cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Degradation and Composition of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Following Oil Exposure in Experimental Salt Marshes

Using mesocosms sodded with Juncus roemerianus, this study examined the change in concentration and composition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) immediately following oil exposure. Wetland mesocosms were exposed to oil pre-treated through varying weathering and dosages to induce a range of PAH concentrations. Six trials (consisting of two or three mesocosms) were established using different combinations of oil dosages and weathering durations to elicit a range of initial PAH concentrations in the soil. Wetland soils were sampled per trial and analyzed 2 and 10 weeks following oil exposure for PAHs. Based on initial concentrations (2 weeks post-oil exposure), a total of 42 analytes (dominated by three-, four-, and five-ring compounds) were consistently detected across all trials. The ∑PAH concentration of wetland trials ranged from 108.1 to 906.2 mg kg−1 dry weight. Individual PAH analyte reduction and degradation between sampling dates was calculated as the total percent change in analyte concentration and the percent change in analyte concentration relative to the concentration of biomarker hopane, respectively. All trials showed a significant relationship between PAH analyte molecular weight and its percent reduction and percent degradation. Trials with the highest initial ∑PAH concentration (659.4 and 906.2 mg kg−1 dry weight) showed the most PAH loss with significantly greater reduction of high-molecular-weight analytes (four- and five-rings) than the other trials. However, when evaluated based on degradation, all trials showed similar trends of percent degradation relative to molecular weight. Our results suggest that oil loss through hydrologic export (i.e., washout from tidal action) may be important after initial oil exposure, and salt marsh soils may have a certain capacity to retain PAHs in soil.
The Quantitation of Heroin and Selected Basic Impurities via Reversed Phase HPLC. II. The Analysis of Adulterated Samples

Abstract Methodology was developed employing reversed phase liquid chromatography for the simultaneous determination of heroin, O3-monoacetylmorphine, o6-monoacetylmorphine, acetylcodeine, noscapine and papaverine in unadulterated illicit powders. An HS-5 C18 column was used with a gradient system using methanol and a hexylamine phosphate buffer at pH 2.2. This method, suitable for automated analysis, used a multi-mode detection scheme via the use of a photodiode array detector. In order to arrive at the optimum chromatographic conditions in terms of selectivity and stability, a study was performed on the effect of various mobile phase parameters on log k′ for heroin, various impurities, and common adulterants. The mobile phase parameters included amine concentration, organic modifier type, and eluent pH.
Hydrodynamics of DNA confined in nanoslits and nanochannels

Modeling the dynamics of a confined, semiflexible polymer is a challenging problem, owing to the complicated interplay between the configurations of the chain, which are strongly affected by the length scale for the confinement relative to the persistence length of the chain, and the polymer-wall hydrodynamic interactions. At the same time, understanding these dynamics are crucial to the advancement of emerging genomic technologies that use confinement to stretch out DNA and “read” a genomic signature. In this mini-review, we begin by considering what is known experimentally and theoretically about the friction of a wormlike chain such as DNA confined in a slit or a channel. We then discuss how to estimate the friction coefficient of such a chain, either with dynamic simulations or via Monte Carlo sampling and the Kirkwood pre-averaging approximation. We then review our recent work on computing the diffusivity of DNA in nanoslits and nanochannels, and conclude with some promising avenues for future work and caveats about our approach.
Adsorption of ferritin

Abstract The adsorption of ferritin molecules onto both Lexan polycarbonate and carbon surfaces has been studied with the help of an electron microscope. The amount of ferritin adsorbed is a sensitive function of both the pH and the salinity of the ferritin solution. Complete coverage of a surface could be obtained only under very special conditions. Complete coverage is defined by a model calculation that places disks onto a surface at random and only those disks that do not overlap previous disks are adsorbed.
Impact of Vitamin A Supplementation on the Incidence of Infection in Elderly Nursing-home Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to determine if vitamin A supplementation reduces the incidence of bacterial infections among elderly nursing-home residents. One hundred and nine patients were enrolled into a double-masked, placebo-controlled trial at an academically affiliated nursing home. Fifty-six patients received a single capsule containing 1,000 IU of vitamin A (placebo) and 53 received a single capsule containing 200,000 IU of vitamin A. Antibiotic-treated infections were enumerated for 90 days after dosing and infection rates were expressed per 1000 days of follow-up. There were 42 antibiotic-treated infections altogether, 21 in each group. The infection rates in the vitamin A and placebo groups were 4.7 and 4.3 per 1,000 days of follow-up, respectively (relative risk 1.1; 95% CI 0.6, 2.0). The findings of this study do not support a role for vitamin A supplements for the prevention of infections among frail elderly nursing-home patients.
Scaffolding a Presentation: Comments from Spanish and German

This paper considers implementation of a ‘scaffolding’ method as a means towards successful ‘presentations’ and acquisition of presentational language in the classroom and beyond. Setting-up a concrete, well articulated and culturally nuanced yet personalized scaffolding for acquiring upper-level language in working towards and performing presentations will be explored. Specific experiences from Second-Year language classes in both Spanish and then German are considered. Setting clear objectives in a personalized atmosphere and issues of development of transferable professional skills will be further contemplated.
Acoustic Analyses Support Subjective Judgments of Vocal Emotion

Subjective human judgments of emotion in speech have been considered to be less reliable than acoustic analyses in scientific studies, but acoustic analyses have had limited ability to detect subtle vocal nuances that give useful social information about human intent and meaning to discourse partners. Two post hoc analyses were undertaken to determine if results from acoustic analyses of vocalizations were related to subjective judgments of vocal affect (affective prosody). Acoustic analyses of fundamental frequency (F(o)) and subjective judgments of emotional content of vocal productions from two studies underwent statistical analyses: Study 1-vocal repetition of sentences using 6 basic emotions in 24 detoxified alcoholics and 15 controls; study 2-quality/quantity of "motherese" speech directed to 52 infants in Cambridge, England. Ratings of emotion indicators for both studies were done by female researchers of different ages and cultural/language backgrounds. In both studies, acoustic analyses of F(o) elements in utterances accounted for approximately 50% of the effect when modeling subjective emotion accuracy and emotion intensity ratings, using linear regression analyses. Acoustic analyses of F(o) are positively associated with subjective judgments of emotion indicators, and speakers who cannot vary F(o) are unable to convey emotion accurately to communication partners. Yet acoustic analyses are limited in comparison to the exquisite complexity of the human auditory and cognitive systems. Subjective judgments of emotional meaning in speech can be a reliable variable in scientific inquiry and can be used for more complex, subtle studies of speech communication and intentionality than acoustic analyses.
Cultural heritage and the challenge of sustainability

In the recent years, the heritage conservation discourse has broadened its parameters to relate to macro environment factors such as technological and natural. In her book, Barthel-Boucher takes a ...
Did large volcanic channel systems develop on Earth during the Hadean and Archean

Abstract The vestiges of large volcanic channels are preserved at the surfaces of the Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Io. The largest of these systems have widths of tens of kilometers and lengths of thousands of kilometers. Component channels were incised by voluminous low-viscosity lava flows, and are the surface expressions of magmatic systems that helped to dissipate internal heat accumulated through processes of accretion, differentiation, tidal interactions, and radioactive decay. Past development of large volcanic channels on these bodies suggests the possible formation of analogous systems on the Earth during the Hadean or Archean, a time frame of heightened internal temperatures and eruption of low-viscosity magmas. More generally, the geological record of the inner solar system suggests a predisposition of all rocky planets for early incision of large volcanic channels.
Vibration analysis of adhesively bonded lap joint, part I: Theory

Abstract An analytical model to study the coupled transverse and longitudinal vibration of a bonded lap joint system is described in this paper. The system consists of a pair of parallel and identical beams which are lap-jointed over a certain length by a viscoelastic material. The unjointed ends of the beams are assumed to be simply supported. The governing equations of motion for the forced vibration of the system under transverse distributed loads are derived using the energy method and Hamilton's principle. Both shear and thickness deformation in the adhesive layer is included in the analysis. The theoretical development of the model is presented in this paper. The numerical solutions of the governing equations for free vibration along with boundary and continuity conditions yield the system natural frequencies, loss factors and mode shapes. The details of the numerical solution scheme and results for free vibration are included in the accompanying paper.
On Deception Detection in Multiagent Systems

Deception detection plays an important role in safely and reliably using multientity advisory models such as multiagent intelligence systems. The benevolence assumption people have based their implementations of multiagent (human and/or synthetic) systems on is rarely valid in the real world. Unfortunately, deception detection is extremely challenging. The average detection rate by humans alone is only above chance, and the skill for detection has been shown to be difficult to improve even with training. In psychological studies, deception detection is typically based on examining a person's nonverbal cues and expressions such as facial expressions, gestures, and movements. In this paper, our approach instead is focused on the agent's reasoning process. We detect deception by observing the correlations between agents, which can be used to make a reasonable prediction of the agents' reasoning processes. Our experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of this method and show the impact of different factors on detection rate. We further conduct some preliminary experiments to explore its performance at detecting both disinformation and misinformation and that of identifying more than one deceiver in the system.
Peer Victimization in Middle School: When Self- and Peer Views Diverge.

ABSTRACT African American (n = 350) and Latino (n = 435) 6th grade students from eight middle schools completed self-report measures of peer victimization and psychological adjustment (i.e., self-esteem, anxiety, loneliness, depression, and physical symptoms). Peer nomination procedures were used to determine which students had reputations as victims and which students were accepted, rejected, and perceived as most «cool.» In addition, homeroom teachers rated participating students on social behavior and academic engagement and students' grades were collected from school records. We created four victim groups based on self-and peer perceptions. «True» victims (agreement between self and peer) experienced the worst outcomes on all of the adjustment variables examined. However, different adjustment difficulties were reported for victim groups where there was disagreement between self-and peer views. Self-perceived victimization was predictive of psychological maladjustment, whereas the reputational measure ...
Ingested IFN-α Results of a pilot study in relapsing-remitting MS

Objective: To investigate whether ingested human recombinant interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a) was safe and whether treatment reduces the number of gadolinium-enhanced lesions on serial MRI in patients with active relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Methods: Entry criteria included clinically definite RRMS and one or more gadolinium-enhanced lesions on a screening MRI. Results: Of 80 patients screened, 33 were eligible and 30 patients were enrolled for treatment. Patients were randomized (10 per group) to placebo, 10,000 or 30,000 IU IFN-α2a ingested on alternate days for 9 months. They were examined clinically and with monthly cerebral MRI. Sample size projections were based on the assumption of a parenteral IFN-like effect, a 90% reduction of enhancing lesions evident within 1 month of the initiation of treatment in the active treatment groups sustained during the 9-month study as the primary outcome variable. Results: There was no significant effect on enhancing lesions. However, post hoc analysis suggested a possible treatment effect in the 10,000 IU group. By direct monthly comparison of placebo and 10,000 IU group in treatment month 5, there were 73% ( p Conclusions: This trial showed no benefit based on the primary outcome measure. Because changes were detected in immune response and post hoc analysis suggested that a smaller dose could have an effect, IFN-α may deserve further study.
James J. Christensen 1931–1987

This issue of the Journal is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor James J. Christensen. Professor Christensen died suddenly at his home on September 5, 1987. He was 56 years old.
Purification, Characterization, and Identification of Novel Inhibitors of the β-Ketoacyl-Acyl Carrier Protein Synthase III (FabH) from Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile and dangerous pathogen and one of the major causes of community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections. The rise of multidrug-resistant strains of S. aureus requires the development of new antibiotics with previously unexploited mechanisms of action, such as inhibition of the β-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III (FabH). This enzyme initiates fatty acid biosynthesis in a bacterial type II fatty acid synthase, catalyzing a decarboxylative condensation between malonyl-ACP and an acyl coenzyme A (CoA) substrate and is essential for viability. We have identified only one fabH in the genome of S. aureus and have shown that it encodes a protein with 57, 40, and 34% amino acid sequence identity with the FabH proteins of Bacillus subtilis (bFabH1), Escherichia coli (ecFabH), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mtFabH). Additional genomic sequence analysis revealed that this S. aureus FabH (saFabH) is not mutated in certain methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains. saFabH was expressed in E. coli with an N-terminal polyhistidine tag and subsequently purified by metal chelate and size exclusion chromatography. Analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a molecular mass of 37 kDa, while gel filtration demonstrated a mass of 66.7 kDa, suggesting a noncovalent homodimeric structure for saFabH. The apparent Km for malonyl-ACP was 1.76 ± 0.40 μM, and the enzyme was active with acetyl-CoA (kcat, 16.18 min−1; Km, 6.18 ± 0.9 μM), butyryl-CoA (kcat, 42.90 min−1; Km, 2.32 ± 0.12 μM), and isobutyryl-CoA (kcat, 98.0 min−1; Km, 0.32 ± 0.04 μM). saFabH was weakly inhibited by thiolactomycin (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], >100 μM) yet was efficiently inhibited by two new FabH inhibitors, 5-chloro-4-phenyl-[1,2]-dithiol-3-one (IC50, 1.87 ± 0.10 μM) and 4-phenyl-5-phenylimino-[1,2,4]dithiazolidin-3-one (IC50, 0.775 ± 0.08 μM).
How to reconstruct a large genetic network from n gene perturbations in fewer than n2 easy steps

Motivation: The reconstruction of genetic networks is the holy grail of functional genomics. Its core task is to identify the causal structure of a gene network, that is, to distinguish direct from indirect regulatory interactions among gene products. In other words, to reconstruct a genetic network is to identify, for each network gene, which other genes and their activity the gene influences directly. Crucial to this task are perturbations of gene activity. Genomic technology permits large-scale experiments perturbing the activity of many genes and assessing the effect of each perturbation on all other genes in a genome. However, such experiments cannot distinguish between direct and indirect effects of a genetic perturbation. Results: I present an algorithm to reconstruct direct regulatory interactions in gene networks from the results of gene perturbation experiments. The algorithm is based on a graph representation of genetic networks and applies to networks of arbitrary size and complexity. Algorithmic complexity in both storage and time is low, less than O(n 2 ). In practice, the algorithm can reconstruct networks of several thousand genes in mere CPU seconds on a desktop workstation. Availability: A perl implementation of the algorithm is given in the Appendix.
Primary care in the United States: primary care gatekeeping and referrals: effective filter or failed experiment?

The use of primary care physicians as gatekeepers to specialists and other medical resources—considered to be a managed care innovation in the United States—has proliferated during the past few decades. Its introduction has been accompanied by a government sponsored programme of research into referrals from primary care (box 1). Findings from these studies may offer insights into how the UK's NHS could shape the gatekeeping function of general practitioners. This article discusses the concept of gatekeeping, contrasts the processes of referral to specialists in the United States and the United Kingdom, examines the mechanisms by which gatekeeping influences resource allocation, and discusses the effects of linking gatekeeping with financial incentives and utilisation review. #### Summary points Gatekeeping systems have emerged in countries with scarce medical resources Gatekeepers ensure equity by judiciously matching healthcare services, including specialty referrals, to healthcare needs Gatekeeping alters patients' behaviour, increasing levels of first contact care with primary care physicians, thereby reducing patients' self referrals Patients in US health plans with gatekeeping arrangements are twice as likely to be referred to specialist care as their UK counterparts There is little evidence that gatekeeping has had much effect on patients' referral rates in the United States, a healthcare environment rich in specialists Within modern societies, gatekeepers are positioned between organisations and individuals who wish to use resources within those organisations. Gatekeepers use discretion when determining who will be granted access to these resources. Physician gatekeepers collaborate with patients to identify their healthcare needs and choose services that effectively meet those needs. Public acceptance of gatekeeping is strengthened when there are too few resources to satisfy everyone's demands. In the United Kingdom, where long queues to see specialists are common because specialists are in short supply, the general practitioner gatekeeper has enjoyed widespread support. In the United States, the public perceives …
Acetylenic Linkers in Lead Compounds: A Study of the Stability of the Propargyl-linked Antifolates

Propargyl-linked antifolates that target dihydrofolate reductase are potent inhibitors of several species of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. This novel class of antifolates possesses a relatively uncommon acetylenic linker designed to span a narrow passage in the enzyme active site and join two larger functional domains. Because the use of alkyne functionality in drug molecules is limited, it was important to evaluate some key physicochemical properties of these molecules and specifically to assess the overall stability of the acetylene. Herein, we report studies on four compounds from our lead series that vary specifically in the environment of the alkyne. We show that the compounds are soluble, chemically stable in water, as well as simulated gastric and intestinal fluids with half-lives of approximately 30 min after incubation with mouse liver microsomes. Their primary in vitro route of metabolism involves oxidative transformations of pendant functionality with little direct alteration of the alkyne. Identification of several major metabolites indicated the formation of N-oxides; the rate of formation of these oxides was highly influenced by branching substitutions around the propargyl linker. On the basis of the lessons of these metabolic studies, a more advanced inhibitor was designed, synthesized, and shown to have increased (t1/2 = 65 min) metabolic stability while maintaining potent enzyme inhibition.
Scanners and drillers: Characterizing expert visual search through volumetric images

Modern imaging methods like computed tomography (CT) generate 3-D volumes of image data. How do radiologists search through such images? Are certain strategies more efficient? Although there is a large literature devoted to understanding search in 2-D, relatively little is known about search in volumetric space. In recent years, with the ever-increasing popularity of volumetric medical imaging, this question has taken on increased importance as we try to understand, and ultimately reduce, errors in diagnostic radiology. In the current study, we asked 24 radiologists to search chest CTs for lung nodules that could indicate lung cancer. To search, radiologists scrolled up and down through a "stack" of 2-D chest CT "slices." At each moment, we tracked eye movements in the 2-D image plane and coregistered eye position with the current slice. We used these data to create a 3-D representation of the eye movements through the image volume. Radiologists tended to follow one of two dominant search strategies: "drilling" and "scanning." Drillers restrict eye movements to a small region of the lung while quickly scrolling through depth. Scanners move more slowly through depth and search an entire level of the lung before moving on to the next level in depth. Driller performance was superior to the scanners on a variety of metrics, including lung nodule detection rate, percentage of the lung covered, and the percentage of search errors where a nodule was never fixated.
Immune changes and dysphoric moods across the postpartum.

Problem Little is known about postpartum immune recovery and relationships of common dysphoric moods, stress, immunology, and endocrinology. Method of study Healthy women (n = 72) were followed for six postpartum months with immune and hormone measures and dysphoric moods and stress scales. A panel of cytokines produced in mitogen-stimulated whole blood assays were measured at each time, along with plasma levels of hsC-reactive protein (hsCRP), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and a panel of hormones. Results Cellular immunity, measured by production of Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and (Interleukin-2 (IL-2) from stimulated whole blood culture, was low in the early postpartum with changes by 3 months. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) showed a similar pattern. Plasma levels of CRP and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) showed higher levels in the early postpartum. Mood disturbance scores dropped across the postpartum with a change in slope at 3 months. No significant relationships were found between immune, endocrine, and psychosocial measures. Conclusion Return to normal cellular immune function may take 3–4 months in the postpartum. Some aspects of early immunology (hsCRP and IL-6) probably reflect the latter stage of pregnancy, the stress of birth and the inflammation associated with involution. Dysphoric moods are higher in the early postpartum but are not related to immune factors or hormones.
COAL: Context Aware Localization for high energy efficiency in wireless networks

Localization is one of the key enabling technologies for wireless services now penetrating into everyday life. Unfortunately, existing localization schemes are often energy inefficient (such as GPS), or inaccurate (based on signal-distance conversion), or labor intensive (requiring periodic fingerprinting). In this paper we propose a novel localization scheme termed COAL, for COntext Aware Localization, to target at both energy efficiency and accuracy. Our key idea is to leverage users' context information such as an ongoing event to facilitate the localization scheme. By employing these context information, we can significantly reduce localization frequency to conserve energy while maintaining high degree of accuracy. COAL is complementary to existing location schemes using any wireless signal and can be implemented readily as their enhancement. We implement our scheme in iPAQ smart phones using WiFi signals and perform extensive tests in real life and on synthetic data. The results show that the scheme can significantly reduce localization frequency while maintaining high accuracy.
Cerebral Air Embolism Complicating Therapeutic Pneumoperitoneum

The following case study is presented to illustrate the concept that recovery from the invariably disastrous effects of arterial air embolism, accidentally Incurred during the therapeutic administration of pneumoperitoneum, may be possible if certain recognized and specific maneuvers are practiced correctly.This particular subject is of extreme importance because since the institution of pneumoperitoneum in the treatment of tuberculosis, 19 fatal accidents have occurred due to embolic complications.’213Three occurred in the Veterans Administration Hospital, Oteen,
Scientific workflows composition and deployment on SOA frameworks

Scientific workflows normally consist of multiple applications acquiring and transforming data, running data intensive analyses and visualizing the results for scientific discovery. In this paper, we present our application of Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) to compose and deploy systems biology workflows. In developing this application, our solution uses MeDICi a middleware framework built on SOA platforms as an integration layer. We discuss our experience and lessons learnt about this solution that are generally applicable to scientific workflows in other domains.
Corporate Higher Education: Models And Examples

Corporate education has become a major influence in higher education today. The goal of this initiative is to explore the forms that higher corporate education takes. Among the most prevalent are: specifically designed university programs, partnership programs between a company and a university, and corporation designed programs created and offered to meet the specific needs of educating their employees in training matters and providing development within the corporate structure. While there is no set formula for fashioning a successful program the myriad variations provide an opportunity to explore the pros and cons of each model. An example of a successful corporate higher education program is explored.
Incentive Contracts and the Allocation of Talent

This article develops a theory of sorting that links ability, pay-performance sensitivity and pay levels. Firms employ managers to improve productivity. Because of limited liability, firms use incentive contracts to elicit managerial effort; the type of optimal contract depends on a manager's ability. In equilibrium, individuals are sorted based on ability into production workers, business owners, managers paid an ability-invariant bonus, and managers whose pay varies with ability and firm size. The model generates predictions regarding the effects of technological progress and product competition on the distributions of wages, pay structure and employment across a wide range of managerial levels.
Effects of hyperglycemia and dexamethasone on expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in multiple myeloma-derived cell lines

4341 BACKGOURND: We have recently identified TXNIP as one of the gene products particularly sensitive to the level of glucose in metastatic breast cancer-derived cells ( Clin Cancer Res 2007;15:3724 ). The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was upregulated by the glucose-induced expression of TXNIP making metastatic breast cancer cells more vulnerable to oxidative stress as compared to non-metastatic malignant/normal breast derived cell lines. In the current study, we examined the TXNIP level, thioredoxin (TRX)-activity and ROS production in response to glucose and dexamethasone (DEX) as one of the most active single agent in multiple myeloma cell lines at various level of aggressiveness (NCIH929, U266B1, ARH77 MC/CAR). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Cells were grown either in 5 or 20 mM glucose chronically. For experiments involving DEX, cells were cultured in RPMI/ 10% FBS 20 mM glucose and 25 uM DEX for 24 h. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to assess TXNIP RNA expression in response to glucose. ROS were detected by 5-6-chloromethyl-29,79-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (CM-H2DCFDA) and measured for mean fluorescence intensity with flow cytometry. TRX-activity was assayed by the insulin disulfide-reducing assay. Proliferation was evaluated using Cell Titer 96 reagent. Fold-change (>1 vs was further obtained for each of three values from NCIH99, U266B1 and ARH77, as a group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia (20 vs 5 mM glucose) affected the fold-change of increased levels of TXNIP RNA (mean 1.4+0.2 , range 1.2-1.6) and ROS activity (mean 1.7+0.3, range 1.5-2.0) in NCIH929, ARH77 and U266B1 cells. As expected the TRX activity was reduced on average 0.8+0.15 fold (range 0.7-0.9 ) in the same cell lines. On the contrary, glucose induced an increase in TRX activity (1.6 fold) associated with decreased ROS activity (0.4 fold) independently from TXNIP RNA level (1.0 fold) in MC/CAR cell line. When DEX was added to cells in conditions of hyperglycemia (20 mM glucose) TXNIP RNA level decreased ( mean 1.06+0.05, range 1.0-1.1, vs 1.4 w/o DEX) associated with decreased ROS activity (mean 0.86+0.5, range 0.5-1.4, vs 1.7 w/o DEX) in NCIH929, ARH77 and U266B1 cells. Ultimately, DEX notably reduced TRX activity (1.6 vs 1.2 fold w/o DEX) without any significant changes in TXNIP level and ROS activity in MC/CAR cells, implying a TXNIP-independent effect on this activity in this cell line. In conclusion, our study shows that glucose regulates the TXNIP-TRX-ROS axis in 3 out of 4 multiple myeloma cell lines and this effect is blunted by DEX, establishing ground for further investigation in this perspective.
Prenatal and Postnatal Maternal Trajectories of Cigarette Use Predict Adolescent Cigarette Use.

INTRODUCTION The goal of this study was to identify maternal patterns of prenatal and postnatal cigarette smoking associated with adolescent smoking. We hypothesized that maternal use at multiple time points, especially at later assessments when the offspring were adolescents, would predict offspring use. METHODS Pregnant women (N = 456: ages 13-42) were recruited from a prenatal clinic and interviewed during pregnancy and at delivery, providing data on cigarette use (any/none) for the first and third trimesters. Mothers were re-assessed at 6, 10, 14, and 16 years postpartum. Offspring reported cigarette use at age 16. Covariates included maternal race, age, education, family income, child age, parenting behavior, and other maternal and child substance use. RESULTS A growth mixture model revealed five patterns of tobacco use: infrequent/nonuse (39%), postpartum quitters (5%), later quitters (7%), increasing likelihood of being smokers (17%), and chronic users (32%). Offspring of postpartum quitters and the increasing likelihood of being smokers groups were more likely to use cigarettes, compared to adolescents of mothers from the infrequent/nonuse group, controlling for significant covariates. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to examine trajectories of maternal cigarette use from pregnancy to 16 years postpartum, linking prenatal and postnatal patterns of maternal use to use in adolescent offspring. Our findings highlight the risk associated with prenatal exposure, because mothers who used during pregnancy but quit by 6 years postpartum still had offspring who were 3.5 times more likely to smoke than non/infrequent users. IMPLICATIONS This is the first study to examine trajectories of maternal cigarette use from the prenatal period to 16 years postpartum, and to link prenatal and postnatal patterns of use to use in adolescent offspring. We identified two long-term patterns of maternal cigarette use that were associated with offspring smoking at age 16, including one where offspring were exposed prenatally, but much less likely to be exposed to maternal cigarette use postpartum. Our findings highlight the risk associated with prenatal exposures for cigarette use in offspring, even if mothers quit in the postpartum.
S.E.C Induced Distortion in Stock Prices

Evidence that option trading can influence the prices of the underlying common stocks is discussed. This research was conducted in the time frame 1981-1982 and that was before there were many articles about deviations from efficient-market pricing. Stock prices were believed to fluctuate without influence from trading of listed options on U.S. common stocks
Mileena Malign

In Mileena Malign, a frightened doll moves helplessly to her own destruction at the hands of the very person who should love and protect her. In this cycle of abuse, our heroine doll is destroyed repeatedly, unable to escape the consequences of abuse, even in her dreams.
Subwavelength resolution via dark state

We study improving of spatial resolution of fluorescence microscopy by using dark states formed via interaction with bi-chromatic optical fields. This approach has applications to coherent Raman spectroscopy.
Raynaud phenomenon causing lingual pallor and dysarthria.

A 29-year-old woman presented to the rheumatology clinic with a six-month history of intermittent Raynaud phenomenon affecting her fingers ([Figure 1A][1]) and toes. She had subtle sclerodactyly but no evidence of proximal skin tightening, digital pits or ulcers, calcinosis or telangiectasias.
The Generality and Analysis of Engine Performance Test

This paper has generally discussed some problems during engine performance test and makes some summarizations about data analysis and equipment of engine performance test combined with actual situations.Summarized in this paper about how to complete the engine performance experiment effectively,and induced how to solve the test problems that you may encounter in the process of experiment.
Isolation and analysis of genomic sequences of SFTS virus from goat and tick attached to its surface

Objective To investigate the infection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV)in goats and attached ticks in a county of Jiangsu province in spring,2012;to analyze the genomic sequences of the isolated SFTSVs.Methods Real-time RT-PCR was applied to detect SFTSV nucleic acids.Positive samples were cultured for SFTSV virus isolation.The complete genomes of the isolated strains were sequenced and analyzed by using Lasergene and MEGA4software.Results Of the 7goats and 93ticks(haemaphysalis longicornis),the serum and ganglia lymphatica of 1goat and 1tick attached to it were confirmed to be SFTSV nucleic acid positive.2SFTSV strains(JS2012-yang01and JS2012-pi01)were isolated,and the homology of nucleotides of the two strains was 99.8%(L),99.8%(M)and 100%(S),respectively;while 99.6%,99.6%,100%for the homology of amino acids,respectively.Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that they were in the same subgenotype.The two strains and other representative strains of SFTSVs isolated from other provinces in China shared 95.9%~99.6%(L),94.7%~99.5%(M)and 95%~99.5%(S)for nucleotide acid homology,while they were much more different compared to other isolated bunyaviridae phlebovirus.Conclusion SFTSV viruses isolated from goat and tick are highly homologous.Ticks may play an important role in the transmission of SFTSV from animals to human through biting.
Norepinephrine-induced phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipases D and C in rat tail artery

Rat tail arterial segments were incubated with [3H]choline to selectively label endogenous phosphatidylcholine. Norepinephrine (NE; 10(-5) M) addition for periods of 10 s to 30 min significantly increased the concentration of extracellular phosphatidylcholine metabolites, [3H]choline, and [3H]phosphocholine. The release of [3H]choline and [3H]phosphocholine from the segments was NE dose dependent (10(-6)-10(-3) M). NE also increased the formation of [3H]phosphatidylethanol in [3H]myristate-labeled tail artery in the presence of ethanol, characteristic of phospholipase D activity. NE-induced phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis was blocked by pretreatment with prazosin (10(-5) M) and was unchanged by pretreatment with propranolol (10(-5) M). 4 beta-phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu, 10(-6) M) stimulated the release of [3H]choline, which was inhibited by pretreatment with staurosporine (10(-5) M). The stimulatory effect of NE on phosphatidylcholine metabolism was not altered by either pretreatment with staurosporine (10(-5) M) or calcium-free buffer. In summary, we have demonstrated NE-stimulated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis by phospholipase D and C in intact vascular smooth muscle. This effect of NE was dose dependent and was mediated through the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor. Norepinephrine and PDBu stimulated phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis through different mechanism(s), and the stimulatory effect of NE did not seem to require protein kinase C and calcium influx.
Efficacy of parent‐delivered behavioral therapy for primary complex motor stereotypies

Aim Primary complex motor stereotypies (CMS) are persistent, patterned, repetitive, rhythmic movements in young people with typical development. This study evaluated the efficacy of an instructional DVD as a home-based, parent-administered, behavioral therapy for primary CMS. Method Eighty-one children with primary CMS were enrolled. Primary outcome measures included the Stereotypy Severity Scale (SSS) – Motor and Impairment scores, and Stereotypy Linear Analog Scale (SLAS). Mean CMS onset was 13.4 months (SD 13.1). Eligibility required observed CMS. Psychiatric disorders were not exclusionary and a stable medication regimen was required. Intellectual disability, neurological disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and tics were exclusionary. Initial assessments were completed via REDCap before receipt of the DVD. Fifty-four of the 81 children (34 male, 20 female; mean age 8y 2mo, SD 1.42, range 7–14y) completed assessments at 1, 2, or 3 months after receiving the DVD. Results Reductions (baseline to last assessment) in SSS Motor, SSS Impairment, and SLAS scores (all p<0.001) represented change ratios of −15%, −24%, and a −20% respectively. Greatest relative treatment benefit was observed by younger children (ages 7–8y), and by 1 month after receipt of DVD, while a parent global assessment scale showed progressive improvement throughout the study. Interpretation An instructional DVD for parent-delivered behavioral therapy was a safe, effective intervention for primary CMS.
Three-Point Contact Study of a Wheelset and Rails

Three-point contact occurs in curving and transfer of a wheelset over switches and turnouts. In this study, an approach is presented that enforces three-point contact between a wheelset and a rail. This is accomplished by placing the wheelset over the track by setting the wheelset position parameters. Then, the location of all common normal are computed. Next, three common normal with shortest length are used to set up the non-penetrating constraint equations in track coordinate system. This led to nine algebraic equations whose Jacobean can be represented by block matrices. A Newton iterate based on these block matrices are used to compute the location of the three contact points. Several numerical examples are presented to verify the accuracy of the approach.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Alginate Microbead Release Assay of Angiogenesis

Recently, the acceleration (and retardation) of blood vessel growth has been an increasingly frequent subject of study. With its potential application to a wide range of clinical disease processes, investigation certainly remains essential and promising. While in vitro investigation is traditional, well-controlled, and objective, studying angiogenesis in vivo can be quite difficult for a number of reasons. One major reason is the inherent tissue differences associated with blood vessel growth. Because all tissues are different, certain tissues tend to be inherently more vascular than others. As such, the growth (and concentration) of blood vessels occurs at different rates and proportions depending on that specific tissue. In the past several years, most in vivo angiogenesis work has been performed in the sclera as it allows for relatively easy access and the possibility of repeated observation. The sites to which investigation of angiogenesis might be applied, however, are invariably quite different and therefore additional tissues such as solid organs, fascia, muscle, and skin need to be studied as well. How can this be performed?
Heterostructure design and demonstration of InGaSb channel III-V CMOS transistors

Despite burgeoning interest in III-V's for realizing high performance transistors at low power, III-V MOSFEts have been plagued by poor PMOS performance. Realizing high mobility InGaAs PMOS [1] and Ge NMOS [2] has proven to be difficult. To avoid complications in CMOS circuit design and manufacturing [3], it is favorable to employ a single material system that enables both good NMOS and PMOS transistors. We chose to work on the 6.1–6.2A lattice constant system with InGaSb as the channel material because of its advantages in terms of band engineering and high mobility/offsets for both electrons and holes [4–5].
Designing Playgrounds for Able and Disabled Children

In The Use of Lateral Thinking (1967), Edward deBono discusses the difference between vertical and lateral thinking. According to deBono, vertical thinking is trying to solve a problem by fixating on the subject or the “hole,” to use deBono’s metaphor, and digging that hole deeper and bigger. If the hole is in the wrong place, however, no amoint of digging will put it right. What is needed is trying again elsewhere; deBono calls this approach lateral thinking.
Electromagnetic Scattering From Multiple Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Having Tumbleweed Configurations

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit highly complicated structures when incorporated in composites and are neither perfectly straight nor aligned in any one direction. Recently, the “clumpy” structure of multiple aggregated CNTs has been likened to desert tumbleweeds. The goal of this paper is to quantify the electromagnetic scattering characteristics of CNTs in the tumbleweed configuration using classical electromagnetic simulations. The simulation results show that the first-plasmon resonance, exhibited by an individual CNT, splits into multiple resonances when multiple CNTs agglomerate into tumbleweed configurations. The number of the resonances increases linearly with the number of CNTs inside the tumbleweed. The second-plasmon resonance exhibits similar splitting behavior. This splitting in the plasmon resonances is caused by the asymmetry of shapes of CNTs and their proximity to each other. If sufficient CNTs agglomerate, the split first-plasmon and second-plasmon resonances overlap, leading to an overall broadband behavior. These results indicate the importance of precise modeling of CNT shapes and the distribution of shapes on the electromagnetic response. Our computations qualitatively explain the broadband response of CNT films and composites and should aid in the development of novel broadband materials and devices based on CNTs.
Broadband frequency comb generation in the near-visible using higher-order modes in silicon nitride microresonators

We demonstrate frequency comb generation in the visible optical spectrum via excitation of higher-order modes in silicon nitride microresonators. Anomalous group-velocity dispersion from the higher-order mode allows for broadband comb generation spanning 45 THz.
Bifurcation Analysis for Discrimination of Budding Yeast Models

Abstract Continuous cultures of budding yeast are known to exhibit sustained oscillations under aerobic and glucose limited growth conditions. Many transient models have been proposed to explain this phenomenon. While they differ according to their underlying assumptions and mathematical complexity, all these models produce oscillations through bifurcations of the model equations. When combined with experimental data, bifurcation analysis provides a powerful tool to discriminate between alternative models. In this paper the bifurcation mechanisms of two representative yeast models are analyzed and compared with data. The two models investigated are: (i) an unsegregated cybernetic model in which oscillations arise due to competition between various metabolic pathways; and (ii) an unstructured cell population model in which oscillations arise due to cell cycle synchronization
Pediatric Anaplastic Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: Targeted Therapy Guided by Genetic Analysis and a Patient-Derived Xenograft Study

Therapy for rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) has generally been limited to combinations of conventional cytotoxic agents similar to regimens originally developed in the late 1960s. Recently, identification of molecular alterations through next-generation sequencing of individual tumor specimens has facilitated the use of more targeted therapeutic approaches for various malignancies. Such targeted therapies have revolutionized treatment for some cancer types. However, malignancies common in children, thus far, have been less amenable to such targeted therapies. This report describes the clinical course of an 8-year-old female with embryonal RMS having anaplastic features. This patient experienced multiple relapses after receiving various established and experimental therapies. Genomic testing of this RMS subtype revealed mutations in BCOR, ARID1A, and SETD2 genes, each of which contributes to epigenetic regulation and interacts with or modifies the activity of histone deacetylases (HDAC). Based on these findings, the patient was treated with the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat as a single agent. The tumor responded transiently followed by subsequent disease progression. We also examined the efficacy of vorinostat in a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model developed using tumor tissue obtained from the patient's most recent tumor resection. The antitumor activity of vorinostat observed with the PDX model reflected clinical observations in that obvious areas of tumor necrosis were evident following exposure to vorinostat. Histologic sections of tumors harvested from PDX tumor-bearing mice treated with vorinostat demonstrated induction of necrosis by this agent. We propose that the evaluation of clinical efficacy in this type of preclinical model merits further evaluation to determine if PDX models predict tumor sensitivity to specific agents and/or combination therapies.
Effectiveness of colon cancer awareness month compared to pancreatic cancer awareness month at increasing internet search activity.

240Background: Colorectal and Pancreatic cancers have high mortality with about 50,000 patients dying from each annually. Cancer awareness months (CAMs) have been earmarked by cancer societies to c...