cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Annexin II/Annexin II receptor axis regulates adhesion, migration, homing, and growth of prostate cancer

One of the most life-threatening complications of prostate cancer is skeletal metastasis. In order to develop treatment for metastasis, it is important to understand its molecular mechanisms. Our work in this field has drawn parallels between hematopoietic stem cell and prostate cancer homing to the marrow. Our recent work demonstrated that annexin II expressed by osteoblasts and endothelial cells plays a critical role in niche selection. In this study, we demonstrate that annexin II and its receptor play a crucial role in establishing metastasis of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer cell lines migrate toward annexin II and the adhesion of prostate cancer to osteoblasts and endothelial cells was inhibited by annexin II. By blocking annexin II or its receptor in animal models, short-term and long-term localization of prostate cancers are limited. Annexin II may also facilitate the growth of prostate cancer in vitro and in vivo by the MAPK pathway. These data strongly suggest that annexin II and its receptor axis plays a central role in prostate cancer metastasis, and that prostate cancer utilize the hematopoietic stem cell homing mechanisms to gain access to the niche.
The effect of needle gauge, needle type, and needle orientation on the volume of a drop

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine impact of needle gauge, type, and orientation on average volume of drop dispensed. Procedure Five needle gauges (22G, 23G, 25G, 27G, and 30G) were examined. For each gauge, volume of drop delivered was determined for standard sharp beveled tip, blunt tip, and after breaking off of the sharp needle from the hub. Vertical and horizontal orientation of the needle was tested for effect on drop volume for 22-G and 30-G sharp beveled needles. Results Mean drop volume was affected by needle gauge, needle orientation, and whether the needle had been broken off from its hub. Mean drop volume scaled directly with needle diameter with drop volumes of 25.0 μL (±20.2) and 83.9 μL (±16.5) being found for 30-gauge and 22-gauge needles, respectively. Intermediate gauges (27, 25, 23G) yielded intermediate drop volumes. Blunt needles tended to produce larger drop volumes compared to sharp beveled needles, but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Breaking off of the needle from the hub produced substantially larger drop volumes with little difference being found between needle gauges. Average volumes of 1 drop from a 22-G vertical, 22-G horizontal, 30-G vertical, and 30-G horizontal sharp beveled needle were 20.2, 9.1, 10.1, and 3.3 μL, respectively. Conclusions These findings have relevance for controlled delivery of topical ophthalmic medications to patients.
MICROBIAL, INSTRUMENTAL COLOR AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUND BEEF PROCESSED FROM BEEF TRIMMINGS TREATED WITH POTASSIUM LACTATE, SODIUM METASILICATE, PEROXYACETIC ACID OR ACIDIFIED SODIUM CHLORITE AS SINGLE ANTIMICROBIAL INTERVENTIONS

ABSTRACT Beef trimmings, inoculated with Escherichia coli (EC) and Salmonella typhimurium (ST), were treated with 3% potassium lactate (K-L), 4% sodium metasilicate (NMS), 0.1% acidified sodium chlorite (ASC) or 0.02% peroxyacetic acid (PAA) prior to grinding. The ground beef packages were sampled at 0, 1, 2, 3 and 7 days of simulated retail display. All treatments reduced (P 0.05) to the control in odor and similar (P > 0.05) in color for the K-L and NMS treatments during initial display. Instrumental color results indicated that K-L, NMS and PAA were similar (P > 0.05) in redness (a*) to the control. These findings indicated that use of tested antimicrobial agents can reduce microbial numbers with little impact on sensory odor and color characteristics. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Although antimicrobial interventions have shown promising results in decontaminating meat products, there are only a limited number of antimicrobial products that can be used without causing adverse effects on quality characteristics of the final product. Consumers often discriminate against discolored meat products, and thus any deleterious effects on color and other quality attributes in decontaminated products will lead to a negative economic impact. The outcome of this research will provide information on selection of antimicrobial agents that will maximize ground beef safety without causing deleterious effects on quality attributes. Application of suitable antimicrobial interventions at the end of a production line will be advantageous to supply ground beef with increased shelf-life and decreased or no risk for illnesses caused by pathogens.
The Torque on the Input Shaft of an Axial-Piston Swash-Plate Type Hydrostatic Pump

Traditionally, the theoretical torque on the input shaft of a hydrostatic pump has been determined using a macroscopic power-in, power-out approach that neglects the time-varying aspects of this quantity and the compressibility of the hydraulic fluid within the circuit. In contrast to the traditional approach, this research analyzes and sums the basic forces within the machine to compute the instantaneous torque exerted on the shaft. It is shown that the instantaneous torque repeatedly varies by 1.5 percent of its maximum value and that resonant frequencies of the pump occur at even multiples of the piston-pass frequency. Furthermore, an integral average of the instantaneous torque is performed and shown to deviate by a maximum of 3 percent from the traditional method of computing this quantity.
The terminal tail region of a yeast myosin-V mediates its attachment to vacuole membranes and sites of polarized growth

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae myosin-V, Myo2p, has been implicated in the polarized movement of several organelles and is essential for yeast viability. We have shown previously that Myo2p is required for the movement of a portion of the lysosome (vacuole) into the bud and consequently for proper inheritance of this organelle during cell division. Class V myosins have a globular carboxyl terminal tail domain that is proposed to mediate localization of the myosin, possibly through interaction with organelle-specific receptors. Here we describe a myo2 allele whose phenotypes support this hypothesis. vac15–1/myo2–2 has a single mutation in this globular tail domain, causing defects in vacuole movement and inheritance. Although a portion of wild-type Myo2p fractionates with the vacuole, the myo2–2 gene product does not. In addition, the mutant protein does not concentrate at sites of active growth, the predominant location of wild-type Myo2p. Although deletion of the tail domain is lethal, the myo2–2 gene product retains the essential functions of Myo2p. Moreover, myo2–2 does not cause the growth defects and lethal genetic interactions seen in myo2–66, a mutant defective in the actin-binding domain. These observations suggest that the myo2–2 mutation specifically disrupts interactions with selected myosin receptors, namely those on the vacuole membrane and those at sites of polarized growth.
Are serial dexamethasone suppression tests useful in electroconvulsive therapy

In addition to its diagnostic utility, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) may also have value as a predictor of recovery or relapse. Evidence for this has derived mainly from patients receiving antidepressants while some paradoxical findings have emerged for patients undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). To explore this we charted Hamilton rating scale scores and DST results during ECT for 30 patients who were nonsuppressors before ECT. While week-to-week severity measure corresponded roughly to DST changes in the expected fashion, shifts in test results had no apparent predictive value. In fact, changes to nonsuppressor status were more often followed by improvement than were changes to suppressor status. These findings suggest that ECT may have a number of opposing, direct and indirect effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
Total Quality Management in Government: A Practical Guide for the Real World

Part One: What Is Total Quality Management? 1. How TQM Can Strengthen Government Performance 2. The Basic Concepts of TQM 3. How TQM Revolutionizes Management Part Two: Implementing Total Quality Management in Public Organizations 4. Getting Prepared: Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Change 5. Taking the First Steps: Analyzing Your Work 6. Managerial Strategies for Implementing TQM Part Three: Total Quality Management in the Real World 7. Bringing TQM to the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Underground Storage Tanks 8. TQM Success Stories 9. Making TQM Work in Government: Real-World Strategies Steven Cohen is associate dean, school of international and public affairs, and director, graduate program in public policy and administration, Columbia University. He is author of The Effective Public Manager (Jossey- Bass, 1989). Ronald Brand, a management consultant, is former director, office of underground storage tanks, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Leukocyte-Dependent Platelet Vasoactive Amine Release and Immune Complex Deposition in African Swine Fever

Fifteen pigs were inoculated with African swine fever virus in a study of the pathogenesis of the disease. All pigs surviving the first two weeks developed high circulating antibody titers against African swine fever virus and persistent viremia. Hemolytic complement levels declined to 50 to 70 hemolytic complement 50 (CH50) units/ml from mean preinoculation levels of 120 CH50 units/ml. Immune deposits consisting of African swine fever antigen, host immunoglobulin G, and native C3 were found in the glomeruli of surviving pigs. All pigs surviving two weeks after inoculation developed leukocyte-bound antibody functionally characteristic of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Antigen-specific degranulation of antibody-coated leukocytes produced secondary platelet aggregation and vasoactive amine release. The results suggest that the IgE-basophil-platelet loop acting via amplification by leukocyte-derived platelet-activating factor participates in the immune complex deposition process in African swine fever.
Development and Utilization of a Web-Based Application as a Robust Radiology Teaching Tool (RadStax) for Medical Student Anatomy Teaching

Rationale and Objectives: The primary role of radiology in the preclinical setting is the use of imaging to improve students' understanding of anatomy. Many currently available Web-based anatomy programs include either suboptimal or overwhelming levels of detail for medical students.Our objective was to develop a user-friendly software program that anatomy instructors can completely tailor to match the desired level of detail for their curriculum, meets the unique needs of the first- and the second-year medical students, and is compatible with most Internet browsers and tablets.Materials and Methods: RadStax is a Web-based application developed using free, open-source, ubiquitous software. RadStax was first introduced as an interactive resource for independent study and later incorporated into lectures. First- and second-year medical students were surveyed for quantitative feedback regarding their experience.Results: RadStax was successfully introduced into our medical school curriculum. It allows the creation of learning modules with labeled multiplanar (MPR) image sets, basic anatomic information, and a self-assessment feature. The program received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students. Of 115 students surveyed, 87.0% found it highly effective as a study tool and 85.2% reported high user satisfaction with the program.Conclusions: RadStax is a novel application for instructors wishing to create an atlas of labeled MPR radiologic studies tailored to meet the specific needs their curriculum. Simple and focused, it provides an interactive experience for students similar to the practice of radiologists.This program is a robust anatomy teaching tool that effectively aids in educating the preclinical medical student.
Incremental window-based protein sequence alignment algorithms

Motivation: Protein sequence alignment plays a critical role in computational biology as it is an integral part in many analysis tasks designed to solve problems in comparative genomics, structure and function prediction, and homology modeling. Methods: We have developed novel sequence alignment algorithms that compute the alignment between a pair of sequences based on short fixed- or variable-length high-scoring subsequences. Our algorithms build the alignments by repeatedly selecting the highest scoring pairs of subsequences and using them to construct small portions of the final alignment. We utilize PSI-BLAST generated sequence profiles and employ a profile-to-profile scoring scheme derived from PICASSO. Results: We evaluated the performance of the computed alignments on two recently published benchmark datasets and compared them against the alignments computed by existing state-of-the-art dynamic programming-based profile-to-profile local and global sequence alignment algorithms. Our results show that the new algorithms achieve alignments that are comparable with or better than those achieved by existing algorithms. Moreover, our results also showed that these algorithms can be used to provide better information as to which of the aligned positions are more reliable---a critical piece of information for comparative modeling applications. Contact: rangwala@cs.umn.edu Supplementary information: http://bioinfo.cs.umn.edu/supplements/win-aln/
Streptokinase thrombolysis in experimental coronary artery thrombosis: pattern of reflow and effect of a stenosis

Abstract We studied recanalization of an obstructed left circumflex coronary artery by streptokinase in open-chest anesthetized dogs. Thrombotic occlusion was induced by a 100 μA anodal current selectively delivered to the intimal surface of the vessel. Intracoronary streptokinase (50,000 U) or saline was infused over a 50-min period beginning at either 30 min or 90 min after occlusion. Continous recordings were made of antegrade circumflex flow and regional myocardial function, which was quantitated using sonomicrometer crystals in the regions of the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries. In some experiments a fixed stenosis, having no effect on mean circumflex coronary artery blood flow, was placed at the site of subsequent thrombus formation. The presence of a stenosis decreased the weight of occlusive thrombi obtained from nonreperfused saline controls by 40% and increased the proportion of animals successfully reperfused by streptokinase from 13 to 76%. Streptokinase reduced thrombus mass by 44% in animals recanalized in the presence of the stenosis. On the average, reflow was established after 26 min of streptokinase infusion, was less in magnitude than pre-occlusion flow, and was unstable and intermittent, being marked by frequent reocclusions. Initiating treatment at 30 min or 90 min post-occlusion did not influence characteristics of the reflow. Return of myocardial contractility in the ischemic bed was not detected during the immediate reperfusion period in the majority of these experiments.
MACE: A Dynamic Caching Framework for Mashups

The recent surge of popularity has established Mashups as an important category of Web 2.0 applications. Mashups are essentially Web services that are often created by end-users. They aggregate and manipulate data from sources around the World Wide Web. Surprisingly, there are very few studies on the scalability and performance of mashups. In this paper, we study caching as a vehicle for enhancing the scalability and the efficiency of mashups. Although caching has long been used to improve the performance of Web services, mashups pose some unique challenges that necessitate a more dynamic approach to caching. Towards this end, we present MACE - a cache specifically designed for mashups. In designing the MACE framework this paper makes three technical contributions. First, we present a model for representing mashups and analyzing their performance. Second, we propose an indexing scheme that enables efficient reuse of cached data for newly created mashups. Finally, this paper also describes a novel caching policy that analyzes the costs and benefits of caching data at various stages of different mashups and selectively stores data that is most effective in improving system scalability. We report experiments studying the performance of the MACE system.
Highly dense dual-channel C-X-Ku and 6-18 GHz MMIC power amplifiers

A state-of-the-art dual-channel 4-stage MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) power amplifier operating over C-X-Ku bands has been produced. The chip is very small, measuring only 4.35*5.1 mm. At 25 degrees C, each one of its channels provides 29.5+or-0.5 dBm at 2 dB compression (2 dBC) from a linear gain of 19.5+or-1.5 dB over 6-17 GHz. The drain bias is 7 V and the power-added efficiency (PAE) is 11-14%. At 85 degrees C, power and gain decrease by, respectively, 0.5 dB and 3.5-4 dB. The design was iterated once to produce the first all monolithic power amplifier chip which operates over 6-18 GHz and provides 28-29 dBm at 18 GHz. The architecture and size were maintained in the design. At 25 degrees C with V/sub ds/=7 V, it provides 29-30.5 dBm at 2 dBC from a linear gain of 19+or-1.25 dB over 6-18 GHz. At 85 degrees C, 28.75-30 dBm also at 2 dBC from a linear gain of 15+or-1 dB with PAE of 10-13% was achieved over 6-18 GHz. >
Scattering by a dielectric cylinder of arbitrary cross section shape

The theory and equations are developed for the scattering pattern of a dielectric cylinder of arbitrary cross section shape. The harmonic incident wave is assumed to have its electric vector parallel with the axis of the cylinder, and the field intensities are assumed to be independent of distance along the axis. Solutions are readily obtained for inhomogeneous cylinders when the permittivity is independent of distance along the cylinder axis. Although other investigators have approximated the field within the dielectric body by the incident field, we treat the total field as an unknown function which is determined by solving a system of linear equations. In the case of the dielectric cylindrical shell of circular cross section, this technique yields results which agree accurately with the exact classical solution. Scattering patterns are also presented in graphical form for a dielectric shell of semicircular cross section, a thin homogeneous plane dielectric sheet of finite width, and an inhomogeneous plane sheet. The effects of surface-wave excitation and mutual interaction among the various portions of the dielectric shell are included automatically in this solutiom
Mechanical stretch and intimal hyperplasia: the missing link?

Despite significant advancements in vascular medicine, including percutaneous interventional strategies, surgical revascularization remains the best available treatment option for many patients with coronary artery disease. Autologous saphenous vein grafts are still commonly used for coronary artery bypass grafting, especially for multivessel disease, when available arterial grafts are insufficient. However, saphenous vein graft patency is 61% at 10 years and only 50% at 15 years and more, significantly lower than for internal mammary artery grafts.1,2 Thus, in clinical medicine, saphenous vein graft failure remains a major clinical problem. See accompanying article on page 471 The underlying pathophysiology of venous graft disease and late bypass failure includes intimal hyperplasia and subsequent accelerated atherosclerosis.3 More than 100 years ago, Alexis Carrel, MD, who won the Nobel Prize in recognition of his work on vascular suture and the transplantation of blood vessels and organs, made the first observations of intimal hyperplasia after vein grafting; these findings were later linked to vein graft stenosis and failure.4,5 Furthermore, vein grafts implanted in the arterial circulation developed intimal hyperplasia, whereas those implanted in the venous circulation did not.6 Although these observations were made …
On pointwise convergence, compactness, and equicontinuity. II

This note is a sequel and a completion to [5]. Its purpose is to underline the important role played by the "separation property" (hi ~ H, h 2 ~ H, h 1 ¢= h~ ~ hi ¢= h~) in measurability questions (such as weak versus strong). The separation property is characteristic of liftings (see [4] for the definition of a lifting). The basic notation and terminology used below is as follows: We denote by (E, ~, t x) the underlying probability space and by = ~ ( E , ~, I~) the algebra of all d~-measurable mappings f : E --~ R. F o r f ~ £,¢, g ~ ~o we write
Citizen Engagement in the View of Michigan's Local Government Leaders

This report presents the opinions of Michigan’s local government leaders regarding their governments’ engagement with citizens, and how citizens are involved in the policymaking process. The findings are based on statewide surveys of local government leaders in the Fall 2012 wave of the Michigan Public Policy Survey (MPPS).
Extending Research on Oral Reading Fluency Measures, Reading Speed, and Comprehension

Middle-school students completed a comprehension assessment. The following day, they read four, 120-word passages, two standard and two non-standard ransom-note passages with altered font sizes. Altering font sizes increased students’ reading time (i.e., reduced reading speed) by an average of 3 s and decreased students’ words correct per minute (WCPM) scores but did not reduce oral reading accuracy or increase the amount of comprehension score variance accounted for by reading accuracy, reading speed, and WCPM measures. While oral reading fluency (ORF) measures accounted for 32 and 36 % of the variance in comprehension scores, the measure of reading speed embedded within ORF measures accounted for almost all of this explained variance. The importance of reading speed and implications for those concerned that ORF measures non-functional aloud word reading accuracy are described.
How Templates Improve Quality and Efficiency in Surgical Pathology

Computerized information systems allow repetitive tasks to be done quickly and efficiently, and complex tasks to be done routinely. Surgical pathology reports, reflecting the nature of the specimens, tend to be similar, and word processing may be used to develop templates. The use of templates, modified to fit a particular specimen, greatly reduces repetitive typing and typographical errors. Their use allows gross descriptions, diagnostic statements, and comments to be formatted by an expert, thus setting a high standard for all users. In addition to quality improvement, templates greatly enhance the productivity of secretaries, allowing more work to be done with the same effort.
Neurotoxicity of Adjuvants Used in Perineural Anesthesia and Analgesia in Comparison With Ropivacaine

Background and Objectives: Clonidine, buprenorphine, dexamethasone, and midazolam (C, B, D, M) have been used to prolong perineural local anesthesia in the absence of data on the influence of these adjuvants on local anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity. Therefore, the impact of these adjuvants on ropivacaine (R)-induced death of isolated sensory neurons was assessed. Methods: The trypan blue exclusion assay was used to assess death of sensory neurons isolated from adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Drugs were applied, alone or in combination, for 2 or 24 hrs at 37°C. Results: Neuronal viability was halved by 24-hr exposure to R (2.5 mg/mL), far exceeding the neurotoxicity of C, B, D, or M (at 2-100 times estimated clinical concentrations). Plain M at twice the estimated clinical concentration produced a small but significant increase in neurotoxicity at 24 hrs. After 2-hr exposure, high concentrations of B, C, and M increased the neurotoxicity of R; the combination of R + M killed more than 90% of neurons. Estimated clinical concentrations of C + B (plus 66 μg/mL D) had no influence on (i) R-induced neurotoxicity, (ii) the increased neurotoxicity associated with the combination of R + M, or (iii) the neurotoxicity associated with estimated clinical concentrations of M. There was increased neurotoxicity with 133 μg/mL D combined with R + C + B. Conclusions: Results with R reaffirm the need to identify ways to mitigate local anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity. While having no protective effect on R-induced neurotoxicity in vitro, future research with adjuvants should address if the C + B + D combination can enable reducing R concentrations needed to achieve equianalgesia (and/or provide equal or superior duration, in preclinical in vivo models).
Modeling Diamond Blackfan Anemia in Vivo Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a promising source of patient-specific cells for disease modeling, drug screens and cellular therapies. However, the inability to derive engraftable human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells has limited their use for modeling of hematological diseases. We previously reported a strategy to respecify lineage-restricted CD34+hematopoietic precursors derived from iPSCs into multilineage progenitors that can be expanded in vitro and transplanted in vivo. Five transcription factors, HOXA9, ERG, RORA, SOX4 and MYB, enable expansion and maintenance of primitive CD34+CD38- cells, and allow their differentiation upon transgene silencing. Respecified iPSC-derived hematopoietic progenitors give rise to robust short-term engraftment with myeloid and erythroid lineages. Notably, the erythrocytes undergo definitive maturation and hemoglobin switching to express β-globin in vivo. This system presents a useful platform for modeling hematological disorders due to its capacity to generate large numbers of engraftable disease cells for in vitro and in vivo screens. Congenital anemias, such as Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) represent a defined system for understanding red blood cell development and more common idiopathic anemias. To model this disease in vitro, we combined factor-induced respecification with stepwise erythroid maturation. We show that respecified iPSCs from DBA patients recapitulate the defect in erythroid differentiation. Consistent with clinical observations, early erythroblasts show impaired proliferation marked by increased apoptosis and p21 expression, while terminal maturation is unaffected. Interestingly, while early passage iPSC lines display a profound erythroid defect, continuous passage restores a near-normal capacity for erythroid differentiation. Furthermore, transplanted DBA iPSC-derived progenitors give rise to normal myeloid, but fail to generate erythroid, engraftment. This validates this system as a powerful tool for disease modeling and drug discovery. Mice transplanted with DBA iPSC-derived progenitors treated with conventional anemia drugs, such as dexamethasone, show a modest improvement in human erythroid output suggesting the need for novel treatments. Using high-throughput chemical screens, we have identified several signaling pathways which may be attractive therapeutic targets in DBA and other anemias. Further characterization is currently underway to better target defective erythropoiesis and dissect underlying disease mechanisms. Disclosures Zon: FATE Therapeutics, Inc: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Scholar Rock: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Stemgent: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Ictal Lateralizing Sign in Refractory Epilepsy

Researchers in Cuba and Columbia studied the frequency of ictal dorsiflexion of the great toe and its lateralizing value for the epileptogenic focus in seizures of patients consecutively evaluated at two tertiary centers for epilepsy surgery.
Investigation and analysis of a bitten accident by blackflies

Objective To determine the damage and activity time of blackflies,providing the basis for prevention and control of blackflies.Methods Using field investigation and inquiries.Results According to epidemiological investigations and inquiries,the villagers after being bitten had local redness,swell,pain,itch on the bitten place.Some villagers had a fever.The symptoms of most villagers disappeared about two weeks later.The bitten places were mainly on exposed arms,lower legs,face and neck.The concentrated activity time of blackflies was scheduled at 8 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm,the activity was "disappeared" from 10 am to 4 pm.Conclusion After being bitten,the principle of treatment is anti-inflammatory,antipruritic and prevention of secondary infection.Putting the blackflies breeding ground under control is the primary method,and drug treatment is supplemented as a comprehensive prevention and control measure to control blackflies density.Good personal protection,avoiding the activity time of blackflies,reducing the opportunity of being bitten and preventing the harm from happening again are also needed.
Optical fiber chemical sensors: from artificial perception to molecular biology

Optical fiber sensor-array technologies provide a means for creating a new generation of diagnostic instruments. Microarrays approach detection with a level of diversity ranging from positionally registered specific sensors to randomly ordered addressable arrays for a multitude of analytical applications.
Plowing paradise: snow clearing and urban solar radiation absorption

AbstractUrban heat islands result from human modification of land surfaces. Snow cover reduces heating due to its reflectivity; however, urban snow is quickly plowed, thus altering surface radiative properties. The goal of this study was to evaluate the extent to which municipal snow removal affects the magnitude of solar input associated with changes in the radiation balance. Incoming and reflected shortwave radiation, surface radiating temperature, air temperature, and snow depth were measured with portable devices at eight sites in Syracuse, New York. Sites were classified as cleared, undisturbed, or snow piles. Measurements were taken following fresh snowfall, and continuing until snow had melted. A HOBO weather station provided hourly baseline conditions. Longevity of snow varied across snow site types, with greater persistence when in piles and on open areas. Albedo was reduced and surface temperatures were higher over cleared areas. The difference between absorbed energy due to clearing was quantif...
Multiplex Genome Editing to Generate Universal CAR T Cells Resistant to PD1 Inhibition

Purpose: Using gene-disrupted allogeneic T cells as universal effector cells provides an alternative and potentially improves current chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy against cancers and infectious diseases.Experimental Design: The CRISPR/Cas9 system has recently emerged as a simple and efficient way for multiplex genome engineering. By combining lentiviral delivery of CAR and electro-transfer of Cas9 mRNA and gRNAs targeting endogenous TCR, β-2 microglobulin (B2M) and PD1 simultaneously, to generate gene-disrupted allogeneic CAR T cells deficient of TCR, HLA class I molecule and PD1.Results: The CRISPR gene-edited CAR T cells showed potent antitumor activities, both in vitro and in animal models and were as potent as non-gene-edited CAR T cells. In addition, the TCR and HLA class I double deficient T cells had reduced alloreactivity and did not cause graft-versus-host disease. Finally, simultaneous triple genome editing by adding the disruption of PD1 led to enhanced in vivo antitumor activity of the gene-disrupted CAR T cells.Conclusions: Gene-disrupted allogeneic CAR and TCR T cells could provide an alternative as a universal donor to autologous T cells, which carry difficulties and high production costs. Gene-disrupted CAR and TCR T cells with disabled checkpoint molecules may be potent effector cells against cancers and infectious diseases. Clin Cancer Res; 23(9); 2255-66. ©2016 AACR.
Dynamic Changes in Membrane Protein Expression During Murine and Human Erythropoiesis: Resolving the Distinct Stages in Terminal Erythroid Differentiation.

Abstract 4039 Poster Board III-975 Erythropoiesis is the process by which nucleated erythroid progenitors proliferate and differentiate to generate, every second, millions of non-nucleated red cells with their unique discoid shape and membrane material properties. In the present study, we examined the time-course of appearance of individual membrane proteins during erythropoiesis to enhance our understanding of the evolution of the unique features of the red cell membrane. We found that all the major transmembrane and all the skeletal proteins in mature red blood cells, except actin, accrued progressively during terminal differentiation of murine erythroid progenitors. In marked contrast, during the same time course, accumulation of various adhesion molecules decreased. In particular, the adhesion molecule, CD44 exhibited a progressive and a dramatic 30-fold decrease from proerythroblast to reticulocyte; this enabled us to devise a new strategy for distinguishing unambiguously between erythroblasts at successive developmental stages during murine erythopoiesis. By contrast, CD71, which is routinely being used as a surface marker for this purpose, proved markedly less effective than CD44 in identifying erythroblasts at successive developmental stages. Indeed, we found that CD71 expression decreased only fourfold during terminal erythroid differentiation, and not in the progressive manner observed for CD44. A similar pattern of membrane protein expression was noted during terminal differentiation of human erythroid progenitors. These findings provide new insights into the genesis of red cell membrane function during erythroblast differentiation, and also offer a means of defining stage-specific defects in erythroid maturation in inherited and acquired red cell disorders and in bone marrow failure syndromes. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Discussion of "A risk-based measure of time-varying prognostic discrimination for survival models," by C. Jason Liang and Patrick J. Heagerty.

We congratulate Drs. Liang and Heagerty (L&H) for introducing a risk-based measure of time-varying discrimination for determining the value of predictors in time-to-event models. Their proposed hazard discrimination summary (HDS) is intuitive and its statistical properties are appealing. The local-in-time model framework provides additional flexibility for departures from the Cox proportional hazards model. Our discussion focuses on use of the proposed method to determine the added value of intermediate event information and an alternative approach for confidence interval estimation.
Comparison of perceived genetic-genomic knowledge of nurse educators and graduate degree nursing students

Objective and rationale: Comparison of self-perceived genetic-genomic knowledge of nurse educators and graduate degree nursing students enrolled at a large diverse urban university in the US. Comfort level in performing genetic-genomic related tasks and its perceived relevance to nursing also explored. Practicing clinicians are expected to have Genetics and Genomics (G-G) knowledge to provide care to a client and their family with a genetic condition and faculty expected to be able to educate these practitioners. Methods: Two groups of participants asked to complete identical survey instrument, Genetics/Genomics Literacy Assessment (GGLA). Data was collected from September 2014-December 2015. Deans/Directors from university’s nursing programs (N = 17) sent introductory email with survey link and asked to forward to their faculty. APRN/DNP students at one of the university’s graduate programs sent email with survey link. Results: Fifty-three nurse educators and thirty-six graduate degree nursing students completed survey. Comparison of categorical data revealed nurse educators perceived G-G knowledge correlated to graduate degree students. Majority of participants demonstrated significantly lower correct percentages ( 75%) attitude agree it is important for nurses to know this content and be able to teach this material. However, majority (> 75%) were not comfortable with teaching or explaining this material. Conclusions: Nurse educators need to be knowledgeable in order to educate their students who are expected to practice at advanced efficiency. A prepared nursing workforce is crucial for the translation of G-G integration into personalized precision healthcare.
Activation of dominant hemisphere association cortex during naming as a function of cognitive performance in mild traumatic brain injury: Insights into mechanisms of lexical access

Patients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and objective cognitive deficits frequently experience word finding difficulties in normal conversation. We sought to improve our understanding of this phenomenon by determining if the scores on standardized cognitive testing are correlated with measures of brain activity evoked in a word retrieval task (confrontational picture naming). The study participants (n = 57) were military service members with a history of mTBI. The General Memory Index (GMI) determined after administration of the Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, Third Edition, was used to assign subjects to three groups: low cognitive performance (Group 1: GMI ≤ 87, n = 18), intermediate cognitive performance (Group 2: 88 ≤ GMI ≤ 99, n = 18), and high cognitive performance (Group 3: GMI ≥ 100, n = 21). Magnetoencephalography data were recorded while participants named eighty pictures of common objects. Group differences in evoked cortical activity were observed relatively early (within 200 ms from picture onset) over a distributed network of left hemisphere cortical regions including the fusiform gyrus, the entorhinal and parahippocampal cortex, the supramarginal gyrus and posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus, and the inferior frontal and rostral middle frontal gyri. Differences were also present in bilateral cingulate cortex and paracentral lobule, and in the right fusiform gyrus. All differences reflected a lower amplitude of the evoked responses for Group 1 relative to Groups 2 and 3. These findings may indicate weak afferent inputs to and within an extended cortical network including association cortex of the dominant hemisphere in patients with low cognitive performance. The association between word finding difficulties and low cognitive performance may therefore be the result of a diffuse pathophysiological process affecting distributed neuronal networks serving a wide range of cognitive processes. These findings also provide support for a parallel processing model of lexical access.
One-Dimensional Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation

Hydrogen represents a promising solution that can simultaneously address energy crisis and environmental pollutions caused by carbon-containing energy carriers, which have been recognized as two major challenges human beings seek to overcome in the 21st century. Hydrogen has very high gravimetric energy density of ∼140 MJ/kg, which is three times higher than that of gasoline. More importantly, hydrogen is a portable fuel that can react with oxygen in a fuel cell device to generate electricity in an environmentally benign manner, with water as the only side product. Central to the success of hydrogen technology and economy, the efficient generation, transportation, and storage of hydrogen are the major challenges. Despite hydrogen being known as a clean energy carrier, ironically, most hydrogen (∼95% in the United States) is presently produced from steam methane reforming and water-gas shift reaction. This approach still relies on fossil fuels or natural gas and produces undesired by-products including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The development of an efficient, low-cost, and scalable method for hydrogen generation from renewable and carbon-free energy sources is the first and may be the most important step. Enormous efforts have been made in developing new strategies for hydrogen production and photoelectrochemical (PEC) approach is one of the major research focuses.
Distributed agent-based control and estimation over unreliable networks for a class of nonlinear large-scale systems

A new technique for distributed estimation and control of large-scale systems is presented in this paper. The proposed method makes use of a set of agents that implement local H ∞ controllers and L...
Ultra-Wideband Microstrip Line-to-Microstrip Line Transition in Multilayer LCP Substrate at Millimeter-Wave Frequencies

In this letter, an ultrawideband microstrip line (MSL)-to-MSL transition in multilayer liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate is presented for millimeter-wave applications. The proposed transition consists of three circuit layers and three LCP layers. The MSLs’ signal lines are in the top circuit layer, while their grounds are distributed in the inner and bottom layers, respectively, and are connected using through vias. Full-wave simulation reveals an insertion loss of less than 1.1 dB for the proposed transition from dc to 110 GHz. To experimentally demonstrate this design, its back-to-back transition was fabricated and characterized. The measured insertion loss and reflection of the back-to-back transition are less than 2.5 and −13 dB below 110 GHz, respectively, showing a good agreement with the simulated data.
Aspirates and ejectives in Quechua-influenced Spanish

This article describes the use of aspirates and ejectives in a variety of Spanish with significant Quechua contact influence that is spoken in the Santa Cruz valleys of central Bolivia. Aspirates and ejectives occur primarily on Quechua loanwords, making these ‘intermediate phonological relationships’ ( Hall 2013 ) that are hard to categorize with respect to their status as phonetic vs. phonological features. Results from a small-scale perception and shadowing task show that language users are able to distinguish between these sounds and canonical Spanish consonants in minimal pairs, but that there is variation among speakers in the way these sounds are reproduced. While the use of aspirates and glottal stops in Spanish in contact with Mayan languages has been documented ( Michnowicz 2015 ; Michnowicz and Kagan 2016 ) previous studies of Andean Spanish phonology have not reported the use of aspirates and ejectives as part of the sound system ( Boynton 1981 ; Cassano 1974 ; Pyle 1981 ).
Understanding Neoliberalism: A Comprehensive Approach to the Concept of Neoliberalism

This chapter delineates the conceptual framework of this book. It proposes a comprehensive three-dimensional framework to understand neoliberalism from both ideational and material perspectives. It conceives of neoliberalism as an ideology, a mode of governance, and a policy package. The framework serves as a conceptual filter in the later data analysis in order to help identify as many as possible of neoliberalism’s manifestations in different aspects of the transition. This chapter also introduces the concept of ideology in the critical tradition that is concerned with its political function in relation to exercises of power. This is conducive to grasping the role of neoliberalism in constructing, legitimizing, and justifying certain power relations that are crucial for the global spread of neoliberal capitalism and post-Soviet capitalist transitions of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
MeCP2 as an Activator of Gene Expression

Rett syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that primarily affects females and is caused by mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding-protein 2 (MECP2) gene. Initially, MeCP2 had been shown to be a repressor of gene transcription. In their 2008 paper, Chahrour and colleagues reported that MeCP2 could also function as a transcriptional activator.
Brachial Plexitis or Neuritis? MRI Features of Lesion Distribution in Parsonage-Turner Syndrome

Introduction This study seeks to characterize lesion distribution in Parsonage-Turner Syndrome (PTS) using high-resolution MRI. Methods MRIs of 27 patients with clinically confirmed PTS were reviewed. Two radiologists independently evaluated the brachial plexus proper, side and terminal plexus branches, and more distal, upper extremity nerves. Results All patients had at least 1 clinically involved nerve. MRI revealed that the plexus appeared normal in 24 of 27 patients; in 3 other patients, signal hyperintensity was seen immediately proximal to the take-off of abnormal side or terminal branch nerves. Focal intrinsic constrictions were detected in 32 of 38 nerves. MRI interobserver agreement was high (Cohen's κ = 0.839). Discussion MRI findings, corroborated by electrodiagnostic testing, localized abnormalities to plexus branches and peripheral nerves, suggesting that PTS is characterized by 1 or more mononeuropathies rather than changes involving a portion of or the complete plexus proper. These results may improve diagnosis, prognostication, and management. Muscle Nerve 58: 359-366, 2018.
Hormones and Fitness: Evidence for Trade-Offs in Glucocorticoid Regulation Across Contexts

Glucocorticoid hormones are important regulators of metabolic processes, and of the behavioral and physiological responses to stressors. Within-population variation in circulating glucocorticoids has been linked with both reproductive success and survival, but the presence and direction of relationships vary. Although conceptual models suggest the potential for interactions between glucocorticoid secretion under acute stress and non-acute stress contexts to influence phenotype and fitness, very little is known about the presence or implications of such interactions. Here we use a large data set from breeding tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor; n=215) to test the predictors of reproductive success and annual survival probability in females and males over a four-year period. Across years and life history stages, glucocorticoids predicted fitness in female tree swallows. Under challenging conditions, females that maintained low baseline corticosterone levels during incubation had higher reproductive success. During the nestling provisioning period, interactions between baseline glucocorticoids and the stress response suggest that females may face trade-offs in the regulation of glucocorticoids across contexts. Reproductive success was highest among females that maintained low baseline glucocorticoids coupled with a strong acute stress response, and among females with high baseline glucocorticoids and a weak acute stress response. Females with low or high glucocorticoid levels across contexts (baseline and acute stress) fledged fewer young. Glucocorticoid levels did not predict fledging success in males. None of the models of annual survival probability in females received strong support; model comparisons suggested weak negative effects of stress responsiveness during provisioning, and positive effects of body condition and age, on survival. Male survival probability was not predicted by breeding phenotype. Within and across years the glucocorticoid stress response was individually repeatable; across-year repeatability was particularly high during the nestling provisioning period. Both measures of the acute stress response – circulating stress-induced corticosterone levels and their stress-induced increase – showed similar repeatability, but baseline corticosterone was not repeatable within or across years. Overall, our results suggest that taking into account the potential for individual differences in glucocorticoid trait expression in one context to influence optimal endocrine expression in other contexts could be important for understanding the evolution of endocrine systems.