cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Key role of MicroRNA in the regulation of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression in murine alveolar epithelial cells during oxidative stress

GM-CSF is an endogenous pulmonary cytokine produced by normal alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) that is a key defender of the alveolar space. AEC GM-CSF expression is suppressed by oxidative stress through alternations in mRNA turnover, an effect that is reversed by treatment with recombinant GM-CSF. We hypothesized that specific microRNA (miRNA) would play a key role in AEC GM-CSF regulation. A genome-wide miRNA microarray identified 19 candidate miRNA altered in primary AEC during oxidative stress with reversal by treatment with GM-CSF. Three of these miRNA (miR 133a, miR 133a*, and miR 133b) are also predicted to bind the GM-CSF 3′-untranslated region (UTR). PCR for the mature miRNA confirmed induction during oxidative stress that was reversed by treatment with GM-CSF. Experiments using a GM-CSF 3′-UTR reporter construct demonstrated that miR133a and miR133b effects on GM-CSF expression are through interactions with the GM-CSF 3′-UTR. Using lentiviral transduction of specific mimics and inhibitors in primary murine AEC, we determined that miR133a and miR133b suppress GM-CSF expression and that their inhibition both reverses oxidant-induced suppression of GM-CSF expression and increases basal expression of GM-CSF in cells in normoxia. In contrast, these miRNAs are not active in regulation of GM-CSF expression in murine EL4 T cells. Thus, members of the miR133 family play key roles in regulation of GM-CSF expression through effects on mRNA turnover in AEC during oxidative stress. Increased understanding of GM-CSF gene regulation may provide novel miRNA-based interventions to augment pulmonary innate immune defense in lung injury.
Ancestral state estimation and taxon sampling density.

A set of experiments based on simulation and analysis found that using the parsimony algorithm for ancestral state estimation can benefit from increased sampling of terminal taxa. Estima- tion at the base of small clades showed strong sensitivity to tree topology and number of descendent tips. These effects were largely driven by the creation and negation of ambiguity across a topology. Root state and internal state estimation showed similar behavior. We conclude that increased taxon sampling density is generally advisable, and attention to topological effects may be advisable in eval- uating the confidence placed in state estimation. We also explore the factors affecting ancestral state estimation and conjecture that as taxa are added to a tree, the total amount of information for root state estimation depends on the tree topology and distance to root state of added taxa. For a pure-birth model tree, we conjecture that the addition of N taxa increases root state information in proportion to log(N). (Parsimony; state estimation; taxon sampling; tree topology.) The challenge of estimating ancestral char- acter states has recently received atten- tion from many authors, including those of the seven-paper symposium published in Systematic Biology 48, no.3 (Cunningham, 1999; Martins, 1999; Mooers and Schluter, 1999; Omland, 1999; Pagel, 1999; Ree and Donoghue, 1999; Schultz and Churchill, 1999). Relative to our understanding of phy- logeny estimation, methods of ancestral state estimation are somewhat poorly character- ized; this disparity is perhaps due to the log- ical priority of the former step in inferring evolutionary history. Most papers on state estimation theory have revolved around the merits and liabilities of competing analyti- cal methods, such as parsimony and various flavors of maximum likelihood. In this note we explore a single issue: how the accuracy of estimating ancestral states depends on the density of taxon sampling. We consider only parsimony estimation because it is the most commonly applied method and its algorithm is amenable to analytical analysis. Frumhoff and Reeve (1994) and a subse-
Economic determinants of fertility in Jamaica

Summary In this study possible links between marital union status and fertility are examined using Jamaican census data: in Jamaica a fluid pattern of marital relationships exist, with women in common law and legal marriages and in visiting unions. Examination of the statistics showed (a) that inclusion of union status group does explain some of the fertility variance, and (b) that within each union Status category women respond differently to specific economic variables (such as education and employment). For example, women apparently make choices between earning a living or living with a partner, and the latter may involve motherhood as a means of stabilising and maintaining the union. While consideration of differences in fertility among union status groups has generally focused on the length of the relationship, this exploratory study stresses the importance of looking behind such observations to possible economic causes. It is suggested that where fluid marital arrangements exist, the inclusion of un...
GENUS RICHNESS IN CAMBRIAN-ORDOVICIAN BENTHIC MARINE COMMUNITIES IN NORTH AMERICA

The causes of global biological diversification and the nature of ecological change during taxonomic radiations are central questions in paleobiology. It has long been recognized, however, that apparent increases in global taxonomic richness need not be mirrored in local communities. Here, using field data and literature sources from Laurentia, it is shown that genus richness in well-preserved subtidal macrobenthic marine communities increased by as much as a factor of two from the Middle Cambrian to the Late Ordovician. Several potential sources of bias have been addressed in this study, including taphonomic effects, water depth, lithology, sample size, and differences in the relative numerical abundance of taxa (evenness). Excluding samples from environments that may have been oxygen stressed and omitting samples that closely follow Cambrian biomere extinction intervals result in much less complete temporal sampling and significantly influence apparent short-term patterns of biodiversity, but do not change fundamentally the overall richness and evenness trajectories. The apparent magnitude and timing of the increases in local richness and evenness, however, is sensitive to such factors. The overall richness trajectory is also sensitive to how evenness is treated quantitatively. If evenness is assumed to represent a biological positive correlate of richness, then rarefaction is most appropriate and suggests an Early Ordovician richness increase. If evenness is treated strictly as a bias in richness estimates, then most of the richness increase appears to have occurred by the late Cambrian (Marjuman), with only a modest increase after the Arenigian.
Total elbow prosthesis loosening caused by ulnar component pistoning.

Background: Linked semiconstrained total elbow prostheses have been used successfully but may be at higher risk for implant loosening than unlinked implants are. The purpose of the present report was to describe a previously unreported and potentially preventable cause of mechanical loosening of the ulnar component of a linked total elbow prosthesis. Methods: A series of ten patients who had painful pistoning of the polymethylmethacrylate-coated ulnar component of a Coonrad-Morrey linked total elbow prosthesis were evaluated clinically and radiographically. Results: All ten patients complained of elbow pain, and eight had a distinct sensation of the ulnar component moving within the ulna. Six patients either complained of squeaking within the elbow or could demonstrate squeaking on examination. Four patients had a complete radiolucent line around the ulnar component or the cement mantle, and six had an incomplete line around the ulnar component. Six patients had a radiolucent gap between the cement and the tip of the ulnar prosthesis. Two patients had proximal migration of the ulnar component within the cement mantle on lateral flexion radiographs. Three patients had anterior impingement, such as between the anterior flange of the humeral implant and a prominent coronoid process, on lateral flexion radiographs. At the time of revision arthroplasty, all ten patients were found to have a loose ulnar component, which was successfully revised with or without impaction grafting. At the time of the most recent follow-up, nine of the ten ulnar components were intact and stable. Three patients required an additional reoperation: one required triceps repair, one required revision of a loose humeral component, and one required a revision total elbow arthroplasty. Conclusions: Pistoning of the ulnar component in the cement mantle leading to failure by means of a pullout mechanism can occur in association with the Coonrad-Morrey total elbow prosthesis with a polymethylmethacrylate-precoated ulnar component. To prevent this problem following any total elbow arthroplasty, the surgeon should check for anterior impingement intraoperatively by ensuring that there is no contact between the anterior flange and a prominent coronoid process or the cement and that no distraction of the trial ulnar component from the ulna occurs with passive elbow flexion. This condition also can be avoided by ensuring that the ulnar component is not inserted too far distally. This mechanism of failure should be considered when future total elbow arthroplasty implants are designed. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
EXTRAPERITONEAL ENDOSCOPIC PELVIC LYMPH NODE DISSECTION A REVIEW OF 125 PATIENTS

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the efficacy of a totally extraperitoneal approach to endoscopic pelvic lymph node dissection.Materials and Methods: Extraperitoneal endoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 125 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. All patients were candidates for brachytherapy, cryotherapy or radical perineal prostatectomy. The first 65 patients underwent lymphadenectomy regardless of local clinical stage, prostate specific antigen (PSA) or tumor grade. The last 60 patients met 2 of 3 selection criteria, consisting of clinical local stage T2b or greater, prostate specific antigen greater than 20 and Gleason score 7 or higher. Patients were evaluated for morbidity and mortality, nodal yield, operative time, conversion rate to transperitoneal laparoscopic or open lymphadenectomy and hospital stay.Results: Mean operative time was 104 minutes, mean length of stay was 2.1 days and mean nodal yield was 10.2. Of the patients 19.2% had positive nodes, and positive nodal yiel...
Oxidative modification of proteins: an emerging mechanism of cell signaling

There are a wide variety of reactive species which can affect cell function, including reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and lipid species. Some are formed endogenously through enzymatic or non-enzymatic pathways, and others are introduced through diet or environmental exposure. Many of these reactive species can interact with biomolecules, and can result in oxidative post-translational modification of proteins. It is well documented that some oxidative modifications cause macromolecular damage and cell death. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that certain classes of reactive species initiate cell signaling by reacting with specific side chains of peptide residues without causing cell death. This process is generally termed ‘redox signaling,’ and its role in physiological and pathological processes is a subject of active investigation. This review will give an overview of oxidative protein modification as a mechanism of redox signaling, including types of reactive species and how they modify proteins, examples of modified proteins, and a discussion about the current concepts in this area.
Parents' Perceptions of Their Quality of Life

The purpose of this study was to assess parents' perceptions of their quality of life after the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in their child. The following questions were addressed: (1) How do parents of children with cancer perceive their quality of life; (2) How do parents of children with cancer perceive their quality of life compared with before their child was diagnosed; and (3) Is there a statistically significant difference in parents' quality of life perceptions now as compared with before their child had cancer? Using Roy's Adaptation Model as a theoretical framework, a descriptive study research design was used with a convenience sample of 30 parents. Data collection involved parental completion of the Varricchio-Wright Impact of Cancer Questionnaire-Parents, a 17-item instrument measuring parental quality of life in each of Roy's domains, and a Demographic Information Form. Measures of central tendency were used to describe the sample and to answer the first two research questions; student'...
Paralamprops poorei, sp. nov. (Crustacea: Cumacea: Lampropidae), a new Australian cumacean.

Gerken, S. 2009. Paralamprops poorei, sp. nov. (Crustacea: Cumacea: Lampropidae), a new Australian cumacean. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 66: 71–75. Paralamprops is a small genus in the cumacean family Lampropidae. A new species, Paralamprops poorei sp. nov. is described from the southern Australian continental slope. Paralamprops poorei can be distinguished from all other Paralamprops by the combination of a toothed marginal carina, subequal antennular fl agellae, maxillule without palp, pereopods 3 and 4 in the female with rudimentary exopods, pereopod 5 with article proportions as in pereopods 3 and 4, telson with 5 lateral setae and 3 equal terminal setae, and the male with three pairs of pleopods.
Merchandizing the Sacred: Commodifying Hindu Religion, Gods/Goddesses, and Festivals in the United States

ABSTRACTThe Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened the gates for immigrants from India, who have come to the United States for various reasons other than religion. Their religious consciousness has grown along with the age of their children who are born in the United States. They have felt the need to retain and hand down their tradition and culture. In the process, sustaining their tradition and culture has become equivalent with religion, so they express it through rituals and festivals. With these festive observances has developed an intimate connection between commerce and religion, fashion and festival, celebration and consumption. In this scholarly essay, I analyze how Hindu religion has succumbed to the world of advertisements, mass production, and marketing in the United States. This aspect is significant because it gives an opportunity to conceptualize a larger transnational space that deals with Hindu religious practices and sees the participation of retailers and businesses located in v...
Aquatic Toxicity of Dioxins and Related Chemicals

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and biphenyls (PCBs) belong to a family of lipophilic halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons that have similar structures, resist chemical and biological degradation, and persist in the environment posing a potential risk to fish, wildlife, and human health. There are more than 400 possible polychlorinated dioxins, dibenzofuran, and biphenyl congeners; however, only 21 are considered highly toxic.1,2 The more potent congeners are planar or coplanar molecules with lateral chlorine substitutions, approximate isostereomers of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent PCDD, PCDF, or PCB congener.3 In mammals, TCDD and TCDD-like dioxin, dibenzofuran, and biphenyl congeners evoke similar patterns of toxic responses within a given species, and share a common mechanism of action mediated by binding the cellular aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and altering gene transcription.3,4 The ability of TCDD and TCDD-like congeners to produce toxicity in mammalian species correlates with their Ah receptor binding affinity and their ability to induce cytochrome P450IA enzyme activity, a gene subfamily that catalyzes monooxygenase reactions and whose expression is regulated by the Ah receptor.4−6
Thy-1 Regulates VEGF-Mediated Choroidal Endothelial Cell Activation and Migration: Implications in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose This study addresses the hypothesis that age-related stresses upregulate Thy-1 in choroidal endothelial cells (CECs) and contribute to CEC activation and migration, processes important in choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Methods Measurements were made of Thy-1 protein (Western blot) in CECs and Thy-1 mRNA (real time quantitative PCR) in CECs treated with VEGF, CCL11, or PBS or in RPE/choroids from young or old donors or lasered or nonlasered mice. Immunolabeled Thy-1 in ocular sections was compared from young versus old human donor eyes or those with or without neovascular AMD or from lasered versus nonlasered mice. Choroidal endothelial cells transfected with Thy-1 or control siRNA or pretreated with Thy-1 blocking peptide or control were stimulated with VEGF or 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC). Choroidal endothelial cell migration, proliferation, cytoskeletal stress fibers, Rac1 activation, and phosphorylated VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), integrin β3, and Src were measured. Statistics were performed using ANOVA. Results Thy-1 was expressed in retinal ganglion cells and in vascular endothelial-cadherin-labeled choroid and localized to human or mouse laser-induced CNV lesions. Thy-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased in CECs treated with VEGF or CCL11 and in RPE/choroids from aged versus young donor eyes or from lasered mice versus nonlasered controls. Knockdown or inhibition of Thy-1 in CECs significantly reduced VEGF-induced CEC migration and proliferation, stress fiber formation and VEGFR2, Src, integrin β3 and Rac1 activation, and 7-KC-induced Rac1 and Src activation. Conclusions Thy-1 in CECs regulates VEGF-induced CEC activation and migration and links extracellular 7-KC to intracellular signaling. Future studies elucidating Thy-1 mechanisms in neovascular AMD are warranted.
Effect of Exposure Type and Timing of Injuries in Division I College Football: A 4-year Single Program Analysis.

Background: Football players compete with a high risk of injury due to the sport. With the recent efforts to improve safety, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) established new term...
Identification of a Novel Candidate Regulator of HSC Aging.

Abstract It is well documented that both quantitative and qualitative changes in the murine hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) population occur with age. In mice, the effect of aging on stem cells is highly strain-specific, thus suggesting genetic regulation plays a role in HSC aging. We have previously mapped a quantitative trait locus (QTL) to murine Chr 2 that is associated with the variation in frequency of HSCs between aged B6 and D2 mice. In C57BL/6 (B6) mice the HSC population steadily increases with age, whereas in DBA/2 mice, this population declines. A QTL regulating the natural variation in lifespan between the two strains was mapped to the same location on mouse Chr 2, thus leading to the hypothesis that stem cell function affects longevity. B6 alleles, associated with expansion of the stem cell pool, are also associated with a ~50% increase in lifespan. Using a congenic mouse model, in which D2 alleles in the QTL interval were introgressed onto a B6 background, genome wide gene expression analyses were performed using sorted lineage negative hematopoietic cells, which are enriched for primitive stem and progenitor cells. Three variables were examined using Affymetrix M430 arrays: the effect of strain--congenic versus background; the effect of age--2 months versus 22 months; and the effects of 2 Gy of radiation because previous studies indicated that congenic animals were highly sensitive to the effects of mild radiation compared to B6 background animals. Extensive analysis of the expression arrays pointed to a single strong candidate, the gene encoding ribosome binding protein 1 (Rrbp1). Real-time PCR was used to validate the differential expression of Rrbp1 in lineage negative, Sca-1+, c-kit+ (LSK) cells, a population highly enriched for stem and progenitor cells. Further analysis revealed the presence eight non-synonymous, coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and at least one of them because of its location and nature may significantly alter protein structure and function. The Rrbp1 gene consists of 23 exons in mouse and is highly conserved among mammalian species including mouse, human, and canine. The Rrbp1 protein is present on the surface of the rough endoplasmic reticulum where it tethers ribosomes to the membrane, stabilizes mRNA transcripts, and mediates translocation of nascent proteins destined for the cell secretory pathway. It is well established that the interaction of HSCs with microenvironmental niches in the bone marrow is crucial for their maintenance and self-renewal, and that this interaction is mediated in part by the molecular repertoires displayed on the cell surfaces of both HSCs and niche stromal cells. Therefore, we hypothesize that age and strain specific variation in Rrbp1, through its role in the secretory pathway, affects the molecular repertoire at the cell surface of the HSC, thus altering the way stem cells interact with their niches. This altered microenvironmental interaction could have profound effects on fundamental properties relevant to stem cell aging such as pluripotency, self-renewal, and senescence.
Photoluminescence, Magnetospectroscopy, and Resonant Electronic Raman Studies of Heteroepitaxial Gallium Nitride

Optical spectroscopy, including low and room temperature photoluminescence (PL), reflectance, PL measurements in high magnetic fields up to 12 T, and resonantly-enhanced electronic Raman scattering (RERS) in zero and high magnetic field, has been used to investigate exciton and impurity states and surface recombination in high quality heteroepitaxial GaN grown on sapphire and SiC. Theoretical finite-difference calculations of the donor states as a function of magnetic field have been carried out for comparison, including the effects of anisotropy in the effective mass and dielectric constant. Up to six residual donor species are observed in material grown by hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) from their n=2 and n=3 two-electron satellites observed in PL and by RERS. The donor-related nature of the relevant transitions is confirmed from their magnetic field dependence, and the spectral resolution is improved at high fields. The Si donor level is determined to have a binding energy of about 21 meV from observation of its two-electron satellite in lightly Si-doped HVPE material. The free exciton binding energy is shown to be about 26.4 meV, independent of strain, based on observations of the n=2 free exciton. The room temperature band-edge PL peak is confirmed to be free excitonic in nature, based on its linewidth and on comparison with simple reflectance measurements. Reflectance from the edge of a thick HVPE layer shows clear evidence of A, B, and C excitons obeying the relevant selection rules at both low and room temperature. Surface chemical treatments are shown to have substantial effects on room temperature PL efficiency. Passivation with ammonium or sodium sulfide solutions, in particular, yields increases in PL efficiency by a factor of five to seven over air-exposed surfaces. The passivation effect is stable in air, lasting at least one month.
Risk of melanocytic nevi and nonmelanoma skin cancer in children after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

There is a known increased risk of skin cancer in the adult population after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, late dermatologic effects that children may experience after HSCT have not been well described. The primary objective of this study was to characterize nevi and skin cancers affecting children after allogeneic HSCT. A cross-sectional cohort study of 85 pediatric HSCT recipients and 85 controls matched for age, sex and skin phototype was performed at a single institution. All participants underwent a full skin examination. Median age at study visit was 13.8 years in HSCT patients with median time post-HSCT of 3.6 years. HSCT patients had significantly more nevi than control patients (median (range): 44 (0–150) vs 11 (0–94), P 5 mm in diameter and atypical nevi than controls. Factors associated with increased nevus count included malignant indication for HSCT, pretransplant chemotherapy, TBI exposure and myeloablative conditioning. A total of 16.5% of HSCT patients developed cancerous, precancerous lesions and/or lentigines. Our study suggests that pediatric HSCT recipients have an increased risk of benign and atypical melanocytic proliferations and nonmelanoma skin cancer that can manifest even during childhood.
Dynamic Generalization Kanerva Coding in Reinforcement Learning for TCP Congestion Control Design

Traditional reinforcement learning (RL) techniques often encounter limitations when solving large or continuous state-action spaces. Training times needed to explore the very large space are impractically long, and it can be difficult to generalize learned knowledge. A compact representation of the state space is usually generated to solve both problems. However, simple state abstraction often cannot achieve the desired learning quality, while expert state representations usually involve costly hand-crafted strategies.We propose a new technique, generalization-based Kanerva coding, that automatically generates and optimizes state abstractions for learning. When applied to adapting the congestion window of the highly complex TCP congestion control protocol, a standard Internet protocol, this technique outperforms the current standard-TCP New Reno by 59.5% in throughput and 6.5% in delay. Our technique also achieves a 35.2% improvement in throughput over the best previously proposed Kanerva coding technique when applied in the same context.
‘Ryot Upon Ryot:’ Sedition During the London Shrieval Election of 1682

The London shrieval election of 1682 was more than a selection of local civil servants as it erupted into an episode of violent resistance against the Crown as the Whig liverymen asserted liberty and citizens’ rights against arbitrary government. Without a Parliament, both the Tory and Whig factions were forced to find a new forum by which to further their agendas, and in 1682, the City of London served this purpose. Charles sought to assert the Crown’s authority over the City, silencing those who led the resistance to his policies. The shrieval election represented the perfect opportunity for Charles to do just this as he could have the Tory Lord Mayor appoint a fellow Tory as sheriff to choose the jurors who would be responsible for deciding the fate of those Charles found treasonous. Throughout the electoral process from June to September, Whig partisans were already beginning to plot against what they viewed to be an arbitrary government. The events of the election resulted in more than mere plotting,...
Single-cell analysis reveals sexually dimorphic repertoires of Interferon-γ and IL-17A producing T cells in salivary glands of Sjögren’s syndrome mice

The development of Sjogren's syndrome (SjS) is a dynamic and temporal process with a female predilection. Following the initial influx of immune cells, T cell clusters develop, accelerating the pathology in the salivary glands. Proinflammatory cytokines, IFN-γ and IL-17A, produced by T cells contribute synergistically to the disease. In this study, we examined the sexual dimorphism in cellular infiltrates of the salivary glands by using functional single-cell microengraving analysis. Using high-throughput sequencing, we investigated the clonal diversity of the T cell receptors (TCRs) of infiltrating IFN-γ and IL-17A-producing T cells in male and female SjS-susceptible (SjSs) C57BL/6.NOD-Aec1Aec2 mice. There were elevated frequencies of IFN-γ and IL-17A-producing effector T cell populations in female SjSS mice compared to male SjSS mice. MEME analysis shows high frequency and unique, sexually dimorphic motifs in the TCR hypervariable regions in the SjSS mice. Male mice selected for TRAV8/TRAJ52 (CATDLNTGANTGKLTFG) TCR genes in Th1 cells and TRBV16/(TRBD1/2)TRBJ1-7 (CGGKRRLESIFR) in Th1 and Th17 cells. Female SjSS mice selected for TRAV8/TRAJ52 (CATDLNTGANTGKLTFG), TRAV13D-2/TRAJ23 (CVYLEHHFE), and TRBV23/(TRBD2)TRBJ2-2 (CRKLHSCATCALNFL) in Th1 cells. These findings suggest that there is an elevated prevalence of pathogenic effector T cells in the glands with a sexually dimorphic selection bias of TCR repertoires.
Olfactory and middle meatal cytokine levels correlate with olfactory function in chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS The etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)-associated olfactory loss is unclear, but may result from inflammatory changes in the olfactory epithelium that result in signaling dysfunction or loss of olfactory neurons. Several proinflammatory cytokines have been associated with CRS, but their expression within the olfactory cleft microenvironment and association with olfactory function is unknown. STUDY DESIGN Prospective case-control study. METHODS Mucus was collected from the olfactory cleft and middle meatus of 31 CRS without nasal polyps subjects, 36 CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) subjects, and 12 healthy controls. Olfactory function was assessed using the validated Smell Identification Test (SIT). Site-specific levels of 14 cytokines/chemokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor-α, Eotaxin, RANTES [regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted]) were assessed using a multiplex flow cytometric bead assay and correlated with SIT scores. RESULTS Mucus cytokine levels in the olfactory cleft were strongly or moderately correlated with levels in the middle meatus for all but one measured inflammatory mediators. SIT scores were inversely correlated with levels of IL-2 (P = .006), IL-5 (P < .0001), IL-6 (P = .0009), IL-10 (P < .0001), and IL-13 (P < .0001), with significance largely driven by CRSwNP patients. CONCLUSIONS The inflammatory microenvironment within the olfactory cleft mirrors that within the middle meatus. Elevated levels of IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-13 in olfactory cleft mucus are associated with reduced olfactory identification scores in CRS patients. Altered levels of select olfactory mucus cytokines could potentially have deleterious effects on olfactory neuron function and turnover. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA. Laryngoscope, 128:E304-E310, 2018.
Improving the Detection of Subtle IKr-Inhibition : Assessing Electrocardiographic Abnormalities of Repolarization Induced by Moxifloxacin

Background: QT prolongation is an incomplete measure of drug-induced changes in repolarization. In this study, we investigated a novel, automatic ECG technique for describing ventricular repolarization morphology and we compared these results to corrected QT (QTc) prolongation for identifying ECGs of healthy individuals on moxifloxacin.
Microstructure and transformation texture evolution during α precipitation in polycrystalline α/β titanium alloys – A simulation study

Abstract A three-dimensional phase field model of β → α transformation in polycrystalline Ti–6Al–4V (wt.%) alloys is formulated and used to study variant selection and microstructure evolution under different processing conditions and starting β phase textures. Degrees of variant selection at both individual β grain and polycrystalline β volume element levels and their connections to the final micro- and macro-texture of α precipitates are analyzed and correlated with the processing parameters. It is found that local stresses in an elastically anisotropic and inhomogeneous polycrystalline volume element lead to obvious variant selection. Under certain pre-strains, a local volume element of a polycrystalline β sample considered in the simulations could end up with a relatively weak micro- and macro-texture of the transformed α phase if it has a strong starting β phase texture. Moreover, a Fix-End (clamped) boundary constraint to the volume element is found to be more favorable than a Free-End (relaxed) one in preventing the formation of strong transformation texture irrespective of the strength of the starting β phase texture. Other factors contributing to variant selection and transformation texture development are also discussed. The results could shed light on how to control processing conditions and internal stresses to reduce transformation texture at both the individual β grain and the polycrystalline volume element level.
The Right to Education for Asylum Seekers and Ethnic Germans (1985–1992)

Through the late 1980s, internal and international conflicts within countries like Turkey and Poland as well as the collapse of the Soviet Bloc triggered the flight of hundreds of thousands, many of whom sought new homes in West and then a united Germany. This chapter examines how the Lander handled the sudden influx of tens of thousands of school-age asylum seekers and ethnic Germans (Spataussiedler). Attempts to treat ethnic Kurdish refugees as Turkish citizens and Polish-speaking Germans differently from Polish citizens highlighted the absurdity of blood-based citizenship laws and an emphasis on mono-ethnonationalism, particularly when comparing the supposed “Germanness” of long-term residents with foreign citizenship against the arriving Germans. Yet, even as citizenship opened up, access to education became increasingly dependent on citizenship status.
Automated Electric-Field-Based Nanowire Characterization, Manipulation, and Assembly

We present an integrated, electric-field-based method for Automated Characterization, Manipulation, and Assembly of Nanowires (ACMAN) into nanodevices by selectable electrical conductivities with precisely controlled positions and orientations. We combine electrophoresis-based motion-control, planning and manipulation strategies and contactless and solution-based electro-orientation spectroscopy (EOS) to simultaneously characterize and manipulate multiple individual nanowires. The ACMAN is a complete automated and online process to form functional nanodevice with desired electrical properties. We validate the ACMAN design by assembling field-effect transistors (FETs) with silicon nanowires of selected electrical conductivities. The results confirm the high performance of the FET by the ACMAN process.
Combined pars plana lensectomy/vitrectomy for idiopathic macular hole repair without postoperative prone positioning.

Purpose The aim of this study is to determine the anatomic and visual outcomes following combined pars plana lensectomy/vitrectomy (CPPLV) as a primary procedure for idiopathic macular hole (MH) without post-operative prone positioning (PPP). Materials and methods A retrospective chart review of 42 patients (47 eyes) with MH who underwent CPPLV was performed. No PPP was performed; however, patients were instructed to avoid the supine position during the first postoperative week. The main outcome measures included MH closure rate, best corrected post-operative Snellen visual acuity (BCVA), and procedure complications. Results Anatomical closure was achieved in 44 eyes (93.6%). The average BCVA in these eyes improved from 20/203 at baseline to 20/91 post-operatively, with 28 (63.6%) having 20/40 or better. Twenty-eight (59.6%) of the 47 eyes had a BCVA of 20/40 or better post-operatively and 35 (74.5%) eyes improved by at least 2 Snellen lines. Post-operative retinal detachment (RD) was observed in 4 eyes (8.5%) and late reopening of the hole in 4 (9.1%). Discussion The anatomical and visual outcomes and the RD rate of CPPLV with sulcus intraocular lens implantation without PPP are comparable to those of traditional MH surgery techniques. The main advantages include sparing the patient the inconvenience of PPP and eliminating the need for additional post-vitrectomy cataract extraction procedure.
Disparities in elective surgery for diverticulitis: Identifying the gap in care.

Abstract Background Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in patients with diverticulitis is advantageous relative to open surgery. We aimed to determine disparities associated with MIS access for diverticulitis and post-operative complications. Methods The Florida Inpatient Discharge Dataset was retrospectively queried for patients with diverticulitis undergoing elective surgery between 2013 and 2015. Associations of patient, physician, and hospital characteristics with surgical approach (MIS vs open) and development of complications were calculated in two separate mixed effects logistic regression models. Results Of the 5857 patients in the analysis, older, sicker patients, residing in rural areas or with Medicaid insurance had decreased odds of receiving MIS. Being treated by high volume or colorectal surgeons increased the odds of MIS. Decreased complications were present with MIS, in younger, healthier patients, treated by high volume surgeons. Conclusions Disparities in Florida are present in patients undergoing elective diverticulitis surgery. MIS access and complications rates are not equal, and MIS is associated with significantly reduced odds of post-operative complications. Improved access to MIS-trained surgeons is a critical step towards improving surgical outcomes for Floridians.
Provider burnout and patient-provider communication in the context of hypertension care.

Abstract Objective Burnout is prevalent among healthcare providers and associated with poor patient-provider communication. Patient-provider communication is essential for effective care, particularly among patients with conditions such as hypertension. We examined the association between provider burnout and patient-provider communication in hypertension care. Methods We used cross-sectional data from 26 primary care providers and their 80 patients with hypertension. Patient-provider primary care visits were audiotaped and providers completed surveys. Patients were 65% Black/African American and 58% female. Providers were 54% white and 65% female. Patient-provider communication was coded using the Medical Interaction Process System (MIPS). We also assess provider-reported level of burnout and suboptimal patient care using validated surveys. Results Our findings show an inverse association between burnout and relationship building communication (e.g., displaying empathy) (b=-4.7 p Conclusion Given the role of patient-provider communication, our work highlights provider burnout as a potentially significant hindrance to patient-provider relationship building in hypertension care. Practice implications Future research should examine the factors that contribute to provider burnout in order to mitigate their negative effects on patient-provider communication and patient care.
Nearest-Vehicle Communication in Regular Street Systems

We consider a vehicular network with an underlying regular street system formed by horizontally and vertically oriented streets. We model vehicle locations on each street using Poisson point processes, and each vehicle transmits with some probability following slotted ALOHA. Each receiving vehicle connects to its partner-transmitting vehicle based on the following schemes: 1) Nearest-transmitter reception (NTR), 2) Nearest-transmitter reception with selective thinning (NTR-II), and 3) Nearest-receiver transmission (NRT). In NTR and NTR-II, each receiver receives from its nearest transmitter, whereas in NRT, each transmitter transmits to its nearest receiver. NTR-II is a modified version of NTR, where the transmitters not closest to any of the receivers remain idle. Under each scheme, we calculate the probabilities of successful reception for the general and intersection users, i.e., vehicles not at intersections and at intersections. We study how the nearest-transmitter/receiver distance properties in each scheme differ for general and intersection users, and in turn, how those properties affect their probabilities of successful reception. Also, we show that we can obtain higher data rates in NTR and NTR-II compared to NRT in the high-reliability regime.
A multilevel analysis of the drivers of household water consumption in a semi-arid region

Abstract Communities across the Western United States face the growing challenge of managing water resources in the face of rapid population growth and climate change. There are two contrasting approaches to understanding and managing residential water demand in this context. Many scientists and water managers see water use as a reflection of individual attitudes and decisions where people are assumed to have the agency to act independently of structural constraints. Conversely, other scientists and policymakers focus on the importance of the built environment and the broader social, economic, and policy contexts within which households make water decisions. Using multilevel models, we compared attitudinal, demographic, and structural drivers of indoor and outdoor residential water use for a sample of households in Northern Utah. We estimated multilevel mixed-effect Poisson models with robust standard errors using matched household survey data with metered residential water use records. Outdoor water use had a substantially greater amount of neighborhood-level variation than indoor water use. Structural factors generally eclipsed individual agency in our analysis. While indoor use was most strongly predicted by household size, tenure status, and length of residence, outdoor water use was most associated with the built environment (lot size and the presence of vegetable gardens and underground sprinklers), socioeconomic status (household income, rental status), and residents' sensitivity to lawn watering norms. Higher water prices were associated with lower water use, with lower-income households being more responsive to prices than higher-income households. Our findings have important implications for water managers and policymakers.
What is the value of electromagnetic navigation in lung cancer and to what extent does it require improvement

Lung nodules are being identified with increasing frequency. With this growing burden of nodules comes a growing need for diagnostic technologies extending beyond the current reach of conventional ...
Printing polymer blends through in situ active mixing during fused filament fabrication

Abstract Fused filament fabrication (FFF) enables production of 3D objects over a range of material compositions at low-cost relative to traditional manufacturing approaches. To date, a limited but growing number of materials are able to be used with FFF, however many applications exist where specific mechanical, thermal, or chemical properties are needed that cannot currently be met with the available feedstock selection. Therefore, a need exists to tune these materials for specific chemical or mechanical properties. One common formulation strategy to address these demanding design parameters is to develop composites or polymer blend filaments. Typically, this is a time-consuming and costly optimization process. Here, we have developed hardware for reproducibly mixing two filaments of similar or dissimilar compositions at the time of printing within individual printed layers. This mixing occurs via software-controlled rotating hardware in the chamber of an extruder’s hot-end. The efficiency of mixing within the printed layers has been characterized in detail as a function of the rotational speed and geometry of the blending hardware. These parameters were exploited to program the ratio and distribution of thermoplastic-based filaments blended within printed extrudate. Example printed specimens were produced with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer blended with rigid polylactic acid (PLA) and nylon blended with PLA. In addition, a conductive carbon nanotube (CNT)–PLA composite was blended as a function of mixer geometry and input feed ratios with non-conductive PLA and resistance values were measured across the resulting printed specimens.
Review of "Nihilism and technology by Nolen Gertz," Gertz, N. (2018). Nihilism and technology. Rowman & littlefield

Nolen Gertz's Nihilism and Technology is a commendable book the analyzes the human-technology relations by applying Nietzsche's nihilistic views to technology. By exploring the intertwinement of te...
Remeasurement of the low-energy cross section for the 15 N(p, α 0 ) 12 C reaction

Abstract The cross section for the 15 N(p , α 0 ) 12 C reaction has been measured at θ lab = 135° over the proton energy range 93 ≦ E p ≦ 418 keV. The results are in good agreement with the less precise but much earlier measurements of Schardt, Fowler and Lauritsen (1952). An analysis of the present data in terms of a two-level calculation including the 338 keV (1 − ) and 1028 keV (1 − ) resonances determines a zero-energy intercept for the astrophysical S -factor of S (0) = 78 ± 6 MeV · b.
Poachers and Snobs: Demand for Rarity and the Effects of Antipoaching Policies

Habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and illegal wildlife trafficking are threatening a large number of animal populations. Recent research suggests that people place higher value on wildlife or wildlife-derived goods when they are considered rare or uncommon. Although supply-side antipoaching policies—such as strengthening the enforcement of regulations against illegal hunting—decrease people's incentives to engage in poaching, one significant consequence of the demand for rarity is that it weakens the impact of these policies. While the demand for rarity cannot completely offset the effects of supply-side antipoaching policies, the reduction in the amount of poaching that can be achieved using these policies may not be large when people are willing to pay more for rare wildlife goods. This calls into question whether actions targeting the supply side of the market for poaching are the most effective ones for protecting endangered or threatened species affected by poaching.
Effect of omeprazole on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of voriconazole

Aims Voriconazole, a novel triazole antifungal agent, is metabolized by the cytochrome P450 isoenzymes CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and to a lesser extent by CYP3A4. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor used widely for the treatment of gastric and duodenal ulcers, is predominantly metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of omeprazole on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of voriconazole. A secondary objective was to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of an oral loading dose regimen of 400 mg twice-daily voriconazole on day 1.
Ultraviolet-induced suppression of the primary allergic reaction : four times the minimal erythema dose of ultraviolet B administered 24 hours prior to sensitization

The effect of localized irradiation with 4 times the minimal erythema dose (MED) of ultraviolet B (UVB) 24 h prior to sensitization with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was examined. In a placebo-controlled design, 9 of 19 subjects were locally irradiated on the right buttock; 24 h later, DNCB (1000 micrograms) was applied to the right buttock in all 19 subjects, and subjects were examined 7 and 14 days later for the development of a primary allergic response (PAR). In those not developing a PAR, a challenge dose of DNCB (50 micrograms) was applied to the volar forearm and examined 2 days later for an elicitation response. A statistically significant difference was seen in the number of subjects developing a PAR, comparing the group irradiated with UVB versus the group not irradiated (33% vs 80%). There was no statistically significant difference seen in elicitation responses between the 2 groups. We have shown that intense localized UVB irradiation as early as 24 h prior to sensitization with a potent allergen at this site may inhibit the PAR but does not appear to affect the elicitation response at a distant site.