cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Compressibility of 27 halides to 45 kbar

Abstract New compressibility data on 27 halides are reported. Compressibilities were determined by observations of piston displacement in the static high pressure apparatus to 45 kbar. We report measurements on a number of halides for the first time. Our results are in fair agreement with prior measurements by Bridgman on some of the halides where our data overlap. Our agreement with reductions of shock data is in many cases extremely poor because the reductions of the shock data did not take into account the phase transitions found in the halides.
Chemotherapy induces the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To determine the effect of taxane-based chemotherapy on intratumoral levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Experimental Design: Lung specimens obtained at the time of surgery were used to measure levels of COX-2 and PGE 2 in tumors and adjacent nontumorous tissues in three subsets of NSCLC patients who underwent: (A) surgical resection only ( n = 16); (B) surgical resection after preoperative taxane-based chemotherapy ( n = 13); or (C) surgical resection after preoperative chemotherapy coadministered with the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib 400 mg bid ( n = 17). Results: Levels of intratumoral PGE 2 were nearly 3-fold higher among patients who received preoperative chemotherapy compared with those treated by surgery alone ( P P P P 2 were observed in the surgery only ( r = 0.502, P = 0.047) and preoperative chemotherapy groups ( r = 0.740, P = 0.004); this correlation was abrogated when celecoxib was given with chemotherapy ( r = 0.005, P = 0.98). Conclusions: Treatment with chemotherapy led to increased amounts of COX-2 and PGE 2 in NSCLC. Cotreatment with celecoxib abrogated the increase in levels of PGE 2 but not COX-2 induced by chemotherapy. Importantly, these results clearly show that levels of a pharmacologic target (i.e., COX-2) can be affected by both the intrinsic molecular properties of a tumor and therapy.
Visually perceived eye level is influenced identically by lines from erect and pitched planes.

The physical elevation that appears to correspond to eye level (VPEL), as measured with a small visual target, changes systematically with the orientation in depth (‘visual pitch’) of a visual field consisting of one or two pitched-from-vertical lines in darkness. The influence is large and, with a one-line stimulus, is only 15% smaller than the influence exerted by a complexly structured, well-illuminated, pitched visual field. A line from a frontoparallel plane can be presented to the same retinal locus as a pitched-from-vertical line; the three experiments in the present report were aimed at determining the influence on VPEL from such lines. In the first two experiments the subject viewed a visual field consisting of a one-line or two-line pitched-from-vertical stimulus from a pitched-only plane or an oblique one-line or two-line stimulus from an erect plane. Each of the pitched-from-vertical stimuli was presented at seven different orientations separated by 10° over a ±30° range. Each of the oblique-l...
Intimate Partner Violence Reported by Two Samples of Deaf Adults via a Computerized American Sign Language Survey

A computerized sign language survey was administered to two large samples of deaf adults. Six questions regarding intimate partner violence (IPV) were included, querying lifetime and past-year experiences of emotional abuse, physical abuse, and forced sex. Comparison data were available from a telephone survey of local households. Deaf respondents reported high rates of emotional abuse and much higher rates of forced sex than general population respondents. Physical abuse rates were comparable between groups. More men than women in both deaf samples reported past-year physical and sexual abuse. Past-year IPV was associated with higher utilization of hospital emergency services. Implications for IPV research, education, and intervention in the Deaf community are discussed.
Computer-animated teaching software for engineering dynamics and mechanical vibration

Beginning in the Fall 1994 semester, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at The City College of The City University of New York has introduced the utilization of computer animated modules in its undergraduate dynamics course which are intended to help the students visualize and obtain a better understanding of important concepts covered in the course. The software which these modules are based on is called Working Model and is commercially available from Knowledge Revolution, San Francisco, CA. The software allows the user to create two dimensional mechanical systems on the screen containing devices such as springs, masses, pulleys, dampers, motors and actuators. Various types of forces may be simulated including gravitational, frictional and electrostatic forces. Clicking a RUN button animates the experiment. Controls may be introduced which allow the user to vary physical parameters such as initial position, velocity, and acceleration of objects, magnitude and direction of applied forces and torques, etc. Physical quantities such as velocity, acceleration, linear and angular momentum and kinetic energy may be measured and displayed while an animation is in progress. Several illustrative modules have been developed covering a variety of topics. In addition, as the students became acquainted with the software, they were given specific topics and asked to develop their own modules. The paper describes some of the modules developed and the students' reactions to this learning experience.
Single Unit Recording in Microperfused Cortex

A method for recording single unit activity from an ‘in situ’ microperfused area of the cerebral cortex is described. Further possible developments as well as advantages of the application of this method to the study of neuronal physiology are discussed.
Similarity solutions for non‐Newtonian fluids

Similarity transformations are possible for power law fluids in the following systems: momentum transfer in general Falkner-Skan flows and Goldstein flows; and momentum and energy transfer in forced convection about a right angle wedge, natural convection with constant heat flux at the boundary surface, and general Falkner-Skan flows with nonconstant heat conductivity and a restricted boundary temperature distribution. Similarity transformations are also possible for momentum and heat transfer of Eyring viscous fluids about a right angle wedge. A numerical solution is obtained for forced convection of power law fluids about a right angle wedge with an isothermal surface. From the numerical results an approximate expression is obtained for the local Nusselt number.
Abstract 107: Lipid metabolism inhibitors enhance glycolysis and FDG-PET imaging of prostate cancer tumors

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Introduction: Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) has gained a major role in the clinical setting for detection, staging and assessment of treatment response for a number of epithelial cancers. However, staging of primary or metastatic prostate cancer with 18F-FDG-PET is suboptimal, likely due to the low glucose uptake and enhanced lipid metabolism characteristic of primary prostate tumors. The exact mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis (Warburg effect) and lipid metabolism in prostate cancer (PCa) cells remain unknown. However, 18F-FDG-PET imaging of metastatic PCa might be enhanced by altering the intrinsic energy metabolism of involved sites. Experimental Procedures: In vitro radioactive studies were carried out to confirm the specificity of etomoxir for blocking lipid oxidation and enhancing glucose uptake at 24 hours in prostate cancer cell lines. For in vivo studies, three mouse models of PCa were used: Male nude mice with subcutaneous xenograts or orthotopic injections and TRAMP mice that develop prostate cancer with age. All mice were treated with a single dose of the lipid oxidation inhibitor etomoxir (20 mg/kg) or vehicle (saline) for 24 hours. A basal FDG-PET scan was performed before the drug treatment, followed by a second FDG-PET scan after 24 hours. Western blot analysis was used to validate the molecular mechanisms of increased FDG uptake. Results: The clinically safe drug etomoxir blocks fat oxidation within 4 hours and increases glucose uptake in cultured PCa cells. Subcutaneous xenografts showed a significant increase in normalized FDG uptake (NUV) after a single dose of etomoxir compared to basal NUV (1.4 fold change, p =0.03). This enhancing effect was not seen in mice treated with saline (vehicle). Mice with orthotopic xenografts and 20-week old TRAMP mice showed a 2.7-fold (p=0.03) and 1.6-fold (p=0.07) increase in FDG uptake, respectively, over basal. Protein examination of the excised subcutaneous tumors showed increased hexokinase-II content and activated mTOR and p70-S6 Kinase proteins in the etomoxir-treated tumors when compared to saline-treated tumors. Conclusion: 18F-FDG is a commercially available tracer that is widely used for standard-of-care and research-based oncologic imaging. Blocking lipid oxidation in PCa tumors has the potential to improve diagnostic imaging, since 18F-FDG that accumulates inside the cell can enhance FDG-PET imaging of prostate cancer tumors to detectable and quantifiable levels. Citation Format: Isabel R. Schlaepfer, Colton T. Pac, Natalie J. Serkova, Gagan Deep, Rajesh Agarwal, Scott D. Cramer, Robert H. Eckel, L. Michael Glode. Lipid metabolism inhibitors enhance glycolysis and FDG-PET imaging of prostate cancer tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 107. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-107
On-chip high-order frequency filter with fabrication error recovery

We demonstrate a high-order frequency filter based on microring pairs, capable of restoring distorted transmission functions by dynamically adjusting resonance parameters. Individual rings are thermo-optically tunable and are adjusted based on an evolutionary algorithm.
Slavery, amelioration, and Sunday markets in Antigua, 1823–1831

(1988). Slavery, amelioration, and Sunday markets in Antigua, 1823–1831. Slavery & Abolition: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 1-28.
Eosinophilic spongiosis: a clinicopathologic review of seventy-one cases.

Eosinophilic spongiosis has a distinctive but not diagnostic histologic pattern of the epidermis. This pattern may be seen in a wide variety of clinical disorders. We have observed it most commonly in bullous pemphigoid, particularly the urticarial stage. In most biopsy specimens that show eosinophilic spongiosis, additional definable histologic criteria allow a specific clinical diagnosis to be made. Rarely, clinical correlation and inlmunofluorescent data may be needed for a precise diagnosis. The location of eosinophilic spongiosis within the epidermis is generally not helpful in making a definite diagnosis. The peripheral eosinophilia, found in 61% and 46% of our pemphigoid and pemphigus cases, respectively, may be an important laboratory parameter in the evolution of this distinctive histologic pattern. Eosinophilic spongiosis occurs in early pemphigus lesions. However, its presence does not necessarily herald pemphigus, as a similar histologic pattern can be seen in pemphigoid and other disorders.
SPECIES OF PROPERTY: THE AMERICAN PROPERTY-TAX UNIFORMITY CLAUSES RECONSIDERED

Economic historians have traced the origin of the uniform property tax in the United States to the insertion of uniformity clauses into state constitutions in the Northwest and to efforts to tax commercial wealth. This article shows that the tax was created by legislation in the Northeast and that the first constitutional clauses were adopted in the South to protect slaveholders. It is time for historians of the U.S. political economy to abandon the dated paradigms of the “progressive history” tradition.
Patterns of morphological variation and correlates of habitat use in Chameleons

The lizard family Chameleonidae is one of the most distinctive taxa of all vertebrates. Nonetheless, despite great intrafamilial diversity, little research has been conducted on morphological variation among chameleons. As a first step in this direction, we took morphological measurements on the head, limbs, spines, and tail of 56 species. Our goals were to investigate whether morphological variation correlates with differences in ecology and to examine whether correlations exist among different aspects of morphology. Based on existing information, species were classified either as arboreal or terrestrial, the latter referring to species that are known to use the ground on a regular basis. This study confirms that considerable intrafamilial variation exists among chameleons and that these traits appear to be evolutionarily quite labile. Once the effects of size are removed, functionally related traits tend to covary; however, few correlations are observed between non-functionally related traits. Many differences in the lengths of the limbs and head elements were detected between terrestrial and arboreal species, but the functional and selective significance of these differences is not clear. Further research on chameleon behaviour and ecology is required to understand the factors contributing to chameleon morphological diversity.
Autoimmune response following vasectomy.

10 men aged 30-48 were studied for autoimmune responses following bilateral vasectomy. During a period of up to 24 months lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LCA) against panels of normal lymphocytes developed in 6 men and against a panel of leukemia cells in 7. A few of the men also developed marked increases of antinuclear (ANA) and antismooth muscle (ASMA) antibodies. The surgical control cases showed no rise of LCA activity within a postoperative period of up to 1 year; the sera of 2/10 healthy hospital employees revealed an incidence of LCA activity similar to that reported in normal populations. The study showed that 60-70% of the vasectomized men developed LCA; an incidence similar to the 50-60% incidence reported with respect to sperm-agglutinating antibodies. Vasectomy in rats mice and guinea pigs elicited an antisperm antibody response in some strains but not in others. Apart from incidence there were also variations in the intensity of immune reaction not only relative to LCA but also relative to antibody titers of ANA and ASMA. Since the immunologic and morphologic changes were observed only in a portion of those who were vasectomized and since the reactions varied in incidence and intensity among the subjects it is suggested that immune response genes may be operative in the postvasectomy responses.
Effect of price changes in little cigars and cigarettes on little cigar sales: USA, Q4 2011–Q4 2013

Introduction Little cigars are comparable to cigarettes in terms of shape, size, filters and packaging. Disproportionate tobacco excise taxes, which directly affect purchase price, may lead consumers to substitute cigarettes with less expensive little cigars. This study estimated the effects of little cigar and cigarette prices on little cigar sales. Methods Sales data from a customised retail scanner database were used to model a log–log equation to infer own-price and cross-price elasticity of demand for little cigars relative to little cigar and cigarette prices, respectively, from quarter 4 of 2011 to quarter 4 of 2013. Data were available for convenience stores (C-stores) (n=29 states); food, drug and mass merchandisers (FDMs) (n=44 states); and C-stores and FDMs combined (n=27 states). The dependent variable was per capita little cigar pack sales, and key independent variables were the price index for little cigars and cigarettes. Results A 10% increase in little cigar price was associated with a 25% (p Conclusions Our results suggest that US cigarette smokers are avoiding the high cost of cigarettes by switching to lower priced little cigars. Increasing and equalising prices among comparable products, like cigarettes and little cigars, may motivate cost-conscious smokers to quit.
A Brief Review of Issues in PTSD Research Following the September 11 Tragedies

The attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001 resulted in the largest loss of life due to terrorism that the United States has ever encountered. Terrorism often results in pronounced numbers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) cases. Following the September 11 attacks, many research studies reported increases in PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms (PTSS), and stress reactions; however, the inconsistency in the methods used to gather and analyze data poses problems in comparing and interpreting these results. A brief review of the methods used in trauma-related research following September 11 is presented. Guidelines for interpreting this research are also presented.
Motivation-performance relationships using different shock-avoidance shuttlebox techniques

One hundred and twelve Wistar rats were trained on either a running or a barrier-jumping shuttlebox avoidance task over a wide range of shock levels. Performance changed relatively little across shock levels on the running task and was U-shaped on the jumping task. Early escape performance was a strong determinant of avoidance performance at some shock levels. The overriding effects of specific situational factors in the shuttlebox must be considered when the instrument is used for the study of motivation-performance relationships.
Conservation of genetic diversity in slippery elm (Ulmus rubra) in Wisconsin despite the devastating impact of Dutch elm disease

Forest pest epidemics are responsible for many population declines reported in forest trees. While forest tree populations tend to be genetically diverse, in principle mortality resulting from disease could diminish that genetic diversity and alter the genetic structure of the remnant populations with consequences for the ability of a species to adapt to changing environments. Slippery elm (Ulmus rubra Muhl.) is a long-lived, wind-pollinated forest tree with a native range covering essentially all of eastern North America. Dutch elm disease (DED) caused by an introduced fungal pathogen (Ophiostoma ulmi) devastated North American elm populations, including slippery elm, beginning in the 1930s. Estimates of the numbers of elms lost to DED are unknown but range into the hundreds of millions of trees given their former abundance. In this study, the genotypes of 77 herbarium specimens collected between 1890 and 2004 in Wisconsin, and of 100 slippery elm trees from five wild Wisconsin populations, were characterized using 13 microsatellite loci. Levels of genetic diversity were compared between the herbarium specimens collected pre- and post-DED spread in Wisconsin. In addition, the levels of genetic diversity and degree of genetic differentiation were quantified in the five wild populations. The allelic diversity and expected levels of heterozygosity were similar between the pre- and post-DED herbarium specimens. The five wild populations were only slightly differentiated and no genetic bottleneck was detected for any population. At least in Wisconsin, slippery elm apparently has maintained levels of genetic diversity that could facilitate adaptation to future climatic and environmental changes.
MODEL TEST RESEARCH ON FAILURE FORMS AND FAILURE MECHANISM OF ANCHOR BOLTS UNDER TOP EXPLOSION

Based on anti-explosion model test,the failure forms and failure mechanism of the anchor bolts are studied.According to the results of the model tests,anchor bolts under top explosion have four kinds of failure forms,which include compression bending failure,shearing failure,compression bending and tensile failure with shedding of screw cap,and turnover of backing plate.Because the pressure stress is disturbed unevenly under top explosion,which leads to product a few shearing cracks in two sides of arch foot,the four kinds of failure forms are produced.In accordance with failure forms of anchor bolts,technologies with enhancing the explosion resisting capacity of anchor bolts are proposed from the aspects of body of anchor bolts,screw cap and backing plate.
3‐4: Switchable Lens for 3D Display, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

A switchable lens based on a twisted nematic liquid crystal cell and a polarization dependent component is demonstrated. This switchable lens has advantages in fast response time, low chromatic aberration, and low operation voltage. Its potential applications include wearable virtual reality, augmented reality, and other head mounted display devices.
Is there a role for dental professionals within hospice programs

A multidisciplinary approach to meet effectively the complex needs of the terminally ill patient and associated family members has been widely utilized within hospice programs. Although oral problems are prevalent and hospice patient perceived dental concerns are frequently significant, dental professionals have been generally excluded from hospice care teams. Efforts need to be made both by hospice staff and the dental profession to assess and meet more successfully the dental needs of the terminally ill patient in order to enhance his or her remaining quality of life.
Beyond Composite Endpoints Analysis: Semicompeting Risks as an Underutilized Framework for Cancer Research.

Background: Composite endpoints (CEP), such as progression-free survival, are commonly used in cancer research. Notwithstanding their popularity, however, CEP analyses suffer from a number of drawbacks, especially when death is combined with a nonterminal event (ie, progression or recurrence), exemplifying the semicompeting risks setting. We investigated the semicompeting risks framework as a complementary analysis strategy that avoids certain drawbacks of CEPs. Methods: The illness-death model under the semicompeting risks framework was compared with standard analysis approaches: CEP analyses and (separate) univariate analyses for each component endpoint. Data from a previously published phase III randomized clinical trial in metastatic colon cancer including 1419 participants in the N9741 trial (conducted between 1997 and 2003) were used to determine the impact of the loss of information associated with combining multiple endpoints, as well as of ignoring the potentially informative role of death. A simulation study was conducted to further explore these issues. Results: Failure to account for critical features of semicompeting risks data can lead to potentially severely misleading conclusions. Advantages of semicompeting risks analyses include a clear delineation of treatment effects on both events, the ability to draw conclusions about a patient’s joint risk of the two events, and an assessment of the dependence between the two event types. Conclusions: Embedding and analyzing component outcomes in the semicompeting risks framework, either as a supplement or alternative to CEP analyses, represents an important, underutilized, and feasible opportunity for cancer research.
HETEROGENEITY OF CALCIUM TRANSPORT IN THE MEDULLARY AND CORTICAL SEGMENTS OF THE THICK ASCENDING LIMB

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses that the addition of calcitonin to the solution bathing medullary segments of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, perfused in vitro, stimulates net calcium transport without an effect on the potential difference. In cortical segments of the thick ascending limb, calcitonin has no effect on net calcium transport. Whereas low concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogues have no effect on net calcium transport in either segment, high concentrations added to the bathing solution stimulate net calcium transport in both the cortical and medullary segments of the thick ascending limb. The chapter explains that the thick ascending limb of Henle is functionally heterogeneous with respect to calcium transport. In the medullary segment, calcitonin augments net calcium flux by an active mechanism. cAMP stimulates net calcium transport, both in the medullary and in the cortical segment by an active mechanism. cAMP is the mediator of the action of calcitonin in the medullary segment and of parathyroid hormone in the cortical segment.
Detecting Low SNR Tracks With OTHR Using a Refraction Model

Over-the-horizon radar is used to detect targets at very long ranges by reflecting of/refracting signals within the ionosphere. Multiple propagation paths exist between the radar and the target, which can result in multiple target-originated measurements in each scan. It is uncertain which path corresponds with each measurement. Due to the necessary low detection threshold for very low signal-to-noise ratio targets, there are also many false alarms. The maximum-likelihood probabilistic multihypothesis tracker, which is a deep track extractor, is generalized to allow multiple propagation paths. A ray-tracing algorithm is used to model the refraction in the ionosphere. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented for three types of targets: a surface target, a constant altitude target, and a constant vertical acceleration target. We also calculate the Cramer–Rao lower bound for these scenarios, and an analysis is done to determine the probability of track detection, $P_{\text{DT}}$ , for specified probabilities of false track $P_{\text{FT}}$ .
Cerebral Embolization in Asymptomatic vs Symptomatic Patients After Carotid Stenting

Background: Previous studies have investigated the development of new ischemic brain lesions on diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) after carotid artery stenting (CAS) for symptomatic stenosis. The rate of ischemic brain injury after CAS for asymptomatic stenosis has not been established, but is presumed to be less likely. This study assessed the occurrence of cerebral embolization after CAS for asymptomatic vs symptomatic carotid stenosis. Methods: During an 18-month period, 40 patients undergoing CAS under filter embolic protection were prospectively evaluated. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) during CAS and preand 24-hour postprocedural DWMRI were used to assess cerebral embolization. Univariate and nonparametric analyses were used to compare differences in cerebral embolization after CAS in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Results: CAS was performed for 23 (58%) asymptomatic and 17 (42%) symptomatic carotid stenoses. The median microembolic counts detected by TCD were 285 (interquartile range [IQR], 182-376) for asymptomatic and 313 (IQR, 170-426) for symptomatic carotid stenosis (P .6). New acute cerebral emboli detected with DW-MRI occurred in 50% of asymptomatic and 50% of symptomatic patients undergoing CAS (P .9). The ipsilateral and total median number of DW-MRI lesions between groups were not statistically significantly different, i.e. 1 (IQR, 0-2.5) and 1.5 (IQR, 0-3) vs 0.5 (IQR, 0-2) and 0.5 (IQR, 0-3) for asymptomatic vs symptomatic carotid stenosis, respectively (P .5). One asymptomatic patient sustained a minor stroke after CAS, whereas no new neurologic events occurred in symptomatic patients; the 30-day stroke-death rate was 2.5% in this series. Conclusions: Cerebral embolization, as detected by TCD and DWMRI, occurs with similar frequency after CAS for asymptomatic and symptomatic carotid stenosis. This observational study questions the safety of CAS under embolic protection for asymptomatic carotid stenosis as new ischemic brain injury occurs in approximately half of these procedures.
Impact of fish feed on airlift pumps in aquaculture systems

Abstract Airlift pumps are commonly used in aquaculture systems to circulate water and maintain critical gas levels. In production marine reuse systems, a significant decrease in airlift pump flowrate was visually observed immediately after feeding. In experimental systems without fish, it was found that feed additions of less than 10 mg/L decreased water flow by as much as 78% for diffuser injectors but only 10% for pumps with direct air injection. For both injector types, feed impact diminished over several hours but persisted longer in seawater than in freshwater. Video footage revealed increasing bubble coalescence with the addition of feed. The decrease in pump flow is likely attributed to water property changes due to compounds leaching out of the feed. This decrease in pumping rate has the potential to negatively impact water quality, system performance, and fish health.
Promoting Social Action through Visual Literacy: New Pioneer & The Labor Defender in the Secondary Classroom

The notion of a classic education has been lost as technology continues to morph into the essential component of 21 st Century and as educators also rise to the challenge of teaching the most diverse population of learners in American history. Literacy has shifted to include the vital “visual literacy”, the critical analysis of images, which in the past might have been an artistic pleasure as opposed to a fundamental educational skill. In this paper, I discuss this required change in the expectations of the English pedagogy. To encourage cross-curricular ties, I recommend that educators use the ancestors of today’s current magazine as a visual literacy genre, particularly political serials such as Labor Defender and New Pioneer to reach the high learning goals of visual literacy while strengthening cultural values and ideals of social action.
Structural Studies of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a ∼150 kDa heterodimeric enzyme that plays a crucial role in the cardiovascular system by catalyzing the conversion of GTP into cGMP, a secondary messenger whose downstream effects include vasodilation and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Using a heme prosthetic group located at the β N-terminus, nitric oxide (NO) binds to sGC and induces a conformational change, increasing catalytic activity several hundred-fold. Inhibition of sGC activity through oxidative stress and NO-scavengers has been linked to cardiovascular disease. Due to a lack of structural data, how sGC transitions between basal and active states remains largely unknown. The ultimate goal in our lab is to provide a detailed structural mechanism for sGC activation to guide structure-based drug design of novel small molecule sGC activators to treat cardiovascular diseases.We have recently solved the structure of the catalytic heterodimeric wild-type αβGC. Activity assay results showed that this construct only displays ∼ 0.01% of full-length sGC basal activity, suggesting that additional sGC domains are required to align active site residues in a catalytically-competent position. Our efforts are now focused on strategies to overcome this limitation and obtain the structure of the active conformation of the heterodimeric catalytic domains.
Pharmaceuticals as Environmental Pollutants: The Ramifications for Human Exposure

Pharmaceutical active ingredients continually enter the environment as trace pollutants largely resulting from their intended use in human and veterinary medical practices, agriculture, and personal care. The primary route is their unintentional and largely unavoidable release via excretion and bathing. A secondary route is purposeful disposal to sewerage and trash of leftover, unwanted medications which also poses acute poisoning risks due to intentional or accidental diversion of unused drugs to others. Humans can be inadventently and chronically exposed to trace residues of pharmaceuticals from the environment by consuming contaminated drinking water (or plant and animal tissues), or from dermal or pulmonary exposure during bathing. These exposure risks (and supporting data), as well as possible approaches for reducing exposure, are discussed.
Developing the next generation of diverse computer scientists: the need for enhanced, intersectional computing identity theory

AbstractThis theoretical paper explores the need for enhanced, intersectional computing identity theory for the purpose of developing a diverse group of computer scientists for the future. Greater ...
Dis-orientation, dis-epistemology and abolition

What is the relation between knowledge and orientation? How does being disoriented lead one to new knowledge or/and to being humbled (tenderized) about not knowing? How can not knowing aid in liberatory struggles, in alleviating oppression or even in being in community with like-minded people in an ethical manner? These are some of the questions that Ami Harbin’s work “Disorientation and Moral Life” brought up for me and which I would like to explore below, using prison abolition as one brief example.
Illuminative Evaluation: Meeting the Special Needs of Feminist Projects:

Illuminative evaluation," as defined by , Parlett and Hamilton, "is not a standard methodological package but a general strategy. It aims to be both adaptable and eclectic. The choice'of res ctics follows not from research doetrine, but from decisions in each case as to the best availible techniques; the problem defines the methodsnot vice-versa.", An illuminative evaluation technique was ushWto assess the strengths and-weaknesses, and to assist the planners in their understanding of the dynamics and the shapliof the First National Summer Institute in Women's Studies. Quantifiable information was obtained through a needs' assessment form, administered to participants (nm48) and staff (n1.13), through observations of the formal and informal sessons and staff meetings, and through open-ended questions on an evaluation.form. The findings indicate that illuminative evaluation showed promise as one evaluative methodology compatible with feminist activity and theoretical concerns. This model enabled a report to be developed which would serve jto. offer both qualitative and quantitative data useful to the designing of the Institute, provide information for continued funding of the project, and include documentation of the first year of the Institute. (Author/PN)
Environment and the Aging Woman

Entering the environments of older women affords us a unique opportunity to explore the potential of contemporary gender theories. One aspect of feminist social science is a confrontation with the older sociological construct of “sex role,” viewed as a determinant of behaviors and self-definition across the life span, and attributed to gender socialization in early life (Ferree & Hess, 1987; Riger, 1992). While gerontologists continue to argue about continuity versus discontinuity of personality in late life (Field & Millsap, 1991), an understanding of behaviors relative to the social and physical environment may well expose both the mean-inglessness of this supposed dichotomy and the intrusions of a gender-based (male) structuralization of the issues. Social scientists have, for decades, sought to describe sex differences in performance, affect, and social behavior, while deemphasizing the variabilities within each gender (Riger, 1992). This presentation will attempt to illustrate, through exemplars of class, race, cohort, marital and family status, competence, education, and environmental history, that gender-specific variability.
Growth of Laser-Quality Ti:Al2O3 Crystals by a Seeded Gradient-Freeze Technique

A seeded vertical gradient-freeze technique has been used to grow laser-quality Ti:Al2O3 single crystals with low residual infrared absorption from charges containing between 0.15 and 1.0 wt.% Ti2O3 in tungsten crucibles.
Myeloproliferative Neoplasm or Reactive Process? A Rare Case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Transient Post-Treatment Megakaryocytic Hyperplasia with JAK-2 Mutation

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are hematopoietic malignancies characterized by unchecked proliferation of differentiated myeloid cells. The most common BCR-ABL1-negative MPNs are polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis. The discovery of JAK2 V617F mutation has improved our understanding of the molecular basis of MPN. The high frequency of JAK2 mutation in MPN makes JAK2 mutation testing an essential diagnostic tool and potential therapeutic target for MPN. Here, we present a rare case of a 34-year-old patient who was initially diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutated NPM1. After chemotherapy treatment followed by granulocyte colony stimulating factor administration, the patient achieved complete remission of AML. However, the bonemarrow showed hypercellularity with granulocytic hyperplasia, markedly increased atypical megakaryocytes (50.2/HPF) with focal clustering, and reticulin fibrosis (3/4). JAK2 V617F mutation was also detected. Considering the possibility of AML transformed from a previous undiagnosedMPN, patient underwent peripheral blood allogenic stem cell transplant. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges of firmly establishing a diagnosis between similar, but distinct, disease entities and an accurate clinicopathological differentiation is crucial.
Location Analysis and Network Design

This chapter begins with a basic taxonomy of facility location models. This is followed by the formulation of five classic facility location models: the set covering model, the maximum covering model, the p-median model, the fixed charge location model and the p-center problem. Advanced: Computational results on a new set-covering problem instance with 880 nodes representing 880 population centers in the contiguous United States are provided and a few counter-intuitive results are outlined. This is followed by a state of the art discussion of multi-objective problems in location analysis and the importance of multiple objectives in designing distribution networks. Models that integrate inventory planning into facility location modeling are then outlined. Finally, the chapter ends with a discussion of reliability in facility network planning.
A Qualitative Analysis of Outpatient Medication Use in Community Settings: Observed Safety Vulnerabilities and Recommendations for Improved Patient Safety

Objective The aim of the study was to analyze diverse patients' experiences throughout the medication use process to inform the development of overarching interventions that support safe medication use in community settings. Methods Using a qualitative observational approach, we conducted approximately 18 hours of direct observation of the medication use process across multiple settings for a sample of vulnerable, high-risk patients. Observers recorded detailed field notes during the observations. To enrich the observational findings, we also conducted six semistructured interviews with medication safety experts representing a diversity of perspectives. Barriers and facilitators to safe medication use were identified based on inductive coding of the data. Results A variety of safety vulnerabilities plague all stages of the medication use process and many of the well-established evidence-based interventions aimed at improving the safety of medication use at key stages of the process have not been widely implemented in community settings observed in this study. Key safety vulnerabilities identified include: limited English proficiency, low health literacy, lack of clinician continuity, incomplete medication reconciliation and counseling, unsafe medication storage and disposal habits, and conflicting healthcare agendas with caregivers. Conclusions Our findings underscore a need for overarching, comprehensive interventions that span the entire process of medication use, including integrated communication systems between clinicians, pharmacies, and patients, and a "patient navigator" program that assists patients in navigating the entire medication-taking process. Collective ownership of the medication management system and mutual motivation for devising collaborative solutions is needed among key sectors.
LAPIDARY CRAFT PRODUCTION AT 17:S3E1 AND 18:S3E1, THE TLAJINGA DISTRICT, TEOTIHUACAN

A total of 84 two-liter soil samples from Proyecto Arqueologico Tlajinga Teotihuacan (PATT) sites 17:S3E1, 18:S3E1, and the Street of the Dead excavations were fine-screened through 1-mm mesh and were sorted to retrieve tiny artifacts. The raw lapidary stone and marine shell material was then analyzed to assess the presence and intensity of artifact production. These data were also compared with the lapidary material of nearby 33:S3W1. A robust multicraft lapidary production was revealed. Sequins and stemmed trapezoid pendants were manufactured from slate, greenstone, marine shell, and mica, with slate being the predominant raw material being worked. A reduction sequence for slate sequins was developed based on the various shapes of slate materials that indicated the stages of production. Importantly, this lapidary craft production was not recognized from surface collections prior to excavation.
Design and Evaluation of Expressive Turn-Taking Hardware for a Telepresence Robot

Although nonverbal expressive abilities are an essential element of human-to-human communication, telepresence robots support only select nonverbal behaviors. As a result, telepresence users can experience difficulties taking turns in conversation and using various cues to obtain the attention of others. To expand telepresence robot users’ abilities to hold the floor during conversation, this work proposes and evaluates new types of expressive telepresence robot hardware. The described within-subjects study compared robot user and co-present person experiences during teamwork activity conditions involving basic robot functions, expressive LED lights, and an expressive robot arm. We found that among participants who preferred the arm-based expressiveness, individuals in both study roles felt the robot operator to be more in control of the robot during the arm condition, and participants co-located with the robot felt closer to their teammate during the arm phase. Participants also noted advantages of the LED lights for notification-type information and advantages of the arm for increasing perceptions of the robot as a human-like entity. Overall, these findings can inform future work on augmenting the nonverbal expressiveness of telepresence robots.
Metabolic and endocrine evaluation of islet transplant function

Abstract Islet transplantation is a treatment for type 1 diabetes that aims to establish on-target glycemic control in the absence of hypoglycemia, particularly for patients experiencing problematic hypoglycemia or already requiring immunosuppression in support of a kidney transplant. The improvement in glycemic control is dependent on the degree of restoration of β-cell function, with the β-cell secretory capacity providing the best estimate of transplanted islet functional β-cell mass. A reserve capacity for insulin secretion is necessary to achieve insulin independence and support long-term transplanted islet function, without which insulin therapy is required to alleviate β-cell stress and reduce metabolic exhaustion of the islet graft. Because islet α-cell dysfunction is a hallmark of established type 1 diabetes, islet transplantation also allows for recovery of α-cell function in the defense against hypoglycemia that is associated with restored glucose counterregulation against the development of low blood glucose and robust clinical protection against hypoglycemic events.
Acoustic transduction in the auditory periphery

The processing of speech in the auditory periphery relies upon a series of complex physiological mechanisms to transform the speech signal into a pattern of neural impulses distributed across a tonotopically organized array of auditory-nerve fibers. Because the auditory nerve is the sole conduit for the transmission of acoustic information into the central nervous system, it serves to delimit the representational form of complex sounds at more central stations of the auditory pathway. A detailed understanding of the representation of the speech signal at this peripheral level will provide important clues concerning speech coding in the central auditory pathway. The physiological and anatomical substrates of this peripheral processing are reviewed and discussed in relation to their signal processing functions.
How the presentation of patient information and decision-support advisories influences opioid prescribing behavior: A simulation study.

Author(s): Hussain, Mustafa I; Nelson, Ariana M; Yeung, Brent G; Sukumar, Lauren; Zheng, Kai | Abstract: ObjectiveThe United States faces an opioid crisis. Integrating prescription drug monitoring programs into electronic health records offers promise to improve opioid prescribing practices. This study aimed to evaluate 2 different user interface designs for prescription drug monitoring program and electronic health record integration.Materials and MethodsTwenty-four resident physicians participated in a randomized controlled experiment using 4 simulated patient cases. In the conventional condition, prescription opioid histories were presented in tabular format, and computerized clinical decision support (CDS) was provided via interruptive modal dialogs (ie, pop-ups). The alternative condition featured a graphical opioid history, a cue to visit that history, and noninterruptive CDS. Two attending pain specialists judged prescription appropriateness.ResultsParticipants in the alternative condition wrote more appropriate prescriptions. When asked after the experiment, most participants stated that they preferred the alternative design to the conventional design.ConclusionsHow patient information and CDS are presented appears to have a significant influence on opioid prescribing behavior.
Paradigms of Eighteenth-Century Russian Education, or is It Time to Move beyond Secularization?

This essay considers the evolution of the historiography of eighteenth-century Russian education, emphasizing recent shifts in the dominant paradigm of secularization. It identifies three wide vect...
Systematic human rights violations, traumatic events, daily stressors and mental health of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

Almost 900,000 Rohingya refugees currently reside in refugee camps in Southeastern Bangladesh. Prior to fleeing Myanmar, Rohingya experienced years of systematic human rights violations, in addition to other historical and more recent traumatic events such as the burning of their villages and murder of family members, friends and neighbors. Currently, many Rohingya struggle to meet basic needs in refugee camps in Bangladesh and face mental health-related concerns that appear linked to such challenges. The purpose of this study is to describe systematic human rights violations, traumatic events, daily stressors, and mental health symptoms and to examine relationships between these factors. Cross-sectional data was collected from a representative sample of 495 Rohingya refugee adults residing in camps in Bangladesh in July and August of 2018. Respondents reported high levels of systematic human rights violations in Myanmar, including restrictions related to expressing thoughts, meeting in groups, travel, religious practices, education, marriage, childbirth, healthcare, and more. Events experienced in Myanmar included exposure to gunfire (99%), destruction of their homes (93%), witnessing dead bodies (92%), torture (56%), forced labor (49%), sexual assault (33%), and other events. More than half (61%) of participants endorsed mental health symptom levels typically indicative of PTSD, and more than two thirds (84%) endorsed levels indicative of emotional distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). Historic systematic human rights violations, traumatic events, and daily stressors were associated with symptoms of posttraumatic stress, as well as depression and anxiety. Respondents reported numerous stressors associated with current life in the camps in Bangladesh as well as previous stressors, such as harassment, encountered in Myanmar. Findings underscore the impact of systematic human rights violations, targeted violence, and daily stressors on the mental health of Rohingya in Bangladesh. Those working with Rohingya should consider the role of such factors in contributing to poor mental health. This research has the potential to inform interventions targeting such elements. Future research should examine the relationships between mental health and human rights violations over time.