cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ligand-binding dynamics rewire cellular signaling via estrogen receptor-α

Ligand-binding dynamics control allosteric signaling through the estrogen receptor-α (ERα), but the biological consequences of such dynamic binding orientations are unknown. Here, we compare a set of ER ligands having dynamic binding orientation (dynamic ligands) with a control set of isomers that are constrained to bind in a single orientation (constrained ligands). Proliferation of breast cancer cells directed by constrained ligands is associated with DNA binding, coactivator recruitment and activation of the estrogen-induced gene GREB1, reflecting a highly interconnected signaling network. In contrast, proliferation driven by dynamic ligands is associated with induction of ERα-mediated transcription in a DNA-binding domain (DBD)-dependent manner. Further, dynamic ligands showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity. The DBD-dependent profile was predictive of these signaling patterns in a larger diverse set of natural and synthetic ligands. Thus, ligand dynamics directs unique signaling pathways and reveals a new role of the DBD in allosteric control of ERα-mediated signaling.
The challenge of acculturation measures: what are we missing? A commentary on Thomson & Hoffman-Goetz.

With the swelling number of immigrants coming to the US, there has been a growing concern about development of measures that capture the gradual process of acculturation; yet there has been no consensus on what to measure and how to measure it. Acculturation (i.e. defined as a multidimensional process of the adoption of U.S. cultural norms, values and lifestyles; see Lara, Gamboa, Kahramanian, Morales, & Bautista, 2005) and enculturation (i.e. defined as the preservation of native cultural values, norms or lifestyle patterns), have been hypothesized to be linked to health outcomes of different ethnic groups such as Asians and Latinos (Kim & Ominzo, 2006). Federal reports and research studies over the past three decades continue to document that acculturation is a critical factor associated with a wide range of health outcomes and health behaviors (Alegria, Sribney, Woo, Torres, & Guarnaccia, 2007; Amaro & De la Torre, 2002; Andreeva, Unger, Yaroch, Cockburn, Baezconde-Garbanati, & Reynolds, 2009; Caetano, Vaeth, Ramisetty-Mikler, & Rodriguez, 2009; De La Rosa, Vega, & Radisch, 2000; Fuentes-Afflick & Hessol, 2008; Johnson-Kozlow, 2009; Montez & Eschbach, 2008; Sussner, Lindsay, & Peterson, 2007). During this same period, empirical investigations have reported inconsistent findings regarding the role of acculturation, mostly attributed to the pronounced variation in the assessment of acculturation, the proxy nature of many of these measures and the lack of cross-cultural validity of the measures (Rogler, Cortes, & Malgady, 1991; Stevens & Vollebergh, 2008).
Coherent fluorescent emission and scattering from a uniform sphere

The coherent light inelastically scattered from an ideal fluorescent sphere illuminated by an electromagnetic wave is analyzed using an extension of Mie theory. Scattering coefficients are solved specifically for plane-wave illumination. The resulting inelastically scattered radiation is similar to that of elastically scattered radiation from a sphere. These results are illustrated by numerical calculations for several specific, but arbitrary, cases.
Experiences in sulfonylurea therapy.

Nine of our 14 patients, aged 2–16 yr with asymyptomatic hyperglycemia have been treated with oral sulfonylurea during the past 10 yr. Response has been variable. Only three showed definite improvement while on sulfonylurea. This improvement appeared to be associated with earlier peak insulin response rather than increased output of insulin.
Organizational sacralization and sacrilege

Abstract Organizations may commit deeds that are perceived by stakeholders and institutional actors as particularly heinous because they directly contradict sacred ideals, values, beliefs, and so on espoused by the organization. We refer to these deeds as sacrilege. To explain how sacrilege occurs, we develop a multi-level model of sacralization that argues that individuals, organizations, and institutions are motivated to construct a sense of the inviolable. Sacralization fosters strong normative control by generating a set of unique structural relationships among the individuals, organizations, and institutional context. We then use this model to explain how sacrilege undermines these structures and how organizations often attempt to recover from such violations.
Ontogeny of locomotory behaviour in the American locust, Schistocerca americana : from marathoner to broad jumper

Developmental changes in locomotory ability may affect many aspects of organismal behaviour and ecological success. While juvenile vertebrates have lower power output and endurance than older animals, the effects of ontogeny on locomotory performance in invertebrates are unknown. Among insects, grasshoppers serve as an ideal model to study ontogeny of locomotory behaviour. Ecological and behavioural studies show that adult and juvenile grasshoppers have different predators and dispersal behaviours, suggesting different locomotory abilities. In addition, older American locust grasshoppers, Schistocerca americana, have improved oxygen delivery, which may enhance endurance. In this study, we forced American locust grasshoppers of different ages to jump repeatedly to exhaustion and quantified jump frequencies and distances. We found that, in contrast to vertebrates, grasshoppers appear to develop from low-power, high-endurance juveniles to high-power, low-endurance adults. These developmental changes in physiology match the ontogeny of life-history behaviours. Adult grasshopper jumping legs produce the high power output required to initiate flight for escape from vertebrate predators and migration, whereas high-endurance juvenile grasshoppers repeatedly jump to escape invertebrate predators and may also be forced to disperse long distances to find food.
Reduction of doxorubicin toxicity by methylene blue in cultured rat myocardial cells.

La doxorubicine, une anthracycline antitumorale presente des effets cardiotoxiques en induisant la production d'oxygene reactif. On teste le bleu de methylene, agent reducteur, comme protecteur dose-dependant sur des cultures de cellules myocardiques
“Surviving is not the same as living”: Cancer and Sobrevivencia in Puerto Rico

“Cancer survivorship” is an evolving concept that has been elaborated to a large extent in the mainland U.S. through the work of national advocacy organizations, and it has served as a source of cohesion for many people who have experienced cancer. However, anthropologists and other social scientists have argued that dominant meanings of survivorship—such as the idea of “cancer as a gift” or the role of positive thinking in influencing the disease course—reflect distinctively American cultural values, and survivorship outside the U.S. has remained largely unexplored even while the concept has gained some traction globally. This paper explores how the concepts of “survivorship” and “survivor” are engaged in the setting of Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the U.S., and how well they are seen to explain the nature of post-treatment life. Ethnographic fieldwork for this study was conducted over 12 months split between two field visits (2 months and 10 months) between June 2010 and March 2012 in San Juan, the capital city, and Ponce, a smaller city on the southern coast. This paper is based on interviews with 23 participants treated for cancer as young adults. Participants drew from many of the prevailing discourses of survivorship—such as transformation and the importance of optimism—as well as from what they understood to be distinctive aspects of Puerto Rican culture and identity, in the crafting of a local understanding of post-treatment life. Support organizations played a key role in shaping roles and expectations associated with having had cancer, and in solidifying particular views of survivorship more broadly.
Optimal sensor placement with signal propagation effects and inhomogeneous coverage preferences

The optimal sensor placement problem consists of determining the number, types, and locations of sensors satisfying inhomogeneous coverage requirements while minimising a specified cost function. The cost function can reflect various factors such as the actual cost of the sensors, their total number, and energy consumption. A strict and general formulation of the problem is described here for sensors characterised by probability of detection at some specified probability of false alarm. The formulation includes non-uniform coverage preferences and realistic, non-line-of-sight detection accounting on signal propagation effects. The optimisation is expressed as a solution to a binary linear programming problem. While exact solution of this problem is typically prohibitive, a fast greedy algorithm is presented that yields a near-optimal solution. It can also be successfully applied to improve coverage of an existing sensor network. This approach compares very favourably to an alternative heuristic strategy based on placing sensors one-by-one in the previously worst-covered location.
The transfusion dilemma – Weighing the known and newly proposed risks of blood transfusions against the uncertain benefits

Due to its significant role in saving lives, blood transfusion became one of the most commonly used therapies in medicine. In the USA red blood cell transfusions, for instance, are given to an estimated 3-4 million patients per year. However, the accepted benefits of transfusion do not come without harm. Acute transfusion reactions have been estimated to occur in almost one-fifth of total transfusions, with serious reactions in approximately 0.5%. Although methods of blood collection, preparation and storage have improved significantly, potential complications and controversial efficacy, especially of red blood cell transfusions, are still a major concern. One long-standing primary concern has been bacterial and viral contamination but recently other risks have been identified, mostly related to recipient immunomodulation and storage lesion-related changes.
Self-diffusion of the amorphous pharmaceutical indomethacin near Tg

Secondary ion mass spectrometry has been utilized to measure self-diffusion coefficients D in supercooled indomethacin from 310 K to 350 K (Tg = 315 K). Over this temperature range, D varies from 10−17 cm2s−1 to 10−11 cm2s−1. The temperature dependence of D is significantly weaker than the temperature dependence of the viscosity or the structural relaxation time τα, and scales as τα−0.76. At Tg, D is enhanced by more than a factor of 100 in comparison to the viscosity and the expectations of the Stokes–Einstein equation. For deeply supercooled indomethacin, the temperature dependence of D matches the temperature dependence of crystal growth rates for all three polymorphs.
GABA Itself Promotes the Developmental Switch of Neuronal GABAergic Responses from Excitation to Inhibition

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain. Early in development, however, GABAergic synaptic transmission is excitatory and can exert widespread trophic effects. During the postnatal period, GABAergic responses undergo a switch from being excitatory to inhibitory. Here, we show that the switch is delayed by chronic blockade of GABA(A) receptors, and accelerated by increased GABA(A) receptor activation. In contrast, blockade of glutamatergic transmission or action potentials has no effect. Furthermore, GABAergic activity modulated the mRNA levels of KCC2, a K(+)-Cl(-) cotransporter whose expression correlates with the switch. Finally, we report that GABA can alter the properties of depolarization-induced Ca(2+) influx. Thus, GABA acts as a self-limiting trophic factor during neural development.
Proactively managing copy-and-paste induced code clones

Programmers copy and paste code. As a result, similar code fragments (clones) are added into software systems. Like other software artifacts, clones require attention and effort from programmers so that they can be found, understood, and correctly adapted and evolved. In addition to what clone-detection-based tools can offer, other automated support can be developed to better assist programmers in these activities, for example, to compare and contrast code clones, or help edit (a group of) clones consistently and quickly. We describe several such features currently being developed in the CnP project on top of Eclipse and for Java.
Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Research Scientific Progress, Scientific Challenges, and Gender

The purpose of this review is to evaluate the current status of scientific knowledge on intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence, with a particular focus on the measurement of gender patterns. A multimethod analysis of estimates for the incidence and prevalence of intimate and sexual aggression reveals consistencies across some methodologies and inconsistencies across others. In particular, self-report using behavioral checklists such as the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales yields results that are very discrepant from other research findings. Contrary to some assertions, self-report studies using simple checklists do not represent "most data" on intimate violence; there are large criminological and public health databases that warrant attention. When these sources are considered and placed in the context of other data on violence and aggression, a clear pattern of gender asymmetry emerges, with males perpetrating more physical and sexual violence than females for virtually every form of violence ever studied. Violence research has been hampered by the conservative forces that affect most social science research, including peer review, grant review, and tenure review processes that discourage methodological innovation and reward incremental research studies. We need to focus resources on scientific and technological innovation to better understand violent phenomena and better serve all those involved in violence. Two examples of self-report methods that do not produce gender symmetry are described.
Nitroreductase catalyzed biotransformation of CL-20.

Abstract Previously, we reported that a salicylate 1-monooxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. ATCC 29352 biotransformed CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaaza-isowurtzitane) (C6H6N12O12) and produced a key metabolite with mol. wt. 346 Da corresponding to an empirical formula of C6H6N10O8 which spontaneously decomposed in aqueous medium to produce N2O, NH 4 + , and HCOOH [Appl. Environ. Microbiol. (2004)]. In the present study, we found that nitroreductase from Escherichia coli catalyzed a one-electron transfer to CL-20 to form a radical anion (CL-20 −) which upon initial N-denitration also produced metabolite C6H6N10O8. The latter was tentatively identified as 1,4,5,8-tetranitro-1,3a,4,4a,5,7a,8,8a-octahydro-diimidazo[4,5-b:4′,5′-e]pyrazine [IUPAC] which decomposed spontaneously in water to produce glyoxal (OHC CHO) and formic acid (HCOOH). The rates of CL-20 biotransformation under anaerobic and aerobic conditions were 3.4 ± 0.2 and 0.25 ± 0.01 nmol min−1 mg of protein−1, respectively. The product stoichiometry showed that each reacted CL-20 molecule produced about 1.8 nitrite ions, 3.3 molecules of nitrous oxide, 1.6 molecules of formic acid, 1.0 molecule of glyoxal, and 1.3 ammonium ions. Carbon and nitrogen products gave mass-balances of 60% and 81%, respectively. A comparative study between native-, deflavo-, and reconstituted-nitroreductase showed that FMN-site was possibly involved in the biotransformation of CL-20.
Real time 2D to 3D conversion: Technical and visual quality requirements

Although the technology has only reached the proof-of-concept stage, new 3DTV sets have already introduced the concept of converting 2D video and image content for 3D viewing. Given that the key differentiator and ultimate success factor is visual quality, it requires advancing from the objective of generating an acceptable stereo pair from a monoscopic source to generating a robust conversion of a multiplicity of 2D contents using a seamless combination of depth analysis and stereo view generation algorithms. In this paper we discuss the interlocked technical and visual quality requirements of a general conversion method and the key R&D issues that we believe need to be solved in order to succeed in the CE market.
The Impact of Economic Development on Political Interest Across Social Classes in China: Turning the Chinese Dream into a Chinese Reality?

Modernization theory has been instrumental to our understanding of the conditions necessary for a democratic transition. Proponents suggest a link between economic development and political development where the former leads to a stronger middle class with a greater interest in politics, potentially resulting in demands on the regime for concessions. Recent findings, however, suggest modernization theory is incomplete. On the one hand, the working class may play a crucial role in the regime concession-demanding process. On the other hand, recent empirical evidence suggests that both classes are politically apathetic and simply do not engage the regime for change. This study investigates this relationship between economic development and political development by answering the question of how economic development has impacted interest in politics across the social classes in China. I use ordered logistical regression to test hypotheses derived from these propositions. The results have important implications for understanding the relationship between economic development and political development in China and the popular support for the CCP to turn the Chinese dream into a Chinese reality.
Reconstruction of Natural Scenes from Ensemble Responses in the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

A major challenge in studying sensory processing is to understand the meaning of the neural messages encoded in the spiking activity of neurons. From the recorded responses in a sensory circuit, what information can we extract about the outside world? Here we used a linear decoding technique to reconstruct spatiotemporal visual inputs from ensemble responses in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the cat. From the activity of 177 cells, we have reconstructed natural scenes with recognizable moving objects. The quality of reconstruction depends on the number of cells. For each point in space, the quality of reconstruction begins to saturate at six to eight pairs of on and off cells, approaching the estimated coverage factor in the LGN of the cat. Thus, complex visual inputs can be reconstructed with a simple decoding algorithm, and these analyses provide a basis for understanding ensemble coding in the early visual pathway.
A simple formula for monitoring quadrature phase error with arbitrary signals

The authors consider the problem of monitoring quadrature receiver errors without using specifically designed test signals. A previously derived simple formula /spl rho/=-sin /spl phi/ where /spl rho/ is the cross-correlation coefficient at zero lag between the in-phase (i) and quadrature phase (q) components and /spl phi/ is the receiver phase imbalance, is generalized in several ways. The generalized version, while still simple, is surprisingly robust because it applies to a wide variety of random and deterministic signals. However, it provides an estimate of /spl phi/ in the case of known noise power or large SNR. The effects of the additive receiver noise are also included. The case of jointly Gaussian i and q distributions is examined further and the marginal pdf's of the amplitude and phase of the random signal in the presence of quadrature errors are derived. >
Estimating disease onset distribution functions in mutation carriers with censored mixture data

Summary. We consider non-parametric estimation of disease onset distribution functions in multiple populations by using censored data with unknown population identifiers. The problem is motivated from studies aiming at estimating the age-specific disease risk distribution in deleterious mutation carriers for genetic counselling and design of therapeutic intervention trials to modify disease progression (i.e. to slow down the development of symptoms and to delay the onset of disease). In some of these studies, the distribution of disease risk in participants assumes a mixture form. Although the population identifiers are missing, study design and scientific knowledge allow calculation of the probability of a subject belonging to each population. We propose a general family of weighted least squares estimators and show that existing consistent non-parametric methods belong to this family. We identify a computationally effortless estimator in the family, study its asymptotic properties and show its significant gain in efficiency compared with the existing estimators in the literature. The application to a large genetic epidemiological study of Huntington’s disease reveals information on the age-at-onset distribution of Huntington’s disease which sheds light on some clinical hypotheses.
Situation-aware multipath routing and wavelength reassignment in a unified packet-circuit OpenFlow network

We demonstrate multipath routing and wavelength re-assignment in OpenFlow-enabled packet-circuit network, aware of links' bandwidth utilization, applications' protocol, and quality of transmission. Applications are re-routed under traffic congestion and wavelengths are re-assigned under physical impairments.
Response of maize germination and growth to hydrothermal carbonization filtrate type and amount

The option of using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) filtrate as a liquid based fertilizer for agricultural crop production was evaluated through germination and plant growth studies using corn (Zea Mays L.). Corn growth trials were conducted in a growth chamber with artificial lighting and controlled temperature programming in washed silica sand amended with condensed distillers soluble (CDS), swine manure, or poultry litter HTC filtrates. Seedling growth trials were conducted over a period of 3 weeks and evaluated for overall plant height, above ground biomass, below ground biomass, and total biomass in response to various filtrate applications. Impacts on germination were studied by quantifying germination time and of corn seeds in response to various amounts of condensed distillers solubles (CDS) and swine HTC filtrates. Inhibitory effects on corn seed germination and seedling growth were dependent on HTC filtrate type and application amount, where at dilutions greater than 1:2 (filtrate : total volume) corn germination was not inhibited and swine based filtrate extending the seed germination delay (lag phase). Low filtrate applications were statistically equal to control responses. These results suggest a potential opportunity for utilization of HTC filtrates as an agricultural liquid fertilizer, thereby recycling critical plant nutrients, once inhibitory compounds are treated.
Peripartum cardiomyopathy: current knowledge and future directions

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a form of heart failure occurring at the end of pregnancy or early in the postpartum period. Women may recover, have persistent cardiac dysfunction or suffer complications and death. Women who are African-American, older, hypertensive or have multiple gestation pregnancies have increased risk. Diagnosis and treatment may be delayed due to similarities between symptoms of normal pregnancy and heart failure. Echocardiography is essential for the diagnosis, and B-type natriuretic peptide can be helpful. Treatment for systolic heart failure must be adjusted during pregnancy, and anticoagulation may be indicated. Even after recovery, subsequent pregnancy confers substantial risk of worsening heart failure. Further investigations into the etiology, duration of treatment and risks for relapse are needed.
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder: inventing a disease to sell low libido

Condition branding is a marketing technique in which companies develop conditions concurrently with developing drugs; examples include gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, social anxiety disorder, erectile dysfunction and hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Although it is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to market drugs prior to regulatory approval, there are no restrictions on marketing diseases, and industry seeks to establish a disease state in the minds of clinicians years before an expected drug launch. Continuing medical education (CME) courses are an important part of promotion prior to drug approval and have become a key marketing tool for increasing clinician receptivity to new products. We systematically identified 14 free, internet-based, industry-funded, accredited CME modules on hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women which came out before a new drug, flibanserin, was being considered for regulatory approval in the USA. Common themes in these modules included the following: (1) Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is common, underdiagnosed and can have a profound effect on quality of life. (2) Women may not be aware that they are sick or distressed. (3) Simple questionnaires can assist clinicians in diagnosing the disorder. (4) It is problematic that there are medicines available to treat sexual problems for men but not women. In fact, there is no scientifically established norm for sexual activity, feelings or desire, and there is no evidence that hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a medical condition. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is a typical example of a condition that was sponsored by industry to prepare the market for a specific treatment.
Rights Dualism: The International Criminal Tribunals’ Two-Track Approach to the Rights of the Accused

If we are to continue to pass judgment on broadscale criminal responsibility for leadership roles in civil war — responsibility of the scope alleged against Radovan Karadžic and Ratko Mladic, for example — we are committed to a pluralism, or at least a dualism, of dubious credentials. Cases of broadscale responsibility produce an approach to the accused's rights that is different from, and incompatible with, the one that has been developed around domestic criminal law. There is a direct causal link between the salient features of leadership trials, the law of evidence put in place by tribunal judges to support such trials, the use that the admitted evidence is put to, and, at the end of the line, the fair-trial rights of the accused. The option to persist with grand leadership cases commits us to a moral pluralism that takes the form of a rights dualism. Can we tolerate a two-track approach to the accused's rights?
Continuous central vasopressin infusion increases peripheral fetal corticotropin and cortisol in the fetal sheep.

Abstract In previous studies on regulation of fetal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) secretion, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) have been administered by peripheral intravascular infusion. In order to look at an alternate route of administration, we investigated the effect of continuous intracerebroventricular administration of AVP to the fetus on fetal plasma ACTH and fetal and maternal plasma cortisol concentrations. Sheep fetuses (n = 9) were instrumental with carotid artery and lateral cerebral ventricular catheters. Fetuses were given intracerebroventricular infusion from 125-134 days gestational age of artificial cerebrospinal fluid vehicle (n = 4), or AVP 250 mu U.min-1 continuously in artificial cerebrospinal fluid vehicle (n =5). Fetal blood was obtained daily between 09.00 and 12.00h and 20.00 and 23.00h. Over the infusion period, fetal plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations in AVP infused fetuses increased (P less than 0.05) compared with the vehicle infused group. Gestation length for the fetuses in the AVP and vehicle infused groups were 139 +/- 4.9 (n =4) and 145 +/- 4.6 (n = 3) days respectively (n.s.). Fetal plasma AVP concentrations in the AVP infused group were not different from the vehicle infused group.
Measuring the scrambling of quantum information

We provide a general protocol to measure out-of-time-order correlation functions. These correlation functions are of broad theoretical interest for diagnosing the scrambling of quantum information in interacting quantum systems and have recently received particular attention in the study of chaos and black holes within holographic duality. Measuring them requires an echo-type sequence in which the sign of a many-body Hamiltonian is reversed. We illustrate our protocol by detailing an implementation employing cold atoms and cavity quantum electrodynamics to probe spin models with nonlocal interactions. To verify the feasibility of the scheme with current technology, we analyze the effects of dissipation in a chaotic kicked-top model. Finally, we propose a number of other experimental platforms where similar out-of-time-order correlation functions can be measured.
Performance and blood chemistry in lambs following fasting and transport

Thirty-six 5-month-old Dorset ram lambs (28·7 kg) were used to investigate the effects of fasting and transport on performance and selected blood parameters. Three treatment groups (no. = 12) were: (1) control-food and water, without transport; (2) fasting for 72 h, without transport; and (3) transport in a trailer to a nearby auction-barn, then driven 8 h/day for 3 days without food or water for a total of 72 h. Lambs were given a total mixed diet containing 163 g/kg crude protein throughout the 28-day post-transport period. Both fasted and transported lambs consumed less food than the control group during the first 7 days post treatment (P P
Nanoscale measurements in organic memory devices from C60 in insulating polymers

Following our pervious works demonstrating all-organic memory devices based on a nanocomposite material consisting of C60 molecules dispersed in an insulating polymer. In this paper, we will report on conducting atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) measurements from nanosized regions on memory devices. The c-AFM nanoscale measurements show a hysteresis of high and low conductance states, in agreement with our previous reports on macroscopic memory devices. The c-AFM measurements were verified by 30nm gap cell devices fabricated via e-beam lithography, which also showed similar current values. Analysis of our data reveals that the conduction mechanism switches from direct tunneling to Fowler-Nordheim tunneling above a threshold voltage.
P5-S6.14 Qualitative assessment of facilitators and barriers to HPV vaccination among providers serving a high-risk community

Background Maximising HPV vaccine uptake among those at highest risk for cervical cancer is critical. We explored healthcare provider perspectives on factors influencing HPV vaccination among adolescent girls in a community with high cervical cancer rates. Methods From March to May 2009, we conducted in-depth interviews with 21 physicians and other staff providing care to adolescent girls at two clinics in Los Angeles, CA, serving a predominantly Hispanic population with high cervical cancer rates. The semi-structured interviews explored HPV vaccination processes and potential barriers to vaccination. Results Providers overwhelmingly focused on parental beliefs as barriers to HPV vaccination, though noted other factors including the lack of school requirements and barriers related to serving a low-income, immigrant clientele. Perceived parental misconceptions acting as barriers included the belief that adolescents do not need vaccinations and that no-cost vaccine programs like Vaccines for Children are only available for younger children. Perceived parental concerns that the vaccine will promote sexual activity were prevalent, especially for parents of 11–12-year-old girls, which prompted providers to frame HPV vaccine as a “routine,” “cervical cancer” vaccine. However, providers felt mothers with experience with abnormal Pap tests and those with a supportive friend or relative were more likely to request HPV vaccine. Providers noted that for Hispanic parents the “preferred” source of information is peers; if the “right people” in the community were supportive of HPV vaccine, parents were more willing to vaccinate. Most providers noted that because HPV vaccine is not “required” for school, it was difficult to get eligible girls into clinic and to reinforce to parents the need for the vaccine. Other barriers included lack of immunisation records among immigrant parents and a difficult-to-reach, mobile clientele. Conclusions Providers noted a number of barriers to HPV vaccination, including some perceived parental misconceptions that could be addressed with education about the need for adolescent vaccines and available free vaccine programs. Because community support appears particularly important to Hispanic parents, the use of promotoras—peer liaisons between health organisations and the community—may increase HPV vaccine uptake in this population. Future research should explore how well providers9 perceptions align with parents9 actual concerns.
Instituting recruiting meritocracy in Italy.

As a Harvard University professor who worked at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), it is dismaying to read L. Margottini's In Depth news article criticizing the proposed IIT-managed Human Technopole (HT) project in Milan (“Plans for new research hub get critical reception,” 11 March, p
The Nature of the Transcendent Relationship

I have been a teacher for more than three and a half decades. I believe that teaching is one of the most powerful professions one can pursue. The profession endows teachers with the power to inform others, to strengthen them and power to enable and liberate them intellectually, socially, spiritually and aesthetically. And as I work to accomplish this with others I accomplish it for myself.
Introduction — From ‘Tragic Mulatto’ to Black Magic Woman: Race, Sex and Religion in Film

This research is on representations of black women, sexuality and religion, specifically that of the ‘tragic mulatto’ character and African-based religions in black films of the 1990s. The objective of this work is to consider how race, sex and religion intersect in constructing a cultural identity for African Diasporas in the United States. Although this cinematic identity is intended for African Diasporas in the US, its implication is that of a wider New World identity.
The Multiple Dimensions of Role Ambiguity and Their Impact Upon Psychological and Behavioral Outcomes of Industrial Salespeople

Role ambiguity is often thought to be a pervasive aspect of boundary spanning and sales positions in marketing. Surprisingly, few studies have examined how various types or dimensions of role ambiguity impact the salespersons' psychological (e.g., job satisfaction, tension and commitment) and behavioral (e.g., performance and turnover) outcomes. Because proper intervention begins with an accurate assessment, the purpose of this paper is to measure the various types of role ambiguities experienced by industrial salespeople and to examine their relative effects on psychological and behavioral job outcomes. Specifically, we demonstrate how multidimensional role ambiguity can pinpoint specific dimensions of ambiguity that are dysfunctional to the salesperson and organization. The results underscore the managerial and theoretical insights obtained from utilizing a multidimensional view of role ambiguity as part of a broader survey for examining the dysfunctional effects of role ambiguity dimensions in sales or...
Systematic improvement of amplicon marker gene methods for increased accuracy in microbiome studies

Amplicon-based marker gene surveys form the basis of most microbiome and other microbial community studies. Such PCR-based methods have multiple steps, each of which is susceptible to error and bias. Variance in results has also arisen through the use of multiple methods of next-generation sequencing (NGS) amplicon library preparation. Here we formally characterized errors and biases by comparing different methods of amplicon-based NGS library preparation. Using mock community standards, we analyzed the amplification process to reveal insights into sources of experimental error and bias in amplicon-based microbial community and microbiome experiments. We present a method that improves on the current best practices and enables the detection of taxonomic groups that often go undetected with existing methods.
A House Divided: The Eastern Churches – Catholic and Orthodox

This chapter gives an overview of eastern Christian Churches, Catholic and Orthodox: who they are; when and why they separated; salient issues impeding reunion; and, efforts in the “ecumenical movement.” The main point of the chapter is to show that the theological issues usually given as the reasons for divisions do not carry the weight they once did. The main reasons for continued separation are ecclesiological – issues of jurisdiction and governance – and in this regard it is not a matter of “one side coming over to the other,” but of both sides recognizing and respecting – and accepting – the truth of the other.
Articulating Software Requirements Comic Book Style

It is almost a truism that system stakeholders do not fully understand and communicate what they want, often until a system is produced and they see it isn't right. Such an outcome is wasteful, expensive, and unsatisfactory. Working with requirements in comic book style provides affordances, absent or weaker in other requirements forms, that may as- sist stakeholders in surfacing and expressing desires sooner and developers in understanding them and each other. Appropriate incorporation of comic book style artifacts into requirements work, in addition to making it more playful and enjoyable, can contribute to greater stakeholder satisfaction and more effective software development.
Human Cytomegalovirus: General Features

Human cytomegalovirus infection is widespread, reaching over 60% of the population worldwide. Transmission occurs by direct contact with infected bodily secretions. This virus encodes many more gene products than other herpesviruses, and these contribute to both replication and pathogenesis. A majority of viral genes encode functions that modulate the host immune response and contribute to persistent infection. Although virus is generally acquired without significant disease, cytomegalovirus is a medically important opportunistic pathogen. In the developing fetus, transplacental transmission leads to neurological disease. In immunocompromised individuals, a number of organ-specific diseases may arise from acute or chronic infection. A number of antiviral drugs are available to treat this virus. Although vaccines would be useful in a number of settings, none are currently proven or available.
Visual Diagnosis: A 17-month-old Girl With Persistent Cough

1. Nicholas Potisek, MD* 2. Laura N. Shashy, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC. A 17-month-old girl with a past medical history of birth at 31 weeks’ gestation and several episodes of bronchodilator-responsive wheezing is transferred for management of a pneumothorax. One month ago, she was diagnosed with influenza A based on a dry cough. The patient refused to take oseltamivir and her cough persisted. Over the past 2 to 3 days, the cough has worsened in frequency and developed a “wet” quality. Recently, several of the coughing episodes were associated with nonbloody, nonbilious posttussive emesis. While waiting to be seen by her primary pediatrician today, she developed back swelling, which prompted more immediate evaluation. Other than recent symptoms of rhinorrhea, the remainder of her review of systems is negative. Throughout this illness, she has continued normal voiding and stool patterns as well as normal levels of activity. As noted previously, the girl was born at 31 weeks’ gestation via cesarean delivery due to eclampsia. She did not require endotracheal intubation but received supplemental oxygen for 2 weeks. Her immunizations are up to date. She is small for her age and has reached developmental milestones. Currently, she is prescribed beclomethasone dipropionate twice daily and albuterol as needed for previous wheezing and coughing episodes. She has never been hospitalized. Family history includes asthma in her father. On physical examination, her rectal temperature is 100.8°F (38.2 ° C), heart rate is 123 beats per minute, respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute, blood pressure is 96/78 mm Hg, and oxygen saturation is 99% on 4 L/min of supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula. Her weight is 8 kg (3rd percentile). She appears well-nourished, is in no apparent distress, …
Condensational Growth of Drops Formed on Giant Sea-Salt Aerosol Particles

AbstractThe most basic aspect of cloud formation is condensational growth onto cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). As such, condensational growth of cloud drops is often assumed to be a well-understood process described by the drop growth equation. When this process is represented in models, CCN activate into cloud drops at cloud base, and it is often assumed that drops consist of pure water or that the hygroscopic contribution after drop activation is small because of the inclusion of only small CCN. Drop growth rate in adiabatic ascent in such models is proportional to supersaturation and assumed to be inversely proportional to the drop radius, thereby making the drop spectrum narrow with altitude. However, the present study demonstrates that drop growth on giant sea-salt aerosol particles (GCCN; dry radius 0.5 m) behaves differently. For typical marine stratocumulus updrafts and for drops grown on GCCN with sizes m, these drops typically remain concentrated salt solutions. Because of this, their condensat...
Histopathologic features of colitis due to immunotherapy With Anti-PD-1 antibodies

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blocking agents are novel immunotherapeutics used for treatment of advanced-stage malignancies. They have shown promise in the treatment of several malignancies, with greater efficacy and better tolerability than cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) blocking agents. However, as with anti-CTLA-4 agents, clinically significant colitis remains an important complication. Although there is growing awareness of the histopathologic features of anti-CTLA-4 therapy, there is little information on the pathologic features of anti-PD-1 colitis. We describe here the histopathologic findings in 8 patients who developed colitis while on anti-PD-1 monotherapy. The most common pattern of injury observed (5/8 cases) was an active colitis with neutrophilic crypt microabscesses and with prominent crypt epithelial cell apoptosis and crypt atrophy/dropout. These latter features are reminiscent of other colitides with prominent apoptosis such as acute graft-versus-host disease or certain drug-induced colitides. The remainder of cases (3/8) showed a lymphocytic colitis-like pattern, characterized by increased intraepithelial lymphocytes and surface epithelial injury. Apoptosis was also often increased in these cases but crypt atrophy/dropout was not present. In patients who experienced recurrence of anti-PD-1 colitis, histologic features were similar to the initial insult but, in addition, features of chronicity developed that mimicked inflammatory bowel disease (basal lymphoplasmacytosis and crypt architectural irregularity, and Paneth cell metaplasia in 1 case). Awareness of the clinical scenario, however, should allow pathologists to suggest anti-PD-1 colitis. Interestingly, recurrent colitis was observed in patients who had been off anti-PD-1 therapy for many months. As anti-PD-1 agents are increasingly used in oncology, we present this series to increase awareness of anti-PD-1 colitis among pathologists, to facilitate its timely diagnosis and treatment.
Racial/ethnic differences in sleep quality among older adults with osteoarthritis.

Abstract Objective To examine racial/ethnic differences in sleep quality and the pain-sleep association among older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee. Design Baseline interview followed by a 7-day microlongitudinal study using accelerometry and self-reports. Setting Participants were community residents in western Alabama and Long Island, NY. Participants Ninety-six African Americans (AAs) and 128 non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) with physician-diagnosed knee osteoarthritis, recruited from a variety of clinical and community settings. Measurements Self-reports yielded demographics, body mass index, physical health problems, and depressive symptoms. Sleep quality was measured for 3 to 7 nights using wrist-worn accelerometers; pain was self-reported daily over the same period. Results With demographics and health controlled, AAs displayed poorer sleep efficiency, greater time awake after sleep onset and sleep fragmentation, and marginally more awakenings during the night, but no differences in total sleep time. AAs also showed greater night-to-night variability in number of awakenings and sleep fragmentation, and marginally greater variability in total sleep time and sleep efficiency. Sleep quality was not associated with pain either the day before sleep or the day after. Average daily pain interacted with race, whereas AAs displayed no effect of pain on sleep efficiency, NHWs exhibited better sleep efficiency at higher levels of average pain. Conclusions These data corroborate previous studies documenting poorer sleep among AAs vs NHWs. The findings of greater night-to-night variability in sleep among AAs, as well as a negative association of pain with sleep quality among NHWs, are unique. Further study is needed to elucidate these findings.
An evaluation of score-informed methods for estimating fundamental frequency and power from polyphonic audio

Robust extraction of performance data from polyphonic musical performances requires precise frame-level estimation of fundamental frequency (ƒ 0 ) and power. This paper evaluates a new score-guided approach to ƒ 0 and power estimation in polyphonic audio and compares the use of four different input features: the central bin frequencies of the spectrogram, the instantaneous frequency, and two variants of a high resolution spectral analysis. These four features were evaluated on four-part multi-track ensemble recordings, consisting of either four vocalists or bassoon, clarinet, saxophone, and violin (the Bach10 data set) created from polyphonic mixes of the monophonic tracks both with and without artificial reverberation. Score information was used to identify time-frequency regions of interest in the polyphonic mixes for each note in a corresponding aligned score, from which ƒ 0 and power estimates were made. The approach was able to recover ground truth ƒ 0 within 20 cents on average in reverberation and power within 5 dB for anechoic mixtures, but only within 10 dB for reverberant.
Education for and with CIVEMSA: Boon, bust, and (maybe?) boon again for computers in our classrooms

I will review the past and present of “education for CIVEMSA and CIVEMSA for education”, then offer a few suggestions about where their futures might lie. The evolution of computer technology and the evolution of our thinking about its role in classrooms and teaching laboratories provide a natural timeline. There is also a spatial element to consider: as with the teaching of instrumentation and measurement itself, at any particular time distinct national and regional differences are apparent, and they are fairly weakly coupled, so taking a birds-eye view we get to observe multiple experiments running in parallel. Regarding the present and the foreseeable future, I would particularly like to review recent research that shows — it seems stronger than just “suggests” — that students who take notes on laptops learn less well than students who use pen-and-paper, and from there speculate a little about the consequent implications for CIVEMSA topics.