cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimation of shear wave speed in the human uterine cervix

Objectives To explore spatial variability within the cervix and the sensitivity of shear wave speed (SWS) to assess softness/stiffness differences in ripened (softened) vs unripened tissue. Methods We obtained SWS estimates from hysterectomy specimens (n = 22), a subset of which were ripened (n = 13). Multiple measurements were made longitudinally along the cervical canal on both the anterior and posterior sides of the cervix. Statistical tests of differences in the proximal vs distal, anterior vs posterior and ripened vs unripened cervix were performed with individual two-sample t-tests and a linear mixed model. Results Estimates of SWS increase monotonically from distal to proximal longitudinally along the cervix, they vary in the anterior compared to the posterior cervix and they are significantly different in ripened vs unripened cervical tissue. Specifically, the mid position SWS estimates for the unripened group were 3.45 ± 0.95 m/s (anterior; mean ± SD) and 3.56 ± 0.92 m/s (posterior), and 2.11 ± 0.45 m/s (anterior) and 2.68 ± 0.57 m/s (posterior) for the ripened group (P < 0.001). Conclusions We propose that SWS estimation may be a valuable research and, ultimately, diagnostic tool for objective quantification of cervical stiffness/softness. Copyright © 2013 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Signal multiplexing and modulation for volume conduction communication

Volume conduction communication is an efficient means of transmitting signals within the human body. The paper introduces a multiplexing and modulation method which minimizes circuit complexity, space, and power consumption.
Evaluation of airborne lidar data to predict vegetation presence/absence.

Abstract This study evaluates the capabilities of the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL) in delineating vegetation assemblages in Jean Lafitte National Park, Louisiana. Five-meter-resolution grids of bare earth, canopy height, canopy-reflection ratio, and height of median energy were derived from EAARL data acquired in September 2006. Ground-truth data were collected along transects to assess species composition, canopy cover, and ground cover. To decide which model is more accurate, comparisons of general linear models and generalized additive models were conducted using conventional evaluation methods (i.e., sensitivity, specificity, Kappa statistics, and area under the curve) and two new indexes, net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement. Generalized additive models were superior to general linear models in modeling presence/absence in training vegetation categories, but no statistically significant differences between the two models were achieved in ...
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale

This study reports on the development and psychometric evaluation of the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale (ISOS). Data from 576 college women were collected in three studies. Exploratory factor analysis uncovered two factors: Body Evaluation and Unwanted Explicit Sexual Advances; confirmatory factor analysis supported this factor structure. ISOS scores were internally consistent and stable over a 3-week period. Supporting its construct validity, ISOS scores were (a) strongly related to sexist degradation; (b) slightly to moderately related to other sexist events, self-objectification (i.e., body surveillance and internalization of the thin-ideal), and body shame; and (c) unrelated to socially desirable responding. The relationship between ISOS scores and body shame was fully mediated by self-objectification, providing additional evidence for its construct validity. Furthermore, the ISOS garnered incremental validity, as it predicted self-objectification above and beyond the variance accounted for by sexist events.
Predictors of Heavy Episodic Drinking and Weekly Drunkenness Among Immigrant Latinos in North Carolina.

Few studies have examined correlates of heavy drinking among rural immigrant Latino men. This analysis identified correlates of typical week drunkenness and past 30-day heavy episodic drinking, wit...
Water, Environment, Engineering, Religion, and Society

For too long, we have not paid adequate attention to ecofriendly management of environmental and water resources. Management of these resources is complex. If we are to survive as a global society, we need to synergize good science and spirituality for engineering the management of these resources. Certain religious precepts serve as a link between society and environment; science and engineering constitute the foundation of that vital link.
Web-based modeling and simulation

The paper introduces the emerging area of Web-based simulations and presents an overview of the opportunities and challenges in this field. This introduction begins with an outline of the World Wide Web and aspects of simulation impacted by advances on the Internet. Next, various types of applications of Web-based simulations are illustrated. This article concludes with an synopsis of research and development efforts on Web-based simulations, including online simulation documentation, client-side simulation applets, server-side simulations, and distributed, interactive, Web-based simulators.
Finnish and American Sociology: A Cross-Cultural Comparison*

A comparison is made of the interrelationship between theoretical orientations and research methods of authors publishing in major U. S. journals, with those publishing in Sosiologia, the major Finnish journal. Based on a content analysis of 1,808 articles, similarities are found cross-culturally concerning the tendency for authors with a realist theoretical orientation to use comparative historical data-gathering techniques and for nominalists to employ data-gathering procedures more amenable to quantification (e. g. surveys and experimental methods). These data also document the often conjectured tendency for European sociologists to emphasize a more collectivist, organic, and hence realist theoretical posture. Similarities and differences between U. S. and Finnish sociology are discussed in the context of various cultural, historical, and political differences in the maturation of sociology in the two countries.
Sustaining and bridging sense‐making across multiple interaction spaces

With “social” technology tools becoming more and more pervasive, new technology-enhanced interaction spaces provide researchers rich opportunities to go beyond studies of “solo” action and investigate the complex and distributed networks of thought, activity, and learning. Supporting fluid knowledge building within these distributed activities -e.g. “bridging” past, present and envisioned interactions, quasi-synchronous and asynchronous communication, and activity across multiple small-groups and larger electronic collectivities- represents a significant challenge for the design of effective online environments. This paper focuses on a preliminary investigation of the dynamics of sustained, technology-enhanced mathematical problem-solving in small online groups of secondary students. In addition, we explore issues related to the design of computer supports for bridging multiple interactional spaces and for distributed knowledge building. This inquiry is contextualized within the Virtual Math Teams (VMT) project at the Math Forum online community (mathforum.org).
Modeling autonomously oscillating chemo-responsive gels

Abstract Polymer gels undergoing the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction are unique materials because the polymer network can undergo autonomous oscillations in the absence of external stimuli. We describe theoretical and computational approaches that allow us to simulate these BZ gels and highlight our recent findings that reveal the rich dynamical behavior exhibited by these distinctive materials. In particular, we found that the nature of the oscillatory behavior is highly dependent on the size of the sample. Thus, by tailoring the sample's size, we can design gels that exhibit a uniform swelling and deswelling or display more complicated shape changes, which involve complex chemo-mechanical traveling waves. We then discuss a remarkable form of mechano-chemical transduction in these gels, where the application of an external force can drive a non-oscillatory system to exhibit sustained oscillations, and autonomous rotational motion. Due to this sensitivity to mechanical deformation, the BZ gels could potentially be used as a smart, responsive coating, which transmits a global signal to indicate that the system has been impacted. Finally, we focus on heterogeneous gels, which encompass regular arrangements of BZ patches within a non-reactive polymer matrix. By varying the placement of these BZ patches within the matrix, we could modify the functionality of the material or introduce multi-functional behavior within a single sample. Overall, the examples indicate that our methodology provides a powerful technique for probing the properties of such soft active materials.
35 GHz pulsed HBT MMIC amplifiers

A three-stage MMIC preamplifier and a two-stage power amplifier using GaAs/AlGaAs Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors (HBTs) have been developed for pulsed-power applications at 35 GHz. Both amplifiers have been fully characterized at 35 GHz with RF input power and base bias pulse wave forms having 33% duty cycles and 300 nS pulse lengths. The preamplifier delivers a peak output power of 19.6 dBm at 11% PAE and 12.6 dB associated gain at a bias of VCE=6 V and IC=128 mA. The power amplifier delivers a peak output power of 29 dBm at 15% PAE and 5 dB associated gain after minimal external tuning at a bias of VCE=6 V and IC=600 mA. The monolithic amplifiers reported here are based upon 35 GHz power HBTs and represent the first such amplifiers yet reported. >
2–3-Day Convective Variability in the Tropical Western Pacific

Abstract This paper is an examination of 2–3-day convective variability in the tropical Pacific region. The initial focus of the paper is on the western tropical Pacific during the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE) intensive observation period (IOP); high spatial and temporal resolution outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) data and sea surface temperatures are filtered to eliminate diurnal and lower-frequency variability. The propagation of the 2–3-day convective variability is also studied. Westward propagation appears to be favored in some regions, indicative of the events being influenced by westward-propagating inertio-gravity waves. However, many regions have 2–3-day events that divide fairly equally into eastward and westward propagations, indicating that both eastward- and westward-propagating inertio-gravity waves are influencing the oscillation. The SST data during the 4-month IOP dataset show evidence of a 2–3-day variability during those con...
A Wish List for the Advancement of University and College Counseling Centers

ABSTRACTUniversity and college counseling centers continue to meet emerging challenges in higher education. This article addresses three issues: the need for a more unified organizational structure to represent the profession, the potential value for counseling centers in seeking accreditation, and the importance of specialized training for those entering this professional field.
Experimental Identification of Distributed Damping Matrices Part 1: Analytical Case Studies

Despite tremendous advances in modern computational technology, there still remain many engineering problems that do not allow numerical solutions of reasonable accuracy. In many of these problems the main difficulty stems from lack of our ability to accurately model damping. Such examples are simulation of structure-borne noise, stability analysis of dynamic systems and numerical prediction of fatigue failure. In these problems small difference in damping description results in a completely different solution, while the current state of the art of damping modeling cannot provide such accuracy. A new concept proposed by one of the authors,[1,2], which uses the dynamic stiffness matrix (DSM-the inverse of a frequency response function matrix), is studied in this two-part paper. Advantages of the method and practical issues to overcome are discussed in both papers. The method obtains the damping model directly from measured data; and is independent of classical damping models. The method can describe the spatial distribution of damping without additional data conditioning, and has a very simple algorithm. Thus, the effect of numerical and measurement errors are minimized. This paper contains a numerical study of the algorithm and identifies key properties of input DSM data along with various pre- and post-processing diagnostic tools. Spatial truncation and its effects on the input data and resulting matrices will also be discussed. The second paper examines the advantages, and issues of applying the damping identification method to three simple experimental structures.
Effect of Surface Roughness on Cyclic Ductility of Corroded Steel

AbstractStable cyclic hysteretic behavior is required from structural members to dissipate seismic energy. Limited knowledge exists on the hysteretic behavior of corroded steel, and a relationship that quantifies energy dissipation capacity as a function of section thickness and roughness does not exist. Monotonic and cyclic tests of corroded steel were conducted in this research in an attempt to provide such quantification. Results from coupons suggest that assessing the strength of rusted members by machining a smooth coupon from steel extracted from an existing corroded structure, and only using the resulting yield and ultimate strength values in otherwise standard multilinear monotonic models, may be an unconservative approach. Results from cycling tests show that: (1) rusted steel can exhibit a significant hysteretic energy capacity, (2) a linear relationship exists between the total dissipated energy normalized by mean thickness and the mean 10-point-height of irregularities, and (3) increases in ro...
Prostatic Adenocarcinoma of Ductal Origin

AbstractAdenocarcinomas that arise from primary or secondary prostatic ducts have distinctive histopathologic features. The age of patients, symptoms, findings on digital rectal examination and determinations of serum acid and alkaline phosphatase are similar to those of patients with acinic carcinomas. Carcinomas of secondary ducts may be less responsive to endocrine manipulation and of greater malignancy than carcinomas of primary ducts. The course and survival of patients with ductal carcinomas treated conservatively are poor.
The Effect Of Bortezomib Treatment On Antibody Titers Against Common Viral And Vaccine Antigens

The high-level production of antibody molecules by multiple myeloma (MM) cells makes them susceptible to killing by bortezomib and other proteosome inhibitors, but may also make normal plasma cells (PC, responsible for sustaining protective antibody titers elicited by vaccination or infection) susceptible to these agents. This in turn may make bortezomib-treated patients susceptible to reinfection and would necessitate re-immunization. However, it has not been determined if bortezomib treatment actually affects normal PC and compromises vaccine-induced antibody titers in patients. The primary objective of our study is to determine whether bortezomib treatment affects the antibody titers against common viral and vaccine antigens. 25 newly diagnosed MM patients patients (to date) treated with bortezomib + dexamethasone (with the later addition of lenalidomide in some patients) were assayed for antibody titers against mumps (IgG), rubella (IgG), Epstein Barr (IgG), varicella zoster, tetanus and diptheria prior to treatment, and then after 1, 3, 6 cycles of treatment and 4 months after completion. Unexpectedly, we found that bortezomib treatment either had no effect, or significantly increased some (but not all) antibody titers in individual patients (Fig. 1). 52% of the patients had increases in titers against EBV, 48% against mumps, 40% against varicella, 32% against rubella, 12% against diphtheria and 8% against tetanus. Since normal PC do not proliferate, this reconstitution of antibody titers in patients that were not re-vaccinated suggests previously unrecognized and novel plasma cell biology. PO-168 Conditional survival analysis of Multiple Myeloma patients: experience of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg (CCCF) University Medical Center Freiburg J.M. Waldschmidt, I. Promny, S. Hieke, M. Schinke, G. Ihorst, M. Pantic, J. Duyster, R. Wasch, M. Schumacher, M. Engelhardt University of Freiburg Medical Center, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation; Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University Medical Center Freiburg; Clinical Trials Unit, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany
Altered cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in ventricular myocytes from spontaneously diabetic BB rats.

Cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling abnormalities in chemically induced diabetes have been well defined. Heart dysfunction has also been reported in diabetes of genetic origin. The purpos...
Representative Weather-Impact Scenarios for Strategic Traffic Flow Planning

This paper proposes a methodology for using ensemble weather forecasts to assist in air traffic flow contingency management. Specifically, the weather ensemble members are converted into scenarios of weather impact, and performance metrics are formulated to assess the similarity of these scenarios. Metrics for measuring weather impacts on both en route sectors and airports are considered in scenario clustering. Representative scenarios are selected using a proposed index, which quantifies the representativity of scenarios and addresses the requirements of representative selections. In a quantitative experiment, historical demand and weather forecast data from a sample weather day are simulated to demonstrate the proposed methodology. When combining en route and terminal impact metrics, a weighting approach between two metric categories is employed to reflect operational preferences since their tradeoff may influence the clustering results as well as the representative selection. Lastly, the strategic flow management plans for a few selected representative scenarios are developed and their performance results are analyzed. It shows that the scenarios in the same cluster have a similar response to the plan that is the most effective on its representative scenario.
Effect Of Drying on Permeability of Multilayer Polymeric Films

Photographic applications rely greatly on the permeability and swelling behavior of multilayer thin films. This behavior is, at least, a function of (I) material properties such as particle size, percent solids and solubility, and (II) processing conditions that affect film formation, such as rate of drying, maximum web temperature and nature of underlying layers. In order to test permeability of multilayer structures, an alkaline medium is allowed to permeate sample. In the structure under test, the bottom most layer is acidic in nature. This acid neutralizes the alkali as it permeates through the layers. Neutralization causes a change in ionic concentration in the sample and this is measured using a high frequency cavity sensor (commercially available as the conductivity Puntex technique) that changes its resonant frequency in response to change in conductivity of the sysytem. This frequency change can be monitored to to give a time transient for permeability. In the event that frequency changes even before neutralization has occured, it can be correlated to capacitance changes within the layers produced by swelling and water uptake. For a porous layer within the sample, the permeation proceeds along two paths. One through the porosity and the other through the bulk. In this case the bulk signal is superimposed over the signal from porous component. For such a system, a transient of the time derivative of resonant frequency proved to be a useful tool to study interfacial interactions between the acid layer and the layer above it. Impact of drying was also inferred from similar measurements. Data indicate that the higher temperature of drying of constituent layers resulted in a microstructurally tighter film, that took longer time for the alkali to permeate.
FIR Filter Design Using Optimal Factoring: A Walkthrough and Summary of Benefits

Decomposing an FIR filter into a cascade of blocks, each representing an optimal factor of H(z), the filter?s transfer function, can start with the complex-conjugate pairs of zeros of H(z) and then creating optimal pairings of these zero-pairs. This leads to a general method for designing FIR filters having minimal hardware complexity. We illustrate this concept, further techniques, benefits, and performance improvements in this paper, highlighting the practical features of the design method. It is also shown that the resulting structure can achieve lower hardware complexity, when compared with the prior art.
An Study on the Relationship between Service Firm's Customer Education on Customer Participation Behaviors

Taking the beauty industry,which requires high level customer participation as research context,the study examines the relationship between customer education and customer participation.A theoretical model is presented to denote the relationship between customer education,customer participation,perceived service quality and customer satisfaction.Then a survey is conducted to test the proposed theoretical model.The result shows that customer education has significant impact on preparation,information sharing and responsible behavior,but not on affective interaction.
Optimization of Aqueous Extraction Process for Camellia Seed Oil by Response Surface Methodology

Response surface methodology(RSM) was used to optimize the aqueous extraction of camellia seed oil.Quality characteristics of the resultant product were analyzed.The optimum conditions for the extraction of camellia seed oil were determined as follows: camellia seed kernels were dried at 150 ℃,crushed,and added with hot water at a solvent/solid ratio of 3.8:1(mL/g) for oil extraction at 80.2 ℃,natural pH for 3.4 h.Under these conditions,an oil yield of 69.1% was obtained.All tested physiochemical indexes of the oil obtained met the national standards for grade 2 camellia seed oil.Therefore,aqueous extraction is applicable for the extraction of camellia seed oil.
Platelet-activating factor-induced microvascular dysfunction: role of adherent leukocytes

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of intestinal mucosal injury associated with endotoxemia, inflammation, allergic reactions, and ischemia-reperfusion. Although it is generally held that PAF initiates mucosal injury by enhancing transcapillary fluid and protein exchange, the effects of PAF on the intestinal microvasculature have not been defined to date. In this study we examined the influence of local intrarterial infusions of PAF (4, 20, and 40 ng/min) on intestinal transcapillary, lymphatic, and transmucosal water and protein fluxes. All of these parameters were increased by each of the concentrations of PAF. PAF caused a large rise in venous hematocrit without a corresponding increase in venous plasma protein concentration and a 14- to 37-fold increase in vascular protein flux. Local intra-arterial infusion of PAF promoted leukocyte adherence to mesenteric venular endothelium, a process that is inhibited by the monoclonal antibody, MoAb IB4. PAF-induced increments in intestinal lymph flow, venous hematocrit, and vascular protein flux were greatly attenuated in animals treated with MoAb IB4. The results of this study indicate that PAF promotes the filtration of fluid and protein across intestinal capillaries. These microvascular effects of PAF are mediated, in part, by adherent leukocytes.
In memoriam –Scott Federhen (October 21, 1952 - May 5, 2016)

Scott (Herbert) Federhen passed away on May 5, 2016, after a short illness. Scott was well known for heading the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI’s) Taxonomy project, which he started in 1991. Under his leadership it became an international standard for nomenclature and classification. Born in 1952, Scott obtained a MS degree in Computer Science, focused on denotational semantics of AI languages, from University of Maryland in 1980. An MS in Biology from MIT followed, with a focus on control structures in biological systems. He joined NCBI in 1990, shortly after its establishment. His dual training in both Computer Sciences and Biology served him well as he oversaw tremendous growth in the NCBI Taxonomy Database, developed numerous submission and database enhancements, and collaborated regularly with many other NCBI groups and members of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). The INSDC continues to follow the NCBI Taxonomy Database classification. Under Scott’s guidance, the NCBI Taxonomy group was occasionally involved in scientific controversy, when underlying molecular data supported taxonomic changes. One example is the early inclusion of birds (Aves) under the Dinosauria in the NCBI classification. Scott also spearheaded NCBI’s efforts with the Barcode of Life project, an international initiative to identify and archive the barcode (a short genetic sequence from a standard part of the genome) for every species of life. Recently, Scott was instrumental in greatly expanding the annotation of type material in the NCBI taxonomic database. This allowed for improved taxonomic accuracy. Almost a year to the day before his death, he presented a proposal he developed for a groundbreaking change in how taxonomic names would be treated at NCBI. His sly sense of humor is evidenced in the title: “A Modest Proposal for making the Genomes of GenBank beneficial to the Publick, and preventing them from being a Burthen to the Curators and Taxonomists” (a nod to Johnathan Swift’s famous satire). The group he invited to the workshop included members of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) and the Judicial Commission on Prokaryotic Nomenclature, as well as bioinformaticians and taxonomists working with genomic similarity measures. Scott proposed a set of measures to represent a scaffold of reliably identified sequences that could be used to find and correct misidentified genomes. The invitees also agreed on a set of principles that will guide future efforts. It is anticipated that this project will continue and expand, but its inception was a testament to Scott’s drive and vision. Scott Federhen will be remembered as an adventurous eater, kind colleague and devoted Red Sox fan with an exceptionally broad intellectual range. He leaves behind his wife, Sheree, a daughter, Erica, a son, Luke, and many friends.
Methylation state of the prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) CpG island in prostate cancer cell lines.

Background: PSMA expression varies among prostate cell lines. We examined the role of CpG methylation and his tone deacetylation in PSMA transcriptional repression in prostate cell lines. Materials and Methods: The methylation status of a PSMA CpG island was investigated in LNCaP, DU145 and PC3 prostate cell lines. Cells were treated with a demethylating agent and a histone deacetylase inhibitor to determine if PSMA transcription could be activated in nonexpressing cells. A transfection assay with methylated and unmethylated PSMA promoter/enhancer-driven luciferase expression constructs was performed to examine the effect of methylation on transcription. Results: The PSMA CpG island was only methylated in DU145 cells but transcription could not be activated by demethylation or histone deacetylase inhibition. Methylation repressed PSMA transcription in LNCaP cells. Conclusion: Although promoter methylation represses PSMA transcription in LNCaP cells, another method inhibits PSMA expression in DU145 and PC3 cells.
An Analysis of the Impact of Acknowledgement Programs on Alumni Giving

This article reports the results of a field experiment conducted to assess the results of acknowledgement programs used by an educational institution. A two-year study of the giving patterns of 732...
Marine Macroalgal Natural Products

Research in the field of marine natural products chemistry has been on the rise since the 1970s. To date, over 3000 natural products have been reported from marine macroalgae, with properties of these compounds including pharmacological activities, such as antitumor, antimicrobial, and antiviral effects, as well as ecological roles such as herbivore deterrence and antimicrobial defenses. This chapter contextualizes studies on marine macroalgal natural products, with particular attention on structurally diverse natural products with ecological relevance and pharmaceutical potential, highlighting biosynthetic implications of complex secondary metabolites. Preference is given to recently discovered natural products, as well as to compounds that are particularly promising for future development as drugs in pharmacological studies.
Live and Let Die: Puerto Rico — The Unincorporated Jewel of the Caribbean

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. However, the ambiguous meaning of that phrase has allowed for inconsistent treatment of Puerto Rico by the Supreme Court of the United States. This short article briefly tackles the manner in which the federal government most recently applied the federal death penalty to Puerto Rico despite the island's constitutional ban against capital punishment.
Retrospective Analysis of Weekly Administration of Bortezomib in Multiple Myeloma.

Abstract Background: Currently the standard treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) is by twice weekly administration of the drug. We present a retrospective study of bortezomib therapy by weekly dosing in MM patients unable to tolerate the standard regimen. Methods: Since January 2004, five patients (3 male and 2 female, age 47 – 81) have been treated at our center by weekly, and one (male, 86) by every-two-week administration of bortezomib. This approach was selected primarily due to low performance status and/or comorbidities. All patients had failed at least one prior treatment modality. Each cycle of the weekly schedule consisted of one dose every week for two weeks, followed by two weeks of rest. Mainly for convenience purposes, two patients while stable on weekly treatment, were switched to even less frequent treatment of once every-three-weeks. Furthermore, five patients received a plain dose of 2.0 mg rather than regular dose calculation per body surface area. Results: All 5 patients on weekly schedule had an initial moderate to major response, followed by a stable course. None of them, however, achieved a complete remission. 2/5 demonstrated progression of disease after they were switched to every-three-week dosing. The patient on every-two-week treatment had an initial favorable response, and is currently being switched to the weekly schedule due to excellent tolerance. Conclusion: Our retrospective analysis indicates that weekly bortezomib therapy is a promising alternative approach to the treatment of MM in those patients intolerant to standard regimen. It seems reasonable, therefore, to attempt a larger prospective study of bortezomib administration with less frequent dosing, mainly in this group of MM patients.
Serotonin enhances the effects of epidermal growth factor receptor activation on matrix metalloproteinase-9 in cholangiocarcinoma.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 3603 Cholangiocarcinoma (CCH) is a deadly cancer of biliary origin. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling is deranged in CCH. Downstream consequences of overactive EGF signaling are largely unknown. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -9 is overexpressed in various cancers and is thought to be important in metastasis. We have recently shown that serotonin metabolism is dysregulated in CCH resulting in increased serotonin production and secretion. Our aims were to determine the effects of serotonin on EGF signaling and subsequent MMP-9 expression. Methods: Basal EGF and EGF receptor (EGFR) overexpression was confirmed by qPCR in various CCH cell lines (Mz-ChA-1, HuH-28 and TFK-1) compared to H69, a human cholangiocyte cell line. MMP-9 expression was evaluated by qPCR after EGF stimulation (100 ng/mL) in the absence or presence of serotonin (10 nM). Ets-1 expression was determined by qPCR and the nuclear translocation and hence activation was assessed by immunofluorescence. The effects of serotonin on EGFR activation were determined by immunoblotting using a phosphospecific antibody. Results: As expected EGF and EGFR expression are overexpressed in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines (up to 800 fold and 5 fold over H69, respectively). Treatment of Mz-ChA-1 cells with EGF resulted in a 5 fold upregulation of MMP-9 expression, whereas serotonin had no effect on MMP-9 expression. Associated with the EGF-stimulated MMP-9 expression was an increased expression and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor Ets-1. Surprisingly, co-administration of serotonin and EGF acted synergistically and resulted in a 12 fold upregulation in MMP-9 mRNA. Serotonin had no effect on EGF or EGFR expression, nor on EGFR activation, suggesting that the crosstalk between these two pathways occurs downstream of the EGF receptor. Indeed, pretreatment of CCH cells with the PKA inhibitor Rp-cAMP had no effect on EGF stimulated MMP-9 expression, but inhibited the serotonin enhancement of EGF-mediated MMP-9 expression, indicating that PKA may play a role in the synergistic action of serotonin upstream of the point of intersection between the serotonin-mediated and EGF-mediated pathways. Conclusions: Serotonin and EGF signaling are dysregulated in cholangiocarcinoma. Synergism between these two dysregulated, growth-promoting pathways may play an important role in tumor growth and progression.
The Monro-Kellie Doctrine in Action: Posterior Reversible Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome Caused by Intracranial Hypotension from Lumboperitoneal Shunt Placement.

Background Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is linked to various etiologies, including most importantly systemic hypertension. Its association with intracranial hypotension (IH), a potential sequela of various neurosurgical procedures, is underrecognized. We report a case of lumboperitoneal shunt–induced IH resulting in PRES with the goal to increase awareness and elaborate on the potential biologic mechanism, based on the Monro-Kellie hypothesis. Case Description A 26-year-old woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and epilepsy was admitted for recurrent cryptococcal meningitis and breakthrough seizures. There was radiologic evidence of ventricular enlargement, and opening pressure on serial lumbar punctures was constantly elevated. Owing to persistently elevated, symptomatic intracranial pressure and transient relief with serial lumbar punctures, a lumboperitoneal shunt was placed. The patient subsequently had a breakthrough seizure and became encephalopathic. Repeat head imaging showed reduced ventricular size, engorged venous sinuses, and tonsillar herniation in keeping with IH, coupled with extensive white matter abnormalities in bilateral parieto-occipital lobes indicative of PRES. The patient had an emergent programmable valve placed in the lumboperitoneal shunt to prevent excessive cerebrospinal fluid drainage, leading to clinical and radiologic improvement. Subsequent cerebrospinal fluid leak resulted in recurrent presentation. Conclusions IH appears to be a distinct cause of PRES not previously reported in the neurosurgical literature. It occurs in susceptible patients, on average 1–5 days after the IH trigger, and seems clinically and radiologically similar to more common hypertensive cases in terms of initial presentation and prognosis. Increased vigilance is required for prompt recognition and management.
Geology and Vertebrate: Paleontology of a Lower Permian Deposit on the Brazos River, Baylor County Texas, with the Description of a New Genus and Species Of Acanthodian Fish

A high concentration of vertebrate fossils is described from a Lower Permian Lueders Formation deposit. The study area is on the Salt Fork of the Brazos River, near the entrance to Miller's Creek, 22 km south of Seymour, Baylor County, Texas. Remains of an undescribed genus and species of acanthodian fish make up more than 90 percent of the fossils; sharks, coelacanth and paleoniscoid fishes constitute the remainder, with the exception of a few fragments of amphibians and reptiles. The dolostone matrix containing the fossils was deposited in shallow, near-shore marine water. All of the vertebrates, except tetrapods, are considered to be marine. The acanthodian is typified by large size, fin spines being symmetrical in cross-section and without surface sculpture and scales consisting of a spongy bone core surrounded by concentric layers of orthodentine except externally, where it is covered with successive layers of an enameloid. Each scale bears an elongated posterior spine. Fauna from near Miller's Creek is less diverse in species content than the marine vertebrate fauna discovered in the Lueders Formation near Lake Kemp Dam, 30 km north-northeast of the Miller's Creek site, though both local faunas are nearly contemporary. At Miller's Creek, acanthodians dominate the fauna; at Lake Kemp Dam paleoniscoids constitute the bulk of the fauna.
Effect of Body Position, Exercise, and Sedation on Estimation of Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Dogs with Degenerative Atrioventricular Valve Disease.

Background Severity of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs is related to clinical signs and prognosis. Hypothesis/Objectives We hypothesized that Doppler echocardiographic (DE) indices of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) are influenced by independent factors that create clinically important variability of DE-based estimates of PH in dogs. Animals Thirty-eight client owned dogs with naturally acquired degenerative atrioventricular valve disease and tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Methods Dogs were prospectively enrolled, and target variables were acquired during 4 echocardiographic study periods (lateral recumbency, standing, lateral recumbency after a 6-minute walk test [6MWT], and lateral recumbency after sedation with butorphanol 0.25 mg/kg IM). Statistical methods included repeated measures ANOVA, mixed model analysis, and Chi-squared test of association. Results There was a significant increase in peak TR flow velocity (TRFV; P 0.4 m/s in 42% of dogs, independent of stroke volume. A significant effect of study period on DE-estimated PVR was not found (P = 0.15). There were negligible effects of sonographer, body position, and 6MWT on echocardiographic variables of PH. Clinically relevant cyclic variation of TRFV was found. There was an association between estimation of right atrial pressure based on subjective assessment and estimation based on cranial vena cava collapsibility (P = 0.03). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The increase in TRFV observed with sedation could change assessment of PH severity and impact prognostication and interpretation of treatment response. Further studies with invasive validation are needed.
Dialogic-"kishu kimkelay ta che" Educational Research: Participatory Action Research.

AbstractThe focus on the dialogic-kishu kimkelay ta che method is the result of extensive research, debates and reflections contextualized in the territorial, cultural, linguistic and social diversity of central-southern Chile. This research methodology considers the coexistence of the Chilean and indigenous Mapuche worldviews of the inhabitants of this region of the country. With constructions that integrate these two epistemes, it develops a collective praxis in which diverse members belonging to both cultures can access their knowledge and expertise to form a research community. These members are the agents who decide what, why and how to conduct research. To study their own reality with the aim of transforming it, they practice the epistemological principles of situational historical diversity, gnoseological reciprocity, epistemic thought and expansive rationality. Hence, investigative praxes abandon terminology used in classic research to acquire an integrative conception of a reality that intertwine...
Stabilization of Sr-rich ultrathin epitaxial films of La2-xSrxCuO4

Abstract Varying the level of Sr in La2-xSrxCuO4 produces a wide array of electrical properties, spanning metallic, semiconducting, insulating, and superconducting. While the system has been extensively studied, ultrathin films with high Sr content have not been reported. Using oxide molecular beam epitaxy, ultrathin La2-xSrxCuO4 films (0
Young Women, Textile Labour, and Marriage in Europe and China around 1800

This chapter explores young women’s transition to adulthood in select regions of China and Europe from the mid-seventeenth through to the mid-nineteenth century and concentrates, in particular, on young women’s household and non-household labour (especially in the production of thread and cloth) as they move through the life-cycle transition from daughters to wives and from a natal to a marital household. The time frame of the chapter encompasses periods of important commercial and technological developments in textile production and marketing in both Europe and China and allows us to focus on an underexplored dimension of parallels and divergences—namely, family, gender, and generational relations. We also compare the apparently different relationships to labour and commodity markets experienced by young women in the two regions.
How Can We Democratize Higher Education if We Don’t Count the Votes? An MPA Case Study

AbstractThe American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration, as well as several leading authors in our field, have expressed support for a range of ethical principles, including representativeness, diversity, affirmative action, equality, fairness, and justice. Various social equity reformers have argued that universities should expand their integrative efforts to include more students of poverty and working class origins. This study surveyed the nation’s 50 top-rated MPA schools, asking whether they collect data about their students’ socioeconomic backgrounds. While other academic disciplines have initiated social class-based affirmative action plans for enrolling students, none of the 43 survey respondents said they do so. The discussion closes by suggesting that, with this study’s evidence and justification in place, academic public administration, driven by its commitment to the discipline’s acknowledged ideals, has a sound rationale for establishing econom...
Basic Signs Of Abnormality

In order to establish a diagnosis on the basis of the roentgenograms and fluoroscopic examination, it is above all essential that the physician be thoroughly familiar with the normal roentgenological patterns and their variations. Only then can the abnormalities seen on the x-rays be identified as such. In some cases, the patient’s history and the clinical data can be quite useful for the determination of the correct diagnosis; in fact they are sometimes indispensable since the mucosa shows only a limited number of reaction patterns. Moreover, several radiological signs are not specific and can be encountered in various, sometimes quite different, diseases.
Reactions to an HIV-Positive Man: Impact of His Sexual Orientation, Cause of Infection, and Research Participants' Gender

The present study examined in a laboratory situation how reactions to an HIV seropositive man may be influenced by his sexual orientation and perceptions about the cause of the infection. Research participants who believed they were interacting with a homosexual compared to a heterosexual person with HIV disclosed less intimately. The men in the study (but not the women) reported more negative affect interacting with a homosexual versus a heterosexual HIV-seropositive male, though women overall reported more negative affect compared to men. Perception of control for the onset of infection interacted with the gender of the research participants to influence self-disclosure and the enactment of social support; men (but not women) made more intimate self-disclosures as well as more “dismissing” social support statements (minimizing the seropositive person's difficulties) when the cause of the infection was uncontrollable than controllable. The results suggest how labels about who is infected with HIV as well as how the HIV was contracted may influence social behavior with an HIV-seropositive person.
Expanded functionality, increased accuracy, and enhanced speed in the de novo genotyping-by-sequencing pipeline GBS-SNP-CROP.

Summary GBS-SNP-CROP is a bioinformatics pipeline originally developed to support the cost-effective genome-wide characterization of plant genetic resources through paired-end genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), particularly in the absence of a reference genome. Since its 2016 release, the pipeline's functionality has greatly expanded, its computational efficiency has improved, and its applicability to a broad set of genomic studies for both plants and animals has been demonstrated. This note details the suite of improvements to date, as realized in GBS-SNP-CROP v.4.0, with specific attention paid to a new integrated metric that facilitates reliable variant identification despite the complications of homologs. Using the new de novo GBS read simulator GBS-Pacecar, also introduced in this note, results show an improvement in overall pipeline accuracy from 66% (v.1.0) to 84% (v.4.0), with a time saving of ∼70%. Both GBS-SNP-CROP versions significantly outperform TASSEL-UNEAK; and v.4.0 resolves the issue of non-overlapping variant calls observed between UNEAK and v.1.0. Availability and implementation GBS-SNP-CROP source code and user manual are available at https://github.com/halelab/GBS-SNP-CROP. The GBS read simulator GBS-Pacecar is available at https://github.com/halelab/GBS-Pacecar. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
College coaches’ influence on student-athlete engagement in sexual violence prevention: promoting readiness to help and awareness of campus resources

AbstractIncreasing one’s readiness to help (Baynard 2010) and awareness of campus resources (Hayes-Smith and Levett 2010) is vital to the success of bystander intervention, which has been identifie...
Dementia palliative care in the acute psychiatric hospital: A feasibility study

Purpose We explored the feasibility of a clinical pathway to identify hospitalized patients with dementia who would benefit from a palliative intervention. Design and methods Consecutive geropsychiatric admissions were screened for terminal dementia to be randomized to a palliative consultation vs usual care. Findings A total of 43 of the 188 patients (23%) had dementia; however, dementia stages were severe but not terminal. The pathway was not feasible because of the lack of the target population in the inpatient setting for the intervention. Practice implications New clinical pathways are needed to identify patients with dementia who would benefit from palliative care.