cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pine cones facilitate ignition of forest floor duff

The ignition and combustion of forest floor duff are poorly understood yet have been linked to soil heating and overstory tree mortality in many temperate coniferous forests. Research to date has focused on the characteristics of duff that facilitate ignition and spread, including fuel moisture, mineral content, and depth. Field observations suggest that the presence of pine cones on and within the forest floor might facilitate ignition of intermixed forest floor fuels. We investigated the effect of cone fuel additions on the ignition of underlying forest floor from fuels collected in long-unburned longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) forests in northern Florida, USA. Fuels were wetted to threshold gravimetric moisture contents to evaluate the relative effect on ignition. In stark contrast to fuel beds without cones, in which duff ignition only occurred in 17% of samples, those with cones added ignited the underlying duff 94% of the time. Flame heights were 40% taller and flaming duration was 47% longer in fuel beds with cones. Where present, pine cones act as vectors of ignition for forest floor fuels, and their role in fires deserves more attention to enhance our understanding of forest floor combustion. Resume : Bien qu'on sache peu de choses au sujet de l'allumage et de la combustion de l'humus dans la couverture morte, le rechauffement du sol et la mortalite des arbres de l'etage dominant ont ete mis en cause dans plusieurs forets de coniferes temperees. A ce jour, la recherche s'est concentree sur les caracteristiques de l'humus qui facilitent l'allumage et la propagation, incluant la teneur en humidite, la teneur en mineraux et l'epaisseur des combustibles. Les observations sur le terrain indiquent que la presence de cones de pin dans la couverture morte et en surface pourrait faciliter l'allumage du melange de combustibles dans la couverture morte. Nous avons etudie l'effet de l'ajout de cones en tant que combustible sur l'allumage de la couverture morte sous-jacente al'aide de combustibles preleves dans les forets de pin des marais (Pinus palustris Mill.) qui n'ont pas brule depuis longtemps dans le nord de la Floride, aux Etats-Unis. Les combustibles ont ete humidifies jusqu'au seuil de saturation selon la teneur en eau gravimetrique pour evaluer l'effet relatif sur l'allumage. Contrastant nettement avec les lits de combustibles exempts de cones dans lesquels l'allumage de l'humus est survenu dans seulement 17 % des echantillons, l'allumage de l'humus sous-jacent s'est produit 94 % du temps dans ceux qui contenaient des cones. Les flammes etaient 40 % plus hautes et la duree de l'embrasement 47 % plus longue dans les lits de combustibles contenant des cones. Ou ils sont presents, les cones de pin agissent comme vecteurs d'allumage des combustibles dans la couverture morte et leur role en lien avec les feux merite d'etre davantage etudie afin d'ameliorer notre comprehension de la combustion de la couverture morte. (Traduit par la Redaction)
Androgen and glucocorticoid receptors interact with insulin degrading enzyme.

We recently identified a protein, designated receptor accessory factor (RAF), that interacts directly with and enhances the DNA binding of androgen (AR) and glucocorticoid (GR) receptor peptide fragments. To determine its identity, RAF was purified from HeLa cell extracts by anion-exchange and DNA affinity chromatography. RAF activity co-purified with a 110-kDa protein, the partial amino acid sequence of which shares 97.5% identity with insulin degrading enzyme (IDE), a metalloendoprotease implicated in the intracellular degradation of insulin. The identity of RAF was confirmed in gel shift assays by demonstrating that AR.RAF and GR.RAF DNA complexes shifted to a slower mobility in the presence of an IDE antibody. Purified preparations of RAF had insulin degrading activity, and this activity was inhibited by AR. In addition, the interaction of AR or GR with RAF was competed by insulin and bacitracin, a competitive inhibitor of IDE. The interactions of AR and GR with IDE may have important implications for both insulin- and steroid-mediated signaling.
Inflammation inhibits GPR81 expression in adipose tissue.

The aim of this study was to examine the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 81 (GPR81) in mouse adipose tissue in response to inflammatory stimuli. GPR81 is activated by lactate resulting in the inhibition of lipolysis. Mice were injected with saline, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), zymosan, or turpentine, N = 5 per group. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-l beta, IL-6, or interferon gamma. GPR81 expression levels were measured by real-time PCR and statistical significance was determined by Student’s t test. LPS resulted in a marked decrease in GPR81 mRNA level in mouse adipose tissue in C57BL/6 and OuJ mice, an effect that was not observed in HeJ mice, which have a mutation in TLR4. Zymosan and turpentine also decreased adipose tissue GPR81expression. Cytokine treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes had no effect on GPR81 expression. GPR81 expression was decreased in ob/ob mice, an animal model of type 2 diabetes that is characterized by inflammation. Inflammation decreases the expression of GPR81 in adipose tissue.
FORBIDDEN LINES FROM HIGHLY CHARGED, METASTABLE ION BEAMS

Forbidden lines have been observed in emission from intense, continuous beams of metastable, highly charged ions produced by an electron cyclotron resonance ion source. The lines are magnetic dipole transitions between levels in the ground configurations of ions with incomplete 2p or 3d subshells. Wavelength measurements have been made for lines from the 2p5 ions Ar9+, K10+, and Ca11+, the 2p4 ions K11+ and Ca12+, and the 2p ions Ar13+ and K14+. Measurements have also been made of lines from transitions between levels of the 3d9,8,7 ions Nb14,15,16+. All the lines lie in the visible spectrum. The technique makes use of a position-sensitive photomultiplier at the exit of a 0.25-m spectrometer.
The Caring Work of Sonya Michel

Since the 1970s, Sonya Michel has produced historical studies that enhance public debate. Even as she pioneered a precise use of maternalism, she anticipated the placing of care work at the center of the study of welfare states. Through collaboration and inclusion, by crossing academic and geographic borders, and linking past and present, she has modeled what collective research and social engagement looks like. This essay reflects on her writings in light of her intellectual activism, highlighting the Women’s Committee of 100 for Welfare Justice. It ends with a reflection on Michel’s latest focus on the global dimensions of care and what it means to act with care workers themselves.
The process to discover and develop biomarkers for cancer: a work in progress.

JNCI | Editorials 1419 The process to discover and develop molecular biomarkers for cancer diagnosis (or prognosis) is a work in progress and is evolving. “Discovery” research — searching for markers by use of highthroughput technology without an a priori hypothesis — has produced few useful biomarkers over the last 10 years despite numerous claims in research publications and news reports about “95% sensitivity and 95% specificity” or better. The degree of disconnect between claims and products should make us ask why progress is so slow: Is it the normal stop-and-start of science? Or is there some systemic problem with the process that we currently use to discover and develop markers? After all, it took decades to evolve the process to discover and develop drug therapies. So, where does the evolution of the discovery and development of biomarkers stand and how can we improve the process? Although the process is complicated, there are two major questions to address in research. First, can a marker discriminate well? That is, can it discriminate cleanly and reliably (eg, reproducibly and not due to artifact or bias) between persons with early-stage cancer vs those without cancer (or good vs bad prognosis)? Second, does that discrimination, when coupled with an intervention such as surgery or chemotherapy, lead to improved outcome? Answering the second question requires a randomized clinical trial, a design that is powerful and well understood but also expensive and time consuming. A randomized clinical trial is not even considered until a marker clearly shows reliable discrimination that warrants such an effort. Failures in current marker research occur not at the randomized clinical trial stage but earlier, when results that appear to have promising discrimination in early discovery turn out not even to be reproducible. Pepe et al. ( 1 ) proposed a formal structure in 2001 “to guide the process of biomarker development” consisting of fi ve “phases [that] are generally ordered according to the strength of evidence that each provides in favor of the biomarker, from weakest to strongest [and] the results of earlier phases are generally necessary to design later phases.” The phase structure has been widely adopted for use in various research projects, including, as noted by Feng et al. ( 2 ), “by the EDRN [the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Early Detection Research Network], a number of Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) consor
Sperm Aster Formation and Pronuclear Decondensation During Rabbit Fertilization and Development of a Functional Assay for Human Sperm

Microtubule organization and chromatin configurations in rabbit eggs after in vivo rabbit fertilization and after intracytoplasmic injection with human sperm were characterized. In unfertilized eggs, an anastral barrel-shaped meiotic spindle, oriented radially to the cortex, was observed. After rabbit sperm incorporation, microtubules were organized into a radial aster from the sperm head, and cytoplasmic microtubules were organized around the male and female pronuclei. The microtubules extending from the decondensed sperm head participated in pronuclear migration, and organization around the female pronucleus may also be important for pronuclear centration. Support for these observations was found in parthenogenetically activated eggs, in which microtubule arrays were organized around the single female pronucleus that formed after artificial activation. These observations support a biparental centrosomal contribution during rabbit fertilization as opposed to a strictly paternal inheritance pattern suggested from previous studies. In rabbit eggs that received injected human donor sperm, an astral array of microtubules radiated from the sperm neck and enlarged as the sperm head underwent pronuclear decondensation. γ-Tubulin was observed in the center of the sperm aster. We conclude that the rabbit egg exhibits a blended centrosomal contribution necessary for completion of fertilization and that the rabbit egg may be a novel animal model for assessing centrosomal function in human sperm and spermatogenic cells following intracytoplasmic injection.
Increase in hippocampal theta oscillations during spatial decision making.

The processing of spatial and mnemonic information is believed to depend on hippocampal theta oscillations (5–12 Hz). However, in rats both the power and the frequency of the theta rhythm are modulated by locomotor activity, which is a major confounding factor when estimating its cognitive correlates. Previous studies have suggested that hippocampal theta oscillations support decision-making processes. In this study, we investigated to what extent spatial decision making modulates hippocampal theta oscillations when controlling for variations in locomotion speed. We recorded local field potentials from the CA1 region of rats while animals had to choose one arm to enter for reward (goal) in a four-arm radial maze. We observed prominent theta oscillations during the decision-making period of the task, which occurred in the center of the maze before animals deliberately ran through an arm toward goal location. In speed-controlled analyses, theta power and frequency were higher during the decision period when compared to either an intertrial delay period (also at the maze center), or to the period of running toward goal location. In addition, theta activity was higher during decision periods preceding correct choices than during decision periods preceding incorrect choices. Altogether, our data support a cognitive function for the hippocampal theta rhythm in spatial decision making.
Japan–African Relations: Applying the Asian Development Experience to Sub-Saharan Africa Bertha Z. Osei-Hwedie and Kwaku Osei-Hwedie Japan-Africa Relations Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo Japan and Africa: Globalization and Foreign Aid in the 21st Century Howard P. Lehman (ed.)

Relations between Japan and Africa have attracted scant attention from scholars, with the notable exception of this journal's recent special issue (32:2) which approached the field via the discours...
Articular cartilage tissue engineering: the role of signaling molecules

Effective early disease modifying options for osteoarthritis remain lacking. Tissue engineering approach to generate cartilage in vitro has emerged as a promising option for articular cartilage repair and regeneration. Signaling molecules and matrix modifying agents, derived from knowledge of cartilage development and homeostasis, have been used as biochemical stimuli toward cartilage tissue engineering and have led to improvements in the functionality of engineered cartilage. Clinical translation of neocartilage faces challenges, such as phenotypic instability of the engineered cartilage, poor integration, inflammation, and catabolic factors in the arthritic environment; these can all contribute to failure of implanted neocartilage. A comprehensive understanding of signaling molecules involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis and their actions on engineered cartilage will be crucial. Thus, while it is important to continue deriving inspiration from cartilage development and homeostasis, it has become increasingly necessary to incorporate knowledge from osteoarthritis pathogenesis into cartilage tissue engineering.
Parallelization of iterative reconstruction algorithms in multiple modalities

In this work we have parallelized the Maximum Likelihood Expectation-Maximization (MLEM) and Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization (OSEM) algorithms for improving efficiency of reconstructions of multiple pinholes SPECT, and cone-bean CT data. We implemented the parallelized versions of the algorithms on a General Purpose Graphic Processing Unit (GPGPU): 448 cores of a NVIDIA Tesla M2070 GPU with 6GB RAM per thread of computing. We compared their run times against those from the corresponding CPU implementations running on 8 cores CPU of an AMD Opteron 6128 with 32 GB RAM. We have further shown how an optimization of thread balancing can accelerate the speed of the GPU implementation.
Complications of Radioactive Iodine Treatment of Thyroid Carcinoma

Radioactive iodine (RAI) in the form of (131)I has been used to treat thyroid cancer since 1946. RAI is used after thyroidectomy to ablate the residual normal thyroid remnant, as adjuvant therapy, and to treat thyroid cancer metastases. Although the benefits of using RAI in low-risk patients with thyroid cancer are debated, it is frequently used in most patients with thyroid cancer and is clearly associated with acute and long-term risks and side effects. Acute risks associated with RAI therapy include nausea and vomiting, ageusia (loss of taste), salivary gland swelling, and pain. Longer-term complications include recurrent sialoadenitis associated with xerostomia, mouth pain, dental caries, pulmonary fibrosis, nasolacrimal outflow obstruction, and second primary malignancies. This article summarizes the common complications of RAI and methods to prevent and manage these complications.
Changes in Plasma Lipids and Lipoproteins in Overweight Men during Weight Loss through Dieting as Compared with Exercise

We studied separately the influence of two methods for losing fat weight on the levels of plasma lipids and lipoproteins in overweight sedentary men--decreasing energy intake without increasing exercise (diet), and increasing energy expenditure without altering energy intake (exercise, primarily running)--in a one-year randomized controlled trial. As compared with controls (n = 42), dieters (n = 42) had significant loss of total body weight (-7.8 +/- 0.9 kg [mean +/- SE]), fat weight (-5.6 +/- 0.8 kg), and lean (non-fat) weight (-2.1 +/- 0.5 kg) (P less than 0.001 for each variable), and exercisers (n = 47) had significant loss of total body weight (-4.6 +/- 0.8 kg) and fat weight (-3.8 +/- 0.7 kg) (P less than 0.001 for both variables) but not lean weight (-0.7 +/- 0.4 kg). Fat-weight loss did not differ significantly between dieters and exercisers. All subjects were discouraged from altering their diet composition; however, dieters and exercisers had slight reductions in the percentage of kilojoules derived from fat. As compared with the control group, both weight-loss groups had significant increases (P less than 0.01) in plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (diet vs. exercise, 0.13 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.03 mmol per liter), HDL2 cholesterol (0.07 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.07 +/- 0.02 mmol per liter), and HDL3 cholesterol (0.07 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.06 +/- 0.02 mmol per liter) and significant decreases (P less than 0.05) in triglyceride levels (diet vs. exercise, -0.35 +/- 0.14 vs. -0.24 +/- 0.12 mmol per liter). Levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not significantly changed, relative to values in controls. None of these changes were significantly different between dieters and exercisers. Thus, we conclude that fat loss through dieting or exercising produces comparable and favorable changes in plasma lipoprotein concentrations.
Scap is required for sterol synthesis and crypt growth in intestinal mucosa.

SREBP cleavage-activating protein (Scap) is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein required for cleavage and activation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs), which activate the transcription of genes in sterol and fatty acid biosynthesis. Liver-specific loss of Scap is well tolerated; hepatic synthesis of sterols and fatty acids is reduced, but mice are otherwise healthy. To determine whether Scap loss is tolerated in the intestine, we generated a mouse model (Vil-Scap−) in which tamoxifen-inducible Cre-ERT2, a fusion protein of Cre recombinase with a mutated ligand binding domain of the human estrogen receptor, ablates Scap in intestinal mucosa. After 4 days of tamoxifen, Vil-Scap− mice succumb with a severe enteropathy and near-complete collapse of intestinal mucosa. Organoids grown ex vivo from intestinal crypts of Vil-Scap− mice are readily killed when Scap is deleted by 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Death is prevented when culture medium is supplemented with cholesterol and oleate. These data show that, unlike the liver, the intestine requires Scap to sustain tissue integrity by maintaining the high levels of lipid synthesis necessary for proliferation of intestinal crypts.
Evaluation of Systemic Insecticides for Cotton Insect Control

Four experimental systemic insecticides, American Cyanamid compounds CL-47031, CL-47470, CL-43064, and E. I. 47772, were compared in one or more tests with phorate, Di-Syston®, Bidrin®, phosphamidon, demeton, methyl parathion, and Guthion®-Ethyl Guthion® for cotton insect control. When applied in or near the seed furrow, as sidedressings to established plants, directly to the stem, or as foliar sprays, one or more of the experimental compounds was equal or superior to currently available compounds. The insects and mite used for biological evaluation included the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman; cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover; carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) ; cotton leafworm, Alabama argillacea (Hubner); and salt-marsh caterpillar, Estigmene acrea (Drury). In considering results from all methods of application, CL-47031 and CL-47470 appeared to be the most promising of the experimental compounds tested. The chemical names of those compounds without approved common names included in these studies are: CL-47031, cyclic ethylene (diethoxyphosphinyl) dithioimidocarbonate; CL-47470, cyclic propylene (diethoxyphosphinyl) dithioimidocarbonate; CL-43064, cyclic ethlene (diethoxyphosphinothioyl) dithioimidocarbonate; E. I. 47772, cyclic propylene (dimethoxyphosphinyl) dithioimidocarbonate; Di-Syston®, O,O -dicthyl S-[2- (ethylthio) ethyl] phosphorodithioate; Bidrin®, 3-hydroxy- N,N -dimethyl- cis -croton-amide dimethyl phosphate; and Guthion® plus Ethyl Guthion®, O,O -dimethyl S -(4-oxo-1,2,3- benzotriazin-3 (4 H ) -ylmethyl) phosphorodithioate.
DEN-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma is Associated with Aberrant Expression of Clock Gene in Mice

Objective To study expression of clock genes in diethylnitrosamine(DEN)-induced hepatoellular carcinoma in mice.Methods C57BL/6J mice were given DEN and CCl4 for 16 weeks to induce hepatocellular carcinoma.At 16 weeks,normal livers,DEN-treated paracancerous and cancer tissues were collected to isolated total RNA.Expression of AFP,Bmal1,Dbp and Rev-Erbα genes were examined by real-time RT-PCR.Results DEN induced hepatocellular carcinoma after 16 weeks of administration.Compared with the normal group,the tumor marker gene AFP was significantly increased in tumor tissues.Normal livers at 10:00 had higher expression of Bmal1 and lower expression of Dbp and Rev-Erbα.In comparison,expression of clock gene Bmal1 was decreased in cancer and paracancerous tissues to 30% of normal group.Expression of clock genes Dbp and Rev-Erbα were increased in cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues,by 2-4 fold over the normal group.There was no difference between paracancerous and cancer tissues.Conclusion DEN-induced hepatoma is associated with aberrant expression of clock genes in mice.
Effects of Interferon βser and Transforming Growth Factor β on Prostatic Cell Lines

The effect of interferon βser (IFN βser) on the growth of three prostatic cancer cell lines DU-145, PC-3 and LNCaP was studied. IFN βser inhibited growth of anchorage dependent semiconfluent monolayers and anchorage dependent colony formation of both DU-145 and PC-3 in a dose dependent manner but had no effect on LNCaP. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF β1) inhibited proliferation of DU-145 and PC-3 cells in 1% but not 8% fetal calf serum. The combination of TGF β1 and IFN βser was additive in its effects on growth. Neither epidermal growth factor (EGF) nor transforming growth factor alpha (TGF α) reduced the antiproliferative effect of IFN βser on these cells. These antiproliferative effects were reproduced in studies on primary epithelial cell cultures derived from prostate specimens with various pathologies. The potential use of IFN βser in combination with hormonal therapy to delay the development of hormone refractory tumors is discussed.
Assessment of quality of life among patients with sinonasal disease as determined by an Internet survey based on the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index.

We conducted a survey to measure patient quality of life with the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index adapted for the Internet. Our target population was patients who were seeking information on sinona...
Growth of Molds on Cheese Treated with Heat or Liquid Smoke.

Liquid smoke and heat treatments were evaluated for their potential use to inhibit growth of Aspergillus oryzae , Penicillium camemberti , and Penicillium roqueforti on Cheddar cheese. A. oryzae had a longer lag period and P. roqueforti grew faster radially on cheese heated at 42°C for 1 h than on unheated cheese. Mold growth on cheese heated at 24 and 33°C for 1 h was not significantly different from that on the unheated control. Liquid smoke applied to the surface of cheese totally inhibited growth of A. oryzae and significantly increased the lag period of P. camemberti and P. roqueforti . Of eight major phenolic compounds in smoke, only isoeugenol inhibited all three molds. P. camemberti was slightly inhibited by m-cresol and p-cresol, while A. oryzae was inhibited by guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, m-cresol, and p-cresol. Results of this study showed that phenolic compounds found in smoke are primarily responsible for inhibition of molds on smoked Cheddar cheese.
Synthetic polymer fibers and their processing requirements

Abstract: In order to understand the structure and properties of the desired polymer products, we should have a comprehensive knowledge of the process optimization conditions and materials characteristics. The fundamentals that determine the structure and properties of polymeric fibers include the composition, the molecular structure of the polymer, and morphological features such as crystallinity and orientation. Understanding these factors will be the key to determining correctly the manufacturing process from polymerization to fiber spinning, drawing, and post treatment of manufactured fibers. The inherent qualities of existing natural fiber-forming materials, their limitations and applications, are also discussed.
“We are Just as Confused and Lost as She is”: The Primacy of the Graphic Novel Form in Exploring Conversations Around Deafness

Cece Bell’s (El Deafo, Amulet, New York, 2014) is a middle childhood graphic novel memoir that explores the author’s experiences of losing her hearing and growing up with a severe hearing loss. As a graphic novel, the story is able to avoid a medicalized view of disability by combining image and text, a format that allows readers, those with hearing and those without, to step inside the narrative and deeply consider Bell’s experiences. The narrative elements typically found in graphic novel autobiography create a communal reading experience, which does not allow readers to forget who the book is about. After an analysis of the primacy of these narrative graphic novel elements in telling a story about a disability, this article shares the reading experiences of university students in exploring this story, during which students used both the image and text to help them confront misconceptions they had about deafness, broadening their understandings and experiences around disability.
Auxin Application to Stem Cuttings of Selected Woody Landscape Plants by Incorporation Into a Stabilized Organic Rooting Substrate

Abstract Stem cuttings of Buxus sinica var. insularis ‘Wintergreen’, Elaeagnus x ebbingei, Ficus benjamina, Gardenia augusta ‘Radicans’, Ilex glabra ‘Nigra’, Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’, Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’, Ternstroemia gymnanthera, and Trachelospermum asiaticum were inserted into a stabilized organic rooting substrate (plugs comprised of peat and a polymer binder) that had been soaked in water, aqueous solutions of K-IBA (15 to 75 ppm), or K-IBA + K-NAA (15 ppm + 7.5 ppm to 60 ppm + 30 ppm). Rooting and initial shoot growth responses were compared with cuttings receiving a basal quick-dip in K-IBA (1000 ppm) or K-IBA + K-NAA (1000 ppm + 500 ppm). Rooting percentage, number of roots per rooted cutting, and total root length per rooted cutting for cuttings rooted in auxin-treated plugs were similar to or greater than cuttings receiving a basal quick-dip; lesser results were obtained in a few cases with K-IBA + K-NAA. Percent of rooted cuttings with new shoots and shoot length per rooted cutting fo...
Rehabilitation Concerns in Geriatric Trauma

The US population aged 65 years and older has increased significantly by 21 % in the United States since 1980 [1, 2]. This group of elderly Americans is anticipated to grow from 12 % of the entire populace in 2000 to 20 % in 2030. This represents an increase from 35 million to 72 million elders. Moreover, the fastest-growing cohort among older adults is the 85-and-older group, increasing at three to four times that of the general US population. The rapid increase in the geriatric population has a significant impact on our health system. Clinical and ethical issues related to the care of seniors, particularly in trauma care, will become more prominent as the population ages. The financial burden of geriatric trauma is about 30 % of all trauma costs in America. In 2009 the estimated cost for geriatric trauma care was approximately $9 billion and more increases are expected in the coming years [3]. This increase is likely to arise from an increasing proportion of the geriatric population living an active lifestyle that is likely to result in trauma and disability.
Operationalizing the C’s of Teamwork in an Intelligent Tutoring System

One of the difficulties in creating a team-focused intelligent tutoring system (ITS) is defining the measures used to assess the team’s performance. While the team research literature offers nine C...
Pulmonary Hypertension and Pregnancy Outcomes: Insights From the National Inpatient Sample

BackgroundPregnant women with pulmonary hypertension (PH) are at risk for adverse cardiac outcomes, particularly at the time of labor and delivery. The purpose of this study is to define the impact...
The contribution of three dimensions of allostatic load to racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair self-rated health.

Abstract Objective This study evaluates whether different dimensions of physiological dysregulation, modeled individually rather than additively mediate racial/ethnic disparities in self-reported health. Methods Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005–2010) and the Karlson, Hold, and Breen (KHB) mediation model, this paper explores what operationalization of biomarker data most strongly mediate racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair self-rated health (SRH) among adults in the United States, net of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, and medication controls. Results Non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics had significantly higher odds of reporting poor/fair self-rated health in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. Operationalizations of allostatic load that disaggregate three major dimensions of physiological dysregulation mediate racial/ethnic disparities strongly between non-Hispanic blacks and non-Hispanic whites, but not between Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. Disaggregating these dimensions explains racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair SRH better than the continuous score. Analyses on sex-specific disparities indicate differences in how individual dimensions of allostatic load contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in poor/fair SRH differently. All individual dimensions are strong determinants of poor/fair SRH for males. In contrast, for females, the only dimension that is significantly associated with poor/fair SRH is inflammation. For the analytic sample, additive biomarker scores fit the data as well or better than other approaches, suggesting that this approach is most appropriate for explaining individual differences. However, in sex-specific analyses, the interactive approach models fit the data best for men and women. Conclusions Future researchers seeking to explain racial/ethnic disparities in full or sex-stratified samples should consider disaggregating allostatic load by dimension.
A High Linearity, 2.8 GS/s, 10-bit Accurate, Sample and Hold Amplifier in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS

This article presents a highly linear BiCMOS sample and hold amplifier (SHA) providing 2.8 GS/s intermediate frequency (IF) sampling for a 1 GHz bandwidth input spanning from 1.5 GHz to 2.5 GHz. A single-transistor hold-mode feedthrough cancellation technique is implemented to remove the distortion resulting from the nonlinear parasitic capacitance at the sampling node. The SHA is designed in a mainstream 130 nm BiCMOS technology using SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) to buffer and sample the wide-band input. Potential inclusion of this BiCMOS SHA in a subsequent high-speed ADC design provides the possibility for a monolithic high performance converter solution. This independent sampling front-end occupies a core chip area of 0.6 mm2. The SHA is a pseudo-differential open-loop design that includes two cascaded track-and-hold amplifiers (THA), a high-speed clock driver, and externally adjustable current mirror biases. Measurements of the fabricated SHA show a 10-bit effective resolution across the 1 GHz bandwidth and > 61 dBc spurious free dynamic range (SFDR).
Multilevel Phase Shift Keying using coherently coupled beams with Orbital Angular Momentum

This presentation will demonstrate an underwater free space optical link based on the phase modulation of coherently coupled OAM modes. The detection will be performed using passive optics in a correlation receiver optical setup.
Laser-Plasma Interaction Diagnostics for ICF Fusion Research

Understanding of the coupling of laser light to the plasma corona is essential for the success of laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The most desirable way of imparting laser energy to the target plasma is via inverse bremsstrahlung absorption.1 In addition, at elevated intensities, the thresholds for various instabilities may be exceeded, channeling laser energy into scattered electromagnetic (EM) waves and various electrostatic waves. As a result, part of the incident laser energy may be unavailable for heating the plasma and the target may be irradiated less uniformly. Furthermore, some of the laser energy may ultimately be transferred to energetic electrons that can preheat the fuel and degrade target performance. Many of these processes, such as stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), two-plasmon-decay (TPD) instability, and filamentation, have been studied extensively.2 Presently, however, the understanding of these processes is not sufficient to predict their importance under realistic ICF plasma conditions. Therefore continued surveying of laser-plasma interaction processes is required to guard against unforeseen surprises. This paper surveys the plasma diagnostics used on the OMEGA laser facility at the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE).
Association of oocytes with follicle cells, and oocyte chromatin during maturation

Immature mammalian oocytes are derived from primordial germ cells (PGCs) which have migrated to the developing embryonic ovary. These cells proliferated mitotically as oogonia and entered meiotic prophase. In this chapter, the term immature oocyte refers to those stages of female gametogenesis in which the nucleus is at the diplotene stage of meiosis. The diplotene stage is reached in mammalian oocytes at or about the time of parturition. The nuclear stage, germinal vesicle (GV), present in these immature primary oocytes persists to the adult stage. Meiosis is arrested at the GV stage. Resumption of arrested meiosis occurs in the sexually mature female.
Cloning, expression, and localization of a mouse retinal gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter.

Purpose To isolate a cDNA clone encoding a high-affinity gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter from mouse retina, to examine its biochemical and pharmacologic properties, and to determine the sites of its mRNA expression in retinal cells. Methods A mouse retinal cDNA library was screened using a fragment of a rat brain GABA transporter (GAT-1) cDNA as a probe. One homologous clone, mouse retinal GAT-1, was chosen for further characterization. RNA transcribed from mouse retinal GAT-1 was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes, and pharmacologic properties of the expressed transporter were determined. Sites of mouse retinal GAT-1 mRNA expression were examined by in situ hybridization. Results The protein sequence deduced from the DNA sequence of mouse retinal GAT-1 cDNA was virtually identical to that of the rat and the mouse brain GAT-1. RNA transcribed from this clone induced a [3H]-GABA uptake activity in microinjected Xenopus oocytes that was both sodium and chloride dependent. The apparent Km and Vmax for the GABA uptake were 8.3 microM and 40.0 pmol/egg per hour, respectively. The mouse retinal GAT-1 induced GABA uptake was inhibited by L-diaminobutyric acid, guvacine, cis-4-hydroxynipecotic acid, nipecotic acid, and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [4,5c]-pyridin-3-ol with IC50 values of 320, 79, 71, 7.1, and 200 microM, respectively. However, beta-alanine was unable to inhibit the induced GABA uptake significantly (IC50 approximately 2,500 microM). In situ hybridization studies showed that mouse retinal GAT-1 mRNA was present in a subpopulation of amacrine, interplexiform, and displaced amacrine cells. Hybridization signal in the Muller cells was significantly lower, and GAT-1 transcripts were not detected in the bipolar, horizontal, or photoreceptor cells of mouse retina. Conclusions The mouse retinal GAT-1 cDNA encodes a Na(+)-dependent, high-affinity GABA transporter that is mainly expressed in a subset of mouse retinal inter neurons.
In vitro studies on anti-cancer effect of Streptococcus pyogenes phage hyaluronidase (HylP) on breast cancer

1506 Hyaluronan (HA) is a non-sulfated glycosamioglycan that is vastly present in the extracellular matrix contributing to tissue homeostasis and structural integrity. The pathological relevance of HA to cancer has been extensively studied in many types of malignancies. Higher levels of HA in the tumor-stroma interface has been known to promote the tumor progression and metastasis through the constitutive HA-CD44 interactions and their related intracellular signalling pathways. We therefore hypothesize that reduction of extracellular HA by the catabolic process using hyaluronidase would attenuate the interaction of HA with CD44 receptor, and therefore decrease the rate of cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In this study, Streptococcus pyogenes bacteriophage H4489A hyaluronidase (HylP) and its mutant HylP H262A have been expressed and purified to determine their effects on human breast cancer. Three different breast cancer cell lines (Hs578T, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) were chosen based on their HA production levels, and the colorimetric XTT assay and Matrigel invasion assay were performed to evaluate the effect of HylP on cell proliferation and invasion respectively. To further investigate the effect of the reduction in HA level on signalling pathways, the expression and activation of Erk1/2, Akt, RhoA, and metalloprotease were measured by immunoblotting and zymographic methods. Upon treatment with HylP, decrement of both cell proliferation and invasion of aggressive breast cancer cell lines (Hs578T and MDA-MB-231) were observed, whereas the non-invasive cancer cells (MCF-7) showed no effect. The decrease in cell proliferation was proportional to the level of HA produced by the cell lines. The reduction of HA by HylP was shown to down-regulate the signaling pathways for cancer cell proliferation and invasion (Erk1/2, Akt, and RhoA). In the case of the mutant HylP H262A that exhibits limited enzymatic activity, no such response was observed. These results suggest that the observed inhibitory effect of HylP is exerted by the reduction of HA. Furthermore, the external addition of longer HA polymers increased the invasiveness of both Hs578T and MDA-MB-231, however, when treated with HylP, a drastic reduction in cell invasion was observed. In accordance with cell invasion assays, the activation of MMP-2 was facilitated upon the addition of HA and its activation was decreased by 3-fold after treatment with HylP. Finally, the external addition of smaller HA oligosaccharides released by HylP enzyme exhibited negligible influence on cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, the diminution of extracellular HA by HylP enzyme effectively inhibits both cell proliferation and invasion of aggressive breast cancer cells and suggests the potential as a novel therapeutics.
Who gets mad and who feels bad? Mate value discrepancies predict anger and shame in response to transgressions in romantic relationships:

Mate value discrepancies (MVDs) predict multiple outcomes in romantic relationships, including relationship satisfaction, jealousy, and forgiveness. We tested the hypotheses that MVDs would predict...
Export Performance: Evolution of a Concept and Challenges for Future Research

A review of 16 years (1994-2009) of literature on export performance was undertaken in order to uncover how the construct has been conceptually defined and operationally represented in empirical re...
Invasive and Allergic Complications Due to Aspergillus fumigatus in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) Primary Immunodeficiency (PID) Patients

Introduction Invasive aspergillosis may complicate up to 23% of HCT. Three patients with predispositions to infection with Aspergillus pre-transplant underwent reduced intensity conditioning HCT for unrelated PIDs: hypomorphic IL2R-γ deficiency (36 y/o man, P1), STAT3 mutated Hyper IgE syndrome (7 y/o girl, P2), and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease with mutated IκBα (30 y/o woman, P3). Methods Conditioning consisted of pentostatin/cyclophosphamide (Cy); patients 2 and 3 also received busulfan, with high dose Cy/sirolimus/mycophenolate mofetil for GVHD prophylaxis. P1 and P2 received micafungin prophylaxis and P3 continued pre-HCT posaconazole. Results P1 had preexisting bronchiectasis colonized by Aspergillus fumigatus. The transplant was complicated by fever, mild hemoptysis and new nodular infiltrates during neutropenia. Blood Aspergillus antigen index (AAI) was positive 2 days prior to engraftment and negative day 31. On day 30, peripheral blood eosinophils rose to 4,640/µl (22.9%). Eosinophilia abated with corticosteroids for cutaneous GVHD, but tapering steroids was complicated by increasing eosinophilia and cough. Biopsy (day 59) of the new lung lesions revealed necrotizing inflammation and septate hyphae. P2 had a preexisting large right pneumatocele. Fevers persisted from day 3 post-HCT and beyond engraftment (day 19). Sputum cultures grew A. fumigatus. Eosinophilia on day 35 (560/µl, 12.5%) reached 2640/µl (29.9%) on day 45. Antifungal therapy was continued and corticosteroids and tocilizumab were given, with rapid abatement of fevers, cough and eosinophilia. The blood AAI was positive on day 54 but became negative by day 61. On day 94 a right pneumothorax developed. Resection of the affected lung was performed on day 114. P3 had a left lung cavity aspergilloma and intermittent hemoptysis prior to transplantation. HCT was successfully performed under posaconazole/isavuconazole prophylaxis. Post-HCT, cough was difficult to control, and eosinophilia appeared (460/µl, 13.9%) on day 48 coincident with new diffuse nodular infiltrates, interpreted as bronchial spread of the cavity contents. Right lung lavage revealed numerous neutrophils and eosinophils and grew A. fumigatus. The patient underwent left upper lobectomy on day 83. Symptoms and eosinophilia improved. Conclusion Three patients predisposed to Aspergillus disease underwent successful HCT for different PIDs, but each case was complicated by a mixed picture of invasive Aspergillus infection and eosinophilic inflammation similar to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. Successful management included aggressive antifungal therapy, but corticosteroids were necessary to manage the allergic symptoms, and lung resection was performed in two cases.
Stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases from newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer: practice patterns and outcomes.

Background: Up-front stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been historically thought of as inadequate for brain metastases (BM) from newly diagnosed small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This study evaluate...
Optimization of Emulsifier and Stabilizer Concentrations in a Model Peanut-Based Beverage System: A Mixture Design Approach

Colloidal stability as well as physicochemical and rheological properties are among the critical determinants of the sensory quality of beverages. The present study investigated the effects of lecithin, xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, and their combinations on the colloidal stability and physicochemical/rheological properties of a model peanut-based beverage. A simplex centroid mixture design was applied, and the visual stability, centrifuge stability, physicochemical properties (soluble solids, pH, water activity, color), and rheological parameters (flow behavior and viscosity) of the samples were determined. All the evaluated parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by the type and quantity of emulsifier or stabilizer used. At the 0.5% total usage level, the optimum stabilizer and emulsifier combination was that of 66% xanthan gum and 34% lecithin. A further increase of lecithin in the mixture caused a decrease in the colloidal stability of the sample. Irrespective of emulsifier and stabilizer type and quantity, all samples exhibited shear-thinning flow behavior, with samples containing xanthan gum being more pseudoplastic than the others. The prediction model for the visual stability index found in this study may be used by the industry to formulate similar beverages for better colloidal stability.
Recruitment and retention of US South Asians for an epidemiologic cohort: Experience from the MASALA study.

Author(s): Kanaya, Alka M; Chang, Ann; Schembri, Michael; Puri-Taneja, Ankita; Srivastava, Shweta; Dave, Swapna S; Vijayakumar, Evangeline N; Qamar, Zubaida; Naik, Hemalatha D; Siddiqui, Faiza; Kandula, Namratha R | Abstract: IntroductionThere are few longitudinal studies about South Asians (SAs) and little information about recruitment and retention approaches for this ethnic group.MethodsWe followed 906 SAs enrolled in the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) cohort for 5 years. Surviving participants were invited for a second clinical exam from 2015 to 2018. A new wave of participants was recruited during 2017-2018. We assessed the yields from different methods of recruitment and retention.ResultsA total of 759 (83%) completed the second clinical exam, and 258 new participants were enrolled. Providing a nearby community hospital location for the study exam, offering cab/shared ride reimbursement, and conducting home visits were the most effective methods for enhancing retention. New participant recruitment targeted women and individuals with lower socioeconomic status, and we found that participant referrals and active community engagement were most effective. Mailing invitational letters to those identified by electronic health records had very low yield.ConclusionRecruitment and retention strategies that address transportation barriers and increase community engagement will help increase the representation of SAs in health research.
Methods of Collecting and Analyzing Rearward Visibility Data for Agricultural Machinery: Hazard and/or Object Detectability.

Recent interest in rearward visibility for private, construction, and commercial vehicles and documentation of rearward runovers involving bystanders outside the field of vision of the vehicle operator led to an investigation into the need for enhanced methods of rearward visibility for large, off-highway, agricultural equipment. A review of the literature found limited relevant research and minimal data on incidents involving rearward runovers of bystanders and co-workers. This article reviews the findings regarding the methods identified and tested to collect and analyze rearward visibility data, from the operator‘s perspective, for large self-propelled agricultural equipment, including the four-wheel drive tractors, combines, agricultural sprayers, and skid-steer loaders that are increasingly found on agricultural production sites. The methods identified, largely drawn from research conducted on private and commercial vehicles, were tested to determine their application in identifying rearward blind spots. These methods are described, and the findings from field-testing of specific machines are provided. Recommendations include establishing an appropriate engineering standard regarding rearward visibility of agricultural equipment with limited rearward vision and the use of rearward alarm systems for warning bystanders of rearward movement.
Belief System Disintegration: Evolutionary Insights from Bergman’s Det sjunde inseglet

Paradigm transitions come with tremendous risk, as societies can come undone when people stop believing in the imaginary constructs that unite us. The Black Plague’s devastation resulted not only f...