cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship of unions to prevalence and claim filing for work-related upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders

Background Unionization has been found to be related to higher filing of workers’ compensation (WC) claims, but the extent of the relationship and the relationships to other variables have not been previously reported. Methods Telephone interviews were conducted with both a population-based and WC-based samples of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) cases. Results Workers at unionized facilities were 5.7 times (95% CI 2.5‐13.1) more likely to file a claim for WC, despite a comparable rate of MSD cases. Higher filing was also associatedwithseveralmeasuresofMSDseverity(1.8‐14.1oddsratios),economicsector (OR ¼10.1 for manufacturing), hourly (vs. salary) wages (OR ¼2.6), and for having a personal physician (OR ¼2.5). Unions appeared to have a protective effect on social effects of work-related MSD. Conclusions Unions appear to improve filing of work-related MSD, particularly for less severe conditions. The higher filing does not appear to be a case of ‘‘moral hazard,’’ but ratherimprovedandearlierreporting,asisadvocatedbyearlyinterventionapproachesto reducing MSD. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:83–93, 2003. 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Management of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor–induced angioedema

Objectives/Hypothesis: To develop and validate a clinical algorithm for management of patients with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor–induced angioedema (AIIA). Study Design: Prospective cohort observational study. Methods: Over 1 year, 40 patients with AIIA were evaluated by otolaryngology, underwent laryngoscopy, and were followed until disease resolution. The need for airway intervention, disposition for appropriate level of care, and other parameters were analyzed. Results: Treatment started within 61.5 minutes of presentation to the emergency department (ED). Mean duration until resolution of edema was 29 hours. Twenty (50%) patients required intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and six (15%) required intubation. Seventeen (42.5%) were monitored and discharged from the ED. Floor-of-mouth edema was present in 19 (47.5%), and massive tongue edema was found in four (10%) patients. The aryepiglottic fold was involved in 20 (50%) patients on laryngoscopy. Older patients (P = .048) with subjective dyspnea (P = .003) and dysphonia (P = .001) were most likely to require ICU admission. Upper lip swelling had a negative correlation with airway edema identifiable on laryngoscopy alone (P = .008). Dysphonia (n = 16) predicted airway edema upon laryngoscopy (P = .001). All 40 patients were triaged successfully without the need for readmission or escalation of level of care. Conclusions: The management protocol was successful in 40 consecutive patients to the appropriate level of care. History and physical examination may predict airway findings identified on laryngoscopy and help guide management when treatment by otolaryngology is not immediately available. A subset of patients will require acute airway intervention and can be identified at initial presentation. Laryngoscope, 121:2327–2334, 2011
The CD8 population in CD4-deficient mice is heavily contaminated with MHC class II-restricted T cells.

In experiments to study the impact of deficiency in CD4+ T cell help on the magnitude of CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response to pathogens, it was noted that in CD4 gene knockout mice, the CD8 population made significant responses to several nominally major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II–restricted epitopes in addition to the expected responses to MHC class I–restricted epitopes. A similar response by CD8+ T cells to class II–restricted epitopes was not observed in wild-type mice, or in mice that had been acutely depleted of CD4+ T cells just before the immunization. Coincident with this unexpected response to class II–restricted epitopes, it was also observed that the CD8+ response to the class I–restricted epitopes was consistently lower in CD4−/− mice than in wild-type mice. Further experiments suggested that these two observations are linked and that the CD8 population in CD4−/− mice may contain a majority of T cells that were actually selected by recognition of MHC class II molecules in the thymus. These results have implications for understanding CD4 versus CD8 lineage commitment in the thymus, and for the practical use of CD4−/− mice as models of helper deficiency.
Epidemiology of heavy alcohol use in Ukraine: findings from the world mental health survey.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology of heavy alcohol use in Ukraine, using data from the world mental health (WMH) survey in Ukraine. Methods: The WMH composite international diagnostic interview was administered in 2002 to a national probability sample of Ukrainian adults (n = 4725). An algorithm for classifying heavy use in the past year was developed from self- reports about the quantity and frequency of drinking, and its convergent validity was demonstrated. Prevalence rates and socio- demographic risk factors were examined separately for men and women. Results: The 12-month rates of heavy alcohol use were 38.7% in men and 8.5% in women (22.0% overall). Among heavy alcohol users, 92% of men and 52% of women consumed at least 80 g of ethanol in a typical drinking day on a monthly basis in the year before the interview. The most significant risk factors in men and women were age (26-54 years for men; 18-25 years for women), living in the Southeast region, being in the labour force whether employed or unemployed, and for men, low education and being the father of a young child. A highly significant linear relationship of number of risk factors with heavy alcohol use was found for both sexes. Conclusions: The rates for men were similar to those reported in a Russian national survey with the exception of Southeast Ukraine where the rate was >10% higher. The highest rates were among men who were middle-aged, fathers and unemployed. Future prospective studies are needed to assess the impact of heavy alcohol use on Ukrainian health, mental health and occupational and social functioning.
PREPARATION AND PHOTOPHYSICAL STUDIES OF PORPHYRIN‐C60 DYADS

Abstract Porphyrin-C60 dyads in which the two chromophores are linked by a bicyclic bridge have been synthesized using the Diels-Alder reaction. The porphyin singlet lifetimes of both the zinc (Pzn-C60) and free base (P-C60) dyads, determined by time-resolved fluorescence measurements, are ≦17 ps in toluene. This substantial quenching is due to singlet-singlet energy transfer to C60 The lifetime of Pzn-1C60 is -5 ps in toluene, whereas the singlet lifetime of an appropriate C60 model compound is 1.2 ns. This quenching is attributed to electron transfer to yield Pznbull;+-C60bull;-. In toluene, P-1C60 is unquenched; the lack of electron transfer is due to unfavorable thermodynamics. In this solvent, a transient state with an absorption maximum at 700 ran and a lifetime of-10 μs was detected using transient absorption methods. This state was quenched by oxygen, and is assigned to the C60 triplet. In the more polar benzonitrile, P-1C60 underoes photoinduced electron transfer to give P•+-C60bull;-. The electron transfer rate constant is −2 × 1011 s−1.
Histological evolution of lentiginous melanoma: a report of five new cases.

Background: The term lentiginous melanoma was recently used for atypical melanocytic proliferations sharing some histological features with lentigo maligna and associated with a protracted in situ stage before invasion. Lentiginous melanoma was characterized by predominantly single-cell lentiginous growth pattern with focal junctional nests and pagetoid spread, preservation of the dermoepidermal junction, limited cytological atypia, and lack of significant solar elastosis. We report five similar cases. Methods: Histological review of routine sections with clinicopathological correlation. Results: Three patients were male and two were female. The age at presentation ranged from 24 to 66 years. All lesions arose on the truck or proximal extremities. All five cases fulfilled histological criteria proposed for lentiginous melanoma. None of the lesions showed significant solar elastosis. One lesion was followed clinically and histologically for 16 years without intervening treatment. It had three local recurrences before culminating in invasive melanoma. Conclusions: Our observations support recent efforts to distinguish lentiginous melanoma as a distinct clinicopathological entity. Lentiginous melanoma can remain in situ for a long time before invasion and may be considered an analogue of lentigo maligna occurring on non-severely sun-damaged skin. Familiarity with the histological features of this variant is important for its early recognition and treatment.
Laparoscopic radical partial nephrectomy of a renal tumour: Initial case report

Summary. Advances in laparoscopic surgery have been made with development of improving tools and techniques which have expanded the application of laparoscopy to include successful management of renal neoplasm. Herein, we present a case of an incidentally discovered lower pole renal tumour effectively treated by a laparoscopic ‘radical’ partial nephrectomy.
Transforming growth factor-β2 promotes Snail-mediated endothelial-mesenchymal transition through convergence of Smad-dependent and Smad-independent signalling.

EndMT (endothelial–mesenchymal transition) is a critical process of cardiac development and disease progression. However, little is know about the signalling mechanisms that cause endothelial cells to transform into mesenchymal cells. In the present paper we show that TGF-β2 (transforming growth factor-β2) stimulates EndMT through the Smad, MEK [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase], PI3K (phosphinositide 3-kinase) and p38 MAPK signalling pathways. Inhibitors of these pathways prevent TGF-β2-induced EndMT. Furthermore, we show that all of these pathways are essential for increasing expression of the cell-adhesion-suppressing transcription factor Snail. Inhibition of Snail with siRNA (small interfering RNA) prevents TGF-β2-induced EndMT. However, overexpression of Snail is not sufficient to cause EndMT. Chemical inhibition of GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3β) allows EndMT to be induced by Snail overexpression. Expression of a mutant Snail protein that is resistant to GSK-3β-dependent inactivation also promotes EndMT. These results provide the foundation for understanding the roles of specific signalling pathways in mediating EndMT.
University of Washington early Buddhist manuscripts project in DSpace

Preliminary findings on the deployment of metadata for a project using DSpace at the University of Washington Libraries are presented. Problems encountered include mapping user-provided metadata for a domain-specific image collection to Dublin Core. Creating collection-specific qualifiers and adding value prefixes were tested in the DSpace configuration. Data inconsistency caused some technical problems, as well as bringing to light other issues involved in deploying a system with user-supplied content.
Pulmonary artery plication: a new surgical procedure for small infants with type I truncus arteriosus.

Abstract A new technique is reported for constriction of the pulmonary artery ostium as a palliative procedure in infants with type I truncus arteriosus. Pulmonary artery plication was performed without cardiopulmonary bypass, and this allowed intraoperative evaluation of the procedure. The lungs were protected from developing pulmonary vascular obstructive disease, and congestive heart failure resolved. The pulmonary arteries and the ostium grew with the child so that corrective surgery could be delayed until 4 1/2 years of age, when a large (20 mm) valved extracardiac conduit could be placed. We believe this is a useful palliative operation, particularly for small, sick infants, and it deserves further evaluation.
Attention skills in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 are at increased risk for the development of attention problems relative to their unaffected peers. Previous studies have reported deficits in sustained auditory attention, but other aspects of attention, including sustained visual attention, divided attention, response inhibition, and selective attention, have not been consistently documented. In the present study, we specifically investigated attention skills in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 using measures of visual and sustained auditory attention, divided attention, selective attention, and response inhibition. Consistent with previous reports, we confirmed the presence of deficits in sustained visual and auditory attention in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 but also identified deficits in divided attention and response inhibition. Based on the high frequency and wide spectrum of attention system impairments in this at-risk population, we advocate screening children with neurofibromatosis type 1 for attention problems and providing appropriate interventions that address all aspects of their executive functioning.
Performing, promising, and performing promises in Sense and Sensibility

While many dismiss Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility as a novel that speaks too much and does too little, this essay argues that the novel actually represents Austen's most performative work, especially when judged in light of J. L. Austin's theory of speech acts. The essay begins by analyzing the multiple ways in which Austen weaves performance themes into the texture of the novel and concludes with an analysis of the felicitous and infelicitous performances of promises by the novel's male and female characters.
Controls on soil methane fluxes: Tests of biophysical mechanisms using stable isotope tracers

methanogenic mineralization pathways. Application of a new, nondisruptive, 13 CH4 isotope pool dilution technique permitted us to evaluate these mechanisms by distinguishing gross methane fluxes through both productive and consumptive pathways. We quantified each of these pathways in surface soils across broad moisture gradients in tropical montane environments in the Hawaiian Islands and temperate ecosystems in the northeastern United States. We found only limited support for the consumption control hypothesis because consumption was only important in dry soils. We also failed to find support for the carbon supply hypothesis, in that rates of carbon mineralization did not explain the observed variability in net fluxes across landscapes. Rather, dramatic differences in methane production, and thus emission, depended on surprisingly small diversions of soil carbon flow from nonmethanogenic to methanogenic pathways: on average, soils were a net source of methane to the atmosphere if more than 0.04% of total carbon mineralization passed through methanogenic pathways. We infer that fine-scale heterogeneity of soil redox status is critical for regulating soil methane fluxes.
Murine Immune Responses to Neisseria meningitidis Group C Capsular Polysaccharide and a Thymus-Dependent Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine

The polysaccharide (PS) capsules of many pathogenic bacteria are poor immunogens in infants and young children as a result of the delayed response to PS antigens during ontogeny. The development of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae type b, which have proven to be efficacious in this age group, has led to active development by a number of investigators of conjugate vaccines for other diseases. We describe here the response of several mouse strains to the capsular PS of Neisseria meningitidis group C (MCPS) conjugated to tetanus toxoid (MCPS-TT) and the same response in BALB/c mice as a model of the immune consequences of conjugate vaccine immunization. The use of a conjugate vaccine results in a shift in the isotype elicited in response to the MCPS, from immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG3 to primarily IgG1. A response to MCPS-TT is seen even among mouse strains which respond poorly to MCPS itself, emphasizing the importance of a strain survey when choosing a mouse model for a vaccine. The marked increase in IgG1 antibody titer was accompanied by a large increase in bactericidal activity of sera from these animals. Animals primed with the conjugate vaccine demonstrated a booster response after secondary immunization with either the MCPS or the conjugate. The ability to produce a boosted IgG1 anti-MCPS response to the MCPS can be transferred to adoptive recipients by B cells alone from mice primed with MCPS-TT but not mice primed with MCPS alone. These data indicate that in BALB/c mice a single immunization with MCPS-TT is sufficient to induce a shift to IgG1 and generate a memory B-cell population that does not require T cells for boosting.
Optimal velocity profile generation for given acceleration limits: receding horizon implementation

We present a semi-analytical method to generate the optimal velocity profile for a vehicle traveling along a prescribed path in minimum time, given a maximum acceleration limit. A receding horizon implementation is proposed for the on-line implementation of the velocity optimizer. Robustness of the receding horizon algorithm is guaranteed by the use of a dynamic scheme that determines the planning and execution horizons. Application to a real-life scenario provides a validation of the proposed methodology. A comparison between the infinite and finite receding horizon schemes is also presented.
The Fiscal Consequences of Trends in Population Health

The public burden of shifting trends in population health remains uncertain. Sustained increases in obesity, diabetes, and other diseases could reduce life expectancy — with a concomitant decrease in the public sector’s annuity burden — but these savings may be offset by worsening functional status which increases health care spending, reduces labor supply, and increases public assistance. Using a health microsimulation model, we quantify the competing public fi nance consequences of shifting trends in population health for medical care costs, labor supply, earnings, wealth, tax revenues, and government expenditures. We fi nd that the trends in obesity and smoking have different fi scal consequences and that, because of its more profound effects on morbidity and health care expenditures, obesity represents a larger immediate risk from a fi scal perspective. Uncertainty in residual mortality improvements represents by far the largest risk.
Electromigration induced stress analysis using fully coupled mechanical-diffusion equations with nonlinear material properties

Abstract Electromigration is a major road block in the pursuit of further miniaturized electronics. In the next generation micro and sub micro electronics current density is expected to exceed 10 7 A/cm 2 . In this paper an electromigration induced strain-current density model is proposed and implemented in finite element procedure for solution of boundary/initial value electromigration problems. Numerical simulations are compared with experimental data. Comparisons validate the model.
The venom-gland transcriptome of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus adamanteus )

Snake venoms have significant impacts on human populations through the morbidity and mortality associated with snakebites and as sources of drugs, drug leads, and physiological research tools. Genes expressed by venom-gland tissue, including those encoding toxic proteins, have therefore been sequenced but only with relatively sparse coverage resulting from the low-throughput sequencing approaches available. High-throughput approaches based on 454 pyrosequencing have recently been applied to the study of snake venoms to give the most complete characterizations to date of the genes expressed in active venom glands, but such approaches are costly and still provide a far-from-complete characterization of the genes expressed during venom production. We describe the de novo assembly and analysis of the venom-gland transcriptome of an eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) based on 95,643,958 pairs of quality-filtered, 100-base-pair Illumina reads. We identified 123 unique, full-length toxin-coding sequences, which cluster into 78 groups with less than 1% nucleotide divergence, and 2,879 unique, full-length nontoxin coding sequences. The toxin sequences accounted for 35.4% of the total reads, and the nontoxin sequences for an additional 27.5%. The most highly expressed toxin was a small myotoxin related to crotamine, which accounted for 5.9% of the total reads. Snake-venom metalloproteinases accounted for the highest percentage of reads mapping to a toxin class (24.4%), followed by C-type lectins (22.2%) and serine proteinases (20.0%). The most diverse toxin classes were the C-type lectins (21 clusters), the snake-venom metalloproteinases (16 clusters), and the serine proteinases (14 clusters). The high-abundance nontoxin transcripts were predominantly those involved in protein folding and translation, consistent with the protein-secretory function of the tissue. We have provided the most complete characterization of the genes expressed in an active snake venom gland to date, producing insights into snakebite pathology and guidance for snakebite treatment for the largest rattlesnake species and arguably the most dangerous snake native to the United States of America, C. adamanteus. We have more than doubled the number of sequenced toxins for this species and created extensive genomic resources for snakes based entirely on de novo assembly of Illumina sequence data.
A Cross Classification of Five Offender Typologies Issues of Construct and Predictive Validity

This article presents the results of a pilot study that examines the predictive and construct validity of five psychological classification systems. The sample consists of 52 newly admitted male federal penitentiary inmates. Types identified by both the Megargee MMPI-based taxonomy and Quay's taxonomy of adult offenders were found to be correlated with disciplinar infractions. Subjects diagnosed at lower stages of Conceptual Level and I-level were noted to be more likely to incur victimizations or threats. Results were also somewhat supportive of the construct validity of the following dimensions: (1) cognitive development (Conceptual Level, Moral Development, and I-level), (2) neurotic (Quay and I-level), and (3) committed criminal subtypes (Quay, MMPI, and I-level).
Optimal Capital Structure and the Corporate Pension

Corporate finance's elusive optimal capital structure puzzle has now expanded to an exercise in ALM, with cash, investments, and corporate pensions complicating the picture . . . we make the case for pension asset reallocation, but prescriptive solutions require more than just efficient frontier and VaR analysis. * Why Now? * What's Wrong with Equity? * Why Debt? * An Asset-Liability Management (ALM) Perspective * Update on The Boots Case * Capital Markets Solutions
The green vessel schedule design problem: consideration of emissions constraints

The fluctuating demand of international seaborne trade, overcapacity, and increasing attention to environmental issues force liner shipping companies to improve efficiency of their operations, while complying with the established emissions limitations. This paper proposes a mathematical model for the green vessel scheduling problem, imposing constraints on emissions produced by a vessel at each voyage leg of the liner shipping route. The original mixed integer non-linear mathematical model is linearized and solved efficiently using CPLEX. Numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate changes in the vessel schedule that a liner shipping company has to make for a given shipping route, when emissions constraints are imposed.
Predictive model for transferring stroke in-patients to Intensive Care Unit

Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission is a main factor that affects the healthcare budget. Thus, the need for a predictive model for the decision to transfer stroke in-patients to the ICU is very important in order to utilize ICU resources effectively. Also, this predictive model will help to lower morbidity and mortality rates through earlier detection and intervention. This model could be used by an efficient clinical decision support system to assist healthcare professionals for faster decision-making. Currently, there is no research to predict the ICU transfer decision from vital signs of stroke in-patients. In this research, a Decision Tree (DT) model, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model, a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, and a Logistic Regression (LR) model are evaluated for predicting the need to transfer the stroke in-patients to the ICU or not. The study is conducted on a clinical dataset consisting of 1,415 observations with six variables. The variables include temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure (BP), oxygen saturations, and whether or not to transfer stroke in-patients to the ICU. The accuracy of DT, SVM, and LR are similar and equal to 0.96, whereas the accuracy of ANN is 0.94. Therefore, no specific model is better than others for making the decision. This is dependent on the nature of the dataset that was used for training and testing the models.
Partisan scale

US Senate is the venue of political debates where the federal bills are formed and voted. Senators show their support/opposition along the bills with their votes. This information makes it possible to extract the polarity of the senators. We use signed bipartite graphs for modeling debates, and we propose an algorithm for partitioning both the senators, and the bills comprising the debate into binary opposing camps. Simultaneously, our algorithm scales both the senators and the bills on a univariate scale. Using this scale, a researcher can identify moderate and partisan senators within each camp, and polarizing vs. unifying bills. We applied our algorithm on all the terms of the US Senate to the date for longitudinal analysis and developed a web based interactive user interface www.PartisanScale.com to visualize the analysis.
N -acetylcysteine decreases binge eating in a rodent model

Binge-eating behavior involves rapid consumption of highly palatable foods leading to increased weight gain. Feeding in binge disorders resembles other compulsive behaviors, many of which are responsive to N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is a cysteine prodrug often used to promote non-vesicular glutamate release by a cystine-glutamate antiporter. To examine the potential for NAC to alter a form of compulsive eating, we examined the impact of NAC on binge eating in a rodent model. Specifically, we monitored consumption of standard chow and a high-fat, high carbohydrate western diet (WD) in a rodent limited-access binge paradigm. Before each session, rats received either a systemic or intraventricular injection of NAC. Both systemic and central administration of NAC resulted in significant reductions of binge eating the WD without decreasing standard chow consumption. The reduction in WD was not attributable to general malaise as NAC did not produce condition taste aversion. These results are consistent with the clinical evidence of NAC to reduce or reverse compulsive behaviors, such as, drug addiction, skin picking and hair pulling.
An Interesting Habit of a Wax Moth Parasite.

During the fall of 1916, while rearing the bee moth, Galleria mellonella in the insectary for experimental purposes, a Pteromalid parasite Dibrachys clisiocampae Fitch† was observed to be very common about the breeding cages. Further investigation disclosed the fact that these parasites were emerging from the cocoons of the bee moth. They were so abundant that very few of the larvae of the host were able to pupate and come to maturity. This is interesting inasmuch as previous records of the parasite‡ give the host as the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria .
Lipid Abnormalities and Inflammation in HIV Inflection

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and subsequent treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART), is often associated with perturbations in lipid profiles. Furthermore, persistent inflammation, in spite of suppression of viral replication by ART, likely contributes to modifications in lipid composition and function, exacerbating risk for development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased levels of several pro-inflammatory lipid species, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), have been measured in HIV-infected persons and are associated with markers of immune activation. The mechanisms linked to this bidirectional relationship in which inflammation increases lipid levels and promotes their modification, and these modified lipid species perpetuate inflammatory processes, require further investigation. Treatment with statins and other lifestyle modifications, including improvement in dietary intake and exercise, are critical to reducing CVD risk. Well-designed clinical trials that take into account the complex relationships among lipids and inflammation within persons infected with HIV need to be considered.
Criminalistics Education and the Role of the Criminalistics Educator.

The uniqueness of criminalistics education stems from the participation of academe, laboratories, and a variety of public agencies, professional associations, and private vendors. One consequence of laboratory and association participation is the premium placed on experience during the evaluation process. An analysis of undergraduate criminalistics programs indicates the existence of considerable reservations about their utility for providing new laboratory personnel. At the masters degree level, however, a consensus appears to exist about the appropriateness of curricular structure and the value of a graduate degree in criminalistics for laboratory employment. Doctoral programs related to criminalistics are also discussed and the need for their maintenance is emphasized. The review concludes with an examination of the role of the criminalistics educator as: academic leader, agent of institutional change, laboratory counter-balance, and catalyst for legal change.
Separate Schooling Institutionalized

In a 1957 article criticizing the efforts of the federal government to follow through on Reconstruction in the former Confederacy, Edgar Wesley concluded that “the crime of federal neglect is made more glaring when one contrasts the cruel abandonment of the freedmen with the relatively generous outpouring of supplies, equipment, schools, and teachers that have been showered upon the Indians for more than a century and a half.”1 Whether the government resources have indeed been generous, there is no question that the involvement of the federal governments with Indian affairs, including education, has continued over many decades, in contrast with the intermittent attention paid to the situation of black Americans and Canadians.
Evidence That Factor VIII Forms a Bivalent Complex with the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Receptor-related Protein 1 (LRP1): IDENTIFICATION OF CLUSTER IV ON LRP1 AS THE MAJOR BINDING SITE.

Hemophilia A is a bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in coagulation factor VIII (fVIII) that affects 1 in 5,000 males. Current prophylactic replacement therapy, although effective, is difficult to maintain due to the cost and frequency of injections. Hepatic clearance of fVIII is mediated by the LDL receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), a member of the LDL receptor family. Although it is well established that fVIII binds LRP1, the molecular details of this interaction are unclear as most of the studies have been performed using fragments of fVIII and LRP1. In the current investigation, we examine the binding of intact fVIII to full-length LRP1 to gain insight into the molecular interaction. Chemical modification studies confirm the requirement for lysine residues in the interaction of fVIII with LRP1. Examination of the ionic strength dependence of the interaction of fVIII with LRP1 resulted in a Debye-Huckel plot with a slope of 1.8 ± 0.5, suggesting the involvement of two critical charged residues in the interaction of fVIII with LRP1. Kinetic studies utilizing surface plasmon resonance techniques reveal that the high affinity of fVIII for LRP1 results from avidity effects mediated by the interactions of two sites in fVIII with complementary sites on LRP1 to form a bivalent fVIII·LRP1 complex. Furthermore, although fVIII bound avidly to soluble forms of clusters II and IV from LRP1, only soluble cluster IV competed with the binding of fVIII to full-length LRP1, revealing that cluster IV represents the major fVIII binding site in LRP1.
CS1, a New Surface Target on Multiple Myeloma (MM) Cells, Protects Myeloma Cells from Apoptosis Via Regulation of ERK1/2, AKT and STAT3 Signaling Cascades.

Cell surface glycoprotein CS1 is universally expressed in the majority of MM patients. CS1 gene is localized on chromosome 1q which amplified in many MM patients and in MM cell lines (i.e., H929 and OPM2). We recently further detected CS1 protein in MM patient sera, but not in individuals with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or in healthy donors (Abstract # 950059). Since circulating CS1 levels correlate with active MM (Abstract # 950059), we postulated that CS1 may regulate MM cell growth and survival. We here defined a role of CS1 in MM cell growth and survival by generating CS1-null OPM2 MM cells using lentiviral CS1 short interfering RNA (CS1 siRNA). Four CS1-null OPM2 transfectants were derived using 4 CS1 siRNA targeting different regions in CS1 gene. Specific knockdown was confirmed by complete abrogation of CS1 mRNA and protein expression. In contrast, CS1 was expressed in parental OPM2 and OPM2 cells infected with control lentiviral vector (cnt-OPM2). Significantly, immunoblotting analysis showed decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3 in all 4 CS1-null OPM2 cells, compared with OPM2 and cnt-OPM2 cells. We next examined growth and survival of these cells using MTT and Alamar Blue colorimetric/fluorescence assays. Serum deprivation markedly induced apoptosis at earlier time points in CS1-null OPM2 cells, but not in cnt-OPM2 cells. Earlier apoptosis in CS1-null OPM2 cells was mediated by earlier activation and cleavage of caspases, i.e. caspase 3 (> 7-fold) and caspase 8 (> 10-fold). Microarray gene expression profiling of cells under normal cultures showed altered cell cycle regulators (i.e., decreased CDK1, cyclin B1, cdc25b, cyclin D2, and increased CDK inhibitor p18), reduced survival/anti-apoptotic proteins (i.e., Mcl-1), and increased proapoptotic molecules (i.e., BINP3, BIM) in CS1-null OPM2 vs. cnt-OPM2 cells (>4-fold alteration, p
PU.l Immortalizes Hematopoietic Progenitors in a GM-CSF Dependent Manner.

Leukemia arises as a result of a multistep progression of blood cells towards malignancy. Genetic blocks in cell development and uncontrolled proliferation are often key steps in leukemic transformation. PU.1 is a transcription factor that has several known roles in hematopoietic development. Knock-out studies of PU.1 demonstrate a requirement for PU.1 in the development of myeloid and lymphoid cells. In addition, PU.1 concentration can influence cell development in normal hematopoiesis. Low concentrations of PU.1 are required for lymphoid development, whereas high concentrations of PU.1 are required for myeloid development. Mice that have been genetically altered to express abnormally low concentrations of PU.1 develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML) due to a developmental block within the myeloid lineage. In contrast, abnormally high concentrations of PU.1 in mice are capable of inducing erythroleukemias. This can occur through Friend virus integration into the PU.1 gene, which leads to over-expression of PU.1, and the subsequent blocking of erythroid development due to PU.1’s ability to antagonize GATA-1 function. Here we report that ectopic expression of PU.1 is sufficient to immortalize hematopoietic progenitors in a GM-CSF-dependent manner. When fetal hematopoietic progenitors are infected with a PU.1 retrovirus and placed into culture with GM-CSF, a small fraction become immortalized. These PU.1-infected progenitors (PIP cells) are arrested in development and can grow for several months in culture. PU.1 Immortalized Progenitors (PIP) are GM-CSF restricted and dependent. In addition, PIP cells display blast-like morphology and express cell surface markers indicative of myeloid development. In contrast, gene expression analysis of clonal PIP cell lines demonstrates the expression of stem cell, myeloid, and erythroid specific genes. Finally, PIP cells display low levels of endogenous PU.1 production as shown by real-time PCR relative to wild-type cells. These observations support a model in which high levels of PU.1, in conjunction with signaling through the GM-CSF receptor, block cell differentiation at an early stage in hematopoiesis. This discovery provides new information into PU.1’s ability to control cell differentiation and its ability to induce leukemia.
Exosomes in the Diseased Brain: First Insights from In vivo Studies.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale size vesicles secreted by cells and are important mediators of intercellular communication and genetic exchange. Exosomes, EVs generated in endosomal multivesicular bodies, have been the focus of numerous publications as they have emerged as clinically valuable markers of disease states. Exosomes have been mostly studied from conditioned culture media and body fluids, with the difficulty of isolating exosomes from tissues having delayed their study in vivo. The implementation of a method designed to isolate exosomes from tissues, however, has yielded the first insights into characteristics of exosomes in the brain. It has been observed that brain exosomes from murine models of neurodegenerative diseases and human postmortem brains tend to mirror the protein content of the cells of origin, and interestingly, they are enriched with toxic proteins. Whether this enrichment with neurotoxic proteins is beneficial by relieving neurons of accumulated toxic material or detrimental to the brain by propagating pathogenicity throughout the brain remains to be answered. Here is summarized the first group of studies describing exosomes isolated from brain, results that demonstrate that exosomes in vivo reflect complex multicellular pathogenic processes in neurodegenerative disorders and the brain’s response to injury and damage.
Expert site supervisors’ cognitions when working with counselor trainees

ABSTRACTWe examined expert site supervisors’ supervision cognitions while preparing for, conducting, and evaluating their supervision sessions with master’s-level counseling students via concept mapping. Experts’ cognitions were summarized in four areas: Supervisory Relationship, Conceptualization of Supervision and Supervision Interventions, Administrative/Logistical Considerations of Supervision, and Assessment of Supervisees and Their Practice. We discuss results and offer implications for research, practice, and training.
Zero carbon dioxide national electric production strategy and cost estimate

Global average temperature has increased in the last one hundred years. This increase in temperature is labeled as global warming, which is due to different greenhouse gases that pollute the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the largest contributor, its main source being from the electricity production sector. There has been discussion by experts and organizations as to whether zero carbon dioxide emissions in this sector is possible by 2050. This paper studies and analyzes wind, nuclear, and hydroelectric power production to accomplish this goal. It also examines and selects the ideal turbine (onshore and offshore) for each year from 2018 to 2050 using estimated research and development. The scope focuses on night time base load to exclude solar energy from this study. The strategy represents the entire United States by focusing on 20 metropolitan areas (Case Shiller Metropolitan Areas). Due to time constraints, only a select 5 of the 20 Case Shiller metropolitan areas will be modeled. Using Mathematical Programming Language for linear programming, we optimized the number of each alternative in each region modeled. An economic model was used from National Renewable Energy Laboratory to estimate the job growth for the system in the areas. The analysis provides the cost and economic impact that the system will have on the regions. It is recommended that a method to levitate the price of the system is needed which can be in the form of carbon tax or governmental subsidies.
Endovascular Iliocaval Stent Reconstruction for Iliocaval Thrombosis: A Multi-Institutional International Practice Pattern Survey.

Background Limited guidelines for the treatment and management of acute and chronic iliocaval thrombosis are published in the literature. The purpose of this report is to present global iliocaval stent reconstruction practices by interventionalists. Methods A 45-question survey focusing on iliocaval stent reconstruction evaluation was distributed through the Open Forum and Venous Disease Service Line of the Society of Interventional Radiology Connect website from June 20, 2017 until September 7, 2017 and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe electronic newsletter on August 11, 2017. Results One hundred seven complete responses were received from interventional radiologists in the United States, 2 from South America, and 2 from Central America. 92.5% performed iliocaval reconstruction, and 79.8% performed the procedure for both acute and chronic iliocaval thrombosis. 82.8% completed a standardized physician assessment tool, and 91.9% obtained computed tomography (CT) venography before the procedure. 64.6% used intravascular ultrasound to guide reconstruction. 41.4% found blunt recanalization successful for >75% of patients. 63.6% used sharp recanalization for 75% of patients. 72.7% estimated their 1-year primary stent patency to be >75%. Conclusions Iliocaval reconstruction is performed by many interventionalists; however, there are global inconsistencies in practices, suggesting a need for further research and guideline development.
Die Behandlung infektbedingter Resektionsdefekte an Röhrenknochen durch Segmentverschiebung

Eine der schwerwiegendsten Formen einer Frakturheilungsstorung stellt die Infektspeudarthrose dar. Geht diese mit ausgedehnteren avitalen und infizierten Knochenanteilen einher, mussen zur Infektsanierung zum Teil ausgedehnte Resektionen durchgefuhrt werden. Nun verursachen segmentale Defekte an langen Rohrenknochen, zumindest ab einer Grose von 3 cm, erhebliche Schwierigkeiten bei der Rekonstruktion einer funktionstuchtigen und belastungsfahigen Extremitat. Die zum Wiederaufbau am haufigsten angewandten Techniken sind die autologe oder homologe Spongiosatransplantation, bzw. Interponate aus Rippenspanen, oder der freie, in letzter Zeit auch der gestielte Fibulatransfer. Alle diese Vorgehensweisen sind durch eine hohe Komplikationsrate belastet, nicht zuletzt dadurch, da die ursprungliche Rohrenform des Knochens nicht wiederhergestellt wird. Eine Alternative zur Uberbruckung ausgedehnter Resektionsdefekte an Rohrenknochen ist die Segmentverschiebung nach Ilisarow, die 1951 erstmals angegeben wurde. Der Vorteil dieser Methode besteht darin, das keinerlei autologes oder homologes Knochenmaterial erforderlich wird. Vielmehr wird ein durch Osteotomie, wenn moglich Kortikotomie, entstandenes Rohrensegment schrittweise uber einen Zugmechanismus in den ehemaligen Defekt hineingezogen, bis es diesen vollstandig uberbruckt. In dem aufgedehnten Osteotomie- bzw.
Simulating Electronic Transport in Semiconductor Nanostructures

Simulation of semiconductor devices has reached some maturity for device structures that can be described by the system of device equations given by Shockley [1, 2]. High energy transport, including hot electron effects such as impact ionization and gate currents, can be correctly simulated by full band Monte Carlo approaches [3] (solving Boltzmann-type equations) and has also matured into the realm of engineering; the missing pieces being mainly standardization and numerical efficiency. Correspondingly, commercial packages, which solve the Shockley equation system (even in three dimensions) and feature full band Monte Carlo post processors, are available or are in the final stages of development. Complex full band Monte Carlo device codes are also available [4].
Dear SEC: Please Don't Abdicate Your Jobs Act Responsibility to Make Forthcoming "Regulation A+" Exemption from Registration Available to Small Businesses

Title IV of the Jobs Act amends Section 3(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 by adding a new Section 3(b)(2). This new statute requires the Commission to adopt regulations (“Section 3(b)(2) Regulations”) that provide an exemption from registration for offerings of up to $50 million. The anticipated Section 3(b)(2) Regulations are often referred to as “Regulation A Plus.” The name used for Title IV of the Jobs Act – “Small Company Capital Formation” – indicates that the purpose of the legislation is to provide small businesses an efficient access external capital. The provisions of Title IV also suggest Regulation A as an appropriate model for the new Section 3(b)(2) Regulations (thus the popular moniker, “Regulation A Plus”). In order for the new Section 3(b)(2) Regulations to provide an efficient access to external capital for small businesses, the new Regulations must solve two problems that have destroyed Regulation A, causing it to fall into essentially total disuse. The first problem for Regulation A is that it is somewhat out of balance, requiring filing and disclosure requirements that may be overly burdensome and that unnecessarily drive up the offering costs of meeting the requirements for the exemption. The second problem – and one that is much more important regarding the non-use of Regulation A – is the effect of registration requirements under state blue sky laws. Meeting the state registration requirements drives the costs of Regulation A offerings to levels that price Regulation A out of the market for exemptions from registration. New Section 3(b)(2) provides the Commission with ample authority to construct new Section 3(b)(2) Regulations that remedy these problems for small businesses attempting to access external capital. The Commission is fully empowered to enact Section 3(b)(2) Regulations that properly balance investor protection and capital formation by requiring efficient levels of disclosures for Section 3(b)(2) offerings. The Commission is also fully empowered to preempt completely state authority over offerings under Section 3(b)(2) Regulations. Unfortunately, history demonstrates that the Commission is unwilling to use its delegated authority to expand the preemption of state authority over state blue sky registration requirements. Without complete preemption of state authority, the Section 3(b)(2) Regulations will be worthless to small businesses, wrecking the apparent purpose of Title IV of the Jobs Act, which is to provide small businesses with an efficient and balanced access to external capital.
Organics and Polymers with High Two-Photon Activities and their Applications

This review describes some of the recent developments in materials which exhibit enhanced two-photon absorption that can initiate photopolymerization or up-converted emission. Various optical methods including femtosecond time-resolved pump-probe experiments to characterize the two-photon properties are discussed. Finally, the applications of two-photon processes to optical power limiting, up-converted lasing, 3-D data storage, 3-D micro-fabrication, two-photon fluorescence microscopy and bio-imaging, and two-photon photodynamic therapy are presented.
Proton removal from B 13 to negative-parity states of Be 12

I have estimated the amount of $p\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{shell}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{(sd)}^{2}$ core excitation in $^{13}\mathrm{B}$ that involves an $sd$-shell proton, and then the spectroscopic factors for proton removal from $^{13}\mathrm{B}$ to negative-parity states of $^{12}\mathrm{Be}$. Results are $S\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, indicating that these states are unlikely to be populated in that reaction.