cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase 1 Study of Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy Concurrent With Infusional 5-Fluorouracil for the Treatment of Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer.

Abstract Purpose To assess the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant short-course radiation therapy (RT) concurrent with continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) for the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer. Methods and Materials Patients with cT3-4 or N + rectal adenocarcinoma based on ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging were prospectively enrolled in this study. Study treatment consisted of continuous infusion 5-FU combined with short-course RT (5 Gy x 5 fractions) followed by 4 cycles of mFOLFOX, total mesorectal excision (TME), and 6 cycles of adjuvant mFOLFOX. To mitigate the potential added toxicity from concurrent 5-FU, intensity modulated RT was used. Using the continual reassessment method, the dose of 5-FU was escalated from 100 to a maximum-tolerated dose of 200 mg/m2/d. Results Fourteen patients were accrued. All patients completed continuous infusion 5-FU and short-course RT and the 5-FU dose was safely escalated to 200 mg/m2/d with no dose-limiting toxicity. Thirteen patients received the neoadjuvant mFOLFOX, and only 1 patient went straight to surgery after chemoradiation. Clinical response was 21% complete, 63% partial, 14% stable disease, and no patients had progression. Three patients with cCR had negative biopsies and did not have TME. Pathologic response was 64% partial response and 14% stable disease. No patients had pathologic progression. The most common grade 3 and 4 toxicities were cytopenias. The most common grade 1 and 2 toxicities were cytopenia, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea. Conclusions Our findings suggest that concurrent chemotherapy with neoadjuvant short-course RT is feasible and can be safely given with concurrent continuous infusion 5-FU. This works adds to the growing evidence that short-course RT is not only equivalent to long-course RT, but also may provide additional benefits, such as allowing for a transition to full dose systemic therapy in the neoadjuvant setting, selective organ preservation in complete responders, and providing a more convenient and cost-effective way of delivering pelvic RT.
Building the Concept of Nurturing Resilience.

Abstract Theoretical principles Children and adolescents are faced with ubiquitous daily stressors. When faced with various stressors, they will either recover or stay distressed. For those unable to recover, acute daily stressors have potential to turn chronic with long term negative mental health outcomes. Nurturing resilience is one way to prevent distress from turning to mental health disorders. With the ability of adolescents and children to access nurses with various specialties, it is imperative nurses understand the nuances of resilience and the core elements to nurture resilience in youth. Phenomena addressed The purpose of building the concept of nurturing resilience is to clarify the meaning of this concept in children and adolescents, develop a conceptual definition of nurturing resilience, and provide a conceptual model of nurturing resilience based on the building process. The concept was formulated utilizing Liehr and Smith's practice-based approach to concept building. Research linkages Concept building defines nurturing resilience as developing secure connections with another to support self-acceptance that aids in tempering reactivity when faced with environmental hardships. Resilience is a protective mechanism which keeps youth balanced while promoting positive mental health when faced with adversities by allowing one to bounce back after adversity to an original, fundamental state. Understanding patterns and processes of resilience enables nurses to nurture resilience. Nurturing resilience provides adolescents and children the ability to change in response to difficult circumstances; in turn, mental distress is reduced, and mental health of youth are optimized.
Creative Process Engagement as an Affective Event: The Role of Convergent and Divergent Thinking

While many studies have examined the effect of affect on creativity, the reciprocal effect has received limited attention. This paper addresses this gap in the research by integrating Affective Eve...
Age, lifestyle and self-perceptions of hair: Is there an association with hair diameter and tensile properties?

Objective To determine the association of age, lifestyle habits and the self-perception of hair condition with the objectively measured physical properties of hair in Caucasian females with brown hair. Methods Hair biophysical properties, lifestyle habits data and self-perceptions of hair condition were collected on 110 Caucasian females with brown hair ranging in age from 17 to 78. Hair diameter (cross-sectional area) and tensile properties (elastic modulus, break strength and break extension) were measured at the root end of individual fibres (n = 100/subject) from the crown and frontal regions using objective instrumental methods. Other measures included body mass index (BMI) and Savin female pattern hair loss grades based on judging of standardized front, top and side view head images. Lifestyle habits and practices and self-perceived hair condition were obtained via a standardized self-assessment questionnaire. Results Hair fibre diameter and break extension decreased significantly with age. Hair fibre elastic modulus and Savin hair loss scores increased significantly with age. No age-related change in hair fibre break stress was observed. A history of smoking or being overweight was significantly associated with having lower hair fibre cross-sectional area but was not associated with any of the measured tensile properties. Subjects who perceived their hair as fine, thinning or weak had significantly lower cross-sectional areas than subjects who did not. Subjects who perceived their hair to be healthy or strong had significantly higher cross-sectional areas than subjects who did not. Conclusion The biophysical properties of hair change significantly with age. A history of smoking or being overweight was significantly associated with having smaller hair cross-sectional area but was not associated with differences in hair tensile properties. The self-perception of having strong or healthy hair seems more associated with having a larger cross-sectional area than any real differences in hair strength.Abstrait.
Increasing etching depth of sapphire nanostructures using multilayer etching mask

In this study, the etching of sapphire nanostructures in inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching using a multilayer etch mask is studied. The goals are to increase the etching depth and enable the fabrication of higher aspect ratio nanostructures in sapphire, which is traditionally difficult to micromachine. The etching rates and chemistry of different masking materials are examined for better understanding of the etching process. The etching of sapphire nanostructures is then studied using single and multilayer masks with Cl2-based chemistry. The fabrication results show that using the multilayer mask is an effective method for sapphire nanostructure fabrication, increasing the maximum etching depth from 25 to 230 nm for a ninefold improvement. To further validate the optical properties of fabricated sapphire nanostructures, the antireflection effects have been characterized. This work indicates that applying the multilayer mask can increase the etching depth of sapphire nanostructures, which can find applications in thin-film optics, optoelectronic devices, and composite windows.In this study, the etching of sapphire nanostructures in inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching using a multilayer etch mask is studied. The goals are to increase the etching depth and enable the fabrication of higher aspect ratio nanostructures in sapphire, which is traditionally difficult to micromachine. The etching rates and chemistry of different masking materials are examined for better understanding of the etching process. The etching of sapphire nanostructures is then studied using single and multilayer masks with Cl2-based chemistry. The fabrication results show that using the multilayer mask is an effective method for sapphire nanostructure fabrication, increasing the maximum etching depth from 25 to 230 nm for a ninefold improvement. To further validate the optical properties of fabricated sapphire nanostructures, the antireflection effects have been characterized. This work indicates that applying the multilayer mask can increase the etching depth of sapphire nanostructures, which can...
Detecting Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health with Structured and Free-Text Clinical Data.

Background Social and behavioral determinants of health (SBDH) are environmental and behavioral factors that often impede disease management and result in sexually transmitted infections. Despite their importance, SBDH are inconsistently documented in electronic health records (EHRs) and typically collected only in an unstructured format. Evidence suggests that structured data elements present in EHRs can contribute further to identify SBDH in the patient record. Objective Explore the automated inference of both the presence of SBDH documentation and individual SBDH risk factors in patient records. Compare the relative ability of clinical notes and structured EHR data, such as laboratory measurements and diagnoses, to support inference. Methods We attempt to infer the presence of SBDH documentation in patient records, as well as patient status of 11 SBDH, including alcohol abuse, homelessness, and sexual orientation. We compare classification performance when considering clinical notes only, structured data only, and notes and structured data together. We perform an error analysis across several SBDH risk factors. Results Classification models inferring the presence of SBDH documentation achieved good performance (F1 score: 92.7–78.7; F1 considered as the primary evaluation metric). Performance was variable for models inferring patient SBDH risk status; results ranged from F1 = 82.7 for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) status to F1 = 28.5 for intravenous drug use. Error analysis demonstrated that lexical diversity and documentation of historical SBDH status challenge inference of patient SBDH status. Three of five classifiers inferring topic-specific SBDH documentation and 10 of 11 patient SBDH status classifiers achieved highest performance when trained using both clinical notes and structured data. Conclusion Our findings suggest that combining clinical free-text notes and structured data provide the best approach in classifying patient SBDH status. Inferring patient SBDH status is most challenging among SBDH with low prevalence and high lexical diversity.
On the Statistical Testing Methods for Single Laboratory Validation of Qualitative Microbiological Assays with a Paired Design

BACKGROUND There exists several statistical methods for detecting a difference of detection rates between alternative and reference qualitative microbiological assays in a single laboratory validation study with an unpaired design. OBJECTIVE We compared performance of eight methods including Fisher's exact test, unequal variance two-sample t-test, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, z-test, and methods based on Wilson confidence intervals, complementary log-log regression, Firth's logistic regression, and ordinary logistic regression. METHOD We first compared the minimum detectable difference in the proportion of detections between the alternative and reference methods among these statistical methods for a varied number of test portions. We then compared power and size of test of these methods using simulated data. RESULTS Firth's logistic regression and the unequal variance two-sample t-test had the lowest minimum detectable difference and highest power. None of these statistical methods had an estimated size of test always within a 95% confidence interval of the nominal value 0.05 with small numbers of test portions (n = 12, 20, 30). Fisher's exact test, the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and the z-test were conservative even with a moderately large number of test portions (n = 40), while Firth's logistic regression and the unequal variance two-sample t-test had a size of test closer to 0.05 than other methods. CONCLUSIONS Firth's logistic regression and the unequal variance two-sample t-test are better choices than other competing methods. HIGHLIGHTS We recommend the unequal variance two-sample t-test over Firth's logistic regression because the unequal variance two-sample t-test is better known and easier to use. We provide an example using real data.
Actress-Entrepreneurs of the Harlem Renaissance / New Negro Era: Anita Bush, Abbie Mitchell, Rose McClendon, Mercedes Gilbert, Venzella Jones

This chapter explores the careers of five notable African American actress-entrepreneurs during the Harlem Renaissance / ‘New Negro’ era (Anita Bush, Abbie Mitchell, Rose McClendon, Mercedes Gilbert, Venzella Jones) with special attention to their impact as entrepreneurial visionaries who shared a commitment to create work for themselves and others that would not only provide economic and personal autonomy, but also a means by which they might challenge existing essentialist notions regarding racial and gendered identities. They sought control over their own careers and also held a vision of what a ‘Negro’ theatre should be, in keeping with a larger social vision of what life in America should be for all its citizens.
Learning hierarchical feature extractors for image recognition

Telling cow from sheep is effortless for most animals, but requires much engineering for computers. In this thesis, we seek to tease out basic principles that underlie many recent advances in image recognition. First, we recast many methods into a common unsupervised feature extraction framework based on an alternation of coding steps, which encode the input by comparing it with a collection of reference patterns, and pooling steps, which compute an aggregation statistic summarizing the codes within some region of interest of the image. Within that framework, we conduct extensive comparative evaluations of many coding or pooling operators proposed in the literature. Our results demonstrate a robust superiority of sparse coding (which decomposes an input as a linear combination of a few visual words) and max pooling (which summarizes a set of inputs by their maximum value). We also propose macrofeatures, which import into the popular spatial pyramid framework the joint encoding of nearby features commonly practiced in neural networks, and obtain significantly improved image recognition performance. Next, we analyze the statistical properties of max pooling that underlie its better performance, through a simple theoretical model of feature activation. We then present results of experiments that confirm many predictions of the model. Beyond the pooling operator itself, an important parameter is the set of pools over which the summary statistic is computed. We propose locality in feature configuration space as a natural criterion for devising better pools. Finally, we propose ways to make coding faster and more powerful through fast convolutional feedforward architectures, and examine how to incorporate supervision into feature extraction schemes. Overall, our experiments offer insights into what makes current systems work so well, and state-of-the-art results on several image recognition benchmarks.
Deep time and compressed time in the Anthropocene: The new timescape and the value of cosmic storytelling:

The scientific discovery of our universe’s immense cosmological history and Earth’s vast geologic history has radically altered common perceptions of time, prompting us to think in terms of million...
Cerebrovascular Malformations in a Pediatric Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Cohort.

Abstract Background We determined the frequency of cerebrovascular malformations in a pediatric cohort with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Methods Retrospective cohort study of 54 children diagnosed with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia at a tertiary care center. All neuroimaging was reviewed to assess for number and types of cerebrovascular malformations and for intracerebral hemorrhage and arterial ischemic stroke. Clinical charts were reviewed for clinical manifestations, genetic mutation, and clinically evident intracerebral hemorrhages and arterial ischemic strokes. Results Among 54 children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia with a median age of 3.5 years (interquartile range 0.4 to 7.9 years) at diagnosis, neuroimaging was performed in 52 (96.3%) at a median age of 5.2 years (interquartile range 1.8 to 9 years). Fourteen of 52 imaged children (26.9%) had cerebrovascular malformations. Cerebrovascular malformations included arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas, vein of Galen malformations, and developmental venous anomalies. Six of the 14 children with cerebrovascular malformations (42.9%) had multiple malformations. Three children developed new cerebral arteriovenous malformations over time. Six children (11.1%) had clinically evident intracerebral hemorrhage, arterial ischemic stroke, or transient ischemic attack. The three children with intracerebral hemorrhage presented at young ages (4.3 to 7.7 years). Conclusions More than a quarter of children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia who were imaged had cerebrovascular malformations, and overt stroke occurred in more than 10%. Intracerebral hemorrhages can occur in pediatric hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients at young ages, and new cerebral arteriovenous malformations may develop over time. Early screening with neuroimaging including neurovascular imaging as well as repeat neuroimaging may be warranted in children with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
Cold spray deposition of 304L stainless steel to mitigate chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking in canisters for used nuclear fuel storage

Abstract A feasibility study of the cold spray deposition process of 304L stainless steel on 304 stainless steel substrates as a mitigation method for chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC) has been investigated under various substrate conditions. The study is aimed at the application of this technology to mitigate CISCC that may potentially occur in or near the fusion welded regions of stainless steel canisters in Dry Cask Storage System (DCSS) for used nuclear fuels. Spherical gas-atomized 304L stainless steel powder, in the size range of 25 μm–44 μm, was used as feedstock powder for the cold spray process. The powder was deposited on 304 substrates with various surface conditions: as-polished, oxidized, cold-rolled, and plates with prototypical CISCC. The effects of cold spray parameters on quality of cold spray coatings were investigated. Thickness, porosity, and phases in the as-deposited materials were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and correlated with microhardness and adhesion strength measured via micro-indentation and ASTM C633 pulling test, respectively. XRD analysis of the coatings was also conducted to examine the effects of cold spray condition on residual stress state in the coating. Detailed cross-sectional examination of coating/substrate interfaces was performed with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Dense and continuous coatings with good adhesion strength, high hardness, and high degree of compressive stress were produced for the various substrate conditions by adjusting cold spray parameters. The results demonstrate that a cold sprayed stainless steel coating is a viable option to provide a physical barrier against CISCC in fusion weld regions of stainless steel in corrosive chloride salt-bearing environments.
Preparation of Few-Layer Black Phosphorus with Enhanced Photoluminescence and Stability

We propose a method to prepare few-layer black phosphorus by oxygen plasma etching, followed by boron nitride encapsulation and thermal annealing. This method produces few-layer black phosphorus with strongly enhanced photoluminescence and greatly improved stability.
Sperm chromatin-condensing protamine enhances SMYD5 thermal stability

Studying thermal stability of proteins not only provides insight into protein structure but also is instrumental in identifying previously unknown interaction partners. We develop a machine learning strategy that combines orthogonal partial least squares regression and stability screening of Silver Bullets Bio library to identify biologically active molecules that enhance protein stability. This strategy proves effective in extracting the stability-enhancing molecules for SMYD5, a histone lysine methyltransferase that regulates chromosome integrity. Protamine, a histone substitute in chromatin condensation during spermatogenesis, is identified as the most influential molecule to enhance SMYD5 thermal stability. We find that the C-terminal poly-glutamic acid tract (poly-E) and a 30-residue insertion in MYND domain (M-insertion), which are unique to SMYD5, regulate the structural stability. However, protamine plays a dominant role in SMYD5 stability, and in the presence of protamine, the poly-E tract or M-insertion loses its ability to affect the stability. The stability-enhancing effect of protamine is SMYD5 specific, and for SMYD2, a closely related homolog, protamine exhibits opposite, destabilizing effects. We find that both SMYD5 and SMYD2 interact with protamine, where SMYD5 interaction is independent of the poly-E tract and M-insertion. Protamine not only helps provide insight into the structure-stability relationships of SMYD5, but also suggests a potential functional link of SMYD5 to spermatogenesis. SMYD5 is a ubiquitously expressed gene with the highest expression in testis, especially in the seminiferous ducts that contain germ cells. Thus, our study opens up avenues that could help delineate major mechanisms underlying chromatin dynamics during spermatogenesis.
The Strategic Decentralization of Recruiting

We propose a model of strategic delegation in professional labor markets with heterogeneous workers. A big firm, competing with fringe firms, decides whether to exercise its market power to suppress wages. Alternatively, it may choose to delegate hiring to agents (divisions), thereby committing to bid more fiercely for workers. This reduces the incentive for fringe firms of going toe-to-toe with the big firm. In equilibrium, the big firm chooses to delegate unless (a) it is too large, (b) not productive enough, or (c) too productive. While a more productive big firm delegates more often, the optimal number of agents it delegates to decreases in the big firm's productivity. The presence of big firms does not substantially lower social welfare, unless its size exceeds the tipping point beyond which it chooses not to delegate. The introduction of a minimum wage in a professional labor market induces the big firm to delegate more aggressively, increasing match quality. Thus, social welfare may increase despite a drop in employment.
COVID‐19 pandemic stresses and relationships in college students

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications The goal of this study was to understand how intergenerational intimacy and individuation associate with COVID‐19 pandemic‐related stresses and changes to relationship qualities, and consequentially, with substance use indicators, happiness, and life satisfaction.Intergenerational family systems theory suggests that dysfunctional relationship patterns in one's family of origin contribute to greater stress, and consequentially, to poorer health outcomes. We examined how these patterns emerge for young adults during a pandemic.A sample (N = 501) of young adults at a large university in Texas completed an online questionnaire about health and happiness.More intergenerational intimacy was associated with more positive COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes in relationship quality with family and friends, and with more happiness and life satisfaction. More intergenerational individuation was associated with less COVID‐19 pandemic‐related stress, fewer coping motives for alcohol use, and with more happiness and life satisfaction. Less COVID‐19 pandemic‐related stress and more positive COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes in relationship qualities with family and friends were associated with more positive outcomes.More positive intergenerational relationships are associated with more positive outcomes in regards to COVID‐19 pandemic‐related stress and relationship changes.Promoting positive intergenerational relational qualities between young adults and their parents can buffer against pandemic‐related consequences in health and happiness. Family health practitioners should promote these intergenerational qualities in families, which in turn should increase positive psychosocial and health outcomes in the context of a pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Family Relations is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Naloxone and nalmefene absorption delivered by hollow microneedles compared to intramuscular injection.

Naloxone and nalmefene were administered to seven research beagle dogs (mean weight approximately 12 kg) at doses of 0.04 mg/kg and 0.014 mg/kg for naloxone and nalmefene, respectively. Each dose was administered intramuscularly (IM) with a standard IM injection and with a hollow microneedle device array using needles of 1 mm in length. The IM injection was delivered in the epaxial muscles, and the microneedle injection was delivered in the skin over the shoulder of each dog. Each dog received the same injections in a crossover design. Following the injection, blood samples were collected for plasma analysis of naloxone and nalmefene by high-pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (LCMS). The plasma sample concentrations were plotted for observed patterns of absorption and analyzed with non-compartmental pharmacokinetic methods (NCA). The results showed that the injection of naloxone from the microneedle device produced a higher peak concentration (CMAX) by 2.15 × compared the IM injection of the same dose, and time to peak concentration (TMAX) was similar. For the nalmefene injection, the peak was not as high (lower CMAX) by 0.94 × for the microneedle injection compared to the IM injection of the same dose. The microneedle produced an exposure, measured by area under the curve (AUC), that was 0.85 × and 0.58 × as high for naloxone and nalmefene, respectively, than the injection by the IM route. We also observed that although the dose for naloxone was approximately 3 × higher for naloxone compared to nalmefene, the mean peak concentration achieved from the naloxone injection was more than 12 × higher than that from the nalmefene injection. These studies were designed to test the feasibility of using the hollow microneedle array as an effective method of naloxone and nalmefene delivery for emergency treatment of opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD). The results of these studies will form the basis of future studies, using the dog as a model, for development of hollow microneedle microarray devices to deliver opioid antagonists for treatment of OIRD in people.
Design Optimization of PCB-Winding Matrix Transformer for 400V/12V Unregulated LLC Converter

Isolated high-output-current DC/DC converters are critical technologies for future datacenter power architecture. LLC converters with matrix transformers are suitable for these applications due to their high efficiency and high power density. Previously, The Center for Power Electronics Systems (CPES) proposed a PCB-winding based matrix transformer for a 400V/12V 1MHz unregulated LLC converter. This paper aims to further improve the efficiency of the converter, without compromising on the power density, by optimizing the switching frequency of the converter, and mitigating the current sharing issues associated with center-tap rectifiers and shielding in matrix transformers with multiple outputs. The elimination of these issues is critical because they can lead to non-uniform increases in device temperatures and a reduction in the overall efficiency of the converter. The proposed improvements are verified by developing a 1 kW prototype with a peak efficiency of 98.05% and a power density of 940 W/in3
On the Relation Between Charge Redistribution and Intermolecular Forces in Models for Molecular Interactions in Biology

Investigations of enzyme-substrate interactions are of special interest in the application of quantum chemistry to the study of biological mechanisms because the structures and the properties of enzymes have been studied extensively and in detail by many experimental techniques. The basic information is therefore available to elucidate the molecular details of the mechanisms and to understand the specific functional roles of the structural components of the enzyme and of the substrates or inhibitors. Because the intermediate stages of the mechanisms proposed for the function of many enzymes are often not well delineated, theoretical studies can contribute directly to the elucidation of these fundamental processes by combining the information obtained experimentally from a variety of sources and by analy it in in a unified formalism. This can be achieved by modeling the structural components and by simulating mechanisms of interaction between the enzyme, and substrates or inhibitors. These calculations can be expected to reveal the nature of the intermolecular forces involved in these interactions and to provide a useful basis both for the comparison of proposed mechanisms and for the description of the roles played by the functional groups.
Chapter 6 Recursive Algorithms

Recursion is the heart and soul of Pascal. Up to now we have had one or two explicit uses of recursion in our programs. Now we go at it seriously.
Regulation of Sodium and Water Balance

Sodium and water balance are regulated by the endocrine system. Osmolality of the extracellular fluid is monitored and adjusted by regulating water excretion by the kidney in response to antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Maintenance of vascular volume depends on maintenance of sodium balance. The rennin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and the atrial natriuretic hormone regulate renal mechanisms that govern retention or loss of sodium. ADH also contributes directly to volume regulation, and when demands for constancy of osmolality are in conflict with demands for constancy of volume, the latter prevail. These hormonal mechanisms operate largely by regulating renal function, but they also regulate salt and water intake. Salt and water balance are maintained at constant despite wide variations in intake and loss of both sodium and water. Osmolarity of blood plasma can be increased or decreased by adjusting the proportion of water relative to solute that is excreted in the urine, thus producing reciprocal changes in the osmolality of the urine. The most important stimulus for ADH secretion is an increase in blood osmolality. Aldosterone, an adrenal steroid, plays a pivotal role in maintaining salt and water balance. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), as its name implies, promotes the excretion of sodium in the urine. The three hormones, ADH, angiotensin II, and aldosterone collaborate to maintain or increase the effective volume of the blood plasma.
Isotope-Coded Dimethyl Tagging for Differential Quantification of Posttranslational Protein Carbonylation by 4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal, an End-Product of Lipid Peroxidation

Peroxidation of cellular membrane lipids, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, generates electrophilic, α, β-unsaturated aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). HNE is a highly reactive and cytotoxic molecule that can react with the nucleophilic sites in proteins causing posttranslational modification. The identification of protein targets is an important first step; however, quantitative profiling of site-specific modifications is necessary to understand the biological impact of HNE-induced carbonylation. We report a method that uses light (H(12)CHO) and heavy (D(13)CDO) isotopic variant of formaldehyde to differentially label primary amines (N-termini and e-amino group of lysines) in peptides through reductive methylation and, combined with selective enrichment of modified peptides, permits comparison of the extent of carbonylation in two samples after mixing for simultaneous liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Specifically, dimethyl-labeled peptide carbonyls were fractionated from unmodified peptides using solid-phase hydrazide chemistry to immobilize them to porous glass beads and, after removing the unmodified peptides by thoroughly washing the beads, subsequently recover them by acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. The method was developed using HNE-modified synthetic peptides and also showing enrichment from a complex matrix of digested human plasma proteins. Applicability was confirmed using apomyoglobin as an analyte, implicating thereby its potential value to proteome-wide identification and relative quantification of posttranslational protein carbonylation with residue-specific information. Because HNE attachment may not necessarily cause change in protein abundance, this modification-focused quantification should facilitate the characterization of accompanied changes in protein function and, also, provide important insights into molecular signaling mechanisms and a better understanding of cellular processes associated with oxidative stress.
Moving Towards Agile Practices - Requirements Management Tool Experiences at Hewlett-Packard

In this talk you will hear how HP approaches the move from traditional requirements management to the agile way. Mr. Heller will describe how HP moves gradually into the new agile development paradigm for the OpenView product family. The software product line OpenView represents Hewlett-Packard?s (HP) largest software only business. Originally it was created out of a set of independent software products. These products evolved over the years into a family of products, adding newer ones through a mixture of acquisitions and self-development. OpenView has established a requirements management infrastructure to support global distributed development for more than six years using Borland?s CaliberRM product. Mr. Heller will show how HP utilizes this tool in combination with the open source tool XPlanner, which supports XP development. You are invited to learn about tool experiences and changes in development culture.
The Long Struggle against Malaria in Tropical Africa

The Long Struggle against Malaria in Tropical Africa investigates the changing entomological, parasitological and medical understandings of vectors, parasites and malarial disease that have shaped the programs of malaria control and altered the transmission of malarial infections. It examines the history of malaria control and eradication in the contexts of racial thought, population movements, demographic growth, economic change, urbanization, warfare and politics. It will be useful for students of medicine and public health, for those who are involved with malaria research studies, and for those who work on the contemporary malaria control and elimination campaigns in tropical Africa.
Kinetic and mechanistic studies of the reactivity of Zn–OHn (n=1 or 2) species in small molecule analogs of zinc-containing metalloenzymes

Abstract Reactive Zn–OH n (n=1 or 2) species are proposed in the catalytic cycles of several zinc-containing enzymes. In order to gauge the chemical factors that influence the formation and reactivity of Zn–OH n species, synthetic model complexes have been prepared and systematically examined for biologically relevant stoichiometric and catalytic reactivity. Systems that promote the hydration of CO 2 , the activation and oxidation of alcohols, and amide and phosphate ester cleavage reactions are discussed.
Nucleus accumbens corticotropin-releasing factor increases cue-triggered motivation for sucrose reward: paradoxical positive incentive effects in stress?

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is typically considered to mediate aversive aspects of stress, fear and anxiety. However, CRF release in the brain is also elicited by natural rewards and incentive cues, raising the possibility that some CRF systems in the brain mediate an independent function of positive incentive motivation, such as amplifying incentive salience. Here we asked whether activation of a limbic CRF subsystem magnifies the increase in positive motivation for reward elicited by incentive cues previously associated with that reward, in a way that might exacerbate cue-triggered binge pursuit of food or other incentives? We assessed the impact of CRF microinjections into the medial shell of nucleus accumbens using a pure incentive version of Pavlovian-Instrumental transfer, a measure specifically sensitive to the incentive salience of reward cues (which it separates from influences of aversive stress, stress reduction, frustration and other traditional explanations for stress-increased behavior). Rats were first trained to press one of two levers to obtain sucrose pellets, and then separately conditioned to associate a Pavlovian cue with free sucrose pellets. On test days, rats received microinjections of vehicle, CRF (250 or 500 ng/0.2 μl) or amphetamine (20 μg/0.2 μl). Lever pressing was assessed in the presence or absence of the Pavlovian cues during a half-hour test. Microinjections of the highest dose of CRF (500 ng) or amphetamine (20 μg) selectively enhanced the ability of Pavlovian reward cues to trigger phasic peaks of increased instrumental performance for a sucrose reward, each peak lasting a minute or so before decaying after the cue. Lever pressing was not enhanced by CRF microinjections in the baseline absence of the Pavlovian cue or during the presentation without a cue, showing that the CRF enhancement could not be explained as a result of generalized motor arousal, frustration or stress, or by persistent attempts to ameliorate aversive states. We conclude that CRF in nucleus accumbens shell amplifies positive motivation for cued rewards, in particular by magnifying incentive salience that is attributed to Pavlovian cues previously associated with those rewards. CRF-induced magnification of incentive salience provides a novel explanation as to why stress may produce cue-triggered bursts of binge eating, drug addiction relapse, or other excessive pursuits of rewards.
The U.S. Pediatric Dermatology Workforce: An Assessment of Productivity and Practice Patterns.

Background Pediatric dermatology has always played an important role in children's healthcare, but there has been a shortage of pediatric dermatologists nationwide for more than a decade, and few metrics of productivity and practice patterns exist. This study sought to provide insight into these and other factors of the pediatric dermatology workforce. Methods Electronic surveys were distributed to all 226 U.S. board-certified pediatric dermatologists. Results A total of 108/226 (48%) of the electronic surveys were returned. Sixty percent of respondents were employed full- or part-time in academic environments and 81% were salaried. Respondents reported that children constituted 79.5% of their practice, and the average respondent spent 3.8 days/week treating 92.6 patients, considerably lower than the 136.3 patients/week that the average general dermatologist sees. The academic practice environment was associated with children constituting a larger proportion of the practice (p < 0.001), fewer patients seen per week (85.9, p < 0.001), and longer median new patient wait times (60 vs 15 days) than in other practice environments. Private practitioners saw significantly more patients per week than those in academic environments (112.7, p = 0.005). Male and female practitioners reported approximately equal patient care days per week, similar wait times, and similar proportions of children in their practices. Conclusions This assessment revealed productivity and practice pattern differences between the various pediatric dermatology practice environments and between pediatric and general dermatology. This study provides important information for workforce planning and care availability assessments and baseline information for future studies.
The rototack: designing a computationally-enhanced craft item

This paper describes our progress in creating a device called a rototack. In its design, the rototack is an example of a computationally-enhanced craft item: a small, robust, inexpensive, and versatile — but also programmable — physical object for use in a variety of educational and home crafting projects. In particular, the tack is a source of rotational motion, suitable for turning light objects or for powering (e.g.) cams, gears, and linkages in complex, user-defined patterns. We describe the engineering decisions and trade-offs involved in creating our current prototype of the tack; discuss the central issues in creating a programming language and environment for the device; and sketch a variety of potential uses to which the tack might be put.
Rate of release of iron from ferritin to 1, 10-phenanthroline.

ALTHOUGH the uptake and release of iron from ferritin, the principal form in which iron is stored by mammals, have been examined qualitatively1 and the rate of uptake has been studied previously2, there have been no previous studies of the rate of release of iron. We report here the results of a study of the rate of in vitro release of iron from ferritin in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. The effects of ascorbic acid, as well as concentration and temperature, were determined.
Hydrazine Detection by Polyaniline Using Fluorinated Alcohol Additives

A new sensor for hydrazine detection is reported using conventional polyaniline thin films processed from hexafluoroisopropanol. This and other fluorinated alcohols are shown to react with hydrazine to produce a strong acid. The hydrofluoric acid (HF) protonates the emeraldine base form of polyaniline leading to large increases in conductivitygreater than 4 orders of magnitude. In contrast, conventional polyaniline films processed from other organic solvents and polyaniline nanofiber films processed from water become more insulating upon exposure to hydrazine. In these cases, hydrazine acts as a strong reducing agent, converting the emeraldine form of polyaniline to its leucoemeraldine oxidation state. The concept of using additives to enhance the sensing ability of polyaniline films could prove useful for other analytes as well as for other conducting polymers.
Combined inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and HSP90 sensitizes human colon carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation

Indomethacin, a common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to enhance radiation-mediated cell-killing effect through the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We found that indomethacin strongly reduced the basal level of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. The inhibition of ERK1/2 by indomethacin was only observed in cells with high basal activities of ERK1/2 such as HT-29 cells, but not in cells with low basal activities, such as HeLa. Cell cycle analysis of HT-29 cells exposed with indomethacin showed a partial G1/S arrest and slow DNA synthesis. However, the treatment with NS398, a specific COX-1/2 inhibitor, failed to show any effect on cell cycle, indicating that the inhibition of COX-1/2 is not responsible for cell cycle arrest. Since U0126, a specific inhibitor for MEK1/2, also induced a partial G1/S arrest, the G1/S arrest induced by indomethacin is, at least in part, caused by the inhibition of ERK1/2. Cell proliferation of HT-29 was inhibited by the treatment of U0126 but not in HeLa cells, and the treatment of HT-29 cells with U0126 enhanced radiation sensitivity possibly due to the accumulation of cells in G1 phase. We found that 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, a geldanamycin delivative, radiosensitized HT-29 cells at a relatively low dose of irradiation, and indomethacin and U0126 further enhanced this effect. Therefore, tumor cells with elevated ERK1/2 activity can be effectively sensitized to radiation treatment by a combinational inhibition of HSP90 and MAPK activity.
HALLOWEEN MASKS AND DEINDIVIDUATION

Diener, Fraser, Beaman. and Kelem (1976) examined the effects of anonymity. group presence. and assignment of responsibility on stealing by trick-or-treating children. To create a nonanonymous condition, the experimenter identified each child and address. In the anonymous cells, the costumed children were nor identified. They found significantly more stealing when the children remained anonymous. The results were interpreted as support for Zimbardo's (1969) suggestion that anonymity leads to deindividuation which lowers behavioral restraints. The present study was designed to examine a costume manipulation of anonymity (mask vs no mask). In light of Zimbardo's specification of anonymity as an antecedent of deindividuation and the Diener, et nl. finding, it was predicted that children wenring masks would violate candy rules more often than children not wearing masks. In accord with the Diener, ec al. (1976) procedure, children who were nor accompanied by an adult were greeted by a female experimenter who explained that each child was allowed to take two candies from a bowl of individually wrapped candies. The experimenter answered questions, indicated she had to return to her work and exited. An unseen observer recorded whether or nor each child was wearing a mask and how many candies the child took. Of the 58 unaccompanied children who came to the three homes participating in this study, 31 (53%) took more than two candies. Thimynine children wore masks and 24 of them (62%) violated the rule. Nineteen children did nor wear masks and only seven of them (37%) were violaters. A chi-square test suggested a tendency for masked children to violate more often than nonmasked children fx2 = 3.14. p < .lo). The sex of the children did not produce a statistically significant effect. While no formal aaempt was made to estimate the children's ages, each oI the six experimenters reported that the masked and unmasked groups did not appear to differ in terms of age, the approximate range being 9 to 13 yr. It appears that costume masks can serve to elicit a state of deindividuation and lead to lowered restraints on behavior of young children.
The correlation energy difference between ch and the carbon atom

The many-body theory of Brueckner and Goldstone is used to calculate the correlation energy difference between CH and the carbon atom. Our result is — 0.047 a.u., obtaineu from a single center expansion and a complete set of states appropriate to the neutral atom. This value is in good agreement with the experimental value of — 0.043 a.u.
Conditioned inhibition and the UCS-CS interval.

The role of temporal factors in the development of conditioned inhibition was investigated in a backward conditioning design. Separate groups of rats received tone CSs either 3 or 30 sec following shock presentatlOns. The ess predicted the same shock-free interval for both groups. A third group was presented with a random relationship between CS and shock. The CSs were tested by super­ imposition on a Sidman avoidance baseline and only the group with a 3-sec UCS·CS interval revealed an inhibitory effect of the CS. These results are in accord with predictions made by the Solomon-Corbit model of acquired motivation and by Denny's "relaxation" theory of escape and avoidance.