cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Non-coding structural variation differentially impacts attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) gene networks in African American vs Caucasian children

Previous studies of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have suggested that structural variants (SVs) play an important role but these were mainly studied in subjects of European ancestry and focused on coding regions. In this study, we sought to address the role of SVs in non-European populations and outside of coding regions. To that end, we generated whole genome sequence (WGS) data on 875 individuals, including 205 ADHD cases and 670 non-ADHD controls. The ADHD cases included 116 African Americans (AA) and 89 of European Ancestry (EA) with SVs in comparison with 408 AA and 262 controls, respectively. Multiple SVs and target genes that associated with ADHD from previous studies were identified or replicated, and novel recurrent ADHD-associated SV loci were discovered. We identified clustering of non-coding SVs around neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways, which are involved in neuronal brain function, and highly relevant to ADHD pathogenesis and regulation of gene expression related to specific ADHD phenotypes. There was little overlap (around 6%) in the genes impacted by SVs between AA and EA. These results suggest that SVs within non-coding regions may play an important role in ADHD development and that WGS could be a powerful discovery tool for studying the molecular mechanisms of ADHD.
A Domestic Program for Liquid Metal PFC Research in Fusion

While high-Z solid plasma-facing components (PFCs) are the leading candidates for reactors, it is unclear that they can survive the intense plasma material interaction (PMI). Liquid metals (LM) PFCs offer potential solutions since they are not susceptible to the same type of damage, and can be “self-healing”. Following the Fusion Energy System Study on Liquid Metal Plasma Facing Components study that recently was completed by Kessel et al. (Fusion Sci Technnol 75:886, 2019) a domestic LM PFC design program has been initiated to develop reactor-relevant LM PFC concepts. This program seeks to evaluate LM PFC concepts for a Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) or a Compact Pilot Plant via engineering design calculations, modeling of PMI and PFC components and laboratory experiments. The latter involves experiments in dedicated test stands and confinement devices and seeks to identify and answer open questions in LM PFC design. The new national LM PFC program is first investigating lithium as the plasma facing material for a flowing divertor PFC concept. Several flow speeds will be evaluated, ranging from ~ cm/s to m/s. The surface temperature will initially be held below the strongly evaporative limit in the first design; higher temperatures with strong evaporation will be considered in future concepts. Other topics of interest include: understanding of the hydrogen and helium interaction with the liquid lithium; single effect experiments on wetting, compatibility and embrittlement; and prototypical experiments for control and characterization of flowing LM. A path to plasma and future tokamak exposure of these concepts will be developed.
Impact of Treatment and Anticoagulation on Thrombosis in COVID-19 Patients

Background The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic. Acute respiratory compromise and systemic coagulopathy cause significant morbidity and mortality. Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which encompasses both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), as well as arterial thromboembolism (ATE), which includes stroke, are common sequelae described in this patient population. COVID-19 coagulopathy is attributed to severe inflammation and endothelial dysfunction resulting in a prothrombotic state. COVID-19 related treatment has focused on targeting the unregulated inflammatory state in an attempt to decrease incidence of COVID-19 related complications, such as thrombosis. Prophylactic anticoagulation is recommended, and many suggest intermediate to therapeutic anticoagulation in severe COVID-19. However, there is no clear data showing impact of anticoagulation on morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on all COVID-19 patients hospitalized between March 2020 and June 2020 at our institution. Patient charts were individually reviewed to ensure accuracy of data. Thromboembolic events (VTE or ATE) verified by imaging were included in the analysis. The impact of COVID-19 specific treatments such as Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, Hydroxychloroquine, and steroids on incidence of thrombosis was analyzed by using X2 testing. Using logistics regression, we analyzed the effect of prophylactic versus therapeutic anticoagulation received before development of thrombosis on mortality. Results Out of 1265 COVID-19 positive hospitalized patients during our time frame, 138 (10.9%) had thromboembolism. Incidence of 6.3% VTE, 5.6% DVT, 4.8% PE in COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than 0.24% VTE, 0.15% DVT, 0.12% PE in non COVID-19 hospitalized patients as reported by CDC (p Conclusion In Our study the incidence of thrombosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than non-COVID-19 hospitalized patients. COVID-19 patients with thrombosis had higher mortality compared to COVID-19 patient without thrombosis, particularly patients with PE. Hispanic patients with COVID-19 and thrombosis experienced a higher mortality rate compared to non-Hispanic patients. The lowest incidence of thrombosis occurred in COVID-19 patients who received steroids, followed by Tocilizumab suggesting that steroids and Tocilizumab may reduce the pro-inflammatory state leading to thrombosis. However, mortality rate was higher in patients who received COVID-19 related treatment, suggesting that these patients likely had severe disease. There was no mortality difference in patients who received prophylactic versus therapeutic anticoagulation prior to thrombosis. Randomized control trials will address the impact of anticoagulation dosing on morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients and study the post discharge prophylaxis and long-term outcomes in these patients. Download : Download high-res image (130KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Analyzing cancer gene expression data through the lens of normal tissue-specificity

The genetic alterations that underlie cancer development are highly tissue-specific with the majority of driving alterations occurring in only a few cancer types and with alterations common to multiple cancer types often showing a tissue-specific functional impact. This tissue-specificity means that the biology of normal tissues carries important information regarding the pathophysiology of the associated cancers, information that can be leveraged to improve the power and accuracy of cancer genomic analyses. Research exploring the use of normal tissue data for the analysis of cancer genomics has primarily focused on the paired analysis of tumor and adjacent normal samples. Efforts to leverage the general characteristics of normal tissue for cancer analysis has received less attention with most investigations focusing on understanding the tissue-specific factors that lead to individual genomic alterations or dysregulated pathways within a single cancer type. To address this gap and support scenarios where adjacent normal tissue samples are not available, we explored the genome-wide association between the transcriptomes of 21 solid human cancers and their associated normal tissues as profiled in healthy individuals. While the average gene expression profiles of normal and cancerous tissue may appear distinct, with normal tissues more similar to other normal tissues than to the associated cancer types, when transformed into relative expression values, i.e., the ratio of expression in one tissue or cancer relative to the mean in other tissues or cancers, the close association between gene activity in normal tissues and related cancers is revealed. As we demonstrate through an analysis of tumor data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and normal tissue data from the Human Protein Atlas, this association between tissue-specific and cancer-specific expression values can be leveraged to improve the prognostic modeling of cancer, the comparative analysis of different cancer types, and the analysis of cancer and normal tissue pairs.
A quantitative approach for measuring laterality in clinical fMRI for preoperative language mapping.

fMRI is increasingly used for presurgical language mapping, but lack of standard methodology has made it difficult to combine/compare data across institutions or determine the relative efficacy of different approaches. Here, we describe a quantitative analytic framework for determining language laterality in clinical fMRI that addresses these concerns. We retrospectively analyzed fMRI data from 59 patients who underwent presurgical language mapping at our institution with identical imaging and behavioral protocols. First, we compared the efficacy of different regional masks in capturing language activations. Then, we systematically explored how laterality indices (LIs) computed from these masks vary as a function of task and activation threshold. Finally, we determined the percentile threshold that maximized the correlation between the results of our LI approach and the laterality assessments from the original clinical radiology reports. First, we found that a regional mask derived from a meta-analysis of the fMRI literature better captured language task activations than masks based on anatomically defined language areas. Then, we showed that an LI approach based on this functional mask and percentile thresholding of subject activation can quantify the relative ability of different language tasks to lateralize language function at the population level. Finally, we determined that the 92nd percentile of subject-level activation provides the optimal LI threshold with which to reproduce the original clinical reports. A quantitative framework for determining language laterality that uses a functionally-derived language mask and percentile thresholding of subject activation can combine/compare results across tasks and patients and reproduce clinical assessments of language laterality.
Transidioma and Territory: Language and Power in the Age of Globalization

The experience of linguistic globalization and the communicative disorder it entails require a serious retooling of most basic units of linguistic analysis. The chaos and indeterminacy of contempor...
Low-cost, user friendly multispectral imaging system for the recovery of damaged, faded or palimpsested historical documents

Many research libraries and museums hold unique or rare items on which historically significant text is no longer legible due to damage, deterioration, or erasure. Spectral imaging { the process of capturing images of objects in many colors or wavelengths of light, including parts of the electromagnetic spectrum that are not observable by humans but easily imaged by modern sensors (i.e., ultraviolet and infrared) { has become the go-to" solution for recovering obscured and illegible texts. Unfortunately, most of these imaging systems are very expensive and not intuitive to use. Additionally, software to process the captured images can be expensive, difficult to use, and require significant knowledge of image processing methods. To address the above issues, we have developed a low-cost multispectral imaging system with accompanying open-source software that librarians, curators, and scholars with limited budgets can use to recover obscured and illegible text in their collections. The developed system is easy to use, can be dismantled and transported with little effort, and produce good quality spectral images as well as accurate true color renderings for digitization if needed. The software was developed with simplicity and functionality in mind. Basic image processing to uncover lost text is easy to implement without special image processing knowledge. The system specifications, characterization and calibration procedures and results are discussed. Images captured from a 15th century palimpsested manuscript leaf are shown and results discussed.
Long-Term Impact of Cover Crop and Reduced Disturbance Tillage on Soil Pore Size and Soil Water Storage

Abstract. Using laboratory measurements and numerical simulations, we studied the long-term impact of contrasting tillage and cover cropping systems on soil structure and soil hydraulic properties. Complete water retention and conductivity curves for top (0–5 cm) and subsurface (20–25 cm) samples were characterized and contrasted. Plot-level properties of water storage and retention were evaluated using numerical simulations in HYDRUS-2D software. Soils under no-till (NT) and cover cropping (CC) systems showed an improved soil structure in terms of pore size distribution (PSD) and the hydraulic conductivity (K) under these systems led to increased infiltration rate and water retention. The conventional measurement of water content at field capacity (water content at −33 kPa suction) and the associated plant available water (PAW) showed that NT and CC plots had lower water content at field capacity and lower PAW compared to standard-till (ST) and plots without cover crop (NO). The numerical simulations, however, showed that NT and CC plots have higher profile-level water storage (albeit marginal in magnitude) and water availability following irrigation. Because the numerical simulations consider retention and conductivity functions simultaneously and dynamically through time, they allow the capture of hydraulic properties that are arguably more relevant to crops. The changes in PSD, water conductivity, and water storage associated with NT and CC systems observed in this study suggest that these systems are beneficial to general soil health and improve water retention at the plot scale.
Association of Initial Treatment With Antibiotics vs Surgery With Treatment Success and Disability in Subgroups of Children With Uncomplicated Appendicitis.

This study investigates differences in 1-year outcomes by clinical and socioeconomic factors among US children with uncomplicated appendicitis who were treated with antibiotics vs surgery.
Outer Hair Cell Power Output and the Cellular Origins of Distortion Products

Outer hair cells (OHCs) are the cellular motors in the mammalian inner ear responsible for sensitive high-frequency hearing. Motor function requires expression of the protein prestin (SLC26A5) in the OHC lateral membrane, and ultrafast mechano-electrical transduction (MET) in the apical hair bundle. In the present report, electrical power consumption and mechanical power output of isolated OHCs and membrane patches are examined. Results reveal that power output by the prestin-motor complex is tuned to a best frequency and peaks at a frequency much higher than implied by the low-pass characteristic of traditional nonlinear capacitance, and much higher than the whole-cell resistive-capacitive corner frequency. The RC paradox is resolved by showing the passive membrane capacitance simply stores and releases potential energy without interfering with or diminishing power conversion by the prestin-motor complex. The NLC speed paradox is resolved by showing that the phase of the electrical charge displacement shifts 90{degrees} as the frequency is increased, as required to output power, thereby causing the real part of the NLC to be low pass while attaining motor function through the imaginary part at high frequencies. Power output by the MET-dependent hair bundle motor is also examined, with results indicating the somatic motor provides a bulk of the high-frequency power output. Results further demonstrate how nonlinearity of the prestin-motor complex and nonlinearity of the MET apparatus combine to generate distinct level-dependent cubic and quadratic distortion products near the best frequency (BF) location in the cochlea and basal to BF.
Rearticulating History and Universal Visions

So far, we have explored two different, but related, cosmopolitan religious features: first, the fervent attempt to revise or addend materialism, and second, how such disdain for the purported exclusivity of materialist worldviews became reforged to generate a theory of the immortal soul and spiritual science under the guise of spiritual evolution. Heeding the exhortation of Hesse’s narrator to beware of historical invention, I contend that cosmopolitan religious thinkers explored the hidden or spiritual with disguised “objectivity,” with poetic sagacity, and with novel illusions. They invented a fiction, to borrow Hesse’s term, in order to claim and zealously assert that spiritual science provided a consummate and more placating model of knowing in the world—a kinder, gentler, a more human-reassuring form of meaning-making. In more concrete terms, they insisted that spiritual science served as a vehicle for reconstituting a spiritually intact worldview, in which human subjectivity and spiritual accord could be re-conflated with material science—biology, chemistry, geology—rather than remaining ossified in contradistinction, even opposition, to conventional scientific models and outcomes. Moreover, as we have explored in the previous chapter, their formulation of spiritual science manifested an attempt to legitimize a cosmopolitan religious worldview through their assertion that it conformed to the conventions of valid empirical science. To put it differently, their pseudo-scientific treatises attempted to prompt the mis-recognition of spiritual science as a verifiable empirical method that provided a fuller, more meaningful determinate for knowledge of the human being and human life—in their view an acutely needed corrective to exclusively materialist models.
The Uremic Syndrome

In 1827, Richard Bright described the clinical and morbid symptom complex that results from chronic renal failure. The term “uremia” was subsequently introduced in 1849, to reflect the failure of the diseased kidney to excrete waste products and the resultant poisoning of the blood due to “urine in the blood,” the literal meaning of “uremia.” Although the term “uremia” is now integrated into the English language, the definition given in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary is “accumulation in the blood of constituents normally eliminated in the urine producing a toxic condition...,” which still reflects the origin of the term as introduced over a century ago. In light of the current understanding of the additional roles of the kidney as a regulatory and endocrine organ, however, failure of renal function entails more than is implied in the literal meaning of uremia. In fact, as the term should be defined today, renal failure means that the kidney no longer can perform all three of its primary functions: excretion of waste products, regulation of body volume and composition, and secretion of hormones. The symptom complex that results either directly or indirectly as a consequence of renal failure is more properly referred to as a syndrome: the uremic syndrome, which is characterized by some degree of derangement of most, if not all, of the organ system of the body. It is for this reason that the title of this chapter has been changed in this edition of Contemporary Nephrology and the format followed slightly modified to emphasize organ involvement.
FSA Direct Farm Loan Program Graduation Rates and Reasons for Exiting

Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct loans are intended to provide transitory credit to creditworthy borrowers unable to obtain conventional credit at reasonable terms. Farm loan program (FLP) effectiveness is measured in part by how readily direct loan borrowers graduate to conventional credit. A survey of FSA borrowers originating direct loans during fiscal years 1994-1996 is used to estimate graduation rates. A majority of 1994-1996 loan originators did exit the direct FLP by November 2004. A multinomial logit model indicates financial strength at origination resulted in greater likelihood of farming without direct loans approximately 9 years after loan origination.
Cut Mark Cluster Geometry and Equifinality in Replicated Early Stone Age Butchery

Early Stone Age cut marks created during tool-assisted carnivory potentially offer inferences into hominin butchery behaviour and access to complete or defleshed carcasses. Actualistic butchery trials of 16 goat and cow half-carcasses were completed by an experienced butcher with replicated Oldowan tools to investigate how the geometric organisation of cut mark clusters reflects flake versus core tool use and bulk muscle versus scrap defleshing. A cluster of cut marks is defined as a series of adjacent cut mark striations that occur at an anatomical location and are bounded by unmarked cortical surface. Tool type and butchery action were predicted to differentially mark certain long bone portions and influence cluster attributes. Moulds of 613 cut mark clusters were photographed and measured using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA) for cluster area, cut mark count, median cut mark length and standard deviation of cut mark length and angle. Analysis suggests the following results: (i) cluster attributes are correlated;(ii) changes in cluster geometry are related to increasing cut mark count and length but not tool type or defleshed muscle amount; (iii) large clusters occur on large animals; and (iv) long bone midshaft portions are cut-marked during both bulk and scrap muscle defleshing. Analysis of 179 cut mark clusters on long bone shafts of sizes 1–4 mammals from three Okote member assemblages at Koobi Fora, Kenya, shows that archaeological clusters have a similar number of marks when compared with experimental clusters but are significantly smaller, have shorter median marks and include less deviation in mark length and angle. Archaeological clusters corroborate that increasing area is positively correlated with cut mark count, median mark length and standard deviation of mark length and angle. A quantitative inferential model that links cut mark cluster geometry to tool type or the amount of muscle defleshed is not supported by these data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Low-lying electronic structure of EuH, EuOH, and EuO neutrals and anions determined by anion photoelectron spectroscopy and DFT calculations.

The anion photoelectron (PE) spectra of EuH− and the PE spectrum of overlapping EuOH− and EuO− anions are presented and analyzed with supporting results from density functional theory calculations on the various anions and neutrals. Results point to ionically bound, high-spin species. EuH and EuOH anions and neutrals exhibit analogous electronic structures: Transitions from 8Σ− anion ground states arising from the 4f7σ6s2 superconfiguration to the close-lying neutral 9Σ− and 7Σ− states arising from the 4f7σ6s superconfiguration are observed spaced by an energy interval similar to the free Eu+ [4f76s] 9S - 7S splitting. The electron affinities (EAs) of EuH and EuOH are determined to be 0.771 ± 0.009 eV and 0.700 ± 0.011 eV, respectively. Analysis of spectroscopic features attributed to EuO− photodetachment is complicated by the likely presence of two energetically competitive electronic states of EuO− populating the ion beam. However, based on the calculated relative energies of the close-lying anion state...
Microsomal Heme Oxygenase CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ENZYME

Abstract This study characterizes microsomal heme oxygenase, a previously undescribed enzyme which catalyzes the oxidation of heme at the α-methene bridge to form biliverdin. This step is then coupled with soluble NADPH-dependent biliverdin reductase to form bilirubin; microsomal heme oxygenase is rate-limiting in this pathway. By all analytical criteria, the product of this reaction is bilirubin. Most, if not all, of the bilirubin is of the IX α configuration, which is the sole isomeric form of bilirubin occurring physiologically. Heme oxygenase is localized specifically to the microsomal fraction, has an absolute and stoichiometric requirement for NADPH and molecular oxygen, generates carbon monoxide in amounts equimolar to bilirubin, and is inhibited by carbon monoxide. These and other data suggest that this enzyme is a mixed function oxygenase. The enzyme is most active with protohemin IX or methemalbumin; substrates with less activity are methemoglobin, the α and β chains of hemoglobin, deuterohemin IX, coprohemin I, and the hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex, in this order. Oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, myoglobin, and free porphyrins are not acted upon by the enzyme. The apparent Km for protohemin IX is 5.0 µm, and for the other substrates ranges from 4.5 to 5.1 µm. Sodium dodecyl sulfate, lipase, phospholipase, trypsin, potassium cyanide, sodium azide, and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate inhibit the enzyme. The kinetics and tissue distribution of this enzyme suggest that it is of major importance in the physiological degradation of hemoglobin and other hemoproteins to bile pigment.
Vitamin D3-induced Calcium-binding Protein: BINDING CHARACTERISTICS, CONFORMATIONAL EFFECTS, AND OTHER PROPERTIES

Abstract Specific properties and characteristics of the vitamin D-induced calcium-binding protein were studied. The pH-calcium-binding curve indicated two maxima, one at about pH 6.6 and the other at about pH 9.6. The isoelectric point was estimated to be in the range of 4.0 to 4.4. Alkali metal chlorides nonselectively reduced the binding capacity of calcium-binding protein; there was about a 40% reduction at 0.15 m KCl or NaCl. Urea, at concentrations of 1 m and 8 m, inhibited binding by about 30% and 100%, respectively, suggesting that the conformation integrity of calcium-binding protein is required for maximum binding. From competitive inhibitor studies, the order of binding of the alkali earth metals was estimated to be Ca g Sr g Ba g Mg, and this sequence is not predicted on the basis of either energy of hydration or the crystal radius of the metal cations. Other divalent cations shown to compete with 45Ca for the binding site or depress binding by another mechanism were Zn++, Cd++, Mn++, and Fe++; under the conditions used, Co++ and Ni++ were ineffective. N-Ethylmaleimide, iodoacetate, and β-mercaptoethanol did not alter 45Ca-binding, indicating that sulfhydryl groups are not directly involved in the binding reaction. Organic compounds, besides urea, shown to interfere with binding were cetrimide, lysolecithin, and myristoylcholine but not acetylcholine, among others. No adenosine triphosphatase activity, with or without calcium, was associated with protein. The α helical content of calcium-binding protein, as estimated from circular dichroism data, was of the order of 30 to 40%.
PROFESSIONAL ROLES AND PRACTICES OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN URBAN SCHOOLS

An empirical focus on the perspectives and experiences of practitioners who work in urban school districts is lacking in the school psychology literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the professional roles and practices of school psychologists who serve students, families, and schools located in urban school districts. School psychologists who practice in five racially and ethnically diverse urban districts were surveyed regarding their demographic profiles, professional practices, and current professional needs. In comparison to data reported in demographic surveys conducted by the National Association of School Psychologists, there were significant differences in demographics, practices, and issues that face school psychologists in urban settings. Implications are discussed in terms of improving services for urban populations.
Migration Inhibition of Mouse Macrophages by Brucella Antigens

Mice are suitable donors of peritoneal macrophages for the capillary migration inhibition test, provided a period of preincubation with antigen is used
Antibodies to α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins react with Candida albicans alcohol dehydrogenase

It has been hypothesized that Candida albicans possesses integrin-like receptors on its cell surface. This is because C. albicans binds numerous fluid-phase extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on its cell surface and adheres to the same ECM proteins when immobilized. In addition, numerous antibodies to human integrins (receptors for ECM proteins) bind to the fungal cell surface and in so doing inhibit the binding of the respective proteins. To demonstrate the presence of such a cell surface integrin, a cDNA library of C. albicans yeast cells was screened with polyclonal antiserum to the human fibronectin receptor (α5β1 integrin). Clones isolated by this screening technique also reacted specifically to antiserum against the human vitronectin receptor (αvβ3 integrin). DNA sequence analysis of the cloned insert predicted a 350 aa protein (37 kDa). This predicted protein showed 75% homology at the nucleotide sequence level to alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In vitro transcription/translation of the cloned inserts yielded a 37 kDa protein that was immunoprecipated with antibodies to the α5β1 and αvβ3 integrins and an antibody to a C. albicans fibronectin receptor. These antibodies and an mAb to the human vitronectin receptor demonstrated an antigen of −37 kDa present in the cell-wall preparations of C. albicans and in spent growth medium. All four antibodies reacted with authentic ADH. The possible significance of these results in relation to C. albicans adherence is discussed.
Evaluation of Risk Management Strategies for a Low-Cost, High-Risk Project

This paper summarizes work in progress to define and implement a risk management process tailored to a low-cost, high-risk, NASA mission -the Microrover Flight Experiment (MFEX, commonly called the Mars microrover).
A declarative approach to customize workflow provenance

Provenance describes the origin, context, derivation, and ownership of data products and is becoming increasingly important in scientific applications. This information can be used, e.g., to explain, debug, and reproduce the results of computational experiments, or to determine the validity and quality of data products. In contrast, it may be infeasible or undesirable to share complete provenance of a scientific experiment. Towards finding a balance between these requirements, we develop a framework and a system that allows scientists to declaratively specify their provenance data publication and customization requirements. Using this system, scientists can specify which parts of the provenance data are to be included in the result and which parts should be hidden, or anonymized. However, arbitrary application of these specifications may not maintain provenance data integrity. Thus, we allow scientists to specify provenance data integrity requirements, in form of provenance policies, along with their provenance data publication and customization requirements. Our system then systematically applies all the publication and customization requirements on the provenance data and ensures all the provenance policies as specified by the scientist.
Cortisol rapidly reduces prolactin release and cAMP and 45Ca2+ accumulation in the cichlid fish pituitary in vitro

Abstract During in vitro incubation, prolactin release is inhibited in a dose-related manner by cortisol. This action is mimicked by the synthetic glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone but not by other steroids tested. Perifusion studies indicate that the inhibition of [3H]prolactin release by cortisol occurs within 20 min. Cortisol (50 nM) also inhibits cAMP accumulation and reduces 45Ca2+ accumulation in the tilapia rostral pars distalis within 15 min. Cortisol's action on prolactin release is blocked in the presence of either the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 or a combination of dibutyryl cAMP and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, which increase intracellular Ca2+ and cAMP, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that cortisol may play a physiologically relevant role in the rapid modulation of prolactin secretion in vivo. Our studies also suggest that the inhibition of prolactin release by cortisol is a specific glucocorticoid action that may be mediated, in part, through cortisol's ability to inhibit intracellular cAMP and Ca2+ metabolism.
Hollywood, Vancouver, and the World: Employment Relocation and the Emergence of Satellite Production Centers in the Motion-Picture Industry

The paper opens with an identification of the phenomenon of employment relocation (runaway production) from Hollywood and the concomitant formation of satellite production centers in other parts of the world. A brief theoretical analysis of this issue is provided, emphasizing the role of scale effects and transactions costs. The empirical record of the decentralization of film-shooting activities from Hollywood over the period from the early 1980s to the early 2000s is reviewed. We describe the effects of these activities on the rise and consolidation of the Vancouver film-production complex, and we engage in a broad discussion of the spatial and economic structure of the complex. We subsequently show that many places in other countries (for example, Australia, New Zealand, Romania, the Czech Republic, Mexico, South Africa, and elsewhere) are now competing strongly with Vancouver for film-shooting activities from Hollywood. We predict that this competition is likely to intensify greatly over the next deca...
Changes in the structure of graphite on irradiation under restraint

Abstract As part of a programme of work designed to investigate the behaviour on irradiation by fast neutrons of various types of graphite which are restrained from growing, X-ray diffraction measurements have been made in an attempt to follow changes in the crystalline character of the graphite at various stages of the “restrained growth” experiment. The experimental methods used and the appropriate correction procedures are discussed. It is shown that, on neutron-irradiation, the application of a growth-restraining mechanism considerably reduces the rate at which crystal damage takes place. For the most heavily irradiated samples this retardation of the crystal damage is very marked indeed. Quantitative measurements of the changes in the interlayer spacings of the irradiated specimens from the value for the original material are consistent with this conclusion. Recovery of the original interlayer spacing was effected for all specimens by annealing at 2400 °C. By contrast, full recovery of the crystal structure order does not appear to have taken place. The results are compared with other published data and their interpretation is discussed in terms of current ideas of crystal damage induced by neutron irradiation.
Per-segment aboveground forest biomass estimation using LIDAR-derived height percentile statistics.

An outbreak of red oak borer, an insect infesting red oak trees, prompted the need for a biomass model of closed-canopy oak-hickory forests in the rugged terrain of the Arkansas Ozarks. Multiple height percentiles were calculated from small-footprint aerial LIDAR data, and image segmentation was employed to partition the LIDAR-derived surface into structurally homogeneous modeling units. In situ reference data were incorporated into a machine-learning algorithm that produced a regression-tree model for predicting aboveground woody biomass per segment. Model results on training data appear adequate for prediction purposes (mean error 2.38 kg/m2, R 2 = 0.83). Model performance on withheld test data reveals slightly lower accuracy (2.77 kg/m2, R 2 = 0.72).
Ionization energy thresholds of microhydrated adenine and its tautomers.

In the present work the vertical and adiabatic ionization energy thresholds (IET) of adenine, and its amino and imino tautomers complexed with 1−3 water molecules are presented. The vertical and adiabatic IETs have been calculated at the B3LYP and P3 levels of theory, using the standard 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. The results show that there is hardly any effect of microhydration on the vertical ΔIET of adenine, which is at odds with the experimental values determined by Kim et al. (J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 7933). In an attempt to assign the experimental ΔIET values, calculations have been performed on the microhydrated amino and imino tautomers of adenine. Vertical ΔIET calculations and adiabatic ΔIET calculations on adenine N7H tautomers complexed with water are in better agreement with the experimental results than are calculations involving the canonical (N9H) form of adenine.
Update in Allergy and Immunology

This Update in Allergy and Immunology covers 3 themes: mechanisms of allergic disease, with insight into pathogenesis or treatment; therapy for allergic disease, including controversial or novel ap...
Atypical melanocytic lesions of the thigh with spitzoid and dysplastic features: a clinicopathologic study of 29 cases

Melanocytic nevi in certain anatomic locations can display unusual histopathologic features potentially creating diagnostic uncertainty. Benign melanocytic nevi in sites such as acral, genital, and flexural areas may show unusual architecture and cytologic atypia, which can mimic dysplastic nevi and, sometimes, melanoma. Twenty-nine benign melanocytic skin lesions were identified in the thigh of 26 women and 3 men who showed atypical histologic features, including both dysplastic and spitzoid features. All lesions measured less than 1 cm in diameter. Eighteen cases showed features of compound nevi, and 11 were junctional. In all cases, the lesions displayed spitzoid features including large epithelioid and/or spindle cells, some melanocytes with ganglion-like cytomorphology, and focal suprabasilar upward migration. All cases showed dysplastic features. Clinical follow-up was available in 26 patients; no recurrences or metastases were observed. The demographic features and the anatomical sites of these melanocytic nevi appear to be reproducible, and in the assessment of histologically difficult cases, these data are helpful. It is our opinion that the malignant potential of these lesions with hybrid patterns (spitzoid/dysplastic) has yet to be determined, and although we favor these lesions to be benign, longer follow-up may yield a more complete understanding of their biologic potential.
Live and Inactivated Vaccines of Group B Arboviruses: Role of Neutralizing Antibody and Serum Protective Factor

IT is generally accepted that vaccination provides protection against subsequent viral disease either by stimulating the production of neutralizing antibody or by sensitizing the antibody producing cells so that on infection neutralizing antibody is produced1. The results presented here suggest that inactivated group B arbovirus vaccines depend chiefly on the production of neutralizing antibody to provide protection against subsequent viral disease, whereas live group B arbovirus vaccines depend not only on neutralizing antibody but also on the presence of a new humoral substance which we call serum protective factor (SPF)2 Indeed, using the immunosuppressant drug cyclophosphamide, serum protective factor can be shown to provide protection in the absence of any detectable neutralizing antibody response before the initiation of infection or subsequent to the challenge virus. Thus live group B arbovirus vaccines produce two lines of defence because neutralizing antibody acts on the virus before it penetrates the cell and serum protective factor acts on the cell to confer protection2.
Speech-Based Distance Cueing in Virtual Auditory Displays

One of the greatest weaknesses of current virtual audio displays is their inability to produce robust distance cues. There is, however, reason to believe that the systematic changes that occur in human speech as the loudness of the voice increases can provide distance information in a virtual audio display. In this experiment, speech samples ranging from quiet whispers to loud shouts were processed to simulate live human talkers at 9 distances from 0.25 m to 64 m, and were presented over headphones to listeners in an outdoor environment. The resulting distance judgments indicate that vocal effort has a strong influence on the perceived distance of speech, and that the effects of vocal effort are consistent across a range of talkers, utterances, and listeners. Thus, it appears that speech-based distance cues are capable of providing salient distance information in virtual audio displays.
VESICOINTESTINAL FISTULA AFTER COMBINED ILEAL AND GASTRIC BLADDER AUGMENTATION

Bladder augmentation with mixed enteric segments is being used with increasing frequency. In addition, the use of stomach has been reported to result in fewer electrolyte abnormalities, less stone formation, decreased mucous production and decreased incidence of urinary tract infections. However, the disadvantage of using stomach for composite bladder augmentation, most notably the hematuria-dysuria syndrome, has placed it in disfavor at many institutions. We report a case of vesicointestinal fistula after combined ileal and gastric bladder augmentation.
Theater Engagement and Self-Concept in College Undergraduates

The experience of coliege undergraduate theater majors was investigated to determine the potential influence of the associated occupations on self-concept. The study employed a qualitative, interpretative, case-study methodology. Four participants were interviewed to gain their perspectives regarding the meaning of various aspects of theater occupations relative to self-concept. Interview data was supplemented by multiple observations of participants in the context of play rehearsal and production. Analysis of interview data revealed that participants identified opportunities for self-reflection within the context of the theater major as meaningful in regards to self-concept. Thematic analysis revealed that occupations identified by participants as significant for self-concept induded: academic coursework, character development activities, auditioning, and typecasting. Findings support the notion that aspects of occupations associated with an undergraduate major in theater influence self-concept.
Abstract 5319: The role of Notch and Delta-like 1 in antitumor immunity

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Defects in T cell function are evident in tumor bearing hosts. One potential mechanism for these hematopoietic defects is disruption of Notch signaling which is essential for T- versus B-lineage commitment, and it is clear that Delta-like 1 (DLL1) and Delta-like 4 (DLL4) are critical in this process 1-4. Here we show that tumor-associated defects in T cell development are characterized by attenuated levels of DLL1 and DLL4 in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment, and elevated circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one causative factor. We also show that elective therapeutic stimulation of Notch signaling in animals using multivalent form of DLL1 significantly reduces tumor growth, rescues T cell development and enhances T cell-mediated immune responses and that over-expression of DLL1 alone in BM precursors also inhibits tumor growth and improves anti-tumor immunity. Thus, stimulation of DLL1-Notch signaling represents a new strategy to overcome tumor immune dysfunction. As neutralizing DLL4 has been proposed as an approach to inhibit tumor growth by regulating tumor angiogenesis, our data suggest that combining stimulation or blockade of specific context-dependent Notch signaling may optimally inhibit tumor growth via multiple distinct mechanisms. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5319.
Modelling TSH and its Receptor Complex for Binding Affinity

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a glycoprotein hormone consisting of two distinct subunits, binds to its receptor (TSHR) and regulates the production and secretion of thyroid hormones via a complex signaling cascade. Two recent works have reported the crystal structure of stimulating and blocking type antibody-Fab fragments binding to the ectodomain of the TSHR. However, as of today no crystal structure of the TSH-TSHR complex has been reported.In this work, homology modeling of TSH has been carried out with Modeller (Sali and Blundell 1993) using the crystal structure (PDB ID: 1FL7) of the related follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as the template (Fox, Dias et al. 2001). A fast molecular dynamics minimization of the structure has been performed as part of the Modeller routine. Docking of TSH on the TSHR was carried out on the HEX server (http://hexserver.loria.fr/) and residual contacts of the TSH-TSHR complex have been identified. Conformational studies and the free energy of binding will be reported based on Molecular Dynamics simulations using the AMBER force field. The calculations will be complemented by experimental determination of the binding affinity using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). This study provides useful insight into the kinetics and dynamics of TSH binding to its receptor.Fox, K. M., J. A. Dias, et al. (2001). Molecular Endocrinology 15(3): 378-389.Sali, A. and T. L. Blundell (1993). Journal of Molecular Biology 234(3): 779-815
Effects of α-alkoxy substitution and conformational constraints on 6-exo radical cyclizations of hydrazones via reversible thiyl and stannyl additions

Abstract Access to multifunctional hydrazones of relevance to dysiherbaine synthesis studies is described. Subsequent radical cyclizations of multifunctional hydrazones via a Si- and C-linked tethering strategy are shown to function effectively in 6- exo fashion. Conformational constraints are proposed to play a key role in suppressing unproductive premature reduction pathways. The stereochemical outcomes suggest that minimizing the dipole repulsion between neighboring C N and C–O bonds favors a C α –C( N) dihedral angle placing the C N bond axial within a chairlike transition state, in contrast to the usual Beckwith–Houk model.
Disruptive behaviors in individuals with Alzheimer's disease: A behavioral approach

Many patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrate disruptive behaviors that are distressing to themselves and to their caregivers. This article will examine how to use a behavioral approach to help manage such behaviors. The approach is based on four steps involving the clinician and the caregiver:• Analysis of the behavior• Identification of behavioral strategies• Choice and implementation of a behavioral intervention• Evaluation followed by modification of the plan as required.A synopsis of available behavioral strategies are included here to help the clinician discuss alternatives with caregivers.