cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a Lung Cancer Screening Program in Two Federally Qualified Health Centers

Using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to screen for lung cancer is associated with improved outcomes among eligible current and former smokers (ie, aged 55-77, at least 30-pack-year smoking history, current smoker or former smoker who quit within the past 15 years). However, the overall uptake of LDCT is low, especially in health care settings with limited personnel and financial resources. To increase access to lung cancer screening services, the American Cancer Society partnered with 2 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Tennessee and West Virginia to conduct a pilot project focused on developing and refining the LDCT screening referral processes and practices. Each FQHC was required to partner with an American College of Radiology-designated lung cancer screening center in its area to ensure high-quality patient care. The pilot project was conducted in 2 phases: 6 months of capacity building (January-June 2016) followed by 2 years of implementation (July 2016-June 2018). One site created a sustainable LDCT referral program, and the other site encountered numerous barriers and failed to overcome them. This case study highlights implementation barriers and factors associated with success and improved outcomes in LDCT screening.
The Bar Examination in Black and White: The Black-White Bar Passage Gap and the Implications for Minority Admissions to the Legal Profession

This article explores 1) the phenomena of the Black-White Bar Passage Gap, 2) the reasons further study of the gap is required and 3) psychometric and cultural observations about the existence of this gap. The Black-White Test Score Gap is a term used to describe the observed differences in test results between black and white standardized test takers. When this concept is applied to similar differences in bar passage results, this article labels the phenomena as the Black-White Bar Passage Gap. Although the LSAC National Longitudinal Bar Passage Study clearly documented this gap, further study of the Black-White Bar Passage Gap is needed due to three converging trends. The trends are 1) the increasing use by state bar examiners of standardized multistate examinations, 2) the higher percentages of black student enrollment in and graduation from law school, and 3) the recent decrease in national and state bar passage rates. After examining the data indicating the continued need to study the Black-White Bar Passage Gap, this article explores the concepts of test validity and bias and later examines culture and race oriented theories which provide explanations for the differences in black and white test scores. The article concludes that the phenomena of the Black-White Bar Passage Gap will continue to slow the rate of minority admission into the legal profession without further study of its ramifications and causes.
Religion and aging in the global context of secularization: patterns, processes, consequences

Abstract Research on religion and aging in the United States and around the world has been facilitated by a spate of new data sources and studies. It is now clear that whatever was known about religion and aging at the individual level must now be placed in the context of secularization, not only in Western Europe where it has long been recognized, but also in the United States. In this chapter we outline the excellent new research on the demography of religion around the world, and the inexorable process of secularization that is changing the context for current cohorts of older adults and the less religious cohorts that will follow them. We review the patterns of the uneven distribution of religiosity both within and between countries, the demographic and social processes that contribute to these patterns, and speculate on the consequences of these dramatic social changes for coming generations of older adults.
A new species of Reichlingia (Arthoniaceae) from the grasslands of central North America

Reichlingia americana, a new saxicolous species, is described from Oklahoma, U.S.A., representing the first records of the genus in North America. The species is distinguished from other members of the genus by a combination of its epilithic, rimose thallus; submuriform ascospores; presence of 2′-O-methylperlatolic acid; and unique habitat on sheltered sandstone faces. Distinctions from related species are discussed and a key to members of the genus is provided.
Understanding the local thermal conductivity evolution of neutron irradiated U3Si2 dispersion fuel via state-of-the-art thermo-reflectance measurements

Abstract This study presents the first thermal conductivity measurements performed on neutron irradiated U3Si2 dispersion fuel cladded in an aluminum matrix (in a plate geometry). These were performed via a novel set-up which consists of a thermo-reflectance apparatus, known as the thermal conductivity microscope (TCM), deployed in a shielded glovebox. Thermal conductivity was measured across different fuel particles at various positions along the plate length and correlated to the local burnup. Back scattered electron images were collected at each position and analyzed to obtain estimates of the local porosity. It was shown that the thermal conductivity of the irradiated fuel particles is approximately 25% to 35% lower compared to the unirradiated material. A solid-state physics model was used to interpret the measured data. According to the model the degradation in thermal conductivity is consistent with the presence of insulating, fission gas filled pores or bubbles as well as loss of long-range order due to irradiation induced amorphization.
HARLEY: A Semi-Automated detection of foci in fluorescence images of yeast

Quantification of cellular structures in fluorescence microscopy data is a key means of understanding cellular function. Unfortunately, numerous cellular structures present unique challenges in their ability to be unbiasedly and accurately detected and quantified. In our studies on stress granules in yeast, users displayed a striking variation of up to 3.7-fold in foci calls and were only able to replicate their results with 62-78% correlation, when requantifying the same images. To facilitate consistent results we developed HARLEY (Human Augmented Recognition of LLPS Ensembles in Yeast), a customizable software for detection and quantification of stress granules in S.cerevisiae. After a brief model training on ~20 cells the detection of foci is fully automated and based on closed loops in intensity contours, constrained only by the a-priori known size of the features of interest. Since no shape is implied, this method is not limited to round features, as is often the case with other algorithms. Candidate features are annotated with a set of geometrical and intensity-based properties to train a kernel Support Vector Machine to recognize features of interest. The trained classifier is then used to create consistent results across datasets. HARLEY is aimed at users without technical expertise, allows for batch processing and is freely available, which should be of broad interest to users focused on analysis of microscopy data in yeast.
Assessment of fish floodplain use during an extreme flood event in a large, regulated river

Anthropogenic alterations to large, North American rivers have caused widespread changes in river function, and are likely responsible for freshwater biodiversity declines. The fish assemblage of the Missouri River has been affected by decades of homogenized flow and channelization, and these changes have contributed to declines in several native species. Little is known about fish use of altered floodplain habitats in large rivers that have been regulated to no longer inundate their floodplain. We collected fish and habitat data at five locations on the Missouri River, Nebraska floodplain during the largest and longest-lasting flood in over 50 years to understand how fish would distribute themselves across a suite of novel floodplain habitats. We found differences in fish assemblage structure between all but two sampling locations. Differences in the fish assemblage between Tieville Bend and three other sites were largely caused by the high abundance of black bullhead at Tieville Bend. Attempts to relate species abundance to habitat measurements suggest that factors influencing floodplain habitat use are complex, and possibly driven by habitat components not measured in this study. Future work is needed to investigate relations between the fish assemblage and its use of floodplain resources.
Catalases and Peroxidases

Catalase is the enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and dioxygen. The usual sources of catalase are bovine liver and bovine erythrocytes. The enzyme exists as a 250,000–dalton tetramer with one heme per monomer. The complete amino acid sequence of the bovine liver enzyme is known (Schroeder et al., 1982) as well as much of the sequence of the bovine erythrocyte catalase (Schroeder et al., 1982). The crystal structure of the beef liver enzyme has been determined (Reid et al., 1981; Murthy et al., 1981). The heme is buried in the enzyme accessible only by a 20–A hydrophobic channel. There is a tyrosine group on one side of the heme and an asparagine and a histidine on the other. The negative charge of the tyrosine probably aids in the stability of the 4 + iron (Reid et al., 1981) intermediate to be discussed below.
Viscosity‐molecular weight relation and unperturbed dimensions of polyethylene terephthalate

A series of polyethylene terephthalate resins were characterized for molecular weight by light scattering measurements in trifluoracetic acid (TFA) solution and for intrinsic viscosity in TFA and in a mixture of tetrachloroethane (TCE)/phenol. The following viscositymolecular weight relations were established: The unperturbed dimensions (〈r02〉/M)1/2 were derived by the method of KURATA-STOCK-MAYER (0.985 a. u.) and STOCKMAYER-FIXMAN (0.966 a.u.). The steric factor (1.4) is similar to that of other polymers with p-phenylene groups in their chain backbone. The results are compared to previous findings based on end group, osmometric, and cryoscopic data. Fur eine Reihe von Polyathylenterephthalatharzen wurde das Molekulargewicht durch Streulichtmessungen in Trifluoressigsaurelosung und die Viskositatszahl in Trifluoressigsaurelosung und in einem Gemisch von Tetrachlorathan und Phenol gemessen. Folgende Viskositats-Molekulargewichts-Beziehungen wurden nachgewiesen: Die ungestorten Dimensionen (〈r02〉/M)1/2 wurden nach der Methode von KURATA-STOCK-MAYER (0,985 a.u.) und STOCKMAYER-FIXMAN (0,966 a.u.) abgeleitet. Der sterische Faktor (1, 4) gleicht dem fur andere Polymere, die p-Phenylgruppen in ihrer Hauptkette enthalten. Die gefundenen Ergebnisse werden mit fruheren verglichen, die sich auf Endgruppenbestimmungen und auf Daten grunden, die durch osmotische und kryoskopische Messungen erhalten wurden.
The Frequency, Predictability and Proportionality of Punitive Damages in State Courts

The state of punitive damages in the United States has been a controversial topic for more than three decades, resulting in litigation reaching the U.S. Supreme Court and various state supreme courts numerous times. Various business advocacy groups have sought to drastically curb or eliminate punitive damages and are vigorously opposed by plaintiff lawyers and consumer groups. In a recent case decided by the Supreme Court, Exxon Shipping v. Baker (2008), the United States Supreme Court once again expressed concern about the relationship between punitive and compensatory damages and the predictability of punitive awards. A full understanding of the issues involved in the punitive damages controversy requires consideration of the causes of action, the magnitude of both compensatory and punitive claims, the ratios of these two outcomes, and a qualitative understanding of the nature of punitive awards. This article presents a profile of punitive damages awarded by juries using the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, 2005 supplemented by a more detailed sample of trial outcomes from verdict reports from eight states. The data show that punitive damages are seldom awarded in product liability, premises liability and medical malpractice lawsuits, and the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages is a complex matter not easily resolved without consideration of the underlying factual basis of the claim. The data also shed tentative light on why many requests for punitive damages are never put before juries.
Extending prior research with design science research: two patterns for DSRIS project generation

Constructivist research - learning through building - is the core of a large stream of design science research in IS. Architecture has always explored through this paradigm; more recently, engineering-related disciplines, education and medicine have adopted it as well. Constructivist methods are chosen in all cases because many systems problems are 'wicked': difficult, multi-faceted and frequently exhibiting aspects that emerge only during attempted solution of the problem. Constructivist methods excel at the investigation of incompletely understood problems where the variables of study are inextricably confounded or theory is sparse. In this paper we present two patterns by which the power of constructivist methods can be directed at extending and generating practice-focused results from prior research for the benefit of the Information Systems discipline. The first pattern generates DSRIS projects based on theoretical findings; the second pattern generates DSRIS projects to clarify and extend poorly understood facets of large real-world artifacts/systems.
Water-Quality Assessment of the Lower Grand River Basin, Missouri and Iowa, USA, in Support of Integrated Conservation Practices

The effectiveness of agricultural conservation programmes to adequately reduce nutrient exports to receiving streams and to help limit downstream hypoxia issues remains a concern. Quantifying programme success can be difficult given that short-term basin changes may be masked by long-term water-quality shifts. We evaluated nutrient export at stream sites in the 44 months that followed a period of increased, integrated conservation implementation within the Lower Grand River Basin. These short-term responses were then compared with export that occurred in the main stem and adjacent rivers in northern Missouri over a 22-year period to better contextualize any recent changes. Results indicate that short-term (October 2010 through May 2014) total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in the Grand River were 20% less than the long-term average, and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were 23% less. Nutrient reductions in the short term were primarily the result of the less-than-average precipitation and, consequently, streamflow that was 36% below normal. Therefore, nutrient concentrations measured in tributary streams were likely less than normal during the implementation period. Northern Missouri streamflow-normalized TN concentrations remained relatively flat or declined over the period 1991 through 2013 likely because available sources of nitrogen, determined as the sum of commercial fertilizers, available animal manures and atmospheric inputs, were typically less than crop requirement for much of that time frame. Conversely, flow-normalized stream TP concentrations increased over the past 22 years in northern Missouri streams, likely in response to many years of phosphorus inputs in excess of crop requirements. Stream nutrient changes were most pronounced during periods that coincided with the major tillage, planting and growth phases of row crops and increased streamflow. Nutrient reduction strategies targeted at the period February through June would likely have the greatest impact on reducing nutrient export from the basin. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Constitutions and Credible Commitments: Predicting Capital Market Responses to Order and Law

In this paper I examine the relationship between judicial independence and a country's bond market. Judicial independence is often celebrated both because it provides for the enforcement of economic promises between private parties and political bodies, and because it empowers courts to uphold constitutional commitments to political and civil liberties. Using publicly-available financial data and several measures of judicial independence in 69 countries, I measure the extent to which a highly independent judiciary attracts domestic and foreign investments in government and sovereign bonds. I find a strong correlation between a stable judiciary -- regardless of its independence -- and investment rates. In other words, a judicial independence score that is stable across time is a stronger predictor of investments than a judicial score that is relatively high. These findings tease out a subtle, yet more precise mechanism for the public choice theory of credible commitments.
Exploring the sociocultural determinants of de novo versus de alio entry in emerging industries

The influence of institutional factors on firm entry has long interested strategy scholars. However, we have limited understanding of how the sociocultural environment, defined as the unwritten, decentralized �rules of the game,� influences founding rates in emergent industries; we know even less about how these noneconomic factors differentially influence entry by new entrepreneurial (de novo) firms versus diversifying incumbent (de alio) firms. Utilizing a unique dataset on entry in the green building supply industry, we find that, while economic and policy factors are highly correlated with de alio entry, the sociocultural environment exerts a greater influence on de novo firms. Our findings contribute to the literature on corporate demography, institutions and entrepreneurship, and industry emergence
Fast release of 45Ca2+ induced by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and Ca2+ in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of rabbit skeletal muscle: evidence for two types of Ca2+ release channels

The kinetics of Ca2+ release induced by the second messenger D-myoinositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3), by the hydrolysis-resistant analogue D-myoinositol 1,4,5 trisphosphorothioate (IPS3), and by micromolar Ca2+ were resolved on a millisecond time scale in the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of rabbit skeletal muscle. The total Ca2+ mobilized by IP3 and IPS3 varied with concentration and with time of exposure. Approximately 5% of the 45Ca2+ passively loaded into the SR was released by 2 microM IPS3 in 150 ms, 10% was released by 10 microM IPS3 in 100 ms, and 20% was released by 50 microM IPS3 in 20 ms. Released 45Ca2+ reached a limiting value of approximately 30% of the original load at a concentration of 10 microM IP3 or 25–50 microM IPS3. Ca(2+)-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) was studied by elevating the extravesicular Ca2+ while maintaining a constant 5-mM intravesicular 45Ca2+. An increase in extravesicular Ca2+ from 7 nM to 10 microM resulted in a release of 55 +/- 7% of the passively loaded 45Ca2+ in 150 ms. CICR was blocked by 5 mM Mg2+ or by 10 microM ruthenium red, but was not blocked by heparin at concentrations as high as 2.5 mg/ml. In contrast, the release produced by IPS3 was not affected by Mg2+ or ruthenium red but was totally inhibited by heparin at concentrations of 2.5 mg/ml or lower. The release produced by 10 microM Ca2+ plus 25 microM IPS3 was similar to that produced by 10 microM Ca2+ alone and suggested that IP3-sensitive channels were present in SR vesicles also containing ruthenium red-sensitive Ca2+ release channels. The junctional SR of rabbit skeletal muscle may thus have two types of intracellular Ca2+ releasing channels displaying fast activation kinetics, namely, IP3-sensitive and Ca(2+)-sensitive channels.
From the Desk of the Managing Editor

Editing isn't "teaching" and it isn't "research," so in the holy trinity of academic responsibilities it is apparently bunched with faculty committees, student advising, and talks to the local Kiwanis club as part of "service." Yet for many economists, editing seems to loom larger in their professional lives. After all, EconLit indexes more than 750 academic journals of economics, which require an ever-shifting group of editors, co-editors, and advisory boards to function. Roughly one-third of the books in the annotated listings at the back of each issue of the Journal of Economic Literature are edited volumes. Here is one take on the enterprise of editing from someone who has been sitting in the Managing Editor's chair for all 100 issues of the Journal of Economic Perspectives since before the first issue of the journal mailed in Summer 1987.
Alloying behavior in Cu and Ag hosts: A proposed classification scheme

Comprehensive room temperature data for resistivity and thermoelectric power in Cu and Ag based alloys are shown to be consistent with alloy concepts developed by Friedel and by Stern. This consistency suggests categories of alloy behavior. These categories provide qualitative explanations for unexplained microscopic and Fermi surface properties in some of these alloy systems and thus a more general validity for the categories is proposed.
Available Potential Energy and the General Circulation: Partitioning Wind, Buoyancy Forcing, and Diapycnal Mixing

AbstractThe ocean energy cycle is calculated using a new available potential energy (APE) decomposition, which partitions adiabatic buoyancy fluxes from diapycnal mixing, applied to results from the Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2), eddy-permitting ocean state estimate and observed surface buoyancy fluxes from the WHOI OAFlux project. Compared with the traditional Lorenz energy cycle, this framework provides a more accurate estimate of the background potential energy (PE) of the global oceans and the surface generation and interior fluxes of APE. Calculations of the global energy budget using 16 yr of ECCO2 output suggest that the adiabatic portion of the general circulation is maintained by a balance between the mean wind-driven upwelling that increases APE (+0.27 TW) and time-fluctuating processes, including mesoscale eddies, which release APE (−0.27 TW). The APE generated by surface buoyancy fluxes (0.46 TW) is comparable to the generation by the mean winds. The glo...
Building the learning organisation: a new role for human resource developers

Changing workplace demands now challenge human resource developers to extend the scope of their practice from predominantly one of training individuals, to one of facilitating learning of individuals, teams, and organisations. In our work, we suggest that human resource developers need an equally broad vision of the field in order to embrace this broader scope. One such compelling vision which we believe may drive a redefinition of the field is that of the learning organisation. The learning organisation is defined both in terms of the outcomes by which we assess whether or not the organisation has learned, and by the process by which the organisation must change to embed learning. A model of how the organisation learns is given along with design principles for human resource developers who would create a learning organisation.
Frictional Constraint of Rope Strands

In this study, the slippage criterion and model of synthetic double-braided ropes have been formulated, particularly, for the partial frictional conditions. Such constraint is closest to reality, and contributes to most failure cases in marine service due to abrasion/wear. The slippage criterion proposed is based on the measured frictional resistance of individual rope strands from a newly devised pull-out test. Emphasis is on straight ropes as well as rope terminations, the latter either an eye splice or a continuous loop on a bollard-like pin. The experimental results agree well with the predictions of the partial friction case for small nylon ropes. However, for PET ropes, the predictions of the infinite friction case agree better with the experiments due partially to high frictional constraint. The slippage process is also discussed and this can provide further insight into prevention against abrasion failures which are found to be the major cause of the deterioration of ropes in service.
Electron self-exchange in Pseudomonas cytochromes.

Electron self-exchange has been measured by an NMR technique for cytochromes c551 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas stutzeri. The rate for P. aeruginosa cyt c551 is 1.2 × 107 M−1 s−1 at 40°C in 50 mM phosphate at pH 7. For P. stutzeri, under the same conditions, the rate is 4 × 107 M−1 s−1. For both cytochromes, the rate was independent of ionic strength up to 0.5 M in added NaCl, the enthalpy of activation was 20 ± 4 kcal mol−1, and the entropy of activation was 38 ± 10 cal mol−1 deg−1.
Chameleon voices: Interpreting for deaf parents

As interpreters for their deaf parents, hearing children are a cultural link between two often separate worlds: the Deaf and the Hearing. Data from a 4 year study of adult hearing children throughout the United States indicate significant differences between hearing daughters and hearing sons. Not only were daughters more likely than sons (regardless of birth order or age differences) to interpret for their parents, but daughters were also far more likely to be bilingual: fluent in both spoken English and American Sign Language. A similar gender bias has been observed among the general hearing public: women are far more likely to attend sign language classes and to work as interpreters for the deaf. This paper explores the social mechanisms and cultural values which determine the gender of the way we communicate with one another. Informants' narratives suggest that sign language and the practice of interpreting often touched upon a larger pattern of socialization and status differences between women and men. The discussion then turns to consider how these differences affect the cultural identity of hearing sons versus hearing daughters.
Increased resin collection after parasite challenge: a case of self-medication in honey bees?

The constant pressure posed by parasites has caused species throughout the animal kingdom to evolve suites of mechanisms to resist infection. Individual barriers and physiological defenses are considered the main barriers against parasites in invertebrate species. However, behavioral traits and other non-immunological defenses can also effectively reduce parasite transmission and infection intensity. In social insects, behaviors that reduce colony-level parasite loads are termed “social immunity.” One example of a behavioral defense is resin collection. Honey bees forage for plant-produced resins and incorporate them into their nest architecture. This use of resins can reduce chronic elevation of an individual bee's immune response. Since high activation of individual immunity can impose colony-level fitness costs, collection of resins may benefit both the individual and colony fitness. However the use of resins as a more direct defense against pathogens is unclear. Here we present evidence that honey bee colonies may self-medicate with plant resins in response to a fungal infection. Self-medication is generally defined as an individual responding to infection by ingesting or harvesting non-nutritive compounds or plant materials. Our results show that colonies increase resin foraging rates after a challenge with a fungal parasite (Ascophaera apis: chalkbrood or CB). Additionally, colonies experimentally enriched with resin had decreased infection intensities of this fungal parasite. If considered self-medication, this is a particularly unique example because it operates at the colony level. Most instances of self-medication involve pharmacophagy, whereby individuals change their diet in response to direct infection with a parasite. In this case with honey bees, resins are not ingested but used within the hive by adult bees exposed to fungal spores. Thus the colony, as the unit of selection, may be responding to infection through self-medication by increasing the number of individuals that forage for resin.
Eradication of island invasives: practical actions and results achieved

Abstract The first international conference on eradication of all types of introduced species was held at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, under the auspices of the Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN, from 19 to 23 February 2001.
Infarct Expansion Versus Extension: Two Different Complications of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract Precordial S-T segment mapping studies have suggested that extension of acute transmural myocardial infarcts occurs in up to 80 percent of patients within 6 days. To determine the morphologic nature of extension 76 consecutive acute myocardial infarcts aged 30 days or less were studied. All infarcts had been clinically diagnosed and proved at autopsy. Extension (histologically more recent foci of contraction band necrosis around an infarct) was found in only 13 infarcts (17 percent). However, “expansion” (acute dilatation and thinning of the area of infarction not explained by additional myocardial necrosis) was present in 45 infarcts (59 percent). Severe expansion did not develop until 5 days after infarction and was greater with transmural and first infarcts. Clinically diagnosed extension manifested by new pain, S-T segment elevation, rise in serum creatine kinase level and increased congestive heart failure occurred in 14 of the 76 patients (18 percent). At autopsy these clinical extensions were associated with expansion alone in three patients, with extension alone in two and with both in nine. The study shows that expansion is a common complication of acute myocardial infarction that can worsen cardiac function through left ventricular dilatation and can mimic or possibly cause infarct extension. In contrast, extension with additional myocardial necrosis is an infrequent accompaniment of acute myocardial infarction and is usually a result of hypoperfusion.
Innovation capacity of food chains: a novel approach

Our study aims at being the starting point for a novel approach of investigating the innovation capacity of and the relationships in the whole chain. We combine the analyses of the innovation process and the innovation system, thereby, following the theory of the new economy. Extensive data collection was conducted in the traditional food sector with SME-food manufacturers (FMs) and their suppliers and customers, in order to compare a large number of individual chains by applying multivariate statistical methods. Our study reveals that the comparison of individual chains delivers valuable results. It is shown that chains with three different types of innovation capacity exist in the traditional food sector: low, medium and high. These chains differ according their chain relationship quality in terms of trust, reputation and conflict. For future research, we suggest to gradually increase the degree of complexity of the studied system.
Constitutive Interferon-Inducible Protein 16-Inflammasome Activation during Epstein-Barr Virus Latency I, II, and III in B and Epithelial Cells

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), etiologically linked with human B-cell malignancies and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), establishes three types of latency that facilitate its episomal genome persistence and evasion of host immune responses. The innate inflammasome responses recognize the pathogen-associated molecular patterns which lead into the association of a cytoplasmic sensor such as NLRP3 and AIM2 proteins or nuclear interferon-inducible protein 16 (IFI16) with adaptor ASC protein (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein with a caspase recruitment domain) and effector procaspase-1, resulting in active caspase-1 formation which cleaves the proforms of inflammatory interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, and IL-33 cytokines. Whether inflammasome responses recognize and respond to EBV genome in the nuclei was not known. We observed evidence of inflammasome activation, such as the activation of caspase-1 and cleavage of pro-IL-1β, -IL-18, and -IL-33, in EBV latency I Raji cells, latency II NPC C666-1 cells, and latency III lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL). Interaction between ASC with IFI16 but not with AIM2 or NLRP3 was detected in all three latencies and during EBV infection of primary human B cells. IFI16 and cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33 were detected in the exosomes from Raji cells and LCL. Though EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and EBV-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) are common to all forms of EBV latency, caspase-1 cleavage was not detected in cells expressing EBNA1 alone, and blocking EBER transcription did not inhibit caspase-1 cleavage. In fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, IFI16 colocalized with the EBV genome in LCL and Raji cell nuclei. These studies demonstrated that constant sensing of latent EBV genome by IFI16 in all types of latency results in the constitutive induction of the inflammasome and IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33 maturation.
STAT signaling in mammary gland differentiation, cell survival and tumorigenesis

The mammary gland is a unique organ that undergoes extensive and profound changes during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation and involution. The changes that take place during puberty involve large-scale proliferation and invasion of the fat-pad. During pregnancy and lactation, the mammary cells are exposed to signaling pathways that inhibit apoptosis, induce proliferation and invoke terminal differentiation. Finally, during involution the mammary gland is exposed to milk stasis, programmed cell death and stromal reorganization to clear the differentiated milk-producing cells. Not surprisingly, the signaling pathways responsible for bringing about these changes in breast cells are often subverted during the process of tumorigenesis. The STAT family of proteins is involved in every stage of mammary gland development, and is also frequently implicated in breast tumorigenesis. While the roles of STAT3 and STAT5 during mammary gland development and tumorigenesis are well studied, others members, e.g. STAT1 and STAT6, have only recently been observed to play a role in mammary gland biology. Continued investigation into the STAT protein network in the mammary gland will likely yield new biomarkers and risk factors for breast cancer, and may also lead to novel prophylactic or therapeutic strategies against breast cancer.
Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas.

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas are low-grade malignancies, but their biological behavior cannot be stratified solely on the basis of histopathologic criteria. Aside from mutations in β-catenin and lack of genetic changes common to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, little is known about the chromosomal alterations in solid pseudopapillary neoplasms. We applied array comparative genomic hybridization to a series of 12 patients. The average age was 31 years (range 12–52 years) with 10 female and 2 male patients. The average tumor size was 7.3 cm (range 2–24 cm) with five lesions greater than 5 cm. All cases had ‘bland’ cytology without significant pleomorphism or high nuclear grade, but seven cases demonstrated at least one of these potentially aggressive histopathologic features: size >5 cm, tumor necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion and peripancreatic invasion. Clinically, one lesion demonstrated aggressive behavior. By array comparative genomic hybridization, chromosomal losses and/or gains were identified in eight cases; five cases had multiple (five or more) alterations. The most common alterations were gains at 13q, 17q, 1q and 8q. Six of the seven cases with at least one aggressive feature had genetic alterations, while only two cases without adverse features had genetic alterations (P=0.024). The single clinically aggressive tumor exhibited seven chromosomal gains and four aggressive histopathologic features. Our study demonstrates that genetic alterations detected by array comparative genomic hybridization are common in solid pseudopapillary neoplasms of the pancreas. Additional study and longer follow-up are needed to determine if these genetic abnormalities could help predict clinical behavior in these neoplasms.
Evolution of Structure and Dynamics for a Family of Disordered Proteins

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) are frequently found in vital cellular pathways including transcriptional activation and signal transduction. There is however a dearth of atomic models available for IDPs, hampering insight into how the structural ensemble is specified by the amino acid sequence. Nuclear Overhauser Effect (NOE) data was collected from the intrinsically disordered transactivation domain of a series of p53 (p53TAD) orthologues to investigate the conservation of dynamic behavior. The data suggest the presence of recurring but variable structural elements among the orthologues in the region aligning with the ubiquitin ligase MDM2 binding domain of human p53TAD, and to a lesser extent in the region correlating to the RPA binding domain of human p53TAD. The data also show significant variation in the backbone dynamics at these regions. The recurrence of these structural features across evolutionary time as suggested by the NOE data gives some credence to the idea that transient secondary structures within IDPs are constrained, though with possibly varying degrees of dynamic behavior. Future atomic modeling of the structural ensembles of these homologues should allow for a better understanding of the effect of residue similarity on the final structural ensemble in IDPs.
CORRELATES OF QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which objective (demographic) and subjective (self-reported health and role) domains predicted quality of life among 153 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Subjects completed the Life Situation Survey, a measure of quality of life, a demographic from (sex, education, age, MS duration, employment status, marital status), the MS-Related Symptoms Scale (motor, brain stem, sensory, mental/emotions, elimination subscales), and the 15-Item Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Self-Care Scale for MS Persons (fine/gross motor, communicating, recreation/socializing, intimacy subscales). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to enter three blocks of variables (demographic, symptom, and ADL domains), and stepwise was used to enter variables within each block. The final model resulted in two health domains (mental/emotions and sensory symptoms) and two role domains (intimacy and recreation/socializing) that predicted 61% of the variance in quality of life of persons with MS.
Sub-pixel registration of moving objects in visible and thermal imagery with adaptive segmentation

Sub-pixel registration is critical in object tracking and image super-resolution. Motion segmentation algorithms using the gradient can be applied prior to image registration to improve its accuracy and computational runtime. This paper proposes a new segmentation method that is adaptive variation segmentation in the form of local variances taken at different block sizes to be applied to the sum of absolute image differences. In this paper, two motion segmentation and four image registration methods are tested to optimize the registration accuracy in visible and thermal imagery. Two motion segmentation methods, flux tensor and adaptive variation segmentation, are quantitatively tested by comparing calculated regions of movement with accepted areas of motion. Four image registration methods, including two optical flow, feature correspondence, and correlation methods, are tested in two steps: gross shift and sub-pixel shift estimations. Gross shift estimation accuracy is assessed by comparing estimated shifts against a ground truth. Sub-pixel shift estimation accuracy is assessed by simulated, down-sampled images. Evaluations show that the best segmentation results are achieved using either the flux tensor or adaptive segmentation methods. For well-defined objects, feature correspondence and correlation registration produce the most accurate gross shift registrations. For not well-defined objects, the correlation method produces the most accurate gross and sub-pixel shift registration.
Severity and Treatment of Alcohol Withdrawal in Elderly Versus Younger Patients

We conducted a retrospective chart review of older (n = 48; mean age = 69) and younger (n = 36; mean age = 30) patients who were admitted to residential/inpatient treatment for alcohol withdrawal and dependence. Although the two age groups did not differ in terms of recent drinking history, the elderly group had significantly more withdrawal symptoms for a longer duration than the younger group. The elderly group also had more symptoms of cognitive impairment, daytime sleepiness, weakness, and high blood pressure. Finally, no significant differences were found between age groups in either the dosage or number of days of detoxification medication, although a trend was found for more days of medication in the elderly. We conclude that alcohol withdrawal may be more severe in elderly than in younger persons. Accordingly, treatment may take longer and should target the specific profile of symptoms that characterize alcohol withdrawal in the elderly.
Fatty acid profiles of citrus juice and seed lipids

Abstract Fatty acids from the juice and seeds of six citrus varieties were quantitatively determined for the region C12–C26. The total number of juice acids observed ranged from eighty-one (Key limes) to one hundred and two (Eureka lemons) and the total number of seed acids ranged from sixty-two (Valencia oranges) to sixty-eight (Key limes and Eureka lemons). Thirty-eight different iso and twenty-six anteiso acids were observed for the first time in edible plant material in concentrations ranging from less than 0·001 per cent to greater than 1 per cent. These single branched acids were verified by comparison of retention times with standards and by their characteristic mass spectrographic fragmentation patterns.
Endogenous Sex Hormones, Metabolic Syndrome, and Diabetes in Men and Women

Endogenous sex hormones predict impairments of glucose regulation. Cross-sectional studies suggest that lower levels of testosterone in men and higher levels in women increase risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes, whereas lower levels of sex hormone binding globulin in both men and women increase risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In a systematic review, we summarize existing longitudinal studies, which suggest similar patterns. However, these studies are often limited to a single sex steroid measure. Whether these associations are primarily a marker of adiposity, and whether these associations differ between younger eugonadal vs older hypogonadal adults is also uncertain. The impact of exogenous sex steroid therapy may not reflect relationships between sex hormones and impaired glucose regulation that occur without supplementation. Therefore, examination of endogenous sex steroid trajectories and obesity trajectories within individuals might aid our understanding of how sex steroids contribute to glucose regulation.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor therapy in drug-induced agranulocytosis.

Drug-induced agranulocytosis in the outpatient setting is a rare but potentially fatal adverse effect of many classes of medications. Five patients with this disorder presented to Yale-New Haven (Conn) Hospital during 1990 through 1992. Three patients treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor and two patients treated with routine care were studied for relevant clinical outcomes. Treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was associated with a shorter duration of neutropenia and a decreased length of hospital stay, consistent with recent case reports. Despite the high cost of the drug, treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor was found to be cost-effective for patients with uncomplicated drug-induced agranulocytosis. (Arch Intern Med. 1993;153:2500-2501)
Secretion of plasminogen activator by the human macrophage-like cell line, GCT: separation from colony-stimulating and erythropoiesis-enhancing activities.

Summary. The human macrophage-like cell line, GCT, elaborates monokines such as colony-stimulating activity (CSA) and erythropoiesis-enhancing activity (EEA) which stimulate the growth of primitive blood progenitors in culture. These cells also secrete a fibrinolysis activator (FA), which can be identified if cells are cultured in serum-free medium. FA was found to have a similar molecular weight to CSA and EEA by gel filtration but could be separated from them by ion exchange chromatography. Subcellular fractionation of GCT cells indicated that fibrinolytic activity was present in the cell membranes and cytosol, whereas CSA and EEA were present only in the cytosol. FA resembled urokinase in molecular weight and its strict requirement for plasminogen as a substrate. Double immunodiffusion of GCT activator and urokinase against anti-urokinase antiserum resulted in a line of identity, and incubation of activator with antiserum resulted in loss of its fibrinolytic activity. Thus, GCT activator was similar, if not identical to the plasminogen activator, urokinase.
Adhesion and the cold welding of gold-silver thin films

This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and theoretical study of adhesion in cold-welded Au–Ag interfaces that are relevant to the fabrication of organic electronic structures. Focused ion beam /transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy techniques are used to reveal interfacial impurities associated with the cold welding of nanoscale Au and Ag thin films. A theoretical model is also developed and used to predict the contact profiles around impurities between cold-welded thin films. The model is shown to provide new insights into how adhesion affects the surface contacts that occur during cold welding. The implications of the results are then discussed for the design of cold-welding processes.
Degradation azo dyes by environmental microorganisms and helminths

The degradation of azo dyes by environmental microorganisms, fungi, and helminths is reviewed. Azo dyes are used in a wide variety of products and can be found in the effluent of most sewage treatment facilities. Substantial quantities of these dyes have been deposited in the environment, particularly in streams and rivers. Azo dyes were shown to affect microbial activities and microbial population sizes in the sediments and in the water columns of aquatic habitats. Only a few aerobic bacteria have been found to reduce azo dyes under aerobic conditions, and little is known about the process. A substantial number of anaerobic bacteria capable of azo dye reduction have been reported. The enzyme responsible for azo dye reduction has been partially purified, and characterization of the enzyme is proceeding. The nematode Ascaris lumbricoides and the cestode Moniezia expanza have been reported to reduce azo dyes anaerobically. Recently the fungus Phanerochaete chrysoporium was reported to mineralize azo dyes via a peroxidation-mediated pathway. A possible degradation pathway for the mineralization of azo dye is proposed and future research needs are discussed.