cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Early stages of the enigmatic Prodidactis mystica (Meyrick) with comments on its new family assignment (Lepidoptera: Prodidactidae)

Prodidactis Meyrick is a monotypic genus restricted to southern Africa (South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Swaziland). The early stages of P. mystica (Meyrick) are described and illustrated for the first time; the larval host is Nuxia congesta (Loganiaceae). The genus previously has been assigned to Tortricidae, Yponomeutidae, and Limacodidae; however, an examination of larval, pupal, and adult characters contradict these placements. Although evidence from the larval stage places Prodidactis in Crambidae (Pyraloidea), features of the adults convincingly contradict this assignment. As an interim solution, we propose Prodidactidae, new family, to accommodate this unusual genus.
Seventh Circuit Does Not Hear 'Audible Silence'

It is generally the norm for a married couple to file a joint return rather than file separately, and for good reason: Doing so generally yields a lower tax liability between the parties. But perhaps beyond the realm of anticipated consequences of filing jointly for a typical taxpayer is the notion of joint and several tax liability. This rule, which is explained in the instructions to Form 1040, is the law under IRC section 6013(d)(3) and provides that both filers are jointly and severally liable for the entire tax liability computed on the taxpayers’ aggregate income. This means either party to the joint return may be held 100% liable for any deficiency assessed against the return, even if only one of the parties was responsible for the error, omission, or misrepresentation that gave rise to the deficiency. IRC section 6015 alleviates the harshness of this rule for "innocent spouses" - that is, those taxpayers who sign a jointly filed return without knowledge of the spouse’s underpayment of tax. This article discusses the Seventh Circuit's application of section 6015 and whether any exceptions exist to the two-year filing deadline mandated by the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Developments with Polychloroprene

Developments in polychloroprene since 1939 are briefly reviewed in chronological order. Recent manufacturing trends are discussed, particularly the switch to butadiene in place of acetylene as feed stock. The latest developments in polychloroprene including a new sulphur modified type and the introduction of superior processing polymers are reviewed. Alternatives to ethylene thiourea as the vulcanisation accelerator for polychloroprene are proposed. The selection of the correct type of polymer for a given application is discussed, also compounding to develop specific properties in polychloroprene compounds. Developments in processing including continuous curing of extrusions, injection moulding and powder mixing are reviewed.
Sepsis and multi-organ dysfunction associated with postgrooming furunculosis in a dog.

Background Postgrooming furunculosis, as previously described in the dog, is a type of pyoderma that typically responds to routine antimicrobial therapy. Systemic clinical signs are common but are usually mild. Animal A 3-year-old spayed female great dane was presented with marked dorsal furunculosis of 24 h duration. The clinical signs and blood analyses were consistent with sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). Methods and results Skin culture revealed multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The dog did not respond to aggressive medical therapy including intravenous antibiotic therapy, fresh frozen plasma and haemodynamic support, and was humanely euthanized. Postmortem findings were consistent with postgrooming furunculosis with associated sepsis and DIC affecting multiple organs including the lungs and brain. Conclusions and clinical importance Postgrooming furunculosis can progress to sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction in the dog and can lead to death.
Ideals in Ordered Groups

(i) P is a group under the operation +; (ii) P is a partially ordered set under the relation >; (iv) For any ideal J of P, x+J+y is an ideal or a dual ideal when x and y are any elements of P. (We defer the definition of an ideal until later in the paper.) Axiom (iv) here replaces the familiar axiom: (iii) If a and b are any elements of P such that a>b, then x+a+y?!x +b+y for any pair of elements x and y in P.
The Gulf War: Not So Clean

(1991). The Gulf War: Not So Clean. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 47, No. 7, pp. 30-35.
Electric organs: History and potential

The report “Genomic basis for the convergent evolution of electric organs” (J. R. Gallant et al. , 27 June, p. [1522][1]) is even more interesting when considered in light of the field's historical context. Attempts to explain electric organ function led to the invention of batteries and thus to
Abstract 2548: Quantitative changes in endogenous DNA adducts correlate with conazole mutagenicity and tumorigenicity in mouse liver

We have previously shown that the conazole fungicides triadimefon and propiconazole, which are tumorigenic in mouse liver, are in vivo mouse liver mutagens in the Big Blue™ transgenic mutation assay when administered in feed at tumorigenic doses. The nontumorigenic conazole myclobutanil was not mutagenic under the same conditions. DNA sequencing of the mutants recovered from each treatment group and from untreated control animals revealed that the mutations induced by propiconazole and triadimefon do not result from clonal expansion of background mutations. We hypothesized that these mutations arise from the accumulation of reactive electrophilic metabolic byproducts within the liver in vivo. We therefore measured the spectra of endogenous DNA adducts in the livers of mice from these studies in order to determine if quantitative or qualitative differences in DNA adducts correlated with mutagenicity and tumorigenicity. We resolved and quantitated 16 individual adduct spots by 32 P postlabeling and thin layer chromatography using 3 solvent systems. Qualitatively, we observed the same DNA adducts in control mice as in mice receiving conazoles. However, the 13 adducts with the highest chromatographic mobility were, as a group, present at significantly higher amounts in the livers of mice treated with propiconazole and triadimefon than in their concurrent controls, whereas this same group of DNA adducts in the myclobutanil-treated mice was not different from controls. We hypothesize that this treatment-related increase in endogenous DNA adducts may explain the observed increased in vivo mutation frequencies previously reported to be induced by treatment with propiconazole and triadimefon. This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2548. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2548
Phase I study of pemetrexed with sorafenib in advanced solid tumors.

// Andrew Poklepovic 1, 2 , Sarah Gordon 2 , Danielle A. Shafer 1, 2 , John D. Roberts 1, 2, 7 , Prithviraj Bose 1, 2, 8 , Charles E. Geyer Jr. 1, 2 , William P. McGuire 1, 2 , Mary Beth Tombes 1 , Ellen Shrader 1 , Katie Strickler 1 , Maria Quigley 1 , Wen Wan 1, 3 , Maciej Kmieciak 1 , H. Davis Massey 4 , Laurence Booth 5 , Richard G. Moran 1, 6 , Paul Dent 1, 5 1 Department of Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 3 Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 4 Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 5 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 6 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA 7 Current address: Department of Medical Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA 8 Current address: Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA Correspondence to: Andrew Poklepovic, email: andrew.poklepovic@vcuhealth.org Keywords: clinical trial, pemetrexed, solid tumors, sorafenib Received: February 26, 2016 Accepted: April 16, 2016 Published: May 18, 2016 ABSTRACT Purpose: To determine if combination treatment with pemetrexed and sorafenib is safe and tolerable in patients with advanced solid tumors. Results: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled and 36 patients were treated (24 in cohort A; 12 in cohort B). The cohort A dose schedule resulted in problematic cumulative toxicity, while the cohort B dose schedule was found to be more tolerable. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was pemetrexed 750 mg/m 2 every 14 days with oral sorafenib 400 mg given twice daily on days 1–5. Because dosing delays and modifications were associated with the MTD, the recommended phase II dose was declared to be pemetrexed 500 mg/m 2 every 14 days with oral sorafenib 400 mg given twice daily on days 1–5. Thirty-three patients were evaluated for antitumor activity. One complete response and 4 partial responses were observed (15% overall response rate). Stable disease was seen in 15 patients (45%). Four patients had a continued response at 6 months, including 2 of 5 patients with triple-negative breast cancer. Experimental Design: A phase I trial employing a standard 3 + 3 design was conducted in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cohort A involved a novel dose escalation schema exploring doses of pemetrexed every 14 days with continuous sorafenib. Cohort B involved a modified schedule of sorafenib dosing on days 1–5 of each 14-day pemetrexed cycle. Radiographic assessments were conducted every 8 weeks. Conclusions: Pemetrexed and intermittent sorafenib therapy is a safe and tolerable combination for patients, with promising activity seen in patients with breast cancer.
Flaminia Catteruccia - Digging into the Sex Life of Mosquitoes.

When it comes to infections diseases, mosquito sex is probably the last thing on everyone's mind. However, mosquitoes are the best-known natural disease vector. Female mosquitoes seek out a blood meal after mating to provide protein for egg development, and can transmit viral or parasitic pathogens when they bite. There is no effective treatment or vaccine for many mosquito-borne diseases, and controlling the mosquito population remains the most effective way of keeping these diseases in check. Owing to widespread insecticide resistance amongst mosquito populations, there is a crucial need to develop viable alternative methods for vector control.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravesical Doxorubicin in Superficial Bladder Cancer Patients

The urine and plasma pharmacokinetics of intravesical doxorubicin were studied in 8 patients with a history of superficial bladder cancer. Patients received 6 weekly treatments of 40 mg. doxorubicin in 20 ml. physiological saline. Doxorubicin was detectable (0.2 ng./ml. or more) in plasma from 6 of 8 patients during the initial treatment. The maximal concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 4.5 ng./ml. (mean 1.4). Doxorubicin was not detected in plasma from 7 of 8 patients during treatment 2 and not detected in any patient during treatment 4. The doxorubicin concentrations in urine decreased to approximately 50% at 5 minutes after dosing due to dilution by post-catheterization residual urine, and decreased by a further 6-fold by the end of the 2-hour treatment due to urine production. The recovery of doxorubicin at the end of treatment averaged 88.3%, with an additional recovery of 3.7% during the subsequent 4 hours. Urinary pH (range 5.5 to 8.5) did not affect the stability nor the systemic absorption of doxorubicin. In conclusion, we found that for intravesical doxorubicin therapy there was insignificant systemic exposure to doxorubicin, the highest systemic absorption from the bladder occurred shortly after surgery, there was high target site (bladder tissue) specificity, insignificant metabolism and/or degradation of doxorubicin, and dilution of urinary doxorubicin concentrations and, therefore, decreased tumor exposure to the drug due to residual urine and urine production.
Etectro-optical methods to study the time course of the fluorescence spectra within a laser pulse.

The goal of this study was to use time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to study the laser-induced fluorescence decay characteristics of various biochemical, compounds. The fluorophores used included, insoluble collagen powder from bovine achilles tendon and elastin powder from bovine neck ligament, A Xe-Cl excimer Laser, operating at 308 ran with a 175 ns (full width) pulse at 6 mJ/mm2, was used for excitation via a 600 i.im core diameter fiber. The fluorescence signal, induced by a single pulse, was guided through another 600 µm core diameter fiber to the entrance slit of a spectrograph. The spectrally-dispersed light was directed to a fast-gated, 1024 elements diode array detector. A fast pulser, optically triggered by the single-pulsed output of the laser, was controlling the opening of the "gate". Each element of the detector array samples the photon content during a specified sampling window of ~5 ns.
Conformational Change in the Ectodomain of the Amyloid Precursor Protein in Response to Proteolytic Processing: The Random Coil Regions Matter

Proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by the enzyme BACE1 is the initial step in production of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), and has been a major target of Alzheimer's drug discovery efforts. A recent study demonstrated that sAPPα, the product of the cleavage of the ectodomain of APP by α-secretase, is a potent direct inhibitor of the BACE1 enzyme. However, sAPPβ, the product of APP by BACE1 is not an inhibitor of BACE1. Since sAPPα differs from sAPPβ (578 residues) only by an additional 16 amino acids at the carboxyl-terminus, both variants were studied with small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in an effort to understand their different behaviour. Surprisingly, sAPPβ turned out to adopt a completely different conformation than sAPPα: a compact conformation in which the N-terminal E1 domain is juxtaposed with the C-terminus of the sAPPβ as opposed to the more linear conformation of sAPPα in which the E1 domain is stacked adjacent to the E2 domain. Studies with intrinsic fluorescence confirmed the conformational change. This observation indicates that the ectodomain of APP can switch between at least two stable conformations as a result of proteolytic processing. Heterodimerization studies of different fragments of APP using surface plasmon resonance indicated that the acidic region, the linker between the two domains, may play an important role in determining the position of the E1 domain relative to the rest of the protein. Combined with the SAXS analysis of the fragments, these studies demonstrate that functional conclusions based on the study of isolated fragments of APP can be misleading and suggest the “flexible” regions of APP may be much more important to its function than has been previously thought.
Cross-Talk between Cholesterol, PIP2 and Caveolin in Regulating Kir2 Channels

Multiple types of ion channels are regulated by two lipid modulators: phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and cholesterol, both modulators being enriched in caveolae. Our earlier studies identified cholesterol as a major negative regulator of Kir2 channels that are also well-known to be critically dependent on PIP2. Furthermore, it was proposed that cholesterol regulation of ion channels might be attributed to the disruption of their association with caveolin-1 and/or PIP2. In this study, we investigated the cross-talk between cholesterol, PIP2 and caveolin in the regulation of Kir2.1 channels. We show that cholesterol depletion strengthens the interaction between Kir2 channels and PIP2 and that a single-point mutation of Kir2.1 L222I that renders the channels cholesterol insensitive abrogates this effect. Furthermore, we present direct evidence that Kir2.1 is negatively regulated by Cav-1 and that Kir2.1-L222I mutation also abrogates the sensitivity of the channels to caveolin. Kinetic analysis of single-channel events also points to a common mechanism for cholesterol and Cav-1 regulation of the channels. However, neither Cav-1, nor intact caveolae are required for Kir2.1 channels to be cholesterol sensitive, thus challenging a general notion that cholesterol regulates ion channels by disruption of caveolae. Furthermore, we present first insights into the structural determinants of the cross-talk between the sensitivity of Kir2 channels to cholesterol, PIP2 and to caveolin: based on recent studies, we suggest that cholesterol, PIP2 and caveolin regulate the channels through distinct binding sites but that the signals generated by the binding of these modulators converge in regulating Kir2.1 gating.
Enhancing the Radiologist-Patient Relationship through Improved Communication: A Quantitative Readability Analysis in Spine Radiology.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: More than 75 million Americans have less than adequate health literacy skills according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Readability scores are used as a measure of how well populations read and understand patient education materials. The purpose of this study was to assess the readability of Web sites dedicated to patient education for radiologic spine imaging and interventions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven search terms relevant to radiologic spine imaging were searched on the public Internet, and the top 10 links for each term were collected and analyzed to determine readability scores by using 10 well-validated quantitative readability assessments from patient-centered education Web sites. The search terms included the following: x-ray spine, CT spine, MR imaging spine, lumbar puncture, kyphoplasty, vertebroplasty, discogram, myelogram, cervical spine, thoracic spine, and lumbar spine. RESULTS: Collectively, the 110 articles were written at an 11.3 grade level (grade range, 7.1–16.9). None of the articles were written at the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommended 3rd-to-7th grade reading levels. The vertebroplasty articles were written at a statistically significant (P CONCLUSIONS: Increasing use of the Internet to obtain health information has made it imperative that on-line patient education be written for easy comprehension by the average American. However, given the discordance between readability scores of the articles and the American Medical Association and National Institutes of Health recommended guidelines, it is likely that many patients do not fully benefit from these resources.
Risk Factors For and Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli Infections in Children

The recent increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli infections is not well described in children. We determined the risk factors and outcomes of extraintestinal E. coli infections in children in our region. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children ≤18 years in Olmsted County, MN, USA, between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. MDR isolates were defined as resistant to ≥3 antibiotic classes. A total of 368 children each contributed 1 isolate. Isolates were predominantly community-associated (82%) and from urine (90%), and outpatients (86%); 46 (13%) isolates were MDR. In multivariable analysis, genitourinary (GU) tract anomaly (OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.03–5.68), invasive devices (OR 3.48, 95% CI 1.37–8.83) and antibiotic use at presentation (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.06–6.47) were associated with MDR E. coli. Children with MDR infections were more likely to have a complex infection (35% vs. 17%, P = 0.026), less likely to receive effective empiric antibiotics (47% vs. 74%, P < 0.001), had longer time to receipt of effective antibiotics (median 19.2 vs. 0.6 h, P < 0.001), and longer hospitalization (median 10 vs. 4 days, P = 0.029) than children with non-MDR infections. Pediatric MDR E. coli infection was associated with GU tract anomaly, invasive devices, antibiotic use, delays in effective therapy and longer hospitalization.
The World of Pikas

The 30 currently recognized living species of pika (Ochotonidae: Genus Ochotona) comprise approximately one-third of all lagomorphs. The Leporidae, in contrast, contains 32 species of hare (Genus Lepus) and 29 species of rabbit (multiple genera; Hoffmann and Smith 2005). Both traditional (morphological) and molecular evidence indicates that the Ochotonidae separated from the Leporidae during the Oligocene, approximately 37 Mya. The Ochotonidae originated in Asia, but had spread to North America by the late Oligocene. Throughout their Holarctic range, and even extending into northern Africa, pikas differentiated and became quite diverse during the Miocene. Modern pikas (Ochotona) first appeared in Asia during the early Pliocene and spread to North America by the mid-Pliocene. The only two pika genera to appear in historical times, Prolagus and Ochotona, appeared in Europe by the late Pliocene. Following the extinction of Prolagus, Ochotona became the only living representative of the family that had flourished with as many as 25 fossil genera (Dawson 1967; Erbajeva 1988, 1994). Today’s pikas are found primarily in the high mountains of western North America (two species) and across Asia (28 species; Smith et al. 1990; Hoffmann and Smith 2005). The “hotspot” for Ochotona is China, home to 24 species. No consensus has been reached on the systematics of Ochotona; in fact, no two revisions of all or part of the genus are remotely similar (Smith et al. 1990; Yu et al. 2000). Molecular approaches are beginning to unravel the Gordian knot of pika systematics, but much remains to be clarified (Yu et al. 2000; Niu et al. 2001, 2004). We do know that most pikas are remarkably similar in morphology and that they generally live in some of the most remote landscapes on earth. The purpose of this review is to bring attention to pika biology by demonstrating some of the important issues in ecology, behavior, and conservation that can be addressed by studying pikas. It is distressing that only three of the 174 presentations at the Second World Lagomorph Conference held in Portugal (1.7%) were focused on pikas, whereas 33% of papers should have been on pikas if they had been represented according to their species richness within
Real and Accrual Earnings Management around Initial Public Offerings in Jordan

This study examines whether Initial Public Offering (IPO) firms in Jordan utilize real activities and accruals accounting during the offering year to manipulate income. To date the current study is the first to examine real activities and accrual earnings management that undertaken by IPO firms in Jordan. Using a Jordanian sample of 41 IPO firms over the period between 2000 and 2011, this study provides new evidence to the literature that IPO firms in Jordan utilize real activities and accruals accounting to inflate net income that is reported during the offering year. In particular, the findings of current study show that IPO firms report a higher level of earnings manipulation during the offering year that conducted via accrual-based earnings management, sales-based, discretionary expenses-based, and the aggregated measure-based of real activities.
Modeling of curving hydraulic fracture propagation from a wellbore in a poroelastic medium

Abstract Understanding near-wellbore hydraulic fracture behaviors is vital for hydraulic fracturing treatments and other injection-related operations in the petroleum industry. This paper presents a fully coupled fluid flow and geomechanics model for growth of hydraulic fractures in the near-wellbore region. The model is developed within the framework of the extended finite element method (XFEM). Fracture initiation and propagation, fracturing fluid flow, rock deformation, and pore fluid flow are coupled into the XFEM framework. The model is validated against experimental results in the literature. Capabilities of the proposed model for capturing fracture geometry, fluid flow, and local stress and pore pressure distributions are illustrated with numerical examples. A parametric study is carried out using the model to investigate a few operational parameters’ effects on near-wellbore fractures. Some recommendations are provided for reducing fracture tortuosity and breakdown pressure based on the results of the parametric study. The XFEM model proposed in this paper provides an efficient tool to predict arbitrary hydraulic fracture growth in the wellbore vicinity. It can be used to aid designs of various hydraulic fracturing related operations in the petroleum industry, such as fracturing stimulations, injectivity tests, waterfloods, and waste injections.
Distributed deep learning networks among institutions for medical imaging.

Objective Deep learning has become a promising approach for automated support for clinical diagnosis. When medical data samples are limited, collaboration among multiple institutions is necessary to achieve high algorithm performance. However, sharing patient data often has limitations due to technical, legal, or ethical concerns. In this study, we propose methods of distributing deep learning models as an attractive alternative to sharing patient data. Methods We simulate the distribution of deep learning models across 4 institutions using various training heuristics and compare the results with a deep learning model trained on centrally hosted patient data. The training heuristics investigated include ensembling single institution models, single weight transfer, and cyclical weight transfer. We evaluated these approaches for image classification in 3 independent image collections (retinal fundus photos, mammography, and ImageNet). Results We find that cyclical weight transfer resulted in a performance that was comparable to that of centrally hosted patient data. We also found that there is an improvement in the performance of cyclical weight transfer heuristic with a high frequency of weight transfer. Conclusions We show that distributing deep learning models is an effective alternative to sharing patient data. This finding has implications for any collaborative deep learning study.
Interference in wireless networks with rate difference user utilities

As efforts are made to increase the number of devices connected wirelessly, interference continues to be a challenging barrier to the efficient performance of wireless networks. We consider interference in a wireless network under a game-theoretic model where wireless users seek to maximize a difference between their information rates and the rates of other users in the network. A user must allocate power between its channel input and an interference input that is injected into its competitor's channel. Nash equilibria (NE) for the K-user game are characterized when the game is played over one block transmission. Under certain symmetry conditions on the users, it is shown the power allocated to each user's interference input goes to zero at the single block NE as the number of users in the network grows large. When the two-user game is played over consecutive blocks, it is shown that two-user cooperation is feasible such that an interference-free game equilibrium can be enforced.
Tunable Spectral Ordering of Magnetic Plasmon Resonances in Noble Metal Nanoclusters

Experimental characterization of the optical and magnetic properties of noble metal nanoclusters has exposed a size regime in between single-ring and extended two-dimensional nanocluster networks where the behavior of magnetic plasmon resonances is not well understood. In this intermediate size regime, individual electric dipole plasmons on each nanoparticle within the cluster can hybridize into delocalized magnetic modes that couple to either the electric or magnetic field of light with seemingly arbitrary energy ordering. Here, using a coupled-dipole model that includes fully retarded interactions between electric dipole plasmons, we show that magnetic plasmon resonance energies can be controllably tuned and even made to cross as a function of nanocluster size. Experimental confirmation of this prediction is challenging because optical selection rules dictate the simultaneous excitation of many spectrally overlapping magnetic plasmon modes. However, based on analytic modeling and numerical simulation, w...
Heme oxygenase-1 deficiency promotes severity of sepsis in a non-surgical preterm mouse model.

Sepsis in preterm infants is associated with systemic inflammatory responses. The stress-response protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has protective anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, we reported a protective role of HO-1 using our non-surgical cecal slurry (CS) model in wild-type (WT) mouse pups. Here, we extend these findings to investigate the association of HO-1 deficiency with sepsis severity. Adapting the Wynn model, we induced sepsis in 4-day-old HO-1-deficient (HO-1+/−, Het) pups to determine if HO-1 deficiency affected survival rates at the LD40 (2.0 mg/g) of WT pups. To see if HO-1 induction affected sepsis severity, we gave 30-μmol heme/kg subcutaneously to 3-day-old mice 24 h prior to sepsis induction. Post-sepsis induction, Het pups had a mortality of 85.0% (n = 20) and increased expression of the pro-inflammatory gene in the livers and affected hematologic profiles. Heme treatment 24 h prior to sepsis induction significantly increased liver HO activity, reduced mortality to 24.5% (n = 17), attenuated inflammatory responses, reduced spleen bacterial counts, and significantly increased peripheral neutrophils. A partial deficiency in HO-1 increased the progression and mortality in sepsis. Furthermore, induction of HO-1 significantly reduced the mortality even in Het pups. Thus, we conclude that HO-1 plays an important role in the protection against preterm sepsis.
Family Functioning and Medical Adherence Across Children and Adolescents With Chronic Health Conditions: A Meta-Analysis

Objectives A meta-analysis examined family functioning and medical adherence in children and adolescents with chronic health conditions. Family functioning was evaluated at the level of the family unit, as well as parent-child interactions. Methods We conducted literature searches using PubMed, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane. After reviewing 764 articles, 62 studies met eligibility criteria. Pearson's r correlations were the effect size of interest. We conducted both omnibus and domain-specific (e.g., family conflict, cohesion) meta-analyses. Meta-regressions examined whether relevant covariates related to the magnitude of the effect. Results The omnibus meta-analysis showed that family functioning was significantly related to medical adherence across a variety of pediatric chronic health conditions. Lower family conflict, greater family cohesion, greater family flexibility, more positive communication, and better family problem-solving were each associated with better adherence. There were no significant differences in the magnitude of the omnibus effect based on child age, measurement features (subjective vs. objective or bioassay adherence; family unit vs. parent-child interactions), or study quality. Conclusions Consistent with social-ecological frameworks, findings supported links between family functioning and medical adherence. This study highlights several limitations of the extant research, including absence of a guiding theoretical framework and several methodological weaknesses. We offer clinical and research recommendations for enhancing scientific understanding and promotion of adherence within the family context.
The Role of Reducing Agents and the Physiology of Trophozoite Attachment

Giardia lamblia trophozoites are actively motile, yet they attach to the intestinal epithelium via the ventral adhesive or striated disc (Morecki and Parker, 1967; Owen, 1980). Attachment may influence the pathophysiology of the disease. The organisms must adhere strongly enough not to be swept away by peristalsis and movement of the intestinal fluid. They must also be able to detach and reattach so as not to be sloughed off in the constant renewal of epithelial cells. Thus, it is important to understand factors which influence trophozoite attachment. In vivo, such factors are difficult to assess or identify in the complex host-parasite interactions. Therefore, it is important to study simpler in vitro systems.
DOES THE L.I.V. HAVE A SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE

This chapter discusses the social significance of LIV. One should first distinguish between natural groups (family, tribe) for which one can claim that, like the organism, they seem to present to the scientist no other unifying principle as that of the maintenance of boundaries of survival. Natural groups, like a family or a tribe, may even be considered as an enlargement of parental boundaries; one would expect them to be more subject to the LIV. Artificial groups, like clubs, business enterprises, charitable organizations, unions, etc., cannot be viewed in such a simple way. Some of them lend more power to the individual in exchange for surrendering some of his/her power. Others have a goal serving not the survival of the individual but the survival of a much larger group, like a nation, the future generations, and the human race.
Maspin: A Novel Serine Protease Inhibitor

Maspin is a novel serine protease inhibitor differentially expressed in several types of human cancers. Accumulated evidence indicates that maspin plays a tumor suppressive role at the steps of tumor growth, invasion, tumor-induced extracellular matrix remodeling and angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. Several recent studies also suggest that maspin plays a role in restoring a more differentiated phenotype and enhances tumor cell sensitivity to drug-induced apoptosis. To date, the underlying molecular mechanisms of maspin remain elusive. This review is intended to summarize research progress made in several areas with a focus on whether maspin acts as a serine protease inhibitor. Towards the potential clinical application of maspin in anti-cancer therapies, this review also discusses the current challenges and future research directions.
Neuroimaging of Post-treatment and Iatrogenic Conditions Related to the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues

Various treatment effects and implants related to the skin and subcutaneous tissues can be encountered on neuroimaging. Examples include staples, tissue expanders, Mohs micrographic surgery, grafts, radiation therapy, cosmetic and reconstructive fillers and implants, and complications that can result, such as tumor recurrence, as well as Gadolinium-based contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. This chapter reviews the imaging findings of these particular topics.
Use of Photo Maps and Orthophoto Maps at the Army Map Service

To reduce the cost of mapping, recourse is being made to the use of electronic devices with an emphasis on automation. Some of the new automatic instruments and techniques are described in the paper.
Accelerated regeneration of transplanted hematopoietic stem cells in irradiated mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide.

Results of experiments are reported which indicate that colony-forming units (CFU) regenerate more rapidly when transplanted into the marrow of lethally irradiated hosts pretreated with cyclophosphamide (CY) than when transplanted into those pretreated with saline. This effect is probably unrelated to the immunosuppressive properties of CY because it occurs in isogeneic strains as well as in randomly bred CF1 mice. It also does not result from an increase in the radioresistance of cells which survive after injection of CY. The data presented here are compatible with the concept that CY somehow improves the environment for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) proliferation and thereby causes an increased rate of regeneration of transplanted HSC in the marrow cavity of the host. The possibility that this is caused by release of HSC from an inhibitory effect of cell-cell interactions on proliferation or by the release of a humoral stimulus to HSC regeneration is discussed.
The Real Book of Mormon Musical: Latter-day Saint Family Home Evening as a Weekly Ritual

Scholars of religious ritual have noted that inadequate attention has been paid to religious ritual in the social sciences. Based on what has been done, it is apparent that sacred family rituals (w...
Confidence interval estimation of the Youden index and corresponding cut-point for a combination of biomarkers under normality

In prognostic/diagnostic medical research, it is often the goal to identify a biomarker that differentiates between patients with and without a condition, or patients that will have good or poor re...
Alcohol and marijuana co-use: Consequences, subjective intoxication, and the operationalization of simultaneous use.

Abstract Background Alcohol and marijuana are frequently co-used with overlapping effects. However, the absence of consistent operational definitions delineating simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use (SAM) from concurrent use (CAM) challenges consistent inferences about these behaviors. This study first examined whether daily alcohol and marijuana co-use predicted substance-use related consequences and subjective intoxication; and then evaluated whether competing operationalizations of SAM and CAM were associated with differences in these outcomes on co-use days. Methods A sample of 341 young adult college students who reported past-month use of both alcohol and marijuana “at the same time so that their effects overlapped” completed a two-wave survey with paired 28-day daily experience sampling bursts examining alcohol and marijuana co-use. Outcomes were (a) daily substance-use related consequences; and (b) daily subjective intoxication. Focal predictors were daily drinks and marijuana uses; daily co-use versus single-substance use (Aim 1) or CAM versus SAM (Aim 2); and their interaction. Results Participants reported more negative consequences on co-use days versus marijuana-only days and greater subjective intoxication relative to alcohol or marijuana-only days. Competing operationalizations of SAM, defined as daily co-use occurring within 1−240 min in increments of 1 min, found no difference in consequences or subjective intoxication regardless of operationalization. Conclusion Co-use days involve greater risk than alcohol-only or marijuana-only days. Although there was no evidence of additional daily risk from simultaneous use regardless of the timeframe used to operationalize it, investigating these effects remains challenging due to the generally small timeframe between substances on co-use days in this sample.
Design and characterization of mechanically stable, nanoporous TiO2 thin film antimicrobial coatings for food contact surfaces

Abstract To improve food safety during food processing, we developed a titanium dioxide, photocatalytic coating that can be applied to standard stainless-steel food contact surfaces (FCS) via a sol-gel method. These thin, self-assembled, porous coatings have the potential to reduce surface cross-contamination in food processing environments when used in combination with oxygen, water, and ultraviolet (UV) light through photocatalytic processes. Under these conditions, the coating releases reactive oxidative species (ROS), the amount of which is directly related to the coating's photocatalytic activity; ROS are responsible for killing microorganisms. In this study, a quadratic mathematical model is used to optimize the relationships among synthetic parameters, including sol-gel aging time and sintering temperature, and the resulting photocatalytic activity of the coatings. Using statistical analysis, the coatings synthesized using 223 h aging time and 507 °C sintering temperatures were predicted to yield maximized photocatalytic activity within the experimental range. We verified this prediction experimentally, and compared the relationships between photocatalytic activity and the areal porosity of the photocatalytically-optimized coatings to determine how the porosity of the coatings impacted their photocatalytic activity. Lastly, in an effort to assess real-life applications, the mechanical stability of the photocatalytically-optimized coatings was evaluated using nanoindentation and pencil hardness testing. By tailoring the coatings' physicochemical properties to optimize for photocatalytic performance and mechanical stability, we can create photocatalytic coatings for food contact surfaces that have the potential to prevent or minimize cross-contamination during food processing.
Medical Student Ultrasound Education: The Radiology Chair Weighs In.

ABSTRACT To assess the radiology department chairs' opinions concerning current status and plans for teaching ultrasound to medical students, the American College Taskforce on Radiology Ultrasound Education, commissioned by the American College of Radiology, distributed a survey to 142 radiology chairs and a medical school dean subgroup.The response rate was 30% (42/142), and 76% indicated ultrasound was currently part of the medical student curriculum. In preclinical years, radiology involvement was only 6.4%. During clinical years, radiology led ultrasound education with 51.7% in general and 82.9% in elective rotations. Regarding actual content, top 4 results were evenly distributed between learning hands-on scanning (81.1%), diagnostic use of ultrasound (75.7%), anatomy/pathology (75.7%), and ultrasound guidance for procedures (54.0%). Educational leaders in preclinical courses were emergency medicine (72.7%) followed by radiology (45.4%) physicians. During clinical years, leaders were radiology (52.6%) and emergency medicine (47.4%) physicians. Most chairs stated that knowledge of diagnostic ultrasound should be mandatory (76.2%), stressing the importance of teaching the diagnostic capabilities and uses of ultrasound as the primary goal (78.8%). Perceived barriers to implementation were evenly distributed between lack of space in the curriculum (55.6%), lack of faculty (48.2%), lack of resources (44.4%), and lack of institutional support (40.7%). The American College Taskforce on Radiology Ultrasound Education survey shows that radiology's role in ultrasound undergraduate education occurs almost exclusively during clinical years, and the chairs voice a desire to improve upon this role. Barriers include both intradepartmental (faculty and resources) and institutional (curricular) factors.
Nationwide study of six-month readmissions in critical limb ischemia: Predictors and impact of revascularization strategies.

ObjectiveThere is a paucity of data regarding six-month readmissions in critical limb ischemia patients and the influence of management strategy during index-admission [endovascular, surgical, hybr...
Synthesis and Characterization of the Potential Melt-Castable Explosive 3-(1,2,4-Oxadiazolyl)-5-Nitratomethyl Isoxazole.

The synthesis of 3-(1,2,4-oxadiazolyl)-5-nitratomethyl isoxazole (C6 H4 N4 O5 ), its physical properties, and its theoretical performances are described. This energetic material was found to have a melting point range of 76.6-79.2 °C, and a thermal onset decomposition temperature of 184.5 °C. These thermal features put this material into the standalone melt-castable explosive class. The material was found to have TNT performance, and was found to be insensitive to impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge, despite having a nitric ester functionality. A critical reaction in making this molecule was the desymmetrization of diaminoglyoxime. The optimization of this transformation is described. Previous reports of this desymmetrization were found to be inaccurate, as the desymmetrization reaction produces a co-crystal of mono- and bi-1,2,4-oxadiazole products.
Using machine learning to model nontraditional spatial dependence in occupancy data

Spatial models for occupancy data are used to estimate and map the true presence of a species, which may depend on biotic and abiotic factors as well as spatial autocorrelation. Traditionally researchers have accounted for spatial autocorrelation in occupancy data by using a correlated normally distributed site-level random effect, which might be incapable of modeling nontraditional spatial dependence such as discontinuities and abrupt transitions. Machine learning approaches have the potential to model nontraditional spatial dependence, but these approaches do not account for observer errors such as false absences. By combining the flexibility of Bayesian hierarchal modeling and machine learning approaches, we present a general framework to model occupancy data that accounts for both traditional and nontraditional spatial dependence as well as false absences. We demonstrate our framework using six synthetic occupancy data sets and two real data sets. Our results demonstrate how to model both traditional and nontraditional spatial dependence in occupancy data which enables a broader class of spatial occupancy models that can be used to improve predictive accuracy and model adequacy.
Double- and relay-cropping of energy crops in the northern Great Plains, USA

Abstract In a growing developing world, innovative cropping systems are necessary to obtain continuous and sustainable supplies of food, feed, fuel, and bio-based products. Double- and relay-cropping systems are an option to produce biofuels, food, and biomass feedstock in a single season on the same land without sacrificing food security. Field studies were conducted between 2011 and 2013 in Prosper and Carrington, ND, and Morris, MN. Eleven crop sequences composed of double- and relay-cropping of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), and maize (Zea mays L.), following winter camelina (Camelina sativa L.) were evaluated and compared with soybean, maize, and sorghum monocultures. Forage sorghum and camelina were used as theoretical feedstocks for energy production from biomass and oil, respectively. Camelina seed yield was 1415 and 940 kg ha−1 in Prosper and Carrington, respectively, when averaged across years. In Morris, camelina seed yield averaged 278, and 1745 kg ha−1 in 2012 and 2013, respectively. In the relay-cropping systems, the highest biomass yield (16.2 Mg ha−1) was achieved with forage sorghum inter-seeded into standing camelina. As expected, all sorghum, soybean, and maize monocultures had higher biomass yield than the same crops in double- or relay-cropping with camelina. Energy efficiency was evaluated for double- and relay-cropping systems based on energy inputs and outputs. The forage sorghum seeded at a normal seeding date (NSD) and at the same time that it was seeded into the double-crop treatments (DSD) on fallow ground, and soybean seeded at a NSD had energy efficiencies of 17.8, 18.7, and 21.6, respectively, in Carrington. In Morris, forage sorghum and maize seeded at NSD had energy efficiencies of 42.6 and 34.7, respectively. Of the double- and relay-cropping systems, the camelina-forage sorghum relay treatment produced the highest energy efficiency at all three locations in both years. Forage sorghum seeded at NSD was the most energy efficient monocrop at all three locations. Both forage sorghum in monocrop and the camelina-sorghum relay treatment showed good potential for biofuel and energy feedstock production in the northern Great Plains.
Caffeine delays habituation of the human acoustic startle reflex

The acoustic startle reflex has proved to be an excellent system for studying habituation in mammals. In animal studies, startle habituation has been found to be sensitive to various pharmacological manipulations. The present experiments were designed to determine whether caffeine (4 mg/kg) modified startle habituation in low and high caffeine users. Human eyeblink responses were measured in a startle habituation paradigm in which 30 trials of 85-dB broadband noise stimuli with a duration of 50 msec and a rise time of .1 msec were presented. Caffeine delayed the habituation of startle amplitude in both low and high users and produced significant dishabituation in low users. These findings indicate that caffeine disrupts early sensory filtering.