cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transamidase and collagenase activity in healthy and diseased human gingival tissues

Transamidases are a class of calcium-dependent mammalian enzymes which cross-link proteins by catalyzing the formation of (gamma-glutamyl)-epsilon-lysine bonds. It is possible that these enzymes play an important anabolic role in tissue healing. This study was to quantitate transamidase activity in human gingival tissue and examine the relation between transmidase activity and degree of inflammation. Forty-four out of a total 120 collected human gingival specimens from healthy and diseased patients were selected based on histometric and microbiologic criteria. Specimens were minced and homogenized in 10 mM CaCl2 and then extracted for 30 min, in 50 mM tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing 100 mM CaCl2. Following low speed centrifugation at 4 degrees C, the supernatant solution was assayed for both transamidase and collagenase activities by radioactive amine incorporation, and digestion of tritiated collagen, respectively. Appreciable levels of transamidase and collagenase activities in healthy gingivae were found. These enzyme activities were significantly elevated in the diseased and healing tissues. Unlike other transamidases, calcium was required in the enzyme extraction process.
Lagrangians for Damped Linear Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Systems

This paper deals with finding Lagrangians for damped, linear multi-degree-of-freedom systems. New results for such systems are obtained using extensions of results for single and two degree-offreedom systems. The solution to the inverse problem for an n-degree-of-freedom linear gyroscopic system is obtained as a special case. Multi-degree-of-freedom systems that commonly arise in linear vibration theory with symmetric mass, damping, and stiffness matrices are handled similarly in a simple manner. Conservation laws for these damped multi-degree-of-freedom systems are found using the Lagrangians obtained, and several examples are provided.
Mobilization of Arsenite by Competitive Interaction with Silicic Acid

Due to the acute toxicity of As, mobilization of even a small fraction of As into surface and ground waters used as a source for drinking water represents a substantial risk to human health. Here we evaluate the mobilization of arsenite [As(III)] from the Fe-(hydr)oxide mineral goethite (a-FeOOH) through competitive displacement by silicic add, a naturally occurring and ubiquitous inorganic ligand. The adsorption behaviors of silicic add and As(III) on goethite were investigated at environmentally relevant pH (3-11). Single ion adsorption and zeta-potential data were collected at silica concentrations characteristic of natural waters (3-30 mg L - 1 ) and initial solution As(III) concentrations representative of high levels of contamination (3.75-7.5 mg L - 1 ). Competitive adsorption scenarios with either Si or As(III) sorbed first to the goethite surface, followed by equilibration with the other sorbate, were also examined. No competitive displacement of either oxyanion was observed at total sorbate concentrations less than reactive surface site density, regardless of pH or addition scenario. However, at total sorbate concentrations greater than reactive surface site density, As(UI) adsorption was reduced by 10 to 15% over the entire pH range regardless of addition scenario, resulting in aqueous concentrations well in excess of current (10 μg L - 1 ) drinking water maximum contaminant levels. Surface complexation modeling of single ion adsorption and zeta-potential data using the Charge Distribution Multisite Surface Complexation (CD-MUSIC) model was used to calculate an appropriate set of surface adsorption equilibrium constants for As(III) and silicic add adsorption, which was used to describe the competitive adsorption scenarios. Comparison of competitive adsorption data and CD-MUSIC model predictions, at total sorbate concentration greater than reactive surface site density of goethite, suggest that silica is competitively displaced by As(III).
Single-mode etched-facet distributed Bragg reflector laser for uncooled operation

A novel AlGalnAs/InP single-mode laser was designed and fabricated using an etched-facet distributed Bragg reflector. It exhibits stable 1310 nm single-mode operation over a wide temperature range of 20 to 80/spl deg/C with high SMSR.
Grid-enabling orbital analysis and computationally intensive applications for a growing set of diversified users

The advent of affordable high performance computing (HPC) resources, such as computing clusters and grids, has transformed the computational capabilities of many organizations. However, the lack of convenient interfaces to such valuable resources limits their effectiveness, restricting their user base to a small set of highly skilled programmers and computer scientists. Without such an interface, domain specialists lacking exceptional knowledge of HPC systems are challenged in their ability to utilize these computing grids. This paper describes the design and implementation of a Web-based user interface aimed at increasing the usability and transparency of a 341-node computing cluster to multiple applications and user communities, by developing a streamlined Web interface. In discussion of the design, we address several common concerns including security, extensibility, and maintainability. We also outline two distinct solutions to this problem: our earliest approach using open-source grid computing tools such as the Globus Toolkit and Gridportlets, and our most current implementation, which uses a prototype Python-based Web application developed as a part of this paper. We then assess our experience with both approaches and conceptually evaluate them based on the common concerns mentioned above. Finally, we argue that, despite the flexibility afforded by the industrial-strength grid tools, a simpler, home-grown approach similar to our Python-based prototype is most effective in terms of time and maintainability for enterprises seeking to develop similar Web-based front ends for their computing resources. We conclude that our approach provides better value to a set of users as it increases in both number and diversity.
Constrained software generation for hardware-software systems

Mixed systems are composed of interacting hardware components such as general-purpose processors, application-specific circuits and software components that executes on the general purpose hardware. The software component consists of application-specific routines that must deliver the required system functionality and a runtime environment. Further, the software is required to deliver functionality under constraints on timing and memory storage available. In this paper, we consider methods to achieve software generation under imposed constraints and demonstrate the utility of our approach by examples.
A tunable switch to regulate the synthesis of low and high molecular weight microbial polyesters.

The addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (Mn = 200 g/mol) (PEG-200) to the fermentation media of Alcaligenes eutrophus and Alcaligenes latus at various stages of growth resulted in the synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) with bimodal molecular weight distributions. The presence of 2% w/v-PEG-200 did not have deleterious effects on PHB volumetric yields and cell productivity. In general, the Mn values of the high (H) and low (L) fractions showed little variability as a function of the time at which PEG-200 was added to the cultures. By this approach, the H:L ratios (w/w) of the PHB synthesized by A. eutrophus and A. latus were varied from 9:91 to 76:24 and from 16:84 to 88:12, respectively. It is believed that the H fractions were formed prior to the addition of PEG-200 to the cultures. Also, once PEG-200 was made available to the cells, PEG-200 acted as a switch so that the reduced molecular weight fraction was formed. In addition, a necessary requirement for the above is that the frequency of transesterification reactions during polymer synthesis was small. The efficiency that PEG-200 reduced the molecular weight of the PHBs formed by both bacteria appears similar. Indirect evidence suggests that the PHB L fractions formed by A. latus subsequent to PEG-200 addition consist primarily of chains that have PEG terminal groups. This terminal chain structure was not observed for PHB formed by A. eutrophus.
Role of β-conglycinin and glycinin subunits in the pH-shifting-induced structural and physicochemical changes of soy protein isolate.

: Soy β-conglycinin (7S) and glycinin (11S) were incubated up to 4 h in acidic (pH 1.5 to 3.5) or alkaline (pH 10 to 12) solutions to induce protein structural unfolding followed by refolding 1 h at pH 7.0, a process known as pH-shifting. The pH-shifting markedly increased (P < 0.05) emulsifying activity of 11S and to a lesser extent 7S; the former also produced more uniform oil droplets. The emulsifying activity improvements were accompanied by a significant rise in protein surface hydrophobicity, slight loss of the secondary structure (circular dichroism), and substantial dissociation of disulfide-linked basic and acidic 11S subunits. The findings suggested that 11S globulins of soy protein isolate (SPI) were more responsive to pH-shifting treatments than were 7S globulins, and the resulting emulsifying activity enhancements of 11S, in parallel with that of SPI, were indicative of its determinant role in the overall emulsifying properties of pH-shifting-treated SPI. Practical Application: Extreme alkaline (pH 12) and acidic (pH 1.5) medium treatments can significantly modify the structure and enhance the emulsifying properties of both β-conglycinin and glycinin components of SPI. The functionality improvement by the pH processes is more remarkable for the glycinin protein fraction. Therefore, SPI enriched with glycinin seems to be particularly suitable for extreme acidic or alkaline processes to produce surface-active functional ingredients for food applications.
Mechanisms Underlying Fipronil Resistance in a Multiresistant Field Strain of the German Cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae)

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica L.) have significant impacts on human health, most notably they are implicated as causes of childhood asthma. Gel bait formulations of fipronil, a phenylpyrazole insecticide, have been in use for German cockroach control in the United States since 1998. Previously, dieldrin resistant German cockroach strains were shown to have 7- to 17-fold cross-resistance to fipronil. More recently, a field-collected strain (GNV-R) displayed approximately 36-fold resistance to topically applied fipronil at the LD50 level, which is the highest level of fipronil resistance reported to date in the German cockroach. The aim of the current research was to identify mechanism(s) responsible for high-level fipronil resistance in the GNV-R strain. Synergist bioassays conducted using topical and injection application methods implicated cytochrome P450-mediated detoxification in resistance. Electrophysiological recordings using the suction-electrode technique revealed the nervous system of the GNV-R strain is insensitive to fipronil. In agreement with electrophysiology results, the alanine to serine (A302S) mutation encoded by the gamma-amino butyric acid-gated chloride channel subunit gene resistance to dieldrin, which confers limited cross-resistance to fipronil, was detected in 95% of GNV-R strain individuals. Logistic regression analysis showed that A302S mutation frequency correlates with neurological insensitivity as shown by electrophysiology data. Overall, results of synergism bioassays, electrophysiological recordings, and A302S mutation frequency measurements suggest that fipronil resistance in the GNV-R strain is caused by the combined effects of enhanced metabolism by cytochrome P450s and target-site insensitivity caused by the A302S-encoding mutation in the resistance to dieldrin gene.
The Prevalence and Determinants of Nutritional Changes in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Sixty outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent nutritional, physiologic, and psychologic evaluation to determine the prevalence of nutritional depletion and the relationship to physiologic and psychologic factors. Weight loss was reported in 27 percent. Triceps skinfolds (TSF) were less than 60 percent of standard in 33 percent, none had mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC) less than 60 percent of standard, and 5 percent had body weight (BW) less than 60 percent of ideal. Values for BW-percent of ideal, TSF-percent of standard, and MAMC-percent of standard were inversely correlated with the percent of estimated caloric expenditure ingested. Also, BW percent was correlated with FEV1 percent predicted, diffusion capacity percent predicted, and oxygen consumption/kg at rest (VO2 percent/kg). There were five variables that explained 62.6 percent of the variation in BW percent: VO2/kg at rest explained 22.2 percent; ventilatory equivalent 13.5 percent; PaCO2 9.8 percent; log vital capacity percent predicted 9.2 percent; and depression 7.8 percent. It is concluded that increased caloric utilization without adequate compensation in dietary intake is the reason for nutritional depletion.
An algorithm for generation of efficient manipulator dynamic equations

This paper presents a method for the generation of efficient manipulator dynamic equations in symbolic form. The efficiency is obtained by the use of simplification rules during the process of equation generation. These simplifications are based on the structure of manipulator dynamics, on simplifications that arise from common manipulator geometries, and from other heuristic simplification rules. This algorithm has been implemented in a lisp-based program, EMDEG (Efficient Manipulator Dynamic Equation Generator). The development of the algorithm, the derivation of simplification rules, and some implementation aspects are discussed; and an example is presented.
Afferent Arteriolar Responses to β,γ-methylene ATP and 20-HETE are not Blocked by ENaC Inhibition.

Afferent arteriolar myogenic and tubuloglomerular feedback responses are critical for the proper maintenance of renal hemodynamics and water and electrolyte homeostasis. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) P2X receptor activation and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (20-HETE) have been implicated in afferent arteriolar autoregulatory responses. Besides these two participants, members of the degenerin/epithelial Na + channel (DEG/ENaC) family have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the afferent arteriolar myogenic response. The aim of this study was to determine if ENaC contributes to P2X receptor- or 20-HETE-mediated afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction. As previously demonstrated, afferent arteriolar diameter responses to increasing perfusion pressure from 100 to 160 mmHg were abolished by ENaC inhibitors amiloride or benzamil. Afferent arteriolar diameter decreased by 29% under control conditions and by 1% and 5% in the presence of amiloride or benzamil, respectively. The P2X receptor agonist b,c-methylene ATP decreased afferent arteriolar diameter by 3 1%, 7 1%, 12 2%, and 17 3% in response to 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 lmol/L, respectively. ENaC inhibition did not alter the afferent arteriolar vasoconstrictor response to the P2X receptor agonist b,c-methylene ATP. Like P2X receptor activation, 20-HETE dose-dependently decreased afferent arteriolar diameter and this vasoconstrictor response was not altered by the presence of ENaC inhibitors amiloride or benzamil. These results suggest that DEG/ENaC channels are required for afferent arteriolar autoregulatory responses; however, DEG/ENaC channels do not contribute to P2X receptor- or 20-HETE-mediated afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction.
Superpositions of intramolecular reorientations and nuclear spin relaxation

A general expression is developed for the dipole-dipole nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time T 1 in molecules whose constituents are undergoing an arbitrary number (n) of superimposed reorientations about different molecular symmetry axes. In addition, the calculation takes into account isotropic tumbling of the whole molecule for the case of a liquid, or, a powder average for the case of a powder or polycrystalline sample. As an example, the case of n = 3 (three superimposed reorientations plus tumbling or a powder average) is investigated. The incentive for treating the n = 3 case is the need to interpret relaxation measurements (reported in the accompanying paper) in 4,4′-methylenebis (2,6-di-t-butylphenol) where, in addition to methyl and t-butyl reorientation, the benzene rings may be reorienting with respect to one another. The calculation draws upon the general theory of spin-lattice relaxation and on existing calculations concerned with the effects that superimposed reorientations have on correlat...
Metabolism of a Florida lake ecosystem1,2

Ecosystem and plankton community metabolism were Inc asured for 1 year in a central Florida lake. Values of ecosystem production and respiration were similar throughout the year, suggesting that little net production accumulates seasonally or annually. Gross production and respiration were 3,071 and 3,180 g 02*m-2*yr-‘. The plankton community was responsible for 44% of the gross production; the remainder was attributable to submersed macrophytes and associated epiphytes. Of the annual respiration, 54% was due to the plankton. Measurements of metabolism suggested that submersed plant photosynthesis and respiration were severely diminished for 1 month in summer, p lssibly as a result of high temperature.
Competition between metals for binding to methanobactin enables expression of soluble methane monooxygenase in the presence of copper

It is well known that copper is a key factor regulating expression of the two forms of methane monooxygenase found in proteobacterial methanotrophs. Of these forms, the cytoplasmic, or soluble, methane monooxygenase (sMMO) is expressed only at low copper concentrations. The membrane-bound, or particulate, methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is constitutively expressed with respect to copper, and such expression increases with increasing copper. Recent findings have shown that copper uptake is mediated by a modified polypeptide, or chalkophore, termed methanobactin. Although methanobactin has high specificity for copper, it can bind other metals, e.g., gold. Here we show that in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, sMMO is expressed and active in the presence of copper if gold is also simultaneously present. Such expression appears to be due to gold binding to methanobactin produced by M. trichosporium OB3b, thereby limiting copper uptake. Such expression and activity, however, was significantly reduced if methanobactin preloaded with copper was also added. Further, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) of transcripts of genes encoding polypeptides of both forms of MMO and SDS-PAGE results indicate that both sMMO and pMMO can be expressed when copper and gold are present, as gold effectively competes with copper for binding to methanobactin. Such findings suggest that under certain geochemical conditions, both forms of MMO may be expressed and active in situ. Finally, these findings also suggest strategies whereby field sites can be manipulated to enhance sMMO expression, i.e., through the addition of a metal that can compete with copper for binding to methanobactin.
Direct interactions between the heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gβ5 and the G protein γ subunit-like domain-containing regulator of G protein signaling 11: Gain of function of cyan fluorescent protein-tagged Gγ3

We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging of enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (CFP)-tagged and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged protein pairs to examine the hypothesis that G protein gamma subunit-like (GGL) domain-containing regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) can directly bind to the Gbeta5 subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins in vivo. We observed that Gbeta5 could interact with Ggamma2 and Ggamma13, after their expression in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Interestingly, although untagged Ggamma3 did not interact with Gbeta5, CFP-tagged Ggamma3 strongly interacted with YFP-tagged Gbeta5 in FRET studies. Moreover, CFP-Ggamma3 supported Ca(2+) channel inhibition when paired with Gbeta5 or YFP-Gbeta5, indicating a "gain of function" for CFP-Ggamma3. Gbeta5 could also interact with RGS11 and its N-terminal, but not its C-terminal domain. On the other hand, RGS11 did not interact with Gbeta1. These studies demonstrate that the GGL domain-containing N terminus of RGS 11 can directly interact with Gbeta5 in vivo and supports the hypothesis that this interaction may contribute to the specificity of Gbeta5 interactions with cellular effector molecules.
The orientation reaction as a mediator of sensory preconditioning

It was hypothesized that the orientation reaction mediates sensory preconditioning. The test of the hypothesis consisted of habituating the orientation reaction to the two stimuli used in sensory preconditioning in one group of rats and comparing their performance to a group whose orientation reactions were not habituated. The results clearly indicate that repeated exposure to two stimuli hinders the development of a learned association between them when they are subsequently paired and, thus, support the hypothesis.
Effectiveness of modified White's solution at removing ascomycetes associated with the bark beetle Ips pini

Summary Modified White’s solution (1 g HgCl2/l H2O) is widely used to surface disinfest bark beetles of their phoretic fungi. We investigated the effectiveness of this solution at disinfesting adult Ips pini from its associated ophiostomatoid fungi. A treatment for 1, 4 or 8 min does not completely rid beetles of phoretic fungi, but does substantially reduce the amount of fungi they carry externally. Sterilizing with modified White’s solution caused limited mortality (< 16%).
Eosinophilic neuritis and eosinophilic panniculitis in a patient with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Abstract The pruritic, papular eruption of human immunodeficiency virus with associated peripheral eosinophilia is well documented. We describe a 32-year-old African American man with advanced acqu...
Cold Hemagglutination in Acute and Chronic Hemolytic Syndromes

1. Three cases have been described of hemolytic anemia associated with autoagglutination of erythrocytes in the cold. These cases were characterized clinically by pallor, slight icterus and lack of splenomegaly. Raynaud’s phenomenon was present in two of the three patients. The first patient had an acute self-limited course. The second and possibly the third were chronic and apparently persistent. 2. A hemolysin was demonstrated in the chronic variety of hemolytic anemia. This antibody was active at body temperature, required complement and appeared to be independent of the cold agglutinin. It disappeared following therapy with cortisone. In the third case, hemolysin was demonstrated directly attached to the surface of the patient’s erythrocytes by the addition of complement to the washed red cells. The hemolytic reaction was enhanced by the use of trypsinized test erythrocytes. 3. "Complete and incomplete" cold agglutinins were demonstrated by the use of saline, albumin and trypsin technics as well as by the Coombs’ antiglobulin reactions. Erythrocyte coating antibodies were not neutralized with human gamma globulin. Cold agglutinins and erythrocyte coating antibodies were unaffected by cortisone therapy. 4. Survival of transfused erythrocytes was increased in one patient during the period of cortisone treatment, despite the fact that cold agglutinins persisted. 5. Cold agglutinated erythrocytes have increased mechanical fragility when the cold agglutinin is present in high titer. Incubation at 37 C. for 24 hours causes a marked shift to the left in the osmotic fragility curve. 6. Study of the serum in one patient for antibodies to Newcastle virus disease and influenza failed to disclose these antibodies in significant titer.
Cholinergic approaches to the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy

In spite of the severe loss of cholinergic neurons in the brains of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), marginal or null benefits are seen in clinical trials after the administration of physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, or RS-86, a cholinergic agonist. The possible role of cholinergic therapy in PSP is reevaluated.
|[lsquo]|Modern and genuine Mediaevalism|[rsquo]|: Guido Kisch|[rsquo]|s romance with the German middle ages

During the 1930s and 1940s the eminent historian of medieval German law, Guido Kisch, developed two distinct yet related interpretive strategies that allowed him to respond as a scholar and a Jew to the catastrophe that had consumed Europe. Kisch constructed a medieval Germany characterized by a love of justice and fairness, values derived in large part from the best within Christianity, and that manifested themselves in the positive treatment of Jews. His ideal medieval German jurist was Eike von Repgow, and his lawcode, the Sachsenspiegel, was the supreme expression of this medieval German love of justice. Kisch set this idealized vision of the medieval German and Jewish pasts against contemporary Nazi Germany. In so doing, he also demonstrated another scholarly ideal: unbiased objective scholarship despite personal and professional hardship and loss.
Structure Design of Irregular Cartons Based on Pro/ENGINEER Sheet-metal Design Module

In order to accurately and quickly ascertain the expansion structure of irregular cartons after ascertaining of modeling design,combined with the classification of irregular cartons,the method of performing modeling and structure design of irregular carton by Pro/ENGINEER sheet-metal design module was analysed.The skill and limitations of that design method were summarized with examples,and technical support is provided for highly efficient design and production of irregular cartons.
Pathways of Drug Metabolism

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses pathways of drug metabolism. The biochemical processes governing drug metabolism largely determine the duration of a drug's action, elimination, and toxicity. Phenobarbital typifies the drugs that are active when administered and then are converted to inactive and more polar metabolites in the liver. Pyrimidine nucleotides exemplify a class of pharmaceuticals designed to be biotransformed in the body from inactive to active cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Among the major enzyme systems affecting drug metabolism, cytochrome P450 monooxygenases are dominant. The action of various cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms is predictable in that there are several organic structural elements that are principal targets for metabolic transformations. Many aromatic drugs are hydroxylated either directly through asymmetrical oxygen transfer or through an unstable arene oxide intermediate. In humans, glucuronidation is a high-capacity pathway, sulfation is a low-capacity pathway, and acetylation exhibits high interindividual variability. The glucuronidation pathway often accounts for a major portion of drug metabolites that are found excreted in urine.
Flowery Speech of Maya Tributary Arrangements

Is this what you eat from, sir what you drink from, sir? Could this be the skull of my grandfather? Could this be the skull of my father? Is this what I am looking at what I see before me? Then won't this also become a work of some kind an artifact this bone of my crown bone of my head carved in back and carved in front? Then it'll be sent down there to my mountain my valley ending up as an even trade for five score seeds of pataxte five score seeds of cacao paid by my children my sons at my mountain my valley. Recited by Jose Coloch of Rabinal [Tedlock 2003:176–177] Why begin a chapter on Maya tributary arrangements with an excerpt from the K'iche' Mayan dramatic play called Rab'inal Achi or “The Man of Rabinal”? In the passage cited here, Cawek – who has been captured in battle by a warrior from Rabinal – is offered a last drink of chocolate that is served to him in a carved calabash cup. Knowing that he is to be sacrificed, he contemplates the fact that his skull may be carved and used as a drinking cup before being returned to his home community in return for a sizable tribute ransom of cacao and pataxte (a semiwild form of cacao) seeds. In this passage, the entwined nature of warfare, captive taking, and tribute is intimated by flowery prose.
Abstract A64: Colon cancer lymph node evaluation among Military Health System beneficiaries: An analysis by race/ethnicity

Introduction: The number of lymph nodes examined during colon cancer surgery falls below nationally recommended guidelines in the general population, with blacks and Hispanics less likely to have adequate nodal evaluation in comparison to whites. The Department of Defense9s (DoD9s) Military Health System (MHS) provides equal access to medical care for its beneficiaries, regardless of racial/ethnic background. Thus, the MHS provided an excellent opportunity to investigate whether racial/ethnic differences exist in an equal access medical care system. Methods: Linked data from the DoD cancer registry and administrative claims databases were used and included 2,155 colon cancer cases. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and the number of lymph nodes examined ( Results: No overall racial/ethnic difference in the number of lymph nodes examined was identified. Further stratified analyses yielded similar, except potential racial/ethnic differences were found among persons with poorly differentiated tumors, where non-Hispanic blacks (NHBs) tended to be less likely to have ≥12 lymph nodes dissected (OR = 0.31, 95% CI, 0.13-0.74) compared to non-Hispanic whites. Conclusion: Racial/ethnic disparities in the number of lymph nodes evaluated among patients with colon cancer were not apparent in an equal-access healthcare system. However, among poorly differentiated tumors, there might be racial/ethnic differences in nodal yield, suggesting the possible effects of factors other than access to healthcare. Citation Format: Abegail A. Gill, Lindsey Enewold, Shelia H. Zahm, Craig D. Shriver, Alexander Stojadinovic, Katherine A. McGlynn, Kangmin Zhu. Colon cancer lymph node evaluation among Military Health System beneficiaries: An analysis by race/ethnicity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research; 2013 Oct 27-30; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2013;6(11 Suppl): Abstract nr A64.
Searching for low-altitude magnetic field anomalies by using observations of the energetic particle loss cone on JUNO

In inner planetary magnetospheres, pitch angle distributions of charged particles are shaped by the global magnetic field topology when they bounce fast along magnetic field lines. Therefore, one can estimate the magnetic field intensity at the top of the atmosphere from the loss cone size, inferred from particle pitch angle distributions at higher altitudes. We propose such a technique to estimate the magnetic field intensity near the top of Jovian atmosphere based on Jupiter Energetic Particle Detector Instruments particle distributions captured by JUNO and verify the algorithm by using plasma measurements from Van Allen Probes in the Earth's inner magnetosphere. Our results demonstrate that the low-altitude magnetic field can be significantly larger than the expected field from present models, which supports recent reports on the anomaly of Jovian internal magnetic field from in situ JUNO measurements. We also discuss possible modifications and applications of the proposed technique to future investigations of the global Jovian magnetic field configuration.
Hunting down unconventional superconductors.

Since the 2006 discovery of iron-based high-temperature superconductors, the highest Cooper pairing temperature (the temperature at which the superconducting energy gap opens) has been observed in iron selenide (FeSe)-based materials. By listing some of these materials and their Cooper pairing temperature ( T c) (see the figure), one might think bulk FeSe is the least interesting because it has the lowest T c. On the contrary, it should be regarded as the highest-temperature superconductor ever known. On pages 71 and 75 of this issue, Gerber et al. ( 1 ) and Sprau et al. ( 2 ) reveal two further unusual properties of this unprecedented high-temperature superconductor. Their results may help unravel the pairing mechanism of these unconventional superconducting materials.
Factor Structure and Further Validation of the 20-Item Short Form of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire

A 44-item version of the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44) put forward by the Obsessive Compulsive Cognitions Working Group remains the most widely used version of the OBQ, despite research casting doubt on its factorial validity and the existence of a short form (i.e., OBQ-20). In a large sample of undergraduate students (n = 1,210), a bifactor model of the OBQ-20, consisting of a general factor and four specific factors (threat, responsibility, importance/control of thoughts, perfectionism/certainty), was supported as the best-fitting model. None of the examined OBQ-44 models provided adequate fit. The bifactor model of the OBQ-20 was retained in two independent samples (n = 1,342 community adults, n = 319 undergraduate students). The incremental validity of the specific factors of the OBQ-20 beyond the general factor was evidenced across multiple criterion indices, including obsessive-compulsive symptom measures and reactions to a thought-induction task. Results further support use of the OBQ-20.
Cybersecurity Breach and Crisis Response: An Analysis of Organizations’ Official Statements in the United States and South Korea:

Cybersecurity breaches have rapidly become a high-impact crisis for many corporations. Thus, it is critically important for corporations to know how to protect their reputation through effective cr...
Envenomations and Antivenoms During Pregnancy

Envenomations from snake or spider bites or from scorpion, hymenoptera, or jellyfish stings likely occur with similar frequencies among reproductive aged women regardless of pregnancy. The same fundamental principles of conservative and drug therapy apply when someone is pregnant. Very limited experience with antivenom therapy suggests that it is well tolerated during pregnancy with standard precautions. Any adverse pregnancy outcomes may not result directly from the venom in the fetal circulation but indirectly from maternal illness or from placental compromise. For safety reasons due to pregnancy, more prolonged or more frequent monitoring of both the patient and her fetus is justified. Prospective evaluations of individual cases that require prolonged monitoring or hospitalization, especially with antivenom administration, would permit a clearer understanding of long-term pregnancy outcomes.
The Myth of Masochism

The personality disorder called "Masochism," which traditionally has been regarded as a preference for and pursuit of suffering is dynamically misconceived. There presently is no fundamental agreement on a diagnostic category for this personality disorder. There are aspects of what is called masochism, such as sexual arousal associated with pain, which have not been considered in this study. I feel that the essential nature of the pain in those designated as masochists is low self-esteem and that it develops in a childhood context of inadequate loving nurturance. I strongly believe that low self-esteem evolves from and is maintained by the competitive social milieu and a resultant personal functioning, which is diffusely competitive. The competitive activity is often associated unawarely with cynicism (Bonime, 1989). The gratification of victory substitutes for the gratifications of intimacy and growth, but is relatively brief, and although it produces some self acceptance, it is never enough to overcome the basic low feeling about oneself. Here was Marjorie, a woman who had miserably low self-esteem as a child, as low as being "just a crack in the door." As an adult, as shown in her dream, she felt like a woman full of shit that comes out involuntarily. She struggled to keep from being exposed as such and ached with humiliation or inwardly--and sometimes openly--raged when some distasteful quality or inadequacy showed or threatened to show. This pained person strove to overcome her sense of inadequacy as a person. She overcame it by succeeding in outdoing others according to her private, competitive standards. Her criteria of value were success in evoking signs of approval and sustaining herself while suffering, while "taking it." Her highest value was being able to take it, to suffer intensely without breaking. She was cynical and never sensed for long that she was genuinely regarded as an acceptable human being. She didn't believe in the existence of any genuine caring. She dreamt of an ecstatic evening dining, dancing, and having wonderful sex with "Bill" who she felt was an exceptional man. Later in the dream, she expected the same ecstasy the following evening with him. However, he said to her they couldn't go on because she was cruel. Almost always the prospect of an enjoyable situation "scared" her because it required her to abandon her protective cynicism, which made her a defeatable, exploitable target for the cynicism and competitiveness of others.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Effect of MSD on Large Damage Residual Strength

The purpose of this paper is to point out that a need exists to re-visit component test data used to substantiate large damage residual strength capability for those commercial transport aircraft now considered to be aging. Many of these aircraft are operating well beyond their initial design life goals due to the current economic environment and are therefore prone to the formulation of widespread fatigue damage (WFD) which may considerably reduce the large damage tolerance capability used to support initial certification of the aircraft. The purpose of this paper is to re-visit such a component test, as an example, to illustrate the considerable effect that in-service uninspectable multiple-site-damage (MSD), a sub-element of WFD, can have on lead crack residual strength. The stiffened panel test was originally performed to substantiate the residual strength capability in the presence of a two-bay circumferential crack with a broken central stiffener in the most critical location on the crown of a pressurized fuselage. This particular test was chosen because it illustrates the need to consider the non-linear load displacement characteristics of the skin to stiffener rivets as the skin crack approaches the intact crack arresting stiffeners. The results of an elastic/plastic displacement compatibility analysis illustrates that the lead crack tip stress intensity factor becomes non-linear with respect to applied gross stress well before the failure stress due to rivet yielding. The resulting crack tip stress intensity factor, a function of both crack length and applied gross stress, is used with an intuitive lead crack/MSD crack link-up criterion to determine the loss in residual strength caused by in-service uninspectable MSD. The analysis illustrates that residual strength is very sensitive to exact rivet location with respect to the lead crack tip and also to the model used to describe the crack tip plastic zone size. There appears to be an urgent need to conduct further research to determine the effect on plastic zone size of stiffening materials having much higher yield strengths than the cracked skin.
A Custom Multi-Pixel Photodetector Probe and Partial Least Squares Regression for the Efficient Identification of Optical Tissue Properties

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy performed using a custom photodetector array combined with partial least squares regression increases the accuracy of optical tissue property extraction. Prediction accuracies of 4.15% (us), 9.02% (ua) are reported.
Expanding Desirability of Turnover: Hedonic and Eudaimonic Job Satisfactions and Well-being

The desirability to the worker of quitting a job has most often been conceptualized as job satisfaction using hedonic perspectives. In this study, we examine the relationship of intention to quit w...
The Female Body of Sor Juana's Subject and the Language of Gongorism in "Epinicio al Virrey Conde de Galve" (1691)

In the Epinicio al virrey conde de Galve (1691), sor Juana Ines de la Cruz presents an overtly female speaker. Most of the composition, in a departure from the norms of the epinikion, builds the myth of this female speaker instead of praising the hero to whom the poem is dedicated. The Epinicio sings on the effects of masculine colonial power, of which the Viceroy is a synecdoche, on the female poetic persona through three figures of comparison: Semele, a raincloud, and the Sibyl. All three female figures are subjected by masculine power, and their bodies are destroyed by bearing that power’s offspring. Through an analysis of the Epinicio, this essay explores sor Juana’s understanding of the subjection of her female poetic persona in the context of epideictic poetry, and what the Epinicio has to say about Gongorism as a language for the poetic subject.
Biological treatments for severe asthma: A major advance in asthma care

Abstract Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with considerable variability noted in disease severity, patterns of airway inflammation, and achievement of disease control on current medications. An absence of disease control is most frequently noted in patients with severe asthma, and is defined as a lack of control while on high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus a second controller medication. In part, this lack of control may relate to a diminished effect of current guideline-directed care on the existing pattern of airway inflammation in severe asthma. Airway inflammation in severe asthma has been arbitrarily divided into T (type) 2 high and T2 low. T2 high is characterized by the generation of key cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4, −5 and −13, which generate and regulate airway inflammation. Biomarkers to mark the presence of T2-high inflammation include eosinophils, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and immunoglobulin (Ig) E, whose presence arises from the action of IgE, IL-5, IL-4, and IL-13. In this review, treatment of severe asthma with monoclonal antibodies, i.e. biologics, which are directed against these inflammation generated pathways are reviewed. The available monoclonal antibodies include omalizumab (anti-IgE); mepolizumab, reslizumab and benralizumab (anti-IL-5 pathways), and dupilumab (anti-IL-4/IL-13). The use of these T2-high interventions has led to significant reductions in asthma symptoms, a decreased frequency of exacerbations, and improved lung function in many patients. Not only has the use of these monoclonal antibodies led to improved asthma control in patients with severe disease, their use has provided insight into mechanisms of severe asthma.
Neuroprotective effects of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) in a chronic MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model: Endothelial and microglial effects.

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive motor disease with clinical features emerging due to degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), which project to the caudate putamen (CPu) where they release dopamine (DA). The current study investigated whether acetyl- l -carnitine (ALC) could ameliorate the pathology seen in an in vivoin vivo chronic 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mouse model of PD. Four treatment groups were included: 1) CONTROL receiving probenecid (PROB; 250 mg/kg) only, 2) MPTP (25 mg/kg) + PROB, 3) MPTP + ALC (100 mg/kg), and 4) ALC alone. MPTP-induced losses in tyrosine hydroxylase and DA transporter immunoreactivity in the SNc and CPu were significantly reduced by ALC. HPLC data further suggests that decreases in CPu DA levels produced by MPTP were also attenuated by ALC. Additionally, microglial activation and astrocytic reactivity induced by MPTP were greatly reduced by ALC, indicating protection against neuroinflammation. Glucose transporter-1 and the tight junction proteins occludin and zonula occludins-1 were also protected from MPTP-induced down-regulation by ALC. Together, data suggest that in this model, ALC protects against MPTP-induced damage to endothelial cells and loss of DA neurons in the SNc and CPu, suggesting that ALC therapy may have the potential to slow or ameliorate the progression of PD pathology in a clinical setting.
A Subpoena: The Other Exception to Confidentiality:

A good deal of attention is paid in counselor education programs to the significance of confidentiality and the rare categories of exception that would compel the counselor to break that sacred vow...
Addition of magnetic resonance imaging to real time trans-rectal ultrasound-based treatment planning for prostate implants.

Purpose The greater soft tissue contrast of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows improved accuracy in prostate contouring compared to transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and helps in identifying specific regions within the prostate. This study attempts to evaluate the potential benefit of MRI-TRUS fusion in treatment planning for more accurate prostate contouring and tumor dose escalation. Material and methods 14 patients with previous MRI-guided prostate biopsy and an low-dose-rate (LDR) permanent prostate seed implant have been selected. The prostate and tumor (5 patients) were contoured on the MRI images by a radiologist. The prostate was also contoured on TRUS images during LDR procedure together by a urologist and radiation oncologist. MRI and TRUS images were rigidly fused to compare prostate contours in MRI and TRUS. Prostate was then re-contoured by the radiation oncologist using this fusion. Moreover, V100, V150, and D90 differences were evaluated for localized tumor compared to prostate with negative values indicating cold tumor regions. These cases were re-planned to simulate dose escalation. Results The prostate volume was contoured 8 ±10% smaller in TRUS images, compared to MRI images. The mean percent difference in tumor (compared to prostate) V100 was 0.3 ±-0.4%, V150 was -0.7 ±-24.8%, and D90 was 0.2 ±-12.1%. For the posteriorly located tumors (2 cases), V100 was 0.0 ±-0.3%, D90 was 9.5 ±-3.0%, and V150 was 26.1 ±-5.4%. For anteriorly located tumors (3 cases), V100 was 0.4 ±-0.4%, D90 was -6.0 ±-11.9%, and V150 was -18.5 ±-14.4% (became 15.6 ±14.6% after re-plan). Conclusions The MRI-TRUS image fusion is a feasible tool for the visualization of the prostate gland, particularly at the apex and base of the gland. Tumor identification presents the potential for dose escalation using fusion, especially for anteriorly located tumors.
Establishing and Maintaining Research Integrity at Academic Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities

Integrity and trust are essential attributes of medical researchers. Research misconduct represents clear and present dangers to academic institutions and their faculty, residents, students, and staff. To achieve and maintain public trust, medical researchers must achieve and maintain research integrity. To do so requires synchronicity and collaboration between and within academic institutions. Substantial failures to maintain research integrity by institutional leadership will lead to increasing demands to do so from the funding organizations and the general public. This, in turn, will lead to avoidable consequences of substantial penalties, financial and otherwise, adverse publicity, and reputational damage. Researchers must self-regulate to avoid pitfalls, including those created by changes in the medical care delivery system that have decreased the influence of health care providers and increased the influence of outside legal and business interests. Our common goal should be to return public trust in our research enterprise that has done so much good for so many, but requires the establishment and maintenance of vigilance to establish and maintain research integrity.