cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of External Beam Radiotherapy on Endocrine Function in Patients with Carcinoma of the Prostate

Serum levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones were determined prospectively in 59 patients with carcinoma of the prostate treated curatively with external beam radiotherapy. Hormone levels were determined before the initiation of therapy and up to 2 years following completion of therapy. Testosterone levels remained unchanged but dihydrotestosterone levels decreased slightly. Follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormone levels increased significantly during therapy and remained elevated for up to 2 years after therapy. These findings are consistent with low dose irradiation of the testis.
Effect of Age on Opioid Prescribing, Overdose, and Mortality in Massachusetts, 2011 to 2015.

Objectives To examine the effect of age on the likelihood of PIP of opioids and the effect of PIP on adverse outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Data from multiple state agencies in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2015. Participants Adult Massachusetts residents (N=3,078,163) who received at least one prescription opioid during the study period; approximately half (1,589,365) aged 50 and older. Measurements We measured exposure to 5 types of PIP: high‐dose opioids, coprescription with benzodiazepines, multiple opioid prescribers, multiple opioid pharmacies, and continuous opioid therapy without a pain diagnosis. We examined 3 adverse outcomes: nonfatal opioid overdose, fatal opioid overdose, and all‐cause mortality. Results The rate of any PIP increased with age, from 2% of individuals age 18 to 29 to 14% of those aged 50 and older. Older adults also had higher rates of exposure to 2 or more different types of PIP (40–49, 2.5%; 50–69, 5%; ≥70, 4%). Of covariates assessed, older age was the greatest predictor of PIP. In analyses stratified according to age, any PIP and specific types of PIP were associated with nonfatal overdose, fatal overdose, and all‐cause mortality in younger and older adults. Conclusion Older adults are more likely to be exposed to PIP, which increases their risk of adverse events. Strategies to reduce exposure to PIP and to improve outcomes in those already exposed will be instrumental to addressing the opioid crisis in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:128–132, 2019.
Measuring Value in Internal Medicine Residency Training Hospitals Using Publicly Reported Measures

Graduate medical education (GME) lacks measures of resident preparation for high-quality, cost-conscious practice. The authors used publicly reported teaching hospital value measures to compare internal medicine residency programs on high-value care training and to validate these measures against program director perceptions of value. Program-level value training scores were constructed using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program hospital quality and cost-efficiency data. Correlations with Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine Annual Survey high-value care training measures were examined using logistic regression. For every point increase in program-level VBP score, residency directors were more likely to agree that GME programs have a responsibility to contain health care costs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.18, P = .04), their faculty model high-value care (aOR 1.07, P = .03), and residents are prepared to make high-value medical decisions (aOR 1.07, P = .09). Publicly reported clinical data offer valid measures of GME value training.
A Genetic Algorithm Based Approach for Data Fusion at Grammar Level

Multimodal interaction is a type of Human-Computer Interaction, which involves a combination of multifarious modalities to effectuate a task. Human-to-human interactions necessitate the use of all modalities such as speech, gestures, facial expressions and assorted media available for brainy communications. The single modalities often introduce the ambivalent interpretation of the ideas being conveyed. Multimodal interaction plays a major role in resolving such ambiguities. The various modalities used can be combined as a way to recover the semantics of the messages involved. This strategy, known as data fusion is the main focus of the research presented. This paper proposes a new genetic algorithm based approach for achieving intelligent data fusion for inferred contextfree grammars. Grammar inference methods are applied to generate the grammars, and the resulting production rules are fused to generate a correct grammar. Related results, their implications, and future work are presented.
Sub-Modular Circuit Design for Self-Balancing Series-Connected IGBTs in a Modular Multilevel Converter

Series-connected IGBTs, when properly controlled, operate similarly to a single device with a much higher voltage capacity. Integrating series IGBTs into a Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) can reduce its complexity without compromising the voltage capacity. This paper presents the circuit design on the sub-modular level of a MMC in which all the switching devices are series-connected IGBTs. The voltage sharing among the series IGBTs are regulated in a self-balancing manner. Therefore, no central series IGBT controller is needed, which greatly reduces the sensing and communication complexities, increasing the flexibility and expandability. Hardware experiment results demonstrate that the series IGBTs are able to self-regulate the voltage sharing in a fast and accurate manner and the system can operate similarly to a sub-module in a MMC. Current
An Examination of the Present and Predictions for the Future of Intercollegiate Athletics

This study forecasts future issues in NCAA Division I FBS intercollegiate athletics. The research design employed the Delphi technique to survey an expert panel, consisting of 12 athletic directors and associate athletic directors from FBS institutions, over three rounds to ascertain what issues are likely to occur over the next five to seven years and whether or not these issues will have a significant impact on the way intercollegiate athletics operates. Results of the study revealed eight issues that were likely to occur over the next five to seven years. Four of these issues related to the economic sector of the environment, one related to the legal sector, and three related to the sociocultural. Further, 14 of the issues were rated by the expert panel as having a significant level of impact if they were to occur. Recommendations are made based on the forecasts by the expert panel.
Mitigation of off-target toxicity in CRISPR-Cas9 screens for essential non-coding elements

Pooled CRISPR-Cas9 screens are a powerful method for functionally characterizing regulatory elements in the non-coding genome, but off-target effects in these experiments have not been systematically evaluated. Here, we investigate Cas9, dCas9, and CRISPRi/a off-target activity in screens for essential regulatory elements. The sgRNAs with the largest effects in genome-scale screens for essential CTCF loop anchors in K562 cells were not single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) that disrupted gene expression near the on-target CTCF anchor. Rather, these sgRNAs had high off-target activity that, while only weakly correlated with absolute off-target site number, could be predicted by the recently developed GuideScan specificity score. Screens conducted in parallel with CRISPRi/a, which do not induce double-stranded DNA breaks, revealed that a distinct set of off-targets also cause strong confounding fitness effects with these epigenome-editing tools. Promisingly, filtering of CRISPRi libraries using GuideScan specificity scores removed these confounded sgRNAs and enabled identification of essential regulatory elements.
PDZD8 mediates a Rab7-dependent interaction of the ER with late endosomes and lysosomes.

Contacts between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and other membranes are hot spots for protein-mediated lipid transport between the 2 adjacent bilayers. Compiling a molecular inventory of lipid transport proteins present at these sites is a premise to the elucidation of their function. Here we show that PDZD8, an intrinsic membrane protein of the ER with a lipid transport module of the SMP domain family, concentrates at contacts between the ER and late endosomes/lysosomes, where it interacts with GTP-Rab7. These findings suggest that PDZD8 may cooperate with other proteins that function at the ER–endo/lysosome interface in coordinating endocytic flow with lipid transport between endocytic membranes and the ER.
Arabidopsis 4-COUMAROYL-COA LIGASE 8 contributes to the biosynthesis of the benzenoid ring of coenzyme Q in peroxisomes.

Plants have evolved the ability to derive the benzenoid moiety of the respiratory cofactor and antioxidant, ubiquinone (coenzyme Q), either from the β-oxidative metabolism of p-coumarate or from the peroxidative cleavage of kaempferol. Here, isotopic feeding assays, gene co-expression analysis and reverse genetics identified Arabidopsis 4-COUMARATE-COA LIGASE 8 (4-CL8; At5g38120) as a contributor to the β-oxidation of p-coumarate for ubiquinone biosynthesis. The enzyme is part of the same clade (V) of acyl-activating enzymes than At4g19010, a p-coumarate CoA ligase known to play a central role in the conversion of p-coumarate into 4-hydroxybenzoate. A 4-cl8 T-DNA knockout displayed a 20% decrease in ubiquinone content compared with wild-type plants, while 4-CL8 overexpression boosted ubiquinone content up to 150% of the control level. Similarly, the isotopic enrichment of ubiquinone's ring was decreased by 28% in the 4-cl8 knockout as compared with wild-type controls when Phe-[Ring-13C6] was fed to the plants. This metabolic blockage could be bypassed via the exogenous supply of 4-hydroxybenzoate, the product of p-coumarate β-oxidation. Arabidopsis 4-CL8 displays a canonical peroxisomal targeting sequence type 1, and confocal microscopy experiments using fused fluorescent reporters demonstrated that this enzyme is imported into peroxisomes. Time course feeding assays using Phe-[Ring-13C6] in a series of Arabidopsis single and double knockouts blocked in the β-oxidative metabolism of p-coumarate (4-cl8; at4g19010; at4g19010 × 4-cl8), flavonol biosynthesis (flavanone-3-hydroxylase), or both (at4g19010 × flavanone-3-hydroxylase) indicated that continuous high light treatments (500 µE m-2 s-1; 24 h) markedly stimulated the de novo biosynthesis of ubiquinone independently of kaempferol catabolism.
Wilderness Dermatology: Bugs, Plants, and Other Nuisances That May Ruin Your Hike

Spending time outdoors can be rewarding. However, exposure to the sun, insect bites, and plant exposures may result in a wide range of dermatologic manifestations. In this article, we describe potential cutaneous manifestations of common wilderness exposures in New England including photodermatoses from prolonged sun exposure, phytodermatoses from plant exposures, and arthropod-bite reactions from common insects (mosquitos, spiders, ticks, hymenoptera, mites and chiggers). The article will also address preventive and treatment strategies which may help physicians and their patients better prepare for spending time in the wilderness. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2019-02.asp].
Integrating creativity into career interventions for twice-exceptional students in the United States: A review of recent literature

In the United States, scholars both in and out of gifted education have been studying twice-exceptional students for the past several decades. These students often face significant challenges and b...
Pregnancy, Birth, and Infant Outcomes Among Women Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

Introduction Being deaf or hard of hearing can be marginalizing and associated with inequitable health outcomes. Until recently, there were no U.S. population-based studies of pregnancy outcomes among deaf or hard of hearing women. In light of inconsistent findings in the limited available literature, this study sought to conduct a more rigorous study using population-based, longitudinal linked data to compare pregnancy complications, birth characteristics, and neonatal outcomes between deaf or hard of hearing and non-deaf or hard of hearing women. Methods Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study in 2019 using the Massachusetts Pregnancy to Early Life Longitudinal data system. This system links all Massachusetts birth certificates, fetal death reports, and delivery- and nondelivery-related hospital discharge records for all infants and their mothers. The study included women with singleton deliveries who gave birth in Massachusetts between January 1998 and December 2013. Results The deaf or hard of hearing women had an increased risk of chronic medical conditions and pregnancy complications including pre-existing diabetes, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and placental abruption. Deliveries to deaf or hard of hearing women were significantly associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight or very low weight, and low 1-minute Apgar score or low 5-minute Apgar score. No significant differences were found in size for gestational age, fetal distress, or stillbirth among deaf or hard of hearing women. Conclusions Findings from this 2019 study indicate that deaf or hard of hearing women are at a heightened risk for chronic conditions, pregnancy-related complications, and adverse birth outcomes and underscore the need for systematic investigation of the pregnancy- and neonatal-related risks, complications, costs, mechanisms, and outcomes of deaf or hard of hearing women.
Assessing communication skills in student pharmacists-Psychometric validation of Global Communication Rubric.

Abstract Assessing communication skills in student pharmacists Psychometric validation of the Global Communication Rubric. Objective The objective of this study was to perform psychometric validation of the Global Communication (GC) rubric. Methods The GC rubric was developed and used for the past 10 years at the institution to assess level of communication skills in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) in the PharmD program. The rubric consisted of 6 questions with the scoring criteria of 0 (failure), 1 (needs improvement), 2 (satisfactory), and 3 (excellent). Data from GC rubric scores for Classes 2010 to 2020 (1,100 students) was used to perform psychometric validation by assessing the following properties: scale reliability; face, content, construct, and predictive validity; and responsiveness. Results Internal consistency reliability was acceptable at Cronbach’s alpha of 0.78. Construct validity showed that all six items loaded highly onto one component. Responsiveness was demonstrated using uptrend of the score improvement as the students advance in the curriculum from P1 to P3 levels. Conclusion The result of this study confirmed reliability and validity of the GC rubric in evaluating communication skills of student pharmacists. Practice implications The GC rubric is valuable in evaluating short encounters in an easy and expedited manner.
Submillimeter Array Observations of CS J=14--13 Emission from the Evolved Star IRC+10216

We present imaging observations of the evolved star IRC+10216 in the CS J=14--13 line at 685.4 GHz and associated submillimeter continuum at about 2'' resolution made with the partially constructed Submillimeter Array. The CS J=14--13 line emission from the stellar envelope is well resolved both spatially and spectrally. The strong central concentration of the line emission provides direct evidence that CS is a parent molecule that forms close to the stellar photosphere, in accord with previous images of the lower excitation CS J=2--1 line and inferences from unresolved observations of vibrationally excited transitions. The continuum emission is dominated by a compact, unresolved component, consistent with the photospheric emission, that accounts for about 20% of the broadband 450 micron flux. These are the first interferometer imaging observations made in the semi-transparent 450 micron atmospheric window.
Foundry-Enabled Ge Photodiode Arrays on Si on Insulator (SOI) with On-Chip Biasing Circuit

Ge-on-Si waveguide (WG) photodiodes (PDs) with an on-chip biasing circuit are reported. A single PD has a 52-GHz bandwidth (BW) while PD arrays composed of 2 and 4 PDs have radio frequency (RF) saturation powers of -6.7 dBm at 40 GHz and -2.3 dBm at 27 GHz, respectively.
Overcoming Resistance: Implementation of 100% Simulation for First Semester Nursing Students

Abstract Clinical learning in the first semester of nursing school is often challenging and difficult for students to assimilate multiple subjects while applying clinical skills. One college of nursing created a first semester simulation experience that helped students to enhance clinical reasoning by aligning content in multiple courses, allowing for application of information, and linked clinical skills learned each week to the concept of total patient care. The resulting change to course structure combined basic physical assessment and fundamental nursing care to one course allowing students to understand the application of assessment to nursing practice and skill.
IP Preparedness for Outbreak Diseases

Outbreaks of infectious diseases will worsen, as illustrated by the recent back-to-back Ebola and Zika epidemics. The development of innovative drugs, especially in the form of vaccines, is key to minimizing future outbreaks, yet current intellectual property (IP) regimes are ineffective in supporting this goal. IP scholarship has not adequately addressed the role of IP in the development of vaccines for outbreak diseases. This Article fills that void. Through case studies on the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks, it provides the first descriptive analysis of the role of IP from the pre- to the post-outbreak stages, specifically identifying IP inefficiencies. The Article concludes that these inefficiencies result in a lack of “IP preparedness” that ultimately weakens our ability to respond effectively to outbreaks. To solve the problem, we need a blend of new and existing legal tools. This Article surveys existing solutions and proposes one such new legal mechanism: a dormant license, agreed upon in the pre-outbreak that would become active once a public health emergency is declared. This solution addresses transactional IP inefficiencies during the early stages of an outbreak and helps get vaccines to market to save lives.
Presidentially Appointed Environmental Agency Saboteurs

This essay explores situations where the president appoints an administrator to lead the EPA whose political philosophy and personal ideology diverge radically from, and are inimical to, the EPA's core mission and mandates. For purposes of this essay, such administrators are referred to as "environmental agency saboteurs." The essay offers several explanations for presidential appointment of environmental agency saboteurs, along with examples of past and present EPA saboteurs; considers a number of legal and political options available for challenging environmental agency saboteurs and whether such countervailing forces are adequate; and raises for future contemplation several options for resisting environmental agency saboteurs.
The Cambridge History of Religions in America

Part I. Background on Religious Traditions - pre-1500s Part II. Religions in the Post-Columbian New World - 1500-1680s Part III. Religious Patterns in Colonial America - 1680s-1730s Part IV. Religious Diversity in British America - 1730s-1790 Part V. American Religions in the Eighteenth-Century International Context Part VI. Thematic Essays Part I. Religion in North America Part II. Religions in the New Nation, 1790-1865 Part III. Changing Religious Realities Part IV. Religious Responses to Modern Life and Thought Part V. Comparative Essays Part VI. Religion and Other Diverse Areas Part I. The Postwar Religious World, 1945 and Following Part II. Controversial Issues in Transitional Times Part III. The World's Religions in America Part IV. Religious and Cultural Conflict in America Part V. New and Continuing Religious Realities in America Part VI. Concluding Essays.
Interest parity, fractional differencing, and the strength of attraction

Abstract This article discusses the strength of attraction in the cointegration of foreign exchange futures prices and their own cash prices under a cost-of-carry futures pricing model. The memories of the residuals in cointegration regression are analyzed by using the fractional cointegration of Cheung and Lai (1993) and the data-tapered method of Hurvich and Ray (1995) with fractional-difference time-series models. The investigation includes the foreign exchange futures and cash prices of the Swiss franc, the Japanese yen, the Deutsche mark, and the British pound. Although the empirical results indicate the existence of cointegration for the foreign exchange futures and cash prices, the strength of attraction is relatively weak.
Dark side or insight? Yik Yak and culture on campus

This paper provides results from a pilot study of Yik Yak at one STEM-oriented research university in the Midwest. This paper reports on two aspects of the anonymous messaging app, Yik Yak: location-dependence and purposes for writing. Suggestions for improved research protocols are included.
Ribonucleic Acid Metabolism in Lymphocytes Stimulated by Phytohemagglutinin II. RAPIDLY SYNTHESIZED RIBONUCLEIC ACID AND THE PRODUCTION OF RIBOSOMAL RIBONUCLEIC ACID

Abstract Human peripheral lymphocytes are stimulated to change, in vitro, from a resting state to one of progressive enlargement, culminating in mitosis, by treatment with Phaseolus vulgaris phytohemagglutinin. The sedimentation characteristics and fate of rapidly synthesized RNA have been studied in this system after 20 hours of stimulation with phytohemagglutinin, a time when RNA synthesis has been accelerated but DNA synthesis has not begun. The following findings are reported. 1. RNA synthesized during any short interval was found to be largely polydisperse in sedimentation behavior, with s values predominantly greater than 28 S. This material did not serve as a macromolecular precursor to ribosomal RNA or to other discretely sedimenting RNA species. Base composition determinations, by 32P incorporation, indicated that this material was neither ribosome-like nor DNA-like, since it had a high uridylate and low adenylate content. Estimates of the half-life of the polydisperse RNA gave a range of ½ to 2 hours. 2. The sequence of events in the production of ribosomal RNA was examined in detail in the lymphocyte system and was found to be essentially similar to that reported for HeLa cells: a 45 S precursor is converted, during a period of 15 min, to 32 S and 18 S molecules. The 32 S molecule is then converted, during the next 1 to 2 hours, to the 28 S ribosomal RNA. 3. Lymphocytes were found to be relatively resistant to the effects of actinomycin D, requiring longer times of exposure, and larger doses, to produce the inhibitory effects on RNA synthesis which have been reported with other cell systems.
Easing the Pain of Divorce Through Children's Literature

This article describes children's typical reactions to divorce, as well as practical techniques that teachers and caregivers can use in helping children deal with this issue. The use of bibliotherapy is described as a means to help children. An annotated bibliography of select literature is provided, along with a description of developmentally appropriate activities than can be used with these titles.
ASSEMBLING PIECES IN THE DIVERSITY PUZZLE: A FIELD MODEL

Schools of social work have long struggled with issues of diversity and how best to train students to work effectively with diverse populations. This article offers a model that infuses multicultural content into the field curriculum and enhances faculty diversity. It describes how diversity has become one of the major objectives of one school's field practice seminars through three unique features: (1) the pairing of community facilitators with faculty facilitators to increase instructors' awareness of diversity, (2) the use of ongoing workshops to train facilitators to address issues of diversity, and (3) the conscious inclusion of diversity content in the seminar curriculum through a variety of methods. This article describes the initiative, its development and key features, evaluation methods, and implications for its adoption at other schools of social work.
Slowing of magnetic reconnection concurrent with weakening plasma inflows and increasing collisionality in strongly-driven laser-plasma experiments

An evolution of magnetic reconnection behavior, from fast jets to the slowing of reconnection and the establishment of a stable current sheet, has been observed in strongly driven, β≲20 laser-produced plasma experiments. This process has been inferred to occur alongside a slowing of plasma inflows carrying the oppositely directed magnetic fields as well as the evolution of plasma conditions from collisionless to collisional. High-resolution proton radiography has revealed unprecedented detail of the forced interaction of magnetic fields and super-Alfvenic electron jets (V_{jet}∼20V_{A}) ejected from the reconnection region, indicating that two-fluid or collisionless magnetic reconnection occurs early in time. The absence of jets and the persistence of strong, stable magnetic fields at late times indicates that the reconnection process slows down, while plasma flows stagnate and plasma conditions evolve to a cooler, denser, more collisional state. These results demonstrate that powerful initial plasma flows are not sufficient to force a complete reconnection of magnetic fields, even in the strongly driven regime.
Hormone Replacement Therapy

Coronary heart disease continues to be an infrequent disease in premenopausal women, even in women with diabetes mellitus; however, after menopause (the time when estrogen production decreases) the prevalence of coronary heart disease in women increases with increasing age and reaches that of men by age 75 years. Women with premature menopause (<35 years of age) regardless of etiology (either natural or after ovariectomy) have a twofold higher risk of coronary heart disease (Wenger et al. 1993). These findings led to the conclusion that estrogens are cardioprotective and play a major role for the low prevalence of cardiovascular disease in pre-menopausal women; however, the role of estrogen (and other hormones) in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease is still under investigation.
The Archive as Dumpster

In four exploratory theoretical gestures (appraise, dispose, hoard and mediate), I propose the ‘archive as dumpster’ as a framework for returning to the physical conditions of memory, where “picking through the trash” subverts traditional archival methodologies by insisting on the very material consequences of a culture inculcated in networked digital communications. I make an argument that by posing the archive as a mediatic question (Parikka 2013), we can begin to account for the ways in which the perceived immateriality and weightlessness of our data is in fact with immense humanistic, environmental, political, and ethical repercussions. It is also a means by which we come to understand who we are, looking forward. In both cases, pitting the archive’s orderly ambitions against the dumpster’s stinking mess reveals a ‘call of things’ (Bennett 2011); the slow and often distanced process of disposal and waste to remind us who we are, in and over time, in and out of our bodies, increasingly under the impression of a dematerialised engagement with our stuff.
Launch Vehicles of the Future: Earth to Near-Earth Space

None of us thought, when this colloquium was scheduled, that the timing would enable it to become a celebration as well. The launch, after years of postponements, of the Hubble Space Telescope, has cast a galactic glow over the proceedings here this week. But at the same time, the frustrating delays caused by the collapse in 1986 and very slow regeneration of the U.S. space launch capabilities since then make this discussion of near-earth access very pointed.
The linked φψ chain plot for visual comparison of the backbone conformation of peptides and proteins

A new graphic method is described for presenting in two dimensions the phi and psi dihedral angles that describe the backbone conformation of a peptide or protein chain. For each residue in sequence, phi and psi are plotted as dots on the y-axis above the next two points on the x-axis representing the residue number. Each dot is linked to the next dot by a slanting line segment (link) and each cis-peptide bond (omega approximately 0 degrees) between residues X and Y is indicated by marking dots psi X and phi Y with a diamond. This linked phi psi chain plot is more useful than an unlinked phi psi chain plot for visually recognizing helices, sheets and turns and for graphically comparing several protein structures. Overlaying the linked phi psi chain plots for 15 beta-hairpins classified as type-I' beta-turns revealed that three were significantly different from the rest. The dihedral angles (mean +/- standard deviation) of the loop residues (L1, L2) for a cluster of 12 beta-hairpins with an inverse-common, type-I' beta-turn (phi L1 = 52 +/- 7 degrees, psi L1 = 40 +/- 8 degrees, phi L2 = 80 +/- 9 degrees, psi L2 = -1 +/- 13 degrees) are similar to the standard dihedral angles for the type-1' turn (60, 30, 90 and 0 degrees, respectively).
A linear dependence of F/sub min/ on frequency for TET's

The minimum noise figure of a FET, expressed in decibels, is shown to increase approximately linearly with frequency to frequencies approaching the FET's f/sub max/. This observation is useful for extrapolating noise figures and provides a simple frequency-of-merit. >
Cell-free translation of messenger RNA coding for a precursor of human calcitonin.

Abstract Polyadenylated RNA, extracted from a human medullary thyroid carcinoma, was translated in cell-free systems prepared from wheat germ and reticulocyte lysates. The major product of the translations was a protein of 15,000 M R which was immunoprecipitated specifically with an antiserum to synthetic human calcitonin. Addition to the translation reactions of microsomal membranes, prepared from canine pancreas, resulted in the partial disappearance of the 15,000 M R polypeptide and the concomitant appearance of a smaller peptide (11,000 M R ), also immunoprecipitated specifically by antisera to calcitonin. These results indicate that human calcitonin is synthesized in the form of a precursor of 15,000 M R and suggest that the precursor contains a leader sequence that is cleaved from the polypeptide by enzymes associated with microsomal membranes.
Neonatal experiences of newborns with full trisomy 18.

ABSTRACTPURPOSETo provide information about neonatal experiences for newborns with full trisomy 18 (t18).SUBJECTSMothers of 21 newborns with full t18 (13 survivors; 8 who died prior to mothers' participation in the study).DESIGNMixed method, descriptive, online survey.METHODSSubjects completed an on
Alienation as Death: Technology, Capital, and the Degradation of Everyday Life in Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine

Elmer Rice's 1923 play The Adding Machine is an exploration of the human effects of the replacement of workers by machines and a commentary on capitalist rationalization. It has continuing relevanc...
The Development of Distributive Justice Orientations: Contextual Influences on Children's Resource Allocations

Previous research on the development of distributive justice decisions, by centering largely on situations in which rewards for work productivity are to be allocated, has shed little light on the child's developing ability to select the justice norm most appropriate to the situation. Children 5, 9, and 13 years of age were asked to allocate resources and judge the fairness of alternative decision rules in situations to which either equity, equality, or need norms were especially applicable. As predicted, young children were insensitive to contextual information, generally preferring to allocate resources equally, whereas older children tailored their decisions appropriately to the situation. The fact that developmental trends differed from situation to situation points to the importance of adopting a contextual perspective on the development of distributive justice orientations.
How Fast Does the GluR1Qflip Channel Open

Opening of a ligand-gated ion channel is the step at which the binding of a neurotransmitter is transduced into the electrical signal by allowing ions to flow through the transmembrane channel, thereby altering the postsynaptic membrane potential. We report the kinetics for the opening of the GluR1Qflip channel, an α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunit of the ionotropic glutamate receptors. Using a laser-pulse photolysis technique that permits glutamate to be liberated photolytically from γ-O-(α-carboxy-2-nitrobenzyl)glutamate (caged glutamate) with a time constant of ∼30 μs, we show that, after the binding of glutamate, the channel opened with a rate constant of (2.9 ± 0.2) × 104 s–1 and closed with a rate constant of (2.1 ± 0.1) × 103 s–1. The observed shortest rise time (20–80% of the receptor current response), i.e. the fastest time by which the GluR1Qflip channel can open, was predicted to be 35 μs. This value is three times shorter than those previously reported. The minimal kinetic mechanism for channel opening consists of binding of two glutamate molecules, with the channel-opening probability being 0.93 ± 0.10. These findings identify GluR1Qflip as one of the temporally efficient receptors that transduce the binding of chemical signals (i.e. glutamate) into an electrical impulse.
Quasi equilibria for growth economies

Abstract We find preferences that discount utility from future consumption yet violate the standard growth condition in representative-agent endowment economies. Such economies have no competitive equilibria, but have quasi equilibria. The supporting price systems include a type of speculative bubble.
Flow dependence of 2-D temperature distributions induced in the perfused canine kidney by ultrasound.

The influence of perfusate flow rate on the two-dimensional (2-D) temperature distributions induced by hyperthermia in the canine kidney was evaluated. Localized hyperthermia was induced by ultraso...
Anesthetic management in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP): a case report

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare congenital disorder of connective tissue, which has significant implications on anesthetic management of affected patients, e.g., application of difficult airway algorithm, avoiding any trauma during venous cannulation. FOP has received very limited reviews in the published anesthesia literature. We describe perioperative care of a 21-year-old female with established diagnosis of FOP presenting for hysteroscopy followed by dilatation and curettage. Multiorgan abnormalities of FOP are reviewed and available anesthetic options are analyzed and compared.
Thermal conductivity of fusion solid breeder materials

Several simple and useful formulae for estimating the thermal conductivity of lithium-containing ceramic tritium breeder materials for fusion reactor blankets are given. These formulae account for the effects of irradiation, as well as solid breeder configuration, i.e., monolith or a packed bed. In the latter case, a coated-sphere concept is found more attractive in incorporating beryllia (a neutron multiplier) into the blanket than a random mixture of solid breeder and beryllia spheres.
Computer Task Application Use by Professional Health Educators: Implications for Professional Preparation.

Much has been written about how technology could affect the delivery of health education in the future. However, no data-based research has been published regarding how working health educators in any setting are actually using computer technology now, or how they expect to use computers in the near future. The purpose of this study was to determine how professional health educators are currently using computers and how they expect to use computers in the next 5 years. We report the results of a mail survey of a national random sample of working health educators (n = 400). Data pertain to tasks performed with computers now and in the near future (3-5 years) and the types of computer programs currently used. Internet, word processing, and electronic presentation skills were found to be of greatest importance. The results of this study provide guidelines for the development of curriculum components in professional preparation programs to address needed competencies.
Synthesis and Characterization of Tris(diethyldithiocarbamato) cobalt(III) as an Undergraduate Inorganic Laboratory

The synthesis of tris(diethyldithiocarbamato) cobalt(III) by the reaction of sodium diethyldithio-carbamate and cobaltous chloride is described. The recovered crystals of the cobalt complex are characterized by magnetic susceptibility, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry.
Phenotypical changes of embryonic chick adrenal medullary cells in vitro induced by nerve growth factor and ciliary neuronotrophic factor

Abstract This study investigates the survival properties and changes in the morphological phenotype of adrenal medullary (chromaffin and neuronal) cells cultured from embryonic chicks at different developmental ages (embryonic days E8 to E16) in response to nerve growth factor (NGF) and ciliary neuronotrophic factor (CNTF). The 4-day survival of medullary cells from all embryonic ages except E8 was about 80% of the seeded cells and was only slightly enhanced by the addition of saturating doses of CNTF (10 ng/ml). With no factors, after 4 days 10–30% of the surviving medullary cells extended neurites. NGF (100 ng/ml) and, even more, CNTF (10 ng/ml) and their combination substantially increased the proportions of neuritebearing cells (up to 70%). The effect of the factors were maximal at E10 and E12 and declined at older developmental ages. Neurite growth was virtually unaffected by NGF and CNTF at E8. These results show that in vitro survival and neurite growth of chick adrenal medullary cells in response to trophic factors is developmentally regulated.
[ReCl4(CN)2]2-: a high magnetic anisotropy building unit giving rise to the single-chain magnets (DMF)4MReCl4(CN)2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni).

An S = 3/2, high-anisotropy building unit, trans-[ReCl4(CN)2]2−, representing the first paramagnetic complex with a mixture of just cyanide and halide ligands, has been synthesized through the reaction of (Bu4N)CN with ReCl4(THF)2. This species is characterized in detail and employed in directing the formation of a series of one-dimensional coordination solids of formula (DMF)4MReCl4(CN)2 (M = Mn (2), Fe (3), Co (4), Ni (5)). Variable-temperature dc magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate the presence of intrachain antiferromagnetic (2) and ferromagnetic (3−5) exchange coupling within these solids. In addition, probing the ac magnetic susceptibility as a function of both temperature and frequency reveals that all of the chain compounds exhibit slow relaxation of the magnetization. The relaxation time is shown to be thermally activated, with energy barriers to relaxation of Δτ = 31, 56, 17, and 20 cm−1 for 2−5, respectively. Notably, the field-dependent magnetization of the iron congener exhibits ...
Cationic liposome–hyaluronic acid hybrid nanoparticles for intranasal vaccination with subunit antigens

Here we report the development of a new cationic liposome-hyaluronic acid (HA) hybrid nanoparticle (NP) system and present our characterization of these NPs as an intranasal vaccine platform using a model antigen and F1-V, a candidate recombinant antigen for Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague. Incubation of cationic liposomes composed of DOTAP and DOPE with anionic HA biopolymer led to efficient ionic complexation and formation of homogenous liposome-polymer hybrid NPs, as evidenced by fluorescence resonance energy transfer, dynamic light scattering, and nanoparticle tracking analyses. Incorporation of cationic liposomes with thiolated HA allowed for facile surface decoration of NPs with thiol-PEG, resulting in the formation of DOTAP/HA core-PEG shell nanostructures. These NPs, termed DOTAP-HA NPs, exhibited improved colloidal stability and prolonged antigen release. In addition, cytotoxicity associated with DOTAP liposomes (LC50~0.2mg/ml) was significantly reduced by at least 20-fold with DOTAP-HA NPs (LC50>4mg/ml), as measured with bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Furthermore, NPs co-loaded with ovalbumin (OVA) and a molecular adjuvant, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) promoted BMDC maturation and upregulation of co-stimulatory markers, including CD40, CD86, and MHC-II, and C57BL/6 mice vaccinated with NPs via intranasal route generated robust OVA-specific CD8(+) T cell and antibody responses. Importantly, intranasal vaccination with NPs co-loaded with F1-V and MPLA induced potent humoral immune responses with 11-, 23-, and 15-fold increases in F1-V-specific total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2c titers in immune sera by day 77, respectively, and induced balanced Th1/Th2 humoral immune responses, whereas mice immunized with the equivalent doses of soluble F1-V vaccine failed to achieve sero-conversion. Overall, these results suggest that liposome-polymer hybrid NPs may serve as a promising vaccine delivery platform for intranasal vaccination against Y. pestis and other infectious pathogens.
Double photodetachment in He-: Feshbach and triply excited resonances

Abstract We have investigated with unprecedented levels of detail K-shell photodetachment of metastable 1s2s2p 4 P He − using a merged photon-ion beam apparatus. Our recent investigation allowed the first absolute cross-section measurement of the 2s2p 2 4 P Feshbach resonance by way of a resonant simultaneous double Auger decay of unprecedented strength. In addition, higher resolution absolute cross-section measurements of triply excited resonances giving rise to hollow He − ion allowed a more stringent comparison with four different calculations.
Potentiation of zinc stress caused by parasitic infection of snails

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effects of parasitism (Schistosomatium douthitti Price and Trichobilharzia sp.) on the tolerance of snails Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) to acutely lethal concentrations of zinc. Significant reduction in tolerance occurred for snails with patent infections at 24 and 75 ppm of Zn++. At two selected prepatent levels of parasite development, significant differences occurred at the higher concentration only.
Performance of shockwave-based shooter localization under model misspecification

This paper considers the estimation of shooter locations using a sensor network where each sensor measures the time difference between receptions of a firearm's muzzle blast and a bullet's shockwave. This recently proposed approach has the advantages of reduced hardware complexity and not requiring time synchronization between sensors. The disadvantages are increased computational complexity and a requirement to know the bullet's velocity at all points along the trajectory. This paper proposes to eliminate these disadvantages by intentionally adopting an incorrect model that assumes a constant bullet velocity. The model misspecification naturally induces bias in subsequent maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs). We explore the performance impact of the model misspecification through analytical derivation of the bias and variance of the pseudo MLE. The analytic results are applied to several realistic firearm models and corroborated with simulations.
Novel Scaffolds of Cell-Active Histone Demethylase Inhibitors Identified from High-Throughput Screening

Jumonji C domain-containing histone demethylases (JHDMs) are epigenetic proteins capable of demethylating methylated lysine residues on histones proteins and for which high-quality chemical probes and eventual therapeutic leads are highly desirable. To expand the extent of known scaffolds targeting JHDMs, we initiated an unbiased high-throughput screening approach using a fluorescence polarization (FP)–based competitive binding assay we recently reported for JHDM1A (aka KDM2A). In total, 14,400 compounds in the HitFinder collection v.11 were screened, which represent all the distinct skeletons of the Maybridge Library. An eventual three compounds with two new scaffolds were discovered and further validated, which not only show in vitro binding for two different JHDMs, JHDM1A and JMJD2A (aka KDM4A), but also induce hypermethylation of their substrate in cells. These represent novel scaffolds as JHDM inhibitors and provide a basis for future optimization of affinity and selectivity.
Mechanisms of electron-stimulated desorption of protons from water: Gas, chemisorbed and ice phases

Abstract The stimulated desorption of ions from gas phase and condensed phase H 2 O on Ni(111) has been examined theoretically and experimentally for the near threshold excitation region, 15 to 40 eV. The excited state potential energy curves have been calculated using configuration interaction for H 2 O and a restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) approach for a variety of small clusters including (H 2 O) 5 and NiH 2 O. Both proton yield and kinetic energy distributions have been measured for chemisorbed, ice phase, and gas phase water and are discussed in terms of specific electronic excitations corresponding to possible desorption pathways. For condensed phase water, the major proton desorption threshold occurs at 20–21 eV and is due to surface predissociation. The final state potential energy curves reached in this process are, in general, described by two electron excitations from the ground state and are thus not dipole allowed. At threshold, these potential energy curves correspond to the excited states of the neutral rather than the ionized molecule. Above 28–29 eV, predissociation or shake-up involving excitations from the O 2s orbital contributes to the ion yield and can give rise to protons of high (7–8 eV) kinetic energy.
Selection of genetically diverse sea oats lines with improved performance for coastal restoration in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Numerous sea oats (Uniola paniculata L.) plants are transplanted to Northern Gulf of Mexico beaches each year to reduce coastal erosion. To adapt to environmental changes and effectively reduce coastal erosion, genetically diverse sea oats plants with demonstrated plant performance must be used. The objectives of this study were to: (i) identify improved sea oats lines; and (ii) determine the genetic diversity of improved sea oats lines. From 2003 to 2005, 2,000 sea oats lines were evaluated in unreplicated field trials at natural beach sites. In 2005, 75 sea oats lines were selected based upon phenotypic performance. The 75 selected lines and 3 plants of ‘Caminada’, the only commercially available sea oats line, were evaluated in replicated field trials in 2008 and 2010. In 2008, UP01LA-15 K-HB-3092, UP01LA-16S-GP-3138, UP01LA-31-GP-3103, UP01LA-33-GP-1303, and UP01NC-04-HB-3374 had higher (p < 0.05) stem densities than Caminada. In 2010, variation was not detected for any trait measured; lack of significant differences was most likely due to plant stress caused by storm surge one week after transplant. Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism detected 534 loci for the 75 selected lines and 3 Caminada plants. One hundred eighty one loci were polymorphic; the average polymorphism rate was 34% (range = 25–43%). Polymorphic information content values ranged from 0.15 to 0.41 and averaged 0.29 while Jaccard similarity coefficients ranged from 0.8243 to 0.9794. These findings demonstrate the application of plant breeding techniques to develop genetically different sea oats lines with improved performance for coastal restoration projects in the northern Gulf of Mexico.