cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
134 Generation of NANOS2 knockout goats using CRISPR/Cas9 and somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques

The NANOS2 gene, encoding an RNA binding protein, is known to play a critical role in the development of germline for all organisms studied to date. The male mice with biallelic NANOS2 knockouts (KOs) are sterile due to apoptosis of prospermatogonia shortly after birth but with morphologically intact seminiferous tubules. Thus, the choice of NANOS2 for targeting could be a viable strategy to develop germline ablated males that would serve as recipients for exogenous spermatogonial stem cell transplantation. The goat is a potential model of human physiology and an agriculturally important species. Here, we report successful generation of NANOS2 KO goats using CRISPR/Cas9 and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) techniques. We first designed 4 single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) specific for the single exon of goat NANOS2 (GenBank: NC_030825.1). The targeting vectors were constructed by using the pX330 plasmid (Addgene: 42230) and transfected into sheep fetal fibroblasts. Mutation efficiency analysis showed that 3 of them (out of 4, 75.0%) were efficient in directing Cas9 to generate targeted cleavages, with mutation efficiencies of 10-30%. We established single cell-derived fetal fibroblast colonies by limiting dilution of the cells transfected with one of targeting vectors (sgRNA: GCTGGAGACCCAAGGGACTG). Colony screening with PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays confirmed that we achieved biallelic mutations in the targeting site in 6 of 89 (6.7%) male and 6 of 172 (3.5%) female colonies. Sanger sequencing analysis of genomic DNA isolated from cell colonies with biallelic mutations showed that typical nucleotide deletions and insertions (indels), caused by repairing double-strand DNA breaks during the error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) process, were generated at the targeting site of NANOS2. Three male and two female colonies with NANOS2 null mutations were identified and used as cell donors for SCNT. In total, 202 cloned 1-cell stage embryos (130 male or 72 female) were generated and surgically transferred into 12 synchronized recipients. Six of them (6 of 12, 50.0%) were confirmed pregnant by ultrasonography on Day 40-45 of gestation. Four pregnancies developed to term, resulting in six offspring (five males and one female). Sequence analysis and PCR/RFLP assays showed that both male and female offspring carried the mutations in NANOS2, which were identical to the donor colonies from which they originated. Our results indicated that CRISPR/Cas9 combined with SCNT is an efficient system for generating NANOS2 KO goats. The phenotypic analysis to assess the effects of NANOS2 KO on the development of germline in male cloned goats is in progress.
Multiple implementations for component based software using Java interfaces

Current software engineering research points out the benefits of reusing the most difficult part of every project - the specification [3,4,7]. Getting the specification right so that it meets the requirements is a major challenge. Once a correct specification has been written, there may be many ways to implement it, each with different performance characteristics, each fulfilling the specifications. C++ fails to support this idea of multiple implementations of single specifications. The closest we can come is to use a header file as the specification and then place the details in a C++ source file. However, it is not possible to use the same source file for different implementations, since whatever data structure is to be used must be revealed in the header file, forcing the implementation to use it. Here we will see how it is possible to achieve this goal of multiple implementations using Java interfaces. Additionally, we will see how the introduction of generics to Java would increase these benefits tremendously.
In Search of the Cognitively Complex Person: Is There a Meaningful Trait Component of Cognitive Complexity?

Researchers have long assumed that complex thinking is determined by both situational factors and stable, trait-based differences. However, although situational influences on complexity have been d...
Asian-Americans Remain Low Utilizers of County Mental Health Services

The National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS, 2002–2003, n =2095) indicated that Asian-Americans (AA) use mental health services less frequently than the general population (8.6% vs. 17.95%). Even AA who have been diagnosed with mental health disorders use mental health services less frequently than their non-AA counterparts (34.1% versus 41.1%) 2. AA in Riverside County count for 7.4% of the population, or about 181,356 individuals, according to the 2018 census estimates. The objective of the study is to examine and compare rates of utilization of mental health services by AA specifically in the Riverside County setting. This study utilizes data on patients’ ethnicity, age, gender, and diagnosis as collected annually by the Riverside County Department of Mental Health from the fiscal year of 2017–2018. It compares the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and the rate of utilization of mental health services by AA in the county to the data collected by the NLAAS. The total number of AA using mental health services in Riverside County is 669, which totals 1.73% of all individuals accessing the same services. The number of AA using mental health services represented 0.45% of the total AA population in Riverside County. AA in Riverside County are utilizing MH services even less than the national rates (0.45% vs 8.6% nationally from NLAAS data). The gap in care illustrated by these results exemplifies not only the disparity in utilization of MH services seen in this particular ethnic group, but portrays the stagnant results from Riverside County s attempts to address this issue. Possible reasons for the disparity include lack of access, stigma, recovery, migration, and a lack of culturally-competent care. A reimagined outreach initiative may help to better address this issue. Riverside County already has implemented an AA Task Force, holds health fairs at local churches in the communities, supports a UCR School of Medicine student-run free clinic, and is active in NAMI events.
Value-Based Kidney Care: A Recipe for Success.

Value-based kidney care continues to accelerate. With over a decade behind us since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has implemented 54 value-based payment and delivery system models that incentivize high-quality, cost-efficient care ([1][1
Gender Bias in the Enforcement of Traffic Laws: Evidence Based on a New Empirical Test

In the United States, a majority of the drivers who receive a traffic ticket are male, and male drivers are more likely to receive a ticket after being stopped by the police. This paper develops and conducts an empirical test for the existence of police gender bias (taste-based discrimination) in traffic ticketing. The test is based on a model's prediction of how the gender composition of ticketed drivers should vary across groups of police officers who use unbiased, but potentially different ticketing standards. The test is useful for determining whether the gender disparity in traffic tickets results from gender bias or a higher tendency of male drivers to break traffic laws. In addition, the test may be applied in other contexts where an outcome is found to depend on the racial or gender group of the evaluators who determine the outcome. When applied to data on traffic tickets issued by male and female police officers in Boston, the test rejects the null hypothesis of unbiased ticketing.
Invasive Species Impact: Direct and Indirect Interactions Between Two Stream Snails and Their Algal Resources

We measured the strength of direct and indirect interactions in order to develop a standardized estimate of the impact of an invasive snail on its resource and a competitor. The freshwater New Zealand snail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, an invasive species in the western U.S., is the most abundant benthic macroinvertebrate grazer in several rivers, where it overlaps with several threatened endemic snails. In one watershed, Potamopyrgus coexists with the snail, Pyrgulopsis robusta, which may be affected by resource competition with Potamopyrgus. In field enclosure experiments, we quantified the direct grazing effect of snails on algae and the indirect effects between consumers. Potamopyrgus significantly limited growth of Pyrgulopsis. In contrast, Pyrgulopsis appeared to facilitate growth of the invasive snail (Potamopyrgus). In natural populations, snail densities were positively correlated over five sites, but negatively correlated at two downstream sites. Interaction strengths between snails and algae were equivalent for both snails at both sites, indicating that invasion success could not be attributed to differences in resource acquisition. However, the overall impact of the invader was much higher at the downstream site when both snail abundance and interaction strengths were considered. Negative individual effects of Potamopyrgus at two trophic levels in conjunction with high Potamopyrgus abundance demonstrated a significant impact of the invader in this lotic community.
Characterization of poliovirus 2A proteinase by mutational analysis: residues required for autocatalytic activity are essential for induction of cleavage of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F polypeptide p220.

Abstract The poliovirus proteinase 2A is autocatalytically released from the poliovirus polyprotein by cotranslational cleavage at its own amino terminus, resulting in separation of structural and nonstructural protein precursors. Cleavage is a prerequisite for further processing of the structural protein precursor and consequently for poliovirus encapsidation. A second function of 2Apro is in the rapid shutoff of host cell protein synthesis that occurs upon infection with poliovirus. This is associated with proteolytic cleavage of the p220 component of eukaryotic initiation factor eIF-4F, which is induced but not directly catalyzed by 2Apro. We introduced single-amino-acid substitutions in the 2Apro-coding region of larger poliovirus precursors that were subsequently translated in vitro and thus demonstrated that His-20, Asp-38, and Cys-109 (which constitute the putative catalytic triad) are essential for, and that His-117 is an important determinant of, the autocatalytic activity of 2Apro. This is consistent with the proposal that 2Apro is structurally related to a subclass of trypsinlike serine proteinases. Moreover, 2Apro containing a Cys109Ser substitution retained a small but significant autocatalytic activity. Cleavage of p220 was not induced by those mutants that had reduced proteolytic activity, indicating that the cellular factor that cleaves p220 is probably activated by 2Apro-catalyzed proteolytic cleavage.
A 600 MHz 64 b PA-RISC microprocessor

This 64 b processor is a leveraged design based on the previous generation with the goal of a 1.2X performance increase on a short schedule in the same 5 metal layer, 0.25 /spl mu/m CMOS process. Speed path and clock tuning techniques increase the operating frequency. To reduce the cache miss rate, a quasi-least recently used (LRU) replacement algorithm is implemented using a LRU cache. The data cache on the quad issue processor is a 1 MB, dual ported, four way set associative design implemented on the die using 64 B per cache line.
Regulatory and essential light-chain interactions in scallop myosin: II. Photochemical cross-linking of regulatory and essential light-chains by heterobifunctional reagents☆

From four to six lysine residues of isolated scallop regulatory light-chains were conjugated with N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate; the single thiol group of isolated Mercenaria R-LC‡, and the two thiol groups of isolated rabbit R-LCs were substituted with p-azidophenacylbromide. R-LCs modified by these heterobifunctional photosensitive cross-linkers combined readily with scallop myofibrils from which R-LCs had been removed by treatment with EDTA at 35 °C. The modified scallop and Mercenaria R-LCs restored the calcium sensitivity of the actin-activated Mg-ATPase. The complexes formed upon illumination between modified R-LCs and essential light-chains were visualized and quantitated by indirect antibody staining of electrophoretic nitrocellulose blots of sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels using specific anti-scallop R-LC and anti-scallop SH-LC antibodies followed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled or 125I-labeled goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G, respectively. The presence of SH-LC in bands of higher molecular weight complexes (Mr > 17,000) formed upon photolysis was taken as evidence for cross-linking between the substituted R-LCs and scallop SH-LCs. About one-third of the scallop SH-LC cross-linked with p-APA-substituted Mercenaria R-LC, when illumination generated a single new band at Mr 35,000 consisting of one R-LC and one SH-LC. Higher molecular weight complexes were not formed. With the multi-substituted scallop and rabbit R-LCs, more than half of the scallop SH-LC was cross-linked; about one-third formed a one to one complex with the modified R-LC, and a significant amount was cross-linked to the myosin heavy-chain via the R-LC. Complexes of molecular weights of approximately 53,000 and 66,000 were also formed in small amounts with highly modified scallop and rabbit R-LCs, probably consisting of three and four cross-linked light-chains. Some cross-linking of the two R-LCs of the scallop myosin molecule was demonstrated with myofibrils treated with EDTA at 12 °C and containing one mole of intact scallop R-LC and one mole of p-APA-modified Mercenaria or rabbit R-LC. R-LCs did not significantly cross-link with actin or tropomyosin. Photolysis did not inactivate the actin-activated Mg-ATPase activity, but reduced calcium sensitivity by activation in the absence of calcium. These results show that R-LCs and SH-LCs of scallop myosin are in close proximity (no more than 6 to 8 A apart) and overlap for at least half of their lengths. Cross-linking of R-LCs and SH-LCs interferes with regulation, consistent with a regulatory role for the SH-LCs.
Constructing orthogonal de Bruijn sequences

A (σ, k)-de Bruijn sequence is a minimum length string on an alphabet set of size σ which contains all σk k-mers exactly once. Motivated by an application in synthetic biology, we say a given collection of de Bruijn sequences are orthogonal if no two of them contain the same (k + 1)-mer; that is, the length of their longest common substring is k. In this paper, we show how to construct large collections of orthogonal de Bruijn sequences. In particular, we prove that there are at least ⌊σ/2⌋ mutually-orthogonal order-k de Bruijn sequences on alphabets of size σ for all k. Based on this approach, we present a heuristic which proves capable of efficiently constructing optimal collections of mutually-orthogonal sequences for small values of σ and k, which supports our conjecture that σ - 1 mutually-orthogonal de Bruijn sequences exist for all σ and k.
Quantum Spookiness Wins, Einstein Loses in Photon Test

Among quantum theory9s oddest claims is that the states of two particles or photons can influence each other no matter how far apart they are, providing their quantum states are "entangled." A measurement on one photon will then influence the outcome of a measurement on its distant twin. Some theorists have questioned this claim, but a group of researchers has enlisted fiber-optic lines belonging to the Swiss telephone system to show that links between quantum entities persist over distances of more than 10 kilometers.
Governance and the Financial Meltdown: The Implications of Madisonian Checks and Balances for Regulatory Reform

This paper is concerned with the critical role of governance institutions in bringing about the financial meltdown. The basic argument is that the build-in checks and balances in the U.S. governance system failed to provide a counterweight, and instead reinforced the excessive optimisms in the financial markets. This optimism was created through dramatic changes in globalization of liquidity, Internet speed of transactions, and sophisticated new financial instruments. Work in the economics of regulation and in experimental economics shows that changes in financial instruments and the structure of the market can give market participants wrong signals about the formation of bubbles in the market. The “dotcom” bubble was caused in part by the excessive optimism by market participants that the Internet had changed the way the market works to such a degree that old rules of the business cycle were obsolete. The globalization of financial markets with its gigantic liquidity worldwide and rapid movement combined with sophisticated new financial and securities instruments created similar overly-confident expectations of unparalleled growth. At the same time, major changes in regulatory and legislative governance reinforced this overly optimistic view of the financial markets. The political parties failed to check each other on the regulation of financial markets. Instead, the economic views of both political parties in the Congress and the presidency shifted over the past twenty years toward a greater reliance on market forces and limited regulations as the path to continued economic growth and prosperity. Legislative interest group politics also reinforced this political party and ideological orientation through large scale campaign contributions from investment, real estate, mortgage, and construction firms, as well as from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Federal Reserve, which might have acted as a counterweight to this political orientation, instead increasing adopted the professional view that less regulation and more liquidity would allow private markets to sustain growth and prosperity. In corporate governance, professional managers might have acted as a counterweight to the excessive optimism of shareholders, who were seeing massive gains in stock prices and profits. However, over the past twenty-five years senior managers were increasingly compensated and rewarded for short-term profits and stock prices, and thereby, their self interest coincided with the shareholders’ short term and excessive expectations of unlimited growth. Managers in turn placed similar short-term rewards and punishments on fund managers toward continued high growth. The conclusion of the analysis is that the established checks and balances between political parties, the two houses of Congress, interest groups, and corporate boards not only failed to act as a counterweight to the excessive optimism of the financial bubble but rather contributed to and reinforced this development.
Thermoacoustic convection heat-transfer phenomenon

Resultats preliminaires d'une etude experimentale d'un modele unidimensionnel de transfert de chaleur par convection thermoacoustique, entreprise dans le but de verifier l'importance de ce type de transfert de chaleur dans les environnements avec gravite ou avec gravite nulle par rapport a la conduction pure dans les fluides
Trust record: high-level assurance and compliance

Events such as Enron's collapse have changed the regulatory and governance trends increasing executive accountable for the way companies are run and therefore for the underlying critical IT systems. Such IT functions are increasingly outsourced yet executives remain accountable. This paper presents a Trust Record demonstrator that provides a real time audit report helping to assure executives that their (outsourced) IT infrastructures are being managed in line with corporate policies and legal regulations.
Ray Tracing Theory in a Radially Uniaxial Sphere

Ray tracing theory for a radially uniaxial dielectric sphere is presented in this communication. Reflection and transmission of the plane waves obliquely incident on the spherical interface between air and uniaxial are briefly examined and the general formulations for phase velocities as well as the refractive indices of the ordinary and extraordinary waves propagating in a radially uniaxial medium are investigated. The ray tracing method is implemented for both ordinary and extraordinary rays and the results are applied to evaluate the propagation paths and arrival times of the shortcut wave returns appearing in the transient backscattering response of a uniaxial dielectric sphere. The effect of the variation in relative permittivity on the arrival times of shortcut waves is studied. The results of the ray tracing method are compared with those computed using the Mie and Debye series solutions with good agreement.
Energy, capital and technological change in the United States

Abstract During the years 1950–1973, energy and capital were jointly substituted for labor, and real GNP per hour increased at 2.5% annually. Following the energy price shocks of 1973–1974 and 1979–1981, both capital utilization and energy per worker hour fell abruptly. Likewise, the growth in real GNP per hour declined to 1.2%. This paper specifies and estimates aggregate production functions designed to identify the roles of capital-labor substitution, energy-labor substitution, and technological change as sources of labor productivity growth. Declining energy intensity was an important partial cause of the slowdown in productivity growth.
Safety and efficacy of India ink and indocyanine green as colonic tattooing agents.

Abstract Background: Controversy exists concerning the safety and efficacy of colonic tattooing for the intraoperative identification of polypectomy sites. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the concentrations of India ink and indocyanine green that resulted in high-visibility tattoos without significant tissue inflammation and (2) the India ink injection volume that produces best visibility at colonoscopy, laparoscopy, and laparotomy. Methods: Twenty-two New Zealand white rabbits (2 kg) were anesthetized and injected with India ink (undiluted 1:10, 1:50, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000) and indocyanine green as an undiluted, concentrated formulation (25 mL/2 mL solvent) or in a diluted form (25 mg/5 mL solvent) at various concentrations (1:10, 1:50, 1:100). Tuberculin syringes were used to create a 0.1 mL serosal bleb at two injection sites 2 cm apart. Laparotomy was repeated at days 1, 3, and 7 after injection. Additionally, 16 rabbits were injected with India ink at laparotomy and re-explored at 1 and 5 months. Twelve mongrel dogs (20 kg) were injected with 1.0 mL volumes. Re-exploration by colonoscopy, laparoscopy, and laparotomy was done at 7 days and 1 month. Tattoo visibility at re-exploration in both animal models was graded on a scale (0 = agent not seen, 1=seen with difficulty, 2=easily seen). Histology in the rabbit was judged by degrees of inflammation (0 = no inflammation, 2=mild inflammation, 4=moderate inflammation, 6=severe inflammation). Results: The concentrated indocyanine green solution was easily visible only on day 1 in the rabbit. Injections of both concentrated and diluted indocyanine green caused mucosal ulceration and moderate to severe inflammation. India ink studied at 7 days, 1 month, and 5 months after injection in the rabbit model was visible at all concentrations. The undiluted and 1:10 concentrations were easily seen and showed evidence of mucosal ulceration. Tattoos produced with all other India ink concentrations were visible without gross inflammation. India ink was also studied at 7 days and 1 month in dogs. The tattoo with the 1:100 concentration at 0.5 mL was seen consistently at colonoscopy, laparoscopy, and laparotomy with only a mild submucosal reaction at 7 days. The tattoos produced with the 1:100 and 1:1000 concentrations at 0.5 mL and 1.0 mL injection volumes were easily seen by all methods of intraabdominal visualization at 1 month with similar histology. Conclusion: Indocyanine green was an ineffective colonic tattooing agent. India ink was an effective colonic tattooing agent. Dilute concentrations that caused little to no inflammation could be visualized at 7 days and 1 month in rabbits and dogs and at 5 months in rabbits. India ink, at appropriated concentrations, appears to be a safe short- and long-term colonic tattooing agent. (Gastrointest Endosc 2000;51:438-42.)
Opening A Channel: Finding Connection And Healing Beyond The Clinic

A community health worker and his patient share stories to create an empowering narrative of diabetes and treatment.
Four New Speech and Prosody-Voice Measures for Genetics Research and Other Studies in Developmental Phonological Disorders

Research in developmental phonological disorders, particularly emerging subgroup studies using behavioral and molecular genetics, requires qualitative and continuous measurement systems that meet a...
NF-κB-inducing kinase restores defective IκB kinase activity and NF-κB signaling in intestinal epithelial cells

Cytokine-stimulated IkappaBalpha degradation is impaired in HT-29 and primary intestinal epithelial cells. To gain more insight into the mechanism of this defect, we dissected cytokine-induced NF-kappaB signaling pathway in HT-29 cells. IL-1beta and TNF, alone or in combination with IFNgamma, failed to induce IkappaBalpha or IkappaBbeta degradation in HT-29 cells. Despite similar 125I-IL-1beta binding, HT-29 cells displayed no IRAK degradation, a 75% reduction of IKK activity, and decreased IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, NF-kappaB DNA binding activity and IL-8 mRNA accumulation in response to IL-1beta compared to Caco-2 cells. Selective activation of NF-kappaB pathway by adenoviral delivery of NF-kappaB-inducing kinase (Ad5NIK) or IKKbeta (Ad5IKKbeta) strongly activated IKK activity (>20 fold) in HT-29 cells with concomitant endogenous IkappaBalpha serine 32 phosphorylation and total IkappaBalpha degradation. In addition, NF-kappaB DNA binding activity and IL-8 secretion is higher in Ad5NIK-infected than in IL-1beta-stimulated HT-29 cells. These data show that altered NF-kappaB signaling is associated with impaired stimulation of an upstream IKK activator.
Supersymmetric left–right model with radiative neutrino mass and multipartite dark matter

We propose a unified extension of the standard model with three types of coexisting dark matter, motivated by three well-studied scenarios: (1) supersymmetry with $$R$$ -parity conservation, (2) left–right symmetry where the $${SU}(2)_R$$ doublet is not $$(\nu ,e)_R$$ but $$(n,e)_R$$ where $$n$$ is a dark-matter candidate, and (3) a one-loop radiative neutrino mass model where the particles in the loop have an odd $$Z_2$$ symmetry, the lightest of which is also a dark-matter candidate. Whereas there are many new particles in this model, the gauge couplings get unified in the same way as in the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM). Since there are at least three dark-matter candidates, each one’s share of the total relic density of the Universe is adjustable, allowing for a much larger parameter space for the MSSM candidate itself. Our main focus is a careful study of a possible specific multipartite dark-matter scenario in this context.
A theory of meaning for Mixed Reality walking tours

In the broadest sense, Mixed and Augmented Reality experiences mix sensory and conceptual elements both externally in the world and in the minds of their users. The question of how participants in these experiences derive meaning from these hybrid realities is important for both analysis and design. By focusing on MAR cultural heritage walking tours, this paper develops a theory of meaning-making based on the aboriginal walkabout that accounts for both physical and conceptual experience. Through an interweaving of concepts from anthropology, architecture, design, cognitive science and MAR itself, I demonstrate that his theory is compatible with known principles of brain function and human behavior and thus it serves as a more general theory of meaning-making applicable beyond the MAR walking tours from which it was derived.
Nerve pathways between the pterygopalatine ganglion and eye in cats

By dissection of thiocholine-stained orbital preparations, it has been determined that three different nerve pathways link the pterygopalatine ganglion and the eye in cats. (1) Nerves from the proximal half of the ganglion join a plexus of nerves and ganglion cells in the rete mirabile of the maxillary artery. Branches of the internal carotid nerve also supply this plexus. Fine nerves from the plexus travel to the optic nerve and then to the eye, accompanying both the nasociliary nerve that passes through the rete and the ciliary arteries that arise from the rete. (2) One or more nerves from the nerve of the pterygoid canal and from a prominent accessory ganglion near the orbital apex course to the inferior optic nerve surface at the optic foramen; these then run distally along the optic nerve to fuse with ciliary nerves or to accompany ciliary arteries entering the eye. (3) Other nerves from the pterygopalatine ganglion travel medially around the extraocular muscle cone to join the ethmoidal and infratrochlear branches of the nasociliary nerve; some nerves from the ganglion then take a retrograde course to the optic nerve, where they join ciliary nerves or arteries to the eye. All three pathways may transmit sympathetic, parasympathetic and somatic sensory nerve fibers.
Automation of Biological Model Learning, Design and Analysis

Although there have been several recent attempts to automate steps of the process of model development and analysis in cell signaling networks, closing the overall cycle between information extraction, model assembly and analysis, and design of questions to guide new information search and experiments still requires a significant amount of human intervention. In this paper, we give an overview of challenges in this process, and outline our approaches to tackle these challenges.
Skill-biased technical change in US manufacturing: a general index approach

Abstract This article applies recent advances in productivity and efficiency measurement to the evaluation of skill-biased technical change. Using the general index approach we are able to establish an explicit and unconstrained time path for nonneutral technical change between production and nonproduction labor in US manufacturing industries over the 1959–1996 period. Our findings confirm the prevailing interpretation in the labor economics literature that substantial reductions in the relative share of production labor are attributable to a sustained period of nonneutral technical change. However, we find that skill-biased technical change effects are most evident prior to 1983. This predates the diffusion of personal computer technologies in the workplace and the dramatic wage structure changes associated with the 1980s. In contrast to prevailing alternatives, the general index approach also permits us to explain observed shifts in relative labor demand as a combination of price-induced substitution, nonhomothetic output effects and skill-biased technical change responses to a range of proposed elements.
Patients transplanted for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are at increased risk for postoperative cardiovascular events.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim was to compare the incidence of cardiovascular (CV) events between patients transplanted for NASH and alcohol (ETOH)-induced cirrhosis. This is a retrospective cohort study (August 1993 to March 2010) of 242 patients (115 NASH and 127 ETOH) with ≥12 months follow-up after liver transplantation (LT). Those with hepatocellular carcinoma or coexisting liver diseases were excluded. Kaplan-Meier's and Cox's proportional hazard analyses were conducted to compare survival. Logistic regression was used to calculate the likelihood of CV events, defined as death from any cardiac cause, myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, complete heart block, and/or stroke requiring hospitalization <1 year after LT. Patients in the NASH group were older (58.4 versus 53.3 years) and were more likely to be female (45% versus 18%; P < 0.001). They were more likely to be morbidly obese (32% versus 9%), have dyslipidemia (25% versus 6%), or have hypertension (53% versus 38%; P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, NASH patients were more likely to have a CV event <1 year after LT, compared to ETOH patients, even after controlling for recipient age, sex, smoking status, pretransplant diabetes, CV disease, and the presence of metabolic syndrome (26% versus 8%; odds ratio = 4.12; 95% confidence interval = 1.91-8.90). The majority (70%) of events occurred in the perioperative period, and the occurrence of a CV event was associated with a 50% overall mortality. However, there were no differences in patient, graft, or CV mortality between groups. Conclusions: CV complications are common after LT, and NASH patients are at increased risk independent of traditional cardiac risk factors, though this did not affect overall mortality. (HEPATOLOGY 2012;56:1741–1750)
Evolution of the Qin Mountains as part of the supercontinent Rodinia

The Qinling-Dabie orogenic complex, part of a large east-west mountain range in the heart of China, plays a key role in helping scientists understand the formation and breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia, but the exact configuration and geodynamic history of the Qinling-Dabie orogenic complex and the surrounding region are not fully known. Contributing a piece to the puzzle, Bader et al. use uranium-thorium-lead geochronology—both from published studies and new data—to investigate the Neoproterozoic (1 billion years ago to 700 million years ago) evolution of the Qinling-Dabie orogenic collage. The authors outline a tectonic model for evolution of this orogen, placing it into the context of the evolution of Rodinia, which formed around 1 billion years ago and broke up around 700 million years ago. Their synthesis could help researchers gain a more complete understanding of the geologic history of one of Earth's supercontinents. (Tectonics, doi:10.1002/tect.20024, 2013)
INTERACTION OF MONO- AND TRIPHOSPHATE ANIONS WITH A PROTONATED POLYAZA MACROCYCLE AND ITS CU(II) COMPLEXES

Abstract The reactions of monophosphate (Mp) and triphosphate (Tp) with the protonated hexaaza macrocyclic ligand 3,6,9,16,19,22-hexaaza-27,28-dioxatricyclo[22.2.1.111,14]octacosa-1 (26),11,13,24-tetraene (BFBD) and its mono- and dinuclear copper(II) complexes, have been investigated. Potentiometric studies show that Tp is bound to protonated BFBD and Cu(II) complexes of this ligand more strongly than is MP. The crystal structures of two new binary complexes of Mp and Tp with this ligand are reported. Both of them crystallize in the triclinic system with space group P1. The binary complex 1 has lattice parameters a = 12.630, b = 13.152, c = 12.561 A, α = 96.359(1), β = 98.02(2), γ = 117.85(1)° and Z = 2. It contains the BFBD-Mp binary cation. The binary complex 2 has lattice parameters a = 12.717(4), b = 14.331(7), c = 19.687(7) A, α = 96.66(3), β = 107.68(2), γ = 93.11(3)° and Z = 2. It consists of the BFBD-Tp cation and the BFBD-2Tp anion. Electrostatic attractive forces and hydrogen bonds play major roles in the formation of these binary complexes.
Studies of Cadmium Tolerance in Two Populations of Grass Shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio

Several investigators demonstrated that tolerance to pollutants can be increased by previous exposure to low sublethal concentrations. Acquired tolerance to metal can result from increased synthesis of metallothioneins. Metallothioneins are small (6000-7000 daltons), sulphydryl-rich, metal binding proteins, whose free thiol groups readily bind the heavy metals. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of pre-treatment with low doses of cadmium chloride (Cd) and mercuric chloride (Hg) on tolerance to higher levels of cadmium to two populations of grass shrimp, Palaemonentes pugio. One was from Piles Creek (PC), a tributary of the Arthur Kill in heavily industrialized Linden, New Jerseys. The other populations was from Big Sheepshead Creek (BSC), a relatively pristine system near non-industrialized Tuckerton, New Jersey. Piles Creek sediment metal concentrations have been reported to be 11.2, 5.9, 623.4, and 627.9 ug/g of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn, respectively; whereas BSC sediment contained 0.054, 0.13, 12.9, and 7.7 ug/g of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn respectively.
Defining and evaluating impact in environmental toxicology

Legal mandates exist for the protection of wildlife and human health from the impacts of toxins released into the environment. To accomplish this objective, numeric environmental quality criteria are set. Toxicity test data are often analyzed in the development of such criteria. Regression-based estimators are frequently employed to calculate the concentration associated with a specified decrement/inhibition in response relative to control conditions. Non-monotonic concentration response patterns, often characterized as 'hormesis', may lead to alternative definitions of baseline responses for inhibition concentration calculations. In particular, the presence of hormesis may suggest that the definition of an impact measure is not always clear. In other cases, the impact measure may be clearly defined; however, adequate statistical study of such measures may not have been conducted. The bioconcentration factor, an index of how a toxicant accumulates within an aquatic organism relative to water, is an example where point estimates are often reported; however, reports of precision or confidence intervals are rare. A second example is the use of a no-observed-effect concentration, the highest concentration with responses that do not statistically differ from responses in the control group. Finally, multiple lines of evidence (e.g. toxicological, ecological, chemical, etc.) might be available to evaluate the degree of contamination at a particular site. The combination of this information to obtain overall site contamination assessment is a continuing challenge. These three issues provide a framework for discussing impact in environmental toxicology.
Sexual Identity and HIV: The Male Prostitute

We examined the relationships among sexual self‐identity, sexual and drug use behaviors, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among a sample of 224 male street prostitutes. Structured interviews were administered, and blood samples were collected and tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. The sample included 17.9% homosexual, 46.4% heterosexual, and 35.7% bisexually identified men. Congruence between the prostitutes’ non‐paid sexual behavior and their sexual self‐identification were closest for the heterosexual and homosexual identified men. The significant demographic and occupational differences between the prostitutes in each sexual self‐identity category included education, history of physical abuse, homelessness, and geographical mobility. Based on self‐identification, the rate of HIV infection was 50% for the homosexuals, 36.5% for the bisexuals, and 18.5% for the heterosexuals. The differences in HIV infection rates between the men of each sexual self‐identity category were signific...
L1o-CoPt/Co bilayer ferromagnetic films: interdiffusion, structure and microstructure

Abstract Detailed understanding of the connections between nanostructure and magnetic properties is key to the realization of optimal exchange-spring magnets. To this end, x-ray and electron diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the evolution of phases, microstructure and texture of model exchange-spring bilayers of L10 - CoPt/Co upon annealing at temperatures ranging from 300–550 °C. The work was motivated by previously—detailed changes in the magnetic exchange coupling of the system induced by the annealing treatments [1] . Unannealed CoPt/Co bilayers comprised a fiber-textured L10 CoPt layer and a fiber-textured Co layer. The Co layer predominantly consisted of the hcp (A3) form, but contained a minority fcc (A1) phase. Annealing the bilayers at low temperatures (300–450 °C) or for short times resulted in a strengthening of the hcp Co fiber texture and disappearance of the minor fcc phase. By contrast, annealing at higher temperatures (450–550 °C) or for longer times resulted in the interdiffusion of the Co and CoPt layers and the formation of new Co-Pt solid solutions. One of these solid solutions was found to be hcp in structure, while the other was fcc. The amount of the fcc solid solution increased at the expense of the L10 CoPt, hcp Co and hcp Co-Pt solid solution phases as annealing time and temperature were increased.
Reversal permanent charge and reversal potential: case studies via classical Poisson–Nernst–Planck models

In this work, we are interested in effects of a simple profile of permanent charges on ionic flows. We determine when a permanent charge produces current reversal. We adopt the classical Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) models of ionic flows for this study. The starting point of our analysis is the recently developed geometric singular perturbation approach for PNP models. Under the setting in the paper for case studies, we are able to identify a single governing equation for the existence and the value of the permanent charge for a current reversal. A number of interesting features are established. The related topic on reversal potential can be viewed as a dual problem and is briefly examined in this work too.
Receptor-mediated tobacco toxicity: Alterations of the NF-κB expression and activity downstream of α7 nicotinic receptor in oral keratinocytes

To gain a mechanistic insight into nicotinic receptor-dependent morbidity of tobacco products in the oral cavity, we studied effects of exposures of normal human oral keratinocytes (KCs) for 24 h to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) vs. equivalent concentration of pure nicotine. The exposed KCs showed a multifold increase of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) at the mRNA and protein levels, which could be significantly (p<0.05) diminished by α-bungarotoxin or transfection with anti-α7 small interfering RNA. An increased protein-binding activity of NF-κB also could be prevented by blocking α7 signaling. The use of pathway inhibitors demonstrated that the Ras/Raf-1/MEK1/ERK steps mediated α7-dependent upregulation of NF-κB. Thus, exposure of KCs to tobacco may lead to the pathobiologic effects via an intracellular signaling pathway downstream of α7 that proceeds through the Ras/Raf-1/MEK1/ERK steps leading to upregulated expression and transactivation of NF-κB.
Approvals, Submission, and Important Labeling Changes for US Marketed Pharmaceuticals

*Director, Drug Information Center, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University Spokane, PO Box 1495, Spokane, WA 99210-1495. Table 1. New drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration: August 19, 2015 through September 25, 2015 Cariprazine – Vraylar (Forest Labs) Comparative agents: Atypical antipsychotics Indication: Treatment of schizophrenia; acute treatment of manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder Mechanism of action: Unknown; partial agonist activity at central dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptors and antagonist activity at serotonin 5-HT2A receptors Common adverse effects: Extrapyramidal symptoms, akathisia, dyspepsia, vomiting, somnolence, and restlessness Dosage form & strength: Capsules; 1.5 mg, 3 mg, 4.5 mg, and 6 mg Product labeling: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/204370lbl.pdf Evolocumab – Repatha (Amgen) Comparative agents: Alirocumab Indication: Adjunct to diet and maximally tolerated statin therapy for treatment of adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) or clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), who require additional lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) who are receiving other LDL-lowering therapies (eg, statins, ezetimibe, LDL apheresis) but still require additional lowering of LDL-C. Mechanism of action: Human monoclonal IgG2 directed against human proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9 (PCSK9), also known as a PCSK9 inhibitor Common adverse effects: Nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, back pain, and injection site reactions Dosage form & strength: Injection; 140 mg/mL single-use prefilled syringe and single-use prefilled SureClick autoinjector Product labeling: http://pi.amgen.com/united_states/repatha/repatha_pi_hcp_english.pdf (continued)
Evaluation of the Boost 'em in the Back Seat Program: Using fear and efficacy to increase booster seat use

OBJECTIVES: Recent research supports the use of high-threat messages when they are targeted appropriately and designed to promote high efficacy as well as fear. This research examined the effectiveness of using a novel threat-appeal approach to encourage parents to place their children in booster seats and rear seats of vehicles. METHOD: A 6-min video-intervention was created and evaluated at after-school/daycare centers via an interrupted time series design with similar control sites for comparison. Caregivers (N=226) completed knowledge and practice surveys and fear and efficacy estimations related to childhood motor vehicle hazards. Researchers observed booster-seat and rear-seat use in study site parking lots. RESULTS: Compared to baseline and control assessments, the treatment groups' child passenger safety knowledge, risk-reduction attitudes, behavioral intentions, sense of fear related to the hazard, and sense of efficacy related to the recommended behaviors increased significantly. Further, observed overall restraint use and booster-seat use increased significantly following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Applying high-threat messages to child passenger safety interventions is promising and has the potential to be adapted to other health risk areas. Language: en
DOE’s Stewardship of Government-Owned Uranium Materials

Beginning in the 1980’s, a significant number of Department of Energy facilities have been shut down and are in the decommissioning process. The shutdown of additional facilities is planned. In addition, during the past several decades, the Department of Energy has loaned nuclear material to a wide variety of private and governmental institutions for research and educational purposes. Subsequent changes in the Department’s priorities have reduced the need for nuclear materials to support the Department’s programs. Similarly, there has been a reduction in the need for borrowed nuclear materials by organizations and institutions using nuclear materials “on loan” from the Department. As a result, inventories of uranium material from the Department’s facilities and “on loan” must be removed and returned to the Department. This material is in the form of low enriched uranium (LEU), normal uranium (NU), and depleted uranium (DU) in various forms. This uranium material is located at over one hundred sites within the United States and overseas, including universities and laboratories. Much of this uranium is not needed to support national priorities and programs. The Department of Energy has assumed a stewardship role in managing nuclear materials throughout their life cycle, from acquisition to storage. Surplus uranium has created challenges for DOE in managing and storing the material as well as identifying opportunities for its further use. On behalf of the Department, the Oak Ridge Operations Office has been given the responsibility to implement the Department responsibilities in meeting these challenges and managing the Department’s uranium materials. To support this effort, the Office of Nuclear Fuel Security and Uranium Technology within the ORO complex coordinates uranium management functions across the Department of Energy. This coordination provides DOE with a number of important benefits, among which are: consolidated management and storage of uranium; improved security; a reduction of operating costs; effective use and reuse of DOT certified shipping containers; and accelerated site closure.Copyright © 2002 by ASME