cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reclassification of Chytridium Spinulosum with Additional Observations on its Life History

In the course of an examination of conjugating filaments of Spirogyra Weberi Czurda, collected in a roadside ditch near Seymour, Wisconsin, in the early summer of 1938, a rhizidiaceous fungus was found parasitizing the zygospores but not the vegetative cells. Because of its characteristic aculeated zoosporangia and its general habit of growth the organism was recognized as one described by Blytt in 1882 as Chytridium spinulosum. Study of the method of zoospore discharge and the appearance of empty zo6sporangia revealed that the apical structure, taken by Blytt to be an operculum of the Chytridium type, is actually an apical ornamentation similar in certain respects to the apical spine of Obelidium. It plays no part in zo6spore discharge since the spores escape through a sub-apical exit pore. On the basis of this difference it seems necessary to separate this species from Chytridium as the type of a new genus. The name Blyttiomyces is thus proposed in commemoration of the man who first collected this interesting fungus. Since Blytt (1882) was unable to see zoospore discharge in his material, he concluded from the general appearance and location of the sporangial apiculus that its function was that of an operculum. This, in addition to the intramatricality of the resting spores, led him to conclude that he was dealing with an undescribed species of Chytridium, and he accordingly described the chytrid under the binomial of Chytridium spinulosum. The present observations are not the first to show the inoperculate nature of the sporangium; it was recognized by Petersen (1910) since he described its dehiscence by a lateral orifice. It was also recognized later by Scherffel (1926) since he stated clearly that the apical 558
A Marketing Strategy for Marketing Knowledge—Or how to Publish and Prosper:

Publishing increases one's options in teaching and in business. Here is some practical advice on how to do it more efficiently.
Quantum Confinement Controls Photocatalysis: A Free Energy Analysis for Photocatalytic Proton Reduction at CdSe Nanocrystals

The ability to adjust the mechanical, optical, magnetic, electric, and chemical properties of materials via the quantum confinement effect is well-understood. Here, we provide the first quantitative analysis of quantum-size-controlled photocatalytic H2 evolution at the semiconductor–solution interface. Specifically, it is found that the hydrogen evolution rate from illuminated suspended CdSe quantum dots in aqueous sodium sulfite solution depends on nanocrystal size. Photoelectrochemical measurements on CdSe nanocrystal films reveal that the observed reactivity is controlled by the free energy change of the system, as determined by the proton reduction potential and the quasi-Fermi energy of the dots. The corresponding free energy change can be fitted to the photocatalytic activity using a modified Butler–Volmer equation for reaction kinetics. These findings establish a quantitative experimental basis for quantum-confinement-controlled proton reduction with semiconductor nanocrystals. Electrochemical data...
Geographic access to transcatheter aortic valve replacement relative to other invasive cardiac services: A statewide analysis

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) received US regulatory approval for treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in November 2011. After subsequent approvals for expanded indications, it is now performed throughout Michigan but the distribution of these providers and their impact on access is uncertain. As the number of providers and utilization for TAVR grows, how procedural volume is distributed among providers may significantly impact patient outcomes. Methods We determined geographic access to TAVR in Michigan as of October 2014, and compared it to access of other invasive cardiac services; namely, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), non-transplant cardiac surgery, and cardiac transplant surgery. A geographic information systems analysis was performed using recent U.S. Census Survey data and statewide inpatient data to construct maps of service areas around hospitals providing TAVR, PCI, non-transplant cardiac surgery, and cardiac transplant surgery. Service areas ranging across multiple driving distances were included in the analysis. Geographic access was calculated as percentage of the population living within the hospital service areas providing invasive cardiac services. Results In October 2014, 15 hospitals provide TAVR in Michigan. For TAVR sites, the mean number of beds, annual discharges, and annual patient days are 571, 28,946, and 140,859, respectively. Compared to hospitals not offering TAVR, TAVR facilities were more likely to be non-profit (86.7% vs 71.0%), a teaching hospital (93.3% vs 87.1%), and rural (12.1% vs 6.5%). Of the 9,883,640 persons in Michigan, 4,492,941 (45.5%) live within 10 miles, 7,856,455 (79.5%) live within 30 miles, and 9,004,943 (91.1%) live within 50 miles driving distance of TAVR sites. These proportions compare favorably with hospitals providing PCI (8,857,148 [89.6%] living within 30 miles) and non-transplant cardiac surgery (8,814,143 [89.2%] living within 30 miles) as opposed to cardiac transplant surgery (5,481,122 [55.5%] living within 30 miles). For Michigan patients who underwent surgical valve replacement (SAVR) in 2010–2011, the median driving distance to a TAVR site was under 15 miles and under 10 miles to a hospital providing non-transplant cardiac surgery. Conclusions Nearly 4 of 5 Michigan residents lived within 30 miles of TAVR services early after its approval, suggesting its wide availability despite initial regulations on its use. These findings may encourage growth in TAVR utilization and limit the development of expertise as procedural volume is distributed among more providers. Given procedural volume tends to relate positively with outcomes, increased access to TAVR may have negative effects on patient outcomes.
Abstract B20: Geospatial analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its risk factors in Texas (1995-2010)

Introduction: Between 1995 and 2010 there have been 1.4 million incident cancer cases in Texas. While Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) accounted for a small proportion (ranked 21st in incidence), it ranked 9th by cause of death attributed to the tumor. Mortality rate was 68%, with average overall survival time 16.6 months. Unlike most cancers, HCC has resisted attempts to reduce its impact; incidence rates continue to increase especially among those Methods: County-level data on PRFs was obtained from the TX Department of State Health Services--Reportable Diseases, County Health Rankings, TX Cancer Registry, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HCC cases were defined using the International Classification of Diseases (ICDO-3 topography C22.0 and morphologies 8170–8175). Incidence rates were calculated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Stat Statistical software version 8.1.5. Correlation analysis between HCC rates and each PRF was conducted using ordinary least squares linear regression (p Comparisons were performed by overlapping areas showing high probabilities in variable pairs, and indicating whether they were concordant (both high, both low), or discordant (one high, one low). Using GeoDa, Univariate Moran9s I was calculated to evaluate spatial autocorrelation of HCC and all PRFs. Bivariate Moran9s I was used to determine which PRFs clustered geographically with HCC. Contiguity-based spatial weights were calculated using the Rook9s and Queen9s method of first and second order. Spatial Lag regression analysis was performed to test spatial relationships of HCC and multiple PRFs. Due to the inverse relationship between population proportions of Non-Hispanic whites (NHW) and Hispanics, these variables were run in separate linear models. Results: Correlation analysis showed 12 PRFs significantly associated to HCC. All 12 PRFs were spatially auto correlated (p Conclusion: Several PRFs clustered spatially and varied geographically with HCC rates, particularly in areas with low NHW/high Hispanic populations and counties along the South TX/Mexico border. HIV9s significant spatial correlation with HCC is important, as co-infection with known HCC risk factor Hepatitis C virus (HCV) accelerates liver fibrosis development vs. HCV infection alone. This study highlights the need for interventions targeted to multiple HCC PRFs including EAC and HIV, particularly in South TX. Citation Format: Laura Manuel, Edgar Munoz, Dorothy Long Parma, Amelie Ramirez. Geospatial analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma and its risk factors in Texas (1995-2010). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B20.
Within birth cohort segregation analyses support recessive inheritance of body mass index in white and African-American families.

OBJECTIVE : We conducted segregation analyses of body mass index within birth cohort to determine whether previously reported support for recessive major gene inheritance in white and African-American families could have been due to higher rates of obesity in offspring than in parents, which are caused by temporal increases in obesity in recent decades. DESIGN : Segregation analysis of family data. MEASUREMENT : The body mass index (BMI), adjusted for effects of gender, linear and non-linear effects of age, education and occupation of head of household, and clinic from which family was ascertained. RESULTS : Segregation analysis results support a recessive mode of major gene inheritance of body mass index, even though we restricted our analysis to siblings born within the same post-1945 cohort. We also found support for substantial polygenic heritability of body mass index, which is consistent with a multigenic heritability. There was no significant heterogeneity between white and African-American families in support for a recessive mixed model. However, some differences in particular parameters were found, with higher gene frequency, lower polygenic heritability and a larger variance associated with the major gene model in African-Americans. CONCLUSION : Our present segregation analysis shows that the recessive pattern, whether due to single or multiple genes, cannot be explained by inter-generational differences in obesity prevalence or family correlation. There was suggestive evidence of a higher major gene frequency and larger gene effect size in African-American families.
Understanding Windows File Systems

Performing a search on the files that make up my own Windows installation, plus software apps and utilities, you’d be unsurprised, I’m sure, to hear that Windows is reporting that there are more than half a million files in almost 80,000 folders on my C: drive, all taking up a whopping 182GB of space.
Orographic Influence on Basic Flow and Cyclone Circulation and Their Impacts on Track Deflection of an Idealized Tropical Cyclone

AbstractA series of idealized numerical experiments and vorticity budget analyses is performed to examine several mechanisms proposed in previous studies to help understand the orographic influence on track deflection over a mesoscale mountain range. When an idealized tropical cyclone (TC) is embedded in a uniform, easterly flow and passes over a mountain with a moderate Froude number, it is deflected to the south upstream, moves over the mountain anticyclonically, and then resumes its westward movement. The vorticity budget analysis indicates that the TC movement can be predicted by the maximum vorticity tendency (VT). The orographic effects on the above TC track deflection are explained by the following: 1) Upstream of the mountain, the easterly basic flow is decelerated as a result of orographic blocking that causes the flow to become subgeostrophic, which advects the TC to the southwest, analogous to the advection of a point vortex embedded in a flow. The VT is primarily dominated by the horizontal vo...
Gender Equality, Patriarchal Cultural Norms, and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence: Comparison of Male University Students in Asian and European Cultural Contexts

This study examined the relationship between patriarchal cultural norms and violence perpetration by male partners using a subsample of university students in Asia ( n = 784) and Europe ( n = 575) from the International Dating Violence Study (IDVS) data set. Bivariate analyses indicated Asian students scored significantly higher than Europeans on dominance, hostility to women, jealousy, negative attribution, and violence approval as well as perpetration of severe physical assault in dating relationships. Logistic regression models demonstrated that dominance and violence approval were significant predictors of severe physical and psychological aggression against dating partners. Implications for culturally relevant programming for intimate partner violence prevention are discussed.
Changing Dietary Habits and Improving the Healthiness of Diets in the United States

Physicians like challenges, and it is time to embrace a difficult one. Lifestyle choices of poor diet, physical inactivity, sleep deprivation, and medication nonadherence have adverse health consequences; however, clinical trials have demonstrated that when improved choices are introduced, patients have an opportunity to experience reversal of adverse consequences.1,2 Although this knowledge has advanced clinical care, merely educating patients about the proven effectiveness of lifestyle changes is not enough to help patients change their behaviors. Physicians and other health care professionals must find the best way to translate research findings into actionable messages, help patients set achievable goals, monitor progress, and manage relapses. These are significant, challenging tasks to accomplish in an office visit, particularly for the fundamental lifestyle factor of diet.
Design, Reconfiguration, and Control of Parallel Kinematic Machines

Parallel kinematic machines have attracted worldwide interest due to their potential in revolutionizing machine tool technology and their potential in maneuvering precisely heavy objects such as fixtures and tool holders for complex tasks in assembly and disassembly operations. Our recent research activities on parallel kinematic machines have been concentrated on the following issues. (1) The concept of vertex space was introduced to decompose complex workspace problem into simpler subproblems. Through the vertex spaces, key design parameters are analyzed, and method for determining the placement of machines and tasks are developed. (2) Design and planning issues for effective and convenient reconfiguration were studied. To assist the leg placement, the concept of foot- placement space (EPS) is introduced, and a construction method for obtaining the foot-placement space has also been developed. (3) Application of 6-dof parallel kinematic machines in machining operations leads to some unique planning and control issues. Several of them are under investigation.
MAHA Hardware Architecture

In the previous chapter, the architecture and operation for a MBC based generic reconfigurable framework was discussed in details. In this chapter, the focus is on a malleable hardware accelerator which leverages the memory based computing model for on-demand computation in an existing memory architecture. The accelerator is referred to as MAHA which stands for Malleable Hardware Accelerator. The idea is to equip existing memory architectures with additional logic which would allow a storage-only system to be transformed into a hardware reconfigurable platform on demand. This chapter describes the hardware architecture of the MAHA framework and steps for instrumenting an existing memory architecture to realize the same. Instrumentation means the design-time modifications which would allow the memory to act as a reconfigurable framework on demand.
57. Thurber’s the Secret Life of Walter Mitty

(1969). 57. Thurber’s the Secret Life of Walter Mitty. The Explicator: Vol. 27, No. 8, pp. 113-115.
High voltage cable practice in relation to dielectric theories

The mechanism of electrical failures at power frequency is fairly well established and accepted. An analysis of the process helps to correlate the observed performance of cable insulation and to explain the underlying characteristics of the different types. It appears also that dielectric failures of any solid or quasi-solid body are of the same general character. This discussion is not intended to cover the case for d-c.
A composite-curve-based biomass procurement planning approach

The production of transportation fuels from biomass is a promising renewable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. To achieve low carbon footprint of the overall biofuel supply chain however an efficient biomass procurement plan is essential. To this end, we discuss a novel approach to biomass procurement planning. In terms of transportation, we propose a region-to-point modeling approach based on mathematical integration over the sourcing region that has unique characteristics such as shape, location, and productivity. Both algebraic and numerical solution methods are discussed. In terms of system-level procurement planning, we develop a composite-curve-based approach that incorporates the regional transportation modeling method, and aims at identifying the biomass procurement plan that minimizes the total procurement cost (including biomass purchasing, harvesting and transportation). The specific steps for the generation of the composite curve, as well as insights into the procurement planning problem are discussed. We complete the chapter with a case study illustrating the applicability of the proposed methods.
DNA-PAINT Super-Resolution Imaging for Nucleic Acid Nanostructures

Far-field super-resolution fluorescence microscopy has allowed observation of biomolecular and synthetic nanoscale systems with features on the nanometre scale, with chemical specificity and multiplexing capability. DNA-PAINT (DNA-based point accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography) is a super-resolution method that exploits programmable transient hybridization between short oligonucleotide strands, and allows multiplexed, single-molecule, single-label visualization with down to ~5-10 nm resolution. DNA-PAINT provides a method for structural characterisation of nucleic acid nanostructures with high spatial resolution and single-strand visibility.
Guest Editorial Special Section on Energy Storage Systems

Energy storage is revolutionizing transportation by proving a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, and opening new opportunities as flexible grid bidirectional storage through vehicle-to-grid services. In order to fully exploit these new transportation opportunities, advances still need to be achieved in energy storage, and batteries, in particular, to improve range, cost, and lifetime. Current trends show a higher penetration in road transportation compared with other sectors, but with promising roadmaps for marine, aerospace, and rail sectors. Therefore, the body of work required to achieve these roadmaps spans from electrochemical, thermal, and electrical simulations to better understand the battery operation to system integration design within the powertrain and the grid. This Special Section provides with new knowledge on the full research and development spectrum, by presenting battery electrochemical and thermal modeling techniques, design of storage solutions for electrified vehicle recharging stations, energy management for electric vehicles and simulation, and design and deployment of energy storage for rail and material handling applications.
Destigmatization Improves Hiring and Liking for the Stigmatized More than for their Mere Associates

Stigma has broad reach – it directly affects people who are targeted, and also harms those who are merely associated with stigmatized individuals. But stigma also can change; some groups (e.g., HIV patients, disabled persons, gays and lesbians) now have better standing than in years past. After destigmatization, those who were directly stigmatized ought to no longer experience workplace and interpersonal disadvantages, but the consequences for persons with stigma by association are less obvious. We suggest that destigmatization is imbalanced such that mere associates of stigmatized individuals will continue to experience the damage done by stigma, even after social perceptions change. We find evidence of such an imbalance using data from observational and experimental studies. The observational study examines careers of film artists during and after the "Red Scare" in Hollywood. We find that in the post-blacklist period (compared to the blacklist period), blacklisted artists were more likely to work than ...
Evaluation of alternative modelling approaches to account for spatial effects due to age-based movement

Spatial patterns due to age-specific movement have been a source of unmodelled process error. Modeling movement in spatially explicit stock assessments is feasible, but hampered by a paucity of data from appropriate tagging studies. This study uses simulation analyses to evaluate alternative model structures that either explicitly or implicitly account for the process of time-varying age-based movement in a population dynamics model. We simulated synthetic populations using a two-area stochastic population dynamics operating model. Simulated data were fit in seven different estimation models. Only the model that includes the correct spatial dynamic results in unbiased and precise estimates of derived and management quantities. In a single-area assessment model, using the fleets-as-area (FAA) approach may be the second best option to estimate both length-based and time-varying age-based selectivity to implicitly account for the contact selectivity and annual availability. An FAA approach adds additional ob...
Distributed Micro Flow-Sensor Network Design and Modeling

Abstract This paper describes the design issues of the distributed micro flow-sensor network (DMFSN) and sensor network architectures and information communication protocols that can be used in DMFSN. A sensor network simulator and evaluator, called Teamwork Integration Evaluator (TIE)/MEMS, was developed to evaluate the efficiency of DMFSN in terms of its communication cost. Initial simulation results shows that the cluster sensor network provides better efficiency than hierarchical and committee sensor networks.
Vocational Interests of Engineering Students

Male freshmen entering the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin—Madison and the Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, during the fall semester 1969 were administered th...
The role of grain boundary microchemistry in irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking of a Fe-13Cr-15Ni alloy

Abstract A novel explanation based on the variation of grain boundary composition is proposed to elucidate the localized nature of irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking, i.e., intergranular cracking is observed only at specific sites of random high-angle grain boundaries, in a Fe-13Cr-15Ni austenitic model alloy subjected to proton irradiation and straining in a high-temperature water environment. Specifically, this work presents electron microscopy characterization of multiple cracked and un-cracked grain boundary sites and the neighboring oxides. The depletion of Cr and enrichment of Ni, as expected due to radiation-induced segregation, is observed at grain boundaries far from the crack tip (for cracked sites) or the metal surface (for un-cracked sites), and such modification of grain boundary composition is enhanced in the vicinity of the corrosion reaction front. Unexpectedly, grain boundary sites beyond the crack tip always present a lower Ni content and higher Cr content than the un-cracked sites on the same grain boundary. Overall, it is proposed that the site-specific susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking is governed by the grain boundary microchemistry, which determines not only the quantity of Cr, but also the efficiency of Cr transport to the reaction front and thus the protectiveness of the inner oxide. These effects of local composition may be further coupled with the local structure of and the local stresses interacting with the random high-angle grain boundaries.
Transdifferentiation of adult rat stem Leydig cells into prostatic and uterine epithelium, but not epidermis.

Summary Stem Leydig cells (SLCs), precursors of testicular Leydig cells that secrete testosterone required for male sexual differentiation, spermatogenesis, and fertility, were recently identified in rat testes. Various types of stem cells have shown the ability to differentiate into other tissues, but there is no information on the plasticity of adult rat SLCs (rSLCs). This study investigated the ability of rSLCs to transdifferentiate into cell types from all three germ layers—prostatic epithelium (endoderm), uterine epithelium (mesoderm), and epidermis (ectoderm)—under the influence of inductive mesenchyme from fetal and neonatal tissues. To differentiate rSLCs into cells of other lineages, mesenchyme from green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing mice was used. Tissue recombinants of urogenital sinus mesenchyme (a potent prostate inducer) and rSLCs grafted into adult male hosts formed ductal structures resembling prostate after 5 weeks. Prostate epithelium was of rSLC origin as determined by absence of GFP expression, and expressed characteristic markers of prostatic epithelium. Similarly, uterine mesenchyme + rSLCs tissue recombinants contained a simple columnar epithelium that was histologically similar to normal uterine epithelium and expressed typical uterine epithelial markers, but was of rSLC origin. In contrast, epidermal tissue was absent in fetal dermis + rSLCs recombinants, suggesting rSLCs did not form skin epithelium. Thus, rSLCs can transdifferentiate into uterine and prostatic epithelium, mesodermal, and endodermal derivatives, respectively, but they may have a limited transdifferentiation potential, as shown by their inability to form epidermis, an ectodermal derivative.
The moderating role of trauma type on the relationship between event centrality of the traumatic experience and mental health outcomes.

Objective Event centrality, or the extent to which traumatic events are perceived to be integral to one's life, has been found to be predictive of trauma-related symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Less research has been devoted to whether event centrality is related to adaptive outcomes, such as posttraumatic growth (PTG) and resiliency, and psychological well-being (PWB) has not been investigated. Given the unique circumstances of different types of traumas, the relationship between event centrality and posttrauma functioning may differ by the type of trauma experienced. Method The present study investigated the direct relationships between event centrality and PTSD, depression, PTG, resiliency, and PWB, and then examined whether type of trauma (i.e., sexual victimization, death of a loved one, serious illness/injury, violence exposure) moderated the relationship between event centrality and mental health outcomes among 429 trauma-exposed college students (Mage = 19.66, SD = 1.65; 78.6% female; 49.9% White). Results Event centrality was positively related to PTSD, depression, and PTG, inversely linked with multiple indices of PWB, and unrelated to resiliency. Type of traumatic event moderated the relationship between event centrality and PTSD, as well as 4 subscales of PWB. When sexual trauma was the index event, event centrality was more strongly associated with PTSD and aspects of PWB compared to death of a loved one. Conclusions Findings indicate the importance of trauma type when disentangling the relationships between event centrality and negative and positive outcomes and demonstrate the relevance of event centrality in understanding posttrauma functioning. (PsycINFO Database Record
Contribution of an Anti-Neuronal Immune Response to Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis (S50.007)

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether antibodies to neurons contributed to neurodegeneration using in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegeneration. BACKGROUND: Recent data indicate that antibodies to neurons and intra-neuronal antigens are targets for autoimmune responses that contribute to the pathogenesis of neurologic disease (J Exp Med 204, 2007; Brain 133, 2010). MS patients develop antibodies to heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein A1 (hnRNP A1), an RNA binding protein overexpressed in neurons (J Neuroimmunol 235, 2011). Anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies reacted specifically with central nervous system neurons compared to systemic organs; caused decreased neuronal firing, as well as neurodegeneration and changes in gene expression related to mechanisms of neurodegeneration in neurons (J Neuroimmunol 235, 2011; Nat Med 8, 2002). DESIGN/METHODS: Anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies were incubated with SKNSH neurons, which were examined for mechanisms of cell entry and markers of neurodegeneration. Near-infrared labeled anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies were infused into SJL mice and localized with an In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) and immunohistochemistry. Using an adoptive transfer experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) model, Th1 polarized cells were injected into mice, followed by injection of anti-hnRNP A1 and control antibodies. Brains were examined for neurodegeneration with Fluoro Jade C, a marker of degenerating neurons. RESULTS: Compared to control antibodies, anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies entered neurons more readily and co-localized within early endosomes, suggestive of endocytosis. Antibody entry was specific for clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. Importantly, in contrast to control antibodies, anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies caused a redistribution of hnRNP A1 within neurons, apoptosis and decreased ATP levels. In vivo, anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies localized specifically to the brain and spinal cord. Compared to control animals, injection of anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies resulted in clinical worsening and increased Fluoro-Jade C staining (indicative of neurodegeneration) in an EAE model of neurodegeneration. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-hnRNP A1 antibodies target neurons and contribute to neurodegeneration in MS models of immune mediated neurologic disease. Supported by: Research Service, Department of Veterans Affairs & The MS Research Fund, University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Disclosure: Dr. Levin has received personal compensation for activities with Serono, TEVA and Biogen-Idec as a speaker and Gerson Lehman Group as a consultant. Dr. Lee has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gardner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Douglas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sawchenko has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lalor has nothing to disclose. Dr. Segal has nothing to disclose.
A protocol for quantizing total bacterial 16S rDNA in plasma as a marker of microbial translocation in vivo.

A protocol for quantizing total bacterial 16S rDNA in plasma as a marker of microbial translocation in vivo
ELDA and EVCA: Tools for building product End-of-Life Strategy

Classifying products based on their 'end of life' strategies early in design leads to improved eco-efficient product and processes. This paper describes the development of an internet-based tool, End-of-Life Design Advisor (ELDA), that guides product developers to appropriate end-of-life strategies. The tool identifys suitable product end-of-life strategies for a broad range of products early in the design cycle. This paper also describes the application of Environmental Value Chain Analysis (EVCA) to product end-of-life systems. EVCA examines the information, money and product flows between the players e.g. producers, government, consumers and recyclers. By analysing the value chains of existing product end-of-life systems, valuable lessons can be learned into how to improve take-back and recycling systems. ELDA and EVCA, in combination examine the existing end-of-life system and, identify the appropriate end-of-life strategy, provide roadmaps for future work. Knowing the possible end-of-life strategy aids product designers in providing the design that is most eco-efficient for the end-of-life stage. The two tools ELDA and EVCA used in combination can help.
Beta-blockers and Movement Disorders

Beta blockers are competitive antagonists of one or more of the three beta adrenergic receptor subtypes. Beta blockers suppress tremor and other involuntary movements to a variable degree, depending upon the underlying movement disorder. Peripheral and central mechanisms of action are likely but are incompletely understood.
The Molecular Energetics of the Failing Heart from Animal Models―Small Animal Models

Small animal models of heart failure have been widely used. Availability of transgenic mice with perturbations of the molecular pathways known to be altered in heart failure will substantially increase the number of small animal models for heart failure research. This chapter summarizes the alterations in myocardial energetics observed in failing hearts of small animal models using the combined tools of 31P NMR spectroscopy and biochemical assays. These include: early depletion of total creatine and phosphocreatine followed by decreased creatine kinase activity; both contribute to decreased capacity and velocity of the creatine kinase reaction resulting in decreased energy reserve during the development of heart failure; decreased ATP content at end-stage failing hearts; and a switch in substrate utilization with increased preference for glucose in hypertrophied and failing hearts. Evidence presented here suggest that these abnormalities contribute to failure to recruit contractile reserve, increased susceptibility for diastolic dysfunction and impaired calcium homeostasis in hypertrophied and failing hearts.
Moyamoya Syndrome: Pial Synangiosis

Moyamoya syndrome is an arteriopathy characterized by progressive stenosis at the apices of the intracranial internal carotid arteries associated with cerebral ischemia. As the internal carotids undergo this reduction in flow, the brain compensates through the development of smaller collateral vessels. This alternative blood supply provides circulation to the region formerly supplied by the internal carotids, and this fine network of vessels arises from the carotid apex, the leptomeninges, and branches of the external carotid artery supplying the dura and skull base. Although usually limited to the anterior circulation, there are rare cases where the process encompasses the posterior circulation as well, including the basilar and posterior cerebral arteries. The appearance of this collateral network on angiogram has been compared to a puffof smoke; in Japanese, “moyamoya.”
Uncommon/Unique Sites

The heart and great vessels are rare sites of primary sarcoma but are more commonly observed as the site of metastatic disease [1]. While the clinical presentation is varied from an incidental finding to peripheral emboli to congestive cardiac failure, cardiac sarcomas should be suspected in patients who have undergone prior mediastinal radiation. As a metastatic site, various histologies can be seen, whereas primary lesions tend to be either angiosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, or undifferentiated. A diagnosis unique to this site is intimal sarcoma. Other histologies may rarely include synovial sarcoma (Fig. 24.1) and hemangioendothelioma (Fig. 24.2). Histologies of sarcomas of the mediastinum are indicated in Fig. 24.3 and represent a subset of sarcomas of heart and great vessels. The second most common histology is high-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS). A recent update [2] suggests that primary cardiac sarcomas represent 20 % of all primary cardiac tumors and diagnosis is predominantly made by transthoracic echocardiography and subsequent sampling.
Customer Loyalty: An Empirical Investigation of Operationalized Measures of Loyalty

The growth in total quality management practices and the adoption of a marketing focus among firms has served to bring issues of customer satisfaction to the forefront of corporate focus and strategy. However, increasingly firms in some key industries are discovering that satisfaction alone is not a good predictor of customer profitability. This has important implications for organizations which have placed significant investment into systems designed to increase customer satisfaction. A growing body of literature exists suggesting that the appropriate focus for an organization is to look beyond customer satisfaction to the issue of customer loyalty.
Surface fluorination of polylactide as a path to improve platelet associated hemocompatibility.

Abstract Surface-induced thrombosis is still a significant clinical concern for many types of blood-contacting medical devices. In particular, protein adsorption and platelet adhesion are important events due to their ability to trigger the coagulation cascade and initiate thrombosis. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been the predominant polymer used for making bioresorbable stents. Despite long-term advantages, these stents are associated with higher rates of early thrombosis compared with permanent metallic stents. To address this issue, we modified the surface of PLA with a perfluoro compound facilitated by surface activation using radio frequency (RF) plasma. Fluoropolymers have been extensively used in blood contacting materials, such as blood vessel replacements due to their reduced thrombogenicity and reduced platelet reactivity. The compositions of plasma-treated surfaces were determined by electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). Also, contact angle measurements, cell cytotoxicity and the degradation profile of the treated polymers are presented. Finally, relevant blood compatibility parameters, including plasma protein adsorption, platelet adhesion and morphology, were evaluated. We hypothesized that tight binding of adsorbed albumin by fluoropolymers enhances its potential for blood-contacting applications. Statement of Significance Although bioresorbable stents made from poly(lactic acid) (PLA) may have long-term clinical advantages, they have shown higher rates of early thrombosis as compared with permanent metallic stents. To improve the thromboresistance of PLA, we developed a novel method for surface fluorination of this polymer with a perfluoro compound. Fluoropolymers (e.g., expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) have long been used in blood-contacting applications due to their satisfactory clinical performance. This is the first report of PLA surface fluorination which might be applied to the fabrication of a new generation of fluorinated PLA stents with improved platelet interaction, tunable degradability and drug release capabilities. Also, we describe a general strategy for improving the platelet interactions with biomaterials based on albumin retention.
'Bad Hombres': The Effects of Criminalizing Latino Immigrants through Law and Media in the Rural Midwest

In this article we explore the policy and legal build-up that led to the 2017 Executive Orders targeting Latino/a immigrant families and communities. We provide a historical backdrop for the merging of criminal and immigration laws that has contributed to the criminalization of the behaviors, bodies, and communities of Latino/a immigrants. We then look at the media narratives that burry immigrants’ complex identities and reproduce daily the demonization of Latino/as as criminals. Together, these factors contribute to socially construct a “Brown Threat” which reproduces anxieties and fears about crime, terror, and threats to the nation, affecting the everyday lives of immigrants and non-immigrants alike, though in different ways. Based on an 18-month ethnography in a small Kansas town carried out before and after the signing of Executive Orders in 2017, we examine the spill-over effects of this environment on Guatemalan immigrant families as well as on non-immigrant Anglo-white residents in a rural community.
Evaluating the frequency and functional consequences of epigenetic mutations on outcome derived from urothelial tumor sequencing in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

e15519 Background: Recent sequencing of BC genome by TCGA has revealed recurrent mutations in chromatin modifying genes, implicating epigenetic factors in bladder tumorigenesis. TCGA data was muscl...
Trends in Medicaid Prices, Market Share, and Spending on Long-Acting Insulins, 2006-2018.

This study uses Medicaid drug utilization data to describe reimbursement and market share of long-acting insulins before and after approval of new insulin products and to estimate savings associated with a “biosimilar” for insulin glargine approved in 2015.
Transcendental meditation’s tipping point: the allure of celebrity on the American spiritual marketplace

Since 2005, the film director David Lynch has been the most visible and vocal proponent for the spread of Transcendental Meditation (TM), a practice brought to the United States by Maharishi Mahesh...
Preliminary results of tritium analyses in basal ice, Matanuska Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A.: evidence for subglacial ice accretion

The stratified-facies ice of the basal zone of Matanuska Glacier, Alaska. U.S.A., contains significant concentrations of anthropogenic tritium, whereas unaltered englacial-zone ice is devoid of tritium. Supercooled water flowing through subglacial conduits during the melt season likewise contains tritium, as does frazil and other platy ice that nucleates and grows within this subglacially flowing water. These initial results demonstrate net accretion of more than 1.4 m of stratified basal-zone ice since initiation of above-ground, thermonuclear bomb testing in 1952. Furthermore, these results support a theory of basal ice formation by ice accretion and debris entrainment from supercooled water within a distributed subglacial drainage system.
A novel stratification of mesenteric mass involvement as a predictor of challenging mesenteric lymph node dissection by minimally invasive approach for ileal neuroendocrine tumors

Background and objectives We classified the extent of mesenteric mass (MM) involvement that predicts challenging mesenteric lymph node dissection (mLND) by minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for ileal neuroendocrine tumors (i-NETs). Methods Patients who underwent surgery for i-NETs were retrospectively reviewed. MM involvement was classified as region-0: no MM; region-1: >2 cm from the origins of the ileocolic artery/vein; region-2: ≤2 cm from the origins; and region-3: more proximal superior mesenteric artery/vein. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of MM regions for gross positive mesenteric margin (mR2) and/or conversion among the MIS cohort. The open surgery cohort was used as a reference for mR2 rates. Results Of 108 patients, 83 patients (77%) underwent MIS. MMs in region-2 and region-3 were independent risk factors for mR2 and/or conversion (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.25 [1.17-16.4] and 8.51 × 107 [11.0-], respectively, against regions-0 and 1]. mR2 rates of MIS and open surgery cohorts per region did not differ significantly (4% and 7% for regions-0 and 1; 17% and 25% for region-2; and 100% and 83% for region-3). Conclusions The novel stratification of MM regions was predictive of challenging mLND by MIS. Surgeons should have a low threshold for conversion for MMs in proximal regions.
Uma nova tradução para Ovídio, Amores 1.8

This translation is part of a first review of a work presented in my Master’s thesis (SOUZA, 2016). The proposal was to translate Ovid’s elegiac couplets in a form that could echo the original rhythm of the Latin poem. To to that, I used Carlos Alberto Nunes’ metrical choices as a reference, the substitution of long syllables in princeps position for stressed syllables in Portuguese. However, in my translation, different from Nunes, I admitted an stressed syllable to be followed by only one unstressed, compounding a trochee, which can be performatively executed as spondee. In this way, the possibility of variation was maintained in the meter, but the dactiles remained fixed as such in the hexameter’s fifth foot and in the pentameter’s second hemistich. The mandatory caesura in the pentameter was executed by having two stressed syllables side by side, and emphasized by a mandatory graphic space, in order to compel the reader to restart the rhythm. To maintain the pace of the meter, I employed resources as artificially displacing the stress to the beginning of a word, elision between a vowel-end of an hexameter and a vowel-beginning of the pentameter, and elisions in general. This revised version shows improvements in the hexameters, which now are preferentially executed with their caesuras, even with feminine caesuras as result. In addition, the tone of the poem is lighter and more fluid, with the elimination of radical hyperbata and the reorganization of content within the elegiac couplet, which is the unity in the poem.
Examining the Relationship between Physical Education Pre-service Teachers’ Socialization and Conceptions of Classroom Assessment

An educator's perception of teaching is often shaped by their personal experiences in the K-12 classroom as a student. These experiences can impact how they approach many aspects of the teaching pr...
Do Students who Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail? Effects of Individualized Learning Plans on Postsecondary Transitioning:

Background/ContextPolicies featuring individualized learning plans (ILPs) have become increasingly popular among states seeking to improve college and career readiness through early postsecondary p...
Assessing the effectiveness of two intervention methods for stony coral tissue loss disease on Montastraea cavernosa

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) was first observed in Florida in 2014 and has since spread to multiple coral reefs across the wider Caribbean. The northern section of Florida’s Coral Reef has been heavily impacted by this outbreak, with some reefs experiencing as much as a 60% loss of living coral tissue area. We experimentally assessed the effectiveness of two intervention treatments on SCTLD-affected Montastraea cavernosa colonies in situ. Colonies were tagged and divided into three treatment groups: (1) chlorinated epoxy, (2) amoxicillin combined with CoreRx/Ocean Alchemists Base 2B, and (3) untreated controls. The experimental colonies were monitored periodically over 11 months to assess treatment effectiveness by tracking lesion development and overall disease status. The Base 2B plus amoxicillin treatment had a 95% success rate at healing individual disease lesions but did not necessarily prevent treated colonies from developing new lesions over time. Chlorinated epoxy treatments were not significantly different from untreated control colonies, suggesting that chlorinated epoxy treatments are an ineffective intervention technique for SCTLD. The results of this experiment expand management options during coral disease outbreaks and contribute to overall knowledge regarding coral health and disease.
Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous vaccines have been developed and distributed to combat the spread. This comic illustrates a young man receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and developing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 to help society and the world return to normalcy.