cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating North Carolina Food Pantry Food Safety-Related Operating Procedures.

Almost one in seven American households were food insecure in 2012, experiencing difficulty in providing enough food for all family members due to a lack of resources. Food pantries assist a food-insecure population through emergency food provision, but there is a paucity of information on the food safety–related operating procedures used in the pantries. Food pantries operate in a variable regulatory landscape; in some jurisdictions, they are treated equivalent to restaurants, while in others, they operate outside of inspection regimes. By using a mixed methods approach to catalog the standard operating procedures related to food in 105 food pantries from 12 North Carolina counties, we evaluated their potential impact on food safety. Data collected through interviews with pantry managers were supplemented with observed food safety practices scored against a modified version of the North Carolina Food Establishment Inspection Report. Pantries partnered with organized food bank networks were compared with ...
Differential effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on absorptive hyperemia

To test whether the hydrolytic products of digestion could stimulate vasoactive prostaglandin synthesis in the intestine, the muscularis and mucosa of the rat jejunum were suffused with a bicarbonate-buffered Ringer vehicle containing cyclooxygenase inhibitors (meclofenamate or indomethacin; 3 X 10(-5) M). To evoke blood flow changes, either glucose (56 mM), oleic acid (20 or 40 mM), or sodium arachidonate was added to the mucosal vehicle. Bile salt (taurocholic acid, 10 mM) was added to emulsify oleic acid. Blood flow was calculated (BFc) in submucosal arterioles by use of video microscopy. Neither bile salt nor cyclooxygenase inhibitors altered resting BFc. Neither oleic acid concentration nor solution osmolality altered the magnitude of absorptive hyperemia. After 10 min of glucose, BFc increased 36 +/- 6% with vehicle (n = 16) and 39 +/- 8% with meclofenamate (n = 10). After 10 min of oleic acid, BFc increased 21 +/- 5% with vehicle (n = 17) and 34 +/- 6% with inhibitors (n = 17). In animals exposed twice to the same concentration of oleic acid, the paired difference between the vehicle and inhibitors (19 +/- 7%; n = 9) was significant. Arachidonate alone produced no dose-related (0.06-1.9 mM) effect on BFc (n = 41), but arachidonate (0.3 mM) combined with cyclooxygenase inhibitors (6 X 10(-5) M) produced a significant BFc increase of 35 +/- 7% (n = 6). These observations suggest that the absorption of oleic acid, but not glucose, stimulates the synthesis of a vasoactive metabolite of arachidonate. The mechanism for the differential effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitors is unknown but could involve nonprostaglandin metabolites of arachidonate, such as lipoxygenase or cytochrome P-450 products.
Influence of organic fillers on surface tension of phenol-formaldehyde adhesives

Abstract Organic fillers derived from biomass waste streams are commonly formulated with phenol-formaldehyde resoles (PF) in the production of veneer-based wood composites such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber. The surface tensions of PF/filler formulations were studied as a function of filler types: flours of walnut shell ( Juglans regia ), red alder ( Alnus rubra ) bark, and corn cob ( Zea mays ) furfural production residue. Surface tensions were measured using the drop weight method (with the Harkins–Brown and the Lee–Chan–Pogaku corrections), and also the drop shape method. In these non-Newtonian liquids, viscosity effects on surface tension were determined over a 10-fold range in shear rate. Viscosity effects were minor or negligible, but measurements at the lowest shear rates were considered most reliable. All fillers reduced PF surface tension by 17–25% with effects greatest in alder bark and walnut shell. For all fillers, room temperature aging resulted in further reductions in surface tension. Surface tension reductions roughly correlated to the chemical compositions of the fillers, and probably resulted from the release of surface active compounds extracted from the fillers in the alkaline PF medium.
The effect of body mass index on fluoroscopic time and radiation dose during lumbar transforaminal epidural steroid injections

Abstract Objective Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) are a commonly used, effective treatment for radicular pain. Accurate delivery of the injected medication helps to ensure maximum therapeutic efficacy and to decrease possible adverse events, and fluoroscopy is the preferred and most common image-guidance modality used to ensure accurate needle placement during lumbar TFESIs. However, fluoroscopic-guided lumbar TFESIs put patients at risk because of radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and fluoroscopy time and radiation dose during lumbar TFESIs. Design A retrospective study design was used. Setting The study was conducted at an academic orthopedic center. All procedures were performed by physicians board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and with subspecialty certification in sports medicine, or by a trainee under close supervision from an attending physician. Participants Participants were patients who underwent fluoroscopic-guided lumbar TFESIs between February 2013 and March 2015 with a documented height/weight, fluoroscopy time, and radiation dose. Interventions All patients received unilateral or bilateral lumbar TFESIs with fluoroscopic guidance. Fluoroscopy time and dose were recorded. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were fluoroscopy time and radiation dose. A Bonferroni correction was implemented for multiple comparisons, defining statistical significance at p Results A total of 2,443 injections were performed on 1,548 patients. There were 419 normal, 572 overweight, and 557 obese patients, respectively. There were 1,426 first-time injections and 1,017 repeat injections. Sixty-nine percent (1,681) were unilateral injections, and 26.4% (645) were single level injections. A trainee was involved in 1,361 (55.7%) of the injections performed. The mean fluoroscopy time for all injections was 30.0±17.5 seconds, and the mean radiation dose was 2,164±1,484 mGy-cm 2 . The mean fluoroscopy time was 27.7±15.2 seconds for normal weight patients, 30.0±21.0 seconds for overweight patients, and 32.2±15.1 seconds for obese patients, showing a significant difference between groups (p 2 , respectively, with a significant increase in radiation dose with increasing BMI (p Conclusions The findings of this study demonstrate that fluoroscopy radiation dose and fluoroscopy time during lumbar TFESIs are increased in patients with an elevated BMI, and in patients of greater age, but the presence of a trainee had no effect on fluoroscopy time.
Hybrid Magneto-Active Propellant Management Device for Active Slosh Damping in Spacecraft

This disclosure includes a hybrid magneto-active membrane, which can be used as part of a Magneto-active Propellant Management Device (MAPMD), to actively control free surface effects of liquid materials, such as fuels, and to reduce fuel slosh. The disclosed MAPMD merges aspects of a diaphragm membrane with a magneto-active inlay to control the membrane during in-flight conditions.
Quantitation of immunosuppression by tacrolimus using flow cytometric analysis of interleukin-2 and interferon-γ inhibition in CD8- and CD8+ peripheral blood T cells

The authors have determined the frequency of intracellular interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) synthesis by T-cell subsets in whole blood (WB) and isolated lymphocytes in 16 transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus and 10 control patients who were not transplant recipients. The authors also determined the impact of varying amounts of red blood cells (RBC) on immunosuppression by tacrolimus. Samples were analyzed by two-color flow cytometry, and the results were expressed as a ratio of whole blood to isolated lymphocytes. In healthy subjects who were not transplant recipients, the frequency of IL-2-producing CD8 - and CD8 + cells was higher in WB than in isolated lymphocytes (mean ± SD of whole blood to lymphocytes ratio: 1.24 ± 0.5 and 1.67 ± 0.62, respectively). Adding varying amounts of RBC had no significant impact on IL-2 production by CD8 - and CD8 + T cells. Adding tacrolimus (10 ng/mL) to lymphocyte cultures inhibited (90%) IL-2 production in isolated T cells but not in the whole-blood assay. The dose of tacrolimus required for a 50% inhibition of IL-2 release in T cells was 10-fold higher in cultures with RBC than without. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from tacrolimus-treated whole blood (WB) showed less IL-2 inhibition than did lymphocytes in the WB. The authors also tested cytokine production in WB and PBMCs in 16 transplant recipients and observed various patterns of reactivity. The frequency of IL-2-producing CD8 - and CD8 + cells was similar using two different methods in 10 of 16 patients tested. By contrast, in the remaining six patients the authors observed a significant inhibition of IL-2 production in both CD8 - and CD8 + T-cell subsets in the whole-blood assay but not in the isolated lymphocytes. The frequency of CD8 - IFN-γ-producing cells was significantly lower in 9 of 16 patients, but the same individuals showed no inhibition of their CD8 + IFN-γ T cells. The trough levels of tacrolimus did not predict the level of cytokine inhibition in the whole-blood assay in these patients. The authors' results show that the whole-blood assay for cytokine production can be used for monitoring the in vivo effect of tacrolimus in transplant recipients.
Measurements of Two-Phase Flow Properties of the Porous Media Used in PEM Fuel Cells

In a hydrogen PEM fuel cell (PEMFC), liquid water is generated as a by-product (O2 + 4 H+ + 4 e- ↔ 2H2O) at the cathode during operation. The presence of liquid water results in a two-phase (gas/liquid) condition in the porous media, such as, the gas diffusion and catalyst layers. In a direct methanol PEM fuel cell (DMFC), in addition to the two-phase condition in the cathode similar to that of a hydrogen PEMFC, another two-phase condition also exists in the anode when gaseous carbon dioxide is generated as a by-product (CH3OH + H2O ↔ CO2 + 6 H+ + 6 e-) during operation. These two-phase conditions affect the transport rates of the reactants (oxygen and methanol/water) to the reactive sites in the electrodes. Knowledge of two-phase transport properties of the porous media used in PEMFCs and DMFCs is required to develop materials that will result in optimal fuel cell performance. This paper discusses the techniques that we have developed for measuring two-phase transport properties of porous media used in PEMFCs and DMFCs and the results obtained for some commercially available materials.
Electrodialysis Recovery of Nickel, Copper, and Water from Rinse Water of Copper/Nickel Sulfamate Multilayer Plating

All surface treatment waste water except concentrated waste solutions from pre-treatment, plating, and post-treatment has been separated into acid-alkaline, chromic, and cyanide waste water, mixed after chromium reduction and cyanide oxidation, and treated a process that generate large amounts of sludge. Components cannot be completely separated and recovered from such water even if methods like ion-exchange are used. Considering environmental protection and effective use of resources and energy, process components should be recovered, regenerated, and recycled for each process in non waste water treatment. Using electrodialysis (ED) under the proper conditions (electrode solution, voltage, flow rate, membrane distance, number of compartment, etc.), spent plating solutions are concentrated and desalted for recycling as plating solutions and water. ED treats plating solutions at room temperature and requires no energy except electric power, no chemicals for separating components, and no membrane regeneration making it applicable to plating recycling. We constructed ED installations and studied the recovery of metals and water from copper sulfamate/nickel sulfamate multilayer alloy plating baths. We effectively recovered copper, nickel and water with an ED installation having a membrane distance of 5mm and operated using 0.05M sulfamic acid as the electrode solution at 7.5V.
Separation of 7S gamma-1-globulin, 7S gamma-2-globulin and macroglobulin guinea pig antibodies.

SummaryMethods have been described for separating the γ1- and γ2-globulin antibodies and the macroglobulin antibody of guinea pig sera. Use of simple stepwise elution chromatography on DEAE-cellulose results in extensive purification of γ2-globulin antibody. Purified macroglobulin antibody was prepared from relatively large amounts (170 ml) of appropriate sera by combined use of salting out, ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration.
Role of G proteins in the acetylcholine-induced potassium current of canine atrial cells

The acetylcholine-induced opening of potassium channels depends on GTP-binding proteins in the chick, guinea pig, frog, and rat. In contrast, Bubien and Woods (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 142: 1039-1045, 1987) have recently postulated that the acetylcholine response in cultured canine atrial cells may be independent of GTP-binding proteins. In whole cell patch-clamp experiments using cultured canine atrial cells, we did not detect an effect of GTP (10(-4) M) in the pipette solution on the acetylcholine-induced potassium current. However, 500 microM guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDP beta S) in the pipette diminished the response to acetylcholine. Pertussis toxin (30 ng/ml for 24 h) blocked the response to acetylcholine. With guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S; 3 microM) in the patch pipette, acetylcholine irreversibly increased membrane conductance. The current-voltage relationship for the persistently activated current was similar to that induced by acetylcholine. We conclude that the acetylcholine-induced potassium current in canine atrial cells behaves like that seen in other species and depends on GTP-binding proteins.
Combined chronic blockade of hyper-active L-type calcium channels and NMDA receptors ameliorates HIV-1 associated hyper-excitability of mPFC pyramidal neurons

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection induces neurological and neuropsychological deficits, which are associated with dysregulation of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and other vulnerable brain regions. We evaluated the impact of HIV infection in the mPFC and the therapeutic potential of targeting over-active voltage-gated L-type Ca(2+) channels (L-channel) and NMDA receptors (NMDAR), as modeled in HIV-1 transgenic (Tg) rats. Whole-cell patch-clamp recording was used to assess the membrane properties and voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) potentials (Ca(2+) influx) in mPFC pyramidal neurons. Neurons from HIV-1 Tg rats displayed reduced rheobase, spike amplitude and inwardly-rectifying K(+) influx, increased numbers of action potentials, and a trend of aberrant firing compared to those from non-Tg control rats. Neuronal hyper-excitation was associated with abnormally-enhanced Ca(2+) influx (independent of NMDAR), which was eliminated by acute L-channel blockade. Combined chronic blockade of over-active L-channels and NMDARs with open-channel blockers abolished HIV effects on spiking, aberrant firing and Ca(2+) potential half-amplitude duration, though not the reduced inward rectification. In contrast, individual chronic blockade of over-active L-channels or NMDARs did not alleviate HIV-induced mPFC hyper-excitability. These studies demonstrate that HIV alters mPFC neuronal activity by dysregulating membrane excitability and Ca(2+) influx through the L-channels. This renders these neurons more susceptible and vulnerable to excitatory stimuli, and could contribute to HIV-associated neuropathogenesis. Combined targeting of over-active L-channels/NMDARs alleviates HIV-induced dysfunction of mPFC pyramidal neurons, emphasizing a potential novel therapeutic strategy that may effectively decrease HIV-induced Ca(2+) dysregulation in the mPFC.
Commitment and Consistency Can Promote Student Course Scheduling Effectiveness

Using social psychological theory, the authors demonstrate in two studies, one cross sectional and one experimental, commitment interventions for timely course scheduling can significantly hasten course-scheduling behavior. Using a simple intervention, the authors were able to alter a regularly occurring student behavior tied to both retention and timely degree completion. Additional uses for this type of intervention, or other social psychological phenomenon, in student environments are discussed.
Cutting Boards of Plastic and Wood Contaminated Experimentally with Bacteria.

The microbiology of Plastic and wooden cutting boards was studied, regarding cross-contamination of foods in home kitchens. New and used Plastic (four polymers plus hard rubber) and wood (nine hardwoods) cutting boards were cut into 5-cm squares ("blocks"). Escherichia coli (two nonpathogenic strains plus type O157:H7), Listeria innocua , L. monocytogenes , or Salmonella typhimurium was applied to the 25-cm2 block surface in nutrient broth or chicken juice and recovered by soaking the surface in nutrient broth or pressing the block onto nutrient agar, within 3-10 min or up to ca. 12 h later. Bacteria inoculated onto Plastic blocks were readily recovered for minutes to hours and would multiply if held overnight. Recoveries from wooden blocks were generally less than those from plastic blocks, regardless of new or used status; differences increased with holding time. Clean wood blocks usually absorbed the inoculum completely within 3-10 min. If these fluids contained 103-104 CFU of bacteria likely to come from raw meat or poultry, the bacteria generally could not be recovered after entering the wood. If ≥106 CFU were applied, bacteria might be recovered from wood after 12 h at room temperature and high humidity, but numbers were reduced by at least 98%, and often more than 99.9%. Mineral oil treatment of the wood surface had little effect on the microbiological findings. These results do not support the often-heard assertion that Plastic cutting boards are more sanitary than wood.
Acute Aortic Dissection With Intussusception of the Partition Between the True and False Channels Leading to Near Total Aortic Occlusion (True Aortic Stenosis)

Described herein are 2 patients with fatal acute aortic dissection resulting in a circumferential intimal-medial tear causing the partition between the true and false channels to roll up and propagate forward as an intra-aortic intussusception (a receiving within).
Effect of decitabine on DNA methylation in human cancers

1616 Background: Decitabine may decrease DNA methylation by inhibiting DNA methyltransferase. Reduction of DNA methylation may turn back on expression of genes down-regulated by hypermethylation, including tumor suppressor genes & genes required for apoptosis. In leukemia patients, DNA hypomethylation and therapeutic efficacy of decitabine appeared to plateau as dose increased. Methods: We initiated a phase I trial of decitabine given IV over 1 hr/day x 5 days/week x 2 weeks in patients with solid tumors & lymphomas (all of whom had received > 1 prior regimen). Planned dose levels are 2.5, 5, 10, 15 & 20 mg/m2/day, with 6 patients per dose level. All patients have tumor biopsies before day 1, cycle 1 and shortly after last decitabine treatment in cycle 1. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are collected at the same time. Global DNA methylation (% CpG methylation) was assessed by “LINE” assays. Tumor was compared to PBMCs with respect to decitabine-induced changes in DNA methylation. Results: Thirteen patients were entered from 9/04 to 11/05, (6 at 2.5 mg/m2/day, 6 at 5 mg/m2/day & 1 at 10 mg/m2/day). No dose-limiting toxicity was seen in cycle 1 for cohorts 1 or 2, although grade 1-2 non-hematological toxicity has been seen, and 2 patients in cohort 2 had grade 3 neutropenia. The first patient in cohort 3 developed rapidly reversible grade 4 neutropenia. Nine patients have had stable disease. DNA methylation has been assessed in cohort 1 & 2 patients. Mean DNA methylation decreased by 4.5% in tumor (p = 0.038 by paired t-tests), with decreases seen in tumors of 8 of 12 patients. DNA methylation decreased by a mean of 17% in PBMCs (p = 0.0003). By paired t-tests, change in DNA methylation was greater in PBMCs than in tumors from the same patient (p = 0.0035). Within the same patient, pretreatment DNA methylation in tumor did not correlate with that in PBMCs (R2 = 0.0001, p = 0.98), and change in DNA methylation correlated weakly between tumor and PBMCs (R2 = 0.1175, p = 0.28). DNA demethylation did not vary with decitabine dose: mean decrease in tumor DNA methylation was 4.6% in cohort 1 & 4.4% in cohort 2 (p = 0.97). Mean decrease in PBMCs was 16.1% in cohort 1 & 17.8% in cohort 2 (p = 0.81). Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate: 1) Even low dose decitabine reduces DNA methylation in tumors, but less than in PBMCs. 2) PBMCs may be of limited value as surrogates for tumor. 3) To date, there is no indication that higher doses are more effective than lowest doses tested. Ongoing studies: Assessment of: 1) higher dose levels 2) effect of decitabine on methylation & expression of individual genes 3) correlation of effect with tumor decitabine levels 4) factors affecting tumor decitabine levels. Supported in part by NIH grant UO1 CA062461-10 & R21 CA112895-01A1.
A novel method for drug discovery using genomic phenotypes

A37 Conventional strategies for drug screening make use of either cell-based or molecular target-based screening methods. We describe a genomic phenotype-based screen that makes use of expression signatures combined with the NCI-60 cancer cell line dataset. This dataset includes drug sensitivity measures for over 40,000 compounds together with baseline expression microarray data. Genomic phenotypes, in the form of expression signatures, were developed to represent breast cancer subtypes as well as metastatic potential. Theses signatures were then used to identify cell lines within the panel that exhibit the signature to then connect to compounds that are selectively active against those cells. We identified several compounds, as a proof-of-principle, that are selectively active towards cells with the breast cancer basal subtype. Among these was simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, whose activity was confirmed on cultured basal cancer cell lines. This approach provides a novel strategy towards identification of therapeutic agents based on clinically relevant phenotypes.
Time-based coordination in geo-distributed cyber-physical systems

Emerging Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) such as connected vehicles and smart cities span large geographical areas. These systems are increasingly distributed and interconnected. Hence, a hierarchy of cloudlet and cloud deployments will be key to enable scaling, while simultaneously hosting the intelligence behind these systems. Given that CPS applications are often safety-critical, existing techniques focus on reducing latency to provide real-time performance. While low latency is useful, a shared and precise notion of time is key to enabling coordinated action in distributed CPS. In this position paper, we argue for a global Quality of Time (QoT)-based architecture, centered around a shared virtualized notion of time, based on the timeline abstraction [1]. Our architecture allows applications to specify their QoT requirements, while exposing timing uncertainty to the application. The timeline abstraction with the associated knowledge of QoT enables scalable geo-distributed coordination in CPS, while providing avenues for fault tolerance and graceful degradation in the face of adversity.
Auctioning Miro to Balance the Budget: A Case Study in Balancing Portugal’s Budget and Retaining Cultural Value

This paper analyses Portugal’s 2014 national debt crisis and the proposed sale of a state-owned Miro collection in the context of three paradigms of national deficit and debt, i.e., deficit hawks, deficit doves, and functional finance. Through this analysis, the paper directly applies three prominent and influential, but widely differing views of national debt in the context of a decision that has important economic and social implications. By analyzing the proposed sale through the three paradigms of deficit and debt, the paper reveals not only the social, but also the economic cost that can be incurred with important policy decisions.a
A conserved tryptophan within the WRDPLVDID domain of yeast Pah1 phosphatidate phosphatase is required for its in vivo function in lipid metabolism

PAH1-encoded phosphatidate phosphatase, which catalyzes the dephosphorylation of phosphatidate to produce diacylglycerol at the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, plays a major role in controlling the utilization of phosphatidate for the synthesis of triacylglycerol or membrane phospholipids. The conserved N-LIP and haloacid dehalogenase-like domains of Pah1 are required for phosphatidate phosphatase activity and the in vivo function of the enzyme. Its non-conserved regions, which are located between the conserved domains and at the C terminus, contain sites for phosphorylation by multiple protein kinases. Truncation analyses of the non-conserved regions showed that they are not essential for the catalytic activity of Pah1 and its physiological functions (e.g. triacylglycerol synthesis). This analysis also revealed that the C-terminal region contains a previously unrecognized WRDPLVDID domain (residues 637-645) that is conserved in yeast, mice, and humans. The deletion of this domain had no effect on the catalytic activity of Pah1 but caused the loss of its in vivo function. Site-specific mutational analyses of the conserved residues within WRDPLVDID indicated that Trp-637 plays a crucial role in Pah1 function. This work also demonstrated that the catalytic activity of Pah1 is required but is not sufficient for its in vivo functions.
Beyond supply-voltage bootstrapped pulser for driving CMUT arrays in ultrasound imaging

A new pulser topology has been presented for driving capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (CMUT), which can generate pulses as large as twice the supply voltage. The pulser features bootstrapping and dynamic gate biasing techniques to achieve safe operation beyond the process limits. This circuit improves the driving capability compared to conventional pulsers by requiring lower supply voltages while maintaining the same output pulse pressure levels. The proposed pulser requires two input control signals to reduce the system complexity, and is designed with double-diffused semiconductor (DMOS) transistors to guarantee safe operation at high voltage (HV). Measurement results show 84.2 V amplitude of the pulser output with 45 V supply. The proposed pulser is fabricated in 0.18 μm Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS (BCD) process with 60 V devices. Acoustic measurements performed using CMUTs with 2 pF capacitance and 8.33 MHz center frequency verified that the proposed beyond supply-voltage pulser achieves higher pressure compared to conventional supply-limited pulsers.
The Effectiveness of an On-Bicycle Curriculum on Children.

AbstractObjective: The objective of this study was to determine whether the BikeSafe on-bicycle curriculum affects children’s bicycle safety knowledge and collect cross-sectional data on cycling beliefs and attitudes.Methods: The University of Miami’s BikeSafe program collected surveys from 286 participants, aged 7–15, in 10 Miami–Dade County Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces summer camps from June to August 2015. Pre and post knowledge assessments were analyzed for 83 intervention group and 57 control group participants. Posttesting occurred immediately following program implementation and 2–4 weeks postimplementation.Results: Intervention group participants demonstrated significant differences (P < .05) in knowledge gain between testing points, whereas control group participants did not. Participants (n = 286) were more likely to be encouraged to ride a bicycle by parents/guardians (61.2%) than by friends (38.1%) or schools (19.6%). Older respondents reported lower intentions of helmet use compared to ...
The Iowa State Constitution

Review of: "The Iowa State Constitution," part of "The Oxford Commentaries on the State Constitutions of the United States" series, by Jack Stark.
Touching Baseball's Untouchables: The Effects of Collective Bargaining on Minor League Baseball Players

Collective bargaining has significantly altered the landscape of labor relations in organized baseball. While its impact on the life of the major league player has garnered much discussion, its impact on the majority of professional baseball players — those toiling in the minor leagues — has received scant attention. Yet an examination of every agreement since the original 1968 Basic Agreement reveals that minor league players have been greatly impacted by collective bargaining, even though the Major League Baseball Players Association does not represent these players. While a few of the effects of collective bargaining on the minor league player have been positive, the last two agreements have established a dangerous trend of the players association consciously conceding an issue with negative implications for minor leaguers in order to receive something positive for major leaguers. Armed with a court-awarded antitrust exemption solidified by legislation, Major League Baseball has continually and systematically exploited the minor league player throughout its history. This has resulted in limited player mobility, limited bargaining power, and salaries placing many players below the federal individual poverty level. Unless minor leaguers gain true and real representation at the bargaining table, the exploitation will continue.
Very small embryonic-like cells in the mirror of regenerative medicine.

Postnatal mammalian cochlear hair cells (HCs) can be regenerated by direct transdifferentiation or by mitotic regeneration from supporting cells through many pathways, including Atoh1, Wnt, Hedgehog and Notch signaling. However, most new HCs are immature HCs. In this study we used RNA-Seq analysis to compare the differences between the transcriptomes of Atoh1 overexpression-induced new HCs and the native HCs, and to define the factors that might help to promote the maturation of new HCs. As expected, we found Atoh1-induced new HCs had obvious HC characteristics as demonstrated by the expression of HC markers such as Pou4f3 and Myosin VIIA (Myo7a). However, Atoh1-induced new HCs had significantly lower expression of genes that are related to HC function such as Slc26a5 (Prestin), Slc17a8 and Otof. We found that genes related to HC cell differentiation and maturation (Kcnma1, Myo6, Myo7a, Grxcr1, Gfi1, Wnt5a, Fgfr1, Gfi1, Fgf8 etc.) had significantly lower expression levels in new HCs compared to native HCs. In conclusion, we found a set of genes that might regulate the differentiation and maturation of new HCs, and these genes might serve as potential new therapeutic targets for functional HC regeneration and hearing recovery.
Variations on the Closure of a Set.

THE number concept is essential to any definition of the word "mathematics." A step beyond this is the fundamental notion of a number system. Such a system necessitates three things: (1) a set of numbers, (2) operations defined on the set of numbers, and (3) rules governing the operations. This list of rules often contains a property called "closure," in tended to insure that results of an opera tion are elements of the underlying set. However, for most number system pre sentations, checking closure is redundant. Closure is implicit in the usual definition that a binary operation on a set associates with each ordered pair of ele ments of a unique element of T. The important time to investigate clo sure is when one considers the behavior of on S, a proper subset of T. The question then becomes "Is S closed with respect to the operation ?" If the answer is yes, then is a binary opera tion on S; otherwise, not. This "property of subsets" approach to closure is one commonly overlooked or unappreciated as a teaching tool.
The role of surfactant protein-A in sinusitis.

Purpose of review Surfactant protein-A (SP-A) is a collectin protein expressed in airway epithelia that is critical in the modulation of both innate and adaptive immunity against inhaled pathogens. In this review, we highlight associations of altered SP-A function in asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis, and its potential role as a targeted therapy for sinusitis. Recent findings SP-A has been shown to bind and opsonize inhaled pathogens, thereby clearing bacteria through phagocytosis. We have recently identified that SP-A levels are increased in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common bacterial pathogen in chronic rhinosinusitis. Moreover, SP-A has also been shown to modulate epithelial inflammatory mediators and play a role in eosinophil-mediated airway disease. The development of a transgenic murine model expressing human genetic variants of SP-A2 have suggested that the human surfactant protein-A2 223K variant significantly increases eosinophil degranulation, suggesting a genotype-phenotype correlation in human airway disease. Summary SP-A is important in both the innate and adaptive host defense mechanisms in the upper and lower airways. Although research in this field in sinusitis is nascent, initial work suggests that aberrant SP-A regulation may be one etiologic factor in the development of bacterial and eosinophilic-associated sinusitis.
Extrapolating Quantitative Genetic Theory to Evolutionary Problems

Until recently, a quantitative geneticist at a conference on evolution was like a eunuch in a harem. He was welcome largely because he could not disturb the proceedings. In the past ten years, that situation has changed, at least for conferences on evolution. Evolutionary biologists have come to look to quantitative genetics for predictive models and quantitative geneticists have obliged by directing some of their efforts to evolutionary problems. We will review some of the reasons for the partial integration of quantitative genetics theory and evolutionary biology and discuss some of the consequences for evolutionary biologists.
A randomized trial of immediate versus delayed survivorship care plan receipt on patient satisfaction and knowledge of diagnosis and treatment

BACKGROUND Survivorship care plans (SCPs) and care-planning sessions have been recommended for over a decade, yet evidence for their benefit remains mixed. In a randomized trial, changes in survivor knowledge and satisfaction before and after the receipt of an SCP were assessed. METHODS Patients with breast cancer who had completed curative-intent treatment were randomized to immediate versus delayed receipt of an individualized SCP. All participants completed the modified Wisconsin Survey of Cancer Diagnosis and Management in Breast Cancer and the Preparing for Life As a New Survivor survey to assess individual knowledge about cancer diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and follow-up as well as satisfaction with communication and care coordination. Surveys were completed at baseline, at 4 weeks (before delayed receipt), and again at 12 weeks (after all participants had received SCPs); the primary outcome was change in knowledge at 4 weeks. RESULTS In total, 127 eligible women were randomized. An improvement in individual knowledge was observed between baseline and week 12 for both arms combined (+1.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-2.3; P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in the change in knowledge from baseline through week 4 between the arms. No significant change occurred for satisfaction scores over time. CONCLUSIONS This randomized trial of immediate versus delayed SCP receipt demonstrated a small improvement (4%) in survivor knowledge. However, this improvement did not appear to be related to SCP provision. The authors hypothesized that the improvement was because of repeated administration of the knowledge survey. If improved survivor knowledge is a goal, then strategies beyond the 1-time provision and review of an SCP should be explored.
Identity and Subsumption

The intuitive simplicity of the so-called is-a (or subsumption) relationship has led to widespread ontological misuse. Where previous work has focused largely on the semantics of the relationship itself, we concentrate here on the ontological nature of its arguments, in order to tell whether a single is-a link is ontologically well-founded. For this purpose, we introduce some techniques based on the philosophical notions of identity, unity, and essence, which have been adapted to the needs of taxonomy design. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques by taking real examples of poorly structured taxonomies and revealing cases of invalid generalization.
How Communication Style Shapes Relationship Boundary Regulation and Social Media Adoption

We develop and validate a multi-item measure for perceived relationship boundary regulation and show how it significantly drives adoption and use of four social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We further show how this perception is tied to one's communication style.
Application of Extended Messinger Models to Complex Geometries

Since, ice accretion can significantly degrade the performance and the stability of an airborne vehicle, it is imperative to be able to model it accurately. While ice accretion studies have been performed on airplane wings and helicopter blades in abundance, there are few that attempt to model the process on more complex geometries such as fuselages. This paper proposes a methodology that extends an existing in-house Extended Messinger solver to complex geometries by introducing the capability to work with unstructured grids and carry out spatial surface streamwise marching. For the work presented here commercial solvers such as STAR-CCM+ and ANSYS Fluent are used for the flow field and droplet dispersed phase computations. The ice accretion is carried out using an in-house icing solver called GT-ICE. The predictions by GT-ICE are compared to available experimental data, or to predictions by other solvers such as LEWICE and STAR-CCM+. Three different cases with varying levels of complexity are presented. The first case considered is a commercial transport airfoil, followed by a three-dimensional MS(1)-317 swept wing. Finally, ice accretion calculations performed on a Robin fuselage have been discussed. Good agreement with experimental data, where applicable, is observed. Differences between the ice accretion predictions by different solvers have been discussed.
Personality and coping in life challenge narratives

Abstract Background Self-reported personality traits are known to correlate with self-reported coping strategies. However, these correlations may be inflated by common method variance. The current study examined personality traits and coping strategies in autobiographical narratives. Method In open-ended interviews, 122 late-midlife participants described their single greatest life challenge. Participants’ responses were content coded for various coping strategies. We examined correlations between narrated coping strategies and self-reported personality traits assessed by the NEO-Five Factor Inventory. Results Extraversion was associated with narrated engagement coping. Neuroticism was associated with narrated disengagement coping. A trend suggested that conscientiousness was negatively associated with narrated disengagement coping. Surprisingly, openness was negatively associated with narrated problem-solving. Conclusions The current study replicates and extends the personality and coping literature into the domain of life narrative. Associations between extraversion, neuroticism, and coping styles appear to be robust outside the context of self-report coping questionnaires.
Identification of the initial nucleocapsid recognition element in the HIV-1 RNA packaging signal

Selective packaging of the HIV-1 genome during virus assembly is mediated by interactions between the dimeric 5ʹ-leader of the unspliced viral RNA and the nucleocapsid (NC) domains of a small number of assembling viral Gag polyproteins. Here, we show that the dimeric 5′-leader contains more than two dozen NC binding sites with affinities ranging from 40 nM to 1.4 μM, and that all high-affinity sites (Kd ≲ 400 nM) reside within a ∼150-nt region of the leader sufficient to promote RNA packaging (core encapsidation signal, ΨCES). The four initial binding sites with highest affinity reside near two symmetrically equivalent three-way junction structures. Unlike the other high-affinity sites, which bind NC with exothermic energetics, binding to these sites occurs endothermically due to concomitant unwinding of a weakly base-paired [UUUU]:[GGAG] helical element. Mutations that stabilize base pairing within this element eliminate NC binding to this site and severely impair RNA packaging into virus-like particles. NMR studies reveal that a recently discovered small-molecule inhibitor of HIV-1 RNA packaging that appears to function by stabilizing the structure of the leader binds directly to the [UUUU]:[GGAG] helix. Our findings suggest a sequential NC binding mechanism for Gag-genome assembly and identify a potential RNA Achilles’ heel to which HIV therapeutics may be targeted.
Attachment orientation and reasons for and reactions to “virginity” in college

Prior research has shown that among sexually active people, attachment orientation is associated with motives for having sex. This study examined how attachment orientation is also associated with reasons for not having sex. More specifically, the study focused on whether attachment orientation was associated with reasons for not having sex among young adult virgins, as well as their emotional reactions to their virginity status. The sample consisted of 671 “virgin” college students obtained as part of a larger study. They completed an anonymous survey which included a measure of attachment orientation, ratings of the importance of several reasons for being a virgin, and emotional reactions to their virginity status. Results indicated that fearful and dismissing attachment young adults were more likely than secure attachment young adults to say they were still virgins because they were not ready to have sex (e.g., not been in love enough). Differences based on attachment style were also found for affective reactions to the virginity status. Preoccupied attachment young adults had the most negative reaction to their virginity status.
Periostin-expressing Schwann cells and endoneurial cardiac fibroblasts contribute to sympathetic nerve fasciculation after birth

Abstract Background The intracardiac nervous system (ICNS) is composed of neurons, in association with Schwann cells (SC) and endoneurial cardiac fibroblasts (ECF). Besides heart rhythm control, recent studies have implicated cardiac nerves in postnatal cardiac regeneration and cardiomyocyte size regulation, but cardiac SC and ECF remain understudied. During the postnatal period, the ICNS undergoes intense remodeling with nerve fasciculation and elongation throughout the myocardium, partially guided by the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we report the origins, heterogeneity, and functions of SC and ECF that develop in proximity to neurons during postnatal ICNS maturation. Methods and results Periostin lineage (Postn+) cells include cardiac Remak SC and ECF during the postnatal period in mice. The developmental origins of cardiac SC and ECF were examined using Rosa26eGFP reporter mice bred with Wnt1Cre, expressed in Neural crest (NC)-derived lineages, or tamoxifen-inducible Tcf21MerCreMer, expressed predominantly in epicardial-derived fibroblast lineages. ICNS components are NC-derived with the exceptions of the myelinating Plp1+ SC and the Tcf21+ lineage-derived intramural ventricular ECF. In addition, Postn+ lineage GFAP- Remak SC and ECF are present around the fasciculating cardiac nerves. Whole mount studies of the NC-derived cells confirmed postnatal maturation of the complex ICNS network from P0 to P30. Sympathetic, parasympathetic, and sensory neurons fasciculate from P0 to P7 indicated by co-staining with PSA-NCAM. Ablation of Postn+ cells from P0 to P6 or loss of Periostin leads to reduced fasciculation of cardiac sympathetic nerves. In addition, collagen remodeling surrounding maturing nerves of the postnatal heart is reduced in Postn-null mice. Conclusions Postn+ cells include cardiac SC and ECF during postnatal nerve maturation, and these cells have different embryonic origins. At P7, the Postn+ cells associated with cardiac nerves are mainly Remak SC and ECF. Ablation of the Postn+ cells from P0 to P6 and also loss of Postn in Postn-null mice leads to reduced fasciculation of cardiac nerves at P7.
Phosphate Acquisition

Phosphate (Pi) is considered to be one of the least available plant nutrients in the soil. High-affinity Pi transporters are generally accepted as entry points for Pi in the roots. The physiological, genetic, molecular and biochemical analysis of phosphate starvation response mechanisms highlight the ability of plants to adapt and thrive under phosphate limiting conditions. These responses help them enhance the availability of Pi, increase its uptake and improve the use-efficiency of Pi within a plant. Enhanced ability to acquire Pi appears to be regulated at the level of transcription of high-affinity phosphate transporters. These transporters are encoded by a family of small number of genes having characteristic tissue and organ associated expression patterns. Many of them are strongly induced during phosphate deficiency thus providing plants with enhanced ability to acquire and transfer phosphate. In addition, plants also activate biochemical mechanisms that could lead to increased acquisition of phosphate from both inorganic and organic phosphorus sources in the soil. Furthermore, altered root morphology and mycorrhizal symbiosis further enhance the ability of plants to acquire Pi. Interestingly most of these responses appear to be coordinated by changes in cellular phosphate levels. It is becoming apparent that phosphate acquisition and utilization are associated with activation or inactivation of a host of genes in plants. In this article we describe molecular, biochemical and physiological factors associated with phosphate acquisition by plants.
A computational model of filtering, detection, and compression in the cochlea

We claim that speech analysis algorithms should be based on computational models of human audition, starting at the ears. While much is known about how hearing works, little of this knowledge has been applied in the speech analysis field. We propose models of the inner ear, or cochlea, which are expressed as time- and place-domain signal processing operations; i.e. the models are computational expressions of the important functions of the cochlea. The main parts of the models concern mechanical filtering effects and the mapping of mechanical vibrations into neural representation. Our model cleanly separates these effects into time-invariant linear filtering based on a simple cascade/parallel filterbank network of second-order sections, plus transduction and compression based on half-wave rectification with a nonlinear coupled automatic gain control network. Compared to other speech analysis techniques, this model does a much better job of preserving important detail in both time and frequency, which is important for robust sound analysis. We discuss the ways in which this model differs from more detailed cochlear models.