cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of fast spin echo and gradient field echo sequences

Abstract Optimal angle, fast repeat time, gradient field echo imaging techniques such as FISP (Fast Imaging with Steady Precession) and FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot) often fail to discriminate disease from healthy tissue for two main reasons. First, T1 and T2 of the affected tissue may increase such that the ratio of T1 to T2 remains nearly unchanged, hence there is no contrast change with FISP. Second, T2 weighted gradient field echo images suffer severely from T 2 ∗ signal and resolution loss leading to a reduction in C N . Although FLASH imaging with two separate angles can, in principle, extract the longer T1 tumors, contrast is often not good. To overcome the inhomogeneity and contrast problems, we have implemented a FAst optimal angle spin-echo sequence with a short TE(FATE). For the first echo, FATE has the same contrast properties as FLASH with a slight decrease in signal intensity. The advantage is that the intensity of the signal does not suffer from T 2 ∗ signal decay, hence improved contrast and disease detection via T2 weighted FATE images is possible. Contrast-to-noise in lesion detection is also considered for CE FAST (Contrast Enhanced Fast), a T2-weighted version of FISP, and HYBRID.
Toxicity: The concept and relationship to the dose response curve

Abstract Plant responses to trace elements are dose dependent, therefore, comparisons with and interactions among trace elements can only be fully understood when considered in relation to the entire dose response curve. The entire curve as expressed by essential elements is composed of three continuous phases, deficiency, tolerance and toxicity. For nonessential elements only the last two phases are expressed. In order to compare the degree of toxicity of various trace elements it is necessary to compare the same toxic parameter. The primary toxic parameters are toxic threshold, unit toxicity, and lethal toxicity. There are numerous types of interactions which can occur when plants are exposed to excessive amounts of more than one trace element. These interactions are described by terms such as additive, independent, antagonistic and synergistic which are only useful when related to a known dose response curve. With the exception of additive and independent, they define a range of responses and therefore...
A Role for Neuropilins in the Interaction between Schwann Cells and Meningeal Cells

In their natural habitat, the peripheral nerve, Schwann cells (SCs) form nicely aligned pathways (also known as the bands of Bungner) that guide regenerating axons to their targets. Schwann cells that are implanted in the lesioned spinal cord fail to align in pathways that could support axon growth but form cellular clusters that exhibit only limited intermingling with the astrocytes and meningeal cells (MCs) that are present in the neural scar. The formation of cell clusters can be studied in co-cultures of SCs and MCs. In these co-cultures SCs form cluster-like non-overlapping cell aggregates with well-defined boundaries. There are several indications that neuropilins (NRPs) play an important role in MC-induced SC aggregation. Both SCs and MCs express NRP1 and NRP2 and SCs express the NRP ligands Sema3B, C and E while MCs express Sema3A, C, E and F. We now demonstrate that in SC-MC co-cultures, siRNA mediated knockdown of NRP2 in SCs decreased the formation of SC clusters while these SCs maintained their capacity to align in bands of Bungner-like columnar arrays. Unexpectedly, knockdown of NRP1 expression resulted in a significant increase in SC aggregation. These results suggest that a reduction in NRP2 expression may enhance the capacity of implanted SCs to interact with MCs that invade a neural scar formed after a lesion of the spinal cord.
Women's reasons for leaving abusive spouses.

Research has focused on factors associated with leaving physically abusive relationships, yet little is known about what the woman thinks when she leaves. Fifty‐one formerly battered women from rural and metropolitan areas in two midwestern states described 86 reasons for leaving a physically abusive relationship. During open‐ended interviews, women who rated themselves as severely abused spontaneously emphasized leaving as a process. Content analysis resulted in reasons categorized as safety, dependency, and personal growth. Self‐report retrospective data from a nonrandom sample limit generalizability of results; however, the awareness and reasoning of the women, coupled with their emphasis on leaving as process and personal growth, suggest the importance of education and support programs for abused women and women at risk for abuse.
Comparison of Initial Velocity and Binding Data for Allosteric Adenosine Monophosphate Nucleosidase

Adensine monophosphate nucleosidase (AMP nucleosidase) from Azotobacter vinelandii is composed of six subunits with similar or identical charge and size and has a molecular weight of approximately 320,000. Binding studies with tritiated tubercidin 5' -PO4 (4-amino-7-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5' -monophosphate), a competitive inhibitor with respect to the substrate, AMP, indicate the presence of three independent, identical binding sites for the substrate analog. The binding of tubercidin 5' -PO4 is not affected by either Mg2+ or MgATP2-; however, in initial velocity experiments MgATP2- caused from greater than100- to 4,000-fold activation of substrate hydrolysis depending on the concentration of AMP. Binding studies with [14C]ATP are consistent with six interdependent binding sites for MgAT2-. Initial velocity and binding curves for MgATP2- are similar in shape, but reveal a disproportionate increase in initial velocity at low saturation levels of MgAT2-. Binding of MgAT2- is inhibited by increasing concentrations of P1 which acts as a competitive inhibitor of MgATP2- activation in both initial velocity and binding experiments. In the absence of MgATP2-, 32Pi binds at six or more interdependent modifier sites. The simulataneous binding of Mg[14C]ATP2- and 32Pi was studied in experiments where MgATP2- and Pi were held in constant ratio. Extrapolation to infinite concentrations of both MgATP2- and Pi indicated that 3 molecules of each were bound to the enzyme. Thus the binding of the allosteric activator and inhibitor are mutually exclusive. These results are consistent with a single modifier site per subunit at which either MgATP2- or Pi may combine, or with separate activator and inhibitor sites which cannot be filled simultaneously. Comparative initial velocity and binding studies with Pi indicate that the initial rate of AMP hydrolysis depends primarily on the extent of modifier site saturation with MgATP2-. Thus when two sites are filled with MgATP2-, the initial rate is approximately the same as when two additional modifier sites are filled with Pi. Binding of Pi, therefore, does not appear to affect the catalytic effectiveness of the active site when MgATP2- is also present, except by the displacement of MgATP2-.
The Development of Children’s Ability to Fill the Gaps in Their Knowledge by Consulting Experts

This research investigated children’s ability to recognize gaps in their knowledge and seek missing information from appropriate informants. In Experiment 1, forty-five 4- and 5-year-olds were adept in assigning questions from 3 domains (medicine, firefighting, and farming) to corresponding experts (doctor, firefighter, or farmer). However, when given the options of answering the same questions themselves or assigning them to an expert (Experiment 2), only 6-year-olds were consistently able to recognize when they did not know answers and then assign test questions correctly. Four- and 5-year-olds tended to overestimate their own knowledge or assign questions to the wrong expert. This result was replicated in Experiment 3, in which 5-year-olds were given incentives for correct answers.
Adaptive radiation force ultrasound for monitoring hemostasis in whole blood

Over-activation or under-regulation of hemostasis plays a central role in the onset of diseases that represent leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. Current diagnostic technologies have had limited success in characterizing hemostasis due to several limitations including reagent variability, complicated sample preparation, and a disregard for contributions of cellular components of the blood. In this paper, we describe a novel technique, termed sonorheometry, which uses acoustic radiation force to monitor the dynamic changes in mechanical properties of whole blood during clot formation and dissolution in vitro. An adaptive force technique was used to adjust the pulse repetition frequency during each experiment, which improved the dynamic range of stiffness measurements to approximately five orders of magnitude. Experiments were performed to test the sensitivity of sonorheometry to platelet function, fibrinogen function, and fibrinolytic activity by titrating samples of whole blood with platelet inhibitor, Reopro (0–12 ∞g/mL); fibrinogen inhibitor, Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro (GPRP) peptide (0–8 mM); and plasminogen activator, Urokinase (0–200 Units). When 12 ∞g/mL of Reopro was added to samples of whole blood, clot stiffness, S MAX decreased by over an order of magnitude. Similarly, clotting times (TC 1 and TC 2 ) were increased and clotting stiffness decreased with additional GPRP. Clot lysis times (TL 1 and TL 2 ) decreased with additional Urokinase. These results indicate that sonorheometry is sensitive to all phases of hemostasis.
The design of the Mortality Assessment in Congestive Heart Failure Trial (MACH-1, mibefradil).

Background: Despite the advances in therapy for heart failure with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, heart failure remains a major medical problem, impacting on well-being and survival. Hypothesis: Mibefradil is a member of new class of agents that, due to its unique mechanism of action and pharmacologic and physiologic profile, may offer a significant advance in the treatment of heart failure. Mibefradil is a nonvoltage-regulated T-channel calcium blocker that differs from all the other currently available L-channel calcium blockers. The drug is a potent peripheral and coronary vasodilator, with no clinical negative inotropic activity. Furthermore, because of its long half-life, it can be given once a day and appears to be free of the common side effects seen with other calcium-channel blockers. The trial was designed to investigate whether the addition of mibefradil to standard therapy for heart failure will reduce mortality in patients with symptomatic heart failure. Methods: This manuscript describes the design, organization, and status of MACH-1 (Mortality Assessment in Congestive Heart Failure), a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. It is to be a 2,400-patient international trial assessing the ability of mibefradil to impact upon survival and symptoms of heart failure in patients who are in NYHA classes II–IV and who were already treated with standard therapy.
Impact of pretreatment and downstream processing technologies on economics and energy in cellulosic ethanol production

Background: While advantages of biofuel have been widely reported, studies also highlight the challenges in large scale production of biofuel. Cost of ethanol and process energy use in cellulosic ethanol plants are dependent on technologies used for conversion of feedstock. Process modeling can aid in identifying techno-economic bottlenecks in a production process. A comprehensive techno-economic analysis was performed for conversion of cellulosic feedstock to ethanol using some of the common pretreatment technologies: dilute acid, dilute alkali, hot water and steam explosion. Detailed process models incorporating feedstock handling, pretreatment, simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation, ethanol recovery and downstream processing were developed using SuperPro Designer. Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) was used as a model feedstock. Results: Projected ethanol yields were 252.62, 255.80, 255.27 and 230.23 L/dry metric ton biomass for conversion process using dilute acid, dilute alkali, hot water and steam explosion pretreatment technologies respectively. Price of feedstock and cellulose enzymes were assumed as $50/metric ton and 0.517/kg broth (10% protein in broth, 600 FPU/g protein) respectively. Capital cost of ethanol plants processing 250,000 metric tons of feedstock/year was $1.92, $1.73, $1.72 and $1.70/L ethanol for process using dilute acid, dilute alkali, hot water and steam explosion pretreatment respectively. Ethanol production cost of $0.83, $0.88, $0.81 and $0.85/L ethanol was estimated for production process using dilute acid, dilute alkali, hot water and steam explosion pretreatment respectively. Water use in the production process using dilute acid, dilute alkali, hot water and steam explosion pretreatment was estimated 5.96, 6.07, 5.84 and 4.36 kg/L ethanol respectively. Conclusions: Ethanol price and energy use were highly dependent on process conditions used in the ethanol production plant. Potential for significant ethanol cost reductions exist in increasing pentose fermentation efficiency and reducing biomass and enzyme costs. The results demonstrated the importance of addressing the tradeoffs in capital costs, pretreatment and downstream processing technologies.
Motion aftereffect duration is not changed by perceptual learning: evidence against the representation modification hypothesis.

Abstract The representation modification hypothesis of perceptual learning attributes the practice-induced improvements in sensitivity and/or discriminability to changes in the early visual areas. We used motion aftereffects (MAE) to probe the representations of motion direction. In two experiments, four practice sessions on a fine direction-discrimination task caused large stimulus-specific improvements in d ′ but no significant stimulus-specific changes in either static or dynamic MAE duration at posttest relative to a pretest. Power analysis indicated that the data were approximately 100 times more likely given the hypothesis of no MAE change than the hypothesis of a 10% relative change. In light of converging evidence in the MAE literature, this suggests that little or no change occurred in the cortical representations of visual motion up to and including area MT. The task specificity of the learning effect challenges the representation modification hypothesis and supports an alternative—selective reweighting.
Length dependent CTG•CAG triplet-repeat expansion in myotonic dystrophy patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an inherited dominant muscular dystrophy caused by expanded CTG·CAG triplet repeats in the 3′ untranslated region of the DMPK1 gene, which produces a toxic gain-of-function CUG RNA. It has been shown that the severity of disease symptoms, age of onset and progression are related to the length of the triplet repeats. However, the mechanism(s) of CTG·CAG triplet-repeat instability is not fully understood. Herein, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) were generated from DM1 and Huntington's disease patient fibroblasts. We isolated 41 iPSC clones from DM1 fibroblasts, all showing different CTG·CAG repeat lengths, thus demonstrating somatic instability within the initial fibroblast population. During propagation of the iPSCs, the repeats expanded in a manner analogous to the expansion seen in somatic cells from DM1 patients. The correlation between repeat length and expansion rate identified the interval between 57 and 126 repeats as being an important length threshold where expansion rates dramatically increased. Moreover, longer repeats showed faster triplet-repeat expansion. However, the overall tendency of triplet repeats to expand ceased on differentiation into differentiated embryoid body or neurospheres. The mismatch repair components MSH2, MSH3 and MSH6 were highly expressed in iPSCs compared with fibroblasts, and only occupied the DMPK1 gene harboring longer CTG·CAG triplet repeats. In addition, shRNA silencing of MSH2 impeded CTG·CAG triplet-repeat expansion. The information gained from these studies provides new insight into a general mechanism of triplet-repeat expansion in iPSCs.
Aortic Stiffness Increases Upon Receipt of Anthracycline Chemotherapy

Purpose Cancer survivors exposed to anthracyclines experience an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. We hypothesized that anthracycline use may increase aortic stiffness, a known predictor of CV events. Patients and Methods We performed a prospective, case-control study involving 53 patients: 40 individuals who received an anthracycline for the treatment of breast cancer, lymphoma, or leukemia (cases), and 13 age- and sex-matched controls. Each participant underwent phase-contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance measures of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic distensibility (AoD) in the thoracic aorta at baseline, and 4 months after initiation of chemotherapy. Four one-way analyses of covariance models were fit in which factors known to influence thoracic aortic stiffness were included as covariates in the models. Results At the 4-month follow-up visit, aortic stiffness remained similar to baseline in the control participants. However, in the participants receiving anthracyclines, aortic stif...
Dynamical and Microphysical Retrieval from Doppler Radar Observations Using a Cloud Model and Its Adjoint. Part II: Retrieval Experiments of an Observed Florida Convective Storm

Abstract The variational Doppler radar analysis system developed in part I of this study is tested on a Florida airmass storm observed during the Convection and Precipitation/ Electrification Experiment. The 3D wind, temperature, and microphysical structure of this storm are obtained by minimizing the difference between the radar-observed radial velocities and rainwater mixing ratios (derived from reflectivity) and their model predictions. Retrieval experiments are carried out to assimilate information from one or two radars. The retrieved fields are compared with measurements of two aircraft penetrating the storm at different heights. The retrieved wind, thermodynamical, and microphysical fields indicate that the minimization converges to a solution consistent with the input velocity and rainwater fields. The primary difference between using single-Doppler and dual-Doppler information is the reduction of the peak strength of the storm on the order of 10% when information from only one radar is provided. ...
Children's Effects on Parenting Stress in a Low Income, Minority Population.

Relationships between parenting stress as measured by the Parenting Stress Index and other maternal and child characteristics were investigated in a sample of 66 low income mothers and their 5- to 8-year-old children who are at risk for educational disabilities. The data provide concurrent and construct validity support for the Parenting Stress Index. In addition, child characteristics (self-esteem, behavior conduct, and spelling achievement) and maternal characteristics (self-esteem and crowding stress) related to parenting stress in this sample. That these variables combined to explain approximately half of the variance on the Parenting Stress Index suggests that they represent important sources of parenting stress, at least during the early grade school years. Because the children's behavior and academic achievement constituted significant sources of parent stress, supportive counseling services may be needed that are often required for children of low income, less well-educated parents.
Factors influencing the abundance and metabolic capacities of microorganisms in Eastern Coastal Plain sediments

The abundance and metabolic capacities of microorganisms residing in 49 sediment samples from 4 boreholes in Atlantic Coastal Plain sediments were examined. Radiolabeled time-course experiments assessing in situ mirobial capacities were initiated within 30 min of core recovery. Acetate (1-14C- and3H-) incorporation into lipids, microbial colony forming units, and nutrient limitations were examined in aliquots of subsurface sediments. Water-saturated sands exhibited activity and numbers of viable microorganisms that were orders of magnitude greater than those of the low permeability dense clays. Increased radioisotope utilization rates were observed after 6–24-h incubation times when sediments were amended with additional water and/or nutrients. Supplements of water, phosphate, nitrate, sulfate, glucose, or minerals resulted in the stimulation of microbial activities, as evidenced by the rate of acetate incorporation into microbial lipids. Additions of water or phosphate resulted in the greatest stimulation of microbial activities. Regardless of depth, sediments that contained >20% clay particles exhibited lower activities and biomass densities, and greater stimulation with abundant water supplementation than did sediments containing >66% sands and hydraulic conductivities > 200 μm sec.−1.
Propagation path loss-a comparison between ray-tracing approach and empirical models

The results obtained with a two-dimensional (2-D) propagation model for wireless communications in an urban environment are compared against the results of other propagation models, such as COST-231 Walfisch-Ikegami (1988, 1984), Hata's (1980), and Zhang's (1997).
First-trimester screening for aneuploidy with fetal nuchal translucency in a United States population

Objective To examine the detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities using a combination of nuchal translucency (NT) and maternal age in a United States population. Methods A total of 2131 pregnancies with 2339 fetuses underwent NT screening from April 2000 to April 2002 in our ultrasound unit. Nuchal translucency was measured from 11 to 14 weeks' gestation. Fetal crown–rump length (CRL) was also measured. The risk for trisomy 21 was calculated from a combination of maternal age and fetal NT with the use of software provided by The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF). Sensitivity and false-positive rates were calculated for different risk cut-offs. Results Chromosomal defects were diagnosed in 32 cases, including 12 cases of trisomy 21 and 10 cases of trisomy 18. The estimated risk based on maternal age and fetal NT was 1 in 300 or greater in 195 (8.3%) cases and these included 10/12 (83.3%) pregnancies with trisomy 21 and 9/10 (90.0%) pregnancies with trisomy 18. Conclusion A combination of maternal age and fetal NT provides an effective method of screening for chromosomal defects. Using ultrasound techniques and risk algorithms from The FMF, the performance of the test in an American population is similar to that described in international populations. Copyright © 2003 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential tropism of pseudorabies virus for sensory neurons in the cat

The permissiveness of cat motor and sensory systems to infection by pseudorabies virus (PRV) was examined. Eight adult cats of both sexes received injections of a virulent strain of PRV (PRV-Becker) into either the diaphragm or neck musculature. Temporal analysis of the replication and transynaptic passage of virus in each experimental paradigm revealed that sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia were more susceptible to infection than motor neurons. Only scattered motor neurons displayed productive replication of virus at postinoculation intervals extending to 192 h whereas robust replication of virus in neurons in the dorsal root ganglia and dorsal horn of the spinal cord was apparent as early as 96 h post inoculation. The data demonstrate that functionally distinct populations of neurons in the cat are differentially permissive to infection and transneuronal transport of PRV.
Nitrated SP-A does not enhance adherence of Pneumocystis carinii to alveolar macrophages

We investigated whether nitration of surfactant apoprotein (SP) A alters its ability to bind to mannose-containing saccharides on Pneumocystis carinii and its potential role in the mediation ofP. c...
A New Class of Potential Mechanism-Based Suicide Inhibitors of Photosynthetic Activity

Inhibitors on the donor side of Photosystem II (PSII) in higher plants have been limited to an assortment of small amines (NH2OH, NH2NH2, NH3, etc.) and various derivatives of 2-anilino-thiophenes and phenylhydrazone derivatives which together form a group called the ADRY reagents. These compounds have all been shown to effectively disrupt the normal cyclization through the S-states of the Water-Oxidizing Complex (WOC), which is known to contain a special arrangement of four manganese ions. Identification of the proteins which bind these manganese ions and the specific amino acids which surround the site is still unknown. The reactivity of the first class of inhibitors at the manganese site is well documented, however, their usefulness in elucidating the protein environment surrounding the metal site has been limited. To approach this goal, we have developed a new class of inhibitors of the WOC which could react specifically with the manganese site to form a reactive species that is capable of covalently modifying the surrounding protein matrix in the active site. A similar approach has proven to be successful in identifying the binding site for Qb, the secondary electron acceptor, to be on the D1 subunit using photoaffinity labelling with azido[14C]atrazine, a herbicide which binds to the Qb site (1). By an analogous method, the location of the PSII electron donor, Z+, has also been proposed to be located on the Dl subunit, as shown by its photooxidation of 125I-(2).
Processing analytical queries over encrypted data

MONOMI is a system for securely executing analytical workloads over sensitive data on an untrusted database server. MONOMI works by encrypting the entire database and running queries over the encrypted data. MONOMI introduces split client/server query execution, which can execute arbitrarily complex queries over encrypted data, as well as several techniques that improve performance for such workloads, including per-row precomputation, space-efficient encryption, grouped homomorphic addition, and pre-filtering. Since these optimizations are good for some queries but not others, MONOMI introduces a designer for choosing an efficient physical design at the server for a given workload, and a planner to choose an efficient execution plan for a given query at runtime. A prototype of MONOMI running on top of Postgres can execute most of the queries from the TPC-H benchmark with a median overhead of only 1.24× (ranging from 1.03×to 2.33×) compared to an un-encrypted Postgres database where a compromised server would reveal all data.
DNS for K- and H-type flow transition over a flat plate

In this paper, a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of flow transition over a flat plate at a free stream Mach number of 5 . 0 = ∞ M and a Reynolds number of 1000 based on the free stream velocity and inflow displacement thickness has been carried out. The time-dependent Navier-Stockes equations are solved directly by Runge-Kutta time advancement. A fourth order central compact scheme (Lele 1992) that facil itates high resolution of the flow field is used for spatial discretization together with a six th order implicit compact filter. To avoid possible non-physical wave reflection from the boun daries, the non-reflecting boundary conditions (Jiang et al . 1999b) are specified at the far field and the out flow boundaries. The inflow is specified by laminar flow profile with im posed eigenmodes of two-dimensional and three-dimensional Tollmien-Schlichting (T-S) waves and random noise. The parallel computation is accomplished through the Message Passing Interface (MPI) together with a domain decomposition approach. Computation is carried out currently in two different grid levels: 256x32x64 and 1536x128x64 in the streamwise ( x), spanwise ( y), and wall normal ( z) directions. In this paper for each grid level, two DNS cases are presented, which are distinguished by the inflow disturbance leading to the K-type (fundamental) or H-type (sub- harmonic) transition. The DNS results show the mean flow properties, such as the skin friction coefficients and the mean velocity profile . In addition, the velocity statistics, Reynolds shear stress and spectrum analysis of the turbulence region are also shown in this paper and are in good agreement with other reported work. Some of the structures appeared in the transition process are also studied.
Abstract 3658: Sulforaphane suppresses 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse epidermal JB6 P+ cell transformation through epigenetic re-activation of Nrf2.

Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, and watercress, has strong anti-cancer/cancer chemopreventive potentials. Transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) plays an important role in regulating the expressions of cellular antioxidant and detoxification enzymes. In this study, we investigated the preventive effect of SFN on tumor promoter-induced transformation in mouse skin epidermal JB6 promotion-sensitive (JB6 P+) cells, which might be involved with the activation of Nrf2. After 5 days pre-treatment, the results showed that SFN significantly inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced neoplastic transformation. SFN enhanced nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and increased the Nrf2 downstream target enzymes including HO-1, NQO1, and UGT1A1 at both the transcriptional and protein levels. Comparing to shMock-transfected cells, TPA effectively induced colony formation in shNrf2 knockdown transfected cells were more resistant to the inhibitory effects of SFN. SFN9s induction of Nrf2, HO1, and NQO1 protein expressions in shNrf2-transfected cells were lower than those in shMock-transfected cells. Epigenetics study showed that SFN suppresses methyltion ratio of the first fifteen CpGs in the promoter of Nrf2 gene in JB6 P+ cells utilizing bisulfite sequencing. Furthermore, SFN strongly reduced the protein expressions of DNA methyl transferases (DNMTs) including DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b. In terms of histone deacetylases (HDACs), SFN not only inhibited total HDAC activity but also decreased the protein levels of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, and HDAC4, significantly. Taken together, these findings suggest that epigenetic re-activation of Nrf2 with subsequent induction of Nrf2 downstream target genes by SFN may provide insights into the chemopreventive mechanism of SFN against tumor promoter-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis. Citation Format: Zheng-Yuan Su, Limin Shu, Chengyue Zhang, Tin Oo Khor, Jong Hun Lee, Tien-Yuan Wu, Allan H. Conney, Ah-Ng Tony Kong. Sulforaphane suppresses 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse epidermal JB6 P+ cell transformation through epigenetic re-activation of Nrf2. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3658. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3658
An exploratory study of visual sequential processing in children with cochlear implants

Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to compare visual sequential processing in school-age children with cochlear implants (CIs) and their normal-hearing (NH) peers. Visual sequential processing was examined using both behavioral and an event-related potential (ERP) measures. Methods Eighteen children with CIs and nineteen children who had hearing within normal limits (NH) participated in the behavioral study. Subtests from the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills and the Sensory Integration and Praxis Test were administered to all children. ERP measures were collected from five children with CI and five age-matched peers. Peak latencies (N200 and P300) and reaction times for visual sequential processing were compared in these two groups. Results The findings of the study revealed significant group differences in visual sequential memory and visuo-motor sequencing tasks suggesting that children with severe-profound hearing loss may have difficulties in visual sequential tasks. The study also revealed longer P300 latencies and longer reaction times for a visual sequential matching task in children with CI when compared to their NH peers suggesting slower or delayed processing of visual sequential stimuli. Conclusions This exploratory study involving behavioral and ERP measures showed that as a group, children with prelingual, severe-profound hearing loss who use CIs have difficulties with visual sequential processing. These findings may have implications for rehabilitation for children with hearing loss in the light of recent evidence that accurate and efficient processing of sequentially presented visual stimuli is important for language and reading outcomes.
G PROTEINS AND REGULATION OF ADENYLYL CYCLASE

The function and structures of G proteins and their role in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase is reviewed.
Pathophysiology of wound healing and alterations in venous leg ulcers-review:

Venous leg ulcer (VLU) is one of the most common lower extremity ulcerated wound, and is a significant healthcare problem with implications that affect social, economic, and the well-being of a patient. VLU can have debilitating related problems which require weekly medical care and may take months to years to heal. The pathophysiology of VLU is complex, and healing is delayed in many patients due to a persistent inflammatory condition. Patient genetic and environmental factors predispose individuals to chronic venous diseases including VLU. Changes in shear stress affecting the glycocalyx are likely initiating events, leading to activation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, and leukocyte activation with attachment and migration into vein wall, microcirculation, and in the interstitial space. Multiple chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, proteases and matrix metalloproteinases are produced. The pathology of VLU involves an imbalance of inflammation, inflammatory modulators, oxidative stress, and proteinase activity. Understanding the cellular and biochemical events that lead to the progression of VLU is critical. With further understanding of inflammatory pathways and potential mechanisms, certain biomarkers could be revealed and studied as both involvement in the pathophysiology of VLU but also as therapeutic targets for VLU healing.
Epidemiological investigation and analysis of the first family cluster of two patients with avian influenza A(H7N9) infection in Guangzhou city

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristic of the first family cluster of two patients with avian influenza A(H7N9) infection in Guangzhou, trace possible infection source, evaluate the risk of further transmission and provide scientific control measures for A(H7N9) outbreak prevention. Methods Field investigation was conducted to collected epidemiological information of the two patients and to inspect the relative household and live poultry markets.Respiratory specimens of patients and close contacts and environmental samples of live poultry markets were collected and detected for H7N9 viral RNA by RT-PCR. Results The index case, with a history of recent live poultry market exposure, developed symptoms on 3 January 2014 and diagnosed as confirmed H7N9 infection on 11 January. He was in a critical condition until 30 January 2014. His daughter was thus recognized as close contact. She appeared a symptom of fever and fatigue on 14 January and diagnosed as confirmed H7N9 infectionon 18 January. She was in mild condition during the course of disease and discharged on 22 January. Conclusions We reported the first family cluster of two patients with avian influenza A(H7N9) infection in Guangzhou. Our findings indicated that the second case was likely to acquire A(H7N9) infection from live poultry markets or to be transmitted A(H7N9) virus from her sick father. Our study highlights the importance to conduct prompt epidemiological investigation and virological surveillance of live poultry markets. We suggest that strengthen management of confirmed cases, close contacts and live poultry markets was the key measure to control the A(H7N9) outbreak.
One Step Forward, But a Need for Caution

No perfect transfemoral prosthesis exists. The ideal of having a prosthesis that closely duplicates the lost limb has been the goal of all prosthetic and surgical developments since before the American Civil War. The prosthesis-residual limb interface has always been problematic for the transfemoral amputee. Traditional sockets often fail in load transfer and skeletal control because of the large soft-tissue envelope surrounding the femur. To gain control and stability, sockets often extend up onto the ischial and pelvic area, which can be very uncomfortable. Research on direct skeletal attachment of prosthetic limbs dates back to the 1940s. Patients who have had early-prototype osseointegrated implants have been very enthusiastic, self-reporting improvements in proprioception, walking ability, comfort, and quality of life. This …
Syndromic surveillance in an ICD-10 world.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s BioSense program is an integrated national public health surveillance system that uses electronic medical record (EMR) data to provide situational awareness for all-hazard health-related events. Because the system leverages International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) coded data from EMRs for syndromic surveillance, the upcoming Health and Human Services-mandated transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM will have a significant impact. To translate across the two encoding systems, we developed a Mapping Reference Table (MRT) for the ICD-9/10 transition. We extracted ICD-9-CM codes binned to predefined syndromes and mapped each to its corresponding ICD-10-CM code(s). Then, we translated the output ICD-10-CM codes back to ICD-9-CM through a reverse translation validation process. Throughout the translation process, we examined outputs manually and incorporated annotated results into the MRT. The resulting MRT can be used to refine and update each existing syndromic surveillance definition in BioSense to be compatible with ICD-10-CM and consistently classify or bin any given emergency department visit into the correct syndrome regardless of coding system.
Predictors of Nondiagnostic Ultrasound for Appendicitis.

Abstract Background Ionizing radiation and cost make ultrasound (US), when available, the first imaging study for the diagnosis of suspected pediatric appendicitis. US is less sensitive and specific than computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which are often performed after nondiagnostic US. Objectives We sought to determine predictors of nondiagnostic US in order to guide efficient ordering of imaging studies. Methods A prospective cohort study of consecutive patients 4 to 30 years of age with suspected appendicitis took place at an emergency department with access to 24/7 US, MRI, and CT capabilities. Patients with US as their initial study were identified. Clinical (i.e., duration of illness, highest fever, and right lower quadrant pain) and demographic (i.e., age and sex) variables were collected. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria; BMI >85th percentile was categorized as overweight. Patients were followed until day 7. Univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Over 3 months, 106 patients had US first for suspected appendicitis; 52 (49%) had nondiagnostic US results. Eighteen patients had appendicitis, and there were no missed cases after discharge. On univariate analysis, male sex, a yearly increase in age, and overweight BMI were associated with nondiagnostic US ( p Conclusion Overweight and older patients are more likely to have a nondiagnostic US or appendicitis, and it may be more efficient to consider alternatives to US first for these patients. Also, this information about the accuracy of US to diagnose suspected appendicitis may be useful to clinicians who wish to engage in shared decision-making with the parents or guardians of children regarding imaging options for children with acute abdominal pain.
Modeling Helium Segregation to the Surfaces of Plasma-Exposed Tungsten as a Function of Temperature and Surface Orientation

We provide a description of the dependence on surface crystallographic orientation and temperature of the segregation of helium implanted with energies consistent with low-energy plasma exposure to tungsten surfaces. Here, we describe multiscale modeling results based on a hierarchical approach to scale bridging that incorporates atomistic studies based on a reliable interatomic potential to parameterize a spatially dependent drift-diffusion-reaction cluster-dynamics code. An extensive set of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations has been performed at 933 K and/or 1200 K to determine the probabilities of desorption and modified trap mutation that occurs as small, mobile Hen (1 ≤ n ≤ 7) clusters diffuse from the near-surface region toward surfaces of varying crystallographic orientation due to an elastic interaction force that provides the thermodynamic driving force for surface segregation. These near-surface cluster dynamics have significant effects on the surface morphology, the near-surface defect struct...
Creating Robust Evaluation of ATE Projects.

ABSTRACTFunded grant projects all involve some form of evaluation, and Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grants are no exception. Program evaluation serves as a critical component not only for evaluating if a project has met its intended and desired outcomes, but the evaluation process is also a central feature of the grant application itself. Funders want to assure that their funding dollars are effective, and creation and implementation of a robust evaluation plan helps assure that project claims are met. Critically, evaluation plans help identify key implications for the field and provide feedback to interventions or project activities during the duration of the grant.
New Insights into Mossy Li Induced Anode Degradation and Its Formation Mechanism in Li–S Batteries

Optimization of cathodes and cell configurations has dramatically improved current Li–S batteries; it is now necessary to rescrutinize failure in Li–S batteries from an anodic perspective. Here, we reveal another possible failure mechanism induced by mossy Li in long-lifespan Li–S batteries and present a factor that might influence the inhomogeneous growth of Li whiskers. The large volume expansion derived from the growth of mossy Li promoted the formation and densification of a crust layer comprising passive sediments, which blocked the charge transfer for the lithium underneath, leading to low lithium utilization and battery failure. Further research showed the growth of mossy Li is related to inhomogeneous stripping, which began at imperfections on the SEI and self-amplified into large irregular pits, from which delicate mossy Li whiskers sprouted preferentially because of the relatively stable environment within. These findings are anticipated to enhance the performance of Li–S batteries and facilitat...
Transplantation in the Treatment of Primary Cutaneous Aggressive Epidermotropic Cytotoxic CD8-Positive T-Cell Lymphoma.

Abstract Background Primary cutaneous aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic CD8 positive T-cell lymphoma (CD8+ PCAETL) is a rare subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma with poor outcomes and without a standardized treatment strategy. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been suggested as a potential curative therapy. Patients and Methods We conducted a retrospective case series. We identified 8 patients with the diagnosis of CD8+ PCAETL, 4 of whom also underwent allogeneic HSCT. Results Eight patients were treated at our center with combination chemotherapy and several novel agents, including histone deacetylase inhibitors, brentuximab, and pralatrexate. Patients underwent a median of 8.5 treatments before HSCT. Six of the 8 patients examined, including all 4 who received an HSCT, were alive at their last follow-up. Conclusion Allogeneic HSCT is a promising treatment modality for CD8+ PCAETL. Because of the aggressive nature of this disease and lack of sustained remission with currently available therapies, HSCT should be considered early in the course of treatment. Two novel agents, brentuximab and pralatrexate, showed significant activity against CD8+ PCAETL, and may be incorporated earlier in the treatment course.
A data-driven framework to identify and compare forest structure classes using LiDAR

Abstract As LiDAR datasets increase in availability and spatial extent, demand is growing for analytical frameworks that allow for robust comparison and interpretation among ecosystems. We utilize data-driven classification in a hierarchical design to estimate forest structure classes with parsimony, flexibility, and consistency as priorities. We use an a priori selection of six input features derived from small-footprint (32 cm), high density (17 returns/m2) airborne LiDAR: four L-moments to describe the vertical distribution of canopy structure, canopy density as a measure of vegetation coverage, and standard deviation of canopy density to characterize within-cell horizontal variability. We identify 14 statistically-separated meta-classes characterizing six ecoregions over 168,117 ha in Montana, USA. Meta-classes follow four general vertical shapes: tall and continuous, short-single strata, tall-single strata, and broken strata over short strata. Structure classes that dominate locally but are rare overall are also identified. The approach outlined here allows for intuitive comparison and assessment of forest structure from any number of landscapes and forest types without need for field training data.
ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulation of intermolecular structure formation in acetic acid-water mixtures at elevated temperatures and pressures

The intermolecular structure formation in liquid and supercritical acetic acid-water mixtures was investigated using ReaxFF-based molecular dynamics simulations. The microscopic structures of acetic acid-water mixtures with different acetic acid mole fractions (1.0 ≥ xHAc ≥ 0.2) at ambient and critical conditions were examined. The potential energy surface associated with the dissociation of acetic acid molecules was calculated using a metadynamics procedure to optimize the dissociation energy of ReaxFF potential. At ambient conditions, depending on the acetic acid concentration, either acetic acid clusters or water clusters are dominant in the liquid mixture. When acetic acid is dominant (0.4 ≤ xHAc), cyclic dimers and chain structures between acetic acid molecules are present in the mixture. Both structures disappear at increased water content of the mixture. It was found by simulations that the acetic acid molecules released from these dimer and chain structures tend to stay in a dipole-dipole interaction. These structural changes are in agreement with the experimental results. When switched to critical conditions, the long-range interactions (e.g., second or fourth neighbor) disappear and the water-water and acetic acid-acetic acid structural formations become disordered. The simulated radial distribution function for water-water interactions is in agreement with experimental and computational studies. The first neighbor interactions between acetic acid and water molecules are preserved at relatively lower temperatures of the critical region. As higher temperatures are reached in the critical region, these interactions were observed to weaken. These simulations indicate that ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations are an appropriate tool for studying supercritical water/organic acid mixtures.