cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stretch, Dream, and Do - A 21st Century Design Thinking & STEM Journey

This paper describes the journey of d.Loft STEM Learning, a project of The National Science Foundation ITEST program, which supports building knowledge about approaches, models, and interventions involving K-12 education to increase the nation’s capacity and innovation in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. d.Loft STEM Learning used design thinking as an underlying theoretical and pedagogical approach to enhance STEM learning. Design thinking is a human-centered, prototype-driven innovation process and a series of mindsets that provides a robust scaffold for divergent problem-solving. This paper describes how the design thinking provided a frame within which mentorship and STEM learning thrived, and suggests new ways to conceptualize student learning and teacher practice in 21st century learning contexts.
GA-Based Fault Diagnosis Technique for Enhancing Network Lifetime of Wireless Sensor Network

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a collection of more than one sensor nodes which is used both collecting as well as sensing data from its environment (Rongbo in Int J Distrib Sens Netw 2010(1155):1–7, [1], Herbert and Donald in Schilling principles of communication systems. McGraw-Hill, New York, [2]). The main aim of this process is to achieve several operations efficiently in terms of different applications such as intelligent building, precise agriculture, medicine and health care, preventive maintenance, machine surveillance, disaster relief operation and biodiversity mapping. The stated applications are optimized efficiently in terms of cost, scalability and readiness. Although, there are so many fruitful advantages of WSN, but it consists of limited capacity of batteries which is insufficient during any operation. The sensor nodes are directly or indirectly connected with base station as well as sink node. Sometimes, due to network variation or failure of hardware sensor nodes fail to transmit the data packet. Moreover, due to limited energy, sometimes sensor node exhausts before the delivery of the data packet and gets converted into faulty node (Heinzelman, Chandrakasan and Balakrishnan in Energy efficient communication protocol for wireless micro sensor networks, pp. 8020–8030, [3], Bhajantri, Nalini in Int J Comput Netw Inf Secur 6(12):37–46, [4]). This faulty node treated as dead node during operation. So, there is need to design an effective algorithm for detecting as well as calculating total dead nodes and provide optimum solution. In this paper, an efficient technique is proposed based on the direct diffusion technique that aims to find optimum path by recovering dead nodes. The proposed algorithm enhances the network lifetime by reducing data packet loss as well as energy consumption.
A simple and sensitive method to detect vitamin D receptor expression in various disease models using stool samples.

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) executes the main biological functions of its ligand vitamin D. VDR/vitamin D plays critical roles in regulating host immunity, maintaining barrier functions, and shaping gut microbiome. Reduction of intestinal VDR has been reported in various diseases, including inflammatory diseases and colon cancer. However, it is always challenging to get biopsies to test the pathologic changes of VDR in intestine. In the current study, we reported a simple and sensitive quantitative PCR (qPCR) method to detect reduction of intestinal VDR using fecal samples. We validated this method in several experimental models, such as colitis, bacterial infection, and aging. We further correlated the qPCR data of VDR with the protein level of VDR in colon or serum 25 (OH)D 3 in mice with different VDR status (VDR +/+, VDR +/-, and VDR −/−). Our data indicate that the qPCR method to test VDR using fecal samples could detect the expression level of intestinal VDR in various diseases. Our study highlights the feasibility, sensitivity, and simplicity of a molecular method to study the status of VDR as a biomarker.
Current State of Transgender Medical Education in the United States and Canada: Update to a Scoping Review.

Background:The published literature on education about transgender health within health professions curricula was previously found to be sporadic and fragmented. Recently, more inclusive and holist...
Sensory Modulation Disorder and its Neural Circuitry in Adults with ADHD: A Pilot Study

Compared to healthy controls (HCs), individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) exhibit more symptoms of sensory processing disorder (SPD), which is associated with difficulties in educational and social activities. Most studies examining comorbid SPD-ADHD have been conducted with children and have not explored relations to brain volumes. In this pilot study, we assessed a subtype of SPD, sensory modulation disorder (SMD), and its relation to select brain volumes in adults with ADHD. We administered part of the Sensory Processing 3-Dimensions Scale (SP3D) to assess subtypes of SMD and collected structural imaging scans from 25 adults with ADHD and 29 healthy controls (HCs). Relative to HCs, subjects with ADHD scored higher on sensory craving (SC) and sensory under-responsivity (SUR) subscales. Although sensory over-responsivity (SOR) was marginally higher, this was no longer true when accounting for co-occurring anxiety. In individuals with ADHD, both SC and SUR were positively associated with amygdalar volume, SUR was also positively associated with striatal volume, whereas SOR was negatively associated with posterior ventral diencephalon volume. These preliminary findings suggest that SC and SUR may be characteristic of ADHD while SOR may be driven by co-occurring anxiety. Because different modalities were associated with different brain volumes, our findings also suggest that the modalities may involve unique neural circuits, but with a partial overlap between SC and SUR. These pilot data provide support for conducting studies examining SMD in larger samples of adults with ADHD to determine reproducibility, applicability and implications of these findings.
Louisiana Pediatric Hospice Concurrent Care: Rewriting Culture and Language

The Gulf State Pediatric Palliative Care Consortium formed in January 2019, and our most important focus currently is to transform pediatric hospice care in LA. It came to our attention in March 2019 that the Medicaid manual for pediatric concurrent care hospice benefit language changed, which caused thoughtful dialogue in our hospice community. Concurrent Care Hospice Benefit for children was made available by our Affordable Care Act in 2010. Concurrent Care means that seriously ill children who are <21 years of age and have a 6-month prognosis are …
What is Medieval History? (Second edition): Medford, MA: Polity Press, 178 pp., $19.95, ISBN 978-1-5095-3256-8, Publication Date: January 2021

This book is a useful update to John H. Arnold’s well-regarded introduction to medieval history, originally published in 2008. Arnold is a historian of medieval religious culture who has worked on ...
Peer review experiences of academic chemists in Ph.D. granting institutions in the United States

Academic chemists at Ph.D. granting institutions in the United States were surveyed on the time and effort they spend on peer reviews and how they rate themselves as reviewers. Thirty percent of th...
Rhythm-RT: A New Tool for Target Volume Delineation in Cardiac SBRT.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Nearly half of all patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) become refractory to standard-of-care anti-arrhythmic medications and catheter ablation. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has emerged as a well-tolerated and effective new treatment for VT. Since arrhythmogenic lesions are undetectable on CT scans, the practice of SBRT target volume delineation is not yet formalized. Many single-institution protocols involve only verbal discussion between electrophysiologists and radiation oncologists or manual re-orientation of surface renderings from electrophysiologic (EP) studies to correlate with the planes on CT scan. We present a novel software, "Rhythm-RT", that synthesizes data from EP studies and heart contours from radiation planning to automatically generate a preliminary target volume. MATERIALS/METHODS Along with DICOM files containing contours, Rhythm-RT can process electroanatomic mapping (EAM) data from CARTO (Biosense Webster, Irvine, CA) and EnSite Precision (Abbott, St. Paul, MN) as well as ablation navigation data from EnSite Precision. All input data are plotted in the reference coordinate system of the CT simulation scan. The user is able to translate and rotate imported EP spatial information for co-registration with contoured cardiac substructures. Rhythm-RT then identifies the cardiac substructure closest to the sites of low voltage from EAM or inadequate previous ablation on which to generate an SBRT gross target volume (GTV), adapted to the myocardial shape and transmural thickness of the cardiac substructure. The GTV is exported as a DICOM file which can be integrated with other contoured structures in the original radiation planning system. RESULTS From October 2019 to February 2021, 7 males and 1 female with VT (53-84 years of age, ejection fraction 10-65%, and 0-7 previous catheter ablations) were treated using Rhythm-RT to guide cardiac SBRT planning. Compared to existing methods of delineating GTV crudely by free-hand, Rhythm-RT visualizes EP spatial information superimposed on heart contours. The area of myocardium selected as GTV, based on proximity to relevant EP signals, is computationally derived rather than inferred and liable to human error. Final GTV modification with the help of an experienced electrophysiologist is still recommended. When structural heart disease is multifocal, he/she may provide insight on which areas are more likely to cause arrhythmia. Adjustment of the GTV boundary may also be informed by direct observations during EP procedures that are not reflected in procedure equipment logs. CONCLUSION Rhythm-RT is a software that improves the accuracy and efficiency of target volume delineation in cardiac SBRT. Additional patient enrollment on our institutional protocol utilizing this technology is ongoing, along with outcomes analysis and expansion of input data versatility to include all EP and radiation planning systems.
Examination for the Presence of an Oligo-Metastatic State in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Undergoing Systemic Chemotherapy.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) More than 50% of patients with PDAC will present with distant metastatic disease. Outcomes are known to be heterogenous amongst this patient cohort. By identifying clinical and disease burden characteristics that are associated with increased durations of OS, we can better apply non-systemic therapies/interventions on- or off-trial. MATERIALS/METHODS We identified patients who presented with newly diagnosed metastatic PDAC that received treatment with FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine-based chemotherapies between 8/01/2011-09/01/2017 at our institution. Patients with localized disease at diagnosis that progressed to metastatic disease were excluded. Metastatic disease burden was comprehensively characterized radiologically via imaging segmentation; locations, number, and volume of metastatic disease (when able) using commercially available image annotation software (MIM Inc, Ohio). Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared between groups via the log-rank test. ECOG performance status was obtained via chart review and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was calculated for all patients using publicly available online tools. RESULTS 121 patients were evaluated, median age was 62 (37-86), 40% were female, 25% were ECOG 0 at presentation, 7.5% had a CCI of 0 at presentation. Of the 121 total patients included, 33% (n = 41) were alive at 12 months, and 25% (n = 31) were alive at 18 months. Landmark analysis was performed at 18 months and demonstrated a significant difference between patients surviving / = 18 months regarding the presence of lung metastases (36% vs 16% P = 0.04), number of organs with metastases (> / = 2 vs 1 P = 0.04), and disease volume (mean of 19.1cc vs 1.4cc P = 0.04). At year 1, predictors for OS were: ECOG status at diagnosis (ECOG 0 vs ECOG 1 P = 0.04), metastatic disease volume at diagnosis ( 60 cc P = 0.004), metastasis only in the liver (P = 0.04), and normalization of CA 19-9 (P < 0.001). At year 2, the only predictor of OS was normalization of the CA 19-9 (P = 0.03). In those patients that normalized their CA 19-9, median overall survival was 16 months. Total number of metastatic lesions, presence of lymph nodes, and location of the pancreatic primary tumor were not significant predictors for OS. CONCLUSION We present a detailed characterization of metastatic disease outcomes using segmented diagnostic imaging at the time of diagnosis. Patients with normalization of CA-19-9, or limited volumetric disease burden, demonstrated OS approaching that of patients with non-metastatic disease. These metrics identify potential selection criteria for clinical trials evaluating local interventions for patients with metastatic PDAC.
Aberrant endothelial CXCL signaling in COPD

Rationale: Aberrant cell-cell signaling networks in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remain poorly understood. Therefore, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) profiles to construct cell-cell signaling networks and infer alveolar signaling patterns that mediate COPD progression. Methods: We analyzed scRNAseq data of explanted lung tissue from 17 patients with COPD and 15 control lungs, and validated findings using scRNAseq of mice exposed to 6 months of cigarette smoke. Connectomic networks were constructed by mapping the data against the FANTOM5 database of ligand-receptor pairs, and topological features of the networks were computed to explore dysregulated signaling. We then grouped cell-cell interactions into preassigned canonical signaling modes to identify pathway specific changes in cell-cell signaling. Finally, we explored specific ligand-receptor pairs that contributed the greatest changes in signaling. Results: We generated networks of alveolar and immune cell signaling in both control and COPD lung tissue. We identified signaling changes in 14 out of 22 pathways, including CXCL, interleukin, and TNF. The largest increase was “outgoing” CXCL signaling from capillary endothelial cells, which was largely driven by increased CXCL12 signaling. Expression of CXCL12-interacting molecules, including CXCR3 and CXCR4, was also increased in "receiving" cell types. These findings were confirmed in our mouse model. Conclusions: Our scRNAseq analysis reveals changes in alveolar signaling topology that occur in COPD, particularly increased capillary endothelial cell CXCL12 signaling, which may both underlie chronic inflammation in advanced COPD and represent a therapeutic target to treat this disease.
Mammary Tumor Regression VI. SYNTHESIS AND DEGRADATION OF ACID RIBONUCLEASE

Abstract The rate constants for acid RNase synthesis and degradation were measured in growing and regressing tumors. Accumulation of acid RNase in regressing tumors is the result of both enhanced synthetic and degradative processes. Increased acid RNase synthesis during tumor regression was shown indirectly by measuring the decrease in specific activity of the enzyme labeled during tumor growth and directly by measuring the rate of l-[4,5-3H2]leucine incorporation into the enzyme. The rate of acid RNase degradation was determined in growing and regressing tumors by the rate of radioactivity loss from the prelabeled enzyme. The degradation rate increased during the initial phase of tumor regression but later approached the rate present in the growing tumor.
Exon shuffling in retrospect.

Retrotransposons are mobile elements that move through the genome by reverse transcription of their RNA template. In his Perspective, Tom Eickbush discusses new findings reported in this issue by [Moran and colleagues][1] that suggest that the insertion of retrotransposable elements in the genome can be beneficial rather than deleterious as previously assumed. [][2] [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/283/5407/1530 [2]: http://
Temperature-sensitive Mutants of Yeast Exhibiting a Rapid Inhibition of Protein Synthesis

Certain temperature-sensitive (ts−) mutants of yeast which cannot be corrected by nutritional supplementation exhibited a rapid cessation of protein synthesis after a shift to the restrictive temperature. Genetic and biochemical tests permitted a division of these mutants into four classes. This division was based upon genetic complementation patterns among the mutants and an investigation of glucose incorporation into macromolecules and polyribosome content in the mutants after a shift to the restrictive temperature. A study of these parameters in the parent strain (ts+) in the presence of certain well-characterized inhibitors allowed a tentative identification of the biochemical defects in each of the four classes. The properties of the mutants in class IA were consistent with the hypothesis that they result from a defect in the initiation of polypeptide chains or in ribonucleic acid synthesis; mutants in class IB from a defect in the elongation of polypeptide chains; mutants in class IIA from a defect in energy metabolism; and mutants in class IIB from a lesion affecting membrane function.
TCP increase/decrease behavior with explicit congestion notification (ECN)

We investigate the effect of TCP explicit congestion notification (ECN) with a new response strategy that is more aggressive in the short term, but preserves TCP long term behavior, without modifying the router marking rate. A less aggressive ECN decrease gives more incentives for end systems to become ECN-compliant, as ECN serves as an early warning sign in this case. Our analysis and simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the new algorithm in improving throughput and reducing fluctuations. We model a multiple bottleneck scenario with various types of traffic, and evaluate the effect of a number of parameters, including TCP flavor, increase/decrease parameters, buffer size, and random early detection (RED) parameters.
Geochemical Cycling of Iodine Species in Soils

This chapter applies new analytical techniques to study the content and speciation of stable iodine in representative surface soils, and sorption and transport behavior of iodine species (iodide, iodate, and 4-iodoaniline) in sediments collected at numerous nuclear facilities in the United States, where anthropogenic 129 I from prior nuclear fuel processing activities poses an environmental risk. Different iodine species exhibit very different sorption and transport behavior in geologic samples. Sorption of iodate is consistently greater than that of iodide, while the transport of organoiodine (exemplified by 4-iodoaniline in this study) is quite limited, and related to the amount of organic matter in the sample. The physical and chemical processes affecting iodine transport include iodate reduction, irreversible retention or mass loss, and rate-limited and nonlinear sorption of iodine. Various iodine species in different proportions exist in soil and sediments. Organically bound iodine, with limited solubility and mobility, commonly comprises the major proportion of total iodine; it is well correlated with total organic matter, sesquioxides, and clay content. With a shorter contact time than stable iodine, anthropogenic 129 I will likely have a higher mobility when in an inorganic form. However, 129 I will experience a similar speciation process as stable iodine and will eventually be retained strongly, with organoiodine as the dominant species.
The Predictive Utility of Kindergarten Screening for Math Difficulty

This study examined the reliability, validity, and predictive utility of kindergarten screening for risk for math difficulty (MD). Three screening measures, administered in September and May of kindergarten to 196 students, assessed number sense and computational fluency. Conceptual and procedural outcomes were measured at end of first grade, with MD operationalized as below the 16th percentile. The authors compared single-versus multiple-skill screeners, fall versus spring kindergarten screening, and conceptual versus procedural outcomes. Reliability and validity coefficients were adequate. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics analyses indicated that the single- and multiple-skill screeners produced good and similar classification accuracy at the fall and spring screening occasions in forecasting conceptual outcome. To forecast procedural outcome, the screeners produced similar but less accurate fits.
Predictors of costs of caring for elderly patients discharged with heart failure

Abstract Background Investments in programs to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions for patients who survive hospitalization with heart failure will be economically most favorable for those who have the highest risk. Little information is available, however, to stratify the risk of these patients incurring costs after discharge. In this study, we sought to determine correlates of costs in a representative sample of patients with heart failure in the 6 months after discharge. Methods We reviewed medical records of 2181 patients aged ≥65 years who were discharged alive from 18 Connecticut hospitals in 1994 and 1995 with a principal discharge diagnosis of heart failure. Outcomes 6 months after discharge, including all-cause readmission and cost, heart failure–related readmission and cost, and death, were obtained from the Medicare administrative database. A 2-stage sample selection model was used to identify the independent correlates of cost. Risk scores were calculated to identify subsets of patients at risk for generating high costs. Results On average, patients discharged with heart failure incurred costs of $2388 resulting from heart failure–related admissions and $7101 resulting from admissions from any cause during the 6 months after discharge. An average admission for heart failure cost $7174, whereas an admission resulting from any cause cost $8589. The multivariate models explained 7% of the variation in cost, although clinical characteristics such as recent heart failure admissions, kidney failure, and hypertension were significant independent correlates of increased cost. Older age and a history of stroke were independently associated with decreased cost. Patients without any of the risk factors associated with increased costs still incurred $1500 to $5000, on average, in the 6 months after discharge. Conclusions Patients with heart failure generate substantial hospital costs in the 6 months after discharge. Given the emerging evidence for effective programs to reduce readmission, investments in interventions that produce even modest reductions in risk would be economically favorable. (Am Heart J 2001;142:350-7)
The hierarchical atlas

This paper presents a new map specifically designed for robots operating in large environments and possibly in higher dimensions. We call this map the hierarchical atlas because it is a multilevel and multiresolution representation. For this paper, the hierarchical atlas has two levels: at the highest level there is a topological map that organizes the free space into submaps at the lower level. The lower-level submaps are simply a collection of features. The hierarchical atlas allows us to perform calculations and run estimation techniques, such as Kalman filtering, in local areas without having to correlate and associate data for the entire map. This provides a means to explore and map large environments in the presence of uncertainty with a process named hierarchical simultaneous localization and mapping. As well as organizing information of the free space, the map also induces well-defined sensor-based control laws and a provably complete policy to explore unknown regions. The resulting map is also useful for other tasks such as navigation, obstacle avoidance, and global localization. Experimental results are presented showing successful map building and subsequent use of the map in large-scale spaces.
Exercise training and antioxidant supplementation independently improve cognitive function in adult male and female GFAP-APOE mice

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if antioxidant supplementation, moderate exercise, and the combination of both treatments could ameliorate cognitive performance in adult mice and whether the apolipoprotein E ( APOE ) genotype as well as sex could influence the functional outcomes of the treatments. Methods For a period of 16 weeks, separate groups of male and female mice expressing either the human APOE3 or APOE4 isoforms were fed either a control diet (NIH-31) or the control diet supplemented with vitamins E and C (1.12 IU/g diet α-tocopheryl acetate and 1.65 mg/g ascorbic acid). The mice were further separated into a sedentary group or a group that followed a daily exercise regimen. After 8 weeks on the treatments, the mice were administered a battery of functional tests including tests to measure cognitive and affective function. Results There was no effect of genotype or treatment on the learning performance in the Morris water maze. In the discriminated avoidance task, APOE4 mice performed better in learning the discrimination component of the task. Overall, exercise improved performance of APOE4 and APOE3 mice on various aspects of the active avoidance task. Antioxidant supplementation improved performance only in the APOE4 mice. On the test for anxiety, APOE4 mice spent more time in the open arms and supplementation with antioxidant reversed that effect. Conclusion Exercise was the most effective treatment at improving cognitive function in both genotypes and sex, while antioxidants seemed to be effective only in the APOE4 . In young adult mice only non-spatial learning and memory were improved. The combination of the two treatments did not yield further improvement in cognition, and there was no antagonistic action of the antioxidant supplementation on the beneficial effects of exercise.
Lingual Discoordination and Dysphagia following Acute Stroke: Analyses of Lesion Localization

The mechanism and neural substrates that mediate lingual coordination during swallowing have not been well characterized. Although lingual discoordination during swallowing has been difficult to quantify, it has been defined as the random disorganization of anterior-posterior tongue movements evident in bolus propulsion. In a sample of consecutive acute stroke patients (n = 59), videofluoroscopic evaluation showed a 19% incidence of lingual discoordination during swallowing. Lingual discoordination during swallowing was not commonly associated with buccofacial apraxia, apraxia of speech, nor limb apraxia. Hemisphere and anterior-posterior localization did not predict occurrence of lingual discoordination. Lingual discoordination during swallowing occurred commonly in patients with subcortical lesions with the periventricular white matter (PVWM), the most common site of involvement. PVWM lesions may disconnect anterior and posterior cortical regions that are critical to oral control and coordination in swallowing, thereby producing lingual discoordination during swallowing. These data also suggest that the neural mechanisms that mediate lingual coordination may at least in part be independent of the neural systems that mediate buccofacial, limb, and speech praxis functions.
Cellular mechanisms by which oxytocin stimulates uterine PGF2α synthesis in bovine endometrium: Roles of phospholipases C and A2

The objective of these experiments was to identify the cellular mechanisms by which oxytocin stimulates prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha synthesis in bovine endometrial tissue. Uteri were collected on the day after spontaneous luteal regression. Caruncular endometrial explants were dissected and incubated in vitro to assess PGF2 alpha release or phospholipase (PL) C activity. Oxytocin (10(-6) M) stimulated PGF2 alpha release and PLC activity within 30 min of incubation (P 0.10). By comparing the time course of stimulation and dose-response relationships between PGF2 alpha and PLC activity, it appears that oxytocin may stimulate PGF2 alpha secretion by activating PLC. The effects of melittin and aristolochic acid indicate that PLA2 may play a role in mediating the stimulatory effect of oxytocin on PGF2 alpha secretion, as well.
Exploring Some Analytical Characteristics of Finite Mixture Models

Finite mixture models have become increasingly prevalent in criminology over the past two decades. Yet there is no consensus about the appropriate criterion for model selection with finite mixture specifications. In this paper, we use simulation evidence to examine model selection criteria. Our focus is on mixture models for event count data like those often encountered in criminology. We use two indices to measure model selection performance. First, we examine how often each criterion chooses the correct specification. Then, we investigate how closely the finite mixture models selected by these criteria approximate the true mixing distribution used to simulate the event count data. We consider three sets of simulations. In the first set, the underlying model is itself a three component Poisson-based finite mixture model. In the two other sets of simulations, the underlying distribution of the Poisson rate parameter follows a continuous distribution. The analysis shows that both AIC and BIC perform well under certain sets of circumstances likely to be encountered by criminologists.
Model of the interaction potential of an atom with a hard corrugated surface incorporating a stationary potential well

Abstract We propose a new atom-surface interaction potential model which is designed for use in the recent exact theory for the elastic scattering of an atom by a hard corrugated surface model which incorporates a stationary attractive potential well [N. Garcia, F.O. Goodman, V. Celli and N.R. Hill, Phys. Rev. B (1979)]. The model parameters are adjusted to obtain a best-fit to all available experimental data on atom-surface bound-state energies, and comparisons are also made with the latest theoretical data, with satisfactory results.
mRNA translocation occurs during the second step of ribosomal intersubunit rotation

During protein synthesis, mRNA and tRNA undergo coupled translocation through the ribosome in a process that is catalyzed by elongation factor G (EF-G). On the basis of cryo-EM reconstructions, counterclockwise and clockwise rotational movements between the large and small ribosomal subunits have been implicated in a proposed ratcheting mechanism to drive the unidirectional movement of translocation. We used a combination of two fluorescence-based approaches to study the timing of these events, intersubunit fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements to observe relative rotational movement of the subunits, and a fluorescence quenching assay to monitor translocation of mRNA. Binding of EF-G-GTP first induces rapid counterclockwise intersubunit rotation, followed by a slower, clockwise reversal of the rotational movement. We compared the rates of these movements and found that mRNA translocation occurs during the second, clockwise rotation event, corresponding to the transition from the hybrid state to the classical state.
Dissociation Energy and Ionization Potential of Molecular Hydrogen

The small discrepancy between experimental and theoretical values for the dissociation energies of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$, HD, and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ has been resolved by new measurements of the ultraviolet absorption limits of these molecules. In addition, the ionization potential of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ has been more accurately determined from Rydberg series. The agreement between theory and experiment must be considered very satisfactory.
The effectiveness of risk-based intrapartum chemoprophylaxis for the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease.

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of a risk-based intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis strategy for the prevention of early-onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease. Study Design: Cases and controls were selected from infants born to women with one or more risk factors: preterm labor or rupture of membranes, prolonged rupture of membranes (>18 hours), fever during labor, or previous child with group B streptococcal disease. Cases were matched with controls by birth hospital and gestational age. Data abstracted from medical records were analyzed to estimate the effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. Results: We analyzed data from 109 cases and 207 controls. Nineteen (17%) case versus 69 (33%) control mothers received an acceptable regimen of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. In adjusted analyses, the effectiveness of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis was 86% (95% confidence interval, 66%-94%). When the first dose of antibiotics was given ≥2 hours before delivery, the effectiveness increased to 89% (95% confidence interval, 70%-96%); when it was given within 2 hours of delivery, the effectiveness was 71% (95% confidence interval, –8%-92%). Effectiveness was lowest in mothers with intrapartum fever (72%, 95% confidence interval, –9%-93%). On the basis of a 70% prevalence of maternal risk factors expected among cases in the absence of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, we estimate that the risk-based strategy could reduce early-onset group B streptococcal disease by 60%. Conclusions: The risk-based approach to intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in preventing early-onset group B streptococcal disease. To achieve the maximum preventive effect, the first dose of antibiotics should be administered at least 2 hours before delivery. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1204-10.)
Photochemical Production of Formaldehyde in Earth's Primitive Atmosphere

Formaldehyde could have been produced by photochemical reactions in Earth's primitive atmosphere, at a time when it consisted mainly of molecular nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Removal of formaldehyde from the atmosphere by precipitation can provide a source of organic carbon to the oceans at the rate of 10(11) moles per year. Subsequent reactions of formaldehyde in primeval aquatic environments would have implications for the abiotic synthesis of complex organic molecules and the origin of life.
Large Diffusivity and Asymptotic Behavior in Parabolic Systems.

Abstract For systems of reaction-diffusion equations with Neumann boundary conditions, it is shown that the solutions are asymptotic to the solutions of an ordinary differential equation if the diffusivity is large. The methods apply also to reaction-diffusion systems with time delays.
Tableaux and chains in a new partial order of Sn

Abstract We define a new poset on the symmetric group S n . It is subposet of the weak ordering of S n with the property that every interval is a distributive lattice. For each principal ideal we explicitly compute the poset of join-irreducibles and use this to get an expression for the number of maximal chains in these intervals. In the case of certain principal ideals the number of maximal chains is given by the number of shifted tableaux of a certain shape. In particular, in the principal ideal generated by the reverse permutation the number of maximal chains is given by the number of shifted tableaux of staircase shape. We relate this to similar results for the weak ordering and show how bijections that work in that case restrict to this new poset. This new poset arises naturally from the study of convex geometries. We detail these connections and give an alternative definition for this poset in this context.
Redescription of Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jörgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) with description of the immature stages and biology

Dicranoses capsulifex Kieffer and Jorgensen (Lepidoptera: Cecidosidae) is a gall inducing moth associated with Schinus fasciculatus (Griseb.) (Anacardiaceae), with a known distribution restricted to Argentina. It undergoes a one year life cycle (univoltine), with leaf-like galls, and adult with only a half day life span. Male, female, pupa, and gall are redescribed, and the genitalia of both sexes, larva, and life cycle are described herein for the first time using light and scanning electron microscopy. The life cycle is documented from samples consisting of 15 larvae and/or pupae taken every 15 days during the year (from July, 2011, to July, 2012).
Inguinal hernia in preterm infants (≤32-Week Gestation)

The current incidence of inguinal hernia (IH) in premature infants is not well-established. It is also unclear whether common co-morbidities in this population, i.e., chronic lung disease (CLD) or nutritional status or both contribute to the development of IH. The purpose of this study was to establish the epidemiologic profile of preterm infants of 32 weeks gestational age (GA) or less at birth with IH and determine whether the severity of CLD or poor nutritional status predisposes to the development of IH. Perioperative profiles of infants undergoing surgery were also reviewed. A retrospective study of 1,057 infants born at 23-32 weeks GA from January 1990 to December 1995 was done. Specific risk and demographic factors were identified. Factors used to determine severity of CLD were: days on intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV); days on positive pressure (IMV + continuous positive airway pressure); and total number of days on supplemental oxygen. Overall nutritional status was determined by weight gain in g/kg per day. The incidence of IH in preterm infants of 32 weeks GA or less who were admitted for 28 days or more was 9.34% (65/696) prior to discharge. The incidence in infants weighing 1,500 g or less was 11.11% (63/567) and in infants 1,000 g or less 17.39% (48/276). All parameters that determined the severity of CLD were statistically significant in infants with IH by univariate analysis. In a multivariate regression model, male gender was the most important variable that was significantly associated with IH (odds ratio OR=9.6; 95% confidence interval CI=3.90-23.59), followed by total days on supplemental oxygen (adjusted OR=1.00; 95% CI= 1.01-1.02). Weight gain (g/kg per day) was not significantly different between the two groups. Surgical correction before discharge was well tolerated. We conclude that the incidence of IH is GA-dependent. Factors related to severity of CLD play a more important role than weight gain in predisposing to IH.
Reproducing inequalities: Luck, wallets, and the enduring effects of childhood health

In this article, I argue that research on social stratification, on intergenerational transmission of inequalities, and on the theory of factor payments and wage determination will be strengthened by studying the role played by early childhood health. I show that the inclusion of such a factor requires researchers to integrate theories in each of these fields with new theories linking early childhood health conditions and events that occur at later stages in the life course of individuals, particularly physical and mental health as well as disability and mortality. The empirical evidence I gather shows that early childhood health matters for the achievement of, or social accession to, adult social class positions. Even if the magnitude of associations is not overwhelming, it is not weaker than that found between adult social accession and other, more conventional and better-studied individual characteristics, such as educational attainment. It is very likely that the evidence presented in this article grossly underplays the importance of early childhood health for adult socioeconomic achievement.
A Comparative Study of Relational Interconnectedness, Merger, and Ego Development in Lesbian, Gay Male, and Heterosexual Couples

Abstract One hundred ninety participants, including 34 lesbian couples, 31 gay male couples, and 30 heterosexual couples, were administered a series of questionnaires which assessed each partner's perceptions of relational interconnectedness and merger. The Washington University Sentence Completion Test of Ego Development (SCT: Loevinger& Wessler, 1970) was also administered to assess participants' level of ego development. We predicted that lesbian couples would be most inclined to relational interconnection as well as merger when compared to heterosexual and gay male couples, and that merger, postulated as a healthy process, would be positively correlated with ego development across all couples. Couples revealed occasionally experiencing merger and rated this experience as moderately important to their overall sense of relationship satisfaction. Ego development was not significantly correlated with relational interconnectedness or merger. Findings provided partial support for recent reformulations of me...
Feasibility of metalworking fluids delivered in supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract This paper presents a new method to lubricate, cool, and evacuate chips in metalworking operations using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2). Water-based and straight oil metalworking fluids (MWFs) are currently being used to perform these functions even though they are characterized by high economic, occupational health, and environmental costs. Carbon dioxide above its critical temperature and pressure is a finely tunable solvent that dissolves certain oils, creating the possibility of using scCO2 to carry lubricants to the cutting zone in minimal and precise quantities, while significantly reducing the occupational health and environmental risks associated with MWF systems. In the proposed process, an oil-in-CO2 dispersion is sprayed out of a nozzle at high speed and pressure to deliver oil and form dry ice near to the cutting zone. The rapid expansion of the CO2 leads to cooling at cryogenic temperatures, and the combination of high pressure and low surface tension provides access to interstitial spaces that are inaccessible to conventional MWF oil and water jets. Research with the tapping torque test shows that soybean oil dissolved in scCO2 performs significantly better than straight soybean oil, even when less oil is applied-meaning that scCO2 provides additional benefit to the tapping process. This soybean oil-in-scCO2 MWF also performed better than straight petroleum mineral oil and emulsions of soybean oil or petroleum oil. Scanning electron microscopy images of the chip surfaces produced by the tapping experiments illustrate that higher tapping torque efficiency correlates well with less frictional wear on chip surfaces.
Abstract 1449: A loss-of-function shRNA library screen for the cell invasion-suppressing genes in LNCaP prostate cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Metastasis remains the primary cause of cancer-related death. Metastasis reduces the 5-year survival rate dramatically, as observed in prostate cancer, and yet, little is known about the genes that control the metastatic process. shRNA libraries are emerging as powerful tools for the identification of genes with specific functions. Here, we describe the successful application of this functional gene-discovery system by identifying genes suppressing tumor invasion, a process that is essential for metastasis. After infecting human prostate cancer cells, LNCaP, with Decode lentiviruses encoding the entire human genomic shRNA library, highly invasive variants were selected using Matrigel invasion assays. After three cycles of selection, we isolated highly invasive clones from 7 shRNA library pools. Using DNA sequence analysis and a database search, we identified five genes previously not associated with control of tumor cell invasiveness: forkhead box O4 (FOXO4), kinesin family member 3B (KIF 3B), signal transducing adaptor molecule (SH3 domain and ITAM motif) 1 (STAM), SUMO1/sentrin specific peptidase 1 (SENP1), and Homo sapiens solute carrier family 17 (SLC17A4). Silencing of FOXO4, a member of Forkhead transcription factors family, by small interfering RNAs indeed increased invasion of LNCaP cells. Reintroducing FOXO4 decreased invasion in the highly invasive prostate cancer cell lines DU145 and CWR22v1. In order to show that increased invasiveness was not a result of a change in survival ability, apoptosis and proliferation were assessed. The results indicate that FOXO4 did not affect proliferation and apoptosis in LNCaP cells. In mammals, the FOXO family comprises four members (FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4 and FOXO6). Though FOXO1, 3 and 4 have previously been described as having redundant functions, it appears that FOXO4 has unique metastasis suppressor function in prostate cancer. Additionally, an analysis of web-based gene expression databanks indicates that FOXO4 typically is downregulated in metastatic lesions of breast, prostate and colon cancers when compared to primary lesions. Further characterization of these candidate genes would clarify the complex mechanisms of invasion and metastasis and might reveal new classes of therapeutic targets distinct from known metastatic genes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1449. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1449
Structural modification studies of 3-piperonylsydnone. III. Some analogs of 3-piperonylsydnone and 2,4-diamino-5-piperonylpyrimidine

In a continued structural modification study of the antimalarial compounds 3-piperonylsydnone and 2,4-diamino-5-piperonylpyrimidine, the related piperonyl derivatives of ψ-1,2,3;4-oxatriazole, ψ-1,3,5-oxadiazole, pyrazole, tetrazole, 1,2,4-triazine, pyrrolidine, amino- and sulfamoyl-1,2,4-triazole, as well as some sydnones and diaminopyrimidines with side chains other than the piperonyl group have been synthesized. 3-(3,4-Ethylenedioxyphenyl)sydnone was found to double the survival time of Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The other compounds are not as active.
Monte Carlo phase space evaluation

Abstract A new, efficient method of generating Monte Carlo phase space integrals for multi-particle systems is derived. By using the analytically exact integrals for zero-mass particles as a comparison function, we generate the integrals for massive particles with an extremely high efficiency. We thus can generate unit weight events, simulating actual experimental data. The events are generated in two distinct steps. First, effective masses, conserving energy and momentum are generated. Next, the effective masses are allowed to sequentially “decay” via two-body models, and the decay products are then given an angular distribution, in their own center-of-mass system. The resulting two momenta are then Lorentz transformed into the appropriate laboratory system. Our method is contrasted to traditional methods of generating similar events, where the “dice” are thrown “flat” in effective mass, and comparisons of efficiency are made. For large numbers of particles and very high energies, the improvement is enormous. In addition, new methods of generating distribution functions are introduced.
Stem Cells for Myocardial Regeneration

The field of cardiovascular regenerative medicine has made significant strides over the past decade. Clinical trials have demonstrated benefit in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and chronic heart failure (CHF). As the field has matured, it has defined novel biology and invented an array of therapeutic strategies that are currently under development. In this brief review, we attempt to conceptualize the knowledge to date as well as examine how this knowledge has been translated to various therapeutic strategies.