cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activation of A-Type γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptors Excites Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acting through GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)R), is hypothesized to suppress reproduction by inhibiting GnRH secretion, but GABA actions directly on GnRH neurons are not well established. In green fluorescent protein-identified adult mouse GnRH neurons in brain slices, gramicidin-perforated-patch-clamp experiments revealed the reversal potential (E(GABA)) for current through GABA(A)Rs was depolarized relative to the resting potential. Furthermore, rapid GABA application elicited action potentials in GnRH neurons but not controls. The consequence of GABA(A)R activation depends on intracellular chloride levels, which are maintained by homeostatic mechanisms. Membrane proteins that typically extrude chloride (KCC-2 cotransporter, CLC-2 channel) were absent from the GT1-7 immortalized GnRH cell line and GnRH neurons in situ or were not localized to the proper cell compartment for function. In contrast, GT1-7 cells and some GnRH neurons expressed the chloride-accumulating cotransporter, NKCC-1. Patch-clamp experiments showed that blockade of NKCC hyperpolarized E(GABA) by lowering intracellular chloride. Regardless of reproductive state, rapid GABA application excited GnRH neurons. In contrast, bath application of the GABA(A)R agonist muscimol transiently increased then suppressed firing; suppression persisted 4-15 min. Rapid activation of GABA(A)R thus excites GnRH neurons whereas prolonged activation reduces excitability, suggesting the physiological consequence of synaptic activation of GABA(A)R in GnRH neurons is excitation.
Notch Signaling is Associated with ALDH Activity and an Aggressive Metastatic Phenotype in Murine Osteosarcoma Cells

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of bone, and pulmonary metastatic disease accounts for nearly all mortality. However, little is known about the biochemical signaling alterations that drive the progression of metastatic disease. Two murine OS cell populations, K7M2 and K12, are clonally related but differ significantly in their metastatic phenotypes and therefore represent excellent tools for studying metastatic OS molecular biology. K7M2 cells are highly metastatic, whereas K12 cells display limited metastatic potential. Here we report that the expression of Notch genes (Notch1, 2, 4) are up-regulated, including downstream targets Hes1 and Stat3, in the highly metastatic K7M2 cells compared to the less metastatic K12 cells, indicating that the Notch signaling pathway is more active in K7M2 cells. We have previously described that K7M2 cells exhibit higher levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Here we report that K7M2 cell ALDH activity is reduced with Notch inhibition, suggesting that ALDH activity may be regulated in part by the Notch pathway. Notch signaling is also associated with increased resistance to oxidative stress, migration, invasion, and VEGF expression in vitro. However, Notch inhibition did not significantly alter K7M2 cell proliferation. In conclusion, we provide evidence that Notch signaling is associated with ALDH activity and increased metastatic behavior in OS cells. Both Notch and ALDH are putative molecular targets for the treatment and prevention of OS metastasis.
PC12‐E2 cells: A stable variant with altered responses to growth factor stimulation

A variant cell line, designated E2, characterized by more rapid responses to nerve growth factor (NGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and markedly more robust responses to interleukin-6 and 8-Br-cAMP, has been subcloned from the rat PC12 cell line. The enhanced responsiveness to NGF in E2 cells is not due to receptor overexpression as judged by TrkA protein levels and tyrosine kinase activity, but may be associated with the increased and prolonged tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK1 (extracellular signal regulated kinase 1) and ERK2. The rapid morphological differentiation induced by different growth factors in E2 cells is mediated in a transcription-independent manner suggesting that E2 cells may constitutively express some differentiation-associated molecules that allow direct entry into the neuronal program.
Aromatase Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Survival among Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in a Sex-Specific Manner

Introduction: CYP19A1 encodes aromatase, the enzyme responsible for the conversion of androgens to estrogens, and may play a role in variation in outcomes among men and women with cardiovascular disease. We sought to examine genetic variation in CYP19A1 for its potential role in sex differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes. Methods: Caucasian individuals from two independent populations were assessed: 1) a prospective cohort of patients with acute coronary syndromes with 3-year mortality follow-up (n=568) and 2) a nested case-control study from a randomized, controlled trial of hypertension patients with stable coronary disease in which the primary outcome was death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) or nonfatal stroke (n=619). Six CYP19A1 SNPs were genotyped (-81371 C.T, -45965 G.C, M201T, R264C, 80 A.G, and +32226 G.A). The sex*genotype interaction term was assessed for the primary outcome and compared by genotype in men and women when a significant interaction term was identified. Results: We identified a significant interaction between -81371 C.T and sex (p=0.025) in the ACS population. The variant allele was associated with a 78% increase in mortality in men (HR 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-2.94) and a nonsignificant 42% decrease in mortality among women (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.22-1.54). We identified a similar association in the hypertensive CAD group, the -81371 C.T*sex interaction term was p,0.0001, with an associated 65% increase in death, MI, or stroke (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.00-2.73) in men and a 69% decrease (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.16-0.6) in women. Conclusions: Using two independent populations, this study is the first to document a significant interaction between CYP19A1 genotype and sex on cardiovascular outcomes. These findings could illuminate potential mechanisms of sex differences in cardiovascular disease outcomes.
Generation Y Adoption of Instant Messaging: An Examination of the Impact of Social Usefulness and Media Richness on Use Richness

By integrating Media Richness Theory, Channel Expansion Theory, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), we study the postadoption use behavior of instant messaging. We developed the construct “use richness” as a measure of the extent to which users use the media communication capacity after adoption and proposed a conceptual model of the antecedents of use richness. Through a field survey with 272 valid responses and structural equation modeling, we empirically tested our model and found that use richness is positively affected by perceived media richness, perceived usefulness, and perceived social usefulness.
The new science of cognitive sex differences

Surprising new findings indicate that many conclusions about sex differences and similarities in cognitive abilities need to be reexamined. Cognitive sex differences are changing, decreasing for some tasks whereas remaining stable or increasing for other tasks. Some sex differences are detected in infancy, but the data are complex and depend on task characteristics. Diverse disciplines have revolutionized our understanding of why these differences exist. For instance, fraternal-twin studies align with earlier literature to help establish the role of prenatal androgens and large international datasets help explain how cultural factors such as economic prosperity and gender equity affect females and males differently. Understanding how biological and environmental factors interact could help maximize cognitive potential and address pressing societal issues.
Effect of microwave frequency on breakdown and electron energy distribution function using a global model

Global models (GMs) have proven a key modeling tool for the plasma processing field due to simplicity and speed. However, a GM requires specification of the electron energy distribution function (EEDF). The assumption of a Maxwellian EEDF leads to inaccurate reaction rate coefficients and results in error in plasma parameter prediction in high power microwave (HPM) driven discharges. Recently, a GM was developed with a pressure-independent enhanced EEDF to improve fidelity for modeling HPM breakdown. In this work, the GM is extended to 2 decades in frequency, and the frequency effect on HPM breakdown and the EEDF is investigated.
Flow‐Based Enzymatic Ligation by Sortase A

Sortase-mediated ligation (sortagging) is a versatile, powerful strategy for protein modification. Because the sortase reaction reaches equilibrium, a large excess of polyglycine nucleophile is often employed to drive the reaction forward and suppress sortase-mediated side reactions. A flow-based sortagging platform employing immobilized sortase A within a microreactor was developed that permits efficient sortagging at low nucleophile concentrations. The platform was tested with several reaction partners and used to generate a protein bioconjugate inaccessible by solution-phase batch sortagging.
Cholesterol Exposure at the Membrane Surface Is Necessary and Sufficient to Trigger Perfringolysin O Binding

Perfringolysin O (PFO) is the prototype for the cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, a family of bacterial pore-forming toxins that act on eukaryotic membranes. The pore-forming mechanism of PFO exhibits an absolute requirement for membrane cholesterol, but the complex interplay between the structural arrangement of the PFO C-terminal domain and the distribution of cholesterol in the target membrane is poorly understood. Herein we show that PFO binding to the bilayer and the initiation of the sequence of events that culminate in the formation of a transmembrane pore depend on the availability of free cholesterol at the membrane surface, while changes in the acyl chain packing of the phospholipids and cholesterol in the membrane core, or the presence or absence of detergent-resistant domains do not correlate with PFO binding. Moreover, PFO association with the membrane was inhibited by the addition of sphingomyelin, a typical component of membrane rafts in cell membranes. Finally, addition of molecules that do not interact with PFO, but intercalate into the membrane and displace cholesterol from its association with phospholipids (e.g., epicholesterol), reduced the amount of cholesterol required to trigger PFO binding. Taken together, our studies reveal that PFO binding to membranes is triggered when the concentration of cholesterol exceeds the association capacity of the phospholipids, and this cholesterol excess is then free to associate with the toxin.
Effects of agricultural land use on chironomid communities: comparisons among natural wetlands and farm ponds.

Constructed farm ponds represent a major wetland habitat type in southeastern Minnesota. Farm ponds are subject to a variety of disturbances associated with agricultural land use, especially sedimentation and eutrophication. Chironomid community structure often reflects environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems. However, chironomid communities in farm ponds are poorly understood and their response to short-term increases in sedimentation and eutrophication remains undetermined. We studied relationships between pond-land cover condition and chironomid community structure. Of the 40 ponds selected for the study, 10 were natural, permanent palustrine wetlands. The remaining ponds were constructed habitats (i.e., farm ponds) with 10 in each of the following categories: non-grazed grassland, grazed grassland, and row crop agriculture. Larval chironomids and water quality parameters were collected during early, mid-, and late summer 2001. Total nitrogen concentrations were significantly greater and turbidity was generally greater in grazed grassland ponds as compared to all other pond types. Chironomid communities of grazed grassland ponds were characterized by lower taxonomic richness and abundant chironomids tolerant of increased sedimentation and nutrient enrichment (i.e.,Chironomus andGlyptotendipes). This study determined that agricultural land use, particularly cattle grazing, can markedly affect pond water quality, thereby influencing the chironomid community structure in farm ponds.
Increased risk of incident chronic medical conditions in infertile men: analysis of United States claims data

Objective To determine the incidence of chronic medical conditions of men with infertility. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Subjects contained within the Truven Health MarketScan claims database from 2001 to 2009. Intervention(s) Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure(s) The development of chronic medical conditions including hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, renal disease, pulmonary disease, liver disease, depression, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, heart disease, injury, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, anxiety disorders, and bipolar disorder. Result(s) In all, 13,027 men diagnosed with male factor infertility were identified with an additional 23,860 receiving only fertility testing. The average age was 33.1 years for men diagnosed with infertility and 32.8 years for men receiving testing alone. After adjusting for confounding factors, men diagnosed with male factor infertility had a higher risk of developing diabetes (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.53), ischemic heart disease (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.19–1.84), alcohol abuse (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.07–2.05), and drug abuse (1.67, 95% CI 1.06–2.63) compared with men who only received infertility testing. Similar patterns were identified when comparing those with male factor infertility to vasectomized men. The association between male factor infertility and later health outcomes were strongest for men with longer follow-up. Conclusion(s) In this cohort of patients in a national insurance database, men diagnosed with male factor infertility had a significantly higher risk of adverse health outcomes in the years after an infertility evaluation. These findings suggest the overall importance of men's reproductive health and warrant additional investigation to understand the association and identify interventions to improve outcomes for these patients.
Neuronal application of capsaicin modulates somatic pressor reflexes.

Static contraction of skeletal muscle elicits a reflex increase in cardiovascular function. Likewise, noxious stimuli activate somatic nociceptors eliciting a reflex increase in cardiovascular function. On the basis of recent work involving spinothalamic cells in the dorsal horn, we hypothesized that the dorsal horn cells involved in the aforementioned reflexes would be sensitized by applying capsaicin (Cap) to a peripheral nerve. If correct, then Cap would enhance the cardiovascular increases that occur when these reflexes are evoked. Cats were anesthetized, and the popliteal fossa was exposed. Static contraction was induced by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at an intensity that did not directly activate small-diameter muscle afferent fibers, whereas nociceptors were stimulated by high-intensity stimulation (after muscle paralysis) of either the saphenous nerve (cutaneous nociceptors) or a muscular branch of the tibial nerve (muscle nociceptors). The reflex cardiovascular responses to these perturbations (contraction or nociceptor stimulation) were determined before and after direct application of Cap (3%) onto the common peroneal nerve, using a separate group of cats for each reflex. Compared with control, application of Cap attenuated the peak change in mean arterial pressure (MAP) evoked by static contraction (ΔMAP in mmHg: 38 ± 10 before and 24 ± 8 after ipsilateral Cap; 47 ± 10 before and 33 ± 10 after contralateral Cap). On the other hand, Cap increased the peak change in MAP evoked by stimulation of the saphenous nerve from 57 ± 8 to 77 ± 9 mmHg, as well as the peak change in MAP elicited by activation of muscle nociceptors (36 ± 9 vs. 56 ± 14 mmHg). These results show that the reflex cardiovascular increases evoked by static muscle contraction and noxious input are differentially affected by Cap application to the common peroneal nerve. We hypothesize that a Cap-induced alteration in dorsal horn processing is the locus for this divergent effect on these reflexes.
Gender of Thematic Apperception Card 3 BM Figure

A total of 215 subjects completed the TAT as part of a psychological evaluation or as volunteers. The gender of the figure on Card 3 BM was noted for our study. Our data show that the figure is in ...
Body Mass Index, Quality of Life, and Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation and obesity are interlinked epidemics and both impair quality of life. As the prevalence of both conditions in the US continues to rise, so will the number of obese patients with atrial fibrillation referred for catheter ablation. Catheter ablation has already been shown to significantly improve quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. Until recently, there has been little attention to the effects of catheter ablation on quality of life specifically in obese patients with atrial fibrillation. This paper will review what is known about the effects of atrial fibrillation and obesity on quality of life and how quality of life is affected by catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in obese patients. obese. 12-16 In these patients, catheter ablation has been shown to be equally effective when compared to normal body weight patients. 12,13 Although catheter ablation has been shown to improve QoL in multiple study populations, little is known about the effects of catheter ablation for AF on QoL specifically in obese patients. The aim of this review is to summarize what is known about the interaction between atrial fibrillation, obesity, and quality of life as well as specifically the effects of catheter ablation on quality of life in AF patients who are overweight and obese. Atrial Fibrillation, Obesity, and Quality of Life Most patients with symptomatic AF report impaired QoL, at least prior to treatment. In a cross-sectional study, Dorian et al. assessed the effect of intermittent AF on QoL using the SF-36, Specific Activity Scale (SAS), and AF Symptom Checklist. The AF patients had significantly worse scores on all scales compared to healthy controls,
Time course of effective interventional left heart assist for limitation of evolving myocardial infarction.

Previous work has shown that if pulsatile left atrial–femoral artery bypass is instituted after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for from 15 minutes to 2 hours, it can significantly limit the size of the infarct resulting 4 hours later. This study investigated whether pulsatile left atrial–femoral artery bypass begun after more clinically pertinent periods of initial ischemia can still significantly limit infarct expansion. After baseline measurements of hemodynamics, tension-time index, and regional myocardial blood flow in 73 open-chest, adult dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated for 15 minutes or 1, 2, 4, or 6 hours of unprotected ischemia. In the five control groups, the initial ischemic period was merely extended for another 4 hours. In the five experimental groups, the animals were placed on pulsatile left atrial–femoral artery bypass for another 4 hours after the initial ischemic period. At the end of each procedure, gentian violet was used to identify the area at risk of infarction, and triphenyltetrazolium chloride was used to delineate the area of infarct The results showed a significant reduction in the area of infarct as a percentage of the area at risk in each bypass group compared with its control group for all ischemic periods of less than 6 hours. These findings suggest that the maximum permissible ischemic time delay for myocardial salvage by pulsatile left atrial–femoral artery bypass is one which is pertinent in a clinical setting. The results justify continued attempts to develop appropriate techniques for percutaneous application of this modality to patients with an evolving myocardial infarction.
Using museum resources to engage high school students in historical thinking

Researchers have documented the benefits associated with using multiple primary sources in history classroom (Stahl, Hynd, Britton, McNish, & Bosquet, 1996; Wineburg, 1991). For example, understanding multiple perspectives on a particular event can help students build a richer and more detailed mental model of that event, thus enhancing content knowledge. Moreover, reading multiple sources can increase opportunities for students to develop the disciplinary knowledge that historians demonstrate. Wineburg (1991) found that historians use different reading strategies than do students when reading multiple sources to solve historical problems. Historians use strategies such as sourcing (consider the source of the document), corroboration (compare and contrast documents with one another), and contextualization (situate a text in a specific time and place) to gain a deep understanding about a historical problem (Wineburg, 1991). However, reading multiple documents is a challenging task. Students require inquiry skills and representational abilities to read historical documents, evaluate them, and construct their own interpretation of the described events. Simply giving students a selection of documents and expecting them automatically to come up with thoughtful historical inquiry is not realistic. Without support, students have difficulty integrating information from different sources (Bain, 2000).
Five-Year Longitudinal Analysis of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Cosmesis in a Randomized Trial of Conventionally Fractionated Versus Hypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation

Purpose There are limited prospective data on predictors of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after whole-breast irradiation (WBI) plus a boost. We sought to characterize longitudinal PROs and cosmesis in a randomized trial comparing conventionally fractionated (CF) versus hypofractionated (HF) WBI. Methods and Materials From 2011 to 2014, women aged ≥40 years with Tis-T2 N0-N1a M0 breast cancer who underwent a lumpectomy with negative margins were randomized to CF-WBI (50 Gray [Gy]/25 fractions plus boost) versus HF-WBI (42.56 Gy/16 fractions plus boost). At baseline (pre-radiation), at 6 months, and yearly thereafter through 5 years, PROs included the Breast Cancer Treatment Outcome Scale (BCTOS), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B), and Body Image Scale; cosmesis was reported by the treating physician using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group cosmesis values. Multivariable mixed-effects growth curve models evaluated associations of the treatment arm and patient factors with outcomes and tested for relevant interactions with the treatment arm. Results A total of 287 patients were randomized, completing a total of 14,801 PRO assessments. The median age was 60 years, 37% of patients had a bra cup size ≥D, 44% were obese, and 30% received chemotherapy. Through 5 years, there were no significant differences in PROs or cosmesis by treatment arm. A bra cup size ≥D was associated with worse BCTOS cosmesis (P Conclusions Both CF-WBI and HF-WBI confer similar longitudinal PROs and physician-rated cosmesis through 5 years of follow-up, with no relevant subsets that fared better with CF-WBI. This evidence supports broad adoption of hypofractionation with boost, including in patients receiving chemotherapy and in a population with a high prevalence of obesity. The associations of large breast size and obesity with adverse outcomes across multiple domains highlight the opportunity to engage at-risk patients in lifestyle intervention strategies, as well as to consider alternative radiation treatment regimens.
The dangers of Voodoo Science

Bob Park, the physicist who directs the Washington office of the American Physical Society writes a famously provocative weekly e-mail column, "What's New", which often attacks "fringe science". In his last column of 1999, Park predicted that the new millennium would soon see a book entitled Voodoo Science that would "name names, point fingers and step on toes".
Elbow Injuries in Adult Overhead Athletes.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to review common elbow injuries found in overhead athletes with focus on mechanism, clinical features, imaging appearance, and treatment options. CONCLUSION. The overhead throwing motion subjects the elbow to a variety of complex forces, which places both osseous and soft-tissue structures at high risk for injury.
Micro-environmental control for efficient local cooling

Abstract Micro-environment is hereby defined as the air space and environment around a person that directly impacts his/her thermal sensation. Most existing HVAC systems condition the air of the entire room including the unoccupied space, which leaves a big potential to save energy. This study aims at evaluating the performance of three existing air terminal devices (ATDs) to locally remove enough heat from the micro-environment to manage the thermal balance so as not to sacrifice thermal comfort when the ambient unoccupied space temperature is increased by 2.2 °C from 23.9 °C to 26.1 °C in the summer to reduce the external cooling load. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed, validated by full-scale chamber tests and applied to evaluate different configurations of the ATDs for local cooling. Results show that the predicted performance agreed well with the measurements, and the selected ATD, with only 50 W cooling power, was always able to remove a sufficient amount of heat from the micro-environment in a room of raised temperature, when the manikin was moved inside a semicircle movement range. The cooling performance of the jet was increased more by increasing the supply air flow rate than reducing the supply temperature and was highly dependent on the shooting angle. The heat flux from the manikin surface is very sensitive to the surface temperature and furniture placement, and proper specification of the surface temperature is crucial for the CFD simulation to match the measured results.
An adaptive multiscale algorithm for efficient extended waveform inversion

ABSTRACTSubsurface-offset extended full-waveform inversion (FWI) may converge to kinematically accurate velocity models without the low-frequency data accuracy required for standard data-domain FWI. However, this robust alternative approach to waveform inversion suffers from a very high computational cost resulting from its use of nonlocal wave physics: The computation of strain from stress involves an integral over the subsurface offset axis, which must be performed at every space-time grid point. We found that a combination of data-fit driven offset limits, grid coarsening, and low-pass data filtering can reduce the cost of extended inversion by one to two orders of magnitude.
Continuation of a Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: During treatment of hematologic malignancies in premenopausal women both menstrual suppression and contraception are crucial. Continuation of hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs) - widely used and highly effective contraceptives that also decrease menstrual flow - is controversial during hematopoietic stem cell transplants (SCTs) due to infectious and vaginal bleeding concerns. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old nulligravid female was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML positive for FLT3-ITD DNMT3A and RUNX1 with normal cytogenetics). She elected to retain her existing levonorgestrel-containing IUD during chemotherapy and SCT. During and following treatment she remained amenorrheic without infection despite severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. Eight months later she remains in remission without IUD-related complications. DISCUSSION: This is the first report of levonorgestrel IUD retention during hematopoietic SCT. Despite severe neutropenia and thrombocytopenia the patient developed neither pelvic infection by retaining her IUD nor significant vaginal bleeding. Future studies are needed to confirm the safety of levonorgestrel IUDs in women undergoing SCT. Copyright(c) 2017 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. George J. Delinasios) All rights reserved.
Investigating the separate and interactive associations of trauma and depression on brain structure: implications for cognition and aging.

Objective Trauma and depression are associated with brain structural alterations; their combined effects on these outcomes are unclear. We previously reported a negative effect of trauma, independent of depression, on verbal learning and memory; less is known about underlying structural associates. We investigated separate and interactive associations of trauma and depression on brain structure. Methods Adults aged 30–89 (N = 203) evaluated for depression (D+) and trauma history (T+) using structured clinical interviews were divided into 53 D+T+, 42 D+T−, 50 D−T+, and 58 D−T−. Multivariable linear regressions examined the separate and interactive associations of depression and trauma with prefrontal and temporal lobe cortical thickness composites and hippocampal volumes adjusting for age, sex, predicted verbal IQ, comorbid anxiety, and vascular risk. Significant results informed analyses of tract-based structural connectomic measures of efficiency and centrality. Results Trauma, independent of depression, was associated with greater left prefrontal cortex (PFC) thickness, in particular the medial orbitofrontal cortex and pars orbitalis. A trauma × depression interaction was observed for the right PFC in age-stratified analyses: Older D + T+ had reduced PFC thickness compared with older D − T+ individuals. Regardless of age, trauma was associated with more left medial orbitofrontal cortex efficiency and less pars orbitalis centrality. In the T+ group, left pars orbitalis cortical thickness and centrality negatively correlated with verbal learning. Conclusions Trauma, independent of depression, associated with altered PFC characteristics, morphologically and in terms of structural network communication and influence. Additionally, findings suggest that there may be a combined effect of trauma and depression in older adults. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structure of Supported and Unsupported Catalytic Rh Nanoparticles: Effects on Nucleation of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Achieving a better control of the nucleation and growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes requires understanding of the changes in the catalyst structure and the interfacial phenomena occurring at the solid surface and the gaseous phase from the early stages of the synthesis process. Carbon nanotubes produced by chemical vapor deposition typically use carbon-philic metal catalysts such as Fe, Ni, and Co, in which both surface C and dissolved C atoms contribute to the nanotube formation. We use density functional theory to investigate the interactions of Rh, a noble metal, with carbon both as individual atoms gradually deposited on the catalyst surface from the precursor gas decomposition and as a nucleating seed adhered to the catalyst. Adsorption and limited dissolution of carbon atoms in the subsurface are found to be favorable in unsupported clusters of various sizes (Rh38, Rh55, and Rh68) and in Rh32 clusters supported on MgO(100) and MgO(111) surfaces. Changes in solubility, electron density transfer...
Evaluating a decision analytic approach to climate change adaptation of cultural resources along the Atlantic Coast of the United States

Climate change poses some of the most significant risks for the preservation of coastal cultural resources or cultural heritage. As a result, more research is needed to facilitate the design and implementation of feasible and transparent adaptation strategies for cultural resources under changing climate conditions. In this paper, we begin to explore the challenges and opportunities that face cultural resource managers as they begin to grapple with climate change adaptation planning in dynamic coastal environments. Specifically, we provide an overview of a value-focused, decision-analytic approach that was applied in a pilot test of climate adaptation planning for buildings within designated historic districts on the barrier islands of Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina. We provide descriptions of the challenges that are uniquely facing cultural resource managers and initial evidence of the utility of this type of approach for informing judgments by presenting pre- and post-workshop survey data. Although additional research is critical to offer planning and policy guidance, we found that structured deliberations about cultural resource adaptation planning not only influenced participants’ opinions but also provided a necessary space to better understand the complexities of climate and budget uncertainties. Our evaluation is a first step at documenting the difficult and value-laden decisions that must be addressed by cultural resource managers as fiscal constraints and impending climate impacts threaten the traditional approach of preservation in perpetuity.
Increased expression of anti-oxidant molecule Thioredoxin-1 on T cells improves immunotherapeutic control of tumors (VAC7P.1039)

Adoptive transfer of tumor epitope reactive T cells is a promising strategy to control tumor growth. However, chronically stimulated T cells expanded for adoptive cell transfer (ACT) are susceptible to cells death in an oxidative tumor microenvironment. Since oxidation of cell surface thiols (c-SH) also alters functionality of proteins, we hypothesized that increased level of thioredoxin, an anti-oxidant molecule that facilitates reduction of proteins by cysteine thiol-disulfide exchange, in T cells will result in sustained anti-tumor function. We thus crossed Trx1 transgenic mice with gp100 reactive TCR (Pmel) to generate Pmel/Trx mice. The Trx overexpressing transgenic T cells expressed higher thiols that inversely correlated with ROS, and susceptibility to TCR restimulation or H 2 O 2 mediated cell death. These Trx1 expressing T cells showed CD62L hi central memory-like (T CM ) phenotype with reduced effector function (IFNg lo 2-NBDG lo ), and were less effective in controlling tumor upon adoptive transfer. However, adoptive transfer of Pmel cells mixed with Pmel/Trx1 cells in 1:1 ratio markedly improved tumor control as compared to the mice that were transferred Pmel or Pmel/Trx T cells alone. It is likely that Pmel immediate effectors and Pmel/Trx cells with T-stem cell memory phenotype (i.e. CD62L hi CD44 lo CD122 + Sca1 hi ), contributed to the improved tumor control. Thus, strategies to increase anti-oxidant capacity of anti-tumor T cells could have immunotherapeutic implications.
Social and Individual Influences on Tractor Operating Practices of Young Adult Agricultural Workers

Abstract Purpose Tractor-related incidents are the leading cause of agricultural-related fatalities in the United States. Injuries from rollovers can be prevented by equipping tractors with rollover protective structures (ROPS, an engineering approach) and by using seatbelts (a behavior-based approach). While adult farmers report low seatbelt use and frequent use of tractors without ROPS, it is unknown whether the young adult population has adopted similar tractor driving practices. This study was designed to identify tractor operating practices among young adult agricultural workers and the influence of supervisors, peers, and parents on their safety behaviors. Methods An online survey was conducted among college students enrolled in agricultural science classes in four Midwestern colleges and universities. Participants answered questions about their tractor operating practices, the influence of supervisors, peers, parents, and individual risk taking tendencies on their workplace practices. A tractor operation safety score was estimated from participants' responses. Linear regression was used to examine the association of these influences and the tractor operation safety score. Results Of the 193 respondents, most (78.8%) reported that they never or rarely wear a seatbelt when operating a tractor with a ROPS. Supervisory influences, such as being negatively evaluated by a supervisor, were found to be more strongly associated with tractor operating behaviors than peer or parent influence. Conclusions Young adult agricultural workers frequently reported unsafe tractor operating behaviors. Supervisors were found to have the most influence over reported behaviors of young adult agricultural workers.
Making Sense of the People’s Climate March: Towards an Aesthetic Approach to the Rhetoric of Social Protest

This essay contributes to participatory critical rhetoric (PCR) by offering a Rancierian aesthetic approach to the rhetoric of social protest at the 2014 People’s Climate March (PCM). Although the ...
Serpine1 Knockdown Enhances MMP Activity after Flexor Tendon Injury in Mice: Implications for Adhesions Therapy

Injuries to flexor tendons can be complicated by fibrotic adhesions, which severely impair the function of the hand. Adhesions have been associated with TGF-β1, which causes upregulation of PAI-1, a master suppressor of protease activity, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). In the present study, the effects of inhibiting PAI-1 in murine zone II flexor tendon injury were evaluated utilizing knockout (KO) mice and local nanoparticle-mediated siRNA delivery. In the PAI-1 KO murine model, reduced adherence of injured tendon to surrounding subcutaneous tissue and accelerated recovery of normal biomechanical properties compared to wild type controls were observed. Furthermore, MMP activity was significantly increased in the injured tendons of the PAI-1 KO mice, which could explain their reduced adhesions and accelerated remodeling. These data demonstrate that PAI-1 mediates fibrotic adhesions in injured flexor tendons by suppressing MMP activity. In vitro siRNA delivery to silence Serpine1 expression after treatment with TGF-β1 increased MMP activity. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of siRNA targeting Serpine1 in injured flexor tendons significantly reduced target gene expression and subsequently increased MMP activity. Collectively, the data demonstrate that PAI-1 can be a druggable target for treating adhesions and accelerating the remodeling of flexor tendon injuries.
A Two-Step Method for Obtaining Highly Pure Cas9 Nuclease for Genome Editing, Biophysical, and Structural Studies

Cas9 is a site-specific RNA-guided endonuclease (RGEN) that can be used for precise genome editing in various cell types from multiple species. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, which contains the Cas9 protein in complex with a guide RNA, are sufficient for the precise editing of genomes in various cells. This DNA-free method is more specific in editing the target sites and there is no integration of foreign DNA into the genome. Also, there are ongoing studies into the interactions of Cas9 protein with modified guide RNAs, as well as structure-activity studies of Cas9 protein and its variants. All these investigations require highly pure Cas9 protein. A single-step metal affinity enrichment yielding impure Cas9 is the most common method of purification described. This is sufficient for many gene editing applications of this protein. However, to obtain Cas9 of higher purity, which might be essential for biophysical characterization, chemical modifications, and structural investigations, laborious multi-step protocols are employed. Here, we describe a two-step Cas9 purification protocol that uses metal affinity enrichment followed by cation exchange chromatography. This simple method can yield a milligram of highly pure Cas9 protein per liter of culture in a single day.
Wavelets for Computer-Aided Diagnosis in Radiographic Images

Computer-vision techniques based on wavelets are presented with applications to computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) in medical images. CAD is a method for assisting radiologists’ interpretation of medical images. CAD schemes act as a second reader and alert radiologists to suspicious lesions. Development of CAD schemes is an active area of research, motivated by the fact that radiologists tend to misdiagnose cancerous lesions in medical images. In the past several years, we have been extensively developing wavelet-based techniques for CAD schemes. Development of these techniques has led to a new CAD scheme and has yielded significant improvements in the performance of the existing CAD schemes. This chapter describes two wavelet-based, low-level computer vision techniques: simultaneous segmentation and registration, and matching pursuit with optimally weighted wavelet packets. We present their application to the computer-aided detection of lung nodules in chest radiographs and microcalcifications in mammograms.
Neutrophils do not bind to or phagocytize human immune complexes formed with influenza virus.

Neutrophils appear to form the first line of defense against influenza virus, yet it is unclear how these leukocytes recognize influenza- infected cells. While demonstrating that neutrophils adhere specifically to the sialic acid-binding site on the hemagglutinin molecule (HA) on the surface of influenza-infected (WSN[H1N1]) epithelial cells and not to other viral or epithelial cell antigens, it was observed that human neutrophils do not recognize immune complexes formed with influenza virus. Intact antibodies (mouse monoclonal antibodies [MoAbs] IgG1 and IgG2b, human immune heat-inactivated serum [predominantly IgG1], and IgG purified from human immune serum) that block the sialic acid-binding site on HA significantly reduced (> 80%) neutrophil adherence to influenza-infected epithelial cells. Binding and phagocytosis of free influenza virions and neutrophil agglutination by influenza virus were completely prevented by these antibodies. Intact and F(ab')2 fragments of mouse MoAbs to other viral epitopes caused increased neutrophil adherence to infected cells. This binding was eliminated by F(ab'2) fragments of MoAbs against the sialic acid- binding site on HA, but not by saturating amounts of MoAbs, which block the neutrophil Fc receptors. Thus, it appears that human neutrophils show little ability to bind via their Fc receptors to the immune complexes formed with antibody and either influenza-infected epithelial cells or the free virion. These findings are in contrast to the general dogma, and are the first example of antibody opsonization reducing, rather than enhancing, neutrophil binding and phagocytosis of a pathogen.
„Teachers’ Beliefs“: Überzeugungen von (Grundschul-) Lehrkräften über Schüler und Schülerinnen mit Migrationshintergrund – Theoretische Konzeption und empirische Überprüfung

Der Zusammenhang von professionellem Lehrerhandeln und Schulerleistungen wird heute vor allem unter dem Prozess-Produkt-Paradigma und dem Expertenansatz diskutiert. Ersteres untersucht den systematischen Zusammenhang zwischen Merkmalen des Unterrichts und Schulerleistungen. Letzteres definiert Lehrkrafte als kompetente Fachleute, die Experten fur guten Unterricht sind. Dabei steht die Frage nach dem optimalen berufsbezogenen Handeln von Lehrkraften im Vordergrund. Dieses Handeln beruht nicht auf Personlichkeitsmerkmalen, wie das im Personlichkeitsparadigma diskutiert wurde, sondern auf Wissensbestanden und daraus resultierendem Konnen. Lehrer verfugen demnach uber spezifisches, erfahrungsgesattigtes deklaratives und prozedurales Wissen, das sich in verschiedene Wissensdomanen unterscheiden lasst.
Longitudinal Health Outcomes and Treatment Utilization Among Emerging, Early-Mid, and Older Rural Adults Using Stimulants

There is limited knowledge about age-related differences in health outcomes and treatment utilization among rural stimulant users. The current study examined physical health, mental health, and treatment utilization (hospital, mental health, and substance use care) among 710 stimulant users living in rural areas of the United States. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine associations between age and physical health, mental health, and treatment utilization over a 3-year period. Analyses controlled for participants’ gender, race, and education. To capture age-related differences, participants were grouped into emerging adults (18–25 years old, n = 223), early-mid adults (26–44 years old; n = 384), and older adults (45–61 years old; n = 103). At baseline, older stimulant users were in significantly poorer health even though they had significantly fewer substance use problems than emerging adult users. GEE models indicated that substance use outcomes improved for all participants over the course of the study but other outcomes remained stable. Older stimulant users continued to have worse physical health and mental health, even though they had fewer substance use problems, than the other age groups. Older adults also used more hospital and mental health services than the other age groups. White participants tended to be at higher risk for negative outcomes than nonwhite participants. We conclude that rural older adults who use stimulants have poor health despite having milder substance use problems and using more health care resources, and need targeted intervention to improve health outcomes.
A dual-functional wave-power plant for wave-energy extraction and shore protection: A wave-flume study

Abstract The fundamental roadblock toward commercial-scale wave power operations is cost. The main objective of this work was to address the cost challenge facing wave energy commercialization through cost-sharing with pile breakwaters to be built for shore protection. This was achieved in this study through a dual-functional wave-power plant for generation of wave-power electricity and protection against coastal erosion for sustainable coastal development. The dual-functional wave-power plant was formed by integrating oscillating-water-column (OWC) devices into a pile breakwater, with each pile being an OWC-pile equipped with a power take-off device. The power extraction efficiency and hydrodynamic characteristics of the dual-functional wave-power plant were measured in a wave flume under various wave conditions. An orifice was used at the top of the pneumatic chamber of each OWC-pile to simulate the power take-off device. To evaluate the performance of the power plant in wave power extraction and shore protection, the surface elevation and pressure inside the OWC chamber, as well as the scattered waves, were measured. It was found that comparing to a standalone OWC-pile device with an identical design and geometric characteristics, an OWC-pile in the dual-functional wave-power plant could achieve significantly larger power-extraction efficiency. Comparing to a pile breakwater with the same dimensions, the wave transmission and reflection of the dual-functional wave-power plant were both weaker, especially the wave reflection, which is beneficial for structure safety and shore protection. Based on the Froude’s law of similarity and an estimation of the effect of air compressibility at full scale, an evaluation of the performance of a dual-functional wave-power plant at full scale was also provided. The findings of this work promote close collaboration between wave-energy utilization community and the shore-protection community for commercial-scale deployment of wave energy converters and contribute to making wave energy economically competitive.
Nuts and Bolts of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become the leading cause of nosocomial infection in the United States with significant risk of both morbidity and mortality. While antimicrobial therapy forms the basis of treatment, there are several clinical scenarios in which antimicrobial therapy alone is insufficient. Evidence continues to show the safety and efficacy fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in recurrent and severe CDI. This review will outline FMT efficacy, safety, and indications and present practical advice for clinicians interested in best practices around delivery of FMT.