cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3-Trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) Control of Tadpoles in Culture Ponds

Abstract In definitive 96-hour toxicity tests, the LC50 for TFM to small bullfrog larvae was 1.39 mg/L compared to 5.50 mg/L for fathead minnows. Also, the 96-hour LC90 for TFM to bullfrog tadpoles was 2.31 mg/L and the LC10 for TFM to fathead minnows was 3.40 mg/L. On-site toxicity tests in three ponds using containers filled with pond water demonstrated that large and small bullfrog and green frog (R. clamitans) larvae were more sensitive to TFM than fathead minnows or bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus).
Characterization of a Baculovirus-Encoded ATP-Dependent DNA Ligase

Sequence analysis of the Lymantria dispar multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) genome identified an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 548-amino-acid (62-kDa) protein that showed 35% amino acid sequence identity with vaccinia virus ATP-dependent DNA ligase. Ligase homologs have not been reported from other baculoviruses. The ligase ORF was cloned and expressed as an N-terminal histidine-tagged fusion protein. Incubation of the purified protein with [alpha-32P]ATP resulted in formation of a covalent enzyme-adenylate intermediate which ran as a 62-kDa labeled band on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. Loss of the radiolabeled band occurred upon incubation of the intermediate with pyrophosphate, poly(dA) . poly(dT)12-18, or poly(rA) . poly(dT)12-18, characteristics of a DNA ligase II or III. The protein was able to ligate a double-stranded synthetic DNA substrate containing a single nick and inefficiently ligated a 1-nucleotide (nt) gap but did not ligate a 2-nt gap. It was able to ligate short, complementary overhangs but not blunt-ended double-stranded DNA. In a transient DNA replication assay employing six plasmids containing the LdMNPV homologs of the essential baculovirus replication genes, a plasmid containing the DNA ligase gene was neither essential nor stimulatory. All of these results are consistent with the activity of type III DNA ligases, which have been implicated in DNA repair and recombination.
Modeling dynamic interaction between an emerging water droplet and the sidewall of a trapezoidal channel

Abstract Water droplet–sidewall interactions at the corner of the two walls of different surface energies are a significant problem from a fundamental perspective. Such conditions are encountered in many diverse applications. In proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), removal of water droplets emerging from the base of a horizontal gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the gas channel has been a major issue from water management perspective. Recent studies have provided valuable understanding on the water droplet behavior near the GDL/sidewall corner. Two distinct behaviors of filling and non-filling of the gas channel corners were observed by the previous investigators when the emerging droplet interacted with the sidewall. However, authors’ group also observed a new condition, droplet jumping to the sidewall under specific combinations of the corner angle, and the base and sidewall contact angles. The focus of the present work is to gain a fundamental understanding of the droplet–sidewall interactions in terms of the droplet jumping, corner filling, and non-filling behaviors without airflow. This work is complemented with an experimental study by varying the location of the droplet emergence, the corner angle, and the surface energies of the walls.
Site of Action of Acute Alcohol Administration in Stimulating the Rat Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis: Comparison between the Effect of Systemic and Intracerebroventricular Injection of this Drug on Pituitary and Hypothalamic Responses

The peripheral injection of alcohol stimulates the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but the ready penetration of this drug in most bodily compartments has made it difficult to identify its specific sites of action. Here we determined whether alcohol can directly influence the corticotropes. We first determined whether alcohol acted within the brain to stimulate neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, which synthesizes corticotropinreleasing factor (CRF) and vasopressin (VP). To test this hypothesis, we injected alcohol intracerebroventricularly (icv; 5 l of 200-proof; 86 mol) and compared these results with those obtained after its ip administration (3.0 g/kg). Although not causing neuronal damage and not leading to detectable levels of the drug in the general circulation, icv alcohol significantly up-regulated PVN CRF heteronuclear RNA levels and increased plasma ACTH levels, a change comparable to the one observed in the ip model. To determine whether alcohol stimulated the corticotropes independently of CRF and/or VP, we injected the drug ip or icv and measured changes in anterior pituitary proopiomelanocortin (POMC) transcripts and ACTH release in the presence or absence of endogenous CRF and/or VP. Intracerebroventricular and ip alcohol significantly increased POMC primary transcript levels, measured by ribonuclease protection assay, over a timecourse that corresponded to ACTH release. Both the POMC and the ACTH responses were completely abolished by removal of CRF and VP. Collectively, these results indicate that alcohol-induced activation of the corticotropes does not represent a direct influence of the drug on the pituitary but requires CRF and VP. (Endocrinology 145: 4470 – 4479, 2004)
The adaptive significance of amphistomatic leaves

Abstract A clear correlation between the presence of stomata on both surfaces and factors such as habitat, growth form, and physiology has yet to emerge in the literature. However, certain loose trends with these factors are evident, and these are reviewed along with evidence for hypostomaty as the primitive form. It is proposed that the effect of developing stomata on the upper surface as well as the lower is to increase maximum leaf conductance to CO2. Plants with a high photosynthetic capacity, living in full-sun environments, and experiencing rapidly fluctuating or continuously available soil water (as opposed to seasonal or long-term soil water depletion), are identified as deriving an adaptive advantage from a high maximum leaf conductance. The correlation between groups of plants fitting the above conditions and those noted to be amphistomatic is remarkable. Plants not fitting the conditions are found to be largely hypostomatic.
Dissociation Between Intrahepatic Triglyceride Content and Insulin Resistance in Familial Hypobetalipoproteinemia

Background & Aims Hepatic steatosis is associated with insulin resistance, but it is not clear whether increased intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content causes the resistance or is a marker. Subjects with familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL) have high levels of IHTG because of a genetic defect in hepatic export of triglycerides, and provide a unique cohort to study the relationship between steatosis and insulin sensitivity. Methods One group of lean subjects with normal IHTG content (2.2% ± 0.6% of liver volume) (n = 6), and 3 groups of overweight and obese subjects matched for body mass index, were studied: (1) normal IHTG content (3.3% ± 0.5%; n=6), (2) high IHTG content (21.4% ± 2.6%) due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; n=6), and (3) high IHTG content (18.1% ± 2.2%) due to FHBL (n = 3). A hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp procedure, in conjunction with glucose tracer infusion, was used to determine multiorgan insulin sensitivity. Results Hepatic insulin sensitivity (reciprocal of glucose rate of appearance [μmol · kg fat-free mass −1 · min −1 ] × insulin [mU/L]) was greatest in the Lean group (2.0 ± 0.4); it was the same among subjects with FHBL (0.8 ± 0.1) and the group with normal IHTG content, matched for body mass index (0.7 ± 0.1), but greater than the NAFLD group (0.3 ± 0.1) ( P P Conclusions Steatosis is dissociated from insulin resistance in FHBL, which suggests that increased IHTG content is a marker, not a cause, of metabolic dysfunction.
Open-mindedness, Critical Thinking, and Indoctrination: Homage to William Hare

William Hare has made fundamental contributions to philosophy of education. Among the most important of these contributions is his hugely important work on open-mindedness. In this paper I explore the several relationships that exist between Hare’s favored educational ideal (open-mindedness) and my own (critical thinking). I argue that while both are of central importance, it is the latter that is the more fundamental of the two.
A Case for Regulatory B Cells

B cells are typically characterized by their ability to produce Abs, including autoantibodies. However, B cells possess additional immune functions, including the production of cytokines and the ability to function as a secondary APC. As with T cells, the B cell population contains functionally distinct subsets capable of performing both pathogenic and regulatory functions. Recent studies indicate that regulatory B cells develop in several murine models of chronic inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The regulatory function may be directly accomplished by the production of regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-beta and/or by the ability of B cells to interact with pathogenic T cells to dampen harmful immune responses. In this review, we make a case for the existence of regulatory B cells and discuss the possible developmental pathways and functional mechanisms of these B cells.
Routledge offers Syrian Studies Association members 20% discount

Routledge has established a 20% discount for Syrian Studies Association members, valid until December 30.
Stochastic Models For Enhancing Agility of Supply Chains

This paper deals with application of the stochastic inventory model to the three-tier supply chain and verifying the values obtained by mathematical model in physical simulation. We investigate three-stage serial supply chain with stochastic demand and fixed replenishment lead-time. Inventory holding costs are charged at each stage, and each stage may incur a consumer backorder penalty cost charged by primary supplier to secondary supplier. The customer-demand follows Poisson distribution. We implement Base Stock model for inventory control at both suppliers. Physical simulation is then designed such a way that it satisfies all the assumptions for mathematical model. Simulation is run to verify the values obtained from mathematical model.
Path planning for a tethered robot using Multi-Heuristic A* with topology-based heuristics

In this paper, we solve the path planning problem for a tethered mobile robot, which is connected to a fixed base by a cable of length L. The reachable space of the robot is restricted by the length of the cable and obstacles. The reachable space of the tethered robot can be computed by considering the topology class of the cable. However, it is computationally too expensive to compute this space a-priori. Instead, in this paper, we show how we can plan using a recently-developed variant of A* search, called Multi-Heuristic A*. Normally, the Multi-Heuristic A* algorithm takes in a fixed set of heuristic functions. In our problem, however, the heuristics represent length of paths to the goal along different topology classes, and there can be too many of them and not all the topology classes are useful. To deal with this, we adapt Multi-Heuristic A* to work with a dynamically generated set of heuristic functions. It starts out as a normal weighted A*. Whenever the search gets trapped in a local minimum, we find the proper topology class of the path to escape from it and add the corresponding new heuristic function into the set of heuristic functions considered by the search. We present experimental analysis comparing our approach with weighted A* on planning for a tethered robot in simulation.
Electrochemical Synthesis and Processing of Materials: From Fractal Electrodes to Epitaxial Thin Films

Electrochemical processes hold great promise as flexible and effective tools for synthesis and processing of a wide range of materials from fractal electrodes to epitaxial nanostructures. The key to successful application of electrochemical techniques is in understanding the kinetic processes which control the evolution and the morphology of the surface at the solid-liquid interface. This paper provides a review of recent advances made by different electrochemical communities in recent years in studies of the growth and modification of a wide variety of materials. The topics covered include studies of pattern formation and growth of dendritic and fractal structures in electrode-position, kinetic roughening and dynamic scaling of surfaces fluctuations during electrochemical deposition and dissolution, as well as recent progress in electrochemical growth of epitaxial layers and nanostructures.
Noninfectious respiratory disease in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Pregnancy increases the risk of many noninfectious respiratory conditions. OBJECTIVE To review the clinical presentation and management of a variety of noninfectious respiratory conditions in pregnant women. SUMMARY Asthma, aspiration pneumonia, venous air embolism, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and deep venous thrombosis may have unique features in pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS Evaluation and treatment of these diseases and conditions requires an understanding of the normal physiologic alterations that accompany pregnancy and an awareness of the risks of medication use during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Pregnancy heightens the risk of some noninfectious respiratory conditions. The clinical presentation and management of seven conditions seen in pregnancy are reviewed.
On the Multi-GPU Computing of a Reconstructed Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Compressible Flows on 3D Hybrid Grids

A multi-GPU accelerated, third-order, reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method, namely RDG(P1P2), has been developed based on the OpenACC directives for compressible flows on 3D hybrid grids. The present scheme requires minimum intrusion and algorithm alteration to an existing CPU code, which renders an efficient design approach for upgrading a legacy CFD solver with the GPU-computing capability while maintaining its portability across multiple platforms. The grid partitioning is performed according to the number of GPUs, and loaded equally on each GPU. Communication between the GPUs is achieved via the host-based MPI. A face renumbering and grouping algorithm is used to eliminate memory contention due to vectorized computing over the face loops on each individual GPU. A series of inviscid and viscous flow problems have been presented for the verification and scaling test, demonstrating excellent scalability of the resulting GPU code. The numerical results indicate that this parallel RDG(P1P2) method is a cost-effective, high-order DG method for scalable computing on GPU clusters.
Wide-field Time Resolved Optical Tomography

We have developed a wide-field time resolved optical imager for pre-clicinal studies. We will present the imaging platform, associated Monte Carlo based reconstruction algorithms and their applications to FRET imaging in vivo. Article not available.
Abstract 2264: K-ras mutations in colorectal cancer may predict a pattern of organ-specific metastasis

Background: Activating mutations of the K-ras oncogene in colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with resistance to EGFR antibodies and poor prognosis. We systematically analyzed clinical and pathological characteristics associated with K-ras mutations. Methods: Patients with CRC referred to the phase I program for targeted therapy were analyzed for K-ras mutations using PCR-based DNA sequencing. Patients with mutant K-ras were matched with wild-type (wt) K-ras controls. Multiple clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed to determine, whether there is a phenotype associated with K-ras mutations. Results: A total of 151 patients with CRC were identified; 61 with K-ras mutations; 80 with wt K-ras and 10 with unknown K-ras status. Patients with K-ras mutations compared with wt K-ras had more frequently lung metastases (80% vs. 63%, p = 0.03). Patients whose tumors had K-ras mutations had higher number of metastatic sites of disease (3.18 vs. 2.65; p = 0.013). There were no associations between K-ras mutations and gender, age at diagnosis, liver metastases, peritoneal metastases, lymphatic involvement or Duke stage at diagnose. Patients with K-ras wt had a trend for longer median survival (283 vs. 222 weeks, p=0.09). There was no difference in the median survival from diagnosis in patients with different types of K-ras mutations (codon 12, codon 13, and codon 61). Dukes staging was the only statistically significant prognostic factor on multivariate analysis (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2264. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2264
Dependency and World‐Systems Theories

This entry is an overview of the intellectual history of dependency theory and the world-systems perspective and a brief presentation of the main ideas in these approaches to understanding human social change. Keywords: capitalism; colonialism; comparative and historical sociology; evolution; geopolitics
Face and content validation of a Virtual Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery Trainer (VTEST

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an emerging surgical paradigm, where peritoneal access is achieved through one of the natural orifices of the body. It is being reported as a safe and feasible surgical technique with significantly reduced external scarring. Virtual Translumenal Endoscopic Surgical Trainer (VTEST™) is the first virtual reality simulator for the NOTES. The VTEST™ simulator was developed to train surgeons in the hybrid transvaginal NOTES cholecystectomy procedure. The initial version of the VTEST™ simulator underwent face validation at the 2013 Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research (NOSCAR) summit. Several areas of improvement were identified as a result, and the corresponding modifications were implemented in the simulator. This manuscript outlines the results of the subsequent evaluation study, performed in order to assess the face and content validity of the latest VTEST™ simulator. Twelve subjects participated in an institutional review board-approved study that took place at the 2014 NOSCAR summit. Six of the 12 subjects, who are experts with NOTES experience, were used for face and content validation. The subjects performed the hybrid transvaginal NOTES cholecystectomy procedure on VTEST™ that included identifying the Calot’s triangle, clipping and cutting the cystic duct/artery, and detaching the gallbladder. The subjects then answered five-point Likert scale feedback questionnaires for face and content validity. Overall, subjects rated 12/15 questions as 3.0 or greater (60 %), for face validity questions regarding the realism of the anatomical features, interface, and the tasks. Subjects also highly rated the usefulness of the simulator in learning the fundamental NOTES technical skills (3.50 ± 0.84). Content validity results indicate a high level of usefulness of the VTEST™ for training prior to operating room experience (4.17 ± 0.75).
Genetic factors in the development of alcoholism.

For many years, it has been known that alcoholism runs in families. However, only in the past two decades has evidence been obtained that heredity may play a role. Twin studies, although somewhat inconsistent, nevertheless point to a genetic factor. Adoption studies also suggest a genetic predisposition to alcoholism in some individuals.
Treatment and diagnosis of congenital fourth nerve palsies: an update.

Purpose of review This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of congenital fourth nerve palsies. Recent findings High-definition MRI, which can now more accurately image the trochlear nerve, has increased our understanding of the pathology of fourth nerve palsies. A more sensitive two-step test is proposed to replace the three-step Parks-Bielschowsky test. Procedures strengthening the superior oblique tendon can be performed with a low incidence of secondary Brown syndrome. Summary Recent MRI studies have shown two pathological mechanisms associated with congenital superior oblique palsies. Superior oblique tuck combined with inferior oblique recession is a very effective way of eliminating head tilt secondary to congenital fourth nerve palsies.
A revisited phylogeography of Nautilus pompilius

The cephalopod genus Nautilus is considered a "living fossil" with a contested number of extant and extinct species, and a benthic lifestyle that limits movement of animals between isolated seamounts and landmasses in the Indo-Pacific. Nautiluses are fished for their shells, most heavily in the Philippines, and these fisheries have little monitoring or regulation. Here, we evaluate the hypothesis that multiple species of Nautilus (e.g., N. belauensis, N. repertus and N. stenomphalus) are in fact one species with a diverse phenotypic and geologic range. Using mitochondrial markers, we show that nautiluses from the Philippines, eastern Australia (Great Barrier Reef), Vanuatu, American Samoa, and Fiji fall into distinct geographical clades. For phylogenetic analysis of species complexes across the range of nautilus, we included sequences of Nautilus pompilius and other Nautilus species from GenBank from localities sampled in this study and others. We found that specimens from Western Australia cluster with samples from the Philippines, suggesting that interbreeding may be occurring between those locations, or that there is limited genetic drift due to large effective population sizes. Intriguingly, our data also show that nautilus identified in other studies as N. belauensis, N. stenomphalus, or N. repertus are likely N. pompilius displaying a diversity of morphological characters, suggesting that there is significant phenotypic plasticity within N. pompilius.
The Burden of Pediatric Encephalitis in the United States

Investigators from the University of Maryland, University of Colorado, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital studied the epidemiology, management and resource utilization of children admitted to hospitals in the United States with encephalitis.
Studies of Coronavirus DI RNA Replication Using In Vitro Constructed DI cDNA Clones

Sequence analysis of an intracellular defective-interfering (DI) RNA, DIssE, of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) revealed that it is composed of three noncontiguous genomic regions, representing the first 864 nucleotides of the 5′-end, an internal 748 nucleotides of the polymerase gene, and 601 nucleotides from the 3′-end of the parental MHV genome. DIssE had three base substitutions within the leader sequence and also a deletion of nine nucleotides located at the junction of the leader and the remaining genomic sequence. A system was developed for generating DI RNAs to study the mechanism of MHV RNA replication. A cDNA copy of DIssE RNA was placed downstream of T7 RNA polymerase promoter to generate DI RNAs capable of extremely efficient replication in the presence of a helper virus. We demonstrated that, in the DI RNA-transfected cells, the leader sequence of these DI RNAs was switched to that of the helper virus during one round of replication. This high-frequency leader sequence exchange was not observed if a nine-nucleotide stretch at the junction between the leader and the remaining DI sequence was deleted. This observation suggests that a free leader RNA is utilized for the replication of MHV RNA.
Effects of Donor Breastmilk Feeding on Growth and Early Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants: An Observational Study.

Purpose Donor breastmilk (DBM) has gained popularity as an alternative to formula when mother's own milk (MOM) is unavailable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a predominantly DBM diet on growth and subsequent neurodevelopment in preterm infants at a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods This single-center, observational cohort study compared data from preterm infants supplemented with predominantly (>50%) DBM to those from age- and weight-matched infants fed only MOM or supplemented with predominantly (>50%) preterm formula (PF). The primary outcome was in-hospital weight gain, and the secondary outcome was neurodevelopment, as assessed by the Bayley III scale at 1 and 2 years’ corrected age. Exclusion criteria were major congenital defects, death prior to discharge from the NICU, or supplementation volumes of <50% over the first month of life. We compared the outcomes among the 3 feeding groups with the χ test, ANOVA, and ANCOVA, with post hoc pairwise comparisons after adjustment for the following confounders: bronchopulmonary dysplasia, multiple births, and social work involvement. Findings In the entire cohort, the mean gestational age was 27.1 weeks and the mean birthweight was 914 g. The DBM (n = 27) and PF (n = 25) groups were similar with regard to socioeconomic characteristics. DBM infants regained birthweight more slowly over the first month of life compared with infants fed MOM (n = 29) or PF (mean [SD], 17.9 [5.7], 22.0 [6.8], and 20.3 [5.7] g/kg/d, respectively; P = 0.05); however, this growth difference was attenuated at later time points. In a fully adjusted model, the DBM group scored significantly lower in cognition at both 1 year (P = 0.005) and 2 years (P = 0.03) of age compared with the infants fed non-DBM diets. Implications The findings from this study suggest that in this NICU, preterm infants supplemented with predominantly DBM had compromised early in-hospital weight gain and, possibly, early cognitive delays compared with infants fed only MOM or infants supplemented with predominantly PF. These findings reinforce the need for further research on the optimal use of DBM in the preterm population and a continued need for promoting breastfeeding efforts to supply MOM.
Do Social Interactions Communicate or Garble Information? Evidence from Equity Analysts

We examine whether social interactions among local peers, defined as analysts working in the same brokerage office who cover different firms headquartered in the same area, communicate or garble information. We find that analysts with local peers produce more accurate earnings forecasts and their forecast revisions generate stronger stock market responses. Their forecasts are less optimistically biased and less affected by common errors in consensus forecasts. We also find that geographic momentum in stock returns is weaker when firms are followed by analysts with local peers, and that analysts are more likely to initiate coverage of firms with more local peers. These findings indicate that social interactions among local peer analysts can transmit useful information.
Phase, hardness, and deformation slip behavior in mixed HfxTa1-xC

Abstract A series of HfxTa1-xC atomic compositions, where x = 0.0, 0.13, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.83, and 1.0, were computationally and experimentally studied in terms of their phase, hardness, and dislocation emission behavior. Using an ab initio evolutionary algorithm, the B1 rocksalt structure was found to be the 0 K ground state phase for the binary carbides whereas the ternary compounds were a mixture of metal-site ordered monoclinic, trigonal, and cubic structures. However, all experimental carbides were found to exhibit a B1 structure, with two B1 phases forming for Hf-rich ternary compositions. A modest rise in the elastic constant computationally predicted hardness was found with experimental mean values showing a similar trend from nanoindentation tests. With the presence of Ta, even in small amounts, in the Hf-rich ternary compositions, {111} slip was observed which is a change from the reported {110} slip for HfC. This change is explained by the promotion of an intrinsic stacking fault in the {111} planes.
Digoxin use in systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis: contra-indicated or cautious use?

Aim: Digoxin is considered contraindicated in light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, given reports of increased toxicity published 30–50 years ago. We sought to determine the frequency of digoxin toxicity i...
Personality, High-Risk Behaviors, and Elevated Risk of Unintentional Deaths Related to Drug Poisoning Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE To identify risk and protective factors for unintentional death related to drug poisoning from prescription medications, including opioid-related deaths, and death due to all other causes among participants with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Large specialty hospital in the southeastern United States. PARTICIPANTS Two cohorts of SCI participants (N=3070) (>18y) with chronic (>1y) traumatic SCI. Cohort 1 was enrolled in 1997-1998 (n=1386), and cohort 2 was enrolled in 2007-2009 (n=1684). INTERVENTIONS N/A. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Participants completed self-report assessments including multiple behavioral variables (alcohol, smoking, prescription medication), as well as the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ). The primary outcome is unintentional death related to drug poisoning. Mortality status was determined as of December 31, 2014, using the National Death Index. The Centers for Disease Control guidelines were used for classifying participants into 3 groups: (1) unintentional death related to drug poisoning, (2) other death, and (3) alive. RESULTS There were 690 deaths (23%), including 24 unintentional deaths related to drug poisoning (11 from opioids). Binge drinking, medication usage total score, and impulsive-sensation seeking were risk factors for unintentional death related to drug poisoning, whereas the ZKPQ activity scale was protective. Risk factors for other causes of death included older age, greater injury severity, being nonambulatory, regular smoker, medication use total score, and greater neuroticism-anxiety scale scores. CONCLUSIONS Unintentional deaths related to prescription drug overdose are associated with a set of risk factors that differs in meaningful ways from risk of death due to other causes after SCI, and these differences hold the key to prevention strategies.
Preclinical models of vascular inflammation

As inflammation is becoming increasingly viewed as a major and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, longstanding models of atherosclerosis and vascular injury must now be evaluated in the context of those pathological features that develop in response to inflammation. It is quite possible that our understanding of existing therapies is about to change dramatically, when the concept of vascular inflammation is overlaid onto the progression of cardiovascular disease. Perhaps an agent as old as aspirin with its bona fide benefit in cardiovascular disease will experience a shift in the attribution of its pharmacological effects, where the anti-inflammatory effects become equally important for cardiovascular disease as the effects on platelet cyclooxygenase.
Characterizing Micro- and Nano-Materials Based on Their Ultrasonic Dispersion Properties: A Feasibility Study

Current methods for characterizing micro- and nano-scale materials (typically based on laser spectroscopy and xray diffraction) are expensive, slow, bulky, and cannot be applied in situ. In contrast with these approaches, this paper explores the use of ultrasonic transduction as an inexpensive tool for in situ material characterization at the micro- and nano-scale. Specifically, we present a technique for characterizing materials based on the analysis of ultrasonic dispersion (i.e., the frequency-dependent wavenumbers) of thin films. Through experimental and simulation results, we perform our technique with silicon and a piezoelectric stack consisting of silicon, molybdenum and aluminum nitride. Simulations are performed in COMSOL Multiphysics. Experimental data is collected from a piezoelectrically transduced nano-acoustic waveguide using a digital holographic microscope, which enables high-resolution measurement of displacement vector over extended regions. Our results demonstrate a near-match between the experimental data and simulations, validating our proposed characterization methodology.
One Way That Meaning Is Created: A Phenomenology of Meaningful Events for Young Adults:

In this qualitative study, six college-age participants (three male and three females) provided written and narrative accounts about an event in their lives they found to be personally meaningful. ...
Abstract 007: Athero-protective Flow Regulation of ITPR3: an Epigenetic Approach

Background: The topographic distribution of atherosclerosis in human vasculature underscores the role of shear stress in regulating gene expression and function in the endothelium. Recent advances ...
Clostridioides difficile SinR' regulates toxin, sporulation and motility through protein-protein interaction with SinR.

Abstract Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium. It is known that C. difficile is one of the major causes of antibiotic associated diarrhea. The enhanced antibiotic resistance observed in C. difficile is the result of highly resistant spores produced by the bacterium. In Bacillus subtilis, the sin operon is involved in sporulation inhibition. Two proteins coded within this operon, SinR and SinI, have an antagonistic relationship; SinR acts as an inhibitor to sporulation whereas SinI represses the activity of SinR, thus allowing the bacterium to sporulate. In a previous study, we examined the sin locus in C. difficile and named the two genes associated with this operon sinR and sinR′, analogous to sinR and sinI in B. subtilis, respectively. We have shown that SinR and SinR′ have pleiotropic roles in pathogenesis pathways and interact antagonistically with each other. Unlike B. subtilis SinI, SinR′ in C. difficile carries two domains: the HTH domain and the Multimerization Domain (MD). In this study, we first performed a GST Pull-down experiment to determine the domain within SinR′ that interacts with SinR. Second, the effect of these two domains on three phenotypes; sporulation, motility, and toxin production was examined. The findings of this study confirmed the prediction that the Multimerization Domain (MD) of SinR′ is responsible for the interaction between SinR and SinR’. It was also discovered that SinR’ regulates sporulation, toxin production and motility primarily by inhibiting SinR activity through the Multimerization Domain (MD).
Raster charting products in an ENC-first era

Abstract. Nautical charts are an essential tool for marine navigation. Despite the introduction of global positioning systems (GPS) and electronic navigational tools that present navigation data in a vector format on a display, paper charts are still the preferred choice for many mariners. Interestingly, since the introduction of Electronic Navigation Charts (ENCs) more than thirty years ago, the size of commercial vessels has increased more than four-fold, modern navigational systems have become more sophisticated, and recreational boaters have joined professional mariners in using electronic chart displays. Marine and coastal users of all types are expecting higher resolution and more precision in location of the charted features, and shorter update times for data sources to be published on the chart. With NOAA’s new plan to “standardized, consistent gridded framework” that is optimized for digital displays, it leaves the future of paper charts in question. In order to support a raster-based maintenance system, it is now possible to translate encoding attributes of vector objects into standardized chart symbols and labels. Thus, simplifying workflow processes for paper and raster chart production. This paper discusses NOAA Marine Chart Division’s raster workflow in an ENC-first production line. The paper reviews the benefits of the new desktop tools and web-services for providing chart updates in a timely manner for a broader community.
Effects of cancer history on functional age and mortality

Background Cancer, its treatment, and associated adverse effects may accelerate the functional aging of cancer survivors. In the current study, the authors used geriatric assessment (GA) to compare the functional age of long-term cancer survivors with that of similarly aged women without a cancer history, and to examine whether functional age influences all-cause mortality differently between these 2 groups. Methods Participants included 1723 cancer survivors and 11,145 age-matched, cancer-free women enrolled in the Iowa Women's Health Study in 1986 who completed the 2004 questionnaire (at ages 73-88 years). GA domain deficits included ≥2 physical function limitations, ≥2 comorbidities, poor general health, poor mental health, and underweight. The risk of all-cause mortality was estimated for deficits in each GA domain between 4 groups based on the cross-classification of the presence and/or absence of cancer history and GA domain deficit (the referent group was cancer-free women without a GA deficit). Results Both cancer history and GA domain deficits significantly predicted 10-year mortality for all GA domains. Cancer survivors without deficits had a 1.3-fold to 1.4-fold risk of mortality, similar to the 1.1-fold to 1.7-fold risk noted among cancer-free women with deficits (all P Conclusions Even without GA deficits, cancer survivors appear to have an excess risk of death compared with women without cancer, and these deficits add to mortality risk. Interventions are needed to maintain or improve functional/physiological capacity as women age, especially in cancer survivors.
Opportunities to Improve a Mobile Obesity Wellness Intervention for Rural Older Adults with Obesity

Older adults with obesity are at a high risk of decline, particularly in rural areas. Our study objective was to gain insights into how a potential Mobile Health Obesity Wellness Intervention (MOWI) in rural older adults with obesity, consisting of nutrition and exercise sessions, could be helpful to improve physical function. A qualitative methods study was conducted in a rural community, community-based aging center. Four community leaders, 7 clinicians and 29 patient participants underwent focus groups and semi-structured interviews. All participants had a favorable view of MOWI and saw its potential to improve health and create accountability. Participants noted that MOWI could overcome geographic barriers and provided feedback about components that could improve implementation. There was expressed enthusiasm over its potential to improve health. The use of technology in older adults with obesity in rural areas has considerable promise. There is potential that this intervention could potentially extend to distant areas in rural America that can surmount accessibility barriers. If successful, this intervention could potentially alter healthcare delivery by enhancing health promotion in a remote, geographically constrained communities. MOWI has the potential to reach older adults with obesity using novel methods in geographically isolated regions.
Peer Review, Peer Education, and Modeling in the Practice of Clinical Ethics Consultation: The Zadeh Project

This open access book about the Zadeh Project demonstrates and explores a core question in clinical ethics: how can ethics consultants be accountable in the face of a robust plurality of ethical standpoints, especially those that underwrite practices and methods for doing ethics consultation as well as those viewpoints and values encountered in daily clinical ethics practice? Underscoring this question is the recognition that the field of clinical ethics consultation has arrived at a crucial point in its maturation. Many efforts are underway to more formally “professionalize” the field, with most aimed toward stabilizing a specific set of institutional considerations. Stretched between these institutional and practical initiatives resides a crucial set of of ethical considerations, chief among them the meaning and scope of responsibility for clinical ethics consultants. Developed around a long-form case scenario, the Zadeh Project provides a multi-layered series of “peer-reviews”: critique of the actions of the case scenario’s ethics consultant; reflection on clinical ethics method; examination of the many ways that commitments to method and practice can, and do, intersect, overlap, and alter one another. The design and format of this book thus models a key element for clinical ethics practice: the need and ability to provide careful and thoughtful explanation of core moral considerations that emerge among diverse standpoints. Specifically designed for those studying to become and those who are ethics consultants, this book, with its innovative and multi-layered approach, allows readers to share a peer-review-like experience that shows accountability to be what it is, an ethical, not merely procedural or administrative, undertaking.
Elements and Applications of Scale-Resolving Simulation Methods in Industrial CFD

Historically, industrial CFD simulations have been based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations (RANS). For many decades, the only alternative to RANS was Large-Eddy Simulation (LES), which has however failed to provide solutions for most flows of engineering relevance due to excessive computing power requirements for the simulation of wall-bounded flows.
Assessment of current approaches of starting dose selection and dose escalation for oncology biologics in first-in-patient trials.

e14093Background: Current approaches for starting dose selection for first-in-patient (FIP) trials of oncology biologics vary according to pharmacological properties and modality of the investigati...
Religious music in the public schools: a policy analysis and critical framework

The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss current policies and position statements related to religious music and teaching about religion and propose a four-part framework for stakeholder...
Abstract P097: Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibition Improves Arterial Stiffness And Endothelial Function In Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

The mechanisms for the benefits of Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin inhibitor (ARNi) in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are likely beyond blood pressure (BP) reduction....
The Effect of Ethanol Consumption on Composition and Morphology of Femur Cortical Bone in Wild-Type and ALDH2*2-Homozygous Mice.

ALDH2 inactivating mutation (ALDH2*2) is the most abundant mutation leading to bone morphological aberration. Osteoporosis has long been associated with changes in bone biomaterial in elderly populations. Such changes can be exacerbated with elevated ethanol consumption and in subjects with impaired ethanol metabolism, such as carriers of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2)-deficient gene, ALDH2*2. So far, little is known about bone compositional changes besides a decrease in mineralization. Raman spectroscopic imaging has been utilized to study the changes in overall composition of C57BL/6 female femur bone sections, as well as in compound spatial distribution. Raman maps of bone sections were analyzed using multilinear regression with these four isolated components, resulting in maps of their relative distribution. A 15-week treatment of both wild-type (WT) and ALDH2*2/*2 mice with 20% ethanol in the drinking water resulted in a significantly lower mineral content (p 0.4). Highly localized islets of elongated adipose tissue were observed on most maps. Elevated fat content was found in ALDH2*2 knock-in mice consuming ethanol (p < 0.0001) and this effect appeared cumulative. This work conclusively demonstrates that that osteocytes in femurs of older female mice accumulate fat, as has been previously theorized, and that fat accumulation is likely modulated by levels of acetaldehyde, the ethanol metabolite.
Reduced Sensory Habituation in Autism and Its Correlation with Behavioral Measures

Autism is strongly associated with sensory processing difficulties. We investigate sensory habituation, given its relevance for understanding important phenotypic traits like hyper- and hypo-sensitivities. We collected electroencephalography data from 22 neuro-typical(NT) and 13 autistic(ASD) children during the presentation of visual and auditory sequences of repeated stimuli. Our data show that the ASD children have significantly reduced habituation relative to the NT children for both auditory and visual stimuli. These results point to impaired habituation as a modality-general phenomenon in ASD. Additionally, the rates of habituation are correlated with several clinical scores associated with competence along diverse phenotypic dimensions. These data suggest that the sensory difficulties in autism are likely to be associated with reduced habituation and are related to clinical symptomology.
An atlas of healthy and injured cell states and niches in the human kidney

Abstract Understanding kidney disease relies upon defining the complexity of cell types and states, their associated molecular profiles, and interactions within tissue neighborhoods. We have applied multiple single-cell or -nucleus assays (>400,000 nuclei/cells) and spatial imaging technologies to a broad spectrum of healthy reference (n = 42) and disease (n = 42) kidneys. This has provided a high resolution cellular atlas of 100 cell types that include rare and novel cell populations. The multi-omic approach provides detailed transcriptomic profiles, epigenomic regulatory factors, and spatial localizations for major cell types spanning the entire kidney. We further identify and define cellular states altered in kidney injury, encompassing cycling, adaptive or maladaptive repair, transitioning and degenerative states affecting several segments. Molecular signatures of these states permitted their localization within injury neighborhoods using spatial transcriptomics, and large-scale 3D imaging analysis of ∼1.2 million neighborhoods provided linkages to active immune responses. These analyses further defined biological pathways relevant to injury niches, including signatures underlying the transition from reference to predicted maladaptive states that were associated with a decline in kidney function during chronic kidney disease. This human kidney cell atlas, including injury cell states and neighborhoods, will be a valuable resource for future studies.
Coming out of the shadows: Harnessing a cultural schema to advance the undocumented immigrant youth movement

Using the case of the undocumented immigrant youth movement, we examine how successful political mobilization depends upon the availability and adaptation of symbolically powerful cultural schemas. Analyses of 33 in-depth, semi-structured interviews and participant observations suggest that the existence of a cultural schema of ‘coming out,’ and the undocumented immigrant youth movement’s innovative use of it, allowed movement leaders to address potential adherents’ fears of publically revealing their immigration status and promote social movement participation. In adapting this cultural schema to the needs of this new movement context, national leaders increased the resonance of ‘coming out’ by pairing it with the schema of immigrants living in ‘the shadows.’ California leaders practiced additional cultural innovation by using ‘coming out’ to refer specifically to public and risky forms of disclosure and using other language to identify safer or more private forms of disclosure. We show how talk of coming out is shaped by positionality, so that movement leaders and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals are more likely than others to speak of coming out as undocumented. This extends previous research on the importance of culture for facilitating successful political mobilization.