cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating Asthma, Allergic Disease, Passive Smoke Exposure, and Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is postulated to originate at mucosal surfaces, particularly the airway mucosa. To investigate this hypothesis, we determined the association between RA and asthma, passive smoke exposure, and age at start of smoking. METHODS For this case-control study, we identified 1,023 cases of RA (175 incident) within a single-center biobank population, using a rules-based algorithm that combined self-report with 2 diagnostic codes. Exposures were self-reported on biobank questionnaires. Logistic regression models were used to calculate the association of exposures with RA, adjusting for potential confounders. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. RESULTS After adjustment for allergies, urban environment, and passive smoke exposure, asthma was found to be associated with RA in the full cohort (OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.04-1.58; P = 0.02]) but not the incident RA cohort (OR 1.17 [95% CI 0.66-2.06; P = 0.60]). History of allergic disease was associated with RA in both the full cohort (OR 1.30 [95% CI 1.12-1.51; P < 0.001]) and the incident RA cohort (OR 1.61 [95% CI 1.11-2.33; P = 0.01]), especially food allergy, which was significantly associated with RA in the full cohort (OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.08-1.75; P = 0.01]) and showed a trend toward significance in the incident RA cohort (OR 1.83 [95% CI 0.97-3.45; P = 0.06]). Passive smoke exposure at home or work was not associated with RA. Finally, age at start of smoking was not associated with increased odds of developing RA in either the full cohort (OR 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.06; P = 0.03]) or the incident RA cohort (OR 1.00 [95% CI 0.92-1.08; P = 0.98]). CONCLUSION Asthma and allergies may be associated with increased risk of RA. Passive smoke exposure and early age at start of smoking do not appear to influence risk of RA.
The Molecular Biology Database Collection: 2008 update

The Nucleic Acids Research online Molecular Biology Database Collection is a public repository that lists more than 1000 databases described in this and previous Nucleic Acids Research annual database issues, as well as a selection of molecular biology databases described in other journals. All databases included in this Collection are freely available to the public. The 2008 update includes 1078 databases, 110 more than the previous one. The links to more than 80 databases have been updated and 25 obsolete databases have been removed from the list. The complete database list and summaries are available online at the Nucleic Acids Research web site, http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/.
Anatomic Studies of the Perioral Motor System: Foundations for Studies in Speech Physiology

Publisher Summary The present series of studies was conducted because we felt an acute need for more precise specification of the facial muscle structure as a basis for our ongoing studies of the motor physiology of the perioral muscle system. Following completion of this work, it appeared that our observations would be of use to other speech physiologists and speech pathologists who may have experienced similar frustrations in finding detailed anatomic information regarding the facial musculature. Thus, in large part, this work is directed to those who are conducting research on the speech function of the orofacial system. However, in addition, we hope that the line illustrations and quantitative descriptions of the perioral muscles provided in this chapter will be of use to individuals working in clinical settings, as well as to educators concerned with speech and hearing sciences in which speech anatomy is considered an appropriate background for either academic or professional degree programs.
An update on primary sclerosing cholangitis epidemiology, outcomes and quantification of alkaline phosphatase variability in a population-based cohort

Contemporary primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) population-based cohorts describing the epidemiology, natural history, and long-term fluctuations in serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and their prognostic relevance are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the incidence and natural history of PSC and quantified SAP fluctuations among those with PSC in Olmsted County, Minnesota over the last 41 years. The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to identify 56 subjects diagnosed with PSC between 1976 and 2017 in Olmsted County. The primary endpoint (n = 19) included liver transplantation, hepatic decompensation, and cholangiocarcinoma. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of PSC (per 100,000 person years) nearly doubled from 2001 to 2017 compared to 1976–2000 (1.47; 95% CI 0.99–1.96 versus 0.79; 95% CI 0.42–1.16, p = 0.02). This increase paralleled a rise in patients with markers of a milder phenotype at the time of diagnosis: normal SAP (26.32% versus 0%, p < 0.01) and lower Mayo PSC risk score [0.36 (− 0.57 to 1.55) versus − 0.50 (− 1.25 to 0.35), p = 0.03]. Intra-individual SAP fluctuates with a median coefficient of variation of 36.20%. SAP normalization and dropping below 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) occurs at a rate of 5% and 10% per year, respectively. SAP less than 1.5 × ULN was associated with a lower risk of PSC-related complications (hazard ratio 0.11; 95% CI 0.03–0.42). The patients with PSC are increasingly being diagnosed with a milder phenotype. While a lower SAP is associated with improved outcomes, the high intra-individual variation of SAP levels calls into question the practice of using a single SAP value as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.
Financial landscapes of agrarian change in Cambodia

Abstract In the context of neoliberal financialization, what is the role of debt in agrarian change? To address this question, I combine insights about debt from rural political ecology and development finance scholarship in order to analyze the relationship between changing agroecological practices and household indebtedness in a Cambodian rice- farming village. In the past two decades, Cambodians have borrowed from commercial microfinance institutions at the highest rate per capita of any country in the world. With fewer Cambodians farming, and agricultural production increasingly commodified, researchers have begun to study how the fast growth of Cambodia's microfinance industry contributes to these changes. By building upon the concept of financial landscapes, which highlights the diversity of social and material relations of debt in rural economies, I argue that agrarian change in Cambodia is entangled with rising household debts used to fund both agricultural production and social reproduction. I describe how non-monetary debt obligations underpinned labor-intensive rice agricultural practices in the 1980s and early 1990s, but have since been replaced by monetary debt used to fund household basic needs and commodified agricultural production. To make my argument, I draw upon 20 months of ethnographic research within a farming village in Kampot Province. This article contributes to rural political ecology and development finance scholarship by exploring debt in its diverse material and social forms at a time of deepening financialization, and how these debt relations in turn shape the economic and agroecological contours of contemporary agrarian change.
Effect of Mn and Zn Inhibitors on the Corrosion of Incoloy 800H in the MgCl 2 –KCl Molten Salt

The corrosion evaluations of Incoloy 800H (800H) alloys with Mn and Zn inhibitors were performed separately in MgCl2–KCl for 100 h at 973 K under high-purity argon atmosphere. The corrosion rates were estimated based on the weight loss of 800H samples, which were 0.003 ± 0.038 and 0.152 ± 0.022 mg/cm2/day with Mn and Zn inhibitors, respectively. The negative value of the corrosion rate indicates the increase in weight of the 800H sample after corrosion. The increased weight was attributed to the deposition of inhibitor on the surface of 800H. Besides, the composition of deposition was investigated using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Both the Mn and Zn inhibitors protected 800H alloy from further corrosion, especially the Mn being better of the two.
Reliability and validity of the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale modified for autism spectrum disorder.

Anxiety often co-occurs with autism spectrum disorder, yet there are few valid and reliable instruments for measuring anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder. This article describes the modi...
Clinical communication as 'targeted therapy': utilization of a novel biopsychosocial communication framework to facilitate clinical trust-building and shared decision making

Communication is central to all patient encounters. Palliative care clinicians receive and provide education about communication content and processes. The mechanisms underlying communication, such as individual neurobiology, psychological heuristics, and moral grounding, are rarely included in this education. Information about those communication mechanisms is fragmented across several disciplines, and though much has been learned in recent years, is incomplete. Interdisciplinary biopsychosocial care is a widely accepted conceptual framework for high quality, patient-centered clinical practice. A novel biopsychosocial communication framework can give palliative care clinicians an organized way to …
Fitness costs of pesticide resistance in Hyalella azteca under future climate change scenarios.

Abstract Global climate change continues to cause alterations in environmental conditions which can be detrimental to aquatic ecosystem health. The development of pesticide resistance in organisms such as Hyalella azteca can lead to increased susceptibility to environmental change. This research provides a robust assessment of the effects of alterations in salinity on the fitness of H. azteca. Full-life cycle bioassays were conducted with non-resistant and pyrethroid-resistant H. azteca cultured under two salinity conditions representing a rise from freshwater control (0.2 psu) to increased salinity due to salt-water intrusion, reduced snowpack and evaporative enrichment (6.0 psu). Additionally, the upper thermal tolerance was defined for each population at each salinity. Pyrethroid-resistant H. azteca exhibited reduced thermal tolerance; however, they produced more offspring per female than non-resistant animals. Compared to the low salinity water, both non-resistant and pyrethroid-resistant H. azteca produced more offspring, grew larger (based on dry mass), and produced larger offspring in elevated salinity, although pyrethroid-resistant animals had lower survival and lipid levels. This study provides fundamental information about the fitness potential of H. azteca in a changing climate, suggesting advantages for non-resistant animals under future climate scenarios. In addition, this research further supports the need to consider the effects of global climate change when conducting risk assessment of contaminants of concern, as well as the contribution of contaminants when investigating climate change impacts on populations, as exposure may contribute to niche contraction.
Review of engine control-oriented combustion models:

As requirements for continuously improving internal combustion engine fuel economy with satisfactory emissions, model-based control strategies are often used to optimize the combustion process. To ...
Chapter 7.5 Active subglacial volcanism in West Antarctica

Abstract A combination of aerogeophysics, seismic observations and direct observation from ice cores, and subglacial sampling, has revealed at least 21 sites under the West Antarctic Ice Sheet consistent with active volcanism (where active is defined as volcanism that has interacted with the current manifestation of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet). Coverage of these datasets is heterogeneous, potentially biasing the apparent distribution of these features. Also, the products of volcanic activity under thinner ice characterized by relatively fast flow are more prone to erosion and removal by the ice sheet, and therefore potentially under-represented. Unsurprisingly, the sites of active subglacial volcanism that we have identified often overlap with areas of relatively thick ice and slow ice surface flow, both of which are critical conditions for the preservation of volcanic records. Overall, we find the majority of active subglacial volcanic sites in West Antarctica concentrate strongly along the crustal-thickness gradients bounding the central West Antarctic Rift System, complemented by intra-rift sites associated with the Amundsen Sea–Siple Coast lithospheric transition.
POTENSI PENGEMBANGAN PENDAPATAN ASLI DAERAH (Studi di Kabupaten Lombok Timur)

The aim of the research is to identify various potential sources of regional real income which develop and formulate strategy of regional real income. Student interview, documentation, and focus group discussion are used for collecting data. Data analyzed using collection ratio, regional real income proportion, regional real income growth, and SWOT analysis. The research result showed that 3 from 4 sources of own regional income which are potential to be developed, namely regional tax, regional retribution and profit of regional asset management. The development strategy for 3 potential own regional income include optimizing regional tax, regional retribution as well as profit of regional asset management, and business plan of district governmental enterprise
Is anterior mitral valve leaflet length important in outcome of septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Objectives Elongation of mitral valve leaflets is a phenotypic feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and some surgeons advocate plication of the anterior leaflet at the time of septal myectomy. The present study investigates mitral valve leaflet length and outcomes of patients undergoing septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Methods We reviewed the records and echocardiograms of 564 patients who underwent transaortic septal myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy between February 2015 and April 2018. Extended septal myectomy without plication of the anterior leaflet was the standard procedure. From intraoperative prebypass transesophageal echocardiograms, we measured anterior and posterior mitral valve leaflets and their coaptation length. For comparison, we performed these mitral valve leaflet measurements in 90 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting and 92 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement in the same period. Among patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing septal myectomy, we assessed left ventricular outflow tract gradient relief and 1-year survival in relation to leaflet length. Results Median patient age (interquartile range) was 60.3 (50.2-67.7) years, and 54.1% were male. Concomitant mitral valve repair was performed in 36 patients (6.4%), and mitral valve replacement was performed in 8 patients (1.4%), primarily for intrinsic mitral valve disease. Patients in the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cohort had significantly longer mitral valve leaflet measurements compared with patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or aortic valve replacement (P Conclusions Our study confirms previous findings that patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have slight (5 mm) elongation of mitral valve leaflets. In contrast to other reports, increased anterior mitral valve leaflet length was not associated with higher left ventricular outflow tract gradients. Importantly, we found no significant relationship between anterior mitral valve leaflet length and postoperative left ventricular outflow tract resting gradients or gradient relief. Thus, in the absence of intrinsic mitral valve disease, transaortic septal myectomy with focus on extending the excision beyond the point of septal contact is sufficient for almost all patients.
The Relative Effectiveness of Global Anti-Piracy Policies

In recent decades, the problem of illegal downloading of copyrighted material has emerged as a major concern for governments across the globe. Many countries have implemented policies to limit the impact of online piracy on revenues of creative industries. These policies, while important for a broad range of industries, have been particularly lobbied for and supported by the motion pictures industry. Film production and distribution companies have repeatedly asserted that effective anti-piracy policy is crucial to their continued success. This paper seeks to evaluate whether the anti-piracy regimes in OECD countries have been effective. It also seeks to determine whether there are patterns to the types of policies that have been especially effective or ineffective.
Dynamic decision making and value computations in medial frontal cortex.

Abstract Dynamic decision making requires an intact medial frontal cortex. Recent work has combined theory and single-neuron measurements in frontal cortex to advance models of decision making. We review behavioral tasks that have been used to study dynamic decision making and algorithmic models of these tasks using reinforcement learning theory. We discuss studies linking neurophysiology and quantitative decision variables. We conclude with hypotheses about the role of other cortical and subcortical structures in dynamic decision making, including ascending neuromodulatory systems.
Towards Understanding the Angiomotin Membrane Fusion Activity

Angiomotins (Amot) are a family of adaptor proteins that regulate cellular differentiation and proliferation signaling. These cellular events are linked to the initiation of invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer. Their characteristic coiled-coil homology (ACCH) domain selectively binds phosphatidylinositol lipids (PI), leading to membrane deformation and fusion events necessary for the trafficking polarity proteins to and from the apical membrane. We have previously shown that the ACCH domain has the ability to reorganize and homogenize the PI-enriched microdomains in membranes. However, the connection between the membrane fusion activity and the homogenization of PI has not been well described. In this study, we use small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) to demonstrate the lipid reorganization function and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to characterize the vesicle fusion activity. As a result, we found 6 mutations in the ACCH domain that caused a loss of fusion activity. Furthermore, these mutations also have lost lipid reorganization activity. The results presented provide insight into the role of the Amot ACCH domain residues in driving membrane fusion events involved in targeting and recycling cellular polarity proteins to maintain normal cellular phenotypes.
Can the implementation of the Opioid Start Talking form impact the amount of opioid use in patients after ankle fracture repair

Objective As part of 2018 legislation aimed at fighting the opioid epidemic, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) published the "Opioid Start Talking" (OST) Form on June 1, 2018. We examined if the implementation of the OST form led to an identifiable decrease in patient opioid use. Specifically, we examined the opioid prescription quantities in patients who sustained ankle fractures that required open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Design Retrospective. Hospital medical records and Michigan Automated Prescription Database (MAPS) were analyzed for similar ankle fracture patients operated on by two surgeons prior to and after the initiation of the OST form. Records allowed us to track opioid filling through MAPS for 120 days after surgery in two groups: preimplementation (PRE) and post-implementation (POST) OST groups. The gathered data were analyzed by the investigators along with a staff statistician. Setting Single-institution orthopedic practice. Patients, participants Seventy eight patients Main outcome measure: Average morphine milligram equivalent (MME) per patient encounter. Results Seventy eight patients were included in the final analysis after applying the exclusion criteria. There were 38 patients in the pre-OST form period and 40 in the post-OST form period groups. The pre-OST and post-OST groups were well matched between the two surgeons. There was no evidence of a statistically significant difference found in the median MME between patients from the pre-period group to the post-period group (median 59 vs 50, P = 0.61). In regard to the injury pattern, the bimalleolar MME median was 50 (38 = 25th percentile, 67 = 75th percentile; min-max 0-175) and the trimalleolar median MME was 63 (39 =25% percentile, 81 = 75th percentile; min-max 0-249) with a P value of 0.20. Conclusions Overall, the administration of the OST form to patients with ankle fractures did not result in a decrease in MMEs prescribed within 120 days of surgery. Although it is a start in the battle against the opioid epidemic, further evaluation of the effectiveness of the OST form is necessary.
Post-remediation geophysical assessment: Investigating long-term electrical geophysical signatures resulting from bioremediation at a chlorinated solvent contaminated site.

Abstract There is a growing need to assess long-term impacts of active remediation strategies on treated aquifers. A variety of biogeochemical alterations can result from interactions of the amendment with the aquifer, conceivably leading to a geophysical signal associated with the long-term alteration of an aquifer. This concept of post-remediation geophysical assessment was investigated in a shallow, chlorinated solvent-contaminated aquifer six to eight years after amendment delivery. Surface resistivity imaging and cross-borehole resistivity and induced polarization (IP) imaging were performed on a transect that spanned treated and untreated zones of the aquifer. Established relationships between IP parameters and surface electrical conductivity were used to predict vertical profiles of electrolytic conductivity and surface conductivity from the inverted cross-borehole images. Aqueous geochemistry data, along with natural gamma and magnetic susceptibility logs, were used to constrain the interpretation. The electrical conductivity structure determined from surface and borehole imaging was foremost controlled by the electrolytic conductivity of the interconnected pore space, being linearly related to fluid specific conductance. The electrolytic conductivity (and thus the conductivity images alone) did not discriminate between treated and untreated zones of the aquifer. In contrast, inverted phase angles and surface conductivities did discriminate between treated and untreated zones of the aquifer, with the treated zone being up to an order of magnitude more polarizable in places. Supporting aqueous chemistry and borehole logging datasets indicate that this geophysical signal from the long-term impact of the remediation on the aquifer is most likely associated with the formation of polarizable, dispersed iron sulfide minerals.
Boundary Force Method Analyses of Notched Plates with Cracks

The Boundary Force Method (BFM), an indirect boundary element method, was formulated for two-dimensional mixed boundary value problems. The analytical solution for forces and moments applied to a cracked, infinite sheet is used as the fundamental solution. Thus, the crack faces need not be modeled.
Unrequited Law: Utah’s Century with the Seventeenth Amendment, 1913-2013

This paper examines the role of the 17th Amendment, the provision that established the direct election of U.S. senators. It is important to first trace a history of the philosophical debate about the composition of the U.S. Senate in the context of republicanism, federalism, and later populist criticism. After examining the history of the Utah Legislature’s refusal to ratify the Amendment in 1913, this paper investigates the impact of the Amendment on the behavior of the new Senate. Such concentrated federal power has spurred the contemporary attempts of Utah lawmakers to reverse these perceived corruptions of the Constitution’s original intent. Ultimately, this paper argues that the century-long impact of the 17th Amendment has contributed to an ongoing crisis in modern American federalism and helps explain the synthesis of ideas which motivates current attempts to repeal and reform it.
Bestimmung von Spurenelementen in Serum und Urin mit flammenloser Atomisierung

Eine Graphitrohrkuvette zur flammenlosen Atom-Absorptions-Spektroskopie und deren Anwendbarkeit auf die Analyse biologischer Materialien wird beschrieben. Die fur Kupfer in 12 Seren erhaltenen Werte stimmen gut mit den Ergebnissen der Colorimetrie und der Flammen-AAS uberein; das benotigte Probenvolumen betragt dabei nur 2 μl Serum pro Bestimmung. Verschiedene weitere Anwendungsmoglichkeiten zur Bestimmung von Spurenelementen und zum Arbeiten mit kleinsten Probenvolumina werden diskutiert.
Glycosidases of Aspergillus niger III. PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 1,2-α-MANNOSIDASE

Abstract A highly purified preparation of 1,2-α-mannosidase has been obtained from Aspergillus niger by using 2-O-α-d mannobiose as substrate. The disaccharide has been synthesized by the condensation of α-acetobromomannose with 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-d-mannose followed by deacetylation of the resulting product. The enzyme shows a pH optimum of 4.8 and is stable in the pH range of 5.0 to 8.0. The Km and Vmax values for the enzyme are 2 mm and 1.3 µmoles per mg per min, respectively. The enzyme does not seem to be Zn++-dependent and is inhibited only weakly by d-mannono-(1→5)-lactone. The enzyme is highly specific for 1,2-α-d-mannosidic bonds and therefore readily hydrolyzes 2-O-α-mannobiose and 2-O-α-mannotriose. It does not hydrolyze 3-O-α-, 4-O-α-, and 6-O-α-mannobioses. The 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-α-, 4-O-α-, and 6-O-α-d-mannopyranosyl-d-glucoses are also not hydrolyzed. It does not release mannose from yeast mannan, ovalbumin, β-galactosidase-β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase-treated desialyzed human chorionic gonadotropin, α1 acid glycoprotein, and fetuin.
Generation of versatile vortex linear light bullet

We demonstrate a versatile vortex linear light bullet as a vortex Airy-Bessel wave packet for the first time. Its non-varying three-dimensional (3D) vortex field in linear propagation is verified by 3D measurements.
Hadamard SCFDMA-A modified uplink transmission scheme with low PAPR and SER

Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE Advanced) has adopted Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SCFDMA) for uplink transmission due to its lower Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) compared to Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). However, the PAPR is still an issue for the SCFDMA scheme. In this paper, we analyze the PAPR of pulse shaped SCFDMA systems and propose a modified scheme which is termed as “Hadamard SCFDMA,” for reduction in PAPR of pulse shaped signals. We furthermore investigate the Symbol Error Rate (SER) performance of both SCFDMA and the proposed Hadamard SCFDMA system. The results showed that the Hadamard SCFDMA scheme not only achieved PAPR reduction but also enjoyed lower complexity and SER enhancement.
Neuro-oncology: Primary CNS lymphoma treatment--the devil is in the details.

Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is uniquely responsive to initial radiotherapy or chemotherapy, but the best therapeutic approach remains uncertain. Recently updated results from a phase III trial do not support the use of radiotherapy in PCNSL, although the analyses had several disappointing limitations.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of the Oscillating Wake of a Blunt-Based Body

The oscillating wake of a blunt-based body is examined using explicit finite-difference solutions of the Vorticity Transport equation and Poisson's equation. The difference equations are formulated for a rectangular grid with varying grid line spacing. Utilization of this type of grid allows increased accuracy to be obtained in the regions of highest gradients, without the large increases in computation time associated with refining a uniformly spaced grid. The accuracy of the numerical solutions was verified, qualitatively, by a comparison with an experimentally obtained flow pattern, and quantitatively, by a comparison with experimentally obtained Strouhal numbers. The basic parameters governing the problem were found to be the thickness and profile of the boundary layers on the body prior to separation, and the Reynolds number. The Reynolds number based on the base height was varied in the range from 100.0 to 16,295.0, while the boundary-layer thickness was varied in the range from 0.121 to 3.0 base heights. The numerical solutions in this area exhibited three types of wake oscillations. The first type of oscillation involved the alternate growth and decay of circulation regions, which remained attached to the base of the body. In the second type of oscillation, the circulation regions would grow in size and eventually detach from alternating sides of the base. The third type of wake oscillation appears to be a more violent version of the second type, again involving growth and detachment of circulation regions from the base of the body. The flow pattern in the third type of oscillating wake closely resembles that of the classic von Karman vortex street.
Lived Body Knowledge: Disciplinary Knowledge for Preservice Physical Education Teachers

The American Kinesiology Association has constructed an undergraduate core for degree programs that reside in kinesiology-based academic units. Since many Physical Education Teacher Education programs are housed in such units, there is a need to prioritize the areas of the undergraduate core, particularly the place of the scientific dimensions of physical activity and the practice of physical activity, in Physical Education Teacher Education curricula. Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s philosophy of the lived body is employed to (a) challenge the predominant inclusion of the scientific dimensions of physical activity in teacher preparation curricula and (b) suggest that preservice physical education teachers need “lived body knowledge” of the subject matter to teach physical education. Lived body knowledge is skillful and meaningful engagement in dance, exercise, games, play, and/or sport. It is then argued that the practice of physical activity deserves a significant presence in Physical Education Teacher Educatio...
Using urban forest assessment tools to model bird habitat potential

The alteration of forest cover and the replacement of native vegetation with buildings, roads, exotic vegetation, and other urban features pose one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. As more land becomes slated for urban development, identifying effective urban forest wildlife management tools becomes paramount to ensure the urban forest provides habitat to sustain bird and other wildlife populations. The primary goal of this study was to integrate wildlife suitability indices to an existing national urban forest assessment tool, i-Tree. We quantified available habitat characteristics of urban forests for ten northeastern U.S. cities, and summarized bird habitat relationships from the literature in terms of variables that were represented in the i-Tree datasets. With these data, we generated habitat suitability equations for nine bird species representing a range of life history traits and conservation status that predicts the habitat suitability based on i-Tree data. We applied these equations to the urban forest datasets to calculate the overall habitat suitability for each city and the habitat suitability for different types of land-use (e.g., residential, commercial, parkland) for each bird species. The proposed habitat models will help guide wildlife managers, urban planners, and landscape designers who require specific information such as desirable habitat conditions within an urban management project to help improve the suitability of urban forests for birds.
A Side-View Confocal Microendoscope for In Vivo Sagittal Imaging of the Mouse Brain

We have developed a miniature confocal side-view endoscope with a diameter of 350micron for sagittal imaging of mouse brain in vivo. This new tool can visualize the vertical layers of neurons from cerebral cortex to hippocampus.
P96The aortic root phenotype in bicuspid aortic valve disease: evidence of shared Smad2 activation in aortic regions of distinct embryologic origin

Background: Transforming growth factor-b (TGFb) signalling plays a central role in vascular remodelling and aneurysm formation. A hypothesis of lineage-specific capacity in TGFb responsiveness has recently emerged which may explain the different aortopathy patterns in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease. We aimed to assess the degree of histological abnormalities and TGFb activation in the BAV mesoderm-derived aortic root and ectoderm-derived ascending aorta. Methods: Aortic tissues from BAV patients and controls sampled at the level of sinuses of Valsalva and distal ascending aorta were examined via light microscopy for histological abnormalities and nuclear phosphorylated Smad2 (pSmad2) signalling, a marker of TGFb activation. A detailed histology grading score was used to assess the severity of medial wall abnormalities. Immunohistochemical data was expressed as the percentage of positive pSmad2 nuclei in each aortic wall layer. Results: Aortic specimens collected during surgery from 18 BAV patients (median age 22.5 [2–39]) were compared to 12 age-matched controls. Paired analysis in BAV patients reported a higher cumulative histology grading score in the ascending aorta compared to the root (5.5, [2-9] versus 4, [2-7]; p=0.004), which was persistently greater in patients with regurgitant valve disease (6, [2-9] versus 4, [2-6]; p=0.026), and in patients with aortic root dilatation (6, [3-9] versus 4, [2-6]; p=0.029). At immunohistochemistry, pSmad2 signalling was significantly higher in the BAV media compared to controls, both in the aortic root (38.7 [14- 61] versus 10.7 (2-36), p<0.001) and in the ascending aorta (40.3 [4-54] versus 7.9 [3-46], p=0.001). Medial pSmad2 activation did not differ significantly between the ascending aorta and root of BAV patients, with or without respective aortic dilatation. In the overall population, a positive correlation was noticed between the degree of pSmad2 signalling in the media and the severity of medial wall abnormalities, both in the aortic root (ρ=0.57; p=0.001) and the ascending aorta (ρ=0.6; p<0.001). Conclusion: The dilated aortic root phenotype may represent the primarily genetic form of BAV disease as patients with either root dilatation and/or predominant regurgitant valve disease had greater levels of medial wall degeneration in their ascending aorta. Enhanced TGFb signalling appears to play a key role in BAV aortopathy. The presence of increased pSmad2 activation in non-dilated BAV aortic segments points to a genetic trigger, with no differences in signalling between the mesoderm-derived root and the ectoderm-derived ascending aorta.
Numerical modeling of pnpn heterostructure switches

A one-dimensional semiconductor device simulation program with current boundary conditions has been developed and applied to optical heterostructure p-n-p-n optical switches. Both avalanche effect and bandgap discontinuities are included in the model. Numerical simulation is performed to aid in design and to determine the switching parameters. The effects of light generation and carrier lifetime on current-voltage characteristics of the switches are investigated. The modeling results are studied for both InP/InGaAs and AlGaAs/GaAs devices and compared with experimental results in the latter case. Simulation and experiment agree on holding current and voltage and on high-current on-state characteristics. The limitations and simplification of the numerical model lead to a discrepancy in the low-current off-state. >
Second-harmonic pressure generation of a non-diffracting acoustical high-order Bessel vortex beam of fractional type α.

Abstract Background and motivation Generalized Bessel vortex beams are regaining interest from the standpoint of acoustic scattering and radiation force theories for applications in particle rotation, mixing and manipulation. Other possible applications may include medical and nondestructive imaging. To manipulate heavy particles in a host medium, a minimum threshold of the incident sound field intensity is required at relatively high wave amplitudes such that nonlinear wave propagation occurs and the generation of harmonics may be detected. Thus, predictions of the harmonics generation become crucial from the standpoint of experimental design, and the present analysis should assist in the development of more complete models related to the (nonlinear) scattering and radiation forces under such circumstances. The purpose of this research is to construct a theoretical model for the second-harmonic pressure generation associated with a category of non-diffracting Bessel vortex beams known as high-order Bessel vortex beams of fractional type α (HOBVBs-Fα). Method The weakly nonlinear wave propagation of a HOBVB-Fα is investigated based on Lighthill’s formalism. Analytical solutions up to the second-order level of approximation are derived and discussed. Closed-form solutions are obtained, which are expressed as a function of first-order quantities available from the classical linear theory. Lateral profiles of the HOBVB-Fα are computed and compared. Results and conclusion The results show that the beam’s width reduces and becomes narrower, the side-lobes decrease in magnitude, and the hollow region diameter (or null in magnitude) increases as the order of nonlinearity increases. Furthermore, the nonlinearity of the medium preserves the non-diffracting feature of the beam’s second-harmonic generation within the pre-shock range.
Protein kinase C isoforms in multidrug resistant P388/ADR cells: a possible role in daunorubicin transport.

Abstract To identify the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in multidrug resistance in tumor cells, we examined the PKC isoform pattern in the multidrug resistant P388/ADR cell line and studied the effect of down regulation of PKC isoforms on intracellular daunorubicin accumulation and P-glycoprotein expression. Using monoclonal antibodies to PKCα, β and γ and flow cytometry technique we showed that P388/ADR cells overexpressed PKCα and β as compared to drug sensitive P388 cells. Prolonged treatment of P388/ADR cells with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a procedure that is known to down regulate PKC, resulted in the down regulation of total PKC activity and the PKCβ isoform (at the protein level) that was accompanied by the correction of daunorubicin accumulation in P388/ADR cells. The level of expression of P-glycoprotein in PMA treated cells was similar to that of untreated cells. These results suggest that PKCβ regulates the drug efflux function of P-glycoprotein.
Tracers for radiopharmaceutical production facilities

When radiopharmaceutical production facilities irradiate uranium targets for the production of radionuclides such as 99Mo, the emissions interfere with the global monitoring efforts conducted by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization. While suppressing emissions from such facilities would be ideal, it is understood that radioxenon emissions may not be reduced to levels below detectable quantities. As a result, a study was conducted to investigate tracers that may be utilized for source identification upon measurement. Both radioactive and stable tracers were evaluated.
Rectal prolapse in women with other defects of pelvic floor support.

Abstract Objectives: We describe a series of patients with rectal prolapse who had other pelvic floor defects. Study Design: Patients with rectal prolapse that we examined between 1990 and 2000 were reviewed. Results: During this time frame 55 patients with rectal prolapse were seen by one of us. Fifty-two of these patients had other defects of pelvic floor support and are the subject of this report. The diagnosis was established in all patients with video defecography. Thirty-nine of the patients had internal (occult) prolapse that simulated either a rectocele or an enterocele. The mean number of surgical procedures for pelvic floor support before the diagnosis of rectal prolapse was 1.5. Thirty-one patients underwent a sigmoid resection with rectopexy, 12 underwent a rectopexy alone, 3 underwent a Ripstein procedure, 2 elderly patients had physical therapy alone, and the other 4 patients had surgical correction of the rectal prolapse before being referred for repair of vaginal vault prolapse. Other procedures performed simultaneously included sacral colpopexy, sacrospinous suspension, rectopubic urethropexy, and abdominal fixation of the vagina to the uterosacral ligaments. Conclusions: Rectal prolapse frequently coexists with other pelvic floor defects. Internal rectal prolapse may simulate a rectocele or enterocele and requires defecography to establish the diagnosis. Rectopexy (with or without sigmoid resection) is a satisfactory technique for correction and may be combined with other reconstructive procedures on the pelvic floor. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1488-95.)
Semiactive control of a steel frame with piezoelectric friction dampers

In this paper, a previously designed and fabricated friction damper with four piezoelectric actuators was installed on the first story of a ¼ scale, 3-story steel structure. The performance of the damper and a simple control strategy was evaluated both numerically and experimentally under four modified earthquake ground motion records of various amplitudes. The seismic effectiveness and adaptability of the algorithm as well as the effect of damper saturation on structural responses were investigated. Numerical simulations of the structure agreed well with the experimental results. The proposed control strategy can not only effectively reduce the structural responses but also adapt to the varying excitations from both weak and strong earthquakes. Experimental results also indicated that a piezoelectric friction damper slightly saturated could be advantageous to the seismic mitigation of buildings. Over saturation will, however, degrade the performance of the semi-active control strategy.
Are the Fruits of Research Available to All? The Effects of Sex and Academic Rank on Reprint-Sending Behavior.

There is considerable evidence in the psychological literature that perceived status often has a major effect on behavior. The primary purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of two status variables in an academic setting by monitoring reprint-sending behavior. Reprints were requested from 1,200 authors of psychological articles by men and women of varying academic rank. Neither sex nor academic rank of requester had any significant effect on the total number of responses returned. However, male requesters received responses significantly faster than did female requesters. In addition, subsequent analyses indicated that reprint requests were more likely to be honored by male authors than by female authors.
Resultados del tratamiento endoluminal para la enfermedad ostial de las ramas principales del cayado aortico

Aunque el tratamiento endoluminal agresivo para la patolog ia oclusiva de las principales ramas del cayado a ortico (tronco braquiocef alico (TBC), car otida com un izquierda (ACCI) y subclavia izquierda (ASCI)) es bastante frecuente, no est an claros los resultados a largo plazo en esta poblaci on. Examinamos los resultados a largo plazo del tratamiento endoluminal para la enfer- medad ostial del cayado a ortico en un centro m edico acad emico de referencia terciaria. Se reco- pilaron y analizaron retrospectivamente los resultados a partir de una base de datos prospectiva de aquellos pacientes sometidos a tratamiento endovascular de las principales arterias del arco a ortico por patolog ia oclusiva entre 1990 y 2004. Se seleccionaron los pacientes con lesiones ostiales esten oticas de las principales ramas del cayado a ortico. En todos los casos se revisaron
From academia to biotechnology – and back

What have I learned during the course of this ride? First and foremost, follow your heart and focus on that which is of over-riding interest, avoiding rigid, preordained pathways (even if that means leaving the hallways of academia for biotech/pharma). Unanticipated events arise, memorable people come into our lives, and surprising data emerge. All of this must be acknowledged and allowed to play a role in setting direction. Second, the biotech/pharma environment is remarkable for its emphasis of teamwork and its ability to select those who can play or learn to play well with others. In so doing, it enables the realization of efforts well beyond those that can be achieved by the usual academic laboratory. By definition, however, these efforts must be aimed at the generation of profit – and not the development of treatments for those who cannot pay. By contrast, academia celebrates the individual, for example, as the head of a lab, the first author of a paper, the principal investigator on an NIH grant, the winner of a prize, etc. At the end of the day, for-profit companies form functional teams focused on the discovery and development of medical interventions for reimbursable illnesses. Meanwhile, the academic environment selects for creative, ambitious, independent scientists who are given little incentive to join multidisciplinary teams. Left in the void is the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of many human diseases that afflict those in need around the world, including the United States.In summary, the over-riding lesson that I take away from this period is that unmet global health care needs (such as the eradication of the HIV epidemic) will only be solved by outstanding science, effective multidisciplinary teamwork, and novel ways to ascribe value to the care of those who are underserved. Neither the academic research environment nor the world of biotech/pharma is well poised to meet these requirements. In the future, we must devise new ways to discover and deliver relevant health care science to all, wherever they may be.
Structure of the nucleon and nuclei studied by HERMES

Abstract Recent results from studies of inclusive and semi-inclusive deep-inelastic lepton scattering are presented. Data with polarization provide the first measurement of the b 1 ( x , Q 2 ) structure function in the deuteron, a five component flavor decomposition of quark helcity distributions in the nucleon, as well as results pertaining to transverse spin physics and deep virtual Compton scattering. Data from unpolarized targets constrain models of quark hadronization and give a measure of parton energy loss in cold nuclear matter.
Barriers and facilitators to engagement and retention in care among transgender women living with human immunodeficiency virus.

Background Transgender women have 49 times the odds of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection compared to other groups, yet they are disproportionately underserved by current treatment efforts.
Cardiac rhythmicities and attention in young children

This study examined the changes in three cardiac rhythmicities (angiotensin-renin vasomotor [ARV], Traube-Hering-Meyer [THM], and respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) during prolonged attention in preschool children. Electrocardiogram data were collected from children during resting baseline and a 5-min attention condition at ages 3, 4, and 5 years in a longitudinal study. The ARV and THM rhythmicities decreased during prolonged attention for most participants. The RSA rhythmicity did not change consistently. The results were replicated at all three ages. The ARV and THM effect sizes were large and moderate, respectively. Only the ARV decrease correlated with duration of attention.