cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Look at Culture and Stigma of Suicide: Textual Analysis of Community Theatre Performances.

Stigma against suicidal ideation and help-seeking is a significant barrier to prevention. Little detail is provided on what types of stigma interfere with help-seeking, how stigma is expressed, and how to reduce it. Five groups of two ethnically diverse community theatre programs were formed to analyze differences in Eastern Montana Caucasian and Native American adolescents and young adults’ experiences with stigma about mental illness and mental health treatment that affect help-seeking for suicidal thoughts and experiences. Over a ten-week period, a grassroots theatre project was used to recruit members from the same population as the audience to write and perform a play on suicide and depression (n = 33; 10 males, 23 females; 12 Native American, 21 Caucasian, ages 14–24). Using textual analysis, the community- and campus-based performance scripts were coded for themes related to stigma. Both ethnic groups reported that stigma is a barrier to expressing emotional vulnerability, seeking help, and acknowledging mental illness. We found that Caucasians’ experiences were more individually oriented and Native Americans’ experiences were more collectively oriented. Understanding the cultural bases of experiences with stigma related to mental health treatment for suicide is necessary to create educational programs to reduce stigma for diverse groups of adolescents and young adults.
Urban Education and Academic Success: The Case of Higher Achieving Black Males:

America’s urban communities have continued to face many challenges, especially the challenge of education, for several decades. Although factors such as racial injustice and community-driven proble...
Effects of ultrasonic vibration on resistance spot welding of transformation induced plasticity steel 780 to aluminum alloy AA6061

Abstract A newly developed joining technique, ultrasonic resistance spot welding (URW), where high frequency ultrasonic vibration is effectively integrated into resistance spot welding (RSW) process, has been applied for joining transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel 780 to aluminum alloy Al 6061. Comparing URW with traditional RSW, up to 300% increase in strength and more than 150% increase in displacement to failure is achieved. Light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed cracks and wide interfacial debonded regions in conventional RSW Al Fe welds. With the assistance of ultrasonic vibrations, these interfacial cracks are effectively removed and a thin Al Fe intermetallic layer (IMC) of around 3 um thickness is formed. SEM images of the fractured surface revealed that ultrasonic waves eliminated the eggcrate morphology generally observed in RSW welds fractured surface, which is a typical representative of solidification cracking. In situ high speed videos showed that ultrasonic vibration can help break off surface contamination and oxides as well as improving wetting of melted aluminum over the Al Fe interface.
Detecting malware communities using socio-cultural cognitive mapping

We apply a variation of socio-cultural cognitive mapping (SCM) to computer malware features explored previously by Saxe and Berlin that characterized malware binaries as benign or malicious based on 1024 program features derived from a deep neural network-based detection system. In this work, we model the features as attributes within a latent spatial domain using a weighted consensus graph representation to visualize and analyze the malware binary communities. The data used in our analysis is extracted from a Remote Access Trojan family named Sakula that first appeared in 2012, and has been used to enable an adversary to run interactive commands and execute remote program functions. Our results show that by SCM we were able to identify distinct malware communities within the malware family, which revealed insights into the overall structure of the various binaries as well as possible temporal relationships between the binaries.
Exploring the Factors Affecting the Mechanical Properties of 2D Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites.

Mechanical stability of hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) is essential to achieve long-term durable HOIP-based devices. While HOIPs in two-dimensional (2D) form offer numerous options in...
Abstract 1221: Novel strategies to target autophagy to improve cancer therapy

In cancer research, autophagy is thought to be a double-edged sword because it can either prevent malignant transformation during cancer initiation or sustain tumor metabolism, growth and survival in cancer establishment and progression. For established tumors, especially the advanced or metastatic types, the harsh intercellular conditions activate autophagy so that tumor cells can adapt to the stressful conditions and efficiently recycle their nutrients, while also allowing them to respond to anti-tumor therapeutics. Therefore, interventions that deliberately inhibit autophagy in cancer therapy have been used to reduce cancer cell survival, overcome drug resistance and improve clinical outcomes. The vast majority of autophagy inhibitors used in these therapies are lysosomotopic alkaline agents, such as chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). However, their efficacy is considered to be imperfect. New strategy to target autophagy for cancer therapy is needed. Through introducing nanotechnology into initial new drug entity design, we developed a series of new chemical entities, BAQ12-18, and all of them are potential building blocks to self-assemble into the single new-chemical-entity nanomedicines (BAQ SNNs). The selected BAQ12 NP and BAQ13 NP not only improve drug delivery and tumor-targeted biodistribution but also endow unique proton sponge effect to dramatically enhance the existing functions of lysosomal disruption and autophagy blockade, and thus generate significant therapeutic efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. The more striking finding is that BAQ13 NP can potently provide both a uniform drug delivery platform and synergistic effect to the combination drug, indicating a new-generation strategy of combination therapy. Considering their capacity to encapsulate different drugs and broad synergistic effect with various treatments, BAQ SNNs may make a tremendous contribution to the outcome of cancer treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to extend nanotechnology into the design stage of new small-molecule drug entity. The seamless connection between new drug discovery and nanomedicine-based drug delivery will absolutely inspire researchers to develop increasingly advanced nanomedicines with a wide range of practical values and market for improved the therapy against challenging diseases. Citation Format: Yuanpei Li, Zhao Ma, Dailn Zhang, Mythili Ramachandran, Tzu-yin Lin. Novel strategies to target autophagy to improve cancer therapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1221.
Surpassing the Organic Cathode Performance for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Robust Fluorinated Covalent Quinazoline Networks

Organic electrode materials have promising application prospects in energy storage, but issues including rapid capacity fading and poor power capacity restrict their practical applications. Herein,...
Miniature Electrodynamic Wireless Power Transmission Receiver Using a Micromachined Silicon Suspension

We present the design, modeling, fabrication, and experimental characterization of an electrodynamic wireless power transmission (EWPT) receiver for low-frequency ( $\cdot $ cm−3 power density) at 4 cm distance from a transmitter coil operating at 821 Hz and safely within allowable human exposure limits. This data corresponds to a normalized power density of 21.9 mW $\cdot $ cm $^{-3}\,\,\cdot $ mT−2, which is 44% higher than similar reported devices. Based on these results, this device shows great suitability for wirelessly charging mobile, wearable and bio-implantable devices. [2020-0161]
The Theory of Overlapping Clubs

Order in the present international system is provided by a set of overlapping clubs: institutions with varying functional and geographic bases that constitute various designs for collective action. Arthur Stein and Richard Rosecrance examine this system of overlapping clubs, how they are formed and how they evolve, to see if they could eventually form the basis of an encompassing coalition. a concert of Great Powers. They conclude that the prestige and status, not to mention economic incentives, conferred on club members do indeed bring nations together in the absence of any world organization, but that for this club structure feasibly to evolve into an encompassing coalition, more must be done to draw China and Russia into it as participating members.
Phase Measurement and Correction for Software Defined Radio Systems

This work is motivated by the use of software defined radios (SDRs) to improve the flexibility of, e.g., steerable phased array antennas. While SDRs can be low in cost, they are inherently not phase synchronized, a challenge for the intended application. In this work, a cross correlation method for phase measurement is presented. In simulation, the measured phase never deviated from the actual phase shift by more than 2%, even at an SNR of 0 dB. The approach was further verified via an angle of arrival hardware test at 915 MHz, where the mean phase error between the actual and measurement, over a range of 35°, was less than 1°. The presented SDR phase measurement algorithm provides a simple way to measure and compensate for the initial phase shift in SDRs and can be leveraged for wide variety of phase sensitive SDR applications.
Mature neutrophils with Auer rods following treatment with all-trans retinoic acid for acute promyelocytic leukemia.

![Figure][1] A 37-year-old woman initially presented with pancytopenia and found to have leukopenia (2.1 × 103/μL) with 13% atypical promyelocytes, anemia (hemoglobin of 6.8 g/dL), and thrombocytopenia (41 000 per μL). The atypical promyelocytes were medium to large in size with frequent
Statistical and Methodological Considerations When Using Cluster Analysis in Neuropsychological Research

Multivariate classification of variables into mathematically definable and homogenous subsets is often a useful first step in pattern recognition prior to formal statistical analyses of data sets. One such methodology, cluster analysis, has the main goal of clustering entities that share common characteristics and data structure. For example, one goal of such an analysis is to gain insight into the variables that are important in determining group membership so that new data can be easily classified; additionally, one may wish to develop subsets of data that share certain characteristics to facilitate statistical analysis of variables that are hypothesized to be related to clustered entities. As such, cluster analysis can be useful when applied to neuropsychological variables, particularly when an empirical statistical approach to classification is desirable or when significant interindividual differences in neuropsychological function exist within clinical populations. The goal of this chapter is to provide a review of clustering methods, including hierarchical agglomerative methods and iterative partitioning methods. Recommendations for determining the appropriate number of clusters and for comparing clustering methods also will be discussed. Further, validation techniques will be addressed. The chapter will conclude with a discussion of data issues commonly encountered in neuropsychological research, such as non-normality of data and incomplete data records from patients, and techniques for handling these situations. Finally, a table outlining various statistical packages is provided for the reader interested in the availability of software for computation.
Top management departures in cross-border acquisitions

Abstract This study examined top management team departures in U.S. manufacturing firms acquired by a foreign multinational during the six-year period following acquisition. Results indicated that greater cultural distance between the United States and the home country of the foreign multinational, higher levels of international integration in the target industry, and poor preacquisition performance in the U.S. target company were related to greater postacquisition top management departures. These effects were moderated significantly by the foreign acquirer’s international business and U.S. acquisition experience and showed different patterns over the short-term, intermediate-term, and long-term. Implications for future research on top management teams involved in cross-border acquisitions are discussed.
On the Geometry of Cohomogeneity One Manifolds with Positive Curvature

We discuss manifolds with positive sectimal curvature on which a group acts isometrically with one dimensional quotient. A number of the known examples have this property, but some potential families for new examples in dimension 7 arise as well. We discuss the geometry of these known examples and the connection that the candidates have with self-dual Einstein metrics.
Periodicity and cyclic shifts via linear sketches

We consider the problem of identifying periodic trends in data streams. We say a signal a ∈ Rn is p-periodic if ai = ai+p for all i ∈ [n-p]. Recently, Ergun et al. [4] presented a one-pass, O(polylog n)- space algorithm for identifying the smallest period of a signal. Their algorithm required a to be presented in the time-series model, i.e., ai is the ith element in the stream. We present a more general linear sketch algorithm that has the advantages of being applicable to a) the turnstile stream model, where coordinates can be incremented/decremented in an arbitrary fashion and b) the parallel or distributed setting where the signal is distributed over multiple locations/machines. We also present sketches for (1+e) approximating the l2 distance between a and the nearest p-periodic signal for a given p. Our algorithm uses O(e-2 polylog n) space, comparing favorably to an earlier time-series result that used O(e-5.5 √ppolylon n) space for estimating the Hamming distance to the nearest p-periodic signal. Our last periodicity result is an algorithm for estimating the periodicity of a sequence in the presence of noise. We conclude with a small-space algorithm for identifying when two signals are exact (or nearly) cyclic shifts of one another. Our algorithms are based on bilinear sketches [10] and combining Fourier transforms with stream processing techniques such as lp sampling and sketching [13, 11].
Crystal Structure of the Zinc-Dependent MarR Family Transcriptional Regulator AdcR in the Zn(II)-Bound State

Streptococcus pneumoniae adhesin competence regulator (AdcR), the first metal-dependent member of the multiple antibiotic resistance regulator (MarR) family of proteins, represses the transcription of a high-affinity zinc-specific uptake transporter, a group of surface antigen zinc-binding pneumococcal histidine triad proteins (PhtA, PhtB, PhtD, and PhtE), and an AdcA homologue (AdcAII). The 2.0 A resolution structure of Zn(II)-bound AdcR reveals a highly helical two-fold-symmetric dimer with two distinct metal-binding sites per protomer. Zn(II) is tetrahedrally coordinated by E24, H42, H108, and H112 in what defines the primary sensing site in AdcR. Site 2 is a tetracoordinate site whose function is currently unknown. NMR methyl group perturbation experiments reveal that Zn(II) drives a global change in the structure of apo-AdcR that stabilizes a conformation that is compatible with DNA binding. This co-repression mechanism is unprecedented in MarR transcriptional regulators.
Emerging therapeutics in sleep

The development of new therapeutics for sleep disorders is increasingly dependent upon understanding the basic brain circuitry that underlies sleep-wake regulation, and how it may be pharmacologically manipulated. In this review, we consider the pathophysiological basis of major sleep disorders that often are seen by neurologists, including excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, narcolepsy, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and restless legs syndrome, as well as circadian disorders, and we review the current and potential future therapeutic approaches.
Transgenic mice with muscle-specific insulin resistance develop increased adiposity, impaired glucose tolerance, and dyslipidemia.

Impaired skeletal muscle insulin receptor function is a feature of common forms of insulin resistance, including obesity and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. However, the extent to which this defect accounts for impaired muscle glucose disposal or altered in vivo glucose homeostasis remains to be established. We recently showed that transgenic mice that overexpress dominant-negative insulin receptors specifically in striated muscle have a severe defect in muscle insulin receptor-mediated signaling and modest hyperinsulinemia. Here we performed hindlimb perfusion studies to determine the impact of this defect on muscle glucose uptake and metabolism. Maximal rates of insulin-stimulated muscle 3-O-methylglucose transport were reduced by 32-40% in transgenic mice with proportional defects involving total hindlimb [14C]glucose uptake, lactate production, and muscle glycogen synthesis. To address the hypothesis that muscle insulin resistance could promote an increase in the accretion of body fat, carcass...
Regional assignment of two genes of the human branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex: The E1β gene (BCKDHB) to chromosome 6p21–22 and the E2 gene (DBT) to chromosome 1p31

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is caused by the deficiency of the mitochondrial branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. The multienzyme complex is a macromolecule (Mr 4 X 10(6] consisting of at least six distinct subunits. In this study, the human E1 beta gene (BCKDHB) has been localized to human chromosome 6 by hybrid somatic cell analysis, and regionally assigned to chromosome bands 6p21-22 by in situ hybridization. The E2 gene (DBT), which was previously localized to chromosome 1, is regionally assigned to the chromosome band 1p31 also by in situ hybridization. Localization of the E1 beta gene to chromosome 6p21-22 assigns another major human disease locus to a region that contains several important genes, including the major histocompatability complex, tumor necrosis factor, and heat-shock protein HSP70. Mapping of the E1 beta and the E2 genes may provide information for the linkage analysis of MSUD families with mutations in these two loci.
Characterization of defective interfering RNA components that increase symptom severity of broad bean mottle virus infections

Several strains of the broad bean mottle virus (BBMV), an icosahedral tripartite plant RNA virus, which show distinct reactions on certain plant hosts have been described (K. M. Makkouk et al., Neth. J. Plant Pathol. 94, 195-212, 1988). Here we report defective interfering (DI) RNAs encapsidated in two BBMV strains from Morocco and Tunisia. While not effective in some plants, these DI RNAs exacerbated the severity of symptoms in others. The most dramatic, lethal effect of DI RNAs has been found on pea (Pisum sativum, cv. Rondo) seedlings. Sequence analysis has revealed that the DI RNAs were derived by single in-frame central deletions of 448 to 537 nt in the corresponding genomic RNA2 components. A comparison of the intensities of full-length RNA2 bands from DI molecule-containing and DI molecule-deficient virion RNA preparations revealed that the DI RNAs decreased the level of RNA2 components in total RNA preparations. The differences between corresponding virion RNAs were much smaller. This suggests an interference with RNA replication. In vitro assays and an analysis of the polyribosomal RNA fractions confirmed the translational activity of DI RNAs. This paper reports the first description of natural DI RNAs in tripartite isometric plant RNA viruses.
Early outcomes of primary sutureless repair of the pulmonary veins

Background The "sutureless" repair technique has improved outcomes for post-repair pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the early outcomes of primary sutureless repair of pulmonary venoocclusive disease in infants with congenital PV stenosis-hypoplasia or PVs at high risk for progressive stenosis. Methods This is a retrospective review of infants who had primary sutureless repair of the PVs from October 2002 to April 2010. Results Twenty-five infants had primary sutureless repair of the PVs. Eighteen infants had total anomalous pulmonary venous return; 14 with obstruction, 10 with heterotaxy syndrome, and 9 with univentricular anatomy. Seven infants had congenital PV stenosis. There were 24 perioperative survivors (96%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 75% to 99%) and 2 late deaths from extracardiac causes. Follow-up was available on 21 out of 22 survivors at a median duration of 34 months (range, 9 to 100 months). Persistence-recurrence of PV stenosis occurred in 3 veins (3%) of 2 infants (8%). On follow-up echocardiography, right ventricular systolic pressure was normal in 13 out of 14 infants with a biventricular heart and 60% of systemic blood pressure in 1 infant. Kaplan-Meier 1-year cumulative survival was 88% (95% CI, 66% to 96%). Kaplan-Meier cumulative disease-free survival was 96% (95% CI, 75% to 99%) at 30 days and 84% (95% CI, 58% to 95%) at 1 year. By Cox proportional hazards, age, univentricular anatomy, and atrial isomerism-heterotaxy syndrome were not associated with an increased risk of death or persistence-recurrence. One-year disease-free survival was lower in infants with prematurity ( p = 0.0055) and low birth weight ( p = 0.0011). Conclusions Primary sutureless repair is a feasible, safe, and relatively effective method of addressing congenital PV stenosis and (or) high-risk PVs, particularly in infants with single ventricle anatomy and (or) heterotaxy syndrome.
A Nutrition Support Service Web Application to Manage Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a complex therapy that requires expertise and experience to avoid errors in prescribing and management. Because of care coordination issues, one medical center has developed and implemented a Web-based application to manage PN patients. PN orders have already been programmed into the physician order entry system, but the nutrition support service (NSS) consult and daily PN management have been performed using paper forms. The Web system is developed for ease of use by clinicians and accessibility at any computer within the medical center. The database consists of 12 tables interrelated by the patient medical record number, admission number, or location. The NSS consult is the main table used to navigate to the other tables. Update of the laboratory and PN formula table must be done through the consult table. The system is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act guidelines, and has been developed so that the forms that are required to be placed in the patient's permanent record can be printed. Demographic information and laboratory data are automatically populated via a link to the medical center's medication management system. At present, there are 1393 patients in the database and 21,000 pages are viewed each month during daily PN management by clinicians. Data can be easily retrieved for management reports. Data elements can be exported directly from the database to worksheets. This function has been used for projects designed to improve the efficiency of this PN system.
Metal ion acquisition in Staphylococcus aureus: overcoming nutritional immunity

Transition metals are essential nutrients to virtually all forms of life, including bacterial pathogens. In Staphylococcus aureus, metal ions participate in diverse biochemical processes such as metabolism, DNA synthesis, regulation of virulence factors, and defense against oxidative stress. As an innate immune response to bacterial infection, vertebrate hosts sequester transition metals in a process that has been termed “nutritional immunity.” To successfully infect vertebrates, S. aureus must overcome host sequestration of these critical nutrients. The objective of this review is to outline the current knowledge of staphylococcal metal ion acquisition systems, as well as to define the host mechanisms of nutritional immunity during staphylococcal infection.
Long range optimized two-dimensional proton-carbon chemical shift correlation. Application in the total assignment of the 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of 9-methylphenanthro[4,3-a]dibenzothiophene

The utilization of the long range optimized proton-carbon chemical shift correlation experiment in the total assignment of the proton and carbon nmr spectra of 9-methylphenanthro[4,3-a]dibenzothiophene is described. The experiment was employed in concert with conventional proton-carbon chemical shift correlation, heteronuclear relayed coherence transfer and broad band homonuclearly decoupled proton-carbon chemical shift correlation experiments. The experiments in combination offer a useful alternative to the 13C-13C double quantum coherence experiments, providing significantly better sensitivity and nearly the same capabilities.
A Shearing Interferometer For Astronomical Wavefront Sensing

A wavefront sensor has been designed to measure wavefront aberrations occurring during astronomical observations with high spatial and temporal resolution. Results of laboratory experimentation are presented. The sensor consists of a grating lateral shear heterodyne interferometer using a solid-state detector array. It has high light efficiency and is a self-referencing interferometer, thus allowing the use of white-light extended astronomical sources for the measurements. The wavefront sensor employs a heterodyne technique and is insensitive to intensity variations across the pupil and detector nonuniformities. To obtain a wavefront map, two sets of orthogonal wavefront difference data from the lateral shear interferometer are required. Both sets are measured simultaneously using a single laminar grating to produce the sheared diffraction orders and a single solid-state detector array placed in a plane conjugate to the telescope pupil plane. The signal from the detector array is digitized and fed into a computer where the wavefront differences are calculated. From these differences a wavefront map on a square array of 24 by 24 points is obtained by filtering the data in the spatial frequency domain. The time required for the acquisition of a complete set of data for one wavefront map is 13.3 ms. A wavefront reconstruction may be done within several milliseconds by using fast algorithms and floating point processor hardware.
Pharyngoesophageal motor function in patients with myotonic dystrophy

Six adults with myotonic dystrophy underwent detailed radiological and manometric studies of pharyngoesophageal function. Four of the patients had no history of swallowing dysfunction, while two had very mild symptoms. All patients showed abnormalities of pharyngoesophageal function. Pharyngeal peristalsis was present but of low amplitude. Resting upper esophageal sphincter pressure was diminished, but the sphincter relaxed normally. Peristalsis in the esophageal body was in variably absent in the striated muscle segment of the esophagus and was either absent or decreased in amplitude in the smooth muscle segment. The lower esophageal sphincter was normal. Myotonia did not occur in the sphincters or the esophageal body. These findings suggest that phyaryngoesophageal dysfunction is common in patients with myotonic dystrophy, even when clinical symptoms are absent. The abnormalities are probably related to muscle weakness rather than to myotonia in the pharyngeal and esophageal musculature.
Quality of life and behavioral follow-up study of Head Start I pediatric brain tumor survivors.

To evaluate the Quality of Life (QoL) and Social–Emotional/Behavioral functioning of survivors treated on the “Head Start I” protocol at participating medical centers across the United States between 1991 and 1997. Parents of 25 of 27 (92.5%) patients completed the Child Health Questionnaire PF-50 (CHQ), to assess their child’s QoL, along with the Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC), to assess their social–emotional/behavioral functioning, after a mean follow-up of 5.7 years (range 13–96 months). Nineteen (76%) of the 25 parents subsequently completed the same instruments after a mean of 11.6 years (range 90–181 months), three (12%) patients died of disease and three (12%) were lost to follow-up. Mean Physical and Psychosocial QoL Summary Scores on the CHQ at Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) were within the normal range. Of the ten individual means for CHQ subscales, nine were within normal limits with the exception of Parental Emotional Impact at T1 and General Health at T2. Additionally, mean scores on the BASC at T1 and T2 were within normal limits for Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors as well as Adaptive Skills. Serial analyses between T1 and T2 revealed non-significant changes over time with the exception of decreased General Health on the CHQ. The lack of QoL and Social–Emotional/Behavioral deficits suggests that the Head Start I protocol, involving intensive induction followed by myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell rescue in order to avoid or delay cranial irradiation, provides encouraging pilot data warranting continued monitoring.
Classroom Interactions of Children with Behavior Disorders

The purpose of this study was to identify significant social stimuli that were associated with prosocial and inappropriate behavior of children classified as severe behavior disordered (SBD). Two children from each of 19 classrooms–10 from integrated and 9 from segregated special classrooms (for children with SBD)–were observed. One student in each classroom was defined as aggressive and one student was defined as nonaggressive. The selection yielded four groups: integrated nonaggressive without SBD (n = 10), integrated aggressive and SBD (n = 10), segregated aggressive and SBD (n = 9), and segregated nonaggressive and SBD (n = 9). An exhaustive behavioral coding system was used to record sequentially the social responses between target students and their teachers and peers. The data from each group were pooled for analysis. Lag sequential analysis was used to identify the significant antecedent and subsequent social responses of each code for each group. The results indicated that most of the teacher/chi...
Exploring the association of John Henry active coping and education on smoking behavior and nicotine dependence among Blacks in the USA

Although smoking is used as a coping tool in response to stress and Blacks have been found to report smoking more in response to stress than Whites, little research exists that has examined ethno-culturally specific constructs of stress and coping as they relate to smoking behavior and nicotine dependence among Blacks in the USA. This study explored the association between the ethno-culturally interactively defined construct of John Henryism, as well as the individual contributions of John Henry active coping and education on smoking behavior and nicotine dependence in a relatively urban-Midwestern Black population. Self-identified Black patients (n=146) who had previously received a clinical intervention for nicotine dependence were followed to assess smoking status and John Henry active coping. Results revealed that patients with low levels of education who had low levels of John Henry active coping reported higher nicotine dependence scores than any other education by John Henry active coping group. Furthermore, low levels of John Henry active coping were associated with the use of menthol cigarettes and lower-educational level was associated with smoking greater than 20 cigarettes per day. Further community-based studies examining this construct among Black smokers in various socio-cultural contexts are needed to clarify the association between John Henry active coping and socioeconomic status on smoking behavior and nicotine dependence among Blacks.
Cell assay using a two-photon-excited europium chelate.

We report application of two-photon excitation of europium chelates to immunolabeling of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) cell surface proteins on A431 cancer cells. The europium chelates are excited with two photons of infrared light and emit in the visible. Europium chelates are conjugated to antibodies for EGFR. A431 (human epidermoid carcinoma) cells are labeled with this conjugate and imaged using a multiphoton microscope. To minimize signal loss due to the relatively long-lived Eu3+ emission, the multiphoton microscope is used with scanning laser two-photon excitation and non-scanning detection with a CCD. The chelate labels show very little photobleaching (less than 1% during continuous illumination in the microscope for 20 minutes) and low levels of autofluorescence (less than 1% of the signal from labeled cells). The detection limit of the europium label in the cell assay is better than 100 zeptomoles.
Leaf anatomy of Dombeya and Nesogordonia ( Sterculiaceae ), emphasizing epidermal and internal idioblasts

We studied leaf anatomy, using clearings, resin sections, and scanning electron microscopy, from mostly herbarium specimens of 123 species ofDombeya and 11 species ofNesogordonia (Sterculiaceae). Species were placed in seven idioblast categories, ranging from those without any to single and bicelled epidermal forms to multicelled nodules and single mesophyll idioblasts. Idioblast contents are possibly mucilaginous, but were not identified. In these two genera the range of foliar idioblast morphology surpasses that known previously for the entire family. Leaves are dorsiventral with mostly abaxial anomocytic stomata and typical palisade and spongy layers; paraveinal mesophyll is lacking. Miniature glandular (clavates, capitates) and nonglandular (mostly stellate) trichomes occur. Prismatic crystals predominate; epidermal prismatics and mesophyll druses are rare.
Effect of heat on the conversion of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate to mono-2- ethylhexyl phthalate in human plasma

Plasma di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which accumulates during blood storage in plastic bags, gives rise to plasma mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP). This also in plasma samples awaiting analysis, which are no longer stored in plastic bags. Heating plasma samples at 60 C for 25 to 30 minutes in a water bath effectively halts conversion of DEHP to MEHP during subsequent room temperature storage for at least 100 hours. This result is consistent with the view that MEHP accumulation in plasma is due to enzymatic hydrolysis of DEHP by esterase (s) which can be heat-inactivated.
Pharmacists’ provision of information to Spanish-speaking patients: A social cognitive approach

Abstract Background Hispanics with limited English proficiency face communication challenges that affect medication use and outcomes. Pharmacists are poised to help patients’ use medications safely and effectively; however, scant research has explored factors that may impact pharmacists’ communication with Spanish-speaking patients (SSPs). Objective Guided by social cognitive theory (SCT), the purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between pharmacy environmental factors, pharmacists’ cognition, and pharmacists’ communication with SSPs. Methods A cross-sectional survey used a vignette to quantify the amount of information pharmacists would provide to an SSP. Pharmacy environmental factors (language-assistance resources, Spanish-speaking staff, and number of SSPs) and pharmacists’ cognition (self-efficacy beliefs and cultural sensitivity) that may influence communication also were assessed. The relationships between environmental factors, cognition, and pharmacists’ communication with SSPs, including indirect relationships, were examined using composite indicator structural equation (CISE) modeling. Results Of the 183 respondents, most were white (91%) and male (63%) with a mean age of 47 years (SD = 12.77). The CISE modeling revealed that the number of SSPs served by the pharmacy and the pharmacist’s self-efficacy in communicating with SSPs were significantly directly associated with pharmacist’s provision of information to SSPs. Two environmental factors (presence of interpreter services and Spanish-speaking staff) operated indirectly through self-efficacy to significantly impact the provision of information. Conclusions Study findings identify both environmental factors and cognition that could contribute to pharmacists’ communication behavior with SSPs. Thus, future interventions to improve pharmacists’ communication with SSPs may include training pharmacists to integrate interpretative services and Spanish-speaking staff into service delivery and strengthening pharmacists’ self-efficacy beliefs.
The evolution of robotics in surgery and implementing a perioperative robotics nurse specialist role

ABSTRACT • USE OF ROBOTICS is expanding rapidly in the medical arena. Not only are a growing number of facilities purchasing robotic systems, but the number of surgeons using them also is increasing, which creates many challenges (eg, cost, training, safety). • THE EVOLUTION of robotics in surgery is presented within the context of virtual reality, telepresence, telemanipulation, and passive (ie, master-slave) robotic surgical systems. • A NEW PERIOPERATIVE NURSING ROLE, the robotics nurse specialist, was developed and implemented at one facility. The need for a robotics nurse specialist and how this role can help the entire surgical team promote positive patient and facility outcomes also is discussed. AORN J 83 (March 2006) 630–650.
Glucosiduronidation and esterification of androsterone by human breast tumors invitro

The metabolism of 3H-androsterone was studied in homogenates (fortified with uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid and adenosine 3'-phosphate 5'-phosphosulfate) of eighteen breast tumors, one muscle underlying the primary breast carcinoma and metastatic axillary lymph nodes from a patient with suspected primary breast cancer. The major metabolites identified were less polar than androsterone. On saponification these lipoidal derivatives afforded androsterone as the only product (3 to 48%). Unmetabolized androsterone and lesser quantities of epiandrosterone, 5 alpha-androstane- alpha, 17 beta-diol and 5 alpha-androstane-3,17-dione comprised the free steroid fraction. Androsterone glucosiduronate was isolated (0.17-4.1%) from weight breast tumor homogenates and from the node tissue incubation (17%). There was no apparent correlation between glucuronyltransferase activity and histopathology or estrogen receptor content.
Characterization of acute liver failure and development of a continuous risk of death staging system in children

Background/Aims Acute liver failure (ALF) in children has been associated with an overall mortality of approximately 70% in the pretransplant era and 50–80% survival in those undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. There is currently no system for staging severity of ALF in children. The aim of this study was to characterize pediatric ALF in a tertiary hospital and to derive a scoring system to stratify severity of ALF based on predicted mortality. Methods Prospective data collection of 81 children from December 1993–2003 who presented with ALF. Data recorded included peak laboratory values, clinical characteristics, and survival. Results Transplant-free survival was 56% with overall survival including those undergoing OLT of 72%. Transplantation rate was 22% with transplant survival of 72%. Of the peak laboratory values analyzed, total bilirubin, prothrombin time/INR, and ammonia were the most predictive of death or a need for liver transplant. A simple risk staging system was developed based on the ability of these three laboratory measurements to predict mortality. Conclusions The survival in pediatric ALF has improved in recent years. Risk staging for ALF could potentially be used in clinical research for risk-adjusted outcomes analysis and to help stratify patients for clinical studies according to mortality risk.
Vasoactive Peptides Modulate Vascular Endothelial Cell Growth Factor Production and Endothelial Cell Proliferation and Invasion

The proliferation of vascular endothelial cells (EC) is an important event in angiogenesis. The synthesis of the EC growth factor, vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF), is stimulated by a variety of activators; but the effects of important vasoactive peptides are not well understood, and there are no known natural inhibitors of VEGF production. We found that the vasoactive peptides endothelin (ET)-1 and ET-3 stimulated the synthesis of VEGF protein 3–4-fold in cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells, comparable in magnitude to hypoxia. ET-1 and ET-3 acted through the ETA and ETB receptors, respectively, and signaling through protein kinase C was important. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), C-type natriuretic peptide, and C-ANP-(4–23), a ligand for the natriuretic peptide clearance receptor, equipotently inhibited production of VEGF by as much as 88% and inhibited ET- or hypoxia-stimulated VEGF transcription. EC proliferation and invasion of matrix were stimulated by VEGF secreted into the medium by ET-incubated vascular smooth muscle cells. This was inhibited by ANP. Our results identify the natriuretic peptides as the first peptide inhibitors of VEGF synthesis and indicate a novel mechanism by which vasoactive peptides could modulate angiogenesis.
Administration of prostaglandin F2α after farrowing alters the association between lactation length and subsequent litter size in mid- or old-parity sows

A 4000 sow farm in the US using early weaning and a computerized record system was recruited. Farrowed sows were assigned into two experimental treatments: prostaglandin F2alpha injection or control. Sows were assigned by a farm worker to obtain even parity distributions between two groups in each farrowing group. A single i.m. injection of 2 ml of prostaglandin F2alpha between 24 and 48 h after farrowing was administered in the muscle immediately lateral to the vulva. Control sows received no treatment. Of 3562 farrowed sows, 1592 were administered with prostaglandin F2alpha. Parity distributions were not different between control and treatment groups. Parity was categorized into two groups: parity 1-2 or > or = 3. Mean lactation length was 18 days and there was no difference between the control and treatment groups. No main effects of prostaglandin F2alpha administration were found in either parity group on adjusted 21-day litter weight, weaning-to-first-mating interval or weaning-to-conception interval. In parity > or = 3 sows, a two-way interaction between the association of lactation length and treatment with pigs born alive at subsequent farrowing was found (P = 0.044), while no such interaction was found in parity 1-2 sows (P = 0.14). The prediction line for subsequent pigs born alive indicates that prostaglandin F2alpha administration alters the relationship between lactation length and subsequent litter size on mid- or old-parity sows.
One-on-One Mindfulness Meditation Trainings in a Research Setting

We created a standardized one-on-one mindfulness meditation intervention with six weekly 90-minute training sessions and home practice. The trainings included didactic instruction, discussion and guided meditations, and home-practice guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. Twenty-eight participants completed mindful awareness, nonjudgment, perceived stress, positive and negative affect, and credibility/expectancy scales before and after the intervention. There were no adverse events or unanticipated side effects. Participants' mindful awareness and nonjudgment scores and perceived credibility of the intervention increased after the intervention, while negative affect and perceived stress decreased. There was no change in positive affect. Future research is needed comparing group versus one-on-one formats incorporating participant preference in the randomization, personality, and other predictors as measures.
The quantitative enzymic determination of animal liver glycogen.

Abstract A previously reported enzymic technique has been applied to the quantitative determination of glycogen in animal liver and the results have been evaluated. The results of analysis of glycogen isolated by ethanol precipitation from KOH digests have been compared with those obtained by direct enzymic assay. The lower values obtained for KOH glycogen were largely accounted for by the detection of oligoglucosides which do not precipitate as glycogen under the conditions employed for isolation of KOH glycogen. Consideration of the mechanism of the action of concentrated alkali on glycogen lead to the proposal that extensive degradation of oligoglucosides occurs in the presence of hot concentrated KOH. In conjunction with the development of a direct assay for liver glycogen, a reliable method for determining tissue glucose was established. Reproducibility of the analytical methods deseribed in this report was evaluated by statistical analysis of data obtained from replicate assays, and by the recovery of known quantities of carbohydrate added to test samples.
Interleukin (IL)-4 antagonism increases IL-10 production by naïve T lymphocytes: Association with apoptosis

Abstract Rationale Our previous studies demonstrated that exposure of CD4+ enriched T lymphocytes to an IL-4 antagonist significantly upregulates IL-10 secretion. IL-10 is produced by Th1- and Th2-like T effector lymphocytes but the primary T cell source is T regulatory cells. In addition, IL-10 is secreted as part of a homeostatic anti-inflammatory mechanism during cellular apoptosis. These studies were performed to identify the T cell source of IL-10. Methods Enriched (>95% pure) resting, naive CD4+ T lymphocytes were obtained by negative selection using magnetic beads (Miltenyl). Cells were left in a resting state or exposed to IL-4 antagonism using either soluble IL-4 receptors (sIL-4R) or anti-IL-4 receptor antibody. After 4 days, cells were evaluated for IL-10 production, phenotypic markers for T regulatory cells (CD25+, CD45rblo), and apoptosis (propridium iodide and annexin V expression). Results IL-4 antagonism upregulated IL-10 secretion (0.5 ± 0.4 pg/ml to 7.2 ± 3.0 pg/ml; p Conclusions NaiVe T cells undergo apoptosis if not differentiated into effector T cells by foreign antigen or protected by low affinity engagement of their T cell receptor by MHC/self antigen. Apoptosis is delayed by the autocrine effects of constitutively produced IL-4. Agents which block IL-4 in the immune synapse (anti-IL4R) as opposed to secreted distally-acting forms of IL-4 (sIL-4R) accelerate the development of apoptosis and thereby promote IL-10 secretion.
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy with a Dispersive Waveguide Device

Miniature, low-cost sensors are in demand for a variety of applications in industry, medicine, and environmental sciences. As a first step in developing such a sensor, we have etched a grating into a GaAs rib waveguide to serve as a wavelength-dispersive element. The device was fabricated with the techniques of metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, electron-beam lithography, optical lithography, and reactive ion-beam etching. While full integration is the eventual goal of this work, for the present, a functional spectrometer was constructed with the addition of a discrete source, sample cell, lenses, and detector. The waveguide spectrometer has a spectral resolution of 7.5 nm and a spectral dispersion of 0.11 / nm. As presently configured, it functions in the spectral range of 1500 to 1600 nm. A demonstration of the analytical capability of the waveguide spectrometer is presented. The problem posed is the determination of diethanol amine in an ethanol solution (about 10 to 100 g/L). This procedure involves the detection of the first overtone of the NH stretch at 1545 nm in a moderately absorbing solvent background. The standard error of prediction for the determination was 5.4 g/L.