cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease: links and prevention strategies

The prevalence and severity of pediatric obesity have dramatically increased since the late 1980s, raising concerns about a subsequent increase in cardiovascular outcomes. Strong evidence, particularly from autopsy studies, supports the concept that precursors of adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin in childhood, and that pediatric obesity has an important influence on overall CVD risk. Lifestyle patterns also begin early and impact CVD risk. In addition, obesity and other CVD risk factors tend to persist over time. However, whether childhood obesity causes adult CVD directly, or does so by persisting as adult obesity, or both, is less clear. Regardless, sufficient data exist to warrant early implementation of both obesity prevention and treatment in youth and adults. In this Review, we examine the evidence supporting the impact of childhood obesity on adult obesity, surrogate markers of CVD, components of the metabolic syndrome, and the development of CVD. We also evaluate how obesity treatment strategies can improve risk factors and, ultimately, adverse clinical outcomes.
What works in coaching and sport instructor certification programs? The participants' view

Coaching and sport instructor certification (CSIC) programs provide teachers with a substantial content and pedagogical knowledge base. Continual improvement of these programs helps ensure that those certified are effective and competent. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the strengths of a CSIC program based on the perceptions of the program participants. Specifically, two research questions guided the study: (a) what components of the CSIC curriculum do the certification candidates (CCs) perceive to be most beneficial to their development as teachers? And (b) what components of the CSIC program do the teacher educators (TEs) from the program perceive to be most beneficial to the preparation of certified teachers? Twenty-six CCs and five TEs (N=31) involved in the Ladies Professional Golf Association–National Education Program (LPGA–NEP) participated. Interviews, journals and observations served as data sources. The participants were interviewed in groups of 4–10 for approximately 15–60 minutes ...
The Role of Home Equity Lending in the Recent Mortgage Crisis

type="main"> Home equity lending grew rapidly from 2000 to 2008 with balances more than tripling. In this article, we examine the role this phenomenon may have played in increasing aggregate default risk during the mortgage crisis. We also document a relationship between growth in home equity lending and high house price depreciation and first mortgage default during the downturn of 2006–2009. Line of credit growth is shown to be associated with large increases in nonowner-occupied property purchases, suggesting that home equity lines of credit were tapped to fund such investments, exacerbating default rates during the market downturn.
History of Cell Culture Techniques

Culturing Life: How Cells Became Technologies. By Hannah Landecker . 2007. Harvard University Press (ISBN 9780674034761). 276 pages. Paperback. $$18.95. Cell culture techniques have shaped the scope of biology since the start of the 20th century and are responsible for major advances in biomedicine. Hannah Landecker, an associate professor of sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles, has written an engaging account of some of the major advances in cell culturing. The book is divided into a lengthy introduction, five chapters, and an epilogue. The introduction is the weakest point of the book, being not only long, but somewhat abstract for the layperson. The first chapter, entitled ““Autonomy,”” covers major events that allowed cells to be manipulated outside the organism. It focuses on …
Pubertal Onset and Sexual Orientation in an Adolescent National Probability Sample

Using 6-year longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health (Add Health) and multiple measures of puberty as it occurs and of sexual orientation (romantic attraction, sexual identity), the present study attempted to replicate previous research which reported that homosexuals and heterosexuals differed in their age of pubertal onset. The study hypotheses were not confirmed for either males or females: on most pubertal measures, same-sex oriented groupings did not differ from heterosexuals. The only significant findings regarding homosexual males indicated that they were more likely to report having a later rather than an earlier onset of puberty, and the significant findings regarding homosexual females were contradictory—they tended to have an earlier onset of puberty. These findings are attributed to methodological improvements in the present study that reduced retrospective bias, used multiple indicators of sexual orientation and puberty timing, and assessed less eroticized measures of puberty.
Identification of factors constraining nitrate assimilation in Lake Superior, Laurentian Great Lakes

Despite a well-documented rise in nitrate concentration over the past century, Lake Superior has retained an oligotrophic character. In part, this status results from physical attributes of the lake including low temperatures and prolonged isothermy, resulting in deep-mixing and light limitation which constrain primary production. Lake Superior is also phosphorus deficient which limits phytoplankton growth. We conducted large (20 l) volume factorial bioassay experiments to assess the influence of light and nutrients (P, Fe) on nitrate assimilation by a Lake Superior chlorophyte alga. Bioassays seeded with the chlorophyte yielded a strong response to light result- ing in the rapid depletion of nitrate. High light resulted in higher activities of the key N-assimilation enzyme nitrate reductase (NR) and increased algal biomass compared to low light treatments. NR activity was highly correlated with rates of nitrate incorporation in bioassays and field surveys suggesting that NR occupies a critical place in nitrate metabolism. In bioassays, the addition of nutrients (P, Fe) only slightly increased the rate at which nitrate became depleted. Parallel trials using a luminescent cyano- bacterial bioreporter confirmed the lack of response by added nutrients supporting light as an important factor in constraining nitrate assimilation by phytoplankton in the lake.
Neither necessary nor sufficient for addiction

Although Redish et al. have pulled together a large number of approaches to understanding decision-making and common errors in cognition, they have outlined neither the necessary nor the sufficient attributes of addiction. They are correct in claiming that addiction is multifaceted and probably more akin to a syndrome than a genuine disease. But grasping what that multifaceted syndrome is still eludes us.
Representations of sex workers’ needs and aspirations: A case for arts-based research:

This article reviews the literature on sex work, highlighting ways in which women working in the sex industry are represented. The subjective experiences and voices of sex workers are seldom heard and their needs are consistently defined and represented by non-sex workers throughout history, in society and within academia. Historical representations have contributed to the stereotyping and stigmatization of sex workers. Academic research is consistently being done on sex workers instead of with them. However, arts-based methods allow for participatory, shared knowledge creation. Arts-based research also has the potential for empowerment, reaching the general public and changing negative stereotypes.
Acoustic echo cancellation with arbitrary playback sampling rate

This paper introduces a new architecture for implementing subband acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) with arbitrary playback sampling rate. Typically, in AEC algorithms for audio or videoconferencing, the sampling rates for the signals played through the speakers and captured from the microphones are identical. For speech recognition while playing CD-quality music and Internet gaming with voice chat, the playback sampling rate is usually higher than the capture rate. A direct solution is to apply a sampling rate converter to the playback signal before feeding it to the AEC, but that is complicated if many sampling frequencies must be supported. We propose a more efficient solution for subband AEC: we perform the sampling rate conversion as a frequency-domain interpolation that matches the transform lengths of the playback and capture signals. Results show that the new AEC architecture has a small computational cost and only a minimal reduction in echo attenuation.
Mechanistic and antineoplastic evaluation of taurolidine in the DU145 model of human prostate cancer

Taurolidine (TRD) was designed in the 1970s as a broad-spectrum antibiotic and is used clinically at high doses without systemic toxicity. We have found that this agent possesses cytotoxic activity in human tumor cell lines and antineoplastic activity in mice bearing i.p. human tumor xenografts. We now report the mechanism by which TRD induces cell death in DU145 human prostate tumor cells. The IC50 (3 days) of TRD in this model was 16.8±1.1 μM. Cytotoxicity was associated with DNA debris and increased membrane phosphatidylserine externalization, both suggesting the induction of apoptosis. This was confirmed by the ability of TRD to induce PARP cleavage in these cells, an effect prevented by coexposure to the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-FMK. TRD exposure also resulted in the appearance of cytochrome c in the cytoplasm, procaspase 9 activation within 2 h of drug exposure and procaspase 8 activation 4 h after exposure. Parallel experiments revealed that cytochrome c appearance in the cytoplasm was not blocked by preexposure to zVAD-FMK, while activation of both procaspase 9 and procaspase 8 was prevented. Finally, antineoplastic activity was assessed in mice bearing subcutaneous xenografts of DU145 cells. Initial studies quantitated the toxicity of three i.p. injections of TRD, administered as one injection on three alternate days per week, at doses ranging from 500 to 700 mg/kg per injection. The 500 mg/kg dose produced about 7% mortality after three cycles and effectively inhibited tumor growth. Thus, TRD induced mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in DU145 human prostate tumor cells and this effect could be exploited for therapeutic advantage.
Haptic Rendering and Psychophysical Evaluation of a Virtual Three-Dimensional Helical Spring

This paper presents the development of a new deformable object for haptic interaction in the form of a 3D helical spring. This haptic and visual simulation is based on an analytical model of a quasistatic spring. The model provides a real-time computationally efficient method for rendering a deformable spring using a magnetic levitation haptic device. The solution includes equations for reaction forces and resisting moments experienced during compression, elongation, shear and tilting of the spring. The system is used to conduct psychophysical experiments that quantify human perception and discriminability of spring stiffness magnitude with and without vision and demonstrates the effectiveness of the device and the simulation for rendering springs. Experiment results show that spring magnitude perception follows a linear trend, and presence of vision enables better discrimination between different spring stiffnesses.
Open theism: does God risk or hope?

Open theists have generally affirmed that God exercises general sovereignty, seeking to achieve an overall providential goal related to our freely choosing to love Him, though the path to that goal is uncertain. This understanding of God's relationship to the world has the implication that God risks failure in achieving His purpose, since His success ultimately depends upon our free choices. In this paper, I first outline some concerns about the risks involved in God's exercising general sovereignty, and then explain how an alternative 'hopeful' view alleviates these concerns. I conclude that the hopeful view is a promising alternative that deserves further exploration. Open theists have generally understood God's relationship to the world as one in which He overcomes His lack of knowledge of the contingent future by intervening throughout time to keep His world on track toward the fulfilment of His purpose for creation. While open theists deny that God exercises meticu lous sovereignty, whereby each and every event would occur in accord with His will, they have affirmed that God exercises general sovereignty, seeking to achieve an overall goal while allowing that the path to that goal is uncertain. This understanding of God's relationship to the world affords Him as much providential control over creation as can reasonably be maintained given the limitations of God's knowledge upon which open theists insist. In this paper, I will suggest that open theists should consider a different understanding of God's relationship to creation, an understanding that is more radical in its rejection of any eschatological goal towards which God works, but that is more akin to the traditional theistic emphasis on the success of a perfect being's projects. I will first outline some concerns about the risks involved in God's exercising general sovereignty. I will then explain how an alternative view, which I dub the 'hopeful' view, alleviates these con cerns. I conclude that the hopeful view is promising enough to deserve further
The Alternation between Atrial Flutter and Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter share a common reentrant mechanism. However, the relationship between these arrhythmias has not been systematically studied to date. To evaluate the degree to which these arrhythmias may alternate, consecutive Hotter monitor recordings which showed fibrillation or flutter in 96 patients were reviewed. One half of the patients were studied after open-heart surgery and the other half for varying indications. One quarter of the patients had atrial flutter in addition to fibrillation, and this alternation with flutter was significantly associated with the use of a type 1A antiarrhythmic drug (p = 0.007), but not with the use of digoxin or beta blockers (p = NS for both). Furthermore, this alternation with flutter was more common in the postoperative group (p = 0.01). A history of embolization was less common in patients who were in the postoperative group (p=0.003) and patients who had flutter in addition to fibrillation (p = 0.05). (Chest 1992; 101:34-36)
Mining Global Constraints With Domain Knowledge for Improving Bounded Sequential Equivalence Checking

We present a novel technique on mining relationships in a sequential circuit to discover global constraints. We utilize domain knowledge to prune the search space for our mining process, via which the mined relations may often span several time frames, thus improving the deductibility of the problem instance. Experimental results demonstrate that the application of these global constraints to satisfiability (SAT)-based bounded sequential equivalence checking can achieve a one to two orders-of-magnitude speedup.
Visual object representation: Interpreting neurophysiological data within a computational framework

Significant progress has been made in understanding vision by combining computational and neuroscientific constraints. However, for the most part these integrative approaches have been limited to low-level visual processing. Recent advances in our understanding of high-level vision in the two separate disciplines warrant an attempt to relate and integrate these results to extend our understanding of vision through object representation and recognition. This paper is an attempt to contribute to this goal, by using a computational framework arising out of computer vision research to organize and interpret human and primate neurophysiology and neuropsychology.
Control of mitochondrial morphology by a human mitofusin

Although changes in mitochondrial size and arrangement accompany both cellular differentiation and human disease, the mechanisms that mediate mitochondrial fusion, fission and morphogenesis in mammalian cells are not understood. We have identified two human genes encoding potential mediators of mitochondrial fusion. The mitofusins (Mfn1 and Mfn2) are homologs of the Drosophila protein fuzzy onion (Fzo) that associate with mitochondria and alter mitochondrial morphology when expressed by transient transfection in tissue culture cells. An internal region including a predicted bipartite transmembrane domain (TM) is sufficient to target Mfn2 to mitochondria and requires hydrophobic residues within the TM. Co-expression of Mfn2 with a dominant interfering mutant dynamin-related protein (Drp1(K38A)) proposed to block mitochondrial fission resulted in long mitochondrial filaments and networks. Formation of mitochondrial filaments and networks required a wild-type Mfn2 GTPase domain, suggesting that the Mfn2 GTPase regulates or mediates mitochondrial fusion and that mitofusins and dynamin related GTPases play opposing roles in mitochondrial fusion and fission in mammals, as in yeast.
High-frequency capacitive disk gyroscopes in (100) and (111) silicon

This paper reports on the design and implementation of capacitive bulk acoustic wave (BAW) disk gyroscopes in single crystal silicon. The capacitive BAW disk gyroscopes are stationary devices operating in their degenerative MHz- frequency bulk acoustic modes with very small vibration amplitudes (<20 nm). They can achieve very high quality factors (Q) in moderate vacuum and even under atmospheric pressure, which substantially simplifies their wafer-level packaging. In addition, their small operating voltages simplify the interface circuit design and implementation in standard CMOS.
Hemagglutination by Columbia SK, Columbia MM, mengo encephalomyelitis and encephalomyocarditis viruses; experiments with other viruses.

ConclusionEvidence has been brought forward to indicate that Columbia SK, Columbia MM, Mengo encephalomyelitis and encephalomyocarditis viruses agglutinate sheep red cells. It is therefore possible to identify these viruses by means of hemagglutination and to measure the antibody content of antisera. Since the viruses show characteristic spontaneous elution or dispersion from the erythrocytes, the method can be used for purposes of selective adsorption of the viruses without loss of their hemagglutinative activity. Moreover, the uniformity of the hemagglutination reaction shown by the 4 viruses and the cross-inhibition that exists among them supports the findings of Warren and Smadel6 and of Dick7 that these viruses are similar in many repects and are of the same group.Seventeen other neurotropic viruses were tested for their capacity to agglutinate characteristically erythrvcytes deriving from sheep, man (group O), chicken, horse, hamster, dog, cat and guinea pig; these tests failed.Another phenomenon th...
Performance of a tetracycline-responsive transactivator system for regulating transgenes in the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

The oomycete genus Phytophthora includes many important plant pathogens for which extensive genome data exist, but lacking is an inducible expression system to study contributions of their genes to growth and pathogenicity. Here the adaptation of the reverse tetracycline transactivator (rtTA) system to P. infestans is described. Vectors were developed containing rtTA expressed from an oomycete promoter, and β-glucuronidase (GUS) controlled by TetR binding sites fused to a minimal oomycete promoter. Transformants were obtained in which GUS was expressed in a dose-dependent manner by the rtTA inducer doxycycline, indicating that the gene switch functions in P. infestans. However, toxicity of rtTA hindered the isolation of transformants if expressed on the same plasmid as the nptII selection marker. Better results were obtained by cotransforming those genes on separate plasmids, with 92% of transformants acquiring both DNAs although only 4% expressed rtTA at detectable levels. Low levels of reporter activity were measured in such transformants, suggesting that rtTA activated transcription weakly. Also, significant variation in the sensitivity of isolates to doxycycline and tetracycline was observed. These results are useful both in terms of developing tools for functional genomics and understanding the fate of DNA during Phytophthora transformation.
Photoacoustic determination of the residual stress and transverse isotropic elastic moduli in thin films of the polyimide PMDA/ODA

We present results of experiments on thin films of the polyimide PMDA/ODA using the real-time impulsive stimulated thermal scattering (ISTS) technique. We determine the transverse isotropic modulus, and we describe a method which allows residual stress determination from ISTS data. The residual stress determined in this way is in good agreement with measurements made using other techniques. >
DMTA based investigation of hygrothermal ageing of an epoxy system used in rehabilitation

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) techniques were used to investigate the moisture uptake and ageing of an ambient temperature cured epoxy used in the external strengthening of deteriorating concrete structures. Since the process is conducted under field conditions, cure does not progress completely prior to exposure to environmental conditions. Resin samples are immersed in deionized water at 23, 40, and 60°C, as well as in 5% NaCl and concrete based alkali solution at 23°C for periods up to 24 months. Diffusion coefficients increase with increase in temperature of immersion, but the maximum/equilibrium moisture content over the period of time is seen to be largely independent of temperature of immersion and type of solution. Glass transition temperature was found to decrease with increasing moisture uptake, with competing effects of cure progression and plasticization in the early periods of exposure, followed by hydrolysis and irreversible deterioration over longer periods of time. Splitting of the Tg of samples aged in deionized water and alkali solution indicate the formation of biphasic structures and drying of the network structure during DMTA. A biphasic structure indicating differently plasticized phases in the skin regions, which is different from the response in the bulk, is seen in samples immersed in salt solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1084–1094, 2007
Control-flow checking by software signatures

This paper presents a new signature monitoring technique, CFCSS (control flow checking by software signatures); CFCSS is a pure software method that checks the control flow of a program using assigned signatures. An algorithm assigns a unique signature to each node in the program graph and adds instructions for error detection. Signatures are embedded in the program during compilation time using the constant field of the instructions and compared with run-time signatures when the program is executed. Another algorithm reduces the code size and execution time overhead caused by checking instructions in CFCSS. A "branching fault injection experiment" was performed with benchmark programs. Without CFCSS, an average of 33.7 % of the injected branching faults produced undetected incorrect outputs; however, with CFCSS, only 3.1 % of branching faults produced undetected incorrect outputs. Thus it is possible to increase error detection coverage for control flow errors by an order of magnitude using CFCSS. The distinctive advantage of CFCSS over previous signature monitoring techniques is that CFCSS is a pure software method, i.e., it needs no dedicated hardware such as a watchdog processor for control flow checking. A watchdog task in multitasking environment also needs no extra hardware, but the advantage of CFCSS over a watchdog task is that CFCSS can be used even when the operating system does not support multitasking.
Genetic Map and QTL Analysis of Agronomic Traits in a Diploid Potato Population using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers

Genetic maps now can be constructed using thousands of genomewide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNps) for identification of markers closely associated with agronomic traits. A diploid mapping population for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) was developed from a pseudo-testcross between a homozygous line S. tuberosum Group phureja DM 1-3 516 r44 and a heterozygous outcrossing S. tuberosum Group Tuberosum clone, r H89-039-16. The
A 5–115V efficiency-enhanced synchronous LED driver with adaptive resonant timing control

A wide-input-range (5–115V) DC-DC based synchronous LED driver is presented in this paper. The proposed LED driver can automatically operate in the soft-switching mode to minimize the converter's switching loss in the HV condition. An adaptive resonate timing control (ARTC) is developed to generate optimal dead-time for establishing zero-voltage switching of both high- and low-side power FETs under different input and output voltages. Two high-speed HV body-diode-based zero-voltage detectors are also proposed to realize high-frequency soft switching. Implemented in a 0.5μm 120V CMOS process, the proposed LED driver can support up to 25 series-connected high-brightness LEDs. The LED driver can operate up to 1.6MHz and achieve a peak power efficiency of 94.4% in the soft-switching mode. Compared to the prior arts, the proposed LED driver is the first to demonstrate auto-configurable hard-and soft-switching capability by the ARTC to achieve high power efficiency and current accuracy over both widest ranges of the input voltage and the number of output LEDs.
Abstract 12664: Anomalous Aortic Origin of Coronary Arteries: A Single Center Experience

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary arteries (AAOCA) has an estimated prevalence of 0.1%-0.3%. Data on risks and benefits of surgery vs. observation to guide management decisions are limited. Methods: In a single center, we included patients (pts) with AAOCA with right (R) and/or left (L) intramural (IM), interarterial IA) or intraconal (IC) course from 1996-2014. We excluded pts with benign CA anomalies or major structural heart disease. Results: Among 154 pts, median age at diagnosis (dx) was 8.5 (range 0.1-50) yrs, median f/u was 1.92 (0.1-12.8) yrs, and 65% were male. The AAOCA course was IA in 116 (75%), IM in 52 (34%) and IC in 3 (2%). AAORCA was present in 126 (82%), of whom (51) 40% had repair. AAOLCA was present in 28 (18%), of whom 20 (71%) had repair; of the remaining 8, 2 had intraconal course; 2 were second opinions, 1 had Friederich’s ataxia, and 3 are awaiting surgery. In the surgical group, all had IA/IM CAs, and CA unroofing was performed in 90%, of whom 50% also had resus...
Choice at Work: Young v. United States Parcel Service, Pregnancy Discrimination, and Reproductive Liberty

In granting cert in Young v. United Postal Service, the Supreme Court has intervened in ongoing struggles about when and whether the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 requires the accommodation of pregnant workers. Drawing on original archival research, this Article historicizes Young, arguing that the PDA embodied a limited principle of what the Article calls meaningful reproductive choice. Feminist litigators first forged such an idea in the early 1970s, arguing that heightened judicial scrutiny should apply whenever state actors placed special burdens on women who chose childbirth or abortion. More ambitiously, some feminists suggested that the State may have to act to affirmatively support some fundamental rights. A line of Supreme Court decisions completely rejected this understanding of reproductive liberty. However, choice arguments rejected in the juridical arena flourished in Congress, during debate about the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). For a variety of strategic and ideological reasons, legal feminists and antiabortion activists turned to legislative constitutionalism to give meaning to the idea of reproductive liberty. While not requiring employers to provide any accommodations, the PDA prohibited employers from placing special burdens on women’s procreative decisions. The history of the meaningful choice principle calls into doubt contemporary judicial interpretations of the PDA, including the Fourth Circuit opinion in Young. When employers accommodate non-pregnant workers, as Young suggests, courts often find no violation of the PDA so long as a policy is “pregnancy-blind” — that is, so long as an employer does not explicitly categorize employees on the basis of pregnancy. This history strengthens the argument against pregnancy-blind policies made in Young by petitioners and amici under a variety of legal theories, including disparate treatment, disparate impact, and disability accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ultimately, however, the history studied here counsels that legislation, rather than litigation, may be the most promising path for expanding protections for pregnant women.
Looking for the Law: ACJS Program Certification Standards and Introductory Criminal Justice Textbooks

Comprehending the United States system of government, its primary law sources and the decision-making process of its courts is essential foundational knowledge for criminal justice students. The ACJS Certification Standards for Baccalaureate College/University Criminal Justice Programs (2005) include Law Adjudication, with the identified related content topics of “[c]riminal law, criminal procedures, prosecution, defense, and court processes and decision-making” (p. 9), a recognition of the importance of these content areas. The ACJS recommendations are not radical ideas. Anderson, Reinsmith-Jones, and Mangels (2011) propose that the addition of legal knowledge and techniques to the traditional criminal justice methodology will provide a triangulated approach strengthening the criminal justice discipline. This suggestion is based on their recognition that “the law is the main catalyst and foundation governing both criminology and criminal justice” (p. 97). Integrating basic legal concepts into introductory courses would similarly strengthen the foundational knowledge of students in the discipline. With the ACJS standards as a framework, this study examines the coverage and depth of treatment in introductory criminal justice textbooks of concepts related to these basic categories of legal knowledge. The study has operationalized these topic areas as: the roles of the three branches of government, the separation of powers among the branches, the levels of government, the hierarchical organization of the court system between trial and appellate courts and state and federal courts and the differences between criminal and civil law, enacted law and common law and the primary sources of law.
Effects of oxytocin on background anxiety in rats with high or low baseline startle

Oxytocin has antianxiety properties in humans and rodents. However, the antianxiety effects have been variable. To reduce variability and to strengthen the antianxiety effect of oxytocin in fear-potentiated startle, two experiments were performed. First, different amounts of light-shock pairings were given to determine the optimal levels of cue-specific fear conditioning and non-predictable startle (background anxiety). Second, the antianxiety effects of oxytocin were examined in rats with high and low pre-fear conditioning baseline startle to determine if oxytocin differentially affects high and low trait anxiety rats. Baseline pre-fear conditioning startle responses were first measured. Rats then received 1, 5, or 10 light-shock pairings. Fear-potentiated startle was then tested with two trial types: light-cued startle and non-cued startle trials. In the second experiment, rats fear conditioned with 10 light-shock pairings were administered either saline or oxytocin before a fear-potentiated startle test. Rats were categorized as low or high startlers by their pre-fear conditioning startle amplitude. Ten shock pairings produced the largest non-cued startle responses (background anxiety), without increasing cue-specific fear-potentiated startle compared to one and five light-shock pairings. Cue-specific fear-potentiated startle was unaffected by oxytocin. Oxytocin reduced background anxiety only in rats with low pre-fear startle responses. Oxytocin has population selective antianxiety effects on non-cued unpredictable threat, but only in rats with low pre-fear baseline startle responses. The low startle responses are reminiscent of humans with low startle responses and high trait anxiety.
Measuring the electronic corrugation at the metal/organic interface

Angle-resolved two-photon photoemission is used to probe the image potential states on monolayers of metal-free phthalocyanine (H${}_{2}$Pc) and cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) on the Ag(100) and Ag(111) surfaces. We find that in the plane of the surface the normally flat potential landscape becomes significantly corrugated in the presence of the phthalocyanine lattice, causing the opening of a band gap in the first image potential state, in agreement with previous findings. Interestingly, the data show that the absence of the electron dense metal center does not qualitatively alter this picture. Experiments conducted on Ag(100) and Ag(111) crystals demonstrate that the surface band structure and symmetry of the metal surface plays a minor role in the band folding phenomenon. A two-dimensional model that takes into account both the band structure of the substrate and the corrugation of the potential landscape in the surface plane due to the molecular lattice is presented and compared to experiment. This model enables the observation that, counter to intuition, the Co metal center at the CoPc/Ag interface actually smooths the interfacial potential relative to that of the H${}_{2}$Pc/Ag interface. We suggest that the strong corrugation of the potential at the organic/metal interface measured herein may account for the recent observation of surface umklapp scattering in recent ultraviolet photoemission experiments on organic/metal interfaces.
Combinatorial Mapping of Polymer Film Wettability On Gradient Energy Surfaces

Combinatorial methods were used for studying dewetting of thin hydrophobic polystyrene (PS) and hydrophilic poly(DL-lactic acid) (PDLA) films on chemically modified gradient energy surfaces. Substrate libraries were prepared by immersing passivated Si (Si-H surface functionality) in Piranha solution (H2SO4/H2O2/H2O) at acontrolled rate, yielding a systematic variation of solvent contact angles across the surface. Additionally, chlorosilane-treated Si surfaces were exposed to UV radiation in a gradient fashion under ozone atmosphere such that a range from hydrophobic to hydrophilic conditions was obtained across the surface (≈ 3 cm). Solvent droplet contact angles of water and diiodo methane were used to quantify the spatial variation of surface energy along one axis across the surface. Libraries of thin films of PS or PDLA coatings on gradient energy surfaces orthogonal to gradients in film thickness were screened for dewetting behavior using automated optical microscopy. Contrasting trends in the wettability of PS and PDLA were visibly apparent as a function of surface energy of the substrate. The number density of polygons of the dewet PS films was found to obey a power law relationship with both film thickness and substrate surface hydrophilicity.
Abstract 4778: Computer-assisted molecular design use for the discovery and optimization of rationally-designed anticancer natural products. Discovery of olive oil-derived oleocanthal as a c-Met inhibitor and optimization of Veratrum alkaloids as Hedgehog signaling inhibitors

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Dysregulation of the proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase c-Met, which encodes the high-affinity receptor for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway aberrantly associated with numerous malignancies including basal cell carcinoma, medulloblastoma, prostate, pancreatic and breast cancers. The Mediterranean diet is associated with lower incidences of cardiovascular disease, age-related cognitive disease and cancer. (-)-Oleocanthal is a naturally occurring minor secoiridoid from extra-virgin olive oil with potent anti-inflammatory activity via its ability to inhibit COX-1 and COX-2 and anti-Alzheimer's activity. Cyclopamine and its 11-oxo derivative jervine are C-nor-D-homosteroidal alkaloids with known potent teratogenic effects that induce cyclopic malformations in sheep. The jervane Veratrum alkaloids cyclopamine and jervine and the veratrane alkaloid veratramine were among the early known natural products that blocked the expression of the Hh pathway targets PTCH1 and GLI1, lowering Bcl2 levels and inducing apoptosis in many tumors. Computer-assisted molecular design (CAMD) identified oleocanthal as a potential virtual c-Met inhibitor hit. Oleocanthal inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the epithelial human breast and prostate cancer cell lines MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and PC-3, respectively. Oleocanthal demonstrated anti-angiogenic activity and inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Met kinase in vitro. CAMD study of our library of natural, biocatalytic, and semisynthetic jervane and veratrane alkaloids suggested that compounds with C-3-keto functionality with α4,5 or β1,2 and γ4,5 exhibited high virtual Hh binding affinity scores and possible Hh pathway activity. These compounds showed significant ability to inhibit the growth, proliferation, and migration of the prostate metastatic cancer cell line PC-3, which aided the establishment of a preliminary structure-activity relationship. (-)-Oleocanthal and Veratrum alkaloids can have potential therapeutic application for the control of c-Met- and Hh-dependent malignancies. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4778. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4778
Contraction-Dependent Hypertrophy of Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocytes: Potential Role for Focal Adhesion Kinase

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and other protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) found in focal adhesions regulate proliferation and cytoskeletal assembly of nonmuscle cells, but their role in hypertrophic growth of cardiac myocytes has not been investigated. Serum-free, primary cultures of spontaneously contracting and contractile-arrested neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVMs) were used to determine the role of FAK and other PTKs in regulating cardiac gene expression and protein turnover associated with the hypertrophic phenotype. FAK was readily detected in focal adhesions and costameres of spontaneously contracting, hypertrophied myocytes, but was reduced in contractile-arrested cells. Chronic treatment of NRVMs with genistein (50µM), a relatively specific PTK inhibitor, prevented NRVM growth, as demonstrated by significant reductions (by 10–35%) in total protein, total protein/DNA ratio, and myofibrillar protein content. Genistein also significandy reduced myosin heavy chain (MHC) and actin synthesis, and increased MHC and actin degradation. Daidzein (50 µM), a weakly active analogue, had much less of an effect. Genistein also markedly reduced β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) and to a lesser extent atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) gene expression, thus reproducing many of the phenotypic features of cardiac myocyte atrophy produced by contractile arrest. Transient transfection of NRVMs with an expression vector containing the full-length coding sequence of chick FAK along with rat β-MHC and ANF promoter-luciferase constructs resulted in a 2–4-fold increase in luciferase activity, indicating that FAK stimulated transcription of fetal genes associated with the hypertrophic phenotype. Thus, FAK and/or other PTKs found in focal adhesions may play a role in both the transcriptional and posttranslational regulation of cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.
Bronchiectasis in Childhood

Although bronchiectasis is relatively uncommon, it should be considered in a child with any of the following findings that persist: infiltrate on x-ray cough, purulent sputum, crackles or harsh breath sounds on auscultation of the chest, or hemoptysis. It is very likely that a pediatrician will encounter one or more children with this condition. This article deals with the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of bronchiectasis in childhood.
Lymph Node Ratio Analysis After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy is Prognostic in Hormone Receptor-Positive and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Lymph node ratios (LNR), the proportion of positive lymph nodes over the number excised, both defined as ranges and single ratio values are prognostic of outcome. Little is known of the prognostic value of LNR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) according to molecular subtype. From 2003 to 2014, patients who underwent definitive surgery after NAC were identified. LNR was calculated for node-positive patients who received axillary dissection or had at least 6 nodes removed. DFS was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier log rank test for yp N0-3 status, LNR categories (LNRC) ≤0.20 (low), 0.21–0.65 (intermediate), >0.65 (high), and single LNR values. Of 428 NAC recipients, 263 were node negative and 165 (38.6 %) node positive: ypN1 = 97 (58.8 %), ypN2 = 43 (26.1 %), and ypN3 = 25 (15.2 %). Among node-positive cancers, the median number of LN removed was 14 (range, 6–51) and the median LNR was 0.22 (range, 0.03–1.0). Nodal stage was inversely associated with 5-year DFS: 91.5 % (ypN0), 74.5 % (ypN1), 49.8 % (ypN2), and 50.7 % (ypN3) (p < 0.001). LNRC was similarly inversely associated with DFS: 69.1 % (low), 71.4 % (intermediate), 49.3 % (high) (p < 0.001). Significant associations between LNRC and DFS were demonstrated in hormone receptor (HR)-positive and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes, p = 0.02 and p = 0.003. A single-value LNR ≤ 0.15 in node-positive, HR-positive (94.1 vs 67.7 %; p = 0.04) and TNBC (94.1 vs 47.8 %; p = 0.001) groups was also significant. Residual nodal disease after NAC, analyzed by LNRC or LNR = 0.15 cutoff value, is prognostic and can discriminate between favorable and unfavorable outcomes for HR-positive and TNBC cancers.
Interconnect design for conventional and emerging charge-based devices

Interconnects are an ever growing challenge! With the shift to 3D FETs and rising Cu resistivity, more and more interconnects becomes resistance dominated and fewer become Capacitance limited. With no improvement in Cu Technology, circuit performance will degrade with technology scaling even when devices get better. Graphene interconnects are potential Cu replacements in the long run but they can potentially augment Cu interconnect technology much sooner. Interconnects will continue to be an ever growing challenge even for beyond CMOS devices. With Tunnel FETs, interconnect resistance will become less important whereas interconnect capacitance will get more important. Repeater performance is different than logic inverter performance. Device capacitance and intrinsic delay are less important for repeaters as compared to logic gates. A large fraction of devices must be used as repeaters to fully take advantage of the fast FETs.
Journal of Agromedicine “Peer Reviewer of the Year” 2017: Joan D. Flocks

Joan D. Flocks, J.D.Each year the Journal of Agromedicine recognizes a peer reviewer who exemplifies a commitment to assuring the high scholarly quality of what we publish. We consider thoroughness...
(Not) Riding into the Sunset: The Significance of Endings

Peter French contrasts the world view of the westerners, which is committed to the claim that death is necessary for a certain sort of meaningfulness in our lives, with the world view of the easterners, with its Christian commitment to an afterlife. We argue that it is worth taking seriously a “third world view,” which posits the potential desirability of secular immortality. We consider a dilemma offered by Bernard Williams against this third world view. The first horn has it that if an individual’s character remains the same in a radically extended (or immortal) life, she would necessarily become bored. The second horn claims that if one’s character changes significantly, then one will either not be the same person any more or, even if one is the same person, it will not be rational for the antecedent individual to care about the resultant individual. We reply to the first horn by pointing out that there is no reason to individuate the relevant character traits (and events) as narrowly as Williams seems to, and once a more appropriate and relatively broad individuation of such traits (and events) is employed, his claim becomes implausible. Our reply to the second horn defends the symmetry of our situations in our limited, finite lives and the envisaged situation of individuals in an extended (or immortal) life. In both contexts, we may have good reason to care about future selves.
Sequence imperfections and base triplet recognition by the Rad51/RecA family of recombinases

Homologous recombination plays key roles in double-strand break repair, rescue, and repair of stalled replication forks and meiosis. The broadly conserved Rad51/RecA family of recombinases catalyzes the DNA strand invasion reaction that takes place during homologous recombination. We have established single-stranded (ss)DNA curtain assays for measuring individual base triplet steps during the early stages of strand invasion. Here, we examined how base triplet stepping by RecA, Rad51, and Dmc1 is affected by DNA sequence imperfections, such as single and multiple mismatches, abasic sites, and single nucleotide insertions. Our work reveals features of base triplet stepping that are conserved among these three phylogenetic lineages of the Rad51/RecA family and also reveals lineage-specific behaviors reflecting properties that are unique to each recombinase. These findings suggest that Dmc1 is tolerant of single mismatches, multiple mismatches, and even abasic sites, whereas RecA and Rad51 are not. Interestingly, the presence of single nucleotide insertion abolishes recognition of an adjacent base triplet by all three recombinases. On the basis of these findings, we describe models for how sequence imperfections may affect base triplet recognition by Rad51/RecA family members, and we discuss how these models and our results may relate to the different biological roles of RecA, Rad51, and Dmc1.
Pathways to Undergraduate Research Experiences: a Multi-Institutional Study

The positive impact of undergraduate research experiences on students’ post-secondary success is well-documented. However, these conclusions are drawn from undergraduate students who already participate; very little research has explored the pathways by which students enter these experiences. Using data from a multi-institutional survey, we examined students’ reasons for participating and differences across institutions and demographic groups. Overall, students cited social and experiential reasons as key motivators for participation and a perceived lack of research readiness as a key barrier. Differences were also found across academic year. Implications from this study address issues of access, preparation, and institutional policies around undergraduate research.
The Radiologist’s Primer to Imaging the Noncuff, Nonlabral Postoperative Shoulder

This article reviews imaging of uncommon second-line bone and soft-tissue shoulder surgical and augmentation procedures, focusing on preoperative indications and imaging assessment, surgical techniques, expected postoperative imaging findings, and the imaging appearance of possible complications.