cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steroidogenic, Metabolic, and Immunological Markers in Dairy Cows Diagnosed With Cystic Ovarian Follicles at Early and Mid-Late Lactation

The etiology of cystic ovarian follicles (COF) remains a conundrum with steroidogenic, immunological, and metabolic dysfunctions linked to its development. Studies suggest that COF development may occur as a result of disruption of the insulin signaling pathway and the severity of a negative energy balance in dairy cows, but mid to late lactation cows diagnosed with COF are unlikely to have issues with energy metabolism. Herein, we characterized the mRNA expression of steroidogenic (LHCGR, StAR, CYP11A1, 3β-HSD, CYP19A), immunological (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TLR-4, TNF), and metabolic markers (IGF-1, IRS1) in follicular fluid; and plasma and follicular fluid levels of E2, IL-1β, glucose, and NEFA in early and mid-late lactation COF cows. Lactating dairy cows were diagnosed as having COF (n = 11, follicle >20 mm persistent for 7 days, absence of corpus luteum, and flaccid uterus) while 11 herdmates cycling with a dominant follicle were classified as the control cows. Cows diagnosed with COF were classified as early lactation (COF-E, n = 5) cows, <35 days in milk (DIM); or mid-late lactation (COF-M/L, n = 6), ≥118 DIM cows. Results revealed that mRNA expression StAR was greater (P < 0.01) in COF-E cows than COF-M/L cows and the control cows. The mRNA expression CYP19A1 was lower (P < 0.01) in COF-E cows and COF-M/L cows than in the control cows. The mRNA expression IL-6 and IRS-1 tended to be greater and lower, respectively, in COF-M/L cows compared to the control cows. The mRNA expression IGF-1 was greater (P < 0.01) in COF-E and COF-M/L cows than in the control cows. The plasma and follicular fluid concentration of NEFA was greater (P < 0.05) in COF-E cows than in COF-M/L and the control cows. Cows with COF-E had disturbances in steroidogenic and metabolic markers, while cows with COF-M/L had steroidogenic, immunological, and metabolic dysregulations, suggesting that COF pathogenesis may vary between early and mid-late lactation dairy cows.
Art Educators' Thrift Shopping Practices as Social Action.

How do artists and art educators who are engaged in regular thrifting view their consumptive practices? In this article, I draw on a small pilot case study and interview data from five artist–educa...
“HIV Is a Gift”: Posttraumatic Growth in Women With HIV:

Given the universally high rates of trauma in women living with HIV and the positive health benefits associated with posttraumatic growth, recognizing how posttraumatic growth is expressed in words...
Effect of Substrate Choice on Transient Performance of Lateral GaN FETs

This brief presents a study on the effect of substrate choice on the performance of lateral GaN transistors. This is accomplished using a previously calibrated TCAD model of the device which was used to investigate the effect of substrate choice on capacitance-voltage characteristics of the device. It is shown in simulation that CGD and CDS have a demonstrable dependence on substrate selection and is consistent with expectations regarding the substrate materials conductivity. The device model was then used in transient simulation where the choice of substrate was shown to noticeably affect the model's turn-on and turn-off energy.
ENERGY BALANCE AND VITAL SIGNS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

BACKGROUND:Prior studies have shown that vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature are depressed in patients with an eating disorder who have experienced a negative energy...
Health Providers’ Advising on Symptom Management for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections: Does Elaboration of Reasoning Influence Outcomes Relevant to Antibiotic Stewardship?

Antibiotic-resistant infections, fueled by unwarranted antibiotic prescribing, are an increasing threat to public health. Reducing overprescribing and promoting antibiotic stewardship requires mana...
Global Burden of Norovirus

Noroviruses are small, non-enveloped, positive-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the family Caliciviridae, and are ubiquitous worldwide. Though GII.4 strains have historically dominated, recent surveillance suggests that other strains may replace GII.4 in some geographies. However, there are several challenges to quantifying overall norovirus disease burden, including low rates of care-seeking, limited use of norovirus diagnostics in clinical practice, and non-negligible asymptomatic shedding and vomiting-only presentations. Nonetheless, various methods exist to estimate incidence, and can be characterized by three general steps: (1) Estimate the global incidence of all-cause diarrheal disease; (2) Attribute a proportion of total diarrheal disease to noroviruses; (3) Adjust the norovirus diarrhea estimate for vomiting-only cases of norovirus. In a 2015 analysis, the overall disease burden of norovirus was estimated to encompass 685 million (95% Uncertainty Interval [UI]: 491–1123 million) cases and 212,489 (95% UI: 160,595–278,420) deaths annually. Although norovirus occurs across the age spectrum, young children and elderly persons are most affected, with the elderly most likely to suffer the most severe outcomes. Critical knowledge gaps include a need for population-based studies across the age spectrum, with particular focus on developing countries, as well as increased understanding of asymptomatic shedding and its impact on norovirus disease estimates. Scientific understanding of norovirus has previously been challenged by an inability to culture the virus in vitro; however, recent advances in this area will enable new lines of research. Further areas of exciting research include vaccine development, which will likely complement increased surveillance activities.
Making meaning of motherhood: Self and life transitions among African American adolescent mothers.

Although adolescent childbearing is widely viewed as a major social problem, and research suggests that young mothers and their children are at risk for poor economic and academic outcomes, these ideas may be in need of revision. Recent scholarship has pointed out that young mothers have been unfairly blamed and stigmatized for problems that should be attributed to social and economic inequality, racism, and poverty. The present study extends that research by listening to the voices of young mothers. In total, 179 urban African American women were asked at 4, 12, and 24 months after giving birth to describe how their lives had changed since becoming a mother. A team of coders content coded themes with rigorous checks for intercoder reliability. Positive themes were far more prevalent than negative themes. Motherhood was often described as a positive developmental change, providing the young women with a sense of maturity, responsibility, motivation, and commitment to placing the baby's needs ahead of their own. Motherhood was sometimes described as a life-turning point whereby young women turned away from undesirable activities and became focused on school, work, and their family's future. Challenges reflected common stresses of parenting for people of all ages, such as lack of sleep and burden of caregiving, but also limited time to socialize with friends. Findings suggest that although policymakers and professionals view adolescent parenthood as a social ill to be eradicated, for the mothers themselves, the experience is more complex, meaningful, and positive. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Thermodynamic fluctuations in magnetic states: Fe3Pt as a prototype

To understand the Invar anomalies, such as negative thermal expansion and spontaneous magnetization, we have applied our recently developed thermodynamic framework for a system with itinerant-electron magnetism to the ordered Fe3Pt. The framework has coherently predicted the finite temperature intermixing between the fully ferromagnetic (FM) configuration and the spin-flipping configurations (SFCs). We have also discovered a tri-critical point at which a high-temperature second-order phase transition, between the fully ordered FM phase and the paramagnetic phase which is disordered due to SFCs, becomes first order at low temperatures.
The Effects of Prodrug Size and a Carbonyl Linker on l-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1-Targeted Cellular and Brain Uptake

The l-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1, SLC7A5) imports dietary amino acids and amino acid drugs (e. g., l-DOPA) into the brain, and plays a role in cancer metabolism. Though there have been numerous reports of LAT1-targeted amino acid-drug conjugates (prodrugs), identifying the structural determinants to enhance substrate activity has been challenging. In this work, we investigated the position and orientation of a carbonyl group in linking hydrophobic moieties including the anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen to l-tyrosine and l-phenylalanine. We found that esters of meta-carboxyl l-phenylalanine had better LAT1 transport rates than the corresponding acylated l-tyrosine analogues. However, as the size of the hydrophobic moiety increased, we observed a decrease in LAT1 transport rate with a concomitant increase in potency of inhibition. Our results have important implications for designing amino acid prodrugs that target LAT1 at the blood-brain barrier or on cancer cells.
Visualizing the organization and differentiation of the male-specific nervous system of C. elegans

ABSTRACT Sex differences in the brain are prevalent throughout the animal kingdom and particularly well appreciated in the nematode C. elegans. While 294 neurons are shared between the two sexes, the nervous system of the male contains an additional 93 malespecific neurons, most of which have received very little attention so far. To make these neurons amenable for future study, we describe here how a multicolor, multipromoter reporter transgene, NeuroPAL, is capable of visualizing the distinct identities of all male specific neurons. We used this tool to visualize and characterize a number of features of the male-specific nervous system. We provide several proofs of concept for using NeuroPAL to identify the sites of expression of gfp-tagged reporter genes. We demonstrate the usage of NeuroPAL for cellular fate analysis by analyzing the effect of removal of developmental patterning genes, including a HOX cluster gene (egl-5), a miRNA (lin-4) and a proneural gene (lin-32/Ato), on neuronal identity acquisition within the male-specific nervous system. We use NeuroPAL and its intrinsic cohort of more than 40 distinct differentiation markers to show that, even though male-specific neurons are generated throughout all four larval stages, they execute their terminal differentiation program in a coordinated manner in the fourth larval stage that is concomitant with male tale retraction. This wave of differentiation couples neuronal maturation programs with the appearance of sexual organs. We call this wave “just-in-time” differentiation by its analogy to the mechanism of “just-in-time” transcription of metabolic pathway genes.
Striatal Acetylcholine and Dopamine are Necessary for Motor Function in Parkinsonism (P5.8-001)

Objective: We hypothesized that dopamine deficiency at clinically-relevant levels reduces striatal acetylcholine content and cholinergic interneuron firing. Background: Genetic and acquired forms of Parkinsonism in children cause motor and non-motor impairments by modifying dopamine and acetylcholine availability. An assumption that increased acetylcholine availability accompanies dopamine deficiency is based on the outcome of pharmacological treatments dating back to the 1950’s and few measurements in animals that were critically depleted of dopamine. Design/Methods: We performed integrated behavioral, electrophysiological, and molecular experiments in genetically-modified Slc6a3DTR/+ mice (n=243), where diphtheria toxin (50μg/kg, i.m.) specifically ablates dopamine-producing cells, while sparing sham-injected mice. Rotarod assessed motor dysfunction, electrophysiology examined striatal cholinergic-interneuron (ChI) activity, HPLC determined tissue concentration of dopamine and acetylcholine, and the RiboTag method examined cell-type and brain region specific changes in the transcription of hyperpolarization-activated cation (HCN) channel subunits and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), the enzyme required for acetylcholine synthesis. ChatCre x Rosa26-fs-tdTomato mice were used to visualize the sparse population of striatal ChIs by fluorescent microscopy. Results: 30-day-old Slc6a3DTR/+ x RiboTag (B6N.129-Rpl22tm1.1Psam/J) x ChatCre x Rosa26-fs-tdTomato mice experienced a progressive and clinically-relevant reduction (~60%) in striatal dopamine and acetylcholine content and the expression of ChAT. Motor dysfunction was dependent on both acetylcholine and dopamine availability. HCN channel subunit expression decreased ChI activity, which paradoxically increased in response to dopamine released from residual axons. Conclusions: We present several lines of evidence to demonstrate that dopamine deficiency at clinically relevant levels reduces striatal acetylcholine, contrary to long-held assumptions. The reduction in acetylcholine availability is to a lesser degree than dopamine so that the increase in acetylcholine content, relative to dopamine, contributes to the clinical symptoms of parkinsonism and may lead to L-dopa-induced dyskinesias. The data implicate HCN channels on striatal acetylcholine interneurons as a novel treatment target for motor dysfunction in Parkinsonism. Disclosure: Dr. Bamford has nothing to disclose. Dr. McKinley has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shi has nothing to disclose.
The Social Discount Rate: A Primer for Policymakers

The social discount rate used in cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is an interest rate applied to benefits and costs that are expected to occur in the future in order to convert them into a present value. This conversion is done to ascertain what those benefits and costs are worth today. The social discount rate is widely considered to be one of the most important inputs in CBA in that small changes in this rate can result in large swings in present-value calculations, thereby having a major influence on whether a project passes or fails a cost-benefit test. However, the social discount rate is widely misunderstood for a variety of reasons. This primer explains the basic conceptual issues involved with the social discount rate and tries to clear up some common misunderstandings.
Centralized Registry for COVID-19 Research Recruitment: Design, Development, Implementation, and Preliminary Results

Background: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had substantial global morbidity and mortality. Clinical research related to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19 is a top priority. Effective and efficient recruitment is challenging even without added constraints of a global pandemic. Recruitment registries offer a potential solution to slow or difficult recruitment. Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to describe the design and implementation of a digital research recruitment registry to optimize awareness and participant enrollment for COVID-19-related research in Baltimore and to report preliminary results. Methods: Planning began in March 2020, and the registry launched in July 2020. The primary recruitment mechanisms include electronic medical record data, postcards distributed at testing sites, and digital advertising campaigns. Following consent in a Research Electronic Data Capture survey, participants answer questions related to COVID-19 exposure, testing, and willingness to participate in research. Branching logic presents participants with studies they might be eligible for. Results: As of March 24, 2021, 9010 participants have enrolled, and 64.2% are female, 80.6% are White, 9.4% are Black or African American, and 6% are Hispanic or Latino. Phone outreach has had the highest response rate (13.1%), followed by email (11.9%), text (11.4%), and patient portal message (9.4%). Eleven study teams have utilized the registry, and 4596 matches have been made between study teams and interested volunteers. Conclusion: Effective and efficient recruitment strategies are more important now than ever due to the time-limited nature of COVID-19 research. Pilot efforts have been successful in connecting interested participants with recruiting study teams.
Circular-Symmetric Correlation Layer based on FFT

Despite the vast success of standard planar convolutional neural networks, they are not the most efficient choice for analyzing signals that lie on an arbitrarily curved manifold, such as a cylinder. The problem arises when one performs a planar projection of these signals and inevitably causes them to be distorted or broken where there is valuable information. We propose a Circular-symmetric Correlation Layer (CCL) based on the formalism of roto-translation equivariant correlation on the continuous group $S^1 \times \mathbb{R}$, and implement it efficiently using the well-known Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. We showcase the performance analysis of a general network equipped with CCL on various recognition and classification tasks and datasets. The PyTorch package implementation of CCL is provided online.
Effectiveness and Safety Studies of Omalizumab in Children and Adolescents With Moderate-To-Severe Asthma.

Background Omalizumab is currently approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe allergic asthma in patients 6 years and older. Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of subcutaneous omalizumab as an add-on therapy option for moderate-severe allergic asthma in patients aged 6-20 years old. Methods The studies published from July, 1970 to May, 2021 were searched from the electronic databases which followed keywords: ("anti-IgE" OR "anti-immunoglobulin E" OR "anti-IgE antibody" OR "omalizumab" OR "rhuMAb-E25" OR "Xolair") AND "asthma" AND ("child" OR "children" OR "adolescents" OR "youth" OR "teenager" OR "kids" OR "pediatric"). Thirteen studies were pooled to determine the effectiveness and safety of omalizumab. Efficacy endpoints were evaluated using a fixed-effects model or a random-effects model depending on heterogeneity. Safety endpoints were evaluated by odds ratio. Results Thirteen studies were included. In this meta-analysis, our results showed that fractional exhaled nitric oxide and asthma control test scores were significantly improved with omalizumab treatment. Serum immunoglobulin E was also decreased in children with moderate-to-severe asthma after treatment with omalizumab. The analysis found that there was no significant difference between pre-and post-treatment in forced expiratory volume in one second/ forced vital capacity ratio, forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of vital capacity, or FEV1. Overall, more adverse events occurred with omalizumab compared to placebo. However, the degree was mild to moderate. Conclusion This meta-analysis indicates that omalizumab is safe and effective to treat children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe asthma.
Predictors of pathologic outcome of focal FDG uptake in the parotid gland identified on whole-body FDG PET imaging

Abstract Purpose The purpose was to test whether patient's primary malignancy type and presence of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid cervical lymph node(s) are predictors of pathologic outcome of incidental focal FDG-avid parotid lesions. Basic procedures A retrospective cohort study of pathologically proven incidental cases was performed. Main findings Focal parotid FDG uptake in the setting of head and neck cancer/melanoma [odds ratio (OR)=24.6, P P =.02), or FDG-avid cervical lymph node(s) (OR=3.6, P =.07) has a higher odds of representing metastases. No malignant primary parotid tumors were incidentally discovered. Principal conclusions In patients with head and neck cancer/melanoma, lymphoma, or FDG-avid cervical lymph node(s), there were higher odds that focal parotid FDG uptake was a metastasis.
Multiple Choice Reaction Time and Movement Time During Physical Exertion.

Abstract Subject performed a five-choice reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) task while walking on a treadmill at heart rates (HR) of approximately 80 (standing still), 115, 145 and 175 beats per minute (bpm). Five-choice RT was optimal at a HR of 115 bpm and worst at 175 bpm, thereby supporting the hypothesis of an inverted U relationship between activation and choice RT. On the other hand, MT improved linearly with increased levels of HR, showing that these two parameters are affected quite differently by concomitant physical exertion.
Recuperación de ácidos grasos volátiles por electrodiálisis de un licor de fermentación anaerobia de desechos orgánicos simulado

It was designed and built an electrodialysis unit to study the recovery like acetic acid of the acetate taken place during the anaerobic digestion of organic waste experimentally, using watery solutions of acetate of sodium to different concentrations (5 g/l, 15 g/l and 30 g/l) to simulate the liquor of anaerobic fermentation. The electrodialysis was carried out applying 8 different voltages periodically to the unit and monitoring the behavior of the main variables of the process. The maximum rate of achieved production of acetic acid was of 1674 mg/l and it was found that this went proportional to the applied voltage, flow of liquor of fermentation fed to the unit and the density of used current. The acetic acid was recovered in distilled water and additionally in a watery solution of Ethanol and it was rehearsed with success the estherification of this last mixture, being able to produce ethyl Acetate. The electrodialysis turned out to be a technically competitive alternative in principle, for the production of volatile fatty acids; because the obtained results demonstrate that it is possible to make it with relative easiness.
Distracted Driving in Teens With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective This study is among the first to examine the effect of talking on a cell phone or text messaging while driving in teens with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method Teens (average age 17years) with a diagnosis of ADHD (N=16) were matched with typically developing controls (N=18). All participants operated a driving simulator while (1) conversing on a cell phone, (2) text messaging, and (3) with no distraction during a baseline condition. Six indicators of driving performance were recorded: (a) time to complete the drive; (b) lane deviations; (c) variability in lane position (i.e., root mean square [RMS]); (d) reaction time; (e) motor vehicle collisions; and, (f) speed fluctuation. Results Significantly greater variation in lane position occurred in the texting task compared to no task and the cell phone task. While texting, in particular, teens with ADHD took significantly less time to complete the scenario. No significant main effects of group were found. Conclusions Generally, those with ADHD did not differ in regard to driving performance, when compared to controls, with the exception of one outcome: time to complete scenario. These findings suggest that distracted driving impairs driving performance of teen drivers, regardless of ADHD status. Texting while driving had the greatest negative impact on driving performance, particularly with regard to variability in lane position (i.e., RMS). This study sheds light on key issues regarding injury prevention, with the intent of providing pediatric care providers with the knowledge to inform teen drivers of risks associated with distracted driving which will ultimately result in reduced rates of motor vehicle crashes and concomitant injuries.
Intranasal administration of RA 27/3 rubella virus vaccine: A clinical trial in young adults

Of the vaccines and inoculation routes studied for the prevention of rubella, only the RA27/3 vaccine, administered intranasally, has the ability to stimulate a humoral antibody pattern very similar to that evoked by wild rubella infection. Because information about intranasal (IN) vaccination has only been obtained using the RA 27/3 vaccine manufactured in Europe, we conducted a trial of IN vaccination among young adults using Meruvax II which is manufactured in the USA. Of 597 family planning clinic patients screened in 1980–1981, 71 (11.9%) were susceptible to rubella; forty-one subjects were randomly assigned to receive IN or subcutaneous (SC) vaccine. All 20 SC vaccinees, but only 8/21 (38%) IN vaccinees, were successfully immunized. We conclude that standard doses of commercially available RA 27/3 vaccine are insufficient for IN immunization against rubella. Additional study of the dose-response relationship is needed if IN vaccination is to be recommended.
Whither Student Personnel Work from 1968 to 2018

The author comments on an article concerning the future of student personnel work that he published in the NASPA Journal in 1968.
Sturge-Weber syndrome: altered blood vessel fibronectin expression and morphology.

Sturge-Weber syndrome presents with vascular malformations of the brain, skin, and eye. Fibronectin has potent effects on angiogenesis, vessel remodeling, and vessel innervation density. To determi...
A kind of high-speed real-time digital pulse compressor implemented in time domain

The design of a kind of high-speed and real-time digital pulse compressor implemented with an FIR filter in the time domain is described. The test performance results are also given for adopting this digital pulse compressor by a modified matched filter to deal with a smaller time-frequency product, truncated Gaussian, nonlinear frequency modulated (NLFM) signal.
Understanding time use, stress and recovery practices among early career physicians: an exploratory study.

Early career physicians (ECPs) work an average of 80 h per week, and at times may approach 24 continuous hours working. These hours, combined with a stressful work environment, and an inability to physically and psychologically detach from work make ECPs likely to experience burnout and other negative health-related consequences. This study provides insight into the stress and recovery challenges faced by ECPs in a typical hospital environment. Rich qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from participants regarding daily time usage, and recovery practices and needs. ECPs report longer working hours, less leisure time and shorter amounts of sleep than average working adults. ECPs do not participate in many resource-replenishing activities while at work, and when out of work, they tend to participate in more passive than active forms of recovery. Resource-draining activities were identified as requiring much of ECP’s nonwork time, further limiting recovery. The prevention of burnout and other negat...
How do we process novel conceptual combinations in context

Most theories of how people interpret novel noun-noun combinations (e.g., ghost forest) do not sufficiently address the role of context, which is surprising given that novel combinations are generally encountered in discourse contexts. We evaluated three hypotheses for the role of context in interpretation. The generation hypothesis states that interpretation is based on sense generation both in and out of context. The anaphor resolution hypothesis states that interpretation initially involves identifying a referent from the prior discourse context, and meaning generation occurs only if anaphoric processing fails. The dual-process hypothesis states that sense generation and anaphor resolution operate in parallel, and both may influence initial interpretation. In two experiments, we examined reading times on novel combinations when the dominant meaning (most likely interpretation) or subordinate meaning (infrequent interpretation) preceded or followed the combination in text. Results supported the dual-process hypothesis.
Environmental Constraints on Spawning Depth of Yellow Perch: The Roles of Low Temperature and High Solar Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract The roles of temperature and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in determining the spawning success of yellow perch Perca flavescens were investigated in two Pennsylvania lakes with different dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. In situ incubation experiments were used to manipulate temperature and UVR and to examine hatching time and hatching success. Extensive scuba surveys were used to document actual spawning depths. Differences in the temperature and UVR profiles of the two lakes led to contrasting responses of incubated yellow perch eggs. Higher temperatures in the surface waters of the higher-DOC lake led to hatching times that were 10–26 d shorter than those in the surface waters of the low-DOC lake or in the deeper waters of the higher-DOC lake. The high levels of UVR in the surface waters of the low-DOC lake killed 100% of the eggs before hatching. Ultraviolet radiation had little effect on survival in the higher-DOC lake or in deeper waters of the low-DOC lake. Scuba surveys reveale...
Reversible regulation of bioactive ligands presented on immobilized gold nanoparticles

A polypeptide fusion of a bioactive ligand and a coiled-coil A was functionalized on gold nanoparticles, which were subsequently immobilized on substrates. The accessibility of the ligand could be reversibly controlled via co-immobilization and removal of B-poly(ethylene) glycol through heterodimerization between A and the complementary coiled-coil B.
Age-dependent regulation of glucocorticoid receptors in the liver of male rats

Specific binding of [3H]dexamethasone to cytosol and the activation of bound hormone-receptor complexes were studied in the liver of immature (3 weeks old) and mature (26 weeks old) Long-Evans male rats. The concentration of specific binding sites was significantly higher (33%) in the liver of immature rats as compared to mature, while dissociation constants (Kd) remain unaltered at both ages. Heat activation (for 45 min at 25 degrees C) significantly enhances the binding of [3H]dexamethasone-receptor complexes to DNA-cellulose and purified nuclei at both the ages, with a greater magnitude in mature rats. Cross mixing experiments (i.e., binding of activated cytosol from mature rats to nuclei of immature and vice-versa) show receptor specificity. Ca2+ activation (20 mM Ca2+ for 45 min at 0 degree C) also enhances the nuclear and DNA-cellulose binding at both the ages, but to a similar extent. Differences in the number of specific binding sites and some of the physiochemical properties of glucocorticoid receptors presented here between immature and mature rats may underlie the functional changes in tissue response with age.
Abstract 1664: A functional study of missense variants localized in the DNA binding domain of BRCA2

Genetic evidence of pathogenicity is not available for most missense mutations (Variants of Uncertain Significance (VUS)) detected in the DNA binding domain (DBD) of BRCA2 by clinical genetic testing. In the absence of this evidence, functional assays may be useful for classification of the clinical relevance of these VUS. We used a cell based Homology-Directed repair reporter assay to characterize 14 known pathogenic and 18 known non-pathogenic BRCA2 missense mutations and 34 VUS from the DBD of BRCA2. We transfected each full-length wildtype and mutant BRCA2 construct into V-C8 BRCA2 deficient cells along with an I-Sce1-expression plasmid, which induces a unique double strand break in an integrated DR-GFP reporter plasmid. The protein expression levels were evaluated by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. The ability of each BRCA2 mutant to repair the induced break was evaluated by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) for GFP. The HDR assay exhibited 100% (95% CI: 75.3% - 100%) sensitivity and 100% (95% CI: 81.5% - 100%) specificity for pathogenic missense mutations. Next, we developed a statistical classifier for prediction of the pathogenicity or non-pathogenicity of BRCA2 variants based on results from the HDR assay. Using known pathogenic and non-pathogenic variants as standards we computed the probability that each variant is pathogenic or non-pathogenic based on HDR activity. A probability of 99% in favor of pathogenicity correctly classified the known pathogenic mutations and the non-pathogenic variants. The evaluation of an additional 34 variants identified 18 variants as deleterious and eight as neutral. In summary the HR assay serves as a reliable high-quality surrogate for classification of VUS located in the BRCA2 DBD. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1664. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1664
The interlingual identification of spanish and english vowels: Orthographic evidence

When someone who is learning a second language (L2) produces a sound in the L2 using a familiar, native-language (L1) category, the L2 sound is said to have been "identified with" an L1 sound. Although interlingual identification exerts a powerful influence on L2 pronunciation, it is still poorly understood. Orthographic classification was used here to assess the interlingual identification of Spanish and English vowels. Sixty native speakers of Spanish in three experiments judged the vowels /i/, /I/, /e/, and /ae/ in multiple tokens of English words ("beat", "bit", "bet", "bat") spoken by ten native speakers of American English. The subjects labelled each English vowel by circling one of the five letters used to spell the vowel phonemes of Spanish (viz. less than i greater than, less than e greater than, less than a greater than, less than o greater than, less than u greater than) or by circling "none" if they thought they had heard a vowel not found in Spanish. Subjects who spoke English as an L2 used the "none" label more often than did Spanish monolinguals, suggesting that L2 learning heightens bilinguals' awareness of cross-language phonetic differences. Experienced Spanish speakers of English did use the "none" label more often than did inexperienced subjects (42% vs. 18%). A few subjects used the "none" label consistently for /ae/ and /I/, suggesting that they may have regarded these vowels as "new" (i.e., non-Spanish). However, the group data provided little support for the hypothesis that the adult Spanish learners of English treated either /ae/ or /I/ as new. The great majority of subjects, even those highly experienced in English, identified English /ae/ with their Spanish /a/.
Alcoholic ketoacidosis presenting with extreme hypoglycemia

A 66-year-old man with a history of chronic alcoholism presented with Kussmaul respirations following several days of fasting accompanied by vomiting, in the presence of continued ethanol intake. He was subsequently found to have a serum glucose level of <20 mg/dL and an anion gap of 36. Despite his profound hypoglycemia, he was fully alert with no obvious neurological deficits. He recovered without incident with intravenous saline, dextrose, thiamine, and antibiotics for a bacteremic pneumonia. He had no evidence of hypoxemia, hypotension, or other features of sepsis. Alcoholic ketoacidosis in the setting of hypoglycemia is discussed. If the serum glucose level is less than the anion gap, the diagnosis of alcoholic ketoacidosis should be considered.
Influence of chemical and physical characteristics of cement kiln dusts (CKDs) on their hydration behavior and potential suitability for soil stabilization

Abstract The interaction of CKDs with a given soil depends on the chemical and physical characteristics of the CKDs. Hence, the characterization of CKDs and their hydration products may lead to better understanding of their suitability as soil stabilizers. In the present article, four different CKD powders are characterized and their hydration products are evaluated. A detailed chemical (X-ray diffraction), thermogravimetric and morphological (scanning electron microscope) analyses of both the CKD powders and the hydrated CKD pastes are presented. In general, high free-lime content (~ 14–29%) CKDs, when reacted with water produced significant amounts of calcium hydroxide, ettringite and syngenite. These CKDs also developed higher unconfined compressive strength and higher temperature of hydration compared to CKDs with lower amounts of free-lime. An attempt was made to qualitatively correlate the performance of CKD pastes with the chemical and physical characteristics of the original CKD powders and to determine their potential suitability as soil stabilizers. To that effect a limited unconfined compressive strength testing of CKD-treated kaolinite clays was performed. The results of this study suggest that both the compressive strength and the temperature of hydration of the CKD paste can give early indications of the suitability of particular CKD for soil stabilization.
Polyimide/silica hybrid-clay nanocomposites

Abstract A hybrid-clay nanocomposite was prepared by dispersing organically modified layered silicates (organoclay) into an organic–inorganic hybrid matrix. Layered silicates were dispersed in a hybrid matrix consisting of an alkoxysilane terminated amide acid oligomer and tetraethoxysilane. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD) confirmed uniform dispersion and a high degree of predominantly exfoliated layered silicates. Storage modulus of the hybrid film containing 5 wt% exfoliated clay was 300% higher above the glass transition temperature and 30% higher at room temperature. The room temperature tensile strength and elongation to break decreased moderately with increasing clay loading. This approach provided a means of achieving excellent dispersion of predominantly exfoliated clay by reacting hydroxyl groups in the inorganic and organic precursors with hydroxyl groups at the edges of the clay layers.
Theory of inelastic ion-atom scattering at low and intermediate energies

Ab initio calculations are presented of inelastic energy loss and ionization phenomena associated with Ar(+)-Ar collisions at small distances of closest approach and for laboratory collision energies ranging from several keV to several hundred keV. Outer-shell excitations are handled statistically; inner-shell excitations are calculated from the viewpoint of quasidiabatic molecular orbital promotion. Auger electron yield, average state of ionization, and average inelastic energy loss are calculated per collision as a function of distance of closest approach of the collision partners for several laboratory collision energies. Average charge-state probabilities per collision partner are calculated as a function of the average inelastic energy loss per atom. It is shown that the structure in the data is due to the underlying structure in the inner-shell independent-electron quasimolecular promotion probabilities.
Two‐dimensional electrophoresis of proteins in human retinal pigment epithelial cells: Identification of cytoskeletal proteins

Two-dimensional gel (2-D) electrophoresis coupled to fluorography was used to obtain the [35S]-methionine labeled protein profiles of cultured human retinal pigment epithelial cells. These patterns revealed about 250 polypeptides in the largely acidic isoelectric focusing 2-D profile and approximately 200 in the mainly basic non-equilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis 2-D profile. The isolation of a detergent-resistant cytoskeletal preparation revealed an enriched content of intermediate-sized (7–10 nm) filaments as shown by electron microscopy. Two-dimensional analysis (acidic isoelectric focusing, 2-D) of the cytoskeletal preparation showed about 30 major proteins including non-muscle actin, which had their counterparts in the total retinal pigment epithelium protein profile. These studies have begun to establish the subcellular local (filaments) and identity of some of the currently visualized 450 different retinal pigment epithelium proteins.
Contrasts in Energy Intake and Expenditure in Sit-and-Wait and Widely Foraging Lizards

Daily energy metabolism and water flux were measured with doubly labeled water in the free-living insectivorous lizards Cnemidophorus tigris (mean body mass 15.7 g) and Callisaurus draconoides (8.6 g) in June 1979 in the Colorado Desert of California. C. tigris was an active forager; it spent 91% of its 5-h daily activity period in movement. C. draconoides was a sit-and-wait predator; it spent less than 2% of its 10-h activity period in movement. C. tigris had significantly higher rates of field energy metabolism and water influx (210 Jg-1 day-1, 36.8 ul H2O g-1 day-1, N=19) than C. draconoides (136, 17.1, N=18). There were no significant differences between the sexes within either species.The extra costs of free existence were calculated from differences between field metabolic rates and maintenance costs estimated from laboratory respirometry. Rates of energy metabolism during the field activity period were about 1.5x resting levels at 40° C (∼field active body temperature) for C. draconoides and 3.3 x resting levels at 40° C (∼field active body temperature) for the more active C. tigris. Feeding rates calculated from water influx data were 13.3 mg g-1 day-1 for C. tigris and 5.8 mg g-1 day-1 for C. draconoides. Though C. tigris had a high rate of energy expenditure, its foraging efficiency [Formula: see text] was higher than C. draconoides'.
A 3-month-old girl with a rash on her neck and upper chest

was made, and topical nystatin was prescribed, which was duly being applied by the mother as advised. Despite this, her mother felt that the rash had become worse in ap-pearance and distribution. On the day of presentation, the mother noted a bloody discharge from the site of the rash. The child was otherwise well, feeding nor-mally and gaining weight. The family history was noncontributory. On examination the infant appeared well, was afebrile, with abnormal ﬁ nd-
Direction of DNA sequences within chromatids determined using strand-specific FISH.

The 5′ to 3′ direction of DNA strands within chromatids of metaphase chromosomes can be determined by using simultaneous hybridization of a single strand of the telomere probe and a single strand of a repetitive sequence to slides pretreated for strand-specific hybridization. The telomere probe identifies the direction of the DNA helical strand remaining in each chromatid of the metaphase chromosomes. The direction of the repetitive sequence is then determined from the direction of the strand to which it hybridizes. This method was used to determine the 5′ to 3′ direction of three repetitive DNA sequences, each for a different human repeat family.
Metal-organic deposition of thin-film yttria-stabilized zirconia-titania

Mixed-conducting yttria-stabilized zirconia-titania (YZTi) has attractive applications in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC’s) and electrocatalysis, particularly when used as a thin film to reduce its electrical resistance. Thin films of yttria (12 mol %) stabilized zirconia-titania (8 mol %) have been prepared using metal-organic deposition (MOD) whereby metal-organic solutions of Zr-, Y-, and Ti-2-ethylhexanoates are spun onto suitable substrates. Variables affecting the film surface-morphology, chemistry, and crystal structure are examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and x-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Uniform, pore-free films having a low carbon content (<1 at. %) are made by sintering on a hot plate at 530 °C. The effect of thermal cycling on the chemical compatibility and adherence is examined for YZTi films on yttria-stabilized zirconia substrates.
Effects of government public relations on international news coverage

Abstract Using content analysis of an international newspaper and a government publication, this study examines the influence of newsworthiness and public relations efforts on international news coverage, one of the key sources for understanding other countries. Grounded in gatekeeping theory, this study hypothesizes strong relations between three variables (newsworthiness, public relations involvement, and international news coverage) in the context of several South Korean news stories.
Measurements of L 2 − and L 3 -Subshell Fluorescence Yields in Heavy Elements

Measurements have been made of ${L}_{2}\ensuremath{-}$ and ${L}_{3}$-subshell x-ray fluorescence yields, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$ and ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}$, for elements $Z=71\ensuremath{-}83, 90, \mathrm{and} 92$. The method consisted of photoexciting $K$-shell vacancies in thin metal or oxide samples; observing with a Ge(Li) spectrometer the $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}$ and $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$ x rays emitted as the $K$ vacancies were filled by electrons from ${L}_{3}$ or ${L}_{2}$ subshells; and counting, with a detector of calculated efficiency, the $L$ x rays (unresolved) which signify radiative filling of those vacancies. The directly measured quantities were ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}$ and ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{2}={\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}+{f}_{23}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}$. The quantity ${f}_{23}$ was taken as 0.13\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.13 to estimate ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$. The estimated precision (2 standard deviations) varies between 8 and 15%. The ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{2}$ data agree with previous work. The ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{2}$ values lie above most previous results. The ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{3}$ values substantiate other recent experimental work, but exceed earlier estimates. The yields increase monotonically with increasing atomic number, within the limit of precision. Results with an alternative experimental arrangement indicate a small angular correlation in $K\ensuremath{-}{L}_{3}\ensuremath{-}M$, $N$ x-ray cascades.
Electronic states at unrelaxed and relaxed GaAs (110) surfaces

We have shown that, using a general class of Hamiltonians, the transfer-matrix technique may be used to obtain exact solutions for the electronic states at any crystal surface bounded by semi-infinite bulk. This result is formally generalized as a theorem and is used to study the electronic states at a clean GaAs (110) surface. The calculation employs an empirical tight-binding Hamiltonian which realistically models the GaAs surface and allows meaningful comparison with both experiments and self-consistent pseudopotential calculations. Surface states are calculated for the clean (110) surface, and a variety of structural relaxations are studied.
Biodegradation of nitrophenol compounds and the membrane fouling trends in different submerged membrane bioreactors

Abstract Phenolic compounds are commonly used in industry and discharged into water. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of submerged membrane bioreactors (MBRs) to simultaneously remove nitrophenols (metabolic uncouplers) and inorganic nitrogen compounds from wastewater and to determine the membrane fouling trends in two different types of MBRs: CSTR-MBR (continuous stirred tank reactor MBR) and MLE-MBR (modified Ludzack Ettinger MBR). At a target solids retention time of 110 day, a mixture of nitrophenol compounds (2-nitrophenol, 3-nitrophenol, 4-nitrophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol) was continuously dosed to the MBRs at the influent concentrations of 0.05 mM each. The nitrophenol removal efficiencies ranged from 87% to 96% while the total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiencies were 52% and 75% for the CSTR-MBR and MLE-MBR, respectively. The metabolic uncoupling by nitrophenols resulted in lower adenosine triphosphate (ATP) yield of 0.06 mg/g VSS and bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of 20.5 mg/g VSS from the CSTR-MBR compared to the values of 0.10 mg ATP/g VSS and 30.7 mg EPS/g VSS from the MLE-MBR. There was a direct relationship between the EPS content and fouling, as membranes were less susceptible to fouling in the CSTR-MBR because of the reduced release of EPS due to the metabolic uncoupling by nitrophenols. These results suggest that both MBRs are effective in removing nitrophenols. While the MLE operation resulted in more efficient nitrogen removal, the CSTR-MBR configuration appears to be superior with less membrane fouling, an added benefit to the CSTR process, which is capable of reducing the toxicity of chemicals due to rapid mixing and dilution and widely used in industrial operations.