cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motion Adaptation in Area MT

In many sensory systems, exposure to a prolonged stimulus causes adaptation, which tends to reduce neural responses to subsequent stimuli. Such effects are usually stimulus-specific, making adaptation a powerful probe into information processing. We used dynamic random dot kinematograms to test the magnitude and selectivity of adaptation effects in the middle temporal area (MT) and to compare them to effects on human motion discrimination. After 3 s of adaptation to a random dot pattern moving in the preferred direction, MT neuronal responses to subsequent test patterns were reduced by 26% on average compared with adaptation to a static pattern. This reduction in response magnitude was largely independent of what test stimulus was presented. However, adaptation in the opposite direction changed responses less often and very inconsistently. Therefore motion adaptation systematically and profoundly affects the neurons in MT representing the adapted direction, but much less those representing the opposite direction. In human psychophysical experiments, such adapting stimuli affected direction discrimination, biasing choices away from the adaptation direction. The magnitude of this perceptual shift was consistent with the magnitude of the changes seen in area MT, if one assumes that a motion comparison step occurs after MT.
Circuit as a sensor, a practical approach toward embedded electronic prognostics

The maintainability and reliability of critical electronic systems such as radars and global positioning system (GPS) on military and commercial aircrafts is a significant concern. Practical condition assessment and prediction of remaining useful life for such systems offer significant potential for improved readiness and field reliability. This paper introduces the 'circuit as a sensor' concept as an innovative and practical PHM solution for electronic systems through proof of concept using radio frequency digital (RF/D) systems. To demonstrate the feasibility of this concept, an economical test platform operating in the frequency range representative of modern avionic systems, with available system and component features was selected. An experiment to study the effects of degradation from the highly accelerated tests on diagnostic features as well as derive failure progression trends was conducted. Results from this research are presented. The embedded diagnostic and prognostic capability developed is scalable and can be applied to broad class of electronic systems.
Correction of Mandibular Asymmetry Using Angled Titanium Mesh

Purpose Our goal was to evaluate and present a technique of correcting facial asymmetry involving the mandible using angled titanium mesh. Patients and Methods From 1990 to 2006, 5 patients underwent augmentation of the mandibular angle with titanium mesh in conjunction with orthognathic surgery. The angle mesh was placed to correct a unilateral lower-third facial asymmetry. The mesh was placed in a subperiosteal fashion and fixated with monocortical screws. The facial asymmetries were a result of either congenital defects or trauma. A combination of clinical and radiographic examination findings, photographs, and occlusal records were used to evaluate the treatment outcome. Results All 5 patients were treated successfully using the titanium mesh to augment the mandibular angle in conjunction with orthognathic surgery. No implant infection, migration, or exposure occurred. The esthetic outcome was deemed satisfactory by both the patients and the clinicians. Conclusion Facial asymmetries that involve the mandible can be corrected by placement of an angled titanium mesh in conjunction with orthognathic surgery.
Increased carriage of macrolide-resistant fecal E. coli following mass distribution of azithromycin for trachoma control

Background: Mass drug treatment with azithromycin (MDA) is part of the WHO-endorsed ‘SAFE’ strategy for trachoma control in endemic communities. MDA has been associated with reduced trachoma prevalence and short-term reductions in other bacterial infections, but can also lead to increased circulation of macrolide-resistant bacteria. Methods: We prospectively monitored macrolide resistance in fecal E. coli collected from young children participating in the PRET+ Study in rural Tanzania. MDA was administered in four villages with >10% trachoma prevalence. Four nearby communities with lower trachoma prevalence served as controls. Rectal swabs were collected during cross-sectional surveys performed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months after MDA. Fecal E. coli isolates were screened for macrolide susceptibility using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods. Cross-sectional and longitudinal differences in resistance prevalence by MDA exposure were compared using t-tests and logistic regression. Results: There was no difference in the proportion of individuals carrying azithromycin-resistant E. coli at baseline (0.21 vs 0.16, P > 0.05). Azithromycin resistance carriage prevalence remained stable over follow-up in non-MDA villages but increased sharply in MDA villages (0.61 at 1 month, 0.42 at 3 months and 0.31 at 6 months). MDA exposure was highly associated with azithromycin resistance carriage at 1 month post-MDA (OR 15.27, P < 0.001) and subsequent surveys. Younger age and recent diarrhoea were also associated with increased odds of resistance (P < 0.01). Conclusions: MDA resulted in significantly increased prevalence of macrolide resistance in E. coli. Although MDA is effective for trachoma elimination, it has costs; it is essential to monitor antimicrobial resistance following MDA.
Rhabdomyosarcoma in adolescent and young adult patients: current perspectives

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), a malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin, is the third most common extracranial malignant solid tumor in children and adolescents. However, in adults, RMS represents <1% of all solid tumor malignancies. The embryonal and alveolar histologic variants are more commonly seen in pediatric patients, while the pleomorphic variant is rare in children and seen more often in adults. Advances in the research of the embryonal and alveolar variants have improved our understanding of certain genes and biologic pathways that are involved in RMS, but much less is known for the other variants. Multimodality therapy that includes surgery and chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy is the mainstay of treatment for RMS. Improvements in the risk stratification of the pediatric patients based on presurgical (primary tumor site, tumor size, regional lymph node involvement, presence of metastasis) and postsurgical parameters (completeness of resection or presence of residual disease or metastasis) has allowed for the treatment assignment of patients in different studies and therapeutic trials, leading to increases in 5-year survival from 25%–70% over the past 40 years. However, for adult patients, in great part due to rarity of the disease and the lack of consensus on optimal treatment, clinical outcome is still poor. Many factors have been implicated for the differing outcomes between pediatric RMS versus adult RMS, such as the lack of standardized treatment protocols for adult RMS patients and the increased prevalence of advanced presentations. Now that there are increased numbers of survivors, we can appreciate the sequelae from therapy in these patients, such as bone growth abnormalities, endocrinopathies, and infertility. Improvements in risk stratification have led to clinical trials using lower doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy with the intention of decreasing the incidence of side effects without compromising survival outcome.
ORDER STATISTICS AND A MISSILE SIMULATION ACTIVITY

ABSTRACT The statistical term “order statistic” has a number of useful applications in our society. Reliability analysis of electric components and products that build up airplanes are often phrased in terms of order statistics. Ruggles and Brodie (1947) used the concept of a maximum order statistic to estimate the actual tank production from serial number analysis. Based on many years of experience teaching mathematical statistics, however, the author perceived that average students see the subject “order statistics” as a difficult statistical concept to understand. Two probable reasons for this are: 1) non-trivial structure of the probability distributions of order statistics, 2) lack of good examples from students' viewpoint. In this article, two missile simulation activities with the perspective of order statistics are proposed. The simulation is based on the activity that was conducted during the Spring term of 2002 at Southern Oregon University. It was the author's perception that students not only ...
PARASITOPHOROUS VACUOLES OF LEISHMANIA MEXICANA ACQUIRE MACROMOLECULES FROM THE HOST CELL CYTOSOL VIA TWO INDEPENDENT ROUTES

The intracellular parasite Leishmania survives and proliferates in host macrophages. In this study we show that parasitophorous vacuoles of L. mexicana gain access to cytosolic material via two different routes. (1) Small anionic molecules such as Lucifer Yellow are rapidly transported into the vacuoles by an active transport mechanism that is sensitive to inhibitors of the host cell's organic anion transporter. (2) Larger molecules such as fluorescent dextrans introduced into the host cell cytosol are also delivered to parasitophorous vacuoles. This transport is slower and sensitive to modulators of autophagy. Infected macrophages were examined by two novel assays to visualize and quantify this process. Immunoelectron microscopy of cells loaded with digoxigenin-dextran revealed label in multivesicular endosomes, which appeared to fuse with parasitophorous vacuoles. The inner membranes of the multivesicular vesicles label strongly with antibodies against lysobisphosphatidic acid, suggesting that they represent a point of confluence between the endosomal and autophagosomal pathways. Although the rate of autophagous transfer was comparable in infected and uninfected cells, infected cells retained hydrolyzed cysteine proteinase substrate to a greater degree. These data suggest that L. mexicana-containing vacuoles have access to potential nutrients in the host cell cytosol via at least two independent mechanisms.
Scene modeling for wide area surveillance and image synthesis

We present a method for modeling a scene that is observed by a moving camera, where only a portion of the scene is visible at any time. This method uses mixture models to represent pixels in a panoramic view, and to construct a "background image" that contains only static (non-moving) parts of the scene. The method can be used to reliably detect moving objects in a video sequence, detect patterns of activity over a wide field of view, and remove moving objects from a video or panoramic mosaic. The method also yields improved results in detecting moving objects and in constructing mosaics in the presence of moving objects, when compared with techniques that are not based on scene modeling. We present examples illustrating the results.
Microstructure of Solution‐Processed Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) Thin Films

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) thin films with a composition near the morphotropic phase boundary (Zr/Ti = 53/47) were fabricated by spin deposition of an alkoxide-derived solution and annealed at 650°C for 30 min. A complex microstructure is observed in which micrometer-scale rosettes of the desired perovskite phase are surrounded by nanocrystalline (10 to 15 nm) grains of pyrochlore structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrates that the perovskite rosettes—features of approximately circular cross section which grow rapidly within the confined conditions of the thin film—are single crystals despite being highly porous. Pockets of lead-deficient pyrochlore extend throughout the thickness of the film. The only effects of Nb (2%) doping on the microstructure are to increase the fraction of the perovskite phase and the perovskite grain size. Despite the highly irregular shape of the perovskite particles and the presence of some pyrochlore, reasonable ferroelectric properties are measured (spontaneous polarization Ps∼ 0.2 C/m2).
Sequence Variation in the Outer Membrane Protein-Encoding Gene cmeC, Conferring Multidrug Resistance among Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Strains Isolated from Different Hosts

A novel PCR primer pair was used to detect the presence of cmeC in 131 Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from various hosts (cattle, turkeys, humans, and pigs). DNA sequence analysis revealed a high degree of genetic variation between the two species, while extremely limited genetic variation among isolates of the same species was detected.
SYNTHESIS OF TETRA-N-PHENYLALKYLKANAMYCINS AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITIES

Sixteen N, N', N", N'''-tetraphenylalkylkanamycins (hereafter simply written as tetra-N-phenylalkylkanamycins) were prepared, and their anti microbial activities in vitro were determined. They were less active against most strains tested than kanamycin. But one of them, tetra-N-4-chlorobenzyl kanamycin (XI) was slightly more active against Ps. aeruginosa than kanamycin. It was suggested that their activities relate with their lipophilicity. Seven of kanamycin derivatives were found active against kanamycin-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as well as sensitive strains.
Subintimal wire position during angioplasty of a chronic total coronary occlusion: detection and subsequent procedural guidance by intravascular ultrasound.

We report a case of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging of a chronic total coronary artery occlusion angioplasty initially complicated by subintimal wire penetration. IVUS provided unique images of wire position and a “double-barrel” lumen that complemented angiographic data in initial diagnosis and in subsequent guidance of the procedure. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Principal minors, Part II: The principal minor assignment problem

The inverse problem of finding a matrix with prescribed principal minors is considered. A condition that implies a constructive algorithm for solving this problem will always succeed is presented. The algorithm is based on reconstructing matrices from their principal submatrices and Schur complements in a recursive manner. Consequences regarding the overdeterminancy of this inverse problem are examined, leading to a faster (polynomial time) version of the algorithmic construction. Care is given in the MATLAB® implementation of the algorithms regarding numerical stability and accuracy.
Electro-Optical Detection of Single Nanoparticles on a Nanopore-Optofluidic Chip

A solid-state nanopore was integrated into an optofluidic sensor chip, liquid-core anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW). The solid-state nanopore worked as a smart gate, which simultaneously provided characteristic electrical signals and controlled the entry of single nanoparticles into the liquid-core channel. The subsequent fluorescence detection further identified the nanoparticles by providing optical signals within a specific wavelength range. In this work, correlated electrical and optical detection of single nanoparticles, H1N1 viruses, and λ-DNA molecules was demonstrated. Different types of particles in a mixture were successfully discriminated. Moreover, the flow velocity in the liquid-core channel was extracted with the help of combined analysis of electrical and optical signals. Enhanced electrical sensitivity using a solid-state nanopore with a thin limiting aperture sculpted by SiO 2 deposition was also shown.
Quantum Wavepacket Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics: An Approach for Computing Dynamically Averaged Vibrational Spectra Including Critical Nuclear Quantum Effects†

We have introduced a computational methodology to study vibrational spectroscopy in clusters inclusive of critical nuclear quantum effects. This approach is based on the recently developed quantum wavepacket ab initio molecular dynamics method that combines quantum wavepacket dynamics with ab initio molecular dynamics. The computational efficiency of the dynamical procedure is drastically improved (by several orders of magnitude) through the utilization of wavelet-based techniques combined with the previously introduced time-dependent deterministic sampling procedure measure to achieve stable, picosecond length, quantum−classical dynamics of electrons and nuclei in clusters. The dynamical information is employed to construct a novel cumulative flux/velocity correlation function, where the wavepacket flux from the quantized particle is combined with classical nuclear velocities to obtain the vibrational density of states. The approach is demonstrated by computing the vibrational density of states of [Cl−H−...
Alternative life style and marital satisfaction: A brief report

A number of social scientists have expressed the view that alternative life style ("swinging") tends to improve marital harmony among those who engage in it. To examine this view, data were collected from a sample of individuals attending an alternative life styles (ALS) convention. The results suggest that a large majority of the respondents were satisfied with their participation in ALS, despite differential effects on marriage. Of those respondants who were married or had been married, 14.1% reported that participation in ALS had helped to keep their marriage together and 16.9% believed that their participation in ALS had resulted in a divorce or separation. The results are interpreted as failing to support the view that ALS participation usually improves marital adjustment. Apparently, ALS behavior is as likely to disrupt a marriage as to improve it.
Ν2: A Proportional Variance-Accounted for Index for Some Cross-Level and Person-Situation Research Designs:

The authors present a new “relative effect size” statistic (n2) that indexes the proportion of criterion variance accounted for by (some set of) measured variable(s) relative to the proportion of criterion variance that could potentially be accounted for by the entire class of variables of which the measured variables are a subset. Statistical rationale, estimation procedures, inferential statistical tests, and research examples are presented for n2for the cases of situational variables, person variables, and person situation interactions.
A role for amygdaloid PKA and PKC in the acquisition of long-term conditional fear memories in rats

Although there is great interest in the cellular mechanisms underlying Pavlovian conditioning, few studies have directly examined the contribution of intracellular signaling pathways in the amygdala to the acquisition and expression of conditional fear memories. In the present study, we examined this issue by infusing 1-(5'-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7), a potent inhibitor of both protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), directly into the amygdala prior to fear conditioning or retention testing. We found that infusion of H7 prior to training attenuated long-term conditional fear in a dose-dependent manner (Experiment 1), but short-term fear memories were spared. The contribution of protein kinases to conditional fear was region-specific within the amygdala: infusion of H7 into the basolateral amygdala (BLA) but not the central nucleus of the amygdala (CEA) resulted in attenuated freezing (Experiment 2). Moreover, the deficits in fear conditioning produced by PKA/PKC inhibition were not modality-specific, insofar as intra-BLA H7 reduced both contextual and auditory fear. The effects of H7 on conditional freezing were not attributable to either state-dependency or performance deficits (Experiment 3). Together, these experiments suggest that amygdaloid PKA and PKC play an important role in the acquisition of fear memories.
Improved Label and Liver Warning for Nonprescription Acetaminophen Products

OBJECTIVE To compare consumer preferences for a revised and current acetaminophen over-the-counter "Drug Facts" labels (ODFL) on warnings and self-reported correct intended action following signs of overdose. METHODS Adults visiting a community center were randomly assigned to revised or current ODFLs using previously reported label comprehension methodology. RESULTS Participant (N = 110) ratings for both ODFLs were comparable for ease of finding and understanding information. In response to an emergent overdose scenario, the proportion reporting the correct intended action using the revised ODFL was significantly greater than the proportion using the current ODFL (91% [97.5% CI, 0.82-0.99] vs. 76% [97.5% CI, 0.64-0.89]). In side-by-side comparisons, the revised ODFL was superior for overall consumer preference, usefulness for first-time use, and better overdose-related directions. A revised bottle cap statement also outperformed the current statement used on brand acetaminophen. CONCLUSION Findings support revision of acetaminophen ODFLs to improve liver damage warnings and to optimize labeling likely to be useful in prevention of and response to overdose.
Lecture Capture Podcasts: Differential Student Use and Performance in a Large Introductory Course.

Video “podcast” recordings of lectures are popular with students, but are often associated with a decrease in attendance and little increase in performance. Assessment has generally focused on the class as a whole, potentially masking benefits to different subgroups. In this study, conducted in 2 sections of a large active-learning undergraduate introductory biology class with daily podcasts, average attendance remained high (89.5 %). More than 50 % of the students used podcasts but less than 3 % of the variance in actual minus predicted exam performance was correlated with the number of podcasts viewed. Podcast use also varied significantly with gender and ethnicity but even within high use subgroups (females and Asians) less than 6 % of the variance in exam performance was correlated with the number of podcasts viewed. These data suggest that lecture capture, even for the students who attend class and use them heavily, do not increase learning gains. Alternative uses for video are discussed.
The Nature of Insomnia

Insomnia is a disorder characterized by chronic sleep disturbance associated with daytime disability or distress, such as memory impairment and fatigue, that occurs despite adequate opportunity for sleep. Insomnia may present as difficulty falling/staying asleep or as sleep that is nonrestorative. Studies show a strong correlation between insomnia and impaired quality of life. Pain conditions and depression are commonly associated with insomnia, either as secondary or comorbid conditions. In addition, a greater incidence of anxiety, alcohol and drug dependence, and cardiovascular disease is found in people with insomnia. Data indicate insomnia results from over-engaged arousal systems. Insomnia patients experience increased metabolic rate, body temperature, and heart rate, and elevated levels of norepinephrine and catecholamines. Pharmacologic options for the treatment of insomnia include benzodiazepine hypnotics, a selective melatonin receptor agonist, and sedating antidepressants. However, insomnia may be best treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy and instruction in good sleep hygiene, either alone or in concert with pharmacologic agents. Studies on the effects of insomnia treatment use variable methodologies or do not publish negative results, and there are currently no studies of treatment focusing on morbidity. Further research is necessary to better understand the effects of insomnia therapies on medical and psychiatric disorders. In this Clinical Information Supplement, Thomas Roth, PhD, describes the nature of insomnia and its pathophysiology. Next, Andrew D. Krystal, MD, MS, reviews morbidities associated with insomnia. Finally, Joseph A. Lieberman III, MD, MPH, provides an overview of therapeutics utilized in patients with insomnia, including behavioral therapies and pharmacologic options.
Experimental Evidence that Fungi are Dominant Microbes in Carbon Content and Growth Response to Added Soluble Organic Carbon in Moss‐rich Tundra Soil

Global warming significantly affects Arctic tundra, including permafrost thaw and soluble C release that may differentially affect tundra microbial growth. Using laboratory experiments, we report some of the first evidence for the effects of soluble glucose-C enrichment on tundra soil prokaryotes (bacteria and archaea) and fungi, with comparisons to microbial eukaryotes. Fungal increase in C-biomass was equivalent to 10% (w/w) of the added glucose-C, and for prokaryote biomass 2% (w/w), the latter comparable to prior published results. The C-gain after 14 d was 1.3 mg/g soil for fungi, and ~200 μg/g for prokaryotes.
Progressive Scoliosis in Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (UCMD)

Investigators at National Center of Neur & Psych, Kodaira, Tokyo, conducted a nationwide survey of 5442 neurologists regarding the natural history of UCMD.
Impact of periictal nurse interventions on postictal generalized EEG suppression in generalized convulsive seizures.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the impact of periictal nurse interventions on postictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES) in generalized convulsive seizures (GCS). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the video-EEG recordings of patients during long-term video-EEG monitoring. We compared the duration of seizures, seizure phases (tonic, clonic, and tonic–clonic phases), and the occurrence and duration of postictal generalized EEG suppression (PGES) in patients with and without periictal interventions (e.g., oxygen administration, suctioning, and repositioning). Statistical analyses were performed to determine the association between the seizure-related variables and the periictal interventions. Results A total of 109 patients with 150 GCS were included in the study. Periictal interventions were provided in 122 GCS, of which, ictal administration of oxygen was provided in 29 GCS. The duration of PGES was significantly shortened in GCS with interventions when compared with those without interventions (p = 0.003). However, the ictal administration of oxygen, assessed as an independent variable, did not influence the occurrence or duration of PGES. Conclusion Periictal interventions significantly shortened the duration of PGES, and may, as a consequence, reduce the risk of SUDEP. However, ictal administration of oxygen did not influence the occurrence or duration of PGES.
Abstract 3099: Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma displays abnormalities in homology directed repair

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal (GE) junction has risen dramatically over the last three decades. Outcomes continue to be poor with 5 year survivals estimated at 15%. These poor outcomes are related to the advanced presentation in the majority of patients in addition to the resistance esophageal adenocarcinoma displays to cisplatin based chemotherapy or radiation especially when each is administered alone. Only one-third of patients will have significant benefit and achieve complete responses when treated with the combination of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation followed by surgical resection. Therefore, the need persists for overcoming resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation. Previous studies have highlighted the role of DNA repair pathways in resistance to cisplatin or radiation in a number of solid organ malignancies. The nucleotide repair pathway (NER) repairs the majority of cisplatin-induced DNA lesions while DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) formed in response to radiation are repaired by homologous recombination (HR) and the non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathways. We hypothesized that cisplatin and radiation resistance in esophageal adenocarcinoma is mediated through abnormalities in these DNA repair pathways. Using paired GE junction adenocarcinoma tumor samples with their matched normal tissue, we analyzed the expression of DNA repair genes in NER, HR and NHEJ pathways using quantitative RT-PCR. We identified overexpression of genes involved in HR in esophageal tumor samples in comparison to their normal counterparts. Eme1, an endonuclease present in complex with Mus81, showed consistent overexpression in GE junction adenocarcinoma samples. Mus81-Eme1 has been shown to play an important role in rescuing stalled replication forks and has been implicated in the repair of interstrand crosslinks, such as those formed in response to cisplatin therapy. Eme1 overexpression in esophageal adenocarcinoma could play a role in resistance to cisplatin through its impact on the repair of cisplatin induced DNA lesions. In addition, Eme1 overexpression could lead to genomic instability contributing to pathogenesis, metastases and therapeutic resistance. Further understanding the implications of Eme1 overexpression in these processes in GE junction adenocarcinoma will be of significant value. 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 3099. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3099
Selective Role of Vinculin in Contractile Mechanisms of Endothelial Permeability

Increased vascular endothelial cell (EC) permeability is a result of intercellular gap formation that may be induced by contraction-dependent and contraction-independent mechanisms. This study investigated a role of the adaptor protein vinculin in EC permeability induced by contractile (thrombin) and noncontractile (IL-6) agonists. Although thrombin and IL-6 caused a similar permeability increase in human pulmonary ECs and disrupted the association between vinculin and vascular endothelial–cadherin, they induced different patterns of focal adhesion (FA) arrangement. Thrombin, but not IL-6, caused formation of large, vinculin-positive FAs, phosphorylation of FA proteins, FA kinase and Crk-associated substrate, and increased vinculin–talin association. Thrombin-induced formation of talin-positive FA and intercellular gaps were suppressed in ECs with small interfering RNA–induced vinculin knockdown. Vinculin knockdown and inhibitors of Rho kinase and myosin-II motor activity also attenuated thrombin-induced ...
Photoreactions of DNA with a bimetallic ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex bridged by an organic chromophore

Abstract A solvent-free reaction of isoquinopyrrole with 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde results in a new organic chromophore with two peripheral nitrogen coordination sites capable of metal interaction. Reaction of this new chromophore with a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex gives a bimetallic complex with rich spectroscopic and electrochemical properties. The new bimetallic complex shows the ability to initiate double strand breaks in plasmid DNA when irradiated with low energy light.
The D-normal distribution

The distributions of the information theoretic functions, D1, D2 and R, although not always exactly normal nevertheless display interesting and useful decision properties.
Posterior shoulder dislocation with a reverse Hill-Sachs lesion treated with frozen femoral head bone allograft combined with osteochondral autograft transfer

Management of a posterior shoulder dislocation with an associated reverse Hill-Sachs lesion is challenging, both diagnostically and therapeutically. Diagnosis is frequently delayed or missed, whereas the resulting humeral head defect is often larger and more difficult to salvage than in anterior shoulder dislocations. This report presents the case of a 29-year-old male with a recurrent posterior shoulder dislocation associated with a large reverse Hill-Sachs defect, treated with bone augmentation of the lesion with a combination of fresh femoral head allograft and a locally harvested humeral head autograft transfer, with a successful outcome. Level of evidence V.
Risk Assessment Studies: Epidemiology

Extrapolating results of animal models to humans in real-life settings can be difficult; epidemiologic studies of the factors influencing the frequency and distribution of diseases in human populations are therefore critical to identifying human reproductive toxicants. Case reports, surveillance systems, and observational studies (including cross-sectional, case–control, and cohort designs) can be used, respectively, to generate hypotheses, estimate prevalence of disease in populations, and examine correlations between toxicant exposures and adverse reproductive outcomes. Major challenges in observational reproductive epidemiologic studies include exposure assessment, identifying all outcomes accurately (including when outcomes might be competing or not come to clinical attention) and addressing sources of bias. Examples of occupational and environmental exposures examined in observational epidemiologic studies include heavy metals, pesticides, organic solvents, dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, endocrine disruptors, exposures in the healthcare setting, tobacco use and second-hand smoke, and air pollution. Emerging areas of study include life-course epidemiology, epigenetics, and nanomaterials. As technology changes and new materials are used in industry, research on health effects of those materials will be needed. Improvements in our understanding of mechanisms of reproductive toxicity, improved sources of epidemiologic data, and new tools to evaluate past exposure promise to transform the study of reproductive epidemiology.
Tolerance and Physical Dependence

The continued administration of morphine exerts an entirely different effect on a morphinist from that exerted by a single medium dose of morphine injected into a healthy person. While this latter causes nausea, even vomiting, a feeling of faintness, pulse acceleration and lowering of the blood pressure, the former occasions just the opposite feelings, sensations and states—namely, pleasant feeling, euphoria, increased power, and, in the heart and vessels, strengthening of the contraction, invigoration of the pulse, and rise of the blood pressure. Since every morphinist has once had the first morphine injection, there arises the question: by what means and at what time of the continued abuse does this reversal of effect take place? It is brought about as follows: the morphine, originally foreign to the body, becomes an intrinsic part of the body as the union between it and the brain cells keeps growing stronger; it then acquires the significance and effectiveness of a heart tonic, of an indispensable element of nutrition and substinence, of a means of carrying on the business of the entire organism.(1)
Phosphorus Deficiency and Hypophosphatemia

Low serum phosphorus levels, sometimes associated with depletion of phosphorus stores, can engender a variety of serious, often life-threatening physiologic changes. The proximate cause of this dangerous situation is usually medical intervention in such conditions as alcoholism and diabetic ketoacidosis, which can produce a shift of phosphorus within the body unless preventive measures are instituted.
Interplay Between Renal Endothelin and Purinergic Signaling Systems

Alterations in extracellular fluid volume regulation and sodium balance may result in the development and maintenance of salt-dependent hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Numerous pathways contribute to the regulation of sodium excretion and blood pressure, including endothelin and purinergic signaling. Increasing evidence suggests a link between purinergic receptor activation and endothelin production within the renal collecting duct as a means of promoting natriuresis. A better understanding of the relationship between these two systems, especially in regard to sodium homeostasis, will fill a significant knowledge gap and may provide novel antihypertensive treatment options. Therefore, this review focuses on the cross talk between endothelin and purinergic signaling as it relates to the renal regulation of sodium and blood pressure homeostasis.
Health Care Student Knowledge and Willingness to Work in Infectious Disease Outbreaks.

Objective Health care workers are critical first responders. Understanding which factors motivate their willingness to work (WTW) during infectious disease outbreaks may guide improvements in preparedness. The perspective of health care students, the future workforce, remains largely unexplored. This study compared factors influencing WTW among medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. Methods A printed survey was administered to 631 medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. The questionnaire elicited information regarding prior disaster training, disease-related knowledge, and WTW in the setting of infectious diseases with contact or respiratory transmission. Results Analyses of the 579 respondents (92% response rate) demonstrated that students were less fearful for their health and more willing to work during outbreaks with contact transmission than during those with respiratory transmission. Medical students were the most fearful for their health, but they demonstrated the greatest WTW, followed by nursing students, and then pharmacy students. Medical students were also the most knowledgeable about infectious diseases. Prior disaster training was associated with greater WTW. Conclusions Extent of disease-related knowledge and prior disaster training appear to influence WTW. Our findings, taken in the context of a remarkable underemphasis on disaster preparedness in health care curricula, call for a broader incorporation of disaster training to improve the WTW of health care students, and, ultimately, health care workers. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:694–700)
New insight on dengue virus-induced thrombocytopenia.

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is endemic in over 100 countries around the globe. There are four serotypes that each produce similar clinical presentations. The clinical sp...
Improving Pediatric Preparedness in Critical Access Hospital Emergency Departments: Impact of a Longitudinal In Situ Simulation Program.

ObjectivesCritical access hospitals (CAH) see few pediatric patients. Many of these hospitals do not have access to physicians with pediatric training. We sought to evaluate the impact of an in situ pediatric simulation program in the CAH emergency department setting on care team performance during
Examining the Role of NGOs in urban environmental governance

Abstract I conduct an ethnography of the public policy processes around urban environmental governance in Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA; and Baltimore, MD. In particular, I examine the structure and functioning of the public policy networks of the urban tree initiatives in order to investigate the expanding role of NGOs in public service delivery, especially related to sustainability and climate adaptation. This study concludes that urban partnerships often lack network structures that exhibit the centralization and hierarchy to roll out public programs smoothly. An overly horizontal structure leads to overlaps and gaps in management functions. Inadequate hierarchical control by public agencies increases the likelihood of gridlocks in service delivery. From an urban governance perspective, the prominent role of NGOs increases accountability of the public programs in certain limited capacities, while it creates systemic risks that compromise their legitimacy in ways that merit further investigation.
Three-Phase Induction Machines

It may be difficult to imagine nowadays that in the early years of electric power engineering, there was a serious controversy about the relative merits of directcurrent and alternating-current power systems. The advocates of a-c systems, lead by innovators like Tesla,* were opposed by no less a giant of the engineering world than Edison, † who had pioneered the first (d-c) system. Even though the advantages of high-voltage power transmission and the need for transformers were known and appreciated, it took another breakthrough, the invention of the induction motor (attributed to Tesla) to turn the tide in favor of a-c.
Diffusion in Silicon

Solid state diffusion is the physical process responsible for the migration of dopant atoms in the silicon lattice. As such, it is a very important process in the construction of all kinds of electronic devices and circuits on silicon. In the present chapter, the emphasis will be on the presentation of current theories and ideas concerning this physical process. It may be rather surprising that given the significant scientific and technological importance of diffusion in silicon as well as the relative maturity of the field of microelectronics technology, no generally accepted theory exists for diffusion phenomena nor complete and indisputable characterization of diffusivity of the common dopant impurities under several technologically important processing conditions.
Neutron Star Tidal Deformabilities Constrained by Nuclear Theory and Experiment

We confront observational data from gravitational wave event GW170817 with microscopic modeling of the cold neutron star equation of state. We develop and employ a Bayesian statistical framework that enables us to implement constraints on the equation of state from laboratory measurements of nuclei and state-of-the-art chiral effective field theory methods. The energy density functionals constructed from the posterior probability distributions are then used to compute consistently the neutron star equation of state from the outer crust to the inner core, assuming a composition consisting of protons, neutrons, electrons, and muons. In contrast to previous studies, we find that the 95% credibility range of predicted neutron star tidal deformabilities (136<Λ<519) for a 1.4 solar-mass neutron star is already consistent with the upper bound deduced from observations of the GW170817 event. However, we find that lower bounds on the neutron star tidal deformability will very strongly constrain microscopic models of the dense matter equation of state. We also demonstrate a strong correlation between the neutron star tidal deformability and the pressure of beta-equilibrated matter at twice saturation density.
Depression Fully Mediates the Effect of Multimorbidity on Self-Rated Health for Economically Disadvantaged African American Men but Not Women

Background. Although chronic medical conditions (CMCs), depression, and self-rated health (SRH) are associated, their associations may depend on race, ethnicity, gender, and their intersections. In predominantly White samples, SRH is shown to better reflect the risk of mortality and multimorbidity for men than it is for women, which suggests that poor SRH among women may be caused not only by CMCs, but also by conditions like depression and social relations—a phenomenon known as “the sponge hypothesis.” However, little is known about gender differences in the links between multimorbidity, depression, and SRH among African Americans (AAs). Objective. To study whether depression differently mediates the association between multimorbidity and SRH for economically disadvantaged AA men and women. Methods. This survey was conducted in South Los Angeles between 2015 to 2018. A total number of 740 AA older adults (age ≥ 55 years) were enrolled in this study, of which 266 were AA men and 474 were AA women. The independent variable was the number of CMCs. The dependent variable was SRH. Age and socioeconomic status (educational attainment and marital status) were covariates. Depression was the mediator. Gender was the moderator. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the data. Results. In the pooled sample that included both genders, depression partially mediated the effect of multimorbidity on SRH. In gender specific models, depression fully mediated the effects of multimorbidity on SRH for AA men but not AA women. For AA women but not AA men, social isolation was associated with depression. Conclusion. Gender differences exist in the role of depression as an underlying mechanism behind the effect of multimorbidity on the SRH of economically disadvantaged AA older adults. For AA men, depression may be the reason people with multimorbidity report worse SRH. For AA women, depression is only one of the many reasons individuals with multiple CMCs report poor SRH. Prevention of depression may differently influence the SRH of low-income AA men and women with multimorbidity.
Female-to-Male Transsexuals and Gay-Sounding Voices: A Pilot Study

A great deal of work has now been published on the perception of men’s sexual orientation on the basis of phonetic characteristics. In this paper, I present a pilot study focusing on a population that sheds new light on this topic: female-to-male transsexuals. As individuals who were raised as girls but self-identify as men, trans men (as they are also called) are often perceived as gay-sounding after undergoing the drop in vocal pitch that is typically brought on by testosterone therapy. Using recordings of read speech from three trans men and five non-trans men who were each rated as gay- or straight-sounding by listener subjects, the analysis presented here shows that trans men are perceived in much the same way as gay-sounding non-trans men, despite a number of differences in the acoustic features of their voices. Ultimately these findings lend credence to the notion that there is no single gay-sounding phonetic style, but rather multiple styles that are lumped together perceptually as gay-sounding on the basis of their deviation from norms for straight-sounding voices.
Multiple myeloma: Report of a case

Abstract A case is presented in which examination of a routine Panorex film led to the detection of multiple myeloma.
Die Lorentz-FitzGerald-Körperkontraktion

Wir vergleichen jetzt eine bewegte Lichtuhr, in der der Lichtweg parallel zur Bewegungsrichtung ist, mit einer Uhr, in der er zur Bewegungsrichtung orthogonal ist. Wenn der Korper, auf dem die Spiegel montiert sind, eine Lorentz-FitzGerald-Korperkontraktion in Bewegungsrichtung erfahrt, stimmen diese Uhren uberein. Dann zeigen wir, dass eine beliebig orientierte Lichtuhr die gleiche Zeitdilatation aufweist. Da die Zeitdilatation ein ‚realer‘ Effekt ist, gilt das auch fur die Lorentz-FitzGerald-Korperkontraktion. Wir diskutieren, inwiefern die Korperkontraktion eine naturliche Erscheinung ist. Zuletzt stellen wir die sogenannten Tachyonen vor, also hypothetische Teilchen, die schneller sind als Licht.
Comments on “Solubility modelling and solvent effect on solid-liquid equilibrium of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid at different temperatures”

Abstract A polemic is given regarding the mathematical expressions used by Mohdee and coworkers to calculate the thermodynamic properties of dissolution of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid in seven organic mono-solvents. The authors' calculated thermodynamic properties based on the Apelblat model are compared to numerical values based on published methods used by other researchers. Errors were also noted in Fig. 6 of the published paper for the calculations pertaining to the the Buchowski-Ksiazcak λh equation.
Improved skin regeneration with acellular fish skin grafts

Abstract Fish skin graft, a novel skin substitute, has seen a widespread clinical application since the approval for wound coverage by the FDA. Due to its properties in promoting wound healing and its efficient cost in manufacturing, fish skin grafts are a potential alternative to allograft and xenograft sources including, but not limited to cadaver and porcine grafts in a variety of applications. Additionally, fish skin grafts show promising results in treating diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), venous leg ulcers (VLUs) and some evidence worthy of further exploration in treating a host of other acute and chronic wounds. Here we summarize the material and biological properties of fish skin grafts. How this graft compares to other prevailing skin substitutes on the market for different wound types was also explored. Fish skin grafts have many uses in clinical applications of the future.
Workplace Violence Training Programs for Nursing Students: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND:Workplace violence (WPV) is a serious phenomenon affecting nurses in clinical settings around the globe. Like nurses, nursing students are at risk of encountering incidents of WPV, which...