cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
mpMRI preoperative staging in men treated with antiandrogen and androgen deprivation therapy before robotic prostatectomy.

Abstract Introduction Using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI), we sought to preoperatively characterize prostate cancer (PCa) in the setting of antiandrogen plus androgen deprivation therapy (AA-ADT) prior to robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We present our preliminary findings regarding mpMRI depiction of changes of disease staging features and lesion appearance in treated prostate. Methods Prior to RARP, men received 6 months of enzalutamide and goserelin. mpMRI consisting of T2 weighted, b = 2,000 diffusion weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient mapping, and dynamic contrast enhancement sequences was acquired before and after neoadjuvant therapy. Custom MRI-based prostate molds were printed to directly compare mpMRI findings to H&E whole-mount pathology as part of a phase II clinical trial (NCT02430480). Results Twenty men underwent imaging and RARP after a regimen of AA-ADT. Positive predictive values for post-AA-ADT mpMRI diagnosis of extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, organ-confined disease, and biopsy-confirmed PCa lesions were 71%, 80%, 80%, and 85%, respectively. Post-treatment mpMRI correctly staged disease in 15/20 (75%) cases with 17/20 (85%) correctly identified as organ-confined or not. Of those incorrectly staged, 2 were falsely positive for higher stage features and 1 was falsely negative. Post-AA-ADT T2 weighted sequences best depicted presence of PCa lesions as compared to diffusion weighted imaging and dynamic contrast enhancement sequences. Conclusion mpMRI proved reliable in detecting lesion changes after antiandrogen therapy corresponding to PCa pathology. Therefore, mpMRI of treated prostates may be helpful for assessing men for surgical planning and staging.
Improving Student Behavior in Middle School Art Classrooms: Initial Investigation of CW-FIT Tier 1:

Classroom management is commonly challenging in middle schools. Class-wide function-related intervention teams (CW-FIT) is a multitiered intervention designed to decrease problem behaviors at the c...
At the Margins: Comparing School Experiences of Nonbinary and Binary-Identified Transgender Youth.

Background Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming (TNG) young people are a diverse group, including young people with gender identities beyond the gender binary. Whereas nonbinary youth experience disparities in victimization and mental health, school belonging, support, and resources have not been well described. Methods We conducted an online survey of TNG young people (ages 12-22) in Wisconsin to assess school belonging, safety, support, and resources. We compared responses among participants with nonbinary versus binary identities using mulvariate analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of covariance, chi-square and logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 287 TNG young people met inclusion criteria (average age 18.2 ± 2.5 years). More than 40% of participants identified as nonbinary. Nonbinary participants were less likely to be out to teachers, but more likely to utilize supportive staff as a resource compared to binary-identified TNG peers. There were no significant differences in school safety and belonging. Conclusions Most school experiences do not vary significantly between TNG young people with binary versus nonbinary gender identities, though nonbinary young people are less likely to be out at school. Future research should examine factors that impact whether nonbinary young people share their gender identity and access school support services.
Valve surgery for infective endocarditis complicated by stroke: surgical timing and perioperative neurological complications

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Ischaemic and hemorrhagic strokes are dreaded complications of infective endocarditis (IE). The timing of valve surgery for IE patients with stroke remains uncertain. The aim was to study perioperative neurological complications in relation to surgical timing. METHODS The study cohort consisted of patients diagnosed with acute IE from January 2010 to December 2016. Early surgery was defined as valve surgery within 14 days of IE diagnosis, and late surgery as after 14 days. Neurological complications that occurred within 14 days post-surgery were considered perioperative and classified as new ischaemic stroke or hemorrhagic stroke, expansion of an existing intracranial hemorrhage and new-onset seizures. Perioperative neurological complications were compared by surgical timing and other variables, including pre-surgical imaging. RESULTS Overall, 183 patients underwent valve surgery: 92 had early surgery at a median of 8 days (interquartile range 6-11); 91 had late surgery at a median of 28 days (interquartile range 19-50). Twenty patients (10.9%) had 24 complications: 11 ischaemic, six intraparenchymal hemorrhages, three subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) and four new-onset seizures. Rates of neurological complications were similar for early and late surgery groups (10.9% vs. 11%). Enterococcal IE was more common amongst patients with perioperative neurological complications (35% vs. 12.3%, P < 0.01). An acute infarct was present on pre-surgical magnetic resonance imaging of 134 patients (74%) and was not associated with perioperative neurological complications. Thirty-five patients (19.3%) had intracranial hemorrhage on pre-surgical imaging. SAH on pre-surgical imaging was associated with developing SAH perioperatively (66.7% vs. 13.5%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Early valve surgery for patients with IE complicated by stroke was not associated with perioperative neurological complications.
Comparison of Freshly Isolated Adipose Tissue-derived Stromal Vascular Fraction and Bone Marrow Cells in a Posterolateral Lumbar Spinal Fusion Model.

Study design Rat posterolateral lumbar fusion model. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of freshly isolated adipose tissue-derived stromal vascular fraction (A-SVF) and bone marrow cells (BMCs) cells in achieving spinal fusion in a rat model. Summary of background data Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ASCs) offer advantages as a clinical cell source compared to bone marrow-derived stromal cells (BMSCs), including larger available tissue volumes and reduced donor site morbidity. While pre-clinical studies have shown that ex vivo expanded ASCs can be successfully used in spinal fusion, the use of A-SVF cells better allows for clinical translation. Methods A-SVF cells were isolated from the inguinal fat pads, whereas BMCs were isolated from the long bones of syngeneic 6- to 8-week-old Lewis rats and combined with Vitoss (Stryker) bone graft substitute for subsequent transplantation. Posterolateral spinal fusion surgery at L4-L5 was performed on 36 female Lewis rats divided into three experimental groups: Vitoss bone graft substitute only (VO group); Vitoss + 2.5 × 106 A-SVF cells/side; and, Vitoss + 2.5 × 106 BMCs/side. Fusion was assessed 8 weeks post-surgery via manual palpation, micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging, and histology. Results μCT imaging analyses revealed that fusion volumes and μCT fusion scores in the A-SVF group were significantly higher than in the VO group; however, they were not significantly different between the A-SVF group and the BMC group. The average manual palpation score was highest in the A-SVF group compared with the BMC and VO groups. Fusion masses arising from cell-seeded implants yielded better bone quality than nonseeded bone graft substitute. Conclusion In a rat model, A-SVF cells yielded a comparable fusion mass volume and radiographic rate of fusion to BMCs when combined with a clinical-grade bone graft substitute. These results suggest the feasibility of using freshly isolated A-SVF cells in spinal fusion procedures.Level of Evidence: N/A.
BISTLock: Efficient IP Piracy Protection using BIST

The globalization of IC manufacturing has increased the likelihood for IP providers to suffer financial and reputational loss from IP piracy. Logic locking prevents IP piracy by corrupting the functionality of an IP unless a correct secret key is inserted. However, existing logic-locking techniques can impose significant area overhead and performance impact (delay and power) on designs. In this work, we propose BISTLock, a logic-locking technique that utilizes built-in self-test (BIST) to isolate functional inputs when the circuit is locked. We also propose a set of security metrics and use the proposed metrics to quantify BISTLock’s security strength for an open-source AES core. Our experimental results demonstrate that BISTLock is easy to implement and introduces an average of 0.74% area and no power or delay overhead across the set of benchmarks used for evaluation.
Mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes in neurodegeneration

Novel targets to arrest neurodegeneration in several dementing conditions involving misfolded protein accumulations may be found in the diverse signaling pathways of the Mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). As a nutrient sensor, mTOR has important homeostatic functions to regulate energy metabolism and support neuronal growth and plasticity. However, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), mTOR alternately plays important pathogenic roles by inhibiting both insulin signaling and autophagic removal of β-amyloid (Aβ) and phospho-tau (ptau) aggregates. It also plays a role in the cerebrovascular dysfunction of AD. mTOR is a serine/threonine kinase residing at the core in either of two multiprotein complexes termed mTORC1 and mTORC2. Recent data suggest that their balanced actions also have implications for Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Beyond rapamycin; an mTOR inhibitor, there are rapalogs having greater tolerability and micro delivery modes, that hold promise in arresting these age dependent conditions.
Efficient Resources Distribution for an Ephemeral Cloud/Edge continuum.

This paper presents the idea and the concepts behind the vision of an Ephemeral Cloud/Edge Continuum, a cloud/edge computing landscape that enables the exploitation of a widely distributed, dynamic, and context-aware set of resources. The Ephemeral Continuum answer to the need of combining a plethora of heterogeneous devices, which nowadays are pervasively embedding anthropic environments, with both federations of cloud providers and the resources located at the Edge. The aim of the Ephemeral Continuum is to realise a context-aware and personalised federation of computational, data and network resources, able to manage their heterogeneity in a highly distributed deployment.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance In Pregnancy

Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, limited data existed regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in pregnant women. As such, many pregnant women have reservations about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. However, pregnant women are of particular concern as they are considered a vulnerable population due to the increased risk of severe complications from COVID-19. This study investigates the willingness of pregnant patients to receive the vaccine before and after discussion with a health care provider. Methods: 124 pregnant women were surveyed from February to March of 2021 at a perinatal center. Patients were queried about their willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine before and after reading a fact sheet and discussing the vaccine's safety with a provider. Results: There was a statistically significant effect of discussing the vaccine with a physician regarding patients' willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, patients who received the annual influenza vaccine were significantly more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: Pregnant women were more willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine after discussion with a health care provider. The importance and impact of health education should be given special consideration in medical offices.of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the CDC recommend the authorization and use of the COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women. Several studies have analyzed the acceptance and willingness of the general population to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. However, there is limited data regarding the attitudes and perceptions of pregnant women towards receiving the vaccine. The decision to receive the vaccine is a source of confusion and conflict for many pregnant women, making this an important topic of discussion between patients and obstetrics and gynecology providers. (2-5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Neonatology Today is the property of Loma Linda Publishing Company and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Altered synaptic glutamate homeostasis contributes to cognitive decline in young APP/PSEN1 mice.

Abstract Non-convulsive epileptiform activity is a common and under-studied comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease that may significantly contribute to onset of clinical symptoms independently of other neuropathological features such as β-amyloid deposition. We used repeated treatment with low dose kainic acid (KA) to trigger sub-threshold epileptiform activity in young (less than 6 months) wild-type (WT) and APP/PSEN1 mice to test the role of disruption to the glutamatergic system in epileptiform activity changes and the development of memory deficits. Short-term repeated low-dose KA (five daily treatments with 5 mg/kg, IP) impaired long-term potentiation in hippocampus of APP/PSEN1 but not WT mice. Long-term repeated low-dose KA (fourteen weeks of bi-weekly treatment with 7.5–10 mg/kg) led to high mortality in APP/PSEN1 mice. KA treatment also impaired memory retention in the APP/PSEN1 mice in a Morris water maze task under cognitively challenging reversal learning conditions where the platform was moved to a new location. Four weeks of bi-weekly treatment with 5 mg/kg KA also increased abnormal spike activity in APP/PSEN1 and not WT mice but did not impact sleep/wake behavioral states. These findings suggest that hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's disease may indeed be an early contributor to cognitive decline that is independent of heavy β-amyloid-plaque load, which is absent in APP/PSEN1 mice under 6 months of age.
Effects of dual inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways on endometrial pro-inflammatory, hormonal, and epigenetic microenvironment in endometriosis

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent and progesterone-resistant gynecological inflammatory disease of reproductive-age women. The prevalence of endometriosis is ~5-10% in reproductive-age women, increasing to 20-30% in women with subfertility. The current anti-estrogen therapies can be prescribed only for a short time because of the undesirable side effects on menstruation, pregnancy, bone health, and failure to prevent a recurrence. The causes of endometriosis-associated infertility are multifactorial and poorly understood. The objective of the present study was to determine the inhibitory effects of AKT and/or ERK1/2 pathways on the microenvironment of the endometrium in a xenograft mouse model of endometriosis of human origin. Results indicate that dual inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways, but not inhibition of either AKT or ERK1/2 pathway, suppresses the growth of the endometriotic lesions in vivo. Dual inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways suppresses the production of proinflammatory cytokines, decreases E2 biosynthesis and signaling, and restores progesterone receptor-B signaling components in the epithelial and stromal cells of the endometrium in a cell-specific manner. These results together suggest that dual inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways suppresses the estrogen-dominant state and concomitantly increases the progesterone-responsive state of the endometrium. Therefore, dual inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 pathways could emerge as long-term nonsteroidal therapy for endometriosis.
BETTER TOGETHER, AGAIN

The past year accelerated, if not forced, many changes in marketing education. We believe that 2020 will be remembered not as a lost year but as a year of endurance and determination. As both a com...
Housing the Stranger in the Mediterranean World: Lodging, Trade, and Travel in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages

The Greek pandocheion, Arabic funduq, and Latin fundicum (fondaco) were ubiquitous in the Mediterranean sphere for nearly two millennia. These institutions were not only hostelries for traders and travelers, but also taverns, markets, warehouses, and sites for commercial taxation and regulation. In this highly original study, Professor Constable traces the complex evolution of this family of institutions from the pandocheion in Late Antiquity, to the appearance of the funduq throughout the Muslim Mediterranean following the rise of Islam. By the twelfth century, with the arrival of European merchants in Islamic markets, the funduq evolved into the fondaco. These merchant colonies facilitated trade and travel between Muslim and Christian regions. Before long, fondacos also appeared in southern European cities. This study of the diffusion of this institutional family demonstrates common economic interests and cross-cultural communications across the medieval Mediterranean world, and provides a striking contribution to our understanding of this region.
Estimation of Shear-Induced Lift Force in Laminar and Turbulent Flows

The goal of the present study is to demonstrate that direct numerical simulations (DNS) coupled with interface tracking methods can be used to estimate interfacial forces in two-phase flows. Curren...
Ethylene Action and the Ripening of Fruits

Recent studies employing gas chromatography show that an amount of ethylene large enough to stimulate ripening is always present within a fruit before the respiratory climacteric begins. This fact and data from experiments in which fruits were exposed to a partial vacuum or varying concentrations of O(2), CO(2), and ethylene oxide reinforces the view that ethylene is a ripening hormone. The respiratory climacteric begins soon after the fruit is harvested because the tissue no longer receives from the shoot system a substance which inhibits ripening; this substance may act by lowering the sensitivity of the fruit to ethylene. The threshold for ethylene action is also influenced by the composition of the atmosphere, for O(2) is a substrate in the reaction activated by ethylene and CO(2) inhibits the action of ethylene by competing with the olefin for the receptor site. Experiments indicate that ethylene is derived from acetate or acids of the Krebs cycle and acts by binding to a metal receptor site in the tissue.
Simultaneous transport of multiple nanoparticles across a patterned plasmonic substrate

We demonstrate the controlled transport of simultaneous nano-scale particles across a gold film patterned with nanopillars and C-shaped engravings. Nanopillars load particles onto nearby plasmonic conveyor belts formed from sequences of C-shaped engravings.
Law and Trade Issues of the Japanese Economy: American and Japanese Perspectives

This volume presents the most recent studies on Japanese and American trade, antitrust, patent, and other laws and their effects on bilateral economic relations. The studies included, written by Japanese and American officials, lawyers, and economists, will be of interest to policy makers, scholars, and corporations concerned with or interested in bilateral trade, technology transfer, investment, and joint ventures. The studies also offer analyses and insights significant in examining the legal-economic issues involved in economic relations among all advanced industrial nations. The three foci of the book are Japan's laws and their enforcement which affect the practices and behavior of individuals, firms, and the government within its domestic economy; the effects of Japanese laws and legal administrative practices on foreign access to Japanese markets; and the roles American laws play in bilateral economic relations. Each article deals with specific Japanese and American laws affecting bilateral economic relations. Together they succeed in substantively increasing our understanding of the issues involved and in identifying the changes that are called for that will reduce the bilateral economic conflicts which now mar the otherwise friendly relations between the two nations. Resolution of these bilateral legal-economic issues will be difficult to attain because they arise in part from differences in legal traditions and in the roles government plays in each economy. However, only through studies such as those offered in this volume, prepared by individuals directly involved i n enforcement of the laws discussed and by scholars specializing in the legal-economic issues affecting bilateral economic relations, can we gain knowledge and insights essential in taking the necessary steps to reduce bilateral economic conflicts.
Waveform design and receive processing for nonrecurrent nonlinear FMCW radar

A spectral shaping optimization scheme is used to design the autocorrelation response of individual segments of a nonrecurrent nonlinear FMCW waveform denoted as Pseudo-Random Optimized FMCW (or PRO-FMCW). Because each waveform segment is unique, the range sidelobes do not combine coherently during Doppler processing thereby providing further sidelobe suppression. The PRO-FMCW waveform can be viewed as a specific instantiation of FM noise radar where the constant amplitude permits maximum power efficiency. A segmented approach to processing the received data is used to reduce processing time and complexity. Measured results from hardware implementation are provided to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach.
A content-centric networking forwarding design for a network processor

We describe a method to use hardware-assisted hash tables for CCNx routing on variable length names. Hardwareassisted hash tables typically have fixed key and fixed result sizes, with performance knees at specific cutoffs, such as 32 bytes or 64 bytes for combined key and result sizes. CCNx names, like a URI, use a variable number of path segments, where each segment may be of variable length. The method presented here uses a combination of standard hash lookups plus compressed key hash lookups to handle path segments that exceed the maximum fixed key size. We present results based on an EzChip NP-4 network processor. This paper presents three main results. Based on analysis of a Stanford WebBase trace, we find the first and second order statistics for URLs which clearly shows that including application state (i.e. a Query String) in the name significantly bloats the name. Second, we analyze NP4 performance using several software-based hash functions to compress long CCNx Name components. Third, we present a design for the EzChip NP4 network processor to forward CCNx interest packets. We show the feasibility of the approach based on assumptions from the URL analysis. We estimate the forwarding scheme will achieve 37 Mpps on a single 100 Gbps EzChip NP4 and be able to store 5.6 million forwarding table entries in 2 GB of RAM.
Manipulating Host Signaling for Pathogenic Purposes: Hijacking of the Transcriptional Activity of the Host Protein Nrf2 by Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiological agent of two highly aggressive AIDS-related malignancies, endothelial Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and B cell primary effusion lymphoma (PEL). Although current antiretroviral therapy (ART) methods have decreased the overall morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised and AIDS patients, KS and PEL remain difficult to treat. Thus, novel therapeutic methods are essential to significantly improve the life expectancy and quality of life of PEL and KS patients, respectively. One of the signaling pathways that is highly modulated during KSHV infection is oxidative stress, which is a well-known inducer of the transcription factor Nrf2. Because Nrf2 plays an important role in the biology of several viral infections, and is an important agent in cancer progression and chemotherapeutic resistance, we recently undertook a study to investigate its role in KSHV infection of endothelial cells. Here, we provide important highlights of our recent findings, including the importance of oxidative stress and PKCζ in Nrf2 activation, a newly discovered feed-forward loop between Nrf2 and COX-2, and the impact of Nrf2 activation on host and KSHV gene expression and pathogenesis. Lastly, we provide insights on the potential therapeutic implications of Nrf2 modulation in KSHV and other virus-associated pathologies.
RUST: a retargetable usability testbed for website authentication technologies

Website authentication technologies attempt to make the identity of a website clear to the user, by supplying information about the identity of the website. In practice however, usability issues can prevent users from correctly identifying the websites they are interacting with. To help identify usability issues we present RUST, a Retargetable USability Testbed for website authentication technologies. RUST is a testbed that consists of a test harness, which provides the ability to easily configure the environment for running usability study sessions, and a usability study design that evaluates usability based on spoofability, learnability, and acceptability. We present data collected by RUST and discuss preliminary results for two authentication technologies, Microsoft CardSpace and Verisign Secure Letterhead. Based on the data collected, we conclude that the testbed is useful for gathering data on a variety of technologies.
Introduction to Advances in Geosensor Networks

Advances in microsensor technology as well as the development of miniaturized computing platforms enable us to scatter numerous untethered sensing devices in hard to reach terrains, and continuously collect geospatial information in never before seen spatial and temporal scales. These geosensor network technologies are revolutionizing the way that geospatial information is collected, analyzed and integrated, with the geospatial content of the information being of fundamental importance. Analysis and event detection in a geosensor network may be performed in real-time by sensor nodes, or off-line in several distributed, in-situ or centralized base stations.
A fuzzy cancellation of stick-slip in DC motors

Low velocity control of DC motors is important in precision engineering applications. The stick-slip oscillation caused by Coloumb friction between the commutator brushes and the rotor is especially predominant at low speeds. In this paper the authors present a fuzzy feedback cancellation scheme of this stick-slip oscillation. The authors use the system ODE and a stick-slip rule base to estimate the static and dynamic effects of friction. Finally, the authors discuss the broader implications of this scheme and raise some issues for future research. >
Parallel relational operations based on clustered surrogate files

In the context of very large databases, the main problem is how to process relational operations in the minimum amount of time to satisfy user queries. To speed up the relational operations on very large databases, parallel processing is essential. A reasonable indexing scheme for parallel processing systems is the concatenated code word (CCW) surrogate file, which is small in size and requires simple maintenance. Since interrelated relational operations can be performed on the CCW surrogate files, considerable processing time can be saved by performing interrelated relational operations on CCW files before the large data files are accessed. CCW surrogate files can be satisfactorily mapped into parallel architectures because their structure is quite compact and regular. To speed up the relational operations based on CCW surrogate files. it is possible to cluster the CCW surrogate files. If a CCW surrogate file is clustered, only a subset of the surrogate file is searched for a relational operation. Clustered-CCW surrogate file and data file structures suitable for a parallel processing system are introduced. Parallel relational operation algorithms based on the clustered file structures are developed and evaluated. >
Arrows of time in infancy: the representation of temporal-causal invariances.

Many transformations that take place over time can only occur in one temporal direction, and adults are highly sensitive to the differences between forward and backward presentations of such events. In seven experiments using two selective-looking paradigms, 4- and 8-month-olds were shown forward and backward videotapes of events involving the effects of gravity on liquids and solid objects and of the separation of whole objects into pieces. Four-month-olds showed a significant preference for the forward version of liquid pouring from a beaker to a glass. Eight-month-olds looked longer at the forward versions of this and four other gravity-related events but showed no directional preferences for the separation events. Several experiments indicate that longer looking at the forward versions of the gravity stimuli is not a product of attraction to specific perceptual features of the stimuli. A model based on the development of representations of types of events is presented and evaluated.
Adsorption at liquid interfaces: The generalized Frumkin isotherm and interfacial structure

The thermodynamics of adsorption of amphiphilic surface-active compounds at the interface between two immiscible liquids is considered. At the interface, these molecules are supposed to replace a few of the adsorbed molecules of both solvents. Classical isotherms of adsorption (Frumkin, Frumkin-Damaskin, Langmuir, Henry) were based on the model of non-penetrable interface, where an adsorbate can substitute only molecules of one solvent. At the interface between two immiscible electrolytes, nonpolar oil/water interfaces, and liquid membranes amphiphilic molecules can substitute molecules of both solvent and classic isotherms cannot be used. The generalization of Frumkin isotherm for permeable and non-permeable interfaces, known as the Markin-Volkov isotherm, gives the possibility to analyze adsorption in a general case. The adsorption isotherms of pentafluorobenzoic acid at the octane/water interface at different pHs were measured by the drop-weight method. The thermodynamic parameters of pentafluorobenzoic acid (PFBA) adsorption at octane/water interface were determined. From the measurements of PFBA adsorption, the structure of the octane/water interface was determined. Substitution of one adsorbed octane molecule requires approximately three adsorbed PFBA molecules. This result shows that the orientation of solvent molecules at the interface is different from the bulk. Adsorbed octane molecules have a lateral orientation with respect to the interface. Gibbs free energy of adsorption equilibrium and thermodynamic parameters of PFBA adsorption show that the adsorption of PFBA at the octane/water interface is accompanied by a reduction in the attraction between adsorbed PFBA molecules as the pH decreases to the acidic region.
HD CAGnome: A Search Tool for Huntingtin CAG Repeat Length-Correlated Genes

BACKGROUND The length of the huntingtin (HTT) CAG repeat is strongly correlated with both age at onset of Huntington's disease (HD) symptoms and age at death of HD patients. Dichotomous analysis comparing HD to controls is widely used to study the effects of HTT CAG repeat expansion. However, a potentially more powerful approach is a continuous analysis strategy that takes advantage of all of the different CAG lengths, to capture effects that are expected to be critical to HD pathogenesis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We used continuous and dichotomous approaches to analyze microarray gene expression data from 107 human control and HD lymphoblastoid cell lines. Of all probes found to be significant in a continuous analysis by CAG length, only 21.4% were so identified by a dichotomous comparison of HD versus controls. Moreover, of probes significant by dichotomous analysis, only 33.2% were also significant in the continuous analysis. Simulations revealed that the dichotomous approach would require substantially more than 107 samples to either detect 80% of the CAG-length correlated changes revealed by continuous analysis or to reduce the rate of significant differences that are not CAG length-correlated to 20% (n = 133 or n = 206, respectively). Given the superior power of the continuous approach, we calculated the correlation structure between HTT CAG repeat lengths and gene expression levels and created a freely available searchable website, "HD CAGnome," that allows users to examine continuous relationships between HTT CAG and expression levels of ∼20,000 human genes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our results reveal limitations of dichotomous approaches compared to the power of continuous analysis to study a disease where human genotype-phenotype relationships strongly support a role for a continuum of CAG length-dependent changes. The compendium of HTT CAG length-gene expression level relationships found at the HD CAGnome now provides convenient routes for discovery of candidates influenced by the HD mutation.
The recidivism of violent youths in juvenile and adult court: A consideration of selection bias

Contemporary research suggests that increased efforts to transfer juveniles to the adult criminal justice system may backfire because waived youths generally exhibit greater recidivism as compared to similar offenders retained in juvenile court. One concern with this research is the possibility of selection bias, meaning that the findings could be explained as merely a simple consequence of the highest risk youth being transferred. This study examined this issue for 494 violent youths from Pennsylvania, of which 79 were waived to adult court and 415 were retained in juvenile court. The likelihood, seriousness, and timing of their recidivism were analyzed, with a statistical control for selection bias included. The findings still suggest heightened recidivism among the transferred youths.
Resorbing bone is chemotactic for monocytes

MONOCYTES are often found adjacent to bone-resorbing surfaces. Their function at these sites is unknown, although they have been shown in vitro to have the ability to resorb bone1,2. There is also strong circumstantial evidence that circulating monocytes are precursors for the major bone-resorbing cell, the osteoclast3–7. The mechanism by which circulating monocytes are attracted to sites of bone remodelling are unknown. We have examined the products of resorbing bone for chemotactic effects on circulating human monocytes and found that organ cultures of resorbing fetal rat long bones produced factors which were chemotactic for human peripheral blood monocytes, but not for neutrophils or lymphocytes. The chemotactic effect of resorbing bones occurred independent of the humoral mediator of bone resorption. The mechanisms by which monocytes are attracted to bone surfaces may be of fundamental importance to our understanding of bone cell dynamics and bone resorption.
Anisotropic gold nanoparticles and gold plates biosynthesis using alfalfa extracts

Industrial and medical applications for gold nanoparticles are extensive, yet highly dependent on their chemical and structural properties. Thus, harnessing the size and shape of nanoparticles plays an important role in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Anisotropic polyhedra and nanoplates were biosynthesized via reduction of 3 mM AuCl4− solution at room temperature. Alfalfa biomass extracts prepared in water and in isopropanol separately were used as reducing agents at pH 3.5 and 3.0, respectively. Nanoparticles observed in the isopropanol extract presented a size range of 30–60 nm, and the morphologies present included 30 nm decahedra and 15 nm icosahedra. Gold nanoplates produced in the water extract were mainly triangular, ranging from 500 nm to 4 μm in size. The resulting nanoparticles and nanoplates can be potentially used in the study of their unique physical properties and for the mechanisms of formation using alfalfa biomass extracts.
Ascending connections of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus in the rat.

The purpose of the experiment was to determine the connections of the three regions of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus in the rat. Lesions were placed in the regions of the nucleus in 11 rats. After 25 days each animal was sacrificed and its brain impregnated by the protargol method of Bodian. The superior olivary complex, the lateral lemniscus and the dorsal acoustic stria were examined for diminution of synaptic endings, thinning of neuropil and debris of degeneration. Complete destruction of region III of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus produced degeneration in the ipsilateral lateral superior olive and in the medial superior olive of both sides. Destruction of other regions of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus, region III remaining intact, had no effect upon the lateral or medial superior olive. Destruction of region II of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus produced degeneration in the anterior halves of the ipsilateral lateral nucleus of the trapezoid body and the contralateral medial nucleus of the trapezoid body. Complete destruction of other regions of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus, region II remaining intact, was without effect upon the lateral and medial nuclei of the trapezoid body. No degeneration was detected following destruction of region I of the anterior ventral cochlear nucleus.
Concentration-dependent Effect of Fibrinogen on IgG-specific Antigen Binding and Phagocytosis

In this paper, we aim to characterize fibrinogen-IgG interactions, and explore how fibrinogen alters IgG-mediated phagocytosis. Using enzyme-linked binding assays, we found that fibrinogen binding to IgG is optimized for surfaces coated with high levels of IgG. Using a similar method, we have shown that for an antigen unable to specifically bind fibrinogen, fibrinogen enhances binding of antibodies towards that antigen. For binding of IgG antibodies to cells expressing Fc receptors, we found a bimodal binding response, where low levels of fibrinogen enhance binding of antibody to Fc receptors and high levels reduce it. This corresponds to a bimodal effect on phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles, which is inhibited in the presence of excess IgG during coating of the particles with antibodies and fibrinogen. We conclude that fibrinogen can modulate phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles in vitro by changing IgG binding behavior, and that high fibrinogen levels could negatively affect phagocytosis.
The Transdermal Patch and the Vaginal Ring: Two Novel Methods of Combined Hormonal Contraception

This article reviews two novel contraceptive methods that have become recently available in the United States: the transdermal patch and the vaginal ring. In general, newer methods of contraception are designed to make adherence easier for patients. The two contraceptive methods discussed in this article may help patients achieve this goal.
Determinants of hospital mortality among patients with sepsis or septic shock receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Septic shock affects 750,000 people annually, and accounts for 10 % of all deaths annually in the US. In recent years, outcomes in patients with septic shock have improved; however, mortality still remains high at 40 – 50 %. The use of early protocolized resuscitation goals have been associated with reduced mortality in septic shock. However, strong evidenced-based recommendations for the continued management of patients with septic shock in the ICU setting are currently lacking. Appropriate antibiotic therapy is the cornerstone of management in septic shock. Inappropriate antibiotic therapy can lead to treatment failures and adverse outcomes, including high risk of mortality. This article outlines other key factors that contribute to outcome in septic shock. It is challenging for physicians to optimize therapy when fixed patient features such as age and underlying comorbidity can negatively influence mortality. However, outcomes can also potentially be affected by physician management decisions including fluid balance, corticosteroid use, glucose control and adherence to protocols including early goal-directed therapy and infection-control measures. Certain pathogen virulence characteristics also adversely affect outcomes. We give an overview of the determinants of outcome in septic shock in the setting of appropriate antibiotic use.
The Risk of Anticholinergic Toxicity in the Elderly: a Study of Prescribing Practices in Two Populations

The potential for anticholinergic toxicity due to concurrent use of medications was assessed among 5,902 continuous nursing home residents and a comparable group of ambulatory patients. During the study year nearly 60% of the nursing home residents and 23% of the ambulatory patients received drugs with anticholinergic properties. Based on recommended doses of the drugs, 565 of the nursing home patients and 413 of the ambulatory patients could have received three or more anticholinergic medications concurrently. An examination of nursing home patients receiving the most frequently prescribed antipsychotic and tricyclic antidepressant drugs concurrently revealed that physicians did not choose drugs selectively within the two classes in order to minimize the potential for anticholinergic toxicity. The findings of this study suggest that the risk of anticholinergic toxicity may be underestimated by physicians.
Detailed spectroscopy of the a ( 1 ) [ 3 Σ + ] state of PbO

An experimental search for the electron electric-dipole moment using the $a(1){[}^{3}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}]$ state of PbO is currently underway and promises to yield high precision. Several experimental parameters are required as input to theoretical determinations of the sensitivity of the proposed experiment. We use molecular-beam spectroscopy to determine the hyperfine constant, molecular dipole moment, and Lande g factor of the $a(1)$ state, and the electronic isotope shifts of the $X\ensuremath{-}a$ transition.
Rafting through traffic: Membrane domains in cellular logistics

The intricate and tightly regulated organization of eukaryotic cells into spatially and functionally distinct membrane-bound compartments is a defining feature of complex organisms. These compartments are defined by their lipid and protein compositions, with their limiting membrane as the functional interface to the rest of the cell. Thus, proper segregation of membrane proteins and lipids is necessary for the maintenance of organelle identity, and this segregation must be maintained despite extensive, rapid membrane exchange between compartments. Sorting processes of high efficiency and fidelity are required to avoid potentially deleterious mis-targeting and maintain cellular function. Although much molecular machinery associated with membrane traffic (i.e. membrane budding/fusion/fission) has been characterized both structurally and biochemically, the mechanistic details underlying the tightly regulated distribution of membranes between subcellular locations remain to be elucidated. This review presents evidence for the role of ordered lateral membrane domains known as lipid rafts in both biosynthetic sorting in the late secretory pathway, as well as endocytosis and recycling to/from the plasma membrane. Although such evidence is extensive and the involvement of membrane domains in sorting is definitive, specific mechanistic details for raft-dependent sorting processes remain elusive.
On a Material Coefficient in Cholesteric Liquid Crstals

Abstract We propose and analyze an experiment which may determine the existence of a material coefficient in the continuum theory of cholesteric liquid crystals.
Distinctive inhibition of O-GlcNAcase isoforms by an α-GlcNAc thiolsulfonate

O-GlcNAcase (OGA) promotes O-GlcNAc removal, and thereby plays a key role in O-GlcNAc metabolism, a feature of a variety of vital cellular processes. Two splice transcripts of human OGA encode "long OGA", which contains a distinct N-terminal O-GlcNAcase domain and a C-terminal histoneacetylferase (HAT) domain, and "short OGA", which lacks the HAT domain. The functional roles of long OGA are only beginning to be unraveled, and the characteristics of short OGA remain almost unknown. We find that short OGA, which possesses O-GlcNAcase catalysis machinery like that of long OGA, exhibits comparative resistance to previously described potent inhibitors of long OGA and lysosomal hexosaminidases, including PUGNAc and NAG-thiazoline, suggesting a role for the HAT domain in O-GlcNAcase catalysis. We also find that alpha-GlcNAc thiolsulfonate (2) is the most potent inhibitor of short OGA yet described (Ki = 10 microM), and exhibits some degree of selectivity versus long OGA and lysosomal hexosaminidases. In contrast to its mode of inhibition of short OGA, 2 acts as a irreversible inhibitor of long OGA by covalently modifying the enzyme as an S-GlcNAc derivative. Covalent attachment of GlcNAc to the HAT domain of long OGA dramatically changes its properties with respect to enzymatic activity and caspase-3 cleavage.
Public service privatization and crisis in Argentina

This article discusses the privatization of public services in Argentina in light of the severe crisis that afflicted the country between 1999 and 2002. An inadequate regulatory framework and the absence of effective regulatory agencies resulted in the exercise of monopolistic power over public service fees. The emergence of a series of external shocks, starting in 1997 with the SE Asia crisis, weakened the country's external accounts. In the context of a strict fixed exchange rate regime-rising public service fees and overseas obligations contracted by the privatized firms placed growing pressure on the balance of payments. Even though privatized firms were not directly responsible for the four-year recession or the balance of payments crisis, their actions contributed to the onset and prolongation of the difficulties faced by Argentina.
Identifying Potential Mediators and Moderators of the Association between Child Maltreatment and Bullying Perpetration and Victimization in School.

A growing body of literature is demonstrating associations between childhood maltreatment and bullying involvement at school. In this literature review, four potential mediators (explanatory) and three potential moderators (mitigates or exacerbates) of the association between childhood maltreatment and school bullying are proposed. Mediators include emotional dysregulation, depression, anger, and social skills deficits. Moderators reviewed include quality of parent–child relationships, peer relationships, and teacher relationships. Although there might be insurmountable challenges to addressing child maltreatment in primary or universal school-based prevention programs, it is possible to intervene to improve these potentially mediating and moderating factors.