cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light-assisted drying (LAD) of small volume biologics: a comparison of two IR light sources

Protein therapeutics have been developed to treat diseases ranging from arthritis and psoriasis to cancer. A challenge in the development of protein-based drugs is maintaining the protein in the folded state during processing and storage. We are developing a novel processing method, light-assisted drying (LAD), to dehydrate proteins suspended in a sugar (trehalose) solution for storage at supra-zero temperatures. Our technique selectively heats the water in small volume samples using near-IR light to speed dehydration which prevents sugar crystallization that can damage embedded proteins. In this study, we compare the end moisture content (EMC) as a function of processing time of samples dried with two different light sources, Nd:YAG (1064 nm) and Thulium fiber (1850 nm) lasers. EMC is the ratio of water to dry weight in a sample and the lower the EMC the higher the possible storage temperature. LAD with the 1064 and 1850 nm lasers yielded 78% and 65% lower EMC, respectively, than standard air-drying. After 40 minutes of LAD with 1064 and 1850 nm sources, EMCs of 0.27±.27 and 0.15±.05 gH2O/gDryWeight were reached, which are near the desired value of 0.10 gH2O/gDryWeight that enables storage in a glassy state without refrigeration. LAD is a promising new technique for the preparation of biologics for anhydrous preservation.
Extrinsic Motivators Affecting Fourth-Grade Students’ Interest and Enrollment in an Instrumental Music Program

The purpose of this study was to investigate fourth-grade students’ extrinsic motivators for joining and continuing in a school instrumental music program. Three research questions were investigate...
The Pursuit of Shared Wisdom in Class: When Classical Chinese Thinkers Meet James March

I suggest that doctoral students who emigrated to North America from Asia, in collaboration with their North American professors and colleagues, explore the shared wisdom of traditional Asian thoug...
The Spectrum of Cardiovascular Lesions Requiring Intervention in Adults After Kawasaki Disease

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to characterize the range of management issues raised by adults with cardiovascular sequelae from Kawasaki disease (KD) in childhood. Background Aneurysms resulting from vascular inflammation associated with KD in childhood may remain clinically silent until adulthood. Adults with large aneurysms, unstable angina, or myocardial infarction following KD in childhood present unique challenges to interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Methods In an observational study of adults with histories of KD in childhood, data were collected regarding the medical histories and outcomes of 154 adult KD patients, of whom 21 underwent either percutaneous interventions or surgery. Results Of the 21 subjects with interventions, 11 had been diagnosed with KD in childhood, and 10 had histories of KD-compatible illnesses. Seventeen subjects were asymptomatic until experiencing acute cardiovascular symptoms: acute myocardial infarction (n = 12), angina (n = 2), end-stage congestive heart failure requiring cardiac transplantation (n = 1), and claudication (n = 2). Conclusions Cardiovascular complications in these subjects illustrate the following points: 1) even small to moderate-sized aneurysms that “normalize” on echocardiography in childhood can lead to stenosis and thrombosis decades after the acute illness; 2) coronary interventions without intravascular ultrasound may result in clinically significant underestimation of vessel luminal diameter; 3) failure to assess the extent of calcification may lead to suboptimal procedural outcomes; and 4) patients with symptomatic peripheral aneurysms may benefit from endarterectomy or resection. Interventional cardiologists should be aware of the potential challenges in treating this growing population of adults.
Rethinking professionalism in medical education through formation.

BACKGROUND Contemporary educational approaches to professionalism do not take into account the dominant influence that the culture of academic medicine has on the nascent professional attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of medical learners. This article examines formation as an organizing principle for professionalism in medical education. Virtue, the foundation to understanding professionalism, is the habits and dispositions that are fostered in individuals but that are embedded in learning environments. Formation, the ongoing integration of an individual, growing in self-awareness and in recognition of a life of service, with others who share in the common mission of a larger group, depicts this process. One model of formation considers a continuum from novice to more advance stages that is predicated on rules that must be applied in greater contextually shaped situations. Within medical education, formation is the process by which lives of service are created and sustained by learning communities that promote human capacities for intuition, empathy, and compassion. An imagined curriculum in formation would link the lived experiences of mentors and learners with an interdisciplinary set of didactic materials in an intentionally progressive fashion.
Policy History: Regimes

The concept of regime is defined in relation to the concepts of state, government, and power. Regimes are defined as the formal and informal constraints on the capacity of rulers to act without consulting other political, economic, and social actors. Constituent elements of regimes are the distribution of power—the relative strength of other actors—and the organization of power—the institutionalized forms of interaction between the state and other actors. Democratic regimes exist when the distribution and the organization of power render the outcomes of political conflicts uncertain and the incumbency of governments temporary. The article then discusses theoretical debates about the origins of regime types and the impact of regime types on the formulation and implementation of public policy.
Anorectal malformations associated spinal cord anomalies

The present study aims to identify clinical and pathological factors that can predict the risk of spinal cord anomalies (SCA) in patients with anorectal malformations (ARM), the need for neurosurgery, and to define the impact of SCA on the outcome of patients with ARM. A 16-year retrospective analysis of all patients treated at a single tertiary children’s Hospital with diagnosis of ARM. Data were collected to assess the impact of defined clinical characteristics on prevalence of SCA (detected at MRI). Children surgically treated or not for SCA were compared for age, clinical symptoms and type of anomalies at surgery or at last follow-up, respectively. Moreover, patients with intermediate/high ARMs, with or without SCA were compared for neurogenic bladder (NB), constipation, soiling and need for bowel management (BM). Two hundred and seventy-five children were treated for ARM in the study period, 142 had spinal MRI that showed SCA in 85. Patients with SCA had significantly higher prevalence of preterm birth (p < 0.05), cardiac anomalies (p = 0.02), vertebral anomalies (p = 0.0075), abnormal sacrum (p < 0.0001), and VACTERL association (p = 0.0233). Ten patients were surgically treated for SCA. The prevalence of neurological bladder and neuro-motor deficits, of vertebral and genital anomalies, particularly cryptorchidism, was significantly higher in the operated group (p < 0.01, for each analysis). In patients with intermediate/high ARMs, no significant difference was observed between those with or without SCA, in terms of prevalence of NB, intestinal function and need for BM. In patients with ARM, factors that can predict a higher prevalence of SCA and also determine an increased indication to neurosurgery may be identified. SCA by itself does not seem to affect the functional prognosis of children with intermediate/high ARM. These data may help physicians in stratifying the clinical and diagnostic pathway of patients with ARM.
Dose Finding Trial of Yttrium 90 (90Y) Ibritumomab Tiuxetan with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation (ASCT) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL).

90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin®) is an effective agent for patients with relapsed or refractory low grade lymphoma. Unfortunately, dose escalation is limited by hematopoetic toxicity. In order to determine the non-hematopoetic maximum tolerated dose, we are conducting a dose finding study of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan with ASCT. Patients are eligible if they have relapsed or refractory low-grade, mantle cell, or diffuse large cell NHL. Additional eligibility criteria included rituximab sensitivity, age >18 years, platelet count >75,000/mm3, WBC >3,000/mm3, bone marrow involvement 500/mm3 10 days post ASCT. Platelet recovery (platelets >20,000/mm3 for 3 consecutive days) required an average of 13.9 days (range, 0–20) in this cohort. Overall, one patient died from progressive disease (day 3 post-transplant), and a second patient died of complications due to pneumonia (day 27 post-transplant). Of the 6 patients qualifying for evaluation at 60 days post-transplant, 4 patients achieved a CR, 1 patient had a PR, and 1 had progressive disease. Three patients maintained a complete response, and 2 had progressive disease at the 6-month follow-up. The most common treatment-related toxicities were hematologic, as expected. This therapy was delivered completely in the outpatient setting. Two patients required admission post 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan for febrile neutropenia and 1 patient was admitted for progressive disease. No significant hepatotoxicity has been seen to date despite the fact that the liver is the organ that receives the highest absorbed dose of radiation. In conclusion, significant dose escalation with 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan can be achieved with autologous stem cell rescue. Dose escalation continues and the MTD has yet to be determined.
The Birth of Malignancy: Embryogenesis and Melanoma

Embryonic development involves high levels of proliferation, migration, and differentiation to form all the tissues and organs of an organism. Under normal circumstances, cell–cell signaling in an embryo is coordinated both temporally and spatially to allow development to occur without error. Embryogenesis is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and many developmental signaling pathways and processes are not physiologically active in adult tissues, with notable exceptions in the maintenance of certain stem cell populations (Goldstein and Horsley 2012). However, in disease states such as cancer, malignant cells adopt similar characteristics to those seen in embryonic cells – proliferation, migration, and lack of differentiation. Over recent decades, investigation into various stages of melanocyte development has given great insight into specific characteristics of melanoma, leading to a deeper understanding of melanomagenesis. In this chapter, we review key literature describing connections between embryonic development and melanoma, including aspects of embryonic patterning and melanocyte lineage specification that are co-opted to promote melanoma progression.
Pro-Antimicrobial Networks via Degradable Acetals (PANDAs) Using Thiol–Ene Photopolymerization

We describe the synthesis of pro-antimicrobial networks via degradable acetals (PANDAs) as a new paradigm for sequestration and triggered release of volatile, bioactive aldehydes. PANDAs derived from diallyl p-chlorobenzaldehyde acetal degrade and release p-chlorobenzaldehyde as an antibacterial and antifungal agent under mild conditions (pH 7.4/high humidity). We show that PANDAs enable facile access to materials with tunable release profiles, potent antimicrobial activity without triggering antimicrobial resistance, and minimal cytotoxicity.
Neurologic consultation and use of therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest.

Abstract Objective To determine whether neurologic consultation influences the use of therapeutic hypothermia. Methods We identified adult patients treated for cardiac arrest from October 2009 through September 2015 at 149 academic medical centers and their affiliate hospitals using discharge diagnosis codes in Vizient database. Neurology consultation was defined as a neurologist participating in patient care at any point during the hospitalization. Use of therapeutic hypothermia was identified using procedure codes. We used multivariable models to evaluate the association between neurologic consultation and therapeutic hypothermia before and after adjustment for patient baseline characteristics and hospital factors including inpatient volume and relative volume of cardiac arrest cases. Results We identified 136,830 hospitalizations for cardiac arrest. The 9,336 (6.8%) encounters involving a neurologist had higher severity of illness, longer hospital stay, and longer intensive care unit stay. There were 5,034 (3.7%) encounters where patients underwent therapeutic hypothermia. Hypothermia use was significantly more common when neurologists were involved during hospitalization (7.9% vs. 3.4%; OR 2.44, 95% CI 2.2-2.6; p Conclusions The involvement of a neurologist in cardiac arrest patients is associated with increased use of therapeutic hypothermia, though therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest likely remains underutilized.
Positive Psychology’s A Priori Problem:

The positive/negative distinction works well in many fields—for example, in mathematics negative numbers hold their own, and in medical pathology negative results are usually celebrated. But in pos...
Incidental or Intentional? Achieving Consumer Empowerment in Electronic Healthcare Information Exchange

The emergence of technology which allows for electronic Healthcare Information Exchange (HIE) has created a need for change in the healthcare industry. Because sensitive health information can be shared electronically between many entities, it is important to re-examine how information should be shared. Recent initiatives have examined HIE technology, with the intention to involve the consumer/patient as a key stakeholder. Such initiatives seek to empower patients, and often claim that new technology can do so. This study investigates the dimensions of consumer empowerment in HIE and how consumer empowerment in HIE could be achieved. The analysis revealed that achieving consumer empowerment is a process of either intentional or incidental change, and is a multi-faceted concept. The process of consumer empowerment is presented from the grounded theory analysis of three levels of data sources. The implications are critical to generate appropriate policy, law, and technology.
The effect of missing data on coalescent species delimitation and a taxonomic revision of whipsnakes (Colubridae: Masticophis).

Abstract A stable alpha taxonomy is essential to understanding evolutionary processes and achieving effective conservation aims. Taxonomy depends on the identification of independently evolving lineages, and the delimitation of these lineages based on multiple lines of evidence. Coalescent species delimitation within an integrative framework has increased the rigor of the delimitation process. Here we use genome-wide SNP data and coalescent species delimitation to explore lineage relationships within several North American whipsnake species, test the species status of several lineages, and test the effect of missing data on species delimitation. We find support for the elevation of several previously recognized subspecies to full species status, and formally elevate two species. This study demonstrates the power of molecular data and model-based delimitation methods to identify evolutionary relationships, and finds that missing data have little impact on the outcome of delimitation analyses.
Capacity-delivery coordination in supply chains: a cost-based approach

We develop a cost-based model considering a two-stage supply chain with a buyer ordering from a supplier. The model is constructed to coordinate the supply chain by joint decisions over delivery performance and capacity management. In this model, the supplier randomly assigns a portion of his permanent capacity to the buyer and the buyer determines his order quantity accordingly. A delivery window is used to classify deliveries as early, on-time or late and is used to evaluate the delivery performance of the supplier when delivery time is governed by a truncated normal probability density function. Numerical sensitivity analyses are presented to illustrate the significant managerial implications of this model.
Machine learning-based product recommendation using Apache Spark

There have been growing interests in the area of recommender systems using machine learning techniques. As there are a great number of explicit and implicit features that can be used for estimating user preference, it requires scalable and accurate algorithms along with a system with high availability and scalability. Alternating least square matrix (ALS) algorithm is an enhanced version of latent factor models using matrix factorization with good scalability and predictive accuracy. Apache Spark is an open-source distributed platform for processing big data, achieving good speed and scalability suitable for iterative machine learning algorithms. Amazon offers cloud computing services with various functionality including data storage and processing engines and is highly available and scalable. In this study, we applied the ALS algorithm using Apache Spark running on an Amazon Web Service (AWS) Elastic Map Reduce (EMR) cluster for recommending a product with a good accuracy and enhanced scalability.
Use of palliative care among patients with metastatic breast cancer at a safety net hospital.

117Background: Palliative Care (PC) has been shown to improve quality of life in lung cancer patients, and ASCO recommends it as an adjunct to standard oncologic care. Data regarding the use of PC ...
Abstract 4518: IL-4/IL-13 stimulated tumor-associated macrophages enhance breast cancer cell invasion through Rho-GTPase signaling

The high metastatic potential of inflammatory and other aggressive breast cancer is the major determinant of mortality. Recently, it has become clear that signals from the tumor microenvironment (TME) harbor the capacity to enhance cancer cell dissemination. Of the various cells that comprise the TME, macrophages are the most abundant in solid tumors. Therefore, we aimed to better understand the relationship between macrophage-breast cancer cell crosstalk. Intriguingly, in our previous work we showed that inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) cells are hyper-migratory in response to macrophage conditioned media. Additionally, we found this process is regulated by the Rho-GTPase, RhoC. Recent advances in tumor associated macrophage (TAM) biology have led to the understanding that TAM populations in the TME are diverse, primarily due to directional differentiation promoted by unique secreted components from the various cells in the TME. Therefore, this study aimed to understand which subpopulation of M2-like TAMs had the greatest impact on breast cancer cell aggressiveness. Our data show that stimulation of the triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell model, MDA-MB-231, and the IBC TNBC cell line, SUM-149, with media extracts from IL-4/IL-13 stimulated M2 macrophages (M2a) elicit the strongest migratory and invasive responses. Subsequently, we stimulated RhoA or RhoC knockout (CRISPR) MDA-231 and SUM-149 cells with M2a conditioned media to address their role in regulating migratory/invasive responses. In brief, we find that RhoA and RhoC, in part, regulate M2a-TAM induced responses. Secretome analysis of M2a-TAM conditioned media reveals high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL-18). Functional studies suggest that VEGF and CCL-18 synergistically enhance cellular invasiveness. Moreover, pretreatment with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 or GSK429286A drastically inhibited VEGF, CCL-18, or M2a induced migratory responses. These data suggest that the Rho-GTPases regulate M2a-mediated breast cancer cell invasion and potentially offer a novel approach for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer through potential prevention of progression. Citation Format: Andrew C. Little, Pragathi Pathanjeli, Zhifen Wu, Liwei Bao, Laura Goo, Joel A. Yates, Sofia D. Merajver. IL-4/IL-13 stimulated tumor-associated macrophages enhance breast cancer cell invasion through Rho-GTPase signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4518.
The Impact of Nursing Work and Engagement on Patient Falls.

OBJECTIVEThis study explored the relationships between nurse-sensitive structures, processes (work engagement [WE], frequency of fall risk discussion during report, and frequency of purposeful rounds), and patient falls.BACKGROUNDStrong WE is associated with better nurse-assessed quality of care, bu
“Seeking Privacy Makes Me Feel Bad?”: An Exploratory Study Examining Emotional Impact on Use of Privacy-Enhancing Features

With the increasing prevalence of privacy invasions and data breaches, more and more users have been seeking protection for their online privacy, which makes privacy-enhancing features and technologies more important than ever. However, these features and technologies are still not widely adopted by users. In the privacy literature, there seems to be an assumption that online users’ privacy behaviors are based on rational decision-making. However, previous research has shown that users’ decision-making involves not only rational thoughts but also emotions, which play an important role. To explore that unknown territory, this empirical study focuses on human emotions and examines their impact on users’ adoption of privacy-enhancing features. Our study design is based on two theoretical frameworks: feelings-as-information theory and the Technology Acceptance Model. We used private browsing as a case study and conducted an online survey experiment to investigate what types of emotions are elicited in users by private browsing mode and how these emotions affect their acceptance of private browsing. Interestingly, we found that the interface design of private browsing mode provokes both positive and negative emotions in users. Also, these elicited emotions influence users’ behavioral intentions. Based on these results, we propose design recommendations for privacy-enhancing features.
31.1 A 65nm 8.79TOPS/W 23.82mW Mixed-Signal Oscillator-Based NeuroSLAM Accelerator for Applications in Edge Robotics

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a quintessential problem in cyber-physical systems with wide-spread applications in mobile robotics, self-driving vehicles, AR, VR, etc. While computational methods [1] and hardware demonstrations [2], [5] based on filtering or keyframe techniques are popular, we recognize that ultra-low-power edge-robotics requires circuit solutions that will significantly reduce the power consumption. Interestingly, biological systems can solve SLAM with extreme energy-efficiencies by employing methods that are robust, flexible, and well-integrated into the creatures' sensory systems. Particularly, rodents have shown an extraordinary ability to store and organize visual cues so that a brief sequence of visual cues can globally re-localize the animal. Further, the neural recordings of the rodent hippocampus have led to the discovery of place cells and head direction cells which show striking correlation with mapping tasks. This led to the recent development of a neuromorphic vision-based SLAM algorithm with great success on benchmark tasks [6]. In this paper, we present NeuroSLAM, a spiking neural network (SNN)-based mixed-signal oscillatory circuit, coupled with a lightweight vision system that provides odometry and appearance information. We demonstrate a 65nm test-chip integrated on a mobile robot, performing visual SLAM at 17.27mW (23.82mW) with a net energy-efficiency of 7.25TOPS/W (8.79TOPS/W).
Ascending dorsal column sensory neurons respond to spinal cord injury and downregulate genes related to lipid metabolism

Regeneration failure after spinal cord injury (SCI) results in part from the lack of a pro-regenerative response in injured neurons, but the response to SCI has not been examined specifically in injured sensory neurons. Using RNA sequencing of dorsal root ganglion, we determined that thoracic SCI elicits a transcriptional response distinct from sciatic nerve injury (SNI). Both SNI and SCI induced upregulation of ATF3 and Jun, yet this response failed to promote growth in sensory neurons after SCI. RNA sequencing of purified sensory neurons one and three days after injury revealed that unlike SNI, the SCI response is not sustained. Analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that lipid biosynthetic pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis, were differentially regulated after SCI and SNI. Pharmacologic inhibition of fatty acid synthase, the enzyme generating fatty acid, decreased axon growth in vitro. These findings suggest that decreased fatty acid synthesis inhibits axon regeneration after SCI.
THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE IN GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY

As a scientific discipline, genetic epidemiology can be traced back nearly 40 years, when Neel and Schull (1954) described genetic and epidemiological approaches to the study of human disease. Several meetings and publications were devoted to this newly emerging field over the next three decades [e.g., Neel et al. (1965), Morton and Chung (1967), Inouye and Nishimura (1977), and Morton (1982)]. Throughout this period, genetic epidemiology was defined rather narrowly as a science concerned with "the etiology, distribution, and control of disease in groups of relatives and with inherited causes of disease in populations" (Morton 1982, p. 1). Only in 1984, with the founding of the journal Genetic Epidemiology , was it recognized that genetic epidemiology is not limited to human studies and that its scope extends beyond studies of diseases to include situations "in which the contribution (if any) of genetic factors to the endpoint under study must be sorted out of a complex mix" (Neel 1984, p. 5). The endpoints of interest in genetic epidemiology, although not necessarily diseases, are usually health related, as indicated by a definition suggested at the founding meeting of the International Genetic Epidemiology Society in 1991: "Genetic epidemiology is the discipline concerned with teasing the genetic component out of complex biomedical phenomena" (Neel, personal communication, 1993). Genetic epidemiological methods are being used increasingly in anthropology, as indicated by the variety of papers in this symposium. Although anthropology clearly has been enriched by its interactions with genetic epidemiology, the reverse is also true. Anthropologists have played a role in clarifying genetic effects on traits of biomedical relevance and in developing methods for genetic analysis, especially for assessing interactions between genotype and environment. This symposium emphasizes the value of the anthropological perspective in genetic epidemiology. Of particular relevance are the concerns of biological anthropology with normal variation and with genetically complex traits, appreciation of the application of evolutionary principles in genetic epidemiology, and recognition of the value of studies of special populations, such as human isolates and nonhuman primate populations.
Beyond technology adoption: Examining home energy management systems, energy burdens and climate change perceptions during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed our lives. While the global impacts of the pandemic are shocking, the implications for energy burdens, climate policy, and energy efficiency are salient. This study examines income differences in the acceptance of and willingness to pay for home energy management systems during the COVID-19 pandemic among 632 residents in New York. Additionally, this study examines energy profiles, energy burdens, climate change issues, risk perceptions, and social-psychological factors. Compared with low-income households, our findings suggest that high-income households use more energy, have higher utility bills during quarantine mandates, perceive a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, and perceive climate change issues to be better than before. Low-income households, however, experience the highest energy burdens. Regarding HEMS acceptance, high-income households are more willing to adopt energy and well-being-promoting features of HEMS and more willing to pay a higher monthly fee for all the features than other income groups. Overall, participants were more willing to pay a higher price for the energy features than the well-being-promoting features. Low-income households indicate lower social norms, personal norms, and perceived behavioral control over adopting HEMS; they also perceive HEMS to be more difficult to use and less useful. Higher-income households express a higher trust in utilities than low-income households. Surprisingly, cost concerns, technology anxiety, and cybersecurity concerns relating to HEMS do not differ across income groups. This paper addresses the interactions among technology attributes and social-psychological and demographic factors, and provides policy implications and insights for future research.
Detection and Analysis of Proteins Modified by O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine

O-GlcNAc is a common post-translational modification of nuclear, mitochondrial, and cytoplasmic proteins that regulates normal physiology and the cell stress response. Dysregulation of O-GlcNAc cycling is implicated in the etiology of type II diabetes, heart failure, hypertension, and Alzheimer's disease, as well as cardioprotection. These protocols cover simple and comprehensive techniques for detecting proteins modified by O-GlcNAc and studying the enzymes that add or remove O-GlcNAc. © 2021 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Increasing the stoichiometry of O-GlcNAc on proteins before analysis Basic Protocol 2: Detection of proteins modified by O-GlcNAc using antibodies Basic Protocol 3: Detection of proteins modified by O-GlcNAc using the lectin sWGA Support Protocol 1: Control for O-linked glycosylation Basic Protocol 4: Detection and enrichment of proteins using WGA-agarose Support Protocol 2: Digestion of proteins with hexosaminidase Alternate Protocol: Detection of proteins modified by O-GlcNAc using galactosyltransferase Support Protocol 3: Autogalactosylation of galactosyltransferase Support Protocol 4: Assay of galactosyltransferase activity Basic Protocol 5: Characterization of labeled glycans by β-elimination and chromatography Basic Protocol 6: Detection of O-GlcNAc in 96-well plates Basic Protocol 7: Assay for OGT activity Support Protocol 5: Desalting of O-GlcNAc transferase Basic Protocol 8: Assay for O-GlcNAcase activity.
An Overview of Python

In this chapter, we cover just enough of Python to get you going. If you’re new to programming, this chapter will get you started well enough to be productive and we’ll call out ways to learn more at the end. Python is a great place to learn to program because its syntax is simpler and it has less overhead (e.g. memory management) than traditional programming languages such as Java or C+ +. If you’re an experienced programmer in another language, you should skim this chapter to learn the essentials.
Implementation and Stability of Charge Control for Full-Bridge LLC Converter

The LLC resonant converter offers improved efficiency and high power density in many applications. However, its conventional single-loop frequency control cannot provide high dynamic performance. The two-loop charge control can significantly improve the LLC converter response to line and load disturbances. Previous research was focused on the charge control for the half-bridge LLC converter. However, for several practical reasons, the charge control implementation in the half-bridge and full-bridge LLC converters is different. Key issues for the full-bridge converter control are sensing the signal related to the charge delivered by the resonant inductor current and stability. To analyze stability of the proposed charge control, large-signal and small-signal discrete-time models were developed and applied to a 400 V/12V, 1 kW LLC converter.
Theory of Scattering from Bicontinuous Structures

A theory of x—ray and neutron small angle scattering from two-component porous materials is presented using a general formalism developed by Debye. We mainly describe calculations of Debye correlation function applicable to bicontinuous microemulsions, for both the bulk and interface contrast cases. We also discuss a simulation scheme which generates both the three—dimensional microstructure of the microemulsion and the Debye correlation function associated with it.
Aeropropulsoservoelasticity: Dynamic Modeling of the Variable Cycle Propulsion System

This presentation was made at the 2012 Fundamental Aeronautics Program Technical Conference and it covers research work for the Dynamic Modeling of the Variable cycle Propulsion System that was done under the Supersonics Project, in the area of AeroPropulsoServoElasticity. The presentation covers the objective for the propulsion system dynamic modeling work, followed by the work that has been done so far to model the variable Cycle Engine, modeling of the inlet, the nozzle, the modeling that has been done to model the affects of flow distortion, and finally presenting some concluding remarks and future plans.
Energy and Entropy for Thermodynamical Systems

In our treatment of homogeneous fluid bodies, we found that the laws of thermodynamics permitted us to augment the list of functions of state (𝓅, λ, 𝓈) in the description of such a body. The new functions of state, E and S—called energy and entropy functions, respectively—arise as potentials for vector fields on the state space, their existence is equivalent to the First and Second Laws, and their derivatives yield the original functions of state, 𝓅, λ, and 𝓈 in simple relations. In Chapters III and IV we have studied versions of the First and Second Laws which are meaningful for a class of systems far broader than the collection of homogeneous fluid bodies and which take the form of relations that restrict the behavior of a thermodynamical system in special cycles. For each of the two laws of thermodynamics, we found a condition that applies to all cycles and is equivalent to the original statement of the law. Theorem 3.1 of Chapter III and Theorem 6.1 of Chapter IV express these facts in precise mathematical language and tell us that Joule’s relation, (3.1) of Chapter III (with M = R/λ), is equivalent to the First Law, and that the Accumulation Inequality, (6.2) of Chapter IV, is equivalent to the Second Law. It is natural to ask whether analogues of energy and entropy can be obtained from Joule’s relation and the Accumulation Inequality, and the present chapter is devoted to providing an affirmative answer to this question.
DNA-damaging natural products with potential anticancer activity

Publisher Summary This chapter demonstrates the utility of the yeast bioassay for the detection and isolation of DNA-damaging agents in plant and marine extracts. The assay has many advantages: it is relatively easy to set up and maintain and it is economical to run because no expensive reagents or radioisotopes are required. Because it is a mechanism-based assay, those compounds isolated through its use have a mechanism of action that is at least partially understood, and thus can proceed more rapidly to a decision point on possible development as anticancer agents. The compounds isolated have come from a variety of biological sources and have yielded a correspondingly diverse group of bioactive natural products. The bioassay is capable of detecting topoisomerase I inhibition activity and topoisomerase II inhibition activity. It is, thus, interesting that no extracts have been found that showed the topoisomerase I pattern of activity, indicating the scarcity of natural products with this activity and enhancing the uniqueness of camptothecin and its derivatives.
Barium ions enter chromaffin cells via voltage-dependent calcium channels and induce secretion by a mechanism independent of calcium.

Abstract Barium ions enter chromaffin cells via voltage-sensitive calcium channels, although the intracellular site of barium action is distinct from that of calcium. The entry of barium primarily through voltage-sensitive channels was indicated by experiments showing inhibition of 133Ba2+ uptake by blockers of voltage-dependent calcium channels. In addition, 133Ba2+ uptake was stimulated by 50 mM KCl but not by nicotine. Furthermore, 133Ba2+ uptake was inhibited by hyperosmolarity, which specifically blocks the voltage-sensitive calcium channel but not the receptor-associated calcium channel. These conclusions from studies on barium uptake were also borne out by experiments measuring catecholamine secretion. Thus, blockers of voltage-dependent calcium channels which inhibited barium uptake also inhibited barium-induced catecholamine secretion. In other experiments, simultaneous stimulation with nicotine and barium in the presence of calcium evoked coincident and additive catecholamine secretion. By contrast, when 50 mM KCl was substituted for nicotine in the same experimental design, barium ions inhibited potassium-induced catecholamine secretion at low calcium concentrations. Only at high calcium concentrations were barium-induced and potassium-induced secretion additive. These data also indicate that barium and calcium compete at the voltage-sensitive pathway. Furthermore, these additivity data suggest that once inside the cell, barium and calcium have two distinct mechanisms of action. As predicted by this hypothesis, in digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells either calcium or barium stimulated catecholamine release, and in the presence of both cations catecholamine secretion was equivalent to the sum of secretion with either cation alone. Additional support of this concept comes from experiments showing that while calcium-mediated catecholamine secretion is sensitive to trifluoperazine and imipramine, barium-mediated secretion is not. Taken together, all these data indicate that there are two distinct intracellular sites of action for barium and calcium. In contrast to catecholamine secretion, non-exocytotic ascorbic acid secretion was induced by nicotine and potassium in the presence of calcium, but not by barium alone. These data provide additional evidence that barium acts by a different mechanism than calcium, in still another secretory system in chromaffin cells.
Godard: Thinking Media

David Sterritt _The Films of Jean-Luc Godard: Seeing the Invisible_ Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999 ISBN 0521580382 (hb) 0521589711 (pb) 297 pp.
Innovation of stamp campaign for strengthening of routine immunization eradication of polio.

Background Polio is still crippling disease in Pakistan around 306 cases reported by year of 2014, this is alarming situation regarding polio virus around globe too, therefore to strengthen routine immunization eradication of polio is a goal to achieve health standard better regarding morbidity and mortality. The innovative stamp campaign for psychological, emotionally and healthy activity of stamps on childrens hand about polio to develop interest and impact for polio awareness /education for eradication.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Up-Regulates Hexokinase II and Glycolysis to Promote Proliferation of Ovarian Cancer Cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a blood-borne lipid mediator, is present in elevated concentrations in ascites of ovarian cancer patients and other malignant effusions. LPA is a potent mitogen in cancer cells. The mechanism linking LPA signal to cancer cell proliferation is not well understood. Little is known about whether LPA affects glucose metabolism to accommodate rapid proliferation of cancer cells. Here we describe that in ovarian cancer cells, LPA enhances glycolytic rate and lactate efflux. A real time PCR-based miniarray showed that hexokinase II (HK2) was the most dramatically induced glycolytic gene to promote glycolysis in LPA-treated cells. Analysis of the human HK2 gene promoter identified the sterol regulatory element-binding protein as the primary mediator of LPA-induced HK2 transcription. The effects of LPA on HK2 and glycolysis rely on LPA2, an LPA receptor subtype overexpressed in ovarian cancer and many other malignancies. We further examined the general role of growth factor-induced glycolysis in cell proliferation. Like LPA, epidermal growth factor (EGF) elicited robust glycolytic and proliferative responses in ovarian cancer cells. Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulin, however, potently stimulated cell proliferation but only modestly induced glycolysis. Consistent with their differential effects on glycolysis, LPA and EGF-dependent cell proliferation was highly sensitive to glycolytic inhibition while the growth-promoting effect of IGF-1 or insulin was more resistant. These results indicate that LPA- and EGF-induced cell proliferation selectively involves up-regulation of HK2 and glycolytic metabolism. The work is the first to implicate LPA signaling in promotion of glucose metabolism in cancer cells.
Trajectories and Risk Factors of Criminal Behavior among Females from Adolescence to Early Adulthood

Previous research suggests that social environmental and individual-level factors influence adolescent development and behavior over time. However, little attention has been devoted to examining how risk factors (i.e., parental support, peer delinquency, self-control) affect trajectories of criminal behavior among female adolescents. Utilizing data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 5138 females) and latent class analysis, three offending trajectories among females from late adolescence to early adulthood were identified: late escalators, late de-escalators, and stable low/abstainers. Next, the influence of social environmental and individual-level factors during adolescence (Wave 1) on these trajectories was assessed. Results identified key differences in the risk factors related to group placement. The implications of the findings for prevention and treatment services targeting adolescent females, and directions for future research, are discussed.
Characteristics of current social stressors.

A major goal of a cross-sectional survey of 2,299 Chicago adults has been to assess various current social stressors prevalent in a normal population. Herein, we review our conceptualization of str...
Numerical Analysis of the Tapping Atomic Force Microscopy on a Viscoelastic Sample

Mechanical characterization of thin samples is now routine due to the prominence of the Atomic Force Microscope. Advances in amplitude modulation techniques have allowed for accurate measurement of a sample’s elastic properties by interpreting the changes in the vibration of a cantilevered beam in intermittent contact. However, the nonlinearities associated with contact complicate attempts to find an accurate time-history for the beam. Furthermore, the inclusion of viscous effects, common to soft samples, puts an explicit solution even farther from reach.A numerical method is proposed that analyzes the time-history and frequency response of a microcantilever beam with a viscoelastic end-condition. The mathematics can be simplified by incorporating the viscoelastic end-condition into the equation of motion directly by modeling it as a distributed load. A forcing function can then be derived from the Standard Linear Solid model of viscoelasticity and implemented in the non-conservative work term of Hamilton’s principle. The Galerkin method can separate the resulting nonlinear equation of motion into time and space components. Performing a numerical analysis of the time factor equation provide the beam’s response over time. The results demonstrate the distinctive effects of viscoelasticity and periodic contact on the beam’s motion and provide the framework for the determination of viscous properties using dynamic techniques.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Medicolegal sidebar: The law and social values: loss of chance.

Laws can appear to be arbitrary and rigid, but legal rules can also reflect complex social values that change and evolve through time [3]. As an example, in 1986 the US Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a law that criminalized homosexual conduct [1]. Twenty years later, the court reversed, holding that the Constitution bars legislation criminalizing consensual sexual relations between adults [10]. Nineteen US states now legalize gay marriage, whereas 31 states have prohibitions against it [12]. The Constitution did not change between these decisions; instead, society became more tolerant of homosexual relationships. The Court’s conflicting decisions reflected this evolution in social values. The loss-of-chance doctrine likewise reflects a tension in competing social values. The doctrine was created, in part, to compensate patients who lost an already diminished chance of living because of medical negligence. Society attaches value to life, and loss-of-chance reflects that social value. Still, legal rules must be fair and just toward all parties, and provide predictable, understandable guidelines. The concern is that the loss-of-chance doctrine may encourage lawsuits based on speculation and probability calculations, when plaintiffs claim that alternative treatment methods might have led to a better outcome. To illustrate the doctrine, consider a hypothetical situation involving a patient with a diagnosis of a malignant tumor whose diagnosis was missed, although even with proper diagnosis, the outcome would be fatal. If the plaintiff claims that earlier diagnosis could have improved 5-year survival, should courts hold the doctor liable for the lost chance of survival, or should there be no liability since the patient would have died anyway? The doctrine is relevant to orthopaedic surgery, where many elective operations are targeted at improving function or quality of life. In fact, the historical development of loss-of-chance has case law related directly to orthopaedic surgery [2, 4, 8]. In such cases, negligent treatment may lead to a satisfactory result, but not quite as good as may have resulted otherwise. If so, should the patient be able to recover for the missed chance at a better outcome? In situations like the above, the answers are not always clear-cut. The traditional model of negligence would not hold the doctor liable, because while missing a cancer diagnosis may reflect substandard care, the harm inflicted is uncertain since the diagnosis is lethal in any event. But, because society values life, proponents of loss-of-chance argue that some monetary damages should be awarded if the patient can prove a probabilistic change in survival odds. The doctrine, which has been unevenly adopted among state jurisdictions, is an attempt to address the dilemma posed in such situations.
The Conversion of Amides to Esters with Meerwein'S Reagent. Application to the Synthesis of a Carfentanil Precursor.

Abstract An efficient two step transformation of 1° and 2° amides to methyl and ethyl esters has been developed using trimethyl- and triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborates, and dilute acid. This methodology was applied to 1-benzyl-4-phenylamino-4-piperidinecarboxamide, a precursor in the synthesis of carfentanil, to produce the methyl ester in 60% yield and the ethyl ester in 80% yield.