cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical Bone Graft and Endoprosthesis in the Distal Radius of Dogs: A Biomechanical Comparison of Two Different Limb‐Sparing Techniques

Objective— To compare the biomechanical properties of cortical bone and surgical steel endoprosthesis for limb-sparing surgery of the distal radius in dogs and evaluate the role of the ulna in providing stability to the reconstructed limb. Study Design— Cadaveric biomechanical study. Animals— Twelve pairs of normal canine thoracic limbs. Methods— Paired limbs were divided into 4 groups: endoprosthesis and cortical bone graft, with and without preservation of the ulna. In each limb pair, the distal segment of the radius resected from the limb to be reconstructed with an endoprosthesis was used as the cortical bone graft in the contralateral limb. The ulna was resected en bloc with the radius and at the same level as the radial osteotomy in limbs where the ulna was not preserved. Limbs were tested in axial loading until failure. The load–deformation curve was used to acquire the biomechanical properties of each construct, which were compared using 2-way ANOVA. Failure modes were compared descriptively. Results— Limbs reconstructed with the endoprosthesis had significantly greater yield load, energy at yield, and ultimate load compared with limbs reconstructed with a cortical bone graft. There were no significant differences in either energy to failure or stiffness between the 2 constructs. Preservation of the ulna did not significantly improve any of the biomechanical properties tested with either endoprosthesis or cortical bone graft constructs. The modes of failure in all 4 groups were variable and inconsistent. Conclusions— Limbs reconstructed with an endoprosthesis were biomechanically superior to limbs reconstructed with a cortical bone graft in axial loading to failure. Preservation of the ulna is not required to improve the stability in axial compression after limb-sparing surgery of the distal radius. Clinical Relevance— The endoprosthesis may provide another option for limb-sparing surgery of the distal radius in dogs. It has potential advantages when compared with cortical bone grafts, including better biomechanical performance and resistance to implant failure in axial compression, immediate availability, and no requirement for bone banking facilities. The ulna can be resected en bloc with the radius without having a negative impact on construct stability. En bloc resection of the ulna and radius may decrease the risk of local tumor recurrence after limb-sparing surgery.
Endothelial adhesion molecules and their role in inflammation

The emigration of leukocytes such as neutrophils into inflammatory sites requires adhesion to the endothelium of small venules. The initial adhesive event is margination characterized by rolling of...
Mutational and hyperexpression-induced disruption of bipolar budding in yeast

Analysis of bud-site selection in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has helped to identify many genes that are generally important for eukaryotic cell polarization. Colony morphology screens were used to identify factors relevant to the process of bipolar budding in yeast. Mutants defective in bipolar budding were identified by virtue of their inability to grow as pseudohyphae in a haploid bud3 background. A mutant allele of the MYO2 gene, encoding a class-V unconventional myosin was identified that perturbs bipolar budding without affecting axial budding and without grossly affecting the role of Myo2p in secretion and maintenance of the actin cytoskeleton. Several genes were also identified whose products, when overexpressed, are capable of disrupting bipolar budding. Among these are the actin-monomer-binding protein profilin and the Aip3p/Bud6p-interacting protein Atc1p. The results strongly support involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in the establishment of bipolar budding and in the maintenance of pseudohyphal growth.
Nonlinear distortion reduction by complementary distortion

Nonlinear distortion produced in a given circuit can be reduced by pre- or postdistorting the signal applied to or from the circuit. Such complementary distortion cannot reduce the original distortion to zero in practice because of distortion of distortion, but it can result in greatly reduced output distortion over a limited amplitude range. General results for the design of pre- or postdistortion circuits are given, and the mathematical results are illustrated by comparing the total harmonic distortions obtained with pre- and postdistortion corrections of increasing complexity applied to a simple nonlinear circuit.
Detection of benzalkonium chloride resistance in community environmental isolates of staphylococci.

We isolated a total of 653 strains from 64 community environmental samples in Massachusetts, USA. Among these isolates, 9.65 % (63 strains) were benzalkonium chloride (BC)-resistant staphylococci. All BC-resistant strains were collected from surfaces upon which antibacterial wipes or antibacterial sprays containing 0.02–0.12 % BC had frequently been used in the fitness centres. However, isolates from surfaces upon which antibacterial wipes or antibacterial sprays had not been used were all sensitive to BC. All BC-resistant strains were also resistant to erythromycin, penicillin and ampicillin. In addition, 51 strains showed resistance to cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), 15 strains showed resistance to chloramphenicol, 12 strains showed resistance to ciprofloxacin and four strains showed resistance to meticillin. Resistance gene analysis demonstrated that 41 strains contained qacA/B, 30 strains had qacC, 25 strains contained qacG, 16 strains had qacH and eight strains contained qacJ. These data indicate that application of BC is associated with environmental staphylococcal antimicrobial resistance.
Changes in environmental impacts of major crops in the US

As with life cycle assessment (LCA) studies in general, agricultural LCAs often rely on static and outdated inventory data, but literature suggests that agricultural systems may be highly dynamic. Here, we applied life cycle impact assessment methods to investigate the trends and underlying drivers of changes in non-global environmental impacts of major crops in the US. The results show that the impact per hectare corn and cotton generated on the ecological health of freshwater systems decreased by about 50% in the last decade. This change is mainly due to the use of genetically modified (GM) crops, which has reduced the application of insecticides and relatively toxic herbicides such as atrazine. However, the freshwater ecotoxicity impact per hectare soybean production increased by 3-fold, mainly because the spread of an invasive species, soybean aphid, has resulted in an increasing use of insecticides. In comparison, other impact categories remained relatively stable. By evaluating the relative ecotoxicity potential of a large number of pesticides, our analysis offers new insight into the benefits associated with GM crops. Our study also implies that because different impact categories show different degrees of changes, it is worthwhile focusing on the rapidly changing categories when updating agricultural LCA databases under time and resource constraints.
Novel Pharmacological Approaches in Hypertension Treatment

Treatment of hypertension remains a challenging task despite the tremendous breakthroughs and advancements in the field. The BP guideline goal is focused on reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle modifications, i.e., low sodium diet (<2,400 mg/day), regular physical activity, weight loss if overweight/obese serve as the basis for all medications to be effective. Over 125 antihypertensive medications are available in various combinations for initial treatment and compelling indication. If the blood pressure goals are more than 20 mmHg above goal for systolic and above 10 mmHg above goal for diastolic pressure, initiation of two agents is strongly urged. While just over 50 % of the US population is at blood pressure goal (<140/90 mmHg), the problem is the lack of blood pressure control estimated to be almost 41 % in all groups. Thus, major inroads have been made on the use of older antihypertensive agents such as low-dose spironolactone in concert with more effective diuretics as well as new interventional approaches affecting the sympathetic nervous system offer great promise to help improve the patients with true resistant or refractory hypertension. Novel therapies may improve control rates but ultimately appropriate dosing of these medications, enhanced tolerability, and improvement of adherence to medication regimens are necessary for control rates to improve. The aforementioned approaches are the focus of this paper.
Adoptive immunotherapy and therapeutic concurrent chemoradiation have synergistic antitumor effects in a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 4622 Concurrent chemotherapy and fractionated radiation are being increasingly used as the initial treatment for many patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN) in an effort to preserve function at the primary site as well as to possibly improve survival. Despite this treatment approach, many patients die from locoregional and distant disease. Adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-draining lymphocytes has been used by some investigators to try and improve survival in patients at high risk for recurrence or regional and distant metastases. In an effort to improve outcomes in this patient population, we undertook experiments to determine the feasibility of adoptive transfer of tumor-draining lymphocytes in mice treated with chemotherapy and fractionated radiation. Mice with 7-day subcutaneous SCCVII tumors were treated with 2 days of systemic cisplatin (4 mg/kg) and 5-fluorouracil (50 mg/kg) and 5 days of fractionated radiation to the flank tumor site (3 Gy/day; 15 Gy total). Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLN) from untreated mice with 9-day SCCVII tumors were harvested and activated for two days with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 mAbs and subsequently expanded with IL-2 (60 IU/mL) for 3 more days. Mice were given a single intravenous injection of TDLN (30 x 106) three days after the completion of chemoradiation treatment (Day 14). Mice treated with chemoradiation or chemoradiation and TDLN had significantly slower tumor growth and better survival when compared to no treatment or TDLN alone-treated groups (p < 0.05). In addition, 2/20 (10%) of chemoradiation-treated animals and 3/20 (15%) of TDLN/chemoradiation-treated animals had a complete tumor response as compared to 0/20 (0%) in both untreated and TDLN alone-treated animals. Importantly, TDLN/chemoradiation-treated mice with a complete tumor response were completely resistant to multiple, repeat tumor challenges while chemoradiation-treated mice developed tumor with the initial rechallenge of relevant tumor. Consistent with these findings, splenocytes from TDLN/chemoradiation-treated mice had elevated levels of baseline interferon-gamma that was further increased by stimulation with relevant tumor when compared to controls. These experiments suggest a systemic antitumor effect of adoptive immunotherapy with tumor-draining lymphocytes and chemoradiation and support a potential role for this treatment approach in patients with SCCHN undergoing standard chemoradiation protocols.
Insights in public health: Community strengthening through canoe culture: Ho'omana'o Mau as method and metaphor.

Historical trauma occurs across generations and is evidenced by indigenous disparities. Efforts made to address this issue commonly utilize European ethnocentric methods. Rather, a community-based approach should be used to empower indigenous communities. God's Country Waimanalo (GCW) is a grassroots organization developed by Native Hawaiians for Native Hawaiians. Its wa‘a (canoe) project, Ho‘omana‘o Mau (everlasting memories; abbreviated Ho‘o) is meant to perpetuate pre-colonial Hawaiian practices by educating Native Hawaiian communities and its partners through hands on experience. Since 2012, GCW has opened its wa‘a curricula to educators, counselors, and students from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Queen Lili‘uokalani Children's Center, Alu Like, Hina Mauka, and the Youth Correctional Facility and contributed to Waimanalo based events such as funeral ash scattering and the papio fishing tournament. As metaphor, Ho‘o is viewed as the catalyst to engage the next generation of Hawaiians to remember where they descend from, the lineage of chiefs and royalty, while establishing a solid foundation of independence and enhancing their ability to become self-sustaining. As a method, Ho‘o is viewed as a classroom, a hands-on learning environment, and an ocean vessel, assembled according to traditional Hawaiian knowledge. Through this knowledge and practice, both indigenous and non-indigenous communities can work together in empowering Native Hawaiians to overcome historical trauma and reduce health disparities.
“Let Us Become Radio Mechanics”: Technology and National Identity in Late-Colonial Netherlands East Indies

THE METAPHORIn 1900, twenty-one-year-old Raden Adjeng Kartini, who liked best to think of herself as a young wild horse, a daughter of the Javanese regent of Japara, a woman who after her death became an anointed “mother of Indonesian nationalism, ” wrote to a friend, Henri van Kol, a Dutch parliamentarian and European socialist expert on colonialism that “it would seem as though an invisible telephone cable ran from here to Lali Djiwa and back again.”Raden Adjeng Kartini, Letters of a Javanese Princess (New York: W. W. Morton, 1964), 190. By “here,” Kartini meant her father's palace on the north coast of the Netherlands East Indies' main island; Lali Djiwa was van Kol's residence in Prinsenhage in Holland. A few months earlier, Kartini had written to another friend, a Dutch feminist who worked at the city post office in Amsterdam, describing the closeness she felt between herself and her father — as if “a wire” connected their hearts.H. Bouman, Meer licht over Kartini (Amsterdam: H. J. Paris, 1954). It was the opening of a new century, and Kartini's mode of expression reflected what seemed to be a distinct mood of the time. Hers appeared to be a good case of what Soren Kierkegaard once defined as “enthusiasm of imagination,” a nostalgia for the mythical, a stepping “forth in a new form, that is, as a metaphor.”Kierkegaard's explanation of his and Hegel's view of metaphor in The Concept of Irony (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1989), 101–3.
Effects of prebiotics, probiotics, and their combination on growth performance, small intestine morphology, and resident Lactobacillus of male broilers

Effects of commercial antimicrobials and the individual and combinational use of commercial prebiotics and probiotics in feed from d zero to 41 on the growth performance, small intestine size, jejunal morphology, and ileal resident bacteria population of broiler chickens were determined. A total of 1,040 one-day-old male Ross × Ross 708 broilers were randomly distributed to 80 floor pens (5 treatments, 16 replications per treatment, 13 chicks per pen). Five dietary treatments were employed: 1) a corn soybean-meal basal diet (served as a negative control diet, NC); 2) a basal diet supplemented with a commercial prebiotic product (Pre); 3) a basal diet supplemented with a probiotic product containing Bacillus subtilis spores (Pro); 4) a basal diet supplemented with both prebiotic and probiotic products (Pre + Pro); and 5) a basal diet supplemented with commercial antimicrobials (served as a positive control diet, PC). At d 14, Pre diets improved the relative level of Lactobacillus in ileal mucosa as compared to NC, Pro, or PC diets (P = 0.045) without improving broiler BW. Broilers fed PC diets exhibited the highest BW gain from d 15 to 27, the lowest duodenum, jejunum, and ileum relative weights as percentage of BW at d 27, and the highest breast weight at d 42 (P = 0.026, 0.035, 0.002, 0.025, and 0.035, respectively). Broilers fed Pro or Pre + Pro diets exhibited higher BW gain from d 28 to 41 (P = 0.005) and higher overall BW gain from d zero to 41 (P = 0.039) than those fed other diets. Dietary treatments did not affect jejunal morphology or ileal resident Escherichia coli level at any age. From our results, including spores of Bacillus subtilis in feed may stimulate growth at a later age and may facilitate broilers in reaching their target weight sooner. Therefore, probiotics are recommended as potential alternatives to antimicrobials in chicken diets, especially in grower and finisher feed.
Potassium deficiency in the dog.

SummaryIn order to study the paralysis described in dogs by Smith, a ration similar to that described in her work was prepared and fed to growing dogs. When placed on this ration, our animals failed to grow and developed a paralysis which was curable with potassium. Even though Smith has obtained cures with the administration of biotin, one of our animals receiving biotin became paralyzed and responded to potassium therapy.
Photophysical properties of cis-Mo2 quadruply bonded complexes and observation of photoinduced electron transfer to titanium dioxide.

The compounds cis-Mo2(DAniF)2(L)2 have been prepared, where DAniF = (N,N′)-p-dianisyl formamidinate and L = thienyl-2-carboxylate (Th), 2,2′-bithienyl-5-carboxylate (BTh), and 2,2′:5′,5″-terthienyl-5-carboxylate (TTh). The compounds have been characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption and emission, differential pulse voltammetry, and time-resolved transient absorption and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. An X-ray crystal structure was obtained for the thienyl complex. The related salt [nBu4N]2[Mo2(DAniF)2(TTh–CO2)2], where TTh–CO2 = 2,2′:5′,2″-terthienyl-5,5″-dicarboxylate, has also been prepared and employed in the attachment of the complex to TiO2 nanoparticles. The latter have been characterized by ground-state Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and femtosecond time-resolved IR spectroscopy. The time-resolved data provide evidence for sub-picosecond charge injection from the Mo2 center to the semiconducting oxide particle.
Survey of overweight and obesity and its control behaviors for adolescents at school in Zhongshan

Objective To understand the current situation of overweight and obesity and its control measures at school in Zhongshan,and to provide the basis for establishing control measures.Methods An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among 2 556 students from schools,including junior schools,high schools,professional schools and universities in Zhongshan City,and their height and weight were also measured.Results About 11.40% of boys and 7.87% of girls overweight,4.64% boys and 3.43% girls obesity.Boys' overweight rate was higher than girls' and the difference was of statistical significance(P0.05).About 45.36% of boys and 44.87% of girls thought that their weight was appropriate,while more than 50% of boys or girls thought that their weight was not up to the standard.32.47% boys and 54.52% girls had weight control behaviors,and boys' were higher than girls' obviously and the difference was of statistical significance(P0.05).About 3.05% of the students took incorrect behaviors such as eating no meat,eating nothing for long time(24 h),drinking wight-losing tea or taking pills without doctor's advice.Conclusion Some students cannot judge their own weight by a scientific method,and a large part of them especially girls take measures to control weight.Health education should be strengthened and comprehensive intervention measures should be taken to improve the overall health of the adolescents at school.
Study on structural optimization designing method of ejection seat under impact loads

Let the impact loads be transformed into simulated dynamic loads by the use of dynamic load coefficient,taking this as a foundation the structural optimization mathematical model of ejection seat was established by applying the variable density method.The structural optimization designing method of ejection seat under impact loads was put forward.And the living example calculation of structural optimization design was carried out,thus the optimized structure that could satisfy the action of impact forces was obtained.
Excitation and resonance of acoustic-gravity waves in a column of stratified, bubbly magma

Oscillations of magma in volcanic conduits are thought to be the source of certain seismic and infrasonic signals observed near active volcanoes. However, the multiphase and stratified nature of magma within the conduit complicates the calculation of resonant modes that is required to interpret observations. Here we present a linearized mathematical framework to describe small-amplitude oscillations and waves in a stably stratified column of two-phase magma (liquid melt and gas bubbles) with a traction-free upper surface (a lava lake). We explore the role of time-dependent mass exchange between the phases, depth-varying fluid properties and gravity on the modes of oscillation of inviscid magma within an axisymmetric, vertical conduit. Non-equilibrium phase exchange, which we refer to as bubble growth and resorption (BGR), is parameterized by introduction of a kinetic time scale quantifying mass exchange between the liquid and gas phases that evolves the mixture towards a state of thermodynamic equilibrium. Using a provably stable finite difference method, we solve the eigenvalue problem for the resonance frequencies, decay rates, and spatial structure of the conduit eigenmodes. The numerical method is then extended to time-domain simulations of waves excited by internal volumetric sources in the conduit or forces applied to the surface of the lava lake. We connect time-dependent wave propagation simulations to the modal analysis by identifying the primary modes that are excited by representative excitation processes. Waves propagating through bubbly magma are dispersive, and their behaviour is determined by three dimensionless parameters. One quantifies the importance of buoyancy and gravitational restoring forces relative to compressibility, the second quantifies differences between fluid properties (e.g. mixture compressibility) under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions, and the third compares the wave period to the BGR time scale. Pronounced depth variations in background fluid properties, such as the transition from liquid melt with dissolved volatiles at the high pressures at depth to bubbly magma above the gas exsolution depth, segment the conduit into distinct regions. The longest-period modes, which are expressed with the largest amplitudes for typical excitation processes, are most sensitive to the length of the bubbly region and properties of the bubbly magma within it. While the boundary condition at the bottom of the conduit determines whether the fundamental mode is affected by the total conduit length, modes localized above the exsolution depth are remarkably insensitive to the overall conduit length. Our analysis suggests that parameters affecting eruption style, such as total volatile content and kinetic time scales of BGR, along with excitation source characteristics, are imprinted on long-period seismic and infrasonic signals at active volcanoes.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Generation, Characterization, and Differentiation--Methods and Protocols

Reprogramming fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) remains a promising technique for cell replacement therapy. Diverse populations of somatic cells have been examined for their reprogramming potential. Recently, ocular ciliary body epithelial cells (CECs) have been reprogrammed with high reprogramming efficiency and single transcription factor reprogramming, making them an exciting candidate for cellular reprogramming strategies.
Development of W-band horn antennas using 3D printing technologies

We report on the performance of a W-band multi-flare angle horn antenna manufactured with 3-D printing technology. The paper highlights the fabrication challenges for high frequency operations including the surface roughness of the 3-D technology and the metallization of the polymer.
Review of Best Practices for CLABSI Prevention and the Impact of Recent Legislation on CLABSI Reporting

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) are a very common source of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Incidence of CLABSI has been significantly reduced through the efforts of ...
pH Dependence of the Electron-Transfer Coefficient: Comparing a Model to Experiment for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

The empirical electron-transfer coefficient α is a valuable electrochemical observable that bridges the thermodynamics and kinetics of redox reactions. For reactions that involve protons, the value of α is expected to be pH-dependent. However, even for the simplest redox processes, the nature of this dependency remains unclear. Toward clarifying this problem, we follow two goals. First, we calculate the electron-transfer coefficient α and its pH dependence based on a model 2D potential energy surface that has been investigated by Koper and Schmickler for proton reduction. According to the model, α is pH-independent for high-pH values and pH-dependent for low-pH values, with α increasing as the pH is lowered. Second, we report our experimentally measured α for hydrogen evolution on several electrode materials over a wide pH range. We observe that several features of the data show similarities to the predictions of the model. The data show different behavior in two distinct pH regions. In the acidic region,...
The influence of surface chemistry on adsorbed fibrinogen conformation, orientation, fiber formation and platelet adhesion.

Abstract Thrombosis is a clear risk when any foreign material is in contact with the bloodstream. Here we propose an immunohistological stain-based model for non-enzymatic clot formation that enables a facile screen for the thrombogenicity of blood-contacting materials. We exposed polymers with different surface chemistries to protease-free human fibrinogen. We observed that on hydrophilic surfaces, fibrinogen is adsorbed via αC regions, while the γ400-411 platelet-binding dodecapeptide on the D region becomes exposed, and fibrinogen fibers do not form. In contrast, fibrinogen is adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces via the relatively hydrophobic D and E regions, exposing the αC regions while rendering the γ400-411 inaccessible. Fibrinogen adsorbed on hydrophobic surfaces is thus able to recruit other fibrinogen molecules through αC regions and polymerize into large fibrinogen fibers, similar to those formed in vivo in the presence of thrombin. Moreover, the γ400-411 is available only on the large fibers not elsewhere throughout the hydrophobic surface after fibrinogen fiber formation. When these surfaces were exposed to gel-sieved platelets or platelet rich plasma, a uniform monolayer of platelets, which appeared to be activated, was observed on the hydrophilic surfaces. In contrast, large agglomerates of platelets were clustered on fibers on the hydrophobic surfaces, resembling small nucleating thrombi. Endothelial cells were also able to adhere to the monomeric coating of fibrinogen on hydrophobic surfaces. These observations reveal that the extent and type of fibrinogen adsorption, as well as the propensity of adsorbed fibrinogen to bind platelets, may be modulated by careful selection of surface chemistry. Statements of Significance Thrombosis is a well-known side effect of the introduction of foreign materials into the bloodstream, as might exist in medical devices including but not limited to stents, valves, and intravascular catheters. Despite many reported studies, the body’s response to foreign materials in contact with the blood remains poorly understood. Current preventive methods consist of drug eluting coatings on the devices or the systemic administration of standard anticoagulants. Here we present a potential mechanism by which surface chemistry can affects fibrinogen conformation and thus affects platelet adhesion and consequently thrombus formation. Our findings suggest a possible coating which enables endothelial cell adhesion while preventing platelet adhesion.
A cost analysis of implementing a behavioral weight loss intervention in community mental health settings: Results from the ACHIEVE trial.

Objective In the ACHIEVE randomized controlled trial, an 18-month behavioral intervention accomplished weight loss in persons with serious mental illness who attended community psychiatric rehabilitation programs. This analysis estimates costs for delivering the intervention during the study. It also estimates expected costs to implement the intervention more widely in a range of community mental health programs. Methods Using empirical data, costs were calculated from the perspective of a community psychiatric rehabilitation program delivering the intervention. Personnel and travel costs were calculated using time sheet data. Rent and supply costs were calculated using rent per square foot and intervention records. A univariate sensitivity analysis and an expert-informed sensitivity analysis were conducted. Results With 144 participants receiving the intervention and a mean weight loss of 3.4 kg, costs of $95 per participant per month and $501 per kilogram lost in the trial were calculated. In univariate sensitivity analysis, costs ranged from $402 to $725 per kilogram lost. Through expert-informed sensitivity analysis, it was estimated that rehabilitation programs could implement the intervention for $68 to $85 per client per month. Conclusions Costs of implementing the ACHIEVE intervention were in the range of other intensive behavioral weight loss interventions. Wider implementation of efficacious lifestyle interventions in community mental health settings will require adequate funding mechanisms.
Abstract 34: STIM1 Increases Calcium Stores in the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum of Adult Feline Ventricular Myocytes

Background: STIM1 is a Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (SR) membrane resident protein implicated in sensing and maintaining SR Ca2+ levels. The role of STIM1 in the regulation of SR Ca2+ stores in the normal and diseased heart is not well described. Previous reports confirm that STIM1 is present at low levels in the healthy adult heart, but expression levels increase after cardiac injury. Objective: To determine if increased STIM1 expression after cardiac injury may be involved in the disturbed Ca2+ cycling present within diseased cardiomyocytes. Results: We used adenovirus to express either STIM1 or red fluorescent protein (RFP) in freshly isolated adult feline ventricular myocytes (AFMs). After 48 hours in culture, STIM1 induced cell death in 60% of myocytes versus only 5% in RFP controls. Addition of nifedipine rescued the cell death caused by STIM1, but block of transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels was unable to improve viability. AFMs expressing STIM1 exhibited increased fractional shortening and Ca2+ transient amplitude, which was associated with increased SR load. Interestingly, high SR load levels caused by STIM1 were not reduced by nifedipine addition. We also found that baseline L-type channel current amplitude was significantly reduced by 20%, but no difference in current amplitude was found after Bay K8644 addition. Conclusions: In this study, we found that STIM1 caused Ca2+ overload leading to cell death. This process was L-type channel dependent, but TRPC channels were not involved. STIM1 also caused increased SR load at rest, which was not altered by nifedipine revealing that STIM1 mediated Ca2+ influx does not require L-type channel activity but Ca2+ influx through L-type channels is essential for STIM1 induced cellular death. Furthermore, STIM1 reduced L-type current activity but did not alter channel availability. These data show that after cardiac injury, STIM1 is likely to play a role in regulating cell survival as well as excitation-contraction coupling.
Designing for the Elderly: Comfort, Health and Well-Being

Designing elderly units is an essential component of interior design that provide functional and aesthetic qualities for the elderly in the built environment. A plethora of designs in the residence include design that is utilized to ccommodate the elderly through elements of physical and mental comfort. Due to a lack of available current research on a direct relationship of the effect of design on elderly behavior and design, this research paper addresses designing elderly residential units according to effects on elderly well-being. The purpose of this research is to address and support designing elderly units to affect elderly well-being; through the evaluation of journal articles that discuss the elderly’s well-being impacted by design. The question presented in this research his whether designing elderly residential units has an effect on elderly behavior, which eventually impacts the elderly feeling of well-being. The research methodology used a credible scholarly journal articles written between 1997 and 2011; and was reviewed keeping the relation of elderly behavior to the design of residential units in mind. Also, a design project for elderly care unit was developed upon findings from the review of literature. In the findings, while design may directly affect the elderly in a noticeable way, there is also evidence from research that indicates that elderly people are in fact influenced by design. When designing for elderly people; a variety of spaces, comfort, safety, and relaxation are important components of design that can aid in creating and preserving the well-being of the elderly. Designers need to produce design products, systems, and services that are usable to the elderly and people with disabilities in care units. The physical environment, when designed to be self-evident (easily understood and easy to get around in), can help compensate for the physical and mental losses of the elderly
Involvement of Parents in the Care of Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study Evaluating a Family-Centered Care Intervention in a Chinese Neonatal ICU.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a family-centered care intervention in a Chinese neonatal ICU. DESIGN Pilot study using a randomized controlled trial design to inform a main randomized controlled trial study. SETTING Stand-alone tertiary children's hospital in China with a 60-bed neonatal ICU serving as a regional neonatal ICU center. PATIENTS Premature infants (n = 61) and their parents (n = 110). INTERVENTIONS Parent education program followed by parents' participation in care as primary caregiver until discharge for a minimum of 4 hours per day. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Primary outcomes were infants' weight gain at discharge, length of stay, and readmission. Parental outcomes were stress, anxiety, satisfaction, and clinical knowledge. Infants in family-centered care group (n = 31) had higher weight gain (886g vs 542g; p = 0.013), less neonatal ICU length of stay in days (43 vs 46; p = 0.937), and decreased readmission rate at 1 week (41.9 vs 70.0; p = 0.045) and at 1 month (6.5% vs 50%; p < 0.001) compared with the control group (n = 30). Total Mean Parental Stress and Anxiety scores were lower in the family-centered care group (42 vs 59; p ≤ 0.007), mean satisfaction rates in family-centered care group were higher compared with control group (96 vs 90; p < 0.001), and parents in the family-centered care group had better educational outcomes related to neonatal specialized care skills (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Involving parents in the care of their infant improved clinical outcomes of infants. Family-centered care also contributed to a better understanding of parent's clinical education, decrease stress levels, and increased parental satisfaction. Our study suggests that involving parents in the daily care of their infants is feasible and should be promoted by neonatal ICU clinicians.
Detecting and resolving individual adatoms, vacancies, and their dynamics on graphene membranes

Graphene is a single atomic layer of graphite that has only recently become experimentally accessible in an isolated form [1]. We prepare graphene into freestanding membranes [2,3], i.e., a crystalline foil with a thickness of only one carbon atom. These membranes are highly promising for TEM studies, since (a) this membrane itself is of tremendous scientific interest, (b) adsorbates can be studied against a highly transparent and crystalline background, and (c) the precisely known structure is an ideal tuning and calibration tool for electron microscopy developments. Graphene membranes are very stable at low acceleration voltages, we and present results obtained on a conventional TEM (Jeol 2010 at 100kV) as well as initial tests on the new aberration-corrected TEAM 0.5 microscope operated at its lower limit of 80kV. The TEAM 0.5 microscope achieves sub-Angstrom resolution even at 80kV, thus resolving every single carbon atom in the graphene lattice.
Polarization OF BL Lac objects

Wavelength-dependent polarization observations of BL Lacertae objects are discussed in terms of magnetic field geometry, electron velocity anisotropy, and Faraday rotation. Wavelength- and time-dependent polarization observations of BL Lac itself are used to investigate the polarization characteristics of one variability event without resorting to the use of adjustable fitting parameters. Simultaneous and nearly-simultaneous optical and radio polarization measurements (including those made with VLBI) of Q7 287 are also compared and discussed. A method of parameterizing the variability of polarized sources is outlined.
Fluid-driven intrinsically soft robots

Abstract Robots based on soft actuators and sensors are revolutionizing scientific disciplines from mobile robots and manipulators to biomedical devices. Advantages of soft robots include compliance and safe interaction with fragile objects, robustness to chemical and mechanical perturbations, and inexpensive materials and manufacturing methods. The real key to their success relies on holistic design considerations, permitting multifunctional yet simple mechanical solutions to complex challenges. Here, we focus on a popular subgroup of these devices, namely fluid-driven intrinsically soft robots. We seek to provide a road map to the main components of soft robots including materials, manufacturing, fluids and fluid actuators, sensors, and control methods. We highlight characteristics and trade-offs and conclude the chapter by briefly summarizing the wealth of demonstrations that exist in literature.
Outpatient desensitization of patients with moderate (high-risk) to severe platinum hypersensitivity reactions.

Abstract Objectives Platinum hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) affect approximately 5% of the general oncologic population. Here we report the efficacy and safety of outpatient platinum desensitization protocol (PD) in gynecologic oncology patients with moderate (high-risk) to severe platinum HSR. Methods This is a retrospective report of patients with gynecologic malignancies undergoing an outpatient PD for moderate (high-risk) to severe platinum HSR from 2011 to 2017. Patient demographics, chemotherapy histories, and PD outcomes were collected. Descriptive statistics were performed given the exploratory nature of the study. Results Forty-eight patients meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Most patients were being treated for ovarian cancer (56.3%) and were receiving carboplatin during their initial platinum HSR (75.0%). Patients received a mean of 10.3 platinum doses prior to their initial HSR. Transient hypertension was the most common sign of moderate (high-risk) HSR while persistent tachycardia was the most common sign of severe HSR. A total of 295 PD cycles were attempted with a successful completion rate of 96.6%. The mean number of PD cycles received by patients was 5.1. Almost 65% of patients experienced breakthrough reactions but over 58% of these breakthrough reactions were isolated to the first PD cycle. Only 8.3% of patients had severe breakthrough reactions, all of whom initially underwent shortened desensitization. Of these 4 patients, 2 successfully underwent desensitization with a prolonged protocol. Conclusion Outpatient PD is safe and effective in patients with gynecologic malignancies. This may present a feasible option for institutions with multi-disciplinary teams experienced with the management of platinum HSR.
Item Selection Methods for Computer Adaptive Testing With Passages.

Computer adaptive testing (CAT) has been shown to shorten the test length and increase the precision of latent trait estimates. Oftentimes, a test taker are asked to respond to several items that are related to the same passage. This study is to explore three CAT item selection techniques for items of same passages and to provide recommendations and guidance for item selection methods that yield better latent trait estimates. It used simulation and compared three models in CAT item selection with passages: a) testlet-effect model (T); b) passage model(P); and c) unidimensional IRT model (U). For T model, the bifactor model with testlet-effect or constrained multidimensional IRT model is applied. For each of the three models, three procedures are applied: a) no item exposure control; b) item exposure control of rate 0.2 ; and c) item exposure control of rate 1. It was found that testlet-effect model perform better than passage or unidimensional model. The P and U model tended to overestimate the precision of the theta or latent trait estimates.
Molecular Epizootiology of Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium parvum in the Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from Maine (USA).

Shellfish are known as a potential source of Toxoplasma gondii (responsible for toxoplasmosis), and Cryptosporidium parvum, which is one of the major causes of gastroenteritis in the world. Here we performed a comprehensive qPCR-based monthly survey for T. gondii and C. parvum during 2016 and 2017 in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) (n = 1440) from all six sites along the coast of Maine (USA). Pooled samples (mantle, gills, and rectum) from individual oysters were used for DNA extraction and qPCR. Our study resulted in detections of qPCR positives oysters for T. gondii and C. parvum at each of the six sites sampled (in 31% and 10% of total oysters, respectively). The prevalence of T. gondii was low in 2016, and in September 2017 several sites peaked in prevalence with 100% of the samples testing positive. The prevalence of C. parvum was very low except in one estuarine location (Jack’s Point) in June 2016 (58%), and in October of 2016, when both prevalence and density of C. parvum at most of the sampling sites were among the highest values detected. Statistical analysis of environmental data did not identify clear drivers of retention, but there were some notable statistically significant patterns including current direction and nitrate along with the T. gondii prevalence. The major C. parvum retention event (in October 2016) corresponded with the month of highest dissolved oxygen measurements as well as a shift in the current direction revealed by nearby instrumentation. This study may guide future research to locate any contributing parasite reservoirs and evaluate the potential risk to human consumption.
Blast Concussion and Posttraumatic Stress as Predictors of Postcombat Neuropsychological Functioning in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

Objectives Many combat veterans exhibit cognitive limitations of uncertain origin. In this study, we examined factors that predict cognitive functioning by considering effects of blast-related concussion (BRC), non-blast-related concussion (NBRC), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Analyses specifically tested whether (a) BRC and NBRC were distinct in their prediction of cognitive performance; (b) a dose-response relationship existed between recurrent concussion (BRC and NBRC) and cognitive impairment; and (c) PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between BRC and cognitive performance. Method Two hundred eighty veterans with combat zone deployment histories completed semistructured clinical interviews to define BRC and NBRC histories, current and past mental health disorders, and dimensional ratings of PTSD symptomatology. Participants were also administered a number of neuropsychological measures to appraise cognitive functioning. Results A structural equation model (SEM) suggested that BRC and NBRC were not distinct in their prediction of cognitive performance, and there was no evidence that recurrent concussion (blast or nonblast) was directly associated with cognitive performance. BRC was significantly associated with PTSD symptoms (r = .24), PTSD symptoms were significantly associated with cognitive performance in the SEM (r = -.27), and PTSD symptoms significantly mediated the link between BRC and cognitive performance (p = .03). Conclusions These results suggest that concussion history fails to directly contribute to cognitive performance, regardless of mechanism (blast or nonblast) and recurrence. BRC is nonetheless unique in its contribution to PTSD and PTSD-related cognitive deficits. Results support interventions specific to PTSD management in the interest of promoting neuropsychological functioning among war veterans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Small eyes in dim light: Implications to spatio-temporal visual abilities in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, are active over a range of light intensities in the wild, but lab-reared flies are often tested only in bright light. Similarly, scarce feeding during larval stages—common in nature—generates smaller adults, and a wide range of eye sizes not found in well-fed lab colonies. Both dimmer light and smaller eyes limit light capture and have undetermined effects on visual behaviors such as flight. In this study, we used moving sinusoidal gratings to test spatial acuity, temporal acuity, and contrast threshold of female flies of varying eye sizes at different light intensities. We also investigated vision in the smaller and often neglected male fruit flies. As light intensity drops from 50.1 lx to 0.3 lx, flies have a reduced spatial acuity (females: from 0.1 to 0.06 cycles per degree, CPD, males: 0.1 to 0.04 CPD) and temporal acuity (females: from 50 Hz to 10 Hz, males: 25 Hz to 10 Hz), and an increased contrast detection threshold (females: from 10% to 29%, males: 19% to 48%). We find no major sex-specific differences after accounting for eye size. Visual abilities in both small (eye area of 0.1–0.17 mm2) and large flies (0.17–0.23 mm2) suffer at 0.3 lx compared to 50.1 lx, but small flies suffer more (spatial acuity: 0.03 vs 0.06 CPD, contrast threshold: 76% vs 57%, temporal acuity: 5 Hz vs 10 Hz). Our results suggest visual abilities of small flies suffer more than large flies at low light levels, possibly leading to size- and light intensity-dependent effects on foraging, navigation, and flight.