cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zn2+ potentiates steady-state ATP activated currents in rat nodose ganglion neurons by increasing the burst duration of a 35 pS channel

Abstract Zn 2+ and ATP are normally present in serum at low levels and are released from some neurons during synaptic activity. In whole-cell recordings, 10 μM Zn 2+ potentiated steady-state currents in rat nodose ganglion nerve cells by 18% in 0.5 μM ATP and 120% in 2 μM ATP. Fluctuation analysis of whole-cell currents suggested the mechanism was increased burst duration. In single-channel recordings, 10 μM Zn 2+ did not increase the ATP-activated channel conductance but did increase the mean burst duration of the 35 pS primary open conductance state. These observations indicate that Zn 2+ potentiates the steady-state response to extracellular ATP by increasing the burst duration of the channels.
Characterization of a Mutant Pancreatic eIF-2α Kinase, PEK, and Co-localization with Somatostatin in Islet Delta Cells

Phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor-2alpha (eIF-2alpha) is one of the key steps where protein synthesis is regulated in response to changes in environmental conditions. The phosphorylation is carried out in part by three distinct eIF-2alpha kinases including mammalian double-stranded RNA-dependent eIF-2alpha kinase (PKR) and heme-regulated inhibitor kinase (HRI), and yeast GCN2. We report the identification and characterization of a related kinase, PEK, which shares common features with other eIF-2alpha kinases including phosphorylation of eIF-2alpha in vitro. We show that human PEK is regulated by different mechanisms than PKR or HRI. In contrast to PKR or HRI, which are dependent on autophosphorylation for their kinase activity, a point mutation that replaced the conserved Lys-614 with an alanine completely abolished the eIF-2alpha kinase activity, whereas the mutant PEK was still autophosphorylated when expressed in Sf-9 cells. Northern blot analysis indicates that PEK mRNA was predominantly expressed in pancreas, though low expression was also present in several tissues. Consistent with the high levels of mRNA in pancreas, the PEK protein was only detected in human pancreatic islets, and the kinase co-localized with somatostatin, a pancreatic delta cell-specific hormone. Thus PEK is believed to play an important role in regulating protein synthesis in the pancreatic islet, especially in islet delta cells.
Regenerative Growth Is Impacted by TCDD: Gene Expression Analysis Reveals Extracellular Matrix Modulation

Adult zebrafish can completely regenerate their caudal fin following amputation. This complex process is initiated by the formation of an epithelial wound cap over the amputation site by 12 h post amputation (hpa). Once the cap is formed, mesenchymal cells proliferate and migrate from sites distal to the wound plane and accumulate under the epithelial cap forming the blastemal structure within 48 hpa. Blastemal cells proliferate and differentiate, replacing the amputated tissues, which are populated with angiogenic vessels and innervating nerves during the regenerative outgrowth phase which is completed around 14 days post amputation (dpa). Regenerative outgrowth does not occur in TCDD-exposed zebrafish. To identify the molecular pathways that are perturbed by TCDD exposure, male zebrafish were ip injected with 50 ng/g TCDD or vehicle and caudal fins were amputated. Regenerating fin tissue was collected at 1, 3, and 5 dpa for mRNA abundance analysis. Microarray analysis and quantitative real time PCR revealed that wound healing and regeneration alone altered the expression of nearly 900 genes by at least two-fold between 1 and 5 dpa. TCDD altered the abundance of 370 genes at least two-fold. Among these, several known aryl hydrocarbon responsive genes were identified in addition to several genes involved in extracellular matrix composition and metabolism. The profile of misexpressed genes is suggestive of impaired cellular differentiation and extracellular matrix composition potentially regulated by Sox9b.
Hip Arthroscopy for Challenging Deformities: Posterior Cam Decompression

Since the classic description of cam femoroacetabular impingement occurring in the anterolateral quadrant of the proximal femur, there has been growing evidence of cam impingement extending outside of this region. Although anteromedial cam decompression may be performed, posterior cam decompression is at higher theoretic risk of vascular embarrassment with osteonecrosis and/or tensile failure with fracture, leading some investigators to believe that these major deformities require open surgical correction. We present a less invasive method of arthroscopic posterior cam decompression using the modified midanterior portal while avoiding the posterolateral vasculature of the proximal femur.
Statistical modeling of agricultural chemical occurrence in midwestern rivers

Abstract Agricultural chemicals in surface water may constitute a human health risk or have adverse effects on aquatic life. Recent research on unregulated rivers in the midwestern USA documents that elevated concentrations of herbicides occur for 1–4 months following application in late spring and early summer. In contrast, nitrate concentrations in unregulated rivers are elevated during fall, winter, and spring months. Natural and anthropogenic variables of river drainage basins, such as soil permeability, amount of agricultural chemicals applied, or percentage of land planted in corn, affect agricultural chemical concentration and mass transport in rivers. Presented is an analysis of selected data on agricultural chemicals collected for three regional studies conducted by the US Geological Survey. Statistical techniques such as multiple linear and logistic regression were used to identify natural and anthropogenic variables of drainage basins that have strong relations to agricultural chemical concentrations and mass transport measured in rivers. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to manage and analyze spatial data. Statistical models were developed that estimated the concentration, annual transport, and annual mean concentration of selected agricultural chemicals in midwestern rivers. Multiple linear regression models were not very successful ( R 2 from 0.162 to 0.517) in explaining the variance in observed agricultural chemical concentrations during post-planting runoff. Logistic regression models were somewhat more successful, correctly matching the observed concentration category in 61–80% of observations. Linear and multiple linear regression models were moderately successful ( R 2 from 0.522 to 0.995) in explaining the variance in observed annual transport and annual mean concentration of agricultural chemicals. Explanatory variables that were commonly significant in the regression models include estimates of agricultural chemical use, crop acreage, soil characteristics, and basin topography.
Comparator-based switched-capacitor pipelined ADC with background offset calibration

A background offset calibration technique for a comparator-based switched-capacitor (CBSC) circuit is proposed. The calibration circuitry employs a dynamic latch to determine an offset and an auxiliary differential input pair to cancel the offset. Since the proposed technique does not require additional auto-zeroing or offset detecting periods, it is suitable for high-speed low-power operations. A prototype 10-bit 100-MS/s pipelined CBSC ADC is designed and simulated in a 0.13µm CMOS process. Post-layout simulation results show the prototype ADC achieves 9.5 ENOB with a 25.4-MHz sinusoidal input signal and power consumption is 5.9 mW.
Pursuing Preferences: The Creation and Resolution of Work Hour Mismatches

Mismatches between the number of hours people actually work and the hours they prefer to work are common, but few studies have examined such hour mismatches from a longitudinal perspective. Using two waves of panel data from Australia, the authors offer a new, dynamic picture of hour mismatches. Their analysis shows a fluid labor market in which many mismatches are created and resolved. Nevertheless, their findings also highlight market imperfections. Many mismatches (especially the desire for fewer hours) appear to persist for more than a year, and although a change of employers can resolve mismatches, it can also create them. Moreover, as seen in the findings, processes that create and resolve mismatches are more closely tied to changes in preferred hours than to changes in actual hours.
Expansion and contraction of the nucleolus organizer region of neurospora : changes originate in both proximal and distal segments

Previously we have shown that the nucleolus organizer region (NOR) of Neurospora crassa changes size frequently during the premeiotic portion of the sexual phase. Here, we have investigated whether these changes in size originate only in specific regions of the NOR, or are distributed throughout the NOR. In two special strains of Neurospora, the NOR was divided into proximal and distal segments. In the first, the NOR was divided by a translocation breakpoint and, in the second, the NOR was divided by a meiotic crossover point. The two strains were crossed individually to normal sequence tester strains and the sizes of the proximal and distal segments were followed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The analysis of progeny from both crosses indicates that the events affecting NOR size are not limited to a specific region of the NOR. Additionally, we have obtained evidence that the rDNA of N. crassa can undergo unequal sister chromatid exchange.
Accelerating Chronically Unresponsive Children to Tier 3 Instruction What Level of Data Is Necessary to Ensure Selection Accuracy

Response-to-intervention (RTI) approaches to disability identification are meant to put an end to the so-called wait-to-fail requirement associated with IQ discrepancy. However, in an unfortunate irony, there is a group of children who wait to fail in RTI frameworks. That is, they must fail both general classroom instruction (Tier 1) and small-group intervention (Tier 2) before becoming eligible for the most intensive intervention (Tier 3). The purpose of this article was to determine how to predict accurately which at-risk children will be unresponsive to Tiers 1 and 2, thereby allowing unresponsive children to move directly from Tier 1 to Tier 3. As part of an efficacy study of a multitier RTI approach to prevention and identification of reading disabilities (RD), 129 first-grade children who were unresponsive to classroom reading instruction were randomly assigned to 14 weeks of small-group, Tier 2 intervention. Nonresponders to this instruction (n = 33) were identified using local norms on first-grade...
Synthesis of a nonionic water soluble semiconductive polymer

A new nonionic water-soluble fluorescent conjugated polymer is reported with hydroxyl and amide side chains surrounding an aromatic polymer backbone.
Results from the High‐Gain Long‐Period Seismograph Experiment*

Summary Eight high-gain long-period seismograph systems with peak analogue recording magnifications of up to 150 000 have been installed in different regions of the world. The particular passbands of these instruments are nearly optimum, especially the vertical components, in the sense that Earth noise is approximately pre-whitened by the instrumental response. A minimum in the level of Earth noise at periods near 30 s is observed on noise spectra from all of these sites which differ greatly in geographical location, geologic setting, and depth of overburden. At many of these stations surface waves with periods between 20 and 40 s are often observed from shallow focus earthquakes with magnitudes as low as mb= 4.1 at epicentral distances of 20° to 25°. Various filtering techniques have been applied to the data digitally recorded at these stations, especially polarization filtering of surface waves, and have enhanced the signal to noise ratio for surface waves from some earthquakes by as much as 6 db. These techniques should further lower the surface-wave detection thresholds.
Nonlinear Multisystem Physiological Dysregulation Associated With Frailty in Older Women: Implications for Etiology and Treatment

Background. Frailty in older adults, defi ned as a constellation of signs and symptoms, is associated with abnormal levels in individual physiological systems. We tested the hypothesis that it is the critical mass of physiological systems abnormal that is associated with frailty, over and above the status of each individual system, and that the relationship is nonlinear. Methods. Using data on women aged 70 – 79 years from the Women ’ s Health and Aging Studies I and II, multiple analytic approaches assessed the cross-sectional association of frailty with eight physiological measures. Results. Abnormality in each system (anemia, infl ammation, insulin-like growth factor-1, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, hemoglobin A1c, micronutrients, adiposity, and fi ne motor speed) was signifi cantly associated with frailty status. However, adjusting for the level of each system measure, the mean number of systems impaired signifi cantly and nonlinearly predicted frailty. Those with three or more systems impaired were most likely to be frail, with odds of frailty increasing with number of systems at abnormal level, from odds ratios (ORs) of 4.8 to 11 to 26 for those with one to two, three to four, and fi ve or more systems abnormal ( p < .05 for all). Finally, two subgroups were identifi ed, one with isolated or no systems abnormal and a second (in 30%) with multiple systems abnormal. The latter group was independently associated with being frail (OR = 2.6, p < .05), adjusting for confounders and chronic diseases and then controlling for individual systems. Conclusions. Overall, these fi ndings indicate that the likelihood of frailty increases nonlinearly in relationship to the number of physiological systems abnormal, and the number of abnormal systems is more predictive than the individual abnormal system. These fi ndings support theories that aggregate loss of complexity, with aging, in physiological systems is an important cause of frailty. Implications are that a threshold loss of complexity, as indicated by number of systems abnormal, may undermine homeostatic adaptive capacity, leading to the development of frailty and its associated risk for subsequent adverse outcomes. It further suggests that replacement of any one defi cient system may not be suffi cient to prevent or ameliorate frailty.
CO2-Based Demand Controlled Ventilation for Variable Air Volume Systems Serving Multiple Zones

My research team and I have been working on a research project, which finishes in August 2013. This project was the first awarded research project for which I served as the Principle Investigator during the beginning of my career. It holds a unique position in my heart and I would like to take this opportunity to share the significances and the main findings of this project with you. Demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) is a ventilation control strategy that provides automatic reduction of outdoor air (OA) intake below designed rates when the actual occupancy of spaces served by the system is less than the designed occupancy. American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 [1] requires installation of DCV for densely occupied spaces and that the DCV system should comply with ASHRAE Standard 62.1 [2]. Many engineers have applied DCV in large office buildings, lecture rooms or conference rooms. However, there are many complexities and issues in applying DCV in multiple zones (MZs) with a recirculating heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Until the completion of this project, there was no recommended DCV control method for MZs in ASHRAE Standard 62.1 for design engineers to adopt or apply. Therefore, this research project was conducted to: (1) develop the fundamental equations for CO2-based DCV; (2) propose a CO2-based DCV for MZ HVAC systems and (3) evaluate the proposed DCV control strategies with energy simulation and airflow simulation. First of all, the validity of assumptions underlying CO2based DCV was validated. The literature review concluded that: (1) since the CO2 generation rate and odour generation rate are proportional,CO2 concentration can be adopted as a signifier of human odours in a space; (2) the bioeffluent generation rate is proportional to the number of occupants and their activity levels and (3) even though this research projectdoesnot include researching the types andaccuracyof CO2 sensors, we are aware of the facts thatmany commercial CO2 sensors that have been installed in the field have errors greater than 75ppm [3]. Therefore, more research work and development to optimize the CO2 sensors and to improve accuracy and reliability would be highly recommended. There are three control logics proposed and developed in this research project. They are:
Microvesicles and Viral Infection

Cells secrete various membrane-enclosed microvesicles from their cell surface (shedding microvesicles) and from internal, endosome-derived membranes (exosomes). Intriguingly, these vesicles have many characteristics in common with enveloped viruses, including biophysical properties, biogenesis, and uptake by cells. Recent discoveries describing the microvesicle-mediated intercellular transfer of functional cellular proteins, RNAs, and mRNAs have revealed additional similarities between viruses and cellular microvesicles. Apparent differences include the complexity of viral entry, temporally regulated viral expression, and self-replication proceeding to infection of new cells. Interestingly, many virally infected cells secrete microvesicles that differ in content from their virion counterparts but may contain various viral proteins and RNAs. For the most part, these particles have not been analyzed for their content or functions during viral infection. However, early studies of microvesicles (L-particles) secreted from herpes simplex virus-infected cells provided the first evidence of microvesicle-mediated intercellular communication. In the case of Epstein-Barr virus, recent evidence suggests that this tumorigenic herpesvirus also utilizes exosomes as a mechanism of cell-to-cell communication through the transfer of signaling competent proteins and functional microRNAs to uninfected cells. This review focuses on aspects of the biology of microvesicles with an emphasis on their potential contributions to viral infection and pathogenesis.
Pediatricians' perspectives on the impact of MRSA in primary care: a qualitative study.

The incidence of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) has rapidly increased among children in primary care settings since the emergence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Recent treatment recommendations emphasize CA-MRSA as the primary cause, performing incision and drainage (I&D) as the primary therapy, and not prescribing antibiotics for uncomplicated cases. It is unknown how this epidemic has impacted primary care pediatricians in terms of their practice patterns and barriers they face to providing recommended therapies. 3 Focus groups among 29 primary care pediatricians in the San Francisco Bay Area were conducted. Transcripts were reviewed and coded into major themes by two investigators using modified grounded theory. Substantial changes in clinical practice have occurred since the emergence of CA-MRSA. These include increased office visits for SSTIs, patients with multiple recurrences and transmission within households. Additionally, our participants reported increased visits for mild skin problems due to media reports contributing to fears about CA-MRSA. Participants routinely prescribed antibiotics for SSTIs, however, few performed I&D. Few were aware of recent SSTI treatment recommendations. Barriers to prescribing antibiotics with CA-MRSA activity included concerns about side-effects and lack of local epidemiologic data showing that it is the primary etiology. Barriers to performing I&D included lack of training, resources and skepticism about its necessity. Important clinical challenges included increased time demands for follow-up visits and patient education along with the lack of evidence-based strategies for preventing recurrent inections and household transmission. CA-MRSA has influenced the presentation and treatment of SSTIs especially in terms of case numbers and recurrences. Barriers to providing recommended therapies can be addressed through improved dissemination of treatment guidelines and epidemiologic data. Studies are urgently needed toimprove theevidence-base for treatment and prevention strategies.
Phonetic Classification and Recognition Using the Multi-Layer Perceptron

In this paper, we will describe several extensions to our earlier work, utilizing a segment-based approach. We will formulate our segmental framework and report our study on the use of multi-layer perceptrons for detection and classification of phonemes. We will also examine the outputs of the network, and compare the network performance with other classifiers. Our investigation is performed within a set of experiments that attempts to recognize 38 vowels and consonants in American English independent of speaker. When evaluated on the TIMIT database, our system achieves an accuracy of 56%.
ESR spectroscopy as a probe of the morphology of hydrogels

For poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) prepared using standard polymerization conditions, the absence of any pH dependence of the ESR spectrum of substituted TEMPO spin probes and the ability to computer simulate the ESR spectrum of both probes as a single species suggest that the water and polymer exist as a single homogeneous phase. The ESR results do not distinguish between different types of water, e.g. hydrogen-bonded water versus nonhydrogen-bonded water. The results show that there are not separate domains of water and polymer in which a hydrophilic or hydrophilic solute may exist or diffuse selectively
True-time-delay element in lossy environment using EO waveguides

We investigate a photonic true time delay element in a lossy environment using electrooptic waveguides. Its principle is based on the ring resonator and the all-pass filter. In the lossy environment, it is known that the insertion loss depends on the delay time when using the conventional ring resonator. We add a by-pass waveguide to the ring resonator in order to compensate the resonant-dependent loss. As a result, we have a voltage-controlled photonic true time delay element with its insertion loss independent of the delay time.
Immigrant DREAMs: English Learners, the Texas 10% Admissions Plan, and College Academic Success

English learners (ELs) are facing unique issues in higher education that remain largely unexplored. This research focuses on college choice, enrollment, and graduation among high-achieving ELs who were eligible for automatic admission to any public higher education institution in Texas by having graduated in the top 10% of their high school class. We found that large enrollment gains for ELs were not observed until revised Texas DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) legislation stipulated that immigrant students fulfilling reformulated residency requirements were entitled to in-state tuition rates. The majority of top 10% ELs enrolled at border institutions, were largely first-generation college students, and experienced generally higher cohort graduation rates at Texas flagship universities.
Effect of a variety of carbon nanotubes on the iodine-iodide redox pair

The iodide (I−)-triiodide (I3-) redox pair was used as a model system to evaluate the potential catalytic activity of various carbon nanotubes. Aqueous solutions of hydroiodic acid were irradiated with ultraviolet light in the presence of single wall, multi-wall, boron-doped and nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotubes showed significant catalytic activity in the generation of hydrogen triiodide, while the other carbon nanotubes studied inhibited the generation of hydrogen triiodide. The photoconversion of hydroiodic acid to hydrogen triiodide, catalyzed by the nitrogen-doped multi-wall carbon nanotubes, was further accelerated by the presence of dissolved oxygen, offering an additional decomposition pathway for hydroiodic acid.
Metamaterial based terahertz detector

We present a metamaterial based terahertz (THz) detector. The detector design, which combines metamaterials and MEMs, is frequency selective, and we have fabricated and tested detectors at 95 GHz and 693 GHz with noise equivalent powers of 1.13 × 10−8 W/√Hz and 2.96 × 10−8 W/√Hz and responsivities of 16,500 V/W and 6,800 V/W, respectively. These values were achieved at room temperature and pressure.
Negotiating Development: An Ethnographic Study of Implemented and Latent Cultural Capital of the Christian Karen of Northern Thailand

Drawing upon my five months living with a Karen ethnic-minority family in Northern Thailand between February and July of 2013, I explore the ways in which development is negotiated and can be negotiated by utilizing cultural capital and other resources within the village of Melaoop. In order to do this I engage the broader body of development discourse and paradigms. Using data collected through my ethnographic research, I first present the cultural capital and the implemented techniques through which the Christian Karen of Melaoop negotiate development: primarily selling cultural products to outsiders, protecting the natural resources, and working with outsider non-government organizations. I also highlight my observations about the unique Christian Karen expressions of institutions of communality, gender, and religion that have a latent capacity to impact how development is negotiated in the future. Throughout this paper there is a palpable tension between the insider/outsider perspective seen not only in the locus of development but also in the collection of ethnographic research itself. My research illustrations how various opinions and actions indicate the primacy of religion, cultural ethics and beliefs, gender roles, and economic incentives as culturally formed institutions that impact how development pressures are negotiated both individually and communally.
Proteomics in the Study of Bacterial Keratitis

Bacterial keratitis is a serious ocular infection that can cause severe visual loss if treatment is not initiated at an early stage. It is most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Serratia species. Depending on the invading organism, bacterial keratitis can progress rapidly, leading to corneal destruction and potential blindness. Common risk factors for bacterial keratitis include contact lens wear, ocular trauma, ocular surface disease, ocular surgery, lid deformity, chronic use of topical steroids, contaminated ocular medications or solutions, and systemic immunosuppression. The pathogenesis of bacterial keratitis, which depends on the bacterium-host interaction and the virulence of the invading bacterium, is complicated and not completely understood. This review highlights some of the proteomic technologies that have been used to identify virulence factors and the host response to infections of bacterial keratitis in order to understand the disease process and develop improved methods of diagnosis and treatment. Although work in this field is not abundant, proteomic technologies have provided valuable information toward our current knowledge of bacterial keratitis. More studies using global proteomic approaches are warranted because it is an important tool to identify novel targets for intervention and prevention of corneal damage caused by these virulent microorganisms.
Thermal Modeling of a Multi-Cavity Array Receiver Performance for Concentrating Solar Power Generation

Concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can provide dispatchable power with the thermal energy storage (TES) capability for greater renewable-energy grid penetration. To increase the market competitiveness, CSP technology needs to increase the solar-to-electric efficiency and reduce costs in the areas of solar collection from the heliostat field to the receiver, energy conversion systems, and TES. The current state-of-the-art molten-salt systems have limitations regarding both the potential for cost reduction and improvements in performance. Even with significant improvements in operating performance, these systems face major challenges to satisfy the performance targets, which include high-temperature stability (>650°C), low freezing point ( 650°C) at a reduced cost. The fluidized-bed CSP (FB-CSP) plant being developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has the potential to overcome the above issues with substantially lower cost. The particle receiver is a critical component to enable the FB-CSP system.This paper introduces the development of an innovative receiver design using the blackbody design mechanism by collecting solar heat with absorber tubes that transfer the radiant heat to flowing particles. The particle and receiver materials can withstand temperatures of >1000°C because the receiver can use low-cost materials, such as ceramics and stainless steel, and the solid particles can be any low-cost, stable materials such as sand or ash for particle containment and TES. The heated particles can be stored in containers for TES or supply heat for power generation. This study investigated the performance of convection, reflection, and infrared (IR) re-radiation losses on the absorber solar receiving side. We developed a flux model to predict the reflection losses from the absorber tubes based on the NREL SolTrace program, and conducted thermal modeling by using the Fluent Software. This paper presents the thermal modeling and results on the receiver performance. The receiver configuration may have broad applications for different heattransfer fluids (HTFs), including gas, liquid, or the solid particle-based system in our receiver development.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The severe side of the IgG4-related hypertrophic pachymeningitis disease spectrum

A 40-year-old man first presented to medical attention 13 years before our evaluation with painful right-sided vision loss accompanied by neck pain and headache. There was mild proptosis of his right eye and disc edema on funduscopy. MRI of the brain with gadolinium demonstrated hypertrophic dural
BMPs: why are they not in everyday use?

Since the pioneering work of Marshall Urist, who was able to identify a family of proteins that have the property of osteoinduction, investigators in many laboratories have shown that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) will elicit the differentiation of non-committed stem cells along the line leading to the formation of bone. Not only are the BMPs able to stimulate progenitor cells to differentiate and form bone, but in appropriate environments, they can produce cartilage, tendon, or ligament. Recent data suggest that certain BMPs may even lead to the partial repair of nerve and kidney. Recombinant forms of BMPs, particularly BMP2, 4, and 7, have the capability of healing critical-sized bone defects in rodents, dogs, sheep, and primates when combined with a carrier of collagen, guanidine-extracted demineralized bone matrix, hydroxyapatite, or biodegradable polymers. Clinical trials using a highly concentrated human extract of BMP have shown promise for the treatment of established non-unions and spine fusion. Johnson et al. reported in a series of publications that a combination of internal fixation and implants containing human BMP could lead to successful union in more than 90% of patients with established non-unions1. In five patients with established posterior spinal pseudarthrosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion with autogenous bone graft augmented with BMP, four went on to fusion. Comprehensive clinical trials of recombinant BMIP2 and BMIP7 are currently underway in Europe and the United States in the areas of anterior spine …
Solanum clarum and S. morelliforme as Novel Model Species for Studies of Epiphytism

The natural history of epiphytic plant species has been extensively studied. However, little is known about the physiology and genetics of epiphytism. This is due to difficulties associated with growing epiphytic plants and the lack of tools for genomics studies and genetic manipulations. In this study, tubers were generated from 223 accessions of 42 wild potato Solanum species, including the epiphytic species S. morelliforme and its sister species S. clarum. Lyophilized samples were analyzed for 12 minerals using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Mineral levels in tubers of S. morelliforme and S. clarum were among the highest for 10 out of the 12 elements evaluated. These two wild potato relatives are native to southern Mexico and Central America and live as epiphytes or in epiphytic-like conditions. We propose the use of S. morelliforme and S. clarum as model organisms for the study of mineral uptake efficiency. They have a short life cycle, can be propagated vegetatively via tubers or cuttings, and can be easily grown in controlled environments. In addition, genome sequence data are available for potato. Transgenic manipulations and somatic fusions will allow the movement of genes from these epiphytes to cultivated potato.
It's Not Just a Yes or No Answer: Expressions of Local Health Department Accreditation.

The identification and exploration of moderators of health department accreditation remain limited by current dichotomous conceptualizations of pursuit. Methods: A 2015 survey measured Indiana local health department accreditation pursuit and progress; classifying respondents by progress evidence. Covariates included attitudes about the future impact of accreditation on funding and performance, health department size, geography, health outcome ranking, and quality improvement programming. Results: Four classifications of accreditation pursuit emerged and were found to have greater association with covariates than standard dichotomous measures. “Active Pursuit” was associated with formal quality improvement programming and a belief that accreditation will impact future funding and performance. “Intent Only” was associated with no quality improvement programming and no completion of accreditation prerequisites. “Discontinued” was associated with the belief that accreditation will not impact future performance. “Not Pursuing” was associated with no interest nor plan to complete prerequisites, and reported belief that accreditation will not impact future health department funding or performance. Conclusions: More granular characterizations of accreditation pursuit may improve understanding of influential factors. This measurement framework should be validated in studies of local health departments in other states.
Validating human-robot interaction schemes in multitasking environments

The ability of robots to autonomously perform tasks is increasing. More autonomy in robots means that the human managing the robot may have available free time. It is desirable to use this free time productively, and a current trend is to use this available free time to manage multiple robots. We present the notion of neglect tolerance as a means for determining how robot autonomy and interface design determine how free time can be used to support multitasking, in general, and multirobot teams, in particular. We use neglect tolerance to 1) identify the maximum number of robots that can be managed; 2) identify feasible configurations of multirobot teams; and 3) predict performance of multirobot teams under certain independence assumptions. We present a measurement methodology, based on a secondary task paradigm, for obtaining neglect tolerance values that allow a human to balance workload with robot performance.
Immunity to Infections on Secretory Surfaces

The field of immunology developed as attempts were made to understand the observed phenomenon that, in many cases, individuals become immune (often permanently) to an infectious disease after having had that disease. As a natural corollary of this fact, attempts were made to induce this immune state without causing illness, or at least to reduce acceptably the severity of illness. During the past 200 years, the corollary aim has probably proven more successful than the attempts to understand the phenomenon, and the development of the several immunization practices now widely used has been the most successful aspect of the disciplines of immunology and infectious disease (with the possible exception of the role of the latter in the generally improved state of public hygiene). In addition, we feel that this contribution from the combined efforts of those in the fields of infectious diseases and immunology will continue to be great, e.g., in the development of vaccines against caries, herpesvirus, and streptococcal infections, the hepatitides, gonorrhea, and syphilis, and in improved vaccines against cholera and influenza.
Occult transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate presenting as skin metastasis.

AbstractBecause of its unusual presentation of skin metastasis a case of primary transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate is reported. Transurethral prostatic biopsy is recommended for metastatic transitional cell carcinoma discovered elsewhere when the bladder and upper tracts seem normal.
Precision Electroweak Results from N-N Scattering in CCFR/NuTeV

We present a recent precision electroweak result from v-N scattering experiment at CCFR. The latest measurement of the weak mixing angle from the CCFR experiment is sin2 Θ w = 0.2236 ± 0.0041 which corresponds to on-shell mass of the W boson, M w = 80.35 ± 0.21 GeV/c 2 . This result is the best measured weak mixing angle in all v-N scattering experiments to date. We also present the improvements in the measurement from the new experiment, the NuTeV, whose expected Mw uncertainty is 110MeV/c 2 . This expectation is compatible to the combined direct measurements from the Tevatron collider experiments.
A novel cis-acting element in the GmERF3 promoter contributes to inducible gene expression in soybean and tobacco after wounding

Using in silico and functional analyses, we cloned and validated the expression profile of an inducible soybean promoter (GmERF3) along with its novel wound-induced and delayed expression (WIDE) element. Promoters and their contributing promoter elements are the main regulators of gene expression at the transcriptional level. Although the Ethylene Response Factor (ERF) gene family is one of the most well-studied stress-responsive gene families in plants, their promoter regions have received little attention. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns driven by the soybean (Glycine max) GmERF3 promoter and its cis-acting elements in soybean and tobacco. Transcriptomic data revealed that the native GmERF3 gene was differentially expressed in organs and tissues of plants. In transgenic soybeans containing a 1.3 kb GmERF3 promoter fused to the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene, organ- and tissue-specificity was observed in untreated plants while mechanical wounding led to induction of GFP expression. Further in silico and in planta analyses of the GmERF3 promoter sequence in soybean revealed different cis-acting elements, including a novel cis-acting element, which contributed to increased expression, 1–2 days after mechanical wounding. We have named this DNA motif the wound-induced and delayed expression element (GGATTCAAGTTTAACC). A synthetic promoter containing a tetrameric repeat of this element showed high but late wound-induced GFP expression in leaves of transgenic tobacco. Our study expands the toolbox of inducible promoters and promoter elements for potential use in basic and applied research.
Seed Vigor and Vigor Tests

Seeds, as reproductive units, are expected to produce plants in the field. However, farmers and seed producers have long recognized that the labeled percent germination often overestimates the actual field emergence of seed lots. This observation is attributed to the objective of a standard germination test which states that germination is the emergence and development from the seed embryo of those essential structures which, for the kind of seed in question, are indicative of the ability to produce a normal plant under favorable conditions. (AOSA, 1991) As a result, the standard germination test fails to provide accurate information concerning a seed lot’s field performance potential for at least four reasons. These include the following.
Administering Individual Accounts in Social Security: The Role of Values and Objectives in Sharing Options

This paper seeks to clarify the current debate surrounding individual accounts by exploring systematically the variety of structural and administrative arrangements that either have been proposed for individual account systems in this country or have been adopted in other parts of the world. Plans from Chile, Latin America, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States are examined, including the Roth, personal security accounts, Ball, Porter, Moynihan and Feldstein/Samwick proposals. The paper focuses on two aspects of arrangements: (1) the mechanisms employed under each plan to move the money from contributors to pension fund managers and back to retirees and (2) the variations among the plans in the financial management choices available to workers. The purpose is to analyze the logic underlying different structural arrangements, and to help quantify the linkage between structure and outcomes. In particular, available information can help to illustrate some of the potential relationships between the structure of an individual account plan, gross investment returns, administrative costs, and net returns. The goals of individual accounts systems include an improved overall economy, higher rates of return on Social Security contributions, greater individual choice and responsibility, and reduced government liabilities. No single plan is likely to be the best one to achieve all of these goals. Constructing an individual account plan requires making choices in which one objective must be sacrificed in order to pursue another. The administrative costs associated with the plans implemented in Latin America and the United Kingdom have caused some analysts to look for alternative structures that promise lower costs and (potentially) higher net returns to workers. The alternatives tend to suffer from one or more drawbacks of their own, however. Employers may have to shoulder a higher burden, worker choice may be constrained, or the government may have to be relied upon to play a major role in collecting contributions, maintaining account information, or even managing the accumulating funds. The trade-off between worker choice and administrative costs is also present in the design of withdrawal options, where choice is likely to increase costs as a result of both adverse selection and the marketing and promotional costs of private insurers. A further issue that divides plans concerns the treatment of gender differences in life expectancy under the different payment options. Before Americans can consider proposals for individual accounts they must first develop more of a consensus about the relative importance of the objectives being pursued and the social values being understood.
Delivery of Cargo to Lysosomes Using GNeosomes

Liposomes have been used to improve the intracellular delivery of a variety of cargos. Encapsulation of cargos in liposomes leads to improved plasma half-lives and minimized degradation. Here, we present a method for improving the selective delivery of liposomes to the lysosomes using a guanidinylated neomycin (GNeo) transporter. The method for synthesizing GNeo-lipids, incorporating them into liposomes, and the enhanced lysosomal delivery of encapsulated cargo are presented. GNeo-liposomes, termed GNeosomes, are capable of delivering a fluorescent dye to the lysosomes of Chinese hamster ovary cells as shown using confocal microscopy. GNeosomes can also be used to deliver therapeutic quantities of lysosomal enzymes to fibroblasts isolated from patients with a lysosomal storage disorder.
Home Parenteral Nutrition and Intravenous Fluid Errors Discovered Through Novel Clinical Practice of Reconciling Compounding Records: A Case Series

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and home intravenous (IV) hydration are complex, high-risk life-sustaining therapies for children and adults with severe digestive disorders. HPN compounding errors have the potential to cause serious patient harm. Here we present a retrospective case series at an interdisciplinary pediatric HPN program that includes specialized pharmacists reconciling prescriptions against commercial compounding records. Seven HPN or IV hydration patients were affected by significant errors in anion balance, copper, potassium, sodium, and infusion volume. Outpatient pharmacists' or other clinicians' review of compounding records as part of routine quality assurance process is critical for identifying and preventing errors.
Enhanced dispersion and interface compatibilization of crystalline nanocellulose in polylactide by surfactant adsorption

In this study, the surface polarity of sulfated crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) was tailored using an ecologically compatible surface modification strategy. Lauric arginate, a novel biologically-derived cationic surfactant, was ionically bonded to the CNC surface sulfate groups forming a monolayer that significantly increased surface hydrophobicity. Both unmodified (P-CNC) and surfactant modified (F-CNC) were incorporated into a non-polar PLA matrix to study their reinforcing effect. The P-CNC, ascribed to its inherent hydrophilic characteristic, had limited nucleating and reinforcing effect on the PLA matrix. Large nanoparticle aggregation and interface debonding were easily discernable in P-CNC/PLA nanocomposite films. The hydrophobic F-CNC, by contrast, had a much better dispersibility and interface compatibility within the PLA matrix. The cold crystallization rate, crystallinity, storage modulus (glassy and rubbery states), glass transition temperature, and tensile strength and modulus of F-CNC/PLA nanocomposite films were remarkably enhanced with appropriate loading level of F-CNC (<5 wt%). These results demonstrate an efficient route to increase the hydrophobicity of CNC for its enhanced nanoreinforcing effect in various non-polar matrices.
Measuring Flow Hemodynamic Indices and Oxygen Consumption in Children with Pulmonary Hypertension: A Comparison of Catheterization and Phase-Contrast MRI.

We sought to compare pulmonary flow hemodynamic indices obtained by Fick and thermodilution catheterization techniques with phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) in children with diverse etiologies of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Calculation of pulmonary flow ( $${\dot{\text{Q}}}_{\text{p}}$$ ) using the Fick principle in most catheter laboratories relies on an estimate of oxygen consumption which may limit its reliability. Flow hemodynamic indices acquired from thirty patients with PAH who underwent successful same-day PC-MRI and catheterization were evaluated for absolute and percent bias. Comparison of $${\dot{\text{Q}}}_{\text{p}}$$ between PC-MRI and Fick revealed poor agreement with an absolute bias of 0.96 ± 0.53 L/min/m2 and percent bias of 27.7 ± 19.6%. Same analysis between PC-MRI and thermodilution revealed better agreement as demonstrated by absolute bias 0.64 ± 0.47 L/min/m2 and percent bias 16.8 ± 12.3%. Retrospectively calculated $${\dot{\text{V}}}_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }}$$ from PC-MRI and LaFarge equations revealed poor agreement, with an absolute bias of 33.4 ± 21.6 mL/min/m2 and percent bias of 25.8 ± 12.6%. We found that Fick-derived flow hemodynamics dramatically differs from PC-MRI computed metrics in children with PAH. The non-invasive nature of PC-MRI and short acquisition time is ideal for pediatric flow evaluation and may offer a novel route of absolute flow and resistance assessment when combined with cardiac catheterization.