cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetic evaluation of vortioxetine for the treatment of major depressive disorder

Introduction: Major depressive disorder (MDD), one of the most common disorders in medical practice and one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, is frequently comorbid with anxiety disorders. Vortioxetine (Lu AA21004) is a new antidepressant that combines a number of neurotransmitter reuptake and receptor effects that have been thought to predict efficacy as a treatment for depressive and anxiety disorders. Areas covered: This review summarizes the pharmacology and neurobiology of vortioxetine. Studies of its efficacy and tolerability in major depression and generalized anxiety disorder are critically reviewed. Expert opinion: Despite the fact that industry-sponsored studies are more likely than other clinical trials to support efficacy of the experimental drug, results have been mixed. Some studies supported that vortioxetine is superior to placebo in the treatment of MDD and some do not. Two studies supported the efficacy of vortioxetine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and two...
Teaching as a profession and as a career: Minority candidates' perspectives

Abstract A case study of teacher candidates from three ethnic groups—Asian American, African-American, and Hispanic—in a state university in the U.S. reveal both similarities and differences in views on teaching as a profession and as a career between these students and their mainstream—white/Caucasian—peers. While the majority of the candidates under the study are proud of becoming members of the teaching profession, only one third of them plan to take teaching as a lifelong career. Emotional aspects (stress, frustration) appear to be the major cause for white teachers to leave the profession whereas the minority candidates are more likely to leave teaching when there are opportunities for them to do something else more rewarding. Although all the prospective teachers entered teaching for traditional altruistic reasons, the minority candidates were also motivated by their awareness of the inequalities in the existing educational and social establishments. Therefore, many minority candidates have clear and strong visions for social justice and for their own roles as change agents in the schools and society. Most of the white students, on the other hand, do not have these visions largely because of their optimal prior schooling experiences. It is argued that the minority candidates should be considered as the most important resource in restructuring teacher education programs and that efforts should be made to recruit and retain more qualified minority teachers in the teaching profession.
A 0.5 V high-speed comparator with rail-to-rail input range

A 0.5 V high-speed comparator with rail-to-rail input range is presented. Unlike conventional rail-to-rail comparators that use both NMOS and PMOS input devices, the proposed design takes advantage of zero-V t NMOS devices that are available in many CMOS processes tailored for analog and mixed signal applications. Design issues associated with the use of zero-V t devices in comparator circuits are analyzed. Based on a 0.13 μm CMOS technology, the proposed design is compared with recently reported sub 1 V comparators and it shows significant performance improvement by the proposed design.
Targeting latent TGFβ release in muscular dystrophy

Latent transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) binding proteins (LTBPs) bind to inactive TGFβ in the extracellular matrix. In mice, muscular dystrophy symptoms are intensified by a genetic polymorphism that changes the hinge region of LTBP, leading to increased proteolytic susceptibility and TGFβ release. We have found that the hinge region of human LTBP4 was also readily proteolysed and that proteolysis could be blocked by an antibody to the hinge region. Transgenic mice were generated to carry a bacterial artificial chromosome encoding the human LTBP4 gene. These transgenic mice displayed larger myofibers, increased damage after muscle injury, and enhanced TGFβ signaling. In the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the human LTBP4 transgene exacerbated muscular dystrophy symptoms and resulted in weaker muscles with an increased inflammatory infiltrate and greater LTBP4 cleavage in vivo. Blocking LTBP4 cleavage may be a therapeutic strategy to reduce TGFβ release and activity and decrease inflammation and muscle damage in muscular dystrophy.
Phase-Shifting Interferometry for the Study of the Step Dynamics During Crystallization of Proteins

We have developed a novel phase-shifting interferometry technique for high-resolution in-situ investigations of the unsteady dynamics of growth steps during the crystallization of proteins. The phase-shifting algorithm employs five-image sequences captured with a phase shift of π/2; digital processing of the sequence allows reconstruction of the surface morphology with a depth resolution <5 nm and a lateral resolution of 0.5 μm across a field of view as wide as 1 mm. Such sequences can be recorded with a frequency of ∼1 s -1 and allow monitoring of the appearance and evolution of local morphology features, such as step bunches. Time traces of the variations of the growth rate and local slope (proportional to the density of the growth steps) at up to 10 select locations on a studied crystals facet are recorded with time resolution that can be as low as 0.2 s. Application of this technique to the ferritin crystals shows extensive fluctuations of growth rate and local slope as a result of step bunching.
Characteristics of bulk-barrier switching devices with InGaAsGaAs delta-doped quantum wells

Abstract Switching devices with InGaAsGaAs quantum-well structures have been fabricated and studied. The InGaAsGaAs quantum wells in which delta-doped (δ-doped) sheets were inserted produced potential wells for carrier confinement. Due to the potential redistribution, the interesting single and double negative-differential-resistance (NDR) phenomena were observed in the current-voltage ( I - V ) characteristics of these devices. The property of a bulk-barrier structure, which was employed in the studied switching devices, is also investigated. The experimental results show that the temperature variation provides a significant influence on the device performance.
Antibody to S100a6 protein is a sensitive immunohistochemical marker for neurothekeoma.

Background: Neurothekeoma is a benign tumor of putative peripheral nerve sheath origin. It occurs in a myxoid (classic) variant, cellular variant, and intermediate (mixed) variant. Cellular neurothekeoma (CNT) usually involves the head and neck or extremities of young patients. Histologically, CNT can be confused with melanocytic and fibrohistiocytic lesions. An immunohistochemical antibody panel is often necessary to confirm the histological impression and exclude melanocytic and/or fibrohistiocytic lesions. Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded archival tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using antibodies specific for S100A6 and PGP9.5 in 11 cases of neurothekeoma (seven cellular, four myxoid). A variety of other antibodies were evaluated by immunohistochemistry at the time of initial diagnosis. Results: All 11 neurothekeoma cases were positive for S100A6 protein (four cases, weak/1+ ; seven cases, strong/2+), corresponding to 100% sensitivity. In contrast, eight of 11 neurothekeoma cases (73% sensitivity) were positive for PGP9.5. All seven CNT cases were negative for S100B, as expected. Conclusions: Anti-S100A6 is a highly sensitive antibody for neurothekeomas, including CNT, and, in our experience, is superior in sensitivity to PGP9.5. However, like other antibodies used in evaluating neurothekeomas, S100A6 lacks specificity, as has been demonstrated in previous studies. Nevertheless, S100A6 can be useful in an immunohistochemical antibody panel to evaluate lesions where the differential diagnosis includes CNT.
The relationship between Pepper mottle virus source leaf and spread of infection through the stem of Capsicum sp.

Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) systemically infects Capsicum sp. in a typical source-to-sink manner with movement through the stem occurring in a predictable pattern. This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the inoculated leaf as a source of inoculum and the spread of PepMoV infection through the stem. C. annuum‘Early Calwonder’ plants were mechanically inoculated onto the first leaf with PepMoV and sets of 30 plants had their inoculated leaves removed each day from 1 through 7 days post-inoculation (dpi) with the inoculated leaves tested for infection by ELISA at the time of excision. Beginning at 2 dpi, PepMoV infection in the stem of plants with the inoculated leaf excised and plants of a nonexcision control treatment was determined using immuno-tissue blot analysis. PepMoV was detected in inoculated leaves beginning at 3 dpi with the percentage of infected leaves increasing each day through 7 dpi. PepMoV was first detected in the stem of inoculated plants of the 3 dpi excision treatment. The accumulation and extent of spread of infection in the stem was similar for plants that had their inoculated leaf removed at a time preceding detection by ELISA to plants in the nonexcision control treatment. These findings suggest that once virus is allowed to enter the stem from the inoculated leaf, subsequent spread of infection through the stem is a process independent from the source leaf.
Dynamics and mixing of vortex rings in crossflow

Direct numerical simulation is used to study the effect of crossflow on the dynamics, entrainment and mixing characteristics of vortex rings issuing from a circular nozzle. Three distinct regimes exist, depending on the velocity ratio (ratio of the average nozzle exit velocity to free-stream crossflow velocity) and stroke ratio (ratio of stroke length to nozzle exit diameter). Coherent vortex rings are not obtained at velocity ratios below approximately 2. At these low velocity ratios, the vorticity in the crossflow boundary layer inhibits roll-up of the nozzle boundary layer at the leading edge. As a result, a hairpin vortex forms instead of a vortex ring. For large stroke ratios and velocity ratio below 2, a series of hairpin vortices is shed downstream. The shedding is quite periodic for very low Reynolds numbers. For velocity ratios above 2, two regimes are obtained depending upon the stroke ratio. Lower stroke ratios yield a coherent asymmetric vortex ring, while higher stroke ratios yield an asymmetric vortex ring accompanied by a trailing column of vorticity. These two regimes are separated by a transition stroke ratio whose value decreases with decreasing velocity ratio. For very high values of the velocity ratio, the transition stroke ratio approaches the ‘formation number’. In the absence of trailing vorticity, the vortex ring tilts towards the upstream direction, while the presence of a trailing column causes it to tilt downstream. This behaviour is explained. In the absence of crossflow, the trailing column is not very effective at entrainment, and is best avoided for optimal mixing and entrainment. However, in the presence of crossflow, the trailing column is found to contribute significantly to the overall mixing and entrainment. The trailing column interacts with the crossflow to generate a region of high pressure downstream of the nozzle that drives crossflow fluid towards the vortex ring. There is an optimal length of the trailing column for maximum downstream entrainment. A classification map which categorizes the different regimes is developed.
RI-1: A chemical inhibitor of RAD51 that disrupts Homologous recombination in human cells

Homologous recombination serves multiple roles in DNA repair that are essential for maintaining genomic stability. We here describe RI-1, a small molecule that inhibits the central recombination protein RAD51. RI-1 specifically reduces gene conversion in human cells while stimulating single strand annealing. RI-1 binds covalently to the surface of RAD51 protein at cysteine 319 that likely destabilizes an interface used by RAD51 monomers to oligomerize into filaments on DNA. Correspondingly, the molecule inhibits the formation of subnuclear RAD51 foci in cells following DNA damage, while leaving replication protein A focus formation unaffected. Finally, it potentiates the lethal effects of a DNA cross-linking drug in human cells. Given that this inhibitory activity is seen in multiple human tumor cell lines, RI-1 holds promise as an oncologic drug. Furthermore, RI-1 represents a unique tool to dissect the network of reaction pathways that contribute to DNA repair in cells.
Inhibition of Transcription and Translation in Sindbis Virus-Infected Cells

Alphaviruses are arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) that include a number of important human and animal pathogens. The natural transmission cycle of alphaviruses requires their presence at high concentrations in the blood of amplification hosts for efficient infection of mosquito vectors. The high-titer viremia development implies multiple rounds of infection that proceed in the background of the developing antiviral cell response aimed at blocking virus spread on an organismal level. Therefore, as for many viruses, if not most of them, alphaviruses have evolved mechanisms directed toward downregulating different components of the antiviral cell reaction and increasing viremia to a level sufficient for the next round of transmission. Using Sindbis virus (SIN) as a model, we demonstrated that (i) the replication of wild-type SIN strongly affects major cellular processes, e.g., transcription and translation of mRNAs; (ii) transcriptional and translational shutoffs are distinctly independent events, and their development can be differentially manipulated by creating different mutations in SIN nonstructural protein nsP2; and (iii) inhibition of transcription, but not translation, is a critical mechanism that SIN employs to suppress the expression of cellular viral stress-inducible genes in cells of vertebrate origin. Downregulation of transcription of all of the cellular mRNAs appears to be a very efficient means of reducing the development of an antiviral response. The ability to cause transcriptional shutoff may partially determine SIN host range and replication in particular tissues.
Lysophosphatidic Acid‐Induced Neurite Retraction in PC12 Cells: Neurite‐Protective Effects of Cyclic AMP Signaling

Effects of the cyclic AMP second messenger system were studied on the retraction of neurites elicited by the phospholipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in PC12 cells. LPA stimulation inhibited adenylyl cyclase, indicating that the LPA receptor couples to the heterotrimeric Gi proteins. However, pertussis toxin or expression of dominant negative Ras did not prevent neurite retraction. In contrast, cholera toxin, forskolin, and application of dibutyryl-cyclic AMP prevented neurite retraction. The neurite-protective effect of forskolin was blocked by Rp-adenosine 3',5'-phosphorothioate. Forskolin and dibutyryl-cyclic AMP both failed to protect neurites in A126-1B2 and 123.7 cells, which lack cyclic AMP-activated protein kinase. Data indicate that elevation of cyclic AMP levels triggers a cyclic AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent mechanism that opposes the functioning of the morphoregulatory signaling activated by LPA. ADP-ribosylation of Rho by the Clostridium botulinum C-3 toxin in 123.7 cells caused neuronal differentiation, indicated by neurite extension, and blocked LPA-induced neurite retraction. LPA activates Gq- and Gi-linked signaling in parallel; therefore, a morphoregulatory signaling network hypothesis is proposed versus the simplistic approach of a signaling pathway. The signaling network integrates the receptor-activated individual, sequential, and parallel signaling events into an interactive network whose individual components may fulfill required and permissive functions encoding the cellular response.
The effect of bacterially produced vitamin B12 analogues (cobamides) on the in vitro absorption of cyanocabalamin.

An incubation system containing rat jejunoileum was used to determine whether analogues of cyanocobahamin (CNCb1) inhibited the in vitro absorption of CNCb1. The naturally occurring analogues "pseudo B,2," "factor A," and the nonnaturally occurring analogue desde- methyl B12,were produced by guided biosynthesiswith Propionibacterium arabinosum. Factor B was produced by acid cleavage of cyanocobalamin. Inhibition of Co57-CNCb1 uptake was demon- strated for cold CNCb1 and for desdemethyl B52,although statistical significance was achieved only for cold CNCbI at 40x and lOOx the molar quantity of the radiohabehed CNCbI. However, a trend towards progressive inhibition of specific CNCbI binding was shown as increasing concentrations of CNCb1 or desdemethyl B were used. No inhibition of specific CNCbI binding could be demonstrated for any of the naturally occurring cobamides tested. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 32: 1832- 1836, 1979.
Changes in sources and storage in a karst aquifer during a transition from drought to wet conditions

summary Understanding the sources and processes that control groundwater compositions and the timing and magnitude of groundwater vulnerability to potential surface-water contamination under varying meteorologic conditions is critical to informing groundwater protection policies and practices. This is especially true in karst terrains, where infiltrating surface water can rapidly affect groundwater quality. We analyzed the evolution of groundwater compositions (major ions and Sr isotopes) during the transition from extreme drought to wet conditions, and used inverse geochemical modeling (PHREEQC) to constrain controls on groundwater compositions during this evolution. Spring water and groundwater from two wells dominantly receiving diffuse and conduit flow (termed diffuse site and conduit site, respectively) in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards aquifer (central Texas, USA) and surface water from losing streams that recharge the aquifer were sampled every 3–4 weeks during November 2008–March 2010. During this period, water compositions at the spring and conduit sites changed rapidly but there was no change at the diffuse site, illustrating the dual nature (i.e., diffuse vs. conduit) of flow in this karst system. Geochemical modeling demonstrated that, within a month of the onset of wet conditions, the majority of spring water and groundwater at the conduit site was composed of surface water, providing quantitative information on the timing and magnitude of the vulnerability of groundwater to potential surface-water contamination. The temporal pattern of increasing spring discharge and changing pattern of covariation between spring discharge and surface-water (steam) recharge indicates that that there were two modes of aquifer response—one with a small amount of storage and a second that accommodates more storage.
Pediatric Radiopharmaceutical Administered Doses: 2010 North American Consensus Guidelines

Dose reduction has been a work in progress in pediatric imaging for nearly a decade. A 1996 report indicated that the long-term risk of carcinogenesis due to ionizing radiation in atomic bomb survivors was higher than had been previously estimated. For solid tumors, representing about 75% of excess
Selection of a checkpoint interval in a critical-task environment

The selection of an optimal checkpointing strategy has most often been considered in the transaction processing environment where systems are allowed unlimited repairs. In this environment an optimal strategy maximizes the time spent in the normal operating state and consequently the rate of transaction processing. This paper seeks a checkpoint strategy which maximizes the probability of critical-task completion on a system with limited repairs. These systems can undergo failure and repair only until a repair time exceeds a specified threshold, at which time the system is deemed to have failed completely. For such systems, a model is derived which yields the probability of completing the critical task when each checkpoint operation has fixed cost. The optimal number of checkpoints can increase as system reliability improves. The model is extended to include a constraint which enforces timely completion of the critical task. >
MAP Kinase Pathways in the Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A cascade of three protein kinases known as a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is commonly found as part of the signaling pathways in eukaryotic cells. Almost two decades of genetic and biochemical experimentation plus the recently completed DNA sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome have revealed just five functionally distinct MAPK cascades in this yeast. Sexual conjugation, cell growth, and adaptation to stress, for example, all require MAPK-mediated cellular responses. A primary function of these cascades appears to be the regulation of gene expression in response to extracellular signals or as part of specific developmental processes. In addition, the MAPK cascades often appear to regulate the cell cycle and vice versa. Despite the success of the gene hunter era in revealing these pathways, there are still many significant gaps in our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms for activation of these cascades and how the cascades regulate cell function. For example, comparison of different yeast signaling pathways reveals a surprising variety of different types of upstream signaling proteins that function to activate a MAPK cascade, yet how the upstream proteins actually activate the cascade remains unclear. We also know that the yeast MAPK pathways regulate each other and interact with other signaling pathways to produce a coordinated pattern of gene expression, but the molecular mechanisms of this cross talk are poorly understood. This review is therefore an attempt to present the current knowledge of MAPK pathways in yeast and some directions for future research in this area.
Tapping into Technology: Experiencing Music in a Child's Digital World.

In our growing digital age, young children are inevitably exposed to a variety of technology and media devices. We see 2-year olds taking “selfies” on their parents’ phones, iPads and e-readers filled with children’s books and games, and thousands of songs stored on iPods for children to listen to and sing along. The ways in which young children experience music has drastically changed during the past few years. As parents, we see our children explore and use the most advanced devices, but as teachers, we know that our classrooms may not necessarily have the resources to support music learning through these (often expensive) devices. This article examines how children are experiencing music in their digital world, and provides ideas for encouraging music listening, music making, and music watching, in ways that are appropriate for young children. All of these ideas can be implemented in home and school settings and include the use of a variety of digital media.
Fungicide Sensitivity of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa from Golf Courses in Ohio

Jo, Y.-K., Niver, A. L., Rimelspach, J. W., and Boehm, M. J. 2006. Fungicide sensitivity of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa from golf courses in Ohio. Plant Dis. 90:807-813. Managing dollar spot, the most common and chronic disease on intensively cultivated turfgrass, relies on the judicious use of fungicides. The heavy use of fungicides has led to the development of isolates of Sclerotinia homoeocarpa insensitive to several classes of fungicides, including benzimidazoles, demethylation-inhibitors, and dicarboximides. In vitro fungicide sensitivity assays using single discriminatory concentrations of thiophanate-methyl, propiconazole, and iprodione were developed in this study for evaluating field efficacy of these fungicides and the prevalence of fungicide insensitivity within S. homoeocarpa isolated from golf courses throughout Ohio. Discriminatory concentrations for these fungicides were determined to be: thiophanate-methyl = 1,000 µg a.i. ml –1 , propiconazole = 0.1 µg a.i. ml –1 , and iprodione = 1.0 µg a.i. ml –1 . Effective concentration that produces 50% inhibition (EC50) was estimated based on relative mycelial growth of S. homoeocarpa on potato dextrose agar (PDA) versus PDA amended with the discriminatory concentration of each fungicide. Field trials conducted at 3 locations in 2002 and 10 locations in 2003 revealed that the in vitro assays accurately predicted field efficacy for thiophanate-methyl. When used to screen 192 S. homoeocarpa isolates collected previously from 55 golf courses throughout Ohio, the in vitro assays revealed that 34 of the golf courses sampled had S. homoeocarpa resistant to thiophanate-methyl. S. homoeocarpa with reduced in vitro sensitivities was isolated from 18 and 1 golf courses for propiconazole and iprodione, respectively.
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Upregulation in Human Gingival Fibroblasts Incubated With Nornicotine

Background: Clinical and epidemiological data strongly support a link between smoking and periodontal disease. The mechanism by which smoking contributes to the destruction of periodontal tissue is not clear and cannot be attributed solely to the vasoconstrictive effects of nicotine. Our hypothesis is that nornicotine, a metabolite of nicotine, upregulates the expression of the receptor for the advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in the gingiva of smokers and triggers the proinflammatory effects of AGE by stimulating the secretion of cytokines and reactive oxygen species which directly cause destruction of the periodontal apparatus. Methods: Human gingival cells grown in tissue culture were exposed to 1 µM nornicotine for 72 hours. Following the nornicotine pretreatment, some of the cells were also treated with AGE that was generated with nornicotine for 48 hours and another group was continued on nornicotine only for 48 hours. Control cells that were not exposed to either nornicotine or AGE were also ...
The legacies of partial possession: From agrarian struggle to neoliberal restructuring in Mexico and Colombia

How have communities in Latin America responded to neoliberal agrarian reforms? We address this question via an incorporated comparison of two regions affected by rural restructuring: La Laguna, Mexico and Viejo Caldas, Colombia. Prior to the introduction of market-led reforms, agricultural producers in both regions were heavily dependent on state support, yet in neither did they mobilize to resist neoliberal policies that were incompatible with the prevailing system of state-managed commercial agriculture. What explains this outcome? We argue that acquiescence to neoliberalism was, paradoxically, a legacy of agrarian unrest: In response to major mobilizations, historic land reforms were carried out in La Laguna and Viejo Caldas during the 1930s that created regional political economies organized around cotton and coffee, respectively. Over time, these economies evolved into regimes of ‘partial possession’ wherein the social reproduction of rural livelihoods came to depend on specific state institutions: the Ejido Bank in Mexico and Fedecafe in Colombia. We attribute the absence of organized opposition to neoliberal reforms in La Laguna and Viejo Caldas to the conservatizing political transformation that partial possession engendered. In so doing, we highlight the importance of regional histories in shaping popular responses to neoliberal restructuring across the variegated landscape of Latin America’s countryside.
The determination of estrone, equilin, and equilenin by infrared spectrophotometry

A method is described for the determination of estrone, equilin, and equilenin in mixtures by infrared spectrophotometry. Optical density measurements are made at a selected absorption peak for each component, and from these data the concentration of each ketosteroid is determined by a graphical approximation method.
Perceptions of Collective Effcacy and Bullying Perpetration in Schools

Bullying is an important social problem that occurs within a bounded social setting. As such, it is best understood by analyzing the social dynamics that produce and sustain it. However, previous research has tended to view bullying as a manifestation of personal pathology or amorphous characteristics of contexts. The present study addresses this gap in the literature by applying the construct of collective efficacy to account for variations in the frequency of bullying perpetration within schools. Just as collective efficacy provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics of bullying in schools, these settings also provide an ideal social context for testing collective efficacy theory. The reason is that schools are clearly defined contexts with regular, ongoing social interactions among students, teachers, school staff, and administrators. In the present study, both lagged cross-sectional (LCS) models and fall-to-spring change (FSC) models were estimated to determine the empirical relations between student perceptions of collective efficacy and bullying perpetration, using data collected from 7,299 youth in fifth, eighth, and eleventh grades in 78 schools. Two key results were found: (1) perceptions of collective efficacy were negatively, significantly, and substantially associated with the frequency of bullying perpetration within schools over time, and (2) of the three components of collective efficacy (cohesion and trust, informal social control by adults, informal social control by peers) identified in a principal components factor analysis, cohesion and trust had the strongest estimated effects in all models estimated. Findings suggest that collective efficacy theory can provide a useful framework for capturing important dynamics of bullying in schools with important implications for prevention and intervention.
Effects of chemical pretreatments on the hydrogen isotope composition of 2:1 clay minerals.

RATIONALE Clays are a commonly occurring authigenic mineral within soils, and the hydrogen isotope ratios of their structural hydroxyl groups can serve as a useful environmental proxy. Chemical and physical treatments are necessary to eliminate contaminating materials from clays, but they have the potential to alter their isotopic composition. METHODS Several pure, commonly occurring 2:1 clay mineralogies were treated with typical chemical procedures for the removal of carbonates, organic matter, and amorphous hydroxides. Samples were heated under vacuum to remove the adsorbed and interlayer water that occurs universally in natural clays. The samples were then analyzed for hydrogen content and isotope ratios through thermal conversion elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (TC-EA/IRMS). RESULTS No effects on hydrogen composition were found for most of the analyzed mineralogies. Smectite samples showed significant alteration following treatments for carbonate and organic matter. In addition, the smectites showed variable levels of hydrogen exchange with isotopically labeled H2O. CONCLUSIONS Smectites show significant and highly variable alteration following common chemical treatments, and analysis for paleoclimate reconstruction is problematic. A minor amount of H isotope exchange is likely at temperatures sufficient to remove adsorbed water, and efforts must be made to minimize and quantify this exchange during analyses of clay samples. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
‘The hope for white and black’? race, labour and the state in South Africa and The United States, 1924–1956

This article compares US and South African labour relations from 1935 to 1956, a period that saw the rise and decline of left‐led trade unions, significant initiatives of independent black trade unionism, and a new receptivity on the part of some white trade unionists to cooperation with the black working class. However, interracial unionism in both the US and South Africa fell victim to a post‐war anti‐left purge, unfavourable legal structures and right‐wing trade union factions. Consequently, blacks in the US looked to the racially liberal state to attack racism, but the civil rights movement lacked the mass participation of black workers. In South Africa, the state offered white workers protection against black encroachment and denied black workers a place in the trade‐union movement. As a result, black workers played an integral part in the liberation movement. In both cases, the defeat of interracial unionism can be attributed primarily to state action, not working‐class racism.
Caffeine enhances upper body strength in resistance-trained women

Research has indicated that low-to-moderate dosages of caffeine supplementation are ergogenic for sustained endurance efforts as well as high-intensity exercise. The effects of caffeine supplementation on strength-power performance are equivocal, with some studies indicating a benefit and others demonstrating no change in performance. The majority of research that has examined the effects of caffeine supplementation on strength-power performance has been carried out in both trained and untrained men. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of caffeine supplementation on strength and muscular endurance in resistance-trained women. In a randomized manner, 15 women consumed caffeine (6 mg/kg) or placebo (PL) seven days apart. Sixty min following supplementation, participants performed a one-repetition maximum (1RM) barbell bench press test and repetitions to failure at 60% of 1RM. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were assessed at rest, 60 minutes post-consumption, and immediately following completion of repetitions to failure. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significantly greater bench press maximum with caffeine (p ≤ 0.05) (52.9 ± 11.1 kg vs. 52.1 ± 11.7 kg) with no significant differences between conditions in 60% 1RM repetitions (p = 0.81). Systolic blood pressure was significantly greater post-exercise, with caffeine (p < 0.05) (116.8 ± 5.3 mmHg vs. 112.9 ± 4.9 mmHg). These findings indicate a moderate dose of caffeine may be sufficient for enhancing strength performance in resistance-trained women.
Dual MBA/Medical Degrees For Doctors

With the dramatic changes ushered in by managed care with the promise of even more change with new policies and medical budget pressures, medical schools face the challenge of adapting curricula to prepare physicians for the new demands of health care delivery. Medical students have different tolerances for learning management skills, but medical schools are finding persistent demand for dual degree programs which deliver such skills from a core of students - in some schools amounting to as much as 10% of the medical school students. Over the last two decades, the number of medical schools offering a dual medical/MBA program has expanded from less than 10% to nearly 50% of U.S. medical schools, both for Allopathic and Osteopathic medicine. Schools which had already offered dual medical/MPH programs were particularly likely to add the dual medical/MBA degrees. While schools are learning how to realize the advantages for the few students who undertake dual degrees, they still face a monumental task to reach the rest of the students.
Co-stimulatory pathways in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis

Although T lymphocytes are widely recognized as important effector cells in the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), therapies targeting T cell populations have not been clinically successful, largely due to the toxicity associated with nonspecific T cell depletion. An alternative approach involves targeting T cell activation, a process that requires two distinct signals. In addition to the cognate interaction between the T cell receptor on T cells and antigen bound to the major histocompatibility complex on the antigen-presenting cell (APC), a second, co-stimulatory, signal is required for T cell activation. Therapies targeting co-stimulatory pathways, aimed at modifying the activation of T cells, rather than reducing their absolute numbers, may be an effective alternative to T cell depletion in RA and other rheumatic diseases. One such treatment, abatacept (CTLA4Ig), a fusion protein combining cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and a portion of the Fc domain of human IgG1, has been approved in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of RA. Abatacept may modulate the T cell or the APC to produce several different outcomes within the joint, including down-regulation of T cell activation, stimulation of T cell apoptosis, or possibly modulation of T regulatory cell activity. In large, controlled trials in patients with RA with an inadequate response to either methotrexate or TNF antagonists, abatacept effectively reduced disease activity. In the methotrexate-inadequate responder population, radiographic progression was slowed when compared to continued treatment with methotrexate alone. The safety profile of this therapy is similar to that of other biological response modifiers, with infection being the most concerning treatment-emergent adverse event. Additional co-stimulatory pathways may offer attractive targets in RA and other immune-mediated diseases, although, to date, none has had the clinical success of abatacept and the related CTLA4Ig fusion protein, belatacept.
Autism and Anxiety: Overlap, Similarities, and Differences

The present chapter provides an overview of current research on the co-occurrence of anxiety and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We first provide a brief history of the evolving conceptualization of these conditions and then summarize the research findings. Findings regarding the prevalence and presentation of anxiety in the context of ASD are offered. Similarities and differences in the quality, frequency, and developmental trajectory of anxiety symptoms in individuals with and without ASD, in particular, are discussed. We consider the methodological and theoretical challenges that have tempered the conclusions that can be drawn from existing studies, and address difficulties both differentiating and characterizing the relationship between anxiety and ASD. Finally, we offer future directions for the improved understanding and study of these conditions.
Palestine Statehood: A Rejoinder to Professor Robert Weston Ash

Professor Robert Weston Ash, in his response to my article The Palestine Declaration to the International Criminal Court: The Statehood Issue [supra in this Volume, Chap. 10—ChM], takes issue with my position that Palestine is a state.
Converses of Napoleon's theorem

Interesting converse results in elementary geometry can often be found by taking certain parts of a figure as given "in position" and investigating the extent to which various other parts of the figure are determined. In this article we use this tactic to obtain some apparently new converses of the well-known theorem of Napoleon. Geometry is more a point of view than a methodology, and we employ a variety of different arguments (synthetic, coordinate, transformational, complex analytic) to establish our results. To set the stage, we begin with an overview of Napoleon's theorem and a glimpse of its long history. 1. NAPOLEON'S THEOREM AND TORRICELLI'S CONFIGURATION. The familiar but curious theorem attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte asserts that the centers L, M, N of the three equilateral triangles ABXC, A CYA, AAZB built outwards on the sides BC, CA, AB of an arbitrary triangle AABC are the vertices of an equilateral triangle, and the same is true of the centers L', M', N' of the three inward equilateral triangles ACX'B, AAY'C, ABZA. The configuration formed by a triangle, the equilateral triangles on its sides, the "Napoleon" triangles, and various connecting lines and circles (commonly called "Torricelli's configuration" a century ago), has many elegant and unexpected properties. The outward case. Suppose (FIGURE 1) that AABC is a positively oriented triangle (so that A -> B -* C -> A is counterclockwise). The outer Napoleon triangle ALMN is also positively oriented, and its center coincides with the centroid G of AABC. Lines AXZ,T Xare concurrent at a point F, called the outward Fermat point of AABC, and F lies on the circumcircle of each outward equilateral triangle ABXC, A CYA, AAZB and also on the circumcircle of the inner Napoleon triangle AL'M'N'. Lines 'CZ make acute angles of 600 with each other at F, and AX = BY = CZ = +AF + BF + CF, a minus sign being taken if the angle of AABC at that vertex exceeds 1200. The vertices A, B, C are symmetric to F in the sidelines MN,O, NL, of the outer Napoleon triangle ALMN. Lines AL, are concurrent. When AABC has a 1200 angle, F is the vertex of that angle; when AABC has an angle larger than 1200, F lies in the angle vertical to that angle; and when every angle of AABC is smaller than 1200, F lies inside AABC and is the point P that solves the problem Fermat posed to Torricelli: minimize f(P) = PA + PB + PC. When the largest angle of AABC exceeds 1200, the solution of Fermat's problem is the vertex of that largest angle. The inward case. Analogous properties hold for the inward case. Suppose (FIGURE 2) that AABC is a positively oriented scalene triangle. The inner Napoleon triangle AL'M'N' is negatively oriented, and its centroid coincides with the centroid G of AABC. Lines A*X, Y, CZ' are concurrent at a point F', called
The effect of age on selected cardiovascular responses to static (isometric) exercise.

SummaryTo determine the effect of age on some cardiovascular responses to static exercise, three groups of male subjects performed handgrip exercise bouts in which each maintained 15 or 30% of his MVC for 3 min. Mean ages for the three groups were 29, 68, and 81 yr. There were no significant differences among the control BPs or HRs of the three groups. At 15% MVC, there were no significant differences in the cardiovascular responses among the groups. At 30% MVC, however, the HR response of the youngest group was significantly greater than that of the middle group, which was significantly greater than the oldest group. Additionally, the diastolic BP response at 30% MVC was significantly greater in the youngest group than in the oldest. No other significant differences were shown at 30% MVC. The results indicate that as a function of increasing age, there is a decrease in the response of HR and diastolic BP to static handgrip exercise.
Quantitation of Heterotic Behavior in Parasitic Hymenoptera

Heterotic behavior in the form of increased parasitization rates, total fecundity, total progeny, and host destruction was measured in crosses between cultures from two South American populations of Muscidifurax raptorellus Kogan and Legner. Determinations of proportional activity increases in hybrids varied with the calculation method, population-based values probably giving more reliable estimates of field performance. A Microsoft BASIC computer program to summarize parasitization activity and to calculate population statistics was developed for solitary and gregarious parasites. Heterotic behavior resulting when newly introduced parasite strains interbreed with resident populations might facilitate the field establishment of desirable selected traits, thereby improving performance in biological control.
Devoutly Anxious: The Relationship Between Anxiety and Religiosity in Adolescence

The present study examined specific religious variables (e.g., religious service attendance, importance of faith) as predictors of anxiety in adolescents. Participants included a subsample of the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care (n 952; 48.3% female; 76.6% Caucasian). Youth completed religiosity measures in early adolescence (6th grade; ages 11–12) and in mid-adolescence (age 15); parents reported on youth religiosity in 5th grade (ages 10–11). Anxiety measures of youth were completed by parents in early adolescence and by youth in mid-adolescence. Results demonstrated a modest positive association between religious service attendance/youth group participation and anxiety in mid-adolescence. Time spent in weekday evening religious activities in early adolescence modestly predicted greater anxiety in mid-adolescence. Finally, youth who increased in religious service attendance experienced greater anxiety in mid-adolescence. The relation was mediated by self-reported guilt. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Surgical management of carotid body tumors: a 15-year single institution experience employing an interdisciplinary approach

Cervical paragangliomas are rare neoplasms that arise from extraadrenal paraganglia in close association with the cranial nerves and extracranial arterial system of the head and neck, and therefore surgical extirpation can be challenging. A retrospective study was conducted of all patients undergoing surgical excision of a cervical paraganglioma between 2000 and 2015. The demographic characteristics, clinical features, surgical approach, and outcomes were reviewed. A total of 20 cervical paragangliomas were excised in 17 patients. There were 14 female and 3 male patients with a mean age of 56.6 ± 17.0 at the time of operation. Twelve patients had unilateral tumors and 5 patients had bilateral tumors. Familial involvement was confirmed by history or direct genetic analysis in 8 (47%) of the 17 patients. There were no malignant paragangliomas, and only 3 patients had tumors that were determined to be functional. Tumor size ranged from 1.3 to 6.0 cm. Two patients required combined arterial resection as part of complete excision of the tumor. There were no permanent operative cranial nerve injuries, no recurrences, minimal morbidity, and no mortality. In conclusion, optimal management of cervical paragangliomas should include a thorough preoperative evaluation, accurate definition of the surgical anatomy, and exclusion of synchronous paragangliomas. A combined therapeutic approach by a multidisciplinary team including surgeons and interventional radiologists provides safe and effective management of cervical paragangliomas with very low morbidity and excellent outcomes.
Vitamin D Status and Cardiovascular Risk

The most important function of vitamin D is known to maintain the balance of human calcium metabolism.Researches have found that vitamin D receptors present in a variety of tissue cells,thus whether vitamin D also has other important biological functions is of a hot topic in recent years,especially the relationship between a lack of vitamin D and cardiovascular risk.Some trials have shown that vitamin D deficiency may increase cardiovascular risk,including hypertension,heart failure and ischemic heart disease,et al.But the pathogenic mechanism and importance are not clear yet.This article summarizes the current hypothesis on the relationship between vitamin D status and cardiovascular risk,and some key researches that have been carried out to explore these hypothesis.
Vinereactor: Crowdsourced Spontaneous Facial Expression Data

Although machines are more pervasive in our everyday lives, we are still forced to interact with them through limited communication channels. Our overarching goal is to support new and complex interactions by teaching the computer to interpret the expressions of the user. Towards this goal, we present Vinereactor, a new labeled database for face analysis and affect recognition. Our dataset is one of the first to explore human expression recognition in response to a stimulus video, enabling a new facet of affect analysis research. Furthermore, our dataset is the largest of its kind, nearly a magnitude larger than its closest related work.
Frequency of feeding, weight reduction, and nutrient utilization.

Further biochemical tests in the study reported in the preceding paper involved carbohydrate and fat metabolism. On one meal a day, oral glucose tolerance was significantly reduced and serum cholesterol significantly increased over that observed on three or six meals a day. Frequency of feeding did not significantly affect xylose absorption, serum phospholipids, or tryglicerides. The latter significantly decreased with weight reduction.