cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting of ALK2, a Receptor for Bone Morphogenetic Proteins, Using the Cre/lox System to Enhance Osseous Regeneration by Adipose-Derived Stem Cells

Access to readily available autogenous tissue that regenerates bone would greatly improve clinical care. We believe the osteogenic phenotype caused by mutations in ALK2 can be harnessed in adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to improve bone tissue engineering. We set out to demonstrate that ALK2 may serve as a novel target to (a) improve in vitro ASC osteogenic differentiation and (b) enhance in vivo bone regeneration and calvarial healing. Transgenic mice were designed using the Cre/lox system to express constitutively active ALK2 (caALK2) with ubiquitously inducible Cre expression after tamoxifen exposure. ASCs from caALK2+/− and caALK2−/− (control) mice were exposed to tamoxifen and assessed for pro-osteogenic gene expression, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, and osteogenic differentiation. Next, ASCs collected from these transgenic mice were analyzed in vivo using a calvarial defect model and analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histology. ASCs from caALK2+/− mice had increased BMP signaling as demonstrated by upregulation of pSmad 1/5. ASCs from caALK2+/− mice had enhanced bone signaling and osteogenic differentiation compared with caALK2−/− mice (n = 4, p < .05). Transcription of pro-osteogenic genes at day 7 was significantly higher in ASCs from caALK2-overexpressing mice (Alp, Runx2, Ocn, Opn) (n = 4, p < .05). Using micro-CT and histomorphometry, we found that bone formation was significantly higher in mice treated with caALK2-expressing ASCs in vivo. Using a novel transgenic mouse model, we show that expression of constitutively active ALK2 receptor results in significantly increased ASC osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this increased ASC differentiation can be harnessed to improve calvarial healing.
Exploiting relative measurements for pose and time calibration of wireless sensor networks

Pose calibration and time synchronization are among the fundamental calibration problems in wireless sensor networks. Previous research has reveals strong relation between the formulations of these problems. When sensors have identical orientation, the solution to localization problems recovers the position of sensors based on relative geometrical translation measurements. When sensorspsila clock drift parameters are all unity, time synchronization reconstructs all local clock systems based on the relative clock offset measurement. In a more general scenario, the orientation matrix and the clock drift coefficient factors can be viewed as the augmented coefficients in localization and synchronization problems, respectively. Therefore the parameters to be calibrated become position, orientation, offset and drift. Sensors thus no longer have the same orientation and the same clock drift parameter. In this paper we consider the above parameters that are assumed time invariant. Suppose sensors are able to measure relative bearing and range, and exchange time-stamped information. We introduce a unified formulation for such generalized calibration problems and imply a corresponding distributed algorithm in wireless sensor networks.
New Command Shaping Methods for Reduced Vibration of a Suspended Payload With Constrained Trolley Motion

In manufacturing environments, a common task is to quickly move a suspended payload point-to-point along a fixed overhead conveyor track without inducing significant payload vibration. Recent research in command shaping has shown remarkably effective ways to reduce the swing of a suspended payload providing the motion of the trolley is not constrained. However, the development of a command shaper where the trajectory of the trolley is constrained to follow a fixed curvilinear path has not been explored. This paper will present the development of a simple feedforward command shaper for fast, low vibration, point-to-point movement of a payload suspended from a trolley constrained to follow a fixed generalized path. The command shaping method involves modifying the command signal by convolving it with a series of impulses. Prior work has suggested command shaping to be very effective for fast, low-vibration movement of flexible systems. In this paper, command shaping methods are applied to an overhead conveyor system constrained to move along a fixed curvilinear path. Two new command shapers are presented for canceling payload vibration induced by motion of the trolley along the path. The designed Tangential Vibration (TV) shaper reduces payload vibrations induced by tangential accelerations of the trolley along the path, while the Centripetal-Tangential Vibration (CTV) shaper reduces vibrations induced by both tangential and centripetal accelerations. A key result of this study is that a command shaper having at least three impulses is required to yield zero residual vibration for motion along a curvilinear path. A simple pendulum payload attached to an actual small-scale overhead trolley following a constrained path is used to evaluate the performance of the designed command shapers. It is shown that the designed shapers significantly reduce payload swing compared to unshaped performance. An experimental sensitivity analysis shows the designed shapers are robust to system modeling errors and variations in path parameters.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
High-quality speech-to-speech translation for computer-aided language learning

This article describes our research on spoken language translation aimed toward the application of computer aids for second language acquisition. The translation framework is incorporated into a multilingual dialogue system in which a student is able to engage in natural spoken interaction with the system in the foreign language, while speaking a query in their native tongue at any time to obtain a spoken translation for language assistance. Thus the quality of the translation must be extremely high, but the domain is restricted. Experiments were conducted in the weather information domain with the scenario of a native English speaker learning Mandarin Chinese. We were able to utilize a large corpus of English weather-domain queries to explore and compare a variety of translation strategies: formal, example-based, and statistical. Translation quality was manually evaluated on a test set of 695 spontaneous utterances. The best speech translation performance (89.9p correct, 6.1p incorrect, and 4.0p rejected), is achieved by a system which combines the formal and example-based methods, using parsability by a domain-specific Chinese grammar as a rejection criterion.
Idiopathic rapid-eye-movement sleep disorder: Associations with antidepressants, psychiatric diagnoses, and other factors, in relation to age of onset

Abstract Background A retrospective, case–control chart review was performed to examine the relationship between the age of onset of idiopathic RBD and secondary associations. Methods Forty-eight idiopathic RBD patients were divided into early-onset and late-onset groups, compared to each other, and to their respective non-RBD controls. Results There were more females in the early-onset group as compared to their older counterparts (45% vs. 11%, p = 0.007). Early-onset patients also had significantly more past and present psychiatric diagnoses [85% (both categories) vs. 46% and 36%, respectively, p p = 0.02) than the late-onset group. In comparison to non-RBD controls, early-onset patients again exhibited more psychiatric diagnoses (odds ratio = 17.0 [3.5–83.4], equivalent for past and present diagnoses) and antidepressant use (odds ratio = 12.0 [2.7–53.3]). Late-onset patients also had a higher frequency of past (odds ratio = 7.2 [1.8–29.6]) and present (odds ratio = 4.6 [1.1–19.3]) psychiatric diagnoses as compared to their non-RBD controls, but did not demonstrate a statistically significant difference in antidepressant use. There were otherwise no significant intergroup or intragroup differences with respect to the other assessed variables. Conclusions Although causality cannot be inferred, numerous implications can be entertained, particularly in the early-onset group, including direct or indirect correlations with medication use and/or psychopathology and the development of RBD. The relatively high number of females in the early-onset group suggests a unique clinical profile for a condition typically characterized as male-predominant.
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometric Analysis of Environmental Samples Using Ultrasonic Nebulization

Ultrasonic and pneumatic nebulizers used in inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) are compared in the analysis of standard materials and environmental samples. Results verify that ICP-AES with ultrasonic nebulization is capable of lower detection limits than ICP-AES with a pneumatic system. The ultrasonic system used with desolvation, therefore, is the more desirable system when ultratrace ICP-AES quantitative analyses are required in a variety of environmental samples.
Superbend upgrade at the Advanced Light Source

At the ALS there had been an increasing demand for additional high brightness hard x-ray beamlines in the 7 to 40 keV range. In response to that demand, the ALS storage ring was modified in August 2001. Three 1.3 tesla normal conducting bending magnets were removed and replaced with three 5 Tesla superconducting magnets (Superbends). The radiation produced by these Superbends is an order of magnitude higher in photon brightness and flux at 12 keV than that of the 1.3 Tesla bends, making them excellent sources of hard x-rays for protein crystallography and other hard x-ray applications. At the same time the Superbends do not compromise the performance of the facility in the UV and soft x-ray regions of the spectrum. The Superbend will eventually feed 12 new beam lines greatly enhancing the facility's capacity in the hard x-ray region. The Superbend project is the biggest upgrade to the ALS storage ring since it was commissioned in 1993. In this paper we present a history of the project, as well as the installation, commissioning, and resulting performance of the ALS with Superbends.
Dynamic mechanical analysis and optimization of vapor-grown carbon nanofiber/vinyl ester nanocomposites using design of experiments

A design of experiments approach demonstrated how four formulation and processing factors (i.e., nanofiber type, use of dispersing agent, mixing method, and nanofiber weight fraction) affected the dynamic mechanical properties of carbon nanofiber/vinyl ester nanocomposites. Only <0.50 parts of nanofiber per hundred parts resin produced a 20% increase in the storage modulus vs. that of the neat cured resin. Statistical response surface models predicted nanocomposite storage and loss moduli as a function of the four factors and their interactions. Nanofiber type and weight fraction were the key interacting factors influencing the mean storage modulus. Nanofiber weight fraction, mixing method, and dispersing agent had coupled effects on the mean loss modulus. Employing this methodology, optimized nanocomposite properties can be predicted as a function of nanocomposite formulation and processing.
COMPARISON OF CONGRUENCES AND STRICT EQUIVALENCES FOR REAL, COMPLEX, AND QUATERNIONIC MATRIX PENCILS WITH SYMMETRIES ∗

The equivalence relations of strict equivalence and congruence of real and complex matrix pencils with symmetries are compared, depending on whether the congruence matrices are real, complex, or quaternionic. The obtained results are applied to comparison of congruences of matrices, over the reals, the complexes, and the quaternions.
The Impact of Gender and Organizational Status on Workplace Anger Expression

The social rules for communicating anger in the workplace are multifaceted, and standards vary for different groups. Previous research addresses either gender differences in anger expression or organizational status differences, but not the combined impact of gender and status. The authors close this gap by investigating both the independent and joint influence of gender and relative organizational status on workplace anger expression. Their findings show that emotional restraint is the most frequent method of handling anger across all groups. Lower status males, however, directly express their anger around higher status members significantly more frequently than do lower status females. The authors conclude with observations regarding the relative strength of organizational norms as compared to gender-based norms.
Normal localization of ΔF323-Y328 mutant torsinA in transfected human cells

Two mutations in torsinA have been identified to date, both of which are associated with an autosomal dominant form of early onset-dystonia. It has been reported previously that expression of the more common mutation, a deletion of one of a pair of glutamates (deltaE302/303) produces intracellular, endoplasmic reticulum-derived inclusions in cultured cells. In this study we have replicated these previous results and have additionally looked at the localization of the more recently described deltaF323-Y328 mutation. We show that the localization of this latter mutation is similar to wild type torsinA and unlike the deltaE302/303 mutation. This data suggests that the formation of intracellular inclusions is specific to deltaE302/303 and not a property shared by deltaF323-Y328.
Emergency department technicians in a University-County hospital: a 15-year experience

Technicians have assisted physicians in many specialty areas in which a small number of procedures and limited expertise could be quickly mastered and used regularly. We describe a program of training and graded responsibility of emergency department technicians focusing on laceration and wound care, splinting, IV catheter placement, and other procedures for critically ill or injured patients. Infection rates of wounds sutured by technicians are comparable to those reported by physicians using similar techniques. In a time of nursing shortages, technicians are an alternative for supplementing the traditional providers of emergency care.
VARIATION OF CONSTANTS FOR HYBRID SYSTEMS OF FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

The objective is to derive a variation of constants formula for systems of functional differential equations (or delay differential equations) coupled with functional equations (or difference equations). The difficulties arise because of the constraints imposed by the functional equations.
The Research and Policy Importance of Nursing Sample Surveys and Minimum Data Sets

This article reviews the information gathered by the National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (NSSRN) and other sources of data on the registered nurse (RN) workforce. It examines how the data h...
Preclinical in vitro, in vivo and pharmacokinetic evaluations of FLLL12 for the prevention and treatment of head and neck cancers

Despite its high promise for cancer prevention and therapy, the potential utility of curcumin in cancer is compromised by its low bioavailability and weak potency. The purpose of the current study was to assess the in vitro and in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetic parameters of the potent curcumin analogue FLLL12 in SCCHN and identify the mechanisms of its antitumor effect. IC50 values against a panel of one premalignant and eight malignant head and neck cancer cell lines as well as apoptosis assay results suggested that FLLL12 is 10- to 24-fold more potent than natural curcumin depending on the cell line and induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. In vivo efficacy (xenograft) and pharmacokinetic studies also suggested that FLLL12 is significantly more potent and has more favorable pharmacokinetic properties than curcumin. FLLL12 strongly inhibited the expression of p-EGFR, EGFR, p-AKT, AKT, Bcl-2, and Bid and increased the expression of Bim. Overexpression of constitutively active AKT or Bcl-2 or ablation of Bim or Bid significantly inhibited FLLL12-induced apoptosis. Further mechanistic studies revealed that FLLL12 regulated EGFR and AKT at transcriptional levels, whereas Bcl-2 was regulated at the translational level. Finally, FLLL12 strongly inhibited the AKT downstream targets mTOR and FOXO1a and 3a. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that FLLL12 is a potent curcumin analogue with more favorable pharmacokinetic properties that induces apoptosis of head and neck cancer cell lines by inhibition of survival proteins including EGFR, AKT, and Bcl-2 and increasing of the proapoptotic protein Bim.
Upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Paradigm shift towards nephron sparing management

Upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is relatively rare compared to urothelial carcinoma of the lower tract, comprising only 5%-10% of all urothelial cancers. Although both entities share histologic properties, UTUC tends to be more invasive at diagnosis and portend a worse prognosis, with a 5 year overall mortality of 23%. To date, the gold standard management of UTUC has been radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), with nephron sparing techniques reserved for solitary kidneys or cases where the patient could not tolerate radical surgery. Limited data from these series, as well as select series where nephron-sparing endoscopic management has been offered to a broader patient base, suggest that minimally invasive, nephron sparing techniques can offer comparable oncologic and survival outcomes to RNU in appropriately selected patients. We review the current literature on the topic and discuss long term outcomes and sequelae of the gold standard treatment, RNU. We also discuss the oncologic outcomes of minimally invasive, endoscopic management of UTUC. Our goal is to provide the reader a comprehensive overview of the current state of the field in order to inform and guide their treatment decisions.
Abstract 5247: Expression and functional role of CCR9 in lung cancer

Lung cancer is leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide in both men and women. Metastasis is responsible for most lung cancer related deaths; therefore, a better understanding of the metastatic processes and therapies designed to prevent the spread of cancer cells are greatly needed. The specific mechanisms that promote metastases have not been fully elucidated. Among all known chemokine receptors involved in cancer progression, most cancer cells including lung cancer express CXCR4. Furthermore, involvement of CXCR4 and CCR7 in breast cancer and CXCR4, CCR9 and CX3CR1 in prostate cancer progression further indicates that multiple chemokine receptors are involved in dictating the multi-step process of metastasis. For the first time, we show that lung cancer cells and tissue form Non Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) express CCR9, which is the receptor for CCL25. CCR9 was highly expressed by NSCLC cell lines as compared to Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (SCLC) cell lines at mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, we have shown that CCR9-CCL25 interaction plays a crucial role in lung cancer cell migration. It addition to these, serum levels of CCL25 was significantly elevated in lung cancer patents compared to normal healthy donor. The mechanism underlying these clinically and biologically important finding need to be further explored. Increased serum CCL25 in lung cancer patients with metastatic disease required further validation as a potential therapeutic target and/or diagnostic marker for lung cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5247. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5247
Latent Root Regression: An Alternate Procedure for Estimating Parameters in the Presence of Multicollinearity:

Marketing data are almost always plagued by multicollinearity. The most popular approach to addressing the problem is ridge regression which is one of the biased estimation procedures. The authors ...
Amniotic fluid embolism: diagnosis and management

Objective We sought to provide evidence-based guidelines regarding the diagnosis and management of amniotic fluid embolism. Study Design A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. The search was restricted to English-language articles published from 1966 through March 2015. Priority was given to articles reporting original research, in particular randomized controlled trials, although review articles and commentaries were consulted. Abstracts of research presented at symposia and scientific conferences were not considered adequate for inclusion. Evidence reports and published guidelines were also reviewed, and additional studies were located by reviewing bibliographies of identified articles. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used for defining the strength of recommendations and rating quality of the evidence. Consistent with US Preventive Task Force guidelines, references were evaluated for quality based on the highest level of evidence. Results and Recommendations We recommend the following: (1) we recommend consideration of amniotic fluid embolism in the differential diagnosis of sudden cardiorespiratory collapse in the laboring or recently delivered woman (GRADE 1C); (2) we do not recommend the use of any specific diagnostic laboratory test to either confirm or refute the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism; at the present time, amniotic fluid embolism remains a clinical diagnosis (GRADE 1C); (3) we recommend the provision of immediate high-quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation with standard basic cardiac life support and advanced cardiac life support protocols in patients who develop cardiac arrest associated with amniotic fluid embolism (GRADE 1C); (4) we recommend that a multidisciplinary team including anesthesia, respiratory therapy, critical care, and maternal-fetal medicine should be involved in the ongoing care of women with AFE (Best Practice); (5) following cardiac arrest with amniotic fluid embolism, we recommend immediate delivery in the presence of a fetus ≥23 weeks of gestation (GRADE 2C); (6) we recommend the provision of adequate oxygenation and ventilation and, when indicated by hemodynamic status, the use of vasopressors and inotropic agents in the initial management of amniotic fluid embolism. Excessive fluid administration should be avoided (GRADE 1C); and (7) because coagulopathy may follow cardiovascular collapse with amniotic fluid embolism, we recommend the early assessment of clotting status and early aggressive management of clinical bleeding with standard massive transfusion protocols (GRADE 1C).
Some biochemical and physical changes occurring in experimentally-inflicted poultry bruises.

SummaryProteolytic activities, detected in experimentally-inflicted poultry bruises, were found to be influenced by many factors such as previous bruising, severity, and age of the bruise. Bruised ...
Practical Application of the Stable Age Distribution: Analysis of a Tetranychid Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) Population Outbreak

Stage-structured counts of tetranychid mites (eggs, immatures, and adults) on 360 whole cotton plants were made during a single growing season in California, These counts were analyzed by using their departure from a stable stage distribution (65% eggs, 25% immatures, and 10% adults) implied by the birth and death rates from a previous life history study of the twospotted spider mite. By using these stable distributions as base lines for analysis, several questions were addressed, including: (1) What was the possible influence of migration on age structure? (2) How did the birth and death rates in the field populations compare with those determined in the laboratory? and (3) How did birth and death rates differ among the three growth phases? It is concluded that in general the stable age distribution is useful in demographic field studies because it focuses attention on age structure, any observed departure from it demands an explanation, and any explanation must take into account collective changes in proportions of stages intercoupled with commensurate shifts in growth rate.
Liver transplantation and sleeve gastrectomy in the medically complicated obese: New challenges on the horizon

In the last 30 years, operative, technical and medical advances have made liver transplantation (LT) a life-saving therapy that is used worldwide today. Global industrialization has been a contributor to morbid obesity and this has brought about the metabolic syndrome along with many downstream complications of such. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a recognized hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome and NASH cirrhosis is predicted to be the primary indication for LT in the United States by 2025. Several case series and database reviews have begun analyzing the efficacy of weight reduction surgery in the LT recipient. These data have reasonably demonstrated that weight reduction surgery in the LT recipient is a feasible endeavor. However, several questions have been raised regarding the type of weight reduction surgery, timing of surgery in relation to LT, patient and allograft survival and post-LT maintenance of weight loss to name a few. We look forward to a time when weight reduction surgery will work to improve the technical conduct of LT, improve perioperative benchmarks such as blood transfusions, intensive care unit length of stay and help to prevent recurrence of NASH cirrhosis in the medically complicated obese patient. In the meantime, well-designed prospective clinical trials that focus on the issues highlighted will help guide us in the care of these complicated patients who will soon account for the majority of the patients in our clinics.
QTL MAPPING FOR ROOT TRAITS IN RICE SEEDLINGS UNDER DIFFERENT WATER SUPPLY CONDITIONS

A recombinant inbred line(RIL) population with 234 lines derived from a super hybrid rice Xieyou 9308 were treated with normal water condition and 20% polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000).Eight root traits including the maximum root length,total root length,root surface area,root volume,root average diameter,number of root tip,root fresh weight and root/shoot ratio were measured and further used for QTL analysis.A total of 21 QTLs were detected and each locus explained 4.80%-11.35% of phenotypic variance.7 QTLs on chromosome 2,3,9,10 and 11 under normal water condition and 14 QTLs on chromosome 2,3,5,6,9 under drought stress were detected,respectively.The QTLs detected under the two water supply conditions had significant differences,which indicated that there was different genetic mechanism controlling rice root traits at the two different water conditions.Two important QTL clusters on chromosome 3 and 6 for root traits were detected,especially the QTL for seedling root traits detected between RM6283 and RM7370 on chromosome 3 had linkage relation with the QTLs for drought resistance and yield related traits.It would be possible to improve multiple traits using DNA makers closely linked to these QTLs.
Nonsecular Medical Anthropology

A nonsecular medical anthropology insists on the ways medicine and science have constituted 'the secular' itself through the 'secular self'-how medical knowing has been used to craft the secular political subject. As James Boon noted, too often in social theory, "religion gets safely tucked away-restricted theoretically to 'meaning' rather than power" (1998:245). The authors of the six articles in this special issue 'untuck' religiosity from within the norms and numbers of medicine itself, and examine how 'secular' medicine has relied on religious traditions to produce political secularity. These articles demonstrate that 'secular' medicine relies on religious others whose exclusion bespeaks latent religious commitments of citizenship in the modern political realm of health.
Mechanism of the Light State Transition in Porphyridium cruentum

Bonaventura and Myers (1969) and Murata (1969) showed that illumination of microalgae with light absorbed preferentially by either PS1 or PS2 led to changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence emission that were indicative of a redistribution of energy between the two photosystems. Illumination with light 1, absorbed preferentially by PS1, resulted in a transition of the cells to State 1 and, conversely, illumination with light 2 led to a transition to State 2. It was suggested that the reversible state transition adjusted the relative yields of the two photosystems to correct any imbalance in excitation and regulate the electron transport reactions. Similar light state transitions occur in higher plants and it has now been shown that the changes in energy distribution occur in response to changes in the redox state of PQ (Bennett et al., 1980; Horton, Black, 1980).
Astrophysics and Cosmology

If the theory of general relativity is to be a logical basis for a general theory of matter — in all domains of interaction, from fermis to light-years — then it follows that (1) the same generally covariant formalism that correctly predicts the features of matter in the microscopic domain (elementary particle physics) should also be applicable to the domain of astronomy, and (2) the equations of motion predicted by the general field theory should correctly predict the details of the astronomer’s observations of planetary and stellar motion.
Nanoscopy of Phase Separation in InxGa1-xN Alloys.

Phase separations in ternary/multinary semiconductor alloys is a major challenge that limits optical and electronic internal device efficiency. We have found ubiquitous local phase separation in In1–xGaxN alloys that persists to nanoscale spatial extent by employing high-resolution nanoimaging technique. We lithographically patterned InN/sapphire substrates with nanolayers of In1–xGaxN down to few atomic layers thick that enabled us to calibrate the near-field infrared response of the semiconductor nanolayers as a function of composition and thickness. We also developed an advanced theoretical approach that considers the full geometry of the probe tip and all the sample and substrate layers. Combining experiment and theory, we identified and quantified phase separation in epitaxially grown individual nanoalloys. We found that the scale of the phase separation varies widely from particle to particle ranging from all Ga- to all In-rich regions and covering everything in between. We have found that between 2...
Divorce Stress, Stepfamily Stress, and Depression among Emerging Adult Stepchildren

Several decades of research have shown that parental divorce can be a stressful experience for children and may lead to depression and other negative outcomes. Similarly, research has highlighted the stressors often induced by stepfamily formation and their effects on children. Although singular family transitions can exert influence, few studies explore how the combined stress from two family transitions may interact to influence long-term outcomes. Our study addresses this gap by using national data from 1142 respondents who experienced parental divorce and a subsequent transition to stepfamily life. Congruent with prior research, we find that retrospective reports of divorce and stepfamily stress is associated with higher depressive symptoms in emerging adults (18–30 years of age). We also find that stress induced by parental divorce and subsequent stepfamily formation significantly interact to increase depressive symptoms in this population. The research and clinical implications of our findings are discussed.
Activation of TAO2 Kinase by Arsenic Trioxide in Leukemic Cells

Arsenic Trioxide (As 2 O 3 ) has major efficacy in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but its use in other malignancies is limited by the need for high intracellular concentrations to induce apoptosis. Prior work in our laboratory has demonstrated that the p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) pathway is activated following treatment of cells with As 2 O 3 and exhibits negative regulatory effects on As 2 O 3 -induced apoptosis and growth suppression. In the current study, we sought to identify upstream effector mechanisms by which the p38 pathway is activated by As 2 O 3 in leukemic cells. We found that the MAPK kinase kinase TAO2 (thousand and one amino acid protein kinase 2) is phosphorylated on Ser181 after treatment of NB4, NB4.306, and U937 cells with arsenic. Such phosphorylation was rapid, occurring as early as after 5 minutes of As 2 O 3 treatment. In addition, our data indicate that such phosphorylation occurs downstream of As 2 O 3 -induced redox reactions, as demonstrated by increased phosphorylation in cells pretreated with the oxidizing agent buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) and decreased phosphorylation following pretreatment with the reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT). Arsenic treatment of the cells also resulted in activation of the kinase domain of TAO2, as evidenced in in vitro kinase assay studies using ATF2 as an exogenous substrate. siRNA-mediated TAO2 knockdown resulted in inhibition of As 2 O 3 -induced p38 phosphorylation, suggesting that this kinase acts as an upstream effector of the arsenic-activated p38 MAPK pathway. Moreover, in studies to determine the functional relevance of TAO2 in the induction of As 2 O 3 -dependent antileukemic responses we found that siRNA-mediated TAO2 knockdown enhanced the suppressive effects of As 2 O 3 on KT1-derived leukemic progenitor (CFU-L) growth in clonogenic assays in methylcellulose. Altogether, our data demonstrate that TAO2 is activated during arsenic treatment of leukemic cells lines and acts as an upstream activator of the p38 MAPK pathway. Such activation appears to occur in a negative feedback regulatory manner to compensate for the suppressive effects of As 2 O 3 on leukemic cell growth. Importantly, these findings raise the possibility that targeting TAO2 may provide a novel approach to enhance the generation of the antileukemic properties of As 2 O 3.
Community Associations: The Emergence and Acceptance of a Quiet Innovation in Housing

(2002). Community Associations: The Emergence and Acceptance of a Quiet Innovation in Housing. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 227-229.
Perceived Community Environmental Factors and Risk of Five-Year Participation Restriction Among Older Adults With or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective Older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who live in environments with mobility barriers may be at greater risk of developing participation restrictions, defined as difficulties in engagement in life situations. We investigated the risk of participation restriction over 5 years due to self-reported environmental features among older adults with knee OA. Methods Participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study self-reported participation at baseline, 30 months, and 60 months using the instrumental role subscale of the Late Life Disability Index (LLDI). Data on self-reported environmental features were from the Home and Community Environment questionnaire administered in the MOST Knee Pain and Disability study, an ancillary study of MOST. The relative risks (RRs) of developing participation restriction at 60 months, indicated by an LLDI score <67.6 out of a possible 100, due to reported high community mobility barriers and high transportation facilitators, were calculated using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for covariates. Results Sixty-nine of the 322 participants (27%) developed participation restriction by 60 months. Participants reporting high community mobility barriers at baseline had 1.8 times the risk (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2–2.7) of participation restriction at 60 months, after adjusting for covariates. Self-report of high transportation facilitators at baseline resulted in a reduced but statistically nonsignificant risk of participation restriction at 60 months (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4–1.1). Conclusion Higher perceived environmental barriers impact the risk of long-term participation restriction among older adults with or at risk of knee OA. Approaches aimed at reducing the development of participation restrictions in this population should consider decreasing environmental barriers.
McVay Repair of Inguinal Hernia

The McVay repair may be used for both inguinal and femoral hernias. This chapter lists the indications, essential steps, common technical variations, and complications of the procedure. A detailed operative note dictation template is included.
Comercio libre para México: ¿imposición o demanda?

El autor cuestiona la opinion de que el Tratado de Libre Comercio este siendo impuesto sobre la nacion mexicana por el presidente Salinas de Gortari y su grupo de asesores. Wilkie enmarca en una perspectiva mas amplia y clara este hecho mediante la presentacion de datos recopilados por el mismo en entrevistas realizadas en Europa del Este y regiones de Mexico donde dicha opinion es motivo de debate
The relationship between PFPE molecular rheology and tribology

The tribology of several perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricants was studied using a pin on disk (POD) test. During the POD test, PFPE is incrementally removed from the track with each sliding cycle. The number cycles to failure, NF, is detected as a sudden increase in the friction coefficient. Molecular theory for polymer melt rheology was employed to develop a universal scaling rule. The PFPE removal rate coefficient is proportional to a parameter containing the bulk viscosity, degree of polymerization, and temperature and structure scaling coefficients. The parameter is a measure of the frictional resistance to segmental sliding along the surface in the contact zone. The temperature scaling coefficient corrects for the absence of free volume in the molecularly‐thin lubricant film. The structure scaling coefficient accounts for differences in the energy barriers to internal rotation. This is the first description of a relationship for the tribological properties of PFPEs that takes into account their viscosity, molecular structure, degree of polymerization, and temperature.
Carleton’s Elf System

The Elf system was Girczyc’s thesis work at Carleton University; it was further refined at Audesyn Inc. Elf includes scheduling and data path synthesis.
Contraction-perfusion matching in reperfused acute myocardial infarction

Prior to the commonplace use of acute reperfusion therapy, estimates of resting left ventricular function in the early days following acute myocardial infarction were found to be highly predictive of long-term survival. The Multicenter Post Infarction Research Group showed that one-year survival was exponentially related to left ventricular ejection fraction prior to discharge with mortality at one year approaching 50% for patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 15% [1]. This study was conducted in the prethrombolytic era. With the use of acute reperfusion therapy during acute myocardial infarction, it became apparent that mechanical estimates of left ventricular function could be inaccurate during the acute hospitalization [2–6]. Specifically these studies documented that left ventricular ejection fraction and regional wall motion could improve significantly in the weeks following thrombolytic therapy or direct coronary angioplasty. Consequently, to obtain a reliable estimate of infarct size from mechanical measures of left ventricular function, acquisition should be delayed at least several weeks [7, 8].
BLESS: Formal Specification and Verification of Behaviors for Embedded Systems with Software

Recent experience in the avionics sector has demonstrated the benefits of using rigorous system architectural models, such as those supported by the standard Architectural and Analysis Definition Language (AADL), to ensure that multi-organization composition and integration tasks are successful. Despite its ability to capture interface signatures and system properties, such as scheduling periods and communication latencies as model attributes, AADL lacks a formal interface specification language, a formal semantics for component behavioral descriptions, and tools for reasoning about the compliance of behaviors to interface contracts. In this paper we introduce the Behavioral Language for Embedded Systems with Software (BLESS)—a behavioral interface specification language and proof environment for AADL. BLESS enables engineers to specify contracts on AADL components that capture both functional and timing properties. BLESS provides a formal semantics for AADL behavioral descriptions and automatic generation of verification conditions that, when proven by the BLESS proof tool, establish that behavioral descriptions conform to AADL contracts. We report on the application of BLESS to a collection of embedded system examples, including definition of multiple modes of a pacemaker.
Agent-Based Web Services for Interoperability with the Web-Centric Enterprise

Over the past several years, many legacy applications have become Web-enabled. A current trend is to Web service-enable legacy applications to allow for XML-based data exchange between a legacy application and a software client that could be hosted in a different framework. This approach enables interoperability between legacy systems and those developed in frameworks of the Web-centric multi-tier architecture that is now prevalent.
Using synthetic peptides and recombinant collagen to understand DDR-collagen interactions

The discoidin domain receptors, DDR1 and DDR2, are a subfamily of receptor tyrosine kinases that are activated upon binding to collagen. DDR-collagen interactions play an important role in cell proliferation and migration. Over the past few decades, synthetic peptides and recombinant collagen have been developed as tools to study the biophysical characteristics of collagen and various protein-collagen interactions. Herein we review how these techniques have been used to understand DDR-collagen interactions. Using synthetic collagen-like peptides, the GVM-GFO motif has been found to be the major binding site on collagens II and III for DDR1 and DDR2. An X-ray co-crystal structure of the DDR2 DS domain bound to a synthetic collagen-like peptide containing the GVM-GFO motif further provides molecular details of the DDR-collagen interactions. Recombinant collagen has also been used to provide further validation of the GVM-GFO binding motif. Although GVM-GFO has been defined as the minimal binding site, in synthetic peptide studies at least two triplets N-terminal to the essential GVM-GFO binding motif in collagen III sequence are needed for DDR2 activation at high peptide concentrations.
Porphyrins with fused exocyclic rings

A review is presented of the authors’ work, and directly relevant work of others, on the synthesis, structure and chemistry of porphyrin systems bearing fused aliphatic and π-conjugated rings. This includes a number of oligomeric porphyrin arrays.
Anonymization in Online Social Networks Based on Enhanced Equi-Cardinal Clustering

Recent trends show that the popularity of online social networks (OSNs) has been increasing rapidly. From daily communication sites to online communities, an average person’s daily life has become dependent on these online networks. Hence, it has become evident that protection should be provided to these networks from unwanted intruders. In this paper, we consider the data privacy on OSNs at the network level rather than the user level. This network-level privacy helps us to prevent information leakage to third-party users, such as advertisers. We propose a novel scheme that combines the privacy of all the elements of a social network: node, edge, and attribute privacy by clustering the users based on their attribute similarity. We use an enhanced equi-cardinal clustering (ECC) as a way to achieve $k$ -anonymity. We further improve $k$ -anonymity with $l$ -diversity. Our proposed enhanced ECC ensures that there are at least “ $k$ ” users in any given network as well as the attributes in each cluster has at least $l$ -distinct values. We further provide proofs on how the proposed ECC ensures $k$ -anonymity and the maximum information loss. We consider a weighted directed social network graph as an input to our method to consider the existing complexities in a social network. With the help of two real-world data sets, we evaluate this method in terms of privacy and efficiency.
The Effect of Speed Humps on Highways Pavement Condition

Speed humps used as a tool of traffic calming technique that applied to force drivers to reduce their vehicle’ speeds at some locations. For developed countries, the implementations of speed humps are often used within residential areas as well as at locations of schools crossing. For developing countries (e.g. Iraq), speed humps are used even at urban and urban highways. This paper investigates the effect of applying such speed humps on pavement condition index (PCI). For the purpose of this study, ten urban and rural highway sites that paved by asphalt concrete have been selected from Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq. Each site has been divided to sections before and after the humps. Each section has been surveyed to record the distress types used in calculations the values of PCI. It has been noticed that the rutting distress is the dominant type for sections just before the humps. The PCI values were significantly lower at sections near the humps compared with the faraway sections. In addition, the effect of speed humps on the PCI values can be neglected at urban highways where minimal trucks used these highways. The results of the paper suggested that an attention should be provided to identify reasonable warrants for installing of speed humps on flexible highway pavements.
Analyzing OpenStreetMap Contributions at Scale: Introducing OSM-Interactions Tilesets

OSM-interaction tilesets are vector tiles containing GeoJSON features that represent interactions between mappers (contributors) and objects in OpenStreetMap (OSM). Interactions are abstractions of edits to OSM elements called nodes, ways, and relations. Example interactions are contributors “adjusting the corners of a building” or “re-aligning a road” while the edit to the database is recorded as a “modification to the coordinates of a node.” This abstraction to an OSM-object-level description makes these changes easier to understand without having to explain the OSM data structure. Each interaction is represented as an individual GeoJSON feature with properties containing information about the editor and the changeset in which the interaction between the data and the editor occurred. OSM Interactions are reconstructed from the full history of OpenStreetMap and converted to vector tilesets with open source tools including the OpenStreetMap Historical Database (OSHDB) and tippecanoe. This demo shows how osm-interaction tilesets can be generated for specific objects such as highways or buildings to support OSM researchers, especially when conducting intrinsic data quality assessment.
Preoperative Nutritional Status and Risk for Subsyndromal Delirium in Older Adults Following Joint Replacement Surgery.

Background Subsyndromal delirium following surgery in older adults is related to increased lengths of hospital stay and increased admissions to long-term care. Impaired nutrition increases risk for delirium, but its relationship to subsyndromal delirium remains unclear. Purpose This correlational study examined the relationship between nutritional status and subsyndromal delirium in older adults. Methods Assessments for subsyndromal delirium in 53 adults 65 years or older were completed for three consecutive days following joint replacement surgery. Relationships between nutritional status and subsyndromal delirium were analyzed. Level of significance for all tests was set at p ≤ .05. Results Participants' scores from the Mini Nutritional Assessment screen were significantly related (p = .05) to subsyndromal delirium severity after accounting for variability posed by age and cognition status. Conclusion When preoperative risk assessment of older adults indicates nutritional risk, preoperative optimization may improve effectiveness of delirium prevention efforts.