cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Breast cancer treatment and ovarian failure: risk factors and emerging genetic determinants

Most premenopausal women diagnosed with primary breast cancer receive adjuvant chemotherapy, and many experience chemotherapy-induced ovarian failure (CIOF). CIOF is associated with menopausal symptoms, fertility concerns and long-term implications including bone loss. Ironically, CIOF might confer a disease-specific benefit to women whose breast cancers express hormone receptors. Risk factors of CIOF include the woman's age at the time of therapy, and the type, dose and schedule of chemotherapy. Because inherited genetic factors have an important role in determining who will experience CIOF, genetic testing has the potential to provide optimal counselling about risks and possible interventions.
Structures of sym-(R)dibenzo-16-crown-5-oxyacetic acids and their alkali metal cation binding

Abstract To provide insight into the influence of geminal group (R) variation in sym-(R)dibenzo-16-crown-6-oxyacetic acids upon their selectivity in alkali metal cation separations by solvent extraction and liquid membrane transport, studies have been conducted for R=hydrogen and decyl in homogeneous solutions by 1H NMR spectroscopy and titration calorimetry and in the solid state.
Energy-level alignment at interfaces between metals and the organic semiconductor 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazolyl-biphenyl

We have used ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy to study the formation of interfaces between the organic semiconductor, 4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazolyl-biphenyl (CBP), and the metals Au, Ag, and Mg. Each interface was studied by depositing the organic on the metal, and by depositing the metal on the organic. The two methods produced inequivalent interfaces, except in the case of Au/CBP. The position of the highest occupied molecular orbital relative to the Fermi level and the magnitude of the interface dipole were measured for each interface. The barrier to electron injection from each metal was estimated using the magnitude of the measured optical gap. An interface dipole, of magnitude nearly independent of the metal work function, was formed when CBP was deposited on a metal surface. The position of the Fermi level within the CBP gap was found to vary strongly with the metal work function.
THE EFFECT OF DIET ON THE NITROGENOUS END PRODUCTS EXCRETED BY LARVAL TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM: WITH NOTES ON CORRECTION OF A.D. AND E.C.D. FOR FECAL URINE

Tribolium confusum duVal larvae were reared from hatching to the larval-pupal ecdysis on cracked wheat, finely ground wheat, finely ground wheat plus 5 % brewer's yeast, or wheat germ. Feces were collected quantitatively and analyzed for nitrogenous end products by thin layer chromatography, the enzymatic-spectrophotometric method, and colorimetric methods. Larvae fed cracked wheat or wheat germ excreted a larger total of nitrogenous metabolites than did the others. The relative quantities of hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, and allantoin which made up the total varied with diet. Calculated on the basis of the total, the percent allantoin remained relatively constant, but the proportions of the other end products varied considerably. Feces derived from cracked wheat or finely ground wheat contained about 25 % uric acid, while feces derived from wheat germ or ground wheat with brewer's yeast contained about 61 % and 45 % uric acid respectively and correspondingly reduced quantities of hypoxanthine and xanthine. Urea and ammonia were also present. Correction for the estimated urine content of the feces results in an increase in the calculated approximate digestibility and a decrease in the calculated efficiency of conversion of digested food. The changes are small, but significant. The size of the change varies with the diet. Zusammenfassung DIE WIRKUNG DER ERNAHRUNG AUF DIE IM KOT AUSGESCHIEDENEN STICKSTOFF-ENDPRODUKTE VON TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM-LARVEN Tribolium confusum-Larven wurden vom Schlupfen bis zur Larven-Puppen-Hautung an geschrotetem Weizen, fein gemahlenem Weizen, fein gemahlenem Weizen + 5 % Bierhefe oder Weizenkeimlingen aufgezogen. Der Kot wurde quantitativ gesammelt und mittels Dunnschichtchromatographie, der enzymatisch-spektrophotometrischen Methode und colorimetrischen Methoden auf Stickstoff-Endprodukte analysiert. Mit geschrotetem Weizen oder Weizenkeimlingen gefutterte Larven hatten einen groseren Gesamtgehalt an Stickstoff-Metaboliten als die anderen. Die relativen Mengen von Hypoxanthin, Xanthin, Harnsaure und Allantoin, welche diesen Gesamtgehalt ergaben, wechselten mit der Diat. Auf den Gesamtgehalt bezogen blieb Allantoin prozentual relativ konstant, aber die Anteile der ubrigen Endprodukte variierten betrachtlich. Kot nach Ernahrung mit geschrotetem oder fein gemahlenem Weizen enthielt etwa 30 % Harnsaure, wahrend Kot von mit Weizenkeimlingen oder mit gemahlenem Weizen + Bierhefe ernahrten Tieren etwa 68 bzw. 50 % Harnsaure und entsprechend geringere Mengen Hypoxanthin und Xanthin enthielt. Harnstoff und Ammoniak waren ebenfalls vorhanden, jedoch vermutlich durch die Mikroorganismen des Kots gebildet worden.
A finitely converging cutting plane technique

We consider a new finitely convergent cutting plane algorithm for mixed integer linear programs in which the optimal objective value is assumed to be integral. The primary 'theoretical' contribution is the simplicity of the proof of convergence.
Emissions of trace gases and particles from two ships in the southern Atlantic Ocean

Measurements were made of the emissions of particles and gases from two diesel-powered ships in the southern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Namibia. The measurements are used to derive emission factors from ships of three species not reported previously, namely, black carbon, accumulation-mode particles, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), as well as for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), non-methane hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and condensation nuclei. The effects of fuel grade and engine power on ship emissions are discussed. The emission factors are combined with fuel usage data to obtain estimates of global annual emissions of various particles and gases from ocean-going ships. Global emissions of black carbon, accumulation- mode particles, and CCN from ocean-going ships are estimated to be 19-26 Gg yr(sup -1), (4.4-6.1) x 10(exp 26) particles yr(sup -1), and (1.0-1.5) x l0(exp 26) particles yr(sup -1), respectively. Black carbon emissions from ocean-going ships are approximately 0.2% of total anthropogenic emissions. Emissions of NOx and SO2 from ocean-going ships are approximately 10-14% and approximately 3-4%, respectively, of the total emissions of these species from the burning of fossil fuels, and approximately 40% and approximately 70%, respectively, of the total emissions of these species from the burning of biomass. Global annual emissions of CO and CH4 from ocean-going ships are approximately 2% and approximately 2-5%, respectively, of natural oceanic emissions of these species.
Molecular control of iron metabolism

As described in this volume, our knowledge of mammalian iron metabolism has advanced dramatically over the past decade. While basic physiological concepts were described through elegant experiments in the 1950s and 1960s, many molecular details remained unknown. Modern techniques in genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology have allowed for the identification and characterization of most, but probably not all, of the key molecules that move iron into, out of, and between cells. Insight into the complex regulation of these iron transport proteins has been accelerated through the identification of hemochromatosis disease genes. Although much of the information has been gleaned from experiments in animal models, it is likely that it can be directly extrapolated to humans.
The promise and reality of nitric oxide in the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease

Endogenously produced nitric oxide plays a major role in lung physiology and pathology. Inhaled nitric oxide given exogenously has been studied extensively as a treatment for many lung diseases, and the results suggest that it may help improve oxygenation in some patients. Several issues need to be addressed, however, before it can be used in routine clinical practice.
Measurement of the Effect of Topical Antipruritic Agents on Experimentally Induced Pruritus1

Pruritus presents many unsolved problems to the physiologist, the pharmacologist, and the practitioner. The work of Rothman (1), Konig-stein (2), Bishop (3), Bickford (4), Cormia (5-7), Arthur and Shelley (8), and others has cleared away certain confusions and misconceptions. In the study reported here, an attempt has been made to develop a simple method for recording the duration and intensity of experimentally induced pruritus, and with this method to study the effect of topical antipruritic agents on experimentally induced pruritus.
The impact of COPD on management and outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction: a 10-year retrospective observational study.

Background There are limited data describing contemporary trends in the management and outcomes of patients with COPD who develop acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods The study population consisted of patients hospitalized with AMI at all greater Worcester, Massachusetts, medical centers between 1997 and 2007. Results Of the 6,290 patients hospitalized with AMI, 17% had a history of COPD. Patients with COPD were less likely to be treated with β-blockers or lipid-lowering therapy or to have undergone interventional procedures during their index hospitalization than patients without COPD. Patients with COPD were at higher risk for dying during hospitalization (13.5% vs 10.1%) and at 30 days after discharge (18.7% vs 13.2%), and their outcomes did not improve during the decade-long period under study. After multivariable adjustment, the adverse effects of COPD remained on both in-hospital (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.99-1.50) and 30-day all-cause mortality (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.10-1.58). The use of evidence-based therapies for all patients with AMI increased between 1997 and 2007, with a particularly marked increase for patients with COPD. Conclusions Our results suggest that the gap in medical care between patients with and without COPD hospitalized with AMI narrowed substantially between 1997 and 2007. Patients with COPD, however, remain less aggressively treated and are at increased risk for hospital adverse outcomes than patients without COPD in the setting of AMI. Careful consideration is necessary to ensure that these high-risk complex patients are not denied the benefits of effective cardiac therapies.
Addressing Mental Health Epidemic Among University Students via Web-based, Self-Screening, and Referral System: A Preliminary Study

The prevalence and severity of mental health problems in college and university communities are alarming. However, the majority of students with mental disorders do not seek help from professionals. To help students assess their mental conditions and encourage them to take an active role in seeking care, we developed a web-based self-screening, referral, and secure communication system and evaluated it at the University of Washington for 17 months. The system handled more than 1000 screenings during the study period. Of the subjects who used the system, 75% noted that the system helped them to make a decision to receive help from professionals. The system was able to provide outreach to students with mental health concerns effectively, allow them to self-screen their conditions, and encourage them to receive professional assistance. The system provided students with 24/7 web-based access to the clinic, and more than 50% of the system use was made during off-hours. The system was well received by patients, referral managers, and care providers, and it was transferred to the clinic for daily clinical use. We believe that a web-based system like ours could be used as one way to tackle the growing epidemic of mental health problems among college and university students.
A chaotic optical cavity combined with a quantum cascade laser for chemical vapor sensing

A novel multi-pass optical cavity with partially-chaotic ray dynamics has been combined with a Quantum Cascade laser for sensing of ethanol. The 4-cm diameter cavity shows an optical path length in the mid-infrared of ?4.5-m.
Tropomyosin dynamics in cardiac thin filaments: a multisite forster resonance energy transfer and anisotropy study.

Cryoelectron microscopy studies have identified distinct locations of tropomyosin (Tm) within the Ca(2+)-free, Ca(2+)-saturated, and myosin-S1-saturated states of the thin filament. On the other hand, steady-state Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies using functional, reconstituted thin filaments under physiological conditions of temperature and solvent have failed to detect any movement of Tm upon Ca(2+) binding. In this investigation, an optimized system for FRET and anisotropy analyses of cardiac tropomyosin (cTm) dynamics was developed that employed a single tethered donor probe within a Tm dimer. Multisite FRET and fluorescence anisotropy analyses showed that S1 binding to Ca(2+) thin filaments triggered a uniform displacement of cTm toward F-actin but that Ca(2+) binding alone did not change FRET efficiency, most likely due to thermally driven fluctuations of cTm on the thin filament that decreased the effective separation of the donor probe between the blocked and closed states. Although Ca(2+) binding to the thin filament did not significantly change FRET efficiency, such a change was demonstrated when the thin filament was partially saturated with S1. FRET was also used to show that stoichiometric binding of S1 to Ca(2+)-activated thin filaments decreased the amplitude of Tm fluctuations and revealed a strong correlation between the cooperative binding of S1 to the closed state and the movement of cTm.
Impulsivity in animal models for drug abuse disorders

Different conceptual frameworks have been generated to explain substance abuse; of relevance to this article, dysfunction of impulse control systems that are required for avoiding or stopping drug-seeking and -taking may play a key role in addiction. This review summarizes work in animal models that explains the pervasive association between impulse control and substance abuse. It further underscores the concept that impulse control may be a crucial target for pharmacological intervention in the treatment of addictions and suggests that further developments in animal models for impulsivity may be useful in expanding our understanding and treatment of drug abuse.
Fractals in language

Abstract The present paper is an attempt at the derivation of the Menzerath‐Altmann law from the postulates of the Mandelbrot theory of fractals. For this purpose the treatment of language system is characterized briefly, the basic notions of the theory of fractals are described in an informal way, the sense and canonic derivation of the Menzerath‐Altmann law is reproduced and, finally, the way of moving from the formula of the dimension of self‐similar fractals to this law is exhibited.
Urea Production Is Increased in Neonatal Piglets Infused with Alanine at 25, 50, and 75% of Resting Energy Needs

To study the ability of neonatal piglets to metabolize a nitrogen load and excrete it as urea, 12 newborn piglets, 6 small (0.99 +/- 0. 16 kg; expt. 1) and 6 large (1.86 +/- 0.16 kg; expt. 2), were infused intravenously with alanine (n = 8; 4 large, 4 small; treatment) or glucose (n = 4; 2 large, 2 small; control) at equal ATP equivalents, supplying 25-75% of the resting energy requirements of the piglet over 18 h. To adjust for differences in the baseline urinary urea nitrogen excretion, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and estimated urea production between groups, the absolute changes from baseline to maximum value for piglets infused with alanine, and from baseline to the 24-h value for piglets infused with glucose were evaluated statistically. There were no differences (0.1 < P < 0.3) in the absolute changes from baseline to maximum values of urinary urea nitrogen, BUN or estimated urea production between small [18.6 +/- 3.8 mg N/(h. kg(0.75)); 19.1 +/- 2.2 mmol N/L; 2.7 +/- 1.2 mmol N/(h. kg(0.75)), respectively] and large [23.6 +/- 7.6 mg N/(h. kg(0. 75)); 21.6 +/- 3.3 mmol N/L; 3.7 +/- 1.5 mmol N/(h. kg(0.75)), respectively] piglets infused with alanine. Differences in the changes from baseline were detected between alanine and glucose (P = 0.001) infusions. Small piglets required more time (P < 0.005) for BUN to maximize after initiation of the alanine infusion, suggesting that small piglets require more time to process a nitrogen load. Infusion of alanine resulted in at least a threefold increase from baseline in the rate of calculated urea production, suggesting that neonatal piglets, small or large, have reserve capacity to metabolize nitrogen and excrete it as urea.
Chiari I malformations: clinical and radiologic reappraisal.

Clinical findings and magnetic resonance (MR) images in 68 patients with Chiari I malformations were retrospectively analyzed to identify those radiologic features that correlated best with clinical symptoms. A statistically significant (P = .03) female predominance of the malformation was observed, with a female: male ratio of approximately 3:2. Associated skeletal anomalies were seen in 24% of patients. Syringomyelia was detected in 40% of patients, most commonly between the C-4 and C-6 levels. Of the 25 patients who presented with spinal symptoms, 23 (92%) proved to have a syrinx at MR imaging. When the syrinx extended into the medulla (n = 3), however, brain stem symptoms predominated. Patients with objective brain stem or cerebellar signs had the largest mean tonsillar herniations. Patients with tonsillar herniations greater than 12 mm were invariably symptomatic, but approximately 30% of patients with tonsils herniating 5-10 mm below the foramen magnum were asymptomatic at MR imaging. "Incidental" Chiari I malformations are thus much more common than previously recognized, and careful clinical assessment remains the cornerstone for proper diagnosis and management.
Heat and Violence

The heat hypothesis states that hot temperatures can increase aggressive motives and behaviors. Although alternative explanations occasionally account for some portion of the observed increases in aggression when temperatures are high, none are sufficient to account for most such heat effects. Hot temperatures increase aggression by directly increasing feelings of hostility and indirectly increasing aggressive thoughts. Results show that global warming trends may well increase violent-crime rates. Better climate controls in many institutional settings (e.g., prisons, schools, the workplace) may reduce aggression-related problems in those settings.
Universality in the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsäcker model of atoms and molecules

We study the Thomas-Fermi-von Weizsficker theory of atoms and molecules. The main result is to prove universality of the structure of very large atoms and molecules, i.e., proving that the structure converges as the nuclear charges go to infinity. Furthermore we uniquely characterize the limit density as the solution to a renormalized TFW-equation. This is achieved by characterizing the strong singularities of solutions to the non-linear TFW- system.
Transcriptional up-regulation of the delayed early gene HRS/SRp40 during liver regeneration. Interactions among YY1, GA-binding proteins, and mitogenic signals.

Arg-Ser-rich domain-containing proteins (SR proteins), a family of splicing factors, can regulate pre-mRNA alternative splicing in a concentration dependent manner. Thus, the relative expression of various SR proteins may play an important role in alternative splicing regulation. HRS/SRp40, an SR protein and delayed early gene in liver regeneration, can mediate alternative splicing of fibronectin mRNA. Here we determined that transcription of the HRS/SRp40 gene is induced about 5-fold during liver regeneration, similar to the level of steady-state mRNA. We found that both mouse and human HRS promoters lack TATA and CAAT boxes. The mouse promoter region from −130 to −18, which contains highly conserved GA-binding protein (GABP) and YY1 binding sites, conferred high transcriptional activity. While GABPα/GABPβ heterodimer transactivated the HRS promoter, YY1 functioned as a repressor. During liver regeneration, the relative amount of GABPα/GABPβ heterodimer increased 3-fold, and YY1 changed little, which could partially account for the increase in HRS gene transcription. Interleukin-6, a critical mitogenic component of liver regeneration, was able to relieve the repressive activity of the YY1 site within the HRS promoter. The combined effect of small changes in the level of existing transcription factors and mitogenic signals may explain the transcriptional activation of theHRS gene during cell growth.
Whose stories are they? Fans’ engagement with soap opera narratives in three sites of fan activity

Soap opera narratives are subject to multiple and conflicting claims of “ownership” about who is entitled to make evaluative judgments about quality. Our research examines how dedicated fans’ claims are mediated within three sites: fan clubs, daytime magazines, and electronic bulletin boards. These sites differ in the frequency and visibility of fan interaction and in the degree to which fan discourse can be managed by producers, which in turn shapes social interaction among fans and the legitimacy with which they can assert claims to the narrative.
Peer Effects on a Fertility Decision: An Application for Medellín, Colombia

This paper addresses the estimation of peer group eects on a fertility decision. The peer group is composed of neighbors with similar socio-demographic characteristics. In order to deal with the endogeneity problem associated to the estimation of neighborhood eects, an instrumental variables procedure is performed. To control for the re‡ection problem, usual in linear eects models, this paper uses an identi…cation strategy that relies on the de…nition of peer groups at the individual level. This paper provides evidence that peer eects explain the age at which poor women in Medellin (Colombia) decide to have their …rstborn. These social forces are hazardous factors that may increase the incidence of adolescent pregnancy.
An invariant, closed-form solution for matching sets of 3D lines

Existing algorithms for finding the best match between two sets of 3D lines are not completely satisfactory in the sense that they either yield approximate solutions, or are iterative which means they may not converge to the globally optimal solution. An even more serious shortcoming of the existing algorithms is that they are all non-invariant with respect to the translation of the coordinate system. Thus, any best match found becomes rather meaningless. In this paper, we discuss the source of this non-invariance and present a new algorithm that is invariant to coordinate transforms. Moreover, the algorithm is closed-form, which implies that it always yields the best global match.
The Purkinje cell degeneration 5J mutation is a single amino acid insertion that destabilizes Nna1 protein.

In the mouse, Purkinje cell degeneration (pcd) is a recessive mutation characterized by degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells, retinal photoreceptors, olfactory bulb mitral neurons, and certain thalamic neurons, and is accompanied by defective spermatogenesis. Previous studies of pcd have led to the identification of Nna1 as the causal gene; however, how loss of Nna1 function results in neurodegeneration remains unresolved. One useful approach for establishing which functional domains of a protein underlie a recessive phenotype has been to determine the genetic basis of the various alleles at the locus of interest. Because none of the pcd alleles analyzed at the time of the identification of Nna1 provided insight into the molecular basis of Nna1 loss-of-function, we obtained a recent pcd remutation—pcd5J, and after determining that its phenotype is comparable to existing pcd severe alleles, we sought its genetic basis by sequencing Nna1. In this article we report that pcd5J results from the insertion of a single GAC triplet encoding an aspartic acid residue at position 775 of Nna1. Although this insertion does not affect Nna1 expression at the RNA level, Nna1pcd-5J protein expression is markedly decreased. Pulse-chase experiments reveal that the aspartic acid insertion dramatically destabilizes Nna1pcd-5J protein, accounting for the observation that pcd5J is a severe allele. The presence of a readily detectable genetic mutation in pcd5J confirms that Nna1 loss-of-function alone underlies the broad pcd phenotype and will facilitate further studies of how Nna1 loss-of-function produces neurodegeneration and defective spermatogenesis in pcd mice.
When Opportunity Knocks: Economic Liberalisation and Stealth Welfare in the United States

During an era of welfare retrenchment in the United States, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Lifeline Universal Telephone Service evolved from residual means-tested programs to significant social policies. The cases demonstrate the opportunity points for social policy innovation that exist in the political climate of economic liberalisation. The essay describes patterns that do not simply prevent retrenchment but hint at politically advantageous policy designs that permit social policy expansion in the US welfare state context. I label this policy-making strategy stealth welfare. Moreover, by considering programs like Lifeline service the article draws attention to the evolving nature of social policy in advanced industrial economies.
The effect of track width and topography on composition uniformity of electroplated Permalloy in thin film heads

The composition difference of the plated Permalloy in thin-film heads from pole tip to yoke was studied as a function of the track width and topography. The variation of the track width ranged from 5 to 26 mu m and that of the topographical height ranged from 0 to 20 mu m. Results show that there was no composition difference for flat structures. However, as the topographical height increased from 0 to 20 mu m, the composition difference between the yoke and pole tip changed from 0 to 0.5%. In all cases, it was found that higher topographical areas are Fe-rich. This difference was explained by the diffusion mechanism as opposed to a current crowding model. It was concluded that electroplating can be used to deposit Permalloy in track widths as narrow as 5 mu m without substantial degradation in composition uniformity. >
Glowing Connection Experiments with Alternating Currents below 1 Arms

It was experimentally proven that a glowing connection can develop in an electrical switch at a terminal connection comprising of a connector that utilizes a spring action against a conductor to provide electrical contact in household electrical appliances where vibration exists. This can happen at a current flow such as 0.6 Arms at 120 V. Further, the glow can provide sufficient heat to degrade plastic in contact with the terminal components. Violent arcing involving intense gasification can then develop on nearby plastic areas, sometimes accompanied by intensely glowing areas inside the plastic. Sometimes the intense glowing areas inside plastic develop without the violent arcing. The intense arcing or the glow inside plastic often develops into flaming, which can be of sufficient intensity and duration to ignite combustible materials near the connection.
The NVESD microfactory: a new approach to infrared focal plane array manufacturing [HgCdTe]

A novel approach to Infrared Focal Plane Array fabrication is being investigated at the US Army night vision and electronics sensors directorate. The goal is a demonstration of the feasibility of carrying out all epitaxial growth and device processing steps without removing a wafer from the protective environment of a multi-chamber vacuum system.
English Education Policy in India

Expansion of access to education in India, and the resultant increase of students in schools, are greatly impacting English language teaching in India. Traditionally, the focus of teaching and testing has been on reading and writing. The emphasis on speaking and listening skills are driven by societal demand and an evaluation program. Students’ desire to learn English as a second or first language rather than a foreign language is shown by the dramatic growth of English medium schools. Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation program, an assessment model that is sweeping the country, includes features that entail teaching speaking and listening skills. However, the demand for a re-focusing of skills is not supported by changes in curriculum, pedagogy or teacher education. In a society where English proficiency guarantees economic and social upward mobility, much greater investment in research that informs policy and practice is necessary but does not seem to be forthcoming.
Impact of wheelchair seat height on neck and shoulder range of motion during functional task performance

Wheelchair users are at high risk for developing repetitive stress injuries (RSI) of the cervical spine and glenohumeral joints due to increased demands on active range of motion (AROM) when performing functional tasks from a seated position. The addition of a seat elevation device may alleviate the risk factors that lead to the development of RSI. However, there are no studies which establish that wheelchair seat height impacts upon arthrokinematic requirements at vulnerable joints. Additionally, Medicare and most insurance carriers do not cover the cost of power seat elevators because this feature has not been shown to be a "medical necessity." This study examined differences in AROM at the cervical spine and glenohumeral joint during performance of two functional tasks while seated in a wheelchair with the seat elevation feature at minimum and maximum height. Results revealed statistically significant differences in AROM requirements for cervical extension and shoulder abduction between the two wheelchair seat heights. These findings provide preliminary support for the value of the power seat elevation function in minimizing the risk of RSI at the shoulder complex and cervical spine in wheelchair users.
Pink Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae): Communication Disruption by Pheromone Composition Imbalance

Seven compounds, including the four geometrical isomers of 7, 11-hexadecadienyl acetate, hexalure, gossyplure, and Z-7-hexadecenyl alcohol, were tested in a wind tunnel for communication disruptant activity against Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders). Gossyplure and its two individual component isomers, Z,Z - and Z, E-7 , 11-hexadeeadienyl acetate, significantly reduced male catches in a gossyplure baited trap suspended upwind behind an array of septa treated with 1.0 mg of the materials. In subsequent tests, all three materials were about equally effective in reducing trap catch by 96 to 98% in field plots (15.5 by 15.5 m) treated with rubber septa containing 1 mg per septum of the materials (289 septa per plot, rate of 12,486 septa containing 12.5 g of materials per ha). Mating of clipped-wing virgin laboratory females in mini-mating tables within the plots was similarly reduced by 93 to 97% by the three materials. Our observations of males in the wind tunnel and field plots indicated that, in the gossyplurepermeated atmosphere, males expended their efforts finding septa (confusion). However, males subjected to either of the individual isomers of gossyplure did not search out treated septa and appeared to be inactive. We attribute the latter result to a perceived imbalance in the ambient ratio of pheromone components due to the release of only one component. The disruption of communication by ratio imbalance of multicomponent pheromones is widely documented for other Lepidoptera and should be tested in the field for control of the pink bollworm.
Assessing Satisfaction With Orthotic Devices and Services: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACT Patient satisfaction is an abstract and multidimensional concept that is recognized to be an important component of evidence-based health care. Although there have been increased attempts to develop and use standardized, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures for the evaluation of satisfaction with rehabilitation services, analogous efforts in orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) are less common. Measuring satisfaction in O&P may be challenging because patients' satisfaction is derived from their experiences with both the services and the devices provided. Similarly, patients' experiences with orthoses may differ from prostheses, because their motivations for use may be different. The purpose of this literature review is to identify and appraise PRO instruments that have been used to assess satisfaction with orthotic devices and services. A secondary purpose is to advocate for measures that are suitable for an O&P clinical environment. A systematic search of medical databases was conducted using a combination of the terms “satisfaction” and “orthotic” (and related synonyms, such as “orthosis” and “orthoses”). Publications were selected for review if they identified instruments that were administered with a clear and standardized protocol by an orthotist or a pedorthist to patients or participants with a diagnosis indicating orthotic intervention. The reviewed measures were classified as either formal (i.e., had an established history of psychometric development) or ad hoc (i.e., had not undergone formal psychometric testing of any kind). For each reviewed measure, the subdomains (i.e., determining factors of satisfaction) were identified through a review of the measure's items and the body of the associated publication(s). Fourteen publications met the selection criteria and were chosen for review. Publications dates ranged from 1989 to 2009, and studies included a variety of orthotic devices (e.g., ankle-foot orthoses, knee-ankle-foot orthoses, cranial helmets, spinal, etc.). Seven ad hoc and four formal PRO instruments were identified in the review. Formal measures included the Orthotics and Prosthetics Users' Survey (OPUS), the modified SERVQUAL instrument, the Quebec Users' Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology 2.0, and the Scoliosis Research Society 22/24 questionnaire. Seventeen subdomains of satisfaction were identified within the reviewed outcome measures. Eight subdomains pertained to device satisfaction (e.g., cosmesis or comfort), eight subdomains contributed to satisfaction with services (e.g., competence or communication), and one (i.e., overall satisfaction) was applicable to both device and service domains. The OPUS and SERVQUAL were identified as measures that may be well suited to the assessment of orthotic services (SERQUAL and OPUS) and devices (OPUS) in a clinical environment. Future research is recommended to focus on the use of standardized measures of satisfaction and dissemination of experiences with these instruments.
Abstract 4360: Loss of NOTCH1 is associated with decreased expression of hsa-miR-125a-5p in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Implications for using NOTCH1 inhibition in chemotherapy

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for 15% of pediatric ALL cases and is associated with early relapse and inferior outcome. The poorer prognosis of T-ALL compared to B-precursor ALL may in part reflect the lack of unique features on which to base therapy. NOTCH1 mutations are of particular interest since these were reported in 37-71% of T-ALLs. The prognostic value of NOTCH1 mutations remains controversial as both favorable and unfavorable associations were reported, whereas in other studies there were no associations between NOTCH1 mutations and treatment outcome. NOTCH1 is a potentially attractive therapeutic target for T-ALL since constitutively activating effects of mutant NOTCH1 can be abolished with gamma secretase inhibitors (GSIs). Because of possible effects of GSIs on other cellular targets in addition to NOTCH1, we explored shRNA knockdown of NOTCH1 to identify novel NOTCH1-regulated genes that may serve as prognostic indicators or therapeutic targets in T-ALL. NOTCH1 expression was knocked down in Jurkat T-ALL cells using lentivirus expressing shRNAs for NOTCH1 or a non-targeted control (NTC) sequence. NOTCH1 knockdown was verified using western blots to measure activated NOTCH1 (ICN1) protein levels, and real-time RT-PCR (qPCR) to measure transcript levels of known NOTCH1 targets (e.g., HES1). Two clonal sublines (J.2-4 and J.2-7) were identified with significantly decreased expression of NOTCH1 compared to NTC. The J.2-4 and J.2-7 sublines showed minimal changes in cell growth, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. To characterize genotypic changes accompanying NOTCH1 knockdown, we performed microarray analysis with Agilent Whole Genome oligonucleotide microarrays and microRNA (miR) HumanV2 arrays. The miR array identified 20 miRs in J.2-4 and J.2-7 cells with altered expression compared to NTC greater than 1.5-fold (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4360.
Triazaspirocycles: Occurrence, Synthesis, and Applications

Natural products bearing a triazaspirocyclic motif have received significant attention in recent years. These compounds, which feature three nitrogen atoms attached to one quaternary carbon forming a spirocyclic scaffold, exhibit a wide range of biological activity and have promising applications in materials as well as in drug discovery. In this review article, we will discuss triazaspirocycles in Nature, their biological activity, and applications. Methods for the synthesis of triazaspirocycles as well as the reactivity of triazaspirocyclic scaffolds will be reviewed.
Improving pre-pregnancy health is key to reducing infant mortality.

e could have asked our grandmothers. They would have told us what has otherwise taken at least 30 years, countless studies, and millions of dollars to discover. In order to have a healthy baby, a woman must be healthy, not only during pregnancy, but perhaps more importantly, before she conceives. Efforts to Reduce Infant Mortality Since 1970 North Carolina’s high rate of infant mortality compared with other state and national rates has been a source of puzzlement and embarrassment for years. Blessed with superb medical facilities and a reputation for advanced healthcare planning, our state has perennially ranked among the worst in rates of infant death among all 50 states. In hopes of improving the state’s position, state leaders in the mid-1970s began developing a system to provide universal access to high-risk prenatal care and neonatal intensive care. It seemed logical that exposing women with pregnancy complications to the best care available would result in improved pregnancy outcomes. Fifteen years later, few states had a more remarkably successful regional perinatal system than North Carolina’s. During those 15 years, North Carolina’s infant mortality rate dropped by a dramatic 36%. 1,2 The other 49 states had similar rates of improvement. Most did so without strong regional programs like North Carolina’s. Virtually all of the nation’s improvement in infant mortality, including North Carolina’s, had come as a result of improvements in birth-weight-specific deaths among premature infants. In 1988, only Georgia had a higher rate of infant mortality than North Carolina’s. 3 In 1988, a task force appointed by the NC Secretary of Health and Human Resources reported that the state’s excessive rate of infant mortality resulted from an excessive number of premature births. It made a number of recommendations to address the problem, including recommendations to improve prenatal services, but recognized that prematurity and infant mortality reduction required “social and economic interventions” as well as healthcare approaches. 4 In the first half of the 1990s, the NC Governor’s Commission on the Reduction of Infant Mortality was charged with the task of implementing programs to address the problem of premature birth. It disbursed funds from a variety of sources to enhance prenatal services and to focus on social and emotional issues among poor pregnant women during their pregnancy. Acknowledging the dramatic disparity between white and minority populations, the Commission targeted initiatives to minority women.
Characterization of H2 histamine receptor : linkage to both adenylate cyclase and [Ca2+]i signaling systems

We undertook these studies to examine the intracellular mechanisms of histamine action using a rat hepatoma-derived cell line that had been transfected to express the H2 histamine receptor cDNA. Transfected cells demonstrated increased adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production, membrane inositol phospholipid turnover, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in response to histamine. All of the effects could be inhibited with the H2 histamine receptor antagonist cimetidine, and the increased membrane inositol phospholipid turnover and [Ca2+]i were abolished by cholera toxin pretreatment of cells. These data support the notion that a single histamine H2 receptor can be linked to two stimulatory intracellular signaling systems.
Data Quality Control

An essential feature of the oral history project is the comparability of material once it has been collected. It should be made clear that for comparative analysis it is not essential (although it makes the work easier, if this has already been standardized) for all categories of data collection to be standardized in all countries studied; it is essential only that a full picture of all significant aspects of each movement will be covered--a task, as Professor Blanksten suggests, made easier by some forethought as to which categories should be covered in the interview. We assume that the categories not covered but very important in one or two countries will be recorded there if the interviewers perform their roles adequately. Certainly there are a number of extremely interesting problems that comparison would solve. What are the different speeds with which success or failure of these movements occurs? Why did some simply die out, others become dominant and successful, while still others become separatist tribal groups? If we use Professor Zolberg's categories plus others that turn up in the pilot study, and take account of Professor Cohen's strictures concerning quantification, then some answers may be forthcoming.
Structured synthesis and compression of semantic human sensor models for Bayesian estimation

We consider the problem of fusing human-generated semantic ‘soft sensor’ data with conventional ‘hard sensor’ data to augment Bayesian state estimators. This requires modeling semantic soft data via generalized continuous-to-discrete softmax likelihood functions, which can theoretically model semantic descriptions of any dynamic state space. This paper addresses two important related issues for deploying these models in practical applications. First, a general solution to the data-free likelihood synthesis problem is provided. This allows for easy embedding of contextual constraints and other relevant a priori information within generalized softmax models, without resorting to expensive non-convex optimization procedures for parameter estimation with sparse data. This result is then used to derive strategies for combining multiple semantic human observation models into ‘compressed’ likelihood functions for fast batch data fusion. The proposed methods are demonstrated on a human-robot target search application.
Deconstructing Panty Pennants and Revealing Absent Presence

More multifaceted than the mere titles we maintain—as daughters, sisters, wives, and teachers, for example—sexuality is a part of our identity worth exploring and honoring. Women’s stories, gathered in a questionnaire, highlight sexual identity in Panty Pennants —an exhibition held in late 2012 at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center in Kansas City, Missouri. The author uses a process of thinking with deconstruction to explore various texts from the exhibition. In doing this, she learns to hear silence, to see women as multi-dimensional, and to disrupt culturally learned hierarchies of unearned privilege and oppressive power for purposes of gender equity and social justice.
The Privacy Principle

Can international law regulate global surveillance programs without sacrificing national security interests? In the face of unprecedented global terrorist activity, this question takes on a near existential character: intercepting a chat room exchange between accomplices in Syria and California can be the difference between timely arrest and mass slaughter. Despite the practical importance of the question, scholarly engagement with it so far has failed to provide realistic guidance for the appraisal of global surveillance activity. Part of the literature submits that global intelligence programs operate beyond the grasp of legal constraint, thus dooming us to a bleak Orwellian future. The remainder proposes human rights-based solutions expressly rejected by the US, France, Russia, and China, thus erasing the already faint line between international law and wishful thinking. This Article for the first time develops that the question can be answered by theorizing the existence of a general principle of law, the Privacy Principle. The Article establishes the Privacy Principle by means of a comparative analysis of the private laws of core states with significant signals intelligence capabilities – the United States, France, Russia, China, Israel, and Iran. This analysis reveals that (1) there is general agreement upon the existence of a right to privacy prohibiting physical or virtual surveillance of people when in private; (2) "privacy" can be theorized in terms of reasonable expectations of seclusion as defined by the twin factors of the physical or virtual space affected and the intimacy of the information at issue; and (3) the "right to privacy" invariably weighs such reasonable expectations of seclusion against the public interest, permitting intrusions when they are proportionate to all relevant interests at stake.The Article demonstrates that the Privacy Principle is part of general international law. It explains how approaching privacy from the perspective of a general principle avoids the methodological pitfalls encountered by the current literature. It finally showcases how the application of the Privacy Principle to global surveillance programs is responsive to today's national security needs: the Privacy Principle prohibits the dragnet collection of data from private persons. It nevertheless supports the design of efficient, common sense signals intelligence programs capable of detecting threats by monitoring traffic on terrorist propaganda and recruitment websites and tailoring deeper surveillance after a threat assessment of this traffic.
Youth Perspectives on Social Insurance in Egypt: Qualitative Insights on the Gap between Legal and Effective Coverage

A gap between legal and effective coverage rates is a common challenge facing social insurance systems in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries. This article draws on an exploratory qualitative study with youth in Egypt to examine how labour market dynamics and worker preferences contribute to this gap. Labour market factors, particularly instability of employment and job mobility, were found to reduce the perceived value of social insurance. Poor understanding of how social insurance works was another contributing factor. However, youth displayed a high level of trust in the public social insurance system and saw pensions as valuable in the abstract. In combination with awareness promotion, eliminating penalties to discontinuous labour force participation could make social insurance more attractive to youth.