cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Emotion and the Acceptance-Based Approaches to the Anxiety Disorders

Recent years have seen an eruption of interest and subsequent research on what are now being termed, acceptance-based behavioral treatments (Orsillo, Roemer, & Holowka, 2005). Approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; Linehan, 1993a), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; S. C. Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002) have expanded the boundaries of the cognitive-behavioral paradigm considerably. These approaches have offered novel solutions to vexing problems (e.g., relapse, poor outcome in functionality, and life satisfaction) in personality disorders (Linehan, 1993a), depression (Segal et al. 2002), and, particularly, anxiety disorders (Eifert & Forsyth, 2005; S. C. Hayes et al., 1999; Roemer & Orsillo, 2005). Cognitive-behavioral approaches to the anxiety disorders have historically demonstrated considerable efficacy (see Chambless & Gillis, 1993), but it has become increasingly clear that for more complex, chronic, and refractory presentations of these conditions, further intervention may be required to instill a lasting sense of change, functionality, and life satisfaction (Newman, 2000).
Behavioral Science Perspectives on Designing the Environment to Promote Child Health

In general, there is a need for large, well-integrated studies that both assess environmental characteristics and measure health outcomes in children. Results from these studies would demonstrate to policymakers the positive impact of thoughtful community design and comprehensive multilevel interventions on child health outcomes. This is essential for both the design of new health-promoting communities and the revitalization of existing communities.
Climate Change and the Future of Water Management in Iran

Iran is a large country in the Middle East, which is an extremely arid region. Like its neighbors, severe droughts and population growth have intensified Iran's water shortage problems in the past two decades. Furthermore, climate change has the potential to impose additional economic and social pressure on it and all Middle Eastern countries. Thus, how future climate change will interact with socioeconomic and political conditions in the region is an important issue. In this article I discuss the influence of climate change, plans for mitigation of climate change, and projects of water resilience for the period 2010–2050 in southern Iran. I suggest ways to improve indigenous participation in crafting economic solutions to climate change, as climate change impacts directly on water resources at the local level. I also discuss how local level water solutions may affect regional and national water policy in the future.
Effect of formaldehyde on certain oxidative enzymes.

Summary1) Formaldehyde inhibits the succinic acid, choline, L-proline and sarcosine oxidases in liver homogenates. In equal concentrations, it has no effect on the amine and cytochrome oxidase of liver or the D-amino acid oxidase of kidney. 2) The prior addition of substrate protects the enzymes from the formaldehyde for a short period of time.
Synthesis and Reactivity of Three-Coordinate (dtbpe)Rh Silylamides: CO2 Bond Cleavage by a Rhodium(I) Disilylamide

Rhodium(I) silylamide complexes supported by the 1,2-bis(di-tert-butylphosphino)ethane (dtbpe) ligand have been prepared and their structures and reactivity studied. Although the complexes degrade over time to release the corresponding silylamines, they react cleanly with silver(I) salts to transfer the amido group at ambient temperature. The bis(trimethylsilyl)amide complex (dtbpe)Rh–N(TMS)2 reacts with CO2 to form a carbamate complex that decomposes via loss of hexamethyldisiloxane to form a bis(μ-isocyanate) dimer, suggesting that silylamides may be useful nitrene-group and nitrogen-atom sources through selective N–Si bond cleavage.
Estradiol-Mediated Spine Changes in the Dorsal Hippocampus and Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Ovariectomized Female Mice Depend on ERK and mTOR Activation in the Dorsal Hippocampus

Dendritic spine plasticity underlies the formation and maintenance of memories. Both natural fluctuations and systemic administration of 17β-estradiol (E2) alter spine density in the dorsal hippocampus (DH) of rodents. DH E2 infusion enhances hippocampal-dependent memory by rapidly activating extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent signaling of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a key protein synthesis pathway involved in spine remodeling. Here, we investigated whether infusion of E2 directly into the DH drives spine changes in the DH and other brain regions, and identified cell-signaling pathways that mediate these effects. E2 significantly increased basal and apical spine density on CA1 pyramidal neurons 30 min and 2 h after infusion. DH E2 infusion also significantly increased basal spine density on pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) 2 h later, suggesting that E2-mediated activity in the DH drives mPFC spinogenesis. The increase in CA1 and mPFC spine density observed 2 h after intracerebroventricular infusion of E2 was blocked by DH infusion of an ERK or mTOR inhibitor. DH E2 infusion did not affect spine density in the dentate gyrus or ventromedial hypothalamus, suggesting specific effects of E2 on the DH and mPFC. Collectively, these data demonstrate that DH E2 treatment elicits ERK- and mTOR-dependent spinogenesis on CA1 and mPFC pyramidal neurons, effects that may support the memory-enhancing effects of E2. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although systemically injected 17β-estradiol (E2) increases CA1 dendritic spine density, the molecular mechanisms regulating E2-induced spinogenesis in vivo are largely unknown. We found that E2 infused directly into the dorsal hippocampus (DH) increased CA1 spine density 30 min and 2 h later. Surprisingly, DH E2 infusion also increased spine density in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting that estrogenic regulation of the DH influences mPFC spinogenesis. Moreover, inhibition of ERK and mTOR activation in the DH prevented E2 from increasing DH and mPFC spines, demonstrating that DH ERK and mTOR activation is necessary for E2-induced spinogenesis in the DH and mPFC. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms through which E2 mediates dendritic spine density in CA1 and mPFC.
Preserving Brain Function in Aging: The Anti-glycative Potential of Berry Fruit

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are naturally occurring macromolecules that are formed in vivo by the non-enzymatic modification of proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids by sugar, even in the absence of hyperglycemia. In the diet, AGEs are found in animal products, and additional AGEs are produced when those foods are cooked at high temperatures. Studies have linked AGEs to various age-related physiological changes, including wrinkles, diabetic complications, and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dietary berry fruits have been shown to reduce the severity or slow the progression of many physiological changes and disease pathologies that accompany aging. Emerging evidence has shown that the phytochemicals found in berry fruits exhibit anti-glycative activity. In this review, we briefly summarize the current evidence supporting the neuroprotective anti-glycative activity of berry fruits and their potential to preserve cognitive function during aging.
Negotiated Trades of Non-Tradable Shares and Control of Listed Corporations

This paper analyzes the purchasers' incentives in the negotiated trades of non- tradable shares and market response to the share trades.By examining 307 negotiated trades of non-tradable shares between 1997 and 2003,we find that the power to control listed corpo- rations is what the purchasers want to obtain by acquiring large blocks of non-tradabh shares of listed corporations.In many trades,purchasers who previously are not large shareholders become the first or the second largest shareholders afterwards.The first largest shareholder can control the corporation;while the second largest shareholder may play an important role in the decision process of company's essential affairs and even have chance to acquire control- ling power in the future.Analysis of the trade prices reveals that the price premium relative to equity's book value is higher if the purchaser is the succeeding dominator,suggesting that purchasers consider controlling power of value.Besides,market reacts positively to the share trades.The tradable stocks of the listed corporation whose non-tradable shares are the target in the trade have positive abnormal return prior to and on the contract announcement date. The magnitude of the abnormal return depends on whether the purchaser achieves control subsequently,greater if he does,and smaller and insignificant otherwise.This phenomenon suggests that market considers controlling power of importance and expects an increase in firm value only when the purchaser dominates.A comparison of market response to acquisi- tions of corporations of different financial status reveals that,a target company with negative net income in the previous year has greater positive return than s target with positive income, which indicates that the improvement in firm performance will be more in an unprofitable tar- get than in a healthy one.The price rise comes from maintenance of the state of being listed, good assets invested in by purchaser and the signal effect of new dominator's entry,all of which strengthen tradable-share holders' favorable belief and also increase market expecta- tion.Controlling listed corporation is advantageous to the purchaser.The first benefit is the right to finance in capital market.Since China's security market is an emerging capital market during exploratory development,the government strictly controls the listing process in order to ensure the quality of the listed companies.As a result,some of the firms intending to go public achieve their objective by purchasing enough non-tradable shares to control a listed cor- poration,rather than going through the complicated application procedures.A second benefit of control is the exclusive private profits,possibly made at the expense of small investors and the company.However,judging from market's short-run reaction,the negative influence on firm value of purchaser's seeking for private benefits is secondary.In general,purchaser's control is beneficial to the listed corporation and its tradable-share holders.
Impact of endoscopy on mortality from occult cancer in radiographically benign gastric ulcers: A probability analysis model

Abstract Endoscopy is commonly used in the management of patients with radiographically benign gastric ulcers to detect occult malignancy. Clinical studies examining the cost-effectiveness of using endoscopy in such patients, however, have not been done. To address this issue using probability analysis, a probability tree was designed incorporating the possible clinical courses of patients with radiographically benign gastric ulcers managed with and without endoscopy, and probability estimates for each course were derived by compiling data from the literature. Probability and sensitivity analysis was used to compare the impact on overall mortality rate and cost-effectiveness of six commonly practiced methods of using endoscopy to manage patients with radiographically benign gastric ulcers: (1) all follow-up by upper gastrointestinal x-ray only; (2) endoscopy for nonhealing ulcers only; (3) endoscopy for all ulcers before medical therapy with all follow-up by upper gastrointestinal x-ray; (4) endoscopy for all ulcers after an initial trial of medical therapy; (5) endoscopy for all ulcers before therapy and for nonhealers; (6) endoscopy before therapy, and all follow-up by endoscopy. This analysis predicts that the greatest decrease in mortality rate occurs when endoscopy is used before medical therapy and for all follow-up, reducing the estimated number of deaths per 1000 patients with radiographically benign gastric ulcers from 36.7 with follow-up by upper gastrointestinal x-ray only to 27.2. However, initial endoscopy with all subsequent follow-up by upper gastrointestinal x-ray increased the overall death rate by only a small amount, to 28.0, and was consistently the most cost-effective method, requiring 116 endoscopics and ~60,000 diagnostic dollars per additional 5-yr survivor.
Plasminogen Receptors, Urokinase Receptors, and Their Modulation on Human Endothelial Cells

Endothelial cells are centrally involved in regulation of fibrinolysis, and receptors for plasminogen and urokinase provide a mechanism by which cells can regulate their fibrinolytic function. Therefore, the existence and characteristics of receptors for these fibrinolytic components on cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. We verified the presence of plasminogen receptors on these cells (Kd = 2.1 +/- 1.3 mumol/L, and 1.8 +/- 1.3 x 10(7) binding sites/cell). These binding parameters and other characteristics indicate that these receptors are closely related to the plasminogen receptors on many circulating and adherent cells. Specific binding sites that interact with two-chain urokinase of mol wt 55,000 with a dissociation constant of 2.1 +/- 1.7 nmol/L, with 2.9 +/- 2.9 x 10(5) sites/cell were also identified. Single-chain urokinase of mol wt 55,000, but not the two-chain degradation product of mol wt 33,000 bound to the cells, implicating the amino-terminal aspects of the ligand in receptor recognition. When endothelial cells were stimulated with thrombin, an agent that modulates their fibrinolytic potential, both receptor types were modestly affected; urokinase binding increased 17%, whereas plasminogen binding decreased 19%. The presence and modulation of plasminogen and urokinase receptors provide a potentially important additional mechanism by which endothelial cells may regulate fibrinolysis.
Concluding Transboundary Water Activities

Transboundary Water in Afghanistan is a book designed to include the latest information on the vital water supplies that emanate from the Hindu Kush to flow outward to the neighboring countries. Throughout the course of writing this book the authors have been involved with a variety of comprehensive scientific seminars, delivery of papers, and meetings with university and government agencies devoted to aspects of transboundary waters in this part of Asia, such as: (1) Central Asia Workshop Report, Istanbul—2014; (2) Dushanbe Forum of Mountain Countries—2015; (3) Seminar on Transboundary Water Resources of Pakistan and Afghanistan—Islamabad—2015; (4) Meeting with Afghanistan Ministry of Energy and Water—Kabul—2015; (5) Formulation of Integrated Comprehensive Transboundary Water Resource Center (TBWRC); (6) 5th International Hindu Kush Geosciences Conference (HKGC, Kabul—2015): (7) Mountains of our Future Earth International Mountain Conference, Perth, Scotland—2015; (8) Rational Use of Water Resources of Transboundary Rivers of Tajikistan and Afghanistan—Dushanbe—2015. The many engineering and other hydrological activities in Afghanistan increasingly planned or already underway are likely to be of considerable interest to surrounding countries; this book is a first attempt to put all these issues out for public discussion.
BACTERIAL REACTION CENTERS AS A MODEL FOR PHOTOSYSTEM II: TURNOVER OF THE SECONDARY ACCEPTOR QUINONE

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the bacterial reaction centers as a model for photosystem II (PSII). The behavior of Q–O as the secondary acceptor for isolated bacterial reaction centers is qualitatively similar to that of Q-10 in Triton suspensions. Q-binding is significant in determining the effective electron transfer equilibrium according to the model presented in the chapter. The effect of many inhibitors of QA to QB electron transfer, including the PSII-active herbicides, can be analyzed in terms of this model with some confidence. Interpretation of the effects of environmental parameters, such as temperature and pH, on the electron transfer process, should also take the binding equilibrium into account. It is clear from the half-time and from the initial rate of reaction (amplitude/half-time) that the kinetics is collisional, with some degree of saturation at high concentrations.
Gaia Again // De nuevo Gaia

Book review of Toby Tyrrell's On Gaia: A Critical Investigation of the Relationship between Life and Earth and of Michael Ruse's The Gaia Hypothesis: Science on a Pagan Planet. Resumen Resena de On Gaia: A Critical Investigation of the Relationship between Life and Earth de Tyrrell y de The Gaia Hypothesis: Science on a Pagan Planet de Michael Ruse.
Materials and Method

Geometric morphometrics is the analysis of geometric landmark coordinates points on specific parts of an organism (Bookstein 1991). Morphometric analyses were based on the use of landmarks to capture shape; landmarks are points representing the same location on each specimen, and can be assigned to three general categories (Bookstein 1991): Type I—discrete juxtapositions (e.g., meeting of three structures), Type II—functional equivalents (e.g., tips of extrusions and maximum curvatures) and Type III—extremal points (e.g., tip of beak). In this study, type I and II landmarks were used, as they are most likely to capture biologically meaningful shape change (Fig. 2.1). When selecting landmarks for analyses, we selected points that characterized not only body shape accurately, but also represent some aspect of the inferred ecological niche. While landmarks were not biologically homologous, they represent discrete points that correspond among forms (sensu Bookstein 1991), which is appropriate for analyses attempting to capture shape changes or function (as opposed to describing phylogenetic relationships). For all individuals, measurements were taken on the entire specimen (brachial and pedicle valve. Once coordinates were obtained, geometric morphometrics were applied to landmarks to convert them into Bookstein shape coordinates (see Bookstein 1991 for a full description of Bookstein shape coordinate equations and methods), thus rotating, translating and scaling all landmarks, while maintaining their geometric relationships; these scaled coordinates were used in all analyses.
Inhibition of the Redox Function of Ape-1/ref-1 in Myeloid Leukemia Cells Results in Enhanced Sensitivity to Retinoic Acid Induced Differentiation and Apoptosis.

Abstract Ape-1/ref-1 is a multifunctional base excision DNA repair protein that is involved in the repair of abasic sites in DNA. However, it also has a distinct role in the redox regulation of a variety of cellular proteins, such as Fos, Jun, p53, NFκB, PAX, HIF-1α, HLF, and others. Ape-1/ref-1 maintains these proteins in a reduced state thereby facilitating their DNA binding and transcriptional activation capability. HL-60 cells are known to respond to retinoic acid (RA) with terminal granulocytic differentiation and apoptosis, which is mediated through the RA receptors. Previous experiments suggested that elevated Ape-1/ref-1 expression is related to differentiation and apoptosis. To further define the role of the redox function of Ape-1/ref-1 in this relationship, redox function was blocked using two techniques. First, we used retroviral gene transduction to over-express a redox-inactive C-65 mutant of Ape1/ref-1 in HL-60 myeloid leukemia cells and examined the response to retinoic acid. In a second set of experiments we used an Ape-1/ref-1 specific small molecule inhibitor to pharmacologically block the redox function and again examined the response to retinoic acid. Differentiation was evaluated by morphologic change in differential cell counts and expression of CD11b by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was assayed by annexin-PI staining on flow cytometry and cell cycle analysis was examined with propidium iodide flow cytometry. Results: 1. HL-60 cells expressing high levels of C-65 Ape-1/ref-1 responded to retinoic acid with a significantly higher level of differentiation and a moderate increase in apoptosis. 2. Pharmacologic blockade of Ape-1/ref-1 redox function resulted in a profound increase in differentiation and a moderate increase in apoptosis compared to controls. 3. dose dependent studies with retinoic acid demonstrated a similar degree of differentiation (CD11b expression) in cells treated with 10 μmolar retinoic acid and those treated with the redox inhibitor + 0.1 μmolar retinoic acid; alllowing HL-60 cells in the presence of the redox inhibitor to give a similar response to a 100 fold lower dose of retinoic acid. The redox inhibitor alone did not induce differentiation and induced only a minimal amount of apoptosis but did increase the number of cells in S phase significantly. In conclusion, our data supports the contention that redox function of Ape-1/ref-1 may be important for controlling RA-induced myeloid differentiation and programmed cell death. The implication of these findings is that myeloid leukemia cells may be sensitized to retinoids by manipulation of the redox status of Ape-1/ref-1.
Believed-In Imaginings: A Narrative Approach

This chapter is written from the perspective that the narrative is an organizing principle for contemporary psychology. I have made the claim for a narrative principle previously (Sarbin, 1986a, 1986b, 1986c, 1989a, 1989b, 1990a, 1990b, 1993, 1997a, 1997b, 1997c)—the readiness of human beings both to organize their experience and to interpret their social lives according to narrative plots. The grounds for my claims are common experiences. Our fantasies and daydreams are storied. Our night dreams are experienced as stories, often with mythic undertones. Rituals of daily life are organized to tell stories. The pageants of special occasions are fashioned along story lines. The plans we make, our rememberings, even our loving and hating, are all guided by narrative plots. Survival in a world of meanings would be problematic in the absence of skill to make up and to interpret stories about interweaving lives.
Antitrust and Democracy: A Case Study from German Fascism

In the recent political discourse around antitrust reform, prominent voices from across the political spectrum have asserted that excessive economic concentration imperils democracy. This theme has been raised periodically over the course of U.S. history, perhaps most forcibly after the Second World War when the framers of the Celler-Kefauver Act argued that industrial concentration in Germany enabled the rise of Nazism. This paper examines the relationship between Nazism and monopoly through a case study of the I.G. Farben chemical cartel. In analyzing Farben's role as Hitler's facilitator, this paper asks three questions: (1) How did industrial concentration give rise to fascism; (2) was the problem overly large industrial organizations (“the Curse of Bigness”) or rather organizations with excessive market power; and (3) what manner of antitrust regime would have been necessary and sufficient to prevent the unholy relationship between business and Nazism from developing?
Intact perception of coherent motion, dynamic rigid form, and biological motion in chronic schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Prior studies have documented biological motion perception deficits in schizophrenia, but it remains unclear whether the impairments arise from poor social cognition, perceptual organization, basic motion processing, or sustained attention/motivation. To address the issue, we had 24 chronic schizophrenia patients and 27 healthy controls perform three tasks: coherent motion, where subjects indicated whether a cloud of dots drifted leftward or rightward; dynamic rigid form, where subjects determined the tilt direction of a translating, point-light rectangle; and biological motion, where subjects judged whether a human point-light figure walked leftward or rightward. Task difficulty was staircase controlled and depended on the directional variability of the background dot motion. Catch trials were added to verify task attentiveness and engagement. Results Patients and controls demonstrated similar performance thresholds and near-ceiling catch trial accuracy for each task (uncorrected ps > 0.1; ds Conclusion Schizophrenia patients have intact perception of motion coherence, dynamic rigid form, and biological motion at least for our sample and set-up. We speculate that previously documented biological motion perception deficits arose from task or stimulus differences or from group differences in IQ, attention, or motivation.
Energy Options and Climatic Effects

There are many uncertainties surrounding the climate change issue, but the two most important are 1. What quantity of greenhouse gases will be added to the atmosphere and at what rate? and 2. How will the climate system respond?
Carbohydrate Antigens of Cell Surfaces Detected by Monoclonal Antibodies

To obtain monoclonal antibodies specific for various cancers, mice and rats have been immunized with human tissues in many laboratories. Some of the antibodies derived from spleen cells of the immunized animals have an apparent specificity for certain cancers and are directed against carbohydrates. Out of 325 of these antibodies sent to us from various laboratories in the past three years, 97 are directed against carbohydrates as determined by solid-phase radioimmunoassay and autoradiography. Of the 97 antibodies, 7 are directed against the H type 1 or H type 2 antigens, 4 against the Leb antigen, 8 against the A antigen, and 3 against the B antigen of the human ABO and Lewis blood group systems. Fifty-five are directed against a sugar sequence found in the human milk oligosaccharide lacto-N-fucopentaose III, 2 against a sialyated Lea antigen and 18 against unidentified carbohydrate sequences in glycolipids and/or glycoproteins.
The operational styles of crack houses in Detroit.

This chapter identified three methods by which crack cocaine is distributed at the retail level: the street-corner or walk-up sales system, the runners and beepermen system, and the crack house. The chapter devoted primary attention to the crack house, because it appears as the most popular method for distribution. In examining the crack house, it is noted that there are identifiable styles of crack-house operations. If the quality and quantity of social interaction, as well as the situation in which sellers posture themselves, are taken as indices, then a typology can be created characterizing crack-house operations. One end of the scale is an austere method in which social interaction between buyer and seller is severely restricted; on the other, crack houses operate as tavern-style exchange locations, which include socialization above and beyond that required for the exchange of money for crack. The nature of these exchanges are themselves important, since they involve social behaviors that are of concern. One concern is the degree and nature of violence as it is associated with drug abuse. The data in this chapter describe some ways in which violence appears within the crack subculture. This violence comes from multiple sources, but some prominent ones appear to be the businesslike operations of crack distribution, the personal disorganization that surrounds and characterizes the crack-consuming environment, and the distortions of character that crack users describe as often accompanying significant binges of crack consumption. Distributors use violence to control situations. Violence is most prominently used for security at the point of retail sale, to periodically resolve conflicts with rivals, and to discipline employees when necessary. Insofar as it is described by this group of informants, crack as a social phenomenon is tied to violent and abusive behavior. This chapter reports on behaviors that, although not traditionally violent, are of concern and bear upon public health and safety. Tavern-style crack houses may encourage and make possible hypersexuality among participants and thus increase STD and HIV risks. The use of barter as a supplement to a cash economy in the crack trade represents further complications in creating social policies in reaction to this behavior. A range of other illegal and problematic behaviors was also described, illustrating the complexity of interactions that constitute the life of street-level crack users. The social policies that may be called for in response to these social events are not simple and are most certainly not defined by these particular data.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) Language: en
4-Cycle Systems of K n -E(F*)

In this paper necessary and sufficient conditions are found for the existence of a $$4$$4-cycle system of a complete graph on $$n$$n vertices with leave a nearly $$2$$2-regular graph (that is, a not necessarily spanning graph in which all vertices have degree 2 except for one of degree greater than 2).
Lessons from California’s 2012–2016 Drought

AbstractCalifornia’s 5-year drought has ended, even as its aftermath lingers. From 2012–2016 much or all of California was under severe drought conditions, with greatly diminished precipitation, sn...
A coming of age for vascular access research: the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Dialysis vascular access dysfunction remains an important clinical problem with a very significant morbidity, mortality, and socio-economic cost. Despite the magnitude of the clinical problem, there are currently no truly effective therapies for vascular access dysfunction. Through a high-quality scientific investigation, Liang et al. have identified a number of novel biological pathways responsible for "mouse" arteriovenous fistula stenosis. We hope that the identification of these druggable pathways (targets) will allow for the development of new and effective therapies for vascular access dysfunction, through the creation of an innovation substrate for dialysis vascular access.
The Predicament — How should Selenoproteins be Hydrolyzed and Bioavailability Studies with Selenium Conducted?

The majority of the selenium (Se) bioavailability studies have been conducted with selenite as the standard.1,2 However, using Se accumulation as the basis, this could lead to erroneous conclusions if the test samples contain selenomethionine (SeMet) as the form of Se. This is demonstrated by a study with rats where Se (0.2 to 4.0 ppm) as either selenite or SeMet was fed to rats (see Figure).
Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps

Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are painful, involuntary skeletal muscle contractions during and after exercise. Despite EAMC being the most prevalent heat-related illness in athletes, their cause remains unclear and controversial. Contrary to popular opinion, most recent observational and experimental evidence suggests EAMC are not solely due to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances. Rather, it is likely EAMC stem from a convergence of an individual’s intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors which act to alter central and peripheral nervous system excitability. Unfortunately, the lack of a clear etiology for EAMC has spawned numerous myths and anecdotes regarding the most effective treatment and prevention strategies. However, the treatment for an athlete experiencing EAMC remains gentle static stretching until the EAMC abate. The most effective EAMC prevention strategy is less clear. EAMC prevention strategies should be tailored to an individual’s unique risk factors following a thorough medical evaluation and screening. Clinicians should avoid generalized treatment advice (e.g., drink more fluids or sports drinks) since it can result in disastrous outcomes such as exertional hyponatremia.
Understanding Causal Pathways for Occupationally Related Low Back Disorders

Extended AbstractLow back pain has been a leading cause of disability worldwide for nearly two decades (Hartvigsen et al 2018). In a study of US health care spending between 1996 through 2013, low ...
Doing hair, doing race: the influence of hairstyle on racial perception across the US

Hair is an easily changeable “racial marker” feature. Although growing interdisciplinary research suggests that hairstyle influences how one is racially perceived, extant methodological practices i...
Contextual determinants of parental reflective functioning: Children with autism versus their typically developing siblings.

Parental reflective functioning is defined as holding in mind one’s child’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and intentions and reflecting on how these mental states may be affecting the child’s behavi...
Suicide assessment and treatment in pediatric primary care settings

Topic This article will briefly review screening for depression and suicidal ideation in primary care and school-based clinics, with a focus on in-depth screening for imminent suicide risk, developing a safety plan, and incorporating handoffs to urgent and emergency mental health care personnel. The article will cover current definitions of levels of suicidal risk and clinic-based protocols for a team approach to adolescents in crisis. Purpose To provide primary care and behavioral health nurses with evidence-based suicide risk screening and assessment tools and best practices for using them in patient-centered encounters with adolescents with suicidal thinking or behavior. Sources used Journal articles, books, and reports. Conclusion Past studies have shown that many individuals who died by suicide had seen a primary care provider in 30 days before their deaths. Nurses in primary care settings should develop clinic-based protocols for screening all adolescents for suicide risk, developing safety plans, and providing suicidal youth and families with monitoring, appropriate referrals, follow-up, and support.
Reflective Writing on the Cadaveric Dissection Experience: An Effective Tool to Assess the Impact of Dissection on Learning of Anatomy, Humanism, Empathy, Well-Being, and Professional Identity Formation in Medical Students

Growing evidence supports the use of reflective writing activities centered around the human cadaveric dissection experience to support and assess elements of medical student wellness. Dissection may promote personal and professional development, increase resilience, and foster a sense of connection and community. This study employed a qualitative analysis of a reflective writing exercise to explore the question: "What is the impact of the cadaveric dissection anatomy experience on the personal and professional development of medical students?" This cross-sectional study was conducted at the conclusion of the first-year anatomy module. A total of 117 United States allopathic medical students were given a questionnaire designed to elicit the students' experiences and introspection. The exercise included four reflective questions that were provided to 20 groups of six students. Grounded theory analysis was used to explore themes that arose in students' responses. Participants exhibited several common reactions to cadaveric dissection. After analyzing all responses, 266 unique open codes were identified for all four questions. These open codes were sorted into ten distinct axial codes, which are broader categorical themes of open codes. The aims of our study were to identify themes that emerged as students reflected on the impact of their dissection experience using reflective writing as a tool to capture these themes and to gather information to inform pedagogical methodologies. The researchers observed that the educational effects of dissection captured in the reflective writing resembled those found in other areas of medical education that emphasize professional identity formation and important humanistic qualities.
Palmitate and Fructose Interact to Induce Human Hepatocytes to Produce Pro-Fibrotic Transcriptional Responses in Hepatic Stellate Cells Exposed to Conditioned Media.

Background/aims Excessive consumption of dietary fat and sugar is associated with an elevated risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatocytes exposed to saturated fat or sugar exert effects on nearby hepatic stellate cells (HSCs); however, the mechanisms by which this occurs are poorly understood. We sought to determine whether paracrine effects of hepatocytes exposed to palmitate and fructose produced profibrotic transcriptional responses in HSCs. Methods We performed expression profiling of mRNA and lncRNA from HSCs treated with conditioned media (CM) from human hepatocytes treated with palmitate (P), fructose (F), or both (PF). Results In HSCs exposed to CM from palmitate-treated hepatocytes, we identified 374 mRNAs and 607 lncRNAs showing significant differential expression (log2 foldchange ≥ |1|; FDR ≤0.05) compared to control cells. In HSCs exposed to CM from PF-treated hepatocytes, the number of differentially expressed genes was much higher (1198 mRNAs and 3348 lncRNAs); however, CM from fructose-treated hepatocytes elicited no significant changes in gene expression. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes showed enrichment for hepatic fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation in P- (FDR =1.30E-04) and PF-(FDR =9.24E-06) groups. We observed 71 lncRNA/nearby mRNA pairs showing differential expression under PF conditions. There were 90 mRNAs and 264 lncRNAs strongly correlated between the PF group and differentially expressed transcripts from a comparison of activated and quiescent HSCs, suggesting that some of the transcriptomic changes occurring in response to PF overlap with HSC activation. Conclusion The results reported here have implications for dietary modifications in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.
Outcomes of end-organ function and survival with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Introduction:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a temporary therapy option for refractory cardiac or respiratory failure. Preliminary study suggests that ECMO aids in the recovery of end...
Adverse Childhood Events in American Indian/Alaska Native Populations

Introduction Adverse childhood experiences are linked to deleterious outcomes in adulthood. Certain populations have been shown to be more vulnerable to adversity in childhood than others. Despite these findings, research in this area lacks an empirical investigation that examines adverse childhood experiences among American Indian and Alaska Native populations using large, nationally representative data. As such, the authors have compiled what they believe is the largest empirical investigation of adverse childhood experiences among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals to date. Methods Data were collected from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 34 states (2009–2017), whereby all individuals self-report as American Indian and Alaska Native (N=3,894). Adverse childhood experience scores were calculated and further stratified by sex, age, household income, education, employment status, sexual orientation, Census region, and state. In addition, frequencies and prevalence of each adverse childhood experience domain (stratified by the same categories) were calculated. Analysis was conducted in 2019. Results The average adverse childhood experience score among American Indians and Alaska Natives was 2.32, higher than those of individuals identifying as White (1.53), Black (1.66), and Hispanic (1.63). Female participants had a higher average adverse childhood experience score than male participants (2.52 vs 2.12). Generally, younger individuals and those with lower incomes reported higher adverse childhood experience scores, whereas those with higher educational attainment reported lower scores. Conclusions Compared with the few studies among American Indian and Alaska Native populations that have used either smaller samples or nontraditional adverse childhood experience data (i.e., asking parents about their children's experiences), these results present overall higher adverse childhood experience averages than previously published studies. Nevertheless, aligning with other research on adverse childhood experiences, female individuals, younger adults, and sexual minorities reported higher adverse childhood experiences scores than other categories in their respective demographics.
Can Cash Transfers Help Households Escape an Inter-Generational Poverty Trap?

Many poor households in developing countries are liquidity-constrained. As a result, they may under-invest in the human capital of their children. We provide new evidence on the long-term (10-year) effects of cash transfers using data from Ecuador. Our analysis is based on two separate sources of data and two identification strategies. First, we extend the results from an experiment that randomly assigned children under the age of 6 years to “early” or “late” treatment groups. Although the early treatment group received twice as much in transfers, we find no difference between children in the two groups on performance on a large number of tests. Second, we use a regression discontinuity design exploiting the fact that a “poverty index” was used to determine eligibility for transfers. We focus on children who were just-eligible and just-ineligible for transfers when they were in late childhood, and compare their school attainment and work status 10 years later. Transfers increased secondary school completion, but the effects are small, between 1 and 2 percentage points from a counterfactual school completion rate of 75 percent. We conclude that any effect of cash transfers on the inter-generational transmission of poverty in Ecuador is likely to be modest.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.
Vocal Fatigue Index in Teachers Using Mokken Analysis.

Summary Purpose Vocal fatigue (VF) is a primary vocal symptom experienced by professional voice users, such as teachers, whose voice is an occupational tool. The study determines the utilization of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI), a 19-item scale in identifying symptoms of VF and its severity in teachers. Methods Using responses of 695 teachers who completed the VFI, Mokken scaling was conducted on the items to identify the experiences of VF and its associated hierarchical nature of VF symptoms in teachers. Mokken scaling was completed on a total of four groups: (a) Total teachers group, (b) No VF group, (c) Low VF group, and (d) High VF group. Results Results revealed differences in item hierarchies between total teachers and across the separate groups of VF severity. Item hierarchy for teachers highlighted items from physical discomfort at the mild end of the hierarchy to items from symptom improvement with rest at the severe end of the hierarchy. Items related to avoidance presented as a separate scale for teachers presenting with high VF. Discussion Mokken scaling in teachers provides insight into the underlying complexity of the experience of VF symptoms and reliance on differential behavioral strategies in its management, suggesting the heterogenous nature of latent trait for VF in this specific population.
The political-ontological problem of the digital image: The legacy of essay cinema as a form of subjective resistance

The digital image, when approached from the artistic or cinematographic prism, requires crossing the barriers that delimit the audiovisual to a specific artistic practice and consider the socio-political and even ontological problem that it poses today. This problem consists of a de-subjectivation process imposed by digital discourse. In this regard, three important theses lead this writing. In the first place, the digital image is thought as a presentation or interface of a world structured by language, the latter being the true operator of the desubjectivation processes. This implies, secondly, that subjectivation processes are possible in the audiovisual work to the extent that they can subvert the digital image, that is, separate it from its code. Third, an analytical look indicates that the tradition of the essay film is fundamental to understand this work of subjective subversion of the image in this digital age since its main axes are the commitment to subjectivation and resistance to language, coding and classification.
The Milwaukee Platoon School Battle: Lessons for Activist Teachers

During the 1920s, activist teachers within the Milwaukee Teachers Association (MTA) engaged in a successful campaign to prevent widespread adoption of the “platoon school” model within their city's public school system. In the course of this campaign, MTA leaders had to develop skills as educational researchers, coalition builders, and policy advocates. Their struggle sheds light on discordant conceptions of effective urban education in early twentieth century America, and provides lessons for contemporary teachers on how to collaborate to advance their own visions of effective and equitable schooling.
Determinants of international trade flows: The Case of Developing Countries

Abstract The question of magnitude and the time path of the trade flows to changes in the exchange rates and to changes in the price level is of emitent practical importance. To assess the above proposition, a distributed lag structure is imposed on the relative prices and on the effective exchange rate as the determinants of trade flows. Then, import and export demand functions are estimated for a sample of developing countries, using the Almon procedure. The empirical findings appeared to sustain Orcutt's early conjecture that trade flows adjust differently to different price stimuli. More precisely, it was found that imports and exports reactions were quicker and the total response time was shorter when an exchange rate, rather than relative prices, caused a change in international prices.
Serotonin-storing secretory granules from thyroid parafollicular cells

The subcellular storage of 5-HT was studied in sheep thyroid parafollicular cells. These cells are neural crest derivatives and were investigated as a serotonergic model system. Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to examine the distributions of 5-HT, 45 and 56 kDa forms of 5-HT binding protein (SBP), and calcitonin. A single type of parafollicular cell was found that contained calcitonin, 5-HT, and 45 kDa SBP but not 56 kDa SBP. The secretory granules of parafollicular cells all displayed calcitonin immunoreactivity, and many were also immunoreactive for 5-HT and 45 kDa SBP. Granules were isolated, first by size and then by density, on successive metrizamide gradients. These provided a granular fraction that was enriched in calcitonin, endogenous 5-HT, and 45 kDa SBP. Immunoblots confirmed the presence of 45 kDa SBP in the isolated granules and in suspensions of parafollicular cells that were purified by an affinity chromatographic technique. Parafollicular cell granules did not appear to contain substantial stores of ATP. Granules isolated on Percoll gradients were morphologically homogeneous and took up 3H-5- HT. The specificity of this uptake was confirmed by quantitative electron microscopic radioautography. The granular uptake of 3H-5-HT was inhibited by reserpine (10 microM). It is concluded that parafollicular cell granules are different from other amine-storing vesicles that do contain ATP; nevertheless, since parafollicular cell granules store 5-HT and have the same 45 kDa SBP as is found in serotonergic axon terminals, parafollicular cell granules may be analogous to the synaptic vesicles of serotonergic neurons.
Nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase of the plasma membrane of the liver cell.

Abstract An activity, named nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase, has been found in plasma membrane preparations from rat liver. The enzyme catalyzes the formation of inorganic pyrophosphate from adenosine triphosphate (but not from adenosine diphosphate) and other nucleoside triphosphates by a reaction that appears to be a simple hydrolysis. Evidence is presented to show that the activity is an authentic component of the membranes and that it is largely or completely absent from the liver microsome fraction.