cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Letter by Einstein Regarding Article “Comparison of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Women With Suspected Coronary Artery Disease From the Clinical Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Coronary Heart Disease (CE-MARC) Trial”

I read with interest Dr Greenwood and colleagues’ article,1 comparing the sex-specific diagnostic performances of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), from the Clinical Evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Coronary Heart Disease (CE-MARC) study.2 While noting similar specificities, the authors report a significant difference in sensitivity between these modalities for men (85.6% for CMR versus 70.8% for SPECT), and especially women (88.7% versus 50.9%). In my opinion, several factors may account for these findings. All imaging in CE-MARC was performed in a single hospital. Although the CMR protocol incorporated advanced techniques3 not usually incorporated in stress CMR (ie, whole-heart coronary angiography), SPECT was performed using a Hungarian scanner not cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the …
The intellectual property landscape for gene suppression technologies in plants

Reviewing the major features in the patent landscape of RNA-mediated gene suppression may aid the development of patent strategies that will support the next generation of genetically modified crops.
Decision-Maker Choice as a Determinant of Organizational Structure

In this paper we review conceptual-theoretical issues raised by the neglect of decision-maker choice in structure-contingency models. We suggest an expansion of the structure-contingency framework to include the analysis of decision-maker(s) choice in explaining and predicting organization structure. We propose that an organization's structure is the result of an interaction of the decision maker's cognitive and motivational orientations, transformation strategies, and the organization's context, such as size, technology, environment, current structure, and membership. Finally, we discuss the implications of this framework.
Flow Analysis of Straight and Swept Edge Wind Turbine Blades in Blade and Wake Regions

This paper presents the comparison of the wake sizes and shapes between two different designs of a horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) rotor blades; one a straight edged and the other with a backward sweep. The straight edge blade was constructed so that it is optimal for on coming wind and rotation speeds with 7m/s and 23rpm. The blade has a length of 20m and uses a constant airfoil cross section. The swept edge blade has the same characteristics as the straight edge except for the trajectory of the edge. Each swept blade has the same cross section with the same dimensions at the same distance from the hub as its corresponding section in the straight edge blade. The analysis was done at a range of velocities from 7 m/s to 18 m/s. It was confirmed that the stall region observed by previous studies is in fact due to the flow separation throughout the span of the blade for both the straight and swept blades. A comparison of wake lengths for both straight and swept blades was done for a range of wind velocities. It was shown that the wake length for swept edged blades were longer than for straight blades and both start decreasing beyond the stall region. From a comparison of flow separation angles from experiments and CFD computations, both were observed to follow the same trends at high Reynolds numbers.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Antiparkinson medications improve agonist activation but not antagonist inhibition during sequential reaching movements

The execution of sequential arm movements is critical to activities of daily living such as eating and grooming. It is known that movement sequences are bradykinetic in people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and that antiparkinson medications improve the speed of movement sequences. However, it is unclear how muscle activity is modulated during sequential movements and what effect antiparkinson medications have on muscle modulation. We studied subjects with PD and age- and gender-matched control subjects making sequential reaching movements. Subjects with PD were tested before and after their morning dose of antiparkinson medications (levodopa and/or dopamine agonists). We examined the effect of antiparkinson medications on the modulation of muscle activity (i.e., the ability to activate and inhibit each muscle throughout the course of a sequence). Results showed that the group with PD, before medication, moved more slowly and modulated muscle activity poorly compared to the control group. Antiparkinson medications improved movement speed as expected, although sequential movements remained slower than normal even after medication. Medication improved the ability to activate agonist muscle activity but did not improve the ability to inhibit antagonist activity. Instead, antagonist activity was also increased, resulting in minimal improvements in muscle modulation during sequential reaching movements.
p15INK4b plays a crucial role in murine lymphoid development and tumorigenesis

event, we investigated the hypothesis that the absence of both p15 INK4b alleles in the presence of the Rgr oncogene could be deleterious for proper thymocyte development. When analyzed, thymocyte development was blocked at the double negative (DN) 3 and DN4 stages in mice missing one or both alleles of p15 INK4b , respectively. We found reduction in overall apoptotic levels in the thymocytes of mice expressing Rgr, comparedwith their wild-type mice, supporting thymocyte escape from programmed cell death and subsequently facilitating the onset of thymic lymphomas but less for those missing both p15 alleles. These findings provide evidence of the complex interplay between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in tumor development and indicate that in the lymphoid tissue the inactivation of both p15 alleles is unlikely to be the first event in tumor development.
Multivalent Binding of the ETO Corepressor to E Proteins Facilitates Dual Repression Controls Targeting Chromatin and the Basal Transcription Machinery

E proteins are a family of helix-loop-helix transcription factors that play important roles in cell differentiation and homeostasis. They contain at least two activation domains, AD1 and AD2. ETO family proteins and the leukemogenic AML1-ETO fusion protein are corepressors of E proteins. It is thought that ETO represses E-protein activity by interacting with AD1, which competes away p300/CBP histone acetyltransferases. Here we report that E proteins contain another conserved ETO-interacting region, termed DES, and that differential associations with AD1 and DES allow ETO to repress transcription through both chromatin-dependent and chromatin-independent mechanisms. At the chromatin level, AD1 and AD2 cooperatively recruit p300. ETO interacts with AD1 to abolish p300 recruitment and to allow HDAC-dependent silencing. At the post-chromatin-remodeling level, binding to DES enables ETO to directly inhibit activation of the basal transcription machinery. This novel repression mechanism is conserved in ETO family proteins and in the AML1-ETO fusion protein. In addition, the repression capacity exerted by each mechanism is differentially modulated by cross talk among various ETO domains and the AML1 domain of AML1-ETO. In particular, the oligomerization domain of ETO plays a major role in targeting ETO to the DES region and independently potentiates the TAFH domain-mediated AD1 interaction. The ability to exert repression at different levels not only may allow these corepressors to impose robust inhibition of signal-independent transcription but may also allow a rapid response to signals. In addition, our newly defined domain interactions and their interplays have important implications in effectively targeting both E-protein fusion proteins and AML1-ETO found in cancers.
On Moral Enterprises, Pragmatism, and Feminist Criminology

This article affirms Richard Quinney's claim that criminology is a moral enterprise. The author examines the intersection of pragmatism and feminism and its links to feminist criminology (undoing the past and looking to the future, goal of liberation, epistemology and methods, and social responsibility). The article links these pragmatist-feminist themes to Richard Quinney's criminology.
On the small-defect perturbation and sampling of heterogeneous solids

This paper aims to extend the application of topological sensitivity, developed for elastic-wave imaging of defects in a homogeneous background medium, to the class of heterogeneous (background) bodies with piecewise-analytic viscoelastic and mass density coefficients. Founded on the premise of time-harmonic wave propagation, the approach employs dimensional analysis to formally establish the expected, yet previously unavailable result wherein the leading behavior of the scattered field caused by a vanishing inclusion is governed by (1) the illuminating visco-elastodynamic field and its adjoint companion, both computed for the background body, at the sampling point; (2) the geometry and material properties of the vanishing defect, and (3) local properties of the (heterogeneous) background solid at the sampling point. By virtue of this result, an explicit formula for the topological sensitivity is obtained by an asymptotic expansion of a misfit-type cost functional with respect to the nucleation of a trial inclusion in the given background, i.e. reference solid. Through numerical examples, it is shown that such defined sensitivity provides a computationally effective platform for preliminary sounding of heterogeneous solids by viscoelastic waves. This is accomplished by computing the topological sensitivity over an arbitrary grid of sampling points inside the reference solid, and identifying those regions where the topological sensitivity attains pronounced negative values with the support of a hidden defect (or a set thereof). The results further highlight the potential of topological sensitivity to expose not only the geometry, but also the nature of internal defects through a local, point-wise identification of “optimal” inclusion properties that minimize the topological sensitivity at a given sampling location.
UCITA: a disaster in progress

Software companies are pushing draconian legislation that would abolish century-old doctrines protecting the rights of users of intellectual property. The author argues that by treating a transaction for software as a license rather than a sale, the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act would cost us all dearly. UCITA makes enforceable almost any term that the vendor puts into a license contract.
Photophysiological responses of intertidal benthic microalgal communities to in situ light environments: Methodological considerations

Photosynthesis vs. irradiance (P-l) curves usually express production in terms of production per unil biomass. However, for benthic microalgal communities, the depth of the sediment photic zone as well as the amount of biomass exposed to light varies as a function of incident irradiance. We examined the photosynthetic responses of intertidal benthic microalgal communities from different light environments with traditional depth-integrated methods as well as the percent P,,, and fixed-depth interval methods. P-lcurve parameters (a, I,, I,,,) change depending on the method used. With the depth-integrated biomassspecific method, microalgae in unshaded mudflats have a higher (Y (0.261 kO.016) than microalgae in shaded tall Spartina habitats (0.16 1 +_O.O 14), suggesting that mudflat microalgae are more shade-acclimated than tall Spartina microalgae. However, if curves are constructed,with measurements obtained at a lixed depth (surface) in the sediment, tall Spartina microalgae exhibit a significantly higher (Y (0.260-1-0.020) than mudllat microalgac (0.175 kO.006). With the latter method, tall Spartina surface microalgae appear more shade-acclimated than mudflat surface microalgae. We conclude that the fixed-depth interval method provides a more realistic representation of the photophysiological responses of benthic microalgal communities.
Bone mineral density in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a

Context: The biochemical hallmark of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP1a) is resistance to PTH, but based on tissue-specific imprinting of GNAS, PTH resistance may be limited to the renal cortex. Some studies have shown that bone is responsive to PTH, suggesting that PHP1a patients with chronically elevated PTH levels may have low bone mineral density (BMD). Setting: This observational study was conducted at the Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Subjects: Twenty-two children and adults with PHP1a were studied. Main Outcome Measure: The main outcome measure was BMD Z-score at the lumbar spine (LS), total hip, femoral neck, and total body using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, relative to height, weight, and pubertal status. Results: The mean (±sd) Z-score for height was 0.77 ± 1.66 and 1.85 ± 1.15 for BMI. The BMD Z-score at each of the four sites studied was as follows: LS, 0.29 ± 1.08; total hip, 0.27 ± 1.24; femoral neck, 0.02 ± 1.26; and total bo...
Anatomical Differences and Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E - Deficient Mice with 129/SvEv and C57BL/6 Genetic Backgrounds

There are well-known genetic background effects on atherosclerosis susceptibility in mice. To study the basis of these effects, we have generated the apolipoprotein E-null mutation in mouse embryonic stem cells of 129/SvEv origin, maintained it in the inbred strain (129-apoE), and compared these mice with those previously made in strain 129/Ola and backcrossed to a C57BL/6 genetic background (B6-apoE). Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the apoE-129 mice are twice the levels in apoE-B6, and both VLDL/chylomicron remnants and HDL particles are increased. Regression analysis of plaque size relative to the age of mice suggests that the initiation of atherosclerotic plaque development at the aortic root is slower in 129-apoE mice (intercept at 3.9 months in females and 4.1 months in males) than in B6-apoE mice (1.3 months in females and 2.8 months in males). In contrast, 129-apoE mice develop extensive plaques in the aortic arches earlier than B6-apoE mice. Distinct differences in the geometry of the aortic arch between the two strains suggest that anatomical differences may contribute to the effects of genetic background on atherosclerosis. The 129-apoE/B6-apoE pair thus provides a tool to study factors governing the relation between arterial geometry and the location of plaque development.
Proteomic Profiling in Early Venous Stenosis Formation in a Porcine Model of Hemodialysis Graft

Purpose To use proteomic analysis to identify up- and downregulated proteins in early venous stenosis formation in a porcine model of hemodialysis graft failure. Materials and Methods Pigs had chronic renal insufficiency created by subtotal renal infarction caused by renal artery embolization. Arteriovenous polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were placed 28 days later and the animals were killed after a further 3 days ( n = 4), 7 days ( n = 4), or 14 days ( n = 4). Proteomic analysis with isotope-coded affinity tags and multidimensional liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry was performed on the venous stenosis and control vessels. Expression of proteins was further confirmed by Western blot analysis. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels were determined before renal artery embolization and at the time of graft placement. Results At graft placement, mean BUN and creatinine levels were significantly higher than before embolization ( P Conclusions Significantly increased expression of lactoferrin and fetuin-A were observed in early venous stenosis by day 14. Understanding the role of lactoferrin and fetuin-A in hemodialysis vascular access failure could help in improving outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
Chronic hypoxia augments uterine artery distensibility and alters the circumferential wall stress-strain relationship during pregnancy

Pregnancy-associated increases in uterine artery (UA) blood flow are due, in part, to vasoactive and growth-related changes that enlarge UA diameter. Although active and passive mechanical factors ...
Decreased in vitro proliferation of bladder epithelial cells from patients with interstitial cystitis.

Abstract Objectives To determine whether explanted bladder epithelial cells from patients with interstitial cystitis (IC) display intrinsically decreased rates of proliferation in vitro, and to compare the growth rates of untreated IC and normal bladder cells with the rates of normal cells treated with a purified antiproliferative factor (APF) at levels found in urine from patients with IC. Methods Epithelial cell explants were prepared from the bladder biopsies of 4 patients with IC and 2 asymptomatic controls. Cell proliferation was determined by serial counting of trypan blue-negative cells. APF and mock APF were purified chromatographically, and activity was determined by 3 H-thymidine incorporation into primary normal bladder epithelial cells. Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and epidermal growth factor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Bladder epithelial cells from patients with IC proliferated significantly less than did control cells by day 2 after serum starvation ( P = 0.02). Similar inhibition of the proliferation rate was seen in control cells treated with APF; APF-induced changes in heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, but not epidermal growth factor, production by cells were associated with changes in growth rates. Conclusions The proliferation rate of explanted bladder epithelial cells from patients with IC in serum-free medium was significantly less than that of control cells, indicating an intrinsic abnormality in IC cell proliferation. This abnormality may be caused by APF, which induces reversible inhibition of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor production and normal bladder epithelial cell proliferation.
Groundwater Reaeration and Hydrocarbon Plume Length: A Modeling Analysis

A series of three-dimensional numerical modeling experiments was conducted to determine the impacts of reaeration on the bioattenuation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminants in groundwater systems. The influence of reaeration on plume length and mass loss was affected by four mechanisms including the groundwater mass transfer coefficientKL,GW, the concentration on partial pressure of O 2 in the overlying soil gas PO2 , the aquifer vertical dispersivity a v , and the reaeration zone Z or region of mixing between contaminated ground water and O2 supplied from the vadose zone. Results from this study showed that reaeration may reduce steady-state hydrocarbon plume length and mass by up to 87% as compared to the case in which reaeration is not considered. Among the four mechanisms, a v exerted the greatest influence on plume length followed by KL,GW, PO 2 , and Z. Comparisons between plume length and the ratio of reaeration transport KL,GW to hydraulic conductivity K indicated that appreciable reductions in steady-state plume length were possible when KL,GW/K>10 23 .
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. An unusual cause of fever.

The use of neuroleptic drugs may result in an acute multisystem disorder characterized by fever, leukocytosis, and extrapyramidal signs. This has been termed the neuroleptic malignant syndrome. A case is reported that illustrates many of the problems in diagnosis and management of this syndrome.
Interaction of swine influenza virus and egg-white inhibitor of virus hemagglutination.

SummaryDuring the interaction of swine influenza virus and egg-white inhibitor of hemagglutination, there appears a weak inhibitor, which has titrating properties different from those of untreated inhibitor. This result renders impossible a simple kinetic treatment of the data. The significance of the weak inhibitor for the mechanism of virus-inhibitor interaction is discussed.
Development of the Bait Principle for Boll Weevil Control: Cottonseed Oil, a Source of Attractants and Feeding Stimulants for the Boll Weevil

Boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, made almost as many feeding punctures in agar plugs treated with crude cottonseed oil as in those treated with a water extract of cotton squares (flower buds). In a field-cage experiment, almost 80% of the adult weevil population was attracted to and fed on a paste like bait formulation containing 16% crude cottonseed oil that was applied to vigorously growing cotton plants at a rate of 6-13 gallon per acre. The addition or deletion of a water extract of squares did not produce a detectable difference in the percentage of weevils feeding on the bait. Therefore, crude cottonseed oil is a nearly limitless and inexpensive source of both feeding stimulants and attractants for the boll weevil and can be used to form an effective bait that should provide a new method of control.
An Electrophoretically Homogeneous Component of Ragweed Producing Hay Fever.

SummaryUltracentrifugal and diffusion studies of the major colorless components of both giant and dwarf ragweed extracts indicate that these major components are of fairly low molecular weight and do not have the ordinary chemical reactions of proteins. The low molecular weight which fits in with the high biological activity is in accord with the ability of these molecules to enter the mucous membranes, produce hay fever, and be transported into the skin by electrophoresis.
Relationship between Rhinovirus Infection and Asthma in Children

Objective To explore the correlation of rhinovirus infection and the morbidity of asthma in children.Methods The RV gene in nasopharyngeal secretion of 30 children with asthma acute exacerbation(asthma group),30 children in asthma clinical remission(remission group) and 30 healthy children (control group) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The total serum IgE(T-IgE) was determined by chemiluminescence.The eosinophil(EOS) count (EOS%) of peripheral blood and lung function were also measured.Results The rhinovirus infection rate was 36.67% in asthma group and 3.33% in remission group.No rhinovirus was detected in control group.The rate of rhinovirus infections in asthma group was significantly highter than that in remission group and control group(χ2=7.50,13.47 Pa0.01). There was no difference of rhinovirus infection rate between remission group and control group(χ2=1.017 P0.05). FEV1% was (62.73±13.54)% in asthma rhinovirus infection and (86.42±17.78)% masthma with no rhinovirus infection.There was remarkable difference between 2 groups(F=14.553 P﹤0.05). The T-IgE was (836.32±44.801) kU/L and EOS% was 10.63±4.09 in asthma group with rhinovirus infection.The total IgE was (439.10±231.28) kU/L and EOS% was 5.04±2.64 in asthma group with no rhinovirus infection.There was significant difference between 2 groups(U=2.475,F=20.806 Pa0.05). But ,the T-IgE and EOS% had no correlation(r=0.364 P0.05).Conclusions There is a close correlation between rhinovirus infection and acute attack of asthma(or worsening asthma) in children. Asthma exacerbations would be likely to happened easier because of rhinovirus infection in asthmatic children with high T-IgE.
Intravesical herniation of small bowel after bladder perforation.

AbstractIntravesical small bowel herniation is a rare complication of bladder perforation, with only 1 case reported previously. We describe 2 additional patients in whom the diagnosis of bladder perforation was delayed or made difficult because the herniated small bowel presented as a filling defect without significant extravasation of contrast medium on cystography. In both patients additional investigative procedures were necessary to establish the diagnosis preoperatively.
A Problem with Integral Conditions with Respect to Time for Shilov Parabolic Systems of Equations

In a domain specified in the form of the Cartesian product of an interval [0,T] and a space ℝ p , we study a problem with integral conditions with respect to the time coordinate for Shilov parabolic systems of equations in the class of functions almost periodic with respect to the space variables. We establish a criterion of uniqueness and sufficient conditions for the existence of a solution of the problem. To solve the problem of small denominators encountered in the construction of the solution, we apply the metric approach.
Some Reflections on Material Stability

Summary A plane sinusoidal wave of infinitesimal amplitude propagates in an isotropic elastic material which is subject to a finite static pure homogeneous deformation. It is desired to obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on the strain-energy function which ensure that the wave velocity be real for all directions of propagation of the wave. This paper reviews the position which has been reached up to the present in attempts to solve this problem, both in the cases when the material is incompressible and when it is compressible.
Neurotropic Coronavirus Infections

Neurotropic strains of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) cause a range of diseases in infected mice ranging from mild encephalitis with clearance of the virus followed by demyelination to rapidly fatal encephalitis. This chapter discusses the structure, life cycle, transmission, and pathology of neurotropic coronaviruses, as well as the immune response to coronavirus infection. Mice infected with neurotropic strains of MHV have provided useful systems in which to study processes of virus- and immune-mediated demyelination and virus clearance and/or persistence in the CNS, and the mechanisms of virus evasion of the immune system.
Intra-host mathematical model of chronic wasting disease dynamics in deer (Odocoileus)

Bioassays of native cervid hosts have established the presence of infectious chronic wasting disease (CWD) prions in saliva, blood, urine, and feces of clinically diseased and pre-clinical infected deer. The intra-host trafficking of prions from the time of initial infection to shedding has been less well defined. We created a discrete-time compartmentalized model to simulate the misfolding catalysis, trafficking, and shedding of infectious prions throughout the organ systems of CWD-infected cervids. Using parameter values derived from experimental infections of North American deer (Odocoileus spp.), the exponential-based model predicts prion deposition over time with: 1) nervous tissues containing the highest deposition of prions at 20 months post-infection and 2) excreted fluids containing low levels of prions throughout infection with the highest numbers of prions predicted to be shed in saliva and feces (as high as 10 lethal doses (1.34 × 1029 prions) in 11-15 months). These findings are comparable to prion deposition described in literature as assayed by conventional and ultrasensitive amplification assays. The comparison of our model to published data suggests that highly sensitive assays (sPMCA, RT-QuIC, and bioassay) are appropriate for early prion detection in bodily fluids and secretions. The model provides a view of intra-host prion catalysis leading to pre-clinical shedding and provides a framework for continued development of antemortem diagnostic methods.
Decreased rates of hypoglycemia following implementation of a comprehensive computerized insulin order set and titration algorithm in the inpatient setting.

Objectives: More than one-third of hospitalized patients have hyperglycemia. Despite evidence that improving glycemic control leads to better outcomes, achieving recognized targets remains a challe...
Intelligent energy harvesting scheme for microbial fuel cells: Maximum power point tracking and voltage overshoot avoidance

Abstract Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are renewable and sustainable energy sources that can be used for various applications. The MFC output power depends on its biochemical conditions as well as the terminal operating points in terms of output voltage and current. There exists one operating point that gives the maximum possible power from the MFC, maximum power point (MPP), for a given operating condition. However, this MPP may vary and needs to be tracked in order to maintain the maximum power extraction from the MFC. Furthermore, MFC reactors often develop voltage overshoots that cause drastic drops in the terminal voltage, current, and the output power. When the voltage overshoot happens, an additional control measure is necessary as conventional MPPT algorithms will fail because of the change in the voltage-current relationship. In this paper, the extremum seeking (ES) algorithm was used to track the varying MPP and a voltage overshoot avoidance (VOA) algorithm is developed to manage the voltage overshoot conditions. The proposed ES-MPPT with VOA algorithm was able to extract 197.2 mJ during 10-min operation avoiding voltage overshoot, while the ES MPPT-only scheme stopped harvesting after only 18.75 mJ because of the voltage overshoot happened at 0.4 min.
Characterizing the impact of projected changes in climate and air quality on human exposures to ozone.

The impact of climate change on human and environmental health is of critical concern. Population exposures to air pollutants both indoors and outdoors are influenced by a wide range of air quality, meteorological, behavioral, and housing-related factors, many of which are also impacted by climate change. An integrated methodology for modeling changes in human exposures to tropospheric ozone (O3) owing to potential future changes in climate and demographics was implemented by linking existing modeling tools for climate, weather, air quality, population distribution, and human exposure. Human exposure results from the Air Pollutants Exposure Model (APEX) for 12 US cities show differences in daily maximum 8-h (DM8H) exposure patterns and levels by sex, age, and city for all scenarios. When climate is held constant and population demographics are varied, minimal difference in O3 exposures is predicted even with the most extreme demographic change scenario. In contrast, when population is held constant, we see evidence of substantial changes in O3 exposure for the most extreme change in climate. Similarly, we see increases in the percentage of the population in each city with at least one O3 exposure exceedance above 60 p.p.b and 70 p.p.b thresholds for future changes in climate. For these climate and population scenarios, the impact of projected changes in climate and air quality on human exposure to O3 are much larger than the impacts of changing demographics. These results indicate the potential for future changes in O3 exposure as a result of changes in climate that could impact human health.
Influence of corticosterone treatment on nestling begging in Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens)

Abstract Altricial young are dependent on adults for protection and food, and they display nutritional need by begging to elicit feeding from parents. Begging at high levels can be energetically expensive and attract predators; thus, an individual must balance its nutritional needs with these potential costs. Further, because a parent is limited in the amount of food it can provide, begging can contribute to both parent-offspring conflict and sibling-sibling competition. Many extrinsic and intrinsic factors may contribute to begging behavior. One intrinsic factor of interest is corticosterone (CORT), a metabolic hormone hypothesized to play a role in regulating a nestling’s begging behavior. We investigated the hypothesis that increased exposure to CORT influences nestling begging behavior in an altricial species, the Florida scrub-jay ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ). We treated one nestling per treatment nest with a twice-daily dose of exogenous hormone via a CORT-injected waxworm, whereas a second individual received a vehicle-injected waxworm. We monitored individual nestling and adult behavior at all nests with the use of high-definition video cameras on several days during treatment. We found no difference in begging rate between CORT fed and vehicle fed nestlings within a treatment nest. Further, to determine whether CORT treatment had indirect effects on the entire brood, we monitored additional nests, in which nestlings were not manipulated. When treatment and controls were compared, overall begging rates of nestlings in treatment nests were greater than those in control nests. This result suggests that CORT treatment of an individual altered its behavior, as well as that of its siblings.
Development of an in vivo infection model to study Mouse papillomavirus-1 (MmuPV1).

Abstract Preclinical model systems to study multiple features of the papillomavirus life cycle are extremely valuable tools to aid our understanding of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) biology, disease progression and treatments. Mouse papillomavirus (MmuPV1) is the first ever rodent papillomavirus that can infect the laboratory strain of mice and was discovered recently in 2011. This model is an attractive model to study papillomavirus pathogenesis due to the ubiquitous availability of lab mice and the fact that this mouse species is easily genetically modifiable. Several other groups, including ours, have reported that MmuPV1-induced papillomas are restricted to T-cell deficient immunosuppressed mice. In our lab we showed for the first time that MmuPV1 causes skin cancers in UVB-irradiated immunocompetent animals. In this report we describe in detail the MmuPV1-UV infection model that can be adapted to study MmuPV1 biology in immunocompetent animals.
Instructional Representations as Tools to Teach Systems Thinking

Emphasis on learning about systems in science education has long been part of national and state curricula, but the focus on implementing a “systems thinking” approach in science classrooms has grown in importance. Systems thinking involves helping students understand the complexity of systems by recognizing the interactions and interrelationships between system components and processes. Evidence from research has shown that effective systems thinking instruction requires teachers to explicitly use models and representations. The selection, interpretation, explanation and use of effective representations are dependent on classroom teachers for developing systems thinking and representational competence. This chapter examines representational competence in the context of lessons that teach systems thinking. Drawing on prior research, theoretical perspectives about systems thinking and the use of representations as instructional tools are discussed. A developed rubric is presented for examining teachers’ pedagogical perspectives when selecting representations for teaching about a complex system.
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans in Infection

To cause infections, microbial pathogens elaborate a multitude of factors that interact with host components. Using these host–pathogen interactions to their advantage, pathogens attach, invade, disseminate, and evade host defense mechanisms to promote their survival in the hostile host environment. Many viruses, bacteria, and parasites express adhesins that bind to cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) to facilitate their initial attachment and subsequent cellular entry. Some pathogens also secrete virulence factors that modify HSPG expression. HSPGs are ubiquitously expressed on the cell surface of adherent cells and in the extracellular matrix. HSPGs are composed of one or several heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycan chains attached covalently to specific core proteins. For most intracellular pathogens, cell surface HSPGs serve as a scaffold that facilitates the interaction of microbes with secondary receptors that mediate host cell entry. Consistent with this mechanism, addition of HS or its pharmaceutical functional mimic, heparin, inhibits microbial attachment and entry into cultured host cells, and HS-binding pathogens can no longer attach or enter cultured host cells whose HS expression has been reduced by enzymatic treatment or chemical mutagenesis. In pathogens where the specific HS adhesin has been identified, mutant strains lacking HS adhesins are viable and show normal growth rates, suggesting that the capacity to interact with HSPGs is strictly a virulence activity. The goal of this chapter is to provide a mechanistic overview of our current understanding of how certain microbial pathogens subvert HSPGs to promote their infection, using specific HSPG–pathogen interactions as representative examples.
Naive kinematics: one aspect of shape

Ways in which physical objects interact are explored, and in particular the concept of freedom is analysed. Intuitively, the fit between two shapes in a given spatial configuration is a statement about how much one shape needs to mutilated in order to be made identical to the other. The freedom of one object with respect to another specifies what motions the First object can go through without the second one moving. The formulations, termed naive kinematics, are compared to work that was done in the kinematics of machinery in the 10th century and that has since been somewhat neglected.
Experiments in Multi-Grasp Manipulation

In this paper, we present results in dextrous, multi-grasp manipulation based on the integration of two basic concepts: the virtual linkage and the augmented object. The virtual linkage provides a physical representation of internal forces and moments during multi-grasp manipulation. It does this by representing the manipulated object with an equivalent closed-chain mechanism. To control object motion, we describe the operational-space, rigid-body dynamics for the multi-manipulator/object system using the augmented object. With this concept, motion of the manipulated object and the forces it applies to the environment are controlled by operational forces at some selected point on the object. This control force is then partitioned among the arms in such a way as to minimize internal (strain-causing) forces. These forces are characterized by the virtual linkage and controlled independently. This approach enables a multi-arm robot system to manipulate objects while performing accurate control of internal forces. Simulation results are presented, as well as experimental results for a multi-arm system of three PUMA 560 manipulators.
The surgical choice for unilateral thyroid carcinoma in pediatrics: Lobectomy or total thyroidectomy?

Abstract Background Total thyroidectomy is no doubt the standard procedure for patients with bilateral thyroid carcinoma in pediatrics. However, for lesions confined in unilateral thyroid gland, lobectomy or radical total thyroidectomy is still controversial in pediatrics. Methods Thirty-five cases of pediatric thyroid carcinoma which were confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital from 2005 to 2016. In 13 cases of unilateral lesions, 6 received lobectomy, while others underwent total thyroidectomy. Recurrence and complications were compared between 2 groups. Also, there were 20 cases of primary total thyroidectomy and 4 cases of supplementary resection of the residual gland. The short-term complications were compared. Results There were no differences between groups of lobectomy and total thyroidectomy in size, extrathyroid extension, stage, cervical lymph nodes metastases, and distant metastases. They were the same in incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, calcium supplement, recurrent laryngeal nerve damage, and recurrence rate and mortality, except that the length of stay in hospital was shorter in lobectomy group. Patients in supplementary resection were more likely to present the symptoms of postoperative hypocalcemia and hypokalemia, and it was difficult to identify the parathyroid gland during the operation by comparing with patients of primary total thyroidectomy. Conclusions Thyroid carcinoma in pediatrics is inclined to be multifocal, and even in a single focus, the volume is large. Total thyroidectomy does not bring more complications. In contrast, the morbidity increases in staged resection. Endocrine hormone supplement can satisfy the need for growth and development. Type of study Treatment study. Level of evidence Level III.
Contextualizing the Materiality of Commodities: Using Quantitative Methods to Interpret the Meaning of Variation in the Physical Attributes of Copper-Alloy Buttons

The increasing cultural and spatial distance between the producers and consumers of household goods over the last few hundred years requires historical archaeologists to determine which attributes of objects were imbued with meaning by consumers. One method of interpreting the meanings an object was selected to represent is by contextualizing the artifact’s physical attributes within the range of variation in similar objects circulating within particular spatial and temporal networks. Utilizing a data set of early nineteenth-century flat-stamped copper-alloy buttons from archaeological sites in Virginia this study examines how manufacturers and consumers evaluated the quality of these commodities.
In-package cold plasma technologies

Abstract Cold plasma is an ideal antimicrobial agent with a gamut of reactive chemical species, that could be obtained from electrical discharges in atmospheric gases. The reactive species are effective against a range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, spores and viruses, as well as pesticides and mycotoxins. Generation of cold plasma inside sealed packages allows to localise and extend the action time of reactive species on microorganisms, while preventing any post-process contamination. In this review, we present an examination of the design aspects of the in-package plasma systems, the packaging requirements, and discuss their efficacy with respect to microbiological and chemical safety of foods.
Land use, REDD+ and the status of wildlife populations in Yaeda Valley, northern Tanzania

REDD+ projects primarily focus on reducing carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. These projects are regularly evaluated against their core objective of conserving carbon stocks, but their contribution to biodiversity conservation has rarely been assessed. To assess the conservation value of the area and the relative performance of a REDD+ land use plan in Yaeda Valley, a semi-arid savannah ecosystem in northern Tanzania, we implemented an annual wildlife monitoring scheme. Based on direct sightings and indirect signs of wildlife, obtained from stratified walking transects conducted annually from 2015-2018, we estimated annual trends of mammal species richness and wildlife densities in three REDD+ and three non-REDD+ land-use strata. Our surveys document a near complete mammal community in the area. Species accumulation curves, and subsequent statistical comparisons, indicated highest mammal species richness in the woodland habitats (both REDD+ and non REDD+ strata) as compared to more human and livestock impacted areas, and suggested constant species richness from 2015-2018. To estimate stratum- and year-specific livestock and wildlife densities (cattle, donkey, goat and sheep combined, Thomson's gazelle, Kirk's dik-dik) and wildlife sign densities (aardvark, bushbuck, bushpig, Kirk's dik dik, eland, elephant, Maasai giraffe, greater kudu, hyena, impala, lesser kudu, warthog, wildebeest, Plains zebra), we fitted species-specific detection functions in a distance sampling framework. Species-specific densities varied between 2015 and 2018 and showed substantial increases and occasional declines in other species-stratum combinations. However, population growth rates were not systematically associated with specific land-use strata. Although our results do not explicitly provide evidence that REDD+ land-use plans directly co-benefit wildlife conservation, they show that REDD+ areas have the potential to maintain intact wildlife assemblages. To ensure effective long-term conservation outcomes, we advocate for a more formal integration of wildlife conservation goals in the REDD+ scheme.
Role of colonoscopy in diagnosis of capecitabine associated ileitis: Two case reports.

Background Capecitabine is considered a first line agent in adjuvant therapy for breast and colorectal cancer. However, cases of severe diarrhea have been reported with increasing frequency in recent years. When diarrhea is severe and prolonged, capecitabine associated ileitis should be considered as a possible etiology. Case summary Herein, we present two cases of capecitabine ileitis, specifically involving the terminal ileum and ascending colon. We will demonstrate the disease course and treatment modalities applied to alleviate this condition, as well as discuss the merits of using colonoscopy to aid in diagnosis. Conclusion Ultimately our cases demonstrate that symptomatic management with traditional anti-diarrheal medications is largely ineffective. Prompt recognition and discontinuation of capecitabine is an imperative step in proper management of this condition and colonoscopy with biopsy can be helpful when the diagnosis is unclear.
What do emergency department physicians and nurses feel? A qualitative study of emotions, triggers, regulation strategies, and effects on patient care

Background Despite calls to study how healthcare providers’ emotions may impact patient safety, little research has addressed this topic. The current study aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of emergency department (ED) providers’ emotional experiences, including what triggers their emotions, the perceived effects of emotions on clinical decision making and patient care, and strategies providers use to manage their emotions to reduce patient safety risks. Methods Employing grounded theory, we conducted 86 semi-structured qualitative interviews with experienced ED providers (45 physicians and 41 nurses) from four academic medical centres and four community hospitals in the Northeastern USA. Constant comparative analysis was used to develop a grounded model of provider emotions and patient safety in the ED. Results ED providers reported experiencing a wide range of emotions in response to patient, hospital, and system-level factors. Patients triggered both positive and negative emotions; hospital and system-level factors largely triggered negative emotions. Providers expressed awareness of possible adverse effects of negative emotions on clinical decision making, highlighting concerns about patient safety. Providers described strategies they employ to regulate their emotions, including emotional suppression, distraction, and cognitive reappraisal. Many providers believed that these strategies effectively guarded against the risk of emotions negatively influencing their clinical decision making. Conclusion The role of emotions in patient safety is in its early stages and many opportunities exist for researchers, educators, and clinicians to further address this important issue. Our findings highlight the need for future work to (1) determine whether providers’ emotion regulation strategies are effective at mitigating patient safety risk, (2) incorporate emotional intelligence training into healthcare education, and (3) shift the cultural norms in medicine to support meaningful discourse around emotions.