cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolution of thermal-hydraulics testing in EBR-II

Abstract A thermal-hydraulics testing and modeling program has been underway at the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) for 12 years. This work culminated in two tests of historical importance to commercial nuclear power, a loss of flow without scram and a loss of heat sink without scram, both from 100% initial power. These tests showed that natural processes will shut EBR-II down and maintain cooling without automatic control rod action or operator intervention. Supporting analyses indicate that these results are characteristic of a range of sizes of liquid metal cooled reactors (LMRs), if these reactors use metal driver fuel. This type of fuel is being developed as part of the Integral Fast Reactor Program at Argonne National Laboratory. Work is now underway at EBR-II to exploit the inherent safety of metal-fueled LMRs with regard to development of improved plant control strategies.
Treatment of olecranon bursitis: a systematic review

The optimal management of olecranon bursitis is ill-defined. The purposes of this review were to systematically evaluate clinical outcomes for aseptic versus septic bursitis, compare surgical versus nonsurgical management, and examine the roles of corticosteroid injection and aspiration in aseptic bursitis. The English-language literature was searched using PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Allied and Complementary Medicine, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Analyses were performed for clinical resolution and complications after treatment of aseptic and/or septic olecranon bursitis. Twenty-nine studies containing 1278 patients were included. Compared with septic bursitis, aseptic bursitis was associated with a significantly higher overall complication rate (p = 0.0108). Surgical management was less likely to clinically resolve septic or aseptic bursitis (p = 0.0476), and demonstrated higher rates of overall complications (p = 0.0117), persistent drainage (p = 0.0194), and bursal infection (p = 0.0060) than nonsurgical management. Corticosteroid injection for aseptic bursitis was associated with increased overall complications (p = 0.0458) and skin atrophy (p = 0.0261). Aspiration did not increase the risk of bursal infection for aseptic bursitis. Based primarily on level IV evidence, nonsurgical management of olecranon bursitis is significantly more effective and safer than surgical management. The clinical course of aseptic bursitis appears to be more complicated than that of septic bursitis. Corticosteroid injection is associated with significant risks without improving the outcome of aseptic bursitis. Therapeutic IV.
Development of a high-performance cryogenic radiator with V-groove radiation shields

A feasibility demonstration model of a new-technology, high-performance, cryogenic radiative cooler has been successfully tested in a helium-cooled vacuum chamber. Thermal isolation of the radiator cold stage from the warm spacecraft and instrument is achieved by a novel arrangement of lightweight radiation shields which form large V-groove cavities, and by the use of low-conductance structural supports. The vacuum chamber experiments demonstrate the thermal isolation capability of the radiator design. Analytical model predictions are all within 1 K of the measured test temperatures. Utilization of this design enables reasonably sized radiative coolers (less than 0.3 sq m) to achieve operating temperatures below 60 K at earth, Mars, and beyond for useful cooling loads below 75 mW. The design can be scaled to accommodate larger heat loads. The reduction in operating temperature of over 15 K relative to any radiative cooler flown in the past will allow the V-groove isolation radiator to meet the challenging instrument cooling requirements of many future space missions.
When “the same” is really “different”

Comment on Richardson et al, page [3458][1] Novel agents have revolutionized the current treatment paradigm for patients with multiple myeloma. Is lenalidomide another thalidomide or does it offer more? The past 10 years have yielded a plethora of practice-changing treatment options for patients
Effects of local anaesthesia on subdermal needle insertion pain and subsequent tests of microvascular function in human.

Post-occlusive and local thermal hyperemia are currently used as integrated tests to study microvascular function in microvascular diseases. However, further pathophysiological insight would require its association with microdialysis. The major limitation remains the microinvasive approach as local anaesthesia prior to fiber insertion could lead to confounding effects. The objective of our study was to determine whether EMLA® cream treatment, applied for 20 min, 40 or 60 min, significantly decreases the pain related to intradermal needle insertions, while not decreasing the microvascular response to post-occlusive and thermal hyperemia 2 h after cream removal. EMLA® cream, when applied during 40 min, induces a significant 75% decrease in the pain following intradermal needle insertion, while not modifying skin post-occlusive and thermal hyperemia 2 h after cream removal. Therefore, we recommend its use in such conditions before performing microdialysis coupled with laser Doppler flowmetry in cohort studies aimed at studying microvascular dysfunction in patients with microvascular diseases.
EFFICACY OF THE IMPLIED APPROXIMATION IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF FLUTTER DERIVATIVES

Structural motion induced aerodynamic forces on bridges are customarily characterized in terms of flutter derivatives. Considerable effort has been extended to refine the procedure to identify flutter derivatives of bridge decks using spring-suspended two-degree-of-freedom bridge deck section models in wind tunnels. In this context, techniques and implied approximations employed in the literature to identify flutter derivatives from section model studies are highlighted. Through a parametric study, this Technical Note assesses the efficacy of a customarily used identification procedure which provides an improved insight and better understanding of the identification technique for flutter derivatives.
An enhanced Empirical Mode Decomposition based method for image enhancement

In this paper, a new extension of Bidimensional Empirical Mode Decomposition (BEMD) based on the median filtering is presented. The new scheme is compared with the traditional Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and Fast and Adaptive Bidimensional EMD (FABEMD) techniques. The new scheme manifests to be superior to both of them in image enhancement and particularly in edge enhancement. The comparison is performed, objectively, using the measure of enhancement (EME) and also visually. Furthermore, we show that by applying different thresholds in stopping condition for each Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF), we can derive more accurate IMFs.
Effect of autoanalgesia on CNS enkephalin receptors.

Abstract Fear conditioning to foot shock (15 sec/day, 12 days) elicited autoanalgesia in 10 male (Sprague Dawley) rats, while 17 non-shock control rats exhibited no analgesia as measured by the tail-flick assay. The binding of 3 H-leu-enkephalin to synaptosomal preparations isolated from fear conditioned (experimental) and control animals was analyzed. At leu-enkephalin concentrations of 10 −9 M or less, both synaptosomal preparations demonstrated high affinity binding with dissociation constants on the order of 10 −10 . Binding of leu-enkephalin could not be displaced by a hundred-fold excess of naloxone at leu-enkephalin concentrations less than 10 −9 M. However, the ability of naloxone to compete with leu-enkephalin for binding sites progressively increased at concentrations greater than 10 −9 M leu-enkephalin. At these ligand concentrations, the competition of naloxone for leu-enkephalin binding sites was more dramatic in the control than in the experimental animals. These data support the existence of two classes of receptors for leu-enkephalin, one of which is not blocked by opiate antagonists. Furthermore, changes in binding capacity associated with autoanalgesia produced by conditioned fear are consistent with the hypothesis of endogenous release of opiate-like peptides in response to stress.
Survival and Adult Emergence of Aquatic Insects in Air-Supersaturated Water

ABSTRACT Mayflies Timpanoga hecuba, caddisflies Dicosmoecus gilvies, mosquitoes Culex peus and midges Cricotopus sp. were tested in the laboratory to determine the effects of air-supersaturated water on survival and adult emergence. The acute 96-hour LC50 value (lethal concentration which killed 50% after 96 hr) for mayflies was 128.9% saturation. Times to death and mean times to 50% death were determined. Adult midges and mosquitoes emerged at 141% and 143%, respectively. Good survival and emergence occurred in controls for all test groups. Adult mayflies did not successfully emerge or survive at concentrations of ≥135%. Adult caddisflies did not emerge at concentrations of ≥134%. Bubbles which were observed in body fluids caused buoyancy problems and raised the insects to the water surface. Data indicate that mosquitoes were highly tolerant and midges were moderately tolerant of air-supersaturated water. Mayflies and caddisflies were relatively sensitive. All insects were more tolerant of air-supersatur...
Role of System Gly in glycine transport in monolayer cultures of liver cells

Abstract The high-affinity component of glycine uptake by the hepatoma cell line HTC and by the ordinary rat hepatocyte corresponds to System Gly, the agency serving for glycine uptake by pigeon red blood cells and rabbit reticulocytes, and at most to only a minor extent to System ASC. This component was identified in HTC by its sensitivity to inhibition by sarcosine but scarcely by 2-(methylamino) isobutyric acid, by its insensitivity to lowering of the pH, and by the unique relation of its rate to the square of the Na+ concentration. The identity of the low-affinity component with System A was confirmed by opposite properties, and by its stimulation by insulin or amino acid starvation. Both components differed sharply from the System ASC uptake as measured with threonine.
Theology as Grammar

Examinant la conception de la philosophie et de la religion developpee par Wittgenstein dans le sens d'une activite d'elucidation grammaticale ou ceremoniale du langage, l'A. verifie la these -souvent mal interpretee- de l'analogie entre la theologie et la grammaire etablie dans les «Investigations philosophiques». L'A. montre que Wittgenstein rejette, non pas la possibilite de la connaissance de Dieu, mais celle d'une connaissance propositionnelle de Dieu
The DNA Sequence of a Gypsy Element from Gossypium hirsutum L. and Characterization of Gypsy Elements in Three Gossypium Species

A strategy was developed to isolate a complete gypsy-element from Gossypium hirsutum L. based on the sequence of a RAPD that was polymorphic in near isoganic lines of cotton that varied in leaf shape. A 5998 nt clone was isolated and its gene order and sequence confirmed it was a gypsy-type retroelement. Sequences homologous to the gag portion of this clone were also found in Gossypium herbaceum L. and Gossypium raimondii L. A portion of the open reading frame of the integrase gene was amplified from three Gossypium species under investigation. PCR products of the expected size were amplified from all three Gossypium species. G. raimondii sequences were statistically more degenerate than sequences from either G. hirsutum or G. herbaceum. Finally, analysis of the open reading frames of selected integrase clones from the three Gossypium species revealed a second gypsy element based on similarity of the deduced amino acid sequence.
SPIN BOTTLENECKS IN THE QUANTUM HALL REGIME

I report on a theory of time-dependent tunneling between a metal and a partially spin-polarized two-dimensional electron system (2DES). I find that the tunneling current which flows to screen an electric field between a metal and a 2DES is the sum of two exponential contributions whose relative weights depend on spin-dependent tunneling conductances, on quantum corrections to the electrostatic capacitance of the tunnel junction, and on the rate at which the 2DES spin polarization approaches equilibrium. For high mobility homogeneous 2DES`s at filling factor {nu}=1 , I predict a ratio of fast and slow tunneling rates equal to (2K+1){sup 2} where K is the number of reversed spins in the Skyrmion excitations. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society }
Oral cancer prevention and early detection knowledge and practices of Illinois dentists--a brief communication.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess Illinois dentists’ self-reported knowledge and practices concerning oral cancer prevention, early detection, and management as a baseline prior to conducting interventions designed to increase dentists’ capacity to detect and manage oral cancers and counsel their patients about risk reduction. Methods: A weighted sample to represent licensed dentists in 19 counties yielded 518 dentists who responded to a 38-item mailed survey in 2004. Results: Over 92 percent of the dentists reported providing oral cancer exams. However, many are not doing them properly or at frequent intervals. Over two-thirds had oral cancer continuing education, but 40 percent had it more than 2 years prior to the survey. Training in risk counseling was rare. Conclusions: Interventions are needed to assure appropriate skill and knowledge levels for oral cancer early detection, management, and risk counseling by Illinois dentists.
Analysis of a membrane‐enriched proteome from postmortem human brain tissue in Alzheimer's disease

Purpose The present study is a discovery mode proteomics analysis of the membrane enriched fraction of post-mortem brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and control cases. This study aims to validate a method to identify new proteins that could be involved in the pathogenesis of AD and potentially serve as disease biomarkers.
Multiprocessors should support simple memory consistency models

In the future, many computers will contain multiple processors, in part because the marginal cost of adding a few additional processors is so low that only minimal performance gain is needed to make the additional processors cost effective. Intel, for example, now makes cards containing four Pentium Pro processors that can easily be incorporated into a system. Multiple processor cards like Intel's will help multiprocessing spread from servers to the desktop. But how will these multiprocessors be programmed? The evolution of the programming model is already under way. One important function of the programming model is to describe how memory operates. For a multiprocessor, a reasonable model is sequential consistency (SC), which makes a multiprocessor behave like a multitasking uniprocessor. Nevertheless, many commercial multiprocessors support more relaxed memory models. The author argues that multiprocessors should support SC because-with speculative execution, relaxed models do not provide sufficient additional performance to justify exposing their complexity to the authors of low level software.
Aquatic environmental fate of nitroguanidine

The environmental fate of nitroguanidine (NQ) in surface waters is dominated by photolysis with surface half-lives at 40°N ranging from 0.6 d in summer to 2.3 d in winter. The environmental quantum yield is 0.01. The NQ is initially photolyzed to nitrite and hydroxyguanidine; nitrite is photochemically converted to nitrate and hydroxyguanidine undergoes sensitized photolysis to unknown products. The photooxidation of nitrite is assisted by organic material in a process not involving H2O2 or singlet oxygen. Nitroguanidine biotransforms cometabolically; in the absence of extra organic nutrients the second-order rate constant was (3.8 ± 0.9) × 10−10 ml cell−1 h−1. Half-life estimates for aerobic, aquatic biotransformation range from 1 to 100 d. Cyanamide appears to be an end product of NQ use and no intermediate biotransformation products were observed. Nitroguanidine is expected to move readily through soils (soil sorption coefficient Kp < 0.1); however, anaerobic biotransformation occurs readily in soil, with an estimated half-life of 4 d. Other fate parameters measured at 25°C are a water solubility of 2,600 ± 100 ppm, octanol/water partition coefficient of 0.148 ± 0.001 (dimensionless), Henry's constant of < 7 × 10−6 (dimension-less), base hydrolysis constant of (3 ± 1) × 10−4 M−1 S−1, neutral hydrolysis constant ≤ 2 × 10−8 s−1, and biouptake constants of 110 g dry cells/g water for Anabena flos-aquae and 150 g dry cells/g water for Selenastrum capricornutum.
Therapeutic responses of spontaneous canine malignancies to combinations of radiotherapy and hyperthermia

Abstract The goals of this ongoing Phase III study of adjuvant local hyperthermia with radiotherapy were to evaluate how tumor control and normal tissue complications were related to patient and treatment variables. Canine veterinary patients with localized malignancies were stratified by histology and anatomic site and randomized into three groups. All patients received radiotherapy ( 60 CO) in 3.5 Gy fractions given Mon-Wed-Fri to 14 treatments (49 Gy). One group received radiotherapy alone while the others also received microwave-induced hyperthermia (44°C) for 30 minutes once each week. Hyperthermia followed radiotherapy and was given to one group immediately and delayed 4–5 hours in the other. Adjuvant hyperthermia resulted in a significant ( p p
Performance of rainwater harvesting systems in the southeastern United States

Abstract Recent severe droughts, concerns over the environmental impact of stormwater runoff and increased water demands have generated interest in rainwater harvesting systems in humid, well developed regions, such as the southeastern United States. In order to evaluate the use of rainwater harvesting systems in this region, a monitoring study was conducted at three rainwater cisterns in North Carolina, a computer model was developed to simulate system performance, and simulations were conducted for 208 l rain barrels and larger cisterns. Results of the monitoring study showed that the rainwater harvesting systems were underutilized, which was suspected to result from poor estimation of water usage and public perception of the harvested rainwater. The computer model simulated system performance by evaluating a water balance using historical rainfall data and anticipated usage. Simulation results showed that a rain barrel was frequently depleted when used to meet household irrigation demands and overflowed during most rainfall events. Simulations also illustrated the improved performance of large systems while providing an indication of diminishing returns for increased cistern capacity.
Quality, accessibility and destination marketing: the case of US states' tourism websites

Many US states depend on tourists to bring in revenue. These same states use the internet as a major tool for providing information to such tourists about local travel opportunities. However, many of these web pages may not be accessible to individuals using disability-related accessibility technology. This research evaluates the official tourism web pages maintained by the individual states within the US for accessibility (within the guidelines of Section 508) and the quality of the presentation. It is shown that neither the accessibility nor the quality of these web pages has improved from November 2005 to April 2007.
Decreased expression of intercellular adhesion molecules in acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma compared with invasive well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.

Intercellular adhesion proteins are poorly characterized in acantholytic squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), a more aggressive tumor than nonacantholytic invasive well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. In this study we compared expression of Dsg3, E-cadherin, and syndecan-1 in ASCC and SCC. Immunohistochemical detection of Dsg3, E-cadherin, and syndecan-1 in 22 ASCCs and 22 SCCs was graded on a semiquantitative scale for intensity of staining (SI) and degree of circumferential staining (CS) about the cell membrane. Results were assessed by means of conditional logistic regression and χ2 analysis. Dsg3 and E-cadherin expression (SI, CS) was significantly decreased (P < .05) in ASCC compared with SCC, whereas staining for syndecan-1 was similar in the 2 tumor types. Differences in expression of adhesion markers between ASCC and SCC may contribute to the development of acantholysis in ASCC and its more aggressive biologic behavior.
Probing Arabidopsis Chloroplast Diacylglycerol Pools by Selectively Targeting Bacterial Diacylglycerol Kinase to Suborganellar Membranes

Diacylglycerol (DAG) is an intermediate in metabolism of both triacylglycerols and membrane lipids. Probing the steady-state pools of DAG and understanding how they contribute to the synthesis of different lipids is important when designing plants with altered lipid metabolism. However, traditional methods of assaying DAG pools are difficult, because its abundance is low and because fractionation of subcellular membranes affects DAG pools. To manipulate and probe DAG pools in an in vivo context, we generated multiple stable transgenic lines of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that target an Escherichia coli DAG kinase (DAGK) to each leaflet of each chloroplast envelope membrane. E. coli DAGK is small, self inserts into membranes, and has catalytic activity on only one side of each membrane. By comparing whole-tissue lipid profiles between our lines, we show that each line has an individual pattern of DAG, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, and triacylglycerol steady-state levels, which supports an individual function of DAG in each membrane leaflet. Furthermore, conversion of DAG in the leaflets facing the chloroplast intermembrane space by DAGK impairs plant growth. As a result of DAGK presence in the outer leaflet of the outer envelope membrane, phosphatidic acid accumulation is not observed, likely because it is either converted into other lipids or removed to other membranes. Finally, we use the outer envelope-targeted DAGK line as a tool to probe the accessibility of DAG generated in response to osmotic stress.
Community College Students With Learning Disabilities Evidence of Impairment, Possible Misclassification, and a Documentation Disconnect

Recent research suggests that most 4-year college students diagnosed with specific learning disability (SLD) do not meet objective criteria for the disorder, show normative deficits in academic skills, or have childhood histories of SLD. The purpose of this study was to examine the functioning of students diagnosed with SLD attending community college. We reviewed SLD documentation for 359 community college students previously diagnosed with SLD and receiving academic accommodations. Most students met objective criteria (82.3%) and were first diagnosed in childhood (93.3%). Most students also showed average intellectual functioning and below-average to borderline academic achievement. However, 27.3% showed uniformly low ability and achievement scores, suggesting possible misclassification. Students who failed to meet objective criteria for SLD often submitted test data that lacked current, adult-normed standardized test scores; many were diagnosed based on response to intervention and submitted only an in...
Phase Transformation in Nanometer-Sized γ-Alumina by Mechanical Milling

Nanocrystalline γ-alumina powders of 50-nm size were milled by high-energy ball milling. It was found that the pure γ-alumina phase showed great stability and did not transform to any other phase even after a long milling time. On the other hand, γ-alumina, which contained a small amount of the α-alumina phase, showed a gradual phase transformation from γ- to α-alumina on milling. The phase transformation mechanism during milling appears to be nucleation and growth type and promoted by the α-alumina seed.
An improved multiple-path deadlock-free routing algorithm in binary hypercubes

This paper presents a multiple-path deadlock-free routing algorithm in direct binary hypercubes which is an improved version of a previously published algorithm by the author (1991). Between two nodes of distance k, the previous algorithm provides k disjoint paths in one direction and one path in the other. The direction with one path is a performance bottleneck. The new algorithm adds one more disjoint path to the narrow direction using buffer management technique, and preserves the deadlock-free property. Although only one path is added, simulation results presented in this paper show a significant performance improvement since the added path almost doubles the capacity of the bottleneck. >
Connection admission management in ATM networks supporting dynamic multi-point session constructs

A framework for admission management of session-level requests exhibiting space/time heterogeneity is developed. A single sub-threshold based link-level connection admission scheme for a mix of uni-point/static session and multi-point/dynamic session Virtual Channel Link requests (VCLRs) is designed and evaluated under different scenarios. Aside from external blocking, internal loss is introduced as an important QOS parameter for multipoint/dynamic session services. Concepts of service-optimal and throughput-optimal sub-thresholds are formulated. Finally, we outline a network algorithm that designs link-level sub-thresholds in accordance with end-to-end session-level QOS parameters.
Hardware support for fast capability-based addressing

Traditional methods of providing protection in memory systems do so at the cost of increased context switch time and/or increased storage to record access permissions for processes. With the advent of computers that supported cycle-by-cycle multithreading, protection schemes that increase the time to perform a context switch are unacceptable, but protecting unrelated processes from each other is still necessary if such machines are to be used in non-trusting environments.This paper examines guarded pointers, a hardware technique which uses tagged 64-bit pointer objects to implement capability-based addressing. Guarded pointers encode a segment descriptor into the upper bits of every pointer, eliminating the indirection and related performance penalties associated with traditional implementations of capabilities. All processes share a single 54-bit virtual address space, and access is limited to the data that can be referenced through the pointers that a process has been issued. Only one level of address translation is required to perform a memory reference. Sharing data between processes is efficient, and protection states are defined to allow fast protected subsystem calls and create unforgeable data keys.
Fungal Biofilms, Drug Resistance, and Recurrent Infection

A biofilm is a surface-associated microbial community. Diverse fungi are capable of biofilm growth. The significance of this growth form for infection biology is that biofilm formation on implanted devices is a major cause of recurrent infection. Biofilms also have limited drug susceptibility, making device-associated infection extremely difficult to treat. Biofilm-like growth can occur during many kinds of infection, even when an implanted device is not present. Here we summarize the current understanding of fungal biofilm formation, its genetic control, and the basis for biofilm drug resistance.
An electrical conductivity relaxation study of La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3−δ

Abstract Electrical conductivity relaxation (ECR) experiments were carried out on La 0.6 Sr 0.4 Fe 0.8 Co 0.2 O 3− δ (LSFCO) in the temperature range of 840 to 910 °C and in the oxygen partial pressure range of 0.01 to 0.05 atm. The effects of annealing at 900 °C on the oxygen transport properties were investigated for individual samples. The values of D O 2− =D O / Γ O and k ex = k chem / Γ O agree well with the result from isotope-exchange depth profile (IEDP) experiments.
Impact of Status and Meme Content on the Spread of Memes in Virtual Communities

We examined the influence of meme consistency (vs. inconsistency) and intragroup status on the spread of memes in virtual communities. Prior research suggests that information consistent with the theme of the group is remembered better and that ideas threatening to the group identity are rejected. In addition, previous research shows that low-status group members mimic high-status members and communicate with them to seek information and approval. We analyzed social interactions among members of four online forums from January 1, 2010, to February 21, 2014. Contrary to our prediction, our results show that memes initiated by low-status members spread faster than memes started by highor moderate-status members. In line with prior research, memes that were consistent with a forum theme were spread more frequently than inconsistent memes.
Relations from temperamental approach reactivity and effortful control to academic achievement and peer relations in early elementary school

Abstract The goal of the current study was to examine relations from temperamental approach reactivity (i.e., impulsivity, frustration, and positive affect) and effortful control (EC; 42 and 54 months) to teachers’ reports of academic achievement and popularity (72 and 84 months). Frustration was positively related to achievement and negatively related to popularity for girls, but unrelated to boys’ outcomes. Interactions suggested that, among children with high EC or emotional approach (frustration or positive emotion), impulsivity positively predicted achievement. Few gender differences in interactions were noted. These results provide insight into the dynamics relations from temperament/personality to children’s academic and social adjustment.
A Safe Position

A safe positiqn is one in which the possibility of error may safely be discounted. But when is one in such a position? To answer this question, we must attend to positions in some detail.
Selection of Refuge Sites by Sympatric Microtus ochrogaster and Sigmodon hispidus

Prairie voles ( Microtus ochrogaster ) and cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus ) are common, seasonally abundant members of communities of small mammals in fields and meadows of northeastern Kansas. Despite being ecologically similar and mutually antagonistic, these two species coexist, even within the same small fields. Differences in microhabitat may facilitate this coexistence. I examined microhabitat use by evaluating selection of refuge sites. Statistical analyses of a suite of microhabitat variables indicated that each species chooses sites in a nonrandom manner and that selected sites differ between the species in terms of vegetational and topographic attributes. Prairie voles choose refuge sites with dense grass cover and a large amount of topographic relief relative to randomly selected sites or to refuge sites of cotton rats; refuge sites of cotton rats have less ground cover but more tall forbs than do either randomly selected sites or refuge sites of prairie voles.
Enhanced Recovery Pathways Versus Standard Care After Cystectomy: A Meta-analysis of the Effect on Perioperative Outcomes

Context Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols aim to improve surgical outcomes by reducing variation in perioperative best practices. However, among published studies, results show a striking variation in the effect of ERAS pathways on perioperative outcomes after cystectomy.
Endothelial-secreted arachidonic acid metabolites modulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte chemotaxis and diapedesis in vitro

The influence of endothelial cells (ECs) on polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) motility was examined using in vitro assays of PMN diapedesis and chemotaxis. ECs are seen to release arachidonic acid (20:4) metabolites that directly increase or decrease PMN movement, with their general effect being enhanced motility. This effect can be increased or decreased by treating ECs with stimulators or inhibitors of 20:4 metabolism, respectively. The metabolites include thromboxane B2, which increases PMN random motility, chemotaxis, and diapedesis in a dose- responsive manner and which acts as a chemoattractant; 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, which increases chemotaxis and diapedesis at high doses but decreases these responses at low doses; and a lipoxygenase-derived metabolite, suggested to be 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, which increases chemotaxis and diapedesis. Thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin mimetics also affect chemotaxis in qualitatively similar manners as TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, respectively, but display greater potency. EC release of these metabolites is also seen to be substratum modulated, with an increased production by cells cultured on extracellular matrices. These results suggest that ECs are capable of modulating PMN motility and suggest a role for ECs in the control of PMN diapedesis.
Dual inhibition of ErbB1 and ErbB2 in cancer by recombinant human prolidase mutant hPEPD-G278D

// Lu Yang 1 , Yun Li 1, 2 , Arup Bhattacharya 1 , Yuesheng Zhang 1, 3 1 Departments of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA 2 Urology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA 3 Cancer Prevention and Control, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA Correspondence to: Yuesheng Zhang, email: yuesheng.zhang@roswellpark.org Keywords: ErbB1, ErbB2, ErbB1 inhibitor, ErbB2 inhibitor, prolidase Received: January 15, 2016 Accepted: May 20, 2016 Published: June 6, 2016 ABSTRACT ErbB1 and ErbB2 are oncogenic cell surface receptor tyrosine kinases, linked to many forms of human cancer, and are major cancer therapeutic targets. Many lines of evidence indicate that targeting ErbB1 and ErbB2 is an important cancer therapeutic approach. We recently found that a recombinant enzymatically-inactive mutant of human prolidase, i.e., hPEPD-G278D, is an inhibitory ligand of ErbB2 and strongly inhibits ErbB2-overexpressing cells in vitro and in vivo. hPEPD-G278D also binds to ErbB1. Here, we show that hPEPD-G278D binds to ErbB1 with high affinity, initially activating ErbB1 but later silencing it, and that deletion of subdomain 2 in ErbB1 extracellular domain abolishes the binding. The proliferation of ErbB1-overexpressing cells is strongly inhibited by hPEPD-G278D, regardless of ErbB2 expression or cell type, whereas cells lacking ErbB1 and ErbB2 are insensitive to it. In contrast, EGF, another ErbB1 ligand, either stimulates or mildly inhibits cell proliferation. Moreover, hPEPD-G278D treatment of mice bearing ErbB1-overexpressing tumors leads to tumor regression, which is accompanied by down regulation and decreased phosphorylation of ErbB1 and ErbB2 as well as decreased phosphorylation of downstream signaling molecules and activation of apoptosis in the tumor tissues. We conclude that hPEPD-G278D is a dual inhibitor of ErbB1 and ErbB2 and selectively targets cancer cells overexpressing ErbB1 and/or ErbB2. Moreover, our finding that both receptors are silenced in cancer cells by hPEPD-G278D highlights an unusual consequence of ligand-receptor interaction.
Smokeless tobacco use among children: the New Hampshire Study.

Rural public school children initially in grades 4, 5, and 6 participated in a 36-month follow-up study of substance abuse prevention. Children completed self-report questionnaires at baseline and annually for three years after the introduction of prevention programs. We compared outcomes of (1) a comprehensive school curriculum ("Here’s Looking at You, 2000"), (2) the curriculum plus a parenting course ("Parent Communication Course") and a community task force (Johnson Institute Model), and (3) control condition. Neither the curriculum nor the curriculum plus parent and community intervention had any effect on smokeless tobacco use by this preadolescent and young adolescent population. We used stepwise logistic regression to determine prediction models for smokeless tobacco use. Initiation of smokeless tobacco use is associated with sex, grade, and having friends who use drugs. Although regular use increases with grade, poor family relations, and low school satisfaction, the greatest risk factor was ever trying smokeless tobacco. We describe the culture of smokeless tobacco use in this population, and we discuss the implications of our research for smokeless tobacco use prevention.
Thermal Destruction of Listeria monocytogenes in Ice Cream Mix

Thermal destruction of Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A was studied in refrigerated ice cream mixes to evaluate the relationship of mix composition to heat resistance with differing heat treatments. A central composite response surface design with two independent variables (high fructose corn syrup solids content and milkfat content) and one dependent variable (viscosity of the mix) was developed. High fructose corn syrup solids (HFCSS) content ranged from 1 to 7%, milkfat (MF) content from 4 to 18%, and total solids content from 28 to 44%. Sucrose content (11%) and milk-solids-not-fat content (10%) were kept constant. D140°F values were established in the mixes with a simulated batch pasteurization procedure using closed vials. Survivor data indicated sigmoidal responses with initial shoulders and tailing, but shoulder values were not significantly affected by either HFCSS or MF. D and F (F = 7D + shoulder) values were significantly (p = 0.01, R2 = .88; p = 0.01, R2 = .89, respectively) correlated to HCFSS content with increasing heat resistance conferred at higher concentrations. MF content had little or no effect on thermal death time but had a greater effect on viscosity of the mix than did content of HFCSS. Increased thermal resistance of LM was associated with the common ice cream stabilizer used; stabilizer contained guar gum and carrageenan. Pasteurization guidelines for ice cream mix are adequate to ensure inactivation of LM. Since results suggest that major ingredients in ice cream, ice milk, and shake mixes increase thermal resistance of LM, it is important that every precaution be taken to inactivate the organism.
Precision monitoring takes the stage

In this issue of Blood, Assouline et al report the clinical activity of the oral histone deacetylase inhibitor, panobinostat, in 40 patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not preselected on the basis of molecular subtype as well as transformed lymphomas.1 The authors found a modest overall response rate (ORR) of 28% in the entire cohort with no benefit from the addition of rituximab. Importantly, a subset of responders achieved relatively durable remissions, including 6 responders (55%) who had yet to progress.
Towards the modeling of nanoindentation of virus shells: Do substrate adhesion and geometry matter?

Abstract Soft nanoparticles adsorbing at surfaces undergo deformation and buildup of elastic strain as a consequence of interfacial adhesion of similar magnitude with constitutive interactions. An example is the adsorption of virus particles at surfaces, a phenomenon of central importance for experiments in virus nanoindentation and for understanding of virus entry. The influence of adhesion forces and substrate corrugation on the mechanical response to indentation has not been studied. This is somewhat surprising considering that many single-stranded RNA icosahedral viruses are organized by soft intermolecular interactions while relatively strong adhesion forces are required for virus immobilization for nanoindentation. This article presents numerical simulations via finite elements discretization investigating the deformation of a thick shell in the context of slow evolution linear elasticity and in presence of adhesion interactions with the substrate. We study the influence of the adhesion forces in the deformation of the virus model under axial compression on a flat substrate by comparing the force–displacement curves for a shell having elastic constants relevant to virus capsids with and without adhesion forces derived from the Lennard-Jones potential. Finally, we study the influence of the geometry of the substrate in two-dimensions by comparing deformation of the virus model adsorbed at the cusp between two cylinders with that on a flat surface.
FDNY and 9/11: Clinical services and health outcomes in World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and EMS workers from 2001 to 2016.

Background After the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11, 2001, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) instituted a WTC medical monitoring and treatment program and established a data center to document health outcomes in the WTC-exposed workforce of ∼16,000 firefighters and EMS workers. Methods FDNY schedules routine monitoring exams every 12–18 months and physical and mental health treatment appointments, as required. Results FDNY research studies have consistently found that early arrival to work and/or prolonged work at the WTC-site increased the risks for adverse physical and mental health outcomes. To date, a substantial proportion has been diagnosed with obstructive airways disease, chronic rhinosinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease; a quarter has two or more of these conditions. Conclusions While much has been learned, the entire spectrum and trajectory of WTC-related disorders and their mechanisms of onset and persistence remain to be fully described. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:695–708, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Core Assessment Program for Surgical Interventional Therapies in Parkinson's Disease (CAPSIT-PD): Tolerability of Preoperative Neuropsychological Testing for Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease (P3.357)

Objective: We examined tolerability of preoperative neuropsychological testing (the Core Assessment Program for Surgical Interventional Therapies in Parkinson9s Disease [CAPSIT-PD] protocol) for DBS. We also examined factors that may influence tolerability, including fatigue, global cognitive function, depression, and patient-based characteristics. Background:The CAPSIT-PD protocol was published in 1999 with the goal of providing the minimal requirements for a common patient evaluation protocol for surgical interventions, including DBS, in PD. Factors such as fatigability, baseline cognitive impairment, duration of testing, and disease duration, may inﬂuence neuropsychological performance, but have not fully been explored. Methods:We reviewed preoperative neuropsychological testing results from 35 patients who were scheduled for DBS. We examined the overall tolerability of the full battery and the tolerability of each test. We placed attention on a test9s placement in the fixed order of the battery to measure whether there was a clustering of poorly tolerated tests toward the end of the battery as an indication of fatigue. Spearman9s rank correlation was used to determine the relationship between tolerability and (1) global cognitive function, (2) depression, and (3) patient-based characteristics. Results:Fourteen subjects (40[percnt]) were able to tolerate the full battery and completed all 10 tests. The domains that were least tolerated pertained to executive function and procedural memory. There was a consistent time-based tolerability pattern that was observed. There was a significant correlation between tolerability and global cognitive function (ρ = 0.344; P = 0.043), but not depression (P = 0.197). There was a significant correlation between tolerability and age (ρ = −0.491; P = 0.003) and disease duration (ρ = −0.442; P = 0.008), but not UPDRS-III scores (P = 0.284). Conclusions:Given the limited tolerability of the neuropsychological battery as outlined by the CAPSIT-PD protocol, we suggest the consideration of updating the neuropsychological assessment used for DBS implantation. Disclosure: Dr. Pal has received personal compensation for activities with Medtronic, US World Meds, Allergan, Ipsen, Merz & Solstice Neurosciences, Sermo, Deerfield Institute, and Huron Consulting Services. Dr. Persinger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bernard has received research support from the Parkinson9s Disease Foundation. Dr. Ouyang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goetz has received royalty payments from Oxford University Press, Elsevier Publishers, Wolters Kluwer Health-Lippincott, and Wilkins and Wilkins. Dr. Verhagen has received personal compensation for activities with Medtronic, Depomed, and Impax as a consultant. Dr. Verhagen has received research support from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Adamas, Osmotica, Avanir, WorldMeds, NIH, and the Michael J Fo
Klebsiella oxytoca meningitis : frequent association with neurosurgical procedures

Klebsiella oxytoca meningitis is a rare condition. Nine patients were diagnosed between 1981 and 1993 at our institution. These accounted for 2.3% of 393 patients with blood and/or cerebrospinal fluid culture-proven bacterial meningitis. K. oxytoca was noted in both community-acquired meningitis and nosocomial meningitis. Eight of the nine cases were patients who had undergone neurosurgical procedures. Four were mixed bacterial meningitis. All K. oxytoca isolates were susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins and all but one to chloramphenicol. Antibiotic therapy was successful in eight patients but failed in one.
Mycorrhizal colonization is compatible with exponential fertilization to improve tree seedling quality

ABSTRACTThis study tested the ability of exponential fertilization to minimize the tradeoff of increased seedling size and nutrient concentration with good root colonization by mycorrhizae. Two native Hawaiian tree species were tested. Four rates of nitrogen (N) (0–3 g per seedling) were delivered by the method of exponential fertilization to seedlings with and without inoculation with a native strain of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus. For both species, the highest growth and nutrient concentrations occurred with mycorrhizal colonization at 1–2 g N per seedling. Growth of inoculated seedlings was significantly lower at 3.0 g N per seedling, likely due to a large reduction in mycorrhizal colonization. Our results demonstrate that mycorrhizal colonization is not only compatible with exponential fertilization, combined they produce larger seedlings with higher nutrient content. This should improve outplanting success in degraded or challenging sites.
ICON: An Adaptation of Infinite HMMs for Time Traces with Drift

Abstract Bayesian nonparametric methods have recently transformed emerging areas within data science. One such promising method, the infinite hidden Markov model (iHMM), generalizes the HMM that itself has become a workhorse in single molecule data analysis. The iHMM goes beyond the HMM by self-consistently learning all parameters learned by the HMM in addition to learning the number of states without recourse to any model selection steps. Despite its generality, simple features (such as drift), common to single molecule time traces, result in an overinterpretation of drift and the introduction of artifact states. Here we present an adaptation of the iHMM that can treat data with drift originating from one or many traces (e.g., Forster resonance energy transfer). Our fully Bayesian method couples the iHMM to a continuous control process (drift) self-consistently learned while learning all other quantities determined by the iHMM (including state numbers). A key advantage of this method is that all traces—regardless of drift or states visited across traces—may now be treated on an equal footing, thereby eliminating user-dependent trace selection (based on drift levels), preprocessing to remove drift, and postprocessing model selection based on state number.
Sexting Behavior Among College Students: Implications for College Clinicians

ABSTRACTThe practice of sexting is becoming increasingly common among college students but has the potential to both initiate productive interactions with others and interfere with relationship development. The purpose of this paper is to report on the findings of a study on sexting among college students and to provide a framework through which practitioners working with this population would be able to effectively intervene. Implications for clinical practice include more specific assessment questions for practitioners, focus on better managing riskier behavior, and guidance toward using technology in relationally responsible and supportive ways.