cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Upper Airway Stimulation on Swallowing Function.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of upper airway stimulation therapy (UAS) on swallowing function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Study Design:Prospective cohort study.Setting:Academic med...
Citrus Soil pH Management

Management of both soil pH and nutrients is required to maintain soil fertility levels and ensure economic agricultural production. Maintaining soil in the 6.0-6.5 pH range is best for most crops including citrus. This new two-page publication of the UF/IFAS Department of Soil and Water Sciences, written by Kelly Morgan, explains the effects of soil pH on citrus as well as options for management.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss666
Photoelectric photometry of J V

UBV photometry of J V (Amalthea) near greatest western elongation shows this satellite to be about one magnitude fainter than previously believed. It is observed to be very red, having a B-V color index near + 1.5 mag. Unlike the Galilean satellites, J V appears to be a low-albedo object.
Chd8 haploinsufficiency impairs early brain development and protein homeostasis later in life

Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (Chd8) is a high-confidence risk gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, how Chd8 haploinsufficiency impairs gene expression in the brain and impacts behavior at different stages of life is unknown. We generated a mutant mouse line with an ASD-linked loss-of-function mutation in Chd8 (V986*; stop codon mutation). We examined the behavior of Chd8 mutant mice along with transcriptional changes in the cerebral cortex as a function of age, with a focus on one embryonic (E14.5) and three postnatal ages (1, 6, and 12 months). Chd8V986*/+ mutant mice displayed macrocephaly, reduced rearing responses and reduced center time in the open field, and enhanced social novelty preference. Behavioral phenotypes were more evident in Chd8V986*/+ mutant mice at 1 year of age. Pup survival was reduced in wild-type x Chd8V986*/+ crosses when the mutant parent was female. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that pathways associated with synaptic and neuronal projections and sodium channel activity were reduced in the cortex of embryonic Chd8V986*/+ mice and then equalized relative to wild-type mice in the postnatal period. At 12 months of age, expression of genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, chaperone-mediated protein folding, and the unfolded protein response (UPR) were reduced in Chd8V986*/+ mice, whereas genes associated with the c-MET signaling pathway were increased in expression. It is unclear whether the transcriptional changes observed with age in Chd8V986*/+ mice reflect a direct effect of CHD8-regulated gene expression, or if CHD8 indirectly affects the expression of UPR/ER stress genes in adult mice as a consequence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Collectively, these data suggest that UPR/ER stress pathways are reduced in the cerebral cortex of aged Chd8V986*/+ mice. Our study uncovers neurodevelopmental and age-related phenotypes in Chd8V986*/+ mice and highlights the importance of controlling for age when studying Chd8 haploinsufficient mice.
Unique Considerations: Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes in the Setting of Fetal Surgery and Higher Order Pregnancies

Two unique aspects of antenatal care occur in the setting of fetal surgery and multiple gestations. As fetal interventions increase, so do the number of cases of iatrogenic preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). Because of the amniotic sac's inability to heal, the risk of PPROM after surgery is directly correlated with the number of interventions, the size of the defect, and the surgery performed. Higher order gestations also carry an increased risk of PPROM. This paper reviews the risks and management of PPROM in the setting of the various prenatal interventions as well as in the setting of multiple gestations.
PARENTAL SUPPORT AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES

Objective The purpose of this research study was to investigate if perceived parental support and different parenting styles affected adherence to diabetic health management, metabolic control and perceived quality of life for adolescents diagnosed with Type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. Methods This cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out in a natural setting. One hundred and two adolescents, between 12 and 18 years of age, diagnosed with insulin dependent diabetes for at least one year, and attending a pediatric endocrinology clinic participated. This study investigated the relationships between the adolescent’s perceived level of parental support and adherence, metabolic control and quality of life as well as differences between parenting style groups on adherence, metabolic control and quality of life. Parents were classified into one of four groups (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, or neglectful) based on their adolescents’ perceptions of them along two dimensions: responsiveness and demandingness. Results Perceived parental support was significantly correlated with adherence. Adolescents who perceived their parents to have authoritative parenting styles did have better adherence to their prescribed treatment plan compared to adolescents who perceived their parents to have authoritarian, permissive or neglectful parenting styles. Additionally, adolescents who perceived their parents to have authoritative parenting styles had better perceived quality of life than did adolescents who perceived their parents to have authoritarian or permissive parenting styles. Conclusions These findings have implications for health care workers trying to assist adolescents and their families in the management of their diabetic health care.
Authentic Community Engagement and Community-Based Participatory Research for Public Health and Medicine

We are now well into the fourth decade since the identification of HIV, and an efficacious vaccine and effective cure remain elusive. As in most places of the world, here in the USA, we continue to face profound challenges in identifying persons with HIV and providing access and ensuring uptake and adherence to available and effective antiretroviral medications that reduce infectivity and the prophylaxes to prevent and reduce associated complications and diseases. The strategies most effective in confronting the HIV epidemic are reducing behavioral risk, seropositive infectivity, and/or biologic vulnerability to infection. Although we have made impressive strides, much more work must be done. In fact, members of some communities have not benefited from the advances that have been made in public health and medicine in general and HIV care and prevention in particular. These communities include racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minority populations, including American Indians/Alaska Natives; African Americans/blacks; Hispanics/Latinos; sexual and gender minorities such as gay and bisexual men, men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender persons; and low-income and rural communities. These communities continue to be deeply affected by HIV and carry a disproportionate burden of HIV infection and disease. This book is a compilation of authentic, state of the science innovative behavioral HIV prevention interventions that use community engagement and partnership and community-based participatory research (CBPR) to reduce HIV exposure and transmission among vulnerable and neglected communities. In this introductory chapter, we define and describe community engagement and partnership and CBPR and outline key characteristics that emerged across research experiences described within this book.
Assessing Biological Effects

Many hazardous substances associate readily with sediments in marine, estuarine and freshwater environments. The science of sediment quality evaluation associated with characterizing the ecological effects of these substances has progressed dramatically over the past 30 years. It is now apparent that to reach conclusions that are accurate (related to actual field conditions), assessments of sediment quality involve much more than simply assessing sediment toxicity using laboratory tests on field-collected sediments. Optimal assessments of quality, hazard or risk associated with sediments integrate multiple methods and approaches. For example, many authors now advocate that laboratory toxicity testing be performed concurrently with physicochemical characterizations, indigenous biotic community assessment and in situ-based approaches to characterize exposures from overlying waters, sediments and advective groundwater-pulse events (Burton, 1991; Burton et al., 2005a; Greenberg et al., 2002; Adams et al., 2005). Sediment quality assessment tools and approaches also include toxicity identification evaluations (TIEs) (USEPA, 2007; Ho and Burgess, 2009), assessment of abiotic factors as stressors (Burton and Johnston, 2010) and toxicological evaluation of tissue residue (Meador et al., 2008; Sappington et al., 2011). However, compartmentalization rather than integration of key approaches and issues is a potential pitfall for sediment quality evaluation. If only one or two assessment methods are used, or any are used incorrectly, the resulting conclusions may be erroneous or have a high degree of uncertainty.
Neurochemical Phenotype of Afferent Neurons of the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius in Response to Esophageal Distension in the Rat

The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) receives visceral information from the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems via type-A and type-C fibers. NTS nucleus centralis (cNTS) recei...
Rates of stellar tidal disruption as probes of the supermassive black hole mass function

Rates of stellar tidal disruption events (TDEs) by supermassive black holes (SMBHs) due to two-body relaxation are calculated using a large galaxy sample (N=146) in order to explore the sensitivity of the TDE rates to observational uncertainties, such as the parametrization of galaxy light profiles and the stellar mass function. The largest uncertainty arises due to the poorly constrained occupation fraction of SMBHs in low-mass galaxies, which otherwise dominate the total TDE rate. The detection rate of TDE flares by optical surveys is calculated as a function of SMBH mass and other observables for several physically-motivated models of TDE emission. We also quantify the fraction of galaxies that produce deeply penetrating disruption events. If the majority of the detected events are characterized by super-Eddington luminosities (such as disk winds, or synchrotron radiation from an off-axis relativistic jet), then the measured SMBH mass distribution will tightly constrain the low-end SMBH occupation fraction. If Eddington-limited emission channels dominate, however, then the occupation fraction sensitivity is much less pronounced in a flux-limited survey (although still present in a volume-complete event sample). The SMBH mass distribution of the current sample of TDEs, though highly inhomogeneous and encumbered by selection effects, already suggests that Eddington-limited emission channels dominate. Even our most conservative rate estimates appear to be in tension with much lower observationally inferred TDE rates, and we discuss several possible resolutions to this discrepancy.
Collision of Epistemological Frameworks: Religion and Social Science’s Unshared Understanding of Ethics

Religious scholars and social science experts frequently differ and sometimes clash when writing and discussing issues of ethics. Sometimes unshared understandings on fundamental world-view issues is the etiology for these differences. Differences in defining truth, whether philosophically or empirically, often is at the root etiology in these differences. Practical suggestions are offered in order to help scholars of religion and the social sciences better to communicate and collaborate in professional and scholarly milieus.
Immunofluorescence in Cells Derived from Burkitt's Lymphoma

Henle, Gertrude (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.), and Werner Henle. Immunofluorescence in cells derived from Burkitt's lymphoma. J. Bacteriol. 91:1248-1256. 1966.-Indirect immunofluorescence tests led to the brilliant staining of a small proportion of the cells in five different cultures derived from Burkitt's (African) lymphomas. The reaction was not restricted to the 17 sera from cases of this disease but extended to many sera from American individuals, whether healthy donors or patients suffering from a variety of illnesses. The incidence of positive sera increased with age from about 30% in childhood to > 90% in adults. Fluorescein-isothiocyanate-conjugated human gamma-globulins were suitable for direct staining of the same proportion of cells. The stained cells appeared to be in varying stages of degeneration, but cultural conditions leading to an increase in the cellular death rates failed to result in a rise in fluorescent cells. Several observations suggest that the stainable cells might be those which are seen to harbor virus particles under the electron microscope. Two cell lines derived from leukemic patients in this country also contained a small fraction of stainable cells but two others, and numerous primary human leukocyte cultures, gave consistently negative results. Attempts to relate the staining to known viral antigens have failed to implicate herpes simplex, varicella, cytomegalo, and reo viruses types 1, 2, and 3. The nature of the virus carried by the lymphoma cells as well as of the staining reactions remains to be determined.
Suicide and accidental deaths among patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Objective To determine if American men with prostate cancer are at increased risk of suicide/accidental death compared with other cancers and if the receipt of definitive treatment alters this association, as patients with cancer are at increased risk of suicide and evidence suggests a relationship between suicides and deaths due to accidents and externally caused injuries. Patients and methods Demographic, socio-economic and tumour characteristics of men with prostate cancer and men with other solid malignancies were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database (1988-2010). Poisson regression models were fitted to compare the incidence of suicidal and accidental deaths in prostate cancer vs other solid cancers. Multivariate Cox regression was used to determine if receipt of definitive primary treatment impacted the risk of suicide or accidental death in men with localised/regional prostate cancer. Results Risk of suicidal and accidental death was significantly lower in men with prostate cancer (1 165 [0.2%] and 3 199 [0.6%]) than men with other cancers (2 232 [0.2%] and 4 501 [0.5%], respectively), except within the first year of diagnosis (adjusted relative risk [ARR] 3.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.02-5.23 and ARR 4.22, 95% CI 3.24-5.51, respectively, 0-3 months after diagnosis). Men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who were White, uninsured, or recommended but did not receive treatment (hazard ratio vs treated 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.72, and 1.44, 95% CI 1.30-1.59, both P Conclusions Relative to other cancers, men with prostate cancer were at increased risk of suicide and accidental deaths within the first year of diagnosis and when definitive treatment was recommended but not received, suggesting the need for close monitoring and coordination with mental health professionals in at-risk men with potentially curable disease.
Cloning and characterization of chi-1: a developmentally regulated member of a novel class of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family

Ionotropic glutamate receptors are composed of homomeric or heteromeric configurations of glutamate receptor subunits. We have cloned a member of a novel class of the rat ionotropic glutamate receptor family, termed chi-1. This subunit exhibits an average identity of 27% to NMDA subunits and 23% to non-NMDA subunits. Regional transcript levels of chi-1 are elevated just prior to and during the first postnatal week, with the highest levels present in the spinal cord, brainstem, hypothalamus, thalamus, CA1 field of the hippocampus, and amygdala. The spatial distribution of chi-1 expression is similar from postnatal day 1 (P1) to adulthood. However, transcript levels decline sharply between P7 and P14 and remain attenuated into adulthood. Functional expression studies in Xenopus oocytes injected with in vitro transcribed chi-1 RNA did not demonstrate agonist-activated currents. Pairwise expression of chi-1 with members of the AMPA, KA, or delta class of glutamate recepto subunits either failed to generate agonist-activated currents or failed to alter the underlying current generated by the coexpressed subunit. However, coexpression of chi-1 with subunits forming otherwise functional NMDA receptors resulted in an inhibition of current responses. Since chi-1 did not alter the currents generated by non-NMDA subunits, this suggests that chi-1 may specifically interact with NMDA receptor subunits. Further characterization will be required to establish the precise role of this glutamate receptor subunit in neuronal signaling.
Using the Eastern Hellbender Salamander in a High School Genetics & Ecological Conservation Activity

This article contains an original 5E lesson plan developed from conservation genetics research on the giant North American hellbender salamander, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis. The lesson plan provides background information on the hellbender, reviews basic genetics, and exposes students to the scientific process that is used during PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and the analysis of microsatellites in order to calculate allele and genotype frequencies for understanding genetic variability. Once completing the lesson, students should make the connection between molecular research and conservation of a rare, cryptic, and interesting species.
Social Networkers’ Attitudes Toward Direct-to-Consumer Personal Genome Testing

Purpose: This study explores social networkers' interest in and attitudes toward personal genome testing (PGT), focusing on expectations related to the clinical integration of PGT results. Methods: An online survey of 1,087 social networking users was conducted to assess 1) use and interest in PGT; 2) attitudes toward PGT companies and test results; and 3) expectations for the clinical integration of PGT. Descriptive statistics were calculated to summarize respondents' characteristics and responses. Results: Six percent of respondents have used PGT, 64% would consider using PGT, and 30% would not use PGT. Of those who would consider using PGT, 74% report they would use it to gain knowledge about disease in their family. 34% of all respondents consider the information obtained from PGT to be a medical diagnosis. 78% of those who would consider PGT would ask their physician for help interpreting test results, and 61% of all respondents believe physicians have a professional obligation to help individuals in...
Speed and Lateral Vehicle Position Models from Controlled Nighttime Driving Experiment

Data from a controlled nighttime driving experiment along a complex, two-lane rural highway in Pennsylvania were used to investigate participant speed and lateral vehicle position. Additionally, the association of pavement marking visibility and the roadway geometry on speed and lateral vehicle position was investigated. The modeling methodology employed considered a variety of single equation and systems methods to estimate models for speed and lateral vehicle position. These include ordinary least-squares regression models, random effects panel data models, a three-stage least-squares technique, and seemingly unrelated regression. These methods were used to determine if there was an endogenous relationship between the speed and lateral vehicle position metrics, and to account for the repeat observations on the research participants in the experiment. The results suggest that endogeneity did not exist in the speed and lateral vehicle position measures in the present experiment. A single-equation random effects panel regression model was an improvement over the ordinary least-squares regression model for the change in speed metric. However, the ordinary least-squares regression model was appropriate for the lateral vehicle position metric. A seemingly unrelated regression model was also specified to account for contemporaneous correlation across the change in speed and lateral vehicle position models. It was found that the roadside hazard rating, horizontal curve direction, vertical grade, horizontal curve radius, upstream horizontal curve radius, and approach tangent length all were associated with vehicle speed on the complex, two-lane rural highway. The horizontal curve direction, roadside hazard rating, vertical grade, horizontal curve radius, and approach tangent length all were associated with lateral vehicle position in the present experiment.
On Universal Fields of Fractions for Free Algebras

Abstract Let L be an arbitrary Lie algebra. Then by Cohn's Theorem its universal enveloping algebra can be embedded in a skew field D ( L ). We study this skew field in the case when L is a free Lie algebra and prove that in this case D ( L ) is isomorphic to the universal field of fractions for the free associative algebra U ( L ). We apply this theorem to obtain new results on free fields.
Effects of ecdysone on epidermal cells in which DNA synthesis has been blocked

Abstract Polyphemus pupae ready to initiate adult development and ligated abdomens of adult Cecropia and Cynthia moths were injected with an inhibitor of DNA synthesis and with crystalline ecdysone. The results revealed that apolysis—the retraction of the epidermis from the old cuticle—was caused by ecdysone and occurred even when DNA synthesis was blocked and when the rest of the moulting processes failed to occur.
Effects of Delayed Mating and Access to Water on Oviposition and Longevity in Female Amyelois transitella

The navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a key pest of high-value irrigated nut crops in the arid Central Valley of California. Mating disruption is an established pest management technique for this pest, with reduced non-target impacts. This study compared laboratory survivorship and fertility data with field measurements to improve understanding of factors determining abundance of this species in the presence and absence of mating disruption. While the relative humidity is generally higher in almond orchards compared to readings from meteorological stations, the data indicate little free water in the absence of irrigation. Access to free water has a minor effect on the fertility of females if they mate soon after emergence, but a major effect if mating is delayed for 7 days. Leslie matrix projections indicate that changes in adult survivorship have much less impact than changes in larval survivorship. These findings indicate that control tactics limiting reproduction and survival of immature stages are more important for this species than those targeting adults.
Computer particle simulation of high-voltage solar array arcing onset

The operation of a high-voltage solar array in low Earth orbit may cause arcing on the negatively biased parts of a solar array. This sets a practical limit on the operational voltage of solar arrays.This paper is the extension of three earlier works" regarding high-voltage solar array arcing. The onset of arcing is reproduced by self-consistent computer simulations to verify the arcing onset model developed in the earlier work. It is shown that neutral gas is desorbed from the dielectric surface forming a localized neutral cloud over the surface, and the arcing onset occurs as the gas breakdown at a parameter pd (pressure times distance) much smaller than the Paschen minimum. Analytical expressions for the prebreakdown electron currents and the neutral densities are also derived and used to obtain a parametric formula of the breakdown condition. Arcing rates are calculated including the breakdown condition of the desorbed neutral gas. The theory is compared to the Japanese Space Flyer Unit High-Voltage Solar Array ground experiment and shown to give a reasonable explanation for data relating the arcing rate to the solar array temperature.
If Sargent Could See Us Now: Values and Program Survival in Higher Education

The elimination of programs in physical education in higher education is both a cause for concern and an opportunity to reflect on the values that dominate physical education in higher education. In this essay, I argue that current values in the socialization of doctoral students, induction to the professoriate, and gatekeeping of scholarly journals primarily support specialized knowledge production and technical rationality. Alternatives to current values are reviewed, including “consultation” with Dudley Allen Sargent. I conclude with an argument for more diversity in purpose, scholarship, and definitions of excellence.
Cortical morphology of visual creativity.

Abstract Background and objective The volume of cortical tissue devoted to a function often influences the quality of a person's ability to perform that function. Up to now only white matter correlates of creativity have been reported, and we wanted to learn if the creative visuospatial performance on the figural Torrance Test of Creative Thinking (TTCT) is associated with measurements of cerebral gray matter volume in the regions of the brain that are thought to be important in divergent reasoning and visuospatial processing. Methods Eighteen healthy college educated men (mean age = 40.78; 15 right-handers) were recruited (via advertisement) as participants. High-resolution MRI scans were acquired on a 1.5 T MRI scanner. Voxel-based morphometry regression analyses of TTCT to cortical volume were restrained within the anatomic regions identified. Results One significant positive focus of association with TTCT emerged within the right parietal lobe gray matter (MNI coordinates: 44, −24, 63; 276 voxels). Conclusions Based on theories of parietal lobe function and the requirements of the TTCT, the area observed may be related due to its dominant role in global aspects of attention and visuospatial processing including the capacity for manipulating spatial representations.
Lead: X-ray Diffraction Study of a High-Pressure Polymorph.

An x-ray diffraction study of lead under pressure has shown that face-centered cubic structure transforms to the hexagonal close-packed structure at room temperature and a pressure of 130± 10 kilobars. The volume change for the transformation is -0.18± 0.06 cubic centimeter per mole.
Satirical persuasion and topic salience

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of satirical persuasion on audience responses in terms of topic salience and prior attitude valence. The areas of audience responses investigated were attitude change and immunization to counter‐attitudinal messages. The results indicated that (a) satire interacted with salience to affect attitude change, and (b) satire was effective in immunization against counter‐persuasion.
Arabidopsis whole-transcriptome profiling defines the features of coordinated regulations that occur during secondary growth

Secondary growth in the inflorescence stems of Arabidopsis plants was induced by a combination of short-day and long-day treatments. The induced stems were divided into three different stem developmental stages (i.e., immature, intermediate, and mature) with regard to secondary growth. Whole transcriptome microarrays were used to examine the changes in global gene expression occurring at the different stem developmental stages. Over 70% of the Arabidopsis transcriptome was expressed in the stem tissues. In the mature stems with secondary growth, 567 genes were upregulated 5-fold or higher and 530 were downregulated, when compared to immature stems (with no secondary growth) and 10-day old seedlings (with no inflorescence stem). The transcription phenotypes obtained from the stems at different developmental stages largely confirm the existing insights into the biochemical processes involved in the sequential events that lead to wood formation. The major difference found between the stems undergoing secondary growth and only primary growth was in the expression profiles of transcriptional regulation-and signal transduction-related genes. An analysis of several shoot apical meristem (SAM) activity-related gene expression patterns in the stems indicated that the genetic control of secondary meristem activity might be governed by a different mechanism from that of SAM. The current study established the expression patterns of many unknown genes and identified candidate genes that are involved in the genetic regulation of secondary growth. The findings described in this report should improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the growth and development of the stem.
Plasmonic Nanoholes in a Multichannel Microarray Format for Parallel Kinetic Assays and Differential Sensing

We present nanohole arrays in a gold film integrated with a six-channel microfluidic chip for parallel measurements of molecular binding kinetics. Surface plasmon resonance effects in the nanohole arrays enable real-time, label-free measurements of molecular binding events in each channel, while adjacent negative reference channels can record measurement artifacts such as bulk solution index changes, temperature variations, or changing light absorption in the liquid. With the use of this platform, streptavidin−biotin specific binding kinetics are measured at various concentrations with negative controls. A high-density microarray of 252 biosensing pixels is also demonstrated with a packing density of 106 sensing elements/cm2, which can potentially be coupled with a massively parallel array of microfluidic channels for protein microarray applications.
Parental care and the allocation of resources across generations

To understand the evolution of parental care behaviour, the cost of care must be evaluated in terms of lost reproductive potential. Using population genetics theory, a quantitative model of parental care is presented here to evaluate the allocation of resources between production and care of offspring, and care of grandoffspring. The results show that the evolutionarily stable investment ratio of resources to offspring versus grandoffspring is equal to 2∶1. The expected investment in grandoffspring will decrease when there is a lower probability of survival of the parents to a late stage of the life cycle. These results are discussed in the context of general life history theory, inclusive fitness models, animal behaviour field studies, and the evolution of human menopause.
SOD1 overexpression improves features of the oligodendrocyte precursor response in vitro

Spinal cord injury (SCI) produces a significant loss of oligodendrocytes (OL) and demyelination. The oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) response includes a group of cellular changes in OPCs that are directed to replenish OL loss from the injury. However, this adaptive response is hampered and OPCs eventually die or fail to differentiate to mature and functional OL. In this study, we wanted to evaluate if overexpression of human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) in OPCs from the SOD1 transgenic rat could improve some of the features of the OPC response in vitro. We found that hSOD1 overexpression increases the proliferation of OPCs and accelerates their differentiation to mature OL in vitro. Furthermore, hSOD1 overexpression reduces oxidative stress-mediated death in OPCs. These results suggest hSOD1 as a therapeutic target to increase OPC response success and potentially, OL replacement and remyelination after SCI.
Book Review of Empathy in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Perspectives and Practices

Book reviewed in this article: Empathy in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Perspectives and Practices by Arthur J. Clark, 2007
Predicting the rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms.

Most patients with unruptured aneurysms are asymptomatic, and this patient population is expected to continue to expand with the increasing availability of cerebral imaging (1, 8). Despite considerable advances in microsurgical techniques and endovascular technology, aneurysm treatment always poses a risk of considerable neurologic morbidity and mortality (8). The decision to treat an unruptured aneurysm must be substantiated by an anticipated realistic risk of aneurysm rupture during the patient’s life span. Risk prediction has largely been based on aneurysm size, location, and morphology; however, absolute annual rupture rates have varied widely across several prospective studies (3-8). As a means to provide an inclusive risk prediction model, the PHASES (Population, Hypertension, Age, Size of the aneurysm, Earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm, and Site of the aneurysm) score, based on a pooled analysis of 6 prospective natural history studies, was recently proposed (1). The authors screened 1105 publications derived from PubMed and Embase searches and formally reviewed 102 articles to incorporate prospective natural history studies with at least 50 patients with unruptured aneurysms. The authors ultimately included results from the Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm Study (UCAS) of Japan (5720 patients) (5), the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms (ISUIA; 1691 patients) (8), 2 other Japanese studies (419 patients and 374 patients with aneurysms <6 mm) (3, 6), the Finnish study (142 patients) (4), and another study from the Netherlands (93 patients with aneurysms <6 mm) (7). Overall, the authors incorporated 8382 patients with 10,272 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Mean patient age was 60 years, and 68% of the patients were women. The overall annual rupture rate was 1.4% (95% confidence interval, 1.1%e1.6%). After a multivariable Cox regression analysis, the authors derived a rupture prediction model based on population, hypertension, age, size of the aneurysm, earlier subarachnoid hemorrhage from another aneurysm, and site of the aneurysm—PHASES (Table 1). The total score could be used to predict the 5-year risk of aneurysm rupture. Point spread is widest for aneurysm size, with aneurysms <7 mm receiving 0 points, aneurysms 7e9.9 mm receiving 3 points, aneurysms 10e19.9 mm receiving 6 points, and aneurysms at least 20 mm receiving 10 points. For population, Japanese patients receive 3 points, and Finnish patients receive 5 points. For aneurysm site, middle cerebral artery location is given 2 points, and anterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery, or posterior circulation location is given 4 points (0 points
The positive function maximizing the normalized output from a correlation filter

Abstract The problem of finding the function that maximizes the normalized output from a correlation filter is a classical problem in signal analysis. In this paper we solve this problem when the input is constrained to be real and positive.
Reservoir rock properties of coal measure strata of the Lower Monongahela Group, Greene County (Southwestern Pennsylvania), from methane control and production perspectives

Abstract The methane emission rate into an underground mine environment from overburden strata during longwall mining is impacted by reservoir and geomechanical characteristics of the coal measure rocks in the overlying strata, as well as the presence of any coal seam. The reservoir characteristics and how they change during mining potentially affect the performance of gob gas ventholes, which consequently impacts the efficiency of methane control in the mining environment. This study presents reservoir and elastic properties of coal measure rocks in the Lower Monongahela Group in Greene County, southwestern Pennsylvania, of the Northern Appalachian Basin. Since the source of methane in this region from underground mining is located between the Sewickley coal and the Pittsburgh coal, a specific emphasis was given to this interval. Core analyses were performed in the laboratory to determine rock porosity and permeability. Geophysical logging data (gamma, density, sonic) obtained from two exploration boreholes were used for evaluating formation boundaries, shale contents, log porosities, and geomechanical properties of formations. Permeability was also calculated using density-log data and empirical equations and compared with laboratory measurements and slug tests performed in isolated intervals of boreholes. The results presented in this study can be used as data sources for reservoir studies related to the production and control of methane.
Absorption and metabolism of uniformly 14C-labeled phytol and phytanic acid by the intestine of the rat studied with thoracic duct cannulation.

Abstract 1. 1. Tracer doses of uniformly 14C-labeled phytol were absorbed from the intestine of the rat to the extent of approx. 50% in 24 h. When the doses were increased to 300 mg, a smaller fraction was absorbed but the total quantity absorbed reached values as high as 65 mg. Over 70% of the absorbed phytol entered through the intestinal lymphatics. Phytol and cetyl alcohol were absorbed more slowly and less completely than were phytanic acid and palmitic acid, and less exclusively by way of the lymphatic route. 2. 2. Over half of the [14C] phytol radioactivity absorbed into the thoracic-duct lymph was still in phytol, some of which was free but a larger part of which was in the form of phytyl esters of fatty acids. The remainder of the label was in acidic derivatives of phytol, principally phytanic acid and phytenic acid (probably at least 3 isomers), which were present almost entirely in triglycerides and other complex lipids. The same derivatives were found in germ-free rats. No dihydrophytol was found in the lymph after phytol had been fed, and no phytenic acid was found after phytanic acid had been fed. Administered phytanic acid was absorbed into the lymph largely without change, except for its incorporation into triglycerides and other complex lipids. In contrast to the results with phytol, cetyl alcohol was largely converted to fatty acid during absorption. 3. 3. Significant quantities of radioactivity from [14C]phytol (administered to rats with intact thoracic ducts) were excreted in the bile, principally in the form of derivatives much more polar than phytanic acid.
Impacts of Metal Salt Addition on Water Chemistry of Lake Elsinore, California: 2. Calcium Salts

ABSTRACT Laboratory studies using water samples collected from Lake Elsinore in June 2002 demonstrated that addition of CA2+ substantively changed the water chemistry. The addition of agricultural gypsum, rock gypsum and CaCl2 all lowered equilibrium pH and alkalinity levels, while increasing the dissolved Ca2+ concentration. Solution pH decreased linearly with increasing Ca2+ dose, from 9.0 with no added Ca2+, to about 8.4 at a dose of 200 mg·L−1. Alkalinity decreased from 10.5 to about 3.5 meq·L−1, while dissolved Ca2+ levels increased from 20.6 to approximately 100 mg·L−1 over this same dose range. Addition of CaO and Ca(OH)2 had a comparatively small effect on equilibrium chemistry and maintained high pH, high alkalinity and low Ca2+ levels in the water. The kinetics of these changes were quite slow; equilibrium was generally reached between 4–7 days depending upon Ca-salt used and the rate of mixing. The Ca-salt additions resulted in modest (30–40%) reductions in total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll...
The decision-making process: Implications for the medical school organization

In this article, the authors make use of some contemporary models of decision-making to show how the process of decision-making can become more self-conscious, and thus both more enlightened and more assured. The approach is an examination of several models examined both from the perspective of the steps in the process itself, as well as general observations about the decision-making process. The practical focus is on the medical school organization with its unique characteristics. This article also examines the decision-making process through a comparison of two types of organizational structure (pyramidal and matrix) found in most medical schools. Certain constants emerge from this article that positively enhance good decision-making. These elements are: (1) the rapidity of change; (2) the critical need for a wide range of alternatives; (3) an understanding of both the organizational structure and human factors involved; and (4) the necessity of involving others in the decision-making process. By analyzing various modes of decision-making and presenting options, this article should be of real assistance to administrators.
Primary leptomeningeal histiocytic lymphoma in a young child

A 20-month-old boy had an 8-week history of vomiting, lethargy, generalized muscle weakness, and seizures. There was no history or clinical signs of an underlying systemic disease or an immunodeficiency. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) had 99 nucleated cells/cu mm, malignant cells, high protein and normal glucose. CT and MRI scans showed diffuse meningeal enhancement around the brain and spinal cord, but no parenchymal involvement. Biopsy of the leptomeninges showed malignant cells with marked nuclear pleomorphism and prominent clear to eosinophilic cytoplasm. The immunohistochemical studies were positive for histiocyte-macrophage markers and were negative with T and B cells, Ki-1, neural and glial cell antibodies. Multiple tests revealed no other site of disease. The patient died 3 months after onset of treatment despite intensive i.v. and intrathecal chemotherapy. We have not found any other reported case of primary histiocytic leptomeningeal lymphoma in a young child.
Meals identified as healthy choices on restaurant menus: an evaluation of accuracy.

This study evaluated the accuracy of restaurant entrees identified as healthy choices on menus at two fast food restaurant chains. Entrees were purchased at two different locations of each restaurant 35 days apart. Samples were processed in duplicate for total fat contents, sodium analysis, and adiabatic bomb calorimeter for total energy. t-Tests compared a) the mean experimental values to claimed values for fat, energy, and sodium, b) nutritional content at different locations for the same restaurant, and c) the mean experimental values for fat, energy, and sodium levels to the recommended Daily Values. Results indicate that entrees identified as healthy choices at these selected restaurants are in fact healthy choices, are accurately labeled, and are consistent among different locations of the same restaurant chains.
A Review of: Sharon Block. Rape and Sexual Power in Early America. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2006

Sharon Block provides contemporary readers with historical insight into a cultural, social, and racial problem that spans time. As the book title suggests, her study of rape and sexual power in Ear...
Compact models of emerging devices

Compact modeling of resistive switching memory (RRAM) and carbon nanotube field-effect transistor (CNFET) are presented. The models are suitable for exploration of device design space, assessment of device performance at the circuit level. Optimization of the CNFET device structure to minimize the gate delay is presented as a demonstration of the model's capability. Simulation of neuromorphic computation system is an example application of the RRAM model. The models can be used to perform advance explorations of circuits and sub-systems of emerging devices prior to the availability of reliable, high-yielding fabrication processes for the emerging devices.
Modulation of cardiac sodium channel gating by protein kinase A can be altered by disease-linked mutation.

Abstract Mutations associated with sodium channel-linked inherited Long-QT syndrome often result in a gain of channel function by disrupting channel inactivation. A small fraction of channels fail to inactivate (burst) at depolarized potentials where normal (wild type) channels fully inactivate. These noninactivating channels give rise to a sustained macroscopic current. We studied the effects of protein kinase A stimulation on sustained current in wild type and three disease-linked C-terminal mutant channels (D1790G, Y1795C, and Y1795H). We show that protein kinase A stimulation differentially affects gating in the mutant channels. Wild type, Y1795C, and Y1795H channels are insensitive to protein kinase A stimulation, whereas “bursting” in the D1790G mutant is markedly enhanced by protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation. Our results suggest that the charge at position 1790 of the C terminus of the channel modulates the response of the cardiac sodium channel to protein kinase A stimulation and that phosphorylation of residue 36 in the N terminus and residue 525 in the cytoplasmic linker joining domains I and II of the channel α subunit facilitate destabilization of inactivation and thereby increase sustained current.
The University of Washington Shallow Convection and Moist Turbulence Schemes and Their Impact on Climate Simulations with the Community Atmosphere Model

Abstract This paper describes a new version of the University of Washington shallow cumulus parameterization. The new version includes improved treatments of lateral mixing rates into cumulus updrafts, the evaporation of precipitation and of the interaction of cumuli with the underlying subcloud layer, and a treatment of the convective inhibition-based mass-flux closure that is more numerically stable and is suitable for the long time steps of global climate models. The paper also documents its performance when combined with a new moist turbulence parameterization in simulations with version 3.5 of the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.5). A single-column simulation of nonprecipitating trade cumulus shows considerable improvements in vertical thermodynamic structure and less resolution sensitivity in the new schemes compared to CAM3.5. In global simulations, the new schemes, combined with an increase of vertical resolution from 26 to 30 levels, produce a significant (7%) reduction in overall climate bias, ...
Risk Factors for Hepatitis C Infection Among Vietnam Era Veterans Versus Nonveterans: Results from the Chronic Hepatitis Cohort Study (CHeCS)

Research suggests that Vietnam era veterans have a higher prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) than other veterans and nonveterans. However, the reasons for this are unclear, since this research has been conducted among Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients and most veterans do not use the VA. The current study compares HCV risk factors between the Vietnam era veterans and nonveterans seen in 4 large non-VA systems to explain this disparity. A total of 4,636 HCV patients completed surveys in 2011-2012. Vietnam era veterans were defined as those who served in the military any time between 1964 and 1975. Bivariate tests followed by logistic regressions, and multivariable modeling were conducted to study risk factors among Vietnam era veterans and nonveterans. Since few veterans were female (~2 %), they were excluded. Among male respondents (N = 2,638), 22.5 % were classified as Vietnam era veterans. Compared to nonveterans, these patients were older (p < 0.001), more educated (p < 0.001), less often foreign born (p = 0.009), more often married (p < 0.001), less often employed, and less likely to have a history of drug abuse treatment (p < 0.001). Comparison of specific risk factor differences for HCV infection by veteran status suggested that while injection drug use approached statistical significance (nonveterans = 46.1 % vs. Vietnam era veterans = 41.4 %, p = 0.06), only reported sex with men was significant (nonveterans = 2.4 % vs. Vietnam era veterans = 0.6 %, p = 0.013). In multivariate logistic regression controlling for age, education, country of birth, marital status and study site, no HCV risk factor was associated with Vietnam era veteran status. However, veterans were more likely to report "other" exposures were the source of infection than nonveterans (p < 0.001). While Vietnam era veterans seen in non-VA facilities do not report a higher prevalence of common HCV risk factors, such as injection drug use, they are more likely to report "other" exposures, typically associated with military service, as the source of HCV infection.