cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mobile resource referral technology for preventive child welfare services: Implementation and feasibility

Abstract As state and local jurisdictions in the United States prepare to implement the provisions of the 2018 Family First Preventive Services Act (FFPSA), they are faced with the large-scale challenge of making effective linkages between geographically dispersed clients and local preventive services. This pilot study applies a conceptual framework (Proctor et al., 2011) to describe implementation of a scalable, mobile community resource referral tool for use by child and family welfare caseworkers serving intact families with allegations of abuse or neglect. The study also demonstrates how data generated by use of the resource referral technology can be applied to visualize the geographic distribution of resource needs in relation to availability. Caseworkers from one urban agency were trained and given access to the mobile referral tool for a three-month observation period. Implementation data were obtained using mixed methods, including self-administered surveys, semi-structured focus group interviews with caseworkers, and metadata generated by the referral technology. Appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility outcomes were assessed. Findings establish that a mobile referral technology can be implemented with minimal training into caseworker workflows, and identify challenges that can be addressed in future iterations and implementations to reduce redundancy and prevent interruption in referral communication. Additionally, the use of mobile referral technology improved the ability of child welfare professionals to document referrals, and can provide child welfare systems with geographical information about need that will be essential for refining the preventive service continuum. Overall, the functionality of the tool and the data it generates will be important for optimizing resource referrals for preventive case management of child welfare-involved families.
To Kill or Not to Kill? The Challenge of Restraining Violence in a Balkan Community

Explaining why restraint of violence becomes a strategy for armed groups has recently attracted the attention of researchers, especially political scientists. The emergent literature generally argues by way of macro-level statistical correlation, in which a single factor, such as the desire of armed groups to adhere to international norms about human rights or the existence of high levels of political education among fighters, is believed to explain the presence of restraint. Missing in this approach are close analyses of actual historical episodes of restraint. We thus lack comprehension of how those with ideas about restraining violence translate their thoughts into actions, especially in contexts such as civil wars. This article addresses this weakness by examining the history of a Balkan community wracked by intercommunal violence during 1941 to explain the puzzling practice of restraint in the midst of waves of retaliatory violence. Rather than identify a single factor, this micro-comparative case study reveals that a cluster of mostly endogenous factors, shaped significantly by ongoing violence, explains the successful practice of restraint. Methodologically, this article stresses the need for researchers of restraint to employ microhistorical and comparative methods. They hold the greatest potential to illuminate what remains insufficiently explained in the extant political science literature: the contingent local processes whereby a desire for restraint or escalation of violence—the existence of which may be conditioned by longer-term historical developments—becomes a reality in certain moments.
Consumer Accuracy at Identifying Plant-based and Animal-based Milk Items

Are people are product literate enough to make informed decisions about plant-based and animal-based milk products? In 8 studies, we provide evidence that consumers do not make mistakes indicative of pervasive lack of milk product literacy. People were accurate at identifying plant-based and animal-based milk and cheese products as being plant or animal-based (74% - 84% of the time). In a more difficult task, participants were generally accurate at identifying nutritional differences between plant-based and animal-based milk and cheese products (50%–62% accuracy). We also developed the Milk Literacy Scale, which is a 12-item, validated, knowledge-based instrument that measures knowledge of differences among plant-based and animal-based milk products. The Milk Literacy Scale predicted accuracy in both identification tasks. All results were replicated in a large sample (N = 1054). These results suggest that people are generally product literate about milk products to make informed choices. The studies offer some insights into what kinds of interventions would help make people even more product literate.
Autosomal Dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa Due to Class B Rhodopsin Mutations: An Objective Outcome for Future Treatment Trials

Gene therapy for adRP due to RHO mutations was recently shown to prevent photoreceptor death in a canine model of Class B disease. Among translational steps to be taken, one is to determine a method to detect efficacy in a human clinical trial. The relatively slow progression of adRP becomes a difficulty for clinical trials requiring an answer to whether there is slowed progression of degeneration in response to therapy. We performed a single-center, retrospective observational study of cross-sectional and longitudinal data. The study was prompted by our identification of a pericentral disease distribution in Class B RHO-adRP. Ultrawide optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans were used. Inferior retinal pericentral defects was an early disease feature. Degeneration further inferior in the retina merged with the pericentral defect, which extended into superior retina. In about 70% of patients, there was an asymmetric island of structure with significantly greater superior than inferior ellipsoid zone (EZ) extent. Serial measures of photoreceptor structure by OCT indicated constriction in superior retinal extent within a two-year interval. We conclude that these results should allow early-phase trials of therapy in RHO-adRP to move forward by inclusion of patients with an asymmetric extent of photoreceptor structure and by monitoring therapeutic effects over two years in the superior retina, a reasonable target for subretinal injection.
Image Registration and Verification Workshop: A Pilot Study

Abstract Image guided radiation therapy is essential to ensure complex treatment plans are delivered safely. Residents in radiation oncology have little to no structured training on how to order or evaluate patient setup imaging. We created a joint image verification workshop for medical and physics residents to learn about setup imaging options available, understand information needed to review patient setup, practice image review, and promote interprofessional collaboration during training. The workshop consisted of a didactic session and a hands-on portion for practice with setup images from example patients. Residents completed pre- and postsurveys where each rated their ability on a 10-point scale to (1) assess the appropriateness of an imaging modality for a given treatment and (2) independently check verification images. The workshop was given twice. Nine residents participated in 2018 and 7 again in 2019, along with 2 new residents. Participant scores were paired for analysis. First-time participants had a significant improvement in both areas (1-tailed t test, α = 0.05): meanA:6.27 vs 7.27, P = .029, meanB:5.36 vs 7.18, P = .003. Between workshops (2-tailed t test, α = 0.05), repeat participants had a small increase in self-confidence for assessing the appropriateness of imaging (7.14 vs 7.64, P = .038), whereas comfort with independently checking films decreased (7.29 vs 6.00, P = .022). Postworkshop results (1-tailed t test, α = 0.05) were statistically equivalent for both workshops. A formal interprofessional image verification workshop provides valuable resident education, but repeat exposures are necessary to maintain skills.
Cholangiocarcinoma: Diagnosis and Management

Cholangiocarcinoma is a highly lethal biliary epithelial tumor that is rare in the general population but has increased rates in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). It is heterogenous, and management varies by location. No effective prevention exists, and screening is likely only feasible in PSC. Patients often present in an advanced state with jaundice, weight loss, and cholestatic liver enzymes. Diagnosis requires imaging with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, laboratory testing, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Potentially curative options include resection and liver transplant with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemoradiation. Chemotherapy, radiation, and locoregional therapy provide some survival benefit in unresectable disease.
Combining Gravity and Topographic Data for Local Gradient Modeling

The local modeling of gravity gradients supports gradiometry systems by predicting observables whose residuals then yield new geophysical and geodetic information in the survey area. Gradients are usually modeled using local digital terrain elevation data (DTED). We supplement this with available (lower-resolution) gravity anomaly data for the longer-wavelength features and analyze the total model in terms of its spectral content over a local region such as the San Andreas Fault. New spherical models of transforming gravity anomalies to all components of the gradient tensor using Green’s functions are developed and consistently combined with forward models of terrain elevation from very dense Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) measurements. The modeling is applied to the case of airborne gradiometry at about 400 m over moderately rough terrain and yields an upper bound on the power spectral density to be expected in this case. Such gradient modeling should contribute to the design of appropriate filters in the processing of airborne gradiometric data.
Low molecular weight serum cell-free DNA concentration is associated with clinicopathologic indices of poor prognosis in women with uterine cancer

Serum cell-free DNA (cfDNA) holds promise as a non-invasive cancer biomarker. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of cfDNA concentration with clinicopathologic variables of poor prognosis and overall survival among women with uterine cancer compared to benign cancer-free controls. cfDNA was extracted from the serum of 91 women with multiple uterine cancer histologies and 22 post-menopausal controls without cancer. Low molecular weight (LMW) cfDNA was separated from contaminating genomic high molecular weight cfDNA using paramagnetic bead purification and its concentration was measured using fluorometric quantification. Clinicopathologic data was abstracted from the electronic medical record. The association between serum cfDNA concentration, clinicopathologic variables, and overall survival was assessed using linear regression modelling, Cox proportional hazards modelling, and the Kaplan–Meier method. Median total serum cfDNA concentration for the cohort was 69.2 ng/mL (IQR 37.4, 132.3) and median LMW cfDNA concentration was 23.8 ng/mL (IQR 14.9, 44.4). There were no significant differences in total serum cfDNA concentration with any clinicopathologic variables. However, LMW cfDNA concentration was significantly higher in serum of women with cancer (25.8 ng/mL IQR 16.0, 49.6) compared to benign controls (15.5 ng/mL IQR 9.3, 25.8 ng/mL) (p < 0.01). It is also significantly higher among women with early stage cancer than benign controls (p < 0.01). There were also significant associations between LMW cfDNA concentration and stage of cancer (p = 0.01) and histology (p = 0.02). Patients with leiomyosarcoma and carcinosarcoma had higher cfDNA concentrations than those with endometrioid cancer. Over a median follow-up of 51.9 months, 75th percentile for overall survival for women with cancer was 24.0 months. Higher LMW cfDNA concentrations is associated with lower survival among women with cancer (p < 0.01). Serum LMW cfDNA concentration is associated with overall survival in women with uterine cancer, and it is higher among women with uterine cancer compared to those of controls.
Sensitization to peanut, egg or pets is associated with skin barrier dysfunction in children with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND Children with atopic dermatitis (AD) are often sensitized to food and aeroallergens, but sensitization patterns have not been analysed with biologic measures of disease pathogenicity. OBJECTIVE We sought to define allergen sensitization grouping(s) using unbiased machine learning and determine their associations with skin filaggrin (FLG) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) (assesses skin barrier integrity), S100A8 and S100A9 expression (assesses skin inflammation) and AD severity. METHODS We studied 400 children with AD in the Mechanisms of Progression from Atopic Dermatitis to Asthma in Children (MPAACH) cohort to identify groupings of food and aeroallergen sensitizations. MPAACH is a paediatric AD cohort, aged 1-2, recruited through hospital/community settings between 2016 and 2018. We analysed these groupings' associations with AD biomarkers: skin FLG, S100A8 and S100A9 expression, total IgE, TEWL and AD severity. RESULTS An unbiased machine learning approach revealed five allergen clusters. The most common cluster (N = 131), SPTPEP, had sensitization to peanut, egg and/or pets. Three low prevalence clusters, which included children with allergen sensitization other than peanut, egg or pets, were combined into SPTOther . SPTNEG included children with no sensitization(s). SPTPEP children had higher median non-lesional TEWL (16.9 g/m2 /h) and IgE (90 kU/L) compared with SPTOTHER (8.8 g/m2 /h and 24 kU/L; p = .01 and p < .001) and SPTNEG (9 g/m2 /h and 26 kU/L; p = .003 and p < .001). SPTPEP children had lower median lesional (0.70) and non-lesional (1.09) FLG expression compared with SPTOTHER (lesional: 0.9; p = .047, non-lesional: 1.78; p = .01) and SPTNEG (lesional: 1.47; p < .001, non-lesional: 2.21; p < .001). There were no differences among groupings in S100A8 or S100A9 expression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In this largely clinic-based cohort of young children with AD, allergic sensitization to peanut, egg, cat or dog was associated with more severe disease and skin barrier function but not markers of cutaneous inflammation. These data need replicating in a population-based cohort but may have important implications for understanding the interaction between AD and allergic sensitization.
80–110-GHz Broadband Linear PA With 33% Peak PAE and Comparison of Stacked Common Base and Common Emitter PA in InP

This work presents a high efficiency, compact 80–110-GHz InP power amplifier (PA) based on stacked common base (CB) topology and a counterpart design using conventional stacked common emitter (CE) topology. The comparison between the two exhibits that the former delivers higher power gain, superior-gain compression behavior (linearity), and higher back-off efficiency in $W$ -band in 250-nm InP heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT). At 90 GHz, the stacked CB/CE PA achieves 11.8 dB/6dB gain, 33%/34% peak PAE, 16.8%/14.5% PAE at 6-dB back-off, and Psat of 18.7 dBm/19.6 dBm. Modulation test exhibits an EVM of 2.38% at 11.8-dBm average power supporting 3 Gbps 64-QAM for the stacked CB PA. The stacked CB PA with 17.9–18.9-dBm Psat across 80–110 GHz demonstrates one of the highest efficiency, broadband and linear PAs in $W$ -band using InP technology.
Bangladesh’ Rational Islamists: A Study of Islamism and Regime Preferences in An Under-studied South Asian Country

Scholars have long studied whether Islam is compatible with democracy. Quantitative analyses of survey data of Muslim polities have drawn from three broad theoretical and epistemological frameworks: civilizationalist or culturist; modernizationist, and rational choice. In this paper, we contribute to this discussion by drawing from survey data from an important but under-studied country: Bangladesh. We use respondent-level data from a novel, nationally representative survey of Bangladeshis which was fielded in 2017 to inveigh upon these debates. Our analysis overwhelmingly undermine civilizationalist and culturalist claims. We find considerable support for modernist assertions that education and urbanization positively correlate with tastes for democracy, but we find little evidence that economic standing does. Our findings lend strong support for rational choice approaches to this puzzle: respondents who want more Sharia also prefer more democracy while those who want more secularism actually want less democracy. We aim to make modest contributions both to the theoretical literature on the relationship between Muslims’ religious and political preferences and to the empirical base of knowledge about Bangladesh, an important, yet neglected country.
Associations of serum calcium and subclinical hypocalcemia at calving with productive, reproductive and health outcomes in multiparous Jersey cows

The most appropriate blood calcium (Ca) threshold to define subclinical hypocalcemia is still under study. Currently, there is a wide range of suggested definitions, and variability on its reported associations with productive, reproductive and health outcomes, which have not been described in Jersey cows. Our aim was to evaluate the associations of serum Ca concentration and subclinical hypocalcemia at calving with subsequent lactation milk and energy-corrected milk yield, fat%, protein%, somatic cell count linear score, mastitis, herd removal, and pregnancy at 1st service and by 150 days-in-milk (DIM).
Myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous group of disorders with a variable clinical course and prognosis. Treatment should be individualized based on the patient’s age, subtype, percent blasts in the marrow, and cytogenetics. The use of the International Prognostic Scoring Index is helpful in assigning prognosis. The standard of care for lowrisk patients is supportive care. Low-risk patients with symptomatic anemia should be considered for a trial of erythropoietin. The serum erythropoietin (EPO) level may help predict response to treatment. The treatment of the symptomatic and high-risk patient is unclear. Low-dose cytarabine, amifostine, and 5-azacitidine can induce responses in selected patients, but the duration of responses is short, and treatment does not appear to prolong survival. Intensive chemotherapy should be reserved for high-risk, younger patients. Topotecan and intermediate cytarabine appear to have an active regimen, but remissions are short. Younger patients who present with high-risk MDS without an antecedent history of MDS should receive intensive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) induc tion chemotherapy. Younger patients with high-risk MDS and an HLA-compatible donor should be offered an allogeneic stem cell transplant.
EEG Findings in Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) Related Encephalopathy Syndrome (P1.6-004)

Objective: To describe the clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of CRES (CAR-T related encephalopathy syndrome) Background: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) treatment is an emerging cellular antineoplastic therapy. CAR-T-cell related Encephalopathy Syndrome (CRES) is a commonly observed side-effect, characterized by disorientation, altered consciousness, language dysfunction and seizure. The incidence of seizure in CRES is not fully known, and diagnostic role for electroencephalography (EEG) is not yet established. Design/Methods: An IRB-approved protocol identified patients at Stanford Medical Center who received CAR-T cell therapy for aggressive non-CNS lymphoma between 2/2016–9/2018. Neurotoxicity was identified by systematic chart review. EEGs were analyzed to determine associated electrographic features. Results: 28 of 53 patients (53%) treated with CAR-T developed CRES a median of 5 days after infusion. Of 28 patients with CRES, the median duration of symptoms was 7 days (range 1–14+). Eleven patients had prolonged (>7 days) encephalopathy, with 4 experiencing incomplete recovery at the time of hospital discharge. 17(60.7%) CRES patients presented with aphasia. Twenty-six patients with CRES had EEG, with average recording time of 33.8 hours (median 31). Seizure was diagnosed clinically in 3 patients prior to EEG and captured in 1 patient on EEG with clinical correlate. While 3 patients (10.7%) had evidence of non-convulsive seizure on EEG (of whom 2 were deemed non-convulsive status epilepticus), 16 patients (60%) with EEG had evidence of ictal-spectrum discharges. Eighteen (69.2%) patients had diffuse slowing on EEG, 5(19.2%) had both diffuse and focal slowing, and 3(11.5%) were normal. Conclusions: Although aphasia was a common presentation of CRES suggesting focal origin, EEG in these patients most commonly showed diffuse slowing. EEG was useful in detecting non-convulsive seizure in this population. While ictal-spectrum periodic discharges were found in 60%, further clarification is needed to isolate clinical significance of ictal-spectrum discharges, and to identify optimal treatment given confounding effects of polypharmacy and concurrent illness. Disclosure: Dr. Satyanarayan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Markert has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hovsepian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Post has nothing to disclose. Dr. Muffly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Miklos has nothing to disclose. Dr. Thomas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Scott has nothing to disclose.
Effect of Snow Cover on Upward Movement of Soil Moisture

The soil moisture in the ground beneath a snow cover in the north central United States has been observed to increase during the winter season. The maximum prethaw soil moisture frequently is observed immediately prior to the onset of the spring melt. During the one day period after the snow cover is removed, traffic has been observed to create especially deep ruts, even on dirt roads where motor traffic has little difficulty on days with heavy rain. A primary mechanism producing the increase is the upward movement of moisture in both liquid and vapor phase which may occur with or without the presence of frozen conditions when induced by a temperature gradient. The importance of this phenomenon in relation to forecasting the snowmelt runoff during the critical spring period is examined.
Multicultural Issues in Treating Clients with HIV/AIDS from the African American, American Indian, Asian, and Hispanic Populations

Publisher Summary Regardless of a client's racial and/or ethnic status, a biopsychosocial approach is the recommended strategy in the assessment and treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS. This chapter summarizes epidemiological and multicultural issues that should be considered while using this approach with clients HIV/AIDS from the African American, American Indian, Asian, and Hispanic communities. The recognition that HIV/AIDS is a critical health problem in these communities suggests the need to assure the availability of culturally competent clinicians during the programming and implementation of biopsychosocial programs with clients with HIV/AIDS from these communities. This need is even more crucial in the case of African Americans and Hispanics, who continue to represent a disproportionate number of HIV/AIDS cases in epidemiological research relative to other culturally diverse groups. Regardless of the client's race and/or ethnicity status, the clinical management of clients with HIV/AIDS in mental health services require not only a clear understanding of medical, psychosocial, and multicultural variables, but it is also important to assess and treat the most significant emotional or psychological problems resulting from: thinking that one is HIV positive because of engagement in behaviors considered at risk for HIV infection ; being told that one is HIV positive; experiencing symptoms suggesting progression toward AIDS; and a recognition that one is about to die because of AIDS.
Chapter 2 Lessons Learned on Forced Relocation of Older Adults

Abstract This article is an exploratory-descriptive study of older adult public housing residents who were forcibly relocated from their homes when Hurricane Andrew struck Miami-Dade County in 1992. The subjects were all African Americans (N = 58) with a mean age of 67 years (S.D. = 9.8) who lived in economically depressed, low-income communities. Almost 70% were females. The subjects suffered from an array of physical and mental health maladies that were exacerbated when they were uprooted from key support systems, including families, social services, and health care facilities they depended on. A variety of complaints surfaced about their new living arrangements and almost 70% expressed a desire to return to their previous homes after long-term structural repairs were complete. Implications are discussed regarding the need for pre-emptive “elder-sensitive” strategic planning, the role of Public Housing Authorities in properly caring for older adults before and after a hurricane or other natural disaster...
Fluorescence lifetime imaging of cellular heterogeneity in cancer drug response

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and sub-populations of cells can drive drug resistance. Fluorescence lifetime imaging of metabolic co-factors is used to monitor drug response on a cellular level, to optimize treatment strategies for patients.
Chapter eleven Genetics and biochemistry of aflatoxin formation and genomics approach for preventing aflatoxin contamination

Summary A. flavus is the most common cause of aflatoxin contamination in pre-harvest filed crops and post-harvest grains. It is a characteristic “opportunistic” plant pathogen that infects corn, cotton, peanuts, and treenuts, and contaminates them with aflatoxins. There are no effective control strategies to prevent aflatoxin accumulation in the field when conditions are favorable for fungal growth. The mode of action and metabolism of aflatoxin biosynthesis have been extensively studied. Chemical binding of liver enzyme-activated aflatoxin molecules to animal DNA, causing mutations and possible carcinogenesis, has been demonstrated. The chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, and synthesis of aflatoxins B 1 , and B 2 , and the transcriptional activation of the genes involved are understood in significant detail. We have discovered an aflatoxin pathway gene cluster, a sugar utilization gene cluster, and a nitrogen pathway gene cluster. However, the mechanisms of aflatoxin formation in terms of global regulation, pathogenicity of the fungus, and crop-fungus interactions are poorly understood. A large research community has developed focused on understanding the biology of the fungus, and the biosynthesis of aflatoxins, with the goal of developing novel control strategies. A. flavus genomics will provide a powerful tool for identification of genes of interest. Microarrays containing A. flavus gene fragments can be used to study gene expression profiles under diverse conditions. Aspergillus , particularly, the species in the flavus group, has been recognized as a model system for studying fungal biology and pathogeneicity in solving food safety related issues. Identification and functional elucidation of those genes that are responsible for aflatoxin formation, regulation, signal transduction, pathogenicity, and the environmental effects on aflatoxin production by the fungus will provide vital information for devising new strategies to eliminate pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination, resulting in a safer, economically viable food and feed supply.
LP as a global search heuristic across different constrainedness regions

Recent years have witnessed the emergence of a new area involving hybrid solvers integrating CP- and OR-based methods. The LP relaxation provides bounds on overall solution quality and can be used for pruning in a branch-and-bound approach, especially in domains where we have a combination of linear constraints, well-suited for linear programming (LP) formulations, and discrete constraints, suited for constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) formulations. However, in a purely combinatorial setting, so far it has been surprisingly difficult to integrate LP-based and CSP-based techniques. We study the behavior of heuristics based on the LP relaxation with respect to the underlying constraindness of the problem. Our study focuses on the Latin square (or quasigroup) completion problem as a prototype for highly combinatorial problems. This problem is NP-hard and it exhibits an easy-hard-easy pattern in complexity, measured in the runtime (backtracks) to find a completion [1]. In our previous work [2] we report an interesting phase transition phenomenon in the solution integrality of the LP relaxation for this problem. We find that simple techniques based on the LP relaxation of the problem provide satisfactory guidance for under- and over-constrained instances. In the critically constrained region, the performance of such simple techniques degrades, due to the inherit hardness of the problem. In this setting, we examine a technique that recomputes the LP relaxation every time a variable is set. This leads to a significant increase in performance, suggesting that carefully designed "one step at a time" LP-based heuristics could provide suitable guidance even for the hardest instances. We examine the quality of the guidance provided by the LP relaxation as a function of the structure of the problem, i.e., we characterize the performance of LP heuristics across different constraindness regions in the search space. Research supported by the Intelligent Information Systems Institute, Cornell University (AFOSR grant F49620-01-1-0076).
The structure and annealing behavior of shock-loaded, cube-oriented copper

The substructure of cube-oriented Tough Pitch copper after shock loading to 433 kbar has been examined in the electron microscope. This is dominated by a well-defined subgrain structure with only small long-range misorientations. The nature and origin of the structure are discussed. The annealing response of the material has been followed by hardness measurements and is shown to be retarded compared with cold-rolled material. It has been shown by electron microscopy and texture determinations that conventional recrystallization is the dominant process during annealing.
Lack of macrophage plasticity in COPD

COPD is associated with increased numbers of highly-activated lung macrophages (mφ) with reduced phagocytic ability. Mφ may exist as M1-like (classically-activated) or M2-like (alternatively-activated) states. In COPD, M1-like mφ may persist, and not respond to the environment. To test this, monocyte-derived mφ from non-smokers (NS), smokers (S) and COPD patients were cultured in GM-CSF (G-mφ, M1-like) or M-CSF (M-mφ, M2-like) for 12d (n=6-12). Media was switched for 6d and mφ stimulated with LPS. TNFα and IL-10 were measured by ELISA (n=2-3). Beads, H.influenzae (HI) or S.pneumoniae (SP) phagocytosis was measured fluorimetrically (n=10), CD163 and CD16 by FACS (n=3). All G-mφ released similar levels of TNFα and IL-10. Switching to M-CSF, TNFα release decreased in NS and S, but not COPD whereas IL-10 increased in NS but not S and COPD (Table 1). M-mφ from NS and S released less TNFα vs COPD but more IL-10. Switching to GM-CSF, IL-10 decreased in all mφ (Table 1). View this table: Table 1 Bead phagocytosis was similar by all mφ. G-mφ phagocytosed less HI and SP vs M-mφ in all groups (50%, p<0.05). All COPD mφ phagocytosed ∼45% less HI and SP vs NS, and expressed less CD163 and CD16. Culturing G-mφ in M-CSF, increased phagocytosis of HI (400%) and SP (200%) in NS vs S and COPD. Culturing M-mφ in GM-CSF, HI and SP phagocytosis was less in all mφ. COPD mφ appear “hyper-inflammatory” regardless of environment suggesting lack of plasticity. Altering COPD mφ plasticity may be a therapeutic target.
Symmetry in the pigeon with sample and comparison stimuli in different locations. II.

Pigeons were trained on arbitrary (hue-form) and identity (hue-hue and form-form) successive matching with center-key samples and left-key comparisons. Later, they were tested on form-hue (symmetry) probe trials that were structured either in the different-locations fashion as the baseline trials (viz., center-key samples and left-key comparisons) or with a constant location by using center-key samples and center-key comparisons. Three of four pigeons showed symmetry when the probe-trial samples and comparisons appeared in center- and left-key spatial locations, respectively, but none did when both appeared in one (center-key) location. Subsequently, pigeons previously tested with center-key samples and left-key comparisons were tested with those form-hue stimuli shown in the same (center-key) location, and vice versa for the other pigeons. None of the former pigeons showed symmetry on the second test even if they had on the first test. By contrast, two of three pigeons that had not shown symmetry with single-location samples and comparisons did so when those stimuli appeared in different (center- vs. left-key) locations. Taken together, these results show that symmetrical relations between the same, nominal matching stimuli depend on where those stimuli appear in testing vis-a-vis in training and, more generally, confirm that spatial location is part of the functional matching stimuli.
Phase segregation via Vlasov–Boltzmann particle dynamics

Abstract We introduce a mesoscopic model of phase segregation in binary fluids based on the Vlasov–Boltzmann equations and a particle dynamics computational scheme that is consistent with these equations. The numerical method is a combination of DSMC stochastic dynamics for the short range collisions and PIC deterministic evolution for the smooth long range interactions which allows the simulation of systems with millions of particles. This approach allows a detailed study of phase segregation kinetics in binary fluids and is very efficient even in the presence of externally imposed fields or hydrodynamical flows.
Pyridine as an unmasking reagent for lipoprotein complexes in the nervous system of protein deficient squirrel monkeys

Acid hematin test with pyridine and Sudan black B controls was employed on selected areas of the brains of 115, 140 days fetuses, neonates and adult squirrel monkeys maintained on low and high protein diet. Our histochemical findings indicate that the reduction of phospholipids in the low protein fetuses and neonates is related to myelination, whereas in the adults, most of the lipids are bound to proteins and/or cerebrosides to form complexes, as revealed by the unmasking action of pyridine.
Isolation of rat-liver lysosomes and their general properties

Abstract A method is described for the isolation of lysosomes from rat liver in quantities greater than 60 mg. The method is based on the use of differential centrifugation and density- gradient centrifugation techniques. Biochemical studies show that lysosomes prepared in this manner are free from mitochondrial succinoxidase-system activity, not significantly contaminated with uricase particles but contain approx. 6–10% microsomal contamination. Studies were made of the stability of the lysosomes and of the release of lysosomal enzymes. In 0.7 M sucrose at 0–4°, 90–95% of the lysosomal enzymes remain latent for over 48 h indicating the stability of lysosomes under these conditions. The swelling or bursting of lysosomes as indicated by changes in light- scattering properties occurs at reduced osmotic pressure. This phenomenon is accompanied by a release of lysosomal enzymes. Studies of the release of the lysosomal enzymes suggest that these enzymes are not bound to the membrane as a lipoprotein complex. The composition of lysosomes is discussed.
Surgical management of trigeminal pain with radiofrequency lesions of peripheral nerves

In 1978, the preliminary results of studies of the effects of radiofrequency thermal lesions on trigeminal neuralgia were reported. This paper presents follow-up data for those cases as well as experience with additional cases. Neurogenic pain syndromes of the maxillofacial region are characterized by intermittent episodes (paroxysms) of sharp pain; confinement to peripheral nerve distributions; and positive responses to a variety of surgical, medical and physical treatments. Because trigeminal neuralgia does not have a single cause and often has progressive stages, no single form of treatment is appropriate for all patients. Effective management of neuralgia requires cognizance of a broad choice of therapeutic techniques that can be applied at the appropriate stage to a given patient. In recent years, a number of new alternatives have been added to the surgeon’s armamentarium for managing neurogenic pain of the maxillofacial region. In 1974. Sweet and Wepsic’ demonstrated that controlled thermocoagulation of the trigeminal ganglion with a radiofrequency generator is a safe and effective method for controlling trigeminal neuralgia. Since that time, this technique has been the most widely used surgical method for the control of classic tic douloureux.’ It has had a success rate of greater than 90%, with a pain recurrence rate of approximately 20% per year.3 The therapeutic effects of radiofrequency lesions appear to be based on the experimental observations that heat lesions generated in peripheral sural and trigeminal nerves in cats produced selective necrosis of the small-diameter nerve fibers and spared the large-diameter fibers .4q5 In 1978, Gregg et a1.6 published the preliminary results of their study of the effects of radiofrequency thermal lesions that had been applied to the
Sublytic complement attack increases intracellular sodium in rat skeletal muscle.

Background. Although excessive complement activation and deranged sodium homeostasis in skeletal muscle are characteristic in sepsis, their relationship has not been examined. This study was designed to determine if sublytic complement activation can directly mediate changes in myocellular sodium content. Materials and methods. Fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus muscles were freshly isolated from infant rats. Unsensitized muscles were incubated at 30°C for 60 min in the media containing 10% human or rat serum under conditions of no complement activation, activation by zymosan, inactivation by heat, C7 or C9 deficiency, selective inhibition of complement pathway, and inhibition of Na+-K+ ATPase by ouabain. Intracellular sodium ([Na+]i) and potassium ([K+]i) contents of the muscles, myocellular ATP, and LDH release from the muscles were then determined. Results. Normal human serum significantly increased [Na+]i and the [Na+]i/[K+]i ratio in the muscles as well as zymosan-activated serum. Heat inactivation, C7 deficiency, and inhibition of the alternative pathway completely abolished the cationic changes. Average LDH release was identical in all groups and less than 6%. Complement activation did not impair ouabain-sensitive Na+-K+ ATPase activity in the muscles or alter myocellular ATP. Thus, the observed alterations are not likely due to dysfunction of Na+-K+ pump or depletion of myocellular energy. Instead, alterations in [Na+]i were dependent upon the amount of C9 added to C9-deficient serum, which suggests that the alterations are likely dependent on transmembrane pores created by membrane attack complexes (MAC). Conclusions. Sublytic amounts of MAC formed as a result of complement activation can directly alter [Na+]i in ex vivo skeletal muscle.
Deformation twinning in explosively-driven tantalum

Abstract Deformation twinning resulting from high explosive-driven shock and associated plasticity was investigated in high-purity b.c.c. tantalum. Post mortem characterization of samples shocked at relatively higher and lower pressures showed significant {112}〈111〉 twin activity. Further analysis of the lower shock pressure sample showed twins to be spatially clustered at the mesoscale, indicating the role of twin termination at grain boundaries to produce requisite twin initiation stresses in neighbor grains. In addition, analysis of electron backscatter diffraction data suggests that twin propagation across boundaries does not require minimal misorientations between the active variants of the twins in adjacent parent grains. A minimum threshold grain size of approximately 25 μm was determined for both samples, below which twinning was suppressed. Finally, the observation of spall voids at twin intersections implied that twinning increases the density of preferred damage initiation sites during the shock deformation process. Overall, twinning was shown to play a significant role in the deformation and damage evolution of shock-loaded tantalum.
Oxidative DNA damage is associated with intense noise exposure in the rat.

Increasing evidence suggests that noise-induced hearing loss may be reduced or prevented with antioxidant therapy. Biochemical markers of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced damage can help elucidate possible treatment timing constraints. This study examined the time course of ROS damage following a 2-h, broad-band noise exposure resulting in permanent threshold shift in 35 Long-Evans rats. Cochlea, brain, liver, serum and urine were analyzed at 1, 3, 8, 72, and 672 h (28 days) after exposure. Oxidative DNA damage was assessed by measuring 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Lipid peroxidation was measured via the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) colorimetric assay for detection of aldehydes (e.g., malondialdehyde). Auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission thresholds showed progressive elevation for the 3- and 8-h groups, then notable recovery for the 72-h group, and some worsening for the 672-h group. 8OHdG was significantly elevated in cochlea in the 8-h group, and in brain and liver for the 72-h group. TBARS were significantly elevated in serum for the 72-h group. Based upon oxidative DNA damage present in cochlea following intense noise, we postulate that the first 8 h following exposure might be a critical period for antioxidant treatment.
REDUCED CHEMISTRY MODELING IN REACTING FLOWS

This paper reviews the need for reduced chemistry modeling for hypersonic reactive flows, and describes the method of computational singular perturbation which can computationally derive reduced chemistry models for a massively complex reaction system.
CYLD inhibits melanoma growth and progression through suppression of the JNK/AP-1 and β1-integrin signaling pathways.

The molecular mechanisms mediating cylindromatosis (CYLD) tumor suppressor function appear to be manifold. Here, we demonstrate that, in contrast to the increased levels of phosphorylated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (pJNK), CYLD was decreased in a majority of the melanoma cell lines and tissues examined. Exogenous expression of CYLD but not its catalytically deficient mutant markedly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and migration in vitro and subcutaneous tumor growth in vivo. In addition, the melanoma cells expressing exogenous CYLD were unable to form pulmonary tumor nodules following tail-vein injection. At the molecular level, CYLD decreased β1-integrin and inhibited pJNK induction by tumor necrosis factor-α or cell attachment to collagen IV. Moreover, CYLD induced an array of other molecular changes associated with modulation of the “malignant” phenotype, including a decreased expression of cyclin D1, N-cadherin, and nuclear Bcl3, and an increased expression of p53 and E-cadherin. Most interestingly, coexpression of the constitutively active MKK7 or c-Jun mutants with CYLD prevented the above molecular changes, and fully restored melanoma growth and metastatic potential in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that the JNK/activator protein 1 signaling pathway underlies the melanoma growth and metastasis that are associated with CYLD loss of function. Thus, restoration of CYLD and inhibition of JNK and β1-integrin function represent potential therapeutic strategies for treatment of malignant melanoma.
Familial Aggregation and Segregation Analysis of Snoring and Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

To investigate possible modes of inheritance that would explain familial aggregation in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), familial correlation and segregation analyses were performed on data derived from 584 pedigrees with 2019 cases enrolled in the Tucson Epidemiologic Study of Obstructive Airways Disease (TESOAD) who were at least 10 years of age and who had information pertaining to snoring and daytime sleepiness. Data were obtained from the 9th (May 1984 to October 1985) and 12th (February 1990 to October 1992) surveys of the TESOAD, which is a random, stratified sample of the non-Hispanic Caucasian population of Tucson, Arizona. A snoring phenotype was considered present if it occurred on at least some nights. A “sleep apnea” phenotype was constructed if participants snored and experienced daytime sleepiness. Familial correlations for snoring showed significant mother-child and sibling correlations but not father-child correlations. For sleep apnea, significant parent-daughter but not parent-son or sibling correlations were observed. Segregation analyses for snoring with regressive familial effects and sibling, age, and obesity covariates showed no evidence for mendelian transmission. However, additional familial effects were present that suggested phenotype aggregation from polygenic or environmental factors, or both. For the sleep apnea phenotype, similar segregation analyses indicated that mendelian dominant or codominant models were possible. However, the analyses also suggested that a nongenetic model fit the data as well. In addition, consistent with the familial correlations, specific maternal- and sibling-related effects remained even after inclusion of age, gender, and obesity covariates. These data support the concept that inheritable or shared environmental factors contribute to the development of OSA and that maternal components may be more important than paternal ones.
If It Wasn't for the Women. . .: Black Women's Experience And Womanist Culture In Church And Community

These collected essays examine the roles of women in their churches and communities, the implication of those roles for African American culture, and the tensions and stereotypes that shape societal responses to these roles. Gilkes examines the ways black women and their experience shape the culture and consciousness of the black religious experience, and reflects on some of the crises and conflicts that attend this experience.
Participation by Women in the 2005 APSA Annual Meeting

This is the 34th year that I have been monitoring participation by women at our Annual Meeting. These PS reports have documented the ascent of women in our profession. Considerable changes in the status of women in the profession have occurred since 1972 when I first did my tally of participation at our Annual Meeting. (Ex., the three most recent APSA presidents have all been women; a long way up from marginalization.)