cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
I know what you are going through: answers to informational questions about eating disorders in Yahoo! Answers: a qualitative study

The purpose of this study is to enrich our understanding of social question and answer (Q&A) sites as a health information source for teens. To do so we investigated answers to 81 informational questions about eating disorders posted in Yahoo! Answers, a social Q&A site. Through a content analysis, we found that users do not always respond to eating disorder questions with credible, factual information, even if the need for it was expressed in the question. The findings suggest that people who pose questions in Yahoo! Answers use it as a social and emotional scaffold rather than an informational source, even if their questions are couched in terms that suggest they are seeking information. Further, a large portion of the people who answer such questions understand this to be the purpose and rarely provide answers drawn from evidence-based medicine or reliable, credible sources for health information. Through the investigation of the answers to questions on a health topic that is prevalent amongst teens, this study deepens our understanding of the health information behavior of young people and the quality of the health information they find in Yahoo! Answers.
Nudging Through a Nucleosome

Single-molecule data suggest that RNA polymerase II moves a small step forward only when its DNA template briefly unwraps from the histone core.
Personality correlates of Iowa Gambling Task performance in healthy adolescents

Abstract This study examined relations among scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Junior (EPQ-J) and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), which requires balancing immediate vs. future rewards, in healthy adolescents (ages 9–17). In multiple regression analyses, neuroticism was negatively associated with IGT performance among males. Relationships between IGT performance and other EPQ-J factors were non-significant. Additionally, parent-reported externalizing as measured by the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist interacted with neuroticism and extraversion to predict IGT performance. We suggest that trait factors vary within individuals and between genders to impact decision-making.
Selective Constraint Dominates the Evolution of Genes Expressed in a Novel Reproductive Gland

One striking pattern in molecular evolution is that genes encoding proteins involved in reproduction tend to evolve rapidly. Seminal fluid proteins frequently exhibit this pattern and directly affect multiple reproductive processes including enhancing sperm performance and mediating postmating sexual selection. Here, we investigate molecular evolutionary patterns of genes expressed in the foam gland of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), a novel reproductive phenotype. Foam provides an interesting contrast to seminal fluid because it plays a similar functional role, yet is produced, stored, and transferred to females independent of semen. We combined RNA-Seq and comparative genomics to examine evolutionary rates of genes with enriched expression in the foam gland of Japanese quail and those that exhibit enriched expression in two other tissues (testis and liver) and with broadly expressed genes. Overall, we found pronounced heterogeneity in evolutionary rates. Foam gland genes evolved under strong evolutionary constraint, whereas testis genes evolved rapidly and sometimes adaptively. These striking differences were robust to variation in gene expression. Genes with enriched expression in the foam gland did not show major shifts in selective pressure after the quail and chicken lineages split; in contrast, testis-expressed genes experienced a burst of accelerated evolution specifically along the Coturnix lineage. Our work demonstrates that, as a class, genes expressed in the novel foam gland experience different selection regimes than genes expressed in many other tissues producing seminal fluid proteins. Our results also highlight the importance of selective constraint in shaping the evolution of male reproductive genes.
189: Characterization of folate polyglutamation patterns during pregnancy

HSP27 in placental implantation and its effect on eIF4E expression. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated the effect of HSP27 knockdown (siRNA) on 1) EVT cell line (HTR8) death (Annexin/7AAD, flow-cytometry (FACS)) and cell-cycle (PI, FACS). 2) EIF4E level. RESULTS: Silencing HSP27 in HTR8 cells elevated cell-death (220% elevation, P 0.05) and SUB-G1 phase of the cell cycle (44% elevation, p 0.05), which also support cell death. No other changes in cell cycle were observed. Furthermore, silencing HSP27 significantly reduced eIF4E level (50% reduction, P 0.05) and its phosphorylated form (36% reduction, P 0.05). CONCLUSION: HSP27 protects first trimester human placenta from apoptosis and regulates eIF4E level, which is essential for implantation. As PET placentae demonstrate elevated apoptosis, and blight protein translation, the high HSP27 level may represent a defense mechanism against these malfunctions.
Laser coronary angioplasty: experience with 9 cadaver hearts

Experience with laser angioplasty in 16 coronary arteries in 9 cadaver hearts is presented. Coronary obstructions were due to experimentally created thrombi as well as to naturally occurring calcified plaques. Successful laser angioplasty was achieved in 14 of 15 arteries. One artery was sacrificed to determine factors necessary for deliberate perforation of the arterial wall. This procedure required more than 30 seconds of laser energy at 3.0 W with the catheter tip almost perpendicular to the wall. Penetration of the arterial wall occurred only in the second left anterior descending artery which was plaque-occluded because of operator inexperience.
Prescribing of Controlled Substances for Non-Patients in the Educational Setting: Review of the Ethical, Legal, and Moral Dilemma for Residents

Prescription drug abuse is an enormous problem in modern society. Studies have shown that it results in more injuries and deaths to Americans than all illegal drugs combined.1 In this review, the author discusses the prescribing of controlled substances by residents as it relates to intercollegial and other non-patient workplace encounters. Physician drug abuse, medical/legal issues regarding controlled substance prescriptions, and ethical conflicts will be discussed. These issues will be specifically addressed as they relate to the academic institutions where residents can potentially be placed in a moral, ethical and legal dilemma by supervisors and co-workers. Finally, a recommendation for an institutional policy will be suggested to help residents and other physicians recognize and deal with drug seeking behavior by coworkers. Also, a recommenda­tion regarding strict institutional regulation of resident prescription practices regarding controlled substances will be presented. Keywords: ethics, prescribing, controlled substances, residents
Does Soft Power Matter? A Comparative Analysis of Student Exchange Programs 1980–2006

Democratic governance depends not only on the building of democratic institutions but also on citizens’ knowledge about how these institutions should function in their everyday lives. I argue that US-hosted educational exchange programs are one mechanism whereby citizens of nondemocratic states might experience life firsthand in a democratic country. Their experiences may impact the political institutions and influence political behavior in their home countries. In order for this process to take place, I argue that at least three contextual conditions are important: (i) the depth and extent of social interactions that occur while abroad, (ii) the sharing of a sense of community or common identity between participants and their hosts, and (iii) the attainment of a politically influential position by the exchange participant when they return home. In this article, I test these hypotheses and find support for what advocates of soft power often contend: US-hosted exchange programs can play an important role in the diffusion of liberal values and practices across the borders of authoritarian states. The current war in Iraq has illustrated the difficulties of imposing democratic institutions in states where democratic norms are underdeveloped and citizens have little previous experience of the everyday functioning of democratic practices. One consequence has been calls for the United States to engage in a ‘‘war of ideas’’ with nonliberal forces that have impeded the spread and development of democratic norms and practices. But how might the United States actually ‘‘fight’’ such a war? Soft power advocates, US policy makers, and scholars have frequently claimed that US-hosted educational exchange programs might provide one strategy for the United States to effectively engage its ideational adversaries (e.g., Nye and Owens 1996; Nye 2004; Williams 2004; Rice 2006; US White House 2006; Phillips and Brooks 2008). While such claims are made, there has been little attempt to systematically evaluate them. Exceptions are a few studies that have argued that attendance by foreign military officers at US military schools has had a positive impact on the development of democratic institutions (Cope 1995; Gibler and Ruby 2002; Atkinson 2006; Miller 2006). The research presented in this article complements and expands the scope of these studies by empirically evaluating the impact of both military and civilian exchanges. When we think about what is meant by liberal practices, two observable phenomena come to mind: first, whether a state’s institutions are democratic or authoritarian, and second, whether leaders respect the life and fundamental liberties of their citizens. Building the political institutions of democracy is certainly
Intercalation in Layered Materials

This volume is prepared from lecture notes for the course "Intercalation in Layered Materials" which was held at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture at Erice, Sicily in July, 1986, as part of the International School of Materials Science and Tech- nology. The course itself consisted of formal tutorial lectures, workshops, and informal discussions. Lecture notes were prepared for the formal lectures, and short summaries of many of the workshop presentations were prepared. This volume is based on these lecture notes and research summaries. The material is addressed to advanced graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and assumes a background in basic solid state physics. The goals of this volume on Intercalation in Layered Materials include an introduc- tion to the field for potential new participants, an in-depth and broad exposure for stu- dents and young investigators already working in the field, a basis for cross-fertilization between workers on various layered host materials and with various intercalants, and an elaboration of the complementarity of intercalated layered materials with deliberately structured superlattices.
Tdap in Every Pregnancy: Circling the Wagons Around the Newborn

The resurgence of pertussis in the United States and many other countries in the world has become a major problem, with no immediate solution in sight. In 2014, the >10 000 reported cases of pertussis in California surpassed a recent previous record set in 2010 and all other records in the postvaccine era. The national experience mimics that of California, with rising numbers of cases widespread over the last 4 years. Sadly, the rising disease rate is accompanied by an increase in deaths from pertussis, almost exclusively in young infants. Why is this happening? We have learned that the immunity induced by acellular pertussis vaccines, the only type of vaccine used in the United States since the late 1990s, is not durable and wanes rapidly over just a few years. No sooner is 1 cohort of children protected from pertussis through immunization than another, older, cohort becomes susceptible again. We merely are treading water in our efforts to control pertussis with currently available vaccines. As well outlined in the Global Pertussis Initiative review and position statement by Forsyth et al1 in this issue of Pediatrics , we must circle the wagons around young infants. Very young infants suffer the greatest morbidity and almost exclusively the mortality related to pertussis, before they can be immunized. Couple this with an inability to … Address correspondence to Mark H. Sawyer, MD, 3020 Children’s Way, MC 5124, San Diego, CA 92123. E-mail: mhsawyer{at}ucsd.edu
Dislocation Mechanics at High Strain Rates

In this paper a high strain rate is defined as high if the dislocations that produce the plastic strain must move at velocities of the order of, or larger than the shear wave velocity a2. Except possibly in the initial portions of stress strain curves dislocation velocities are much smaller than a2. Only in shock loaded specimens should very fast dislocation velocities exist. An approximate analysis is made to show how supersonic dislocations in a shock wave interface (the Smith interface) can produce a hydrostatic stress behind the interface.
Forging a North-South Perspective: Nikkei Migration in Karen Tei Yamashita's Novels

This article assesses the significance of Yamashita's attempts through an examination of three of her novels that focus on Japanese-Brazilian interaction: Through the Arc of the Rain Forest (1990), Brazil-Maru (1992), and Circle K Cycles (2001).2 Previously, Asian American literary studies have been largely informed by U.S.-centered historical research and by premises originating in Edward Said's critique of Orientalism. Recent investigations of Asian American literary production, however, self-consciously foreground a transnational perspective, emphasizing the multiple trajectories of Asian diasporas, the transcendental force of commercial market, the fluidity of cyberspace, and the growing impact of Asian capitalisms. Yet many such efforts do not go beyond normative postnational procedures and the larger map of a now reified East- West analysis. Consequently, they often end up affirming the rhetorical underpinnings of a U.S.-inspired imaginary of mobility,3 while they continue to ignore the ongoing soci...
Forfeit: Opportunity, Choice, and Discrimination Theory Under Title IX

Title IX, included as part of the Education Amendments of 1972, is justly credited with creating a revolution for women and their access to sports. Yet the work of eradicating discrimination in sports is far from over. Commentators lament that progress has slowed and even stagnated in recent years as the percentage of women engaged in intercollegiate sports has remained steady rather than increasing. Female college students participate in intercollegiate athletics at a rate significantly below that of their male counterparts. Nationally, women comprise approximately fifty-five percent of all college students, yet they represent only about forty-three percent of all intercollegiate athletes. But the myopic focus on achieving proportionality at the university level has narrowed our focus to a numbers game that impacts a relatively small percentage of college students. This Article presents a broader and more nuanced discussion of the relationship among gender, sports, and discrimination. A more thoughtful (and less dogmatic) consideration of this issue is long overdue. This continued emphasis on participation rates in universities as the primary, if not the sole, evidence of discrimination masks a host of complex and interrelated issues that are largely ignored. Women's lower level of interest in sports is far more than a stereotype; it has been repeatedly confirmed in social science research. The gender gap in sports participation is well established long before these students reach college. Rather than dismissing such findings as sexist stereotypes, we need to pay closer attention to the reasons for such choices in order not only to eradicate discrimination, but also to identify the multiple factors that produce this outcome. Equality of opportunity is only part of a much larger set of issues concerning how we structure our sports programs and what underlying values those programs are or should be promoting. . Professor of Law, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Copyright O 2010 by the Yale Journal of Law and Feminism Yale Journal of Law and Feminism INTRODUCTION 2 I.TITLE IX AS ENFORCED AND APPLIED 5 A. The Evolution of Title IX Theory 5 B. OCR and the Accommodation of Interests: Identifying the Yardstick 13 II. PROPORTIONALITY, LACK OF INTEREST, AND DISCRIMINATION 19 A. Proportionality as a Measure of Discrimination . 22 B. Dangerous Territory: The "Lack of Interest" Defense 25 C. The Problem with Identical Expectations ........ 29 D. Equal Opportunity Accommodation of Interests 33 III. OPPORTUNITY AND CHOICE 35 A. Girls and Sports: The Early Years 36 B. Women in College 38 C. What's Wrong with this Picture? . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .. . 40 IV. DISCRIMINATION THEORY OR EDUCATIONAL POLICY: DEFINING THE ROLE OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES 45 A. The Smaller Picture: Eliminating Discrimination in the Short Run 46 B. The Bigger Picture: Eliminating Discrimination in the Long Run 48 CONCLUSION 51
Role of Digoxin in Atrial Fibrillation

Since its isolation in the 1930s, digoxin has played a pivotal role in the treatment of cardiac conditions including heart failure and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. The parasympathomimetic activity makes digoxin a reasonable option for controlling ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the unique pharmacokinetic properties, electrolyte-dependent effects, and P-glycoprotein drug interactions influence the clinical use of digoxin. In addition, the delayed onset and narrow therapeutic index can make digoxin utilization cumbersome and often necessitates serum drug monitoring. Despite digoxin's extensive history, recent literature has cast doubt on the efficacy and safety of this medication in the population with AF. Large amounts of data suggest digoxin offers no benefit on mortality and may increase the risk of mortality though this was not consistent in all evaluations. While robust, the majority of the available studies are not randomized which limits the ability to draw firm conclusions. The potential risk of mortality must be weighed against the expected benefits of digoxin use to make individualized patient care decisions. Clinicians should refrain from utilizing digoxin monotherapy for rate control in AF when other options are viable.
Neutralizing Activity in Human Sera against the Leukocyte-transforming Agent

Sera from 81 healthy persons and serial specimens of serum from 10 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM) were tested for neutralizing activity against the leukocyte-transforming agent (LTA) excreted by patients with IM and for antibody against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Among the healthy persons of age groups 8-12, 8-26, and 30-50, 18%, 57%, and 77% were positive for LTA neutralizing activity, respectively. LTA neutralizing activity appeared unusually late in the course of illness. Some sera were positive for antibody to EBV but negative for LTA neutralizing activity. None was positive for LTA neutralizing activity and negative for EBV antibody. Four sera from patients with IM, known to be negative for LTA neutralizing activity, neutralized EBV. Antigenic difference between LTA (excreted by JON) and EBV (from transformed marmoset lymphoid cell culture) is suggested.
SEPS comet rendezvous performance assessment

This paper presents an assessment of delivered payload capability for a number of selected rendezvous missions to periodic comets with launch opportunities through the years 1986-1996. These missions are chosen using a selection criteria that considers both expected scientific interest and earth-based sighting considerations. Some 22 mission opportunities are found that satisfies the selection criteria. Spacecraft performance is presented for each mission opportunity based on use of a space shuttle, a twin stage inertial-upper-stage, and a conceptual solar-electric-propulsion-system with a nominal rendezvous 50 days before comet perihelion. Additional trajectory and propulsion enhancements are investigated for several comet rendezvous missions in order to improve spacecraft performance. An indirect transfer trajectory for an Encke mission is shown to offer substantial delivered payload. In addition the use of concentrator solar arrays is considered for several of the more interesting comet missions.
CMP Process Control for Advanced CMOS Device Integration

New CMP steps are required to define the structures for new integration schemes for high-k metal gate and FinFET. The performance and yield of these new devices directly depend on CMP control of film thickness variation. As a consequence, CMP requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. This paper highlights the new process control technologies which enable efficient and cost-effective solutions for the new CMP steps, including FullVision® endpoint & in situ profile control (ISPC) for dielectric and poly CMP, and real-time profile control (RTPC) for aluminum, tungsten, and copper CMP.
Relationship between milk expected progeny differences of polled Hereford sires and actual milk production of their crossbred daughters.

One hundred sixteen spring-calving Polled Hereford x Angus cows were milked using milking machines after receiving 20 IU of oxytocin. Sires of the cows had been divergently selected on yearling weight (YW) and total maternal (MAT) EPD to form four groups: high YW, high MAT EPD; high YW, low MAT EPD; low YW, high MAT EPD; and low YW, low MAT EPD. Average milk production after 12-h calf separation was 3.7 +/- 1.3 kg. Actual milk production of cows was regressed on their sires' milk EPD, where the milk EPD estimates the additive maternal genetic contribution of a sire to the weaning weight of his daughters' calves. The regression of actual 12-h milk production on sire milk EPD was .038 +/- .014 kg/kg, and the correlation was .26 (P less than .006), close to its expected value, based on the accuracy of the prediction, heritability of the trait, and the relationship between sire and daughter. Extension of results of a single milking to an entire lactation is difficult, but over the range of sire milk EPD sampled (-10 to 16 kg), the range in daughters' milk production predicted from the regression analysis was 27% of the mean actual milk production, corresponding to an increase of about 1% more milk per kilogram of milk EPD.
Application of a Proposed Generic LLW Waste Package Analysis With Changing Infiltration in a Humid Environment

Corrosion of carbon steel boxes filled with low-level radioactive waste and buried within a near surface disposal facility in a humid environment was evaluated using an integrated systems approach framework. The time to hydraulic failure from initial burial to development of holes through the wall of a given waste package from pitting corrosion was calculated for four corrosion scenarios under two different corrosion cases. The two corrosion cases chosen were a constant rate of corrosion and a slowing rate of corrosion. Corrosion rates were estimated for carbon steel buried in soil from several historical studies and related to the corrosivity and aeration profile of the soil. The scenarios were chosen to represent a range of possible conditions at current and future U.S. Department of Energy disposal facilities. For each scenario, once the time to hydraulic failure had been estimated, the amount of liquid present in each waste package at the time of failure was calculated as an estimate of leachate available for subsurface transport. The Savannah River E-Area Engineered Trench was used as a basis for the hypothetical disposal facility. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploring the Multidimensionality of Globalization: Perspectives and Insights

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss the multiple complexities of the phenomena of globalization under the microscope of different perspectives, and not just the relative simplicities of the different disciplines that deal with it. This approach leads us to ask: can we engage the phenomena of globalization – globally. Methodology: Starting with the insights of Ohmae (1995), Bartlett and Ghoshal (2000) and others from globalization literature, this paper will explore the different perspectives of globalization namely: globalization of the natural environment, global economics, globalization of political/legal environments, and global technologies under the umbrella of global interconnections. This paper will also describe the insights from the arguments of the skeptical, the hyper-global, and the transformational viewpoints. Significance: Living in a global world of interconnectedness and interdependence, it is important to give comprehensive, holistic and enhanced understanding of globalization from multidiscilplinarity view point as the effects of globalization simultaneously affecting the individual as well as at a world systemic level. It can also raise the bar of corporate decision making to the better level, being more informed individual, organizational participant and citizen of nation by the interdisciplinary perspectives.
Masticator Space Foreign Body in a Child Presenting With Otorrhea and Granulation Tissue of the External Auditory Canal.

Objective:We report an unusual case of masticator space foreign body in a patient presenting with otorrhea and granulation tissue within the external auditory canal (EAC).Methods:Case report.Results:A 16-month-old male presented with fever, unilateral otorrhea, facial swelling, leukocytosis, and granulation tissue within the EAC that failed to respond to conventional medical treatment. Computed tomography scan showed EAC and middle ear opacification and soft tissue swelling involving the masticator space. Given concerns for malignancy, biopsies of tissue within the EAC and of a newly detected right buccal mass were performed, revealing granulation tissue. Concern persisted for neoplasm, however, and magnetic resonance imaging was obtained, showing a masticator space foreign body and possible osteomyelitis of the mandible and pterygoid plates. The patient underwent urgent operative removal of a 3 cm crayon fragment from the masticator space and debridement of granulation tissue arising from a small defect ...
Digital-Dimming Controller With Current Spikes Elimination Technique for LCD Backlight Electronic Ballast

A novel simple control strategy to improve the ignition behavior of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) in digital-dimming mode is proposed in this paper. Due to restriking manipulation in the digital-dimming mode, the lamp life of CCFL is reduced substantially. For extending the lamp life, a digital-dimming controller with current spikes elimination technique is realized to reduce the high ignition voltage and eliminate the ignition current spike. The half-bridge resonant inverter is employed in the presented backlight system to assess the system performance. Complete analysis and design considerations are discussed in detail in this paper. Experimental results agree with the theoretical prediction. The overall efficiency of the system achieved at the rated power is over 84.9%. The ignition voltage is reduced about 30% without any lamp current spike that occurred under digital-dimming operation
Nanoradian ground-based astrometry, optical navigation, and artificial reference stars

Spacecraft carrying optical communication lasers can be treated as artificial stars, whose relative astrometry to Gaia reference stars provides spacecraft positions in the plane-of-sky for optical navigation. To be comparable to current Deep Space Network delta-Differential One-way Ranging measurements, thus sufficient for navigation, nanoradian optical astrometry is required. Here we describe our error budget, techniques for achieving nanoradian level ground-base astrometry, and preliminary results from a 1 m telescope. We discuss also how these spacecraft may serve as artificial reference stars for adaptive optics, high precision astrometry to detect exoplanets, and tying reference frames defined by radio and optical measurements.
A multi-year study of hepatic biomarkers in coastal fishes from the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Following the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, concerns were raised regarding exposure of fish to crude oil components, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This three year study examined hepatic enzymes in post-mitochondrial supernatant fractions from red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) and gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) collected in the north central Gulf of Mexico between 2011 and 2014. Biomarker activities evaluated included benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase (AHH), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), glutathione transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Mean EROD activity was higher in gray triggerfish (12.97 ± 7.15 pmol/min/mg protein [mean ± SD], n = 115) than red snapper (2.75 ± 1.92 pmol/min/mg protein, n = 194), p < 0.0001. In both species, EROD declined over time between 2011 and 2014. Declines in GST and GPx activities were also noted over this time period for both species. Gray triggerfish liver was fatty, and heptane extracts of the liver fat contained fluorescent substances with properties similar to known PAHs, however the origin of these PAHs is unknown.
Adjunctive Management of Itch in Atopic Dermatitis

Itch, or pruritus, is a hallmark feature of atopic dermatitis (AD). The impact of AD-related pruritus can range from mildly distressing or distracting to completely disabling. Traditionally, management of itch in AD patients has focused on restoring the altered skin barrier with topical emollients and/or reducing inflammation. A growing emphasis has been placed on directly targeting the neural transmission pathways that mediate itch signaling. Off-label use of neuromodulatory agents has helped reduce this aggravating symptom in atopic patients. This article reviews the current literature on the use of neuromodulatory agents and nonpharmacologic alternative therapies used to treat AD-related pruritus.
Redox Pathways as a Platform in Drug Development

Redox homeostasis is frequently aberrantly regulated in human diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. Partly as a consequence, there is optimism in validating and extending redox controlling pathways as a platform for the discovery/development of drugs, particularly in cancer. As the primary redox buffer, cellular thiols have been variously therapeutically targeted. N-acetylcysteine is the simplest pharmaceutical version of a bioavailable redox equivalent. It has uses in a number of disparate human pathologies. Other agents have redox active centers primarily as a function of nucleophilic centers associated with the variable valence states of sulfur. Redox homeostasis is aberrantly regulated in cancer cells and this has provided an opportunity to advance treatment concepts that attempt to produce a beneficial therapeutic index. A component of the approaches to prevent cancer is based upon the possibility that thiols provide a way of detoxifying environmental electrophiles prior to enacting damage to DNA that could progress a cell towards a cancerous phenotype. Further, therapies designed to enhance myeloproliferation, hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization and immune response also have a foundation in modulation of redox pathways within the bone marrow compartment. As a consequence of these principles, a number of “redox modulating” drugs are under development and progressing towards FDA review.
Associations between ALDH1A1 polymorphisms, alcohol consumption, and mortality among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women diagnosed with breast cancer: the Breast Cancer Health Disparities Study

ALDH1A1, one of the main isotopes of aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 is involved in the differentiation and protection of normal hematopoietic stem cells and functions in alcohol sensitivity and dependence. We evaluated the associations between ALDH1A1 polymorphisms, alcohol consumption, and mortality among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) breast cancer (BC) cases from the Breast Cancer Health Disparities Study. Nine SNPs in ALDH1A1 were evaluated in 920 Hispanic and 1372 NHW women diagnosed with incident invasive BC. Adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Models were stratified by Native American (NA) ancestry and alcohol consumption. A total of 443 deaths occurred over a median follow-up time of 11 years. After adjusting all results for multiple comparisons, rs7027604 was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HRAA = 1.40; 95% CI 1.13–1.73, P adj = 0.018). The rs1424482 CC genotype (HRCC = 1.69; 95% CI 1.20–2.37, P adj = 0.027) and the rs7027604 AA genotype (HRAA = 1.65; 95% CI 1.21–2.26, P adj = 0.018) were positively associated with non-BC mortality. Among long-term light drinkers, rs1888202 was associated with decreased all-cause mortality (HRCG/GG = 0.36; 95% CI 0.20–0.64), while associations were not significant among non-drinkers or moderate/heavy drinkers (P interation = 0.218). The increased risk of all-cause mortality associated with rs63319 was limited to women with low NA ancestry (HRAA = 1.53; 95% CI 1.19–1.97). Multiple SNPs in ALDH1A1 were associated with increased risk of mortality after BC. Future BC studies examining the relationship between ALDH1A1 and mortality should consider the modifying effects of alcohol consumption and NA ancestry.
Small-granule starches from sweet corn and cow cockle: Physical properties and amylopectin branching pattern

Abstract Small-granule starches (SGS) attract growing interests with their unique structure and functionalities, such as fat replacement and texture modifications. To explore new resources of SGS, sweet corn starch (SCS) and cow cockle starch (CCS) were studied for their physical properties and branching pattern, with normal corn starch, waxy corn starch, normal rice starch, and waxy rice starch as comparisons. Hydrothermal and wide-angle X-ray powder diffraction analyses showed the much lower content of ordered structure (melting enthalpy of 5.6 J/g) and lower crystallinity (28%) for SCS than for normal corn starch (14.4 J/g and 34%, respectively). The rapid viscosity analyzer analysis showed very low viscosity for SCS through the pasting process and high resistance of CCS against the shear force. The results of β-limit dextrin structure analyses showed highly branched clusters of SCS (about 15 glucan chains per cluster) and a lack of long inter-cluster chains that connect 3 or more clusters. In contrast, CCS displayed a branching pattern similar to that of corn starches, however, with fewer short intra-cluster chains. It was considered that the low crystallinity and viscosity of SCS were attributed to its high branching, which reduced the formation of crystalline structure during the genesis of starch and decreased the interactions among swollen granules. On the other hand, the submicron size made CCS granules less susceptible to the shear force applied during pasting, leading to negligible breakdown. Using SCS and CCS as models, this study connected the physical properties and branching pattern of SGS, thus supporting their potential applications.
Circulating PANDER concentration is associated with increased HbA1c and fasting blood glucose in Type 2 diabetic subjects.

Abstract Aim PANcreatic-DERived factor (PANDER, FAM3B) is a novel hormone that regulates glucose levels via interaction with both the endocrine pancreas and liver. Prior studies examining PANDER were primarily conducted in murine models or in vitro but little is known regarding the circulating concentration of PANDER in humans, especially with regard to the association of type 2 diabetes (T2D) or overall glycemic regulation. To address this limitation, we performed a cross-sectional analysis of circulating serum PANDER concentration in association with other hormones that serve as either markers of insulin resistance (insulin and adiponectin) or to metabolic parameters of glycemic control such as fasting HbA1c and blood glucose (FBG). Methods Fasting serum was obtained from a commercial biorepository from 300 de-identified adult subjects with 150 T2D and non-T2D adult subjects collected from a population within the United States, respectively, matched on gender, age group and race/ethnicity. Concentration of PANDER, insulin and adiponectin were measured for all samples as determined by commercial ELISA. Metadata was provided for each subject including demography, anthropometry, and cigarette and alcohol use. In addition, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and HbA1c were available on T2D subjects. Results Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the relationships between circulating log PANDER concentration on HbA1c, fasting glucose, log insulin, log HOMA-β and log HOMA-IR among T2D subjects and for insulin and adiponectin in non-T2D subjects. A significant linear association was identified between PANDER with fasting HbA1c (β 0.832 ± SE 0.22, p = 0.0003) and FBG (β 20.66 ± SE 7.43, p = 0.006) within T2D subjects. However, insulin, HOMA-β, HOMA-IR and adiponectin (p > 0.05) were not found to be linearly associated with PANDER concentration. Conclusion Within T2D subjects, PANDER is modestly linearly associated with increased HbA1c and FBG in a US population. In addition, highest circulating PANDER levels were measured in T2D subjects with HbA1c above 9.9. No association was identified with PANDER and insulin resistance or pancreatic β-cell function in T2D subjects.
Horizon Scan Of Clinical Laboratories Offering Pharmacogenetic Testing

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing involves the analysis of genes known to affect response to medications. The field has been projected as a leading application of personalized or precision medicine, but the use of PGx tests has been stymied, in part, by the lack of clinical evidence of utility and reported low provider awareness. Another factor is the availability of testing. The range and types of PGx tests available have not been assessed to date. In the period September 2017–January 2018 we analyzed the numbers and types of PGx tests offered by clinical testing laboratories in the US. Of the 111 such labs that we identified, we confirmed that 76 offered PGx testing services. Of these, 31 offered only tests for single genes; 30 offered only tests for multiple genes; and 15 offered both types of tests. Collectively, 45 laboratories offered 114 multigene panel tests covering 295 genes. The majority of these tests did not have any clinical guidelines. PGx tests vary in type and makeup, which presents challenge...
Increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease in congenital hypothyroidism supports the existence of a shared susceptibility factor.

Loss-of-function mutations in dual oxidase (DUOX) 2 are the most common genetic variants found in congenital hypothyroidism (CH), and similar mutations have been recently reported in few very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients without CH. If DUOX2 variants indeed increase susceptibility for IBD, the enrichment of DUOX2 mutation carriers among CH patients should be reflected in higher risk for developing IBD. Using a database containing health insurance claims data for over 230 million patients in the United States, 42,922 subjects with CH were identified based on strict inclusion criteria using diagnostic codes. For subgroup analysis, CH patients with pharmacy records were stratified as transient or permanent CH based on the absence or presence of levothyroxine treatment, respectively. Patients were matched to an equal-sized, age- and gender-matched non-CH group. Compared to controls, CH patients had a 73% higher overall IBD prevalence (0.52% vs 0.30%; P < 0.0001). The CH-associated relative risk was higher for indeterminate or ulcerative colitis than Crohn’s disease. Patients with transient CH had higher odds for IBD (OR 2.39 (95% CI 1.77–3.23) than those with permanent CH (1.69 (95% CI 1.31–2.18). We conclude that patients with CH are at an increased risk of developing IBD. The risk was highest for patients with transient CH, for which partial defects in the DUOX2 system are a particularly common finding.
Role of Alteration/Deficiency in Activation (ADA) Complex in Cell Cycle, Genomic Instability and Cancer

In eukaryotes, DNA wraps around histone proteins to form highly condensed chromatin structures that usually remain inert and inaccessible to proteins involved in DNA-related processes. Thus, multitudes of important DNA-related biological processes, including transcription, replication, DNA repair, apoptosis, chromosome condensation, and segregation, are dependent upon alteration of this chromatin structure so that proteins involved in these processes can access the DNA. This required change in chromatin structure is brought about by binding of various chromatin modifying proteins that loosen the chromatin by distinct mechanisms, one of which is covalent histone modification. Various histone post-translational modifications, specifically acetylation, play a major role in opening up of this highly condensed chromatin allowing access to proteins involved in the several important processes. Histone acetyl transferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important for maintaining a steady-state level of this particular post-translational modification in cells and are present in multi-subunit complexes. One such multi-subunit HAT complex is the alteration/deficiency in activation (ADA) complex, which was originally discovered in yeast and is now known to be also present in mammalian cells as part of much larger HAT complexes. In this chapter, we discuss various components of the ADA complex with a special focus on the adaptor proteins Ada3 and Ada2 (Ada2a and Ada2b) for their role in important physiological processes, such as the cell cycle, genomic integrity, DNA repair response, and in pathology such as cancer. Further, we discuss recent developments using various inhibitors to target the HAT enzymes and disrupt HAT complex function as an anti-cancer strategy.
Ethical Principles in Resilience Research: Respect, Relevance, Reciprocity and Responsibility

By drawing from research and writings on indigenous people in the United States, Australia and Canada this chapter discusses the ethical issues and associated limitations of extant resilience research and its assumptions of commonalities. The current body of work on resilience has been largely guided by western theories and methods, with findings imposed on, or generalized to, populations who have had no/limited voice in the process and whose knowledge base of resilience and methods of inquiry have been marginalized and/or dismissed. We note that ethical concerns surface when collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data, without giving appropriate consideration to the involvement, worldviews, understandings of adaptation, and most importantly, the sanctioning of indigenous communities. Using the four ethical principles of respect, relevance, reciprocity and responsibility, we urge the foregrounding of indigenous and native epistemologies throughout resilience-focused research processes, from the design of a study, through to the dissemination and application of findings.
Etiological Yield of Global Developmental Delay in Kanti Children's Hospital.

Introduction: Global developmental delay is the common pediatric problem having spectrum of underlying causes. Etiological diagnosis is very vital for providing information regarding pathogenesis, prognosis, recurrence, risk and treatment options. The aim of this study was to determine etiological yield of global developmental delay. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included children of 6 months to 5 year of age with global developmental delay referred to pediatric outpatient Neurology clinic of Kanti Childrenâ€™s Hospital. Diagnostic study included detailed history, examination followed by required investigations neuroimaging, electroencephalogram, hearing and visual assessment. Thyroid function test, karyotyping and enzyme essay were done in selected patients depending on the condition. Results: In this study, 110 patients were evaluated out of which 70 were male and 40 were female. An etiological diagnosis was determined in 86 (78%) of the patients classified under following categories perinatal asphyxia 49 (44.5%), post infectious sequelae 11 (10%), cerebral dysgenesis 6 (5.45%), genetic syndrome 6 (5.45%), metabolic causes 5 (4.54%), neurocutaneous syndrome 4 (3.63%) and non-specific leucodystrophy changes . Etiology was unknown in 24 (21 %) of the patients. Conclusions: A specific etiology can be determined in majority of cases of global developmental delay after comprehensive evaluation. The most common etiologies were perinatal asphyxia and post infectious sequelae.
The Work Attitudes of Millennials in Collegiate Recreational Sports

Today, the millennials—those born between the early 1980s and the mid- to late 1990s—are the fastest growing and most racially diverse segment of the workforce. Previous literature has characterized employees from the millennial generation as self-focused, extrinsically motivated, and desiring recognition for their work; media caricatures have broadly portrayed the group as pampered and entitled. Such characteristics may not be amenable to careers in sport and recreation, which often require significant time commitments and offer relatively low compensation (monetary or otherwise) in return. This potential conflict means the influx of millennials in the sport and recreation industry may confront managers with significant challenges in recruiting, managing, and retaining these employees. Alternatively, however, the existing literature on the work characteristics of millennials may not sufficiently describe those employed in the sport and recreation field. In this study, structural equation modeling of data collected from 522 millennial recreational sports employees representing eight higher education institutions revealed a range of relationships among motivators (recognition, job control, shared core values, work itself, work schedule flexibility, satisfactory pay rate), member reactions (organizational identification, job satisfaction), and responses in productivity (organizational citizenship behavior, investment in work, turnover intentions). Recognition, job control, and shared core values were significantly related to organizational identification, and work itself, work schedule flexibility, and satisfactory pay rate were significantly related to job satisfaction. With regard to the practical outcomes, organizational identification was significantly related to organizational citizenship behavior and investment in work, and job satisfaction was significantly related to investment in work and turnover intentions (negatively). These findings suggest human resource management practices may not need altering to account for intergenerational differences. The authors advocate for further scholarly analysis of the millennial generation within the sport and recreation industry. The findings indicate previous descriptions of the millennial generation may be inaccurate when applied to a recreational sports context. Therefore, inter- and intragenerational comparisons are necessary to identify the sources of the contradiction between millennial expectations and career realities. This study also has implications for practitioners, who can use the profile of millennial employees to assist in the development of an organizational culture that embraces citizenship behaviors and job commitment and reduces employee turnover intentions.
Blindness and Early Development: Issues in Research Methodology.

An examination of the research models used extensively with the blind child and various kinds of methodological weakness that decrease the value of research. Specific problems areas discussed inclu...