cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of attrition among children receiving trauma-focused treatment.

Objectives Identifying the factors related to premature termination from trauma-focused child therapy is an important first step in ultimately preventing attrition in at-risk families. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate whether demographic factors and pretreatment symptom levels were associated with premature termination among children who received trauma-focused treatment. Because different definitions of attrition may influence results, candidate factors were examined in relation to 2 operational definitions of attrition. Method Four hundred and sixty-six children (ages 2-18 years; M = 9.23, SD = 3.78; 66.1% females) who were referred to a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) for trauma-focused therapy were included in the study. Demographic and family variables, characteristics of the traumatic event, and caregiver- and child-reported pretreatment symptoms levels were assessed in relation to both clinician-rated treatment status and whether the child received an adequate dose of treatment (i.e., ≥12 sessions). Results Several demographic factors (e.g., child's age, minority status, household income, maternal years of education), Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, type of treatment received, number of traumatic events, and caregiver-rated pretreatment symptom levels were related to clinician-rated treatment status. Relatively fewer factors were associated with the adequate dose operationalization of attrition. Children's symptom reports were unrelated to either attrition definition. Conclusions Demographic and family factors, trauma characteristics, and level of caregiver-reported symptoms may help identify families at risk for premature termination. Efforts to understand the interactions between attrition factors, as well the use of different operational definitions in relation to premature termination, are warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record
Phase II study of a novel taxane (Cabazitaxel-XRP 6258) in previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Purpose Given the success of cabazitaxel in patients with prostate cancer who progressed after receiving prior chemotherapy, its preclinical efficacy in various cell lines and possible ability to cross blood-brain barrier, cabazitaxel was hypothesized to increase objective response rate (ORR) in second-line setting in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Clinical Applications of Proteomics

This chapter provides an overview of potential and current clinical applications of proteomics. Although the clinical applications of protein microarrays are discussed in this chapter, we particularly emphasize the potential utilization of mass spectrometry-based approaches for diagnosis, biomarker detection, and quantitation.
Dehydroleucodine Induces a TP73-dependent Transcriptional Regulation of Multiple Cell Death Target Genes in Human Glioblastoma Cells.

Background Dehydroleucodine, a natural sesquiterpene lactone from Artemisia douglassiana Besser (Argentine) and Gynoxys verrucosa (Ecuador). Objective To define the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of dehydroleucodine on the human glioblastoma cells. Method Various techniques (cDNA expression array, real-time quantitative PCR, chromatin immunprecipitation, luciferase reporter assay, use of phosphospecific antibodies, immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting, apoptosis and autophagy assays) were employed to define and validate multiple molecular gene targets affected in human glioblastoma cells upon dehydroleucodine exposure. Results Dehydroleucodine exposure upregulated the total and phosphorylated (p-Y99) levels of TP73 in U87- MG glioblastoma cells. We found that TP73 silencing led to a partial rescue of U87-MG cells from the cell death induced by dehydroleucodine. Upon the dehydroleucodine exposure numerous gene targets were upregulated and downregulated through a TP73-dependent transcriptional mechanism. Some of these gene targets are known to be involved in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis. Dehydroleucodine induced the TP73 binding to the specific genes promoters (CDKN1A, BAX, TP53AIP1, CYLD, RIPK1, and APG5L). Moreover, the exposure of U87-MG cells to dehydroleucodine upregulated the protein levels of CDKN1A, BAX, TP53AIP1, CYLD, RIPK1, APG5L, and downregulated the CASP8 level. The formation of RIPK1 protein complexes and phosphorylation of MLKL were induced by dehydroleucodine supporting the notion of multiple cell death mechanisms implicated in the tumor cell response to dehydroleucodine. Conclusion This multifaceted study led to a conclusion that dehydroleucodine induces the phosphorylation of tumor protein TP73 and in turn activates numerous TP73-target genes regulating apoptosis, autophagy and necroptosis in human glioblastoma cells..
Utility of a multidisciplinary tumor board in the management of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal diseases: an observational study

Abstract Background & objectives Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTBs) are frequently employed in cancer centers but their value has been debated. We reviewed the decision-making process and resource utilization of our MDTB to assess its utility in the management of pancreatic and upper gastrointestinal tract conditions. Methods A prospectively-collected database was reviewed over a 12-month period. The primary outcome was change in management plan as a result of case discussion. Secondary outcomes included resources required to hold MDTB, survival, and adherence to treatment guidelines. Results Four hundred seventy cases were reviewed. MDTB resulted in a change in the proposed plan of management in 101 of 402 evaluable cases (25.1%). New plans favored obtaining additional diagnostic workup. No recorded variables were associated with a change in plan. For newly-diagnosed cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (n = 33), survival time was not impacted by MDTB (p = .154) and adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines was 100%. The estimated cost of physician time per case reviewed was $190. Conclusions Our MDTB influences treatment decisions in a sizeable number of cases with excellent adherence to national guidelines. However, this requires significant time expenditure and may not impact outcomes. Regular assessments of the effectiveness of MDTBs should be undertaken.
Content-Based Textual Big Data Analysis and Compression

With the growing enhancement of technology and the Internet, the number of people who are using the Internet is increasing daily. Users are engaged in web searching and accessing different types of websites, such as social media, banking, etc. As a result, a large volume of data is being generated in every day. It is necessary to load this data for analysis purposes. However, memory space and transmission time are the most important factors of limited processing. In most cases, we only need to extract the important textual data from these vast raw datasets. In this work, we propose content-based compression (CBC) for textual data analysis on the basis of the Huffman Code. The data is pre-analyzed to find very high frequency words and then a shorter symbol is inserted to replace those words. This compression approach is performed in an effort to maintain the original format of the data so that, compressed data structure could be completely transparent to Hadoop platform. The algorithm is evaluated on a set of real world data sets (e.g. Amazon movie review, food review, etc.) and a 52.4% average data size reduction is obtained from the experiment. Though this gain may seem modest, this can be supplementary to all other compression optimization techniques. Furthermore, the proposed technique can be effectively applied for the big data optimization purpose.
Enhancing the Science of Discovery in Public Health Systems and Services Research Through Participatory Research Methods.

Abstract The objective was to combine cost analysis and participatory research to identify actionable cost-saving opportunities in public health services for sexually transmitted infections (STI). This study used a mixed-methods approach of analyzing Florida public health data, combined with participatory research approaches to data collection including quantitative web-based surveys, qualitative in-depth interviews, and group discussions. Florida surveillance and administrative data on STIs and county health department (CHD) costs of services for 2012 were analyzed in addition to primary data collected from all Florida CHDs during 2014 and 2015. Variations in STI service delivery practices were the primary variables of concern. Variations in practices, rather than demographic factors such as size of county or STI rates, were associated with variations in cost. Five identified variations in practices were rated for cost savings, no or minimal adverse health impact, and ease of implementation. Following di...
The Evolving Role of the Relationship between Optic Nerve Structure and Function in Glaucoma.

The relationship between functional vision loss and structural changes of the optic nerve head and retinal ganglion cells is the hallmark of glaucoma diagnosis. Understanding and measuring this relationship has been the focus of numerous studies, the goal of which have been to improve glaucoma diagnosis and detection of glaucoma worsening. In this review, a historical perspective is used to understand structure–function relationships in glaucoma and their application to improve glaucoma diagnosis and monitoring. Initially, histologic studies that link visual field sensitivity to retinal ganglion cell count are discussed. Additionally, those studies that determined the mathematical relationship between visual field sensitivity and ganglion cell number are reviewed. Next, those studies that attempt to create a map of the structure–function relationship using fundus photography and visual field sensitivity are examined. Subsequently, studies that use more recent imaging technology, such as optical coherence tomography, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, or scanning laser perimetry, to measure structure quantitatively in vivo and to correlate these measures with automated perimetry are explored. Among these studies that use advanced imaging, those that use cross-sectional data to explore structure–function relationships to improve glaucoma diagnosis first are discussed. Second, those studies that use longitudinal data to improve detection of worsening are reviewed. Finally, areas of further research and steps needed to implement structure–function relationships clinically are explored.
Measurement of the work function of Y1Ba2Cu3O7−δ under ambient conditions

The photoelectric work function of samples of Y1Ba2Cu3O7−δ of approximately 40 μm diameter was measured under ambient temperature and atmosphere in an electrodynamic balance. The measured values had an average of 4.98 eV and a standard deviation of 0.24 eV. The minimum value was 4.46 eV and the maximum was 5.52 eV.
Clinical and Histopathologic Correlates and Management Strategies for Inflammatory Myofibroblastic tumor of the lung. A case series and review of the literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a mesenchymal neoplasm that may arise in soft tissues of nearly every organ. Although IMTs are the most common lung tumors in pediatric populations, these tumors are extremely rare in adults, constituting less than 1% of adult lung tumors. IMTs are characterized by proliferating spindle cells with variable inflammatory component. The biological behavior of lung IMTs in adults is highly unpredictable, which confounds diagnosis and treatment. We retrospectively investigated patients with pulmonary lesions and the histopathologic diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor or its synonymous names (Plasma Cell Granuloma, xanthogranuloma, inflammatory pseudotumor, fibroxanthoma, and fibrous histiocytoma) at the MD Anderson Cancer Institute in the period between August 2000 and August 2016. We describe 7 adult cases of IMT of the lung that were diagnosed at MD Anderson Cancer Center. These cases highlight the tumor's variability in terms of clinical presentation, histopathology, and biologic behavior, and underscore the challenges in the management of these rare lung neoplasms.
Models of the Skeletal System

To define inertial properties of the body segments and ways in which they are joined together to form kinematic linkage models of the musculoskeletal system.
Marriage, Social Control, and Health Behavior: A Dyadic Analysis of Same-sex and Different-sex Couples.

Prior research based on studies of heterosexual populations suggests that men’s health benefits more from marriage than women’s, in part because women do more than men to influence the health habit...
Portable High-Frequency Electrodynamic Force Standards

We describe high-frequency electrodynamic force standards. Such standards can be calibrated voice coils, or high-frequency Kibble (watt) balances. We discuss the design of such devices and present example operating parameters for a 10 N Kibble balance force standard designed for operation to frequencies up to 20 kHz.
Functionalization-Induced Self-Assembly of Block Copolymers for Nanoparticle Synthesis

Nanoparticle synthesis was demonstrated via functionalization-induced self-assembly (FISA) of block copolymers using Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling. In situ self-assembly was triggered in organic me...
Studies on effect of shape of cut on growth-stress induced cracking in cut timber

Using the assumptions made on growth-stress related parameters in Part I, several optimization problems are posed. Finite element and optimization techniques show that for axisymmetric geometries, while cracking may be reduced by making cuts of special shapes, a compensating amount of wood is destroyed by making the cut. Also included in this study are banding of the log and stepped cuts with application of radial pressure. The results show that some combinations of radial pressure and the extent over which it is applied remove the most highly stressed wood.
Electropolymerized Porous Conjugated Polymer Film as an Electrode for a Stable, High Energy Density Thin Film Asymmetric Supercapacitor

A novel π-conjugated monomer tert-butyl 3,8-di([2,2′-bithiophen]-5-yl)-6- oxophenanthridine-5(6H)-carboxylate (PNBTH-Boc) with a labile side chain was synthesized. The monomer was electropolymerize...
Perceived Effects of a Correctional Health Education Service-Learning Program.

Partnerships between educational institutions and others exist in K72 and higher education. They exist between schools and private businesses, universities and assorted non-profit agencies, and between separate educational institutions. Recognizing the growing influence of higher education programs in service-learning situations, this research focused on one such partnership that exists between Montana Tech of The University of Montana and the Montana Department of Corrections. This article focuses on the subjective perceptions of college students and inmate students regarding their experiences with the Continuing Health Education (CHE) program offered through the Montana State Prisons Wellness Program. The results of this case study showed that both groups perceived a benefit as a result of their involvement in the CHE program. The implications to educators and correctional professionals are to actively seek partnerships with other organizations and institutions that are capable of providing these types of services and experiences. Introduction Background The Montana State Prison (MSP) Wellness Program was designed to provide educational and service activities to male inmates for the purpose of improving health status and increasing knowledge on significant health issues relevant to contemporary society. The Applied Health students at Montana Tech of the University of Montana aided in the delivery of the MSP Wellness Program. These services and activities were designed to meet the goals of Healthy People 2010, a national prevention agenda written in a collaborative fashion by governmental agencies and highly regarded health educators.
Strengths and limitations of two cannabis-impaired driving detection methods: a review of the literature

Background: Recent cannabis use is associated with an approximate two-fold increase in automobile crash risk, but detecting cannabis-impaired driving remains a challenge.Objectives and Methods: In this perspective, the pros and cons of two types of assessments arising from those used to detect alcohol-impaired driving are discussed in the context of cannabis-impaired driving.Results: Some laws rely on tests to detect whether blood or breath levels exceed a legally defined (per se) threshold. These laws rely on clear and consistent relationships across individuals between detectable drug concentrations and the amount consumed, crash risk, or degree of driver impairment. However, unlike alcohol, there is poor correspondence between detected levels of the primary active constituent of cannabis or its metabolites and the amount consumed or its behavioral effects. Field sobriety tests assess impairment on functional tests calibrated to reflect actual driving-impairment and validated to predict traffic safety risk. However, functional tests for cannabis-impaired driving have not been developed or validated, and the degree of impairment resulting from recent cannabis use is difficult to distinguish from other conditions such as advancing age or use of certain medications.Conclusions: Although standard field sobriety tests have advantages over per se tests for cannabis-impaired driving, limitations of both leave cannabis users and law enforcement officials little guidance in assessing an individual's driving fitness after recent cannabis use. General strategies for detecting and preventing impaired driving regardless of the cause would be preferable to establishing specific methods for every situation or substance that could impair driving.
Prevalence of Business Models in Global OTT Video Services: A Cluster Analysis

This paper is an empirical analysis of the prevalence of business models in the Over The Top (OTT) video content distribution sector. From a review of the literature on taxonomies of OTT business m...
Optimal Power Control with Channel Uncertainty in Ad Hoc Networks

We consider a practical ad hoc network where the channel gains from the transmitters to the receivers are only known through their mean and covariance rather than complete distribution functions. Our goal is to minimize the weighted sum of transmission powers with certain throughput guarantees. Under such limited channel state information (due to channel uncertainty), we exploit chance-constrained programming (CCP), which allows occasional violation of throughput threshold as long as the probability of such violation is below a small tolerable constant (risk level). We show that by setting different risk levels, we are able to achieve a trade-off between controlled throughput violation (risk) and minimum power consumption in the network. Through extensive simulations, we show that our proposed solution is significantly better than conventional worst-case optimization (with no risk tolerance) in terms of feasibility and objective value.
Rare Pulmonary Connective Tissue Type Mast Cells Regulate Lung Endothelial Cell Angiogenesis

Within the human lung, mast cells typically reside adjacent to the conducting airway and assume a mucosal phenotype (MCT). In rare pathologic conditions, connective tissue phenotype mast cells (MCTCs) can be found in the lung parenchyma. MCTCs accumulate in the lungs of infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease associated with preterm birth, which is characterized by pulmonary vascular dysmorphia. The human mast cell line (LUVA) was used to model MCTCs or MCTs. The ability of MCTCs to affect vascular organization during fetal lung development was tested in mouse lung explant cultures. The effect of MCTCs on in vitro tube formation and barrier function was studied using primary fetal human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. The mechanistic role of MCTC proteases was tested using inhibitors. MCTCLUVA but not MCTLUVA was associated with vascular dysmorphia in lung explants. In vitro, the addition of MCTCLUVA potentiated fetal human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell interactions, inhibited tube stability, and disrupted endothelial cell junctions. Protease inhibitors ameliorated the ability of MCTCLUVA to alter endothelial cell angiogenic activities in vitro and ex vivo. These data indicate that MCTCs may directly contribute to disrupted angiogenesis in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A better understanding of factors that regulate mast cell subtype and their different effector functions is essential.
Efficacy and toxicity of immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in gynecologic cancers.

e18092Background: There is limited data on outcomes for gynecologic cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) outside the scope of clinical trials. Here we present our Institu...
Artificial Intelligence, LLC: Corporate Personhood as Tort Reform

Our legal system has long tried to fit the square peg of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the round hole of the current tort regime, overlooking the inability of traditional liability schemes to address the nuances of how AI technology creates harms. The current tort regime deals out rough justice—using strict liability for some AI products and using the negligence rule for other AI services—both of which are insufficiently tailored to achieve public policy objectives. Under a strict liability regime where manufacturers are always held liable for the faults of their technology regardless of knowledge or precautionary measures, firms are incentivized to play it safe and stifle innovation. But even with this cautionary stance, the goals of strict liability cannot be met due to the unique nature of AI technology: its mistakes are merely “efficient errors”—they appropriately surpass the human baseline, they are game theory problems intended for a jury, they are necessary to train a robust system, or they are harmless but misclassified. Under a negligence liability regime where the onus falls entirely on consumers to prove the element of causation, victimized consumers must surmount the difficult hurdle of tracing the vectors of causation through the “black box” of algorithms. Unable to do so, many are left without sufficient recourse or compensation. This Article proposes a new framework to regulate AI technologies: bestowing corporate personhood to AI systems. First, the corporate personality trait of “limited liability” strikes an optimal balance in determining liability—it would both compensate victims (for instance, through obligations to carry insurance and a straightforward burden of causation) while holding manufacturers responsible only when the infraction is egregious (for instance, through veil-piercing). Second, corporate personhood is “divisible”—meaning not all corporate personality traits need to be granted—which circumvents many of the philosophical criticisms of giving AI the complete set of rights of full legal personhood. Third, innovation incentives weigh heavily in favor of shifting to a tort regime better tailored to the potential promises and unique harms of AI.
Can We Be Colleagues

Bulletin editor Richard Newton reflects on the meaning of collegiality. Rather than a simple connection between co-workers, Newton suggests that the term is best understood as a relationship to be tended. This issue of the Bulletin reflects on the tumultuous events of 2020 and showcases the tremendous work scholars of religion have been doing in the face of the moment’s challenges. It also introduces a new advisory board while announcing the publication’s 50th anniversary, a moment that Newton hopes to celebrate— as colleagues— in future issues.
Effect of preoperative versus postoperative use of transversus abdominis plane block with plain 0.25 % bupivacaine on postoperative opioid use: a retrospective study

Enhanced recovery protocols optimize pain control via multimodal approaches that include transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative vs. postoperative plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP block on postoperative opioid use after colorectal surgery. A retrospective cohort study comparing postoperative opioid use in patients who received preoperative (n = 240) vs. postoperative (n = 22) plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP blocks. The study was conducted in a single tertiary care institution and included patients who underwent colorectal resections between August 2018 and January 2020. The primary outcome of the study was postoperative opioid use. Secondary outcomes included operative details, length of stay, reoperation, and readmission rates. Patients who received postoperative plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP blocks were less likely to require postoperative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (59.1 % vs. 83.3 %; p = 0.012) and opioid medications on discharge (6.4 % vs. 16.9 %; p = 0.004) relative to patients who received preoperative TAP. When needed, a significantly smaller amount of opioid was prescribed to the postoperative group (84.5 vs. 32.0 mg, p = 0.047). No significant differences were noted in the duration of postoperative PCA use, amount of oral opioid use, and length of stay. Plain 0.25 % bupivacaine TAP block administered postoperatively was associated with significantly lower need for postoperative PCA and discharge opioid medications. The overall hospital length of stay was not affected by the timing of TAP block. Because of the limited sample size in this study, conclusions cannot be generalized, and more research will be required.
Understanding the role of wrongdoing in technological disasters: Utilizing ecofeminist philosophy to examine commemoration.

Abstract Stemming from human accident, error, or neglect, technological disasters, such as chemical spills, toxic waste contamination, nuclear radiation, transportation accidents, and factory explosions, are products of the modern industrial complex. Toxic contamination of the land can permanently displace people from their homes and erase places from the landscape. Commemoration provides an opportunity to remember the past and celebrate culturally significant place attachments while contributing to the recovery process by aiding in community healing after devastating events. We focus on two key components regarding commemoration after technological disaster, namely the acknowledgement of wrongdoing and the celebration of a resilient population and landscape. We argue that a combination of ecofeminist philosophy and environmental justice frameworks allows for a better understanding of the cycle of disaster and mitigation as it pertains to targeted groups, and that commemorative acts and artifacts following human-made disasters often fail to successfully reform this cycle. Moreover, the combination of ecofeminist philosophy and environmental justice allows us to examine the complex relationship between responsibility and targeted groups through disaster commemoration, which serves as an important way to communicate wrongdoing to both the local and greater population. Through engagement with ecofeminist philosophy and environmental justice frameworks, we explicate how commemoration after technological disaster can disrupt or reinforce systematic inequalities.
The roles of disgust sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity in attentional bias in dental anxiety.

Abstract Individuals with dental anxiety show biased attentional processing of threat- and dental-related information. Disgust sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity are both associated with dental fears and attentional biases. Whereas disgust sensitivity is generally associated with attentional avoidance (Armstrong et al., 2014), anxiety sensitivity may be associated with attentional engagement (Keogh et al., 2001a). Elucidating the role of these constructs in dental anxiety-relevant attentional biases could inform theoretical models and/or intervention recommendations. Participants (N = 51) with high dental anxiety completed a Posner paradigm to assess attentional biases to dental versus neutral stimuli. We examined whether disgust sensitivity and anxiety sensitivity moderated degree of attentional bias. Results indicated that both disgust sensitivity (mutilation subscale) and anxiety sensitivity (physical concerns subscale) statistically moderated degree of attentional bias at trend level, and in opposite directions. Simple effects analyses further indicated that disgust sensitivity regarding mutilation was associated with less attentional bias toward dental relative to neutral stimuli, potentially indicating attentional avoidance, and remained so when adjusting for anxiety sensitivity. In contrast, simple effects analysis indicated that anxiety sensitivity regarding physical concerns was not associated with magnitude of attentional bias. If replicated, findings highlight the potential role of disgust in dental anxiety.
Matricellular protein WISP2 is an endogenous inhibitor of collagen linearization and cancer metastasis

Collagen remodeling contributes to many physiologic and pathologic processes. In primary tumors, the linearization of collagen fibers promotes cancer cell invasion and metastasis and is indicative of poor prognosis. However, it remains unknown whether there are endogenous inhibitors of collagen linearization that could be exploited therapeutically. Here, we show that collagen linearization is controlled by two secreted matricellular proteins with antagonistic functions. Specifically, WISP1 was secreted by cancer cells, bound to type I collagen (Col I), and linearized Col I via its cysteine-rich C-terminal (CT) domain. In contrast, WISP2, which lacks a CT domain, inhibited Col I linearization by preventing WISP1-Col I binding. Analysis of patient data revealed that WISP2 expression is lower in most solid tumors, in comparison with normal tissues. Consequently, genetic or pharmacologic restoration of higher WISP2 levels impaired collagen linearization and prevented tumor cell invasion and metastasis in vivo in models of human and murine breast cancer. Thus, this study uncovers WISP2 as the first inhibitor of collagen linearization ever identified and reveals that collagen architecture can be normalized and metastasis inhibited by therapeutically restoring a high WISP2:WISP1 ratio. Significance: Two secreted factors, WISP1 and WISP2, antagonistically regulate collagen linearization, and therapeutically increasing the WISP2:WISP1 ratio in tumors limits collagen linearization and inhibits metastasis. See related commentary by Barcus and Longmore, p. 5611
Use of upadacitinib in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

Upadacitinib, a selective JAK 1 inhibitor, has been evaluated for efficacy and safety in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Relevant literature using the terms 'upadacitinib' and 'PsA' were identified via PubMed and Google Scholar. Efficacy of upadacitinib in the treatment of PsA versus placebo was demonstrated in the SELECT-PsA I and II trials. SELECT-PsA1 also showed upadacitinib was noninferior to adalimumab in the treatment of PsA. The most common adverse events in patients treated with upadacitinib were infections, malignancies and thromboembolic events. Upadacitinib is an effective medication that can be used in the treatment of active PsA. Despite its proven efficacy and safety, upadacitinib does not yet have long-term safety data.
ABC Transporters: Involvement in Multidrug Resistance and Drug Disposition

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, among the largest of the transporter superfamilies, are found in normal tissues and transport a wide range of substrates important in normal physiology. One normal tissue function of these transporters is protection from toxic compounds including xenobiotics. By limiting tissue exposure to substrates, ABC transporters may contribute to the blood–brain barrier, the maternal–fetal barrier, and the mucosal barrier that limits oral absorption of compounds. Because a range of chemotherapeutic drugs have been found to be substrates for several of these transporters, many have inferred that expression of transporters in tumor cells has the potential to confer drug resistance; indeed, several transporters are referred to as multidrug transporters. This chapter will review the role of these multidrug transporters in oncology and in normal tissue.
The Mikado Syndrome: Was there an Orient in Asia for the Australian ‘Impressionist’ Painters?

(1987). The Mikado Syndrome: Was there an Orient in Asia for the Australian ‘Impressionist’ Painters? Australian Journal of Art: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 45-63.
Development of flooding-tolerant Arabidopsis thaliana by autoregulated cytokinin production

Flooding is one of the most serious environmental stresses that affect plant growth and productivity. Flooding causes premature senescence which results in leaf chlorosis, necrosis, defoliation, cessation of growth and reduced yield. This study was conducted to determine the effects of autoregulated cytokinin production on the flooding tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. A chimeric gene containing the senescence-specific SAG12 promoter and the ipt gene coding for isopentenyl transferase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the cytokinin biosynthesis pathway, was constructed. The chimeric gene was introduced into Arabidopsis plants by Agrobacterium-mediated vacuum infiltration. Four transgenic lines were chosen for flooding tolerance determinations. DNA hybridization analysis and PCR confirmed that all four of the transgenic lines carried the ipt gene. The segregation of kanamycin resistance in the T2 generation indicated 1 to 3 integration events. GUS expression and RT-PCR of the ipt gene confirmed the senescence-specificity of the SAG12 promoter. Morphologically, the transgenic lines appeared healthy and normal. Transgenic plants began to flower at the same time as wild-type plants, but the period from flowering to senescence was lengthened by 7 to 12 days. Tolerance of the transgenic plants to waterlogging and complete submergence was assayed in three independent experiments. All four transgenic lines were consistently more tolerant to flooding than wild-type plants. The results indicated that endogenously produced cytokinin can regulate senescence caused by flooding stress, thereby, increasing plant tolerance to flooding. This study provides a novel mechanism to improve flooding tolerance in plants.
Semi-quantitative analysis of T cell receptor (TCR) β and TCR γ gene expression in xenopus laevis: a novel animal model to study γδ T cells (VET2P.1036)

The polypeptide chains of heterodimeric TCRs divide T cells into two classes: αβ or γδ T cells. The functions of γδ cells overlap with cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and include cytokine production, maintaining tissue homeostasis and antigen presentation. γδ TCR ligand recognition is MHC-independent and TCRs bind not only peptides, but also other soluble, non-soluble and membrane-bound antigens. In humans and mice, γδ T cells represent only five percent of the total T cell population, although the percentage is higher in certain epithelial tissues such as the intestines and urogenital tract in adult animals. Phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence of γδ TCR suggests that γδ T cells evolved prior their αβ counterparts and it is likely that γδ T cells may be more abundant in relatively primitive vertebrates like frogs and fish. We developed a semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay to compare levels of γ-TCR and β-TCR RNA in adult Xenopus laevis tissues, as markers for the presence of αβ and γδ T cells, respectively. Preliminary data indicate that γδ cells are as abundant as αβ cells in adult X. laevis spleen; ongoing experiments are evaluating γ-TCRC and β-TCRC RNA in X. laevis intestines, lungs, thymus and skin and in these tissues during metamorphosis. These studies will provide valuable information to establish Xenopus laevis as a novel animal model to study the development and function of γδ TCR-expressing cells.
Developing Destinies, Weaving Whispers Into the Fabric of Life

On the book cover, a beautiful face of a young woman in a traditional hand-woven scarf looks straight at me from an old photograph, with the enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa. This is Chona, Mayan sacre...
On the Geometry and Quantization of Manifolds of Positive Semi-Definite Matrices

The geometry of different spaces of positive semi-definite matrices buffeted by rank and trace constraints is studied. In addition to revealing their Riemannian structure, we derive the normalized volume of a ball over these spaces. Further, we use the leading coefficient from the ball volume expansion to bound the quantization error incurred with finite-sized sphere-packing codebooks as well as random codebooks to represent sources distributed over general Riemannian manifolds.
A Further Study of a Testosterone-binding Component of Human Pregnancy Serum

Abstract Equilibrium constants of association were determined by a technique based on the principle of equilibrium dialysis but utilizing Sephadex G-25 for the strong binding exhibited by human pregnancy serum (or by the material precipitated from late pregnancy serum by ammonium sulfate at 50% saturation) for: (a) testosterone-1,2-3H, (b) radioinert 17β-estradiol (in competition with testosterone-1,2-3H), and (c) 17β-estradiol-6,7-3H. The respective values for the intrinsic association constant, k, were all quite high: (a) 4.5 x 108 m-1, (b) 1.35 x 108 m-1, and (c) 0.4 x 108 m-1. These findings are in accord with the view that the testosterone-binding component of pregnancy serum also binds 17β-estradiol but not as strongly. The binding of 17β-estradiol by bovine serum albumin, measured by the same technique, gave nk = 9 x 104 m-1. Reagents which react with —SH groups, and other reagents which reduce the disulfide bonds, depressed in striking fashion the testosterone-binding activity of pregnancy serum. It is suggested that the testosterone-binding component contains both cysteine and cystine, and that their maintenance intact is important for steroid-binding activity.
Fireworks: an adaptive group communications protocol for mobile ad hoc networks

In group communications, we find that current multicast protocols are far from “one size fits all”: they are typically geared towards and optimized for particular scenarios. As a result, when deployed in different scenarios, their performance and overhead often degrades significantly. A common problem is that most of these protocols incur high overheads with a high density of group members and in high mobility. Our objective is to design a protocol that adapts in response to the dynamics of the network. In particular, our objective is to provide efficient and lightweight multicast data dissemination irrespective of the density of group members and node density. Our work is motivated by two observations. First, broadcasting in some cases is more efficient than multicasting. Second, member and node layout distributions are not necessarily homogeneous. For example, many MANET applications result in a topological clustering of group members that move together. Thus, we develop Fireworks, an adaptive approach for group communications in mobile ad hoc networks. Fireworks is a hybrid two-tier multicast/broadcast protocol that adapts to maintain performance given the dynamics of the network topology and group density. In a nutshell, our protocol creates pockets of broadcast distribution in areas with many members, while it develops a multicast backbone to interconnect these dense pockets. Fireworks offers packet delivery statistics comparable to that of a pure multicast scheme but with significantly lower overheads.
Speculative Bubbles and Crashes I: Irrational

The most dramatic and compelling of all economic discontinuities have been the crashes of great speculative bubbles. The most extreme of these have triggered immense political and social transformations. In the United States, the stock market crash of 1929 serves as a cataclysmic divide between one world and another. Even today, the remote echoes of the crash of the Mississippi bubble in 1720 reverberate in the hankering after gold standards and fixed exchange rates by France in international financial negotiations. Thus it is not surprising that the first application of catastrophe theory to economics was a model of stock market crashes developed by Zeeman (1974).
Exploring the Sustainability of the Chinese Growth Model in Light of Some Key Structural Characteristics

China's rapid economic growth and success in poverty reduction over the last three decades have inspired world-wide admiration. This paper analyzes structural developments in the Chinese economy and distributional consequences thereof with the help of simple identities and behavioral specifications. Possible sources of these distributional developments are then analyzed using a tradetheoretic approach. Macro and micro aspects of China's investment- and export-led growth strategy are discussed along with the problems that the focused pursuit of such a strategy has raised. We conclude that China's growth model, although spectacularly successful in many ways, may have now outlived its utility both on economic and socio-political grounds. The present global economic crisis serves to bolster this conclusion.
CPU power supply impedance profile measurement using FFT and clock gating

CPU bypass mode clock gating and oscilloscope FFT features enable accurate measurement of a CPU's power delivery network impedance profile. The method described is self checking. Impedance profile characterization up to 100MHz is demonstrated.
Impact of hormone therapy on false-positive recall and costs among women undergoing screening mammography.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effects of hormone therapy (HT) on false-positive (FP) recall for additional breast evaluation and costs. Design: We undertook an observational cohort study of women ages 40-80 years with 2 mammography screenings in an integrated delivery system. Measures: FP recall, defined as mammograms resulting in a radiologist's recommendation for additional imaging, ultrasound, or invasive procedures among disease-free women, was compared for nonusers, initiators, discontinuers, and continuers of HT. Differences in health care costs by HT were assessed for total, primary care, specialty, laboratory, radiology, inpatient, mental health, and pharmacy. Results: There was no association between HT and FP recall among women ages 40-49 years. Among women 50 years or older, current HT users, ie, initiators and continuers, had increased odds of FP recall (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval) compared with nonusers (1.2; 1.0-1.4 for women 50-59 years; 1.8; 1.5-2.2 for women 60-69; and 1.7; 1.4-2.0 for women 70-80 years). Among women 50-59 years, the odds of FP recall were attributed to opposed HT (ie, estrogen + progestin). Increases in FP recall among HT users 60 years and older was maintained for initiators, continuers, opposed, and unopposed (estrogen only). Increases in FP recall among HT users were for imaging and ultrasound but not invasive procedures. Costs for current HT users during the 12 months after screening were not higher than nonusers, except for pharmacy and outpatient mental health. Conclusion: The relationship between HT use and FP recall is greatest among older women and does not result in a differential use of invasive procedures.
Africa and Iberia in the Pleistocene

Abstract The Strait of Gibraltar would logically seem to be a major point of contact between Africa and Europe. Yet, controversy about possible trans-Gibraltar human movements in the Lower, Middle and even Upper Pleistocene has reigned for over a century and continues to do so. Imbricated with biogeographical arguments about faunal transfers and the creation of hominid niches in Iberia, the problem of the relationships between Africa and Iberia is one of the knottiest in Stone Age prehistory. Did early Homo ( H. ergaster , erectus , or “ antecessor ”) cross into Iberia from the Maghreb, as has long been argued on the basis of general archeological similarities? This old hypothesis, still unproven, is made somewhat more plausible by the re-dating of the site of Ain Hanech in Algeria and, in particular, by the spectacular Lower Pleistocene fossil and artifactual discoveries at Atapuerca in north-central Spain and, less securely, in the Guadix-Baza Basin of Granada. Middle Pleistocene contacts remain problematic, with direct peopling of Iberia from northwest Africa during the mid-Upper Pleistocene seeming (ironically) to be out of the question, as southern Spain and Portugal were one of the last refugia of Neanderthals using Mousterian technology, despite proximity to the putative source of anatomical modernity and cultural superiority. Similarly, despite years of speculation on a migrationist cause for the similarity between tanged points in the Aterian of North Africa and in the Solutrean of Mediterranean Spain and Portugal, the chronological and archeological data solidly disprove this seductive hypothesis. For the Upper Pleistocene, it is only in the terminal Paleolithic that, with clear evidence of marine fishing and probable navigation, a credible case can be made for trans-Gibraltar human contacts.
The Relationship between the Protestant Ethic and Social Class for Afro-Caribbeans and Afro-Americans:

A comparison of the endorsement patterns on the Protestant Ethic scale indicated that the mean for 20 Afro-Caribbeans exceeded that of 22 Afro-Americans. However, middle-class individuals from the ...
Accelerated chilling and modified atmosphere packaging affect colour and colour stability of injection-enhanced beef round muscles

Beef knuckles were partially hot-boned within 1.5 h postmortem. Biceps femoris (BF), semimembranosus (SM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) muscles were injection enhanced at 6% (experiment 1) or 10% (experiment 2) of non-injected weight and packaged in a high- (HiOx; 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide) or ultra-low oxygen (LoOx; 80% nitrogen and 20% carbon dioxide) modified atmosphere. Hot boning accelerated chilling in all beef round muscles investigated. This resulted in a darker initial beef colour and darker visual colour during display for the BF, RF, and VL, as well as more uniform BF and knuckle steak colour. RF and VL, in experiments 1 and 2, respectively, had the most improved colour and colour stability. Steaks in HiOx MAP had longer colour life in display than steaks that had been in LoOx. Partially removing the beef knuckle early postmortem is a practical process that will improve colour and colour stability of beef round muscles.
Correcting deregulated Fxyd1 expression ameliorates a behavioral impairment in a mouse model of Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2. Several genes have been shown to be MECP2 targets. We previously identified FXYD1 (encoding phospholemman; a protein containing the motif phenylalanine-X-tyrosine-aspartate), a gene encoding a transmembrane modulator of the Na, K-ATPase (NKA) enzyme, as one of them. In the absence of MECP2, FXYD1 expression is increased in the frontal cortex (FC) of both RTT patients and Mecp2(Bird) null mice. Here, we show that Fxyd1 mRNA levels are also increased in the FC and hippocampus (HC) of male mice carrying a truncating mutation of the Mecp2 gene (Mecp2(308)). To test the hypothesis that some of the behavioral phenotypes seen in these Mecp2 mutants could be ameliorated by genetically preventing the Fxyd1 response to MECP2 deficiency, we crossed Fxyd1 null male mice with Mecp2(308) heterozygous females and behaviorally tested the adult male offspring. Mecp2(308) mice had impaired HC-dependent novel location recognition, and this impairment was rescued by deletion of both Fxyd1 alleles. No other behavioral or sensorimotor impairments were rescued. These results indicate that reducing FXYD1 levels improves a specific cognitive impairment in MECP2-deficient mice.