cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gender and disability among older adults in north and South India: differences associated with coresidence and marriage.

Women in most settings are morelikely than men to experience as well as reportpoor health and functional disabilities. Studies in the economically advanced countries(as in the US) have also shown an associationbetween gender, marital status and health anddisability. However, there is very littleinformation about gender differentials indisability among the elderly in developingcountries, especially those in South Asia. Also, little is known about the associationbetween gender, marital status, coresidencewith sons, and disability among older adults inthese countries. This study uses data from the National FamilyHealth Survey conducted in India in 1991–1992 toassess the gender disparities in functionalhealth among persons 55 years and older and tocompare the situation in the northern andsouthern parts of the country. Using logisticregression analysis, this study examines therelation between marital status, livingarrangements and functional status of olderadults in the states of Uttar Pradesh andHaryana in the north and Kerala and Tamil Naduin the south. The results confirm a female disadvantage inphysical impairments in the northern states,although these differences are not significantin the south. Marital status and coresidencewith sons is associated with impairments andthese associations show interestinginteractions.
Carbamoylated erythropoietin produces antidepressant-like effects in male and female mice

Abstract Major depressive disorder and related illnesses are globally prevalent, with a significant risk for suicidality if untreated. Antidepressant drugs that are currently prescribed do not benefit 30% of treated individuals. Furthermore, there is a delay of 3 or more weeks before a reduction in symptoms. Results from preclinical studies have indicated an important role for trophic factors in regulating behavior. Erythropoietin (Epo), which is widely prescribed for anemia, has been shown to produce robust neurotrophic actions in the CNS. Although Epo's antidepressant activity has been successfully demonstrated in multiple clinical trials, the inherent ability to elevate RBC counts and other hematological parameters preclude its development as a mainstream CNS drug. A chemically engineered derivative, carbamoylated Epo (Cepo) has no hematological activity, but retains the neurotrophic actions of Epo. Cepo is therefore an attractive candidate to be tested as an antidepressant. Objective: To evaluate the antidepressant properties of Cepo in established antidepressant-responsive rodent behavioral assays. Methods: Adult male and female BALB/c mice were used for this study. Cepo (30 μgrams/ kg BWT) or vehicle (PBS) was administered intraperitoneally for 4 days before the test of novelty induced hypophagia and subsequently at five hours before testing in forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT). To obtain mechanistic insight we examined the phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). Results: Administration of Cepo at 30 μgrams/ kg BWT, for 4 days produced significant reduction in latency to consume a palatable drink in a novel environment in male and female mice. Male BALB/c mice had a significant reduction in immobility in both tail suspension and forced swim tests, and female mice exhibited lower immobility in the forced swim test.
Additive effects of a small molecular PCNA inhibitor PCNA-I1S and DNA damaging agents on growth inhibition and DNA damage in prostate and lung cancer cells

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is essential for DNA replication and repair, and cell growth and survival. Previously, we identified a novel class of small molecules that bind directly to PCNA, stabilize PCNA trimer structure, reduce chromatin-associated PCNA, selectively inhibit tumor cell growth, and induce apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combinatorial effects of lead compound PCNA-I1S with DNA damaging agents on cell growth, DNA damage, and DNA repair in four lines of human prostate and lung cancer cells. The DNA damage agents used in the study include ionizing radiation source cesium-137 (Cs-137), chemotherapy drug cisplatin (cisPt), ultraviolet-C (UV-C), and oxidative compound H2O2. DNA damage was assessed using immunofluorescent staining of γH2AX and the Comet assay. The homologous recombination repair (HRR) was determined using a plasmid-based HRR reporter assay and the nucleotide excision repair (NER) was indirectly examined by the removal of UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). We found that PCNA-I1S inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner and significantly enhanced the cell growth inhibition induced by pretreatment with DNA damaging agents Cs-137 irradiation, UV-C, and cisPt. However, the additive growth inhibitory effects were not observed in cells pre-treated with PCNA-I1S, followed by treatment with cisPt. H2O2 enhanced the level of chromatin-bound PCNA in quiescent cells, which was attenuated by PCNA-I1S. DNA damage was induced in cells treated with either PCNA-I1S or cisPt alone and was significantly elevated in cells exposed to the combination of PCNA-I1S and cisPt. Finally, PCNA-I1S attenuated repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by HRR and the removal of CPD by NER. These data suggest that targeting PCNA with PCNA-I1S may provide a novel approach for enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in treatment of human prostate and lung cancer.
Stereo Imagery Based Depth Sensing in Diverse Outdoor Environments: Practical Considerations

Urban mapping for street-side environments (i.e., sidewalk environments rather than auto-centric ones) is just one of many new applications requiring simultaneous object detection and localization in outdoor scenes. Automated mapping has focused on car environments in support of vehicle travel, though pedestrian infrastructure maps, historical structure maps and recreational trail maps are as important in supporting urban life. Unfortunately, many of the auto-centric automated approaches cannot be leveraged in other outdoor use cases due to challenging and cost-prohibitive depth sensing hardware involving LiDar sensors and large computing resources. Using depth-sensing stereo cameras is cost-efficient, but little information is available detailing the best uses and efficacy of different systems in diverse outdoor environments. Our review highlights the complexity of localizing objects in real outdoor environments using stereo cameras and our comparative analysis approach to two common camera setups demonstrates the variation among depth-sensing cameras. We collect a modest dataset with side-by-side images for comparing two commonly used depth cameras, the ZED Stereo Camera (a passive stereo camera) and Intel® RealSense™Depth Camera D435 (an active IR stereo camera). We contrast system performance in diverse urban environments, and provide accuracy of depth measurement results based on data collected from each stereo sensor. We focus our discussion on practical considerations and objects that are commonly presented in the street environment but usually hard to map by hand.
Bounded VC-dimension implies the Schur-Erdos conjecture.

In 1916, Schur introduced the Ramsey number $r(3;m)$, which is the minimum integer $n$ such that for any $m$-coloring of the edges of the complete graph $K_n$, there is a monochromatic copy of $K_3$. He showed that $r(3;m) \leq O(m!)$, and a simple construction demonstrates that $r(3;m) \geq 2^{\Omega(m)}$. An old conjecture of Erd\H os states that $r(3;m) = 2^{\Theta(m)}$. In this note, we prove the conjecture for $m$-colorings with bounded VC-dimension, that is, for $m$-colorings with the property that the set system $\mathcal{F}$ induced by the neighborhoods of the vertices with respect to each color class has bounded VC-dimension.
Mental health status among women of reproductive age from underserved communities in the United States and the associations between depression and physical health. A cross-sectional study

Background In 2017, 46.6 million U.S. adults aged 18 or older self-reported as having mental illness of which 52.0% or 24.2 million are women age 18-49. Perinatal depression and anxiety are linked to adverse outcomes concerning pregnancy, maternal functioning, and healthy child development. Methods and findings Using the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), the objectives of the cross-sectional study are to assess the prevalence of self-reported mental health conditions among female patients of reproductive age and to examine the association between depression and physical health. Physical health conditions of interest included self-rated health, obesity, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes, which all have established associations with potential pregnancy complications and fetal health. The study found 40.8% of patients reported depression; 28.8% reported generalized anxiety; and 15.2% met the criteria for serious psychological distress on the Kessler 6 scale. Furthermore, patients with depression had two to three times higher odds of experiencing co-occurring physical health conditions. Conclusions This study expands the discourse on maternal mental health, throughout the preconception, post-partum, and inter-conception care periods to improve understanding of the inter-correlated physical and mental health issues that could impact pregnancy outcomes and life course trajectory. From 2014 to 2018, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has supported investments of nearly $750 million to improve and expand access to mental health and substance use disorder services for prevention, treatment, health education and awareness through comprehensive primary care integration. Moving forward, HRSA will implement strategic training and technical assistance (T/TA) framework that is designed to accelerate the adoption of science driven solutions in primary care in addressing depression for patients with co-occurring chronic conditions and advancing positive maternal outcomes.
Draft Genome Sequences of Novel Campylobacter Species Isolated from Nonhuman Primates.

ABSTRACT Campylobacter species are being increasingly isolated and associated with disease in humans and animals. Here, we describe four draft genome sequences of Campylobacter species from nonhuman primates. These include Campylobacter troglodytis, isolated from wild chimpanzees, and two likely new Campylobacter species isolated from a lemur, common marmoset, and cotton-top tamarin.
Behind the Scenes: COVID-19 Consequences on Broadcast Sports Production

Live events are central to television production Live sporting events, in particular, reliably draw big audiences, even though more consumers unsubscribe from cable to stream content on-demand Traditionally, the mediated production of these sporting events have used technical and production crews working together on-site at the event But technological advances have created a new production model, allowing the production crew to cover the event from a broadcast production hub, miles away, while the technical crew still works from the event itself These remote integration model productions have been implemented around the world and across all forms of sports broadcasting, following a push for economic efficiency - fundamental in a capitalist system This manuscript is a commentary on the effects of the COVID-19 global crisis on sports productions, with a focus on remote integration model productions More specifically, the authors argue that the number of remote sports productions will grow exponentially faster, due to the pandemic, than they would have under normal economic circumstances The consequences on sport media education and research are further discussed, and a call for much needed practice-based sports production research is made
Incorporation of a Nearshore Hydrodynamic Model into the Unmanned Cooperative Cueing and Intervention Automated Planner

Abstract : The overall goal for this project is to incorporate the Delft3D hydrodynamic model suite into the Unmanned Cooperative Cueing and Intervention Automated Planner (UCCI). This would allow the UUV system to incorporate real-time information into its routing, and also allow for possible feedback between the modeling system and the UUV system.
Self-efficacy and performance feedback: Impacts on cognitive load during creative thinking

Abstract Creative thinking is the ability to produce responses that are both original and useful. Like other complex thinking processes, creative thinking draws on higher-order cognitive resources. The impacts of feedback, cognitive load, and self-efficacy on traditional complex thinking activities are well documented; however, little is known about how these factors influence creative thinking, which is unique in its requirement of originality. We investigated the impacts of social comparison performance feedback and creative self-efficacy on cognitive load during two creative thinking (divergent thinking) tasks. Higher creative self-efficacy was associated with lower cognitive load during creative thinking. Positive feedback was associated with lower cognitive load compared to negative feedback. Higher cognitive load negatively impacted creative thinking performance, and the impacts of creative self-efficacy and performance feedback on creative thinking were partially mediated by cognitive load. Implications for providing feedback to students during creative thinking tasks are discussed.
Multi-component cancer prevention awareness program to improve adolescent HPV vaccine uptake.

We introduced a multi-component cancer prevention awareness program to primary care practices across New York State to evaluate its impact on adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates...
FAM171B is a novel polyglutamine protein widely expressed in the mammalian brain.

Abstract Mutation in proteins containing polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts has been shown to underlie a number of severe human neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s Disease and Spinocerebellar Ataxia. In this study, we identify and describe FAM171B as a novel polyQ protein containing fourteen consecutive glutamine residues in its National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) referenced sequence. Utilizing western blotting, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate that FAM171B is widely expressed in mouse brain with pronounced localization in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. Furthermore, immunofluorescence experiments reveal that FAM171B predominantly localizes to vesicle-like structures in the cytoplasm of neurons. Finally, bioinformatic analysis suggests that FAM171B is robustly expressed in human brain, and (similar to other polyQ disease genes) its polyQ tract is polymorphic within the general human population. Thus, as a polyQ protein that is expressed in brain, FAM171B should be considered a candidate gene for an as yet molecularly uncharacterized neurodegenerative disease.
Detection criteria and post-field sample processing influence results and cost efficiency of occupancy-based monitoring

Optimization of occupancy-based monitoring has focused on balancing the number of sites and surveys to minimize field efforts and costs. When survey techniques require post-field processing of samples to confirm species detections, there may be opportunities to further improve efficiency. We used scat-based noninvasive genetic sampling for kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) in Utah, USA, as a model system to assess post-field data processing strategies, evaluate the impacts of these strategies on estimates of occupancy and associations between parameters and predictors, and identify the most cost-effective approach. We identified scats with three criteria that varied in costs and reliability: (1) field-based identification (expert opinion), (2) statistical-based morphological identification, and (3) genetic-based identification (mitochondrial DNA). We also considered four novel post-field sample processing strategies that integrated statistical and genetic identifications to reduce costly genetic procedures, including (4) a combined statistical-genetic identification, (5) a genetic removal design, (6) a within-survey conditional-replicate design, and (7) a single-genetic-replicate with false-positive modeling design. We considered results based on genetic identification as the best approximation of truth and used this to evaluate the performance of alternatives. Field-based and statistical-based criteria prone to misidentification produced estimates of occupancy that were biased high (˜1.8 and 2.1 times higher than estimates without misidentifications, respectively). These criteria failed to recover associations between parameters and predictors consistent with genetic identification. The genetic removal design performed poorly, with limited detections leading to estimates that were biased high with poor precision and patterns inconsistent with genetic identification. Both statistical-genetic identification and the conditional-replicate design produced occupancy estimates comparable to genetic identification, while recovering the same model structure and associations at cost reductions of 67% and 74%, respectively. The false-positive design had the lowest cost (88% reduction) and recovered patterns consistent with genetic identification but had occupancy estimates that were ˜32% lower than estimated occupancy based on genetic identification. Our results demonstrate that careful consideration of detection criteria and post-field data processing can reduce costs without significantly altering resulting inferences. Combined with earlier guidance on sampling designs for occupancy modeling, these findings can aid managers in optimizing occupancy-based monitoring.
Electrochemical Approaches to Aptamer-Based Sensing

Motivated by the potential convenience of electronic detection, a wide range of electrochemical, aptamer-based sensors have been reported since the first was described only in 2005. Although many of these are simply electrochemical, aptamer-based equivalents of traditional immunochemical approaches (e.g., sandwich and competition assays employing electroactive signaling moieties), others exploit the unusual physical properties of aptamers, properties that render them uniquely well suited for application to impedance and folding-based electrochemical sensors. In particular, the ability of electrode-bound aptamers to undergo reversible, binding-induced folding provides a robust, reagentless means of transducing target binding into an electronic signal that is largely impervious to nonspecific signals arising from contaminants. This capability enables the direct detection of specific proteins at physiologically relevant, picomolar concentrations in blood serum and other complex, contaminant-ridden sample matrices.
RACIAL–ETHNIC THREAT, OUT-GROUP INTOLERANCE, AND SUPPORT FOR PUNISHING CRIMINALS: A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY*

Scholars often have used the group threat thesis to explain why punitiveness varies across places. This research regularly has found that punitiveness is harsher in places with a larger minority population. Yet researchers only have had a rudimentary grasp of why this is the case. Moreover, most prior research has focused only on the United States, giving us little knowledge of whether the group threat thesis is a viable explanation of cross-national differences in punitiveness. In the current study, we postulate that the relative size of the out-group population affects punitiveness indirectly, via its impact on individual intolerance toward ethnic out-groups. We test this thesis cross-nationally with data from individuals residing in 27 European countries. Our findings are consistent with the argument that greater racial/ethnic diversity at the country level affects individuals’ attitudes toward minority out-groups, which in turn increases their support for severely punishing criminal offenders.
“But She’s Not Black!”

Media stereotypes of angry black women have become more pervasive in recent years. This article explores the historic antecedents and current permutations of this stereotype, explaining how it synthesizes stereotypes from the Jim Crow era with more recent media depictions of black women and black professionals. The analysis focuses on portrayals of black women on the network television show, Ugly Betty. It explains why these portrayals can be regarded as a new translation of the tragic mulatta stereotype that has been infused with a colorblind discourse on race. This article also examines the results of an interview study with over 52 discussants who were exposed to excerpts from the show which provided several different examples of “angry black women”. Most of the discussants interpreted these portrayals through the lens of a colorblind discourse on race. However, they also compartmentalized the way they deployed this colorblind discourse, observing that portrayals of lighter skinned, professional class black females were not racial stereotypes but that portrayals of darker skinned, working class black females were racial stereotypes. The concluding discussion explains how these interpretive tendencies were informed by racialized interpretations of upper/lower class distinctions that were consistent with the thematic structure of the tragic mulatta stereotype.
Magma degassing during the Plinian eruption of Novarupta, Alaska, 1912

[1] We have modeled the nucleation and isothermal growth of bubbles in dacite from the 1912 Plinian eruption of Novarupta, Alaska. Bubble growth calculations account for the exsolution of H2O and CO2, beginning with bubble nucleation and ending when bubble sizes reproduced the observed size distribution of vesicles in Novarupta pumice clasts. Assuming classical nucleation theory, bubbles nucleated with a diameter of the order of 10−8 m and grew to sizes ranging from 10−6 m to greater than 10−3 m, the typical range of vesicle sizes found in Novarupta pumice. The smallest vesicles in Novarupta pumices are also the most abundant and bubbles with radii of 10−6 m to 10−5 m comprise almost 90% of the entire bubble population. We find that these bubbles must have nucleated and grown to their final size within a few 100 milliseconds. Despite these extremely fast growth rates, the pressures of exsolved volatiles contained within the bubbles remained high, up to about 107Pa in excess of ambient pressure. Assuming a closed-system, the potential energy of these compressed volatiles was sufficient to cause magma fragmentation, even though only a fraction of the pre-eruptive volatiles had exsolved. Unless the matrix glasses of Novarupta pyroclasts retains a large fraction of pre-eruptive volatiles, the majority of magmatic volatiles (80–90%) was likely lost by open-system degassing between magma fragmentation and quenching.
Maintenace and loss in tissue culture of specific cell characteristics.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on validity of the concept of dedifferentiation, as applied to tissue culture change and cell change in general. It enumerates some of the techniques used in current tissue culture studies of cell properties and discusses the significance of these related studies. Tissue culture studies have contributed greatly to enlarging the concept of cell differentiation: its initiation, its progression, and its maintenance. This system represents a refinement of these analytical procedures, in that it makes possible the independent study of interactions mediated through the medium, and interactions involving possible obligate cell contact or cell juxtaposition. A careful study of the relationship between growth and differentiation in cultured cells should include analyses of the effects of varying growth rate and duration of growth phase and their interdependence of degree of cell dispersion, and of substrate-mediated migration and cell-contact. The final position would yield expanded populations of functional cells for further maintenance or harvest.
Thermoelectric Magnetohydrodynamic Effects During Bridgman Semiconductor Crystal Growth with a Uniform Axial Magnetic Field: Large Hartmann-Number Asymptotic Solution

This paper treats the thermoelectric magnetohydrodynamic (TEMHD) effects during Bridgman semiconductor crystal growth in a cylindrical ampoule with a strong uniform axial magnetic field. The melt is bounded by a planar crystal-melt interface, the cylindrical ampoule surface and a planar free surface. Inertial effects are negligible everywhere with a sufficiently strong magnetic field, while viscous effects are important only in thin boundary layers. A parabolic temperature variation is assumed at the crystal-melt interface. The thermoelectric current circulates through the crystal and the Hartmann layer adjacent to the crystal-melt interface. There is no current in the core and in the free surface Hartmann layer. The axially uniform azimuthal velocity in the inviscid core region is zero at the centerline and at the ampoule wall, with a maximum at some radial position. The meridional melt motion involves radially inward flow near the crystal-melt interface. The differences between the numerical and asymptotic Bridgman models are discussed.
Deaf Readers as Bilinguals: An Examination of Deaf Readers’ Print Comprehension in Light of Current Advances in Bilingualism and Second Language Processing

Much work has examined whether deaf and hearing individuals’ reading strategies are qualitatively different, under the assumption that such differences might account for discrepancies in levels of reading achievement (cf., Allen 1986; Gallaudet Research Institute 2005; Holt 1994; Karchmer and Mitchell 2003; Traxler 2000; Wauters et al. 2006). While generalizing over the performance of deaf readers is not trivial, the evidence seems to converge on the reader’s quality of modality-independent language experience as the best predictor for reading abilities (Mayberry et al. 2011). In order to better understand the relationship between sign literacy and written literacy, more attention needs to be devoted to the fact that most deaf readers are bilingual in a signed and a written language and that, in most cases, the written language is, effectively, their second language. The growing body of research on bilingualism and L2 processing is rapidly advancing our understanding of the architecture of the bilingual brain and of the individual factors that might affect both production and comprehension in a second language. This body of research has great potential to illuminate aspects of deaf readers’ behavior that have heretofore appeared vexing. In turn, including deaf literacy studies within the larger context of research on bilingualism will contribute to a richer picture of the bilingual experience.
Changing maternal perceptions of healthy feeding: a novel intervention.

Summary Objective This study sought to better understand factors influencing mothers' perceptions about healthy feeding. Additionally, a social consensus intervention was used to try to change mothers' likelihood to serve healthy foods. Methods Mothers saw photographs of healthy and unhealthy snacks and meals and rated them on several factors that were hypothesized to predict the likelihood of serving the foods. Then, mothers were randomly assigned to the experimental or control condition. Those in the experimental condition received social consensus information about these foods, whereas the control condition did not. The change in perceptions in the control and experimental conditions was examined. Results Mothers rated healthy meals and snacks less favourably than unhealthy meals and snacks on factors including cost, preparation time and difficulty, and child preference. Furthermore, mothers' perceptions of foods as liked by their child, easy to prepare and ‘kid-friendly’ predicted higher likelihood to serve those foods. Finally, mothers were more likely to describe the healthy snack as kid-friendly and indicated being more likely to serve it after receiving favourable social norm information about the food. Conclusions The use of social consensus interventions to change parents' perceptions of healthy snacks may be one means of increasing the quality of children's diets.
Economic and Philosophical Implications of Hayek's 'Knowledge Problem'

We argue that the canonical reading of Hayek often falls short of the implications of Hayek’s insights. We present Hayek’s "knowledge problem" (how order in a society is possible without the required knowledge for that order being possessed by any particular individual), and we discuss some of the implications that follow from Hayek’s work. We show that Hayek’s "knowledge problem" has deep economic and philosophical implications.
Power GaAs FETs

This paper reviews progress in the development of GaAs FETs for microwave power applications. At Texas Instruments over 5W cw output power has been achieved from a single device at 9 GHz and over 1W at 16 GHz. (1-3) Fujitsu (4) and Bell Laboratories (5) have obtained 10W at 4 GHz. Power added efficiencies of over 30% were achieved at these power levels. Power FET structures that are being developed at Texas Instruments and other laboratories are described and compared. The most recently reported microwave performance results are given, and the possibilities for achieving higher power levels considered.
Grain sorghum and corn comparisons: Yield, economic and environmental responses

Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is often grown where water stress is expected. But, improved drought tolerance in corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids has resulted in increased dryland corn production in preference to grain sorghum. However, grain sorghum may still have a yield advantage over corn in drought prone environments. This study was conducted to determine if grain sorghum has either a yield or economic advantage over corn when drought or temperature stress occurs. Yield and weather data from crop performance testing programs in Kansas and Nebraska (1992-2005) were analyzed. Grain sorghum produced higher yields than corn in environments where corn yields were <6.4 Mg ha -1 . When net returns ($ ha -1 ) were considered for grain sorghum prices that were set at 70, 87, 100, and 117% of corn prices, grain sorghum net returns were higher than corn net returns when corn yields were ≤4.4, 6.6, 8.8, and 13.6 Mg ha -1 , respectively. Both corn and grain sorghum yields were positively correlated to June through August precipitation and negatively correlated to June through August maximum temperatures. The yield difference (grain sorghum minus corn) increased as July and August maximum temperatures increased. Monthly minimum temperatures affected corn yield less than grain sorghum yield. Producers in this region likely can minimize production risks by considering this historical yield information. At locations in this region where corn yields are consistently <6.4 Mg ha -1 , producers should consider producing grain sorghum.
Ecological Risk Assessment Approaches Within the Regulatory Framework

Ecological risk assessment has a short history but a framework similar to human health risk assessment. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) played a significant role in the development of the ecological risk process. Data developed and risk procedures used within TSCA and FIFRA have become generally standardized. Fundamental components of the risk process require data on the effects of chemicals in the form of concentration (or dose) — response profiles for species and an exposure profile to quantify the magnitude, spatial and temporal patterns of exposure relevant to significant biological endpoints being studied. Risk characterization generally involves comparing exposure and effects using point estimates (e.g., quotient method) but risk estimation is moving toward a probabilistic approach by comparing distributions of values with more consideration of the sources of uncertainty. Ecological testing guidelines in TSCA and FIFRA are d...
Feasibility of postmastectomy radiation therapy after TRAM flap breast reconstruction.

Background: Postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) has been shown to decrease locoregional failure rates in high-risk breast cancer patients following modified radical mastectomy. However, there had not been a study evaluating the effect of PORT in patients after transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction. Therefore, we evaluated flap viability, cosmetic results, and locoregional recurrence in patients who underwent TRAM flap reconstruction and PORT.
Electrical Field Enhanced Thermal Quenching of a Prominent thermally Stimulated Current Peak in Semi-insulating GaAs

Detailed experimental results are presented for a ‘‘thermal quenching’’ of thermal stimulated current signals in the most prominent trap in undoped semi‐insulating (SI) GaAs, T5 with an activation energy of 0.27–0.31 eV. A possible model for the thermal quenching of T5 is discussed, emphasizing the thermally stimulated nature of the quenching process, the effect of electric field and the formation of high‐field domains. The thermal quenching of T5 can frequency be observed in SI GaAs grown by the vertical gradient freeze (VGF) technique, or by the liquid encapsulated Czochralski (LEC) technique under certain conditions.
Spatial disparity affects visual-auditory interactions in human sensorimotor processing

Information from the auditory and visual systems converges in the nervous system with physiological and behavioral consequences. Most of our knowledge about the rules governing such convergence has been obtained in experiments where the strength or the timing of the individual auditory and visual stimuli has been varied. Relatively little attention has been paid to the spatial relationship between different modalities of stimuli in multisensory experiments. We studied saccadic reaction times of human subjects to bimodal auditory and visual stimulus presentations under two conditions: first, with the targets spatially coincident and, second, with various degrees of spatial separation or disparity. In the first experiment, we found that the saccadic reaction times were consistently shorter than would be predicted by independent processing of information about the visual and auditory targets. These results suggest convergence of multimodal information at one or more loci within the nervous system. In the second experiment, we found that saccadic latency gradually increased as spatial distance between the auditory and visual targets increased. Evidence for neural summation was found over a wide range of spatial disparities. These results suggest that multisensory information can be integrated and have significant influences on behavior over a surprisingly large range of spatial disparity.
Synthesis of the C8-Deoxyguanosine Adduct of the Food Mutagen IQ

The C8-2‘-deoxyguanosine adduct of the food mutagen 2-amino-3-methylimadazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ) has been synthesized. The key step is a palladium-catalyzed N-arylation of a suitably protected 8-bromo-2‘-deoxygunaosine derivative.
High G/C content of cohesive overhangs renders DNA end joining Ku-independent.

Abstract Ku plays an important role in the repair of double strand DNA breaks by non-homologous DNA end joining (NHEJ). Ku is thought to exert its function by aligning the two DNA ends. A previous study showed that the joining of certain cohesive DNA ends in cell-free in vitro reactions was independent of Ku [Mol. Cell. Biol. 19 (1999) 2585]. To investigate a possible correlation between Ku-dependence of DNA end joining reactions and the strength of base pair interactions between cohesive ends, we constructed a series of repair substrates with either 3′- or 5′-overhangs, which consisted entirely of either A/T or G/C residues. We found that after Ku-immunodepletion of the extract, the joining of cohesive ends that associate by the formation of four A:T base pairs was reduced, while the joining of ends that associate through four G:C base pairs was unaffected or slightly stimulated. The precision of the repair was not reduced in Ku-independent reactions. Our results indicate that the requirement for Ku is dependent on how stably the two cohesive DNA ends can associate by base-pairing. Two independent assays for protein–DNA interactions did not reveal any differences in Ku binding to substrates with A/T and G/C overhangs, suggesting that in this system Ku is recruited to the repair site regardless of whether it is functionally required or not. The finding that Ku is dispensable for efficient and precise joining of ends with cohesive G/C overhangs also suggests that alignment of DNA ends may be the sole function of Ku during NHEJ.
Characterization of Pd–Cu membranes fabricated by surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP) for hydrogen separation

Abstract Pd–Cu composite membranes on microporous stainless steel (MPSS) substrate were fabricated using surfactant induced electroless plating (SIEP). In the SIEP method, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB), a cationic surfactant, was used in Pd- and Cu-baths for the sequential deposition of metals on MPSS substrates. The SIEP Pd–Cu membrane performance was compared with membranes fabricated by conventional electroless plating (CEP). The pre- and post-annealing characterizations of these membranes were carried out by SEM, XRD, EDX and AFM studies. The SEM images showed a significant improvement of the membrane surface morphology, in terms of metal grain structures and grain agglomeration compared to the CEP membranes. The SEM images and helium gas-tightness studies indicated that dense and thinner films of Pd–Cu can be produced with shorter deposition time using SIEP method. From XRD, cross-sectional SEM and EDS studies, alloying of Pd–Cu was confirmed at an annealing temperature of 773 K under hydrogen environment. These membranes were also studied for H 2 perm-selectivity as a function of temperature and feed pressure. SIEP membranes had significantly higher H 2 perm-selectivity compared to CEP membranes. Under thermal cycling (573 K – 873 K – 573 K), the SIEP Pd–Cu membrane was stable and retained hydrogen permeation characteristics for over three months of operation.
Prevalence of Conservation Design in an Agriculture-Dominated Landscape: The Case of Northern Indiana

We examined the prevalence of residential development that occurs with consideration of the natural features of the site, known as conservation design, within county-level planning jurisdictions across Northern Indiana. Using data from telephone interviews with representatives of planning departments, jurisdictions were ranked based on reported use of conservation design. Three categories of use emerged from the data: no use, use of individual practices associated with conservation design, and integration of multiple conservation design practices. Qualitative data analysis revealed that conservation design practices were not being used widely and, when used, were often used to fulfill stormwater requirements. Statistical analysis, using data from interviews, spatial data sets, and the U.S. Census Bureau, identified several significant positive predictors of the levels of conservation design use including conversion of forest or agricultural land cover to urban uses and education levels in the jurisdiction. Many of the interviewees noted that agricultural land is perceived to meet open space needs within their counties. Given that agricultural land does not fully meet all ecosystem needs, education about the benefits of other types of open space is suggested.
Radioligand binding and immunoautoradiographic evidence for a lack of toxicity to dopaminergic nerve terminals in human cocaine overdose victims.

Abstract Radioligand binding to and immunolabeling of transport sites associated with monoamine-containing synaptic vesicles affords a novel approach for mapping the integrity of dopaminergic (DAergic) nerve terminals. The present study used [125I]iodovinyltetrabenzine ([125I]TBZ) and a fusion protein antibody directed at the large intraluminal loop of the neuronal vesicular monoamine transporter (hVMAT2-loop) as probes to assess the effects of chronic cocaine use on the integrity of DAergic nerve terminals in the striatum of cocaine fatalities. Visualization of [125I]TBZ binding in human brain revealed a distinct pattern of labeling throughout the rostral-caudal extent of the striatum. Saturation binding of [125I]TBZ in striatal membranes demonstrated a single high affinity site (Kd = 2.3 ± 0.9 nM and Bmax = 55.5 ± 8.1 pmol/g tissue) with a pharmacological profile (tetrabenazine ≥ iodovinyltetrabenazine > ketanserin ≥ reserpine > haloperidol > GBR 12909) consistent with the specific labeling of hVMAT2. Quantitative in vitro autoradiography demonstrated no significant alteration in the density of [125I]TBZ binding sites in the anterior and posterior sectors of the striatum in cocaine fatalities with and without preterminal excited delirium as compared to drug-free and age-matched control subjects. Similarly, the levels of hVMAT2-loop immunoreactivity were not significantly different across control and cocaine fatality groups. The results demonstrate the lack of an alteration in [125I]TBZ binding sites and hVMAT2 protein in the striatum from a young cohort of cocaine fatalities. Since striatal VMAT2 is primarily associated with DAergic nerve terminals, these results suggest that chronic cocaine use failed to affect the integrity of striatal DAergic nerve terminals.
Using meta conjugation to enhance charge separation versus charge recombination in phenylacetylene donor-bridge-acceptor complexes.

A pair of donor−bridge−acceptor electron-transfer complexes, with a carbazole donor and a naphthalimide acceptor connected by either a para- or meta-conjugated phenylacetylene bridge, are synthesized and studied using time-resolved and steady-state spectroscopy. These experiments show that the charge separation times, which depend on the coupling of the donor and acceptor through the excited bridge moiety, are similar for the two molecules (Meta and Para). The charge recombination time, however, is a factor of 10 slower for Meta than for Para. These results are related to changes in the electronic coupling of the bridge depending on its electronic state, and show that meta-conjugated bridges provide a possible motif for the design of asymmetric molecular wires.
Mixed infection with human cytomegalovirus and human polyomavirus (BKV)

Mixed infection, the infection of a single cell by two distinguishable viruses, has been demonstrated electron microscopically in human embryo lung (HEL) and human embryo kidney (HEK) cells infected with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human polyomavirus (BKV). There was no evidence of enhancement of HCMV by BKV in either cell system; however, in HEL cells under certain conditions, HCMV enhanced the growth rate of BKV. Since both BKV and HCMV are often found in the urine of immunosuppressed patients, the enhancement of BKV by HCMV may be of clinical significance.
Electron-stimulated dissociation of ammonia adsorbed on Ge(100)

Abstract Electron-stimulated dissociation of adsorbed ammonia on Ge(100) at 110 K was studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), electron-stimulated desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electron-induced dissociation and nitridation of the Si(100) surface using ammonia as a precursor has been extensively explored recently in our laboratory. Since Ge(100) exhibits the same (2×1) reconstruction as does Si(100), we have initiated studies to determine whether this similarity extends to germanium nitride formation stimulated by low energy electron irradiation. TPD spectra over a wide coverage range are shown indicating presence of several types of states denoted by α, β, and γ, depending upon the exposure range. No evidence was found for dissociation of ammonia upon adsorption regardless of the coverage. XPS studies of binding energy changes associated with both the N 1s and Ge 2p3/2 states will be presented resulting from electron irradiation of adsorbed ammonia, which indicates formation of germanium nitride. Time-of-flight spectra of desorbing H+ will also be shown over a wide range of coverages. A recently observed phenomenon characterized as electron-stimulated associative desorption will also be discussed in which irradiation of a condensed layer of ammonia results in desorption of neutral H2 and N2 as well as several molecular ions.
Musculoskeletal: what is different in children? Playing in "bouncy house": injures foot: pain for 1 week.

A 3-year-old male was playing in his “bouncy house,” and while he was getting out of the house, he fell and then started to limp. The mother administered an analgesic, and he seemed to be a little better. However, symptoms and pain did not subside for a week, and he was brought in to our emergency room (ER) for re-evaluation. When he arrived to our ER, he was still limping and really did not want to put full weight on his right lower extremity. There was some swelling and bruising over the dorsum of the foot, and he was tender to palpation. Otherwise, he was normal, and radiographs of his right foot with comparative views of the left foot were obtained (Fig. 1). Do you see a fracture? Discussion
Nature-Inspired Design Techniques for Ultra-Wideband Aperiodic Antenna Arrays

Over the past few decades, much research has been invested in the exploration of wideband and ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna arrays. The goals of such array designs are to determine the best element arrangements, which yield radiation patterns possessing the highest degrees of side lobe suppression, and no grating lobes over the largest possible operating bandwidths. It has been recently shown that nature-inspired array-design methodologies can provide solutions that exhibit these ultra-wideband characteristics. This article provides an overview of two such designs: linear polyfractal arrays, and planar arrays of aperiodic tilings. Robust nature-inspired genetic-algorithm optimization techniques were utilized in the design of both types of arrays in order to obtain the best-possible UWB performance. This article also discusses the fabrication and experimental validation of two 32-element linear polyfractal array-design prototypes, which exhibited close agreement to the radiation performance predicted by simulation. These experimentally validated arrays possessed wide bandwidths with suppressed grating lobes and relatively low sidelobes for their size (-16.3 dB at f0 and -5.39 dB at f0)Additional simulations discussed in this paper showed that the benefits of these methodologies are amplified when applied to larger sized array designs (Le., arrays with larger element counts). One example exhibited a peak sidelobe level less than -19.34 dB over a 40:1 bandwidth.
Normal Response Curve to Exercise of Relative Cardiac Output Measured with Radioiodinated Serum Albumin

A simple, relatively precise, and clinically applicable indirect method of determining relative cardiac output is presented. The principle involved is a modification of the dye-dilution principle and is performed by external monitoring of intravenously injected radioiodinated serum albumin combined with a standard detecting and recording device. This procedure was performed serially before and after a standard Master test, and the results in 19 healthy individuals describe a relative cardiac output exercise response curve for normal individuals. The utilization of cardiac output in the manner presented may add another clinical measurement of cardiac function.