cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mass azithromycin distribution for hyperendemic trachoma following a cluster-randomized trial: A continuation study of randomly reassigned subclusters (TANA II).

Background The World Health Organization recommends annual mass azithromycin administration in communities with at least 10% prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) in children, with further treatment depending on reassessment after 3–5 years. However, the effect of stopping mass azithromycin distribution after multiple rounds of treatment is not well understood. Here, we report the results of a cluster-randomized trial where communities that had received 4 years of treatments were then randomized to continuation or discontinuation of treatment. Methods and findings In all, 48 communities with 3,938 children aged 0–9 years at baseline in northern Ethiopia had received 4 years of annual or twice yearly mass azithromycin distribution as part of the TANA I trial. We randomized these communities to either continuation or discontinuation of treatment. Individuals in the communities in the continuation arm were offered either annual or twice yearly distribution of a single directly observed dose of oral azithromycin. The primary outcome was community prevalence of ocular chlamydial infection in a random sample of children aged 0–9 years, 36 months after baseline. We also assessed the change from baseline to 36 months in ocular chlamydia prevalence within each arm. We compared 36-month ocular chlamydia prevalence in communities randomized to continuation versus discontinuation in a model adjusting for baseline ocular chlamydia prevalence. A secondary prespecified analysis assessed the rate of change over time in ocular chlamydia prevalence between arms. In the continuation arm, mean antibiotic coverage was greater than 90% at all time points. In the discontinuation arm, the mean prevalence of infection in children aged 0–9 years increased from 8.3% (95% CI 4.2% to 12.4%) at 0 months to 14.7% (95% CI 8.7% to 20.8%, P = 0.04) at 36 months. Ocular chlamydia prevalence in communities where mass azithromycin distribution was continued was 7.2% (95% CI 3.3% to 11.0%) at baseline and 6.6% (95% CI 1.1% to 12.0%, P = 0.64) at 36 months. The 36-month prevalence of ocular chlamydia was significantly lower in communities continuing treatment compared with those discontinuing treatment (P = 0.03). Limitations of the study include uncertain generalizability outside of trachoma hyperendemic regions. Conclusions In this study, ocular chlamydia infection rebounded after 4 years of periodic mass azithromycin distribution. Continued distributions did not completely eliminate infection in all communities or meet WHO control goals, although they did prevent resurgence. Trial registration This study was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01202331).
Abstract 2353: Analysis of noncoding mutations in cancer revealed novel potentially pathogenic recurrent mutations

Introduction: 98% of mutations are non-coding mutations. Thus far, most non-coding mutations are ignored or merely classified as variant of unknown significance with a few exceptions, despite the fact that non-coding region plays significant role in regulations and other important biological processes. Although they would not be directly druggable, these non-coding mutations might be important for cancer etiology, response to treatments and prognosis assessments. Method: Mutations in non-coding genes, intron, upstream and downstream, and intergenic regions are collected from COSMIC and TCGA as defined in Ensemble GRCh37.75 gene definition and hg19 RefSeq. Over 15 million non-coding mutations are analyzed for recurrence over 10 samples. Mutations in neighborhood of IG genes and dbSNP150 polymorphisms are removed from further investigation. We analyzed remaining mutations for possible super enhancer and transcription factor binding. Result: 911 distinct recurrent mutations are identified. Promoter mutations in protein coding genes like MPRS31, NUDFB9, SZT2, WASF3 in addition to TERT are discovered. Intronic mutations of well-known cancer genes such as HIF1A, NF1, KMT2C, and ATR are discovered with their associated cancer type specificity. As for non-coding RNA9s, lincRNA CROCCP2, LINC00969 and miRNA MIR4477 appear frequently. Only 182 mutations are reluctantly classified as intergenic; intergenic loci RP11-96F8.1-KSR1P1, MLLT10P1-DEFB115, and bP-21201H5.1-IGHV1OR21-1 contain unusually high recurrent mutations. Conclusion: Many non-coding mutations worth further investigation are found. Still, it is quite possible that many of these mutations might be artifacts resulting from paralogous alignments, gene definition compatibility and other technical issues. Importantly, we discovered novel intronic mutations in genes already associated with treatments. Mutations in intergenic regions might be involved in regulatory mechanisms and chromosomal structures. Understanding these non-coding mutations will further refine our understanding of biology as well as cancer. Citation Format: Takahiko Koyama, Laxmi Parida. Analysis of noncoding mutations in cancer revealed novel potentially pathogenic recurrent mutations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2353.
Investigation of Outbreak-Specific Nonsynonymous Mutations on Ebolavirus GP in the Context of Known Immune Reactivity.

The global response to the most recent EBOV outbreak has led to increased generation and availability of data, which can be globally analyzed to increase our understanding of immune responses to EBOV. We analyzed the published antibody epitope data to identify regions immunogenic for humans on the main GP antigenic target and determine sequence variance/nonsynonymous mutations between historical isolates and variants from the 2013-2016 outbreak. Approximately half of the GP sequence has been reported as targeted by antibody responses. Our results show an enrichment of nonsynonymous mutations (NSMs) within epitopic regions on GP (70%, ). Mapping NSMs to human epitope reactivity may be useful for future therapeutic and prophylaxis development as well as for our general understanding of immunity against EBOV.
Mediterranean Diet and the Association Between Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Risk.

Background: Recent experimental evidence suggests that nutritional supplementation can blunt adverse cardiopulmonary effects induced by acute air pollution exposure. However, whether usual individu...
Evidence for inhibition of a fungal biocontrol agent by a plant microbiome

Miconia calvescens is a highly invasive shrub in tropical oceanic island ecosystems and the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. miconiae (Cgm) has been widely introduced as a biocontrol against it. On the island of Moorea, French Polynesia, Cgm exhibits differential success along an elevation gradient, with highest effectiveness in controlling M. calvescens at higher elevations. We examined the association between the fungal biome of M. calvescens and Cgm biocontrol success using field surveys, microbiome sequencing, and in vitro competition experiments. Our results demonstrate that: (1) quantifiable differences in foliar damage occur across the elevation gradient despite the presence of Cgm at all elevations; (2) these differences correlate to differences in community structure of leaf-associated fungi in spite of close proximity of surveyed sites; and (3) endophytic fungi isolated from plant tissues exhibit different levels of competitive ability against Cgm in vitro, with higher competitive ability displayed by fungi isolated from lower elevations. Together, these results suggest an important role of the leaf microbiome in determining the success of biocontrol efforts made against invasive plants.
Messy Learning: When Problem-based Learning Just Isn't Enough

In computer science (CS) classes it is common to give students a large ill-defined problem and let them struggle with it. The mess of the problem forces students to identify knowledge needed to solve the problem and to learn problem-solving skills. This is the concept behind problem-based learning (PBL), a learner-centered pedagogy that has become a popular research topic in computer science. PBL in CS has 3 defining characteristics: 1) presenting students with large authentic projects, 2) enabling students to independently learn necessary concepts, and 3) enabling them to learn while working in groups. An examination of the CS PBL/project-based learning (PrBL) literature reveals that step 2, self-directed or self-regulated learning (SRL), is lacking in almost every description of PBL. However, extensive CS research literature explores effective methods of SRL, and these methods revolve around the concept of reflection. We therefore propose a new structure for PBL/PrBL that we term messy learning that explicitly incorporates large, ill-defined, authentic projects and reflective activities. We also describe our experience with using messy learning in a game development course and present some examples of how to apply messy learning.
Outcomes of bridge to cardiac retransplantation in the contemporary mechanical circulatory support era.

Abstract Background Outcomes have improved in patients bridged to heart transplant on contemporary continuous-flow ventricular assist devices over the past decade. We evaluated mechanical circulatory support as a means to bridge patients to cardiac retransplantation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 464 patients who underwent cardiac retransplant from the United Network for Organ Sharing database between January 2006 and November 2016. Pre- and post-transplant data were compared between patients bridged to retransplant with mechanical circulatory support (n = 81) and those without mechanical circulatory support (n = 383). Results The mean ages for the patients in the mechanical circulatory support and nonmechanical circulatory support cohorts were 41.2 ± 16 years and 42.1 ± 15.7 years, respectively ( P = .64). Patients bridged with mechanical circulatory support were placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n = 29, 35.8%), a total artificial heart (n = 13, 16.0%), or a temporary or durable ventricular assist device (n = 39, 48.1%). Twelve patients (14.8%) were placed on a second device before retransplant. Thirty-nine percent of the mechanical circulatory support group were indicated for listing because of primary graft dysfunction or acute rejection versus 6% of the nonmechanical circulatory support group ( P P P Conclusions Patients who require mechanical circulatory support bridge to retransplantation belong to a high-risk cohort. Comparable midterm outcomes to the nonmechanical circulatory support cohort were demonstrated when patients' conditions allow for bridge with a ventricular assist device or total artificial heart. Bridging to retransplantation with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation remains a relative contraindication.
Why the particle-in-cell method captures instability enhanced collisions

While the particle-in-cell (PIC) method has been the subject of years of theoretical study, the common misconception that PIC approximates the collisionless Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations, or the Vlasov-Poisson system for the electrostatic case, is widely cited. In this paper, a PIC-relevant generalization of the instability enhanced Lenard-Balescu collision operator is derived. The analysis of this collision operator demonstrates that while coulomb collisions are truncated by the electric field grid resolution, longer range collisions that arise from imperfect shielding in the presence of instabilities persist. These instability enhanced collisions are completely captured by PIC as long as there is sufficient grid resolution to resolve the wavenumber of the unstable modes of the instability. The inclusion of this behavior is akin to particle wave interactions in the Vlasov based quasilinear theory but with one important difference. Quasilinear theory requires an initial spectral energy density which cannot be supplied self-consistently from within the theory because its initial value is determined by non-Vlasov collisional effects. With the proper electric field grid resolution, the initial spectral energy density is included self-consistently, along with the generation of plasma waves originating from discrete particle motion. Predictions of the grid resolution effect are found to be in agreement with PIC simulations at varying grid resolutions.
“Who Do These People Want Teaching Their Children?” White Saviorism, Colorblind Racism, and Anti-Blackness in “No Excuses” Charter Schools:

In this article, we explore how White supremacist ideologies operate in “no excuses” charter schools. Drawing on critical race frameworks and qualitative data collected in two “no excuses” charter ...
Early Math Professional Development: Meeting the Challenge Through Online Learning

Early math success in the PreK classroom is recognized as a strong predictor of later academic success. However, many early childhood teachers report they lack the content knowledge, confidence and beliefs to deliver high quality math experiences in their classrooms. Professional development opportunities to gain and expand these skills are often difficult for early childhood educators to access. The purpose of this article is to examine the professional development opportunities available to early childhood educators in the United States and to present a model of professional development that is accessible and effective. This article provides a description of the importance of math in the early years and reveals the need for early math professional development opportunities for early childhood teachers. A portrait of the current state of professional development opportunities for early childhood teachers in the United States is presented along with a presentation of a successful online early math professional development program that was developed to meet the need of early childhood educators. The article ends with implications for current professional development opportunities and ideas for future directions.
Tax revenue mobilization episodes in developing countries

How do countries mobilize large additions to tax revenue – defined as an average increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio of 0.5 percent per year over three years or more? To answer this question, we build...
Stroke Prevention: Education and Barriers for Physical and Occupational Therapists Caring for Older Adults

Aims: Describe the frequency of common stroke prevention education topics provided by occupational and physical therapists (OTs/PTs) to individuals at risk for stroke; summarize barriers to such ed...
Resource recovery and waste-to-energy from wastewater sludge via thermochemical conversion technologies in support of circular economy: a comprehensive review

With the rapid rise in global population over the past decades, there has been a corresponding surge in demand for resources such as food and energy. As a consequence, the rate of waste generation and resultant pollution levels have risen drastically. Currently, most organic solid wastes are either land applied or sent to landfills, with the remaining fraction incinerated or anaerobically digested. However, with the current emphasis on the reduction of emissions, nutrient recovery, clean energy production and circular economy, it is important to revisit some of the conventional methods of treating these wastes and tap into their largely unrealized potential in terms of environmental and economic benefits. Wastewater sludge, with its high organic content and fairly constant supply, provides a great opportunity to implement some of these strategies using thermochemical conversion technologies, which are considered as one of the alternatives for upcycling such waste streams. This paper summarizes the results of prominent studies for valorizing wastewater sludge through thermochemical conversion technologies while drawing inferences and identifying relationships between different technical and operating parameters involved. This is followed by sections emphasizing the environmental and economic implications of these technologies, and their corresponding products in context of the broader fields of waste-to-energy, nutrient recycling and the progress towards a circular economy.
Validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire for Maternal Recall

To evaluate the validity of the Pregnancy Physical Activity (PA) Questionnaire (PPAQ) for long-term PA recall. Forty-eight women completed the PPAQ at 21, 32 weeks gestation, and 12 weeks postpartu...
Entrepreneurship responding to adversity: Equilibrating Adverse Events and Disequilibrating Persistent Adversity:

Entrepreneurship and organization theory can both benefit from a mutual exchange to theorize on a number of topics. One such topic is organizational responses to adversity. In this paper, we theori...
Ultra-long cycle life and binder-free manganese-cobalt oxide supercapacitor electrodes through photonic nanostructuring

We report a novel photonic processing technique as a next-generation cost-effective technique to instantaneously synthesize nanostructured manganese-cobalt mixed oxide reduced graphitic oxide (Mn-Co-rGO) for supercapacitor electrodes in energy storage applications. The active material was prepared directly on highly conductive Pt–Si substrate, eliminating the need for a binder. Surface morphological analysis showed that the as-prepared electrodes have a highly porous and resilient nanostructure that facilitates the ion/electron movement during faradaic redox reactions and buffers the volume changes during charge–discharge processes, leading to the improved structural integrity of the electrode. The presence of distinct redox peaks, due to faradaic redox reactions, at all scan rates in the cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves and non-linear nature of the charge–discharge curves suggest the pseudocapacitive charge storage mechanism of the electrode. The electrochemical stability and the life cycle were examined by carrying out galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) measurements at 0.40 mA cm−2 constant areal current density for 80 000 cycles, and the electrode showed 95% specific capacitance retention, exhibiting excellent electrochemical stability and an ultra-long cycle life. Such remarkable electrochemical performance could be attributed to the enhanced conductivity of the electrode, the synergistic effect of metal ions with rGO, and the highly porous morphology, which provides large specific surface area for electrode/electrolyte interaction and facilitates the ion transfer.
Modeling Vehicle–Pedestrian Interactions using a Nonprobabilistic Regression Approach:

Understanding how vehicle drivers and pedestrians interact is key to identifying countermeasures that improve the safety of the interactions. As a result, techniques that can be used to evaluate th...
Self-defense Regulations and Crime

This paper uncovers the mechanism behind the relaxation of self-defense regulations with an empirical analysis followed by a game theoretical model. We obtained empirical evidence from examining the Stand Your Ground (SYG) law and subsequent changes in rates of planned and unplanned murder. We found that the SYG law increased planned murder rate by 7.6%, while it increased unplanned murder rate by 10.4%, on average across specification. Inspired by the differences, we built a game theory model based on Becker [1968] to explain the mechanisms. Faced with an increased likelihood of self-defense from the victim, some offenders of planned murder would be deterred, but others would prepare more thoroughly. Since offenders are often more experienced than victims in carrying out criminal activities, their improved preparations are likely to increase their success rate. On the contrary, offenders who act on-the-spot are less likely to improve their efforts more than the victims. In this case, if offenders are aggravated by victims’ defense, a more minor offense is likely to turn into murder. To decrease the success rate of planned murder, community-based approaches might be helpful (Makarios and Pratt [2012]). However, to prevent conversions of other kinds of crimes to unplanned murder, policy makers might want to reconsider the law.
Misapplication of the Federal Extraterritoriality Principle in Limiting the Scope of Civil Remedies for Fraud Under State Blue Sky Laws

States do not exercise extraterritorial power when a civil remedy for purchasers of securities victimized by unlawful conduct in the offer and sale of those securities is invoked by out of state purchasers under the Blue Sky Law of the state in and from which the distribution of securities was undertaken. The Extraterritoriality Principle under the Dormant Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution does not bar the invocation of a post-transaction by out of state purchasers. A United States District Court misapplied the Extraterritoriality Principle by constructing a bright-line "transaction" test to cabin the territorial limit of a purchaser remedy. The court ignored the object of regulation and protection under Blue Sky Laws as applied to the entire process of a distribution of securities, and mistakenly equated the application of a post-transaction civil remedy with the projection of state regulation outside the state.
The ‘Third’ UN: Imagining Post‐COVID‐19 Multilateralism

If the United Nations system is to remain relevant, or even survive, the thinking to re‐imagine and redesign contemporary global governance will come from the Third UN. This article focuses on the ecology of supportive non‐state actors – intellectuals, scholars, consultants, think tanks, NGOs, the for‐profit private sector, and the media – that interacts with the intergovernmental machinery of the First UN and international civil servants of the Second UN to formulate and refine ideas and decision‐making in policy processes. Despite the growth in analyses of non‐state actors in global governance, the ‘other’ or ‘Third’ UN is poorly understood, often ignored, and normally discounted. Some advocate for particular ideas, others help analyze or operationalize their testing and implementation; in any case, many help the UN ‘think’ and have an impact on how we think about the United Nations.
Virtual Geritalk: Improving Serious Illness Communication of Clinicians Who Care for Older Adults.

Abstract Context High quality communication is essential to older adults’ medical decision-making, quality of life, and adjustment to serious illness. Studies have demonstrated that Geritalk, a two day (16 hours total) in-person communication skills training improves self-assessed preparedness, skill acquisition, and sustained practice of communication skills. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Geritalk was adapted to a virtual format (four days, 10 hours total). Objectives Our study evaluated the change in participants’ self-assessed preparedness for serious illness communication before and after the virtual course and satisfaction with the course, and compared these findings to responses from a prior in-person Geritalk course. Methods Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine fellows at three urban academic medical centers completed surveys, which employed five-point Likert scales, before and after the virtual course to assess satisfaction with the course and preparedness for serious illness communication. Results Of the 20 virtual Geritalk participants, 17 (85%) completed the pre-course assessment, and 14 (70%) completed the post-course assessment. Overall, satisfaction with the course was high (mean 4.9 on a 5‐point scale). Compared to in-person Geritalk participants, virtual course participants reported comparable and significant (P Conclusion We show that a virtual communication skills training is feasible and effective. Our findings suggest that the innovative virtual Geritalk course has the potential to increase access to communication skills training, improve serious illness communication skills, and in improve the quality of care received by older adults with serious illness.
A test of the photoprotection hypothesis for the evolution of autumn colours: Chlorophyll resorption, not anthocyanin production, is correlated with nitrogen translocation

A prominent hypothesis for the adaptive value of anthocyanin production in the autumn leaves of trees and shrubs is that anthocyanins protect leaves from photooxidative stress at low temperatures, allowing a better resorption of nutrients-in particular, nitrogen-before leaf fall. While there is evidence that anthocyanins enable photoprotection, it is not clear whether this translates to improved nitrogen translocation and how this can explain inter-specific variation in autumn colours. A recent comparative analysis showed no correlation between temperature and anthocyanin production across species but did not analyse nitrogen content and nitrogen resorption efficiency. Here, we provide this comparison by analysing the nitrogen content of mature and senescent leaves and their autumn colours in 55 species of trees. We find no correlation between the presence of anthocyanins and the efficiency of nitrogen resorption. We find, instead, that nitrogen resorption is more efficient in species with yellow autumn colours, pointing to chlorophyll resorption, rather than anthocyanin synthesis, as the main determinant of nitrogen translocation efficiency. Hence, our results do not corroborate the photoprotection hypothesis for the evolution of autumn colours.
Are marijuana-using caregivers being asked about their marijuana use by their child’s pediatrician?

Abstract Our objective was to identify the percentage of marijuana-using caregivers who have been asked about their marijuana use by their child’s pediatrician. Data was collected from a cross-sectional, convenience sample survey study of 1500 caregivers presenting with their children to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Emergency Department between December 2015 and July 2017. Of the 1500 caregivers surveyed, 167 (11%) reported using marijuana. When asked if their child’s pediatrician had ever inquired/counseled about caregiver marijuana use, 165 marijuana-using caregivers responded; 149 caregivers (90.3%) reported “no,” 9 caregivers (5.4%) reported “yes,” and 7 caregivers (4.2%) reported “unsure.” We concluded that of marijuana-using caregivers, only a small percentage indicated their child’s pediatrician had inquired about caregiver marijuana use. This suggests pediatricians are not engaging caregivers about marijuana use and the subsequent secondhand marijuana smoke exposure for children. The continued rise of marijuana use among parents makes this research of public health importance.
Making Lemonade: Putting the Wisdom of the Genome to Work in Atopic Dermatitis.

Getting from a GWAS hit to an actionable gene remains a challenge in complex disease genetics. In a new article of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Sobczyk et al. (2021) use a wide variety of genomic data to generate a prioritization algorithm to tackle this problem in atopic dermatitis, calling on the wisdom of the genome to generate promising results.
Cox rings of moduli of quasi-parabolic principal bundles and the K-Pieri rule

Abstract We study a toric degeneration of the Cox ring of the moduli of quasi-principal SL m ( C ) bundles on a marked projective line in the case where the parabolic data is chosen in the stabilizer of the highest weight vector in C m or its dual representation ⋀ m − 1 ( C m ) . The result of this degeneration is an affine semigroup algebra which is naturally related to the combinatorics of the K -Pieri rule from Kac–Moody representation theory. We find that this algebra is normal and Gorenstein, with a quadratic square-free Grobner basis. This implies that the Cox ring is Gorenstein and Koszul for generic choices of markings, and generalizes results of Castravet, Tevelev and Sturmfels, Xu. Along the way we describe a relationship between the Cox ring and a classical invariant ring studied by Weyl.
Hierarchical Aggregation of Consumer Ratings for Service Ecosystem

With the wide availability of products and services through popular e-commerce platforms and dozens of similar offerings to choose from, there is a need to accurately assess and evaluate the quality of offerings. Several studies have shown that consumer feedback is an important source of information. This paper presents: (a) consumer Rating as a Service (RaaS) -- a building block service that can be used to add the consumer feedback lifecycle feature in the development of e-commerce platforms, (b) an approach to evaluate the quality of composite offerings based on the aggregation of consumer ratings using the composition structure and component relationships. Benefits of the proposed service include reduced development effort, shorter delivery time and a fine-grained aggregation of consumer ratings for composite offerings even with limited ratings.
Preoperative risk factors for discharge to a postacute care facility after shoulder arthroplasty

Background Shoulder arthroplasty procedures are becoming increasingly prevalent in the United States due to expanding indications and an aging population. Most patients are discharged home, but a subset of patients is discharged to a postacute care (PAC) facility. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility after shoulder arthroplasty. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample discharge records from 2011 to 2012 were analyzed for patients who underwent a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). Patient and hospital characteristics were identified. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the statistically significant risk factors for discharge to a PAC facility while controlling for covariates. Results In 2011 and 2012, 103,798 patients underwent shoulder arthroplasty procedures: 58,937 TSAs and 44,893 RTSAs were identified. RTSA patients were 1.3 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility as TSA patients ( P = .001). Medicare patients were 2 times as likely to be discharged to a PAC facility than those with private insurance ( P P Conclusion The risk factors identified in our study can be used to stratify patients at high risk for postoperative discharge to PAC, allowing for greater improvement in overall care and the facilitation of postoperative discharge planning.
Comparative in vitro evaluation of apheresis platelets stored with 100% plasma or 65% platelet additive solution III/35% plasma and including periods without agitation under simulated shipping conditions.

BACKGROUND: A comparative study evaluated the retention of apheresis platelet (A-PLT) in vitro properties prepared with PLT additive solution (PAS)-III or 100% plasma and stored with continuous agitation (CA) and without continuous agitation (WCA). STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: PLTs collected with the Amicus cell separator (Fenwal, Inc.) were utilized to prepare two matched components, each with approximately 4 × 1011 PLTs. In the primary study, one component contained 65% PAS-III/35% plasma and the other 100% plasma. Four storage scenarios were used, one with CA and three with periods without agitation under simulated shipping conditions. In vitro assays were used early and after 5 days of storage. RESULTS: pH levels after 5 days with CA were less with PAS-III components than 100% plasma components, with levels always above 6.6 in any component. With CA, a number of other variables were reduced even early during storage with PAS-III including morphology, extent of shape change, hypotonic stress response, adhesion, and aggregation. Storage WCA resulted in only a limited increase in the magnitude of the assay differences between PAS-III and 100% plasma components. Periods WCA did not reduce the pH below 6.6. The thromboelastograph variable associated with the strengthening of clots by PLTs was essentially comparable with PAS-III and plasma components throughout storage with CA or WCA. CONCLUSION: The data indicate that a 100% plasma medium provides for better retention of specific in vitro PLT properties, with CA and WCA, although the clinical significance of these in vitro decrements due to PAS-III is unknown.
The role of surface roughness in surface enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS): the importance of multiple plasmon resonances

Abstract The interaction of light with clusters and random distributions of metal hemispheroids on a perfect conducting flat surface is studied. Significant SERS enhancements are found to arise from multiple plasmon contributions to the surface electromagnetic fields.
A proportional hazards model for informatively censored survival times

The models in Demasi et al. (1997) are adapted for informatively censored failure times to a primary event and times to followup events. The proposed model treats informative censoring as a type of risk in a competing risks setup. Inferences about the parameters in the model can be based on standard partial-likelihood theory. A simulation study shows that likelihood inference works well in practice. Use of the model is demonstrated by analyzing some data on waiting time to bone marrow transplantation (primary event) and time to relapse or death after transplantation (followup event) for leukemia patients. Residual inspection was performed to check the adequacy of the model.
Isolable analogues of the Breslow intermediate derived from chiral triazolylidene carbenes.

Since Breslow’s initial report on the thiamine mode of action, the study of catalytic acyl carbanion processes has been an area of immense interest. With the advent of azolylidene catalysis, a plethora of reactivtiy has been harnessed, but the crucial nucleophilic intermediate proposed by Breslow had never been isolated or fully characterized. Herein, we report the isolation and full characterization of nitrogen analogues of the Breslow intermediate. Both stable and catalytically relevant, these species provide a model system for the study of acyl carbanion and homoenolate processes catalyzed by triazolylidene carbenes.
Predicting Control Performance of Residential Heating Systems with an Analog Computer

A properly designed residential heating system must provide homeowner comfort under a broad range of operating conditions. Doing this with an economically priced system requires knowledge of the many variables affecting system performance. A typical heating system including the house, furnace, heat conveyance, and thermostatic control has been simulated on an analog computer facility. By varying computer inputs to reflect changing outdoor weather conditions, house construction, type of heating plant, and occupancy, system performance with different types of controls can be readily evaluated. This type of computer analysis facilitates early consideration of component design variations aimed at achieving optimum performance with minimum cost.
Violation of Bell’s Inequality in Spatial Parity Space

We demonstrate an approach to violating Bell’s inequality with the continuous spatial variables of entangled-photon pairs using simple optical components that manipulate the spatial parity of the transverse coordinate in one dimension.
For the greater good: business networks and business social responsibility to communities

Business networks (co-operative arrangements between independent business organizations) may be the signature organizational form of the contemporary global economy. Many policy-makers and local leaders advocate business network membership as an alternative development strategy for regional economic vitality. The extant literature on business networks has focused on their association with business success. However, little is known about their impact on other aspects of community life. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate the role of network membership on one non-economic dimension of the business community interface. We examined the relationship between business network membership and business social responsibility to communities, defined as the provision of leadership and support for community betterment projects. Data were gathered from telephone interviews with a random sample of 460 non-metro small business operators in the USA. Independent t-tests and ordinary least squares regression analyses c...
The preparation of biologically active messenger RNA from human postmortem brain tissue.

: Messenger RNA (mRNA) was extracted from human postmortem brain tissue by alkaline phenol extraction of polysomes followed by oligo (dT)-cellulose chromatography. The mRNA preparations stimulated protein synthesis in a cell-free system containing wheat germ homogenate. The products of protein synthesis were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These analyses indicated that numerous polypeptides, including tubulin subunits and actin isomers, were synthesized by the human mRNA. The molecular weight range of polypeptides synthesized by human mRNA fractions from two brain specimens were identical, and analysis by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated qualitatively similar products. The yield of mRNA extracted per gram of human tissue was less than the yield obtained with rat forebrains from animals sacrificed immediately before brain removal and mRNA purification. A decrease in the amount of polysomes isolated from human tissue relative to rat brain tissue was a major factor contributing to the low yield. The molecular weight distribution of polypeptides synthesized by human and rat brain mRNA fractions in wheat germ homogenate was similar; thus, there was no indication for selective breakdown or inactivation of high molecular weight mRNA species in the human tissue. Our studies indicate that it is possible to utilize postmortem tissue for molecular biological investigations of human brain mRNA.
Effect of Foot Location on Human Running Prediction

Human running is simulated in this work by using a skeletal digital human model with 55 degrees of freedom (DOFs). A predictive dynamics method is used to formulate the running problem, and normal running is formulated as a symmetric and cyclic motion. The dynamic effort and impulse are used as the performance measure, and the upper body yawing moment is also included in the performance measure. The joint angle profiles and joint torque profiles are calculated for the full-body human model, and the ground reaction force is determined. The effect of foot location on the running motion prediction are simulated and studied.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Study of the dispersion of nonlinear refraction in InSb

We studied the nonlinear refraction due to bound electrons in InSb using femtosecond pulses in the range of 8-13 μm and show that the nonlinear refraction coefficient changes sign at a wavelength around 10 μm.
Contrast thresholds in additive luminance noise: Effect of noise temporal characteristics

This study investigated the way in which the temporal properties of additive luminance noise influence threshold contrast and affect estimates of equivalent noise and sampling efficiency. Threshold contrast was obtained from four visually normal observers for a 2-cycle-per-degree Gabor patch across a range of target durations in the absence and presence of additive luminance noise that was either static or dynamic. In addition, the temporal relationship between target and noise was either synchronous (simultaneous presentation of both) or asynchronous (noise duration longer than target duration). For both synchronous and asynchronous presentation modes, the extent of temporal integration differed for targets presented in dynamic vs. static noise. Furthermore, for a fixed-duration target, increasing the degree of temporal asynchrony between target and noise monotonically increased threshold contrast in dynamic noise, but had a non-monotonic effect on threshold contrast in static noise. For both dynamic and static noise, estimates of equivalent noise and sampling efficiency were dependent on the degree of temporal asynchrony between target and noise. The observed differences between the effects of dynamic and static noise are consistent with a previous proposal that detection of targets of intermediate spatial frequency in the presence of these two noise types is governed by sustained-like and transient-like visual mechanisms, respectively.
Lymphoblastoid interferon-α inhibits T cell proliferation and expression of eosinophil-activating cytokines

T cell-derived cytokines, such as interleukin-5 (IL-5) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activate eosinophils, whereas other cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and IL-13, determine eosinophil recruitment. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha), a leukocyte-derived cytokine, has been shown to have beneficial effects in eosinophil-mediated disorders, such as the hypereosinophilic syndrome and a murine model of allergic asthma, where it inhibited eosinophil recruitment. We tested the hypothesis that IFN-alpha acted in eosinophil-mediated disorders by modulating T cell cytokine expression. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or human ragweed-specific TH1 (2B8) and TH2 (2D2) T cell clones were cultured in the presence of 5 micrograms/ml of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or 25 micrograms/ml of antigen Amb a 1 (short ragweed allergen), respectively, and lymphoblastoid IFN-alpha (varying from 0 to 10,000 U/ml). We assessed T cell proliferation by [3H]thymidine incorporation and production of IL-5 and GM-CSF by ELISA. Expression of cytokine transcripts was analyzed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR). IFN-alpha induced a dose-dependent suppression of T cell proliferation of both PBMC (p < 0.001) and the T cell clones (p < 0.001). IFN-alpha inhibited gene expression of IL-5, GM-CSF, TNF-alpha, and IL-13 in PBMC. Furthermore, IFN-alpha significantly inhibited mitogen-induced and antigen-induced production of IL-5 and GM-CSF. IFN-alpha may benefit eosinophil-mediated disorders by inhibiting T cell function and production of cytokines active on human eosinophils.
193 HYALURONIC ACID-GLYCIDYL METHACRYLATE HYDROGELS SUPPORT IN VITRO CHONDROGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF PORCINE ADIPOSE-DERIVED STEM CELLS

There is a great need for bioengineered cartilage because of the lack of medical or surgical therapies to improve articular cartilage healing. We hypothesised that porcine adipose-derived stem cells (pASC) can be induced to undergo chondrogenic differentiation within hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels. The objective of this study was to develop UV-curable pASC-laden HA hydrogels aimed at application in cartilage tissue engineering. HA was treated with glycidyl methacrylate (GM) to allow chemical gelation of the polymer upon exposure to UV light. 2% HAGM hydrogel was obtained by mixing HAGM with chondrogenic medium consisting of TGFβ, ascorbic acid, ITS+ premix (insulin, transferrin, selenous acid; Cat. No. 354352, BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, NJ), sodium pyruvate, and dexamethasone. Passage three-pASC were resuspended in 2% HAGM hydrogel with 2 × 107 cells mL–1. Twelve-and-one-half (12.5)-μL droplets (micromasses) of this suspension containing 250 000 pASC were placed in 24-well culture plates and incubated for 2 h at 37°C and 5% CO2 to allow for cell attachment. Subsequently, the cell-laden hydrogels were cured with ~10 mW cm–2 365-nm UV light for 10 min, covered with 500 μL of chondrogenic medium, and cultured for up to 11 days at 37°C and 5% CO2. Additionally, pASC micromasses were cultured in chondrogenic medium without loading on 2% HAGM hydrogels as positive controls, and in non-chondrogenic DMEM as negative controls. Samples were collected at 4, 7, and 11 days in to culture for cryopreservation (for immunohistochemistry; IHC) and dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay. IHC on day 11 of culture demonstrated the expression of cartilage specific proteins type-II collagen and aggrecan. On the basis of data from the DMMB assay, chondrogenic differentiation of pASC-laden micromasses in positive controls and 2% HAGM treatments were not different (P > 0.05). This indicates that ASC can produce cartilage equally well under both conditions, supporting the idea that HAGM may be used as a matrix for cartilage formation in vitro and possibly in vivo. In conclusion, using a micromass cell culture system, we demonstrated that 2% HAGM hydrogels support proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of pASC. Further experiments testing different concentrations of HAGM and UV exposure levels, and larger sample numbers are warranted to further improve this procedure.
Critical Determinants of Ca2+-Dependent Inactivation within an EF-Hand Motif of L-Type Ca2+ Channels

L-type (alpha(1C)) calcium channels inactivate rapidly in response to localized elevation of intracellular Ca(2+), providing negative Ca(2+) feedback in a diverse array of biological contexts. The dominant Ca(2+) sensor for such Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation has recently been identified as calmodulin, which appears to be constitutively tethered to the channel complex. This Ca(2+) sensor induces channel inactivation by Ca(2+)-dependent CaM binding to an IQ-like motif situated on the carboxyl tail of alpha(1C). Apart from the IQ region, another crucial site for Ca(2+) inactivation appears to be a consensus Ca(2+)-binding, EF-hand motif, located approximately 100 amino acids upstream on the carboxyl terminus. However, the importance of this EF-hand motif for channel inactivation has become controversial since the original report from our lab implicating a critical role for this domain. Here, we demonstrate not only that the consensus EF hand is essential for Ca(2+) inactivation, but that a four-amino acid cluster (VVTL) within the F helix of the EF-hand motif is itself essential for Ca(2+) inactivation. Mutating these amino acids to their counterparts in non-inactivating alpha(1E) calcium channels (MYEM) almost completely ablates Ca(2+) inactivation. In fact, only a single amino acid change of the second valine within this cluster to tyrosine (V1548Y) supports much of the functional knockout. However, mutations of presumed Ca(2+)-coordinating residues in the consensus EF hand reduce Ca(2+) inactivation by only approximately 2-fold, fitting poorly with the EF hand serving as a contributory inactivation Ca(2+) sensor, in which Ca(2+) binds according to a classic mechanism. We therefore suggest that while CaM serves as Ca(2+) sensor for inactivation, the EF-hand motif of alpha(1C) may support the transduction of Ca(2+)-CaM binding into channel inactivation. The proposed transduction role for the consensus EF hand is compatible with the detailed Ca(2+)-inactivation properties of wild-type and mutant V1548Y channels, as gauged by a novel inactivation model incorporating multivalent Ca(2+) binding of CaM.
Towards an implantable biochip for glucose and lactate monitoring using microdisc electrode arrays (MDEAs)

A complete electrochemical cell-on-a-chip that uses the MicroDisc Electrode Array (MDEA) working electrode (WE) design was evaluated for eventual intramuscular implantation for the continuous amperometric monitoring of glucose and lactate in an animal trauma model. The microfabricated ECC MDEA5037 comprises two discrete electrochemical cells-on-a-chip (ECCs), each with a reference, counter, and MDEA working electrode. Each MDEA comprises 37 microdiscs (diameter = 50 µm) arranged in a Hexagonal Closed Packed (HCP) arrangement with a center to center distance (d) of 100 µm. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrical Impendence Spectroscopy (EIS) reveals that this device scales in its interfacial properties with a corresponding MDEA 050 device that comprises 5,184 microdiscs. Parallel development of miniaturized mixed-signal integrated electronics for wireless reprogramming, data acquisition and communication addresses the key issues involved in developing measurement electronics, AD/DA processing, power management and telemetry for implantable amperometric biosensors. A generalized electronics platform based on the Texas Instruments TI NC01101 chip has been developed that may be readily applied to many types of biotransducers with minor modifications.