduced 12 days post 6-OHDA. Pulmonary vascular haemodynamics were unchanged by 6-OHDA under normoxic conditions. No changes in the cardiac output, pulmonary, and systemic haemodynamic or ventilatory responses to hypoxia were observed 2 days post 6-OHDA, although the heart rate response was reduced. Similarly, 12 days post 6-OHDA, reponses to hypoxia were unchanged except for a reduced systemic pressor response. A significant transient fall in systemic arterial pressure was observed at the start of the hypoxic exposure 2 days post 6-OHDA. The ventilatory responses to hypoxia appeared to be influenced very little by the sympathetic nervous system. The results indicate that pulmonary vascular resistance is under little sympathetic influence, and that hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction is not mediated by the sympathetic nervous system.
Characterization of UO2 irradiated in the BR-3 reactor

Abstract In order to better understand the behavior of irradiated UO 2 , six fuel rods containing fuel pellets fabricated by wet and dry processes were irradiated under various power histories in the BR-3 PWR (Mol, Belgium). Subsequent to the irradiation, extensive hotcell measurements were performed on complete rods, whole pellets, pellet cross sections or thin slices, and pellet fragments. The results of these measurements collectively underscore several key characteristics of high burnup (37–65 GWd/t) fuel. Although a clear separation of burnup effects and fuel temperature history effects was not possible, the pellet microstructure evolution can be defined in terms of four distinct radial zones. Further, fission gas release increased with burnup but grain growth was not found to be an integral part of the release mechanism. The onset of accelerated Xe release, as indicated by radial profiles by EPMA, corresponded well to a sudden increase in intragranular pore density within a narrow radial zone. Acicular precipitates having apparent similarity to U 4 O 9 phase were found in etched as well as fractured surfaces in high burnup specimens. However, the phase structure was not confirmed and the precipitates might have originated due to changes in the fuel chemistry rather than stoichiometry. Finally, extensive fuel-cladding interaction with the formation of U–Cs–Zr compounds was observed for burnup >40 GWd/t.
Patients with a prior failed transvaginal cerclage: A comparison of obstetric outcomes with either transabdominal or transvaginal cerclage

Objective: Our purpose was to compare the incidence of preterm birth after a prior failed vaginal cerclage in patients who had a subsequent transabdominal or a transvaginal cerclage. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies in women who had undergone (9-14 weeks) either a transabdominal or a transvaginal prophylactic cerclage after ≥1 prior failed transvaginal cerclage. Prior failed transvaginal cerclage was defined as a preterm birth at <33 weeks’ gestation in the immediate prior pregnancy despite a transvaginal cerclage. All transabdominal cerclage procedures were performed by a single attending physician (George Davis, DO). Patients with a cervix too short for transvaginal cerclage placement, placenta previa, or major fetal anomalies were excluded. Primary outcome was preterm birth at <35 weeks’ gestation. Results: Forty transabdominal and 24 transvaginal cerclage pregnancies were analyzed. These 2 groups were similar in race and payer status but differed in age (34.0 ± 4.2 vs 31.3 ± 4.6 years, respectively; P = .01). The transabdominal cerclage group had more prior failed cerclage procedures per patient (1.8 ± 1.0 vs 1.1 ± 0.3; P = .02) and more prior 14- to 24-week spontaneous abortions per patient (2.4 ± 1.3 vs 1.5 ± 1.0; P = .02) than the transvaginal cerclage group. Preterm delivery at both <35 and <33 weeks’ gestation was less common in the transabdominal cerclage group (18% vs 42%, P = .04; 10% vs 38%, P = .01; respectively) than in the transvaginal cerclage group. Gestational age at delivery was 36.3 ± 4.1 weeks in the transabdominal cerclage group and 32.8 ± 8.6 weeks in the transvaginal cerclage group (P = .03). Preterm premature rupture of membranes also occurred less often in the transabdominal cerclage group than in the transvaginal cerclage group (8% vs 29%, P = .03). Conclusion: In patients with a prior failed transvaginal cerclage, transabdominal cerclage is associated with a lower incidence of preterm delivery and preterm premature rupture of membranes in comparison with transvaginal cerclage. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:836-9.)
Intratumoral consumption of indium-111 labeled platelets in a patient with hemangiomatosis and intravascular coagulation (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome)

Previous studies regarding sites of platelet destruction in patients with the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome are conflicting. The authors recently studied an adult patient with multiple large hemangiomata, thrombocytopenia, and intravascular coagulation by external imaging following the injection of autologous Indium-111 labeled platelets. Sequential images showed prompt accumulation of platelet-associated radioactivity in areas within the right hemithorax which corresponded to certain tumors noted on the chest roentgenogram. Despite the presence of multiple other lesions in bone and soft tissues, platelet radioactivity was otherwise normally confined to liver and spleen. Using data obtained from serial images, it was shown that radioactivity within the thoracic masses actually increased over time. These data indicate that platelet consumption occurred as an active process and that localization was not a result of tumor vascularity. It is concluded that platelets are locally consumed within certain hemangiomata. However, within the same individual, there may exist considerable heterogeneity among these tumors with respect to platelet-trapping ability. In similar patients with multiple tumors, indium-platelet scanning might be used to direct local therapy to particular lesions in an effort to correct the thrombocytopenia.
Constructing Literacy: How Goals, Activity Systems, and Text Shape Classroom Practice:

Social interaction is important in students' reproduction and transformation of culturally, socially grounded knowledge and skills, as well as their appropriation of the various roles that particip...
Blends containing tetramethyl bisphenol-A polycarbonate: 2. Aliphatic polyesters

Abstract The phase behaviour for blends of tetramethyl bisphenol-A polycarbonate, MPC, and poly(2,6 dimethyl-1, 4 phenylene oxide), PPO, with various aliphatic polyesters was examined using differential scanning calorimetry and optical indications of phase separation on heating, i.e. lower critical solution temperature, LCST, behaviour. MPC was found to be miscible with aliphatic polyesters characterized by a ratio of aliphatic carbons to ester groups in the repeat unit, CH 2 COO , larger than 4 and up to at least 10. Interaction parameters deduced from polyester melting point depression were all negative and showed a minimum within this range of polyester molecular structures. MPC was found to be immiscible with the aliphatic polyesters having a CH 2 COO equal to 3 and 4 as well as with selected polyesters with branched and saturated cyclic units in their structure. An exploratory study shows that PPO is apparently not fully miscible with any aliphatic polyester. The phase behaviour of blends containing MPC and poly(e-caprolactone), PCL, was found to be affected by the solvent used to cast the blends.