cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transfer of Acanthamoeba spp. to fresh produce from water and environmental surfaces

UNLABELLED Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the primary cause of food-borne disease outbreaks in the United States. The most frequent commodities implicated in HuNoV outbreaks are leafy greens where contamination may occur during production and harvesting practices. With respect to the transmission of HuNoV to fresh produce, one hypothesis is that free-living amoebae that are ubiquitous in the environment (soil, sediments and water) can serve as vehicles of contamination through interaction with viruses. Here, we investigated the transfer of Acanthamoeba spp. both alone and associated with murine norovirus (MNV-1)-a surrogate for HuNoV-from water and food contact surfaces to fresh produce to understand the transfer of amoebae and the effect of virus association with amoeba on transferability, if any. In water containing a low concentration of amoebae (3 log10 cell ml(-1) ), 3·85 log10 amoebae transferred to 5 g of leafy greens, and for 5 cherry tomatoes, 3·4 to 3·5 log10 amoebae were transferred. Similarly, for high concentrations of amoeba (5 log10 cell ml(-1) ) in water, 6·14 and 5·81 log10 amoebae were transferred to 5 g leafy greens and five cherry tomatoes respectively. However, the transfer of amoebae from food contact surfaces to fresh produce was very limited. In addition, amoebae association with MNV-1 did not impact transferability. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The results of this study provide a better understanding of physical parameters (e.g. surface area and texture of fresh produce, transfer medium-water vs surface) potentially associated with transfer of free-living amoeba to fresh produce as well as the role that contaminated water (irrigation or wash water) may play in the transmission of enteric viruses associated with amoeba.
Intranasal oxytocin administration prior to exposure therapy for arachnophobia impedes treatment response.

Background Recent years have seen the emergence of a new paradigm for treatment of anxiety disorders focusing on development of drugs that facilitate psychotherapies via targeted effects on neuroplasticity. One compound that has generated interest in this regard is oxytocin (OT), a mammalian neuropeptide that modulates activity of the neurocircuit mediating fear extinction and memory processes. Recent research in healthy humans has suggested that intranasal OT administered prior to fear extinction training enhances fear extinction performance, supporting its potential to augment exposure-based psychotherapy. Here, we tested the hypothesis that OT treatment would facilitate response to exposure therapy in patients with specific phobia. Methods We conducted a small proof-of-concept trial investigating the effect of pretreatment intranasal OT administration on a brief, single-session exposure treatment for arachnophobia (fear of spiders). The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled (n = 13 placebo, 11 females; n = 10 OT, 8 females) with 1-week and 1-month follow-up assessments. Dependent measures attended to arachnophobia symptoms (self-report), phobic behavior (behavioral avoidance of spider task), and treatment credibility/therapeutic alliance. Results Administration of OT prior to exposure therapy tended to impede treatment response as measured by self-report of symptoms at both follow-up periods. OT treatment did not significantly affect behavioral measures of fear. Immediately after OT administration but before therapy, the OT group trended toward less confidence in the treatment. The OT group also trended toward lower ratings of therapeutic alliance than placebo. Conclusions These results suggest that OT administration effects on extinction may vary depending on conditions and population.
The BSA-induced Ca(2+) influx during sperm capacitation is CATSPER channel-dependent

Serum albumin is a key component in mammalian sperm capacitation, a functional maturation process by which sperm become competent to fertilize oocytes. Capacitation is accompanied by several cellular and molecular changes including an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins and a development of hyperactivated sperm motility. Both of these processes require extracellular calcium, but how calcium enters sperm during capacitation is not well understood. BSA-induced changes in intracellular calcium concentration were studied using Fluo-4 and Fura-2 calcium imaging with wild-type and Catsper1 knockout mouse sperm. We found that the fast phase of the BSA-induced rises in intracellular calcium concentration was absent in the Catsper1 knockout sperm and could be restored by an EGFP-CATSPER1 fusion protein. The calcium concentration increases were independent of G-proteins and phospholipase C but could be partially inhibited when intracellular pH was clamped. The changes started in the principal piece and propagated toward the sperm head. We conclude that the initial phase of the increases in intracellular calcium concentration induced by BSA requires the CATSPER channel, but not the voltage-gated calcium channel. Our findings identify the molecular conduit responsible for the calcium entry required for the sperm motility changes that occur during capacitation.
Ensemble representation and techniques for exact control-dependent scheduling

Describes a new exact formulation of control/data-flow scheduling. Unlike current techniques, a closed form solution set is generated in which all satisfying schedules for arbitrary forward branching control/data paths and resource constraints are encapsulated in a compressed ordered binary decision diagram (OBDD) based representation. A robust, iterative construction strategy is presented along with benchmark results. An advantage of this construction is that initial bounds for the number of clock cycles are no longer needed for exact formulations. This strategy also allows the simple formulation of several set-based heuristics as well as controlling the growth of the BDD representation. >
Management of chronic hepatitis C treatment failures: role of consensus interferon

A significant proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who undergo antiviral therapy have persistent or recurrent viremia and fail to achieve a sustained virologic response (SVR). Factors associated with treatment failure include HCV genotype 1 infection, high serum HCV RNA levels, and advanced fibrosis. Consensus interferon (CIFN) is a synthetic type I interferon derived from a consensus sequence of the most common amino acids found in naturally occurring alpha interferon subtypes. Several prospective clinical studies have demonstrated that CIFN may be a treatment option in patients who have failed prior interferon-based therapy, including those who have failed combination therapy with standard interferon or peginterferon plus ribavirin. Daily CIFN in combination with ribavirin may be an effective regimen in this setting; however, optimal dose and treatment duration of CIFN therapy have not been well established. Patients who achieve viral suppression during prior interferon-based therapy and those who do not have advanced fibrosis have a greater likelihood of achieving a SVR with CIFN retreatment. Individualized therapy targeting specific patient groups will be an important consideration in the successful management of prior treatment failures. Additional prospective studies are required in order to identify optimal treatment strategies for the use of CIFN in these patients.
A real-time control of multiple Avatars using Wii remotes and Avatar system

Virtual reality training and rehabilitation systems require an unobtrusive and inexpensive monitoring of users with minimum latency. Inertial sensors have inherent drift that limits absolute positioning of sensors, while infrared sensors require special setup and expensive deployment. We developed Avatar system as hybrid infrared and inertial solution for low cost deployment. In this paper we propose a synchronized extension of the Avatar system for multiple users. The system allows monitoring of multiple users using time division multiplexing of infrared diodes on user's body and two Wii© Remotes as optical sensors for absolute positioning. A network of inertial nodes on each user is controlled by a master node that serves as a gateway for communication with a capture device, synchronizes and drives infrared LEDs. The capture device communicates through Bluetooth with master nodes (iControl) and Wii remotes. We present system architecture, principles of operation, and performance analysis of the implemented system.
Families Under Economic Pressure

Within a context of increasing economic pressure in rural America, this study assesses family responses to this change and their consequences from the perspective of the household economy in middle-class families. It draws on the findings of largely separate fields of inquiry, including those on income level and loss, unemployment, and economic adjustments. Using survey and observational data on two-parent families in a midwestern rural county, the analysis shows that (a) adverse income change increases economic pressures and hardship adaptations in ways that match the effect of income level and exceed the influence of unstable work, (b) economic pressures and adaptations mediate the negative effects of economic adversity on emotional health and family relationships, (c) father's negativity in the family represents a stronger link between economic conditions and child behavior than does mother's negativity, and (d) economic pressure and father's negativity increase the risk of aggressive behavior and depr...
An efficient time-domain perfectly matched layers formulation for elastodynamics on spherical domains

SUMMARY Many practical applications require the analysis of elastic wave propagation in a homogeneous isotropic media in an unbounded domain. One widely used approach for truncating the infinite domain is the so-called method of perfectly matched layers (PMLs). Most existing PML formulations are developed for finite difference methods based on the first-order velocity-stress form of the elasticity equations, and they are not straight-forward to implement using standard finite element methods (FEMs) on unstructured meshes. Some of the problems with these formulations include the application of boundary conditions in half-space problems and in the treatment of edges and/or corners for time-domain problems. Several PML formulations, which do work with FEMs have been proposed, although most of them still have some of these problems and/or they require a large number of auxiliary nodal history/memory variables. In this work, we develop a new PML formulation for time-domain elastodynamics on a spherical domain, which reduces to a two-dimensional formulation under the assumption of axisymmetry. Our formulation is well-suited for implementation using FEMs, where it requires lower memory than existing formulations, and it allows for natural application of boundary conditions. We solve example problems on two-dimensional and three-dimensional domains using a high-order discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretization on unstructured meshes and explicit time-stepping. We also study an approach for stabilization of the discrete equations, and we show several practical applications for quality factor predictions of micromechanical resonators along with verifying the accuracy and versatility of our formulation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The discovery value of “Big Science”

The increasing complexity of biomedical research is leading to the exploration of new models for large-scale collaborative research. This Big Science approach, however, has created anxieties and potential tensions between investigator-driven research, and research guided by a more organized, collaborative effort. Another potential tension exists between research conducted purely in search of new knowledge and research aimed at finding solutions. We argue that big biomedicine—the work of coordinated multidisciplinary groups that use the latest technologies to solve complex problems—can be an important way to harness the creativity of individual investigators, stimulate innovation, and supply the infrastructure, experimental systems, and resources needed to solve the urgent health problems confronted by our global society. We discuss this using the example of the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise.
Reaggregation and firm-level inference in multiplant technologies

We examine conditions under which plant-level data can be used to make firm-level inferences about technology, supply, and demand. Global conditions for such reaggregation involve nonjointness restrictions in both the plant and product dimensions. In the neighborhood of the firm’s fixed overheads, however, restrictions may be eased by appealing to a multiplant generalization of Kohli’s notion of almost nonjointness, which we term “almost reaggregation.” While global conditions for almost reaggregation are the same as for full reaggregation, the local conditions outlined are more easily satisfied. Analysts thus are less likely to commit reaggregation bias when firm-level overheads are constant, and can take advantage of this conclusion through judicious model design.
Aortic valve replacement in patients with impaired ventricular function

Abstract Background Patients with reduced ventricular function undergoing aortic valve replacement have increased operative risks, but the impact of valvular pathophysiology and other risk factors has not been clearly defined. Methods From June 1992 through June 2002, 1,402 consecutive patients underwent isolated aortic valve surgery with or without coronary artery bypass grafting; of these patients, 416 had an ejection fraction less than 40% and are the subject of this report. These patients (mean age, 68.6) had severe stenosis (62.5%), severe regurgitation (30.3%), or mixed disease (7.2%). Aortic valve replacement plus coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 48.4% of patients, and 27% had previous cardiac surgery. Follow-up included echocardiography and survival analysis. Results Hospital mortality was 10.1% (42 of 416), with no difference between aortic stenosis (9.6%) and regurgitation (11.1%). Multivariate analysis revealed that age ( p = 0.002) and renal disease (odds ratio=4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.9 to 9.3; p = 0.001) were independently associated predictors of mortality. Valvular pathophysiology had no impact on mortality. Peripheral vascular disease, multivessel coronary disease, and renal disease were associated risks for any postoperative complication. Peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio=12.3, p = 0.02), history of cerebrovascular disease (odds ratio=4.8, p = 0.038), and diabetes (odds ratio=2.7, p = 0.04) were associated risks for stroke. The ejection fraction was more than 40% in 52% of the patients who had postoperative echocardiography (mean follow-up, 6 months). Actuarial survival revealed no difference between pathophysiologic groups. Conclusions Aortic valve surgery in patients with impaired ventricular function carries an acceptable operative risk that can be stratified by age and comorbidities. The type of valvular pathophysiology does not significantly affect mortality.
Parental Involvement and Adolescents’ Diabetes Management: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors

Objective To examine mediating processes linking parental involvement to diabetes management (adherence and metabolic control) during adolescence. Methods A total of 252 young adolescents (M age = 12.49 years, SD = 1.53, 53.6% females) with type 1 diabetes reported their parents’ involvement in diabetes management (relationship quality, monitoring, and behavioral involvement), their own externalizing and internalizing behaviors, diabetes-self efficacy, and adherence behaviors. HbA1c was drawn from medical records. Results SEM analyses indicated that the associations of mothers’ and fathers’ relationship quality with diabetes outcomes were mediated by adolescents’ perceptions of self-efficacy and externalizing behaviors, and the associations of fathers’ monitoring and behavioral involvement with adherence were partially mediated by adolescents’ self-efficacy. There were also direct (non-mediated) associations between mothers’ monitoring and adherence, and fathers’ monitoring and adherence and metabolic control. Conclusions Quality of the parent–adolescent relationship and monitoring are important for better adherence and metabolic control among adolescents through higher diabetes self-efficacy.
Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells

In this paper we present the design, optimization and characterization of a light trapping architecture that is applied to a thin, 50 micron, silicon solar cell structure. We combine a number of novel photonic engineering device concepts to realize the structure, including a single period hybrid dielectric-metallic back surface reflector and a host of diffraction gratings. We present a novel deep ultraviolet lithography process used in the realization of these gratings and a simulated analysis of their light trapping performance in the solar cell structure.
Upper Extremity Arterial Disease

Historically, upper extremity arterial disease has not garnered the same attention from physicians as arterial disease of the lower extremities. Compared to atherosclerotic arterial disease of the lower extremities, clinically significant atherosclerosis of the upper extremities is far less common. When present, however, upper extremity arterial disease can cause substantial patient limitation and morbidity. Furthermore, upper extremity atherosclerotic arterial disease has been shown to carry similar rates of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to lower extremity arterial disease. Severe atherosclerosis of the left subclavian artery, innominate artery, or right subclavian artery in particular may manifest a spectrum of symptoms. In extreme cases, findings of advanced ischemia such as rest pain, ischemic ulcerations, or digit loss may be present, while in others, classic arm claudication or arm weakness may be seen. Subclavian steal syndrome, where dizziness or syncope results from retrograde flow through the ipsilateral vertebral artery (due to an occlusion which is proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery) during arm exertion, may also be present. On the other end of the spectrum, many patients may be asymptomatic and identified only after discrepant upper extremity blood pressures are noted.
Exposure-Response Analysis of Cancer Mortality in a Cohort of Workers Exposed to Ethylene Oxide

The authors previously reported results from the largest cohort mortality study of ethylene oxide-exposed workers that has been conducted to date. Here they extend their previous work by quantitatively examining the relation between cancer mortality and ethylene oxide exposure. This study included workers from 13 of the 14 geographically distinct facilities that were included in the previous investigation. These facilities began regularly using ethylene oxide to sterilize medical supplies or spices sometime between 1938 and 1969. Workers were followed from first exposure through December 31, 1987. Historical exposures to ethylene oxide were estimated using a regression model. Standard life-table analysis was used to examine cancer mortality in three categories of cumulative exposure to ethylene oxide. The Cox proportional hazards model was also used to examine cumulative and other measures of ethylene oxide exposure as predictors of cancer mortality. In both the life-table analysis and the Cox model, a positive trend was observed in all lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer mortality for cumulative ethylene oxide exposure. This trend was strengthened when ethylene oxide exposures 10 years prior to death were discounted (lagged) and when the analysis was restricted to neoplasms of lymphoid cell origin. Despite limitations discussed in this paper, the authors believe that these findings provide some support for the hypothesis that exposure to ethylene oxide increases the risk of mortality from lymphatic and hematopoietic neoplasms. The authors intend to continue follow-up of this relatively young cohort, which may allow more definitive conclusions to be drawn in the future.
The involvement of families in Indian psychiatry.

Ethnographic observations and interviews with psychiatrists at two general hospital psychiatric units in northern India reveal the extent of family involvement in the localized adaptation of biomedical psychiatry that occurs in these settings. By assuming many of the roles filled by auxiliary personnel in the USA, families maintain considerable control over many aspects of the psychiatric process: defining disorder, outpatient consultation, record keeping, admissions, inpatient care, discharge, and continuing care. The implications of these observations are considered in relation to theoretical concerns about biomedical hegemony, advantages and disadvantages of family involvement from an applied perspective, and the methodological adequacy of cross-cultural psychiatric epidemiology with respect to studies of "expressed emotion."
EXPERIMENTAL PRODUCTION OF SCOLIOSIS IN RATS AND MICE

This study of experimentally produced scoliosis may justify the following conclusions: 1. Scoliosis can be produced experimentally in laboratory rats and mice by the selective release of mechanical action of different muscle groups on the vertebral column. 2. A satisfactory degree of control can be maintained to allow the prediction of the type of curve to be produced. 3. Selective muscle imbalance can be produced without muscle excision by the use of inert material to prevent muscle reattachment; this imbalance will produce lateral curvature. 4. Muscle excision and release which did not produce imbalance resulted in no scoliosis in the animals studied.
ESTUDO COMPARATIVO DAS DIFERENTES TECNOLOGIAS UTILIZADAS PARA PRODUÇÃO DE ETANOL

A utilizacao do etanol como combustivel e apontada hoje como uma das principais alternativas energeticas para o futuro, em substituicao aos combustiveis fosseis, que, em sua reacao de combustao liberam grandes quantidades de dioxido de carbono (CO 2 ), considerado o principal responsavel pelo aquecimento global. Nesse sentido, o objetivo deste trabalho consiste em estudar as diferentes tecnologias e materias-primas utilizadas na obtencao de etanol. Para isso, foram identificados os processos envolvidos na producao de etanol, para as diferentes materias-primas; enumerados os equipamentos e as fontes de energia utilizadas em sua producao e feita uma comparacao entre as diferentes materias-primas e os diferentes processos aplicados. Verificou-se que as materias-primas podem ser divididas em tres grupos: sacarineas, que sao aquelas cujo etanol e obtido a partir da sacarose, como, por exemplo, cana-de-acucar e beterraba acucareira; amilaceas, as quais o acucar que da origem ao etanol e o amido, como, por exemplo, batata, mandioca e milho; e celulosicas, as quais contem celulose, que pode ser convertido em etanol, como madeira e residuos agroindustriais. A partir da analise das mesmas, foi possivel perceber que a cana-de-acucar possui as maiores vantagens, pois apresenta maior produtividade de etanol por area alem de um menor custo de producao.
A Study on the Role of Expertise in Design Fixation and its Mitigation

Engineering idea generation plays a vital role in the development of novel products. Prior studies have shown that designers fixate to the features of example solutions and replicate these features in their ideas. This is a major hindrance in idea generation as it restricts the solution space where designers search for their ideas. This study hypothesizes that though expert designers fixate to example features, they still can outperform novices in terms of quantity of ideas as they have a larger set of knowledge acquired through their experience. To investigate this, the experimental by Linsey et al. is replicated for novice designers. Novices generate ideas for a design problem in three groups: one group working with a fixating example, a second group working with the same example along with alternate representations for the design problem and a control group only presented with the problem and no additional materials. The obtained results support the hypothesis. Both novice and expert designers are fixated to the example features, but the expert designers generated more nonredundant ideas. The alternate representations of the design problem help experts in mitigating their fixation, whereas in novices, these have no effect.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Epochs in the depressor/pressor balance of the renin–angiotensin system

The renin–angiotensin system (RAS) plays a commanding role in the regulation of extracellular fluid homoeostasis. Tigerstadt and Bergman first identified the RAS more than two centuries ago. By the 1980s a voyage of research and discovery into the mechanisms and actions of this system led to the development of drugs that block the RAS, which have become the mainstay for the treatment of cardiovascular and renal disease. In the last 25 years new components of the RAS have come to light, including the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT 2 R) and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang(1–7)]/Mas receptor (MasR) axis. These have been shown to counter the classical actions of angiotensin II (AngII) at the predominant angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT 1 R). Our studies, and those of others, have demonstrated that targeting these depressor RAS pathways may be therapeutically beneficial. It is apparent that the evolution of both the pressor and depressor RAS pathways is distinct throughout life and that the depressor/pressor balance of the RAS vary between the sexes. These temporal patterns of expression suggest that therapies targeting the RAS could be optimized for discrete epochs in life.
Abstract B70: Berberine, a putative bioactive compound from traditional herbal plant, induces apoptosis in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells through p53 activation and mitochondrion‐dependent pathway

Plant bioactive compounds found in many plant species have been used in Chinese, Unani, and Indian ayurvedic medicine. Accumulative evidences in both in vitro and in vivo studies using berberine seem to play anti‐cancer and anti‐inflammatory roles in different cancer cells. Previous research suggested berberine to exhibit potential anticancer activities in the various cancer cell lines. In the present study, we have isolated a putative compound from Phellodendron amurense using methanol and purified by chromatographic techniques. The structure of the isolated compound was identified as berberine by 2D NMR and mass spectral data. The isolated berberine was tested against MCF‐7 breast cancer cell line and the MCF‐12f normal breast epithelial cell line for 24, 48 and 72h at various concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, and 200µM). Using the MTT cell viability assay, berberine has demonstrated a significant cytotoxic effect on the MCF‐7 cell line (p Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B70.
Fabrication of CDS Thin Films Using Continuous Wave Laser Evaporation

The authors report new results on continuous wave Nd:YAG laser deposition of Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) thin films. Substrates were soda-lime silicate (SLS) glass, silica glass, silicon, alumina, and copper coated formvar sheets. As-deposited films were characteristically mixtures of cubic and hexagonal phases. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that two different grain size groups are present. As revealed by SEM micrographs, films had smooth surface morphology. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals that grain sizes were extremely small. Also, semiconductive behavior was noted.
Cholesteryl ester turnover in human plasma lipoproteins during cholestyramine and clofibrate therapy

The effects of cholestyramine and of clofibrate on the turnover rates of individual cholesteryl esters in whole human plasma and in each of the three classes of plasma lipoproteins have been studied. Four hyperlipidemic patients (two under treatment with each of the two drugs) were injected intravenously with cholesterol-(14)C, and serial plasma samples were collected after 3-4 hr, 8 hr, 24 hr, and 4-5 days. The plasma samples were separated into three classes of lipoproteins by ultracentrifugation. The cholesteryl esters and free cholesterol were isolated from each sample, and the specific radioactivity of the free and esterified cholesterol was determined. The specific radioactivity of each individual cholesteryl ester was then determined for each sample, by separately measuring the distribution of cholesterol mass and of radioactivity among four different cholesteryl ester groups, namely the saturated, mono-, di-, and tetra-unsaturated esters. In all subjects the plasma cholesteryl esters were metabolically heterogeneous, and could be divided into three pools corresponding to the three classes of plasma lipoproteins. High density lipoprotein (d > 1.063) cholesteryl esters showed the greatest fractional turnover rate, and low density lipoprotein (d 1.019-1.063) cholesteryl esters showed the smallest fractional turnover rate. In each subject the cholesteryl ester composition of the three classes of plasma lipoprotein was almost identical. Within each lipoprotein, and in whole plasma, all the different individual cholesteryl esters were found to turn over at the same fractional rate. In all respects these results were similar to those previously obtained with normal subjects. The results suggest that neither drug has a strongly selective effect on the turnover of one particular cholesteryl ester, or on the turnover or composition of the cholesteryl esters in one particular plasma lipoprotein.
Electrostatic networks control plug stabilization in the PapC usher

The PapC usher, a β-barrel pore in the outer membrane of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, is used for assembly of the P pilus, a key virulence factor in bacterial colonization of human kidney cells. Each PapC protein is composed of a 24-stranded β-barrel channel, flanked by N- and C-terminal globular domains protruding into the periplasm, and occluded by a plug domain (PD). The PD is displaced from the channel towards the periplasm during pilus biogenesis, but the molecular mechanism for PD displacement remains unclear. Two structural features within the β-barrel, an α-helix and β5-6 hairpin loop, may play roles in controlling plug stabilization. Here we have tested clusters of residues at the interface of the plug, barrel, α-helix and hairpin, which participate in electrostatic networks. To assess the roles of these residues in plug stabilization, we used patch-clamp electrophysiology to compare the activity of wild-type and mutant PapC channels containing alanine substitutions at these sites. Mutations interrupting each of two salt bridge networks were relatively ineffective in disrupting plug stabilization. However, mutation of two pairs of arginines located at the inner and the outer surfaces of the PD resulted in an enhanced propensity for plug displacement. One arginine pair involved in a repulsive interaction between the linkers that tether the plug to the β-barrel was particularly sensitive to mutation. These results suggest that plug displacement, which is necessary for pilus assembly and translocation, may require a weakening of key electrostatic interactions between the plug linkers, and the plug and the α-helix.
Inhibition of adenosine deaminase and nucleoside transport: Utility in a model of homograft cardiac valve preimplantation processing

Human cardiac valves are increasingly used in the reconstruction of ventricular outflow tracts and offer performance advantages over porcine and mechanical prostheses; the durability of these replacements has been associated with leaflet interstitial cell viability and a presumed sustained function after implantation. Preimplantation tissue preparation entails sequential steps that are potentially cytotoxic and may therefore affect functional cell survival at thaw. We defined the metabolic consequences of each interval using semilunar cusps from 118 porcine valves to model a homograft preparation with 40 minutes of fixed cadaveric (harvest) ischemia. Fifty-eight valves served as controls and were first processed according to standard cryopreservation protocol; nucleosides were extracted at the end of each step to differentiate independent contributions to high-energy phosphate depletion. Sixty simultaneously harvested leaflets were administered the nucleoside transport inhibitor p-nitrobenzy-thioinosine (NBMPR) and the adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) at procurement, to attempt adenosine salvage and restitution of processing-incurred adenine nucleotide losses. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to compare adenosine triphosphate, diphosphate, and monophosphate and diffusible nucleopurines of the control and EHNA/NBMPR-treated groups. Control results indicate that disruption of the adenosine triphosphate-diphosphate cycle occurs independently with antibiotic disinfection and cryopreservation. However, throughout all preparation steps, adenine nucleotides were maintained at harvest (baseline) concentrations in the EHNA/NBMPR valves. This suggests that salvage therapy may protect a significant number of cells from net high-energy phosphate catabolism. If, with further study, the durability of transplanted valves is concluded to benefit from retained leaflet interstitial cell viability, such enhancement of metabolic tolerance to the obligatory processing may facilitate functional recovery. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1993; 105:1095-105)
Readiness of SiC MOSFETs for Aerospace and Industrial Applications

This paper highlights ongoing efforts to validate performance, reliability and robustness of GE SiC MOSFETs for Aerospace and Industrial applications. After summarizing ruggedness and reliability testing performed on 1.2kV MOSFETs, two application examples are highlighted. The first demonstrates the 1.2kV device performance in a prototype high frequency 75kW Aviation motor drive. The second highlights the experimental demonstration of a 99% efficient 1.0MW solar inverter using 1.7kV MOSFET modules in a two-level topology switching at 8kHz. Both applications illustrate that SiC advantage is not only in improved performance, but also in significant system cost savings through simplifications in topology, controls, cooling and filtering.
Moxie matters: associations of future orientation with active life expectancy

ABSTRACTObjective: Being oriented toward the future has been associated with better future health. We studied associations of future orientation with life expectancy and the percentage of life with disability.Method: We used the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (n = 5249). Participants’ average age in 1968 was 33.0. Six questions repeatedly measured future orientation, 1968–1976. Seven waves (1999–2011, 33,331 person-years) measured disability in activities of daily living for the same individuals, whose average age in 1999 was 64.0. We estimated monthly probabilities of disability and death with multinomial logistic Markov models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, childhood health, and education. Using the probabilities, we created large populations with microsimulation, measuring disability in each month for each individual, age 55 through death.Results: Life expectancy from age 55 for white men with high future orientation was age 77.6 (95% confidence interval 75.5–79.0), 6.9% (4.9–7.2) of those year...
Reassessing the Efficiency Penalty from Carbon Capture in Coal-Fired Power Plants

This paper examines thermal efficiency penalties and greenhouse gas as well as other pollutant emissions associated with pulverized coal (PC) power plants equipped with postcombustion CO2 capture for carbon sequestration. We find that, depending on the source of heat used to meet the steam requirements in the capture unit, retrofitting a PC power plant that maintains its gross power output (compared to a PC power plant without a capture unit) can cause a drop in plant thermal efficiency of 11.3-22.9%-points. This estimate for efficiency penalty is significantly higher than literature values and corresponds to an increase of about 5.3-7.7 US¢/kWh in the levelized cost of electricity (COE) over the 8.4 US¢/kWh COE value for PC plants without CO2 capture. The results follow from the inclusion of mass and energy feedbacks in PC power plants with CO2 capture into previous analyses, as well as including potential quality considerations for safe and reliable transportation and sequestration of CO2. We conclude that PC power plants with CO2 capture are likely to remain less competitive than natural gas combined cycle (without CO2 capture) and on-shore wind power plants, both from a levelized and marginal COE point of view.
Impacts Beyond Washington State

Because the Census Board was physically housed on the campus of the University of Washington, a population research center was established to complement it. Both organizations were under the direction of Dr. Calvin Schmid. Both organizations provided training and financial support for graduate students. Dr. Schmid supervised graduate students, many of whom went on to distinguished academic and non-academic careers. This first generation, in turn, went on to train a second generation and a third generation is now training the fourth generation of students who can be traced back to Schmid. This chapter provides an idea of the extent of this influence on academic demography as well as applied demography by tracing the links from two first generation students though the third generation.
Counter-perfume: using pheromones to prevent female remating

Strong selection to secure paternity in polyandrous species leads to the evolution of numerous chemicals in the male's seminal content. These include antiaphrodisiac pheromones, which are transmitted from the male to the female during mating to render her unattractive to subsequent males. An increasing number of species have been shown to use these chemicals. Herein, I examine the taxonomic distribution of species using antiaphrodisiac pheromones, the selection pressures driving their evolution in both males and females, and the ecological interactions in which these pheromones are involved. The literature review shows a highly skewed distribution of antiaphrodisiac use; all species currently known to use them are insects with the exception of the garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis and T. radix. Nonetheless, many taxa have not yet been tested for the presence of antiaphrodisiacs, in groups both closely and distantly related to species known to express them. Within the Insecta, there have been multiple cases of convergent evolution of antiaphrodisiac pheromones using different chemical compounds and methods of transmission. Antiaphrodisiacs usually benefit males, but their effect on females is variable as they can either prevent them from mating multiple times or help them reduce male harassment when they are unreceptive. Some indirect costs of antiaphrodisiacs also impact both males and females, but more research is needed to determine how general this pattern is. Additional research is also important to understand how antiaphrodisiacs interact with the reproductive biology and sexual communication in different species.
Adherence to Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, and Apixaban for Stroke Prevention in Incident, Treatment-Naïve Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are widely used for prevention of stroke secondary to nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Increased use of NOACs is partially a result of simplified regimens compared with warfarin, which has been associated with poor adherence and persistence to therapy. Few studies have assessed adherence to NOACs, especially using contemporary data now that multiple NOACs are available. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate adherence to NOACs in a cohort of newly diagnosed NVAF patients who are commercially insured. METHODS: Incident, treatment-naive NVAF patients were identified in 2013 from a large claims database. Patients were included who initiated rivaroxaban, dabigatran, or apixaban within 30 days after diagnosis. Subjects were required to have 12 months of pre-index information to assess demographic and clinical characteristics (comorbidities, CHA2DS2-VASc, and HAS-BLED scores). Adherence to the index medication and adherence to any oral anticoagulant was as...
Taoist Doctrine in Tao Yuanming's Poetry

Tao Yuanming (365-427) remains a controversial figure when it comes to his literary tradition in his poetry. The present paper aims to explore the Taoist doctrine expressed in his poems. While focusing on the Taoist ideas of naturalness, harmony of man with nature, fusion of the virtual and the real, and ineffability of Tao, the paper examines how these ideas are reflected in Tao Yuanming’s poetry. Three of his representative poems are closely analyzed in terms of their structures, themes, and imagery. The paper demonstrates that Tao Yuanming’s poetry does embody the Taoist philosophy through their themes and artistic mood created.
Bile Duct and Pancreas: Brief Anatomy, Investigations Used

The biliary tree stores bile made from the liver in the gallbladder and drains bile to the GI tract through the ampulla of Vater. The exocrine portion of the pancreas produces digestive enzymes that drain through its ductal system through the same ampulla; in addition, the endocrine pancreas makes hormones regulating blood glucose. This chapter briefly reviews the anatomy and physiology of the biliary tree and pancreas and introduces the tests used to diagnose and treat pancreaticobiliary disorders, including blood tests and imaging tests such as abdominal ultrasound, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, CT scan, MRCP, secretin stimulation test, endoscopic ultrasound, and ERCP.
Insights into Photosystem II from Isomorphous Difference Fourier Maps of Femtosecond X-ray Diffraction Data and Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics Structural Models

Understanding structure–function relations in photosystem II (PSII) is important for the development of biomimetic photocatalytic systems. X-ray crystallography, computational modeling, and spectroscopy have played central roles in elucidating the structure and function of PSII. Recent breakthroughs in femtosecond X-ray crystallography offer the possibility of collecting diffraction data from the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) before radiation damage of the sample, thereby overcoming the main challenge of conventional X-ray diffraction methods. However, the interpretation of XFEL data from PSII intermediates is challenging because of the issues regarding data-processing, uncertainty on the precise positions of light oxygen atoms next to heavy metal centers, and different kinetics of the S-state transition in microcrystals compared to solution. Here, we summarize recent advances and outstanding challenges in PSII structure–function determination with emphasis on the implementation of quantum mechanics/mo...
Pauses and Hesitations: Psycholinguistic Approach

Speakers pause, or delay, in speaking most often to deal with the extra time they need to choose a message, formulate an expression, retrieve a word, or correct an error. Speakers formulate delays as carefully as they formulate speech. They plan when and how to suspend speaking, for example, after the pronounced as thee. They sometimes insert comments, such as uh, um, I mean, and sorry, into the hiatus of a delay, and they plan when and how to resume speaking. Delays are most common as speakers plan larger units of language, with more delays the larger the unit. Still, delays can arise almost anywhere.
EXOCYTOSIS AT SYMPATHETIC NERVE TERMINALS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes exocytosis at sympathetic nerve terminals. The chapter utilized a sensitive new radiometric assay for dopamine-β-hydroxylase to demonstrate in vitro , a proportional release of norepinephrine and dopamine-β-hydroxylase from the isolated guinea pig vas deferens following electrical stimulation of the hypogastric nerve. Further, the ratio of norepinephrine to dopamine-β-hydroxylase which was released into the bathing medium was similar to their ratio in the soluble fraction of vas deferens homogenates. These results suggested that exocytosis was the mechanism whereby norepinephrine is released from sympathetic nerves. It was also demonstrated that stimulation of the hypogastric nerve to the guinea pig vas deferens in the presence of phenoxybenzamine or supraphysiologic concentrations of calcium caused a marked increase in the amounts of enzyme and norepinephrine released into the bath. It was also suggested that prostaglandins might exert some control over peripheral norepinephrine release by either modulating the intracellular accumulation of calcium or its subsequent function in initiating the process of exocytosis.
The Cognitive and Social Lives of Paradigms in Information Science

Thomas Kuhn’s ideas, particularly of paradigm, are used with some frequency in information science. The usages of paradigm and the problematic nature of Kuhn’s thought are explored. Alternatives to Kuhn are suggested as a way out of the confusion his thought leads to. Les idees de Thomas Kuhn, plus particulierement le paradigme, sont utilisees assez frequemment en science de l’information. Les utilisations du paradigme et la nature problematique de la pensee de Kuhn sont explorees. Afin de contrer la confusion entourant la pensee de Kuhn, des alternatives sont proposees.
A focused analysis of TVET: unique opportunities and strategies for investing in and engaging youth in Nicaraguan society

AbstractTechnical and vocational education and training (TVET) is increasingly emphasised by international education organisations. In Nicaragua, particularly, this type of engagement is viewed as a potential for boosting the economy, improving employment and building the infrastructure and sustainability of remote and marginalised communities. To date, one specific region in Nicaragua has thoughtfully engaged multiple sectors to support TVET through public–private partnerships (PPPs) and community-level networks. The data for this article were collected through in-person interviews with TVET stakeholders over a two-week site visit in support of a USAID evaluation. In addition to interviews, data collection included analyses of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of TVET providers in the region. This study considers the demographics, economics and educational realities of Nicaragua and the potential for PPPs to enhance opportunities for youth and community development.
Dissociated Agonist of Glucocorticoid Receptor or Prednisone for Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effects on P1NP and Osteocalcin Pharmacodynamics

Fosdagrocorat (PF-04171327), a dissociated agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor, has potent anti-inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with reduced adverse effects on bone health. To identify fosdagrocorat doses with bone formation marker changes similar to prednisone 5 mg, we characterized treatment-related changes in amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP) and osteocalcin (OC) with fosdagrocorat (1, 5, 10, or 15 mg) and prednisone (5 or 10 mg) in a phase II randomized trial (N = 323). The time course of markers utilized a mixed-effects longitudinal kinetic-pharmacodynamic model. Median predicted changes from baseline at week 8 with fosdagrocorat 5, 10, and 15 mg were −18, −22, and −22% (P1NP), and −7, −13, and −17% (OC), respectively. Changes with prednisone 5 and 10 mg were −15% and −18% (P1NP) and −10% and −17% (OC). The probability of fosdagrocorat doses up to 15 mg being noninferior to prednisone 5 mg for P1NP and OC changes was >90%.
Notes on the Fauna of the Chipola Formation- XV on the Occurrence of "Ranella" Poppelacki Hornes, a Gastropod of Uncertain Affinities

Although the affinities of the Chipola Formation with the European Miocene beds of the Aquitaine Basin have been noted previously (Vokes, 1965), the similarities of the fauna to that of the Vienna Basin are less obvious.