cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF FROG SACCULAR HAIR CELLS : DISTORTION BY ENZYMATIC DISSOCIATION

Although it is widely accepted that the electrical resonance seen in many types of auditory and vestibular hair cells contributes to frequency selectivity in these sensory systems, unexplained discrepancies in the frequency (f) and sharpness (Q) of tuning have raised serious questions. For example, enzymatically dissociated hair cells from bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) sacculus resonate at frequencies well above the range of auditory and seismic stimuli to which the sacculus is most responsive. Such disparities, in addition to others, have led to the proposal that electrical resonance alone cannot account for frequency tuning. Using grassfrog (Rana pipiens) saccular hair cells, we show that the reported discrepancies in f andQ in this organ can be explained by the deleterious effects of enzyme (papain) exposure during cell dissociation. In patch-clamp studies of hair cells in a semi-intact epithelial preparation, we observed a variety of voltage behaviors with frequencies of 35–75 Hz. This range is well below the range of resonant frequencies observed in enzymatically dissociated hair cells and more in tune with the frequency range of natural stimuli to which the sacculus is maximally responsive. The sharpness of tuning also agreed with previous studies using natural stimuli. In contrast to results from enzymatically dissociated hair cells, both a calcium-activated K+ (KCa) current and a voltage-dependent K+(KV) current contributed to the oscillatory responses of hair cells in the semi-intact preparation. The properties of the KCa and the Ca2+ current were altered by enzymatic dissociation. KV and a small-conductance calcium-activated K+ current were apparently eliminated.
Antibody-Mediated Protection through Cross-Reactivity Introduces a Fungal Heresy into Immunological Dogma

It is hard to believe that only a decade or so ago the question of whether specific antibodies protected against fungal pathogens was considered controversial (for a review, see reference 5). Since the landmark paper by Dromer et al. in 1987 showing that a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to Cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide was protective against experimental cryptococcal infection in mice (10), dozens of studies have established conclusively that certain antibodies are protective against fungi. Protective MAbs have now been described for Candida albicans (13, 16, 24, 42), C. neoformans (10, 11, 21, 26, 38), Aspergillus fumigatus (7), Pneumocystis spp. (12), and Histoplasma capsulatum (28). In recent years two antibodies have entered clinical evaluation for fungal diseases (20, 29). A consensus has now emerged that the inability of immune sera to mediate protection against fungi reflects inadequate amounts of protective antibody and/or the simultaneous presence of protective and nonprotective antibodies, rather than a fundamental inability of antibody to protect against fungal pathogens. In support of this concept, in addition to protective MAbs, nonprotective MAbs to C. albicans, C. neoformans, and H. capsulatum have been described (13, 25, 28). Nonetheless, much remains to be learned about the nature of protective antibodies and the relationship between the natural antibody response and resistance and susceptibility to fungal pathogens, since hypogammaglobulinemia is not generally associated with the development of fungal disease and antibody responses to certain fungi and fungal targets can be a marker of disease rather than immunity (19, 30). Perhaps the central event in this odyssey was the application of hybridoma technology to studies of antibody immunity to fungi. This approach made it possible to characterize the functional efficacy of individual immunoglobulin molecules. Hence, medical mycology studies revealed a new immunological paradigm in which the protective potential of immune sera is a function of the aggregate activities of immunoglobulin molecules instead of a singular property. This view challenged the traditionally held dichotomy in which cellular immunity is responsible for resistance to intracellular pathogens and antibody immunity is responsible for resistance to extracellular pathogens. In addition, in recent years studies with fungi have also threatened to tear down another pillar of immunological dogma, namely, that protective immune responses must be pathogen specific.
Section concerns addressed at Spring Meeting

To keep abreast of current issues and plan future activities, Hydrology Section President Steve Burges brought a full agenda to the Executive Committee meeting held in Baltimore last May. The following highlights of that meeting are offered to keep you informed about what's new in the Hydrology Section. To communicate scientific results more effectively to the press at the Fall and Spring Meetings, section Press Officer Harry Lins is organizing a media-interest session that can highlight both science and policy aspects of a subject. Such a session will also help communicate scientific results to a more general audience. Special session convenors are also encouraged to open their session with a 5–10-minute introduction that highlights important issues to be presented in subsequent papers. These introductions are intended mainly for press representatives and nonspecialists in the audience. In general, the press is not well versed on water issues, and there is often less press interest in hydrology than in other areas of geophysics.
Mishearing, In Its Many Forms.

Edited byJacquelyn H. Flaskerud, PhD, RN, FAANUniversity of California, School of Nursing, Los Angeles, California, USAWe were traveling on a large sailing ship, visiting ports in Greece and Turkey...
Recognition of activated CSF-1 receptor in breast carcinomas by a tyrosine 723 phosphospecific antibody

The macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor (CSF-1R), the product of the c-fms proto-oncogene, plays an important role in regulating the normal proliferation and differentiation of macrophages and trophoblasts. However, the abnormal expression of CSF-1R transcripts and protein by human breast carcinomas has been shown to correlate with advanced stage and poor prognosis. Ligand activated CSF-1R dimers transphosphorylate several tyrosines in their cytoplasmic domains which provide recognition sites for various effector proteins in multiple signal transduction pathways. In cells transformed by the c-fms oncogene, one of the major CSF-1R phosphotyrosines, pTyr723 is important for phenotypic expression of anchorage-independent growth and metastasis. In order to investigate the relationship between receptor activation/phosphorylation and cellular phenotypes in vitro and in vivo, we prepared a CSF-1R phosphorylation-state specific antibody raised against a specific phosphopeptide of CSF-1R, which included phosphorylated tyrosine 723. On immunoblots of lysates from cells expressing CSF-1R, this antibody recognizes phosphorylated CSF-IR in CSF-1 stimulated cells but not in unstimulated cells. As an immunohistochemical reagent, this antibody stained 52% of invasive human breast tumors (72% of CSF-1R positive cases) in a sample of 114 cases and 38% of carcinoma in situ. This data represents the first direct evidence of in vivo phosphorylation of CSF-1R in human breast carcinomas.
Poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrates (PHB) are Atherogenic Components of Lipoprotein Lp(a).

The hypothesis is that poly-(R)-3-hydroxybutyrates (PHB), linear polymers of the ketone body, R-3-hydroxybutyrate (R-3HB), are atherogenic components of lipoprotein Lp(a). PHB are universal constituents of biological cells and are thus components of all foods. Medium chain-length PHB ( 70%) are absorbed by albumin, which transports them to the liver for disposal. When the amount of PHB in the diet exceed the capacity of albumin to safely remove them from the circulation, the excess PHB remain in the lipid core of LDL particles that become constituents of lipoprotein Lp(a), and contribute to the formation of arterial deposits. In summary, the presence of PHB – water-insoluble, dense, viscous, adhesive polymers – in the lipid cores of the LDL moieties of Lp(a) particles supports the hypothesis that PHB are atherogenic components of Lp(a).
274 LIMITATION OF ANKLE-BRACHIAL BLOOD PRESSURE INDEX FOR DIAGNOSIS OF PERIPHERAL VASCULAR DISEASE IN YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGE ADULTS: THE BOGALUSA HEART STUDY.

Background Ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) is a noninvasive indicator of peripheral arterial diseases (PAD) in older individuals, but information in this regard in young adults is limited. This study examined the limitation of ABI for diagnosis of PAD in asymptomatic young and middle-age adults. Methods ABI was measured by dividing ankle systolic blood pressure by brachial systolic blood pressure obtained from a Collin machine in 867 black and white subjects (aged 24-44 years; 72% white, 44% male) enrolled in the Bogalusa Heart Study. Individuals in the bottom (ABI # 0.99; n = 44) versus top 5th (ABI $ 1.27; n = 50) percentile distribution of ABI were compared for traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors profile. Univariate analysis compared the two groups; t-tests and chi-square tests were performed. Results There were only 6 (0.7%) individuals having clinically cut point ABI of # 0.9. Females, especially black females, had lower ABI than males (p Conclusions The prevalence of abnormal ABI in this population is extremely low because of the relatively younger study population. The lack of association of traditionally cardiovascular risk factors with the lower ABI indicates that using ABI as a screening tool for diagnosis of PAD is not useful and cost-effective in younger and middle-age adults.
Statistical Methods in Cardiac Gene Expression Profiling

By providing genome-scale information on gene expression, microarray technology has gained popularity in diverse areas including clinical medicine. However, the analysis and interpretation of microarray data are often complicated. This chapter describes various strategies for microarray data analysis. The analysis starts with the scanned image of a microarray. The image information is processed and summarized to numerical values that represent the abundance of transcripts. Technical variability and systematic biases can be minimized with the proper procedures of background correction and normalization. Considerable numbers of genes are not expressed or not detected by microarray technology. Those genes can be filtered out before further statistical comparison to reduce the dimensionality of the problem. The next step in analysis involves statistical comparison, cluster analysis, and visualization. Genes from the same cluster are considered to be coexpressed and/or coregulated. Also, we can group coexpressed genes into categories by their biological function and cellular location. By combining prior knowledge and statistical results, we can make an inference based on the gene expression profiles.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Production by Immortalized Human Chondrocyte Lines

We reported at the Keynote Forum of Immunology Summit-2015 that recombinant human (rh) TNF-α or rhIL-6 stimulated production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the T/C28a2 and C-28/I2 human immortalized chondrocyte cell lines. Furthermore, we reported that tocilizumab (TCZ), a fully humanized monoclonal antibody which neutralizes IL-6-mediated signaling, inhibited the rhIL-6-mediated increase in the production of MMP-9. IL-6 is also a known activator of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. In that regard, we evaluated the effect of rhIL-6 on total and phosphorylated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription by these chondrocyte lines which showed that whereas STAT3 was constitutively phosphorylated in T/C28a2 chondrocytes, rhIL-6 activated STAT3 in C-28/I2 chondrocytes. The finding that rhIL-6 increased the production of MMP-9 by human immortalized chondrocyte cell lines may have important implications with respect to the destruction of articular cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Thus, the markedly elevated level of IL-6 in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis sera and synovial fluid would be expected to generate significant MMP-9 to cause the degradation of articular cartilage extracellular matrix proteins. The finding that TCZ suppressed rhIL-6-mediated MMP-9 production suggests that TCZ, currently employed in the medical therapy of rheumatoid arthritis, could be considered as a drug for osteoarthritis.
Metabolic Reprogramming by the PI3K-Akt-mTOR Pathway in Cancer

In the past decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in elucidating how metabolism is altered in cancer cells and how such dependencies can be targeted for therapeutic gain. At the core of this research is the concept that metabolic pathways are reprogrammed in cancer cells to divert nutrients toward anabolic processes to facilitate enhanced growth and proliferation. Importantly, physiological cellular signaling mechanisms normally tightly regulate the ability of cells to gain access to and utilize nutrients, posing a fundamental barrier to transformation. This barrier is often overcome by aberrations in cellular signaling that drive tumor pathogenesis by enabling cancer cells to make critical cellular decisions in a cell-autonomous manner. One of the most frequently altered pathways in human cancer is the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway. Here, we describe mechanisms by which this signaling network is responsible for controlling cellular metabolism. Through both the post-translational regulation and the induction of transcriptional programs, the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway coordinates the uptake and utilization of multiple nutrients, including glucose, glutamine, nucleotides, and lipids, in a manner best suited for supporting the enhanced growth and proliferation of cancer cells. These regulatory mechanisms illustrate how metabolic changes in cancer are closely intertwined with oncogenic signaling pathways that drive tumor initiation and progression.
Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy Mutation

A duplication in chromosome 17 responsible for most cases of autosomal dominant HMSN 1 was present as a de-novo mutation in 9 out of 10 sporadic patients examined at the Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Contrasting Effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on the Whole-Brain Resting-State Network: A Magnetoencephalography Study

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate alterations in whole-brain resting-state networks associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Networks were constructed from locations of peak statistical power on an individual basis from magnetoencephalography (MEG) source series data by applying the weighted phase lag index and surrogate data thresholding procedures. Networks representing activity in the alpha bandwidth as well as wideband activity (DC-80 Hz) were created. Statistical comparisons were adjusted for age and education level. Alpha network results demonstrate reductions in network structure associated with PTSD, but no differences associated with mTBI. Wideband network results demonstrate a shift in connectivity from the alpha to theta bandwidth in both PTSD and mTBI. Also, contrasting alterations in network structure are noted, with increased randomness associated with PTSD and increased structure associated with mTBI. These results demonstrate...
In Vitro Effect of Isatin on Wood Decay Fungi

Control of biodegradation is an ongoing problem in ecologically sensitive areas, requiring new approaches to deter degrading organisms. Biological control is an approach that takes advantage of the ecological relationship among organisms by using natural predators against degrading organisms. This approach has led to an interest in using predator metabolites as pesticides.
Empirical support for winnow and weighted-majority based algorithms: results on a calendar scheduling domain

This paper describes experimental results on using Winnow and Weighted-Majority based algorithms on a real-world calendar scheduling domain. These two algorithms have been highly studied in the theoretical machine learning literature. We show here that these algorithms can be quite competitive practically, outperforming the decision-tree approach currently in use in the Calendar Apprentice system in terms of both accuracy and speed. One of the contributions of this paper is a new variant on the Winnow algorithm (used in the experiments) that is especially suited to conditions with string-valued classifications, and we give a theoretical analysis of its performance. In addition we show how Winnow can be applied to achieve a good accuracy/coverage tradeoff and explore issues that arise such as concept drift. We also provide an analysis of a policy for discarding predictors in Weighted-Majority that allows it to speed up as it learns.
Formation of hydrazones and stabilized boron–nitrogen heterocycles in aqueous solution from carbohydrazides and ortho-formylphenylboronic acids

A recent addition to the suite of fast bioorthogonal reactions combines hydrazines and hydroxylamines with ortho-carbonyl substituted phenylboronic acids. Carbohydrazides are easily incorporated into biomolecules, making them appealing substrates in these reactions. Here we show that simple alkyl carbohydrazides form a single product with ortho-formylphenylboronic acid in an organic solvent and in the solid state. The solution structures of the products formed from the carbohydrazides in buffered aqueous solution, however, are markedly different from those identified in the organic solvent and solid state. The reactants form a mixture of hydrazone and heterocyclic products, the relative composition of which varies with pH. The observed reversibility of bioconjugates using carbohydrazide can thus be explained by the reversibility of the boron–nitrogen bond in the heterocycle. In contrast, the inclusion of an α-amine into the carbohydrazide substrate yields a single product in which both nitrogens are bonded to boron. These tricyclic structures are the same in organic solvent, solid state and aqueous solution from pH 4 to pH 9. Bioconjugates formed with α-amino carbohydrazides are stable to SDS-PAGE, while those formed with simple alkyl carbohydrazides are not. We propose that the inclusion of an intramolecular stabilizing ligand into a carbohydrazide substrate is a generally applicable principle that may be exploited to form boronic acid-based bioconjugates with a defined structure and resistance to hydrolysis.
Chromatographic separation and visual detection on wicking microfluidic devices: Quantitation of Cu2+ in surface-, ground-, and drinking water

Copper is widely applied in industrial and technological applications and is an essential micronutrient for humans and animals. However, exposure to high environmental levels of copper, especially through drinking water, can lead to copper toxicity, resulting in severe acute and chronic health effects. Therefore, regular monitoring of aqueous copper ions has become necessary as recent anthropogenic activities have led to elevated environmental concentrations of copper. On-site monitoring processes require an inexpensive, simple, and portable analytical approach capable of generating reliable qualitative and quantitative data efficiently. Membrane-based lateral flow microfluidic devices are ideal candidates as they facilitate rapid, inexpensive, and portable measurements. Here we present a simple, chromatographic separation approach in combination with a visual detection method for Cu2+ quantitation, performed in a lateral flow microfluidic channel. This method appreciably minimizes interferences by incorp...
Hematological and Biochemical Assessment of Two Species of Freshwater Mussels, Quadrula quadrula and Amblema plicata, Following Translocation.

Nondestructive, sublethal, and sensitive health monitoring tools are needed to assess the health of freshwater mussels (family Unionidae). Recent developments to standardize hemocyte characterization have assisted in the hematologic assessment of wild and captive freshwater mussels. In this study, preliminary baseline hematological reference ranges were established for wild mapleleaf mussels Quadrula quadrula (n = 14) and threeridge mussels Amblema plicata (n = 20) collected from the Muskingum River in Devola, Ohio. Mussels were collected from the wild, and hemolymph was sampled from each mussel in the field upon capture (baseline sample). They were then transported live to a propagation facility. Subsequent hemolymph samples were collected at 2 and 4 weeks and quarterly thereafter for 11 months following translocation. Hemocyte counts, hemocyte morphology, and hemolymph chemistry (Na+ , Cl- , Mg2+ , P3- , K+ , Ca2+ , glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase]) were measured from each sample on each sampling occasion. Hemocyte counts were consistently greater in Q. quadrula than in A. plicata following transfer to captivity. Baseline hemocyte morphology and hemolymph chemistry varied between species. This study provides a foundation of reference ranges for hemocyte characterization for Q. quadrula, and A. plicata and a preliminary understanding of how hemocyte character might be expected to change when wild mussels are translocated into captivity, and thus be a useful technique for monitoring the health of freshwater mussels.
The Gender Gap in Science and Technology: Causes and Consequences

Gender gaps in science and technology have been called out for over two decades. And yet, our understanding of the causes and consequences remains limited. A central contention is the degree to whi...
HUMORAL CONTROL OF VENTILATION DURING EXERCISE IN MAN

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses humoral control of ventilation during exercise in man. To determine the importance of humoral control of the exercise hyperpnea, human subjects exercising on a cycle ergometer were studied, utilizing several dynamic work rate forcing regimes. The response to these exercise perturbations were established, with emphasis on the time course of ventilation, gas exchange, blood gas and acid–base variables. The imposed work rate forcings included the following: (1) incremental tests to the limit of subject tolerance either with a staircase or ramp pattern, (2) square waves to work rates both less than and greater than the subjects anaerobic threshold (AT), and (3) sine wave patterns with periods ranging from 0.5 to 10 min. Tests were performed by normal subjects breathing air or breathing various inspired O2 concentrations and also with induced metabolic acidosis or alkalosis. During exercise of moderate work intensity, arterial pH, PaCO2, and PO2 are regulated near resting levels in spite of considerable increases in CO2 production and O2 consumption. The observation that these chemical reflections of metabolism remain relatively unchanged suggests that alveolar ventilation increases during exercise in proportion to the increase in metabolic rate.
Chapter 17 – Noroviruses

Human noroviruses are a major cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide and are the most common cause of foodborne disease outbreaks. Moreover, they are significant contributors to severe childhood diarrhea in developing nations. Norovirus outbreaks are extremely challenging to control for multiple reasons: They are (i) highly contagious and spread through multiple routes of transmission including person-to-person and upon exposure to contaminated food, water, fomites, or aerosolized vomitus particles; (ii) extremely stable in the environment; (iii) resistant to many common disinfectants and food processing techniques; (iv) shed from symptomatically and asymptomatically infected persons for prolonged periods; and (v) infectious at low doses. Common sources of norovirus outbreaks include contaminated shellfish, produce, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, and water. Norovirus contamination can occur at most any step in the food chain from cultivation to preparation. Research efforts to develop effective methods to inactivate noroviruses, enhanced norovirus diagnostics, and norovirus therapeutics and vaccines are all of high priority.
An Asymptotic Expansion for Bloch Functions on Riemann Surfaces of Infinite Genus and Almost Periodicity of the Kadomcev–Petviashvilli Flow

This article describes the solution of the Kadomcev–Petviashvilli equation with C10 real periodic initial data in terms of an asymptotic expansion of Bloch functions. The Bloch functions are parametrized by the spectral variety of a heat equation (heat curves) with an external potential. The mentioned spectral variety is a Riemann surface of in general infinite genus; the Kadomcev–Petviashvilli flow is represented by a one-parameter-subgroup in the real part of the Jacobi variety of this Riemann surface. It is shown that the KP-I flow with these initial data propagates almost periodically.
ЕФЕКТИ ЕЛЕКТРОМАГНІТНОЇ ТА СИЛЬНОЇ ВЗАЄМОДІЇ В ЯДЕРНОЇ СПЕКТРОСКОПІЇ АДРОННИХ АТОМІВ

Theoretical studying transition energies and widths from X-ray spectroscopy of hadronic atoms is carried out. The electromagnetic and strong interaction effects in nuclear spectroscopy of hadronic (kaonic) atoms are analyzed from the pointview of a new tool for studying nuclear structure.
The Value of Mixed Methods Designs to Social Justice Research in Counseling and Psychology

This article highlights the potential value of mixed methods designs for social justice research in counseling, psychology, and related human services professions. Though representing only a small minority of research designs used in these fields, mixed methods approaches are gaining in popularity. A rationale for the use of mixed methods research in the human services generally, and multicultural/social justice counseling specifically, is presented. Various mixed methods designs are reviewed, examples of published mixed methods multicultural research are highlighted, and a flow diagram to determine whether or not to incorporate a mixed method design for a particular study is put forth. Limitations of mixed methods designs are also acknowledged.
Efficient generation of hydrazides in proteins by RadA split intein

Protein C-terminal hydrazides are useful for bioconjugation and construction of proteins from multiple fragments through native chemical ligation. To generate C-terminal hydrazides in proteins, an efficient intein-based preparation method has been developed by using thiols and hydrazine to accelerate the formation of the transient thioester intermediate and subsequent hydrazinolysis. This approach not only increases the yield, but also improves biocompatibility. The scope of the method has been expanded by employing Pyrococcus horikoshii RadA split intein, which can accommodate a broad range of extein residues before the site of cleavage. The use of split RadA minimizes premature intein N cleavage in vivo and offers control over the initiation of the intein N cleavage reaction. It is expected that this versatile preparation method will expand the utilization of protein C-terminal hydrazides in protein preparation and modification.
Scalable pointer analysis of data structures using semantic models

Pointer analysis is widely used as a base for different kinds of static analyses and compiler optimizations. Designing a scalable pointer analysis with acceptable precision for use in production compilers is still an open question. Modern object oriented languages like Java and Scala promote abstractions and code reuse, both of which make it difficult to achieve precision. Collection data structures are an example of a pervasively used component in such languages. But analyzing collection implementations with full context sensitivity leads to prohibitively long analysis times. We use semantic models to reduce the complex internal implementation of, e.g., a collection to a small and concise model. Analyzing the model with context sensitivity leads to precise results with only a modest increase in analysis time. The models must be written manually, which is feasible because a model method usually consists of only a few statements. Our implementation in GraalVM Native Image shows a rise in useful precision (1.35X rise in the number of checkcast statements that can be elided over the default analysis configuration) with a manageable performance cost (19% rise in analysis time).
Selection by Site-Directed Antibodies of Small Regions of Peptides which are Ordered in Water

High resolution nuclear magnetic resonance has been used to study a short peptide which corresponds to the antigenic region of a larger peptide immunogen. This work shows that there is a strong conformational preference for a Type II beta-turn in solution. This observation has implications for the nature of the immunogenicity and antigenicity of peptide antigens as well as for the more general question of protein-folding mechanisms.
Going in thinking process, coming out transformed: Reflections and recommendations from a qualitative research course

Abstract This article presents reflections and suggestions of an instructor and students from a doctoral-level qualitative research course. Given qualitative research courses often lack guidance for best practices and the well-being of doctoral students learning qualitative research is often overlooked, the purpose of this article is threefold: 1) to provide an introductory skeleton for designing a qualitative research course that is structured for classmates to interview each other throughout the semester, what the authors call a student-as-researcher-and-participant design; 2) to provide student reflections from the course; and finally, 3) to offer recommendations for using a student-as-researcher-and-participant design for a qualitative research course.
The Workplace Support for Health Scale: Reliability and Validity of a Brief Scale to Measure Employee Perceptions of Wellness.

Purpose:To examine the reliability and validity of a brief measure (the Workplace Support for Health [WSH] scale) to assess employees’ perceived support for a healthy lifestyle.Design:Repeated cros...
A New Fault Tolerant SST Topology and Operation Strategy for Alleviating HVAC Grid Faults

One of the most important reliability concerns for Solid-State Transformers (SSTs) is related to high voltage side switches and grid faults. High voltage grid faults that result in unbalanced operating conditions in SSTs can lead to dire consequences in regards to safety and reliability in comparison to traditional transformers. The proposed SST overcomes occurrence of faults by balancing the output line-to-line voltages using a fault tolerant technique. This paper proposes a new SST topology in conjunction with a fault-tolerant operation strategy that can fully restore operation of the proposed SST in case of one of the grid fault scenarios. Preliminary theoretical and simulation results are provided to support the proposed idea.
The value of research on sexual dimorphism in neuroimaging

Spets and Slotnick (in Press) applied activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis to examine sex differences in regional brain activation during long-term memory retrieval. Based on their analys...
MONITORING SARS-COV-2 TRANSMISSION AND PREVALENCE IN POPULATIONS UNDER REPEATED TESTING

We describe a repeat SARS-CoV-2 testing model for monitoring and containing outbreaks in a residential community. The analysis is motivated by the Ohio State University (OSU)’s approach to monitoring disease at its Columbus, Ohio campus during the COVID-19 epidemic in autumn 2020. The model is simple, yet flexible enough to accommodate changes in behavior over time and to eliminate bias due to a nonrandom testing scheme. Model parameters are estimated from individual results of weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing of residents. Model output serves several purposes, including estimating the effective reproduction number and monitoring prevalence to help inform isolation and quarantine bed capacity. An extended version of the model is also considered where the residential population (on-campus students) is assumed to interact with another population for whom the testing regime is more relaxed and possibly less frequent (off-campus students or instructional faculty and staff). To illustrate the model application, we analyze both the synthetic data as well as the actual student SARS-CoV-2 testing data collected at OSU Columbus campus.
Rational design for controlled release of Dicer-substrate siRNA harbored in phi29 pRNA-based nanoparticles.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for silencing genes and treating disease has been a dream since ranking as a top Breakthrough of the Year in 2002 by Science. With the recent FDA approval of four siRNA-based drugs, the potential of RNA therapeutics to become the third milestone in pharmaceutical drug development has become a reality. However, the field of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics still faces challenges such as specificity in targeting, intracellular processing, and endosome trapping after targeted delivery. Dicer-substrate siRNAs included onto RNA nanoparticles may be able to overcome these challenges. Here, we show that pRNA-based nanoparticles can be designed to efficiently harbor the Dicer-substrate siRNAs in vitro and in vivo to the cytosol of tumor cells and release the siRNA. The structure optimization and chemical modification for controlled release of Dicer-substrate siRNAs in tumor cells were also evaluated through molecular beacon analysis. Studies on the length requirement of the overhanging siRNA revealed that at least 23 nucleotides at the dweller's arm were needed for dicer processing. The above sequence parameters and structure optimization were confirmed in recent studies demonstrating the release of functional Survivin siRNA from the pRNA-based nanoparticles for cancer inhibition in non-small-cell lung, breast, and prostate cancer animal models.
Obesity Modulates the Gut Microbiome in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, molecularly heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer. Obesity is associated with increased incidence and worse prognosis in TNBC through various potential mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome plays a central role in the progression of cancer, and that imbalances or dysbiosis in the population of commensal microbiota can lead to inflammation and contribute to tumor progression. Obesity is characterized by low-grade inflammation, and gut dysbiosis is associated with obesity, chronic inflammation, and failure of cancer immunotherapy. However, the debate on what constitutes a “healthy” gut microbiome is ongoing, and the connection among the gut microbiome, obesity, and TNBC has not yet been addressed. This study aims to characterize the role of obesity in modulating the gut microbiome in a syngeneic mouse model of TNBC. 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomic analyses were performed to analyze and annotate genus and taxonomic profiles. Our results suggest that obesity decreases alpha diversity in the gut microbiome. Metagenomic analysis revealed that obesity was the only significant factor explaining the similarity of the bacterial communities according to their taxonomic profiles. In contrast to the analysis of taxonomic profiles, the analysis of variation of functional profiles suggested that obesity status, tumor presence, and the obesity–tumor interaction were significant in explaining the variation of profiles, with obesity having the strongest correlation. The presence of tumor modified the profiles to a greater extent in obese than in lean animals. Further research is warranted to understand the impact of the gut microbiome on TNBC progression and immunotherapy.
Review of the infectious diseases in Guangzhou Children's Hospital.

Objective To analyze the pattern and morbidity of infectious diseases in children in Guangzhou from 1999 to 2008 in order to provide the basis for control and prevention of infectious diseases.Method Data from all infectious diseases cases in Guagzhou children's hospital from 1999 to 2008 was retrospectively analyzed using Excel.Result The top 10 infectious diseases were ranked in the order of measles,chicken pox,epidemic parotitis,virus hepatitis,epidemic influenza,infectious diarrhea,bacillary dysentery,scarlet fever,akamushi disease,typhoid and paratyphoid.79.82% had respiratory infection,16.97% had intestinal infection and 1.74% was natural pestilence infectious disease.Among those infectious diseases,49.67% were measles and 14.5% were chicken pox.Most of the patients were at the age of 1～6 years old(72.16%).Average hospital stay was 8.13 days.There was a decreasing trend in the infection in the past 10 years,especially the intestinal infection.In contrast,the incidence of respiratory tract infection,especially measles,chicken pox and epidemic parotitis,was increasing.New cases of syphilis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were also found.Conclusion Comprehensive preventive measures should be taken to control these children infectious diseases in Guangzhou,especially the respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases.
The Hepatic Response to Severe Injury

After severe injury, such as thermal injury, a variable degree of liver injury is present and it is usually related to the severity of the thermal injury. Fatty changes, a very common finding, are per se reversible and their significance depends on the cause and severity of accumulation [1]. However, autopsies of burned children who died have shown that fatty liver infiltration was associated with increased bacterial translocation, liver failure, and endotoxemia, thus delineating the crucial role of the liver during the post-burn response [2, 3, 4]. In a recent study in 102 children, 41 females and 61 males with a total body burn size of 58 ± 2% and third degree burns in 45 ± 2%, we found that liver size and weight significantly increased during the first week post-burn (+85 ± 5%), peaked at 2 weeks post-burn (+126 ± 19%), and was increased by +89 ± 10% at discharge. At 6, 9, and 12 months the liver weight was increased by 40–50% compared to predicted liver weight. In addition, liver protein synthesis was impaired for a 6-month period with a shift from constitutive hepatic proteins to acute phase proteins [5]. Liver enzymes were significantly elevated over the first 3 weeks post-burn, normalizing over time. These findings indicate that the hepatic acute phase response perseveres for a longer time period than previously thought [5, 6].
Growth Rate Dependence of Differential Incorporation of a Guanosine Triphosphate Photoaffinity Probe into the α Subunit of a Guanine Nucleotide Binding Protein, Gs, from Metastatic Variants of B16 Melanoma Cells

The signal transducing regulatory protein (Gsα) was examined in B16 melanoma clones of low (F1C29) and high (F10C23) experimental metastatic potential. Incorporation of the photoaffinity analogue, [8- azido -γ-32P]GTP, into Gsα was decreased in F10C23 extracts when compared to F1C29. This difference disappeared when the photolabeling reaction was carried out at an elevated temperature which enhanced the rate of GTP exchange, suggesting functional differences in the ability of Gsα to bind or release GTP rather than dissimilar intracellular Gsα concentrations. Differential Gsα photolabeling occurred only during the period of rapid growth when F10C23 cells proliferated faster than F1C29 cells. During the recovery phase of growth immediately following plating and at confluence, periods in which F1C29 and F10C23 growth rates are similar, Gsα photolabeling between the two clones was equal. CMT lung carcinoma clones of differential metastatic potential grew at a uniform rate at all stages of growth and also exhibited equal Gsα photolabeling. F10C23 cells were more responsive to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone stimulation of adenylate cyclase activity than F1C29 cells at all growth stages. These results confirm previously observed functional differences in Gsα between B16 metastatic variants and show that photolabeling differences in Gsα are related to growth rate.
Mucosal immunity: aliment and ailments

The development of the primitive gut in the multicellular aquatic eukaryote was driven by the insufficient absorption of nutrients from the oceanic soup. The anatomy of this evolving specialized system invited its colonization by environmental prokaryotes and resulted in the establishment of the intestinal microflora. Innate immunity had previously evolved in gutless organisms such as plants and was fully functional in the gut of invertebrates. On the other hand, adaptive immunity evolved in vertebrates, most probably because of some selective pressure such as the adaptation to a predatory lifestyle. Interestingly, this form of immunity was localized first in their primitive gut. Although the newly generated eukaryote–prokaryote relationship in the gut evolved under mutualistic principles, its symbiotic nature is easily interrupted by extrinsic factors such the composition of the consumed food. Thus, it is argued below that a state of disequilibrium with the microflora (dysbiosis) results in potentially serious immune-related disadvantages to the host.
Acetylcholine receptors and myasthenia.

Much progress has been made in the 26 years since initial studies of the first purified acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) led to the discovery that an antibody-mediated autoimmune response to AChRs causes the muscular weakness and fatigability characteristic of myasthenia gravis (MG) and its animal model, experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Now, the structure of muscle AChRs is much better known. Monoclonal antibodies to muscle AChRs, developed as model autoantibodies for studies of EAMG, were used for initial purifications of neuronal AChRs, and now many homologous subunits of neuronal nicotinic AChRs have been cloned. There is a basic understanding of the pathological mechanisms by which autoantibodies to AChRs impair neuromuscular transmission. Immunodiagnostic assays for MG are used routinely. Nonspecific approaches to immunosuppressive therapy have been refined. However, fundamental mysteries remain regarding what initiates and sustains the autoimmune response to muscle AChRs and how to specifically suppress this autoimmune response using a practical therapy. Many rare congenital myasthenic syndromes have been elegantly shown to result from mutations in muscle AChRs. These studies have provided insights into AChR structure and function as well as into the pathological mechanisms of these diseases. Evidence has been found for autoimmune responses even to some central nervous system neurotransmitter receptors, but only one neuronal AChR has so far been implicated in an autoimmune disease. Thus far, only two neuronal AChR mutations have been found to be associated with a rare form of epilepsy, but many more neuronal AChR mutations will probably be found to be associated with disease in the years ahead.
On k-minimally n-edge-connected graphs

Abstract A graph is k -minimal with respect to some parameter if the removal of any j edges j k reduces the value of that parameter by j . For k = 1 this concept is well-known; we consider multiple minimality, that is, k ⩾ 2. We characterize all graphs which are multiply minimal with respect to connectivity or edge-connectivity. We also show that there are essentially no diagraphs which are multiply minimal with respect to diconnectivity or edge-diconnectivity. In addition, we investigate basic properties and multiple minimality for a variant of edge-connectivity which we call edge m -connectivity.
Effect of source and amount of supplemental fat on lactation and digestion in cows.

Abstract Thirty Holstein cows averaging 50 DIM were assigned to five dietary treatments for 75 d to determine the effects of source and amount of supplemental fat on milk yield, milk composition, and nutrient digestibilities. Diets were 1) control, 2) diet 1 plus 12% whole cottonseed, 3) diet 2 plus 2.2% safflower oil, 4) diet 2 plus 2.2% prilled tallow fatty acids, and 5) diet 2 plus 4.4% prilled tallow fatty acids. Milk yield was increased an average of 2.1kg/d by addition of 2.2% prilled tallow fatty acids or safflower oil to the diet (7% fatty acids) containing 12% whole cottonseed. However, when fatty acids were increased to 9.1% with additional prilled tallow fatty acids, milk yield, DMI, and fatty acid digestibility decreased. Whole cottonseed alone and in combination with all fat additions decreased milk protein concentrations. Safflower oil increased C 18:0 , C 18:l , and C 18:2 fatty acids in milk. Digestibilities of OM, NDF, and ADF were not affected by diet. Supplementation of a saturated or unsaturated fat source to increase fatty acid content to 7.0% of dietary DM increased milk yield, but a further increase in fat to 9.1% with the saturated source appeared excessive for cows yielding 30 to 35kg/d of milk.
Origins of Stereoselectivities of Dihydroxylations of cis-Bicyclo[3.3.0]octenes

Stereoselectivities of the dihydroxylations of cis-bicyclo[3.3.0]octene intermediates for a projected total synthesis of chromodorolide A have been explored experimentally. The reaction occurs unexpectedly on the apparently more hindered (concave) face; this result has been explained through computational studies using B3LYP and B3LYP-D3 methods. Torsional effects are largely responsible for the stereoselectivity encountered in the chromodorolide A synthesis. Many literature examples have been reported on related cases. QM calculations show that the stereoselectivities of dihydroxylations of fused cyclopentenes are influenced by the conformational rigidity or flexibility of the substrate. Torsional, electrostatic, and steric effects can all influence stereoselectivity, and the rigidity or flexibility of conformations of reactants provides a predictive guide to stereoselectivity.
Adequacy of disposable biopsy forceps for gastrointestinal endoscopy: a direct comparison with reusable forceps

Disposable plastic biopsy forceps were compared prospectively to reusable stainless steel forceps. Thirty consecutive patients underwent a total of 249 biopsies, 124 with the disposable forceps, and 125 with reusable forceps. Biopsy locations included the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and common bile duct. Specimens were compared microscopically to determine overall surface area, depth, adequacy, and diagnostic result. The disposable biopsy forceps yielded specimens which were 37% smaller when compared with the reusable forceps. In five of the comparisons, minor differences in histological findings were noted between the two groups of biopsy specimens, but these differences did not alter the pathological diagnosis. However, in three cases in which superficial specimens were obtained, an underlying carcinoma was missed with the disposable forceps. Our study documents the utility of disposable biopsy forceps for mucosal lesions. In addition, there were 11 mechanical failures in 38 biopsy attempts with the plastic biopsy forceps. These forceps appear to be limited in their capacity to obtain adequate specimens from firm tissue or when submucosal biopsy samples are required, and they will require refinements in design to duplicate specimen quality obtained by traditional reusable forceps. Disposable forceps are particularly suitable for biopsy of mucosal lesions in patients with possible communicable disease, and they should help to reduce cross-contamination in the gastroenterology laboratory.