cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical considerations for an infant oral health care program.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Association of Pediatrics recommend dental assessments and evaluations for children during their first year of life. Early dental inter- vention evaluates a child's risk status based on parental interviews and oral examinations. These early screenings present an opportunity to edu- cate parents about the medical, dental, and cost benefits of preventive— rather than restorative—care and may be more effective in reducing early childhood caries than traditional infectious disease models. A comprehen- sive infant oral care program includes: (1) risk assessments at regularly scheduled dental visits; (2) preventive treatments such as fluoride var- nishes or sealants; (3) parental education on the correct methods to clean the baby's mouth; and (4) incentives to encourage participation in ongo- ing educational programming. Recruiting mothers during pregnancy improves the likelihood that they will participate in the assessment pro- gram. To maximize interest, trust, and success among participating par- ents, educational and treatment programs must be tailored to the social and cultural norms within the community being served.
Value-Based Insurance Design

When everyone is required to pay the same out-of-pocket amount for health care services whose benefits depend on patient characteristics, there is enormous poten- tial for both under- and overuse. Unlike most current health plan designs, Value-Based In- surance Design (VBID) explicitly acknowledges and responds to patient heterogeneity. It en- courages the use of services when the clinical benefits exceed the cost and likewise discourages the use of services when the benefits do not justify the cost. This paper makes the case for VBID and outlines current VBID initiatives in the private sector as well as barri- ers to further adoption. (Health Affairs 26, no. 2 (2007): w195-w203 (published online 30 January 2007; 10.1377/hlthaff.26.2.w195)) ne o f t he f undamental t enets of clinical medicine is primum non nocere: "First do no harm." In today's complex health care environment, this principle should be extended beyond the clinician-patient relationship to health care financing. Implementing it is a challenging task in both clinical and fi- nancial settings for a number of reasons. On the clinical side, most if not all interventions intended to improve health en- tail some risk of an adverse event. Clinicians must weigh these risks against the benefits when determining the appropriate course of treatment. In health care fi- nancing, there is often a similar yet underappreciated trade-off between cost con- tainment initiatives and access to effective medical services. Efficiency would pro- mote the use of "valuable" interventions whose expected net clinical benefits justify the associated expenditure and limit access to those services whose costs exceed the expected clinical gain. This is the fundamental paradigm of cost- effectiveness analysis. In the status quo, cost-sharing amounts are generally constant for each specific service, although the clinical values of these services are extremely disparate and likely depend upon who receives them. With some exceptions for preventive and screening services, the level of cost sharing is seldom related to the potential bene- fit each service might provide. Ideally, uniform patient copayments would discourage use of low-value care
Understanding Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies in Organ Transplantation

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act of 2007 mandated that Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) be required of manufacturers. These REMS are strategies implemented to manage known or potential risks associated with drugs and to ensure ongoing pharmacovigilance throughout the life of a pharmaceutical product, including once the product becomes available as generic. The elements of an individual REMS program consist of three levels: medication guide or patient package insert, communication plan, and elements to assure safe use (ETASU). A medication guide or patient package insert is used to help prevent serious adverse events, aid in patient decision making, and enhance drug adherence. Communication plans are used to educate health care providers and to encourage their compliance with REMS. The ETASU is a restrictive process that is implemented when it is deemed necessary to ensure that patients have safe access to products with known serious risks that would otherwise be unavailable. To review the components of REMS and specifically assess their impact on health care providers practicing within the organ transplantation arena, a literature search of the MEDLINE database (January 2007-December 2010) was performed, and published materials from the FDA and its Web site were also reviewed. In transplantation, REMS programs exist for both everolimus (medication guide and communication plan) and sirolimus (medication guide). The FDA has stated that all mycophenolic acid derivatives will be subject to a proposed REMS that has not yet been approved; however, both branded mycophenolic acid agents already have approved medication guides. The REMS are a permanent fixture in the development and marketing of pharmaceutical agents, and their further implementation in solid organ transplantation is inevitable. Transplantation providers should take a proactive role in patient education and implementation of REMS within the therapeutic area. It is imperative for health care providers to realize that the ultimate goals of REMS are to reduce the potential for serious risks and to make outcomes from the treatment of disease more predictable.
The transient dermal exposure: Theory and experimental examples using skin and silicone membranes

A diffusion model is presented to account for the disposition of chemicals applied to skin as transient exposures. Two conditions are considered that apply to the skin surface following the exposure period, which are applicable to chemicals exhibiting two extremes of chemical volatility. For one case, representing highly volatile compounds, the solution is generalized to apply to multiple transient exposures. For both cases, algebraic expressions are derived to calculate the total amount of chemical that penetrates the skin. The theory is applied to experimental measurements of the in vitro penetration of diethyl phthalate applied to hairless guinea pig (HGP) skin and silicone rubber membranes (SRMs) as transient exposures. The transient exposure theory ably models the experimental data, with coefficients of determination greater than 0.97 (HGP) and greater than 0.99 (SRM). The ability of parameters derived from concurrent infinite dose experiments to predict the time course of absorption from transient exposures is explored. Discrepancies were found between measured cumulative penetration of chemical from transient exposure experiments and penetration predicted from parameters derived from infinite dose experiments, particularly for HGP. Possible reasons are explored. The current model may provide a realistic framework for estimating absorption from occupational, environmental and pharmaceutical dermal exposures.
Hypertension induced by episodic reductions in uteroplacental blood flow in gravid rat.

Background. The etiology of preeclampsia remains unclear. Animal modeling of preeclampsia has been useful; however, no model to date represents episodic changes in uteroplacental blood flow that may occur in preeclampsia. Objective. To develop a gravid rat model characterized by episodic reductions in uteroplacental blood flow. Method. Pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were used and subjected to SHAM, reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP), or aortic occlusion on gestational Day 14. Aortic occlusion surgery consisted of implantation of a silastic vascular occluder around the abdominal aorta and silver clips around the uterine–ovarian arteries. Aortic occlusion animals were subjected to five consecutive days of occlusion (40% reduction) each session lasting 1 h. On Day 21, maternal mean arterial pressure (MAP) and fetal morphology were assessed. For isolated blood vessels, resistance-sized mesenteric arteries were harvested and mounted on a pressure arteriograph. Result. Occluder animals experienced a 10 mmHg rise in MAP as compared to SHAM (p < 0.05), and RUPP MAP was significantly increased as compared to control subjects (p < 0.05). Pups from Occluder animals exhibited a decrease in fetal weight as compared to SHAM (p < 0.05), but an increase in fetal weight as compared to RUPP (p < 0.05). Myogenic reactivity of second-order mesenteric arteries increased in Occluder animals as compared to SHAM (p < 0.05), but were similar to that of RUPP. Conclusion. Episodic reductions in uteroplacental blood flow play a crucial role in the altered vascular reactivity seen in Occluder animals and may represent a new model to investigate the mechanisms associated with episodic reductions in uteroplacental blood flow in pathological pregnancies.
How far have we progressed toward automated electrophoresis in sieving media of the twenty-first century?

The automation of electrophoresis in polymeric sieving media requires (i) an objective definition of the conditions (the polymer, its concentration, solvent, buffer, pH, ionic strength, temperature) under which a particular separation proceeds most effectively; (ii) apparatus capable of zone detection, acquisition by computer, evaluation (migration distance, zone width and area) and a printout of the number of components, their size and net charge, and the polymer conditions under which each component separates most effectively from its two neighboring zones. Both of these prerequisites of automation have been met to a first approximation at this time and, after further maturation, assembly and streamlining should be able to fill the need of the coming century for a more efficient, nonarbitrary and cost-effective mode of macromolecular and cellular particle separation. (i) The realization of the qualitative equilivalence of polymer solutions and gels had greatly increased our options in the choice of sieving media. That choice can be made objectively by correlating separation efficiency (S), particle size (R) and intrinsic viscosity (ηo) of the polymer. (S) is a function of the slope, KR (R), of the Ferguson plot [log(mobility) vs. polymer concentration], or with nonlinear plots (DNA, agarose) KR(R,T). KR is at present most easily derived from transverse pore gradient gels or by conducting capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) at multiple polymer concentrations. Pore gradient CZE appears promising. CZE also defines the free mobility unequivocally. Computer programs exist to generate KR from migration distances (times), and optimal S and polymer concentration for a particular R from KR. Optimal S can be related objectively with ηo to define, as a first-order approximation, the optimal polymer for the separation within a narrow R-range. (ii) Apparatus with automated detection of zones and acquisition of migration distances has become commercially available (e.g. Applied Biosystems, Du Pont, LabIntelligence). One of these scans multiple lanes and can be interfaced to compute KR and S. Thus, all elements necessary for automated electrophoretic separation under optimally effective separation conditions are available in rudimentary form. Their development, assembly, integration and streamlining should be feasible prior to the onset of the next century.
Limitations on Roll Based Microcontact Printing Imposed by Variations in Macro Scale Stamp Dimensions

Microcontact printing is a versatile patterning technique, but is often limited by deformation of the stamp pattern. This paper examines the sensitivity of stamp pressure distributions to variations in displacement when the microcontact printing stamp is mounted on a rigid roll. To this end, we examine analytic and numeric solutions to the contact problem and verify our models with experimental data. Using these results, we provide insight to process limits imposed by dimensional errors in the printing system.
Distances and ages of globular clusters

As the oldest objects whose ages can be accurately determined, Galactic globular clusters can be used to establish the minimum age of the universe (and hence, to constrain cosmological models) and to study the early formation history of the Milky Way. The largest uncertainty in the determination of globular cluster ages is the distance scale. The current uncertainty in the distances to globular clusters is ~ 6%, which leads to a 13% uncertainty in the absolute ages of globular clusters. I am the PI on a SIM-Planetquest key project to determine the distances of 21 globular clusters with an accuracy of ranging from 1 to 4%. This will lead to age determinations accurate to 5 − 9%. The mean age of the oldest, most metal-poor globular clusters will be determined with an accuracy of ±3%.
ASCA Observations of the Broad-Line Radio Galaxy 3C 445

We present the -rst high-resolution X-ray observation of the nearby (z \ 0.057) broad-line radio galaxy 3C 445 obtained with ASCA in 0.6E10 keV. The earlier detection of the Fe Ka line is con-rmed. The ASCA data are best -tted by a model involving complex absorption (dual absorber), where an intrinsically Nat (! D 1.3) continuum is seen through two distinct layers of absorption of cold gas with column densities cm~2 and cm~2, both larger than the column derived from N H D 1023 N H D 6 ) 1022 the optical reddening. Fits with this model to the nonsimultaneous ROSAT and ASCA data put tighter constraints on the continuum parameters. With the continuum described by a dual absorber the Fe Ka line has an EW D 270 eV and a width p D 0.2 keV, implying an origin in neutral gas moving with velocities km s~1. However, the presence of complex absorption in the nucleus of this type 1 (35,000 active galactic nucleus (AGN) is unexpected in the context of current uni-cation models. A statistically good -t to the ASCA data is also provided by a power-law plus Compton reNection model; however, this model is physically implausible because of the weak (EW D 80 eV) Fe line and unrealistically high (D1046 ergs s~1) luminosity inferred. Among BLRGs observed with ASCA, 3C 445 sticks out as a mod- erately luminous source with an unusually complex spectrum at soft X-rays. Subject headings: galaxies: active E galaxies: individual (3C 445) E X-rays: galaxies
Use of Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation in a Limited-Area Mesoscale Model Part II: Effects of Data Assimilation within the Planetary Boundary Layer

Abstract A four-dimensional data assimilation (FDDA) scheme based on Newtonian relaxation or nudging has been developed and evaluated in the Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU/NCAR) Limited-Area Mesoscale Model. It was shown in Part I of this study that continuous assimilation of standard-resolution rawinsonde observations throughout a model integration, rather than at only the initial time, can successfully limit large model error growth (amplitude and phase errors) while the model maintains intervariable consistency and generates realistic mesoscale structures not resolved by the data. The purpose of this paper is to further refine the previously reported FDDA strategy used to produce “dynamic analyses” of the atmosphere by investigating the effects of data assimilation within the planetary boundary layer (PBL). The data used for assimilation include conventional synoptic-scale rawinsonde data and mesoalpha-scale surface data. The main objective of this study is ...
A Normative DFM Framework Based on Benefit-Cost Analysis

Design for Manufacturing (DfM) involves trade-offs between design objectives and manufacturing cost/efficiency. However, contemporary software packages consider DfM in a unilateral (manufacturing centric) way. Ad-hoc rating systems used in these packages can lead to bad decisions. Also, uncertainty in estimating design attributes and manufacturing costs must be accounted for. This paper presents a theoretical framework for DfM that incorporates the above factors. The applicability and rationality of Benefit-Cost analysis to DfM is demonstrated. Present value of net benefit is proposed as the only rational measure of DfM. A domain independent shell for DfM analysis is developed. The shell can be customized for evaluating both technical feasibility and economics of manufacturing.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Magnetic moments at Jupiter

The coming together of two spacecraft near Jupiter provided a unique opportunity to investigate the giant planet's magnetic field — and the results, collected in this issue, are stunning.
Evolution of hollow TiO2 nanostructures via the Kirkendall effect driven by cation exchange with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.

Hollow nanostructures are promising building blocks for electrode scaffolds and catalyst carriers in energy-related systems. In this paper, we report a discovery of hollow TiO2 nanostructure evolution in a vapor–solid deposition system. By introducing TiCl4 vapor pulses to ZnO nanowire templates, we obtained TiO2 tubular nanostructures with well-preserved dimensions and morphology. This process involved the cation exchange reaction between TiCl4 vapor and ZnO solid and the diffusion of reactants and products in their vapor or solid phases, which was likely a manifestation of the Kirkendall effect. The characteristic morphologies and the evolution phenomena of the hollow nanostructures from this vapor–solid system were in a good agreement with the Kirkendall effect discovered in solution systems. Complex hollow TiO2 nanostructures were successfully acquired by replicating various ZnO nanomorphologies, suggesting that this unique cation exchange process could also be a versatile tool for nanostructure repli...
Xenopus extract approaches to studying microtubule organization and signaling in cytokinesis.

We report optimized methods for preparing actin-intact Xenopus egg extract. This extract is minimally perturbed, undiluted egg cytoplasm where the cell cycle can be experimentally controlled. It contains abundant organelles and glycogen and supports active metabolism and cytoskeletal dynamics that closely mimic egg physiology. The concentration of the most abundant ∼11,000 proteins is known from mass spectrometry. Actin-intact egg extract can be used for analysis of actin dynamics and interaction of actin with other cytoplasmic systems, as well as microtubule organization. It can be spread as thin layers and naturally depletes oxygen though mitochondrial metabolism, which makes it ideal for fluorescence imaging. When combined with artificial lipid bilayers, it allows reconstitution and analysis of the spatially controlled signaling that positions the cleavage furrow during early cytokinesis. Actin-intact extract is generally useful for probing the biochemistry and biophysics of the large Xenopus egg. Protocols are provided for preparation of actin-intact egg extract, control of the cell cycle, fluorescent probes for cytoskeleton and cytoskeleton-dependent signaling, preparation of glass surfaces for imaging experiments, and immunodepletion to probe the role of specific proteins and protein complexes. We also describe methods for adding supported lipid bilayers to mimic the plasma membrane and for confining in microfluidic droplets to explore size scaling issues.
The Benefits of Stenting on a More-or-Less Routine Basis Prior to Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Lithotripsy

SUMMARY Indwelling internal ureteral stents are helpful in minimizing the morbidity of ESWL for large renal stones. Soft silicone stents are well tolerated. A pull-out suture allows convenient removal of the stent without cystoscopy.
Product Line Pricing

Companies rarely produce and market just one product for which a single price and a specific marketing strategy is developed. Rather, they produce a line or several lines of products with a multiplicity of options that are marketed to defined customer segments. No longer is it possible or for that matter plausible to make pricing decisions with respect to a single product in isolation.
50th anniversary historical article. Congenital heart disease.

The Child Health and Development Studies are longitudinal studies of pregnancy and the normal and abnormal development of the offspring. Women who were members of the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan entered the study in early pregnancy, and their children were examined frequently until the youngest child in the study was 5 years old This is a more intensive follow-up than hitherto reported. Of the 19,044 live-born children, 163 had definite and another 31 had possible congenital heart disease; the crude incidence rates per 1,000 live births were 8.8 for definite congenital heart disease and 10.4 for definite plus possible congenital heart disease. The incidence rate of congenital heart disease was 7.9 percent among all stillborn fetuses subjected to autopsy and 10.2 percent among those in this group with autopsies evaluated as being detailed enough to detect heart disease. Among the live-born children with congenital heart disease, 21 died in the neonatal period and 22 died in later infancy and childhood; about half the deaths were judged to have been due to heart disease. About 30 percent of the children with congenital heart disease had associated severe anomalies of other systems. In the whole cohort, 50 children had diagnosed chromosomal abnormalities (2. 63/1,000 live births) and about 30 percent of them had congenital heart disease. Among the group of 163 children with definite congenital heart disease, the diagnosis was made in 46 percent by age 1 week, in 88.3 percent by age 1 year and 98.8 percent by age 4 years.
Gender, race, and political ambition: how intersectionality and frames influence interest in political office

ABSTRACTPolitical institutions in the U.S. continue to be dominated by men. Media and scholarly accounts often focus on how demand factors, such as political parties and elite networks, and supply factors, such as women’s self-confidence and political interest, combine to depress women’s representation. Yet, we know little about whether these narratives matter for women’s political ambition or how they might influence women of color. We demonstrate that blaming women’s underrepresentation on supply vs. demand causes clear changes in women’s political ambition. Attributing women’s lack of parity to demand factors allows white and Asian women to “discount” the possibility that failure rests on their own abilities, thus increasing women’s political ambition. Alternatively, framing women’s underrepresentation as due to supply factors depresses white and Asian women’s political ambition possibly because of stereotype threat. Black women respond in an opposite manner, with depressed political ambition in demand...
Technology-Mediated Memory: Is Technology Altering Our Memories And Interfering With Well-Being?

Technology increasingly allows us to capture and revisit rich digital records of our lives, processes which we call Technology-Mediated Memory (TMM). We explore whether TMM alters unmediated remembering and also whether such changes affect psychological well-being. Human memory biases promote well-being by adaptively editing our memories, making them more positive. In contrast, TMM often provides rich records of what people actually did and felt, which could disrupt adaptive edits. To explore this, we developed a smartphone-based personal TMM application, Echo, that allows participants to record and later reflect on everyday events. In a month-long deployment, 64 users made over 3200 recordings and reflections. We found that although Echo TMM alters how we remember, these changes remain adaptive. Instead of compromising adaptive biases, Echo TMM helps well-being and benefits are sustained long-term. Logfile analysis shows that participants use Echo strategically to prospectively edit by initially reporting events positively to anticipate future viewing. Participants also distance themselves from past negative events by reflecting more positively than at recording. We discuss design and theoretical implications.
A Method for Determining Widespread Point Shaving Applied to College Basketball

This paper investigates scoring patterns in NCAA men’s college basketball to determine the practicality of widespread cheating in the form of point shaving. Previous research, notably Wolfers (2006), suggests that, because there are a large number of heavy favorites who win but do not cover the point spread as determined in the betting market, men’s basketball is subject to potential corruption and that closer attention should be paid to these heavy favorites. Our analysis suggests that, after taking into account various incentives for heavy favorites and the status of the game at half time, a much smaller proportion of games identified in previous studies are potentially susceptible to point shaving. We conclude that point shaving is not widespread because of its impracticality.
Development of Thin-Window Silicon Drift Detector for X-ray spectroscopy

A new set of thin-window silicon drift detectors composed of an array of hexagonal shaped detectors has been designed, constructed and tested for X-ray spectroscopy. Each individual ThinWinSDD has a thin entrance window on one side and a spiral shaped hexagonal cathode around a center anode on the other side. To produce the thin entrance window a 10 keV implantation of boron through a 500 A silicon dioxide was used. The implantation was followed by an annealing at 700degC for 30 min and a reactive ion etching step to ensure the removal of silicon dioxide from the smallest feature (5 mum). An aluminum layer is coated in the same vacuum system after back-sputtering. This step involves removing the native oxide that has formed on the top of the silicon substrate and then sputtering a 1100 A thick layer of aluminum onto the X-ray entrance window. The aluminum layer must be thick enough to block visible light, but thin enough to be transparent to soft X-rays down to 280 eV. We discuss first test results that include detector leakage current measurements and the response for multiple detectors exposed to the National Synchrotron Light Source's UV beam line U3C located at Brookhaven National Laboratory for X-ray energies as low as 280 eV.
Multivariate Interpolation Using Carlitz's Inversion Formulas

Multivariate rational exponential Lagrange interpolation formulas, Hermite interpolation formulas, and Hermite–Fejer interpolation formulas of the Newton type are established by using Carlitz's inversion formulas. The recurrence relation for constructing Lagrange interpolation is also given. In addition, by setting q→1 in the obtained formulas, we obtain the corresponding polynomial interpolation formulas with combinatorial form.
Algorithmic techniques for regular networks of processors

This chapter is concerned with designing algorithms for machines constructed from multiple processors.In particular, we discuss algorithms for machines in which the processors are connected to each otherby some simple, systematic, interconnection patterns. For example, consider a chess board, where eachsquare represents a processor (for example, a processor similar to one in a home computer) and everygeneric processor is connected to its 4 neighboring processors (those to the north, south, east, and west).This is an example of a mesh computer, a network of processors that is important for both theoreticaland practical reasons.The focus of this chapter is on algorithmic techniques. Initially, we deﬁne some basic termi-nology that is used to discuss parallel algorithms and parallel architectures. Following this introductorymaterial, we deﬁne a variety of interconnection networks, i ncluding the mesh (chess board), which areused to allow processors to communicate with each other. We also deﬁne an abstract parallel modelof computation, the PRAM, where processors are not connected to each other, but communicate di-rectly with a global pool of memory that is shared amongst the processors. We then discuss severalparallel programming paradigms, including the use of high-level data movement operations, divide-and-conquer, pipelining, and master-slave. Finally, we discuss the problem of mapping the structure ofan inherently parallel problem onto a target parallel architecture. This mapping problem can arise in avariety of ways, and with a wide range of problem structures. In some cases, ﬁnding a good mapping isquite straightforward, but in other cases it is a computationally intractable NP-complete problem.
Characterization of lumbar-level spinal fusion on the whole human spine under vibrations

In the United States alone, 12–15% of the population will visit their physician for back pain problems each year, creating a direct annual cost of nearly $40 billion. Pain in the spine may be associated with spinal instability and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The causes of disc degeneration are not completely understood, but have been thought to be linked to excessive loading conditions and whole body vibrations. Patients not responding to non-operative treatment may be considered for surgical fusion.Vibrations of the spine near its resonant frequency are more likely to lead to spinal injury and subsequent pain. These vibrations may result from prolonged exposure to mechanical vibrations, for example from riding in vehicles. Little is understood about the effect of spine pathologies or treatment techniques on this frequency. While fusion procedure may aid in stabilizing the spine, it may also lead to changes in spine biomechanics. A high fidelity anatomically accurate whole spine finite element model was developed and utilized to examine vibration in the spine using modal analysis. Vibration modes and resonant frequencies were obtained in the healthy spine along with cases of lumbar spine disc degeneration and fusion at several levels, including L4-L5, L3-L5, L5-S, L4-S, and L3-S.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Raising Children: Surprising Insights from Other Cultures

Why in some parts of the world do parents rarely play with their babies and never with toddlers? Why in some cultures are children not fully recognized as individuals until they are older? How are routine habits of etiquette and hygiene taught - or not - to children in other societies? Drawing on a lifetime's experience as an anthropologist, David F. Lancy takes us on a journey across the globe to show how children are raised differently in different cultures. Intriguing, and sometimes shocking, his discoveries demonstrate that our ideas about children are recent, untested, and often contrast starkly with those in other parts of the world. Lancy argues that we are, by historical standards, guilty of over-parenting, and of micro-managing our children's lives. Challenging many of our accepted truths, his book will encourage parents to think differently about children, and by doing so to feel more relaxed about their own parenting skills.
Phosphoinositide-mediated ring anchoring resists perpendicular forces to promote medial cytokinesis.

Many eukaryotic cells divide by assembling and constricting an actin- and myosin-based contractile ring (CR) that is physically linked to the plasma membrane (PM). In this study, we report that Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells lacking efr3 , which encodes a conserved PM scaffold for the phosphatidylinositol-4 kinase Stt4, build CRs that can slide away from the cell middle during anaphase in a myosin V–dependent manner. The Efr3-dependent CR-anchoring mechanism is distinct from previously reported pathways dependent on the Fes/CIP4 homology Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs167 (F-BAR) protein Cdc15 and paxillin Pxl1. In efr3Δ , the concentrations of several membrane-binding proteins were reduced in the CR and/or on the PM. Our results suggest that proper PM lipid composition is important to stabilize the central position of the CR and resist myosin V–based forces to promote the fidelity of cell division.
Molecular mechanisms behind the accumulation of ATP and H 2 O 2 in citrus plants in response to ‘ Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ infection

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (Las) is a fastidious, phloem-restricted pathogen with a significantly reduced genome, and attacks all citrus species with no immune cultivars documented to date. Like other plant bacterial pathogens, Las deploys effector proteins into the organelles of plant cells, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts to manipulate host immunity and physiology. These organelles are responsible for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and have a critical role in plant immune signaling during hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. In this study, we investigated H2O2 and ATP accumulation in relation to citrus huanglongbing (HLB) in addition to revealing the expression profiles of genes critical for the production and detoxification of H2O2 and ATP synthesis. We also found that as ATP and H2O2 concentrations increased in the leaf, so did the severity of the HLB symptoms, a trend that remained consistent among the four different citrus varieties tested. Furthermore, the upregulation of ATP synthase, a key enzyme for energy conversion, may contribute to the accumulation of ATP in infected tissues, whereas downregulation of the H2O2 detoxification system may cause oxidative damage to plant macromolecules and cell structures. This may explain the cause of some of the HLB symptoms such as chlorosis or leaf discoloration. The findings in this study highlight important molecular and physiological mechanisms involved in the host plants’ response to Las infection and provide new targets for interrupting the disease cycle. The physiological processes occuring in citrus plants suffering from citrus greening disease are at last becoming clear. This devasting disease, also known as Huanglongbing, is caused by the enigmatic bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (‘Las’). Las infects all citrus species, and no resistant cultivars are known. It has so far evaded laboratory culture, but a team at USDA-ARS in Fort Pierce, Florida, led by Yongping Duan, have now characterized how it manipulates host cells. Las-infected plants accumulate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which destroys plant cells but which Las can detoxify. Las also causes its host to generate increased levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of cells, which is translocated to the bacterium, fueling the infection. ATP and H2O2 may provide useful markers for infection, as well as targets for potential disease control strategies.
Rationalizing the Decision to Cheat: An Empirical Analysis to Determine Whether Social Rational Orientation Can Predict Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty is a wide-spread issue in educational institutions, including higher education. This study determined if there was a correlation between social rational action orientations and ...
Transverse Shear Modulus of Unidirectional Composites with Voids Estimated by the Multiple-Cells Model

Abstract Voids are inevitably formed as a by-product during manufacturing processes of composite materials and affect many of its mechanical properties including the transverse shear modulus. Although several analytical and empirical models are available for transverse shear modulus, they are based on simple assumptions, and none of them consider the effect of voids. In this work, we estimate transverse shear modulus through a finite element model that uses multiple-cells and three-dimensional analysis. The effect of voids on the transverse shear modulus is studied through a design of experiment approach via three primary parameters: fiber-to-matrix Young’s moduli ratio, fiber volume fraction, and void volume fraction. The results indicate that for allowable void volume fractions, the transverse shear modulus can decrease by as much as 15%, while the fiber volume fraction is the most dominating factor of the three in influencing its value.
Factors Affecting Farm Loan Delinquency in the Southeastern USA

This study establishes which factors affect Southeast US farmers’ ability to meet their loan repayment obligations within the stipulated loan term. The study uses a 10-year (2003-2012) pooled cross-sectional data from the USDA ARMS survey data (Phase III). A probit model is used to regress delinquency against various borrower-specific, loan-specific, lender-specific, macroeconomic and climatic variables for the first part. The results show that farmers with larger farms, those with insurance and higher net income, farmers with smaller debt to asset ratio, with single loans, and those that take majority of their loans from sources other than commercial banks are less likely to be delinquent. Climate variables such as temperature and precipitation also affect outcomes, but by minute magnitudes.
Cut redistribution and DSA template assignment for unidirectional design

Wth shrinking transistors in advanced circuit designs, directed self-assembly (DSA) is considered as one of the most promising techniques for cut patterning in 1-D grided design, due to its low cost and high-manufacturing throughput. In this paper, we consider the cut redistribution and DSA template assignment problem. For a given layout, we first convert the problem to a weighted gap conflict graph. Then, a minimum weighted vertex-disjoint-path cover algorithm is proposed to divide the graph into a set of paths. Finally, for each path, a dynamic programming algorithm is used to minimize the conflicts number and the total wire cost. In particular, the dynamic programming algorithm can guarantee the optimal conflicts number. Experimental results show that our proposed method can obtain free-conflict results for all benchmarks, and achieve the best wire cost, i.e., 34.7% less than a state-of-the-art work.
Taxonomy of Tetraneuris (Asteraceae: Helenieae: Tetraneurinae)

Abstract: Tetraneuris is recognized as a genus separate from Hymenoxys and a taxonomic treatment is presented for the 14 taxa recognized as constituting Tetraneuris: T. acaulis var. acaulis, T. acaulis var. arizonica, T. acaulis var. caespitosa, T. acaulis var. epunctata, T. argentea, T. herbacea, T. ivesiana., T. linearifolia var. linearifolia, T. linearifolia var. arenicola, T. scaposa var. scaposa, T. scaposa var. argyrocaulon, T. torreyana, T. turneri, and T. verdiensis. The revision includes synonymies, typifications, descriptions, discussions, and range maps for each of the accepted species.
Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Hospitalized for Lung Transplantation

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important complication after solid organ transplantation. We sought to evaluate any association between VTE and in-hospital death, length of hospitalization, and total hospital charges for patients hospitalized for lung transplantation (LT). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify patients hospitalized for LT from 2000 to 2011. We evaluated the incidence of VTE during hospitalization for LT, risk factors for VTE, and the association between VTE and in-hospital death, length of hospitalization, and total hospital charges. Results Of the 16,318 adults hospitalized for LT during the study period, VTE developed in 1,029 (6.3%), including 854 (5.4%) with deep vein thrombosis alone and 175 (1.1%) with pulmonary embolism. The factors associated with VTE included age older than 60 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.94), female sex (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86), and receiving mechanical ventilation support for 96 hours or more (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 2.49 to 4.58). The adjusted odds of in-hospital death in patients with pulmonary embolism was thrice as high as those without any VTE (OR, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.29 to 8.99). Among LT patients with VTE, the average length of hospitalization was 38% (95% CI, 27% to 48%) longer, and the total cost of hospitalization was 23% (95% CI, 16% to 30%) higher compared with LT patients without VTE. Conclusions VTE is a relatively frequent complication among LT recipients and is associated with increased death, total hospital length of stay, and hospital charges. These data indicate that prophylaxis practices should be reexamined to reduce this preventable complication.
PGC−1α Methylation: Molecular Links between Fat Metabolism, Mitochondrial Regulation and Parkinson's Disease (P05.060)

OBJECTIVE: To address whether saturated fatty acids such as palmitate can impair mitochondrial function in the central nervous system (CNS) via downregulation of PGC−1α expression. BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of sporadic Parkinson9s disease (PD) has been elusive. A new genome-wide meta-analysis study reveals for the first time a link between PD and defective expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator−1 alpha (PGC−1α) and related bioenergetics genes in affected brain tissue from PD patients. Mitochondrial dysfunction has long been implicated in PD. The findings of reduced PGC−1α expression in PD patients stimulate new perspectives on mitochondrial dysfunction in PD. Here we investigated the molecular links between perturbations in fatty acid levels and PGC−1α-mediated mitochondrial disregulation in PD. DESIGN/METHODS: We treated primary cortical and midbrain neuronal cultures with palmitate at different doses. Total RNA and genomic DNA were isolated for the measurement of PGC-1a gene expression, mitochondrial DNA content and PGC-1a promoter methylation levels. Additionally, we treated wild type or transgenic mice with α−synuclein overexpression in dopaminergic neurons with palmitate. Nigral PGC−1α expression levels and mitochondrial content were determined by qRT-PCR and westernblot. PGC−1α promoter methylation levels in nigral neurons were determined by bisulfite sequencing. RESULTS: We demonstrated that in primary cortical and midbrain neurons, addition of palmitate resulted in decreases in PGC−1α mRNA levels and mitochondrial contents. Furthermore, bisulfite sequencing revealed that palmitate induced non-CpG methylation of PGC−1α promoter. Methylation levels were negatively correlated with PGC−1α mRNA and mitochondrial DNA. In vivo data were in line with the in vitro results. CONCLUSIONS: Overall we provide evidence for fatty acids-induced PGC−1α hypermethylation, concomitant with reduced mitochondrial content in vitro and in vivo, further strengthening the pathophysiological link between fat metabolism, mitochondria regulation and PD. Disclosure: Dr. Su has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose. Dr. Federoff has nothing to disclose.
Regionalization of Critical Care

Recent efforts to improve the outcomes of intensive care emphasize not only quality improvement at the local level but also better organization and management of health care systems at the regional and national level. Central to this notion is the concept of regionalization, whereby selected critically ill patients are systematically triaged and transported to regional centers of excellence. Regionalization might improve quality and efficiency by improving access to scarce resources, increasing clinical experience in the care of complex patients, and creating economies of scale. At the same time, there are number of potential risks, including adverse events in the transport of critically ill patients, worsening of crowding at already overburdened referral ICUs, reducing clinical skill at referring hospitals, and creating a non-patient-centered system that values regional care at the expense of receiving care close to the patients’ homes. Future research and demonstration should provide insight into these tensions and lay the groundwork for regionalized critical care systems that are both effective and patient-centered.
Ipilimumab with anti PD-1 (nivovlumab or pembrolizumab) after progression on first line anti-PD-1 therapy for advanced melanoma.

e21552Background: Metastatic melanoma (MM) continues to present a challenge in clinical oncology. Anti-PD-1 antibodies (nivolumab, pembrolizumab) have improved outcomes for a significant number of ...
Antagonistic effects of temperature and dissolved organic carbon on fish growth in California mountain lakes

Resources and temperature play major roles in determining biological production in lake ecosystems. Lakes have been warming and ‘browning’ over recent decades due to climate change and increased loading of terrestrial organic matter. Conflicting hypotheses and evidence have been presented about whether these changes will increase or decrease fish growth within lakes. Most studies have been conducted in low-elevation lakes where terrestrially derived carbon tends to dominate over carbon produced within lakes. Understanding how fish in high-elevation mountain lakes will respond to warming and browning is particularly needed as warming effects are magnified for mountain lakes and treeline is advancing to higher elevations. We sampled 21 trout populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California to examine how body condition and individual growth rates, measured by otolith analysis, varied across independent elevational gradients in temperature and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We found that fish grew faster at warmer temperatures and higher nitrogen (TN), but slower in high DOC lakes. Additionally, fish showed better body condition in lakes with higher TN, higher elevation and when they exhibited a more terrestrial δ13C isotopic signature. The future warming and browning of lakes will likely have antagonistic impacts on fish growth, reducing the predicted independent impact of warming and browning alone.
In-Situ Mobilisation of Residual Oil in Contaminated Soil — Development of a Method for Selecting Oil-Mobilising Surfactants

In the years 1984 and 1985, the Battel le-Institute in Frankfurt investigated a presumably contaminated site on behalf of the Landkreis Gifhorn. The wastes (mainly construction materials, domestic waste and excavated soil) in the gravel pit contain a complex contamination by light fuel oil, heavy oil, aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons (CHC) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) /1/. On top of the aquifer a funicular soil slick covering an area of about 5000 m2 with a vertical extension of up to 0.6 m was detected. In the groundwater a pollutant plume with a length of about 1 km was found, containing up to 10.000 ppm CHC.
Hope Endures: Reading the Boston Marathon Bombing Through the Lens of Christian Hope

Moral tradition teaches that there are particular clarifying events which aid the renewal of moral freedom, the pursuit of the good, and the promotion of justice. The Boston Marathon bombing is one of those events, inviting theologians to consider what a sacramentally-oriented systematic theology offers society via faith and culture’s engagement. Viewing the Boston Marathon bombings through Moltmann’s lens of Christian hope shows seeds of it in the community’s response: it was forward-looking and called people to action; it anticipated a justice connected to the reign of God; and it called people into communities of hope, like those of the disciples. Engaging the community’s response and individual stories from the bombing which embody these three aspects of Christian hope offer a sacramental vision of hope with the potential to give life to a largely secularized culture.
MEMS Tunable Photonic Crystal-Cantilever Cavity

We present an easy-to-implement microelectromechanical systems-based tunable photonic crystal (PC) resonant cavity. This cavity is formed by embedding the tip of an electrostatically bendable cantilever into the center of a PC nanobeam structure. Owing to the presence of the cantilever, band-edge resonant modes occur within the cavity that allow light transmission through a photonic barrier. When a voltage is applied, the cantilever deflection perturbs the optical fields of the band-edge modes; this results in the modulation of both resonant wavelength and quality factor of the modes. The resonant wavelength of the cavity redshifts 13.5 nm when 97 volts is applied. [2019-0175]