cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
School climate for transgender youth: a mixed method investigation of student experiences and school responses.

Transgender youth experience negative school environments and may not benefit directly from interventions defined to support Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual (LGB) youth. This study utilized a multi-method approach to consider the issues that transgender students encounter in school environments. Using data from two studies, survey data (total n = 2260, 68 transgender youth) from study 1 and focus groups (n = 35) from study 2, we examine transgender youth’s experience of school harassment, school strategies implemented to reduce harassment, the protective role of supportive school personnel, and individual responses to harassment, including dropping out and changing schools. In both studies, we found that school harassment due to transgender identity was pervasive, and this harassment was negatively associated with feelings of safety. When schools took action to reduce harassment, students reported greater connections to school personnel. Those connections were associated with greater feelings of safety. The indirect effects of school strategies to reduce harassment on feelings of safety through connection to adults were also significant. Focus group data illuminate specific processes schools can engage in to benefit youth, and how the youth experience those interventions.
Chemokine receptors as therapeutic targets in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an increasing global health problem for which there are no effective disease-modifying therapies. COPD involves chronic inflammation of small airways and lung parenchyma, with the recruitment of inflammatory cells. This inflammatory-cell trafficking is orchestrated by multiple chemokines, so the blockade of chemokine receptors with selective antagonists might be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy in this disease. Several studies support the implication of several chemokines and their receptors in COPD, including chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR3, with small-molecule receptor antagonists that are in development being potential anti-inflammatory therapies. Such a pharmacological strategy would provide a mechanism with which to inhibit leukocyte recruitment and, hence, reduce the inflammatory profile in COPD, which is currently unaffected by pharmacotherapy.
Taste alteration and endoparasites

Taste sensation and food selection by animals can change adaptively in response to experience, for example to redress specific nutrient deficiencies1. We show here, in two species of caterpillar, that infection by lethal parasites alters the taste of specific phytochemicals for the larvae. Given that these compounds are toxic to the parasites and are found in plants eaten by the caterpillars, their changed taste may encourage parasitized caterpillars to increase consumption of plants that provide a biochemical defence against the invaders.
When Opportunity Knocks Twice: Two-Year-Olds' Repetition of Sentence Subjects.

Why are young children's utterances short? This elicited imitation study used a new task--double imitation--to investigate the factors that contribute to children's failure to lexicalize sentence subjects. Two-year-olds heard a triad of sentences singly and attempted to imitate each; they then again heard the same triad singly and again attempted to imitate each. Comparisons between the two attempts showed that children's second passes were more accurate than their first. In addition, independent of sentence length, children increased their inclusion of pronominal and expletive but not lexical subjects. Children included verbs more often from sentences with pronominal than lexical subjects, suggesting a trade-off. Children included subjects more often in short sentences than long ones, and increased subject inclusion only in short sentences. The results suggest that children's language production is similar to adults': a complex interaction of syntactic knowledge, limited cognitive resources, communicative goals, and conversational structure.
Computational Wear Prediction of UHMWPE in Knee Replacements

A multibody dynamic contact model predicted the damage sustained by two tibial inserts tested under different conditions on an AMTI knee simulator machine. The model required a wear factor of 7.7 × 10−7 mm3/Nm to match the wear volume measured from the first insert after 0.86 million cycles of simulated gait. The model matched the medial and lateral damage depths measured from the second insert to within 0.3 mm after 5 million cycles of simulated gait and stair (10:1 ratio). Computational models may be valuable for screening new knee implant designs rapidly and performing sensitivity studies of component positioning issues.
New approaches for neutron depth profiling

The scope of NDP can be expanded by measuring (via time-of-flight) the kinetic energies of the recoils emitted from (n,p) or (n,α) reactions. When they occur inside a solid, the energies of the emerging recoils reveal depth from which they originated. The Recoil Nucleus Time-of-Flight NDP (RN-TOF-NDP) technique can reveal the depth distribution of some isotopes (e.g.,10B,210Bi) with a resolution of a few A. Furthermore, it is possible to detect atomic and molecular species ejected at the surface site where the recoil emerges from the solid. This paper discusses the methodology for RN-TOF-NDP and its applications including surface analysis based on atomic and molecular ions codesorbed with the recoils.
Gender-specific growth and hepatic neoplasia in medaka (Oryzias latipes)

Brief exposure of hatchling medaka (Oryzias latipes), to diethylnitrosamine (DEN), resulted in hepatic tumor formation in female medaka at an incidence of 2–3-fold higher than that of their male cohorts. Spontaneous liver tumor incidence was reported in unexposed 3–5 year old medaka. Gender differences were seen; higher incidence was in the females. Aspects of gender-specific growth in hatchling, immature and sexually mature control medaka are reported and studies sought to determine whether growth enhanced tumorigenesis in females. From a pool of 2000 mixed-sex, 3 week old medaka hatchlings, 1350 were exposed to an aqueous bath of 250 ppm DEN for 48 h. Another 650 hatchlings served as controls. For each fish, body- and liver-weights were recorded (BW and LW, respectively) and LW to BW ratio (hepatosomatic index—HSI) was estimated. Next, livers and carcasses were processed for histopathology. BWs of control females were significantly greater than that of males at weeks 8, 20, 32 and 44 (P<0.05). LWs and HSIs were significantly greater in females versus males at all ages (P<0.05). In the DEN-treated medaka, female BWs were significantly more than their male counterparts at weeks 8, 16, 20 and 32 (P<0.05). Female LWs were greater than male values at all weeks except 4 and 6 (P<0.05). Female HSIs were significantly greater than male HSIs at all times (P<0.05). A higher incidence of foci of cellular alteration (40%) distinguished females from males (10%) at week 4 and these values reached 100% incidence (females) and 90% (males) at week 12. Tumor latency periods for adenomas and carcinomas were significantly shorter in females than in males. At week 20, the incidence of tumors was significantly higher in females than in males (P<0.05). Results indicate that gender-specific differences appear in BW, but especially LW and HSI as a function of larval development, ovarian maturation and age in control and DEN-treated medaka. Tumor incidence and time to endpoint (latency period) demonstrate that female growth is a promotional-stimulus, positively modulating DEN hepatocarcinogenesis.
Hydrolytic behavior of isoalloxazines related to riboflavin I. Identification of an intermediate and products in the base‐catalyzed degradation of 9‐methylisoalloxazine

Hydrolytic breakdown of 9-methylisoalloxazine was investigated in pH 9.0 borate buffer and in 0.5 N sodium hydroxide. Spectral and thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the degraded solutions revealed that different products were formed depending on the reaction conditions. Thus, at high pH and in the presence of air, 1,2-dihydro-1-methyl-2-keto-3-quinoxaline carboxylic acid was predominantly formed, while at pH 9.0, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-methyl-2,3-dioxo-quinoxaline was the main product. At pH 9.0 under anaerobic conditions the predominant products were the keto acid and 1,2-dihydro-1-methyl-2-oxo-quinoxaline. Examination of the degrading solutions by thin-layer chromatography revealed the presence of an intermediate in the reaction pathways. This intermediate was successfully isolated and identified to be 5-(6-methylaminophenylimino) barbituric acid anil.
Renormalization group calculation of electron transport through a fully connected Blob

Abstract We describe a real-space decimation renormalization group method to calculate the transmission of spinless electrons through a nanoparticle. The methodology is applied to give an exact solution for the transmission through a fully connected n-atom blob.
Adoptive Immunotherapy with Cytokine Induced Killer Cells For Patients with Relapsed Hematologic Malignancies After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Donor leukocyte infusions induce remissions in some patients with hematologic malignancies who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT); however, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains the major complication of this strategy. Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are a unique population of cytotoxic T lymphocytes that express the CD3+CD56+ phenotype and show marked up-regulation of the natural killer cell receptor NKG2D (CD314). CIK cells are non–major histocompatibility complex–restricted and NKG2D-dependent in target recognition and cytotoxicity. We explored the feasibility of ex vivo expansion of allogeneic CIK cells in patients with relapsed hematologic malignancies after allogeneic HCT. Eighteen patients (median age, 53 years; range, 20-69 years) received CIK cell infusions at escalating doses of 1 × 107 CD3+ cells/kg (n = 4), 5 × 107 CD3+ cells/kg (n = 6), and 1 × 108 CD3+ cells/kg (n = 8). The median expansion of CD3+ cells was 12-fold (range, 4- to 91-fold). CD3+CD56+ cells represented a median of 11% (range, 4%-44%) of the harvested cells, with a median 31-fold (range, 7- to 515-fold) expansion. Median CD3+CD314+ cell expression was 53% (range, 32%-78%) of harvested cells. Significant cytotoxicity was demonstrated in vitro against a panel of human tumor cell lines. Acute GVHD grade I-II was seen in 2 patients, and 1 patient had limited chronic GVHD. After a median follow-up of 20 months (range, 1-69 months) from CIK infusion, the median overall survival was 28 months, and the median event-free survival was 4 months. All deaths were due to relapsed disease; however, 5 patients had longer remissions after infusion of CIK cells than from allogeneic HCT to relapse. Our findings indicate that this form of adoptive immunotherapy is well tolerated and induces a low incidence of GVHD, supporting further investigation as an upfront modality to enhance graft-versus-tumor responses in high-risk patient populations.
Mathematical analysis of the waves propagation through a rectangular material structure in space–time

We consider propagation of waves through a spatio-temporal doubly periodic material structure with rectangular microgeometry in one spatial dimension and time. Both spatial and temporal periods in this dynamic material are assumed to be the same order of magnitude. Mathematically the problem is governed by a standard wave equation (‰ut)t i (kuz)z = 0 with variable coe‐cients. We consider a checkerboard microgeometry where variables cannot be separated. The rectangles in a space-time checkerboard are assumed fllled with materials difiering in the values of phase velocities q k ‰ but having equal wave impedance
Growth following solid organ transplantation in childhood

One of the ultimate goals of successful solid organ transplantation in pediatric recipients is attaining an optimal final adult height. This manuscript will discuss growth following transplantation in pediatric recipients of kidney, liver, heart, lung or small bowel transplants. Remarkably similar factors impact growth in all of these recipients. Age is a primary factor, with younger recipients exhibiting the greatest immediate catch-up growth. Graft function is a significant contributing factor, with a reduced glomerular filtration rate correlating with poor growth in kidney recipients and the need for re-transplantation with impaired growth in liver recipients. The known adverse impact of steroids on growth has led to modification of the steroid dose and even steroid withdrawal and avoidance. In kidney and liver recipients, this strategy has been associated with the development of acute rejection. In infant heart transplantation, avoiding maintenance corticosteroid immunosuppression is associated with normal growth velocity in the majority of patients. With marked improvements in patient and graft survival rates in pediatric organ recipients, quality of life issues, such as normal adult height, should now receive paramount attention. In general, normal growth following solid organ transplantation should be an achievable goal that results in normal adult height.
Minimizing Cardiovascular Adverse Effects of Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients with Schizophrenia

The use of atypical antipsychotic agents has rapidly increased in the United States and worldwide in the last decade. Nonetheless, many health care practitioners do not appreciate the significance of the cardiovascular side effects that may be associated with their use and the means to minimize them. Thus, atypical antipsychotic medications can cause cardiovascular side effects such as arrhythmias and deviations in blood pressure. In rare cases, they may also cause congestive heart failure, myocarditis, and sudden death. Patients with schizophrenia have a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality than healthy individuals, possibly because of excessive smoking, the underlying disorder itself, or a combination of both factors. Increased awareness of these potential complications can allow pharmacists and physicians to better manage and monitor high risk patients. Accurate assessments are very important to avoid medications from being given to patients inappropriately. Additionally, monitoring patients regularly via blood draws and checking blood pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram can help catch any clinical problems and prevent further complications. Finally, patient and family-member education, which pharmacists in particular can play key roles in, is central for the management and prevention of side effects, which is known to reflect positively on morbidity and mortality in these patients.
Scheduling Inspection and Renewal of Large Infrastructure Assets

A decision framework is introduced to assist municipal engineers and planners to optimize decisions regarding the renewal of large infrastructure assets such as water transmission pipes, trunk sewers, or other assets with high costs of failure, inspection, and condition assessment. The proposed decision framework identifies a need for immediate intervention or, alternatively, enables optimization of the scheduling of the next inspection and condition assessment. The deterioration of the asset is modeled as a semi-Markov process and is thereby discretized into condition states. The waiting times in each state are assumed to be random variables with “known” probability distributions. If pertinent data are scarce (as is typical in most municipalities) these probability distributions can be initially derived based on expert opinion. These distributions will then be continually updated as observed deterioration data are collected over time. Monte Carlo simulation is used to calculate the distributions of the c...
Analysis of the lattice Boltzmann treatment of hydrodynamics

Abstract It is shown that the lattice-Boltzmann model can be made to obey the three-dimensional thermal Navier-Stokes equations by fixing 26 moments of the equilibrium distribution function. This can be achieved on a cubic lattice with particle velocities connecting each lattice site to its first, second and third nearest neighbors; however, this minimal model is not linearly stable in the limit of low transport coefficients. Additional particle velocities must be selected to achieve linear stability.
Evidence of countergradient variation in the growth of an intertidal snail in response to water velocity

Growth rates in rocky intertidal snails can vary considerably across wave exposure gra- dients, and have both plastic and genetic bases. However, little is known regarding whether genetic and environmental influences on variation in growth act in the same (cogradient) or in an opposing (countergradient) direction. Determining how genetic and environmental influences on growth covary with one another may improve our understanding of how habitat-specific variation in growth emerges. This study utilized laboratory flumes to examine the effects of high and low water velocities on the growth of intertidal snails Littorina obtusata from a wave-exposed and a sheltered shore. Both flow velocity and source population significantly influenced all measures of growth (shell length, shell thickness, shell mass and tissue mass). Snails from both populations exhibited greater growth in low versus high flow velocity. In addition, snails from the wave-exposed population grew more than snails from the sheltered population regardless of flow treatment. This result yielded a pattern of countergradient variation in growth and suggests that genetic differentiation between the 2 popula- tions was responsible for the more rapid growth of wave-exposed snails. This greater growth poten- tial of wave-exposed snails was particularly evident when they were raised in an environment con- ducive to rapid growth (i.e. low flow velocity). Most examples of countergradient variation in the growth of intertidal gastropods have involved temperature effects on latitudinally separated popula- tions. This study provides evidence that countergradient variation in growth can occur on localized spatial scales in response to environmental cues other than temperature. On rocky intertidal shores, countergradient variation in growth may reflect selection for fast-growing genotypes to offset limita- tions on foraging time imposed by increased hydrodynamic stress on wave-exposed shores.
The influence of the bolus-surface distance on the dose distribution in the build-up region

Aim The aim of the paper is to examine the relation between the increase of the photon dose in water in the region of electronic disequilibrium – so-called build-up region – and the distance of the bolus from the water surface for the applied parameters of X-ray beams.
Ambiguity intolerance and financial reporting alternatives

Abstract Authoritative accounting pronouncements almost always require more, rather than less, financial reporting disclosures and accountants rarely, if ever, act to overturn the required disclosures. Since the personality literature suggests that desire for more information is linked to an individual's intolerance for ambiguity, this study tested selected hypotheses about the relationship between accountants' intolerance for ambiguity and their desire for financial reporting alternatives. The findings of the study did not disclose a significant relationship between accountants' intolerance for ambiguity and their desire for financial reporting alternatives. However, the results did disclose a relationship between education level and two dependent variables: desire for disclosure and consistency of desired disclosures with generally accepted accounting principles. Therefore, additional research should pay more attention to the effects of demographic information, which may in fact be more informative than many previously tested variables such as personality characteristics.
The effect of adsorbed lipid on pyrite oxidation under biotic conditions

The chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, commonly occurs in acid mine drainage (AMD) environments where it is responsible for catalyzing the oxidation of pyrite and concomitant development of acidic conditions. This investigation reports on the growth of this bacterial species on the pyrite surface and in the aqueous phase at a pH close to 2 as well as the role of adsorbed lipid in preventing pyrite dissolution. Both acid washed pyrite and acid-washed pyrite coated with lipids were used as substrates in the studies. The choice of lipid, 1,2-bis(10,12-tricosadiynoyl)-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine lipid (23:2 Diyne PC), a phosphocholine lipid, was based on earlier work that showed that this lipid inhibits the abiotic oxidation rate of pyrite. Atomic force microscopy showed that under the experimental conditions used in this study, the lipid formed ~4–20 nm layers on the mineral surface. Surface-bound lipid greatly suppresses the oxidation process catalyzed by A. ferrooxidans. This suppression continued for the duration of the experiments (25 days maximum). Analysis of the bacterial population on the pyrite surface and in solution over the course of the experiments suggested that the pyrite oxidation was dependent in large part on the fraction of bacteria bound to the pyrite surface.
Stereomicroscopic Imaging Technique for the Quantification of Cold Flow in Drug-in-Adhesive Type of Transdermal Drug Delivery Systems

Cold flow is a phenomenon occurring in drug-in-adhesive type of transdermal drug delivery systems (DIA-TDDS) because of the migration of DIA coat beyond the edge. Excessive cold flow can affect their therapeutic effectiveness, make removal of DIA-TDDS difficult from the pouch, and potentially decrease available dose if any drug remains adhered to pouch. There are no compendial or noncompendial methods available for quantification of this critical quality attribute. The objective was to develop a method for quantification of cold flow using stereomicroscopic imaging technique. Cold flow was induced by applying 1 kg force on punched-out samples of marketed estradiol DIA-TDDS (model product) stored at 25°C, 32°C, and 40°C/60% relative humidity (RH) for 1, 2, or 3 days. At the end of testing period, dimensional change in the area of DIA-TDDS samples was measured using image analysis software, and expressed as percent of cold flow. The percent of cold flow significantly decreased (p < 0.001) with increase in size of punched-out DIA-TDDS samples and increased (p < 0.001) with increase in cold flow induction temperature and time. This first ever report suggests that dimensional change in the area of punched-out samples stored at 32°C/60%RH for 2 days applied with 1 kg force could be used for quantification of cold flow in DIA-TDDS.
Corticotropin-releasing hormone and epidermal growth factor: mitogens for anterior pituitary corticotropes.

Anterior pituitary corticotropes increase in number after stimulation by adrenalectomy or corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). However, is this brought about by mitoses? Furthermore, as epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent secretagogue for corticotropes, is it also a mitogen? To address these questions, populations of corticotropes enriched to 88-97% by count&flow cent&gation were studied after growth in O-10 nM CRH with and without 0.1-10 &ml EGF. Three t.vPes of assays were used to detect changes in mitotic cells or cell number. An en&ne immunoassay for bromideoxyuridine uptake during DNA synthesis [bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) uptake] detected a 3-fold increase in optical density readings in the presence of 0.5 no CRH or EGF. Together the peptides increased the optical density to 4.8-fold basal levels. No further increases in BrDU uptake were seen with higher concentrations of CRH or EGF. Cytochemical detection of BrDU uptake by immunolabeled corticotropes showed BrDU in 18 + 2% of 3- to 5-day ACTH cells. In the presence of 0.5 no CRH or 0.5 rig/ml EGF, this value increased to 37 ? 3% or 34 -C 2% ofACTH cells, respectively. Together CRH and EGF stimulated increases in mitotic activitv so that 47 2 4% of the ACTH cells were labeled for BrDU after a l-h eiposure. Cell growth/cell death assays in 3-(4,5dimethyltiazol2-yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide were also used to detect changes in oveiall cell number or cell survival in the same groups of enriched corticotrone cultures. Both 0.5 no CRH and 0.5 r&ml EGF caused increases to 1.5- to 1.7-fold basal readings. However, higher concentrations did not stimulate increases in number, and their combined effects were not additive. These studies show that CRH and EGF can be mitogens for ACTH-bearing corticotropes, in a limited dose range. In a higher dose range, their differentiating effects may eliminate dividing cells and retard further growth of the population. (Endocrinology 136: 1595-1602, 1995)
Potential pathogenic bacteria in metalworking fluids and aerosols from a machining facility.

The metalworking and machining industry utilizes recirculating metalworking fluids for integral aspects of the fabrication process. Despite the use of biocides, these fluids sustain substantial biological growth. Subsequently, the high-shear forces incurred during metalworking processing aerosolize bacterial cells and may cause dermatologic and respiratory effects in exposed workers. We quantified and identified the bacterial load for metalworking fluid and aerosol samples of a machining facility in the US Midwest during two seasons. To investigate the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in fluid and air, we performed 16S rRNA gene surveys. The concentration of total bacterial cells (including culturable and nonculturable cells) was relatively constant throughout the study, averaging 5.1 × 108 cells mL−1 in the fluids and 4.8 × 105 cells m−3 in the aerosols. We observed bacteria of potential epidemiologic significance from several different bacterial phyla in both fluids and aerosols. Most notably, Alcaligenes faecalis was identified through both direct sequencing and culturing in every sample collected. Elucidating the bacterial community with gene surveys showed that metalworking fluids were the source of the aerosolized bacteria in this facility.
Bioethics needs religion.

Timothy Murphy (2012) argues that bioethics should embrace a method of “irreligious skepticism” and confine itself to “descriptive understandings” of religion. Irreligious bioethics would view reli...
Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Cigarette Smoking and Incidence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma

using the I 2 index. Publication bias was evaluated by trim-and-fill analysis. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results Our analysis showed an OR of developing HL of 1.35 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.56; P .001) in current smokers. Former smokers did not have an increased risk of HL. In subset analyses of current smokers, men and older individuals had ORs of HL of 1.78 (95% CI, 1.46 to 2.17;P .001) and 1.77 (95% CI, 1.23 to 2.54;P .002), respectively. In addition, the OR of HL was increased in individuals who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day, have smoked more than 20 years, or have smoked more than 15 pack-years at 1.51 (95% CI, 1.16 to 1.98; P .002), 1.84 (95% CI, 1.47 to 2.32; P .001), and 1.97 (1.53 to 2.54; P .001), respectively. Meta-regression analyses showed a relative OR of HL of 1.007 (95% CI, 1.001 to 1.013; P .025) per cigarette per day and of 1.013 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.019; P .001) per year of smoking. Conclusion Smoking seems to increase the odds of developing HL in current smokers. The risk of HL is higher in men and older individuals and increases with higher intensity and longer duration of smoking. J Clin Oncol 29:3900-3906. © 2011 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Recent Progress in Terahertz Quantum Cascade Lasers

Terahertz quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) emit radiation due to intersubband optical transitions in semiconductor superlattices that could be engineered by design. Among a variety of possible design schemes, we have pursued designs that utilize strong electron-phonon interaction in the semiconductor as a means to establish population inversion for optical gain. This report describes the recent progress in phonon-depopulated terahertz QCLs. Operation above 160 K has been realized in GaAs/AlGaAsbased QCLs with metal-metal waveguides for frequencies ranging from 1.8-4.4 THz (λ ~ 170-70 μm). A record highest operating temperature of 186 K has been demonstrated for a 3.9-THz QCL based on a diagonal design scheme. Also, operation down to a frequency of 1.45 THz (λ ~ 205 μm) has been achieved. Whereas metal-metal waveguides provide strong mode confinement and low loss at terahertz frequencies, obtaining single-mode operation in a narrow beam-pattern-posed unconventional challenges due to the subwavelength dimensions of the emitting aperture. New techniques in waveguide engineering have been developed to overcome those challenges. Finally, a unique method to tune the resonant-cavity mode of metal-metal terahertz "wire lasers" has been demonstrated to realize continuous tuning over a range of 137 GHz for a 3.8-THz QCL.
Radiation With or Without 6 Months of Androgen Suppression Therapy in Intermediate- and High-Risk Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer: A Postrandomization Analysis by Risk Group

Purpose Six months of androgen suppression therapy (AST) plus radiation (RT) prolongs survival vs. RT alone in men with unfavorable risk localized prostate cancer (PCa), but it is unknown if this benefit applies to all risk subgroups and, in particular, the intermediate-risk group. Methods and Materials Among 206 men with stages T1b to T2b PCa and either a prostate-specific antigen level of >10 or a Gleason score of ≥7 or MRI evidence of T3 disease randomized to receive 70 Gy of RT with or without 6 months of AST, Cox multivariable analysis was used to assess the impact of AST on overall survival in intermediate- and high-risk localized PCa, adjusting for age, Adult Comorbidity Evaluation 27 comorbidity score, interaction between comorbidity and treatment, and known prognostic factors. Survival estimates were compared using a two-sided log-rank test. Results After an 8.2-year median follow-up, 74 men died. Compared to treatment with AST plus RT, treatment with RT alone was associated with an increased risk of death in intermediate-risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.0 [95% confidence interval, 1.3–7.2]; p = 0.01) and high-risk PCa (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.3 [95% confidence interval, 0.94–11.3]; p = 0.06). The survival benefit of adding AST was restricted to men with no or mild comorbidity in both the intermediate-risk (90.9% vs. 85.8% survival, respectively, at 7 years for AST plus RT vs. RT alone; p = 0.009) and high-risk (88.9% vs. 51.2% survival, respectively, at 7 years for AST plus RT vs. RT alone; p = 0.007) subgroups. Conclusions In men with localized PCa who have no or mild comorbidity, adding 6 months of AST to RT was associated with improved survival for those with both intermediate-risk and high-risk disease, but in men with moderate to severe comorbidity, no benefit was observed in either risk group.
Tax Externalities of Equity Mutual Funds

Investors holding mutual funds in taxable accounts face a classic externality. The after-tax return of their investment depends on the behavior of others. In particular, redemptions may force the mutual fund to sell some of its equity positions in order to pay off the liquidating investors. As a result, it may be forced to distribute taxable capital gains to its shareholders. On the other hand, new investors convey a positive externality upon existing investors by diluting the unrealized capital gain position of the fund. This paper's simulations show that these externalities are important determinants of the after-tax performance of equity mutual funds.
GPAT3 and GPAT4 Are Regulated by Insulin-stimulated Phosphorylation and Play Distinct Roles in Adipogenesis

Acyl-CoA:glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) catalyzes the first step during de novo synthesis of glycerolipids. Mammals have at least four GPAT isoforms. Here we report the further characterization of the two recently identified microsomal GPAT3 and GPAT4. Both enzymes are highly expressed in adipose tissues. However, while GPAT3 is highly (∼60-fold) induced during adipocyte differentiation, GPAT4 induction is only modest (∼5-fold), leading to a lower abundance of GPAT4 mRNA in adipocytes. While overexpression of GPAT3 and GPAT4 in either insect or mammalian cells results in a comparable increase of GPAT activity, shRNA-mediated knockdown of GPAT3, but not GPAT4, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes led to a significant decrease in GPAT activity, a profound inhibition of lipid accumulation, and a lack of expression of several adipogenic markers during adipocyte differentiation. These data suggest that GPAT3 may encode the major GPAT isoform in adipocytes and play an important role in adipogenesis. Furthermore, we have shown that both GPAT3 and GPAT4 are phosphorylated by insulin at Ser and Thr residues, leading to increased GPAT activity that is sensitive to wortmannin. Our results reveal a link between the lipogenic effects of insulin and microsomal GPAT3 and GPAT4, implying their importance in glycerolipid biosynthesis.
An Evidence-Based Public Health Approach to Injury Priorities and Prevention. Recommendations for the U.S. Military

Injuries are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality confronting U.S. military forces in peacetime or combat operations. Not only are injuries the biggest health problem of the military services, they are also a complex problem. The leading causes of deaths are different from those that result in hospitalization, which are different from those that result in outpatient care. As a consequence, it is not possible to focus on just one level of injury severity if the impact of injuries on military personnel is to be reduced. To effectively reduce the impact of a problem as big and complex as injuries requires a systematic approach. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) review the steps of the public health process for injury prevention; (2) review literature on evaluation of the scientific quality and consistency of information needed to make decisions about prevention policies, programs, and interventions; and (3) summarize criteria for setting objective injury prevention priorities. The review of these topics will serve as a foundation for making recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of injury prevention efforts in the military and similarly large communities. This paper also serves as an introduction to the other articles in this supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine that illustrate the recommended systematic approach.
DC Power Flow Based Contingency Analysis Using Graphics Processing Units

Graphic processing units (GPUs) are single instruction, multiple data processors which have become an integral part of modern high-end video cards installed on a general purpose PCs. This paper investigates the parallel implementation of DC power flow based contingency analysis on graphic processing units. Results for the IEEE standard test systems show a speed-up of the order of 4 that grows with the system size.
Health Outcomes Associated With Transition From Pediatric to Adult Cystic Fibrosis Care

BACKGROUND: Almost half of individuals who have cystic fibrosis (CF) are over 18 years old, thus safely transferring patients from pediatric to adult care is a priority. The purpose of this study is to compare youth transferred from pediatric to adult CF care versus those remaining in pediatric CF care and quantify the relationship between transfer status and health outcomes. METHODS: Patients who transferred from pediatric to adult CF care were identified from the CF Foundation Patient Registry from 1997 to 2007. Transferred patients were compared with individuals who have similar baseline characteristics who remained in pediatric care throughout the same time period. The main outcome measures include pulmonary function, nutritional status, care use, and home intravenous antibiotic events per year. A propensity-matched analysis was performed. RESULTS: Fifty-eight percent of patients remained in pediatric programs throughout the study period. The mean age at transfer to adult care was 21.2 (1.3) years. In the 2 years after transfer there was a less rapid decline in percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 0.78 percentage points per year among transfer-positive patients compared with transfer-negative ones (95% confidence interval; 0.06–1.51); there were no other significant health related changes. CONCLUSIONS: The current study contradicts reports of other chronic childhood conditions, in which transfer between the pediatric and adult health system was associated with adverse health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore the long-term relationship between transition practices and health status outcomes to establish a systematic, evidence-based transition process.
Reversal of Histone Methylation: Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms of Histone Demethylases

The importance of histone methylation in gene regulation was suggested over 40 years ago. Yet, the dynamic nature of this histone modification was recognized only recently, with the discovery of the first histone demethylase nearly five years ago. Since then, our insight into the mechanisms, structures, and macromolecular complexes of these enzymes has grown exponentially. Overall, the evidence strongly supports a key role for histone demethylases in eukaryotic transcription and other chromatin-dependent processes. Here, we examine these and related facets of histone demethylases discovered to date, focusing on their biochemistry, structure, and enzymology.
On privatization of variables for data-parallel execution

Privatization of data is an important technique that has been used by compilers to parallelize loops by eliminating storage-related dependences. When a compiler partitions computations based on the ownership of data, selecting a proper mapping of privatizable data is crucial to obtaining the benefits of privatization. This paper presents a novel framework for privatizing scalar and array variables in the context of a data-driven approach to parallelization. We show that there are numerous alternatives available for mapping privatized variables and the choice of mapping can significantly affect the performance of the program. We present an algorithm that attempts to preserve parallelism and minimize communication overheads. We also introduce the concept of partial privatization of arrays that combines data partitioning and privatization, and enables efficient handling of a class of codes with multi-dimensional data distribution that was not previously possible. Finally, we show how the ideas of privatization apply to the execution of control flow statements as well. An implementation of these ideas in the pHPF prototype compiler for High Performance Fortran on the IBM SP2 machine has shown impressive results.
Incidental stromal-predominant mixed epithelial-stromal tumors of the kidney: a mimic of intraparenchymal renal leiomyoma.

Abstract Context.—Mixed epithelial-stromal tumor of the kidney is a recently recognized benign renal tumor that usually occurs in adult women and typically forms a sizable lesion with solid and cystic areas. The recognized morphologic spectrum of this recently described entity is evolving. Objective.—To review the clinicopathologic features of 3 small mixed epithelial-stromal tumors of the kidney that were incidental findings in kidneys removed for other reasons. Design.—The clinical presentation and morphologic findings of the 3 cases were reviewed. A panel of immunohistochemical stains was performed. Setting.—Academic medical center. Results.—All 3 lesions contained predominantly fascicles of smooth muscle mimicking leiomyoma, but they also had cellular subpopulations of smaller, mullerian-appearing stromal cells. Tubules present within the lesion were most abundant at the periphery, suggesting that they might be entrapped. Although only the spindled smooth muscle cells were immunoreactive for muscle ma...
Isolation of Two Agostic Isomers of an Organometallic Cation: Different Structures and Colors

Two isomers of [CpMo(CO)2(PiPr3)]+ were isolated, and both were characterized by x-ray crystallography and spectroscopic data. The two differ in the location of the agostic interaction with the metal, from either the CH (methine) or CH3 (methyl) group of the ligand. We thank the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences for support of this work. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a multiprogram national laboratory operated for DOE by Battelle. The computational studies were performed using EMSL, a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at PNNL.
Why the subprime crisis is different: a Minskyian approach

Minsky's financial-instability model suggests that financial crises can be resolved efficiently with lender-of-last-resort and big-government interventions. The crisis that began in 2007 (hereafter, the "2007 crisis") has been different: it has been more profound and resistant to policy interventions. This paper examines why. Our approach is to expand Minsky's balance-sheet approach in several ways. First, we incorporate two factors Minsky missed because he built his model in the 1970s: the impact of racial exclusion and U.S. cross-border imbalances on U.S. financial dynamics. In addition, we draw out the analytical implications of the systematic differences between banks' and non-banks' balance-sheets. Minsky didn't do this; but because of the transformation of banking after 1980, these differences have become deeply significant. One key effect of so doing is to see that asset-liability balances as well as cash-flows are crucial in financial dynamics. This paper concludes that the 2007 crisis has been so profound and unresponsive to policy intervention for several reasons: banks no longer bear as well as originate credit risk; banks made exploitative loans to minority borrowers and then generalized these loans as housing prices rose; and subprime homeowners and structured investment vehicles became more leveraged than banks. Copyright The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Cambridge Political Economy Society. All rights reserved., Oxford University Press.
Canine Astrocytic Tumors A Comparative Review

Tumors of astrocytic lineage are among the most common primary brain neoplasms in people and dogs. Current understanding of the pathogenesis of astrocytic tumors is limited in dogs compared with humans. In dogs, critical biological data concerning the natural history of disease progression, tumor imaging features, and response to therapeutic intervention are lacking. This review outlines the clinical, genetic, immunologic, and histopathologic characteristics of astrocytic tumors in dogs with special focus on comparative neuro-oncology. Common problems associated with the diagnosis of these neoplasms are summarized. Traditional veterinary histologic typing and grading of astrocytic tumors must be updated and supplemented with molecular data so that future studies directed toward therapeutic intervention and outcome can be optimized.
Structure of Incoherent ZrO2/Al2O3 Interfaces

High-resolution electron microscopy was used to image incoherent ZrO2/Al2O3 interfaces in ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 containing intragranular ZrO2. These particles are generally spherical but are sometimes faceted. High-resolution electron micrographs provide atomic-level information on the interfacial structure. For spherical particles, both ledgelike images and misfit dislocation-like images accommodated the lattice misfit, depending on the orientation of the interface, while faceted particles imply at least one low-energy ZrO2/Al2O3 interface.
A Tutorial on Latin Hypercube Design of Experiments

The growing power of computers enabled techniques created for design and analysis of simulations to be applied to a large spectrum of problems and to reach high level of acceptance among practitioners. Generally, when simulations are time consuming, a surrogate model replaces the computer code in further studies (e.g., optimization, sensitivity analysis, etc.). The first step for a successful surrogate modeling and statistical analysis is the planning of the input configuration that is used to exercise the simulation code. Among the strategies devised for computer experiments, Latin hypercube designs have become particularly popular. This paper provides a tutorial on Latin hypercube design of experiments, highlighting potential reasons of its widespread use. The discussion starts with the early developments in optimization of the point selection and goes all the way to the pitfalls of the indiscriminate use of Latin hypercube designs. Final thoughts are given on opportunities for future research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oocyte maturation is inhibited by adenosine in the presence of follicle-stimulating hormone.

Considerable evidence implicates cyclic 3’, 5’ adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in the maintenance of meio tic arrest of mammalian oocytes. Since this laboratory previously found that adenosine augmented folliclestimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated accumulation of cyclic AMP in oocyte-cumulus-complexes (0CC), in the present studies we investigated the possibility that adenosine inhibits maturation of oocytes. In rat 0CC cultured in the presence of FSH, adenosine markedly inhibited oocyte maturation in a dose-dependent and biphasic manner. Maximum inhibition of oocyte maturation was seen with 1-30 pM adenosine in the presence of FSH, and half-maximal inhibition occurred with less than 0.3 pM adenosine. High levels of adenosine (100 pM) did not inhibit oocyte maturation in the presence of FSH. In the absence of FSH, adenosine showed little effect on oocyte maturation in the present studies, but increased the maximum inhibition of oocyte maturation produced by FSH approximately twofold. Like adenosine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and adenosine 5’-monophosphate (AMP) also inhibited oocyte maturation; whereas adenine, guanosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine were inactive at equivalent levels. The metabolism-resistant adenosine analog (2-chioroadenosine) was as active an inhibitor as adenosine. Inhibition produced by the adenine nucleotides may have been direct or due to conversion to adenosine by extracellular nucleotidases. The concentration dependence and purine specificity for inhibition of oocyte maturation are characteristic of an adenosine receptor-mediated process, but direct evidence for such a mechanism was not shown. The effective concentration of adenosine for inhibition of oocyte maturation is within the range of reported levels of adenosine in biological tissues and fluids. Since this laboratory previously showed that adenosine may be released from granulosa cells in response to FSH, it is possible that adenosine plays afunctional, paracrine role in maintenance of meiotic arrest.
Differential Regulation of Specific Sphingolipids in Colon Cancer Cells during Staurosporine-Induced Apoptosis

Apoptosis is accompanied by distinct morphological changes at the plasma and organelle membrane level. Involvement of certain lipids in apoptosis has been established; however, we have limited understanding of the specific lipid structures that participate in this process. We used untargeted comparative lipidomics to study the changes in lipid composition during staurosporine-induced apoptosis in HCT-116. Our results revealed that ceramides, dihydroceramides, and sphingomyelins, with defined acyl chains, constitute the majority of changes in the lipidome. Expression levels and activities of enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of lipids that change suggest that de novo synthesis causes these specific changes. Further analysis of the lipidome during apoptosis in other cancer and non-cancer cell lines suggested that accumulation of ceramides and dihydroceramides is specific to cancer cells. Taken together, our data propose that these molecules are regulated at the lipid-specific level during apoptosis and that this regulation differs between cancer and non-cancer cells.