cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular segregation and nucleation of poly(ethylene oxide) crystallized from the melt. III. Morphological study

Solvent extraction followed by DSC, optical microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy show morphological evidence of molecular segregation for binary mixtures of poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEO). Two segregation types, namely microscopic and macroscopic segregation, have been found. A special etching method for PEO has been developed, and the crystalline textures of bulk samples crystallized at different temperatures for different molecular-mass mixtures are reported. A linkage between optical and electron microscopy is suggested. The morphology of PEO binary mixtures is crystallization-temperature and molecular-mass dependent.
Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome: Clinical and Hormonal Responses to α2‐Adrenergic Agonist Treatment

Lofexidine (L) was compared to placebo (P) in a random double blind placebo controlled study of 23 healthy alcoholics in withdrawal. In serial alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) scales, P greater than L for first 18 hr. The major changes in AWS were in blood pressure and pulse, while restlessness or diaphoresis did not show faster normalization with L vs. P. Other ratings of withdrawal intensities and craving by patients were similar in both P and L. There were no differences in the rate of patient completion, or appearance of hallucinations by group. Plasma catecholamines were in the high ranges, similar in both groups at 0 and 3 hr, but after 5 hr P greater than L for norepinephrine (but not epinephrine or dopamine). The data suggest L has pharmacological effects on some objective, catecholamine related, components of alcohol withdrawal, with little effect on others. L type treatment of alcoholics in withdrawal is promising, modestly effective and warrants further study.
Temperature-controlled optical stimulation of the rat prostate cavernous nerves

Optical nerve stimulation (ONS) may be useful for intra-operative identification and preservation of the prostate cavernous nerves (CN’s), responsible for erectile function, during radical prostatectomy. ONS relies on a photothermal mechanism of laser-tissue interaction in which elevating nerve temperature to within a narrow range (~ 42 - 47 oC) is critical to successful nerve activation without thermal damage. This preliminary study explores a prototype temperature-controlled laser system for maintaining a constant nerve temperature during ONS of the rat prostate CN’s. A 150-mW, 1455-nm diode laser was operated in continuous-wave mode during stimulation of the rat CN’s for 30 s through a fiber optic probe with 1-mm-diameter spot. The all-single-mode ONS system was controlled by a computer which opened and closed an in-line mechanical shutter in response to an IR sensor, with a temperature set-point of 45 oC. Thermal camera temperature measurements and ONS without temperature control were performed for comparison. Strong correlation was observed between IR sensor and camera temperatures. With temperature control, CN temperature was maintained at 45.0 ± 1.5 oC. Without IR sensor feedback, CN temperatures continued to rise during ONS, reaching unsafe levels of ~ 50 oC.
Bilateral pneumosinus dilatans of the sphenoid sinuses causing visual loss

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss the rare presentation of pneumosinus dilatans (PDS) of the sphenoid sinuses in a pediatric patient manifesting as acute visual loss, and his successful treatment with surgical intervention. A total of 29 cases of sphenoid sinuses in the literature were reviewed. 11 patients (37.93%) were classified as having idiopathic disease. 22 patients (75.86%) presented with visual loss as their chief complaint. All 3 patients with idiopathic PDS that underwent sphenoidotomy had resolution of their symptoms. When symptomatic sphenoid sinus PDS is diagnosed, endoscopic sphenoidotomy should be considered as primary treatment.
Mitral stenosis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: An unusual combination

Abstract Objective Systolic anterior motion of mitral valve (MV) leaflets is a main pathophysiologic feature of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Thus, restricted leaflet motion that occurs with MV stenosis might be expected to minimize outflow tract obstruction related to systolic anterior motion. Methods From January 1993 through February 2015, we performed MV replacement and septal myectomy in 12 patients with mitral stenosis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Preoperative data, echocardiographic images, operative records, and postoperative outcomes were reviewed. Results Mean (standard deviation) age was 70 (7.6) years. Preoperative mean (standard deviation) maximal LVOT pressure gradient was 75.0 (35.0) mm Hg; MV gradient was 13.7 (2.8) mm Hg. From echocardiographic images, 4 mechanisms of outflow tract obstruction were identified: systolic anterior motion without severe limitation in MV leaflet excursion, severe limitation in MV leaflet mobility with systolic anterior motion at the tip of the MV anterior leaflet, septal encroachment toward the LVOT, and MV displacement toward the LVOT by calcification. Mitral valve replacement and extended septal myectomy relieved outflow gradients in all patients, with no death or serious morbidity. Conclusions Patients with mitral stenosis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy have multiple LVOT obstruction mechanisms, and MV replacement may not be adequate treatment. We favor septal myectomy and MV replacement in this complex subset of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.
Hydrodynamics of Flow into Curb-Opening Inlets

Use of curb opening inlets for conveying water from road surfaces into storm drainage systems; theoretical problem concerns open channel, on continuous grade of triangular cross section, one side of which is nearly vertical and at distance, enough to establish uniform flow conditions, this vertical side ends abruptly; new formulas for flow conditions are derived and experimental verification is given.
New Development in Flame Retardant Finishing of Cotton Blend Fabrics

Blending cotton with synthetic fibers drastically improved durability for use in protective clothing. Developing new flame retardant finishing technology for cotton blends was critical for producing low cost, durable and high performance fire resistance military protective clothing. In this paper, we discussed the flame retardant finishing of the Nomex/cotton (65/35) blend fabric using a hydroxy-functional organophosphorus oligomer (HFPO) in combination with 1,2,3,4-butane-tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) as a bonding agent and triethanolamine (TEA) as a reactive co-additive. Because cotton was a highly flammable fiber, the Nomex/cotton blend fabric containing more than 20% cotton required flame-retardant finishing treatment. BTCA reacted with HFPO, cotton and TEA to form BTCA/HFPO/TEA/cotton crosslinked polymeric network, which improved the hydrolysis resistance of HFPO, whereas TEA provided synergistic nitrogen to enhance the performance of HFPO. The Nomex/cotton blend treated with the HFPO/BTCA/TEA system shows high flame retardant performance and excellent laundering durability at relatively low add-on levels. We also discussed the flame retardant finishing of the 50/50 nylon/cotton blend military fabrics using the combination of HFPO and dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU), which formed HFPO/DMDHEU crosslinked networks on both cotton and nylon in the blends. The treated blend fabric passed the vertical burning test after 40-50 launderings cycles with negligible fabric strength loss. The heat release rate data indicated that the nylon and cotton fibers interacted with each other during their thermal decomposition on the blend fabric treated with the HFPO/DMDHEU system.
Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in Lacrimal Gland Disease in Animal Models of Sjögren's Syndrome.

Purpose Chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland results in changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is believed to compromise tissue repair. We hypothesized that increased production/activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2 and -9, in inflamed lacrimal glands modifies the ECM environment, therefore disrupting tissue repair. Methods The lacrimal glands from female MRL/lpr and male NOD mice along with their respective control strains were harvested and divided into three pieces and processed for histology, immunohistochemistry, zymography, Western blotting, and RNA analyses. In another study, MRL/lpr mice were treated for 5 weeks with a selective MMP2/9 inhibitor peptide or a control peptide. At the end of treatment, the lacrimal glands were excised and the tissue was processed as described above. Results There was a 2.5- and 2.7-fold increase in MMP2 gene expression levels in MRL/lpr and NOD mice, respectively. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 enzymatic activities and protein expression levels were significantly upregulated in the lacrimal glands of MRL/lpr and NOD mice compared to controls. Treatment with the MMP2/9 inhibitor resulted in decreased activity of MMP-2 and -9 both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, MMP2/9 inhibitor treatment of MRL/lpr mice improved aqueous tear production and resulted in reduced number and size of lymphocytic foci in diseased lacrimal glands. Conclusions We conclude that MMP2/9 expression and activity are elevated in lacrimal glands of two murine models of Sjogren's syndrome, suggesting that manipulation of MMP2/9 activity might be a potential therapeutic target in chronically inflamed lacrimal glands.
Aerodynamic Data Reconstruction via Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis

Principal Component Analysis (PCA), also known as Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD), is one of the prevailing Reduced Order Modeling (ROM) techniques for aerodynamic data analysis. Along with the PCA, its variant for missing data, gappy POD, has recently found its application by transforming problems into missing data problems. In this paper, an alternative based on probability theory, i.e., Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis (PPCA), is employed for aerodynamic data reconstruction problems in lieu of the PCA and the gappy POD. Unlike the PCA, the PPCA generates spanning vectors of low-dimensional space iteratively with an Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. The combined algorithm, termed as Expectation-Maximization Probabilistic Principal Component Analysis (EM-PCA), can deal with not only complete data but also incomplete data sets, since the EM algorithm naturally incorporates missing data in its formulation. Therefore, the EM-PCA has potential to be a substitute for both PCA and gappy POD. For illustration, the EM-PCA is applied to complete as well as incomplete snapshot ensembles compiled from aerodynamic simulations, and acquired modes and restored data are verified with those obtained by the PCA and the gappy POD.
Natural convection of low Prandtl-number fluids in rectangular enclosures

A three-dimensional, finite volume algorithm was developed to calculate the velocity and temperature profiles of liquid tin heated from below in rectangular enclosures. These calculations are performed for a variety of Rayleigh numbers as a function of the two aspect ratios. The predicted first critical Rayleigh number and flow patterns are in good agreement with previous calculations conducted by other techniques.
The Protist Wonderland: Globally significant but often overlooked, the protists are a fascinatingly diverse group of eukaryotic microbes

Around the secluded islands of animals, plants, and fungi lies a rich ocean of oft-neglected eukaryotic diversity—the protists. Too small and “simple” for macrobiologists, mistrusted by microbiologists for carrying nuclei, the protists offer enough wonders and bizarre stories to satisfy scientists and artists alike. They often display an outlandish structural and functional genius evident in the architecture of their own bodies and in the things they do.
Phonon Assisted Optical Properties of Semiconductor Nanostructures

Recent work on phonon assisted optical properties of semiconductor nanostructures is reviewed briefly. For quantum wells these properties include electron relaxation, infrared absorption, temperature dependent exciton linewidths, and phonon assisted exciton absorption and emission. For quantum wires and dots the interface phonons and their optical absorption will be discussed. Comparisons are made to experimental results.
Gastroesophageal varices: prevention of bleeding and rebleeding.

Summary In conclusion, neither prophylactic portosystemic shunt surgery nor sclerotherapy can be recommended for prevention of first variceal hemorrhage. Nonselective β-adrenergic blockers are effective in preventing variceal bleeding, but their influence on survival is less dramatic. They should be reserved for patients who have no contraindications to the use of β-blockers, are reasonably compliant, and who can be identified as high-risk candidates. For patients unable to take nonselective β-blockers, long-acting nitrates such as isosorbide mononitrate may be reasonable alternatives, 21 but randomized controlled trials are needed to establish their efficacy. Future research will involve the use of combinations of pharmacologic agents to reduce portal pressure further (ideally below 12 mm Hg) and of pharmacologic agents in combination with endoscopic therapy, either sclerotherapy or esophageal variceal ligation. A significant survival benefit continues to be an elusive goal.
Expression environment determines K+ current properties: Kv1 and Kv4 alpha-subunit-induced K+ currents in mammalian cell lines and cardiac myocytes.

Voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) pore-forming (α) subunits of the Kv1 and Kv4 subfamilies have been cloned from heart cDNA libraries, and are thought to play roles in the generation of the transient outward K+ current, I to. Heterologous expression of these subunits in Xenopus oocytes, however, reveals K+ currents that are quite distinct from I to. In the experiments here, the detailed time- and voltage-dependent properties of the currents expressed in mammalian cell lines and in cardiac myocytes by Kv1.4 and Kv4.2 were examined and compared to previous findings in studies of oocytes, as well as to I to characterized in various myocardial cells. As in oocytes, expression of Kv1.4 in HEK-293, Ltk – or neonatal rat ventricular cells reveals rapidly activating K+ currents. In contrast to the currents in oocytes, however, there are two components of inactivation of the Kv1.4-induced currents in mammalian cells, and both components are significantly slower in myocytes than in either HEK-293 or Ltk – cells. In addition, in all three cell types, recovery of Kv1.4 from steady-state inactivation is very slow, proceeding with mean time constants in the range of 6–8 s. The properties of Kv4.2-induced currents also vary with cell type and, importantly, the rates of activation, inactivation and recovery from inactivation are significantly faster in mammalian cells than in Xenopus oocytes. In HEK-293, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and neonatal rat ventricular cells, for example, the currents recover from steady-state inactivation with mean (±SD) time constants of 153±32 (n=12), 245±112 (n=10) and 86±38 (n=11) ms, respectively; therefore, recovery proceeds 5–10 times faster than observed for Kv4.2 in oocytes. These results emphasize the importance of the cellular expression environment in efforts to correlate endogenous K+ currents with heterologously expressed K+ channel subunits. In addition, the finding that Kv α subunits produce distinct K+ currents in different cells suggests that cell-type-specific associations with endogenous Kv α or accessory β subunits and/or post-translational processing play roles in determining the properties of functional K+ channels.
Detection of cis- and trans-acting Factors in DNA Structure-Induced Genetic Instability Using In silico and Cellular Approaches.

Sequences that can adopt alternative DNA structures (i.e. non-B DNA) are very abundant in mammalian genomes, and recent studies have revealed many important biological functions of non-B DNA structures in chromatin remodeling, DNA replication, transcription, and genetic instability. Here, we provide results from an in-silico web-based search engine coupled with cell-based experiments to characterize the roles of non-B DNA conformations in genetic instability in eukaryotes. The purpose of this article is to illustrate strategies that can be used to identify and interrogate the biological roles of non-B DNA structures, particularly on genetic instability. We have included unpublished data using a short H-DNA-forming sequence from the human c-MYC promoter region as an example, and identified two different mechanisms of H-DNA-induced genetic instability in yeast and mammalian cells: a DNA replication-related model of mutagenesis; and a replication-independent cleavage model. Further, we identified candidate proteins involved in H-DNA-induced genetic instability by using a yeast genetic screen. A combination of in silico and cellular methods, as described here, should provide further insight into the contributions of non-B DNA structures in biological functions, genetic evolution, and disease development.
Role of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Circadian Clock Disruption and Metabolic Dysfunction.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, a clustering of three or more risk factors that include abdominal obesity, increased blood pressure, and high levels of glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins, has reached dangerous and costly levels worldwide. Increases in morbidity and mortality result from a combination of factors that promote altered glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, and metabolic dysfunction. Although diet and exercise are commonly touted as important determinants in the development of metabolic dysfunction, other environmental factors, including circadian clock disruption and activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) by dietary or other environmental sources, must also be considered. AhR binds a range of ligands, which prompts protein–protein interactions with other Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS)-domain-containing proteins and subsequent transcriptional activity. This review focuses on the reciprocal crosstalk between the activated AhR and the molecular circadian clock. AhR exhibits a rhythmic expression and time-dependent sensitivity to activation by AhR agonists. Conversely, AhR activation influences the amplitude and phase of expression of circadian clock genes, hormones, and the behavioral responses of the clock system to changes in environmental illumination. Both the clock and AhR status and activation play significant and underappreciated roles in metabolic homeostasis. This review highlights the state of knowledge regarding how AhR may act together with the circadian clock to influence energy metabolism. Understanding the variety of AhR-dependent mechanisms, including its interactions with the circadian timing system that promote metabolic dysfunction, reveals new targets of interest for maintenance of healthy metabolism.
International Business, Entrepreneurship and the Global Economy

In the opening pages of the New York Times bestseller, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman (2005, 12–15) recounts the story of Rao, a Mumbai native who founded an India-based accounting firm which performs accounting work for American firms. Rao and the millions of other “international entrepreneurs” around the world who do business across national borders have captured the interest of business and government leaders, as well as scholars across a broad range of disciplines, including international business, management, economics, geography, sociology, and entrepreneurship.
Crystal structure of a 2:1 piroxicam-gentisic acid co-crystal featuring neutral and zwitterionic piroxicam mol-ecules.

A new 2:1 co-crystal of piroxicam and gentisic acid [systematic name: 4-hy­droxy-1,1-dioxo-N-(pyridin-2-yl)-2H-1λ6,2-benzo­thia­zine-3-carboxamide–2-(4-oxido-1,1-dioxo-2H-1λ6,2-benzo­thia­zine-3-amido)­pyridin-1-ium–2,5-di­hydroxy­benzoic acid, 2C15H13N3O4S·C7H6O4] has been synthesized using a microfluidic platform and initially identified using Raman spectroscopy. In the co-crystal, one piroxicam mol­ecule is in its neutral form and an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond is observed. The other piroxicam mol­ecule is zwitterionic (proton transfer from the OH group to the pyridine N atom) and two intra­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds occur. The gentisic acid mol­ecule shows whole-mol­ecule disorder over two sets of sites in a 0.809 (2):0.191 (2) ratio. In the crystal, extensive hydrogen bonding between the components forms layers propagating in the ab plane.
Great Double-Sided Singles: Great A-Sides with Fantastic B-Sides; Fantastic Flips: 30 Classic B-Sides from the Rock ‘N’ Roll Era; Fabulous Flips: Great B-Sides of the 1950s and 1960s; Fabulous Flips: Volume Two; Fabulous Flips: Volume Three

I was initially reluctant to assess these five B-side compilations. Sharing conclusions concerning audio taste is always a tricky pursuit. Like many other popular music mavens who began collecting ...
The development of capitalism in the Atlantic world: England, the Americas, and West Africa, 1450–1900

AbstractThe paper traces the development of capitalism in England, the Americas, and West Africa over a long time period, 1450–1900. The developments in these major regions of the Atlantic Basin during the period were strongly interconnected and ultimately gave rise to the nineteenth-century Atlantic economy which integrated the major economies of the Atlantic world. The development of capitalism in the three specified geographical areas is analyzed in the context of the interconnected developments. Central to the historical analysis is a discussion of the contending conceptions of capitalism as a socioeconomic system. The paper shows that the original conception by Karl Marx, which identified free wage earners separated from their means of production and entrepreneurs who own those means of production as the defining elements, was generally accepted by supporters and critics for several decades; attempts to redefine began in the 1960s. The paper contends that, unlike the original Marxian conception, the ...
Effects of brand familiarity and brand loyalty on imagery elaboration in online apparel shopping

AbstractConsumers tend to imagine product features, functions, or usage that they have learned from previous exposure to and experiences with brands, especially when they engage in online apparel shopping. Prior brand-related factors, such as brand familiarity and brand loyalty, may influence imagery elaboration – the activation of stored information in the production of mental images beyond that provided by the stimulus – evoked through virtual product experience tools with online apparel websites. Thus, the purpose of this study was to empirically examine how brand familiarity and brand loyalty impact imagery elaboration at online apparel websites and consequently influence attitudinal and behavioral intention relative to the brand. Utilizing MacInnis and Joworski’s model of brand attitude formation, a conceptual model was developed. Using an Internet-based survey, data was collected from 403 undergraduates at a Midwestern university in the US. Results indicated participants familiar with, and loyal to,...
Vocal Learning via Social Reinforcement by Infant Marmoset Monkeys.

For over half a century now, primate vocalizations have been thought to undergo little or no experience-dependent acoustic changes during development [1]. If any changes are apparent, then they are routinely (and quite reasonably) attributed to the passive consequences of growth. Indeed, previous experiments on squirrel monkeys and macaque monkeys showed that social isolation [2, 3], deafness [2], cross-fostering [4] and parental absence [5] have little or no effect on vocal development. Here, we explicitly test in marmoset monkeys-a very vocal and cooperatively breeding species [6]-whether the transformation of immature into mature contact calls by infants is influenced by contingent parental vocal feedback. Using a closed-loop design, we experimentally provided more versus less contingent vocal feedback to twin infant marmoset monkeys over their first 2 months of life, the interval during which their contact calls transform from noisy, immature calls to tonal adult-like "phee" calls [7, 8]. Infants who received more contingent feedback had a faster rate of vocal development, producing mature-sounding contact calls earlier than the other twin. The differential rate of vocal development was not linked to genetics, perinatal experience, or body growth; nor did the amount of contingency influence the overall rate of spontaneous vocal production. Thus, we provide the first experimental evidence for production-related vocal learning during the development of a nonhuman primate.
Circulating microparticle levels are reduced in patients with ARDS.

It is unclear how to identify which patients at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) will develop this condition during critical illness. Elevated microparticle (MP) concentrations in the airspace during ARDS are associated with activation of coagulation and in vitro studies have demonstrated that MPs contribute to acute lung injury, but the significance of MPs in the circulation during ARDS has not been well studied. The goal of the present study was to test the hypothesis that elevated levels of circulating MPs could prospectively identify critically ill patients who will develop ARDS and that elevated circulating MPs are associated with poor clinical outcomes. A total of 280 patients with platelet-poor plasma samples from the prospective Validating Acute Lung Injury biomarkers for Diagnosis (VALID) cohort study were selected for this analysis. Demographics and clinical data were obtained by chart review. MP concentrations in plasma were measured at study enrollment on intensive care unit (ICU) day 2 and on ICU day 4 by MP capture assay. Activation of coagulation was measured by plasma recalcification (clot) times. ARDS developed in 90 of 280 patients (32%) in the study. Elevated plasma MP concentrations were associated with reduced risk of developing ARDS (odds ratio (OR) 0.70 per 10 μM increase in MP concentration, 95% CI 0.50–0.98, p = 0.042), but had no significant effect on hospital mortality. MP concentration was greatest in patients with sepsis, pneumonia, or aspiration as compared with those with trauma or receiving multiple blood transfusions. MP levels did not significantly change over time. The inverse association of MP levels with ARDS development was most striking in patients with sepsis. After controlling for age, presence of sepsis, and severity of illness, higher MP concentrations were independently associated with a reduced risk of developing ARDS (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.49–0.98, p = 0.038). MP concentration was associated with reduced plasma recalcification time. Elevated levels of circulating MPs are independently associated with a reduced risk of ARDS in critically ill patients. Whether this is due to MP effects on systemic coagulation warrants further investigation.
Evaluation of Dual Regime acceleration model applied to left turning vehicles

This paper evaluates three different acceleration models, Single Regime, Dual Regime and Modified Triangular Model by comparing the model's velocity profiles to the field data for left-turning vehicles at unsignalized stop-controlled intersection. The point of discontinuity in the velocity profile for the Dual Regime model is compared with the values obtained in the previous studies for straight maneuvering vehicles. Further, the point of and the time to reach maximum acceleration is found and used for evaluating Modified Triangular Model. Modeling of realistic acceleration behavior of vehicles is a key issue in the accuracy of microscopic simulation models. Under normal driving conditions, acceleration characteristics are essential for the analysis of operating cost, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions, as well as in intersection and acceleration lane design.
Two genetic loci associated with ankle injury

Ankle injuries, including sprains, strains and other joint derangements and instability, are common, especially for athletes involved in indoor court or jumping sports. Identifying genetic loci associated with these ankle injuries could shed light on their etiologies. A genome-wide association screen was performed using publicly available data from the Research Program in Genes, Environment and Health (RPGEH) including 1,694 cases of ankle injury and 97,646 controls. An indel (chr21:47156779:D) that lies close to a collagen gene, COL18A1, showed an association with ankle injury at genome-wide significance (p = 3.8x10-8; OR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.75-2.23). A second DNA variant (rs13286037 on chromosome 9) that lies within an intron of the transcription factor gene NFIB showed an association that was nearly genome-wide significant (p = 5.1x10-8; OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.46-1.80). The ACTN3 R577X mutation was previously reported to show an association with acute ankle sprains, but did not show an association in this cohort. This study is the first genome-wide screen for ankle injury that yields insights regarding the genetic etiology of ankle injuries and provides DNA markers with the potential to inform athletes about their genetic risk for ankle injury.
Making the “minority” voice heard: Critical communication pedagogy and dissent

ABSTRACTCourses: Intercultural Communication, Argumentation and Advocacy, Communication and EducationObjectives: This activity is designed to help students to problem-pose and think critically abou...
Structure-Sensitivity Relationships in Energetic Compounds

Considerable progress has been made in understanding factors influencing the sensitivities of energetic molecules to outside stimuli such as shock, impact and heat. In this chapter, we discuss correlations between molecular properties and impact/shock sensitivity and also special cases that do not follow sensitivity relationships. For nitramines and nitroaliphatics, taken separately, we have shown that the strengths of all N-NO2 linkages in these systems, in conjunction with overall molecular size, are important factors in determining their shock sensitivities. For nitroaromatics (excluding hydroxy derivatives) we have found a relationship between impact sensitivity and the electrostatic potential at the midpoint of the C-NO2 bond, as approximated by atomic charges. We suggest that the high sensitivities of hydroxynitroaromatics may be due to the formation of small quantities of unstable nitronic acid tautomers.
Effects of Cetylpyridinium Chloride and Peroxyacetic Acid Treatment of Broiler Frames on Salmonella Incidence and Mechanically Separated Chicken Quality

Mechanically separated chicken (MSC) has a high incidence of Salmonella since it is separated and homogenized from multiple broiler frames. In addition, limited research has been reported on the reduction of naturally contaminated Salmonella on chicken carcasses or chicken frames. Therefore, broiler frames were treated with antimicrobial solutions of 0.1% peroxyacetic acid (PAA) or 0.5% cetylpyridinium chloride with Citrilow (CPC) for contact times of 30, 60, 90, or 120 s and evaluated for their effectiveness at reducing the incidence of naturally contaminated Salmonella spp. on broiler frames and decreasing Salmonella counts on inoculated frames that were ground and sieved into MSC. Treatment times for PAA and CPC did not affect (P > 0.05) % incidence of Salmonella on naturally contaminated broiler frames. While CPC30 showed a greater % reduction in incidence (P 0.05) from PAA90 and PAA120. However, the CPC treatments imparted a greater decrease in incidence of Salmonella on frames than PAA. For inoculated frames, both antimicrobial treatments at all treatment times had fewer (P < 0.05) Salmonella counts in MSC than their controls. Treated MSC samples were evaluated for pH, color, cook loss and protein bind. On average, CPC treatments were lighter (CIE L*; P < 0.05) than PAA treatments, and PAA treatments were more red (CIE a*) and more yellow (CIE b*; P < 0.05) than CPC treatments. All treatments produced MSC with lesser hue values than their controls. Protein bind and cook loss results indicated that the PAA treatments had no significant impact on MSC quality. Frames that were treated with CPC for 60 s yielded less protein bind than the control, which indicates less protein functionality.
A zinc finger-like domain of the molecular chaperone DnaJ is involved in binding to denatured protein substrates

The Escherichia coli heat-shock protein DnaJ cooperates with the Hsp70 homolog DnaK in protein folding in vitro and in vivo. Little is known about the structural features of DnaJ that mediate its interaction with DnaK and unfolded polypeptide. DnaJ contains at least four blocks of sequence representing potential functional domains which have been conserved throughout evolution. In order to understand the role of each of these regions, we have analyzed DnaJ fragments in reactions corresponding to known functions of the intact protein. Both the N-terminal 70 amino acid 'J-domain' and a 35 amino acid glycine-phenylalanine region following it are required for interactions with DnaK. However, only complete DnaJ can cooperate with DnaK and a third protein, GrpE, in refolding denatured firefly luciferase. As demonstrated by atomic absorption and extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS), the 90 amino acid cysteine-rich region of DnaJ contains two Zn atoms tetrahedrally coordinated to four cysteine residues, resembling their arrangement in the C4 Zn binding domains of certain DNA binding proteins. Interestingly, binding experiments and cross-linking studies indicate that this Zn finger-like domain is required for the DnaJ molecular chaperone to specifically recognize and bind to proteins in their denatured state.
Staphylococcus aureus Infecting and Colonizing Experimental Animals, Macaques, in a Research Animal Facility

An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections on the skin and soft tissues of experimental macaques in the vivarium of The Rockefeller University, New York, triggered this observational and interventional study. We screened 14 macaques in the colony (samples from head, nares, and rectum) and their housing (40 environmental surfaces) four times in 1 year, for S. aureus colonization or contamination, while implementing enhanced decolonization and decontamination procedures. A total of 114 isolates of S. aureus were recovered and characterized (antibiograms, spa typing, multilocus sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE], mecA, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, and arginine catabolic mobile element). Based on these results, six strains of S. aureus were identified: two MRSA strains (t16708/ST3862/PFGE-A, t16709/ST3862/PFGE-C) and one methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (t8397/ST3884/PFGE-D) were characterized for the first time in this study; strains belonging to spa types t189 and t4167 have been identified in primates in previous studies. None of these strains was common to the neighboring New York City human community. Thus, it seems probable that the animals were already colonized upon arrival to the University. We suggest screening primates for S. aureus carriage upon arrival to University vivaria and possible implementation of extensive decolonization procedures before any surgical interventions.
Faking Sociology? A Content Analysis of an Introductory Sociology Student Photography Assignment.

I analyze student submissions from a photography-based assignment in introductory sociology. In this exploratory study, I address the patterns found in student submissions in order to uncover what sociological concepts students observe in their everyday lives. My primary research question, therefore, is what do introductory sociology students see when they are given few guidelines as to what they “should” see? The intent of this research is to focus on what concepts students identify, not my interpretation of students’ meaning. Students identify a range of concepts, yet tend to focus on broad (e.g., norms) rather than specific (e.g., folkways) or abstract (e.g., sociological imagination) concepts. By analyzing student submissions across semesters, I can illuminate where students are successful and where they are struggling. Moreover, this analysis demonstrates that students are superficially meeting the standards of the assignment, but it is still unclear whether students are demonstrating a grasp of sociological knowledge or relying on pre-existing common-sense knowledge to complete the assignment.
Distribution of herbicide-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in row crop production systems in Texas.

A state-level survey was conducted across major row-crop production regions of Texas to document the level of sensitivity of Palmer amaranth to glyphosate, atrazine, pyrithiobac, tembotrione, fomesafen, and dicamba. Between 137 and 161 Palmer amaranth populations were evaluated for sensitivity to the labelled field rate (1X), and rated as resistant (≤49% injury), less sensitive (50% to 89% injury), or susceptible (90% to 100% injury). For glyphosate, 62%, 19%, 13%, and 13% of the populations from the High Plains, Central Texas, Rio Grande Valley, and Lower Gulf Coast, respectively, were resistant. Resistance to atrazine was more common in Palmer amaranth populations from the High Plains than in other regions, with 16% of the populations resistant and 22% less sensitive. Approximately 90% of the populations from the High Plains that exhibited resistance to atrazine POST also were resistant to atrazine PRE. Of the 160 populations tested for pyrithiobac, approximately 99% were resistant or less sensitive, regardless of the region. No resistance was found to fomesafen, tembotrione, or dicamba. However, 22% of the populations from the High Plains were less sensitive to 1X (93 g ai ha-1) tembotrione, but were killed at 2X, illustrating the background variability in sensitivity to this herbicide. For dicamba, three populations, all from the High Plains, exhibited less sensitivity at the 1X rate (controlled at the 2X rate; 1X = 560 g ae ha-1). One population exhibited multiple resistance to three herbicides with distinct sites of action (SOAs) involving acetolactate synthase, 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, and photosystem II inhibitors. Palmer amaranth populations exhibited less sensitivity to approximately 15 combinations of herbicides involving up to five SOAs. Dose-response assays conducted on the populations most resistant to glyphosate, pyrithiobac, or atrazine indicated they were 30-, 32-, or 49-fold or more resistant to these herbicides, respectively, compared with a susceptible standard.Nomenclature: Atrazine; dicamba; fomesafen; glyphosate; pyrithiobac; tembotrione; Palmer amaranth, Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson
Three-Dimensional Problems of Harmonic Wave Propagation in an Elastic Layer

In the present paper three-dimensional problem of propagation of elastic waves in a waveguide is considered, when several different boundary conditions are realized on the surfaces of the waveguide. We then establish the conditions where surface waves are permissible.
Synthesis of 4-phenyl-2h-benzopyrans

Sesamol and other phenols react with equimolar quantities of cinnamaldehyde and morpholine in methanol to yield epimeric 2-morpholinyl-4-phenylbenzopyran derivatives, which are useful intermediates for the synthesis of alcoholic neoflavanoid (4-phenylbenzopyran) compounds.
A new micro-intervention to increase the enjoyment and continued practice of meditation.

New health behaviors are difficult to maintain and meditation is no different. We tested two key pathways of the upward spiral theory of lifestyle change (Fredrickson, 2013), which identifies positive emotions as critical ingredients for the maintenance of new health behaviors. The present experiment combined a laboratory session that introduced novices to meditation with a 3-week follow-up period to assess the extent to which study participants maintained this new health behavior. In a 2 × 2 experimental design, midlife adults (N = 240) were randomized to (a) learn about judicious ways to prioritize positivity (labeled "prioritizing positivity plus") or about a control topic that also featured the science of positive emotions and (b) follow a guided meditation based on either loving-kindness, which provided an opportunity to self-generate positive emotions, or mindfulness, which did not. All participants rated their emotions following the initial guided meditation and reported, week by week, whether they meditated during the ensuing 21 days. Analyses revealed that being exposed to the prioritizing positivity plus microintervention, relative to a control passage, amplified the effect of engaging in loving-kindness (vs. mindfulness) meditation on positive emotions. Additionally, the degree to which participants experienced positive emotions during first exposure to either meditation type predicted the frequency and duration at which they practiced meditation over the next 21 days. These findings show that the enjoyment of meditation can be experimentally amplified and that initial enjoyment predicts continued practice. Discussion spotlights the importance of differentiating effective and ineffective ways to pursue happiness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
An Interior-Point Method for Large-Scale $\ell_1$ -Regularized Least Squares

Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to regularization based methods for sparse signal reconstruction (e.g., basis pursuit denoising and compressed sensing) and feature selection (e.g., the Lasso algorithm) in signal processing, statistics, and related fields. These problems can be cast as -regularized least-squares programs (LSPs), which can be reformulated as convex quadratic programs, and then solved by several standard methods such as interior-point methods, at least for small and medium size problems. In this paper, we describe a specialized interior-point method for solving large-scale -regularized LSPs that uses the preconditioned conjugate gradients algorithm to compute the search direction. The interior-point method can solve large sparse problems, with a million variables and observations, in a few tens of minutes on a PC. It can efficiently solve large dense problems, that arise in sparse signal recovery with orthogonal transforms, by exploiting fast algorithms for these transforms. The method is illustrated on a magnetic resonance imaging data set.
Faculty Perceptions of Expertise for Inclusive Education for Students With Significant Disabilities

Teacher preparation for inclusive education of students with significant disabilities requires an understanding of the requisite skills and dispositions to be taught during the teacher preparation ...
Comparative study on the incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in premature infants born in the hospital and transported from other hospitals

Objective To explore the incidence, diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP) in preterm infants born in the Guangdong Women and Children′s Hospital and transported from other hospital. Method s Clinical data of 755 premature infants with ROP at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Guangdong Women and Children′s Hospital from January 2013 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 239 cases born in the hospital and 516 cases transported from other hospitals.Their gestational age, birth weight, gender, severity of ROP lesion and clinical data were collected and compared. Result s The birth weight in the group of transported from other hospital was lower than that in the group of born in the hospital[(1 290.64±392.87) g vs.(1 586.21±512.74) g], and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001). The ROP diagnosis of gestational age in the group of transported from other hospital was higher than that in the group of born in the hospital[(35.53±2.81)weeks vs.(34.51±2.17)weeks], and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001). On the proportion of severe condition [such as lesion area Ⅰ, aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity(AP-ROP) and plus combined lesions], in the group of transported from other hospital was higher than that in the group of born in the hospital, and the differences was statistically significant(P<0.001). In the comparison of the proportion of laser photocoagulation, vitreous injection, combination of the two operations and supplementary laser therapy, in the group of transported from other hospital were higher than those in the group of born in the hospital[60.1%(310/516 cases) vs.20.9%(50/239 cases); 10.9%(56/516 cases) vs.2.5%(6/239 cases); 8.1%(42/516 cases) vs.1.7%(4/239 cases); 4.5%(23/516 cases) vs.1.3%(3/239 cases)], and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.001). Conclusions Premature infants with ROP transported from other hospitals have lower birth weight, severe ROP lesions and high surgical intervention rate.Improving ROP screening level in primary hospitals, timely diagnosis and efficient transportation can help to effectively prevent the deterioration of ROP in premature infants and improve their quality of life. Key words: Retinopathy of prematurity; Infant, preterm; Transport
Synchronized Ca2+ Transients Induced by Glucagon in Fura2 Loaded Hepatocytes

A wide range of agonists exert their effects on liver cells by the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipase C, leading to the formation of diacylglycerol (DAG) and inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate(Ins-1,4,5-P3). The, latter compound acts as a second messenger to release Ca2+ from intracellular storage sites, resulting in an elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ levels (for reviews, see Williamson et a1,1985; Putney, 1989). Secondary adjustments in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis include the Ca2+ release from the cell by activation of the ATP-driven plasma membrane Ca2+ pump, the activation of Ca2+ influx into the cell required for maintaining the total cellular Ca2+ content and the reuptake of Ca2+ by intracellular organelles; other inositol phosphate derivatives may contribute to the control of some of these processes (Putney et al, 1989). A variety of agonists operate through this pathway in liver, including vasopressin, α1-adrenergic agonists and angiotensin II. Glucagon also causes an increase in cytosolic free Ca2+ levels, associated with a small increase in Ins-1,4,5,- P3 levels, although it is not clear whether it activates phospholipase C as a secondary consequence of the formation of CAMP and the activation of Akinase (Staddon and Hansford, 1989) or by interacting with a separate glucagon receptor (GR1 receptor) which is specifically coupled to the activation of phospholipase C (Wakelam et al, 1986).