cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Targeting of Persistent HIV-1 during Antiretroviral Therapy Requires Priming of Naive CD8+ T Cells

ABSTRACT Curing HIV-1 infection will require elimination of persistent cellular reservoirs that harbor latent virus in the face of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Proposed immunotherapeutic strategies to cure HIV-1 infection include enhancing lysis of these infected cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). A major challenge in this strategy is overcoming viral immune escape variants that have evaded host immune control. Here we report that naive CD8 + T cells from chronic HIV-1-infected participants on long-term cART can be primed by dendritic cells (DC). These DC must be mature, produce high levels of interleukin 12p70 (IL-12p70), be responsive to CD40 ligand (CD40L), and be loaded with inactivated, autologous HIV-1. These DC-primed CD8 + T cell responders produced high levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in response to a broad range of both conserved and variable regions of Gag and effectively killed CD4 + T cell targets that were either infected with the autologous latent reservoir-associated virus or loaded with autologous Gag peptides. In contrast, HIV-1-specific memory CD8 + T cells stimulated with autologous HIV-1-loaded DC produced IFN-γ in response to a narrow range of conserved and variable Gag peptides compared to the primed T cells and most notably, displayed significantly lower cytolytic function. Our findings highlight the need to selectively induce new HIV-1-specific CTL from naive precursors while avoiding activation of existing, dysfunctional memory T cells in potential curative immunotherapeutic strategies for HIV-1 infection. IMPORTANCE Current immunotherapeutic approaches aim to enhance antiviral immunity against the HIV-1 reservoir; however, it has yet to be shown whether T cells from persons on cART can recognize and eliminate virus-infected cells. We show that in persons on cART a personalized medicine approach using their dendritic cells to stimulate their naive T cells induces potent effector CTL in vitro that recognize and eradicate HIV-1-infected CD4 + T cells. Additionally, we show that the same stimulation of existing memory T cells results in cytokine secretion but limited effector function. Our study demonstrates that the naive T cell repertoire can recognize persistent HIV-1 during cART and supports immunotherapy strategies for an HIV-1 cure that targets naive T cells, rather than existing, dysfunctional, memory T cells.
Surgical approach to incontinence. Preface.

Editorial Comment: This sample was a little different from what most of us who take care of prostate cancer are used to seeing, in that more than 50% of the patients had mixed incontinence (64%, 50% and 54% for the 3 groups), although only 1.4%, 2.9% and 1.5% had what the investigators interpreted as pure urgency incontinence. The behavioral therapy was implemented in 4 visits approximately 2 weeks apart by physicians or nurse practitioners. The complete program, including home exercises, is well described in the interventions section of the article. The results with respect to improvement in incontinence episodes are detailed in the abstract. There is little question that the addition of biofeedback and electrical stimulation did not improve the 8-week results compared with behavioral therapy alone. A total of 90% of participants in the behavioral therapy group and 91% in the behavioral plus group described their leakages as “better” or “much better” on a global perception of improvement scale, compared with 10% of participants in the controlled group. Also 45% and 42% of participants in the active treatment groups reported wearing fewer pads or diapers than before treatment compared with 5% in the controlled group. Complete continence was achieved on a 7-day bladder diary in 15.7% of patients in the behavioral therapy group, 17.1% in the behavioral plus group and 5.9% in the control group. The authors feel that the reasons that the biofeedback and electrical stimulation did not produce an incremental improvement was because in their opinions these modalities are most useful for teaching patients to locate and exercise their pelvic floor muscles, although they also feel that it is more unusual in men than in women not to be able to control the pelvic floor muscles using verbal coaching during physical examination. Anal palpation of contraction was used as the interventional teaching modality within the behavioral therapy program.
Polymer Miscibility and Kinetics of Pressure — Induced Phase Separation in Near-Critical and Supercritical Fluids

Polymers are long chain molecules that have become an indispensable part of the modem day living. They form the basis for materials of choice that are customized for a wide range of applications from baby diapers to medical devices, to computer boards. A variety of techniques are used in the synthesis, modification and processing of polymeric materials for a given end-use application.
High voltage P+ polysilicon/N- 6H-SiC heterojunction diodes

A novel P/sup +/ polysilicon/N 6H-SiC heterojunction diode is reported which combines the advantages of both Schottky barrier diodes and pn junction diodes. The unterminated heterojunction diodes have excellent rectification characteristics and a high breakdown voltage of 220 V. The forward voltage drop measured at 100 A/cm/sup 2/ is 2.7 V, close to the calculated value of 2.4 V. The suitability of this device for high speed switching applications was experimentally confirmed using reverse recovery measurements.
Toward view-invariant representations of object structure learned using object constancy cues in natural movies

An approach to learning view-invariant object representations was explored based on the learning of legal or naturalistic view transformations in time, learned from the statistical properties of natural movies. A simple cell layer responded to localized oriented image structure, and a complex cell layer learned to respond to those subsets of simple cells with the strongest tendencies to trade off activity with each other in response to movement of the visual stimulus. Tradeoffs between simple cells were strongest in response to same-orientation translation, and fell off rapidly with changes in orientation. The local complex cell responses thus became insensitive to typical object motion, evidenced by broadening of response to stimulus phase, while remaining sensitive to local object form. The model makes predictions about synaptic learning rules in complex cells, and mechanisms of successive view-invariance in the primate ventral stream.
Non-radioactive in vitro PINK1 Kinase Assays Using Ubiquitin or Parkin as Substrate

This protocol describes the in vitro phosphorylation of ubiquitin and Parkin by the kinase PINK1 using recombinant proteins. Both substrates, ubiquitin and Parkin, are phosphorylated at the conserved serine 65 residue (pS65-ubiquitin and pS65-Parkin). The protocol also includes the use of monomeric and K48- and K63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains as alternative substrates. Although there are commercially available antibodies, we have not tested their performance in this assay since, but used validated antibodies from our laboratory. An alternative antibody-independent method, the use of phostag gels to detect pS65-ubiquitin and pS65-Parkin, is described in addition.
Interpretations of QM with Applications for Formal Epistemology

Associated with the Copenhagen school, the External Observation View of quantum mechanics depicted a quantum state as evolving deterministically, but with interruptions when ‘collapsed’ by measurement interactions. I will point to an analogy with the doxastic state studied in epistemology, and show that this analogy suggests an application of the quantum mechanical formalism that leads to a proof of one solution of a central problem in formal epistemology. I will end with some critical remarks.
Rapid effects of estrogens and androgens on temporal and spectral features in ultrasonic vocalizations.

• Males exhibit a surge in testosterone (T) after interacting with a female across a wire mesh.
The ubiquitous baseball cap: Identity, style, and comfort in late modern times:

The baseball cap completes the T-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers as the common kit of late modern life, the recent decades when consumption, as acquisition, display, and deployment, has become pree...
Careers in Student Affairs: A Holistic Guide to Professional Development in Higher Education

Changing executive leadership, reorganizations, new administrative positions, and shifting student demographics are some examples of how higher education is constantly transforming. Like all stewar...
Doubts for Dawid's non-empirical theory assessment

Abstract Dawid's account of non-empirical theory assessment is meant to complement traditional theory assessments. I contend that his arguments don't provide support for this account. His three arguments, the no alternatives argument, the unexpected explanatory connections argument, and the meta-inductive argument from prior theories' success, are all problematic, particularly for an assessment of string theory. In particular, I argue that the meta-inductive argument is idle, because it's role in underwriting the future predictive success of a theory is subsumed by the normal accounting of its predecessor's predictions in theory growth and testing. Dawid's arguments are interdependent, so showing that one fails is sufficient to cast doubt on his entire account.
Detection of estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug synergistic activities of seven commercially available fruits by In Vitro reporter assays

Background: Fruits are known to possess antiosteoporotic and anticancer properties in part due to their estrogenic and antiestrogenic activities. Objective: In this study, estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug synergistic activities of seven commercially available fruits were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A steroid-regulated transcription system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing a human estrogen receptor alpha expression plasmid, and a β-galactosidase gene reporter plasmid was employed for the estrogenic, antiestrogenic, and drug agonistic studies. Results: California table grape extract showed the highest estrogenic activity. The estrogenic activities of other extracts ranked as follows: blackberry, red raspberry, strawberry > blueberry > jackfruit, black raspberry. The transcriptional activities of the combination estradiol-fruit extracts (FEs) (400E equivalents) ranked as follows: blueberry (95.9%), blackberry (86.2%), black raspberry (88.9%), and California table grape (81.5%) > jackfruit (72.2%), and red raspberry (73.2%) > strawberry (60.7%). Black and red raspberry extracts showed the highest synergistic activities with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Black and red raspberry extracts in combination with 4-OHT lowered the estradiol activity by 74.9% and 73.9%, respectively. The highest synergistic activity with nafoxidine (NAF) was displayed by red raspberry extract. Together, NAF and red raspberry extract lowered estradiol activity by 77.9%. Fold changes were calculated for drug synergistic activities of FEs, and they ranged from 1.3 to 15.3 for 4-OHT and 1.5–17.4 for NAF, respectively. Conclusions: The active compounds in the FEs studied may be useful in enhancing the antiestrogen activities of chemotherapy drugs and be used as chemopreventive agents for patients at high risk of estrogen-induced cancers. Abbreviations Used: 4 OHT: 4 hydroxytamoxifen, Abs: Absorbance, CAA-glucose medium: Casamino acid glucose medium, E: Estrogen/Estradiol, ER: Estrogen receptor, ERα: Estrogen receptor alpha, FE: Fruit extract, LBD: Ligand binding domain, MU: Miller Unit, NAF: Nafoxidine, RQC: Resveratrol, quercetin, and catechin.
Adolescent social stress increases anxiety-like behavior and ethanol consumption in adult male and female C57BL/6J mice

Exposure to social stress is an important risk factor for comorbid affective disorders and problem alcohol use. To better understand mechanisms involved in social stress-induced affective disorder and alcohol use co-morbidity, we studied the effects of adolescent social stress on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and binge-like ethanol consumption. Male and female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to chronic variable social stress (CVSS) or control conditions throughout adolescence (postnatal days, PND, 25–59) and then tested for anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze and a novel open field environment, or depression-like behavior using the forced swim test on PND 64–66. Mice were then tested for binge-like ethanol consumption using the Drinking-in-the-Dark model. Male and female mice exposed to adolescent CVSS had increased adult anxiety-like behavior and increased locomotor adaptation to a novel environment. Further, CVSS mice consumed significantly more ethanol, but not saccharin, than controls. Despite group differences in both anxiety-like behavior and ethanol consumption, there was no relationship between these outcomes within individual mice. These data suggest that exposure to adolescent social stress is an important risk factor for later alcohol use and affective behaviors, but that social stress does not necessarily dictate co-morbidity of these outcomes.
Starvation-Stress Response (SSR) of Salmonella typhimurium

The environments that many pathogenic bacteria encounter as they cycle from their host organism(s) to the external aquatic or terrestrial environments commonly share one general characteristic: they are frequently limiting for bacterial growth (Koch, 1971). A wide variety of environmental factors can play an important role in restricting bacterial growth, e.g., pH, osmolarity, and the availabilities of oxygen as well as essential nutrients (Tempest et al., 1983; Roszak and Colwell, 1987). The availability of essential nutrients such as phosphate (P), carbon (C), or nitrogen (N) in these environments is of particular importance in limiting bacterial growth (Harder and Dijkhuizen, 1983). As a consequence, non-spore-forming bacteria, e.g., Salmonella, frequently undergo drastic metabolic readjustments in an effort to survive until more favorable conditions are encountered.
Complications in paediatric regional anaesthesia

Regional anaesthesia is a very effective way of providing effective analgesia to paediatric patients. Most of the techniques currently available are both easy and safe, which allows their extensive use in children. However, like all powerful therapies, regional block procedures are not free of adverse effects; the potential for complications must be carefully checked preoperatively. Selection of local anaesthetics, insertion routes and block procedures in association with appropriate and careful monitoring would prevent any major undesirable issues and allow regional anaesthesia to be a safe and effective tool for use in overcoming pain with minimal morbidity.
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN THE MURINE B CELL LEUKEMIA, BCL 1 : REQUIREMENT FOR A SUPPRESSOR MACROPHAGE AND A NORMAL T CELL

ABSTRACT. The characteristics of cells causing immunosuppression in mice carrying the BCL 1 leukemia were investigated. In vitro suppression was shown to be mediated by a phagocytic cell which has previously been characterized as adherent, Ig − , and Thy 1.2 − . Suppression was not mediated by prostaglandins since indomethacin treatment did not abrogate suppression. In addition, a normal T cell was required, suggesting that suppression results from the interaction of a macrophage and a T cell.
Structural insights into inhibitor binding to a fungal ortholog of aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase

The aspartate pathway, uniquely found in plants and microorganisms, offers novel potential targets for the development of new antimicrobial drugs. Aspartate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (ASADH) catalyzes production of a key intermediate at the first branch point in this pathway. Several fungal ASADH structures have been determined, but the prior crystallization conditions had precluded complex formation with enzyme inhibitors. The first inhibitor-bound and cofactor-bound structures of ASADH from the pathogenic fungi Blastomyces dermatitidis have now been determined, along with a structural and functional comparison to other ASADH family members. The structure of this new ASADH is similar to the other fungal orthologs, but with some critical differences in the orientation of some active site functional groups and in the subunit interface region. The presence of this bound inhibitor reveals the first details about inhibitor binding interactions, and the flexible orientation of its aromatic ring provides helpful insights into the design of potentially more potent and selective antifungal compounds.
Graft Versus Host Disease - an Analysis of Internet and Social Network Activity and Engagement

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale Online search engines, forums and social networks can offer an important space to ask questions and share experiences. Symptoms from Graft versus Host Disease (GVHD) can seriously impact the quality of life in patients and the family and/or friends who take care of them. While online searches, forums and social networks has become one of the most popular ways that people learn about diseases, not much is known about which online sources receive the most engagements as measured my sharing on social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest, Reddit). Methods, Intervention, & Analysis Our objective was to analyze the sites with the most engagement online on the topic of graft versus host disease. We used an online analytical research program (BuzzSumo), which can assess specific content and identify sites that generate the greatest frequency of engagement across social platforms. Our analysis covered activity from 10/2016 to 10/2018. Findings & Interpretation From the analysis of 1852 online articles on GVHD and 32,299 engagements, we found that the social network that was used the most was Facebook and to a much lesser extent Twitter. The Pinterest and Reddit platforms were not engaged on this topic. Most engagement was due to online articles on GVHD for both Facebook and Twitter with a significantly lesser amount of engagement for video content. Articles on GVHD ranging from 1000-3000 words created more engagement than articles that were either very brief ( 3000). Sites that generated the most engagement was from established medical journals and medical news sources. An analysis of 771 Facebook posts on GVHD with 163,555 engagements revealed that images and video posts generated the most engagements and that posts that were >300 characters generated more engagement. An analysis of questions asked online mentioning GVHD revealed that the most common topics were that of “experience” and sites of involvement (gut or skin). Discussion & Implications Online articles and social networks have become integrated into our daily lives. It is important that we start to understand how these information sources are being used by patients, caregivers and health care providers. Our analysis of online engagement on the topic of GVHD is an example of how analytical programs can be used to help understand where and how people are engaging to learn and share their experiences with GVHD.
Time-of-Flight Scattering and Recoiling Spectrometry (TOF-SARS) for Surface Structure Determinations

Low energy (<10 keV) ion scattering spectrometry1 is becoming increasingly important as a surface analysis technique in three specific areas, i.e. surface elemental analysis,2 probing surface structure,3 and studying electronic transition probabilities4 between ions or atoms and surfaces. This is largely due to the following recent advances: (i) impact collision ion scattering spectrometry3 (ICISS) in which the scattering angle is close to 180°, thus simplifying the scattering geometry and allowing experimental determination of the shadow cone radii, (ii) the use of alkali primary ions5 which have low neutralization probabilities, leading to higher scattered ion fluxes, (iii) time-of-flight (TOF) techniques6 with detection of both neutrals and ions in a multichannel mode in order to enhance sensitivity, (iv) scattered ion fractions4 to probe the spatial distributions of electrons, and (v) the use of recoiling7 atoms to determine the structure of light adsorbates on surfaces.
Aggregation of Asian-American subgroups masks meaningful differences in health and health risks among Asian ethnicities: an electronic health record based cohort study

Few large cohort studies have examined the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), coronary artery disease (CAD), obesity, and smoking among middle-aged and older adults in the major Asian-American ethnic groups and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (PIs). The aim of this study was to evaluate how prevalence of these conditions and risk factors differs across Asian-American and PI ethnic groups and compares with an aggregated All Asian-American racial group. This study used a cohort of 1.4 million adults aged 45 to 84 who were Kaiser Permanente Northern California health plan members during 2016. The cohort included approximately 274,910 Asian-Americans (Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, South Asian, other), 8450 PIs, 795,080 non-Hispanic whites, 107,200 blacks, and 210,050 Latinos. We used electronic health record data to produce age-standardized prevalence estimates of DM, HTN, CAD, obesity (using standard and Asian thresholds), and smoking for men and women in all racial/ethnic subgroups and compared these subgroups to an aggregated All Asian-American racial group and to whites, blacks, and Latinos. We found large differences in health burden across Asian-American ethnic subgroups. For both sexes, there were 16 and > 22 percentage point differences between the lowest and highest prevalence of DM and HTN, respectively. Obesity prevalence among Asian subgroups (based on an Asian BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2 threshold) ranged from 14 to 39% among women and 21 to 45% among men. Prevalence of smoking ranged from 1 to 4% among women and 5 to 14% among men. Across all conditions and risk factors, prevalence estimates for Asian-American and PI ethnic groups significantly differed from those for the All Asian-American group. In general, Filipinos and PIs had greater health burden than All Asians, with prevalence estimates approaching those of blacks. In a population of middle-aged and older adult Northern California health plan members, we found substantive differences in prevalence of chronic cardiovascular conditions, obesity, and smoking across Asian-American ethnic groups and between Asian-American ethnic groups and an aggregated All Asian racial group. Our study confirms that reporting statistics for an aggregated Asian-American racial group masks meaningful differences in Asian-American ethnic group health.
Collaborative and cooperative learning for the computer science classroom

This workshop will cover several aspects of Collaborative/Cooperative Learning in the Computer Science classroom. It will include 1) learning assumptions, 2) goals for education, 3) collaborative learning approaches, 4) from traditional to cooperative learning groups, 5) how to implement collaborative/cooperative learning in the classroom, and 6) commonly used cooperative learning techniques.
The Transformation of Debt: The Paper State and Paper Economy in Early America

Debt underpins the modern global economy. Debt is also intimately tied to the function and form of the modern state. As a form of capital, debt is a combination of several legal modules and legal qualities that allow holders of debt to secure a future pecuniary return. The development of these legal modules and legal qualities may be observed in the emerging commercial society of the United States of America in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. By tracing the transformation of debt over this time period in the USA, we may gain insight into how debt, the economy, and the state could be re-envisioned for the future.
Examining Correlation and Trends in Seatbelt Use among Occupants of the Same Vehicle using a Bivariate Probit Model

Research has consistently demonstrated that seatbelt use is critically important in reducing the likelihood of fatal and serious injuries resulting from traffic crashes. However, after years of nat...
Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma: Characteristics and survival outcomes from a large single institutional series

Abstract Objectives To investigate the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of a large clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma cohort. Methods and Materials A retrospective review of patients with clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma at a single academic center was performed after Institutional Review Board approval. Patients underwent either partial or radical nephrectomy from September 2009 to July 2019. Demographic and clinical characteristics, recurrence, and cancer specific and overall survival were reported. Results A total of 90 patients were included in the study. Median follow up was 26.5 months. Median age was 61 (range 27 to 87). 47.8% of patients were African American. 26.7% of patients had end stage renal disease. 37.8% had multifocal renal tumors. 48.9% underwent partial nephrectomy, while the remainder underwent radical nephrectomy. 43.3% underwent an open surgical approach, 40.0% a robotic approach, and 16.7% a laparoscopic approach. Pathologic stage included T1a (90.0%), T1b (1.1%), and T2b (8.9%). Fuhrman grades 1-3 were present in 18.9%, 77.8%, and 3.3% of patients, respectively. There were no cancer specific deaths. There was one local recurrence and no metastases. The overall survival at a median follow up of 26.5 months was 92.1% (95% confidence interval 83.1%–96.4%). Conclusions Clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma typically presents at a low stage and grade and has favorable survival outcomes. A nephron-sparing approach to treatment should be considered when feasible due to the tumor's indolent nature and propensity towards multifocality.
Myoepithelial Cell Function in Salivary Gland Physiology and Disease

Human salivary glands (SG) are essential exocrine organs that produce and secrete saliva into the oral cavity. Saliva performs a number of functions that are integral to the homeostasis of the oral cavity by providing lubrication, initiating digestion, and protecting the oral structures (e.g., teeth and mucosa). Human SG are divided into two distinct exocrine groups: the major SG (e.g., the paired parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands), and the minor or accessory SG. SG are complex organs composed of the secretory units (acini) and ducts. The acini are comprised of several different types of secretory acinar cells (e.g., serous, mucous, and seromucous cells) and myoepithelial cells (MEC) which envelope the acini in a mesh-like orientation. MEC are a unique population of epithelial cells with contractile properties similar to smooth muscle cells. The function of the MEC is to contract and exert force onto the acini to squeeze saliva from the acini into the ducts and ultimately into the oral cavity. Despite MEC being discovered almost a 100 years ago, their physiology and function remains poorly understood. The focus of this article is to review the biology of the human SG to provide context on the biology and physiology of MEC in the function of these glands.
“I stewed over that number set for like an hour last night”: Purposeful selection of numbers for fraction story problems

Abstract This study explored the complexity of teachers’ considerations during number selection, which is a core element of problem planning. We examined teachers’ purposeful number selection for Equal Sharing problems, a type of fraction story problem. Participants included 47 elementary-school teachers engaged in a multiyear professional development focused on enhancing responsiveness to children’s fraction thinking. Our research extends Land’s (2017) work on teachers’ number selection, by focusing on a single content domain (fractions) and by using children’s mathematical thinking as a unifying analytical lens. Findings include descriptive patterns in teachers’ specific number selections and the introduction and illustration of a framework for teachers’ purposeful number selection for fraction story problems. The framework details three categories of considerations: (a) accessibility with respect to children’s existing understandings, (b) the range of strategies children are likely to use to solve the problem, and (c) the mathematics that could be leveraged by discussing children’s strategies.
Cascading crack bifurcations in soda-lime glass: Quantification of fracture mechanics-based precursors using Digital Gradient Sensing

Abstract Dynamic crack growth in high-stiffness and ultralow-toughness amorphous materials such as soda-lime glass (SLG) often involves seemingly unprovoked crack branching events which are yet to be fully explained. The absence of optical tools for performing mechanical field measurements at sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolutions to decipher highly localized deformations at the tip of a crack growing in excess of mile-a-second speed has perpetuated this knowledge gap. The full-field method of Digital Gradient Sensing (DGS) used in conjunction with ultrahigh-speed photography has overcome some of these limitations allowing direct quantification of fracture parameters associated with different phases of crack growth in SLG (Sundaram and Tippur, 2018; Dondeti and Tippur, 2020). In this work, time-resolved stress gradients are measured in SLG plates of two different geometries, first one producing a single crack bifurcation event and the second two-tier cascading crack bifurcations, during dynamic wedge-loading experiments. The measurements are then used along with the asymptotic crack-tip fields to extract fracture parameters and identify crack branching precursors based on crack velocity, stress intensity factors, and higher order coefficients. The fracture surface roughness and other features are also separately quantified via high-resolution post-mortem examination to corroborate them with the optically measured quantities.
The impact of wildfire smoke on ozone production in an urban area: Insights from field observations and photochemical box modeling

Abstract This study examines the effect of wildfire smoke on ozone (O3) production at an urban site in Bakersfield, CA. We used data from smoky and non-smoky weekdays in summer 2018. Median surface observations across the smoky and non-smoky weekdays showed that morning and afternoon O3 concentrations were mainly affected by local photochemistry. Observed daytime median concentrations of O3, particulate matter with diameters less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), and carbon monoxide (CO) were approximately 8 parts per billion (ppb), 8 μg per cubic meter (μg m−3), and 40 ppb higher, respectively, on the smoky weekdays. The observed median sum of the daily-average concentrations of volatile organic compounds (ΣVOCs) was approximately 10 ppb greater on the smoky weekdays. Measured daytime median NOx levels were almost identical on the smoky and non-smoky weekdays, indicating that the enhancement in NOx due to smoke was negligible. We used the Framework for 0-D Atmospheric Modeling (F0AM) box model to examine the photochemical processes on the smoky and non-smoky weekdays. The maximum model-predicted instantaneous O3 production rates (PO3) were about 18 and 9 ppb h−1 on the smoky and non-smoky weekdays, respectively. Model sensitivity tests showed that (1) O3 was sensitive to both NOx and VOCs on the smoky weekdays, (2) aldehydes significantly affected O3 formation when wildfire smoke was overhead, and (3) the O3 production regime on the non-smoky weekdays was likely NOx-saturated. Our results suggest that a combination of anthropogenic VOC and NOx reductions will be the most effective strategy for decreasing O3 on typical non-smoky days. In contrast, due to the high VOC levels in smoke plumes, only reductions in NOx are expected to have a significant effect on lowering O3 concentrations on typical smoky days.
Implementation and first-year operating costs of an academic medical center-based syringe services program.

Background Syringe services programs (SSPs) remain highly effective, cost-saving interventions for the prevention of blood-borne infections among people who inject drugs. However, there have been restrictions regarding financial resources allocated to these programs, particularly in the US South. This study aimed to provide cost data regarding the implementation and first-year operations of an academic-based SSP utilizing fixed and mobile strategies, including the integration of onsite wound care. Methods We conducted a micro-costing study that retrospectively collected detailed resource utilization and unit cost data for both the fixed and mobile SSP strategies, including onsite wound care, from both healthcare and societal perspectives. A three-step approach was used to identify, measure, and value intervention costs, and cost components were categorized into implementation, variable program, and time-dependent costs. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of SSP operational changes (i.e., needs-based distribution and opt-out HIV/HCV testing) on the cost-per-participant. Cost data we presented as overall cost and cost-per-participant adjusted to 2017 US dollars. Results A total of 452 and 129 participants enrolled in fixed and mobile SSP services, respectively. The total cost associated with implementation and first year operations for the fixed site was $407,217.22 or $729.72 per participant and $311,625.52 or $2415.70 per participant for the mobile unit. The largest cost component for both modalities was time-dependent costs (personnel and overhead), while intervention materials (syringes, injection equipment, naloxone) were less than 15% of the total program cost. Discussion/conclusion Implementation and operation of new SSP models continue to be low cost compared to treatment for the multitude of harms PWID face without access to evidence-based prevention. Future cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses integrating a comprehensive SSP model within an academic institution, including onsite wound care and other medical services, will provide a more comprehensive understanding of this model, and state-level policy action must be taken to lift the prohibition of state and local funds for the implementation, sustainability, and maintenance of these programs in Florida.
Evaluation of Chest Pain and Myocardial Ischemia

Chest pain is one of the most common presentations that clinicians are called upon to evaluate on an urgent basis in the office, clinic, or emergency department (ED). The CDC recorded 6.4 million visits to the ED for chest pain in 2006 1. Some of the challenges in the evaluation of chest pain include the broad spectrum of potential etiologies for chest pain, limited availability of definitive diagnostic modalities, and the potentially lethal consequences of serious conditions when not recognized early. Even when armed with all the tools of a full-service ED, often a definitive diagnosis cannot be arrived at. Instead, clinicians are forced to rely on the power of exclusion to discern if there is a threat to life and to decide how best to manage uncertain risks.
TMJ anatomy and animal models.

The TMJ is unique to mammals, but among different mammalian groups its morphology and function vary enormously. Practicality dictates that animal models will not be the closest mimics of the human condition. Currently, the most used species are rats, rabbits, pigs, and ruminant ungulates. Each has distinctive TMJ adaptations. Except for pigs, it is likely that these species show less loading of the jaw joints during chewing than do humans.
Plasma Parathyroid Hormone and Insulin Concentrations in Cows Administered Potassium Chloride and Sodium Citrate

Two age group of nonpregnant cows were used to study plasma changes in parathyroid hormone, insulin, and glucose, and renal clearance rates of magnesium, calcium, and inorganic phosphorus after intraruminal administration of 1.5 g potassium chloride (KCl)/kg body weight (BW) or 1.5 g sodium citrate/kg BW. Magnesium (2.4 mg/kg BW) was simultaneously infused intravenously for 120 minutes to facilitate the measurement of changes in magnesium clearance rate and kidney tubular resorption due to the treatments. Elevated plasma concentrations of potassium from intraruminal infusion of KCl increased plasma parathyroid hormone, insulin glucose, and magnesium levels. Net tubular resorption of magnesium (TMg) was also increased after potassium dosing, and the old cows had lower TMg values compared with the young cows. Plasma magnesium and calcium clearance rates were increased only by citrate, while phosphorous was not influenced by either treatment. These results provide evidence for a relationship between potassium and the endocrine factors, parathyroid hormone, and insulin; citrate appears to antagonize tubular resorption of magnesium and calcium.
Personality and Close Relationships: Embedding People in Important Social Contexts

This special issue of the Journal of Personality is predicated on the assumption that close relationships provide the central stage for the drama of human experience. This all-important context both shapes and conditions the expression of personality, and thus must play an integral role in any truly adequate account of human behavior. The importance of this agenda is perhaps overshadowed only by its difficulty. Contributions to the present issue, therefore, take stock of past research, highlight current state-of-the-art research, and offer a vision of the next generation of research on personality and close relationships. The conceptual and methodological approaches highlighted in this issue remain faithful to the dynamic, interdependent, and multilayered nature of the processes linking personality and close relationships.
The Green Function Cellular Method and its relation to multiple scattering theory

We investigate techniques for solving the wave equation which are based on the idea of obtaining exact local solutions within each potential cell, which are then joined to form a global solution. We derive full potential multiple scattering theory (MST) from the Lippmann-Schwinger equation and show that it as well as a closely related cellular method are techniques of this type. This cellular method appears to have all of the advantages of MST and the added advantage of having a secular matrix with only nearest neighbor interactions. Since this cellular method is easily linearized one can rigorously reduce electronic structure calculations to the problem of solving a nearest neighbor tight-binding problem.
Temperature dependence of the lumirhodopsin I-lumirhodopsin II equilibrium.

Time-resolved absorbance measurements, over a spectral range from 300 to 700 nm, were made at delays from 1 μs to 2 ms after photoexcitation of bovine rhodopsin in hypotonically washed membrane suspensions over a range of temperature from 10 to 35 °C. The purpose was to better understand the reversibility of the Lumi I−Lumi II process that immediately precedes Schiff base deprotonation in the activation of rhodopsin under physiological conditions. To prevent artifacts due to rotation of rhodopsin and its photoproducts in the membrane, probe light in the time-resolved absorbance studies was polarized at the magic angle (54.7°) relative to the excitation laser polarization axis. The difference spectrum associated with the Lumi I to Lumi II reaction was found to have larger amplitude at 10 °C compared to higher temperatures, suggesting that a significant back-reaction exists for this process and that an equilibrated mixture forms. The equilibrium favors Lumi I entropically, and van’t Hoff plot curvature show...
Holography demonstrations and workshops for science and engineering outreach

The SPIE/OSA Student Chapter at Michigan Technological University have developed demonstrations and workshops for science and engineering outreach. The practical approach to holography promotes the study of photonic related sciences in high school and college-aged students. An introduction to laser safety, optical laboratory practices, and basic laser coherence theory is given in order to first introduce the participants to the science behind the holograms. The students are then able to create a hologram of an item of their choice, personalizing the experience. By engaging directly, the students are able to see how the theory is applied and also enforces a higher level of attention from them so no mistakes are made in their hologram. Throughout the course participants gain an appreciation for photonics by learning how holograms operate and are constructed through hands on creation of their own holograms. This paper reviews the procedures and methods used in the demonstrations and workshop while examining the overall student experience.
Individual growth rates do not predict aphid population densities under altered atmospheric conditions

1 Altered atmospheric composition, associated with climate change, can modify herbivore population dynamics through CO2 and/or O3-mediated changes in plant quality. 2 Although pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum genotypes exhibit intraspecific variation in population growth in response to atmospheric composition, the proximate mechanisms underlying this variation are largely unknown. 3 By rearing single (green, pink) and mixed (green + pink) pea aphid genotypes on red clover Trifolium pratense at the Aspen Free Air CO2 and O3 Enrichment (Aspen FACE) site, we assessed whether: (i) elevated CO2 and/or O3 concentrations alter aphid growth and development and (ii) individual aphid growth rates predict aphid population densities. 4 We showed that growth and development of individual green and pink aphids were not influenced by CO2 and/or O3 concentrations when reared as individual or mixed genotypes. Individual growth rates, however, did not predict population densities. 5 Reared as a single genotype, green pea aphid populations decreased in response to elevated CO2 concentrations, but not in response to elevated CO2 + O3 concentrations. Pink pea aphid populations reared as a single genotype were unaffected by augmented CO2 or O3. Populations of mixed genotypes, however, were reduced under elevated CO2 concentrations, irrespective of O3 concentrations. 6 Herbivore population sizes may not readily be predicted from growth rates of individual organisms under atmospheric conditions associated with global climate change.
Alteration of Contractile Function and Calcium Ion Movements in Vascular Smooth Muscle by Gentamicin and Other Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of certain aminoglycoside antibiotics on contractile responses and related calcium ion (Ca(2+)) movements in isolated vascular smooth muscle. Gentamicin, kanamycin, and streptomycin decreased contractile responses produced by norepinephrine, histamine, and high K(+) in rabbit aortic strips. The inhibitory action of these antibiotics on mechanical function was more pronounced when the Ca(2+) concentration of the bathing solution was decreased from 1.5 mM (normal Ca(2+) solution) to 0.05 mM (low Ca(2+) solution). The uptake of radiocalcium ((45)Ca) into the isolated media-intimal layer of rabbit aortae was decreased in a maintained manner by each antibiotic. With gentamicin, the inhibitory effect on (45)Ca uptake was shown to be dependent upon the concentration of gentamicin employed and to be more evident in a 0.1 mM Ca(2+) solution than in a normal Ca(2+) solution. In addition, the rate of (45)Ca efflux from the rabbit aortic media-intimal layer was increased in a sustained manner by gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin. Furthermore, contractile responses induced by high K(+) and norepinephrine in canine carotid arterial strips were inhibited by gentamicin. Present findings indicate that aminoglycoside antibiotics interfere with Ca(2+)-linked events leading to activation of the contractile mechanism of vascular smooth muscle. These in vitro findings may partially explain the occurrence of in vivo cardiovascular depression that has occasionally been observed after the administration of chemically related antimicrobial agents.
A music-based HIV prevention intervention for urban adolescents.

Objective This research examines the process of conducting and evaluating a music-based HIV prevention intervention among urban adolescents, and is informed by the information, motivation, behavioral skills (IMB) model. Design Musically talented opinion leaders were recruited to write, record, and distribute HIV prevention themed music to their peers to increase HIV prevention motivation, behavioral skills, and behaviors. In this 3-month field experiment, participants were 306 students enrolled in health classes at each of three large multiracial urban high schools (one treatment school; two control schools). Main outcome measures Measures of HIV prevention information, motivation, behavioral skills, and behaviors, both pre- and postintervention. Results and conclusion Results indicate that the intervention influenced several aspects of HIV prevention motivation, behavioral skills, and condom use and HIV testing behaviors. This research demonstrates that the incorporation of music into HIV prevention interventions for adolescents has the potential to be effective.
Absence of Lipoprotein in Pulmonary Œdema Fluid produced by Cytotoxic Antibody

ACUTE pulmonary œdema occurs in pertussis inoculated mice injected with rabbit antisera to various mouse tumours1. The rabbit antibodies to mouse tumour antigens likely react with antigens present in mouse alveolar capillary endothelium to initiate a sequence of events leading to pulmonary œdema. Sections of œdematous lungs reveal a necrotizing alveolitis with a hyaline-like material lining the alveolar spaces.
Clinical significance of discrepancies in roentgenographic film interpretation in an acute walk-in area.

To determine the clinical significance of discrepancies in roentgenographic film interpretation, housestaff’s interpretations of 248 outpatient x-rays obtained in a walk-in/emergency room area were compared with the interpretations by radiologists. There was complete agreement for 134/248 (54%) films. Discrepancies for 114 films were classified as potentially significant (n=28, 25%) or insignificant (n=86, 75%). Most significant discrepancies (26 of 28) were related to the indication for the film. Most insignificant discrepancies (75 of 86) were unrelated to the film’s indication. No discrepancies resulted in serious adverse patient outcomes, although one resulted in delayed treatment of a fractured humerus, one resulted in delay of antibiotic treatment, and three resulted in antibiotic use that may have been unnecessary. In two cases, the initial treatment plan was changed based on the final radiologist’s report. These results indicate that while discrepancies in film interpretation are frequent, their clinical impact may be small.
Gender, Race, Social Class and Self-Evaluations among College Students.

The purpose of this study was to modify Heiss and Owens's (1972) formulation on trait differences in the self-evaluations of blacks and whites and integrate it with the literature on sex role socialization, thereby elaborating the instrumental-expressive dichotomy they proposed so as to generate and test hypotheses regarding race, gender, and SES differences in self-evaluations. University students rated themselves on a fifteen-item semantic differential scale. A principal component factor analysis with varimax rotations yielded five factors, three of the factors were seen as private-domain, one as public-domain, and one as mixed. A series of 2X2X2 ANOVAS indicated that (1) on the public-domain factor, black females rated themselves more positively than did the white females, while black males and white males did not differ; (2) blacks rated themselves more positively than did whites on two private-domain factors; (3) white females rated themselves more positively than did males on the private-domain factor indicative of a feminine stereotype; and (4) SES differences appeared on the private-domain factors in particular.