cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clonidine improves attentional and memory components of delayed response performance in a model of early Parkinsonism.

Abstract Cognitive deficits, including attention and working memory deficits, are often described in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients even during the early stages of the disease. However, cognitive deficits associated with PD have proven difficult to treat and often do not respond well to the dopaminergic therapies used to treat the motor symptoms of the disease. Chronic administration of low doses of the neurotoxin 1-methy,4-phenyl,1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) can induce cognitive dysfunction in non-human primates, including impaired performance on a variable delayed response (VDR) task with attentional and memory components. Since alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonists have been suggested to improve attention and working memory in a variety of conditions, the present study assessed the extent to which the alpha-2 noradrenergic agonist clonidine might influence VDR performance in early Parkinsonian non-human primates. Clonidine (0.02–0.10 mg/kg) improved performance on both attentional and memory components of the task, performed in a modified Wisconsin General Test Apparatus, in a dose-dependent manner and the cognition enhancing effects of clonidine were blocked by co-administration of the alpha-2 noradrenergic antagonist idazoxan (0.10 mg/kg). These data suggest that clonidine or drugs of this class, perhaps with greater receptor subtype selectivity and low sedation liability, might be effective therapeutics for cognitive dysfunction associated with PD.
The Role of the Lens Actin Cytoskeleton in Fiber Cell Elongation and Differentiation

The vertebrate ocular lens is a fascinating and unique transparent tissue that grows continuously throughout life. During the process of differentiation into fiber cells, lens epithelial cells undergo dramatic morphological changes, membrane remodeling, polarization, transcriptional activation and elimination of cellular organelles including nuclei, concomitant with migration towards the lens interior. Most of these events are presumed to be influenced in large part, by dynamic reorganization of the cellular actin cytoskeleton and by intercellular and cell: extracellular matrix interactions. In light of recent and unprecedented advancement in our understanding of the mechanistic bases underlying regulation of actin cytoskeletal dynamics and the role of the actin cytoskeleton in cell function, this review attempts to summarize current knowledge regarding the role of the cellular actin cytoskeleton, in lens fiber cell elongation and differentiation, and regulation of actin cytoskeletal organization in the lens.
Self-excited vibrations induced by dry friction, part 1: Experimental study

Abstract An experimental investigation was conducted in the laboratory with a pin-on-disk type sliding apparatus to study self-excited vibrations induced by dry friction. These vibrations are often encountered in practice, with detrimental effects such as excessive wear of components, surface damage, fatigue failure and noise generation. Four different friction regimes are obtained as the normal load is increased. Self-excited vibrations occur in the last regime when the normal load, or equivalently the kinetic coefficient of friction, reaches a certain critical value. The waveforms of the self-excited vibrations are analyzed. A mathematical model of the contact, including non-linear contact stiffness and damping, is obtained based on experimental data. This model of contact mechanics is necessary for stability analysis given in a companion paper.
Hysteresis in metal hydrides

Abstract A detailed model for hysteresis is presented for metal hydride systems based on the requirement for dislocation production during both hydride formation and hydride decomposition. A quantitative illustration of the model is presented using the regular interstitial solution approximation. The relationship between the solvus hysteresis and pressure hysteresis is given. The model predicts that calorimetrically measured enthalpies for hydride formation and decomposition will not exhibit any differences arising from hysteresis but that the enthalpies determined from the temperature variations of the plateau pressures for hydride formation and decomposition will show differences due to hysteresis.
Robustness of Gauss-Newton recursive methods: a deterministic feedback analysis

This paper provides a time-domain feedback analysis of the robustness performance of Gauss-Newton recursive methods that are often used in identification and control. These are recursive estimators that also involve updates of sample covariance matrices. Several free parameters are included in the filter descriptions while combining the covariance updates with the weight-vector updates. One of the contributions of this work is to show that by properly selecting the free parameters, the resulting filters can be made to impose certain bounds on the error quantities, thus resulting in desirable robustness properties (along the lines of H∞ filter designs). It is also shown that an intrinsic feedback structure, mapping the noise sequence and the initial weight error to the a priori estimation errors and the final weight error, can be associated with such schemes. The feedback configuration is motivated via energy arguments and is shown to consist of two major blocks: a time-variant lossless (i.e., energy preserving) feedforward path and a time-variant feedback path. Emphasis is further given to filtered-error variants that give rise to dynamic time-variant feedback loops rather than memoryless loops. Such variants arise in IIR modeling.
An analysis of current accounting programs in the context of the Anderson, Treadway, and Bedford reports

Abstract The toplc of five-year accounting programs has received much discussion over the past decade. Recent reports issued by groups investigating different aspects of the accounting profession have brought five-year accounting programs back into the spotlight. This article discusses the need to provide accounting graduates with an enhanced level of technical and ethical training. A model five-year program is presented and contrasted with the current AACSB guidelines for masters programs. This program is offered not as a definite solution but in the hope of generating further discussion on this topic.
X-ray source populations in nearby star-forming galaxies

Abstract We present results on the X-ray source populations of nearby star-forming galaxies based on Chandra observations. First we discuss the monitoring campaigns on the Antennae and M82 galaxies. In both cases we find that the majority of the X-ray sources exhibit intensity and/or spectral variability. However, despite of this variability, we do not find any statistically significant variations of their X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs). We also find that the majority of the X-ray sources are associated with star-forming regions, although we do not always identify optical counterparts to the X-ray sources. Especially in the case of M82 we find that the most luminous sources are clustered in the central region of the galaxy. Finally, we present the first results from a study of a sample of nearby star-forming galaxies which form a starburst age sequence: although their XLFs to first order are represented by power-laws with consistent slopes, there is an indication for small variations, suggesting a change of their X-ray binary populations.
On the Optimality of Pure Strategies

In Manne [Manne, A. S. 1960. Linear programming and sequential decisions. Management Sci. April.] has suggested a linear programming formulation for on optimal steady state solution of sequential decision models. In this note we offer a proof which appeals primarily to the properties of linear programs that an optimal solution exists involving only pure strategies.
Transients on lossless terminated transmission lines

This work contains a general exposition of the methods which are available in analyzing the transients on a lossless terminated line. After reviewing the well-known method based on the \Gamma -series expansion, we present two alternative methods: one in the form of a Volterra integral equation, and another corresponding to the so-called singularity expansion method. For a resistively terminated line, we have proved the identity between the \Gamma -series solution and the one obtained by the singularity expansion method. The application of these methods to more complicated terminations is illustrated by the case of a series RL termination. Weber's solution for a short-circuited line is compared with our solution. The importance of injecting the causality condition in our formulation for this class of problems is emphasized. The application of these methods to the treatment of the input current response of a thin biconical antenna is briefly outlined.
Identification of CYP2D6 impaired functional alleles in Mexican Americans.

To extend the genotyping analysis of the CYP2D6 gene and further explain variability of CYP2D6 activity in Mexican Americans by genetic factors. CYP2D6 gene sequence variations associated with *6, *7, *8, *9, *11, *14, *29, *41, *45, and *46 alleles as well as the 2988G>A SNP were examined in 264 Mexican Americans; 236 had previously been phenotyped with dextromethorphan. All subjects were previously genotyped for CYP2D6*2, *3, *4, *5, *10, *17, and the presence of a gene duplication. Associations between genotype and CYP2D6 activity were determined. Mexican Americans revealed a high frequency of functional alleles (CYP2D6*1 and *2; 73.1%), followed by CYP2D6*4 (non-functional, 10.0%) and the reduced-function allele *41 (9.5%). The frequencies of CYP2D6*5, *6, *9, *10, duplication, and 2988A were 1.7%, 0.4%, 1.1%, 2.8%, 0.8%, and 5.7%, respectively. CYP2D6*3, *17, and *29 were found only in one individual (CYP2D6*2/*3, *1/*17, and *4/*29), while CYP2D6*7, *8, *11, *14, *45, and *46 were absent in this study population. Decreased CYP2D6 activity was more accurately predicted by the presence *41[−1584C] compared to *41[2988A]. One genotype/phenotype discordant subject was resolved by the presence of a CYP2D6*6 allele (*4/*6), while two other cases remained discordant (*41/*41 and *1/*1). The CYP2D6*4, *5, and *6 null alleles along the reduced function alleles *9, *10, and *41 are the major cause for diminished dextromethorphan oxidative capacity in Mexican Americans. These findings may have implications for the safety and efficacy of CYP2D6 substrates taken by Mexican Americans.
Effects of food deprivation on caffeine consumption in male and female rats.

Abstract The effect of food deprivation on caffeine consumption was investigated in male and female rats utilizing two-bottle preference tests. During ad lib food and water access, proportional consumption of six increasingly concentrated caffeine solutions (0.01–0.125%) steadily declined as concentration increased with no sex differences. Across concentrations, females tended to ingest more mg/kg caffeine than males. Food deprivation increased both proportional and mg/kg caffeine consumption in both sexes. When returned to ad lib food, proportional, but not mg/kg, caffeine consumption returned to pre-deprivation levels. Consumption of a quinine solution (0.02%), comparable to the caffeine in two-bottle preference, declined somewhat during food deprivation. These results indicate that caffeine preference and mg/kg consumption are increased by food deprivation and that this effect does not result from increased preference for bitter tastes per se. Rather, the results suggest that increased caffeine intake during food deprivation is due to a specific interaction between reduced body weight and the drug. The results also suggest that the deprivation effect is somewhat weaker in females than males, perhaps due to sex differences in reactivity to caffeine.
Should Chlorthalidone Be the Diuretic of Choice for Antihypertensive Therapy

For decades, diuretic therapy has been a cornerstone in treating hypertension, an approach supported by multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating reduced morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular events. Yet controversy persists regarding the potential detrimental metabolic effects and side effects of diuretic agents. Within the risk-benefit debates about diuretic therapy is a second dialogue regarding the best thiazide or thiazidelike agent to prescribe. Proponents of chlorthalidone emphasize the demonstrated reductions in cardiovascular events reported from multiple classic trials and its longer half-life, whereas opponents point to its limited availability in low-dose forms and comparable favorable results from hydrochlorothiazide-based therapy to discredit claims of superiority. This review presents the data available on both sides of this issue to help the reader decide which claims are most valid, and offers recommendations for treatment.
Swimming into prominence: the zebrafish as a valuable tool for studying human myopathies and muscular dystrophies

A new and exciting phase of muscle disease research has recently been entered. The application of next generation sequencing technology has spurred an unprecedented era of gene discovery for both myopathies and muscular dystrophies. Gene-based therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy have entered clinical trial, and several pathway-based therapies are doing so as well for a handful of muscle diseases. While many factors have aided the extraordinary developments in gene discovery and therapy development, the zebrafish model system has emerged as a vital tool in these advancements. In this review, we will highlight how the zebrafish has greatly aided in the identification of new muscle disease genes and in the recognition of novel therapeutic strategies. We will start with a general introduction to the zebrafish as a model, discuss the ways in which muscle disease can be modeled and analyzed in the fish, and conclude with observations from recent studies that highlight the power of the fish as a research tool for muscle disease.
On-chip embedding mechanisms for large sets of vectors for delay test

On-chip embedding of deterministic patterns is used for built-in test-pattern generation of large sets of vector pairs for path delay fault testing. A hardware efficient two-phase synthesis procedure is proposed to synthesize the test-pattern generator. Acceptable test-cycle requirements are met using a recent method, which reduces the test embedding problem to that of embedding the first vector in each pair. The approach is generalized to implement a hardware efficient on-chip pattern generator to test the embedded cores of a system on chip. The hardware overhead of the proposed method is reduced at a controllable increase on the number of test cycles.
Quantitative 3-D imaging of the heart: myocardium and chambers

Accurate quantitation of the shape and dimensions of all cardiac chambers and myocardium is possible with the Dynamic Spatial Reconstructor (DSR). Generally a single bolus injection of approximately 2 ml/kg roentgen contrast agent in the right atrium will provide information of the chamber volumes and myocardial mass within 5% of the actual value. The detailed shape of the chambers and myocardium facilitates evaluation of heart deformed by complex congenital heart disease or myocardial infarction (aneurysm).
Revealing Undocumented or Poorly Known Flight Calls of Warblers (Parulidae) Using a Novel Method of Recording Birds in Captivity

ABSTRACT. Flight calls are commonly produced by nocturnal migrant birds. Uncertain or unknown identities and lack of information about inter- and intraspecific variation in call notes limit the usefulness of flight calls in monitoring bird populations. We developed a novel method for recording flight calls of temporarily captive birds that allows us to study inter- and intraspecific variation in call notes of birds of known identity, age, and sex. We recorded calls and analyzed data from 13,271 flight calls recorded from 469 individuals of 28 warbler species (Parulidae) over a two-year period. Principal coordinate ordination of spectral cross-correlation data on 7 of the 28 species indicated that flight calls recorded in captivity are similar to those recorded from wild birds. Visual and aural comparisons of species' flight calls from these two different types of recordings support these results. Additionally, we verified flight calls previously identified primarily on inferential evidence and report on p...
Back to the origin: reconsidering replication, transcription, epigenetics, and cell cycle control.

In bacteria, replication is a carefully orchestrated event that unfolds the same way for each bacterium and each cell division. The process of DNA replication in bacteria optimizes cell growth and coordinates high levels of simultaneous replication and transcription. In metazoans, the organization of replication is more enigmatic. The lack of a specific sequence that defines origins of replication has, until recently, severely limited our ability to define the organizing principles of DNA replication. This question is of particular importance as emerging data suggest that replication stress is an important contributor to inherited genetic damage and the genomic instability in tumors. We consider here the replication program in several different organisms including recent genome-wide analyses of replication origins in humans. We review recent studies on the role of cytosine methylation in replication origins, the role of transcriptional looping and gene gating in DNA replication, and the role of chromatin’s 3-dimensional structure in DNA replication. We use these new findings to consider several questions surrounding DNA replication in metazoans: How are origins selected? What is the relationship between replication and transcription? How do checkpoints inhibit origin firing? Why are there early and late firing origins? We then discuss whether oncogenes promote cancer through a role in DNA replication and whether errors in DNA replication are important contributors to the genomic alterations and gene fusion events observed in cancer. We conclude with some important areas for future experimentation.
The tetA gene decreases tigecycline sensitivity of Salmonella enterica isolates.

Abstract To determine the association of tetracycline resistance determinants with tigecycline sensitivity, tetracycline-resistant Salmonella spp. isolated from clinical and food samples were tested for the presence of tetracycline resistance determinants, tigecycline sensitivity, and the impact of tetA on tigecycline resistance. In addition, the impacts of multiple resistance mechanisms on tigecycline resistance were determined using an isolate with ramR mutation. Of the 49 tetracycline-resistant Salmonella isolates screened, 32 were positive for tetA , 13 were positive for tetB , 2 were positive for tetC and 1 isolate was positive for both tetA and tetB . The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of tigecycline for tetA -carrying isolates ranged from 0.19mg/L to 3mg/L (mode 0.75mg/L), whereas the MIC of tigecycline for tetB -carrying isolates ranged from 0.064mg/L to 0.5mg/L (modes 0.25mg/L and 0.38mg/L, excluding the isolate with both tetA and tetB ). Double frameshift mutations in codons 201, 202 and 203 were observed in partial sequences of the tetA genes in these strains and the majority of published tetA gene sequences. Curing of the tetA genes from three isolates reduced the tigecycline MICs, whilst deletion of ramR increased tigecycline MICs. This study indicates that the tetA gene decreases sensitivity to tigecycline in Salmonella spp. at a low level. With additional resistance mechanisms, tetA -carrying strains can reach the breakpoint for tigecycline resistance.
Body Weight, Marital Status, and Changes in Marital Status:

In this article, I use 20 years of data taken from the 1979 National Longitudinal Study of Youth to examine the relationship between body weight and both marital status and changes in marital status. I use a latent growth curve model that allows both fixed and random effects. The results show that living without a partner, either being divorced or never married, is associated with lower body weight. Cohabitors and married respondents tend to weigh more. Marital transitions also matter but only for divorce. Gender does not appear to moderate these results.
Defending the Faith through Education: The Catholic Case for Parental and Civil Rights in Victorian Britain.

The struggle to provide primary education for the Catholic poor in England and Wales dominated the agenda of English Catholic leaders in the last half of the nineteenth century. This effort occurred within the larger framework of a national educational revolution that slowly pushed the government into providing public education for the first time. Although state education grants at the elementary level began in 1833, lingering problems forced the government to establish a new era of educational provision with the controversial Education Act of 1870. This act created a dual education system consisting of the long standing denominational schools operated by the different churches and new rate-supported board schools, operated by local school boards, providing no religious instruction or nondenominational religious instruction. In the closing years of the nineteenth century, the dual system grew intolerable for Catholics because local rates (property taxes) only supported the board schools and gave them almost unlimited funding while Catholic schools struggled to make ends meet on school pence and shrinking state grants, which Catholics had only had access to beginning in 1847. While Catholic leaders viewed any system that included nondenominational education as a potential threat to their schools, they also recognized other larger threats to the faith, which they believed could be reduced through improved education of the poor. These included the rise and spread of secularism, Protestant proselytism and, the result they feared the most, the falling away from the faith. These threats have been downplayed, ignored, or given alternative explanations in other examinations of English Catholic educational efforts of the nineteenth century. A.C.E Beales provided a singular starting point for the study of Catholic education in the last half of
Analyzing a college course that adheres to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework

Universal design for learning (UDL) offers an educational framework for a college instructor that can maximize the design and delivery of course instruction by emphasizing multiple representations of materials, varied means for student expression, content and knowledge, and multiple ways to motivate and engage student learning. Through a UDL lens, learner variability is anticipated and considered as a strength in the instructional planning process. The present study examined the reflective practice of one faculty member as she applied the UDL framework to her graduate class. Study participants were engaged in action research that both explored the faculty's use of the UDL framework to design and deliver an introductory graduate research methods course and, student perspectives of the application of this approach. Both faculty and student responses were favorable towards the implementation of the UDL instructional practice. Results suggest that when faculty use the UDL framework to help design courses, goals are more clearly aligned with instructional practices; there is a positive relationship to student interest and engagement; and students are positively engaged in the course.
The hemodynamics of thrombus formation in arteries

Alterations in arterial blood flow are thought to predispose to thrombus formation, but the exact relationships have not been fully elucidated. The effect of varying blood flows on the accumulation of thrombotic material within arteries was investigated, with use of shear rate as an index of flow across the luminal surface. Partially denuded rabbit aortas were perfused with fresh nonanticoagulated human blood for 3 minutes, with an in vitro recirculating apparatus, Indium 111-labeled platelets, and fibrinogen I 125. Shear rates ranged from zero to 1500 sec-1, correlating with the hemodynamics of various segments of the human arterial tree. A significant correlation was observed between shear rate and platelet deposition, ranging from 5.2 +/- 2.8 x 10(6) platelets/cm2 of vessel surface area at zero shear to a maximum of 64.7 +/- 8.3 x 10(6) platelets/cm2 at a shear rate of 1500 sec-1 (F = 5.01, p less than 0.05). Fibrin deposition paralleled that of platelets, ranging from 28.2 +/- 7.6 micrograms/cm2 at zero shear to 354.1 +/- 62.7 micrograms/cm2 at a shear rate of 1500 sec-1 (F = 5.91, p less than 0.05). These results suggest that shear rate is a most important determinant of platelet and fibrin deposition on altered arterial surfaces.
Divergence of the apoptotic pathways induced by 4-hydroxynonenal and amyloid β-protein

In this paper, we examine the hypothesis that 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a product of lipid peroxidation, is a key mediator of cell death resulting from beta-amyloid exposure. We revisit the effects of HNE on different neuronal cell types to determine which caspase or caspases are required for HNE-induced death, and to compare these results with the known caspase requirements in other death paradigms. We have previously shown that in a given neuronal cell type different death stimuli can evoke stimulus-specific apoptotic pathways. We now show that HNE treatment of neuronal cells induced dose-dependent death and caspase activity which were blocked by inhibition of caspases. Antisense down-regulation of caspases-3, -7 or -9 provided complete protection from HNE-induced death, as did down-regulation of the caspase regulators APAF-1 and DIABLO. Conversely, this work and our previous studies of three other death paradigms show that caspase-3 is not required for death induced by beta-amyloid, SOD1 down-regulation, or trophic factor deprivation. We also show that HNE accumulated in settings where death does not ensue. We conclude that HNE toxicity is mediated via a caspase-9-dependent pathway but that HNE accumulation need not induce cell death nor is it an obligate mediator of Abeta-induced cell death.
A SURFACE-ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY TRAP FOR CAPTURING WATER-SURFACE AND AQUATIC INVERTEBRATES IN WETLANDS

We developed a surface-associated activity trap (SAT) for sampling aquatic invertebrates in wetlands. We compared performance of this trap with that of a conventional activity trap (AT) based on nondetection rates and relative abundance estimates for 13 taxa of common wetland invertebrates and for taxon richness using data from experiments in constructed wetland. Taxon-specific non-detection rates for ATs generally exceeded those of SATs, and largest improvements using SATs were for Chironomidae and Gastropoda. SATs were efficient at capturing cladocera, Chironomidae, Gastropoda, total Crustacea, and multiple taxa (taxon richness) but were only slightly better than ATs at capturing Dytiscidae. Temporal differences in capture rates were observed only for cladocera, Chironomidae, Dytiscidae, and total Crustacea, with capture efficiencies of SATs usually decreasing from mid-June through mid-July for these taxa. We believe that SATs may be useful for characterizing wetland invertebrate communities and for developing improved measures of prey available to foraging waterfowl and other aquatic birds.
Attitudes and Perceptions about Health Education Credentialing: A National Study of Top Agency Executives in Local Health Departments

Increasing numbers of health educators are being certified as health education specialists (CHES). This study investigated the attitudes of top agency executives toward the credentialing of health educators. Each state identified their LHDs by providing a mailing list. A sample of 670 LHDs was selected using a table of random numbers, and a 43-item instrument was mailed. Responses from 279 sites were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that 45 percent (127) of the respondents were aware of the credentialing process for health educators. The attitudes and beliefs that top agency executives possess toward credentialing were analyzed in 10 different areas. Top agency executives possessed favorable attitudes toward credentialed practitioners in seven of the 10 areas, while negative or undecided in the remaining three areas. A majority (51 percent) of the top agency executives who were aware of the credentialing process believed that credentialed health educators enhance the profession to ...
Comparing holographic synthetic aperture radar images obtained from multifacet computer models with chamber measurements

The Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) has been working to bring together three areas of investigation to advance the understanding of the wave scattering process and extend the limits of image processing from received radar data. Those areas include real vegetation and computer modeling of various vegetation environments, constructing computer facet models of various objects of interest and surrounding terrain, and wideband holographic synthetic aperture radar (HSAR) measurements. By use of mathematical models and computer simulation a greater understanding of the scattering phenomena in the measurement laboratory can be achieved. The agreement between computer models and laboratory measurement points to new avenues of investigation in the area of environmental clutter and ecosystem analysis as well as the application of the unique imaging process in other fields of application such as ultrasound and 3-D medical imaging. >
Total Short-term Variability in Biomarkers of Hyperglycemia in Older Adults

To the Editor: There is growing interest in the use of nontraditional short-term biomarkers of hyperglycemia [fructosamine, glycated albumin, and 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG)]1 to complement fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) for prognosis and management of diabetes (1). Within-person variability in Hb A1c and fasting glucose has been previously characterized (2–4), but little is known about the variability of these alternative biomarkers of hyperglycemia in the general population. We quantified the 6-week total variability in fructosamine, glycated albumin, and 1,5-AG in older adults with and without diabetes and compared it to that of fasting glucose and Hb A1c. We included 153 participants from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study (5) who attended the initial visit-5 exam (2011–13), returned for a second visit scheduled 4–8 weeks later, had complete data, fasted ≥8 h at both visits, and did not have outlying values. Institutional review boards approved all procedures, and all study participants provided written informed consent. Serum fructosamine, glycated albumin, and 1,5-AG were measured with the Roche Cobas 6000 (Roche Diagnostics). Fructosamine was measured with a colorimetric method (Roche Diagnostics). Glycated albumin (Asahi Kasei Lucica GA-L) and 1,5-AG (GlycoMark) were measured with enzymatic methods. Glucose was measured in plasma with an Olympus 480 analyzer (Beckman Coulter) and a hexokinase …
Protocol Development for Biological Tracer Studies

Improved instrumentation and the increased availability of labeled compounds have democratized the application of isotope-dilution (tracer) methodology in nutrient metabolism. Still, the most challenging aspects of tracer experimentation reside in the steps that precede the measurement of an isotopically labeled tracer, i.e. the design of a suitably labeled tracer and its isolation and purification from complex biological matrices. Construction of useful mathematical models of nutrient dynamics require methodologies that guarantee that the integrity of the tracer is maintained across the entire sampling and analyte isolation protocol. The ability to provide accurate and reliable data highlights a need for analytical chemists to play a central role in these studies. In this regard, examples and discussion of issues relevant to stable-isotope experimentation are provided.
A Bacterial Effector Co-opts Calmodulin to Target the Plant Microtubule Network

The bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae depends on effector proteins secreted by its type III secretion system for the pathogenesis of plants. The majority of these effector proteins are known suppressors of immunity, but their plant targets remain elusive. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model host, we report that the HopE1 effector uses the host calcium sensor, calmodulin (CaM), as a co-factor to target the microtubule-associated protein 65 (MAP65), an important component of the microtubule network. HopE1 interacted with MAP65 in a CaM-dependent manner, resulting in MAP65-GFP dissociation from microtubules. Transgenic Arabidopsis expressing HopE1 had reduced secretion of the immunity protein PR-1 compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, Arabidopsis map65-1 mutants were immune deficient and were more susceptible to P. syringae. Our results suggest a virulence strategy in which a pathogen effector is activated by host calmodulin to target MAP65 and the microtubule network, thereby inhibiting cell wall-based extracellular immunity.
Impact of transfer distance and time on rural brain injury outcomes.

AbstractObjectives: After rural injury, evaluation at local hospitals with transfer to regional trauma centres may delay definitive care. This study sought to determine the impact of such delays on outcomes in patients with TBI within a mature regional trauma system.Methods: The ETMC Level 1 Trauma registry was queried from 2008–2013 for patients with blunt TBI, aged ≥ 18 and admitted ≤ 24 hours from injury and stratified them as ‘transfer’ vs ‘direct’ admission. Demographics, transfer distance, transfer times and outcomes were compared using Chi-square, t-test and multivariable logistic regression; p < 0.05 was significant.Results: During the study period, 1845 patients met inclusion criteria: 947 ‘direct’ and 898 ‘transfers’. For transfers, median distance was 60.1 miles; mean time to initial care was 1.2 ± 2.7 hours and time to Level 1 care was 5.0 ± 2.4 hours. Transfer patients were older (56 vs 49 years; p < 0.01) and had more comorbidities, but had lower mean ISS (15.9 vs 18.8; p < 0.01) and lower m...
The Effects of Brand Positioning Strategies on Consumers’ Brand and Category Perceptions: Some Insights from Schema Research:

Results of four studies demonstrate that perceptions of how different a brand is from other brands in the product category affect perceptions of the brand's position within the category. Specifical...
Hygienic quality of operation rooms of 16 provincial hospitals in Hubei

Objective To find out the hygenic quality of operation rooms of provincial hospitals in Hubei and evaluate the managment of hospital infection in operation rooms so as to provide bais for establishing hygienic standards. Methods Monitoring the hygiene of 106 operation rooms of provincial hospitals in Hubei according to the "Technical Code for Construction of Hospital Clean Operation Department" and "Technical Standard for Disinfection in Hospitals". Results The standard-meeting rate of the 106 operation rooms was 85.85%;The rates of theⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳclass clean operation rooms and the common operating room were 68.75%,94.12%,91.80%,71.43% and 60.00% respectively;there was relationship between the number of floating particles and the floating bacterium count;Standard-meeting rates of the settling microbes and ultraviolet intensity in common operation rooms were 80% and 60% respectively.The rates of the section average wind speed,ventilation frequency,relative humidity of clean operation rooms were 100%.The rates of temperature,noise,lighting and static pressure were 97.03%,97.03%,94.94% and 93.07% respectively. Conclusions The standard-meeting rate in clean operation rooms at provincial level hospitals in Hubei province was relatively low.It's necessary to strengthen the reviewing for the construction and design.Routine maintenance and regular monitoring and the improvement of the administration for the operation rooms are also very important.
SU-F-P-43: Use of Freeware Business Intelligence Software to Trend TG-142 Compliant Linac QA Parameters

Purpose: To develop a software platform to track linac QA parameter trends using readily available freeware business intelligence (BI) software Methods: Spreadsheets were used to collect QA data by many, if not all, institutions; but the trending analysis with data from separate spreadsheets could be a cumbersome task. A freeware version of the Microsoft Power BI software was adapted to trend linac QA parameters to allow us to maintain nine dosimetrically equivalent linacs. A monthly QA spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel) has been used in our institution to collect QA data. We developed a C# computer program to mine QA data from spreadsheets in an automated way and store in a SQL database. The program runs every night automatically, crawls down a predetermined directory in a network hard-drive where all data spreadsheets are saved and searches for new data. If new data are found, they are written into the database. The implemented BI software reads QA data from the database and provides users with dynamic data trending interface as dashboards. The BI dashboard was configured to dynamically filter and drill down to specific parameters and conditions. This enables users to see the existence or missing data for specific tests and trends of linac parameters potentially alerting actions to be taken. Results: The developed software platform has been in use since 2015. More than 7680 data points corresponding to TG-142 compliant monthly QAs for nine linacs were automatically retrieved and stored in the database. The developed dashboard has provided access to data for physicists enabling them to dissect the data to observe trends in different parameters in just a few mouse clicks. Conclusion: The developed BI dashboard has been an invaluable tool providing a common data analysis platform for a quick and easy access to all linac QA parameters and their trends.
A Buffer Management Strategy Based on Power-Law Distributed Contacts in Delay Tolerant Networks

In Delay Tolerant Networks (DTNs) with resource constraints such as short contact durations and small buffers, message scheduling and drop prioritization is a critical issue as it affects the routing performance. Current solutions mainly focus on devising buffer management strategies by assuming that the contact rates between mobile nodes are exponentially distributed. While this assumption is suitable for vehicular mobility scenarios such as taxicabs in a city, it is often invalid for mobility traces that feature human-assisted devices. Recent studies have shown that human mobility traces follow a truncated power-law distribution. In this paper, we propose a new buffer management strategy based on power-law distributed contacts. The main objective is to minimize the average message delivery delay in DTN networks with resource constraints and heterogeneous node mobility. We focus on two key issues: (1) in which order should messages be replicated when contact duration and forwarding bandwidth are limited, and (2) which messages should be dropped first when the buffer is full. We develop a utility function using global network information to compute per-packet average delay utility. Messages are then scheduled and dropped according to their utility values. Extensive simulation results based on real-life human mobility traces show that our proposed scheme can deliver messages in up to 27% less time than existing schemes, while still achieving a high delivery ratio.
No “I” in Heart Team Incentivizing Multidisciplinary Care in Cardiovascular Medicine

The landmark Synergy between PCI with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) trial, comparing drug-eluting stents with coronary bypass surgery in patients with complex coronary artery disease, was published in 2009.1 Although the trial continues to provide valuable insights regarding selection of coronary revascularization procedures, a particular aspect of its protocol has also generated considerable attention: the “Heart Team.” Although not the first to suggest it, the Heart Team concept was recently popularized by the SYNTAX investigators in their attempt to accommodate an “all-comers” design, streamlining the process for patient selection that had burdened coronary revascularization trials in the past. Instead of using an exhaustive list of explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study protocol simply required that, for the most part, a cardiac surgeon and an interventional cardiologist came together in consensus about the appropriateness of enrolling a patient. Although the idea of using Heart Teams in this manner did not originate with the SYNTAX trial, the special emphasis placed on it by the investigators was unique and identified as such, even early on, by editorialists and prominent clinicians.2,3 As a result, the notion of encouraging multidisciplinary care in cardiovascular medicine, exemplified by the Heart Team concept, has gained increasing traction in the context of a broad range of procedures that encompass coronary revascularization, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and other complex endovascular interventions. It is widely discussed in the published literature, highlighted at scientific conferences, and, most prominently, incorporated into professional society guidelines. In recent guidelines for coronary revascularization, for example, use of a Heart Team is a class I recommendation during the decision-making process for patients with complex coronary artery disease.4,5 So, what exactly is a Heart Team? In the SYNTAX trial, the idea simply referred to the requirement that, at …
Successful Treatment of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma with Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Large Single-Center Experience

Background: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are an uncommon heterogenous subset of non-Hodgkin lymphomas for which allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is often recommended in the relapsed/refractory setting. Methods: We analyzed overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in all adults with PTCL who were transplanted 3/2001-12/2014. Results: Patient characteristics are shown in the Table. 65 patients (pts) identified (median age 50.3 years, range 18-70) had a median number of prior treatment regimens of 3 (range 1-8), 42 (65%) were in complete remission (CR) at HSCT (24 in 1st and 18 in > 1st) and 15 in partial remission (PR), 10 (15%) pts had a prior autologous transplant, and the median hematopoietic cell transplant comorbidity index (HCT-CI) score was 2 (range 0-8). Conditioning was myeloablative (MA) in 23, reduced intensity (RIC) in 22, and non-myeloablative (NMA) in 20 pts. Grafts were matched sibling (n=33), mismatched sibling (n=1) matched unrelated donor (MUD) (n=16), mismatched unrelated donor (n=7) or cord blood (n=8). The median day to neutrophil engraftment was 12 (range 9-29), 12 (range 11-23), and 10 (range 8-21) for MA, RIC and NMA respectively. Seventeen (26%) pts had grade II-IV day +100 acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) (7 grade II, 7 grade III, 3 grade IV). Eighteen pts (28%) had chronic GvHD. Twenty-one pts have relapsed to date at a median of 3.25 months (range 1.81-71.79). With a median follow-up period for survivors of 41.7 months (range, 6.4-163 months), the OS and PFS rate were 59% and 48% at 2 years (Figure 1). All deaths occurred within 36 months of HSCT. Of 27 pts who have died, 14 died of lymphoma and 13died of HSCT complications. The rate of transplant related mortality (TRM) at 1 year was 17% (95%CI: 7.7-26.1). Causes of death included graft failure (n=1), GvHD (n=7), infection (n=1), pulmonary complications (n=2), cardiac arrhythmia (n=1) and veno-occlusive disease (n=1). There were no differences in TRM according to recipient age, HCT-CI, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), number of prior regimens, prior radiation, receipt of a prior autologous transplant, disease status prior to HSCT or conditioning intensity (all p-values NS). PFS was not affected by disease status prior to HSCT. Degree of HLA-match was significantly associated with TRM (p Conclusions: We present the largest single center series of HSCT in PTCL. This study suggests existence of GvL effects in patients with PTCL regardless of conditioning intensity or depth of remission at HSCT. Mismatched HSCTs were associated with higher TRM; mainly GvHD. Events were not seen beyond 36 months. This data supports the curative potential of HSCT in a patient group with otherwise poor survival. Disclosures Perales:NMDP: Membership on an entity9s Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria.
Harmonic Analysis as found in Analytic Number Theory

A wide variety of questions of Harmonic Analysis arise naturally in various contexts of Analytic Number Theory; in what follows we consider a number of examples of this type.
Application of ozone for enhancing the microbiological safety and quality of foods: a review.

Ozone (O3) is a strong antimicrobial agent with numerous potential applications in the food industry. High reactivity, penetrability, and spontaneous decomposition to a nontoxic product (i.e., O2) make ozone a viable disinfectant for ensuring the microbiological safety of food products. Ozone has been used for decades in many countries and recently, the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of this gas has been reaffirmed in the United States. Ozone, in the gaseous or aqueous phases, is effective against the majority of microorganisms tested by numerous research groups. Relatively low concentrations of ozone and short contact time are sufficient to inactivate bacteria, molds, yeasts, parasites, and viruses. However, rates of inactivation are greater in ozone demand-free systems than when the medium contains oxidizable organic substances. Susceptibility of microorganisms to ozone also varies with the physiological state of the culture, pH of the medium, temperature, humidity, and presence of additives (e.g., acids, surfactants, and sugars). Ozone applications in the food industry are mostly related to decontamination of product surface and water treatment. Ozone has been used with mixed success to inactivate contaminant microflora on meat, poultry, eggs, fish, fruits, vegetables, and dry foods. The gas also is useful in detoxification and elimination of mycotoxins and pesticide residues from some agricultural products. Excessive use of ozone, however, may cause oxidation of some ingredients on food surface. This usually results in discoloration and deterioration of food flavor. Additional research is needed to elucidate the kinetics and mechanisms of microbial inactivation by ozone and to optimize its use in food applications.
Reading in Crisis: Queer Hermeneutics as Affective History

This chapter focuses on Samuel R. Delany’s turn to queer experimental literature in his AIDS novels, The Tale of Plagues and Carnivals and The Mad Man, to displace the priority of academic definitions of queer reading. I argue that experimental writing provides Delany a “para-academic” mode to elaborate a queer hermeneutic that does not seek paranoid mastery but, instead, attends to the affective history of the crisis, particularly its singular convergence of uncertainty, anxiety, and erotic pleasure. Delany ultimately offers queer hermeneutics as an affective inheritance, a means for readers to remain attached to the enduring and unfinished histories of AIDS.