cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Neutron Energy Spectral Signatures for Passive Monitoring of Spent Nuclear Fuels in Dry Cask Storage

Demand for spent nuclear fuel dry casks as an interim storage solution has increased globally and the IAEA has expressed a need for robust safeguards and verification technologies for ensuring the continuity of knowledge and the integrity of radioactive materials inside spent fuel casks. Existing research has been focusing on “fingerprinting” casks based on count rate statistics to represent radiation emission signatures. The current research aims to expand to include neutron energy spectral information as part of the fuel characteristics. First, spent fuel composition data are taken from the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative Spent Fuel Libraries, representative for Westinghouse 17ˣ17 PWR assemblies. The ORIGEN-S code then calculates the spontaneous fission and (α,n) emissions for individual fuel rods, followed by detailed MCNP simulations of neutrons transported through the fuel assemblies. A comprehensive database of neutron energy spectral profiles is to be constructed, with different enrichment, burn-up, and cooling time conditions. The end goal is to utilize the computational spent fuel library, predictive algorithm, and a pressurized 4 He scintillator to verify the spent fuel assemblies inside a cask. This work identifies neutron spectral signatures that correlate with the cooling time of spent fuel. Both the total and relative contributions from spontaneous fission and (α,n) change noticeably with respect to cooling time, due to the relatively short half-life (18 years) of the major neutron source 244 Cm. Identification of this and other neutron spectral signatures allows the characterization of spent nuclear fuels in dry cask storage.
Wearable emotion sensor on flexible substrate for mobile health applications

The flexible Bluetooth emotion sensor is a compact, wireless skin conductance sensor used to monitor the body's emotional regulation process. Many other devices have already been developed for the same purpose; however, this design implements a flexible PCB that conforms to the shape of the user's dominant hand. The custom fit, combined with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology and small battery size make this device ideal for wearable applications. Wearable biofeedback devices are used in clinical and psychological research, usability testing, human-machine interface, and many other applications. The device displays real-time data on any android phone running Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later and saves the data directly to the phone's internal storage for display. The next generation emotion sensor is being developed to be more compact, use less power, and integrated with another platform such as a smart textile.
Morphology, Function, and Evolution of the Anthropoid Postorbital Septum

Almost all the skeletal features that distinguish anthropoids from typical lower primates are features of the skull. To the untrained observer. perhaps the most obvious of these is the bony postorbital septum anthropoids, which walls off the temporal fossa from the orbit proper and so converts the orbit into a shadowy eye socket. A somewhat less complete postorbital septum is found in Tarsius. As far as I know, no other vertebrate, living or fossi1, has developed a bony partition between the temporal muscles and the periorbita. Because the postorbital septum is unique to anthropoids and Tarsius, systematists who lump tarsiers and anthropoids together as “Haplorhini” have generally regarded the septum as a sign of tarsiers’ affinities to higher primates (Pocock, 1918; Jones, 1929; Hershkovitz, 1974; Cartmill and Kay, 1978; Luckett and Szalay, 1978). Conversely, those who believe that the closest allies of tarsiers are Eocene “tarsioids” (which lack the septum), or who think that lemurs are more closely related to anthropoids than tarsiers are, or who regard Anthropoidea as a polyphyletic taxon, have sought to prove that the septum of Tarsius is not homologous with the septum of anthropoids (Simons and Russell, 1960; Gingerich, 1973; Cachel, 1976, 1979; Schwartz et al., 1978).
High-performance A* search using rapidly growing heuristics

In high-performance A* searching to solve satisficing problems, there is a critical need to design heuristics which cause low time-complexity. In order for humans or machines to do this effectively, there must be an understanding of the domain-independent properties that such heuristics have. We snow that, contrary to common belief, accuracy is not critical; the key issue is whether or not heuristic values are concentrated closely near a rapidly growing "central function." As an application, we show that, by "multiplying" heuristics, it is possible to reduce exponential average time-complexity to polynomial. This is contrary to conclusions drawn from previous studies. Experimental and theoretical examples are given.
Electric-Acoustic Stimulation After Reimplantation: Hearing Preservation and Speech Perception.

Objective:Hearing preservation after cochlear implantation allows for fitting of acoustic and cochlear implant technologies in the same ear, known as Electric-Acoustic Stimulation (EAS). Cochlear implant recipients with EAS who experience an internal device failure face the additional risk of residu
Risk factors of neurovascular ageing in women

Biological sex and changes in sex hormones throughout life influence all aspects of health and disease. In women, changes in sex hormonal status reflect ovarian function, pregnancy and the use of exogenous hormonal treatments. Longitudinal data from defined cohorts of women will help to identify mechanisms by which the hormonal milieu contributes to cerebrovascular ageing, brain structure and ultimately cognition. This review summarises the phenotypes of three cohorts of women identified through the medical records-linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project and the Mayo Clinic Specialized Center of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences: (i) menopausal women with histories of normotensive or hypertensive pregnancies; (ii) women who had bilateral oophorectomy ≤45 years of age; and (iii) women who experienced natural menopause and used menopausal hormone treatments for 4 years. Data from these cohorts will influence the design of follow-up studies concerning how sex hormonal status affects neurovascular ageing in women.
Oxytocin and early parent-infant interactions: A systematic review.

Abstract Objectives Social relationships throughout lifespan are critical for health and wellbeing. Oxytocin, often called the ‘hormone of attachment’ has been suggested as playing an important role in early-life nurturing and resulting social bonding. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the associations between oxytocin levels and interactions between infants and parents that may trigger oxytocin release, and in turn facilitate attachments. Methods A comprehensive cross-disciplinary systematic search was completed using electronic databases. The inclusion criteria included studies that focused on mother-infant and father-infant interaction and measured both baseline and post-interaction oxytocin levels. Results Seventeen studies were included in the final systematic review. The reviewed studies used mother-infant and/or father-infant play and skin-to-skin contact between maternal-infant and paternal-infant dyads to examine the oxytocin role in early life bonding and parenting processes. Studies showed a positive correlation between parent-infant contact and oxytocin levels in infancy period. Increased maternal oxytocin levels were significantly related to more affectionate contact behaviors in mothers following mother-infant contact, synchrony, and engagement. Meanwhile, increased paternal oxytocin levels were found to be related to more stimulatory contact behaviors in fathers following father-infant contact. Oxytocin levels significantly increased in infants, mothers and fathers during skin-to-skin contact and parents with higher oxytocin levels exhibited more synchrony and responsiveness in their infant interactions. Conclusion The review suggests that oxytocin plays an important role in the development of attachment between infants and parents through early contact and interaction. The complexities of oxytocinergic mechanisms are rooted in neurobiological, genetic, and social factors.
Topical and Transdermal Drug Delivery

This chapter reviews numerous concepts relevant to drug delivery topically and transdermally. Topics covered include the skin’s function barrier, mechanisms for drug transport through the skin, in vitro analytical techniques, and methods to increase drug permeation. Commonly used formulation approaches such as semisolid dosage forms and transdermal patches are also discussed.
Care Delivery for Male Infertility: The Present and Future

Although infertility is now recognized as a disease by multiple organizations including the World Health Organization and the American Medical Association, private insurance companies rarely include coverage for infertility treatments. In this review, the authors assess the current state of care delivery for male infertility care in the United States. They discuss the scope of male infertility as well as the unique burdens it places on patients and review emerging market forces that could affect the future of care delivery for male infertility.
Modafinil potentiates cocaine self-administration by a dopamine-independent mechanism: possible involvement of gap junctions

Modafinil and methylphenidate are medications that inhibit the neuronal reuptake of dopamine, a mechanism shared with cocaine. Their use as "smart drugs" by healthy subjects poses health concerns and requires investigation. We show that methylphenidate, but not modafinil, maintained intravenous self-administration in Sprague-Dawley rats similar to cocaine. Both modafinil and methylphenidate pretreatments potentiated cocaine self-administration. Cocaine, at self-administered doses, stimulated mesolimbic dopamine levels. This effect was potentiated by methylphenidate, but not by modafinil pretreatments, indicating dopamine-dependent actions for methylphenidate, but not modafinil. Modafinil is known to facilitate electrotonic neuronal coupling by actions on gap junctions. Carbenoxolone, a gap junction inhibitor, antagonized modafinil, but not methylphenidate potentiation of cocaine self-administration. Our results indicate that modafinil shares mechanisms with cocaine and methylphenidate but has a unique pharmacological profile that includes facilitation of electrotonic coupling and lower abuse liability, which may be exploited in future therapeutic drug design for cocaine use disorder.
Treatment of interstitial cystitis.

Although the symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC)--a debilitating, chronic disease characterized by urinary urgency and frequency, and bladder and pelvic pain on bladder filling--are easily confused with those of urinary tract infections, there is an absence of an underlying infection, and antibiotic therapy is of no therapeutic benefit. Severe cases of this disorder, which affects mainly women, can have a great negative impact on the quality of life of patients because of extreme urinary frequency. The diagnosis of IC is difficult and should be based on patient history, physical examination, and cystoscopy. A large number of pharmacologic treatments have been used to treat this condition with limited success, including pentosan polysulfate, heparin, antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide, and bacille Calmette-Guerin. Among the potentially effective new treatment modalities currently under investigation are suplatast tosilate, resiniferatoxin, botulinum toxin, and gene therapy to modulate the pain response. As knowledge of the pathogenesis of IC increases through intensified research, the ability to provide effective treatment to patients with this disease will improve.
Tracking Hyoid Bone Displacement During Swallowing Without Videofluoroscopy Using Machine Learning of Vibratory Signals

Identifying physiological impairments of swallowing is essential for determining accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for patients with dysphagia. The hyoid bone is an anatomical landmark commonly monitored during analysis of videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSSs). Its displacement is predictive of penetration/aspiration and is associated with other swallow kinematic events. However, VFSSs are not always readily available/feasible and expose patients to radiation. High-resolution cervical auscultation (HRCA), which uses acoustic and vibratory signals from a microphone and tri-axial accelerometer, is under investigation as a non-invasive dysphagia screening method and potential adjunct to VFSS when it is unavailable or not feasible. We investigated the ability of HRCA to independently track hyoid bone displacement during swallowing with similar accuracy to VFSS, by analyzing vibratory signals from a tri-axial accelerometer using machine learning techniques. We hypothesized HRCA would track hyoid bone displacement with a high degree of accuracy compared to humans. Trained judges completed frame-by-frame analysis of hyoid bone displacement on 400 swallows from 114 patients and 48 swallows from 16 age-matched healthy adults. Extracted features from vibratory signals were used to train the predictive algorithm to generate a bounding box surrounding the hyoid body on each frame. A metric of relative overlapped percentage (ROP) compared human and machine ratings. The mean ROP for all swallows analyzed was 50.75%, indicating > 50% of the bounding box containing the hyoid bone was accurately predicted in every frame. This provides evidence of the feasibility of accurate, automated hyoid bone displacement tracking using HRCA signals without use of VFSS images.
Health Utility Estimates and Their Application to HIV Prevention in the United States: Implications for Cost-Effectiveness Modeling and Future Research Needs

Objectives. Health utility estimates from the current era of HIV treatment, critical for cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) informing HIV health policy, are limited. We examined peer-reviewed literature to assess the appropriateness of commonly referenced utilities, present previously unreported quality-of-life data from two studies, and discuss future implications for HIV-related CEA. Methods. We searched a database of cost-effectiveness analyses specific to HIV prevention efforts from 1999 to 2016 to identify the most commonly referenced sources for health utilities and to examine practices around using and reporting health utility data. Additionally, we present new utility estimates from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) and the INSIGHT Strategies for Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (SMART) trial. We compare data collection time frames, sample characteristics, assessment methods, and key estimates. Results. Data collection for the most frequently cited utility estimates ranged from 1985 to 1997, predating modern HIV treatment. Reporting practices around utility weights are poor and lack details on participant characteristics, which may be important stratifying factors for CEA. More recent utility estimates derived from MMP and SMART were similar across CD4+ count strata and had a narrower range than pre-antiretroviral therapy (ART) utilities. Conclusions. Despite the widespread use of ART, cost-effectiveness analysis of HIV prevention interventions frequently apply pre-ART health utility weights. Use of utility weights reflecting the current state of the US epidemic are needed to best inform HIV research and public policy decisions. Improved practices around the selection, application, and reporting of health utility data used in HIV prevention CEA are needed to improve transparency.
Reinventing the wheel with a synthetic plant inflammasome.

Both animal and plant cells rely on innate immune systems to recognize and appropriately respond to pathogens. These systems have many similar themes and surprising commonalities, both in the protein domains used and in the mechanisms of larger immune complexes (1). In PNAS, Duxbury et al. (2) explore these commonalities by generating functional plant–animal hybrid immune receptors to ask questions about how plant immune receptors function. In animals, the innate immune system is supported by adaptive immunity. Recombination of animal adaptive immune receptors greatly expands the ability of animals to recognize and respond to any pathogen (3). In contrast, plants lack adaptive immune cells: the innate immune system is on its own (1). The plant immune system must somehow be able to respond to all pathogens with an elaborated, but limited, set of genomically encoded receptors. So how do plants do it? Many details are still vague, but downstream of pathogen recognition, plant immune receptors activate both cell death and transcriptional outputs to promote defense. Despite their agronomic significance, and over 25 y of study, how plant immune receptors are able to activate defense responses remains a mystery (4, 5). Propelled by the introduction of plant molecular biology in the 1980–90s and the sequencing of the first plant genome in 2001, researchers realized that plants share just a few common types of immune receptors to monitor the outside and inside of cells (6). One major class, the nucleotide-binding site, leucine-rich repeat (“NBS-LRR,” or simply “NLR”) proteins, detects intracellular signals of pathogens. This class of receptors was named for its stereotypical domains: a N-terminal coiled-coil (CC/CCR) or Toll–interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain, a central nucleotide binding site domain (NBS), and a C-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) (6). Plant genomes typically have hundreds of these proteins, and they can detect pathogens … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence may be addressed. Email: marcusn{at}colostate.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Racial disparity in healthcare utilization among patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: results from a multicenter cohort.

Background Racial disparity in healthcare is defined as differences in healthcare services received by racial groups not due to difference in needs or preferences. As irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is highly correlated with social factors, healthcare disparities are important factors in the sociocultural model of IBS. We used healthcare utilization as a lens to examine potential racial disparities in IBS. Methods We retrospectively matched 3823 IBS minority patients who self-identified as "Hispanic," "Black," or "Asian" to white IBS controls and examined the number of patients with gastroenterology consults, gastroenterology procedures, and IBS-related Primary Care visits within each cohort from 2003 to 2017. Key results Minority IBS patients were less likely to receive a gastroenterology consult than white IBS controls. Both Black and Asian IBS patients were more likely to have an IBS-related Primary Care visit than white IBS controls. All 3 minority IBS cohorts received significantly more gastroenterology procedures compared to white IBS controls. Conclusions & inferences Minority IBS patients are more likely to receive gastroenterology procedures than white IBS patients. Further studies are needed to determine whether increased procedure likelihood in minority IBS patients represents a communication gap between minority patients and their providers or patient preference.
Structural origins of protein conformational entropy

Abstract The thermodynamics of molecular recognition by proteins is a central determinant of complex biochemistry. For over a half-century detailed cryogenic structures have provided deep insight into the energetic contributions to ligand binding by proteins1. More recently, a dynamical proxy based on NMR-relaxation methods has revealed an unexpected richness in the contributions of conformational entropy to the thermodynamics of ligand binding2,3,4,5. There remains, however, a discomforting absence of an understanding of the structural origins of fast internal motion and the conformational entropy that this motion represents. Here we report the pressure-dependence of fast internal motion within the ribonuclease barnase and its complex with the protein barstar. Distinctive clustering of the pressure sensitivity correlates with the presence of small packing defects or voids surrounding affected side chains. Prompted by this observation, we performed an analysis of the voids surrounding over 2,500 methyl-bearing side chains having experimentally determined order parameters. We find that changes in unoccupied volume as small as a single water molecule surrounding buried side chains greatly affects motion on the subnanosecond timescale. The discovered relationship begins to permit construction of a united view of the relationship between changes in the internal energy, as exposed by detailed structural analysis, and the conformational entropy, as represented by fast internal motion, in the thermodynamics of protein function.
12.2 Improving the Range of WiFi Backscatter Via a Passive Retro-Reflective Single-Side-Band-Modulating MIMO Array and Non-Absorbing Termination

Wi-Fi is the most ubiquitous wireless networking technology for loT in homes, offices, and businesses. Since the power of Wi-Fi transceivers (10s-to-100s of mW) can be prohibitively high for emerging classes of loT devices (which desire $\lt 100 \mu W$), recent work has suggested piggybacking baseband signals from the loT device directly on top of incident Wi-Fi signals generated by access points (APs) via Wi-Fi-compatible backscatter modulation [1] [2] – [4], where as low as $28 \mu W$ of active power has been demonstrated [4]. However, the major limitation of this approach is range: signals generated by the transmitting AP experience $1/d^{2}$ path loss to the backscattering tag, which has insertion loss $P_{L,ins}$ to perform single-side band (SSB) modulation, and then re-radiated modulated signals back to the receiving AP (or to another AP) experience an additional $1/d^{2}$ path loss, resulting in an overall loss $\propto 1/d^{4}+P_{L,ins}$. With no active RF amplification, the tag in [4] experienced $P_{L,ins}=15 dB$, limiting AP-to-tag-and-back-to-AP distance to $\sim 10m$, which is not sufficient in many single-AP homes.
Development of an arteriolar niche and self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells by lysophosphatidic acid/protein kinase D signaling

Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are essential for cancer growth, metastasis and recurrence. The regulatory mechanisms of BCSC interactions with the vascular niche within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and their self-renewal are currently under extensive investigation. We have demonstrated the existence of an arteriolar niche in the TME of human BC tissues. Intriguingly, BCSCs tend to be enriched within the arteriolar niche in human estrogen receptor positive (ER+) BC and bi-directionally interact with arteriolar endothelial cells (ECs). Mechanistically, this interaction is driven by the lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)/protein kinase D (PKD-1) signaling pathway, which promotes both arteriolar differentiation of ECs and self-renewal of CSCs likely via differential regulation of CD36 transcription. This study indicates that CSCs may enjoy blood perfusion to maintain their stemness features. Targeting the LPA/PKD-1 -CD36 signaling pathway may have therapeutic potential to curb tumor progression by disrupting the arteriolar niche and effectively eliminating CSCs.
Modeling the work hardening behavior in metastable high entropy alloys

Abstract Mechanical response of transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)-enabled metastable high entropy alloys that display austenite (γ) to martensitic (e) phase transformation under uniaxial tension is characterized by a constant work hardening segment preceded and succeeded by stages of gradual drop in work hardening. A four-parameter empirical model based on the nature of the work hardening curve is developed. The model enjoys ease of parametric identification from macroscopic mechanical response over physically-based models. Compared to tensile deformation of conventional alloys, some insights are drawn from the numerical value of the model parameters for TRIP HEAs when fitted to their tensile deformation response. Further, a method to predict the tensile mechanical response of TRIP HEAs/steels based on the trends of correlated parameters with stacking fault energy and microstructure is proposed.
Introspective misidentification

It is widely held that introspection-based self-ascriptions of mental states are immune to error through misidentification (IEM), relative to the first person pronoun. Many have taken such errors to be logically impossible, arguing that the immunity holds as an “absolute” necessity. Here I discuss an actual case of craniopagus twins—twins conjoined at the head and brain—as a means to arguing that such errors are logically possible and, for all we know, nomologically possible. An important feature of the example is that it is one where a person may be said to be introspectively aware of a mental state that occurs outside of her own mind. Implications are discussed for views of the relation between introspection and mental state ownership, and between introspection and epistemic criteria for the “mark of the mental.”
Infinite families of fracton fluids with momentum conservation.

We construct infinite families of new universality classes of fracton hydrodynamics with momentum conservation, both with multipole conservation laws and/or subsystem symmetry. We explore the effects of broken inversion and/or time-reversal symmetry at the ideal fluid level, along with momentum relaxation. In the case of one-dimensional multipole-conserving models, we write down explicit microscopic Hamiltonian systems realizing these new universality classes. All of these hydrodynamic universality classes exhibit instabilities and will flow to new non-equilibrium fixed points. Such fixed points are predicted to exist in arbitrarily large spatial dimensions.
UNA FE QUE HAGA JUSTICIA: ORIENTACIONES RELIGIOSAS Y SUS CORRELATOS SOCIALES

The paper presents an overview of studies that link various measures of religious orientation with prosocial and anti-social attitudes and behaviors, including, on one hand, various scales of religiosity, and on the other, prosocial and antisocial attitudes and behaviors (for example, charity and altruism, prejudice and discrimination). The conclusion includes several implications as well as directions for future studies in this area.
- Sea: Sea receptor PTK (vertebrates)

The chapter discusses the Sea protein that is a 1404-amino acid polypeptide with the structure of a receptor-like PTK that exhibits sequence similarity with the HGFR receptor PTK. Sea is synthesized as a precursor that is proteolytically processed into an N-terminal a chain and a C-terminal 3 chain with predicted molecular weights of 33 kDa and 121 kDa, respectively. c-SEA mRNA expression is highly restricted in chicken tissues, with highest levels found in peripheral white blood cell populations. c-SEA mRNA levels are elevated in chicken embryo (CE) cells transformed by activated Src variants, and also in CE cells stimulated by serum.
Interaction between Adenine Nucleotides and 3-Phosphoglyceraldehyde Dehydrogenase II. A STUDY OF THE MECHANISM OF CATALYSIS AND METABOLIC CONTROL OF THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL ENZYME

Abstract The interaction of 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase with NAD and adenine nucleotides has been studied. The effects of these compounds on the individual steps in several catalytic activities of this multifunctional enzyme have been determined. The results may be tabulated as follows In general, the NAD interacts with the dehydrogenase to promote substrate oxidation and to protect the enzyme against inactivation. At physiological concentrations, ATP inhibits almost every step in the above reactions except the acetylation of the dehydrogenase with p-nitrophenyl acetate. The present findings further characterize the active center of the dehydrogenase. ATP inhibition could contribute to metabolic control and the Pasteur effect in vivo.
Subcellular Localization of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen.

Abstract The distribution of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen in subcellular fractions from simian virus 40-transformed hamster (H-50) and mouse (VLM) cells and from simian virus 40-infected monkey cells was determined. Solubilized [35S]-methionine- or 32Pi-labeled surface membrane and nuclear fractions were prepared, immunoprecipitated with hamster anti-T serum, and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Tumor antigen with an apparent molecular weight of ~96,000 was detected in both subcellular fractions. Minor components of ~68,000 and ~56,000 with anti-T reactivity which labeled with [35S]methionine were also detected in both fractions from H-50 cells, as were components of ~140,000 and ~56,000 from VLM cells. The 56,000 component appeared to be greatly reduced in 32Pi-labeled surface membrane fractions. Normal cells or cells transformed with a heterologous agent, such as polyoma virus or a chemical carcinogen, lacked immunoprecipitable tumor antigen. Cell fractionation was monitored by [3H]thymidine labeling, NADH-diaphorase activity, and Na+-K+-dependent ATPase activity. These analyses revealed only trace contamination of surface membranes by nuclei, extremely low levels of nuclear rupture during homogenization, and an approximate 10-fold enrichment of surface membrane. Reconstruction experiments demonstrated that soluble tumor antigen failed to associate or copurify with surface membranes during fractionation procedures. These results indicate the presence of a protein in the plasma membrane of cells transformed or infected by simian virus 40 that is immunologically indistinguishable from nuclear tumor antigen.
Maternal serum analytes as predictors of IUGR with different degrees of placental vascular dysfunction

Objectives Our primary objective was to determine the association of maternal serum analytes in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) stratified by umbilical artery (UA) Doppler versus pregnancies with appropriately grown for gestational age (AGA) and its potential use as screening model. Methods Retrospective cohort evaluating first and second trimester maternal serum aneuploidy screening markers in women complicated with IUGR [90 with absent or reversed end diastolic velocity (AREDV), 46 with UA systolic/diastolic ratio ≥95th percentile and 215 with normal UA Doppler] versus 2590 women with AGA fetuses (control). Results Extreme levels of each analyte were significantly more common in the IUGR/AREDV group than in AGA group: inhibin A >97th percentile [≥2.27 multiples of the median (MoM)], OR: 41 (95% CI: 21–80); unconjugated estriol 97th percentile (≥1.88 MoM), OR: 15 (95% CI: 8.2–27); PAPP-A 97th percentile (≥3.24 MoM), OR: 11.6 (95% CI: 4.2–32). In a subgroup of pregnancies in which all markers were evaluated on each patient, a combination of abnormal markers detected 73% (95% CI: 54–87%) of IUGR/AREDV fetuses. When maternal risk factors were included into the risk calculation, it increased to 91% (95% CI: 76–98%). Conclusions Abnormal maternal serum aneuploidy markers preferentially identify those pregnancies at greatest risk of IUGR with AREDV in the UA. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Detection of naturally occurring antibodies to RNA-dependent DNA polymerase of murine leukemia virus in kidney eluates of AKR mice.

Abstract Specific antibodies to the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase) of murine type C viruses have been isolated from the renal glomeruli of both leukemic and nonleukemic AKR mice where they presumably had been deposited as immune complexes. The antibodies were shown to have sedimentation coefficients of 26S to 28S and 5S to 7S on sucrose rate zonal centrifugation. Inactivation with monospecific antisera to various mouse immunoglobulins identified antibodies as being in both immunoglobulin (IGM) and IgG classes. In addition, these antibodies only reacted with the reverse transcriptase from murine and feline type C viruses, but not the polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). Our results provide additional evidence for the lack of immunological tolerance and demonstrate the presence of another immune complex system in AKR kidneys.
Siblings and Mental Illness: Heredity vs. Environment.

Summary Contemporary behavior genetics has found that siblings are far more likely to be different than alike in personality and in psychopathology. To understand these sibling differences, the dichotomy of heredity and environment needs to be replaced by a four-fold distinction between genetic and environmental factors that are shared by siblings and those which siblings do not share in common. Different genes and different environmental experiences can account for why one sibling becomes mentally ill and another is not affected. Environmental experiences that are unique to each sibling play a much more important role than has been recognized heretofore.
Defective Friend Spleen Focus-Forming Virus: Interfering Properties and Isolation Free from Standard Leukemia-Inducing Helper Virus

Defective Friend spleen focus-forming virus (SFFV) is able to interfere with the ability of its naturally occurring leukemia-inducing helper virus (LLV-F) to induce XC plaque formation in several different strains of mouse embryo cells. This interference has been observed by using two different SFFV preparations, one contained in an NB-tropic stock of Friend virus (FV) complex, and the second present in a C57BL-adapted strain of FV complex containing an associated B-tropic LLV-F helper. The LLV-F in NB-tropic FV complex effectively induced XC plaques in C57BL/6 (Fv-1(bb); Fv-2(rr)) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF) only in the absence of coinfecting SFFV, indicating that Fv-2-associated resistance to SFFV-induced focus formation in vivo does not necessarily extend to the restriction of SFFV function(s) in vitro (i.e., in Fv-2(rr) C57BL MEF). SFFV interference appears to be an intracellular event since LLV-F can adsorb onto, penetrate, and rescue defective murine sarcoma virus (MSV) from transformed 3T3FL S(+)L(-) cells with equal efficiency in the presence and absence of SFFV. However, significantly fewer LLV-infected S(+)L(-) cells released LLV-F progeny if SFFV was present. These observations suggest that Friend SFFV may be classified as a defective, interfering (DI) particle. Further support for this conclusion has come from studies designed to investigate two physical properties of defective SFFV particles. SFFV layered onto a 0 to 20% sucrose sedimentation gradient was recovered as a symmetrical band of virus that sedimented more slowly than standard LLV-F particles. Pooled SFFV-containing gradient samples contained visualizable type C virus particles and occasionally small amounts of detectable LLV-F. In an attempt to determine the buoyant density of sedimentation gradient-purified SFFV, pooled SFFV samples were layered onto a 25 to 50% sucrose equilibrium density gradient and were centrifuged to equilibrium. Greater than 50% of the infectious SFFV originally layered onto this gradient was recovered and seen as a narrow symmetrical band with peak SFFV infectivity at a sucrose density of 1.14 g/ml. The observed difference between SFFV and LLV-F buoyant densities appears to be related to an inherent physical property of each virus. Mixtures of these two viruses express the buoyant density of that virus population which is in excess in fabricated FV complexes probably due to the formation of SFFV-LLV aggregates. Finally, gradient-purified SFFV failed to induce XC plaques in MEF and did not function to rescue MSV as expected since SFFV itself is replication defective.
Use and Misuse of Anthropometric Estimates of Body Composition

(1980). Use and Misuse of Anthropometric Estimates of Body Composition. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 43-45.
Edge measurement using stereovision and phase-shifting methods

Three-dimensional edge measurement is critical in many applications such as blade manufacturing due to the stringent requirements on aerodynamic performance of blades. Optical metrology techniques provide very good tools in terms of speed and accuracy, but face some challenges as well, such as discontinuity, irregularity, and size variation in the edge shape. This paper presents several methods that include stereovision techniques to capture a sharp edge and phase-shifting to capture an edge profile of a blunt edge. For sharp edge measurement with stereovision, multiple cameras are used to view the edge from different directions. Then the captured images are processed to obtain the point cloud of the edge. For blunt edge measurement, a phase-shifting method is applied. After the edge profile is obtained, all edge information can be extracted. In this paper, different illumination methods are discussed and different edges are measured. Experimental data shows that these methods are practical in obtaining accurate edge or edge profile.
BOVINE UTERINE TORSION : 164 HOSPITAL REFERRAL CASES

Uterine torsion is more common in the cow than any other domestic species. The etiopathogenesis of the condition remains open to speculation. Available hospital referral records of bovine uterine torsions (n = 164) were collated, and additional comparisons for season, age and breed were made using the VDMP data base of 24 North American veterinary schools. There was no effect of season. Brown Swiss cows were at a significantly higher risk (P = 0.0001), while Hereford, Angus, and Jersey cows were at a lower risk for uterine torsion when compared with Holstein-Friesian cows, the largest breed population (P = 0.01). Most cows (81%) were at term. Clinical signs of torsion included fever (23%), tachycardia (93%), tachypnea (94%), straining (23%), anorexia (18%) and vaginal discharge (13%). In 34% of the cases the torsion was precervical, with no vaginal involvement being noted. The severity of the torsion was predominately 180 to 270 degrees (57%) and 271 to 360 degrees (22%). Counter-clockwise torsion was present in 63% of the cases. Vaginal delivery was possible after manual correction (20%) or rolling of the cow (18%). Cesarean section was performed immediately in 35% of the cases, after failed detorsion attempts in 7%, and due to failure of the cervix to dilate following successful correction of the torsion in 20%. Calf birth weights exceeded breed means in 89% of the cases, and a significantly greater proportion (63%) of the fetuses were male. Fetal survival rate was 24% (14% of dead fetuses were emphysematous), and the cow survival rate was 78% (10% were euthanized). The fetal membrane retention rate was 57%. It was found that large term fetuses appear to predispose a cow to uterine torsion.
Racing Toward Representation A Hurdle Model of Latino Incorporation

Despite 35 years of empirical research, the question of how electoral structure influences Latino representation continues to be debated. Motivated by the uncertainty surrounding electoral systems,...
Effect of recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on blood neutrophil concentrations among patients with "idiopathic neonatal neutropenia": a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Effect of Recombinant Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor on Blood Neutrophil Concentrations among Patients with “Idiopathic Neonatal Neutropenia”: A Randomized, Placebo-controlled Trial
T-cell quality in memory and protection: implications for vaccine design

T cells mediate effector functions through a variety of mechanisms. Recently, multiparameter flow cytometry has allowed a simultaneous assessment of the phenotype and multiple effector functions of single T cells; the delineation of T cells into distinct functional populations defines the quality of the response. New evidence suggests that the quality of T-cell responses is crucial for determining the disease outcome to various infections. This Review highlights the importance of using multiparameter flow cytometry to better understand the functional capacity of effector and memory T-cell responses, thereby enabling the development of preventative and therapeutic vaccine strategies for infections.
Unusual cutaneous involvement during plasma cell leukaemia phase in a multiple myeloma patient after treatment with thalidomide: a case report and review of the literature.

Summary We report the case of a 54-year-old African–American male with IgG multiple myeloma (MM) with disease resistant to multiple chemotherapy regimens and immunomodulatory treatment with thalidomide. In spite of achieving a partial remission of short duration, his disease accelerated to peripheral plasmacytosis and subsequent development of cutaneous plasmacytomas. The malignant plasma cells derived from the dermal lesions were CD45+, CD38+, CD138+ and matched the immunophenotype of the plasmacytes during the leukaemic phase. Occurrence of extramedullary lesions in the setting of MM treated with thalidomide is of concern, although currently there are very few reports describing this association. We discuss the possible relationship between the patient's unusual disease course and the administered chemo- and immunotherapy. The significance of the changes in adhesion molecules, especially CD 138 and CD 56, relevant to the development of cutaneous plasmacytomas is discussed.
Characterization of protein immobilization at silver surfaces by near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy

Ribonuclease A (RNase A) is immobilized on silver surfaces in oriented and random form via self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols. The immobilization process is characterized step-by-step using chemically selective near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) at the C, N, and S K-edges. Causes of imperfect immobilization are pinpointed, such as oxidation and partial desorption of the alkanethiol SAMs and incomplete coverage. The orientation of the protein layer manifests itself in an 18% polarization dependence of the NEXAFS signal from the N 1s to ﷿* transition of the peptide bond, which is not seen for a random orientation. The S 1s to C-S U* transition exhibits an even larger polarization dependence of 41%, which is reduced to 5% for a random orientation. A quantitative model is developed that explains the sign and magnitude of the polarization dependence at both edges. The results demonstrate that NEXAFS is able to characterize surface reactions during the immobilization of proteins and to provide insight into their orientations on surfaces.
The influence of contextual variables on interpersonal spacing

Four studies examined the effects of contextual variables on interpersonal spacing. Contextual variables were defined as transitory factors that involved the setting in which an interaction occurs; these variables were delineated from personal and interpersonal characteristics. In each experimental setting, white male subjects were allowed to choose the distance at which they interacted with a stranger. The first study found that subjects who had experienced social isolation prior to the interaction chose greater distances than subjects who had not been isolated. The second study found that subjects chose greater distances when they believed their interaction would be observed by others than when the interaction was private. Results from the third study yielded an interaction between topic of conversation and expected length of conversation with greatest distance being chosen when subjects expected a long conversation to focus on a personal topic. In the final study, room size and shape influenced interpersonal distance; the interaction indicated that room size affected distance only in rectangular rooms. The results are discussed in terms of equilibrium model (Argyle & Dean, 1965). It is argued that contextual variables affect intimacy, and that the equilibrium model can explicate the effects of contextual as well as personal and interpersonal variables.
Off-axis orientation of the electronic transition moment for a linear conjugated polyene

IN many applications of conjugated polyenes for nonlinear optoelectronics and as probes of biophysical systems, the orientation of the electronic transition dipole moment relative to the long axis of the chains is an important quantity. Simple models predict that the transition moment lies closely along the chain axis1,2 or at an angle of about 30° to this axis3, but the difficulty of preparing perfectly oriented samples has made these predictions hard to test. Here we report the results of polarized single crystal spectroscopy of a linear conjugated tetraene in the highly aligned configuration made possible by incorporating these molecules as guests in the channels of urea crystals. The angular dependence of the absorption spectrum indicates that the transition moment lies at an angle of 15° to the chain axis. Molecular-orbital calculations can reproduce this value when they include the effects of electron correlation.
Functional Studies of Potential Intrastrand Triplex Elements in the Escherichia coli Genome

We previously used a pattern recognition program for nucleic acids to detect sequences with the potential to form intrastrand triplexes. Potential intrastrand triplex (PIT) element families were found in Escherichia coli, Synechocystis sp. and Haemophilus influenza. We were particularly intrigued with the family found in E. coli, which contained 25 dispersed copies of a particular PIT sequence corresponding to the purine triplex motif. E. coli PIT elements appear to occur exclusively in non-coding regions. We now report biochemical experiments testing the interaction of E. coli PIT elements with polymerases and single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB). The elements were also tested in genetic experiments as promoters, transcription terminators, or replication pause sites in E. coli. We show that PIT elements display provocative characteristics in certain biochemical assays. When appropriately oriented, the elements block elongation by Taq DNA polymerase at 72 degrees C, but not elongation by T7 DNA polymerase at 37 degrees C. The G-rich strand of the E. coli PIT sequence folds into a form with reduced affinity for SSB. On the other hand, in vivo studies did not detect replication delays for conjugal transfer of episomes containing PIT elements. These sequences were shown not to act as promoters, but the presence of PIT elements in RNA leaders upstream of a coding region could strongly influence expression of the downstream gene. These effects were shown to be post-transcriptional and were solely dependent on the Watson-Crick stem-loop structure within the PIT element. Thus, although PIT element DNA displays unusual biochemical properties, it remains unknown how these elements arose, and why they persist in the E. coli genome.