cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myofunctional therapy for OSA: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION Myofunctional therapy (MT) improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients. AREAS COVERED We systematically reviewed publications to evaluate MT as a treatment for OSA. We identified relevant articles and performed a meta-analysis on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores, lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Search databases were retained as primary data sources with the search performed through 18 June 2021. EXPERT OPINION Fifteen studies with 237 patients provided OSA outcomes before and after MT, which were analyzed for this meta-analysis. The mean AHI scores decreased from 28.0 ± 16.2/h to 18.6 ± 13.1/h. The AHI standard mean difference (SMD) is -1.34 (large effect) [95% CI -0.84, -1.85], (P < 0.00001). LSAT (197 patients) improved from 83.18 ± 6.10% to 85.13 ± 7.01%. The LSAT SMD is 0.44 [95% CI 0.75, 0.12], (P < 0.007). Sleepiness measured via ESS (156 patients) demonstrated a decrease from 12.71 ± 5.73 to 8.78 ± 5.80. The ESS SMD is -1.0 [95% CI -0.50, -1.50], (P < 0.0001).
Creating Consistency Between Products Using Research-Driven UI Guidelines

User Interface (UI) guidelines, used across various enterprise products or applications of a company bring consistency and cohesiveness between them. This paper discusses the user research studies carried out to arrive at a minimum threshold of visual components required to help multiple products retain the perception of consistency between interfaces. These studies help identify which elements and which combinations of these elements can help build associations. Our results showed that among various UI components, background color, header-footer and button color were the most influential, in that order. We also studied how various combinations in the background color of the content area plus header-footer would lead to increase or decrease in association.
Development and Validation of Ecological Indicators: An ORD Approach

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) is continuing research efforts initiated by the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program on ecological indicator development. An ORD Ecological Indicators Working Group has been formed with activities in three primary areas. (1) Guidelines and procedures are being developed to evaluate indicators for use in monitoring programs. Indicators will be evaluated on conceptual soundness, implementation, response variability, and interpretation/utility. The evaluation guidelines will be applied in peer review to endorse technically acceptable indicators and will provide research direction for improvements. (2) An ORD strategy for research in ecological indicators is being developed by the Working Group in collaboration with Division research scientists. The strategy will serve to prioritize research based on the greatest importance and uncertainty and identify goals for indicator development in both intramural and extramural programs. The research strategy includes application of the evaluation guidelines to identify relevant research questions. (3) Interactions with indicator client and user groups (states, program offices and regions) are actively being sought for successful development and implementation of indicators. Client indicator priorities are formally included in the research strategy and user feedback on indicators will help to identify relevant research questions. Consultations with users will serve to assist in evaluating, implementing, and interpreting indicators in monitoring programs.
The Oys of Yiddish

Oy! I begin this editorial with the eternal geschrei (shout) of the Eastern European Jews because this column is written under false pretenses. Let me explain. The (higher) powers-that-be in the AJ...
Studies of oogenesis in Urechis caupo: I. Method for separating different size classes of oocytes☆

Abstract The immature oocytes of the echiuroid worm Urechis caupo develop while suspended as single cells in the coelomic fluid, free of any associated nurse or follicle cells. In any one female, size classes can be found ranging from 8 to 130 μm in diameter. A method is described for obtaining four to five relatively uniform size fractions by centrifuging the mixed oocyte population through a discontinuous Ficoll gradient and collecting the different size oocytes which accumulate at each step of the gradient. Phagocytosis of oocytes in vivo is also discussed.
A model of angiogenesis in the mouse cornea.

Purpose. The study of angiogenesis depend ons reliable and reproducible model fosr thestimulation of a neovascular response. The purpos of thise research wa tos develop such amodel of angiogenesis in the mouse cornea.Methods. Uniformly sized Hydron pellets containing either basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth facto anrd sucralfat (VEGFe wer) e prepare and dimplanted into the stroma mouse cornea adjacent to the temporal limbus.Results. Neovascularizatio of thne corneal stroma bega on day 3 and was sustained throughday 8. The bFGF-induced neovascularization was consistent and dos in C57B1e dependen/ t6, as well as in severe combined immune deficient, beige natural kille and r cell-deficient,nude mouse strains. Biomicroscopic and histologic examinatio bFGFn o- anfd VEGF-inducedangiogenesis was notable fo r the absenc oe f corneal edema or substantial inflammation.Conclusions. This noninflammatory model of corneal neovascularization is especially advanta-geous becaus iet is reproducible, economical, and facilitates investigatio of angiogenesin s invarious murine tumor models as well as in genetically defined murine strains. Invest Ophthal-mol Vis Sci. 1996;37:1625-1632.An the field of neovascular research the testin, g ofangiogenic and antiangiogenic substances im relie- sportantly on the sensitivity an d specificity of in vivoand in vitro bioassays. Recen ot discoverief com- spounds with antiangiogenic efficacy as inter- , suchferon alpha,
Far-field analysis of spectral shifts in stochastic beams propagating through media with arbitrary refractive properties

We will demonstrate the far-field spectral shift in the paraxial region does not depend either on the degree of coherence of the source or on its spatial extent, or on the refractive index.
Microstructural characterization and mechanical reliability of interfaces in piezoelectric based microelectromechanical systems

Abstract Surface roughness, grain size and chemistry of Pt/Ti bottom electrodes have been investigated for their contribution to interfacial adhesion with PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 (PZT) thin films used in a microelectromechanical systems power-generating application. Grain size of Pt bottom electrodes demonstrated rapid grain growth in the range of 550–700 °C. Adhesion of solution-deposited PZT films to the bottom electrode was assessed by inducing delamination with indentation, and was shown to increase with increasing grain sizes (56±12 to 125±23) nm and decreasing roughness (63±3 to 78±9 A). The presence of Ti at the Pt/PZT interface was identified in well-adhered samples using Auger electron spectroscopy. This suggests that Pt grain sizes of about 100 nm with traces of Ti at the Pt/PZT interface improve interfacial adhesion.
La cirugía valvular mínimamente invasiva

Resumen Introduccion La cirugia valvular minimamente invasiva representa un cambio significativo en el tratamiento de las enfermedades valvulares. Este procedimiento se ha convertido en una opcion de tratamiento que puede representar menos riesgos para el paciente, especialmente si se realiza en centros que han desarrollado experiencia con la tecnica quirurgica. Metodos Revision de la literatura y reporte de experiencia con la utilizacion del metodo descrito. Resultados En cuanto a la incidencia de re-exploracion por sangramiento, fibrilacion auricular y eventos tromboembolicos no se encontro diferencia significativa entre la esternotomia media y la cirugia minimamente invasiva pero con esta ultima se observo menor necesidad de transfusiones sanguineas, menor incidencia de infecciones del esternon, al igual que menos dolor postoperatorio, corta permanencia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos y en el hospital, menos uso de analgesicos, mayor satisfaccion del paciente, reduccion en el uso de los servicios de rehabilitacion y regreso a las actividades normales. Sin embargo, existe mayor numero de accidentes cerebrovasculares asociados a la cirugia minimamente invasiva. La mortalidad entre ambas tecnicas es similar, excepto en pacientes de alto riesgo, en quienes se ha demostrado una reduccion en la mortalidad con la cirugia minimamente invasiva. Conclusiones La cirugia de minimo acceso se relaciona con recuperacion mas rapida y mayor satisfaccion para el paciente, asi como con reduccion de complicaciones postoperatorias y de la mortalidad en pacientes de riesgo alto.
Notes of a protein crystallographer: the molecular structure of evolutionary theory.

Some of the current trends in the structure of evolutionary biology are reviewed using as a framework the book of the same title by S. J. Gould (1941–2002). The revised concepts and interpretations of the structure–function relationship in evolutionary biology are discussed in relation to the past achievements and future developments in structural biology.
Subregion-specific down-regulation of 5-HT3 immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens shell during the induction of cocaine sensitization.

Abstract Repeated exposure to psychostimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine can result in behavioral sensitization, which is believed to model the onset of drug addiction, as well as neural adaptations that occur after repeated drug abuse that lead to addictive behaviors. Dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) has been shown to play an integral role in this phenomenon. However, cocaine also acts on the serotonin (5-HT) system, which has been shown to modulate psychostimulant-induced increases in motor behavior and DA release in the NAc. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the shell portion of the NAc can no longer be considered a homogeneous structure and can be subdivided into at least five separate regions. The present study examines 5-HT 3 receptors in the subdivisions of the NAc in cocaine-sensitized rats. Rats received a sensitization-inducing regimen of cocaine (twice-daily injections of 15 mg/kg ip for five consecutive days). Two or 14 days following the last injection, rats were given a challenge injection of cocaine (15 mg/kg ip) and sacrificed 2 h later. Sections of the NAc were processed for 5-HT 3 immunoreactivity (5-HT 3 -IR), and the number of puncta was quantified in each of the subregions of the shell, as well as the core of the accumbens. Repeated cocaine administration resulted in robust sensitization that correlated with a transient decrease in the density of 5-HT 3 immunoreactive puncta in the intermediate zone of the accumbens shell. After a 2-week withdrawal period, sensitized animals no longer showed any differences in any of the areas examined. These data suggest a possible role for 5-HT 3 receptors in the intermediate zone during the induction of cocaine sensitization.
Fluoride-plasma-treated bimodal-gate-oxide ALGaN/GaN MOSHEMT for normally-off operation

High-performance enhancement-mode (E-mode) AlGaN / GaN MOSHEMT has been achieved by CF4 plasma treatment and bimodal-gate-oxide deposition scheme. ALD-Al2O3 is utilized to prevent deep F- ion implantation into the 2DEG channel, while sputtered-SiO2, is employed to suppress the plasma-induced leakage current and increase the gate swing. Compared with the depletion-mode counterpart, thus-fabricated E-mode MOSHEMT exhibited 2.56 V shift in Vth, but only 8% degradation in Imax, demonstrating the promise of the bimodal-gate-oxide scheme for realizing E-mode operation of GaN-based MOSHEMTs.
The sounds produced by swarming honey bees

1. “Schwirrlauferinnen” buzz their wings every 0.5 to 3 sec while performing straight runs. The frequency within a buzz varies between 180 and 250 cps. 2. The “Schwirrlauferin” produces a permanent noise as soon as it contacts a hivemate. In this permanent noise the frequency increases to about 500 cps. 3. In the permanent noise a second, constant and independent sound with a frequency of about 5,000 cps shows up. Its amplitude can reach 1/3 of the amplitude of the lower frequency noise. 4. Bees in a non-swarming hive react to tape recording of contacting “Cehwirrlauferinnen” with the “freezing” response. This response can not be elicited in swarming hives.
Amyloid Precursor Protein Regulates Cav1.2 L-type Calcium Channel Levels and Function to Influence GABAergic Short-Term Plasticity

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although impaired synaptic function is believed to be an early and causative event in AD, how APP physiologically regulates synaptic properties remains poorly understood. Here, we report a critical role for APP in the regulation of L-type calcium channels (LTCC) in GABAergic inhibitory neurons in striatum and hippocampus. APP deletion in mice leads to an increase in the levels of Ca(v)1.2, the pore-forming subunit of LTCCs, and subsequent increases in GABAergic calcium currents (I(Ca(2+))) that can be reversed by reintroduction of APP. Upregulated levels of Ca(v)1.2 result in reduced GABAergic paired-pulse inhibition and increased GABAergic post-tetanic potentiation in both striatal and hippocampal neurons, indicating that APP modulates synaptic properties of GABAergic neurons by regulating Ca(v)1.2. Furthermore, APP physically interacts with Ca(v)1.2, suggesting a mechanism in which loss of APP leads to an inappropriate accumulation and aberrant activity of Ca(v)1.2. These results provide a direct link between APP and calcium signaling and might help explain how altered APP regulation leads to changes in synaptic function that occur with AD.
Sacred marriage in the study of religion: A perspective from India on a concept that grew out of the ancient near east

Abstract Current scholarly understandings of ‘sacred marriage’ are seriously impaired by work that focuses on ancient cultures, primarily in the Near East, but also in Greece. Even when ‘diffusionism’, ‘patternism’, and an apparent preoccupation with rituals presumed sexual are all factored out, modern scholars offer little new because they appeal to rituals never witnessed and to fragmentary texts which we can only hope had some connection to ritual. Focusing on an extant ritual tradition in India with a 200-year-old festival and an explicitly associated text from the 13th century ce , Harman suggests that here, at least, sacred marriage is an elaborate, ritual statement of kinship responsibilities and obligations reestablished each year among deities and between deities and selected human beings.
Traditional Authority and Social Action in Former British West Africa

A multi-dimensional revolution is sweeping the continent of Africa in this, the second half of the twentieth century. Economic, social, and political changes are occurring at a pace which evokes the politicians' metaphors such as "a raging hurricane," or prophetic book titles such as Africa: Continent of the Future. The social and economic factors underlying this process of change were isolated and analyzed by a number of sociologists and anthropologists prior to the outbreak of the series of political explosions which have occurred during the past ten years—"Positive Action" in the Gold Coast; Mau Mau in Kenya; Defiance Campaigns in South Africa; riot and rebellion in the Congo. Few social scientists, however, realized the extent to which a political revolution was maturing, or foresaw the extent to which new social formations—African political parties, cliques of radical intellectuals, and pressure groups based upon sentiment and interest—would crystallize out of the social process and become catalysts ...
Competitiveness and international standardization

There are two main points to be covered in this paper; one deals with the question of why we should be interested in standardization in the first place. The second point considers why we should be more interested in international standards than domestic standards, assuming we have an interest at all. We argue that we should be interested in standards for optical goods for the same reason we believe in logic and scientific principles -- that no amount of charisma is going to change the fact that 2 plus 2 is 4. Regarding the second point, if one concludes that standards are worthwhile, why settle for half the loaf? We are now in a truly global market, even more so with recent events in Eastern Europe and the USSR, and the only way to take full advantage of that market is through international standards.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Supporting Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Their Families in Planning and Advocacy: A Literature Review

This paper reviews the literature on later-life planning interventions that aim to support adults with intellectual disabilities and their families in planning and advocacy. While most of these interventions include both the person with a disability and the families at least to some degree, they differ in terms of the target group that is the primary focus. Hence, this review first examines family-focused strategies and secondly strategies focused on the person with disabilities. Thirdly, the paper discusses implications for further practice and research on promoting planning for the future of adults with intellectual disabilities.
Bioactive Hydrogel Layers on Microdisk Electrode Arrays: Cyclic Voltammetry Experiments and Simulations

Poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate)-based hydrogel membranes were applied to microfabricated, microdisk electrode arrays (MDEAs) of 50 μm (5184 disks), 100 μm (1296 disks) and 250 μm (207 disks) (d/r=4; A= 0.1 cm2) and studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) in 1.0 mM ferrocene monocarboxylic acid (FcCO2H). The membrane produced an order of magnitude decrease in current densities and a shift to quasi reversibility due to a decrease in the Dappt of FcCO2H, from 4.51×10−6 cm2 s−1 to 1.42×10−8 cm2 s−1, (2.18×10−8 cm2 s−1 from release experiments). The MDEA050 (comprising 50 μm disks) maintained its enhanced current density attributes confirming its value as an effective electrode for biosensors. Finite element modeling (FEM) simulations successfully replicated the voltammograms of the MDEAs.
Particle spatial distributions in low-pressure discharges

Plasma-generated particulates are receiving increased attention as a source of contamination in plasma etching and deposition systems. These particles are suspended electrically in the plasma, and they are subject to electrical, thermophoretic, gravitational, and frictional drag forces from both plasma ions and neutrals. Consequently, they form complex spatial arrangements in the glow. We have investigated these particle arrangements by spatially mapping the particle distribution with a simple HeNe scattering system. We have also employed direct sampling as a way to determine particle size. The systems we have studied include copper and aluminum particles formed in an argon sputtering system, and carbon containing particles grown in a methane discharge. In addition we have modeled a particulate containing discharge in an effort to understand how the particulates act under the influence of electrical forces, ion drag, gravitational forces, and thermophoretic forces. The model is used as an aid in understanding the light scattering results.
N-Terminal labeling of filamentous phage to create cancer marker imaging agents.

We report a convenient new technique for the labeling of filamentous phage capsid proteins. Previous reports have shown that phage coat protein residues can be modified, but the lack of chemically distinct amino acids in the coat protein sequences makes it difficult to attach high levels of synthetic molecules without altering the binding capabilities of the phage. To modify the phage with polymer chains, imaging groups, and other molecules, we have developed chemistry to convert the N-terminal amines of the ∼4200 coat proteins into ketone groups. These sites can then serve as chemospecific handles for the attachment of alkoxyamine groups through oxime formation. Specifically, we demonstrate the attachment of fluorophores and up to 3000 molecules of 2 kDa poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG2k) to each of the phage capsids without significantly affecting the binding of phage-displayed antibody fragments to EGFR and HER2 (two important epidermal growth factor receptors). We also demonstrate the utility of the modifi...
DDE and Lindane in a Large‐Scale Model Lentic Ecosystem

Abstract The fate of DDE and lindane added to the epilimnion of a thermally-stratified, flooded limestone quarry was followed for one year. DDE was distributed rapidly throughout the system, due to an influx of sediment generated by a rainstorm, while lindane persisted in the epilimnion until turnover. Concentration factors for zooplankton at equilibrium averaged 33 for lindane and 4.5 × 104 for DDE, while the same values for bluegill were 768 and 1.1 × 105, respectively. Rainbow trout planted 134 days after treatment showed a concentration factor for DDE of 1.8 × 105 within 108 days, even though less than 1 part per trillion of DDE remained in the water. The distributions of DDE and lindane in the system were controlled chiefly by sediment-water interactions.
RFLP variation and genealogical distance, multivariate distance, heterosis, and genetic variance in oats.

Patterns of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been proposed as estimators of genetic diversity among breeding lines and as predictors of heterosis and genetic variance. We evaluated these proposals by using a set of nine elite oat lines crossed in a diallel mating design without reciprocals. RFLP analysis was conducted using HindIII-digested DNA and a total of 107 probes from three different sources: 14 heterologous wheat cDNA clones, 17 oat genomic clones, and 76 oat cDNA clones. Of the 77 probes that produced high-quality autoradiographs, 26 detected polymorphisms among this set of lines, with an average of 2.6 variants per probe. RFLP-based genetic distance (FD) was calculated from these data by using Nei and Li's measure of genetic similarity, and was compared with two other measures of genetic divergence. Genealogical distance (GD*) was obtained from the coefficients of parentage based on known parental pedigrees, and multivariate distance (DI) was calculated by using the first five principal components of the parental correlation matrix for 12 agronomic traits. FD was significantly correlated with GD* (r=0.63, P<0.01), but not with DI (r=-0.05). Cluster analysis based on these three distance estimates did not produce equivalent groupings, but the FD and GD* clusters were more similar to each other than to the DI clusters. These results indicate that: (1) sufficient variation exists for further application of RFLP technologyto oats, (2) RFLPs could provide accurate estimates of genetic divergence among elite oat lines, and (3) it is unlikely that dispersed markers can predict heterosis or population genetic variance in oats. Further investigations will require more parental lines, a larger set of markers, and more information on the linkage relationships between RFLP markers and loci controlling the trait of interest.
Tamoxifen decreases fibroblast function and downregulates TGFβ2 in Dupuytren's affected palmar fascia

Abstract Background. Dupuytren's contracture is a fibroproliferative disorder that is associated with increased collagen deposition. Isoforms of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), normally TGFβ1 and TGFβ2, are involved in the progressive fibrosis of Dupuytren's disease. It has been suggested that downregulation of TGFβ may be useful in the treatment of the condition. Tamoxifen, a synthetic nonsteroidal antiestrogen, is known to modulate the production of TGFβ. This study examined the role of tamoxifen in decreasing fibroblast function and downregulating TGFβ2. Methods. Primary cultures of fibroblasts were obtained from Dupuytren's affected fascia and carpal tunnel affected fascia as a control. Collagen lattices were prepared and populated with the fibroblasts. The fibroblast-populated collagen lattices (FPCL) were then measured for contraction every 24 h for 5 days. Supernatant was obtained from the culture medium following completion of the FPCL portion of the experiment and used for a TGFβ2 immunoassay. Results. Dupuytren's affected fibroblasts contracted the FPCLs significantly more than carpal tunnel control fibroblasts. Treating the fibroblasts with tamoxifen caused a decreased contraction rate in both Dupuytren's affected fibroblasts and carpal tunnel controls. There was increased TGFβ2 expression in the Dupuytren's affected fascia group compared to the carpal tunnel control group. Tamoxifen decreased TGFβ2 expression in Dupuytren's affected fascia group but not in the carpal tunnel control group. Conclusion. TGFβ appears to be the key cytokine in the fibrogenic nature of Dupuytren's disease. Tamoxifen treatment has been demonstrated to decrease the function of fibroblasts derived from Dupuytren's affected fascia and downregulated TGFβ2 production in these same fibroblasts. These data suggest a method to manipulate and control Dupuytren's contracture in the clinical setting.
Variants of SLC6A4 in depression risk following severe TBI.

AbstractBackground: Post-traumatic depression (PTD) may be a result of several factors like secondary injury chemical cascades as well as psycho-social factors following traumatic brain injury (TBI). While the role of serotonin in the pathology and treatment of idiopathic major depression may be somewhat controversial, it is unclear what role serotonin may play in PTD following a TBI.Objective: To assess serotonergic function and genetic risk for PTD development over 1 year following TBI.Research design: Examination of variation in the serotonin transporter gene [SLC6A4 (5-HTTLPR, rs25331, and a variable number of tandem repeats variant in Intron 2)] in 109 subjects with moderate–severe injury. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) at 6 and/or 12 months post-injury.Main outcomes and results: At 6 months post-injury, subjects with a history of pre-morbid mood disorders and 5-HTTLPR L-homozygotes were at greater risk for PTD. Contrary to major depression, subjects without pr...
Extreme obesity is associated with attempted suicides: results from a family study

This study was conducted to explore the association between attempted suicides and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) in a family sample of 2547 individuals. As a comparison, a national NESARC (the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions) sample of 41 589 individuals was included to validate the observed association. Compared to average weight, extreme obesity showed significantly increased odds for attempted suicides both in family sample (odds ratio (OR) = 3.37 and 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-7.13 for BMI = 40- or = 50 kg/m2) and in NESARC sample (OR = 2.11 and 95% CI = 1.59-2.81 for BMI = 40- or = 50 kg/m2) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Compared to general population, the risk for attempted suicide was 87 and 122% higher for those with BMI=40- or = 50 kg/m2, respectively. The pattern of results in the family and population studies indicates that extreme obesity is strongly associated with attempted suicide.
A recursive Bayesian approach to pattern recognition

Abstract The pattern classification problem is stated in terms of an ideal system and a model system. The ideal system gives the true classification of each input pattern while the model system gives an estimate of the probable classification of each pattern. The estimate is produced by the model as a parametrically defined function of the input pattern. The problem is to find a training algorithm which determines the values of the parameters, initially unspecified, from a sequence of inputs and outputs of the ideal and model systems and, thereby, determines the characteristics of the model. A general theoretical solution to this problem is given by a recursive Bayesian estimation procedure. Individual implementations may be derived by approximations which trade accuracy for computational ease. Assumptions of linearity and normality lead to a perceptron-like algorithm. Several non-linear and non-normal cases are also considered.
Reclaiming Our Roots: The Influences of Media Curriculum on the Natural Hair Movement

This article, theoretically constructed on Gramsci's notion of cultural hegemony, explores the use of Black female hair as a cultural signifier in two media texts, specifically Adrienne Kennedy's play, Funnyhouse of a Negro, and Chris Rock's documentary, Good Hair, in specific media texts. Analysis of the verbal and visual rhetoric regarding a Black female aesthetic revealed associated themes of generational family influences and identity formation.
Mechanism of insulin fibrillation: the structure of insulin under amyloidogenic conditions resembles a protein-folding intermediate

Insulin undergoes aggregation-coupled misfolding to form a cross-β assembly. Such fibrillation has long complicated its manufacture and use in the therapy of diabetes mellitus. Of interest as a model for disease-associated amyloids, insulin fibrillation is proposed to occur via partial unfolding of a monomeric intermediate. Here, we describe the solution structure of human insulin under amyloidogenic conditions (pH 2.4 and 60 °C). Use of an enhanced sensitivity cryogenic probe at high magnetic field avoids onset of fibrillation during spectral acquisition. A novel partial fold is observed in which the N-terminal segments of the A- and B-chains detach from the core. Unfolding of the N-terminal α-helix of the A-chain exposes a hydrophobic surface formed by native-like packing of the remaining α-helices. The C-terminal segment of the B-chain, although not well ordered, remains tethered to this partial helical core. We propose that detachment of N-terminal segments makes possible aberrant protein-protein interactions in an amyloidogenic nucleus. Non-cooperative unfolding of the N-terminal A-chain α-helix resembles that observed in models of proinsulin folding intermediates and foreshadows the extensive α → β transition characteristic of mature fibrils.
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the lower extremity.

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) is a complex syndrome of pain, trophic changes, and vasomotor instability secondary to an abnormal hyperactive state of the sympathetic nervous system following injury to an extremity. Numerous theories have been proposed to explain the pathophysiology. None is universally accepted. The diagnosis of RSD is complicated because some patients improve without treatment, whereas others develop intractable symptoms even after the injury has healed. A delay in diagnosis and/or treatment for this syndrome can result in severe physical and psychological problems. Early recognition and prompt treatment, i.e., sympathetic blockade and physical therapy, provide the greatest opportunity for a successful outcome.
Changes in RNA Splicing in Developing Soybean (Glycine max) Embryos

Developing soybean seeds accumulate oils, proteins, and carbohydrates that are used as oxidizable substrates providing metabolic precursors and energy during seed germination. The accumulation of these storage compounds in developing seeds is highly regulated at multiple levels, including at transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. RNA sequencing was used to provide comprehensive information about transcriptional and post-transcriptional events that take place in developing soybean embryos. Bioinformatics analyses lead to the identification of different classes of alternatively spliced isoforms and corresponding changes in their levels on a global scale during soybean embryo development. Alternative splicing was associated with transcripts involved in various metabolic and developmental processes, including central carbon and nitrogen metabolism, induction of maturation and dormancy, and splicing itself. Detailed examination of selected RNA isoforms revealed alterations in individual domains that could result in changes in subcellular localization of the resulting proteins, protein-protein and enzyme-substrate interactions, and regulation of protein activities. Different isoforms may play an important role in regulating developmental and metabolic processes occurring at different stages in developing oilseed embryos.
Benign Mixed Tumor (Pleomorphic Adenoma) of the Lacrimal Gland in a 6-year-old Boy

Purpose To report a 6-year-old boy who had benign mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) of the lacrimai gland. Methods A 6-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of a lacrimai fossa mass. We performed a lateral orbitotomy and excised the mass. Results Histopathologic evaluation of the excised orbital mass disclosed a benign mixed tumor (pleomorphic adenoma) of the lacrimai gland. Conclusion Benign mixed tumors (pleomorphic adenomas) of the lacrimai gland are rare in children. However, they must be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatrie orbital masses because of the prognostic importance of removing a pleomorphic adenoma with the capsule intact.
Self‐disclosure and liking: An integration theory approach

Integration theory models predict that sequences increasing or decreasing in intimacy should have less impact on attraction than constant intimate or nonintimate disclosures. Male and female subjects (N= 159) conversed with a videotaped confederate. Each confederate relayed six disclosures in one of five intimacy sequences: increasing, constant high, decreasing, constant low, and random. The confederate either had a choice of topics and sequence or they were imposed. Substantial support was found for integration theory models. The constant high disclosers by choice were liked more than their no-choice controls and the constant low disclosers by choice were disliked more than their no-choice controls. The mixed sequences (increasing, decreasing, and random) produced no significant differences.
Treatment of stage III and IV supraglottic carcinoma: should elderly patients undergo standard treatment protocols?

Hypothesis: The treatment of a T3, N1, M0 supraglottic carcinoma should be the same in an otherwise healthy 80-year-old patient as in an otherwise healthy 40-year-old patient. Otolaryngologists are increasingly faced with challenges presented by the “graying” of our patient population. The fastest growing element of our population comprises individuals who are older than 65 years. Furthermore, the proportion of deaths due to cancer in the aged has been increasing in developed countries, including the United States. There has been debate among oncologists regarding the need to modify aggressive treatment protocols with regard to patient age. The intention of this article is to bring into focus the impact of aging on the treatment of locoregionally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottic larynx.
The influence of climate on the flux of sediment to the coastal ocean

A global approach involving data assimilation schemes allows for the prediction of the flux of water and sediment into the coastal ocean, at the dynamic level (daily). The result is either a real-time, or a hindcast or a forecast of coastal hydrology, optimized to estimate sediment loads of rivers. The approach links a compendium of global and regional web-based databases into a GIS system. Because of the explicit link between climate and hydrology, climate is seen to control the flux of sediment. Relational and spatial methods (i.e. RiverTools/sup /spl reg//, HYDRO1k, ArcInfo/sup /spl reg//) facilitate the process of data acquisition useful to sediment discharge models (i.e. HydroTrend). HydroTrend incorporates drainage basin properties (river networks, hypsometry, relief, and lakes) through high-resolution digital elevation models, along with other biophysical parameters (e.g. basin-average temperature, precipitation, canopy, soil depth, hydraulic conductivity, ice fields). Considering that <4% of world-rivers are monitored for their sediment loads, the approach provides a unique means to predict the sediment flux across an entire coastline at a high-resolution temporal scale. Model comparison to long-term observations from the Lanyang River, Taiwan, shows the model can capture average conditions and inter- and intra-annual variability of water discharge, sediment concentration and loads. Application of the schema to the Adriatic coast of Italy shows how the Apennine rivers are strongly influenced by rare floods, capable of generating hyperpycnal flows.
Extraordinary light transmission through opaque thin metal film with subwavelength holes blocked by metal disks

We observed that when subwavelength-sized holes in an optically opaque metal film are completely covered by opaque metal disks larger than the holes, the light transmission through the holes is not reduced, but rather enhanced. Particularly we report (i) the observation of light transmission through the holes blocked by the metal disks up to 70% larger than the unblocked holes; (ii) the observation of tuning the light transmission by varying the coupling strength between the blocking disks and the hole array, or by changing the size of the disks and holes; (iii) the observation and simulation that the metal disk blocker can improve light coupling from free space to a subwavelength hole; and (iv) the simulation that shows the light transmission through subwavelength holes can be enhanced, even though the gap between the disk and the metal film is partially connected with a metal. We believe these finding should have broad and significant impacts and applications to optical systems in many fields.
Differential Voter Turnout in a Post-Communist Muslim Society: The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic

Abstract Borrowing the dominant theoretical frameworks of studies of voter turnout in the developed world, this paper tests the applicability of these frameworks to a transitional democracy in a Muslim society. Using logistic regression, we estimate an individual’s likelihood of voting in Kyrgyzstan’s 2005 parliamentary and presidential elections. We find that traditional rural networks, rather than networks of voluntary associations, play the central role in the mobilization of voters. In addition, turnout is affected by long-standing cultural cleavages based on religion and ethnicity, and by education, occupation, and trust in government. Our findings suggest that the political behavior of the people of the Kyrgyz Republic is supportive of democracy, in spite of elite-level obstacles to a successful transition.
The acute effect of music on interictal epileptiform discharges.

This study was a prospective, randomized, single-blinded, crossover, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial investigating the effect of Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos (K448) on the frequency of interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) from the EEGs of children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, or "rolandic" epilepsy. The goal was to demonstrate decreased frequency of IEDs with exposure to K448. Four subjects were recruited and 4-hour awake EEG recordings performed. IED frequency per minute was averaged over each of three epochs per hour. Mean IED count per epoch, standard deviations, and variance were calculated. Only complete waking epochs were analyzed. Two subjects demonstrated sufficient waking IEDs for statistical analysis, consisting of three epochs of K448-related effects. Significant decreases in IEDs per minute (33.7, 50.6, and 33.9%) were demonstrated comparing baseline with exposure to K448, but not to control music (Beethoven's Fur Elise).
Abstract 1471: Role of ferritin heavy chain in therapeutic sensitivity of human glioblastoma cells

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Elevated iron requirements and heightened iron metabolism is key to the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. As one of the major iron regulatory proteins, ferritin is elevated in cancer cells and we have previously shown that decreasing ferritin expression in human glioblastoma cells will increase the sensitivity to BCNU and radiation both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigate the underlying mechanism of this finding. Through a nanotechnology-based transfection platform, the human glioma cell line U251 was transfected with H-ferritin siRNA and an effective knockdown efficiency of protein was achieved within 48 hours. H-ferritin down-regulation in glioma cells was associated with a transient decrease in transferrin receptor, suggesting a release of intracellular iron with loss of ferritin. This iron release in turn generated intracellular oxidative stress, which was demonstrated by protein oxidation. The stability of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), which is an indicator of radioresistance, was decreased in glioma cells with H-ferritin down-regulation. This observation is consistent with the increased sensitivity to treatment. Exposure to radiation resulted in increased protein oxidation which could be exacerbated by H-ferritin down-regulation. Thus there is a synergistic effect of radiation and H-ferritin down-regulation; possibly also including the destabilization of HIFs. Additionally, we have previously demonstrated a DNA protection role for H-ferritin. Down-regulation of H-ferritin is associated with increased DNA vulnerability when cells were exposed to ionizing radiation. Moreover, the activation of DNA repair mechanisms was impaired when H-ferritin was absent. Finally, we expanded the vulnerability studies to include the first-line chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide and found that H-ferritin down-regulation increased the sensitivity of glioma cells to this DNA alkylating agent. This study suggests that the iron management protein, H-ferritin, has a cytoprotective role in human glioma cells, which renders them more resistant to conventional therapies. Therefore down-regulation of H-ferritin via nanoliposomes delivering siRNA is a potential adjuvant therapy in glioma treatment. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1471. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1471
Evoked responses in the chicken telencephalon to auditory, visual, and tactile stimulation

Abstract Auditory, visual and cutaneous electrical stimulations were administered to anesthetized chickens and the evoked responses to each stimulus modality was system-atically recorded from the cerebral hemispheres. Principal responses to auditory stimulation were observed predominantly from the Wulst (dorsomedial sagittal elevation of the avian forebrain). Application of 1% procaine to the surface of the Wulst either decreased or abolished the response, indicating that the Wulst has a functional anatomical role in the chicken's auditory system. Responses to photic stimulation also were recorded from the Wulst and surrounding hemispheric areas. Since topical application of 1% procaine to the cerebral hemispheres did not alter the visually evoked responses, forebrain structures responsible for these responses are thought to be in areas other than the Wulst. Cutaneous electrical stimulation was not found to produce responses from the Wulst or surrounding hemispheric areas. The characteristics of the responses obtained in birds to auditory stimulation are compared to those reported for the alligator. The differences found suggest that the avian Wulst functions differently from the reptilian “general cortex” with respect to the auditory system. The present observations in birds are interpreted to indicate that the Wulst is related to the auditory system by fiber connections which have relatively few synapses.
Enforcement of essential boundary conditions in meshless approximations using finite elements

Abstract A technique for easily treating essential boundary conditions for approximations which are not interpolants, such as moving least-square approximations in the element-free Galerkin method, is presented. The technique employs a string of elements along the essential boundaries and combines the finite element shape functions with the approximation. In the resulting approximation, essential boundary conditions can be treated exactly as in finite elements. It is shown that the resulting approximation can exactly reproduce linear polynomials so that it satisfies the patch test. Numerical studies show that the method retains the high rate of convergence associated with moving least-square approximations.
Bob Dorwart's legacy.

Bob Dorwart’s legacy is in part the work he left behind, such as published papers and books for researchers, policy makers, and scholars to review, mull over, and utilize in their work in expanding new knowledge for mental health services. His legacy, however, is much more than a large Medline search result. It is his impact on the collaborative efforts of clinicians and researchers to improve patient care, whether those efforts explicitly acknowledge his research or influence opportunities for treatment in a more indirect way. The enduring impact of anyone’s legacy is difficult to measure, especially if one only tries to follow a trail of publications. A legacy is also people who have benefited from their encounters with Bob, the exchange of ideas among colleagues, and the many meetings, seminars, and national symposia. It is the encouragement, advice, mentorship, and critique in an immediate interpersonal sense which creates a memory of Bob that makes an abiding impact for many years to come. Bob Dorwart left us a rich legacy of ideas and people. He was an early leader of mental health services research, devoting himself for almost two decades to the question of how psychiatric systems influence opportunities for patient care. He was fascinated by the organization, regulation, ownership, and financing of psychiatric systems, and he enlarged the scope of how we study such systems and change them. As Mark Schlesinger puts it, “Robert Dorwart’s research focused on the implications of institutional change for the practice of psychiatry” (p. 216). He combined the perspective of a superb clinician with an investigator’s passion for how things work in the real world and also how they may be improved. His work spanned studies on citizen participation in community mental health, to the privatization of psychiatric
An apparatus for quantitative gas-absorption measurements

An apparatus for quantitative gas-absorption measurements is described and illustrated with drawings and photograph. A commercially available aluminium block heating unit, adapted to accommodate glass sample tubes, is mounted in an octagonal frame. Gas burets and leveling bulbs are supported on the frame to provide an apparatus for measuring volume changes at a given pressure. Data on rate of heatup and temperature distribution within a sample tube are given. The apparatus has been used primarily for volumetric oxygen-absorption measurements in studies related to the oxidation of rubber, but it is adaptable to studies involving other materials and other gaseous atmospheres at controlled temperatures. For example, studies have been made with polyethylene, epoxide coatings, and drying oils. The apparatus has also proved useful for curing polyurethanes under moisture-free conditions and for the vulcanization of rubber in a nitrogen atmosphere.