cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying Self-Management Support Needs for Pregnant Women With Opioid Misuse in Online Health Communities: Mixed Methods Analysis of Web Posts.

Background: The current opioid crisis in the United States impacts broad population groups, including pregnant women. Opioid use during pregnancy can affect the health and wellness of both mothers and their infants. Understanding women’s efforts to self-manage opioid use or misuse in pregnancy is needed to identify intervention points for improving maternal outcomes. Objective: This study aims to identify the characteristics of women in an online health community (OHC) with opioid use or misuse during pregnancy and the self-management support needs of these mothers. Methods: A total of 200 web posts by pregnant women with opioid use participating in an OHC were double coded. Concepts and their thematic connections were identified through an inductive process until theoretical saturation was reached. Statistical tests were performed to identify patterns. Results: The majority of pregnant women (150/200, 75.0%) in the OHC exhibited signs of misuse, and 62.5% (125/200) of the participants were either contemplating or pursuing dosage reduction. Self-managed withdrawal was more common (P<.001) than professional treatment among the population. A total of 5 themes of self-management support needs were identified as women sought information about the potential adverse effects of gestational opioid use, protocols for self-managed withdrawal, pain management safety during pregnancy, hospital policies and legal procedures related to child protection, and strategies for navigating offline support systems. In addition, 58.5% (117/200) of the pregnant women expressed negative emotions, of whom only 10.2% (12/117) sought to address their emotional needs with the help of the OHC. Conclusions: OHCs provide vital self-management support for pregnant women with opioid use or misuse. Women pursuing self-managed dosage reduction are prone to misinformation and repeated relapses, which can result in extreme measures to avoid testing positive for drug use at labor. The study findings provide evidence for public policy considerations, including universal screening of substance use for pregnant women, emphasis on treatment rather than legal punishment, and further expansion of the Drug Addiction Treatment Act waiver training program. The improvement of web-based platforms that can organize geo-relevant information, dispense clinically validated withdrawal schedules, and offer structured peer support is envisioned for harm reduction among pregnant women who opt for self-management of opioid misuse.
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Is a Predictive Biomarker in Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutated Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Therapy.

Background: First-line treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Despite higher response rates and prolonged progression free survival (PFS) compared with platinum doublet chemotherapy, a subset of these patients do not receive prolonged benefit from these agents. We investigate if the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and other markers of cachexia and chronic inflammation correlate with worse outcomes in these patients. Methods: This study is a retrospective review of 137 patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC treated with TKIs at Rush University Medical Center and University of Chicago Medicine from August 2011 to July 2019, with outcomes followed through July 2020. The predictive value of NLR and body mass index (BMI) was assessed at the start of therapy, and after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment by univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: On univariable analysis, NLR ≥ 5 or higher NLR on a continuous scale were both associated with significantly worse PFS and overall survival (OS) at treatment initiation, and after 6 or 12 weeks of treatment. On multivariable analysis, NLR ≥ 5 was associated with increased risk of death at 12 weeks of therapy (HR 3.002, 95% CI 1.282–7.029, p = 0.011), as was higher NLR on a continuous scale (HR 1.231, 95% CI 1.063–1.425, p = 0.0054). There was no difference in PFS and OS and amongst BMI categories though number of disease sites and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status was associated with worse PFS and OS. Conclusions: Patients with NLR ≥ 5 have a worse median PFS and median OS than patients with NLR < 5. NLR may have value as a predictive biomarker and may be useful for selecting patients for therapy intensification in the front-line setting either at diagnosis or after 12 weeks on therapy. NLR needs to be validated prospectively.
Mechanism of methanol synthesis on Ni(110)

Planewave density functional theory (DFT-PW91) calculations are employed to study the methanol synthesis through CO2 and CO hydrogenation, as well as the two side reactions: the water gas shift (WGS) reaction and formic acid formation, on Ni(110). For the WGS reaction on Ni(110), we find that the redox mechanism is favored over the carboxyl-mediated mechanism. We show that the formate pathway is the dominant one for formic acid formation. For methanol synthesis through CO2 and CO hydrogenation on Ni(110), our results reveal that the formic-acid- and dioxymethylene-mediated pathways coexist, in contrast to methanol synthesis on Cu(111) where the formic-acid-mediated pathway dominates. We also find that on Ni(110), hydrogenation of CH2O* to CH3O* and that to CH2OH* both contribute to MeOH synthesis. Based on the derived energetics, we ascertain that CH3O* hydrogenation to CH3OH* is likely the rate-determining step along the CH3O* pathway on Ni(110). Remarkably, CH3O* hydrogenation can be facilitated by the presence of HCO*, demonstrating the promotional effect of CO. We further show that CO also participates in methanol synthesis directly via its hydrogenation to HCO* and further to CH2O*. Additional microkinetic modeling by considering feed composition and reaction conditions would provide further mechanistic insights into methanol synthesis on Ni(110).
Flood Histogram Quality Metric for Light Sharing Depth-Encoding PET Modules

Spatial performance of single-ended readout depth-encoding PET modules with multicrystal scintillator arrays that are n-to-1 coupled to readout pixels relies on the ability to identify the crystal where each gamma ray is absorbed based on light sharing patterns. Energy weighted average method is the most popular method for performing crystal identification in such detector modules. However, quantitative metrics that characterize flood histogram quality haven't yet been developed for this practical, cost-effective detector module configuration. In this work, we introduce a flood histogram quality metric that determines how well-separated the crystal identification clusters are when coupling multiple crystals to the same readout pixel. We compare the flood histogram quality between 4-to-1 coupled modules with a standard uniform glass light guide and our newly developed prismatoid light guide array, which is used in Prism-PET detector module configurations. Both modules consisted of 16 ×16 arrays of 1.4 × 1.4 × 20 mm3LYSO crystals coupled 4-to-1 to 3.2 × 3.2 mm2SiPM pixels. The Prism-PET module exhibited 40% better flood histogram quality than the uniform light guide module. Crystal clusters acquired at 5 different depths in both modules demonstrated how Prism-PET increases the depth-dependence of crystal contours, thus enhancing crystal separation. Our flood histogram quality metric is a quantitative measure that helps characterize high resolution single-ended readout modules with n-to-1 crystal-to-readout coupling.
Transcranial Magnetic Resonance-Guided Histotripsy for Brain Surgery: Pre-clinical Investigation.

Abstract Histotripsy has been previously applied to target various cranial locations in vitro through an excised human skull. Recently, a transcranial magnetic resonance (MR)-guided histotripsy (tcMRgHt) system was developed, enabling pre-clinical investigations of tcMRgHt for brain surgery. To determine the feasibility of in vivo transcranial histotripsy, tcMRgHt treatment was delivered to eight pigs using a 700-kHz, 128-element, MR-compatible phased-array transducer inside a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. After craniotomy to open an acoustic window to the brain, histotripsy was applied through an excised human calvarium to target the inside of the pig brain based on pre-treatment MRI and fiducial markers. MR images were acquired pre-treatment, immediately post-treatment and 2–4 h post-treatment to evaluate the acute treatment outcome. Successful histotripsy ablation was observed in all pigs. The MR-evident lesions were well confined within the targeted volume, without evidence of excessive brain edema or hemorrhage outside of the target zone. Histology revealed tissue homogenization in the ablation zones with a sharp demarcation between destroyed and unaffected tissue, which correlated well with the radiographic treatment zones on MRI. These results are the first to support the in vivo feasibility of tcMRgHt in the pig brain, enabling further investigation of the use of tcMRgHt for brain surgery.
Creating the Camp: Ethiopian Refugees in Colonial Kenya

Academic studies of refugees in Kenya has, perhaps understandably, focused on the years since the massive influx of refugees since the early 1990s. Much less is known about the deeper history of refugees. I examine the case of Ethiopians who fled their homes after the Italian invasion of 1935. Colonial administrators faced a situation unlike any they had faced before. Using administrative records from Kenyan and British national archives, I trace the creation and development of refugee policy through the late 1930s. Their handling of Ethiopian refugees appear in many ways to be a precursor of later policies developed in the post-war world. Colonial officials quickly determined that the refugees should be housed in, and restricted to, camps. This was done in part to concentrate efforts at sustaining the refugees as ‘bare life.’ By restricting who could enter and who could leave them camps, administrators also hoped to isolate refugees from surrounding African communities to control the movement of both political ideas and disease. Administrators took steps to regularize the provision of sanitation and medical care in the camps, even as they insisted to refugees that they were not welcome to settle permanently in Kenya – not unlike today’s camps.
Syrian refugees and information precarity

This study employed focus groups to examine the ways Syrian refugees living in a large refugee camp in Jordan are using cell phones to cope with information precarity, a condition of information instability and insecurity that may result in heightened exposure to violence. These refugees are found to experience information precarity in terms of technological and social access to relevant information; the prevalence of irrelevant, sometimes dangerous information; inability to control their own images; surveillance by the Syrian state; and disrupted social support.
Measuring the Complexity of Computer Security Visualization Designs

We present a novel method to measure the complexity of computer security visualization designs. The complexity is measured in terms of visual integration, number of separable dimensions for each visual unit, the complexity of interpreting the visual attributes, and the efficiency of visual search. Visualization developers can use this method to quickly evaluate multiple design choices in the early stage of their design before any user study can be conducted. To demonstrate this method, we have conducted complexity analysis on two open source security visualization tools – TNV and RUMINT.
An investigation of thermal resistance in single- and multiple-cell GaAs MESFETs

Thermal resistances among FETs of a variable number of gates in parallel are compared. Although the thermal resistance per cell for multiple cells is higher, the total thermal resistance is still low because all the cells are parallel to one another. This implies that the multiple-cell structure is capable of dissipating more power than the single-cell structure and therefore of being used as a power FET.
An inflammatory axonopathy of the myenteric plexus producing a rapidly progressive intestinal pseudoobstruction.

A previously well 39-yr-old man presented with a 4-wk history of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. An upper gastrointestinal examination showed retpjned food in the stomach and duodenal dilatation. "A radioisotope meal showed little gastric emptying; esophageal manometry was normal. Because of persistent symptoms, a duodenojejunostomy was done. However, the patient remained symptomatic and after an episode of profuse vomiting, aspirated and died 10 wk after initial presentation. At autopsy, no tumor was found. Hematoxylin and eosin stains throughout the gastrointestinal tract showed many lymphocytes and plasma cells within the myenteric plexus. Silver stains showed the argyrophilic and argyrophobic neurons to be normal, but axons showed beading, fragmentation, and dropout in all areas. We therefore concluded the following: (a) intestinal pseudoobstruction can be caused by an inflammatory neuropathy of the myenteric plexus, not associated with a distant carcinoma, and (b) this process produced an axonopathy while sparing neuron bodies.
PPARgamma Activators Stimulate Aquaporin 3 Expression in Keratinocytes/Epidermis

Aquaporin 3 (AQP3), a member of the aquaglyceroporin family, which transports water and glycerol, is robustly expressed in epidermis and plays an important role in stratum corneum hydration, permeability barrier function and wound healing. PPAR and LXR activation regulates the expression of many proteins in the epidermis and thereby can affect epidermal function. Here, we report that PPARgamma activators markedly stimulate AQP3 mRNA expression in both undifferentiated and differentiated cultured human keratinocytes (CHKs). The increase in AQP3 mRNA by PPARgamma activator occurs in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Increased AQP3 mRNA levels are accompanied by an increase in AQP3 protein in undifferentiated keratinocytes and a significant increase in glycerol uptake. Activation of LXR, RAR and RXR also increases AQP3 mRNA levels in undifferentiated and differentiated CHKs, but to a lesser extent. PPARdelta activation stimulates AQP3 expression in undifferentiated CHKs but decreases expression in differentiated CHKs. In contrast, PPARalpha activators do not alter AQP3 expression. AQP9 and AQP10, other members of aquaglyceroporin family, are less abundantly expressed in CHKs, and their expression levels are not significantly altered by treatment with LXR, PPAR, RAR or RXR activators. Finally, when topically applied, the PPARgamma activator, ciglitazone, induces AQP3 but not AQP9 gene expression in mouse epidermis. Our data demonstrate that PPAR and LXR activators stimulate AQP3 expression, providing an additional mechanism by which PPAR and LXR activators regulate epidermal function.
Increased water consumption in infancy and reduction of other beverages except milk reduces the risk of caries in the primary dentition

Abstract Original Article Levy SM, Warren JJ, Broffitt B, Hillis SL, Kanellis MJ. Fluoride beverages and dental caries in the primary dentition. Caries Res 2003;37(3):157–65. Level of Evidence 2b Purpose The impact on caries in the primary dentition of dietary patterns such as water consumption as opposed to soda pop, juices, and milk Source of Funding Government Type of Study/Design Cohort study
Subsurface microbial ecology and bioremediation

Abstract A minireview of subsurface microbial ecology as it relates to ground water contamination and remediation is presented. Microorganisms have been detected unequivocally at depths of 500 to 600 m below the surface. Microbial numbers and activity are higher in sandy transmissive sediments than in those with high clay content and low transmissivity. Many of these organisms are active and can metabolize a variety of organic compounds which are of environmental concern. Biodegradation in the subsurface is favored by the presence of acclimated organisms and essential nutrients and the absence of toxicants and inhibitors. Natural bioremediation in the subsurface is enhanced by transporting an electron acceptor and essential nutrients to microorganisms in the zone of contamination. A better understanding of microbial processes in the subsurface may provide better solutions to ground water contamination problems.
Infrared Transparent Mullite Through Densification Of Monolithic Gels At 1250°C

Infrared transparent mullite (3A12O3•2Si02) was formed at 1250°C through densification of monolithic gels. The gels were prepared through colloidal mixing of boehmite (A100H, aluminum monohydroxide) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). After four hours at 1250°, monolithic gels densified to 98% of the theoretical density (TD). Densification was promoted by viscous phase deformation of silica (Si02) during sintering. The extent of densification was found to be dependent upon the extent of agglomeration of boehmite powder in suspension. Transparency in the infrared region was obtained as a result of mullite formation in the sintered product. The microstuctural evolution during densification and the concomitant spectral transmittances were characterized.© (1986) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
High capacity substrates as a platform for a DNA probe array genotyping assay.

Colloidal silica particles were deposited on a glass substrate to produce high-capacity porous supports for high-density DNA probe arrays. Porous surfaces were used to increase the addressable surface area and number of probes available for hybridization. Surfaces derived from 70–100 nm size particles deposited in films from 0.15 to 2 microns thick exhibited excellent performance in light-directed oligonucleotide synthesis. Evaluation of these substrates in a genotyping assay is reported.
Thyroid hormones homeostasis in pediatric patients during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

The concentrations of thyroid hormones were measured in 14 pediatric patients before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass. The ages of the patients ranged between 18 months and 14 years. Patients were kept normothermic, or moderate or deep hypothermia was induced depending on the specific pathologic condition involved. A marked reduction in the levels of total triiodothyronine, total thyroxine, free triiodothyronine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and in the ratio of free triiodothyronine to free thyroxine was detected during the time frame of the study. The minimum levels of each hormone were reached between 12 and 48 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass, indicating that changes in thyroid function and in the conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine are triggered by cardiopulmonary bypass and represent specific phenomena, and that these changes are progressively exacerbated during the postoperative period. The thyroid-stimulating hormone level was markedly reduced versus its baseline values (24% ± 0.13%), despite low levels of both total (40% ± 18%) and free (39% ± 20%) triiodothyronine: it returned to its preoperative level by the third postoperative day, but both the total (75% ± 10%) and free (74% ± 3%) triiodothyronine levels remained below their baseline values for 7 days postoperatively. Neither hemodilution nor hypothermia was responsible for the alteration observed. We conclude that pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass manifest changes in hormone metabolism similar to those seen in adult patients. These changes increase progressively during the postoperative period, and are still present 7 days postoperatively. The exact mechanism responsible for causing these changes is not thoroughly understood. Whether triiodothyronine replacement therapy is beneficial or deleterious remains controversial.
Depressive Symptoms in a Sample of Social Work Students and Reasons Preventing Students from Using Mental Health Services: An Exploratory Study.

Limited research exists on social work students' level of depression and help-seeking beliefs. This study empirically examined the rates of depression among 215 BSW students and explored students' reasons for not using mental health services. Approximately 50% scored at or above the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale cutoff; qualitative responses identified personal reasons preventing help-seeking with themes such as "self" and "other" stigma; distrust/fear; and concerns with confidentiality, quality, and cultural competency. Denial of problems, the need for self-control/perfection, and preference for informal help were also themes, in addition to structural reasons such as lack of time, resources, and knowledge. The implications for social work administrators, educators, and practitioners are discussed. Future research suggestions are noted.
The social context of training: coworker, supervisor, or organizational support?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to expand existing tests of what drives training transfer, by including support originating from three sources, i.e. one's coworkers, supervisor, and organization.Design/methodology/approach – The results are based on a sample of trainees attending professional development programs in one organization in the USA.Findings – Coworkers emerge as important, yet neglected, resources employees can draw on as support for both maintaining skills and transferring them to a workplace setting.Practical implications – If the results are supported in other studies, more attention should be given to coworker support interventions.Originality/value – The study provides a first test of the extent to which support originating from three different sources (i.e. coworkers, supervisor, and organization) is related to maintaining and transferring skills acquired during training.
Identification of DNA sequences in the latency related promoter of bovine herpes virus type 1 which are bound by neuronal specific factors

Abstract Bovine herpes virus 1 establishes a latent infection in sensory ganglionic neurons of cattle. During a latent infection, latency related (LR) transcripts are the only detectable viral RNAs. DNA sequences in the LR promoter are positively regulated by neural factors. The 5′ terminus of LR RNA in productively infected bovine cells is 20–30 nucleotides downstream from two overlapping TATA like elements. In contrast, the major start sites of LR transcription in trigeminal ganglia of latently infected cattle was 200–300 nucleotides upstream. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were utilized to identify regions of the LR promoter that specifically bind factors present in dorsal root ganglia of cattle. Nuclear extracts from dorsal root ganglia of cattle or rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) contain abundant factors which specifically bind to a 72 bp XhoI-XbaI fragment. The 72 bp fragment is adjacent to the major start sites of LR transcriptional in trigeminal ganglia of latently infected cattle. In contrast, nuclear extracts from non-neural cells, bovine turbinate or Rat-2, did not exhibit similar binding patterns suggesting these factors were not abundant, had reduced binding affinity, or were absent in non-neural cells. Binding was localized to a 20 bp region of the XhoI-XbaI fragment by EMSA and Exonuclease III footprinting. When the XhoI-XbaI fragment was deleted, LR promoter activity was repressed in PC12 cells. Taken together, we conclude the XhoI-XbaI fragment is important for LR-RNA expression in neurons.
Pediatric tracheotomy: 17 year review

Summary Objective To study the outcomes, complications, and indications for pediatric tracheotomies performed at a major tertiary care children's hospital, Starship Children's Hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, over the period 1987–2003. Methods A retrospective review of hospital records from 1987 to 2003 was conducted to assess all pediatric patients who had undergone tracheotomies. Results A total of 122 tracheotomies (119 surgical, 3 percutaneous) were performed on patients less than 16 years of age. Upper airway obstruction (including craniofacial dysmorphism, n = 40, and subglottic stenosis, n = 18) was the most common indication for surgery ( n = 86; 70%) with a lesser number ( n = 36; 30%) requiring tracheotomy for prolonged ventilation. The median age at tracheotomy was 4.5 months in patients with upper airway obstruction and 16 months in those requiring prolonged ventilation. Decannulation was carried out successfully in 92 patients (75%), although 6 (6.5%) subsequently required recannulation. The overall complication rate was 51% ( n = 62). Early postoperative complications occurred in a total of 9 (7.4%) patients, including difficulties with ventilation in intensive care due to inadequate seal or tube position in 5 (4.1%), and accidental decannulation in 3 (2.5%). Late complications included localized granulation in most patients, for which 15 (12.3%) required intervention whilst under a routine planned general anesthetic. Major vascular erosion was not encountered in any patient, although 5 (4.1%) required intervention for minor bleeding associated with granulation tissue. Suprastomal collapse occurred in 13 patients (10.7%); but did not affect their subsequent decannulation, although 2 (1.6%) developed tracheotomy-related subglottic stenosis. Closure of tracheocutaneous fistulas was required in 16 (13.1%) decannulated patients. Only 2 patients (1.6%) died from tracheotomy-related complications, with an overall mortality rate of 14%. Conclusions Pediatric tracheotomies performed at Starship Children's Hospital between 1987 and 2003 were associated with a low incidence of procedure-related mortality and morbidity and successful decannulation in most cases. The majority of procedures were performed to treat upper airway obstruction, most commonly caused by craniofacial dysmorphism or subglottic stenosis.
Racial and Gender Differences in Quality of life Following Kidney Transplantation

Purpose: To determine if race or gender affected changes in quality of life (QoL) reported by nondiabetic kidney transplant recipients from pre- to 6 and 72 months post-transplant and offer possible explanations. Information gained may offer direction for interventions de signed to enhance post-transplant QoL for patients who may be less likely to attain im proved outcomes. Design: Descriptive, prospective clinical study. A convenience sample of 90 male and female Caucasian-American and African-American patients was used. Patients were 79 to 67 years of age, nondiabetic, and undergoing kidney transplantation at one university hospital located in the southern United States. Data were collected 7990 to 7995. Methods: Three questionnaires measuring QoL were used: the Sickness Impact Profile, Ferrans and Powers' Quality of Life Index, and the Adult Self-Image Scales. Patients completed questionnaires at the time of transplant and at their routine 6– and 12-month post-transplant evaluation visits. Repeated measures analysis of variance with multiple pre-planned comparisons of least-squares (LS) means were performed to determine if differences existed between and within study groups over time. Findings: African-Americans achieved less improvement than Caucasian-Americans in affective as well as functional measures of QoL. Women scored consistently lower than men on most QoL measures at baseline and reported greater improvement in functional ability while perceptions of self-image remained low. Conclusions: Although transplantation dramatically improves QoL, some segments of the patient population, namely African-Americans and women, do not benefit to the same extent as others. Nurses need to recognize sociocultural differences in patients and how these differences affect care requirements.
Ultrasonography of reproductive structures and hormonal correlates of follicular development in female American alligators, Alligator mississippiensis, in southwest Louisiana.

Abstract Ultrasonography has been used effectively to study reproduction in a variety of reptile species, but its application to crocodilians has been relatively limited. We present results from a study testing the efficacy of using ultrasonography to monitor reproduction in the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. Ultrasound results were then compared with plasma hormone levels. A total of 124 females were examined during March, April, May, and early June (2001–2003). Ultrasound results were validated on a series of reproductive females (n = 14) necropsied for other studies. Previtellogenic follicles, vitellogenic follicles, recently shelled eggs, fully developed well-calcified eggs, and atretic follicles were readily discernible with ultrasound in mature females. Reproductive structures were observed in 57 females of which 43 were actively reproductive, while 14 were non-reproductive, but contained large atretic follicles from prior years. Oviducts were discernible in females with eggs. Ovarian state was also correlated with hormone levels. These results are in agreement with previous studies that showed that 50% or less of the adult female alligator population is reproductively active in a given year. Ultrasonography can be used to make an accurate assessment of reproductive condition in wild alligator populations.
Job search and information processing in the presence of nonrational behavior

Abstract Prospect theory is reviewed and used to analyze the job search decision. ‘Cancellation’ and ‘coding’ during the editing phase of the decision introduces systematic biases resulting in a mismatch between worker and job not predicted by expected utility theory. Cognitive dissonance and self-perception theory is used to analyze how adverse information received on the job can result in rationalization, or a change in tastes. As a consequence information does not provide the positive role usually assigned.
Dewatering deposits formed in purifying effluent from refractory factories by vacuum filtration

The residue formed from effluent contaminated with chamotte dust, with coagulation and without coagulation, is thoroughly dewatered on vacuum equipment with concentrations of more than 700 kg/m3 of suspended particles in the residue. Residues obtained from effluent contaminated with mixtures of chamotte and clay dust in the ratio 4∶1, 1∶1, and 1∶4 are dewatered less effectively than chamotte residues. The residue from a mixture of chamotte and clay 4∶1 is dewatered with a minimum concentration of 809 kg/m3; the residue from the mixture of chamotte and clay 1∶1 can be satisfactorily dewatered only with a high vacuum (640 mm Hg) and with a filter cycle time longer than that used in existing equipment. With a filter cycle of 30 min the thickness of the skin of uncoagulated residue was 13 mm. The coagulated residue from a mixture of clay and chamotte 1∶1 even after 14 days holding had too low a concentration, and in practice cannot be dewatered on a vacuum filter. The residue from mixtures of 1∶4 chamotte and clay is dewatered very ineffectively. The thickness of the cake with a filter cycle time of 20 min for uncoagulated residue was only 4 mm.
Some remarks on the convergence analysis of adaptive controllers for robot manipulators

The objective of this paper is to explore several robust adaptive control schemes for a class of partially known robot systems described by the equation M(q)q + F(q, q)q + G(q) = f(t) where f(t) is the control input. First we take advantage of any known system dynamics to simplify the adaptive control problem for the unknown portion of the dynamics. Then a model-reference adaptive control based on the Lyapunov stability criterion is designed for the remaining unknown portion of the plant. Using the Lyapunov approach, under a slowly time-varying assumption we derive a magnitude bound and a maximum achievable convergence rate for the error. The magnitude bound as well as the convergence rate are functions of the reference model degree of stability α (- α is the maximum real part of model poles). We show that there is an optimal location for the reference model poles that is independent of the robot dynamics. This value of α is well defined, and if the feedback gains are further increased, making the model more stable, the performance of the adaptive system is degraded. It is also shown that the gains in the adaptive portion of the algorithm may be made as high as desired in order to make the actual performance approach the maximum achievable convergence rate. The effect of these adaptive gains does depend on the unknown dynamics. Simulation results will demonstrate the improved performance of the adaptive controller and the detrimental effects of high gains on the system performance. Next the slowly time-varying assumption is relaxed to obtain more realistic bounds on the error. Formulation into a more structured system also allows us to derive a control law that does not require accelerations.
Bisphenol-A induces expression of HOXC6, an estrogen-regulated homeobox-containing gene associated with breast cancer

HOXC6 is a homeobox-containing gene associated with mammary gland development and is overexpressed in variety of cancers including breast and prostate cancers. Here, we have examined the expression of HOXC6 in breast cancer tissue, investigated its transcriptional regulation via estradiol (E2) and bisphenol-A (BPA, an estrogenic endocrine disruptor) in vitro and in vivo. We observed that HOXC6 is differentially over-expressed in breast cancer tissue. E2 induces HOXC6 expression in cultured breast cancer cells and in mammary glands of Sprague Dawley rats. HOXC6 expression is also induced upon exposure to BPA both in vitro and in vivo. Estrogen-receptor-alpha (ERα) and ER-coregulators such as MLL-histone methylases are bound to the HOXC6 promoter upon exposure to E2 or BPA and that resulted in increased histone H3K4-trimethylation, histone acetylation, and recruitment of RNA polymerase II at the HOXC6 promoter. HOXC6 overexpression induces expression of tumor growth factors and facilitates growth 3D-colony formation, indicating its potential roles in tumor growth. Our studies demonstrate that HOXC6, which is a critical player in mammary gland development, is upregulated in multiple cases of breast cancer, and is transcriptionally regulated by E2 and BPA, in vitro and in vivo.
The relationship of clinical response, oocyte number, and success in oocyte donor cycles.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine if there is a threshold of clinical response to ovarian stimulation below which pregnancy rates diminish in oocyte donation cycles.
Diminished joint coordination with aging leads to more variable hand paths.

Differences in joint coordination between arms and due to aging were studied in healthy young and older adults reaching to either a fixed, central target or to the same target when it could unexpectedly change location after reach initiation. Joint coordination was investigated by artificially removing the covariation of each joint’s motions with other joints’ motions. Uncontrolled manifold analysis was used to partition joint configuration variance into variance reflecting motor abundance (VUCM) and variance causing hand path variability (VORT). The extent to which VORT, related to the consistency of the hand path, increased after removing a joint’s covariation indicated the strength of its coordination with other joints. Young adults exhibited stronger indices of joint coordination, evidenced by a larger increase in VORT after removing joint covariation than for older adults. This effect was more striking for the dominant right compared to the left arm for young adults, but not for older adults, especially with target uncertainty. The results indicate that interjoint coordination in young adults leads to less hand path variability compared to older adults.
A Reactive Molecular Dynamics Algorithm for Proton Transport in Aqueous Systems

We present a model that incorporates the structural diffusion of a proton into a classical molecular dynamics simulation using a reactive molecular dynamics (RMD) algorithm. The transition state for proton transfer obtained from ab initio calculations is mapped onto a set of geometric and energetic triggers to describe the structural diffusion of the proton in the simulation. Numerical values of these triggers are parametrized to satisfy the experimental values of rate constant and activation energy in order to capture the molecular and macroscopic features of structural diffusion. The algorithm partitions the structural diffusion of a proton into three steps: (i) satisfaction of the triggers, (ii) instantaneous reaction, and (iii) local equilibration. The final step ensures that the ending point of the reaction provides the correct structure and heat of reaction. Hence, the reactivity is incorporated by the algorithm rather than through the development of a reactive potential. We have applied this scheme...
LCK-phosphorylated human killer cell-inhibitory receptors recruit and activate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

HLA-specific killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) are thought to impede natural killer (NK) and T cell activation programs through recruitment of the SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatases, SHP-1 and SHP-2, to their cytoplasmic tails (CYT). To identify other SH2 domain-containing proteins that bind KIR CYT, we used the recently described yeast two-bait interaction trap and a modified version of this system, both of which permit tyrosine phosphorylation of bait proteins. Using these systems, we show that KIR CYT, once phosphorylated by the src-family tyrosine kinase LCK, additionally bind the p85α regulatory subunit of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase. Furthermore, we show that in an NK cell line, NK3.3, cross-linking of KIR results in recruitment of p85α to KIR and activation of PI 3-kinase lipid kinase activity. One consequence of KIR coupling to PI 3-kinase is downstream activation of the antiapoptotic protein kinase AKT. Therefore, in addition to providing negative signals, KIR may also contribute positive signals for NK and T cell growth and/or survival.
Regulation of myogenic terminal differentiation by the hairy-related transcription factor CHF2.

We have recently cloned a novel basic helix-loop-helix factor, CHF2, that functions as a transcriptional repressor. To address its role in the regulation of myogenic terminal differentiation, we analyzed its expression pattern during C2C12 mouse myotube formation. In undifferentiated myoblasts, CHF2 is expressed at high levels. After induction of myotube formation in low serum, CHF2 expression is barely detectable at 3 days after induction. Myogenin expression, in contrast, peaks at 3 days. In transiently transfected 10T1/2 embryonic fibroblasts, CHF2 inhibited MyoD-dependent activation of the myogenin promoter in a dose-dependent fashion. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis indicated that CHF2 inhibits the binding of the MyoD·E47 heterodimer to the E-box binding site. CHF2 also inhibited myogenic conversion of 10T1/2 cells by MyoD, as measured by skeletal myosin heavy chain protein expression. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis indicated that CHF2 forms a protein complex with MyoD. Mutational analysis of CHF2 indicated that the repression activity for both transcription and myogenic conversion mapped to a hydrophobic carboxyl-terminal region and did not require either the basic helix-loop-helix or YRPW motifs. Our data indicate that CHF2 functions as a transcriptional repressor of myogenesis by formation of an inactive heterodimeric complex with MyoD and likely plays an important role in muscle development.
A new method of making particleboard with a formaldehyde-free soy-based adhesive

A soy-based formaldehyde-free adhesive consisting of soy flour (SF) and a curing agent (CA) has been successfully used for the production of plywood. However, this adhesive cannot be easily sprayed onto wood particles for making particleboard because of its high viscosity. The following new method of using this adhesive was developed and investigated. SF was first mixed with water to form dilute soy slurry that could be easily coated onto wood particles. The soy-coated wood particles were dried to certain moisture content and then further coated with an aqueous curing agent. Effects of particleboard density, adhesive usages for both core and face particles, the solids content of the soy slurry, hot-press time, hot-press temperature, the storage time of the wet soy-coated wood particles, and the SF/CA weight ratio on the internal bond strength (IB), the modulus of rupture (MOR), and the modulus of elasticity (MOE) of particleboard were investigated.
The Non-Finitizability of Impredicative Principles.

An impredicative class is a class definable only by reference to a totality to which the class itself belongs. Usual systems of set theory contain principles which provide us with infinitely many ways of generating such classes. We shall prove that we cannot in general replace these by finitely many, as we can in the case of predicative classes. In order to render the proof and what we prove clearer, we shall concentrate our attention on a rather special simple case. It will be obvious that other cases can be treated similarly. Let L be the system determined by Bernays's axioms' I-III and Va. This is a system with finitely many axioms. Roughly speaking, in L we are assured that all finite classes obtained from the empty class by applying (any finite number of times) the operations of forming unit classes and sum classes are sets (membership-eligible classes), that every subclass of a set is a set, and that we have all predicative classes of these sets. Bernays has shown in detail that, by identifying natural numbers with certain sets of L, we can obtain the usual number theory in L. For our purpose, we may describe L in the following manner. L contains the first-order predicate calculus (quantification theory) for one kind of variables X, Y, etc. (whose range consists of all classes) and an additional two-place predicate e (membership). Since sets are merely classes which can be members of classes, variables ranging over sets can be introduced by contextual definitions such as: (x)+ stands for (X) ((2 Y)(X E Y) D OX). It follows immediately that if (X)+X then (x)+x. Let us agree further that X = Y stands for (x) (x e X = x e Y) The axioms of L can be stated thus :2
Spirocyclic restriction of nucleosides. An analysis of protecting group feasibility while accessing prototype anti-1-oxaspiro[4.4]nonanyl mimics.

The first spirocyclic nucleoside featuring a β-hydroxyl (anti) at C5‘ has yielded to synthesis. While the OMOM functionality proved to be sensitive to the conditions necessary to incorporate hetero...
High Purity Optical Needle Field with Ultra-Long Depth of Focus

An ultra-long optical needle is created in the focal volume of high-NA lens through reversing the radiation from an electric dipole array. Depth of focus of 8? with 86% longitudinal field component can be obtained.
Glucose transporter 10 and arterial tortuosity syndrome: The vitamin C connection

Arterial Tortuosity Syndrome (ATS) is a heritable disease characterized by twisting and lengthening of the major arteries, hypermobility of the joints, and laxity of skin. ATS is caused by mutations in SLC2A10, encoding Glucose Transporter 10 (GLUT10). The current model of ATS holds that loss of GLUT10 at the nuclear periphery induces a glucose-dependent increase in Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGFβ) that stimulates vessel wall cell proliferation. Instead, we propose that GLUT10 transports ascorbate, a cofactor for collagen and elastin hydroxylases, into the secretory pathway. In ATS, loss of GLUT10 results in defective collagen and/or elastin. TGFβ activation represents a secondary response to a defective extracellular matrix.
Exploring Valued Patterns of Stance in Upper-Level Student Writing in the Disciplines

Drawing on the appraisal framework from systemic functional linguistics (SFL), this article examines patterns of stance in a corpus of 92 high- and low-graded argumentative papers written in the co...
Aspects of nonhormonal maternal behavior in the rat*1

Abstract A new cross-transfusion procedure using single chronically implanted heart catheters was developed to permit animals to move freely during transfusion. Support for the concept of a nonhormonal basis of maternal behavior was found in the inability of blood, cross-transfused from pup-induced maternal virgins and spontaneous retrieving females, to shorten latencies for retrieving in recipient virgins. Spontaneous retrieving was not affected by the hormonal changes of pregnancy. On the other hand, the rate of induction of maternal behavior (i.e., retrieving) was shown to depend upon the size of the cage in which virgins were confined with pups: latencies were directly proportionate to cage area and opportunity for contact with pups.
Vibration of a membrane strip with a segment of higher density: analysis of trapped modes

The Helmholtz equation governs the dynamics of membranes and waveguides. Using the mode matching method, trapped modes are found for an infinite strip with a segment of inhomogeneity. The exact frequencies and mode shapes are determined as a function of density ratio and length of the segment. Nonuniqueness and nonexistence are demonstrated.
Probabilistic description of topographic slope and aspect

[1] Local topographic features such as slope and aspect play a crucial role in a number of morphological, ecological, and hydrological processes. We propose a simple yet realistic probabilistic description of local slope and aspect as a function of properties of the field of elevation changes. We consider different classes of models of elevation changes and obtain the theoretical distribution of slope and aspect. We relate the features of the obtained distributions to large-scale landscape structures, such as regional trends and anisotropy. We find that the theoretical distribution of slope is strongly impacted by the parameters used to represent the distribution of elevation changes, while large-scale features play a secondary role. Conversely, the distribution of aspect is also controlled by regional trends and anisotopy, even when they are weak. The proposed statistical description of slope and aspect is applied to assess the effects of topographic features on direct solar radiation mean and standard deviation. The main control on direct solar radiation is exerted by the partial derivative variance. We consider four different landscapes across the continental United States and compare the proposed theoretical description of slope and aspect distributions to the observed histograms.
Maternal responsive and directive behaviours and utterances as predictors of children's lexical development

Predictive relations were examined between measures of 20 mothers' behavioural and verbal general and specific responsiveness and intrusive and supportive directiveness and their children's subsequent expressive vocabularies during three developmental periods with endpoints at the beginning, middle, and end of the second year: 0; 10 to 1; 1, 1 ; 1 to 1; 5, and 1;5 to 1;9. Regression analyses, controlling for mothers' utterance frequencies and children's initial lexicons, revealed considerable consistency between reported and observed lexicons but changing patterns of predictive relations with development. During the first period, behavioural, but not verbal, measures of maternal responsiveness and supportive directiveness were positively predictive. In period two, verbal, but not behavioural, measures predicted children's vocabularies, with specific responsiveness and supportive directiveness as positive predictors and intrusive directiveness as a negative predictor. During the final period, mothers' behavioural and verbal responsiveness and behavioural supportive directiveness positively predicted and their verbal intrusive directiveness negatively predicted children's lexical growth.