cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract LB-3: The recruitment of PP2A by TGF-β receptors mediates the response to TGF-β-induced activation of ERK in prostate cancer

Introduction and Objective: We recently demonstrated that TGF-β mediated phosphorylation of extra-cellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation results in the prostate cancer (CaP) progression and metastasis. Serine/threonine protein phosphatases 2, PP2A (including subunit −A, −B and −C) are well known to be involved in the dephosphorylation and inactivation of ERK. In this study, we determined the association between the recruitment of PP2A by TGF-β receptors (TβRI and TβRII) and activation of ERK under the treatment of TGF-β. Methods: The human CaP cell lines PC-3 with different capability of aggressive (PC-3, PC-3M, PC-3M-Pro and PC-3M-LN4), and benign prostate epithelial cell line BPH-1 were used for these studies. Cells were treated with TGF-β (10ng/mL) for 24 minutes. The expression of phospho-ERK (p-ERK), total-ERK (t-ERK), TβRs was evaluated by quantitative western blot analyses. The conjugation of PP2A (−A, −B and −C) and TβRI and TβRII were elucidated using western blot following immunoprecipitation (IP, Pierce Crosslink kit) with TβRI and TβRII as the precipitant respectively. Briefly, precleared lysate was immunopreciptated by the crosslinked TβRI or TβRII antibody (5 μg) and agarose mixture for overnight on 4°C. Control agarose resin in the kit was used as a negative control when western-blot for PP2A was conducted. The recruitment of PP2A by TβRs was correlated with the expression of p-ERK and TβRs. Results: TGF-s treatment resulted in an increase in p-Erk expression (4-fold) in all PC-3 cell lines in a time dependent manner post TGF-s exposure. In addition, the expressions of TsRI and TsRII were suppressed by 46% and 29% respectively. IP studies revealed recruitment of PP2A conjugated with TsRI and TsRII. In contrast, the expression of p-Erk was dramatically inhibited in BPH-1 by TGF-s exposure. Although there is no significant change on the expression of TsRs, the ratio of PP2A versus TsRII was significantly increased from 2.08 to 3.12, which suggests that the recruitment of PP2A was relatively increased in BPH-1 cells under the treatment of TGF-s. Finally, there was a reverse correlation between recruited PP2A and activation of p-ERK in both PC-3 cell lines, and BPH-1 cells. Conclusion: Taken together the results suggest that TGF-β suppresses the recruitment of PP2A by TGF-β receptors in CaP cells in contrast to benign prostate cells, which results in relatively increased activation of ERK and the subsequent tumor progression. The identification of the recruitment of PP2A by TβRs represents a new focus to elucidate in part how TGF-β plays a different, or even a contrary role in CaP and benign cell respectively. PP2A may be a potential new target for CaP therapies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-3. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-LB-3
A New Perspective on Mental Illness: From Nigeria to SW United States

Edited byJacquelyn H. Flaskerud, PhD, RN, FAANUniversity of California, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California, USALooking at the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of mental health professional...
Making citizens in Africa: ethnicity, gender, and national identity in Ethiopia

The new political order implemented in Ethiopia after the 1991 overthrow of Mengistu Haile Mariam and his socialist military dictatorship was one of ethnic regional autonomy, political devolution, ...
Thermal diffusivity of quartz to 1,000°C: effects of impurities and the α-β phase transition

Lattice thermal diffusivities of eleven orientated natural and synthetic quartz samples were measured using a laser-flash apparatus (LFA). For α-quartz, thermal diffusivity (D) decreases with temperature, so that directionally averaged values of D(T) between 20° and 500°C can be fit with D(T) = 1/(0.0017T + A), where A varies from 0.12 to 0.18 among the samples and D is in mm2/s. For β-quartz, D decreases very slightly or is constant with temperature. Values of D measured along [001] exceed those measured along [100] at all temperatures studied. A sharp decrease of D(T) marks the α-β phase transition, consistent with correlation of 1/D with C P in the damped harmonic oscillator model. Due to the rapidity of the laser-pulse and the dynamic nature of the measurements, the raw data show evidence of latent heat being released at the transition temperature over ∼50 ms. D(T) values within 10 K of the transition are affected both by latent heat release and by the phase change. For our suite of samples, D at all temperatures varies by ±7% from the overall average. This range is outside the 2% experimental uncertainty. To ascertain causes of D variations, we characterized out samples using infrared absorption spectroscopy, electron microprobe analyses and secondary ion mass spectrometry. Differences between the samples seem to result from the interplay of different impurity types: cations that replace Si in the silicate tetrahedra, cations squeezing into the lattice, and OH. Although limitations in quantifying amounts of trace impurities and poor understanding of where impurities reside in the lattice hamper interpretation, it seems that samples containing more substitutional impurities (e.g., Al3+) have higher diffusivities along [001], those with more interstitial defects (e.g., Li+) have higher diffusivities along [100], and that OH reduces D.
Induced Apoptosis Investigation in Wild-type and FLT3-ITD Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells by Nanochannel Electroporation and Single-cell qRT-PCR.

Nanochannel electroporation (NEP) was applied to deliver precise dosages of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1)-specific siRNA and molecular beacons to two types of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 wild-type (WT) and internal tandem duplications (ITD) type at the single-cell level. NEP, together with single-cell quantitative reverse transcription PCR, led to an observation showing nearly 20-folds more Mcl-1 siRNA than MCL1 mRNA were required to induce cell death for both cell lines and patient blasts, i.e. , ∼8,800 siRNAs for ∼500 ± 50 mRNAs in ITD cells and ∼6,000 siRNAs for ∼300 ± 50 mRNAs in WT cells. A time-lapse study revealed that >75% MCL1 mRNA was downregulated within 1 hour after delivery of a small amount of siRNA. However, additional siRNA was required to inhibit the newly transcribed mRNA for >12 hours until the cell lost its ability of self-protection recovery. A multidelivery strategy of low doses and short delivery interval, which require 77% less siRNA and has the potential of lower side effects and clinical cost, was as effective as a single high-dose siRNA delivery. Our method provides a viable analytical tool to investigate gene silencing at the single-cell level for oligonucleotide-based therapy.
Outpatient management of diabetes mellitus.

Outpatient encounters form the mainstay of managing type I diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents. Management philosophy rests on the premise that normal physical and emotional growth is attainable and long-term complications minimized by maintenance of metabolic (glycemic) control. Management principles involve a coordinated team approach of physician, nurse–educator, and dietitian interacting with the family unit to educate them in the appropriate use and adjustment of insulin regimens, to recognize and treat the Somogyi and dawn phenomena, adjustment of nutritional needs, short- and long-term monitoring via home blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin measurements, and clues from the history and physical examination that permit anticipatory or reactive steps to achieve the treatment goals.
iPSCs and fibroblast subclones from the same fibroblast population contain comparable levels of sequence variations

Genome integrity of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has been extensively studied in recent years, but it is still unclear whether iPSCs contain more genomic variations than cultured somatic cells. One important question is the origin of genomic variations detected in iPSCs–whether iPSC reprogramming induces such variations. Here, we undertook a unique approach by deriving fibroblast subclones and clonal iPSC lines from the same fibroblast population and applied next-generation sequencing to compare genomic variations in these lines. Targeted deep sequencing of parental fibroblasts revealed that most variants detected in clonal iPSCs and fibroblast subclones were rare variants inherited from the parental fibroblasts. Only a small number of variants remained undetectable in the parental fibroblasts, which were thus likely to be de novo. Importantly, the clonal iPSCs and fibroblast subclones contained comparable numbers of de novo variants. Collectively, our data suggest that iPSC reprogramming is not mutagenic.
Health researcher views on comparative effectiveness research and research engagement

Aim: To understand researcher capability for and interest in patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (PC-CER), particularly related to engaging with patients/caregivers. Materials & methods: Web-based survey of 508 health researchers recruited via professional health research organizations. Results: Most respondents (94%) were familiar with CER and many (69%) reported having previously conducting some form of CER. Most respondents were familiar with (81%) and interested in (87%) partnering with patients and/or caregivers in research. Resources to assist in training, coordination of partners, guidance in apply for funding and improved infrastructure were commonly cited factors that would help researchers conduct PC-CER. Conclusion: There is a significant opportunity for researchers to engage patients and caregivers as partners in CER. Researchers recognize the need for additional training and expertise to leverage those opportunities.
The Application and Usefulness of Economic Analyses for Water Quality Management in Coastal Areas.

In managing water quality in U.S. estuaries, as well as throughout ocean and coastal governance, there is an increasing call for economic research to communicate the values of environmental resources to local communities, policy makers, and other stakeholders. Watershed managers implement economic studies to: 1) better communicate the value of estuarine resources to the wider community, 2) determine the most cost-effective management actions, and 3) compare the costs and benefits of actions to improve water quality. In order to better understand how economic studies are applied and their usefulness in coastal management, we interviewed managers from six National Estuary Programs (NEPs) and two watershed organizations that have undertaken economic studies, focusing on the lessons learned from the use of those studies. Economic studies can provide insights to managers and stakeholders about the implications of management actions or lack of action. Although economic research can offer a common language and framework, estimating economic values of policy changes to estuaries is a complex process requiring careful implementation in terms of methodology and scale as well as in the presentation and application of findings (Pendleton 2010). The findings from our interviews highlight the utility and limitations of economic analyses for coastal management and may help coastal managers to determine the most appropriate economic approaches to suit their needs and to avoid some of the pitfalls faced by other managers in conducting and communicating economic analyses. Additionally, our findings may help economists understand the needs of estuary managers, and help them better provide economic research that can contribute effectively to coastal management.
Characteristics and Descriptions of Transition Content on Special Education and Rehabilitation Graduate Program Websites.

Purpose: This exploratory study advances personnel preparation research through the investigation of the transition content found on the institutional websites of U.S. universities with Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Master’s Level Personnel Preparation grants for transition planning and services (OSEP, 2015) or master’s-level Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE)-accredited vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs (2014–2105). Individuals seeking transition training are likely to visit institutional websites given that searching online is typically the first step in exploring educational and training options. Method: A process of systematic website searches, protocol for data extraction, and an iterative content analysis were used. Data profiles were constructed, and the types of offerings were characterized and defined. Results: Twelve universities were associated with the transition offerings of eight OSEP-funded programs (8/23 or 35%) and eight CORE-accredited programs (8/97 or 8%) and their corresponding 22 websites. Four of the 12 universities appeared on both lists. Conclusions: The renewed focus on transition services within the legislation (The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [WIOA], 2014) will no doubt increase the demand for educational preparation and professional development. These findings provide a baseline from which to improve visibility and develop further offerings. Areas for immediate improvement are the accuracy of the program descriptions and the ease of finding details.
Why Do Plants Metabolize Ethylene

In recent years the biochemistry of ethylene has been extended to include its metabolism (2,3,9,10,11,12,16,24). This metabolism results in the oxidation of ethylene to such products as CO2, ethylene oxide, ethylene glycol and its glucose conjugate plus other as yet unidentified metabolites. The rate of ethylene metabolism and the type and distribution of products produced depend on the tissue, stage of development and exposure conditions. The following sequence for ethylene metabolism has been suggested (10,11) based on ethylene metabolites identified in pea seedlings (2,3,13) and Vicia faba cotyledons (16,24).
Deploying distributed computing: parking gets a new system

This teaching case describes the efforts of one department in a large organization to migrate from an internally developed, mainframe-based, computing system to a system based on purchased software running on a client/server architecture. The case highlights issues with large scale software implementations such as those demanded by enterprise resource package (ERP) installations. Often, the ERP selected by an organization does not have all the required functionality. This demands purchasing and installing additional packages (known colloquially as bolt-ons) to provide the needed functionality. These implementations lead to issues regarding oversight of the technical architecture, both project and technology governance, and user department capability for managing the installation of new systems.
Canine globoid cell leukodystrophy. Part 1. Further ultrastructural study of the typical lesion.

Abstract The ultrastructural changes of typical lesions in canine globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) have been studied. The globoid cells were located in the cerebral parenchyma as well as in the perivascular Virchow-Robin space. Features suggestive of a passage of the globoid cells from the cerebral parenchyma to the Virchow-Robin space were also observed through the interruptions in the basal lamina. The globoid cells had numerous thin pseudopods and contained various cytoplasmic inclusions which have been described previously. Detailed studies of these inclusions suggest that they represented aggregates of filamentous or linear sub-unit structures. Typical oligodendroglial cells were found on only a few occasions. Both globoid cells and oligodendroglia contained myelin debris, dense bodies and honey-comb like inclusions composed of numerous small myelin figures. In a few instances, crystalline polygonal inclusions identical to those found in the globoid cells, were found in the cytoplasm of the cells which were, with reasonable certainty, identifiable as oligodendroglia. In less affected areas where myelin was still present, degenerating oligodendroglia, with or without recognizable inclusions, were frequently encountered. Astrocytes and endothelial cells contained concentric lamellar inclusions and dense bodies but did not contain the tubular inclusions as seen in globoid cells. The possible significance of the ultrastructural features in regard to the pathogenesis of the GLD have been discussed.
Waveform metrology: signal measurements in a modulated world

We review the waveform metrology program developed over many years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The goal of this program is to provide a measurement service capable of characterizing both temporal and frequency-domain instrumentation used with high-speed communication systems. Under our program, full waveforms as functions of both time and frequency are the target measurands. From these functional waveforms, traditional parametric descriptions can be derived. Furthermore, we give temporal waveforms and their frequency-domain representations consistent and equal consideration, with traceability to the International System of Units. To support this traceability, we emphasize voltage and current waveforms, their relationships, and the ability to transform both nominal values and their uncertainties from one domain to the other.
Indirect or Masked Modysseys? Establishing a Working Set of Criteria

The Odyssey of Homer has had an enormous impact on cinema. Its receptions have appeared at almost every stage of the history of film either as costumed epic or as adaptations of themes, plots, characters or folkloric structures to modern nostoi which establish their connections to Homer by overt signals. This chapter will focus on those films which do not openly telegraph their reception even though they share many elements with their more overt versions. The modernized Odyssey—‘Modyssey’—is almost a genre unto itself. For a film to be considered truly Odyssean, it must involve at least an obstacle-filled journey of a hero toward home and family. I have observed three distinct types of films which feature an indirect reception: overt, implied and masked.
Mindfulness and Acceptance as Potential Protective Factors for Mothers of Children With Fragile X Syndrome

Women with an FMR1 premutation may be at increased genetic risk for stress vulnerability. This increased vulnerability, when combined with stressful parenting that can result from raising children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), may result in negative physical and emotional outcomes. Mindfulness and acceptance have been found to be protective factors for parents of children with similar behavioral challenges, but these traits have not previously been explored among mothers with a child with FXS. This study explored the associations of child disability severity with maternal stress, anxiety, depression, and physical health symptoms in 155 biological mothers of children with FXS. Women completed an online survey using standardized measures of stress, mindfulness, and acceptance. General mindfulness, mindfulness in the parenting role, and general acceptance were explored as potential protective factors between the child disability severity and maternal outcomes. Trait mindfulness and acceptance were significant predictors of lower stress, anxiety, depression, and daily health symptoms, while mindful parenting was associated with lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Acceptance was found to attenuate the effects of child severity on maternal stress and depression. These findings suggest that interventions focused on improving mindfulness and acceptance may promote health and well-being for mothers of children with FXS and have important health implications for all individuals with an FMR1 premutation.
Use of Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing to Identify Activating Hot Spot Mutations in Cherry Angiomas.

Importance Shared gene variants in benign-malignant process pairs, such as BRAF mutations common to benign nevi and melanoma, are associated with differing phenotypic manifestations. Study of gene mechanisms underlying cherry angioma may uncover previously unknown disease relationships. Objective To identify somatic mutations present in cherry angioma specimens by using targeted next-generation sequencing. Design, Setting, and Participants In a single-center case series, 10 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cherry angioma specimens from biopsies performed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston from July 10, 2016, to January 23, 2018, were obtained and underwent sequencing across a panel of 323 genes most relevant to cancer. Somatic mutations were curated by excluding variants that were presumed to be germline or of low mapping quality. Main Outcomes and Measures Identification of somatic mutations associated with cherry angiomas. Results In 10 cherry angioma tissue samples originating from 6 female and 4 male patients with a median (range) age of 54 (26-79) years, 5 samples (50%) revealed somatic missense mutations in GNAQ (Q209H, Q209R, and R183G) and GNA11 (Q209H). Individually, these mutational hot spots are known to be involved in entities that include congenital and anastomosing hemangiomas, hepatic small-vessel neoplasms (Q209), port-wine stains, and Sturge-Weber syndrome (R183). Both hot spots are associated with blue nevi, melanoma associated with blue nevus, and uveal melanoma. Conclusions and Relevance In this case series study, the high prevalence of 5 known genetic drivers within the benign cherry angioma entity appears to support the context-dependent role of gene alterations in both benign and malignant proliferations from various cellular origins.
Transgender Beneficiaries: In Becoming Who You Are, Do You Lose the Benefits Attached to Who You Were?

Suppose William Smith, father of Joseph Smith, executes a will to leave his estate to his children. In his will, the phrase “to my son, Joseph” is used, preceding a bequest for the property. Before William dies, Joseph embraces his transgender identity, obtains a lawful name change to Julia, obtains a lawful gender marker change, and undergoes sex confirmation surgery. William dies, and his estate is divided. Is Julia still entitled to Joseph’s portion of William’s estate? In embracing her transgender identity, is she deprived of her right to inherit?
Construindo Pontes e Fronteiras com o Pensamento de Déficit

In this paper, we look at a high school to college transition program intended to prepare Latinx youth living in Arizona, a southwestern US border state, to negotiate, if not cross, borders, including those associated with accessing college. Purposefully, we problematize the at-risk discourses that reify the nature of these border landscapes within neoliberal framings aimed at explaining educational patterns of Latinxs and that infuse the college bridge program we examine. We demonstrate that while the program provides social and cultural capital, as well as additional temporary academic supports that high school students need to navigate college-going processes, it is also embedded with deficit perspectives that frame Latinxs as at-risk because of their culture, ethnicity, and language, or conversely, disregard their heritage entirely. Finally, we offer recommendations for future research of bridge and transition programs. We argue for turning examinations upside down to resituate and reconsider, and potentially dismantle, the enactments of at-risk deficit thinking, which still undergird many programs aimed at mediating borders experienced by Latinxs in the US.
Must Interest Inventories Provide Males and Females With Divergent Vocational Guidance

This study examined data bearing on the question “Must interest inventories provide males and females with divergent scores and vocational suggestions?” Sex-balanced interest scales (scales on whic...
Translating Team-Based Breastfeeding Support into Primary Care Practice.

Background: Team-based care facilitates efficient, evidence-based, patient-centered practice. An outpatient, integrated lactation consultant (LC) and primary care provider (PCP) model improves breastfeeding support, yet practices need assistance with implementation. Method: Based on experience with team-based breastfeeding support at a suburban practice serving mainly well-educated and privately insured families, we constructed and piloted a 6-step needs assessment that informed implementation of the model at a federally qualified health center (FQHC). Practice assessment included baseline data collection of practice newborn volume, breastfeeding intent, breastfeeding rates, provider survey, and financial variables. Postimplementation outcome measurements included provider satisfaction and visit volume. Results: Analysis using newborn volume, breastfeeding intent, and average insurance reimbursement enabled business calculation, which estimated additional 400 visits per year and revenue to cover staff training costs. The baseline provider survey (n = 20) assessed knowledge, practice resources, and barriers. The main barriers identified to providing lactation support were “not enough time” (80%) and patients “not receiving adequate help” (80%) with 58% noting “inadequate LC staffing at the clinic.” After team-based LC/PCP implementation, monthly lactation visit volume doubled. Provider postintervention assessment surveys (n = 20) demonstrated a positive response with providers reporting a perception of “providing better breastfeeding support” (100%) and that “patients had a positive breastfeeding support experience” (84%). Conclusion: Team-based LC and PCP health care is a promising approach for delivering efficient, patient-centered, face-to-face counseling and support. Practice assessment informs financial feasibility and confirms provider interest in change. An integrated LC/PCP model can be implemented in a FQHC while enhancing patient breastfeeding support and provider satisfaction.
Predicting antibacterial activity from snake venom proteomes

The continued evolution of antibiotic resistance has increased the urgency for new antibiotic development, leading to exploration of non-traditional sources. In particular, snake venom has garnered attention for its potent antibacterial properties. Numerous studies describing snake venom proteomic composition as well as antibiotic efficacy have created an opportunity to synthesize relationships between venom proteomes and their antibacterial properties. Using literature reported values from peer-reviewed studies, our study generated models to predict efficacy given venom protein family composition, snake taxonomic family, bacterial Gram stain, bacterial morphology, and bacterial respiration strategy. We then applied our predictive models to untested snake species with known venom proteomic compositions. Overall, our results provide potential protein families that serve as accurate predictors of efficacy as well as promising organisms in terms of antibacterial properties of venom. The results from this study suggest potential future research trajectories for antibacterial properties in snake venom by offering hypotheses for a variety of taxa.
scRNA-seq Profiling of Human Testes Reveals the Presence of the ACE2 Receptor, A Target for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Spermatogonia, Leydig and Sertoli Cells.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. SARS-CoV-2 shares both high sequence similarity and the use of the same cell entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Several studies have provided bioinformatic evidence of potential routes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and urinary systems. However, whether the reproductive system is a potential target of SARS-CoV-2 infection has not yet been determined. Here, we investigate the expression pattern of ACE2 in adult human testes at the level of single-cell transcriptomes. The results indicate that ACE2 is predominantly enriched in spermatogonia and Leydig and Sertoli cells. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) indicates that Gene Ontology (GO) categories associated with viral reproduction and transmission are highly enriched in ACE2-positive spermatogonia, while male gamete generation related terms are downregulated. Cell–cell junction and immunity-related GO terms are increased in ACE2-positive Leydig and Sertoli cells, but mitochondria and reproduction-related GO terms are decreased. These findings provide evidence that the human testis is a potential target of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may have significant impact on our understanding of the pathophysiology of this rapidly spreading disease.
Increasing healthcare access for at-risk youth: How interprofessional collaboration works in population health

Abstract A school-based health center (SBHC) in Minneapolis demonstrates how interprofessional (IP) collaboration between the school nurse, public health professionals, high school faculty and staff can result in improved health access outcomes for underserved youth. Students enrolled in the host high school, a diverse (72% non-white) population, navigate many determinants of health including poor living conditions, food insecurity, increased stress, language barriers, and limited access to health care. This IP collaboration was designed to respond to the needs of this population by creating an overarching program to encourage student usage of the SBHC while building resiliency and capacity for delivering relevant health information. This program was associated with a dramatic (over 300%) increase in usage of the SBHC including a notable increase in male usage. The project demonstrated the potential of an education effort by creating and implementing an effective program to improve healthcare access and to normalize health promotion to an otherwise overlooked population.
Synthesis and characterization of TiBCN coatings deposited by ion beam assisted, co-evaporation electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD)

TiC, TiB2, and super hard TiBCN coatings were successfully deposited by ion beam assisted, electron beam-physical vapor deposition. Titanium, titanium diboride, and carbon (through tungsten) were co-evaporated by energetic electron beams while simultaneously bombarding the substrates with varying ionized gas ratios of nitrogen and argon to obtain super hard TiBCN coatings. The hardness of the TiBCN coating was reported to be equivalent to a soft diamond like carbon film. The adhesion was determined to be greater than 50 N. The hardness, grain size, structure, morphology, crystallographic texture and degree of stress within the coatings were determined using a variety of characterization methods including Vicker's hardness measurements, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction. The author is not aware of previous TiBCN coatings being deposited by this method.
Do relationships provide the same levels of protection against heavy drinking for lesbian and bisexual women? An intersectional approach.

Purpose Sexual minority women (SMW; e.g., lesbian, bisexual) are more likely than heterosexual women to be heavy drinkers, with bisexual women showing the highest risk. There is ample literature demonstrating that intimate relationships protect against stress-related health risk behaviors in the general population. However, very little research has focused on SMW's relationships and far less is known about the relationships of SMW of color. Using intersectionality theory as our framework, we tested two competing models to determine whether the effects of minority sexual identity (lesbian, bisexual) and race/ethnicity (African American, Latinx, White) are: 1) additive, or 2) multiplicative in the associations between relationship status and heavy drinking. Methods Data are from a diverse sample of cisgender sexual minority women (N = 641) interviewed in Wave 3 of the CHLEW study, a 20-year longitudinal study of SMW's health. Results Findings from two- and three-way interactions provide mixed evidence for both the additive and multiplicative hypotheses; support for each varied by sexual identity and race/ethnicity. Overall, we found that Latinx SMW, particularly single and bisexual Latinx SMW report the highest rates of heavy drinking compared to their cohabiting and lesbian counterparts, respectively. African American single SMW reported significantly higher rates of heavy drinking compared to their cohabiting counterparts. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the protective qualities of SMW's intimate relationships vary based on sexual identity and race/ethnicity-and the intersections between them. These results highlight that research among SMW that does not take into account multiple marginalized identities may obscure differences. Public Significance Little research has focused on health within sexual minority women's relationships, particularly among sexual minority women of color. Given the potential additive or multiplicative effects of multiple sources of oppression such as heterosexism, racism, and sexism, understanding the potential protective effects of relationships is important. Our findings demonstrate that the protective qualities of intimate relationships among SMW vary based on sexual identity and race/ethnicity - and the intersections between them.
miR-34 regulates larval growth and wing morphogenesis by directly modulating ecdysone signalling and cuticle protein in Bombyx mori

microRNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNAs that modulate the myriad biological activities by targeting genes, and many studies showed that miRNAs played a pivotal role in insect development. Here, we find that Bm-miRNA (miR-34) controls larval growth and wing morphology by targeting BmE74 and BmCPG4. Overexpression of miR-34 in the whole body caused a smaller body size, partially displays deformed wings and venation defects in adults. Ablation of miR-34 by transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 technology resulted in a severe developmental delay during the larval stage. Moreover, we confirmed that miR-34 directly targeted BmE74 and BmCPG4 by using a dual luciferase reporter assay in HEK293T cells. Remarkably, loss-of-function of BmCPG4 caused wing defects, which was similar to the phenotype of miR-34 overexpression in animals. In addition, our analysis revealed that ecdysone strongly inhibited miR-34 expression in vivo. Taken together, our study identifies miR-34 as a modulator that regulates larval growth and wing morphogenesis by directly modulating ecdysone signalling and cuticle protein in Bombyx mori.
Sesquisyllabicity, Chữ Nôm, and the Early Modern embrace of vernacular writing in Vietnam:

In East Asia, the relationship between script and language is determined to a great extent by the typological character of the languages involved. This is particularly so because sinographic writin...
Career pathways, part 4.

Learning to balance work, family, optimism and setbacks is a process for all early-career investigators. Stephanie Correa and Leng Han share their stories in this instalment of Career pathways.
God de re et de dicto: Kierkegaard, faith and religious diversity

In his Concluding Unscientific Postscript, Kierkegaard, writing as Johannes Climacus, famously distinguishes two kinds of religiousness, kind A and kind B. He claims that, even though kind A is basic to kind B, including as represented in Christian religious commitment, kind A both has God ‘in its ground’ and ‘can be present in paganism’ that is atheist or agnostic. This apparent conflict calls for a resolution, if kind A is to be coherent. This article offers a new resolution with a familiar distinction between God de re and God de dicto, even though interpreters have overlooked the importance of this distinction for understanding Kierkegaard. In addition, the article contends that this distinction is supportable from Kierkegaard's own writings, even though he himself did not draw it explicitly. The article also explains the importance of the distinction for understanding Kierkegaard on religious diversity in intellectual content. It proposes that it enables Kierkegaard to offer a compelling position on such diversity, given his understanding of God's perfectly good character and activity.
The influence of cryoprotectants on sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) sperm quality, DNA integrity, antioxidant responses, and resistance to oxidative stress

Abstract This study examined the effect of cryoprotectants on DNA integrity, antioxidant defense, and resistance to oxidative stress in cryopreserved sterlet Acipenser ruthenus sperm. The freeze-thaw process significantly influenced sperm motility, with significant differences among cryoprotectants. In vitro exposure of cryopreserved sperm to the xanthine–xanthine oxidase (X–XO) system as a model reactive oxygen species inducer resulted in a lesser motility rate and velocity compared to the control, and there was a decrease in these variables in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The greatest X (0.6 mM)–XO (0.05 U/mL) concentration and incubation period (30 min) was associated with 62% DNA fragmentation in sperm cryopreserved with 10% ethylene glycol (EG). The maximum lipid peroxidation (LPO) and carbonyl derivatives of proteins (CP) was also observed in sperm cryopreserved with 10% EG and exposed to the X–XO system at a concentration of 0.6 mM X–0.05 U/mL XO. The frozen/thawed sperm containing 10% EG and that with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) had a significant enhancement of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. The current study confirms that EG is not effective for cryopreservation, and sterlet sperm were highly sensitive to free radicals after cryopreservation with EG.
The extension of positive definite operator-valued functions defined on a symmetric interval of an ordered group

Let G 1 be an ordered abelian group and a E G 1 . Let G 2 be an abelian group and f an operator-valued positive definite function on (-a, a) x G 2 . We prove that f admits a positive definite extension to G 1 x G 2 , generalizing in this way existing results for the case when G 1 = R and f is continuous.
Engines and nanoparticles: a review

Abstract Most of the particle number emitted by engines is in the nanoparticle range, Dp 50 nm p nm, range. Nanoparticles are typically hydrocarbons or sulfate and form by nucleation during dilution and cooling of the exhaust, while accumulation mode particles are mainly carbonaceous soot agglomerates formed directly by combustion. Emission standards on diesel engines have led to dramatic reductions in particle mass emitted. However, a new HEI study shows that some low-emission diesel engines emit much higher concentrations of nanoparticles than older designs and other low-emission designs. Many recent studies suggest that at similar mass concentrations; nanometer size particles are more dangerous than micron size particles. This has raised questions about whether nanoparticle (number based) emission standards should be imposed. Unlike mass, number is not conserved. It may change dramatically by nucleation and coagulation during dilution and sampling, making it very difficult to design a standard. Furthermore, if nanoparticles are a problem, spark ignition engines may also have to be controlled.
β-Carotene, Retinol and Retinyl Ester Concentrations in Serum and Selected Tissues of Ferrets Fed β-Carotene

The concentrations of beta-carotene, retinol and retinyl esters in serum and selected tissues of ferrets fed diets supplemented with beta-carotene (80 micrograms/g wet diet) for 3 wk were determined. The initial concentration of serum beta-carotene was 0.011 +/- 0.006 mumol/L (mean +/- SEM); at the end of the experimental period it was 5.75 +/- 1.60 mumol/L. No significant differences in serum retinol and total retinyl esters were observed between beta-carotene-fed and control ferrets that had been fed an unsupplemented diet. The predominant retinyl esters in serum were retinyl stearate (53%) and retinyl palmitate (35%). Of the tissues analyzed after beta-carotene feeding, the liver contained the highest concentration of beta-carotene (78.8 +/- 18.8 nmol/g). Other tissues that contained beta-carotene in amounts ranging from 17 to 20 nmol/g were adrenals, small intestine, stomach and colon; lesser amounts (6.9 nmol/g) were found in kidneys. Amounts ranging from 1.2 to 2.3 nmol/g were found in muscle, bladder, adipose tissue, lungs and skin; only 0.37 and 0.34 nmol/g were present in brain and eyes, respectively. Thus, like humans, ferrets have the capacity to absorb intact beta-carotene and to store this compound in tissues, especially the liver. However, compared with humans, ferrets have elevated concentrations of retinyl esters in serum, liver and other tissues.
Si Circuits, Optical Fibers, And Alingap And Ingan Light-Emitters

Fifty years ago, there were three major questions facing the physics of semiconductors: (i) Would Si, having replaced Ge only a few years before, main- tain its position as the dominant semiconductor, or would Si be replaced by faster semiconductors, such as III-V semiconductors (e.g., GaAs); (ii) would the direct-gap III-V semiconductors produce efficient light-emitters; and (iii) would optical fibers become sufficiently transparent to make light-wave communications possible? Si is for circuits. The biggest surprise of the intervening fifty years is that Si became, and still is, the dominant semiconductor for electrical circuits in modern semiconductors. The first transistor was fabricated at Bell Laboratories out of Ge by Bardeen and Brattain, but Shockley showed that Si was better for transistor technology, and Si has remained dominant ever since. Even the future seems likely to be dominated by Si, which is currently being used for three-dimensional circuits. Hopes for faster useful transistors made out of III-V semiconductors, have dimmed in recent years, and so, all but a few of the III-V fabrication lines for electronic devices have been abandoned. Optical fibers and Urbach's Rule. In the late 1960s there was a question of whether optical fibers were possible, and how long a fiber is compatible with trans- mission of visible light. At the time, fibers capable of transmitting light about a meter were in existence, and the question was whether this distance could be increased to over one km. The increase has occurred. III-V light emitters. Si is not a candidate for light emission, since it is an indirect-gap semiconductor. The preferred light-emitting semiconductors are cur- rently A� 1−x−yInxGay Po r In1−xGaxN, and cover the visible spectrum from red to violet and white. So now it is possible to compute with Si, to transmit the computed information over optical fibers, and to fabricate light-emitting diodes of most visible colors.
Standards for reporting randomized controlled trials in neurosurgery.

Object The Consolidated Standards for Reporting of Trials (CONSORT) criteria were published in 1996 to standardize the reporting and improve the quality of clinical trials. Despite having been endorsed by major medical journals and shown to improve the quality of reported trials, neurosurgical journals have yet to formally adopt these reporting criteria. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality and reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in neurosurgery and the factors that may affect the quality of reported trials. Methods The authors evaluated all neurosurgical RCTs published in 2006 and 2007 in the principal neurosurgical journals (Journal of Neurosurgery; Neurosurgery; Surgical Neurology; Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry; and Acta Neurochirurgica) and in 3 leading general medical journals (Journal of the American Medical Association, Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine). Randomized controlled trials that addressed operative decision making or the trea...
A longitudinal analysis of the impact of dietary intake and physical activity on weight change in adults

The current investigation is a longitudinal analysis of the relationship between dietary intake, physical activity, and body weight change in adult men (n = 142) and women (n = 152). Measures of dietary intake, physical activity, and cigarette and alcohol consumption were obtained for 3 y. Results indicated a different pattern of predictors of weight change for men vs women. For women a high dietary energy and fat intake as well as increases in total energy intake were related to higher weight gain and increases in work activity levels were related to decreased weight gain. For men weight gain was predicted by increases in dietary fat intake. Sex differences are discussed as a possible moderator variable in the energy balance equation.
The management of cerebral edema in pediatric practice.

Cerebral edema is one of the most dreaded complications associated with many central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The condition adds significantly to the morbidity from such diverse conditions as neonatal hypoxia and hypernatremia, water intoxication, meningitis, encephalitis, birth trauma, lead poisoning, and radiation therapy of the brain, as well as brain tumors and abscesses. Cerebral edema increases the volume of the intracranial contents and, thus, may precipitate the intracranial translocation syndromes of uncal and tonsillar herniation which often result in death. Indeed, the mass effect due to edema of the CNS tissue (brain, cord) is often more harmful than is that of the underlying blood clot, tumor, or other pathologic process (Fig. 1). Diffuse and widespread cerebral edema can produce massive increases in intracranial pressure. The successful treatment of cerebral edema, therefore, remains a matter of paramount importance and may have a critical effect upon the patient9s prognosis. Two types of therapeutic measures must be considered: (1) those that diminish the volume of intracranial contents in a nonspecific manner, and (2) those that reduce cerebral edema per se. An understanding of their correct use is essential.1,2 Prevention of cerebral edema is, of course, preferable to treating it. In infants and children undergoing neurosurgical operations, preoperative prophylactic measures can be instituted to reduce the magnitude of postoperative cerebral edema. In most situations, however, therapy cannot be initiated before the edema-producing insult occurs. Nevertheless, steps to minimize the development of cerebral edema often may be taken, and these will be discussed. Cerebral edema has been defined as the abnormal accumulation of fluid in cerebral tissue.