cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting CD38-dependent NAD+ metabolism to mitigate multiple organ fibrosis

The processes underlying synchronous multiple organ fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) remain poorly understood. Age-related pathologies are associated with organismal decline in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) that is due to dysregulation of NAD+ homeostasis and involves the NADase CD38. We now show that CD38 is upregulated in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc, and CD38 levels in the skin associate with molecular fibrosis signatures, as well as clinical fibrosis scores, while expression of key NAD+-synthesizing enzymes is unaltered. Boosting NAD+ via genetic or pharmacological CD38 targeting or NAD+ precursor supplementation protected mice from skin, lung, and peritoneal fibrosis. In mechanistic experiments, CD38 was found to reduce NAD+ levels and sirtuin activity to augment cellular fibrotic responses, while inhibiting CD38 had the opposite effect. Thus, we identify CD38 upregulation and resulting disrupted NAD+ homeostasis as a fundamental mechanism driving fibrosis in SSc, suggesting that CD38 might represent a novel therapeutic target.
COVID-19 remote learning experiences of youth with neurodevelopmental disorders in rural Appalachia

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a major educational shift took place-the transition from face-to-face instruction to remote learning. Although this transition impacted all learners, it is speculated that groups of vulnerable youth (i.e., those with neurodevelopmental disorders, in rural areas, from low-income families) would demonstrate significant difficulties with remote instruction. However, no work to date has investigated remote learning in these groups in rural settings. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to characterize remote learning experiences in youth with neurodevelopmental disorders from rural Appalachia. Forty-nine youth (aged 6-17 years) and caregivers who had previously completed a comprehensive psychoeducational assessment were contacted to participate in an online study during COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Youth and caregivers reported on psychopathology, emotion regulation and coping strategies, remote learning experiences, and demographics. A majority (87%) of students in rural Appalachia were not receiving the recommended amount of direct remote instruction. Indeed, a majority of school services received pre-COVID were not continued during remote learning. Greater child emotion dysregulation and parent psychopathology were predictive of remote learning difficulties and less engagement. Youth's adaptive coping abilities were predictive of greater total schoolwork per day. Parent employment was associated with greater difficulty with remote learning, but Individualized Education Program (IEP)/504 status and family income were not related to remote learning experiences. Results identified intervention leverage points, including improving adaptive coping and emotion regulation abilities, and reducing parent psychopathology and stress, to improve remote learning outcomes for youth in rural settings with neurodevelopmental disorders. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Public Health Significance Statement-The transition from face-to-face instruction to remote learning during the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders significantly impacted all students and likely impacted vulnerable youth at a disproportionate rate. Students with neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorders) in rural Appalachia were receiving less than the recommended amount of direct instruction and few of their pre-COVID school services (e.g., therapy, tutoring, and test accommodations). Improving emotion regulation and adaptive coping strategies in youth and decreasing parental psychopathology symptoms (i.e., anxiety and depression) and stress could improve student remote learning outcomes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
A comprehensive assessment of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET in biochemically recurrent prostate cancer: Results from a prospective multi-center study in 2005 patients.

We prospectively investigated the performance of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand 68Ga-PSMA-11 for detecting prostate adenocarcinoma in patients with elevated prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) after initial therapy. Methods:68Ga-PSMA-11 hybrid positron emission tomography (PET) was performed in 2005 patients at the time of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer (BCR) following either radical prostatectomy (RP) (50.8 %), definitive radiation therapy (RT) (19.7 %), or RP with post-operative RT (PORT) (29.6 %). Presence of prostate cancer was assessed qualitatively (detection rate = positivity rate) and quantitatively on a per-patient and per-region basis creating a disease burden estimate from presence or absence of local (prostate/prostate bed), nodal (N1: pelvis) and distant metastatic (M1: distant soft tissue and bone) disease. The primary study endpoint was the positive predictive value (PPV) of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT confirmed by histopathology. Results: Following prostatectomy, the scan detection rate increased significantly with rising PSA levels (44.8 % at PSA 10 ng/mL; P < 0.001). The detection rate significantly increased with rising PSA levels in each individual region, overall disease burden, prior androgen deprivation, clinical T-stage, and Gleason grading from prostatectomy specimen (P < 0.001). Following RT, the detection rate for in-gland prostate recurrence was 64.0 % compared to 20.6 % prostate bed recurrences after RP and 13.3 % following PORT. PSMA-positive pelvic nodal disease was detected in 42.7 % following RP, in 40.8 % after PORT and 38.8 % after RT. In patients with histopathologic validation the PPV per-patient was 0.82 (146/179). The SUVmax of histologically proven true positive lesions was significantly higher than false positive lesions (median 11.0 (IQR 6.3 – 22.2) vs 5.1 (IQR 2.2 – 7.4) P < 0.001). Conclusion: We confirmed a high PPV of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET in BCR and the PSA level as the main predictor of scan positivity.
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Background Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a novel, yet well-described, reversible cardiomyopathy triggered by profound psychological or physical stress with a female predominance.
A View of the History of Heat Transfer in Bioengineering

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the varied past of science, engineering, and art of heat transfer as related to biological systems and medicine. It is observed that tracing the history is extremely important as it gives a sense of continuity and purpose, and keeps away from repeating the mistakes of the past. History of a broad interdisciplinary area like bioengineering can be viewed from different angles, each of which can give different perspectives. The chapter considers bioengineering as the application of the basic laws of physics and chemistry to biologically oriented technical problems with special reference to heat transfer and, to a very minimal degree, to the related diffusion phenomenon, and mass transfer. The contributions of bioengineering can be broadly classified into instrumentation and measurements, materials, analysis, and modeling. Several important developments in the last decade have contributed to the science, art, and applications of bioheat transfer. As a result, several technical areas related to the generation, measurement, and modeling of heat inside living tissues came under intense studies.
Drama, Theatre, and Identity in the American New Republic

Introduction 1. American identities and the transatlantic stage Part I. Staging Revolution at the Margins of Celebration: 2. Revolution and unnatural identity in Crevecoeur's 'Landscapes' 3. British author, American text: The Poor Soldier in the New Republic 4. American author, British source: writing revolution in Murray's Traveller Returned 5. Patriotic interrogations: committees of safety in early American drama 6. Dunlap's Queer Andre: versions of revolution and manhood Part II. Coloring Identities: Race, Religion, and the Exotic: 7. Susannah Rowson and the dramatized Muslim 8. James Nelson Barker and the stage American native 9. American stage Irish in the Early Republic 10. Black theater, white theater, and the stage African Part III. Theatre, Culture, and Reflected Identity: 11. Tales of the Philadelphia theatre: Ormond, National performance, and supranational identity 12. A British or an American Tar? Play, player, and spectator in Norfolk, 1797-1800 13. After The Contrast: Tyler, civic virtue, and the Boston stage.
Incentivizing Renewable Energy Deployment: Renewable Portfolio Standards and Feed-In Tariffs

Two legal instruments for promoting renewable energy production - renewable portfolio standards (“RPSs”) and feed-in tariffs (“FITs”) - are in use across the globe. Many studies pit these policies against each other, treating them as either-or options. Some analyses suggest that FITs have been more effective at increasing use of renewables-powered electricity. At the same time, nations using FITs have continued to modify their laws, and there is some empirical evidence that RPSs are effective at incentivizing renewables deployment. This article explains how FITs and RPSs work, surveys the empirical literature surrounding their implementation, and conceptualizes their mechanics. It suggests that the policy design of both FITs and RPSs are critical to their efficacy. Specifically, each type of law has several critical design parameters. For FITs, these are (1) the tariff price level, (2) price structure, and (3) payment duration. For RPSs, these are (1) the renewables target, (2) compliance speed, (3) jurisdictional reach, and (4) resource eligibility. The article concludes that, if designed properly, RPSs and FITs might be most effective if used in tandem as complementary instruments, rather than seen as mutually exclusive alternatives.
COUNTERSPACES AND THE NARRATIVE IDENTITY WORK OF OFFENDER‐LABELED AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUTH

Through narrative identity work, offender-labeled African American youth craft positive self-concepts in the face of denigrating societal messages about their personhood. While past research suggests narrative identity work is largely intrapersonal, recent theory posits that it may also arise through individuals’ participation in counterspaces. This 9-month ethnography explored how a group of offender-labeled African American youth engaged in narrative identity work through participation in an intervention program that functioned as a counterspace. Findings from observations and interviews suggest youth engaged in narrative identity work by interfacing with the program's unique belief system, and roles, resources, and relationships within the program. These findings highlight specific interpersonal/setting mechanisms that facilitate the narrative identity work of offender-labeled African American youth, while suggesting important implications for intervening with this population.
Multiscale design optimization of lithium ion batteries using adjoint sensitivity analysis

SUMMARY The capacity of lithium ion batteries can be improved through the use of functionally graded electrodes. Here, we present a computational framework for optimizing the layout of electrodes using a multiscale lithium ion battery cell model. The model accounts for nonlinear transient transport processes and mechanical deformations at multiple scales. A key component of the optimization methodology is the formulation of the adjoint sensitivity equations of the multiscale battery model. The efficient solution of the adjoint equations relies on the decomposition of the multiscale problem into multiple, computationally small problems associated with the individual realizations of the microscale model. This decomposition method is shown to significantly reduce the computational time needed for sensitivity analysis versus numerical finite differencing. The potential of the proposed optimization framework is illustrated with numerical problems involving both macroscale and microscale performance criteria and design variables. The usable capacity of a lithium ion battery cell is maximized while limiting the stress level in the electrode particles through manipulation of the local porosities and particle radii. The optimization results suggest that optimal functionally graded electrodes improve the performance of a battery cell over using uniform porosity and particle radius distributions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Therapies for Cognitive Deficits Associated With Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Objective Outcomes.

Abstract Objective To systematically review evidence of treatments for cognitive impairments experienced by at least 20% of all women who undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer. Data Sources Searches of 5 databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO, CINAHL), with no date or language restrictions, identified 1701 unique results. Search terms included breast cancer, chemotherapy, chemobrain, chemofog, and terms on cognition and language deficits. Study Selection Included only peer-reviewed journal articles that described therapies for cognitive dysfunction in women undergoing (or who had undergone) chemotherapy for breast cancer and provided objective measurements of cognition or language. Data Extraction Data were extracted according to Cochrane recommendations, including characteristics of participants, interventions, outcomes, and studies. Quality assessment of all 12 eligible studies was performed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale and treatment fidelity criteria. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment reliability were performed. Data Synthesis Six articles described interventions for cognition that took place during cancer treatment; 6, afterward. Five interventions were medical (including a strength-training program), 2 were restorative, and 5 were cognitive. Medicinal treatments were ineffective; restorative and exercise treatments had mixed results; cognitive therapy had success in varying cognitive domains. The domains most tested and most successfully treated were verbal memory, attention, and processing speed. Conclusions Cognitive therapy protocols delivered after chemotherapy and aimed at improving verbal memory, attention, and processing speed hold the most promise. Future research is needed to clarify whether computerized cognitive training can be effective in treating this population, and to identify objective assessment tools that are sensitive to this disorder.
WholePathwayScope: a comprehensive pathway-based analysis tool for high-throughput data

Background Analysis of High Throughput (HTP) Data such as microarray and proteomics data has provided a powerful methodology to study patterns of gene regulation at genome scale. A major unresolved problem in the post-genomic era is to assemble the large amounts of data generated into a meaningful biological context. We have developed a comprehensive software tool, WholePathwayScope (WPS), for deriving biological insights from analysis of HTP data.
Genomic organization and evolution of alternative exons in a Drosophila calcium channel gene.

The genomic organization of a gene coding for an α1 subunit of a voltage-gated calcium channel of Drosophila melanogaster (Dmca1A) was determined. Thirty-four exons, distributed over 45 kb of genomic sequence, have been identified and mapped, including exons in three regions involved in alternative splicing and new sites potentially involved in RNA editing. The comparison of the intron/exon boundaries of this channel with a mammalian counterpart shows that the genomic structure of these two genes has remained fairly similar during evolution, with more than half of the Drosophila intron positions being perfectly conserved compared to the human channel. Phylogenetic analysis of the mutually exclusive alternative exons revealed that they have diverged considerably. It is suggested that this divergence, rather than reflecting evolutionary age, is the likely result of accelerated rates of evolution following duplication.
Catecholamine transport and energy-linked function of chromaffin granules isolated from a human pheochromocytoma

Abstract The structure and function of chromaffin granulles of human phoechromocytoma was extensively investigated in a highly purified granule fraction obtained from a single specimen of human pheochromocytoma tissue. Pheochromocytoma chromaffin granules were analyzed for catecholamine, ATP, enkephalin, phospholipid, cytochrome and ion content. Using a variety of techniques it was found that the membrane of these granules is highly impermeable to Na + , K + , and H + , and that the intragranular pH was maintained at 5.1 irrespective of suspending media. The presence of MgATP induces a transmembrane potential (ΔΨ) across the membrane of these granules which is positive inside and which corresponds to 90 mV. Both ΔpH and ΔΨ are coupled to biogenic amine accumulation into the granules in a process which is reserpine sensitive. These properties are compared with those of chromaffin granules isolated from normal human tissue or from other animal species and are discussed in terms of possible explanation at a biochemical or subcellular level of the clinical manifestation of the pheochromocytoma.
Effect of Brucella abortus transfer factor in preventing murine brucellosis

Mice vaccinated with a protein extract of attenuated Brucella abortus strain 19 had increased resistance to infection with virulent B. abortus strain 2308 and had increased antibody responses to strain 2308. However, resistance to infection and antibody responses were not increased when nonvaccinated recipient mice were given transfer factor preparations that were obtained from either vaccinated donor mice or strain 2308-infected donor mice. Vaccination of mice with the strain 19 extract plus treatment with each transfer factor preparation also did not further increase resistance to infection or antibody responses when compared with mice that received the vaccine alone. These results suggest that transfer factor from mice that have either vaccine-induced protective immunity to B. abortus or active B. abortus infections does not enhance antibody responses and resistance to infection with B. abortus.
The Structure of Substances Which Affect the Autonomic Nervous System: I. Arylvinylamines

A working hypothesis concerning the relationship of structure and activity of substances which affect the activity of the autonomic nervous system has been drawn up. It is based on the orientation of functional groups and substituents in the molecules of various pharmacodynamically active substances and on the known or assumed biological transformation of certain of the substances. Two arylvinylamines, prepared in an attempt to probe the reality of the of the hypothetical considerations, have been shown in preliminary pharmacologic tests to produce a rather prolonged fall in blood pressure and, following dibenamine, to exert a profound stimulatory effect of considerable duration on both the rate and amplitude of respiration.
Role orientation and community pharmacists' participation in a project to improve patient care

Community pharmacists are being assigned increased responsibility in assuring the appropriateness and effectiveness of drug therapy. This increased responsibility is reflected in recently passed legislation (OBRA '90) in the United States that requires pharmacists to counsel patients about prescriptions received and to engage in prospective drug use review for Medicaid recipients. The potential impact of this legislation is unclear due to a dearth of research evaluating the effects of community pharmacists' activities on medication use. In addition, there is little research on pharmacists' willingness to assume increased responsibility. Research that would demonstrate the effectiveness of community pharmacists in improving therapeutic outcomes is hampered by problems inherent in conducting experimentally designed research in field settings. This paper examines two issues of concern in such studies--namely, the extent to which those who agree to participate in a demonstration project differ from those who decline to participate and the extent to which differential dropout from treatment and control conditions compromise the comparability of the two groups. Specifically, this report examines pharmacist characteristics related to participation in a demonstration project to improve the care of elderly patients. Community pharmacists in Florida who had earlier been asked to participate in a demonstration project (N = 418) were sent mail questionnaires to assess their attitudinal, demographic and employment characteristics. In particular, researchers were interested in the role orientation of pharmacists in regard to patient counseling and physician consultation, satisfaction with current jobs and career choices, employment settings and treatment vs control group assignment as predictors of participation in the research project. Demographic characteristics were also examined as possible predictors of participation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Use of a partial-filling technique in affinity capillary electrophoresis for determining binding constants of ligands to receptors

This work evaluates the concept of a partial-filling technique in affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) using two model systems: vancomycin from Streptomyces orientalis and carbonic anhydrase B (CAB, EC 4.2.1.1). In this technique the capillary is first partially-filled with ligand followed by a sample of receptor and non-interacting standard and electrophoresed. Analysis of the change in the mobility ratio, M, of the receptor, relative to the non-interacting standard, as a function of the concentration of the ligand, yields a value for the binding constant. These values agree well with those estimated using other binding and ACE techniques. Data demonstrating the quantitative potential of this method is presented.
Comparison of Methods for Characterising Soldering Fluxes and theirInteractions with Substrates and Metallisation

The 1980s and 1990s have seen the development of new and interesting soldering flux formulations. Many of these fluxes exhibit improved soldering performance or are favoured because of their reduced environmental impact. In order to further the understanding of these new fluxes and their interaction with the metallisation on the printed wiring board, as well as the substrate itself, one needs to examine test methods carefully and begin to correlate the data among the existing test methods. At Georgia Tech a variety of data have been collected on a number of fluxes including water soluble, low solids and activated rosin fluxes. Test methods for flux characterisation include surface insulation resistance testing, corrosion test measurements and recently impedance spectroscopy at low frequencies. This paper will review the variety of fluxes available, report on results of testing these fluxes using the techniques mentioned above and will define the important information related to soldering flux interactions...
Quantitative Angiocardiography in Ischemic Heart Disease

Appropriate surgical and medical management of the patient with ischemic heart disease depends upon a thorough assessment of the clinical and pathophysiologic derangements in left ventricular function. This study examined the spectrum of abnormalities in ventricular function found in 66 patients with documented coronary artery lesions. Catheterization and biplane angiocardiography were used to measure end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (EDV, ESV), systolic ejection fraction (SEF), ventricular mass (LVM), end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), peak systolic and end-diastolic stress (PSS, EDS), and stroke work (SW). The pattern of ventricular contraction was assessed for hypokinesis, akinesis, and dyskinesis and graded according to severity. The SEF, SW, and contractile pattern were sensitive and interrelated indicators of left ventricular contractile dysfunction or fiber shortening. Measurements of ventricular filling or fiber lengthening (EDV, LVEDP, EDS) were related but less sensitive parameters of dysfunct...
The Cuban Ethnic Economy and Labor Market Outcomes of Latinos in Metropolitan Florida

This research of 1990 census data examines the impact of the substantial entrepreneurship among Cubans in Florida’s cities on urban workers, especially on immigrants from Latin America. The large Cuban business community does not employ a significant number of Latino immigrants, except for recent Cuban immigrants. Non-Cuban Latino immigrants, however, appear quite successful in finding employment in the general economy, hired by non-Latinos. The high levels of entrepreneurship among Nicaraguans suggest that some Latino immigrants are flourishing business owners who contribute to the growth of Florida’s economy. The economic impact of Latin American migration depends on the national origin group; overall, Latino immigrants are likely to be contributors to Florida’s economy.
Comparative analysis of multiple disease resistance in ryegrass and cereal crops

Ryegrass (Lolium spp.) is among the most important forage crops in Europe and Australia and is also a popular turfgrass in North America. Previous genetic analysis based on a three-generation interspecific (L. perenne × L. multiflorum) ryegrass population identified four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to gray leaf spot (Magneporthe grisea) and four QTLs for resistance to crown rust (Puccinia coronata). The current analysis based on the same mapping population detected seven QTLs for resistance to leaf spot (Bipolaris sorokiniana) and one QTL for resistance to stem rust (Puccinia graminis) in ryegrass for the first time. Three QTLs for leaf spot resistance on linkage groups (LGs) 2 and 4 were in regions of conserved synteny to the positions of resistance to net blotch (Drechslera teres) in barley (Hordeum vulgare). One ryegrass genomic region spanning 19 cM on LG 4, which contained three QTLs for resistance to leaf spot, gray leaf spot, and stem rust, had a syntenic relationship with a segment of rice chromosome 3, which contained QTLs for resistance to multiple diseases. However, at the genome-wide comparison based on 72 common RFLP markers between ryegrass and cereals, coincidence of QTLs for disease resistance to similar fungal pathogens was not statistically significant.
Characterizing Multilayer, Low Diattenuation Mirrors With a Mueller Matrix Imaging Polarimeter

A multilayer, low diattenuation mirror was measured with a Muller matrix imaging polarimeter. The measured diattenuation and absolute reflectance were used to characterize the optical constants of each layer in-situ using a Levenberg-Marguardt optimization.
Low-lying levels of 92Nb from the 92Zr(3He,t) and 92Zr(3He, p2nγ) reactions

Abstract The structure of 92 Nb has been investigated using the 33.8 MeV 92 Zr( 3 He, t) and ( 3 He, p2nγ) reactions. Several previously unobserved levels, including several belonging to the π( g 9 2 )ν( g 9 2 ) −1 multiplet, are reported. The results are discussed in terms of the shell model.
Relationships between past trauma exposures and PTSD among survivors of intimate partner violence

This study examined child abuse and community violence exposure as potential risk factors in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV). In a community sample of 51 primarily low-income women who had experienced IPV, childhood exposure to child abuse made a unique contribution to PTSD symptom severity from subsequent IPV. Community violence also accounted for variance in PTSD symptom severity, but in the opposite direction, with individuals exposed to community violence reporting lower levels of PTSD symptoms from IPV. These findings suggest the need for further research to identify which factors related to community violence exposure might inoculate individuals against the development of PTSD following IPV exposure.
Compatibility Standards And Industry Competition: Two Case Studies

Case histories of two data communication interfaces provide evidence of complex strategic behavior in the setting of voluntary compatibility standards. These cases show how subtle differences in the design of standards development organizations affect incentives to cooperate, giving rise to systematic venue preferences. Dominant firms prefer more bureaucratic procedures offering greater protection for the status quo. The two interfaces, FDDI (under development in X3) and DQDB (under development in the IEEE) shed light on competition between the computer and telecommunications industries and the evolution of our communications infrastructure. They demonstrate the importance of standards for intra- and inter-industry competition.
Sequences of vectors that are orbits of operators

This paper characterizes sequences of vectors that are the orbits of a linear operator and sequences of vectors in a Hilbert space that are orbits of a unitary operator. The latter is applied to time series. Sequences of vectors in a Hilbert space that generalize random walks are also shown to be the orbits of a bounded linear operator.
Intravitreal recombinant human erythropoietin: a safety study in rabbits.

Purpose: To evaluate the ocular safety of varying doses of a single intravitreal injection of the candidate neuroprotective agent, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO). Methods: Thirty New Zealand rabbits were divided into one of six groups: untreated controls, intravitreal saline injection, and intravitreal injections of rhEPO (100 U, 250 U, 500 U, or 1000 U). Electroretinography (ERG) was performed one day prior to injection and on post-injection days 3, 7, 14, and 21. Fluorescein angiography was done on post-injection day 28 and graded for the presence of neovascularization by a masked observer. Animals were sacrificed for histologic examination 30 days after injection. Results: Except for the rhEPO 500 U group on day 21, there were no statistically significant differences in the amplitude or implicit time of the ERGs between groups or at different timepoints. Fluorescein angiography showed no evidence of neovascularization. Light microscopy showed no apparent abnormalities in retinal morphology or...
Selecting for Efficacy of Bollgard Cotton Cultivars Against Various Lepidoptera Using Forward Breeding Techniques

Studies during the past 5 yr have shown that the overall level of protein (Cry1Ac) produced from the cry1Ac transgene (Monsanto Co., St. Louis, MO) differ among commercial Bollgard cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., cultivars. These differences between cultivars are under genetic control and have been correlated with efficacy of certain lepidopteran pests. Previous studies have shown that the parental background (i.e., non-Cry1Ac conventional cultivar) has a significant influence on the amount of Cry1Ac protein in Bollgard cultivars. Unlike the backcross technique commonly used to acquire commercial Bollgard cultivars, we used forward breeding to obtain cultivars of Bollgard cotton that were selected for various levels of Cry1Ac. These differences in the amount of Cry1Ac were correlated with growth and survival of two lepidopteran pests of cotton. Implications for effective resistance management as well as relative ease of this procedure are discussed.
Lp-PLA 2 as a Marker of Cardiovascular Diseases

Inflammation lies at the base of endothelial dysfunction, eventually leading to plaque formation. The degree of inflammation defines the “vulnerability” of plaque to rupture. Numerous strategies have been adopted to identify and eventually treat high-risk vulnerable plaque. Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) has emerged as one such candidate marker of inflammation that may play a direct role in the formation of rupture-prone plaque. Epidemiologic studies have clearly demonstrated the prognostic ability of increased Lp-PLA2 levels and their association with increased risk of future coronary and cerebrovascular events. Moreover, Lp-PLA2 might have similar predictive power for both incident coronary heart disease in initially healthy individuals as well as for recurrent events in those with clinically manifest atherosclerosis. The latest evidence has also suggested its incremental value for risk determination over the well-established traditional risk factors and biomarkers in patients with congestive heart failure. These data support an integral role of Lp-PLA2 activity in lipid peroxidation and cardiovascular risk assessment. This review summarizes the current body of evidence supporting the clinical utility of Lp-PLA2 and its future applications in cardiovascular medicine.
Characterization of Cholecystokinin from the Human Brain

Human forms of cholecystokinin have not previously been characterized chemically. In this study, we have extracted and purified the predominant molecular form of cholecystokinin present in human cerebral cortex. The peptide was characterized by amino acid analysis, automated peptide sequencing, and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. It appears to be identical to porcine cholecystokinin-octapeptide, with the sequence of Asp-Tyr(SO3)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe(NH2). This structural identity is consistent with the observations that the peptide in human brain and porcine cholecystokinin-octapeptide are recognized similarly by a battery of antisera to porcine cholecystokinin; that they coelute from several chromatographic systems, including gel filtration, ion exchange, and reversed-phase; and that they possess similar biological activities.
Impact of Medication Nonadherence on Hospitalizations and Mortality in Heart Failure

Background: Limited literature exists on the association between medication adherence and outcomes among patients with heart failure. Methods and Results: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 557 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) (defined by EF !50%) in a large health maintenance organization. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess the relationship between adherence (with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, b-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists) and the primary outcome of all-cause mortality plus cardiovascular hospitalizations. Mean follow-up time was 1.1 years. Nonadherence (defined as !80% adherence) was associated with a statistically significant increase in the primary outcome in the cohort overall (hazard ratio 2.07, 95% confidence interval 1.62e2.64; P ! .0001). This association remained significant when all 3 classes of heart failure medications and the components of the composite end point were considered separately and when the adherence threshold was varied to 70% or 90%. Conclusions: Medication nonadherence was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations in a community heart failure population. Further research is needed to define systems of care that optimize adherence among patients with heart failure. (J Cardiac Fail 2011;17:664e669)
The spiral field inhibition of thermal conduction in two-fluid solar wind models

The paper reports on two-field models which include the inhibition of thermal conduction by the spiraling interplanetary field to determine whether any of the major conclusions obtained by Nerney and Barnes (1977) needs to be modified. Comparisons with straight field line models reveal that for most base conditions, the primary effect of the inhibition of thermal conduction is the bottling-up of heat in the electrons as well as the quite different temperature profiles at a large heliocentric radius. The spiral field solutions show that coronal hole boundary conditions do not correspond to states of high-speed streams as observed at 1 AU. The two-fluid models suggest that the spiral field inhibition of thermal conduction in the equatorial plane will generate higher gas pressures in comparison with flows along the solar rotation axis (between 1 and 10 AU). In particular, massive outflows of stellar winds, such as outflow from T Tauri stars, cannot be driven by thermal conduction. The conclusions of Nerney and Barnes remain essentially unchanged.
Using Laboratory Measurements of Electrical and Mechanical Properties to Assist Interpretation of Field Data from Shallow Geophysical Measurements

Reconstruction of shallow subsurface structure from geophysical data is a central problem for many environmental and engineering applications. We observe that for shallow soil distributions, seismic data alone or electrical data alone may provide a good reconstruction of the subsurface. We show that using joint seismic and electrical data will improve the reconstruction of shallow structure. Our results emphasize that the availability of techniques for making laboratory measurements of ultrasonic velocities at low pressures in unconsolidated materials and the ability to measure complex impedance in similar samples are key elements of this approach.
Abnormal chromosome IO and R paramutation in maize

Abstract Abnormal chromosome IO (K IO ) carries a large, heterochromatic segment of unknown origin at the end of the long arm and beyond sr-2, a locus 35 crossover units distal to R (conditioning anthocyanin in seed and plant). It is found that insertion of a paramutable R into a K IO chromosome regularly results in reduced sensitivity of the allele to paramutation in R st (stippled) heterozygotes. The reduction persists, in part, when R is returned by crossing-over to a structurally normal chromosome IO , showing that K IO induces an alteration at, or near, the R locus. K IO does not affect R in repulsion. Passage of an R K IO chromosome through 3 successive generations of R st heterozygotes progressively lowers R pigmenting potential, demonstrating that K IO retards, but does not block, paramutation. The K IO -retarding effect was duplicated by inserting R into T2- IO a a reciprocal translocation involving a break in IO L. Bearing of the results on the nature of unstable loci in higher plants is discussed.
Seeding Evolutionary Thinking by Engaging Children in Modeling Its Foundations.

Although the core work of science is oriented toward constructing, revising, applying, and defending models of the natural world, models appear only rarely in school science, and usually only as illustrations, rather than theory building tools. We describe the rationale and structure for a learning progression to understand the development of modeling under supportive forms of instruction. In this case, elementary and middle school students are modeling “big ideas” in the life sciences that hold the promise of serving as a conceptual foundation for reasoning about the theory of evolution later in their education. In this conceptual paper, we sketch changes from grades K through 6 in representational and modeling practices across three interlocking constructs that, considered collectively, comprise the aforementioned conceptual foundation: Change (in individuals and populations), Variation, and Ecosystems. The paper closes by delineating pedagogical principles for supporting the development of modeling across grades of instruction. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed 96:701–724, 2012
Ascorbic acid potentiates the substrate-specific inhibition of mixed-function oxidation and the stimulation of NADPH oxidation caused by paraquat.

Paraquat inhibits the in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of both ethylmorphine and aniline. Inclusion of ascorbate with paraquat in the incubations did not alter the paraquat effect on ethylmorphine N‐demethylase activity but potentiated the inhibition of aniline p‐hydroxylase activity. Ascorbate alone was without effect on the metabolism of either substrate. Paraquat stimulated the hepatic microsomal oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) equally in the absence of mixed‐function oxidase (MFO) substrates or in the presence of ethylmorphine; in the presence of aniline the rate of NADPH oxidation was significantly greater. Also, in the presence of aniline, ascorbate potentiated the paraquat‐induced NADPH oxidation, while it was ineffective with paraquat on NADPH oxidation in the presence of ethylmorphine or in the absence of substrates for the microsomal MFO system. The potentiated inhibition of aniline metabolism, concomitant with the potentiated stimulation of NADPH oxidation...
In situ synthesis and characterization of polyethyleneimine-modified carbon nanotubes supported ptru electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation

PtRu bimetallic nanoparticles were successfully synthesized on polyethyleneimine- (PEI-) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via an effective and facile polyol reduction approach. Noncovalent surface modification of MWCNTs with PEI was confirmed by FTIR and zeta potential measurements. The morphology, crystalline structure, and composition of the hybrid material were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. According to SEM and TEM observations, PtRu nanoparticles with narrow size distribution were homogeneously deposited on PEI-MWCNTs. Cyclic voltammetry tests demonstrated that the as-prepared PtRu/PEI-MWCNTs nanocomposite had a large electrochemical surface area and exhibited enhanced electrocatalytic activity towards methanol oxidation in comparison with oxidized MWCNTs as catalyst support. PEI-functionalized CNTs, as useful building blocks for the assembly of Pt-based electrocatalyst, may have great potential for applications such as direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC).
Tetrabenazine for the treatment of hyperkinetic movement disorders: a review of the literature.

Abstract Background Tetrabenazine (TBZ) is a monoamine storage inhibitor that was first introduced in the 1970s for the management of hyperkinetic movement disorders. Despite acceptance and usage worldwide, TBZ was only recently approved in the United States for the treatment of Huntington chorea. This review focuses on the use of TBZ in various hyperkinetic movement disorders, which are considered “rare” or “orphan” diseases, to help practitioners better understand its clinical role and use. Objective This review describes the clinical efficacy and tolerability of TBZ in the management of dystonia, Huntington chorea, tardive dyskinesia (TDk), and tic disorders. Methods A Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MedlinePlus, PubMed, and clinical trials database search (up to May 2012) was conducted to identify articles and studies using the subject terms tetrabenazine, Huntington disease, dystonia, tardive dyskinesia, Tourette, tics, and hyperkinetic movement. Only English-language articles were reviewed. Results TBZ variably undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism to active metabolites, some of which are metabolized by the cytochrome P450 2D6 isozyme. Pharmacology studies demonstrate that TBZ reversibly inhibits the activity of vesicular monoamine transporter 2, resulting in depletion of central dopamine. For management of dystonias, 1 of 3 small prospective blinded studies and 4 of 5 retrospective studies reported clinical benefit with TBZ use in pediatrics and adults. For Huntington chorea, 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies along with open-label studies demonstrate the effectiveness of TBZ in adults. For TDk, 9 of 11 studies (prospective controlled and retrospective) reported positive benefit. For Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, 9 of 11 studies (prospective controlled and retrospective) reported positive benefit on motor and phonic tics in pediatric and adult patients. Overall, adverse effects are dose and age related and include depression, fatigue, parkinsonism, and somnolence. Conclusions TBZ is an effective oral therapy for chorea of Huntington disease and may be considered as an alternative agent for the management of dystonia, TDk, and tic disorders (these latter 3 conditions are off-label uses in the United States). The drug possesses an acceptable tolerability profile and has been used in pediatric and adult populations.
All-or-nothing payments

Abstract We develop a general principal–agent framework in which to study optimal incentive schemes where agents are hired to work on multiple heterogeneous and interdependent projects. The incentive schemes can be based on output measures, interpreted as the principal’s payoffs, as well as input measures, regarded as observation of some of the agents’ efforts. We identify that a unifying feature of the optimal incentive schemes, called all-or-nothing payments, arises in three natural scenarios of the general framework: unobservable inputs, verifiable inputs, and observable but unverifiable inputs. Our framework and results embed and generalize several previous studies on multitask principal–agent problems with a limited liability constraint.
Active nanophotonics technology

Composite metal-dielectric-semiconductor nanostructures are used to design, fabricate and test nanoscale resonators and nanolasers that utilize various modes confined in all three dimensions. Integration with silicon photonics material platform is also explored and experimentally validated.
A Profit-Based Model Allowing for Quality Achievement and Manufacturing Process Selection

A model is proposed which provides a starting point for analyzing quality and process selection from a profit perspective. The model focuses on increased revenues rather than costs, and defines the level of quality to attain and how that goal may b..
A Framework for Cultivating and Increasing Child Welfare Workers’ Empathy Toward Parents

ABSTRACT Much emphasis has been placed on child welfare workers’ skills and attributes when working with parents involved in the child welfare system; however, few studies have examined the potential benefits of using an empathic approach to interacting with parents. Child welfare workers may have negative perceptions of parents involved in the child welfare system and might have a tendency to reflect these attitudes and value judgments in their practice. The lack of empathic understanding and communication between workers and parents impacts service implementation and the success of family interventions. Increasing the workers’ ability to empathize with parents can enhance their relationship while increasing parent participation in services and ultimately family reunification. This article will discuss specific ways to cultivate and increase child welfare workers’ empathy for parents by enhancing workers’ emotional response and self/other-awareness, ability to perspective take, emotion regulation, and th...