cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1447: Identification of an oncogenic germlineKRAStruncating mutation in hereditary cancers

Somatic strongly activating KRAS mutations play an oncogenic role across numerous human cancers, while less activating germline KRAS mutations are associated with developmental disorders. KRAS encodes two splice variant products—KRAS-4A and KRAS-4B—differing in their C-terminus through alternative fourth coding exons. Though KRAS-4A is homologous to the original transforming transcript identified in Kirsten rat sarcoma virus, its role in human cancer is less characterized compared to KRAS-4B. Here, through genetic analyses of three cohorts of patients with hereditary and/or aggressive cancers, we identified a rare KRAS-4A specific C-terminal truncating germline mutation (KRAS-4A C180X; rs373169526) in affected men of three families with hereditary prostate cancer and a patient with hereditary melanoma (minor allele frequency [MAF] of 0.0014 in these combined cancer cohorts assessed vs. 0.000056 in the ExAC population database, odds ratio 24.6 [95% confidence interval 5.1-103.5], two sided Fisher’s exact test p = 9.0E-5). The KRAS-4A C180X mutation truncates the C-terminus, removing the polybasic region and -CAAX motifs previously demonstrated to be necessary for Ras family member membrane association, MAP kinase signaling activation and transformation, suggesting a loss of function phenotype. However, in silico assessment of reported human variation demonstrates truncating germline variants only in KRAS-4A and not KRAS-4B, consistent with tolerance. Expression of KRAS-4A protein in NIH3T3 and MDCK leads to loss of exclusive membrane association and inhibits GTP loading, as expected, but paradoxically resulted in modest but significantly increased proliferation and soft agar colony growth compared to control or wildtype KRAS expressing cells. Pro-oncogenic phenotypes were not dependent on MAPK signaling, but showed sensitivity to AKT inhibition. In summary, we identified a germline truncating KRAS-4A mutation over-represented in hereditary cancers that defines a novel mechanism of KRAS activation not dependent on the C-terminal polybasic and -CAAX motifs. Citation Format: Moloy T. Goswami, Daniel H. Hovelson, Anna Johnson, Scott A. Tomlins, Lucy Wang, Kimberly Zhulke, Bhavneet Singh, Sharath Kumar Anand, Andi Cani, Albert Liu, Steven Kamberov, Yi-Mi Wu, Dan Robinson, Arul Chinnaiyan, Kathleen A. Cooney. Identification of an oncogenic germline KRAS truncating mutation in hereditary cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1447. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1447
Comment on: Quasi-elastic neutron scattering investigation of the guest molecule dynamics in the bromomethane clathrate hydrate

Abstract This comment addresses several points presented in a recent paper in the Journal that affect the interpretation of data obtained in a study of quasi-elastic neutron scattering in methyl bromide clathrate hydrate. The clathrate belongs to a class known as cubic structure I and it has two sites in its hydrogen-bonded network suitable for guest molecules, one in the large cavity in the structure, the other in the small cavity. The data obtained for methyl bromide hydrate were assigned to the two presumed populations of methyl bromide molecules. However, previous composition measurements and NMR data have shown that the small cavity in fact does not contain methyl bromide molecules. This also becomes obvious once the dimensions of the methyl bromide and the host cavity are calculated, the molecule being too large to fit into the cavity by nearly 0.1 nm. Thus the interpretation of data as assigned in the paper cannot be correct. Finally, although the authors claim new insights into guest –host interactions from guest dynamics, this should be presented in light of previous relevant work where this topic has been thoroughly evaluated.
Combining monocular geometric cues with traditional stereo cues for consumer camera stereo

This paper presents an algorithm for considering both stereo cues and structural priors to obtain a geometrically representative depth map from a narrow baseline stereo pair. We use stereo pairs captured with a consumer stereo camera and observe that traditional depth estimation using stereo matching techniques encounters difficulties related to the narrow baseline relative to the depth of the scene. However, monocular geometric cues based on attributes such as lines and the horizon provide additional hints about the global structure that stereo matching misses. We merge both monocular and stereo matching features in a piecewise planar reconstruction framework that is initialized with a discrete inference step, and refined with a continuous optimization to encourage the intersections of hypothesized planes to coincide with observed image lines. We show through our results on stereo pairs of manmade structures captured outside of the lab that our algorithm exploits the advantages of both approaches to infer a better depth map of the scene.
Grazing Incidence Metal Mirrors as the Final Elements in a Laser Driver for Inertial Confinement Fusion

Grazing incidence metal mirrors (GIMMs) have been examined to replace dielectric mirrors for the final elements in a laser beam line for an inertial confinement fusion reactor. For a laser driver w...
Supervisor Support for the Permanent Replacement of Economic Strikers

Sixty-one supervisors were surveyed to examine the importance of organization commitment, union approval, and quality of union-management relationship in explaining supervisor support for hiring permanent replacements in short and long strike situations. Organization commitment and union approval exhibited a unique negative relationship with support for hiring replacements in a short strike, and union approval exhibited a unique negative relationship with support for hiring replacements in a long strike situation.
The dependence of crack closure on fatigue loading variables

Optical and electron microscopy and stereoimaging techniques are used to determine crack opening loads local to the crack tip in aluminum alloy 7091 and 304 stainless steel. It is found that the crack peels open nonlinearly such that significant load increases are necessary to open the crack the last few microns from the tip. The stress intensity range ratio is shown to depend on fatigue loading variables according to a given relationship.
The importance of decadal-scale climate variability to wind-driven modulation of hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay

Millions of dollars are spent annually to reduce nutrient loading to Chesapeake Bay, with a fundamental goal of reducing the extent and severity of low dissolved oxygen (hypoxia) during the summertime months^1^. Yet despite recent reductions in nutrient loading, large volumes of the Bay continue to be impacted by hypoxia and anoxia during the summer months^2-3^. One obstacle to assessing efforts to improve water quality in the Bay and other estuarine systems is a complete understanding of the physical processes that modulate dissolved oxygen and the long-term variability of these processes. Here I analyze a 58-year data set of estimated hypoxic volume in the Bay^2^ and demonstrate the importance that wind direction plays in controlling the extent and severity of summertime hypoxia. This analysis indicates that wind direction explains a greater percentage of the observed inter-annual variation in hypoxic volume than estimates of nutrient loading. The implication is that physical processes play a dominant role in modulating hypoxia and that much of the increased hypoxia observed since the early 1980s can be attributed to changes in wind forcing that are the result of decadal-scale climate variability. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding the physical processes that modulate dissolved oxygen in coastal and estuarine systems and highlight the potential impact that climate change may have on water quality in Chesapeake Bay and other estuarine systems.
An Equivalence Approach to Balance and Placebo Tests

Recent emphasis on credible causal designs has led to the expectation that scholars justify their research designs by testing the plausibility of their causal identification assumptions, often through balance and placebo tests. Yet current practice is to use statistical tests with an inappropriate null hypothesis of no difference, which can result in equating nonsignificant differences with significant homogeneity. Instead, we argue that researchers should begin with the initial hypothesis that the data are inconsistent with a valid research design, and provide sufficient statistical evidence in favor of a valid design. When tests are correctly specified so that difference is the null and equivalence is the alternative, the problems afflicting traditional tests are alleviated. We argue that equivalence tests are better able to incorporate substantive considerations about what constitutes good balance on covariates and placebo outcomes than traditional tests. We demonstrate these advantages with applications to natural experiments.
The Study of Exchange Rate Fluctuations on the Export Prices of Iranian Food Products (Dynamic Panel Data Approach)

I n this paper, the evaluation of the real exchange rate transfer and the asymmetric transmission of real exchange rate fluctuations to the export prices of food products for the country during the period (2001-2015) was studied using two approaches of PMG and GMM systems. The TGARCH method was used to calculate the real exchange rate fluctuation index and the Markov Switching method was used to calculate the positive and negative shocks of the real exchange rate fluctuation. The results of the study showed that the real exchange rate transfer was full on the export price of food products in the period under review. The real exchange rate fluctuation has increased production costs, thus increasing the export prices of food products. Export prices also react to positive, negative shocks are not the same exchange rate fluctuations, and the effect of negative shocks, exchange rate volatility has been more than positive shocks.
The last link: from gun acquisition to criminal use

Guns that are used in crime and recovered by the police typically have changed hands often since first retail sale and are quite old. While there is an extensive literature on “time to crime” for guns, defined as the elapsed time from first retail sale to known use in a crime, there is little information available on the duration of the “last link”—the elapsed time from the transaction that actually provided the offender with the gun in question. In this article, we use data from the new Chicago Inmate Survey (CIS) to estimate the duration of the last link. The median is just 2 months. Many of the gun-involved respondents to the CIS (42%) did not have any gun 6 months prior to their arrest for the current crime. The CIS respondents were almost all barred from purchasing a gun from a gun store because of their prior criminal record—as a result, their guns were obtained by illegal transactions with friends, relatives, and the underground market. We conclude that more effective enforcement of the laws governing gun transactions may have a quick and pervasive effect on gun use in crime.
Confirmation Bias Estimation from Electroencephalography with Machine Learning

Cognitive biases are known to affect human decision making and can have disastrous effects in the fast-paced environments of military operators. Traditionally, post-hoc behavioral analysis is used ...
Analyzing Social Policy from a Network Perspective

Governance models influence the approach that public service organizations take when implementing programs, policies, and practices. The networked model of governance supports the involvement of multiple actors who span organizational boundaries and roles to implement solutions to address complex social problems. This paper presents the utility of network analysis for the study of policy implementation from a network perspective. The paper describes networks within the context of social work policy implementation, basic network components, common structural variables, and sources of data for the study of policy implementation. A study of a statewide policy implementation is partially presented as an illustration of the use of network analysis in social policy research. The illustration uses primary and secondary data with network analysis techniques to identify and describe the patterns of interactions that comprise the structure of the implementation network. The illustration will present examples of the study findings to demonstrate the utility of network analysis in identifying central network actors and describing the density of the network according to different network variables. The paper concludes with a summary of the utility of network analysis in the study of policy implementation with recommendations for future research.
Treatment Paradigms for Prepubertal Children

The treatment of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) prepubertal children has expanded both in scope and in the number of families seeking services over the past decade. This chapter reviews the extant standards of care and clinical guidelines for these children, synthesizing the WPATH, American Psychological Association, and Australian Standards of Care, while illustrating the ascendant approach for supporting these children: the gender affirmative model. The model is contrasted to earlier developed models of care, the “living in your own skin” model and the “watchful waiting” model. To illustrate the clinical approach of the gender affirmative model in contrast to the other two models, a hypothetical case of a young gender-exploring child is presented, with an analysis of how each of the three models might approach the child and family seeking care.
A phase II study of gefitinib in patients with metastatic melanoma

9057 Background: Gefitinib is an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is frequently expressed on both choroidal and non-choroidal melanoma cells. We evaluated the clinical ef...
Concentration and effective T 2 relaxation times of macromolecules at 3T

Purpose We aimed to investigate the concentration and effective T2 relaxation time of macromolecules assessed with an ultra-short TE sLASER sequence in 2 brain regions, the occipital and frontal cortex, in both genders at 3T. Methods An optimized sLASER sequence was used in conjunction with a double-inversion preparation module to null the metabolites. Eight equally spaced TEs were chosen from 20.1 to 62.1 ms, and the macromolecules were modeled by 10 line broadened singlets. The amplitude of each of the macromolecule signals was extracted at each TE and fit to a monoexponential function to extract the respective effective T2 values. Absolute quantification of the macromolecule resonances was performed using water signal as a reference. A total of 10 young healthy adult subjects (5 females) were scanned, with spectra being obtained from both the frontal and occipital cortex. Differences in the effective T2 relaxation times and concentrations were investigated between both regions and genders. Results A wide disparity was observed between the effective T2 values of the individual resonances; however, no significant differences between gender or region for any of the measured macromolecule concentration or effective T2 values were found. Conclusion The effective T2 relaxation times and concentration of 10 different macromolecule resonances were measured and found to be well represented by the monoexponential model. These results will be useful for absolute quantification of macromolecules in future studies, or in the generation of synthetic basis sets for optimization or machine learning.
Predictors of adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of male breast cancer and its impact on outcomes: A propensity matched analysis.

e12516Background: Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for 1% of all breast cancers and there is a paucity of data on factors impacting the treatment strategies and outcomes. We hypothesized that adju...
Complications of Pediatric Bladder Reconstruction in the Adult Patient

Bladder augmentation and associated reconstructive procedures are a surgical option for patients with urologic congenital anomalies and neuropathic bladder with the goal of improving continence and reducing the risk of upper tract deterioration. Despite these benefits, augmentation also portends several short- and long-term potential complications. The goal of this chapter is to discuss these complications and review the current literature on this topic. Metabolic abnormalities, including acid-base disorders and their sequelae, occur in 5–15% of patients with bladder augmentation and are typically seen within 5–10 years from intervention. Chronic bacteriuria and recurrent urinary tract infections often play a role in renal dysfunction and contribute to 70% of urinary tract stone disease. Bladder perforation is reported at rates between 3 and 13%, with associated mortality rates ranging from 1% to as high as 25%. Other more common surgical complications include catheterizable channel issues: stricture, false passage, stenosis, stomal prolapse, channel redundancy, and channel incontinence. Channel complications should be thought of as suprafascial vs. subfascial in order to help guide treatment options. Following augmentation cystoplasty, incidence of bladder cancer ranges from 0 to 5.5%; unfortunately, the vast majority present with locally advanced or node-positive disease. Therefore, yearly screening with cytology and cystoscopy is not recommended and symptom-based screening protocols have been proposed. Given the complexity and wide variety of complications possible after bladder augmentation, it is critical that these patients are closely followed into adulthood by a urologist, but also receive tailored multi-disciplinary care based on their specific medical and surgical needs.
High mitochondrial mutation rates in Silene are associated with nuclear-mediated changes in mitochondrial physiology

Mitochondrial (mt) respiration depends on proteins encoded both by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Variation in mt-DNA mutation rates exists across eukaryotes, although the functional conseq...
Flexible operation of photovoltaic electrodialysis (PV-ED) low-cost community-scale desalination systems

Although brackish groundwater desalination is a promising solution to water scarcity in rural India, powering desalination systems in remote locations where grid power is not reliable remains an issue due to the high upfront cost of solar panels and batteries. This paper focuses on photovoltaic electrodialysis (PV-ED) desalination and proposes novel, flexible operation modes to integrate more efficiently the time-dependent solar power with the ED load, and replace energy storage in batteries by water storage in tanks. By first defining an irradiance-dependent desalination schedule, and further on extending the system flexibility to adjust in real-time the system power consumption, a better matching between the energy supply and demand is proposed that directly converts solar energy into water and potentially eliminates battery needs. Coupled with a system-level optimization of the desalination and power modules, operating with a flexible schedule leads 42% capital cost reduction compared to PV-ED systems conventionally designed. Additional cost reductions are anticipated from the fully-flexible operation with close to 90% of the solar energy directly used by the system, which is twice as much as the level achieved by binary on/off control in the optimal configuration.
Electoral regimes and the politicisation of foreign trade in national elections

Under what conditions will political parties emphasise trade policy during national elections? While research shows the importance of domestic politics in driving trade policy, little attention has...
Final Calibration of the Berkeley Extreme and Far-Ultraviolet Spectrometer on the ORFEUS-SPAS I and II Missions

The Berkeley Extreme and Far-Ultraviolet Spectrometer flew as part of the ORFEUS telescope on the ORFEUS-SPAS I and II space shuttle missions in 1993 and 1996, respectively. The data obtained by this instrument have now entered the public domain. To facilitate their use by the astronomical community, we have reextracted and recalibrated both data sets, converted them into a standard (FITS) format, and placed them in the Multimission Archive at STScI (MAST). Our final calibration yields improved wavelength scales and effective area curves for both data sets.
A Situation-Specific Theory About HIV-Related Fatigue

HIV-related fatigue is one of the most problematic and pervasive symptoms experienced by people living with HIV infection, and one that has resisted traditional methods of relieving fatigue. This theory was developed from my clinical experience as a nurse practitioner, and then advanced through my research. It has evolved from being a somewhat amorphous, messy theory, with a large number of variables that were potentially related to this symptom, to a more streamlined theory with a clear direction toward intervention. It is also an exemplar of the mind-body connection and reminds us that the context within which an illness is lived is critically important to the care we provide.
Safety of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with mild to moderate cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To evaluate major bleeding in cirrhosis with use of traditional anticoagulation or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), using a standardized definition. Anticoagulation in patients with cirrhosis is often a clinical conundrum for providers as the necessary balance between thrombotic and bleeding risk is complicated by end organ damage. Recent meta-analyses have sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with liver disease. These recent analyses are limited by various bleeding definitions, broad inclusion criteria, and few indications for anticoagulation. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis using a validated definition for major bleeding and compare rates between traditional anticoagulation and DOACs in patients with cirrhosis. Articles were eligible for inclusion if the international society on thrombosis and hemostasis (ISTH) definition of a major bleed was the primary safety outcome. Additionally, only articles including patients with cirrhosis and receiving treatment with anticoagulation for an indication for stroke prevention or venous thromboembolism were eligible. Eligible articles needed a DOAC comparator group against traditional anticoagulant medication. Seven studies met inclusion criteria and compiled data for 683 patients in the meta-analysis. Pooled trial analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome of ISTH major bleeding (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.28–1.07, I2 0%). Individual secondary outcomes of all bleeding, intracerebral hemorrhage, or gastrointestinal bleeding also demonstrated no significant difference between DOACs and traditional anticoagulation. Use of DOACs in patients with mild to moderate cirrhosis carries similar risk to use of traditional anticoagulation.
Development of a user-friendly time resolved scanning transmission x-ray microscope at the Advanced Light Source

Time resolved x-ray microscopy allows researchers to investigate variation of the electronic structure of a material during chemical, structural or magnetic changes with picosecond time resolution. In this talk we will show how such a microscope can be realized using a field programming gate array in combination with a fast point detector. We will show results based on an existing setup, e.g. movies of spin waves in confined magnetic structures with a periodicity of a few ns, but also describe how this method can be extended to dynamical processes with longer observation times using state of the art FPGA technology. Time resolved measurements with high spatial resolution will be an important part of research at future x-ray sources like e.g. ALS-U.
The Hostile Penis: Managing the Patient with Corporal Fibrosis

Corporal fibrosis usually develops following prolonged cavernosal tissue ischemia, explantation of an infected penile prosthesis, or penile trauma. Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) insertion is the mainstay of treatment for erectile dysfunction in this setting. These challenging cases are more likely than virgin IPP insertions to be complicated by procedural, mechanical, and/or infectious issues. Satisfactory results are achievable when meticulous surgical technique is used in conjunction with contemporary instruments and implants. The vast majority of patients with corporal fibrosis are able to safely regain sexual function through IPP placement.
Retinoblastoma Management: Connecting Institutions with Telemedicine

Retinoblastoma is a malignant pediatric eye tumor that is highly curable if the disease remains intraocular; its cure rate and sight preservation rate exceeds 90% in developed countries in part because of early diagnosis and access to adequate treatment. Retinoblastoma accounts for approximately 3% of all pediatric malignancies, and approximately two-thirds of patients present with unilateral disease, while one-third have bilateral involvement. Patients with unilateral disease are usually treated with enucleation, while few also receive adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Management of bilateral patients is much more challenging since eye salvage and vision preservation must also be considered. The management of these cases includes chemotherapy and careful, intensive use of focal treatments. Such a regimen therefore requires the cooperation of a highly specialized, multidisciplinary team.
The Electronics of CH Activation by Energy Decomposition Analysis: From Transition Metals to Main-Group Metals

Alkane CH activation is a fundamental reaction class where a metal-ligand complex reacts with a CH bond to give a metal-alkyl organometallic intermediate. CH activation reactions have been reported for a variety of transition metals and main-group metals. This chapter highlights recent quantum-mechanical studies that have used energy decomposition analysis (EDA) to provide insight into σ-coordination complexes and transition states for alkane CH activation reactions. These studies have provided new conceptual understanding of CH activation reactions and detailed insight into the physical nature and magnitude of interaction between alkanes with transition metals and main-group metals.
Hub-and-Spoke Student Blogging and Advantages for Classroom Discussion

This essay argues for a particular form of student blogging as a powerful tool for generating and sustaining student engagement and conversation. After a brief discussion of pedagogical principles, “hub-and-spoke” blogging is presented as a means to facilitate a more student and discussion-centered classroom. Based upon recent research and the author's experience, blogging is shown to have a significant impact on both student and instructor preparation for class and to positively shape instructional time.
Review of wideband speech noise reduction techniques

Some of the significant wideband noise reduction techniques that help wireless phone designers to overcome the challenge of wideband noise in these devices are discussed. A wideband signal creates challenges, as it has a significant amount of consonant energy in addition to vowel sounds. Consonants are low in intensity when compared to the voiced low frequency content of the signal and have a noise-like structure, making them prone to noise distortions. The increased susceptibility of wideband systems for noise distortions need careful development of noise reduction algorithms for wideband. Algorithm developers need to modify the existing noise reduction algorithms for wideband applications or account for structural differences between narrowband and wideband signals and device different algorithmic strategy for wideband signals. They need to take these measures to develop algorithms for wideband systems.
Escherichia coli Expresses a Copper- and Zinc-containing Superoxide Dismutase*

A mutant of Escherichia coli, unable to produce manganese- or iron-containing superoxide dismutase (SOD), was found to contain modest levels of an SOD that was judged to be a copper- and zinc-containing SOD on the basis of inhibition by cyanide and inactivation by either H2O2 or diethyldithiocarbamate. Moreover, the diethyldithiocarbamate-inactivated enzyme could be reactivated with Cu(II), and this reconstituted enzyme, like the native enzyme, was unaffected by EDTA and was inhibited by cyanide. This enzyme was, furthermore, selectively released by osmotic shock, in keeping with a periplasmic localization, and it was strongly induced during aerobic growth. This enzyme was also present in the SOD-competent parental strain. Failure to detect it previously can be attributed to its periplasmic localization, thermal lability, sensitivity to pH, and to its relative paucity. It will now be interesting to explore the phenotypic consequences imposed by the absence of this SOD.
Autoimmune diseases: genes, bugs and failed regulation.

In this Overview, common themes of the accompanying News & Views on RA, SLE, IDDM, thyroiditis and MS are discussed. A unifying concept for the development of these and other autoimmune diseases should incorporate genetic predisposition, environmental factors and immune dysregulation.
WDM Filters For Silicon Photonics Transceivers

We fabricated various types of silicon integrated demultiplexers for WDM-based transceivers for on- and off-chip optical interconnects. Given this application, we will show that each of these demultiplexer designs has its specific advantages and disadvantages.
Impacts of Biodiesel Fuel Blends Oil Dilution on Light-Duty Diesel Engine Operation

Assesses oil dilution impacts on a diesel engine operating with a diesel particle filter, NOx storage, a selective catalytic reduction emission control system, and a soy-based 20% biodiesel fuel blend.
Comprehensive computer searches and reporting in systematic reviews.

Systematic reviews (SR) are a strategic resource for many who may assume that comprehensive computer searches are used to identify the studies that are used in SR. The current study assessed the reports of comprehensive computer searching in SR in psychology. Comprehensive computer search methods listed as basic in SR manuals and publications of major SR organizations (e.g., Cochrane Collaboration) were the “recommended methods” that became items on a checklist used to assess computer search reports. A methodology index search in PsycINFO identified SR in psychology that were compared to SR identified in the Cochrane Database of SR. Checklist item frequencies supported descriptive analyses, and Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare the PsycINFO and Cochrane SR. Two recommended computer search methods were significantly more common in Cochrane SR: truncation (z = −5.64, p < .001), controlled vocabulary (z = −5.08, p < .001 ). A third search method (Cited Reference Searching) was virtually absent (SR in psychology: 0/25; and Cochrane SR: 1/25). Confidence in SR conclusions may be undermined when evidence of recommended or empirically-based search methods is not seen. Results and suggestions might have value for those who use, evaluate, or develop guidelines for SR; research topics are also described. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of Alcohol Policy Enforcement Activities among Local Law Enforcement Agencies: A Latent Class Analysis.

Erickson, D., Rutledge, P., Lenk, K., Nelson, T., Jones-Webb, R., & Toomey, T. (2015). Patterns of alcohol policy enforcement activities among local law enforcement agencies: A latent class analysis. The International Journal Of Alcohol And Drug Research, 4 (2), 103-111. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.v4i2.204 Aims: We assessed levels and patterns of alcohol policy enforcement activities among U.S. local law enforcement agencies. Design/Setting/Participants: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 1,631 local law enforcement agencies across the 50 states. Measures/Methods: We assessed 29 alcohol policy enforcement activities within each of five enforcement domains—underage alcohol possession/consumption, underage alcohol provision, underage alcohol sales, impaired driving, and overservice of alcohol—and conducted a series of latent class analyses to identify unique classes or patterns of enforcement activity for each domain. Findings: We identified three to four unique enforcement activity classes for each of the enforcement domains. In four of the domains, we identified a Uniformly Low class (i.e., little or no enforcement) and a Uniformly High enforcement activity class (i.e., relatively high levels of enforcement), with one or two middle classes where some but not all activities were conducted. The underage provision domain had a Uniformly Low class but not a Uniformly High class. The Uniformly Low class was the most prevalent class in three domains: underage provision (58%), underage sales (61%), and overservice (79%). In contrast, less than a quarter of agencies were in Uniformly High classes. Conclusions: We identified qualitatively distinct patterns of enforcement activity, with a large proportion of agencies in classes characterized by little or no enforcement and fewer agencies in high enforcement classes. An important next step is to determine if these patterns are associated with rates of alcohol use and alcohol-related injury and mortality.
Ketogenic versus Western and standard chow diets favorably alters fat deposition and serum biomarkers in rats

Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (~9-10 weeks of age) were provided isocaloric amounts of either a KD (5.2 kcal/g, 20.2% protein, 10.3% carbohydrate, 69.5% fat; n = 50), WD (4.5 kcal/g, 15.2% protein, 42.7% carbohydrate, 42.0% fat; n = 66), or StdChow (3.1 kcal/g, 24.0% protein, 58.0% carbohydrate, 18.0% fat n = 10) for 6 weeks with daily food intake and body weights recorded. After the animals were sacrificed, 4 different fat depots were weighed and serum was collected in subsets of each diet for further investigation.
Impact of improved survival of very low birth weight infants on recent secular trends in the prevalence of cerebral palsy

Objective. To review recent secular trends in the prevalence of cerebral palsy in industrialized countries that have population-based cerebral palsy registries and to estimate such time-trends for the United States, where until recently such registries were absent. Data sources. Recent epidemiologic studies of cerebral palsy published in peer-reviewed journals in English, and US vital data bearing on the principal demographic determinants of cerebral palsy—birth rates, the birth weight distributions, birth weight-specific mortality risk, and cerebral palsy risk among survivors. Results. Most epidemiologic studies from industrialized countries show a rise in the childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy in recent decades, largely because of the increasing contribution of children of low and very low birth weight to its prevalence. The only demographic determinant of cerebral palsy prevalence that is changing rapidly in the United States is survival of low birth weight and very low birth weight infants. Based on the magnitude of change in the survival of low and very low birth weight infants, it is estimated that childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy rose about 20% between 1960 and 1986 in the United States. Conclusion. An apparently unavoidable side effect of the increasing success of newborn intensive care is a moderate rise in the childhood prevalence of cerebral palsy.
A frequency-weighted post-filtering transform for compensation of the over-smoothing effect in HMM-based speech synthesis

Over-smoothing is one of the major sources of quality degradation in statistical parametric speech synthesis. Many methods have been proposed to compensate over-smoothing with the speech parameter generation algorithm considering Global Variance (GV) being one of the most successfull. This paper models over-smoothing as a radial relocation of poles and zeros of the spectral envelope towards the origin of the z-plane and uses radial scaling to enhance spectral peaks and to deepen spectral valeys. The radial scaling technique is improved by introducing over-emphasis, spectral-tilt compensation and frequency weighting. Listening test results indicate that the proposed method is 11%-13% more preferable than GV while it has less algorithmic delay (only 5 ms) and computational complexity.
Effect of electron spin dynamics on solid-state dynamic nuclear polarization performance.

For the broadest dissemination of solid-state dynamic nuclear polarization (ssDNP) enhanced NMR as a material characterization tool, the ability to employ generic mono-nitroxide radicals as spin probes is critical. A better understanding of the factors contributing to ssDNP efficiency is needed to rationally optimize the experimental condition for the practically accessible spin probes at hand. This study seeks to advance the mechanistic understanding of ssDNP by examining the effect of electron spin dynamics on ssDNP performance at liquid helium temperatures (4–40 K). The key observation is that bi-radicals and mono-radicals can generate comparable nuclear spin polarization at 4 K and 7 T, which is in contrast to the observation for ssDNP at liquid nitrogen temperatures (80–150 K) that finds bi-radicals to clearly outperform mono-radicals. To rationalize this observation, we analyze the change in the DNP-induced nuclear spin polarization (Pn) and the characteristic ssDNP signal buildup time as a function of electron spin relaxation rates that are modulated by the mono- and bi-radical spin concentration. Changes in Pn are consistent with a systematic variation in the product of the electron spin–lattice relaxation time and the electron spin flip-flop rate that constitutes an integral saturation factor of an inhomogeneously broadened EPR spectrum. We show that the comparable Pn achieved with both radical species can be reconciled with a comparable integral EPR saturation factor. Surprisingly, the largest Pn is observed at an intermediate spin concentration for both mono- and bi-radicals. At the highest radical concentration, the stronger inter-electron spin dipolar coupling favors ssDNP, while oversaturation diminishes Pn, as experimentally verified by the observation of a maximum Pn at an intermediate, not the maximum, microwave (μw) power. At the maximum μw power, oversaturation reduces the electron spin population differential that must be upheld between electron spins that span a frequency difference matching the 1H NMR frequency—characteristic of the cross effect DNP. This new mechanistic insight allows us to rationalize experimental conditions where generic mono-nitroxide probes can offer competitive ssDNP performance to that of custom designed bi-radicals, and thus helps to vastly expand the application scope of ssDNP for the study of functional materials and solids.
Neither total culture fluorescence nor intracellular fluorescence are indicative of NAD(P)H levels in Escherichia coli MG 1655

The blue fluorescence emitted by microbial cells irradiated with UV light at ∼ 360 nm is usually supposed to provide a good estimate of the cell NAD(P)H content. Here we present an example of a microbial fermentation in which culture fluorescence, both in the cells and in the medium, was almost exclusively due to the presence of a fluorophore that displayed an emission spectrum very similar to that of NAD(P)H but that we show by biochemical studies to be a different compound. Our results demonstrate that studies on the redox state of cells should be based on on-line fluorescence data only after appropriate control experiments to establish a definitive correlation between fluorescence and NAD(P)H levels.
Evaluation of a nonlethal technique for determining sex of freshwater mussels

AbstractThe shells of most North American freshwater mussel species are not sexually dimorphic. During the brooding period, gravid females can be identified by inspection of marsupial gills; however, it is difficult to separate nongravid females from males in species lacking sexual dimorphism. The ability to differentiate males from females throughout the year would assist mussel conservation and research. Our objective was to test the accuracy and safety of a method to determine the sex of live mussels. We used a syringe to extract ∼0.2 mL of gonadal fluid from 67 Elliptio dilatata and 65 Actinonaias ligamentina. The fluid was stained and examined microscopically for developing gametes. This method was safe and effective for determining the sex of mussels. After 1 y, survival was indistinguishable between test and control groups for both species. We sacrificed 4 to 7 E. dilatata and A. ligamentina at 3-mo intervals and examined histological sections of gonads. Sex assigned from examination of gonadal flu...
Determination of the stereochemical composition of the major metabolites of verapamil in dog urine with enantioselective liquid chromatographic techniques

The stereochemical composition of verapamil and seven of its basic-extractable metabolites, isolated from the urine of dogs administered oral racemic verapamil, was determined by HPLC, using an Ultron OVM (ovomucoid) column. One dog was given oral (R)-verapamil alone in order to discriminate the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of the metabolites. Structure identification of the isolated verapamil metabolites was accomplished using a combination of HPLC-MS and FAB-MS-MS techniques. Six of the urinary verapamil metabolites, including verapamil, were predominantly of the (R)-configuration, whereas one of the metabolites was predominantly in the (S)-form. The remaining isolated metabolite was comprised of approximately equal amounts of the two forms.
Characterization of Promoter Function and Cell-Type-Specific Expression from Viral Vectors in the Nervous System

Viral vectors have become important tools to effectively transfer genes into terminally differentiated cells, including neurons. However, the rational for selection of the promoter for use in viral vectors remains poorly understood. Comparison of promoters has been complicated by the use of different viral backgrounds, transgenes, and target tissues. Adenoviral vectors were constructed in the same vector background to directly compare three viral promoters, the human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate-early promoter, the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) long terminal repeat, and the adenoviral E1A promoter, driving expression of the Escherichia coli lacZ gene or the gene for the enhanced green fluorescent protein. The temporal patterns, levels of expression, and cytotoxicity from the vectors were analyzed. In sensory neuronal cultures, the CMV promoter produced the highest levels of expression, the RSV promoter produced lower levels, and the E1A promoter produced limited expression. There was no evidence of cytotoxicity produced by the viral vectors. In vivo analyses following stereotaxic injection of the vector into the rat hippocampus demonstrated differences in the cell-type-specific expression from the CMV promoter versus the RSV promoter. In acutely prepared hippocampal brain slices, marked differences in the cell type specificity of expression from the promoters were confirmed. The CMV promoter produced expression in hilar regions and pyramidal neurons, with minimal expression in the dentate gyrus. The RSV promoter produced expression in dentate gyrus neurons. These results demonstrate that the selection of the promoter is critical for the success of the viral vector to express a transgene in specific cell types.
The Fixed Sample Search Rule and Use of an Indicator Character to Evaluate Mate Quality.

Abstract The phenotypic correlation observed between mated males and females is a direct result of the decision rules that individuals employ during search for a mate. We generalise the fixed sample search rule and examine how the functional relationship between a male indicator character and the fitness benefit of a mating decision influences female search behaviour. If the phenotypes of males and females combine additively to influence the benefit of a mating decision and fitness is a highly inclined function of phenotypic values the optimal value of n , the number of males that females sample during search, is relatively large. The phenotype of the searcher has no impact on the optimal value of n if fitness is a linear function; the optimal n increases with the phenotype of females if the fitness function is convex; and a concave fitness function induces females with high trait values to sample relatively few males. Because females that sample many potential mates are expected to encounter a male with a high expression of the indicator trait linear, convex and concave fitness functions induce a random, assortive and disassortative combination of phenotypes between mated individuals, respectively. Thus, the fixed sample research tactic can produce the variety of phenotypic correlations observed between mated individuals in natural systems and our ability to derive rule-specific predictions of search behavior may generally require information on how characters used to evaluate potential mates are related to fitness.
The impact of slow growth policies on local economies: Through housing boom and bust

Abstract This case study considers the economic implications of various growth policies in the Sacramento region over the last decade. Counties and cities throughout the Sacramento region have varying policies and attitudes toward residential and commercial growth. Over the last decade we have seen extremes in development in the region, from the Roseville area which experienced a residential and retail explosion, to Davis, which has restricted growth to relatively few projects. Growth has impacted property and sales tax revenue, and city and county expenditures. Changes in the housing market and the economy over the past few years have had a large impact on new construction activity. This paper examines how cities and counties in the Sacramento region have weathered the housing boom and bust, based on their growth policies during the past decade. The relationship between growth policies, measured by building permits, local government revenue, housing markets, and employment is assessed. Comparisons are presented through charts and panel data regression. Rapid development leads to higher levels of sales tax revenue, coupled with greater volatility in sales tax revenue. Employment rises more quickly in areas that have a high level of non-residential construction relative to residential construction.
Eta Carinae: an Astrophysical Laboratory

Eta Carinae provides a unique example to investigate a massive star in a late evolutionary phase and how CNO-processed material is ejected and mixed with the interstellar medium. The absorbing gas surrounding Eta Carinae (η Car) shows similar characteristics to the intervening gas in spectra of gamma ray burst progenitors. Consequently, the η Car spectrum may provide clues about the nature of other extreme objects such as hypernovae and supernova impostors. In the 1840s, η Car underwent a massive ejection, which was repeated to a lesser extent in the 1890s. Today we see the Homunculus, a bipolar expanding neutral shell, and the Little Homunculus, an interior, spectroscopically time-variable, ionized structure. The η Car system is ideal as a laboratory for absorption and emission line spectroscopy. In the line-of-sight towards η Car, multiple narrow absorption lines are observed from environments with densities around 107 cm- 3 and temperatures ranging from 60 to 7000 K. Thousands of neutral/singly ionized metal lines are identified, in addition to molecular lines in species such as H2, CH, OH and NH. The input from the laboratory spectroscopy community has furthered the analysis of η Car. Future observations of η Car in the infrared through radio wavelength region will enable new detections of atomic and molecular transitions, most notably of hydrides and nitrides. We will demonstrate how experimentally derived atomic data have improved our spectral analysis, and illuminate where future work is needed.