cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autologous stem-cell transplantation for multiple myeloma in the era of novel therapies

Despite the evolution of the therapeutic arsenal for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) over the past decade, autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) remains an integral part of the treatment of patients with both newly diagnosed and relapsed MM. The advent of novel therapies, such as immunomodulatory agents, proteasome inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies, has led to unprecedented levels of deep hematologic responses. Nonetheless, studies show that ASCT has an additive effect leading to additional deepening of responses. As the therapeutic agents for MM continue to evolve, the timing, duration, and sequence of their use in combination with ASCT will be crucial to understand to obtain the deepest response and survival benefit for patients with MM. This review aims to discuss the role of ASCT for the management of MM, with a particular focus on the role of ASCT in the context of novel therapies and minimal residual disease.
Reimagining instrument constituencies: the case of conservation policy in Mexico

Throughout the developing world, payments for ecosystem services (PES) programs are popular policy instruments that allow those who rely on such amenities as drinking water and clean air to pay the landowners who, in turn, provide and care for those services so the resources are protected and sustainably available in the future. Despite the popularity of PES programs as policy instruments, they have been proven largely ineffective in achieving their long-term goals. Specifically, they have failed to conserve the targeted ecosystem services. We examine Mexican instrument constituencies that have promoted use of a PES program, the payments for hydrological services (PHS) program. Instrument constituencies are groups of policy actors who are bound by an interest in a particular policy instrument or solution. Although the PHS program has been in existence for nearly 20 years, the evidence points to policy drift and overall policy failure. The path-dependent nature of the instrument constituency and resulting feedbacks have crowded out any chance of more effective forest or water conservation programs from being established. A case-based counterfactual analysis is employed to consider alternative program choices that could exist in the absence of a PHS instrument constituency.
Bacteria Modify Candida albicans Hypha Formation, Microcolony Properties, and Survival within Macrophages.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system is the main regulated intracellular proteolytic pathway. Increasing evidence implicates impairment of this system in the pathogenesis of diseases with ubiquitin-positive pathology. A mutant ubiquitin, UBB+1, accumulates in the pathological hallmarks of tauopathies, including Alzheimer9s disease, polyglutamine diseases, liver disease and muscle disease and serves as an endogenous reporter for proteasomal dysfunction in these diseases. UBB+1 is a substrate for proteasomal degradation, however it can also inhibit the proteasome. Here, we show that UBB+1 properties shift from substrate to inhibitor in a dose-dependent manner in cell culture using an inducible UBB+1 expression system. At low expression levels, UBB+1 was efficiently degraded by the proteasome. At high levels, the proteasome failed to degrade UBB+1, causing its accumulation, which subsequently induced a reversible functional impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Also in brain slice cultures, UBB+1 accumulation and concomitant proteasome inhibition was only induced at high expression levels. Our findings show that by varying UBB+1 expression levels, the dual proteasome substrate and inhibitory properties can be optimally used to serve as a research tool to study the ubiquitin-proteasome system and to further elucidate the role of aberrations of this pathway in disease.
Systematic evaluation of commercially available pain management apps examining behavior change techniques.

ABSTRACT Mobile health (mHealth) apps have the potential to enhance pain management through the use of daily diaries, medication and appointment reminders, education, and facilitating communication between patients and providers. Although many pain management apps exist, the extent to which these apps use evidence-based behavior change techniques (BCTs) remains largely unknown, making it nearly impossible for providers to recommend apps with evidence-based strategies. This study systematically evaluated commercially available pain management apps for evidence-based BCTs and app quality. Pain management apps were identified using the search terms "pain" and "pain management" in the App and Google Play stores. Reviewed apps were specific to pain management, in English, for patients, and free. A total of 28 apps were coded using the taxonomy of BCTs. App quality was assessed using the Mobile App Rating Scale. Apps included 2 to 15 BCTs (M = 7.36) and 1 to 8 (M = 4.21) pain management-specific BCTs. Prompt intention formation, instruction, behavioral-health link, consequences, feedback, and self-monitoring were the most common BCTs used in the reviewed apps. App quality from the Mobile App Rating Scale ranged from 2.27 to 4.54 (M = 3.65) out of a possible 5, with higher scores indicating better quality. PainScale followed by Migraine Buddy demonstrated the highest number of overall and pain management BCTs as well as good quality scores. Although existing apps should be assessed through randomized controlled trials and future apps should include capabilities for electronic medical record integration, current pain management apps often use evidence-based pain management BCTs.
A Relaxed PV Bus Model in Linear Power Flow

The emerging multimodal active energy resource units make it necessary to introduce constant voltage amplitude buses (PV bus) in the operation of modern distribution systems. To enable the analysis of PV bus using linear power flow models, this letter proposes a relaxed PV bus model for solving power flow related problems using an indirect modeling approach. The developed PV bus model can be applied to linear power flow models in both rectangular and polar coordinates. Besides, the approximation error of the relaxed PV bus model can also be controlled and quantified. Lastly, the proposed relaxed PV bus model is validated using different test systems. According to the numerical studies, the maximum error on the PV bus approximation in all case studies is only 0.61%, and the maximum error of the supporting power at the PV buses is 6.5%.
CSO AND CARMA OBSERVATIONS OF L1157. I. A DEEP SEARCH FOR HYDROXYLAMINE (NH2OH)

A deep search for the potential glycine precursor hydroxylamine (NH_2OH) using the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO) at λ = 1.3 mm and the Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy at λ = 3 mm is presented toward the molecular outflow L1157, targeting the B1 and B2 shocked regions. We report non-detections of NH_2OH in both sources. We perform a non-LTE analysis of CH_3OH observed in our CSO spectra to derive the kinetic temperatures and densities in the shocked regions. Using these parameters, we derive upper limit column densities of NH_2OH of ≤1.4 × 10^(13) cm^(−2) and ≤1.5 × 10^(13) cm^(−2) toward the B1 and B2 shocks, respectively, and upper limit relative abundances of N_(NH_2OH)/N_H_2 ≤ 1.4 x 10^(-8) and ≤1.5 × 10^(−8), respectively.
Amplitude of fNIRS Resting-State Global Signal Is Related to EEG Vigilance Measures: A Simultaneous fNIRS and EEG Study

Recently, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been utilized to image the hemodynamic activities and connectivity in the human brain. With the advantage of economic efficiency, portability, and fewer physical constraints, fNIRS enables studying of the human brain at versatile environment and various body positions, including at bed side and during exercise, which complements the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, like fMRI, fNIRS imaging can be influenced by the presence of a strong global component. Yet, the nature of the global signal in fNIRS has not been established. In this study, we investigated the relationship between fNIRS global signal and electroencephalogram (EEG) vigilance using simultaneous recordings in resting healthy subjects in high-density and whole-head montage. In Experiment 1, data were acquired at supine, sitting, and standing positions. Results found that the factor of body positions significantly affected the amplitude of the resting-state fNIRS global signal, prominently in the frequency range of 0.05-0.1 Hz but not in the very low frequency range of less than 0.05 Hz. As a control, the task-induced fNIRS or EEG responses to auditory stimuli did not differ across body positions. However, EEG vigilance plays a modulatory role in the fNIRS signals in the frequency range of less than 0.05 Hz: resting-state sessions of low EEG vigilance measures are associated with high amplitudes of fNIRS global signals. Moreover, in Experiment 2, we further examined the epoch-to-epoch fluctuations in concurrent fNIRS and EEG data acquired from a separate group of subjects and found a negative temporal correlation between EEG vigilance measures and fNIRS global signal amplitudes. Our study for the first time revealed that vigilance as a neurophysiological factor modulates the resting-state dynamics of fNIRS, which have important implications for understanding and processing the noises in fNIRS signals.
The mechanistic link between selective vulnerability of the locus coeruleus and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is neuropathologically characterized by the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and the extracellular deposition of amyloid-β plaques, which affect certain brain regions in a progressive manner. The locus coeruleus (LC), a small nucleus in the pons of the brainstem, is widely recognized as one of the earliest sites of neurofibrillary tangle formation in AD. Patients with AD exhibit significant neuronal loss in the LC, resulting in a marked reduction of its size and function. The LC, which vastly innervates several regions of the brain, is the primary source of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine (NE) in the central nervous system. Considering that NE is a major modulator of behavior, contributing to neuroprotection and suppression of neuroinflammation, degeneration of the LC in AD and the ultimate dysregulation of the LC–NE system has detrimental effects in the brain. In this review, we detail the neuroanatomy and function of the LC, its essential role in neuroprotection, and how this is dysregulated in AD. We discuss AD-related neuropathologic changes in the LC and mechanisms by which LC neurons are selectively vulnerable to insult. Further, we elucidate the neurotoxic effects of LC de-innervation both locally and at projection sites, and how this augments disease pathology, progression and severity. We summarize how preservation of the LC–NE system could be used in the treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases affected by LC degeneration.
Model Analysis of Post-Stimulation Effect on Axonal Conduction and Block

Objective: To reveal the possible contribution of changes in membrane ion concentration gradients and ion pump activity to axonal conduction/block induced by long-duration electrical stimulation. Methods: A new model for conduction and block of unmyelinated axons based on the classical Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) equations is developed to include changes in Na+ and K+ concentrations and ion pumps. The effect of long-duration stimulation on axonal conduction/block is analyzed by computer simulation using this new model. Results: The new model successfully simulates initiation, propagation, and block of action potentials induced by short-duration (multiple milliseconds) stimulations that do not significantly change the ion concentrations in the classical HH model. In addition, the activity-dependent effects such as action potential attenuation and broadening observed in animal studies are also successfully simulated by the new model. Finally, the model successfully simulates axonal block occurring after terminating a long-duration (multiple seconds) direct current (DC) stimulation as observed in recent animal studies and reveals 3 different mechanisms for the post-DC block of axonal conduction. Conclusion: Ion concentrations and pumps play an important role in post-stimulation effects and activity-dependent effects on axonal conduction/block. The duration of stimulation is a determinant factor because it influences the total charges applied to the axon, which in turn determines the ion concentrations inside and outside the axon. Significance: Despite recent clinical success of many neurostimulation therapies, the effects of long-duration stimulation on axonal conduction/block are poorly understood. This new model could significantly impact our understanding of the mechanisms underlying different neurostimulation therapies.
Structure of the p53/RNA polymerase II assembly.

The tumor suppressor p53 protein activates expression of a vast gene network in response to stress stimuli for cellular integrity. The molecular mechanism underlying how p53 targets RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to regulate transcription remains unclear. To elucidate the p53/Pol II interaction, we have determined a 4.6 A resolution structure of the human p53/Pol II assembly via single particle cryo-electron microscopy. Our structure reveals that p53’s DNA binding domain targets the upstream DNA binding site within Pol II. This association introduces conformational changes of the Pol II clamp into a further-closed state. A cavity was identified between p53 and Pol II that could possibly host DNA. The transactivation domain of p53 binds the surface of Pol II’s jaw that contacts downstream DNA. These findings suggest that p53’s functional domains directly regulate DNA binding activity of Pol II to mediate transcription, thereby providing insights into p53-regulated gene expression. Liou et al. report a 4.6 A resolution structure of the human p53/ RNA polymerase II assembly, using single particle cryoelectron microscopy. This study suggests that p53’s functional domains regulate the DNA binding activity of RNA polymerase II, providing insights into p53-regulated gene expression.
Effective Medium Theory Application to Molecular Movement in Cell Membranes

The function of Chap. 14 has been to help the reader learn the details of how to use the EMT. The main body of the explanation has centered on the description of molecules moving in cell membranes. After a brief description of the physics of the field, we described an ordered model and then a disordered version of that model to understand observed phenomena. The ordered model consisted of periodically placed defects representing barriers for molecular motion arising from interaction with the cytoskeleton of the cell. It involved a standard application of the defect technique and was successful in explaining experiment. However, addressing static disorder in the barrier heights or barrier placements was beyond its reach. To describe that aspect we considered the disordered model in which we allowed the barrier heights to be random variables, then did the same with barrier placements and finally with both quantities. EMT methods were introduced and explained step by step. They led both to the calculation of time-independent and time-dependent effective quantities of relevance to the observations. Various probability distributions were used as input and the theory was worked out in detail. Mention was also made of the application of EMT to motion on networks. A careful examination of these examples should help the reader in learning the methods of the EMT.
Accessible Color Cycles for Data Visualization

Color cycles, ordered sets of colors for data visualization, that balance aesthetics with accessibility considerations are presented. In order to model aesthetic preference, data were collected with an online survey, and the results were used to train a machine-learning model. To ensure accessibility, this model was combined with minimum-perceptual-distance constraints, including for simulated color-vision deficiencies, as well as with minimum-lightness-distance constraints for grayscale printing, maximum-lightness constraints for maintaining contrast with a white background, and scores from a color-saliency model for ease of use of the colors in verbal and written descriptions. Optimal color cycles containing six, eight, and ten colors were generated using the data-driven aesthetic-preference model and accessibility constraints. Due to the balance of aesthetics and accessibility considerations, the resulting color cycles can serve as reasonable defaults in data-plotting codes.
Sociopolitical influences on cropland area change in Iraq, 2001–2012

Abstract Iraq has experienced significant agricultural land use changes throughout its history, including recent changes initiated by the 2003 US-led military invasion, the end of United Nations' economic sanctions and the onset of overt domestic conflict. Conflict and sociopolitical forces are important drivers of land use/land cover change and often have disproportionate impacts on agricultural systems. However, there has been little research to investigate recent changes in agricultural land use/land cover in Iraq over the recent tumultuous period that has included war and the transition of its political system from a dictatorship to an emerging but beleaguered democracy. Our objectives were to (1) determine if cropland area in Iraq changed significantly between 2001 and 2012, (2) identify regional patterns of cropland area change, and (3) identify sociopolitical forces driving those changes. We used MODIS Land Cover Product yearly data to quantify the amount of land cover dedicated to croplands. We regressed cropland area (ha) on time (2001, 2002, 2003,…) and years with drought influence (yes, no). The results revealed significant changes in cropland area for Iraq as a whole, with cropland area decreasing over 30,000 ha per year. Regionally, there were significant decreases in the Kurdish Autonomous Region and central Iraq, and initial increases in the southern marshlands followed by decreases related to drought.
Customizable Cooperative Metering for Multi-ingress Service Level Agreements in Differentiated Network Services

In the Differentiated Service architecture an interesting class of SLAs provides guarantees for the traffic flowing from multiple ingress nodes into a single or group of egress nodes. For many distributed services, like a VPN service, where multiple ingress points are sending to the same egress, customers would like to control the bandwidth distribution across the ingress routers, based on their specific requirements. In this paper we present a simple strategy called CCDM (Customized Coordinated Dynamic Metering) that supports a customizable distribution of bandwidth across ingress routers. The bandwidth distribution policy is specified by customers in the form of router extensions (code modules) that execute in the control plane of the ingress routers. We describe and motivate the CCDM design. We also describe an implementation of CCDM in the context of the Darwin system and present measurement results for three different customized policies, demonstrating the customizability aspect of our solution.
Low-income pregnant adolescents and their infants: dietary findings and health outcomes.

Dietary and other health-related data were obtained for 99 low-income, pregnant adolescents aged 13 to 19 years and their infants who were enrolled in the Teen Pregnancy Service (TPS). The dietetic services provided through TPS are highlighted for this sample of teens, 97% of whom were eligible for the WIC program. Average gestational age at time of enrollment for prenatal care was 18 weeks; 59% of the sample was anemic (hemoglobin value
Designing an employee assistance program (EAP) intervention for women and minorities: Lessons from the Rockford EAP study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to describe an enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP) intervention implemented through a large, community-based, not-for-profit EAP located in Rockford, Illinois, approximately 90 miles northwest of Chicago. The enhanced intervention builds on the existing EAP services and is designed to effectively reach employees with alcohol-related problems and specifically meet the special needs of women and racial/ethnic minority workers. The intervention components were developed to address significant gaps in the EAP'S standard services for these populations. The intervention components include specialized EAP counselors, in-house training of EAP staff, a standardized alcohol screener, enhanced worksite supervisor training, community linkages, enhanced outreach materials, worksite orientation sessions, targeted outreach seminars, and contracted interpreters. This paper describes the development and implementation phases of our research protocol. Subsequent research will ev...
Scientific considerations of pharmaceutical solid polymorphism in Abbreviated New Drug Applications

Purpose. This commentary is intended to provide a scientific perspective on pharmaceutical solid polymorphism in Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).
Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire

The introduction of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) in 1949 marked the beginning of the modern era of personality assessment. This scale was the first to utilize many of the major conceptual and empirical methods that have come to characterize contemporary personality scale development. Its developer, Raymond B. Cattell, was a pioneer in the field and helped to set the criteria by which future assessment endeavors would be evaluated. This article provides an overview of the 16PF and its applications in and implications for contemporary assessment. Keywords: diagnostic methods; personality; self-reports; testing
Multiple calcifying pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis

Calcified pseudoneoplasms of the neuraxis (CAPNON) are a rare diagnostic entity. They have been reported intra-cranially as well as in the spine, and are most commonly found at the skull base. This is a case report of a 38-year-old woman who presented with bilateral CAPNON, diagnosed 8 years apart. While there are approximately 46 reported in the current literature of cerebral and spinal fibro-osseous lesions, this is the first report of separate lesions.
Sacrificing the Child to Convict the Defendant: Secondary Traumatization of Child Witnesses by Prosecutors, Their Inherent Conflict of Interest, and the Need for Child Witness Counsel

In criminal cases, prosecutors often compound the trauma child witnesses endure. That secondary traumatization — the intimidation and disregard of child witnesses by authorities — threatens the integrity of the entire criminal justice system. While unfortunate, perhaps secondary traumatization of child witnesses by prosecutors is inevitable because prosecutors have multiple duties to juggle besides attending to the child. Prosecutors must protect society and even respect the rights of the accused. Fulfilling these other prosecutorial duties might conflict with the needs and wishes of the child witnesses. Because prosecutors have multiple roles and responsibilities, which they interpret differently, and because the Supreme Court has recently made prosecuting crimes against children more difficult, the potential for prosecutors to mistreat their complaining child witnesses, even unwittingly, has increased. To combat this problem, child witnesses need lawyers. The need for independent counsel with clearly defined roles for representing child witnesses in criminal cases is timely, and for children’s rights advocates, it is the “next frontier.”
SEA-COOS: Southeast Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing System

The SEA-COOS initiative is an eleven-institution collaboration to begin development of a regional coastal ocean observing system for the southeast (North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida) United States. A three-pronged program of observing, modeling, and data management will be established while simultaneously conducting outreach studies of user needs and exploring governance models for the program in future years. Details of the program specifics are given.
Reformulating Combinatorial Optimization as Constraint Satisfaction

I am currently a third year graduate (PhD) student in the Computer Science Department of Stanford University working in the Artificial Intelligence areas of Planning, Scheduling, Diagnosis, Hybrid Systems and Constraint Satisfaction.
The partitioned scheduling of sporadic real-time tasks on multiprocessor platforms

In the sporadic task model, a task is characterized by three parameters $an execution requirement, a relative deadline, and a period parameter - and has the interpretation that it generates an infinite sequence of jobs, such that (i) the arrival-times of any two successive jobs are separated by a time-interval at least as long as the period parameter; (ii) each job has a deadline that is separated from its arrival-time by a time-interval exactly equal to the relative deadline parameter of the task; and (iii) each job must execute for an amount equal to its execution requirement by its deadline. Most previous research concerning the scheduling of collections of sporadic tasks upon multiprocessor platforms has added the additional constraint that all tasks have their relative deadline parameters equal to their period parameters. In this research, we consider the scheduling of systems of sporadic tasks that do not necessarily satisfy this additional constraint, upon preemptive multiprocessor platforms. We propose, and evaluate, an algorithm for partitioning a given collection of arbitrary sporadic tasks upon a specified number of preemptive processors such that all deadlines are guaranteed to always be met.
Molecular analysis of a Neurospora crassa gene expressed during conidiation.

The asexual developmental pathway in the life cycle of the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa culminates in the formation of spores called conidia. Several clones of genomic Neurospora DNA have been isolated that correspond to mRNA species expressed during conidiation and not during mycelial growth. In this paper the authors describe the characterization of one of these clones, named pCon-10a. This clone contains two genes, con-10 and con-13, which are induced coordinately during the late stages of conidiation. The two genes are separated by 1.4 kilobases of DNA; they are located on linkage groups IV and are transcribed from the same strand of DNA. The molecular organization and sequence of one of these genes, con-10, and its flanking regions are presented. Full-length cDNA clones for con-10 were isolated and sequenced, and transcription-initiation and polyadenylation sites were defined. The con-10 also were isolated and sequenced, and transcription-initiation and polyadenylation sites were defined. The con-10 gene contains an open reading frame interrupted by two small introns and encodes an 86-amino-acid residue polypeptide that is both hydrophilic and weakly acidic. Expression of the con-10 gene in various mutants defective at different stages of conidiation indicates that it plays a role after aerial hyphal development.more » Possible functions, organization, and regulation of conidiation-specific genes are discussed.« less
A comparison of the power spectral density of scalp EEG and subjacent electrocorticograms.

Abstract Objective Our study investigated the effects of the intact skull on background EEG rhythms recorded simultaneously by subdural electrocorticography (ECoG) and scalp EEG. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of twenty patients undergoing intracranial EEG monitoring. EEG and ECoG were recorded simultaneously from the central and occipital scalp and subjacent subdural electrodes removed (median 46 mm, interquartile 27–65) from the craniotomy. The power spectral density (PSD) of artifact-free EEG and ECoG segments and ratio of the scalp EEG to subjacent ECoG PSD was calculated. Results Overall both ECoG and scalp EEG power decreased by over three orders of magnitude from delta to gamma frequency band with an empirical inverse power relationship. The ratio of scalp EEG to ECoG PSD decreased across the delta and theta frequency bands, remained the same across the alpha, beta and low gamma bands, but increased at the higher frequency bands. Conclusions EEG PSD mirrored changes in ECoG PSD across the frequency bands. As ECoG power continued to decrease above 42 Hz, extracranial voltage sources contributed to a greater fraction of scalp EEG power. Significance Monitoring the gamma frequency band using scalp EEG was limited by low power on ECoG and masking by extracranial voltage sources.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH—WOMEN’S SEXUAL HEALTH: Genital Sensation and Sexual Function in Women Bicyclists and Runners: Are Your Feet Safer than Your Seat?

ABSTRACT Introduction Bicycling is associated with neurological impairment and impotence in men. Similar deficits have not been confirmed in women. Aim To evaluate the effects of bicycling on genital sensation and sexual function in women. Methods Healthy, premenopausal, competitive women bicyclists and runners (controls) were compared. Main Outcome Measures (1) Genital vibratory thresholds (VTs) were determined using the Medoc Vibratory Sensation Analyzer 3000. (2) Sexual function and sexually related distress were assessed by the Dennerstein Personal Experience Questionnaire (SPEQ) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS). Results Forty‐eight bicyclists and 22 controls were enrolled. The median age was 33 years. The bicyclists were older, had higher body mass indices (BMIs), were more diverse in their sexual orientation, and were more likely to have a current partner. Bicyclists rode an average of 28.3 ± 19.7 miles/day (range 4–100), 3.8 ± 1.5 days/week, for an average of 2.1 ± 1.8 hours/ride. The mean number of years riding was 7.9 ± 7.1 years (range 0.5–30). Controls ran an average of 4.65 ± 2.1 miles/day (range 1.5–8) and 5.0 ± 1.2 days/week. On bivariate analysis, bicyclists had significantly higher VTs than runners, indicating worse neurological function at all sites ( P Conclusion There is an association between bicycling and decreased genital sensation in competitive women bicyclists. Negative effects on sexual function and quality of life were not apparent in our young, healthy premenopausal cohort. Guess MK, Connell K, Schrader S, Reutman S, Wang A, LaCombe J, Toennis C, Lowe B, Melman A, and Mikhail MK. Genital sensation and sexual function in women bicyclists and runners: Are your feet safer than your seat? J Sex Med 2006;3:1018–1027.
The CROSON decision and the demise of set-ASIDES: a national survey

This research examines the policy response to City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Company and explores the impact of the decision on minority business enterprises (MBEs) one year after the decision was handed down. This is done by focusing on dollars spent on MBEs and on how localities differ based on region and percent minority population. For most of the cities studied, dollars spent on minority business enterprises had not declined one year after Croson. Various means of securing spending such as the disparity study and race/gender neutral goal progams explain why such is the case. The need for further study is cited in order to determine the impact of multi-year contracts and to see if race and gender neutral goal programs are as effective as “set-asides” in targeting minority as well as non-minority small businesses.
Surface profile measurement using a unique microtube-based system

A unique method for surface profile measurement is described. A microtube attached with an objective microlens is used to scan the sample surface so that the surface profile can be obtained. The unique features of using a microtube are low alignment requirement and high robustness. With different focal lengths of microlenses, we could get a depth measurement range from 10 to 400 μm with a submicron to nm range depth resolution. To verify the feasibility of the proposed system, a profile obtained by this method is compared with the result obtained by using conventional stylus measurement. The results from the two methods are consistent.
A Design Optimization Procedure for Efficient Turbine Airfoil Design

Abstract An optimization procedure has been developed for the efficient design of turbine blade airfoil sections. A shape sensitivity study of the airfoils has been performed considering two leading edge shapes, circular and elliptic. Pressure and suction surfaces are approximated by polynomials. A two-level, nonlinear constrained optimization problem is formulated and is solved using the method of feasible directions. The aerodynamic analysis is performed using a two-dimensional panel code. Since several evaluations of the objective functions and the constraints are required within the optimizer, and exact aerodynamic analysis at each step is computationally prohibitive, a two-point exponential approximation technique has been used. The procedure developed successfully eliminates the sharp leading edge velocity spikes, characteristic of typical blade sections, without compromising blade performance. Circular leading edge airfoils appear to be more effective in eliminating the spikes than elliptic leading edge airfoils. However, the elliptic leading edge sections are more slender than the circular leading edge sections. Optimum results are compared with a reference design.
The retinal structure of (Aotes trivirgatus) the owl monkey.

This study reports the results of a light microscope examination of the eyes from 12 Aotes trivirgatus. Direct comparisons were made with the retinae of Macaca cynomologus and Macaca mulatta treated in the same way and stained at the same time. Both rods and cones are present in all Macaca retinae examined but never seen in the retinae of Aotes. The fovea of Macaca is described and the distribution of retinal but an increase in the number of ganglion cells in the fundus indicates an area centralis. Myelin staining is found in the optic fiber layer and inner plexiform layer of Aotes but not Macaca.
Plasma enzyme responses to blood withdrawal in chickens.

Repeated blood sampling effect on plasma cholinesterase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and hematocrit ratios in domestic chickens
EMT-defibrillation: the Wisconsin experience.

The survival rate for patients with prehospital cardiac arrest has improved in some communities with early defibrillation by emergency medical technician-defibrillators (EMT-Ds). In rural areas, previous studies on survival with defibrillation by EMT-Ds have been variable. We conducted an EMT-D study to determine effectiveness in various prehospital settings. Sixty-four ambulance services from communities ranging in size from rural areas to city suburbs participated in our prospective study. EMTs were trained in rhythm recognition and the use of a manual defibrillator during a standardized 20-hour course. Over 18 months, data were collected locally for central analysis. Five hundred sixty-six patients with primary cardiac arrest were included in our study; 36 (6.4%) survived. Retrospective review revealed survival before EMT-D implementation to be 3.6% ( P P P ⩽ .001). Patients in rural areas do present with salvageable rhythms. The key to survival is shorter response and arrest times.
Ischemia-elicited Oxidative Modulation of Ca2+ /Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II

Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) plays a critical role in neuronal signal transduction and synaptic plasticity. Here, we showed that this kinase was very susceptible to oxidative modulation. Treatment of mouse brain synaptosomes with H2O2, diamide, and sodium nitroprusside caused aggregation of CaMKII through formation of disulfide and non-disulfide linkages, and partial inhibition of the kinase activity. These CaMKII aggregates were found to associate with the post synaptic density. However, treatment of purified CaMKII with these oxidants did not replicate those effects observed in the synaptosomes. Using two previously identified potential mediators of oxidants in the brain, glutathione disulfide S-monoxide (GS-DSMO) and glutathione disulfide S-dioxide (GS-DSDO), we showed that they oxidized and inhibited CaMKII in a manner partly related to those of the oxidant-treated synaptosomes as well as the ischemia-elicited oxidative stress in the acutely prepared hippocampal slices. Interestingly, the autophosphorylated and activated CaMKII was relatively refractory to GS-DSMO- and GS-DSDO-mediated aggregation. Short term ischemia (10 min) caused a depression of basal synaptic response of the hippocampal slices, and re-oxygenation (after 10 min) reversed the depression. However, oxidation of CaMKII remained at above the pre-ischemic level throughout the treatment. Oxidation of CaMKII also prevented full recovery of CaMKII autophosphorylation after re-oxygenation. Subsequently, the high frequency stimulation-mediated synaptic potentiation in the hippocampal CA1 region was significantly reduced compared with the control without ischemia. Thus, ischemia-evoked oxidation of CaMKII, probably via the action of glutathione disulfide S-oxides or their analogues, may be involved in the suppression of synaptic plasticity.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Translational Inhibitory Protein That Binds to Coding Sequences of Human Acid β-Glucosidase and Other mRNAs

Acid beta-glucosidase (GCase) is the enzyme deficient in Gaucher disease, a prototypical inherited metabolic error for enzyme and gene therapy. An 80-kDa cytoplasmic protein, termed TCP80, was found to inhibit GCase mRNA translation in mammalian cells by binding to RNA-coding regions. The TCP80 cDNA was cloned by screening an expression library with the GCase-coding region RNA. The cDNA sequence was nearly identical to those for M-phase phosphoprotein (MPP4; 99%) and for the IL-2 enhancer binding protein (NF90; 96%). Expression of the carboxy-terminal third, TCP30, showed it to be an RNA-binding protein that bound to a 184-nt fragment of GCase-coding sequence near the 5' end of the mature mRNA. When added to reactions, a large molar excess of TCP30 diminished the translation inhibition of GCase RNA by cytoplasmic TCP80. TCP50, expressed from the NH(2)-terminal two-thirds of TCP80, did not bind to nor inhibit the translation of GCase RNA. Reconstitution of in vitro translation inhibition of GCase RNA required intact human TCP80 heterologously expressed in insect cells. Time course analyses show that TCP80 functions at the initiation phase of GCase mRNA translation, probably by inhibiting its binding to polysomes. Seven additional RNAs were isolated by specific binding to TCP30 including those for aldolase B, complement protein 8 gamma-subunit, fibronectin receptor beta1, ABL, lactate dehydrogenase A, fibrinogen gamma-chain, and peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha. In vitro translation of their RNAs was inhibited by TCP80. These studies show that TCP80 has RNA-binding (TCP30) and inhibitory (TCP50) domains that function to modulate translation of several mRNAs. TCP80 is likely identical to MPP4 and NF90, but has previously undescribed roles in cellular function.
Recognition of Melody, Harmonic Accompaniment, and Instrumentation: Musicians vs. Nonmusicians

This study examined the salience of instrumentation over melody and harmonic accompaniment in identifying music excerpts. Musicians and nonmusicians were tested on match-to-sample recognition tasks. In the first task, subjects were asked to choose which resembled the model more: (a) identical melodies played with instrumentation different from the model, or (b) different melodies played with the same instrumentation as the model. In the second task, the same melodies were played, this time with harmonic accompaniments. Again, subjects were asked to choose between: (a) identical melodies played with different instrumentation, or (b) different melodies with the same instrumentation as the model. In the third task, subjects were asked to choose between: (a) a melody and its accompaniment played in a different instrumentation from that of the model, or (b) a melody and its accompaniment played in the same instrumentation as that in the model, but with the accompaniment played in the key that was dominant to the key of the melody. Ninety-five percent of the nonmusicians chose instrumentation over melody and harmonic accompaniment as the salient cue for recognition. Musicians always chose melody and harmonic accompaniment over instrumentation. These findings indicate that untrained listeners do not share or perhaps use the same cognitive schemata as trained listeners do. Further, the assumptions held by musicians that melody and harmonic accompaniment define the essential structure of much Western music, while instrumentation is cosmetic, may not be shared by nonmusicians.
Down-regulation of androgen receptor expression and inhibition of lacrimal gland cell proliferation by retinoic acid

Androgens and retinoids are known to be involved in control of lacrimal gland function. Because retinoids generally antagonize androgen function it was the purpose of this study to investigate interactions of retinoic acid and androgens in rabbit lacrimal acinar cells in culture by determining effects of retinoic acid on androgen receptor (AR) mRNA expression, AR protein levels and androgen-stimulated cell proliferation. Experiments were conducted using primary rabbit lacrimal acinar cells and a transformed rabbit lacrimal acinar cell line. Exposure of primary lacrimal acinar cells in culture to 10(-10)-10(-6)M all-trans retinoic acid for 4-24hr causes an approximately 50% decrease in AR mRNA expression. Expression of AR protein in primary and transformed rabbit lacrimal acinar cells was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Exposure of the primary cells to 10(-6)M retinoic acid for 24hr caused a 40% decrease in AR protein levels as determined by measurement of binding of(3) [H]-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to cells in culture and Scatchard analysis. Exposure to 10(-9)-10(-6)M DHT stimulates proliferation of transformed rabbit lacrimal acinar cells. This effect is receptor mediated since it is blocked by the AR antagonist, flutamide. Proliferation of the lacrimal acinar cells is inhibited by retinoic acid, as compared to control, and retinoic acid also completely inhibits androgen stimulation of cell proliferation. This study supports the hypothesis that androgens play a supportive role in lacrimal gland function. The antagonistic influences of androgens and retinoic acid suggests that, under physiologic conditions there is a balance between the effects of androgens and retinoids in the lacrimal gland. A decrease in androgen levels in a dry eye patient may alter the balance between the effects of these important controllers of gene expression. The antagonistic effect of retinoids on androgens in the lacrimal gland must also be considered when devising pharmaceutical treatments for dye eye.
Simultaneous detection and quantitation of sodium, potassium calcium and magnesium in ocular lenses by high- performance capillary electrophoresis with indirect photometric detection

Abstract A high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) method which can be used to quantitatively determine Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ simultaneously in ocular lenses has been developed. The proteins in the lens aqueous homogenates were precipitated by 10% trichloroacetic acid. The precipitated proteins were removed after a brief centrifugation, and the supernatant containing the cations was washed with ether and directly used for HPCE analysis. A 50 μm × 75 cm fused-silica capillary was used for separation and the detection wavelength was set at 214 nm. A 20-mM imidazole at pH 6.0 containing 0.1% hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose was used as background electrolyte. Sample solution was injected at 15 kV for 10 s, and the electrophoresis was carried out at 15 kV. All the cations can be separated and quantified from the peak areas within 9 min. The values obtained by this method were comparable with commonly used flame atomic absorption and flame atomic emission spectroscopy. It is demonstrated that this HPCE method can be used to quantify all the cation levels simultaneously within a short time even in a small single rat or mice lens.
Axtell and Allende: A Mössbauer spectroscopic study

Abstract-Mossbauer spectra showed the CV3 oxidized subgroup meteorites Allende and Axtell to be similar in olivine content and in a surprising lack of pronounced magnetic components, but different in Fe3+ phases. One atypical Allende sample showed an 8% area under the curve for magnetite, which is still less than a reported value for a CV3 reduced subgroup member. Allende's unusual Fe3+ spectral region distinguishes it from most other stony meteorites and is difficult to fit to known mineral parameters. INTRODUCTION Axtell (CV3 carbonaceous chondrite) strongly resembles the well-characterized 1969 fall, Allende. However, Axtell's thermo- luminescence suggests a terrestrial age of 100 years, and its 6oCo abundance and details of its refractory inclusions also differ from those of Allende (Simon et al., 1995). We present the Fe Mossbauer spectrum of Axtell, which resembles that of Allende, but with distinct differences, especially obvious during attempts at curve fitting. We report such attempts for Allende, which draw attention to its unusual ferric phases. Both meteorites are conventionally placed in the "oxidized" subgroup of the CV3 chondrites
Ice Nonsimultaneous Failure, Bending and Floe Impact Modeling for Simulating Wind Turbine Dynamics Using FAST

Many promising locations for developing offshore wind energy are in cold regions. This type of environment introduces one important technological challenge for offshore wind turbine design: the impact of floating surface ice. Recent developments to add an ice-loading module to the wind turbine computer-aided-engineering tool FAST are described in this paper. These efforts enable FAST, developed and maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to simulate the impact of ice on offshore wind turbines. The ice-loading module includes different ice mechanics models that address various ice properties, failure modes, and ice-structure interaction mechanisms. In a previous OMAE symposium paper, models for quasi-static crushing, transient dynamic ice breakage, and random forcing for the ice module were described.In this paper, three new models are presented. One model evaluates the ice-loading effective pressure reduction caused by ice nonsimultaneous failure in discrete local zones across the contact area. The second model generates time-dependent ice forces on conical structures caused by bending failure. The third model is used to simulate large ice floe interaction with wind turbine support systems. This third model describes ice forces that are limited by momentum or splitting failure of ice floes. These models are integrated in the FAST modularization framework and allow for the simulation of coupled ice force, ice floe motion, and wind turbine structure response. This paper also presents example numerical simulation results of wind turbine dynamics using FAST coupled with these three new models.Copyright © 2014 by ASME