cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective Evaluation of Perceived Control, Predictability, and Anxiety Sensitivity in the Pathogenesis of Panic

Increasing evidence suggests that anxiety sensitivity (AS) may be a premorbid risk factor for the development of anxiety pathology. Perceived control and predictability have also been implicated as factors relevant to the genesis of anxiety. The principal aim of this study was to extend this work to examine independent and interactive effects of perceived control, predictability, and AS in the pathogenesis of panic. A large nonclinical sample of young adults (N = 1296) was prospectively followed over a 5- week highly stressful period of time (i.e., military basic training). Perceived control and predictability did not independently predict panic. However, there was evidence suggesting that AS interacted with perceived control such that high perceived control regarding basic training was protective against panic for individuals with high AS. Similarly, high perceived predictability during basic training reduced anxiety symptoms for individuals with high AS.
Kinetics of Order-Disorder

Various theoretical models of order-disorder kinetics are presented from a unified point of view. The time evolution of both single-site and pair-site probabilities are derived from a single master equation for the time dependence of configuration probabilities in binary solid solutions. Linearized diffusion equations are solved in the Fourier representation and theoretical predictions are compared to experimental results of disordering kinetics in binary and ternary solid solutions. A nonlinear equation for long-range order kinetics is also derived from the master equation, and compared to the classical theories of Dienes and of Vineyard, and to available experimental data. The phenomenon of critical slowing down and the kinetics of short-range order are briefly covered.
Conservation of cytokine-mediated responses in innate immunity: a flow cytometric study investigating the effects of human proinflammatory cytokines on phagocytosis in the earthworm Eisenia hortensis

This study was aimed at determining the influence of human proinflammatory cytokines on innateimmune responses in the earthworm Eisenia hortensis. Preincubation of earthworm coelomocytes invitro with either interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF), interleukin-2 (IL-2), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) followed by subsequent bacterial challenge was carried out to investigate whether human proinflammatory cytokines would induce a state of enhanced responsiveness in phagocytic cells derived from the coelomic cavity of E. hortensis. The effect on phagocytosis by large coelomocytes (hyaline amebocytes) was evaluated using flow cytometry where the uptake of Escherichia coli expressing green fluorescence protein in the presence or absence of pretreatment with proinflammatory cytokines was measured. Our results show that proinflammatory cytokines enhanced phagocytosis to a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) degree in 10- 18 % of earthworms tested for IL-1 beta, 20 % for GM-CSF, 20-27 % for IL-2, and 27-30 % for TNFalpha, depending on the cytokine concentration used. Our results favor the suggestion that receptorcoding genes have been conserved through evolution between vertebrates and invertebrates.
Long-Term Portfolio Management Using Attribute Selection and Combinatorial Fusion

Stock portfolios can be constructed based on information provided by financial attributes, such as earnings per share, profit margin, and profit to earnings ratio. Statistical models are often employed to maximize a portfolio's expected return using a combination of those financial indicators. Portfolios are often diversified to include stocks from different industries to minimize risk. In this work, we study the long-term portfolio management problem using attribute selection and combinatorial fusion. Attribute selection is performed using two criteria: diversity strength of an attribute and a sliding rule method. Selected attributes are fused using four combination methods: average combination, weighted combination based on diversity strength or performance strength, and mixed group rank. Analysis based on a historical stock training set and a market test case demonstrate that results from the combinations not only perform better than each individual attribute but also exceed the performance of the Russell 2000 Index.
Epidemiology and etiology of secondary piriformis syndrome: A single-institution retrospective study.

Abstract Piriformis syndrome (PS) is a rare etiology of extra-spinal sciatica in which pathologies associated with or around the piriformis muscle (PM) irritate the adjacent sciatic nerve (SN), however, there is scarcity in the literature regarding its exact etiologies, thus, we performed a retrospective study to elucidate the epidemiology of PS and assess various causes of the syndrome. Our study included patients assessed at our institution who presented with sciatica of non-spinal origin between May 2014 and December 2015. Radiology reports of all patients who received pelvic MRI were examined for positive findings involving PM and SN. Of the 143 patients recognized with sciatica and negative lumbar pathology, 24 patients (17%) exhibited positive PM and SN findings. Average patient age was 50.0 ± 15.1 years (range: 21–75), and 17 were female. Seven patients (5%; 4M/3F) presented with tumor, seven patients (5%) had chronic inflammatory changes, one patient had SN adhesions to obturator muscle, three patients (2%, 3F) had aberrant anatomy, and the remaining patients had positive MRI findings, such as nerve atrophy or PM hypertrophy without identifiable cause. Seven patients received steroid injections in the peri-sciatic fossa, and four displayed poor response. Our findings suggested possible trends in extra-spinal sciatica. Affected males appeared more likely to present with tumor, while affected females were more likely to present younger, but with aberrant anatomy. Steroid injections appeared to be suboptimal in most cases. Pelvic MRI is helpful in patients with sciatica and negative spine imaging to rule out neoplastic involvement.
Nanostructures for highly sensitive surface plasmon resonance sensors and confinement of IR energy in twodimensional materials

We discuss nanostructures for highly-sensitive surface plasmon sensors, novel pump-probe fixed-detector SPR spectrometer to study SPR-semiconductor QDs’ interactions, and present preliminary results on the compression of IR energy in 2D materials.
Predictors of complementary feeding practices in Afghanistan: Analysis of the 2015 Demographic and Health Survey.

Despite improvements over the past 20 years, high burdens of child mortality and undernutrition still coexist in Afghanistan. Global evidence indicates that complementary feeding (CF) practices predict child survival and nutritional status. Our study aims to describe CF practices in Afghanistan and to discern underlying predictors of CF by analysing data from Afghanistan's 2015 Demographic and Healthy Survey. Multilevel models were constructed comprising potential predictors at individual, household, and community levels and four CF indicators: timely introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft foods (INTRO), minimum meal frequency (MMF), minimum dietary diversity (MDD), and minimum acceptable diet (MAD) among breastfed children. INTRO prevalence among children aged 6-8 months was 56%, whereas the prevalence of MMF, MDD, and MAD among children aged 6-23 months was 55%, 23%, and 18%, respectively. Of the seven food groups considered, four were consumed by 20% or fewer children: eggs (20%), legumes and nuts (18%), fruits and vegetables (15%), and flesh foods (14%). Increasing child age and more antenatal care visits were significantly and positively associated with greater odds of meeting all CF indicators. Lower household wealth and lower community-level access to health care services were associated with lower odds of MDD and MAD. Disparities in achieving recommended CF practices were observed by region. CF practices in Afghanistan are poor and significant socioeconomic inequities in CF are observed across the country. Our study calls for urgent policy and programme attention to improve complementary feeding practices as an intrinsic part of the national development agenda.
Responsibility, Retribution and Remainder: Using Corporate Criminal Liability to Target Blameworthy Corporate Officers and Directors

The law’s dominant conception of responsibility is individualist – even where several people commit a wrong together, the law typically assigns responsibility to each participant just to the extent that his or her act has contributed to the injury. Given this general commitment to individual responsibility, it is no surprise that corporate criminal liability has been described by legal scholars as an “embarrassment,” and a violation of a “basic premise of criminal law that guilt requires personal fault.” Yet our commonsense responses to corporate crime betray the individualist position. Even where we can identify individual perpetrators, we are still sometimes inclined to blame the corporation, arguably because our sense of the wrong exceeds the responsibility borne by the individual perpetrators. This Article uncovers two dogmatic precepts that account for the divergence between public reactions to corporate crime and scholarly criticism of the doctrine of corporate criminal liability. The Article then seeks to offer a novel rationale for holding corporations criminally responsible – one that takes seriously the suggestion that corporate crime may not always be reduced to the acts of individuals. Thus, the Article proposes that we understand corporate criminal liability as a way of providing voice for that portion of our indignation that cannot be discharged on the individual malefactors. In particular, the Article defends corporate criminal liability as a way of targeting officers and directors who bear responsibility for the corporation’s crime, even if they did not participate in that crime. The Article ends by describing ways in which the sentencing of corporations can be constructed in order to orient blame toward corporate officials.
Revisiting Female Sexual Honor during the Brazilian Dictatorship (1964-85) in Leilah Assunção’s Fala Baixo Senão Eu Grito and Nelson Rodrigues’ Toda Nudez Será Castigada

This article presents an analysis of two female characters on Rodrigues’ and Assuncao’s plays, Geni (Toda Nudez Sera Castigada) and Mariazinha (Fala Baixo Senao Eu Grito). It will look at the ways the characters’ expose their literal silences (half sentences, unspoken gestures, desire to speak) into obsessions with body parts and objects. Their sexuality and being are often seen as a type of “monstrous feminine” (to quote Barbara Creed’s term), not just by others, but even to themselves, which is often subtly revealed or disguised. I aim to forge a dialogue between Nelson Rodrigues’s character and the new dramaturgy writer to explore how both brought to the fore questions surrounding the position of women in this society and their particular “feminine” response to the dictatorship as a performative inquiry.
Asian Peacebuilding: Theory and Practice

This chapter introduces the theory and practice of peacebuilding in Asia. Since an understanding of conflict in Asia is crucial for a better understanding of peacebuilding issues, this chapter delves into the causes and nature of intra-state conflicts in the region. This segment highlights the facts that Asian states are not weak and often conflicts are caused by the overreach of the state. This minimises the need for state-building, one of the cornerstones of liberal peacebuilding. This chapter makes two main arguments: (1) due to the existence of a vibrant civil society, the mid-space could be utilised as the peacebuilding hub in Asia, and (2) since the states are strong in Asia, and there is no need for state-building, peacebuilding actors should return to what we call ‘true’ hybrid peacebuilding, which places multi-level and multi-sectoral bridge-building at the heart of intervention.
Post-interview Thank-you Communications Influence Both Applicant and Residency Program Rank Lists in Emergency Medicine.

Author(s): Jewell, Corlin; Tillman, David; Kraut, Aaron; Hess, Jamie; Westergaard, Mary; Schnapp, Benjamin | Abstract: Introduction: The National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) allows post-interview contactbetween residency applicants and residency programs. Thank-you communications representone of the most common forms, but data on their value to applicants and program directors (PD)are limited. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of thank-you communications onapplicant- and residency-program rank lists.Methods: Two anonymous, voluntary surveys were sent after the 2018 NRMP Match, one toapplicants who were offered an interview at a single academic site in the 2017-2018 Match cycle,and one to EM PDs nationwide. The surveys were designed in conjunction with a nationallyrecognizedsurvey center and piloted and revised based on feedback from residents and faculty.Results: Of 196 residency applicants, 97 (49.5%) responded to the survey. Of these, 73/95 (76.8%)reported sending thank-you communications. Twenty-two of 73 (30%) stated that they sent thank-youcommunications to improve their spot on a program’s rank list; and 16 of 73 (21.9%) reported that theychanged their rank list based upon the responses they received to their thank-you communications. Of 163 PDs, 99 (60.7%) responded to the survey. Of those PDs surveyed, 22.6% reported that anapplicant could be moved up their program’s rank list and 10.8% reported that an applicant could movedown a program’s rank list based on their thank-you communications (or lack thereof).Conclusion: The majority of applicants to EM are sending thank-you communications. Asignificant minority of applicants and PDs changed their rank list due to post-interview thank-youcommunications.
Remaking the Imperial Presidency: The Mayaguez Incident of 1975 and the Contradictions of Credibility

The 1975 Mayaguez incident was a missed opportunity to establish a more democratic American foreign policy. President Gerald Ford managed the crisis seeking domestic and international credibility. ...
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF RESTING NON-HYPEREMIC PRESSURE RATIOS (NHPR) IN RCA VERSUS LEFT CORONARY LESIONS

Diagnostic accuracy of NHPRs including Pd/Pa, iFR and RFR is ~80% when compared to FFR. The differential performance of NHPR among the different coronary arteries has been observed but not systematically studied. We evaluated the comparative performance of Pd/Pa against the reference standard of FFR
Sister Forces: Park Rangers and Regime Security in African States

In many African states, park rangers perform a variety of roles as armed state actors. Facing the overlapping challenges of wildlife management and regime security, many have become increasingly mi...
Fulminant CNS Demyelination After Discontinuation of TNF-Inhibitor(TNFi) therapy (1621)

Objective: Review a rare case of TNFi induced central nervous system (CNS) demyelination after TNFi discontinuation. Background: U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning labels exist on all TNFi for “rare cases of new onset or exacerbation of CNS demyelinating disorders”. Typically, these demyelinating conditions improve or resolve with discontinuation of TNFi therapy. We present a case of CNS demyelination onset during TNFi therapy, with continued progression 9 months following TNFi discontinuation. Design/Methods: NA Results: A 54 year-old gentleman with history of psoriatic arthritis, treated with TNFi therapy x 8 months, presented with gait instability, blurry vision and tonic spasms of the left hand. On exam, direction-changing nystagmus, ocular misalignment, and left hemiparesis/hemiataxia were noted. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated numerous enhancing and non-enhancing lesions within the cerebrum, brainstem and spinal cord. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis demonstrated lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein and 5 unpaired oligoclonal bands, without infectious or neoplastic findings. Histopathology from a brain biopsy was consistent with demyelination. TNFi therapy was discontinued. Six weeks later, decreased monocular visual acuity with associated red desaturation was noted. Repeat MRI exhibited enhancement of the optic nerve and new enhancing lesions within the CNS. Treatment with an additional course of intravenous steroids, plasmapheresis and Rituximab was initiated. The patient has remained clinically stable, but continues to have enhancing lesions 9 months after initial presentation. Conclusions: CNS demyelination in association with TNFi therapy has been well reported; however, the natural history and response to treatment remains largely uncharacterized [7]. We present a case of CNS demyelination with continued progression following TNFi discontinuation, necessitating treatment with high dose steroids and steroid-sparing immunomodulation. It is crucial for neurologists to recognize the potential of TNF blockade leading to demyelination of the CNS even after discontinuation of therapy and order repeat imaging if symptoms are persistent. Disclosure: Dr. Beeler has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baker has nothing to disclose.
Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with higher body mass index among Marshallese adults in Arkansas

This study documents sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among overweight and obese Marshallese adults and examines the association between SSB consumption and body mass index. Data from 378...
Transdermal vaccination via 3D-printed microneedles induces potent humoral and cellular immunity

Vaccination is an essential public health measure for infectious disease prevention. The exposure of the immune system to vaccine formulations with the appropriate kinetics is critical for inducing protective immunity. In this work, faceted microneedle arrays were designed and fabricated utilizing a three-dimensional (3D)-printing technique called continuous liquid interface production (CLIP). The faceted microneedle design resulted in increased surface area as compared with the smooth square pyramidal design, ultimately leading to enhanced surface coating of model vaccine components (ovalbumin and CpG). Utilizing fluorescent tags and live-animal imaging, we evaluated in vivo cargo retention and bioavailability in mice as a function of route of delivery. Compared with subcutaneous bolus injection of the soluble components, microneedle transdermal delivery not only resulted in enhanced cargo retention in the skin but also improved immune cell activation in the draining lymph nodes. Furthermore, the microneedle vaccine induced a potent humoral immune response, with higher total IgG (Immunoglobulin G) and a more balanced IgG1/IgG2a repertoire and achieved dose sparing. Furthermore, it elicited T cell responses as characterized by functional cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and CD4+ T cells secreting Th1 (T helper type 1)-cytokines. Taken together, CLIP 3D-printed microneedles coated with vaccine components provide a useful platform for a noninvasive, self-applicable vaccination.
Mechanisms That Regulate the Structural and Functional Architecture of Cell Surfaces

Publisher Summary This chapter emphasizes on the search for mechanisms controlling cell surface molecular and functional topography. The asymmetric surface topography is a predictable correlate of membrane deformation and microfilament asymmetry, independent of how asymmetry is induced and which cell type is studied. Tthe chapter demonstrates that receptors can be segregated out of and into regions of microfilament accumulation. The topographical heterogeneity is not restricted to membrane molecular determinants, but extends to a range of endocytic functions and to a macromolecular assembly, which is the coated pit. There is also a discussion about the arrest of dynamic surface events during mitosis. The chapter describes a working model to explain that the topographical data depends on initial recruitment of microfilaments to incipient protuberance, uropod, pseudopod, or cleavage furrow membranes. The resulting microfilament-membrane interaction acting inward and along the cell surface leads to the generation of tension that is propagated over the cell surface as a wave. Microfilament polarization is required to establish and maintain membrane structural asymmetry and to eventually relieve the accumulation of membrane components by endocytosis.
Heterologous and homologous skin-sensitizing activity of mouse 7s gamma 1- and 7s gamma 2-globulins.

RECENT studies in the mouse have demonstrated two classes of 7S γ-globulins, the 7S γ1- and 7S γ2-globulins1. These two classes differ in electrophoretic mobility, antigenically, and in genetically determined isoantigens. Both classes possess antibody activity. Experiments to determine whether these two immunoglobulin classes possess skin-sensitizing activity were carried out in both heterologous (guinea-pig skin) and homologous (mouse skin) systems.
Spinal Epidural Hematoma in a Patient with Repair of Aortic Coarctation (P5.132)

OBJECTIVE: This case report describes spinal epidural hematoma in a patient with recently repaired aortic coarctation. BACKGROUND: Numerous reports in medical literature have linked coarctation of the aorta to neurovascular abnormalities. However, only one prior case report has described spinal epidural hematoma presumed to be caused by this condition. We present a middle-aged male with history of aortic coarctation who presents with acute onset bilateral lower extremity weakness and is found to have a spinal epidural hematoma. DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective chart review and PubMED literature search was performed. RESULTS: A 47-year old male who recently underwent aortic coarctation repair via endograft placement presented to our emergency department complaining of lightheadedness, dizziness, and diaphoresis with acute onset back pain. He subsequently experienced rapidly progressive bilateral leg weakness. Emergent brain CT and spinal MRI were obtained, revealing an extra-axial hemorrhage at the cervicocranial junction and an epidural hematoma in the cervical and thoracic spine causing severe spinal stenosis. Spinal angiography revealed multiple aneurysms in the right and left thoracic radicular arteries, and extensive collateralization along the paraspinal region. No surgical intervention was performed, and the patient’s weakness began to improve after his anti-platelet therapy was held. CONCLUSIONS: Acute non-traumatic spinal epidural hematomas are rare when compared to traumatic causes, and clinically present with acute onset of back pain with progressive para- or quadriplegia. Coarctation of the aorta accounts for approximately 7% of congenital heart disease, and may form aneurysmal dilations in vessels due to weakened arterial walls caused by hypertension. These pockets of dilated, weakened vessels are prone to rupture and have been linked to cerebral and spinal subarachnoid hemorrhages in the literature. Only one prior case report describes spinal epidural hematoma related to aortic coarctation. However, this condition’s severity makes it an important complication to consider in patients with aortic coarctation. Disclosure: Dr. Khan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mirchandani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Donarummo has nothing to disclose.
A fully adaptive approximation for quenching‐type reaction‐diffusion equations over circular domains

This article studies a fully adaptive finite difference method for solving quenching-type nonlinear reaction-diffusion equations over circular domains. Although an auxiliary condition at the origin and radial symmetry are imposed, adaptations are accomplished via arc-length-based monitoring functions in space and time, respectively. The monotonicity and positivity of the numerical solution are proved following a suitable grid constraint, and the numerical stability is ensured in the von Neumann sense. Theoretical bounds of the critical quenching radius are obtained and then refined through the computation. Computational examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness and plausibility of the new adaptive computational procedure developed. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 30: 472–489, 2014
Personality and Pathways of Influence on Physical Health

Author(s): Kern, ML; Friedman, HS | Abstract: Some individuals are prone to illness, decline, and premature mortality while others recover quickly, maintain health, and live long lives. Personality, an individual's biopsychosocial pattern of reactions and behaviors, is related to health across time, but the pathways are complex, with interrelated causal and non-causal links. Causal pathways linking personality and health include: health behaviors and habits; number and quality of social relationships; reactions to challenges and psychophysiological stress; and situation selection and evocation. Important but non-causal (spurious) links include: genes and early experiences; and disease-caused personality changes. Attending to the multiple links between personality and health within a lifespan perspective will aid causal understanding and facilitate the most appropriate interventions. © 2011 The Authors. Social and Personality Psychology Compass © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Attentional Predictors of 5-month-olds' Performance on a Looking A-not-B Task

In the first year of life, the ability to search for hidden objects is an indicator of object permanence and, when multiple locations are involved, executive function (i.e. inhibition, cognitive flexibility and working memory). The current study was designed to examine attentional predictors of search in 5-month-old infants (as measured by the looking A-not-B task), and whether levels of maternal education moderated the effect of the predictors. Specifically, in a separate task, the infants were shown a unique puppet, and we measured the percentage of time attending to the puppet, as well as the length of the longest look (i.e., peak fixation) directed towards the puppet. Across the entire sample (N =390), the percentage of time attending to the puppet was positively related to performance on the visual A-not-B task. However, for infants whose mothers had not completed college, having a shorter peak looking time (after controlling for percentage of time) was also a predictor of visual A-not-B performance. The role of attention, peak fixation and maternal education in visual search is discussed.
Pharmacological Characteristics and Distributions of σ and Phencyclidine Receptors in the Animal Kingdom

The phylogenetic distributions of sigma- and phencyclidine receptors in neural tissues of 13 species and the pharmacological characteristics of these receptors in whole sea anemone and neural tissues of the guinea pig, chicken, and frog were studied. Specific binding of [3H]haloperidol and [3H]N-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]-3,4-piperidine, ligands that bind with high affinity to sigma- and phencyclidine receptors, respectively, was detected in all organisms examined. The order of potencies of various ligands to inhibit 1 nM [3H]haloperidol binding in brains of frogs and guinea pigs or 1 nM [3H]N-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]-3,4-piperidine in chicken or guinea pig brain homogenates was very similar. However, the characteristics and stereospecificity of binding of the two radioligands in sea anemone were different than in higher organisms. The results suggest that sigma- and phencyclidine binding sites are evolutionarily old, as the characteristics of the two sites are well preserved over a range of vertebrate phyla.
Development of a protease-sensitive molecular imaging agent for optoacoustic tomography

We are working to develop a molecular imaging agent that will allow for in vivo imaging of proteases by use of optoacoustic tomography. Proteases are protein-cleaving proteins known to be overactive in a number of pathologies, including cancers and vascular disease. Protease-sensitive "smart probes" have previously been developed in the context of pure optical imaging. These involve pairs of mutually quenching fluorophores attached to a backbone by protease-cleavable peptide side chains; cleaving of the side chains liberates the fluorophores and leads to increase in fluorescence. Optoacoustic imaging is sensitive not to fluorescence but to optical absorption and so a smart imaging probe for protease imaging would need to shift its absorption peak upon cleavage. Naturally, the absorption peaks of the cleaved (and, ideally, uncleaved) molecules should be in the near infrared for maximum tissue penetration. We have designed a molecule that should achieve these specifications. It comprises two active sites, derivatives of natural photosynthetic bacteriochlorophylls that absorb in the near IR, conjugated to a lysine backbone by peptide spacers specific to the protease being imaged. When these bacteriochlorophylls dimerize and stack in the uncleaved molecule, their absorption peak shifts about 20-30 nm. When they are cleaved from the molecule the absorption peak shifts back to that of bacteriochlorophyll monomers. We have performed a preliminary synthesis of the molecule and confirmed by use of a spectrometer that the pairing of the bacteriochlorophylls leads to the expected absorption shift.
Stochastic approximation methods for identification and control--A survey

Stochastic search techniques have been the essential part for most identification and self-organizing or learning control algorithms for stochastic systems. Stochastic approximation search algorithms have been very popular among the researchers in these areas because of their simplicity of implementation, convergence properties, as well as intuitive appeal to the investigator. This paper presents an exposition of the stochastic approximation algorithms and their application to various parameter identification and self-organizing control algorithms.
Color Blindness and Interracial Interaction Playing the Political Correctness Game

Two experiments explored the ramifications of endorsing color blindness as a strategy for appearing unprejudiced. In Study 1, Whites proved adept at categorizing faces on the basis of race, but understated their ability to do so. In Study 2, Whites playing the Political Correctness Game--a matching task that requires describing other individuals--were less likely to use race as a descriptor when paired with a Black partner than when paired with a White partner, a strategy that impaired communication and performance. In addition, avoidance of race was associated with Whites making less eye contact with and appearing less friendly toward Black partners.
Early detection, diagnosis, and management of oral and oropharyngeal cancer

1. Drinkers and cigarette smokers are at very high risk for the development of upper aerodigestive tract and lung squamous carcinomas. 2. The floor of the mouth, the ventrolateral tongue, and the soft palate are high-risk sites within the oral cavity and oropharynx. 3. Mucosal erythroplasia rather than leukoplakia is the earliest visual sign of oral and pharyngeal carcinomas. 4. Areas of mucosal abnormality, especially redness or inflammation in high-risk sites, that persist for more than 14 days without obvious etiology or resolution should be biopsied. 5. Asymptomatic, erythroplastic lesions should not be regarded merely as precancerous changes. The evidence indicates that these lesions in high-risk sites should be considered to be invasive carcinoma or at the very least carcinoma in situ, unless proven otherwise by biopsy. 6. Toluidine blue staining is a useful diagnostic adjunct, particularly as a method of ruling out false-negative clinical impressions. It may also be used as a screening rinse in high-risk patients to encompass the entire oral mucosa after a negative clinical examination and as a guide to improve biopsy yields. 7. If oral or pharyngeal cancer is identified, evaluations of the larynx, hypopharynx, esophagus, and lungs should be performed to rule out second primary cancers. Yearly aerodigestive surveillance should be continued after satisfactory treatment of the index cancer.
Isolation and characterization of A peptide containing the site of cleavage of the chick skin collagen α1[I] chain by animal collagenases☆

Abstract A 36-residue peptide containing the bond cleaved by animal collagenases was isolated from a digest of chick skin collagen α1-CB7 by Staphylococcus V8 protease. This cleavage site peptide, in contrast to the 36-residue α1-CB2, showed no tendency to renature to the triple helical form, as monitored by molecular sieve chromatography and the determination of circular dichroism spectra. These results provide a direct demonstration that the conformation of the α1[I] chain immediately around the collagenase cleavage site in the native molecule must be of a lower degree of helicity than other portions of the chain. This is considered to be an important factor in the collagenase specificity, in providing access to the sensitive bonds, but enzyme binding sites, probably located in the adjacent region(s) of maximum helicity, are also considered necessary to produce the maximum reaction rate.
Use of the Least Squares Line and Plane in the Measurement of Straightness and Flatness

The paper deals with tabular methods for calculating the least squares line and the least squares plane with respect to which errors in straightness and flatness may be defined.
Method for optimal capability-based R&D portfolio selection

This paper presents a method to select a set of risky R&D projects toward a long-term capability goal. Achieving a long-term capability enhancement in a modern complex system often requires simultaneous improvements in multiple subsystems. Choosing an optimal investment portfolio from a set of risky R&D investments becomes challenging when different combinations of improvements may result in the same capability enhancement. In the presented method, a collection of root portfolios is identified, each of which achieves the target capability. The likelihood of success and cost (development and production) for each project within in the portfolio is then determined. Generally, prospective projects will be included in multiple root portfolios. An optimal R&D portfolio, composed of one or more root portfolios, can then be calculated to minimize portfolio cost (development, production, or both) for a given likelihood of success and a small set of dominant portfolios may occur. The method inherently captures the interdependence and trades that occur during portfolio selection. The method is demonstrated on a notional R&D portfolio.
Synthesis, characterization, crystal structures and biological activity of set of Cu(II) benzothiazole complexes: Artificial nucleases with cytotoxic activities

Abstract A series of Cu(II) complexes with ligand frames based on quinoline derivatives appended with a benzothiazole substituent has been isolated. The complexes, Cu(Q(oBt))(NO 3 ) 2 (H 2 O)∙CH 3 OH ( 1 ∙ CH 3 OH), Cu(8OHQ(oBt))Cl 2 ∙ CH 3 OH ( 2 ∙ CH 3 OH), Cu(8OQ(oBt))Cl(CH 3 OH)∙CH 3 OH ( 3 ∙ CH 3 OH) and [Cu(8OH 1/2 Q(oBt))(CH 3 OH)(NO 3 )] 2 (NO 3 ) ( 4 ) have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR and UV-visible spectroscopies, and elemental analysis. The ligand frame within the set of complexes differs in the substituent on the quinoline ring: complex 1 remains unsubstituted at this position while complexes 2 – 4 have a substituted OH group. In complex 2 , the bound phenol remains protonated while in 3 it is a phenolato group. Complex 4 contains two complexes within the unit cell and one NO 3 − giving rise to an overall ‘half-protonation’. The interaction between complexes 1 – 3 with CT-DNA was investigated using fluorescence emission spectroscopy and revealed 2 and 3 strongly intercalate DNA with K app values of 1.47 × 10 7 M − 1 and 3.09 × 10 7 M − 1 , respectively. The ability of complexes 1 – 3 to cleave SC-DNA was monitored using gel electrophoresis. Each complex exhibits potent, concentration dependent nuclease activity forming single and double-nicked DNA as low as 10 μM. The nuclease activity of complexes 1 – 3 is primarily dependent on 1 O 2 species while ·OH radicals play a secondary role in the cleavage by complexes 2 and 3 . The cytotoxic effects of 1 – 3 were examined using HeLa cells and show cell death in the micromolar range. The distribution of cell cycle stages remains unchanged when complexes are present indicating DNA damage may be occurring throughout the cell cycle.
Expected scores in the rod-and-frame test revisited

A distribution of Rod-and-Frame Test scores for college students is presented as a replication of the Pressey-Vaught data. A discussion follows in which three common procedural problems are related to comparison difficulties.
Exploratory Evaluation of Sí, Yo Puedo: A Culturally Competent Empowerment Program for Immigrant Latina Women in Group Settings

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted to examine the experiences of 20 immigrant Latina women using a culturally specific 11-week curriculum—Si Yo Puedo—in psychoeducational group settings. The purpose of the program is to provide participants with education about domestic violence and self-esteem. Two follow-up groups were conducted to assess immigrant Latina women’s experiences after completing the program. Findings indicated that participants reported improved self-esteem and knowledge of healthy relationship dynamics, and the women experienced the process of empowerment. Implications for social workers include utilization of the program toward education and the promotion of healthy relationships among Latina women.
Effects of low doses of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

There has been no previously published experience with granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) doses less than 12 micrograms/m2 daily in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, and most observations have been made at doses greater than or equal to 120 micrograms/m2 daily. We administered 5 micrograms/m2 daily by subcutaneous injection to 29 such patients increasing the dose in patients who did not show a haematologic response. Doses of 5 or 10 micrograms/m2 ('low-dose GM-CSF') produced an increase in neutrophils in 14/29 patients. Response was significantly (P = 0.03) more frequent in patients who had a higher pre-treatment neutrophil count (e.g. 11/16 in patients with greater than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l). A rise in blasts followed administration of low-dose GM-CSF in five patients, all with either refractory anaemia with excess blasts (RAEB) or refractory anaemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEBT). Platelets decreased in five patients, four of whom had no change in blasts, reverting to baseline when GM-CSF was discontinued. We and others have previously observed similar rises in blasts or decreases in platelets at doses of 120 micrograms/m2 daily. Low-dose GM-CSF produced no constitutional side effects. Our results suggest that low doses of GM-CSF might be initially employed in neutropenic patients with myelodysplastic syndromes who present with pretreatment neutrophil counts greater than 0.5 x 10(9)/l. Increasing the dose, and hence the risk of extramedullary toxicity, only in patients who do not respond to the low dose. Patients who present with lower pre-treatment neutrophil counts might begin treatment at doses above 10 micrograms/m2, but below the 120 micrograms/m2 commonly employed, which may be necessary in relatively few patients.
Postoperative radiotherapy increases locoregional control of patients with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery.

Abstract Purpose To determine the effectiveness of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) in patients with Stage IIB and Stage IIIA non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery. Methods and materials We retrospectively reviewed the treatment records of 98 patients (58 men and 40 women; median age 61 years, range 31–91) with Stage IIB and Stage IIIA NSCLC who were treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery at our institution between January 1990 and December 2000. Patients were grouped by treatment (chemotherapy/surgery alone vs. chemotherapy/surgery/RT), by disease stage and nodal classification. The rates of local control (LC), disease-specific survival, disease-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Of the 98 patients, 40 had Stage IIB and 58 had Stage IIIA. The clinical disease stage and N stage were significantly greater in those patients who underwent RT than in those who did not; however, no statistically significant differences were identified in the additional characteristics between those receiving and not receiving RT within each stage or nodal group. The overall 5-year actuarial LC rate was 81% in the RT group and 54% in the chemotherapy/surgery–alone group (p = 0.07). Postoperative RT significantly improved the 5-year LC rate in patients with Stage IIIA disease (from 35% to 82%, p = 0.01). Postoperative RT did not significantly improve the 5-year OS rate (30% with RT vs. 49% without) for all patients or for patients with Stage IIIA disease. The disease-specific survival and disease-free survival rates did not differ between the treatment groups. Patients who responded to induction chemotherapy had a significantly greater 5-year OS rate (49%) than did those with stable or progressive disease (22%, p = 0.003). Conclusion Postoperative RT in patients with Stage IIIA NSCLC treated with induction chemotherapy followed by surgery significantly improved LC without improving OS. Significantly improved survival was observed in all patients who responded to induction chemotherapy compared with those with stable or progressive disease.
Role of relative humidity in atomic force microscopy imaging

Abstract Atomic force microscope images were found to be influenced significantly by relative humidity. Higher relative humidity produces higher adhesion forces and reduced resolution. Atomic resolution on mica was abruptly lost when the relative humidity was slowly decreased while scanning. This effect could be reversed by increasing the relative humidity or by increasing the cantilever force. At higher relative humidities the lateral force on the tip was found to increase significantly with increasing scanning speed.
Know your neighborhood: A strategy for energy-efficient communication

Wireless sensor networks typically conserve energy by following a periodic wakeup-sleep schedule: nodes minimize idle time and spend most of their time in a low power sleep state. In order to communicate and exchange data in such a network, the current duty-cycling MAC protocols either require tight synchronization between the neighbor wakeup schedules or spend a significant amount of energy in signaling the sleeping nodes. In contrast, this paper presents Neighborhood-based Power Management (NPM), an energy efficient asynchronous MAC protocol that minimizes signaling overhead through opportunistically gained knowledge about neighbor wakeup schedules. Unlike the synchronization-based MAC protocols, NPM does not require a priori knowledge of the wakeup schedules. Using only a minimal exchange of schedule information, NPM reduces the signaling overhead by shortening the wakeup signal. Furthermore, NPM uses its wakeup signal to awaken all receivers in the neighborhood of the sender, enabling all sender-receiver pairs in that neighborhood to communicate. Our extensive evaluations show that NPM outperforms popular B-MAC [1], X-MAC [2] and SCP [3] protocols under all network conditions. NPM reduces the signaling overhead, with up to 74% savings in energy and 80% reduction in delay.
Abstract 1332: Cigarette smoking attenuates TGF-β-mediated tumor suppression function through down-regulation of Smad3 in lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Cigarette smoking has been connected to an array of chronic lung diseases and one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the most cases of lung cancers (85-90%) are directly attributable to tobacco smoking. Although much information is gained about the effect of cigarette smoking on various signaling pathways causing lung cancer, no information is available about the effect cigarette smoking on the TGF-β-dependent initiation and progression of lung cancer. To address this issue, A549, a lung adenocarcinma cell line and HPL1A, an immortalized lung epithelial cell line were chronically treated with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) to mimic the conditions of long-term cigarette smoking. Prolonged exposure of these cells to CSC resulted in a decrease in Smad3 and Smad4 complex formation and TGF-s-mediated transcription due to reduced expression of Smad3. As a consequence, the cells were less apoptotic, were more viable, and lost TGF-β mediated growth inhibition. We found that the decrease in apoptosis is due to the up-regulation of Bcl2, which is a downstream target of Smad3. The repression of Smad3 expression is at the promoter level and is due to histone deacetylation. Withdrawal of CSC treatment resulted in the restoration of Smad3 expression, reduction in cell viability and increased TGF-β mediated growth inhibition. Rescue experiment with reintroduction of Smad3 in the 300 day CSC treated cells restored TGF-β signaling, increased apoptosis and decreased cell viability. Finally, three hundred days CSC exposure dramatically increased the tumorigenicity of cells in vivo, and Smad3 re-expression reverses this effect. In patient samples, there is a trend that expression of Smad3 goes down in smokers compared to non-smokers. Collectively, these data provide evidence that cigarette smoking promotes tumorigenicity partly by abrogating TGF-β mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis by reducing expression of Smad3. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1332. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1332
The kinetics of self-association of ethanol in ethyl chloride

Abstract Ultrasonic absorption data in ethanol—ethyl chloride solutions reported by Solovyev et al. have been re-examined using a reaction scheme based on ethanol self-association monomer ⇌ dimer ⇌ trimer It is concluded that the excess absorption observed is due primarily to the monomer—dimer process which is assumed to be the faster step. The concentration of trimer formed is small below 0.2 mole fraction ethanol but increases rapidly above this point. The self-association of ethanol in this system is confirmed qualitatively by a PMR study.
Reconstructing Urban Politics: Neighborhood Activism in Land-Use Change

In urban governance, some responsibility for services and planning may lie with private entities. Residents challenging public policies may find recourse not from elected officials but from quasi-public agencies. This article examines contestation over a hospital expansion plan in Athens, Georgia. Using archival accounts and interviews, the author investigates the responses of the local state and the hospital to neighborhood-based activism and the success of residents in restructuring the hospital’s decision-making process. The scale of contestation and negotiation differed from that of the city government. This case illustrates newstructures and scales of negotiation and accountability in quasi-public urban governance.