cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs): A Unique Paradigm in Cross-Linked Polymers

Polymer networks possessing reversible covalent cross-links constitute a novel material class with the capacity for adapting to an externally applied stimulus. These covalent adaptable networks (CANs) represent a trend in polymer network fabrication toward the rational design of structural materials possessing dynamic characteristics for specialty applications. Herein, we discuss the unique attributes of CANs that must be considered when designing, fabricating, and characterizing these smart materials that respond to either thermal or photochemical stimuli. While there are many reversible reactions which to consider as possible cross-link candidates in CANs, there are very few that are readily and repeatedly reversible. Furthermore, characterization of the mechanical properties of CANs requires special consideration owing to their unique attributes. Ultimately, these attributes are what lead to the advantageous properties displayed by CANs, such as recyclability, healability, tunability, shape changes, an...
Mutations in GBA are associated with familial Parkinson disease susceptibility and age at onset

Objective: To characterize sequence variation within the glucocerebrosidase ( GBA ) gene in a select subset of our sample of patients with familial Parkinson disease (PD) and then to test in our full sample whether these sequence variants increased the risk for PD and were associated with an earlier onset of disease. Methods: We performed a comprehensive study of all GBA exons in one patient with PD from each of 96 PD families, selected based on the family-specific lod scores at the GBA locus. Identified GBA variants were subsequently screened in all 1325 PD cases from 566 multiplex PD families and in 359 controls. Results: Nine different GBA variants, five previously reported, were identified in 21 of the 96 PD cases sequenced. Screening for these variants in the full sample identified 161 variant carriers (12.2%) in 99 different PD families. An unbiased estimate of the frequency of the five previously reported GBA variants in the familial PD sample was 12.6% and in the control sample was 5.3% (odds ratio 2.6; 95% confidence interval 1.5–4.4). Presence of a GBA variant was associated with an earlier age at onset ( p = 0.0001). On average, those patients carrying a GBA variant had onset with PD 6.04 years earlier than those without a GBA variant. Conclusions: This study suggests that GBA is a susceptibility gene for familial Parkinson disease (PD) and patients with GBA variants have an earlier age at onset than patients with PD without GBA variants.
Perceptions of crime seriousness in the african american community: exploring the presence of consensus

One of the primary findings in the perception of crime seriousness literature is that widespread consensus exists regarding attitudes toward crime seriousness. This finding has been challenged as more sophisticated analyses have been used. Also, specific racial populations have not been examined to determine whether or not widespread agreement exists among attitudes toward crime. This study examines the responses of 621 African Americans residing in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C. to six hypothetical crime scenarios. A special case of a two-way analysis of variance was utilized to determine the extent of consensus within this sample. Results indicated that there was very little consensus within the sample regarding the seriousness of the crime scenarios. Further analyses describe the nature of the dissensus in terms of the harm done and the motive provided in each scenario.
Differential responses of bovine macrophages to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium are antigenically and genetically similar organisms; however, they differ in their virulence for cattle. M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis causes a chronic intestinal infection leading to a chronic wasting disease termed paratuberculosis or Johne's disease, whereas M. avium subsp. avium causes only a transient infection. We compared the response of bovine monocyte-derived macrophages to ingestion of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis and M. avium subsp. avium organisms by determining organism survival, superoxide and nitric oxide production, and expression of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-10, IL-12, and granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Unlike M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis, macrophages were able to kill approximately half of the M. avium subsp. avium organisms after 96 h of incubation. This difference in killing efficiency was not related to differences in nitric oxide or superoxide production. Compared to macrophages activated with IFN-gamma and lipopolysaccharide, macrophages incubated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis showed greater expression of IL-10 and GM-CSF (all time points) and IL-8 (72 h) and less expression of IL-12 (72 h), IFN-gamma (6 h), and TNF-alpha (6 h). When cytokine expression by macrophages incubated with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis was compared to those of macrophages incubated with M. avium subsp. avium, M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis-infected cells showed greater expression of IL-10 (6 and 24 h) and less expression of TNF-alpha (6 h). Therefore, the combination of inherent resistance to intracellular degradation and suppression of macrophage activation through oversecretion of IL-10 may contribute to the virulence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in cattle.
Screening high-risk cancer patients for VTE: A prospective observational study

Abstract Background The utility of screening for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in cancer patients is unknown. We evaluated this in a prospective cohort study of cancer patients initiating a new chemotherapy regimen and deemed high-risk (score ≥ 3) based on a validated Risk Score. Methods Patients were evaluated with baseline and Q4 (± 1) week serial ultrasonography for up to 16 weeks; additionally, computed tomography scans for restaging were also evaluated for VTE. Results The study population comprised 35 patients. Pancreatic and gastro-esophageal cancers were the most common diagnoses. Of these, 8 (23%) developed a VTE. This included 5 patients with DVT alone (14%), 1 patient with PE alone (3%) and 2 (6%) with both. Ultrasound examinations identified asymptomatic DVT in 9.3% of patients at baseline; 0% at weeks 4 and 8 and 5.6% at week 12. Restaging CT scans identified asymptomatic PE in one patient at week 6 and in one patient at week 9 with subsequent DVT at week 10. Conclusions Screening for asymptomatic VTE has not been previously used as a clinical strategy in ambulatory cancer patients. We report that one-tenth of patients at baseline had occult DVT and in this high-risk population, screening at baseline may be of value.
Phase noise and fading effects on system performance in MT-DS-SS

Multicarrier (MC) modulation and code division multiple access (CDMA) schemes have seen much recent attention for the high capacities and flexibility they can provide. A potential difficulty with these systems is their sensitivity to the effects of imperfect frequency up/down conversion due to local oscillator phase noise and frequency offset. In this paper, we provide a general method to upper bound and/or approximate system performance in multitone direct-sequence spread spectrum (MT-DS-SS) signaling in the presence of imperfect synchronization. We model phase noise as a slow random processes with small variance. In particular, we assume coherent detection with binary phase-shift keying (BPSK) modulation and use a phase noise model based upon one for a practical phase-locked loop (PLL). Comparisons between simulations and analysis show excellent agreement, and also show that system degradation is dominated by the common phase noise, and that the intersubcarrier-same-user interference (IS-SUI) contribution is very small. The approach we employ provides an effective analytical/numerical method for performance evaluation for low target error probability values, on the order of 10/sup -6/ or lower. In addition, our method can also be easily applied to any multicarrier system with other frequency offset/phase noise models.
Dissecting the molecular mechanism underlying the intimate relationship between cellulose microfibrils and cortical microtubules.

A central question in plant cell development is how the cell wall determines directional cell expansion and therefore the final shape of the cell. As the major load-bearing component of the cell wall, cellulose microfibrils are laid down transversely to the axis of elongation, thus forming a spring-like structure that reinforces the cell laterally and while favoring longitudinal expansion in most growing cells. Mounting evidence suggests that cortical microtubules organize the deposition of cellulose microfibrils, but the precise molecular mechanisms linking microtubules to cellulose organization have remained unclear until the recent discovery of cellulose synthase interactive protein 1 , a linker protein between the cortical microtubules and the cellulose biosynthesizing machinery. In this review, we will focus on the intimate relationship between cellulose microfibrils and cortical microtubules, in particular, we will discuss microtubule arrangement and cell wall architecture, the linkage between cellulose synthase complexes and microtubules, and the feedback mechanisms between cell wall and microtubules.
Serial assessment of left ventricular function after myocardial infarction.

Abstract Left ventricular (LV) function is an important predictor of morbidity and mortality after myocardial infarction (MI). Changes in LV function have been examined during the early and late phases after MI, but serial measurements of LV function during the subacute period have not been performed. To assess sequential changes in LV function during the subacute period after MI, we used quantitative two-dimensional echocardiography to examine 22 patients over a 1-year period. Twenty-one of the 22 patients had a Q-wave MI. Eleven had an anterior MI and 10 had an inferior MI; their peak creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was 1213 mlU/ml ± 14. Three weeks after acute MI, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) had increased from 45% to 52%. Seven of 19 patients showed an LVEF p p = n.s.). When two groups (G1 [depressed], LVEF ≤43%; G2 [preserved], LVEF >43%) were compared, the group with depressed LVEF demonstrated a higher probability of improvement in LVEF (34% to 47%, p p
Histone variants in metazoan development

Embryonic development is regulated by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, with nearly all DNA-templated processes influenced by chromatin architecture. Sequence variations in histone proteins, core components of chromatin, provide a means to generate diversity in the chromatin structure, resulting in distinct and profound biological outcomes in the developing embryo. Emerging literature suggests that epigenetic contributions from histone variants play key roles in a number of developmental processes such as the initiation and maintenance of pericentric heterochromatin, X-inactivation, and germ cell differentiation. Here, we review the role of histone variants in the embryo with particular emphasis on early mammalian development.
Unprecedented Heterogeneity in the Synonymous Substitution Rate within a Plant Genome

The synonymous substitution rate varies widely among species, but it is generally quite stable within a genome due to the absence of strong selective pressures. In plants, plastid genes tend to evolve faster than mitochondrial genes, rate variation among species generally correlates between the mitochondrial and plastid genomes, and few examples of intragenomic rate heterogeneity exist. To study the extent of substitution rate variation between and within plant organellar genomes, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial and plastid genomes from the bugleweed, Ajuga reptans, which was previously shown to exhibit rate heterogeneity for several mitochondrial genes. Substitution rates were accelerated specifically in the mitochondrial genome, which contrasts with correlated plastid and mitochondrial rate changes in most other angiosperms. Strikingly, we uncovered a 340-fold range of synonymous substitution rate variation among Ajuga mitochondrial genes. This is by far the largest amount of synonymous rate heterogeneity ever reported for a genome, but the evolutionary forces driving this phenomenon are unclear. Selective effects on synonymous sites in plant mitochondria are generally weak and thus unlikely to generate such unprecedented intragenomic rate heterogeneity. Quickly evolving genes are not clustered in the genome, arguing against localized hypermutation, although it is possible that they were clustered ancestrally given the high rate of genomic rearrangement in plant mitochondria. Mutagenic retroprocessing, involving error-prone reverse transcription and genomic integration of mature transcripts, is hypothesized as another potential explanation.
The future city on the Inland Sea: a history of imaginative geographies of Lake Superior

The future city on the Inland Sea: a history of imaginative geographies of Lake Superior, by Eric D. Olmanson, Athens, OH, Ohio University Press, 2007, 276 pp., US$27.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8214-17...
Effects of Pin Detached Space on Heat Transfer and Pin-Fin Arrays

Heat transfer and pressure characteristics in a rectangular channel with pin-fin arrays of partial detachment from one of the endwalls have been experimentally studied. The overall channel geometry (W = 76.2 mm, E = 25.4 mm) simulates an internal cooling passage of wide aspect ratio (3:1) in a gas turbine airfoil. With a given pin diameter, D = 6.35 mm = ¼E, three different pin-fin height-to-diameter ratios, H/D = 4, 3, and 2, were examined. Each of these three cases corresponds to a specific pin array geometry of detachment spacing (C) between the pin tip and one of the endwalls, i.e., C/D = 0, 1, 2, respectively. The Reynolds number, based on the hydraulic diameter of the unobstructed cross-section and the mean bulk velocity, ranges from 10,000 to 25,000. The experiment employs a hybrid technique based on transient liquid crystal imaging to obtain the distributions of the local heat transfer coefficient over all of the participating surfaces, including the endwalls and all the pin elements. Experimental results reveal that the presence of a detached space between the pin tip and the endwall has a significant effect on the convective heat transfer and pressure loss in the channel. The presence of pin-to-endwall spacing promotes wall-flow interaction, generates additional separated shear layers, and augmentsmore » turbulent transport. In general, an increase in detached spacing, or C/D, leads to lower heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop. However, C/D = 1, i.e., H/D = 3, of a staggered array configuration exhibits the highest heat transfer enhancement, followed by the cases of C/D = 0 and C/D = 2, i.e., H/D = 4 or 2, respectively.« less
Application of dominant harmonic active filter system with 12 pulse nonlinear loads

Harmonic filtering is required for 12 pulse rectifier-utility interface to meet IEEE 519 harmonic current limits. Passive filter techniques employ tuned L-C filters at dominant 11th and 13th harmonic frequencies. However, they also require 5th and 7th tuned filters to avoid series and parallel resonance conditions. State of the art active filtering solutions require high bandwidth and relatively large rating PWM inverters for harmonic filtering of 12 pulse rectifier loads. Thus existing passive and active harmonic filtering solutions are not cost-effective for high power 12 pulse rectifier loads. Dominant harmonic active filter (DHAF) based on square-wave inverters is proposed to cost-effectively meet IEEE 519 harmonic current limits for 12 pulse rectifier loads. The proposed DHAF system employs square-wave inverters switching at 5th and 7th harmonic frequencies, which are transformer coupled in series with 11th and 13th passive filters respectively. The square-wave inverters are controlled to provide 'harmonic isolation' between the supply and load at 5th and 7th harmonic frequencies. The square-wave inverters are rated 1%-2% of the load kVA rating. The proposed DHAF system eliminates the need for large kVAR rated and bulky 5th and 7th passive filters, delivers superior harmonic filtering performance, and provides cost-effective harmonic filtering solution. Simulation results are given to validate the 'harmonic isolation' feature at 5th and 7th harmonic frequencies, and also demonstrate harmonic filtering required to meet IEEE 519 harmonic current limits.
Developing Faculty Training for Interactive Distance Education

SUMMARY Teaching interactive distance education classes requires extensive training and planning if the faculty and the class are to be successful. First, the different personnel roles associated with distance education must be analysed and understood by the faculty. Next, the process of delivering instruction at a distance usually requires the faculty to adjust, or in some instances, completely alter their instructional techniques. Even the selection and use of instructional material requires a different instructional strategy. Therefore, training in the design and development of interactive distance education must be provided to the faculty to ensure the success of the programme. The purpose of this article is to provide a discussion of the important considerations in developing a faculty training programme for interactive distance education.
Discovery, mapping and interpretation of buried cultural resources non-invasively with ground-penetrating radar

Ground-penetrating radar is an extremely useful tool for the mapping and interpretation of buried cultural remains within 2–3 metres of the surface, especially when the stratigraphy is complex. Standard reflection profiles can be processed to correct for depth and distance, and also filtered and processed to make cultural features visible. When many profiles are collected in closely spaced transects in a grid, reflections can be re-sampled and displayed in amplitude slice-maps, and isosurface renderings to make buried features visible. Sometimes, however, the abundance and complexity of subsurface reflections is so complex that each individual profile must be interpreted manually, which necessitates an understanding of radar wave propagation, reflection, refraction and attenuation in the ground. In order to differentiate reflections from cultural features this understanding of radar energy must be merged with an understanding of the chemistry of the ground, soil and geological stratigraphy, and how those variables affect radar reflections. When taken as a package of visualization tools, GPR can be used as an effective tool for interpreting aspects of history and culture at buried sites in ways not possible using traditional archaeological methods.
At the Eleventh Hour: Psychosocial Dynamics in Short Hospice Stays

Purpose: This study explored the psychosocial dynamics of short hospice stays (less than 2 weeks) of cancer patients age 65 and older. Design and Methods: In-depth interviews with 59 caregivers of 50 patients were audiotaped, transcribed, and coded by using Atlas ti software. Results: A descriptive typology is presented. A late diagnosis (n = 22 or 44%) was one in which cancer was diagnosed between 2 and 4 weeks before death, rendering earlier hospice admission impossible. Late diagnoses were made because the cancer was missed, masked by comorbidities, or the person resisted seeing a health care provider. A known diagnosis (n = 25 or 50%) was one in which the diagnosis was made long before hospice admission; admission was delayed because the person elected ongoing curative treatment until the final days of life, or the family managed the care without hospice until a turning point (medical, functional, pragmatic, or emotional) occurred, making the care unmanageable. Implications: Hospice utilization is influenced by the interrelationship among patient‐family‐provider factors. Understanding the characteristics and needs of subgroups of terminally ill people is key to providing good care at life’s end.
Richard A. Musgrave and Ludwig von Mises: Two Cases of Emigrè Economists in America

The expulsion of the academicians from Germany, Austria, and other central European countries is for the history of social science as traumatic and significant an event as the bombing of Pearl Harbor was for the United States' naval fleet in the South Pacific. The Restoration of the Civil Service Act occurred on April 7, 1933, shortly after the National Socialists came to power. It ordered â€œdisagreeableâ€ persons to leave the Universities and was the harbinger of other â€œcleansingâ€ that followed the German war machine into Austria, the Czech Republic, and so on. The start of this intellectual exodus occurred a whole eight years before the United States entered the war on December 7, 1941. The destruction of the American naval fleet by the Japanese air force in 1941 required a massive State-sponsored mobilization as the United States prepared for and entered the war in the Pacific. The destruction of social science in the German-speaking Universities started on April 7, 1933, and continued as the German armies moved eastward, resulting in no less than 328 dislocated economists who emigrated out of central and eastern Europe to rebuild their lives and academic reputations in other places, especially in the United States. As Hagemann has demonstrated, the United States â€œwas the direct or indirect destination for some two-thirds of the German-speaking emigrA© economistsâ€ (Hagemann 2005). This â€œrebuildingâ€ of lives, families, and scientific reputations is amazing in its magnitude and complexity and is also itself a topic for serious study and understanding within the sociology of the social sciences. Hagemann has made major contributions to the telling of this story (Hagemann 1997).
Preventing Surgical Site Infections

Over the past 50 years, increased interest in the discipline of surgical infection has resulted in advances in post-surgical infection control. Early investigations focused on the importance of anaerobic microflora to postoperative infection and paved the way for significant improvements in prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotic treatment of surgical patients. Later research centered on the identification of risk factors to better predict postoperative infection rates. This article reviews the evolution of postoperative infection control and highlights antibiotic prophylaxis in specific clinical situations.
East Coast upwelling signatures in synthetic aperture radar imagery

Seasonal coastal upwelling in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region occurs normally during the summer months because of generally northward alongshore wind episodes. These winds force an Ekman offshore surface flow over the inner continental shelf. Colder and nutrient-rich waters from below move toward the surface replacing the offshore flowing surface waters. ERS-2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations before and after upwelling favorable winds along the coast of New Jersey in early summer 1996 are presented. Upwelling conditions are confirmed from both in-situ and sea surface temperature satellite data. The appearance of a low backscatter region on the SAR imagery suggests the influence of the upwelling regime on the sea surface roughness. In particular, the abundance of surface slicks observed by SAR along the coast is consistent with enhanced biological activity resulting from enhanced nutrient availability in the upwelled waters.
Trace-element record in zircons during exhumation from UHP conditions, North-East Greenland Caledonides

Coesite-bearing zircon formed at ultrahigh-pressure (UH P ) conditions share general characteristics of eclogite-facies zircon with trace-element signatures characterized by depleted heavy rare earth elements (HREE), lack of an Eu anomaly, and low Th/ U ratios. Trace-element signatures of zircons from the Caledonian UH P terrane in North-East Greenland were used to examine the possible changes in signature with age during exhumation. Collection and interpretation of age and trace-element analyses of zircon from three samples of quartzofeldspathic gneiss and two leucocratic intrusions were guided by core vs. rim zoning patterns as imaged by cathodoluminesence. Change from igneous to eclogite-facies metamorphic trace-element signature in protolith zircon is characterized by gradual depletion of HREE, whereas newly formed metamorphic rims have flat HREE patterns and REE concentrations that are distinct from the recrystallized inherited cores. The signature associated with eclogite-facies metamorphic zircon is observed in coesite-bearing zircon formed at 358 ± 4 Ma, metamorphic rims formed at 348 ± 5 Ma during the initial stages of exhumation, and metamorphic rims formed at 337 ± 5 Ma. Zircons from a garnet-bearing granite emplaced in the neck of an eclogite boudin and a leucocratic dike that cross-cuts amphibolite-facies structural fabrics have steeply sloping HREE patterns, variably developed negative Eu anomalies, and low Th/U ratios. The granite records initial decompression melting and exhumation at 347 ± 2 Ma and later zircon rim growth at 329 ± 5. The leucocratic dike was likely emplaced at amphibolite-facies conditions at 330 ± 2 Ma, but records additional growth of compositionally similar zircon at 321 ± 2 Ma. The difference between the trace-element signature of metamorphic zircon in the gneisses and in part coeval leucocratic intrusions indicates that the zircon signature varies as a function of lithology and context, thus enhancing its ability to aid in the interpretation of U–Pb data and track the exhumation history of UH P terranes. The differences may reflect variation in elemental availability through breakdown reactions in quartzofeldpathic gneiss vs. availability during melt production and/or crystallization. UH P rocks in North-East Greenland began exhumation by 347 ± 2 Ma, were still at H P eclogite-facies conditions at 337 ± 5 Ma and were at amphibolite-facies conditions by 330 ± 2 Ma.
Evaluation of absorptive properties and permeability of thin sheet magneto-dielectric materials

An analytical model to evaluate attenuation on the coaxial line with the central conductor coated with a magneto-dielectric layer is proposed and validated by the experiments and numerical modeling. This model is convenient for comparing absorptive effectiveness of different materials, as well as of different thicknesses and lengths of the same material. The proposed model also lays the basis for the technique to extract permeability of thin sheet magneto-dielectric materials by wrapping them around a central conductor of the coaxial airline.
Variable Inhibition of Thrombospondin 1 against Liver and Lung Metastases through Differential Activation of Metalloproteinase ADAMTS1

Metastasis relies on angiogenesis for tumor expansion. Tumor angiogenesis is restrained by a variety of endogenous inhibitors, including thrombospondin 1 (TSP1). The principal antiangiogenic activity of TSP1 resides in a domain containing three TSP1 repeats (3TSR), and TSP1 cleavage is regulated, in part, by the metalloproteinase ADAMTS1. In this study, we examined the role of TSP1 and ADAMTS1 in controlling metastatic disease in the liver and lung. TSP1 overexpression inhibited metastatic growth of colon or renal carcinoma cells in liver but not lung. Metastatic melanoma in liver grew more rapidly in Tsp1-null mice compared with controls, whereas in lung grew similarly in Tsp1-null mice or controls. Recombinant TSP1 was cleaved more efficiently in lysates from liver than lung. ADAMTS1 inhibition by neutralizing antibody, small interfering RNA, or genetic deletion abrogated cleavage activity. To confirm that lack of cleavage of TSP1 ablated its antiangiogenic function in the lung, we generated colon cancer cells stably secreting only the 3TSR domain and found that they inhibited formation of both liver and lung metastases. Collectively, our results indicate that the antiangiogenic activity of TSP1 is differentially regulated by ADAMTS1 in the liver and lung, emphasizing the concept that regulation of angiogenesis is varied in different tissue environments.
Molecular basis for MMP9 induction and disruption of epithelial cell–cell contacts by galectin-3

Dynamic modulation of the physical contacts between neighboring cells is integral to epithelial processes such as tissue repair and cancer dissemination. Induction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity contributes to the disassembly of intercellular junctions and the degradation of the extracellular matrix, thus mitigating the physical constraint to cell movement. Using the cornea as a model, we show here that a carbohydrate-binding protein, galectin-3, promotes cell–cell detachment and redistribution of the tight junction protein occludin through its N-terminal polymerizing domain. Notably, we demonstrate that galectin-3 initiates cell–cell disassembly by inducing matrix metalloproteinase expression in a manner that is dependent on the interaction with and clustering of the matrix metalloproteinase inducer CD147 (also known as EMMPRIN and basigin) on the cell surface. Using galectin-3-knockout mice in an in vivo model of wound healing, we further show that increased synthesis of MMP9 at the leading edge of migrating epithelium is regulated by galectin-3. These findings establish a new galectin-3-mediated regulatory mechanism for induction of metalloproteinase expression and disruption of cell–cell contacts required for cell motility in migrating epithelia.
Temperature-Dependent Emergence of Osmia cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) Adults

Japanese hornfaced bees Osmia cornifrons (Radoszkowski) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) are used for pollination of spring blooming fruit crops such as apple, pear, and blueberry. Because O. cornifrons has a short adult life span, synchronization of bee emergence with bloom is critical to maximize crop pollination. This study was conducted to determine lower temperature thresholds (LTDs), optimum temperatures, and required degree-day accumulation for emergence of O. cornifrons adults. Patterns of temperature-dependent emergence of O. cornifrons adults at seven temperatures (3.9, 12.0, 18.6, 26.6, 30.3, 35.6, and 42.5°C) were modeled and simulated with linear and nonlinear regression analyses. Results of this study showed that required degree-days (DD) for emergence of male and female O. cornifrons adults were 125.2 DD, with LTD of 8.9°C and 179.8 DD, with LTD of 8.6°C, respectively. The optimum temperatures for emergence were 36.5, 30.2, and 35.7°C for male, female, and both sexes combined, respectively. This study indicated that emergence of O. cornifrons adults could be manipulated to synchronize with pollination periods of target fruit crops.
Graphene oxide and graphene flakes as stabilizers and dispersing aids

Abstract Various uses of graphene oxide and graphene as Pickering stabilizers in emulsification, emulsion polymerization, and suspension polymerization applications are discussed. The use of such stabilizers in composites, graphite dispersions, foams, aerogels, and porous materials is reviewed. Other advanced material applications of these Pickering stabilizers are presented for select applications, including electro-rheological fluids, opto-rheological fluids, particles for supercapacitors, phase change materials, catalysis, and stabilizers.
Hybrid Transactional Memory Revisited

Hybrid Transactional Memory TM uses available hardware TM resources to execute language-level transactions, and falls back to a software TM implementation for those transactions that cannot complete in hardware. Ideally, a hybrid TM would allow hardware and software transactions to run concurrently, but would not waste hardware TM resources on coordination between the two classes of transactions. In addition, it should scale well, incur little latency, offer strong safety guarantees, and provide some degree of fairness. We introduce a new hybrid TM algorithm, "Hybrid Cohorts", in which hardware transactions do not modify global metadata, and software transactions have extremely low per-access overhead. The tradeoff is that hardware transactions cannot commit while software transactions are in flight. Evaluation on an 8-thread Intel Haswell CPU shows competitive performance with the current state-of-the-art. Furthermore, it does so while providing acceptable levels of fairness and safety, and offering opportunities for hardware acceleration.
Abstract 5379: Combination treatment with Bevacizumab, Lenalidomide, Docetaxel and Prednisone (ART-P) does not impact the immune response in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Purpose: Investigation of the effect of combination therapy for 5 cycles with bevacizumab, lenalidomide, docetaxel and prednisone (ART-P) on the immune response in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The aim was to ascertain if treatment containing prednisone and docetaxel would impact immune responses, which could compromise the efficacy of subsequent immunotherapy. Experimental Design: We report here a study of immune responses in 12 patients enrolled in a phase II trial of ART-P at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). We compared peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum samples collected at baseline and post 5 3-week cycles of ART-P treatment. PBMCs were analyzed using flow cytometry to characterize phenotypes of T-cells, regulatory T-cells, myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and natural killer (NK) cells, and T-cell proliferation as well as NK-cell functional activity were evaluated. Serum samples were analyzed for levels of cytokines, chemokines and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) with ELISA assays. Results: The baseline characteristics for the 12 patients were: median age 65.7 years, Gleason score 8, and PSA 74 ng/ml. Greater than 50% decreases in PSA were seen in 9/12 patients, with a median decrease of 74%. Of the 12 patients 7 had a partial response, and 5 had stable disease by RECIST criteria. After 5 cycles of ART-P treatment we found no significant differences from baseline in T-cell proliferation and NK-cell function, or the frequencies of T-cells, regulatory T-cells, MDSC and NK-cells. There was also no change in the serum levels of cytokines and chemokines except for IL-6, which decreased. As expected, the serum levels of VEGF substantially decreased with therapy. Conclusions: Treatment of mCRPC patients with ART-P for 5 cycles did not alter the immune response in a way that would decrease the likelihood of successful immunotherapy, pre or post treatment with ART-P. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5379. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5379
Direct Variance-Covariance Modeling as an Alternative to the Traditional Guide Curve Approach for Prediction of Dominant Heights

A new method for developing dominant height prediction models, which is closely related to certain earlier guide curve-based methods, is derived from linear prediction theory by directly modeling variances and covariances of height remeasurements without involving any local parameters. This method relies on population-averaged mean height-age curve and covariances (correlations and variances/standard deviations) between heights at different ages for height projection given prior observations for a new subject. We constructed a new height model consisting of the means, correlations, and variances approximated, respectively, by the Chapman-Richards model, first-order continuous autoregressive model, and the power of the mean function. The new model was compared with four difference models derived from the (generalized) algebraic difference approach, by evaluating their projection accuracy using a second-rotation loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) data set collected from a well-designed experiment. Both kinds of models produced very comparable predictions, but the new guide model can be preferred for height projection using earlier (e.g., before age 10) measurements.
Relation between Size and Age of the Gonads in the Fowl from Hatching Date to Sexual Maturity

Abstract THE variation in size of the gonads of the domestic fowl from the time of hatching to sexual maturity is of interest to poultry breeders. Workers engaged in the study of postnatal growth may find additional data of value to them. The study described in the following pages was done at Michigan State College and the United States Regional Poultry Laboratory, East Lansing, Michigan. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Jolly (1915) observed that the maximum growth of the testes in the fowl was attained after the age of five months. Latimer (1924) studying testes growth in Single Comb White Leghorns showed four periods of growth (1) a period of little change from hatching to 50 days followed by (2) a period of slightly increased growth from 50 to 80 days then (3) a period of slow growth and marked irregularity from 210 to 260 days and (4) a period of a terminal . . .
Continuous evolution of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins overcomes insect resistance

The Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins (Bt toxins) are widely used insecticidal proteins in engineered crops that provide agricultural, economic, and environmental benefits. The development of insect resistance to Bt toxins endangers their long-term effectiveness. Here we have developed a phage-assisted continuous evolution selection that rapidly evolves high-affinity protein-protein interactions, and applied this system to evolve variants of the Bt toxin Cry1Ac that bind a cadherin-like receptor from the insect pest Trichoplusia ni (TnCAD) that is not natively bound by wild-type Cry1Ac. The resulting evolved Cry1Ac variants bind TnCAD with high affinity (dissociation constant Kd = 11-41 nM), kill TnCAD-expressing insect cells that are not susceptible to wild-type Cry1Ac, and kill Cry1Ac-resistant T. ni insects up to 335-fold more potently than wild-type Cry1Ac. Our findings establish that the evolution of Bt toxins with novel insect cell receptor affinity can overcome insect Bt toxin resistance and confer lethality approaching that of the wild-type Bt toxin against non-resistant insects.
Obstetrician cognitive and affective skills in a diverse academic population

Obstetrician cognitive and affective traits have been identified to have relationships with their patients’ perinatal outcomes. The objective was to identify relationships between obstetrician demographic and practice characteristics and physician coping, self-efficacy, anxiety and ambiguity tolerance. Obstetricians at a single institution were surveyed using 5 validated scales measuring coping skills, tolerance for ambiguity, cognitive engagement and trait anxiety. Demographics and practice characteristics were assessed. Chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA and linear regression were used to assess relationships between physician characteristics and cognitive traits. Ninety-four physicians participated. Women expressed greater proactive coping than men (p = 0.03) on the Proactive Coping scale. Providers with greater delivery volume expressed lower engagement in cognitive efforts (p = 0.03) on the Need for Cognition scale. Maternal-fetal medicine physicians demonstrated greater ambiguity tolerance (p < 0.01) and cognitive engagement (p = 0.012) than general obstetricians. Differences by specialty persisted after adjustment for potentially confounding factors. Practice type and specialty appeared to be related to several cognitive characteristics. It remains uncertain whether these differences are a cause or a consequence of specialty training and whether they result in differences in obstetric outcomes.
Polyunsaturated fats, carbohydrates and carotid disease: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Carotid MRI study

Abstract Background and aims Carbohydrates and fat intake have both been linked to development of atherosclerosis. We examined associations between glycemic index (GI) and fat intake with carotid atherosclerosis. Methods The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort enrolled participants during the period 1987–1989 and the Carotid MRI sub-study occurred between 2004 and 2006 (1672 participants attending both visits). Measures of carbohydrate quality (usual GI), fat intake (total, polyunsaturated and saturated) and overall dietary quality index (DASH Diet Score) were derived from a 66-item food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline. Trained readers measured lipid core presence and maximum wall thickness. Using multivariate logistic regression, we determined the odds of lipid core presence by quintile (Q) of energy-adjusted dietary components. Restricted cubic spline models were used to examine non-linear associations between dietary components and maximum wall thickness. Results Mean daily polyunsaturated fat intake was 5 g (SD 1.4). GI and polyunsaturated fat intake had a nonlinear relationship with maximum wall thickness. Low (1–4 g) and high (6–12 g) polyunsaturated fat intake were associated with a statistically significant decreased odds of lipid core presence compared to intake in a majority of participants (OR Q5 vs. Q2-4: 0.64, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.98; OR Q1 vs. Q2-4: 0.64, 95% CI 0.42, 0.96), however, the association with lipid core was attenuated by adjustment for maximum wall thickness, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Conclusions GI and polyunsaturated fat intake were not associated with high-risk plaque features, such as lipid core presence, independent of traditional vascular risk factors.
Aspirin reduces experimental cerebral blood flow in vivo.

Aspirin therapy for stroke prophylaxis in low risk patients has paradoxically demonstrated an increased risk of ischemic stroke in several studies. Moreover, the MAST-Italy trial reported a near doubling of mortality with the addition of aspirin to thrombolytics while experimentally, we have noted that aspirin antagonizes t-PA-mediated clot lysis. The mechanisms responsible for these observations is unclear. Of interest, few studies have examined the effect of aspirin on cerebral blood flow (CBF). The objective of this study was to examine the acute effect of high dose aspirin on CBF in a rabbit model. Mean arterial pressure, arterial blood gases, and core and brain temperature were controlled throughout the protocol. CBF, measured by the technique of hydrogen clearance using Platinum-Iridium flow probes, was measured before and 20 min following aspirin administration (20 mg kg-1 i.v.) in a cohort of 50 rabbits and compared to rabbits receiving vehicle (n = 19). Following aspirin therapy, CBF (cc/100 g-1 min-1) was reduced from 80.8 +/- 27.4 to 65.1 +/- 31.7 (mean +/- SD), a reduction to 80.4 +/- 21.3% of baseline (p < 0.00001, t-test), whereas CBF in the control group remained unchanged (81.0 +/- 25.4 vs. 77.5 +/- 24.0, mean +/- SD). Thus aspirin acutely reduced CBF by approximately 20% in a rabbit model, perhaps related to inhibitory effects on prostacyclin and/or nitric oxide. This result may help explain the possible increase in ischemic stroke seen in low risk patients on aspirin therapy. A reduction in CBF by aspirin may also assist in understanding the antagonism of t-PA-mediated clot lysis by aspirin seen in our rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke, particularly since all agents which share the ability to reverse this antagonism (nitric oxide donors, beta blockers, hydralazine, prostacyclin) also increase CBF by approximately 20%. Future strategies for 'antiplatelet' therapy may benefit from using agents which do not adversely affect CBF.
Protective effects of vitamin K against osteoporosis and its pleiotropic actions

Vitamin K is a nutrient originally identified as an essential factor for blood coagulation. Recently, vitamin K has emerged as a potential protector against osteoporosis and hepatocarcinoma. Accumulated evidence indicates that subclinical non-hemostatic vitamin K deficiency in extrahepatic tissues, particularly in bone, exists widely in the otherwise healthy adult population. Both vitamin K(1) and K(2) have been shown to exert protective effects against osteoporosis. Moreover, therapeutic potential of vitamin K(2) as an anti-hepatoma drug has been recently highlighted. Most of the new biological functions of vitamin K in bone and hepatoma cells are considered to be attributable to promotion of gamma-carboxylation of glutamic acid residues in vitamin K-dependent proteins, which is shared by both vitamins K(1) and K(2). In contrast, vitamin K(2)-specific, gamma-carboxylation-unrelated functions have also been demonstrated. These functions include stimulation of steroid and xenobiotic receptor (SXR)-mediated transcription and anti-oxidant property. Thus, biological differences between vitamins K(1) and K(2), and a potential involvement of gamma-carboxylation-independent actions in the new roles of vitamin K remain open issues. Molecular bases of coagulation-unrelated pleiotropic actions of vitamin K and its implications in human health deserve further investigations.
Mefloquine for preventing malaria in nonimmune adult travelers.

Mefloquine prevents malaria in military personnel, but its effectiveness in a heterogeneous population of civilian travelers is poorly studied. Evidence of side effects is based on spontaneous reports and may underestimate their frequency.
Effect of toluene diisocyanate on lung function of workers

Objective To investigate the effect of long-term exposure to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on the lung function of TDI-exposed workers.Methods A factory was selected for this occupational epidemiological investigation.The workers who were exposed to TDI and had complete physical examination records in recent 3 years were the exposed group (n=45),while the company's administrative staff,logistics staff,and other nonTDI-exposed workers who had complete physical examination records in recent 3 years were the control group (n=47).The two groups were compared in terms of lung function indices.Results Compared with the control group,the 2009 exposure group had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0),FEV1.0/forced vital capacity (FVC),and maximal expiratory flow at 25％ ofFVC (MEF25) (P＜0.05),the 2010 exposure group had significantly lower FEV1.0,FEV1.0/FVC,maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV),and maximal expiratory flow at 50％ ofFVC (MEF50) (P＜0.05),and the 2011 exposure group had significantly lower FEV1.0,FEV1.0/FVC,peak expiratory flow (PEF),MEF25,and MEF50 (P＜0.05).Conclusion Long-term exposure to TDI can lead to certain impairment of lung function in workers,which may be reflected by decreased lung function indices such as vital capacity,FVC,FEV1.0,FEV1.0/FVC,PEF,and MVV. Key words: Toluene diisocyanate; Respiratory function tests; Occupational exposure