cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A systematic process-model-based approach for synthesizing attacks and evaluating them

This paper describes a systematic approach for incrementally improving the security of election processes by using a model of the process to develop attack plans and then incorporating each plan into the process model to determine if it can complete successfully. More specifically, our approach first applies fault tree analysis to a detailed election process model to find process vulnerabilities that an adversary might be able to exploit, thus identifying potential attacks. Based on such a vulnerability, we then model an attack plan and formally evaluate the process's robustness against such a plan. If appropriate, we also propose modifications to the process and then reapply the approach to ensure that the attack will not succeed. Although the approach is described in the context of the election domain, it would also seem to be effective in analyzing process vulnerability in other domains.
Factors Influencing Uptake of Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Baits by Prairie Dogs

Sylvatic plague vaccine (SPV) is a virally vectored bait-delivered vaccine expressing Yersinia pestis antigens that can protect prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) from plague and has potential utility as a management tool. In a large-scale 3-year field trial, SPV-laden baits containing the biomarker rhodamine B (used to determine bait consumption) were distributed annually at a rate of approximately 100–125 baits/hectare along transects at 58 plots encompassing the geographic ranges of four species of prairie dogs. We assessed site- and individual-level factors related to bait uptake in prairie dogs to determine which were associated with bait uptake rates. Overall bait uptake for 7820 prairie dogs sampled was 70% (95% C.I. 69.9–72.0). Factors influencing bait uptake rates by prairie dogs varied by species, however, in general, heavier animals had greater bait uptake rates. Vegetation quality and day of baiting influenced this relationship for black-tailed, Gunnison’s, and Utah prairie dogs. For these species, baiting later in the season, when normalized difference vegetation indices (a measure of green vegetation density) are lower, improves bait uptake by smaller animals. Consideration of these factors can aid in the development of species-specific SPV baiting strategies that maximize bait uptake and subsequent immunization of prairie dogs against plague.
A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Combined State Health Policies Related to Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake in the United States.

Objectives. To examine how combinations of state policies, rather than single policies, are related to uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.Methods. Using publicly available records and the literature, we characterized policies for each US state and Washington, DC, in 2015 (n = 51), including (1) Medicaid expansion, (2) policies permitting HPV vaccination in pharmacies, (3) school-entry requirements, (4) classroom sex education mandates, and (5) parental education mandates. Using qualitative comparative analysis, we identified which existing combinations of these policies were necessary and sufficient for high HPV vaccine initiation among adolescents, with National Immunization Survey-Teen data.Results. No single policy was necessary or sufficient for high HPV vaccine uptake; however, 1 set of policies had consistently high HPV vaccine uptake: adoption of all policies except parental education mandates (girls: consistency = 1.00, coverage = 0.07; boys: consistency = 0.99, coverage = 0.08).Conclusi...
Rehydration rates and the prevalence of xylem-hydration of flowers

Angiosperm flowers are remarkably diverse anatomically and morphologically, yet they all must satisfy the physiological constraints of supplying sufficient amounts of water and carbon effectively promote pollination. Flowers often occur in the hottest, driest parts of the plant canopy and can face harsh abiotic conditions. Prior evidence suggests that extant species vary dramatically in how water is delivered to flowers, with some evidence that water may be imported into flowers by the phloem. Here we measured midday water potential gradients between flowers, leaves, and stems of ten phylogenetically diverse species. We further tested the likelihood of xylem-hydration by measuring rates of rehydration after experimentally induced desiccation. There was no significant difference in rehydration rates between leaves and flowers. These results are consistent with xylem-hydration of flowers and suggest that there has been little modification to the mechanisms of water transport despite the diversity of floral form.
HIV-Associated Cancers

HIV-associated cancers are cancers whose incidence is increased in patients with HIV infection, and especially those in which the increased incidence is a result of the HIV infection. These include both AIDS-defining cancers (cancers that confer a diagnosis of AIDS when they occur in HIV-infected persons) and non-AIDS-defining cancers (other cancers whose incidence is increased in HIV infection). The AIDS-defining cancers are Kaposi sarcoma, certain high grade B cell lymphomas, and cervical cancer.
The bone-building action of the parathyroid hormone: implications for the treatment of osteoporosis.

As populations age in the world’s 7 major pharmaceutical markets, an increasing number of men and women, but especially women during their first postmenopausal decade, are falling victim to a bone disease that can result in hospitalisation, disability and death. This disease is osteoporosis. Indeed, by the year 2007, as many as 153 000 000 people will have experienced at least some significant osteopenia, if not osteoporosis. Although there are many different drugs, such as calcitonin, the bisphosphonates, estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators, that can slow or even stop further bone loss, there are currently few that can replace already lost bone by directly stimulating bone growth. However, a family of potent bone-building (or bone-anabolic) peptides is currently undergoing clinical development. These are the first-generation 84-amino acid native parathyroid hormone (PTH) and its 34- to 38-amino acid N terminal fragments, and the potent second-generation mini-PTHs. In this article, we briefly summarise what has so far been learned about how these molecules stimulate the production of new biomechanically strong bone in animals and humans.
Oxide Driven Strength Degradation on (111) Silicon

Previous results have suggested that oxidation of nanoscale Si structures is correlated with a reduction in strength. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown however. It is possible that the process of oxidation causes some irreversible change in the surface of the crystalline Si. It may also be possible that the change in strength is due to the presence of the oxide itself, perhaps changing the atomic or electronic distribution in some way. In this work, we allow a set of nominally identical nanoscale Si beams to oxidize over approximately five weeks while taking periodic fracture strength measurements. The oxide is then removed and strength is measured a final time. We see that after removing the oxide, strength does not recover at all, suggesting that the change is strength is indeed due to a change in the Si surface.
Notch-interface experiments to determine the crack initiation loads

The theory of fracture mechanics has been extensively developed for cracks (Williams, 1952; Hutchinson and Suo, 1992). However, notches are found a lot more than cracks in real life. Indeed, a crack is only a special case of a notch (notch angle being 0o for a crack). Recent experiments on composite laminates have indicated that impact-induced delamination will propagate under compressive loading (Krishnan and Xu, 2010, Submitted to 2010 SEM Annual Conference). This delamination front is a notch and not a mathematically sharp crack. Therefore, developing a generalized notch-interface failure criterion is very important for the field of fracture mechanics from a fundamental standpoint.
Modular Psychotherapy for Youth With Internalizing Problems: Implementation With Therapists in School-Based Health Centers

This article describes the training and consultation procedures implemented to adapt and pilot modular psychotherapy for use by therapists treating youth with depression and anxiety in school-based...
Extending a Framework for Biometric Visual Cryptography

Recently, a general framework to help assess the security of extended biometric visual cryptographic schemes (e-BVC) was proposed, formalizing the notion of perfect resistance against false authentication. In this paper, we extend this framework with respect to indistinguishability and index privacy notions. Based on our definitions, we present theoretical analysis of e-BVC schemes and propose new attack strategies. We show that the general framework can be applied to derive new and quantifiable upper bounds on the security of e-BVC schemes. We also discuss the practical impact of our attacks in detail and present several case analyses for a recent implementation of a face recognition protocol.
MOG antibodies in combined central and peripheral demyelination syndromes

Antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have been identified in CNS inflammatory demyelinating disorders (IDDs) including neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) without aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) antibodies. As in NMOSD, spinal cord and optic nerves are 2 of the most frequently involved CNS sites in combined central and peripheral demyelination (CCPD) syndromes.1–3 Spinal cord lesions of variable length and abnormal visual evoked potentials with and without clinical optic neuritis have been commonly described in CCPD series and single reports, but AQP-4 antibodies were detected in a minority of patients.1–4 MOG antibodies have not been reported in CCPD cases, and their role in CCPD is largely unknown. The clinical relevance of previously suggested antigens, such as neurofascin-155 (NF-155), expressed both in peripheral and central myelin, remains controversial. We present a CCPD case with elevated serum MOG-IgG1 antibodies and suggest their potential role in CCPD syndromes. The authors thank Dr. Jennifer M. Martinez-Thompson and Dr. P. James B. Dyck (Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN) for providing the sural nerve biopsy images and for interpretation of the histological preparations.
Spatial variation in White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) refueling rate near a migratory barrier

ABSTRACT Stopover sites are essential to bird migration between wintering and breeding grounds, but annual variation in use and habitat conditions make it difficult to determine which sites are mos...
I-PASS Mentored Implementation Handoff Curriculum: Champion Training Materials.

Introduction The I-PASS Handoff Program is a comprehensive handoff curriculum that has been shown to decrease rates of medical errors and adverse events during patient handoffs. I-PASS champions ar...
Anticancer potential of curcumin: preclinical and clinical studies.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa, commonly called turmeric. Extensive research over the last 50 years has indicated this polyphenol can both prevent and treat cancer. The anticancer potential of curcumin stems from its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells, down-regulate transcription factors NF- κB, AP-1 and Egr-1; down-regulate the expression of COX2, LOX, NOS, MMP-9, uPA, TNF, chemokines, cell surface adhesion molecules and cyclin D1; down-regulate growth factor receptors (such as EGFR and HER2); and inhibit the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, protein tyrosine kinases and protein serine/threonine kinases. In several systems, curcumin has been described as a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Evidence has also been presented to suggest that curcumin can suppress tumor initiation, promotion and metastasis. Pharmacologically, curcumin has been found to be safe. Human clinical trials indicated no dose-limiting toxicity when administered at doses up to 10 g/day. All of these studies suggest that curcumin has enormous potential in the prevention and therapy of cancer. The current review describes in detail the data supporting these studies. Curcumin, derived from turmeric (vernacular name: Haldi), is a rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. The medicinal use of this plant has been documented in Ayurveda (the Indian
Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Team on Reducing Antiretroviral Medication Errors

Background: Numerous interventions have been used to reduce medication errors related to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for hospitalized patients with HIV. Objective: This study assessed the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship (ASP) team intervention on reducing the rate of ARV therapy errors in patients admitted to an academic medical center. Methods: This observational, retrospective study included patients who received ARV therapy from June 2016 to December 2017. The primary outcome was evaluation of ASP team performance in detecting ARV medication errors in the inpatient setting. Errors were further categorized by type (interaction, dosing, regimen). The Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 tests were utilized to analyze continuous and categorical data, respectively. Results: Medication errors occurred in 51% of patients in the preintervention group (n = 152) and 48% of patients in the postintervention group (n = 203; P = 0.43). The most frequent medication error type was drug interactions in both groups, involving integrase strand transfer inhibitors and polyvalent cations (64% vs 67%). There was a significant difference between preintervention and postintervention groups regarding number of errors detected (13 vs 106, P < 0.001), corrected (12 vs 86, P < 0.001), and persisting at discharge (106 vs 18, P < 0.001). Conclusion and Relevance: Review of ARV regimens by an ASP team significantly decreased medication errors. Drug interactions are the most common medication error found in HIV-positive patients admitted to our academic center.
Predicting productivity: A trait-based analysis of variability in biomass yield among switchgrass feedstock cultivars

Abstract Plant trait variation in bioenergy crops is hypothesized to affect crop biomass production. The extent of this trait variation and its relationship to production should be explored to inform cultivar selection in different environments and with environmental change. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an important prospective bioenergy crop in North America because it has the potential for high productivity, a wide geographic range, and distinct ecotypes that differ in a number of traits likely to be associated with production. Commercial cultivars of switchgrass have been developed for specific traits, but few studies have assessed if variation in multiple distinct traits relates to productivity and if this relationship differs with environmental conditions. To determine how trait variation affects biomass production in switchgrass we sampled a field trial of 12 switchgrass cultivars of two ecotypes (eight upland, four lowland) being grown in a common garden at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. Yield was measured annually for eight years (2010–2017). Between 2014 and 2016, we measured physiological, morphological, and system-level (weed suppression and recovery from drought) traits of these cultivars in the common garden. We used principal components analysis to summarize these traits into composite trait variables and developed linear models to assess the relationship between composite traits and yield across and within years. The 12 cultivars exhibited considerable trait variation that did not align entirely with ecotype. Composite trait axes representing height, phenology, and leaf nitrogen content were strong predictors of yield during stand establishment (years one to three) and in drought years, but were less predictive after stand maturation. Variation in yield across the eight years of the study was better explained by traits than growing season precipitation or drought severity. Interestingly, despite differences in traits, overall ecotype was not a strong predictor of interannual variation in yield especially during stand establishment. The results suggest that traits should be incorporated into agronomic decisions for planting and managing switchgrass cultivars in bioenergy production.
Correlates of Active Videogame Use in Children.

Abstract Objectives: Active videogames (AVGs) could provide a novel approach to increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary activity in children, but little is known about which children ...
Baseline cerebral metabolism predicts fatigue and cognition in Multiple Sclerosis patients

Abstract Background Cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2), a measure of global oxygen metabolism, reflects resting cellular activity. The mechanisms underlying fatigue and cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) remain unknown. If fatigue indeed reflects ongoing autoimmune activity and cortical reorganization, and cognitive decline is the result of gray matter atrophy and white matter degeneration, we postulate that changes in CMRO2 should reflect disease activity and predict these symptoms. Objective We sought to utilize T2-Relaxation-Under-Spin-Tagging (TRUST) and phase-contrast (PC) MRI to measure global CMRO2 to understand its relationships to white matter microstructure, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. Methods We measured venous oxygenation (TRUST) and cerebral blood flow (PC-MRI) in superior sagittal sinus to calculate global CMRO2 and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate white matter microstructure in healthy controls (HC) and MS patients. Participants underwent neuropsychological examinations including Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) and Symbol-Digit-Modalities Test (SDMT). Results We observed lower CMRO2 in MS patients compared to HC. After controlling for demographic and disease characteristics (i.e., age, education, disability, lesion volume), CMRO2 predicted increased fatigue (MFIS) and reduced cognitive performance (SDMT) in MS patients. Finally, MS patients with higher CMRO2 have reduced FA in normal-appearing white-matter. Conclusion Altogether, these results suggest that increased CMRO2 reflects ongoing demyelination and autoimmune activity which plays an important role in both fatigue and cognitive dysfunction.
Valuing Expertise During the Pandemic

This article addresses how social media platforms can better highlight expert voices through design choices. Misinformation, after all, has exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic, and platforms have...
Reservoir of Bacterial Exotoxin Genes in the Environment

This is the first report of an environmental reservoir of a bacterial exotoxin gene harbored in an atypical host in the environment. Screening bacterial isolates from the environment via sea-specific PCR identified an isolate with a DNA sequence >95% identical to the Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin A gene (sea). 16S DNA sequence comparisons identified the environmental isolate as a Pseusodomonad. Laboratory studies confirmed that this Pseudomonad is psychrophilic. The results indicate that the sea gene is present in an alternative bacterial host, providing the first evidence for an environmental reservoir of exotoxin genes in bacteria. Transfer of these genes between phage and alternative bacterial hosts may promote the evolution of novel human diseases.
Assessing interest and confidence as components of student motivation in informal STEM learning

This Work In Progress submission focuses on the deployment of assessment metrics of informal Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education conducted in various pre-college settings. Informal STEM Learning (ISL) is "learning [that] occurs across the lifespan and in places and spaces beyond schools or the school day" -NSF. NSF guidance recommends --among others-- the measure of the impact category of interest or engagement. The authors ask what is interest? What are the measures of its success? And how do we measure them? The authors theorize that interest as an emotional experience alone is not enough to compel learning behaviors and compose a composite model of interest and confidence. The authors suggest the psychological concepts of "motivation" and "self-efficacy" as a framework to devise measurements of interest/confidence. The authors propose an analytic model using QR codes to tie survey responses to a target behavior, "reciprocal engagement" as a new mechanism for verifying continued learning behavior. Initial data collection was interrupted by the Covid-19 lock down; however, the partial data body collected showed indications that self-reported data about learners’ experience in a lesson is more predictive of continued learning behavior than self-evaluation items such as "I understood the topic" and "I am familiar with the topic."
Towards Uniformly Efficient Trend Estimation Under Weak/Strong Correlation and Nonstationary Volatility

In this paper we consider the deterministic trend model where the error process is allowed to be weakly or strongly correlated and subject to nonstationary volatility. Extant estimators of the trend coefficient are analyzed. We find that under heteroskedasticity the Cochrane-Orcutt-type estimator (with some initial condition) could be less efficient than OLS when the process is highly persistent, while it is asymptotically equivalent to OLS when the process is less persistent. An efficient nonparametrically weighted Cochrane-Orcutt-type estimator is then proposed. The efficiency is uniform over weak or strong serial correlation and non-stationary volatility of unknown form. The feasible estimator relies on nonparametric estimation of the volatility function, and the asymptotic theory is provided. We use the data-dependent smoothing bandwidth that can automatically adjust for the strength of nonstationarity in volatilities. The implementation does not require pretesting persistence of the process or specification of nonstationary volatility. Finite-sample evaluation via simulations and an empirical application demonstrates the good performance of proposed estimators.
Implications of a granulocyte‐high glioblastoma microenvironment in immune suppression and therapy resistance†

The failure of anti-VEGF/R and immune checkpoint therapies to improve overall survival in Phase III clinical trials in glioblastoma (GBM) is considered to be due in part to the prevalent immunosuppression in the GBM tumor microenvironment. Immune suppression is mediated in part by resident microglia and bone-marrow-derived myeloid cells recruited during tumor progression. A paper by Blank et al published in a recent issue of The Journal of Pathology proposes a myeloid cell-mediated mechanism that could contribute to resistance to anti-VEGF/R in GBM patients. A granulocyte-rich GBM tumor microenvironment may push the associated microglia/macrophages to exhibit an activated and immune suppressive phenotype. The identification of pro-angiogenic factors produced by microglia/macrophages and granulocytes in such a tumor microenvironment may offer new targets for improving antiangiogenic therapy of GBM beyond VEGF. Further, consideration of parameters such as IDH status, corticosteroid dosage, tumor mutational burden, gender, vascular function, and pericyte coverage could exploit current immunotherapies to the fullest to reprogram the granulocyte-rich immunosuppressive GBM tumor microenvironment to an immunostimulatory one. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correction of resonant optical scanner dynamic aberrations using nodal aberration theory

The rapid oscillation of galvanometric resonant optical scanners introduces linear astigmatism that degrades transverse resolution, and in confocal systems, also reduces signal [V. Akondi et al., Optica 7, 1506, 2020]. Here, we demonstrate correction of this aberration by tilting reflective or refractive optical elements for a single vergence or a vergence range, with and without the use of an adaptive wavefront corrector such as a deformable mirror. The approach, based on nodal aberration theory, can generate any desired third order aberration that results from tilting or decentering optical surfaces.
Terrorist campaigns and the growth of the Muslim population

The world population of Muslims has increased exponentially in the past decade. Why is the world's Muslim population growing so quickly? This study offers a new theoretical perspective: the growth of the worldwide Muslim population is a result of a series of terrorist campaigns that inspire non-Muslims to convert to Islam. For empirical testing, this study employs a cross-national, time-series analysis of 152 countries from 1970 to 2007. Although there is lack of data on conversions that follow terrorist campaigns for a direct test of the theory, this study finds a correlation between terrorist attacks and growth of the Muslim population. This finding is robust and consistent even after controlling for salient demographic reasons for growth, such as the level of fertility and immigration.
Targeted RNA sequencing reveals differential patterns of transcript expression in geographically discrete, insecticide resistant populations of Leptinotarsa decemlineata.

BACKGROUND The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) is a major agricultural pest of commercial potatoes, partially due to its ability to rapidly develop resistance to multiple insecticide modes of action. Patterns of L. decemlineata insecticide resistance in the contiguous United States have been linked to geographic location and regional management practices. Several previous studies have classified enzymes that are overexpressed following L. decemlineata exposure to commercial pesticides, many of which have been linked to xenobiotic metabolism. Studies have further associated geographic disparities in resistance patterns to cross-resistance driven by fungicide exposure in the East Coast and Midwest. RESULTS In this study, our objective was to investigate transcript expression of 38 previously classified detoxification enzymes induced by imidacloprid (an insecticide) and chlorothalonil (a fungicide) within five discrete populations of L. decemlineata obtained from areas in the USA representing eastern, midwestern and western production regions. We found unique patterns of transcript expression in different geographic locations, including overexpression of transcripts related to insecticide metabolism within insecticide-resistant populations. CONCLUSION The results suggest the genetic response of these populations may be partially linked to geographic location and corresponding management practices. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
DYMOND: DYnamic MOtif-NoDes Network Generative Model

Motifs, which have been established as building blocks for network structure, move beyond pair-wise connections to capture longer-range correlations in connections and activity. In spite of this, there are few generative graph models that consider higher-order network structures and even fewer that focus on using motifs in models of dynamic graphs. Most existing generative models for temporal graphs strictly grow the networks via edge addition, and the models are evaluated using static graph structure metrics—which do not adequately capture the temporal behavior of the network. To address these issues, in this work we propose DYnamic MOtif-NoDes (DYMOND)—a generative model that considers (i) the dynamic changes in overall graph structure using temporal motif activity and (ii) the roles nodes play in motifs (e.g., one node plays the hub role in a wedge, while the remaining two act as spokes). We compare DYMOND to three dynamic graph generative model baselines on real-world networks and show that DYMOND performs better at generating graph structure and node behavior similar to the observed network. We also propose a new methodology to adapt graph structure metrics to better evaluate the temporal aspect of the network. These metrics take into account the changes in overall graph structure and the individual nodes’ behavior over time.
Criticality in sheared, disordered solids. I. Rate effects in stress and diffusion

Rate effects in sheared disordered solids are studied using molecular dynamics simulations of binary Lennard-Jones glasses in two and three dimensions. In the quasistatic (QS) regime, systems exhibit critical behavior: the magnitudes of avalanches are power-law distributed with a maximum cutoff that diverges with increasing system size $L$. With increasing rate, systems move away from the critical yielding point and the average flow stress rises as a power of the strain rate with exponent $1/\ensuremath{\beta}$, the Herschel-Bulkley exponent. Finite-size scaling collapses of the stress are used to measure $\ensuremath{\beta}$ as well as the exponent $\ensuremath{\nu}$ which characterizes the divergence of the correlation length. The stress and kinetic energy per particle experience fluctuations with strain that scale as ${L}^{\ensuremath{-}d/2}$. As the largest avalanche in a system scales as ${L}^{\ensuremath{\alpha}}$, this implies $\ensuremath{\alpha}ld/2$. The diffusion rate of particles diverges as a power of decreasing rate before saturating in the QS regime. A scaling theory for the diffusion is derived using the QS avalanche rate distribution and generalized to the finite strain rate regime. This theory is used to collapse curves for different system sizes and confirm $\ensuremath{\beta}/\ensuremath{\nu}$.
Protein Motifs for Proton Transfers That Build the Transmembrane Proton Gradient

Biological membranes are barriers to polar molecules, so membrane embedded proteins control the transfers between cellular compartments. Protein controlled transport moves substrates and activates cellular signaling cascades. In addition, the electrochemical gradient across mitochondrial, bacterial and chloroplast membranes, is a key source of stored cellular energy. This is generated by electron, proton and ion transfers through proteins. The gradient is used to fuel ATP synthesis and to drive active transport. Here the mechanisms by which protons move into the buried active sites of Photosystem II (PSII), bacterial RCs (bRCs) and through the proton pumps, Bacteriorhodopsin (bR), Complex I and Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), are reviewed. These proteins all use water filled proton transfer paths. The proton pumps, that move protons uphill from low to high concentration compartments, also utilize Proton Loading Sites (PLS), that transiently load and unload protons and gates, which block backflow of protons. PLS and gates should be synchronized so PLS proton affinity is high when the gate opens to the side with few protons and low when the path is open to the high concentration side. Proton transfer paths in the proteins we describe have different design features. Linear paths are seen with a unique entry and exit and a relatively straight path between them. Alternatively, paths can be complex with a tangle of possible routes. Likewise, PLS can be a single residue that changes protonation state or a cluster of residues with multiple charge and tautomer states.
Screening Depression and Anxiety via Brief Measures of Psychological Inflexibility

We evaluated the usefulness of scores from two transdiagnostic scales—the 8-item version of the Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth and the second edition of the Avoidance and Action Quest...
The Problem of Biotechnological Constipation

This is not a technical paper. Rather, it is the Banquet Address, covering two problems. These are: 1. During the missionary phase of biotechnology development, the promises made, or implied, or perhaps perceived or assumed by the listeners, have been fulfilled in only a few cases. 2. The real or assumed diversion of funds and facilities to biotechnology are perceived as having slowed the flow of information, techniques, activities, and advanced plant material from more conventional disciplines.
Analysis of Shrinkage in Human Fetal Diaphyseal Lengths from Fresh to Dry Bone Using Petersohn and Köhler's Data

Calculation of gestational age from forensic fetal remains may be problematic. If soft-tissue indicators are not available, then diaphyseal lengths obtained through sonograms on living fetuses in utero or radiographs of long bones can be compared to known European standards, such as Fazekas and Kosa (1978) and Olivier and Pineau (1958, 1960). Radiographic comparison to these European standards, however, requires a correction factor for diaphyseal shrinkage from fresh to dry states. Percent shrinkage is calculated for six diaphyses (humerus, ulna, radius, femur, tibia and fibula) from Petersohn and Kohler's data published in Fazekas and Kosa (1978:362–369). Average shrinkage, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values are calculated for each diaphysis and for all diaphyses during 4–10 lunar months (LM) and newborns. Corresponding average and standard deviation values are as follows: 4 LM-10.09% ± 2.67%; 5 LM-5.74% ± 0.84%; 6 LM-3.48% ± 0.49%; 7 LM-2.32% ± 0.16%; 8 LM-2.18% ± 0.51%; 9 LM-1.76% ± 0.14%; 10 LM-1.90% ± 0.59%; and newborns-1.28% ± 0.55%. Analysis of these values suggests that percent shrinkage steadily declines as the fetus ages. This pattern presumably reflects calcification of bone during growth and development in utero. These findings demonstrate a significant shrinkage in the diaphysis early in development, which may alter accurate age estimation in the earliest fetal age groups.
Risk Factors and Prevention, Including Hyperlipidemia

Improvements in control of cardiovascular risk factors, combined with advances in the pharmacologic and surgical management of patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease, have resulted in an age-adjusted decline in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This chapter reviews the major cardiovascular risk factors with a special emphasis on dyslipidemia. Non-modifiable risk factors include age, gender, and family history, and their impact can be lessened by lifestyle modifications to address obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. In addition to dyslipidemia, hypertension and cigarette smoking are the major modifiable risk factors whose optimization has been shown to substantially reduce risk for cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia can be manifested as abnormalities in plasma levels of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. The National Cholesterol Education Program issues guidelines for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of dyslipidemia. Risk assessment incorporates Framingham scoring and the presence of major risk factors to determine the necessity and intensity of pharmacologic therapy. Lifestyle modifications, including increased physical activity and dietary improvements, are key to reducing cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary prevention. Drug therapy should be targeted at the lipid phenotype. Agents predominantly affecting LDL cholesterol include bile acid sequestrants, statins, and ezetimibe, while those that have a primary effect on triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels are nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives. This chapter concludes with a discussion of cardiovascular risk factors in elderly and pediatric patients, women, individuals with obesity or metabolic syndrome, and patients with diabetes.
A nuclear magnetic resonance study of histidine-neodymium (3) complexes.

Abstract Complexes of histidine with neodymium(III) have been studied in aqueous solution by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The isotropic shifts of the histidine protons upon coordination to Nd+3 provide evidence as to the coordination sites. A 1:1 monodentate histidine-Nd+3 complex is observed below pH, 5.0 and a 1:1 bidentate histidine-Nd+3 complex is observed above pH, 6.0. The observed isotropic shifts of the bidentate complex are explained in terms of a pseudocontact mechanism. An equilibrium constant for 1:1 monodentate carboxyl coordination of histidine to Nd+3 is approximated. A study of the interactions of Nd+3 with histidine methyl ester gives evidence that Nd+3 will form similar complexes with a histidyl residue in a peptide linkage. Evidence is also presented for the formation of a 2:1 Nd+3-histidine complex at high metal ion concentrations.
A Concrete Shoe for Brand X

The Supreme Court’s decision in Home Concrete raises new questions about the deference to be given to administrative pronouncements that conflict with prior judicial decisions. Unfortunately, the opinions of a divided Court leave practitioners to puzzle over the boundaries of its decision.
Abstract A34: MC1R signaling reduces UV mutagenesis by ATR-mediated recruitment of XPA to photolesions

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which signals through cAMP, is a melanocytic G s -coupled transmembrane receptor activated by binding to its high-affinity ligand, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH). Besides influencing pigment phenotype and mediating adaptive tanning, MC1R signaling is intricately linked with genome maintenance and DNA repair. Individuals harboring loss-of-function MC1R polymorphisms are UV sensitive and melanoma-prone. We have determined that MC1R-mediated cAMP signaling promotes nucleotide excision repair (NER) in a cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner. PKA directly phosphorylates ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) at Ser435 which actively recruits the key NER protein xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A (XPA) to sites of nuclear UV photodamage, accelerating clearance of UV-induced photolesions and reducing UV mutagenesis. Loss of Ser435 within ATR prevents PKA-mediated ATR phosphorylation, disrupts ATR-XPA binding, delays recruitment of XPA to UV-damaged DNA and elevates UV-induced mutagenesis. PKA-mediated ATR phosphorylation on Ser435 appears to induce a DNA repair-specific function of ATR independent of Chk1 phosphorylation and cell cycle arrest. Importantly, MC1R signaling defects and sub-optimal DNA repair are overcome by forskolin-mediated cAMP induction in melanocytes and in whole skin. Our findings mechanistically link cAMP-PKA signaling to NER and illustrate the potential benefits of cAMP pharmacological rescue to reduce UV mutagenesis in MC1R-defective, melanoma-susceptible individuals. Citation Format: Stuart Gordon Jarrett, Erin M. Wolf Horrell, Perry A. Christian, Jillian C. Vanover, Mary C. Boulanger, Yue Zou, John August D9Orazio. MC1R signaling reduces UV mutagenesis by ATR-mediated recruitment of XPA to photolesions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Melanoma: From Biology to Therapy; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(14 Suppl):Abstract nr A34.
A Fishing Buddy for Hypothesis Generators

Understanding how signaling proteins interact in a giant intracellular network to control numerous cellular processes is the goal of many biologists. In their Perspective, Brent and Lok discuss a study that takes us a step closer to accomplishing this goal. The Perspective authors describe the application of Bayesian networks and computational methods to elucidating interactions among the signaling proteins in individual human T cells ( Sachs et al.)
A Review of “Making Sense in Religious Studies: A Student's Guide to Research and Writing”

Librarians and professors who serve theological students encounter individuals with a very broad range of academic backgrounds. This variety is frequently a source of frustration in the classroom, ...
Self-Assembled Nanocoils

Ceramics are generally thought to be much more brittle than metals or polymers. At the nanoscale, however, ceramic materials can exhibit surprising flexibility. In his Perspective, Korgel discusses work reported in the same issue by Kong et al. on the synthesis of nanocoils of zinc oxide. Nanoribbons created by vapor phase deposition were found to undergo coiling induced by electrostatic attraction between adjacent ribbon edges. When the edges make contact, they match up with atomic precision. Formation of such unusual structures suggests the possibility of creating even more complex objects in the future.
Effects of varying dietary ratios of corn silage to alfalfa silage on digestion of neutral detergent fiber in lactating dairy cows.

Abstract An in vivo study was performed to test an in vitro procedure and model that predicts total-tract neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility for lactating dairy cattle. Corn silage (CS) and alfalfa silage (AS) were used as forages for this study. These forages had similar NDF composition, but fiber in the CS contained less indigestible NDF compared with AS (35.5 and 47.8% of indigestible NDF, respectively). The in vitro method estimated rate of digestion of alfalfa potentially digestible NDF to be approximately 2 times faster than CS fiber (6.11 and 3.21%/h, respectively). Four diets were formulated containing different proportions of CS to AS: 100CS:0AS, 67CS:33AS, 33CS:67AS, and 0CS:100AS, as percentage of diet DM basis. The objective was to construct diets that contained approximately similar levels of NDF but with different pool sizes and rates of digestion of potentially digestible NDF. Diets were fed to 8 ruminally cannulated, multiparous, lactating dairy cows in a replicated 4×4 Latin square with 21-d periods. Total-tract fiber digestibility and fiber digestion kinetic parameters observed in vivo were compared with the values predicted by the in vitro assay and model. Total-tract NDF digestibility coefficients were similar (41.8 and 40.6% of total NDF) for the in vitro and in vivo methods, respectively. As the proportion of dietary alfalfa increased, the digestibility of NDF increased. The rate of digestion of potentially digestible NDF predicted from the in vitro assay was also similar to what was observed in vivo. Results suggest that the in vitro total-tract NDF digestibility model could be used to predict rate of fiber digestion and NDF digestibility for lactating dairy cattle.
A global perspective on the spatiotemporal pattern of the Late Pleistocene human and woolly mammoth radiocarbon record

Abstract We examine the temporal and geographic distribution of a worldwide sample of human and woolly mammoth radiocarbon ages (40–11,500 radiocarbon years BP) in order to examine how fluctuations in the two taxa may be related. These include human data from Europe, Siberia, and Australia and proboscidean radiocarbon ages from Europe, Siberia, and North America. We show that the geographic ranges of dated human occupations and mammoth remains do overlap across the terminal Pleistocene of the Old World, but concentrate in different areas. While frequencies of human dates in different regions covary with each other, mammoths do not. Increases in archaeological dates also fail to coincide with declines in mammoths. Rather, fluctuations in the two taxa remain largely uncorrelated during the run-up to the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; ca. 18,000 radiocarbon years BP) after which both groups increase sharply until 13–12,000 BP. The decline and eventual extinction of the mammoths only occurs after this period, consistent with the premise that human impacts on now-extinct proboscidean populations occurred within the context of the sharp climatic shifts and widespread environmental reorganization of the Pleistocene–Holocene transition.
Nucleotide regulation of a eukaryotic protein synthesis initiation complex

Formation of a ternary initiation complex containing Met-tRNAf, GTP and eukaryotic initiation factor 2, is the first step in sequential assembly of the initiation complex. The concentration of GTP required for half maximal formation of the ternary complex is 2.5 with 10(-6) M. GDP is a potent competitive inhibitor of ternary complex formation with Ki = 3.4 with 10(-7) M. The nucleotide binding site on eukaryotic initiation factor 2 demonstrates relative specificity for GDP with KD(GDP) = 3.0 with 10(-8) M; 100-fold higher concentrations of GTP than GDP are required for displacement of either [(3)H]GDP or [(3)h]gtp from the necleotide binding site. An ATP-dependent stimulation of ternary complex formation observed in partially purified initiation factor preparations is due to nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6) which serves to remove inhibitory levels of GDP by phosphorylation with ATP. Since GTP is hydrolyzed to GDP during protein synthesis, this provides a mechanism by which the ATP:ADP ratio may regulate the rate of initiation of protein synthesis.
Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition Improves Macrophage Function in Melanoma and Increases the Antineoplastic Activity of Interferon γ

Background: Melanoma inhibits macrophage tumoricidal activity and increases the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In this study, we sought to determine whether inhibition of COX-2 could restore macrophage function and hence maximize the antitumor activity of the immune stimulant interferon γ (IFNγ). Methods: Peritoneal macrophages were exposed to B16 melanoma-conditioned medium for 24 hours with or without the COX-2 inhibitor NS-398 and then were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and IFNγ. Cytotoxic activity, nitrite production, and cytokine production by the stimulated macrophages were measured. In addition, B16 melanoma cells were implanted intradermally into mice treated with IFNγ (14,000 U on alternate days) alone or with a combination of IFNγ and a COX-2 inhibitor (NS-398 or nimesulide). Mice were assessed for tumor growth and survival. Results: Macrophage cytotoxicity and nitrite production were significantly suppressed by melanoma-conditioned medium (P < .01). This was prevented by 200 μM of NS-398 (P < .05). In vivo, combined treatment with IFNγ and a COX-2 inhibitor caused a significant inhibition of tumor growth (P < .01) and improved survival (P = .02) compared with controls. Conclusions: COX-2 inhibition reversed melanoma-induced suppression of macrophage function, and combined treatment of IFNγ plus a COX-2 inhibitor was maximally effective in reducing tumor growth and improving survival.
Nature of fatigue behavior and effect of flaw size in polystyrene

Fatigue tests under reversed tension-compression have been made on polystyrene specimens in both the unnotched and notched condition. For the notched specimens subject to a stress amplitude of 2500 psi, the log of the fatigue life was found to be a linear function of the log of the notch size. From the data, it was possible to determine an inherent flaw size for polystyrene subject to alternating loading and this value is compared to corresponding values obtained from static tests. Fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy and the changes produced by notching are discussed.
The role of proliferation in the regulation of interferon gamma (IFNγ) expression in foals.

Abstract Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) plays an important role against viral and intracellular bacterial infections and its production is deficient in foals. Cellular proliferation provides an opportunity for de novo gene expression, though little is known about its role in regulating IFNγ expression in foals. While stimulation of foal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with concanavalin A (ConA) increased the frequency of IFNγ + cells, the overall percentage of IFNγ + cells remained below that of adults. By contrast, the proliferative response of foal PBMC was significantly greater than that of the adults. In foals, IFNγ production was predominantly associated with those T cells that underwent proliferation, whereas in adults non-dividing cells also produced IFNγ. While treatment with hydroxyurea inhibited cellular division, it failed to completely block IFNγ production. This residual IFNγ production likely represented memory cells as the proportion of these proliferation-independent IFNγ + cells increased with foal age. However, memory cells may not account for all of the IFNγ production as ConA stimulation likely provided additional signals that can control IFNγ expression.