cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MGMT Promoter Methylation and Field Defect in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

Background: Sporadic colorectal cancers often arise from a region of cells characterized by a “ fi eld defect ” that has not been well defi ned molecularly. DNA methylation has been proposed as a candidate mediator of this fi eld defect. The DNA repair gene O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is frequently methylated in colorectal cancer. We hypothesized that MGMT methylation could be one of the mediators of fi eld cancerization in the colon mucosa. Methods: We studied MGMT promoter methylation by three different bisulfi te-based techniques in tumor, adjacent mucosa, and nonadjacent mucosa from 95 colorectal cancer patients and in colon mucosa from 33 subjects with no evidence of cancer. Statistical tests were two-sided. Results: MGMT promoter methylation was present in 46% of the tumors. Patients whose cancer had MGMT promoter methylation also had substantial MGMT promoter methylation in apparently normal adjacent mucosa. This methylation was seen with a quantitative assay in 50% (22/44; 95% confi dence interval [CI] = 34% to 65%) of normal samples with MGMT promoter methylation in the adjacent tumors, 6% (3/51; 95% CI = 1% to 16%) of samples without MGMT methylation in adjacent tumors, and 12% (4/33; 95% CI = 3% to 28%) of control samples ( P <.001 for comparison between each of the latter two groups and the fi rst group). MGMT methylation was detected with a more sensitive assay in 94%, 34%, and 27% of these samples, respectively ( P <.001 ). In grossly normal colonic mucosa of colon cancer patients, methylation was detected 10 cm away from the tumor in 10 of 13 cases. Tumors with MGMT promoter methylation had a higher rate of G-to-A mutation in the KRAS oncogene than tumors without MGMT promoter methylation (10/42 versus 3/46, P = .03). Using a sensitive mutant allelespecifi c amplifi cation assay for KRAS mutations, we also found KRAS mutations in 12% (3/25; 95% CI = 2.5% to 31%) of colorectal mucosas with detectable MGMT methylation and 3% (2/64; 95% CI = 0.4% to 11%) of colorectal mucosas without MGMT methylation ( P = .13). Conclusion: Some colorectal cancers arise from a fi eld defect defi ned by epigenetic inactivation of MGMT. Detection of this abnormality may ultimately be useful in risk assessment for colorectal cancer. [J Natl Cancer Inst 2005;97:1330 – 8]
Polycarbonate blends with styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers

Lap shear adhesion between laminated sheets of polycarbonate and styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers exhibits a sharp maximum when the acrylonitrile content of the copolymers is in the range of 25–27% by weight. Observations of shifts in glass transitions of the two phases in melt-mixed polycarbonate/SAN blends suggest partial miscibility of one polymer in the other, and this solubility is at a maximum when the SAN copolymer has an acrylonitrile content in the same range causing maximum adhesion. Mechanical properties of injection-molded blends of polycarbonate with various SAN copolymers were also best when the acrylonitrile content was the same as that giving maximum adhesion. The partial miscibility behavior in blends as a function of acrylonitrile content of the copolymer is explained qualitatively in terms of a simple binary interaction model.
Highly Compacted Chromatin Formed In Vitro Reflects the Dynamics of Transcription Activation In Vivo

High-order chromatin was reconstituted in vitro. This species reflects the criteria associated with transcriptional regulation in vivo. Histone H1 was determinant to formation of condensed structures, with deacetylated histones giving rise to highly compacted chromatin that approximated 30 nm fibers as evidenced by electron microscopy. Using the PEPCK promoter, we validated the integrity of these templates that were refractory to transcription by attaining transcription through the progressive action of the pertinent factors. The retinoic acid receptor binds to highly compacted chromatin, but the NF1 transcription factor binds only after histone acetylation by p300 and SWI/SNF-mediated nucleosome mobilization, reflecting the in vivo case. Mapping studies revealed the same pattern of nucleosomal repositioning on the PEPCK promoter in vitro and in vivo, correlating with NF1 binding and transcription. The reconstitution of such highly compacted "30 nm" chromatin that mimics in vivo characteristics should advance studies of its conversion to a transcriptionally active form.
Fire, Death, and Rebirth: A Metaphoric Analysis of the 1988 Yellowstone Fire Debate.

This essay analyzes the public debate concerning management of the 1988 Yellowstone forest fires. Two primary archetypal metaphors—death and rebirth—emerged. These provided a conceptual world view which helped observers define the situation and gave advocates an inventional tool for advancing their own agenda regarding fire policy and national park management. The crisis brought two competing views of public land management to the forefront of public discussion: the ecological view that public lands must be managed from a holistic view of resources and the human‐centered view that resource use should recognize the preeminence of humans in policy‐making.
Near-optimal multipath streaming of H.264 using reference frame selection

New video coding standards such as H.264 offer the flexibility to select from a number of reference frames for motion-estimation for a given predicted frame. In this paper, we propose an optimization algorithm using dynamic programming that exploits this flexibility for multipath streaming simultaneously streaming over two transmission paths with different bandwidths and loss rates. A rounding technique is employed to scale the complexity of the algorithm down at the cost of degrading solution quality. Results show significant streaming quality improvement over a conventional multiple description scheme.
Using a haptic belt to convey non-verbal communication cues during social interactions to individuals who are blind

Good social skills are important and provide for a healthy, successful life; however, individuals with visual impairments are at a disadvantage when interacting with sighted peers due to inaccessible non-verbal cues. This paper presents a haptic (vibrotactile) belt to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired by communicating non-verbal cues during social interactions. We focus on non-verbal communication pertaining to the relative location of the communicators with respect to the user in terms of direction and distance. Results from two experiments show that the haptic belt is effective in using vibration location and duration to communicate the relative direction and distance, respectively, of an individual in the userpsilas visual field.
Neuronal Migration from the Forebrain to the Olfactory Bulb Requires a New Attractant Persistent in the Olfactory Bulb

Interneurons in the olfactory bulb (OB) are generated not only in the developing embryo but also throughout the postnatal life of mammals from neuronal precursor cells migrating from the anterior subventricular zone (SVZa) of the mammalian forebrain. We discovered that the OB secretes a diffusible activity that attracts these neuronal precursor cells. The attractive activity is present in specific layers in the OB, including the glomerular layer but not the granule cell layer. The attractive activity and the neuronal responsiveness persist from embryonic through neonatal to adult stages. Removal of the rostral OB significantly reduces SVZa migration toward the OB, an effect that can be rescued by a transplant of the OB but not by that of the neocortex. The activity in the OB is not mimicked by the known attractants. These results provide an explanation for the continuous migration of SVZa neurons toward the OB, demonstrate an important role of the OB in neuronal migration, and reveal the existence of a new chemoattractant.
Human population structure and the adaptive response to pathogen-induced selection pressures

The past few years of research in human evolutionary genetics have provided novel insights and questions regarding how human adaptations to recent selective pressures have taken place. Here, we review the advances most relevant to understanding human evolution in response to pathogen-induced selective pressures. Key insights come from theoretical models of adaptive evolution, particularly those that consider spatially structured populations, and from empirical population genomic studies of adaptive evolution in humans. We also review the CCR5-Δ32 HIV resistance allele as a case study of pathogen resistance in humans. Taken together, the results make clear that the human response to pathogen-induced selection pressures depends on a complex interplay between the age of the pathogen, the genetic basis of potential resistance phenotypes, and how population structure impacts the adaptive process in humans.
A three-dimensional computational model of a thin-walled left ventricle

To complement laboratory research, a computer program has been developed to solve the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations for time-dependent flow in a compliant thin-walled, anatomically correct left ventricle. This program is written in Fortran, and is currently running on a Cray Y-MP. Model parameters were selected so that the simulation results could be compared to clinical data. The results of this study show that the thin-walled, three-dimensional left ventricular model simulates observed normal heart phenomena. Validation of this model permits further studies to be performed which involve altered ventricular function due to a variety of cardiac diseases. >
TYPE 1 DIABETIC PATIENT INSULIN DELIVERY USING ASYMMETRIC PI CONTROL

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the destruction of the only insulin producing cells in the body. The typical course of action consists of daily insulin injections or an insulin pump. Assuming available methods for online monitoring of glucose concentrations, feedback control can be applied to this problem to improve regulation of glucose concentrations. A control algorithm is presented for feedback control of glucose levels in Type 1 patients. The control problem may be viewed as asymmetric, with negative variation from normal values treated with a more aggressive response than positive deviation. A simple asymmetric proportional-integral (PI) controller is presented where controller parameters vary depending on the sign of the current error value. Optimal closed-loop tuning parameters for the asymmetric control system are determined using local search methods. The asymmetric control system is then considered for robustness analysis using standard techniques from linear systems theory.
Multiple limit cycle phenomena in switching power converters

The operation of switching power supplies is characterized by limit cycles. For a particular class of converters the limit cycle is not unique, and the converter output can jump almost at random among possible cycles. Converters subject to this behavior and methods for eliminating multiple-limit-cycle phenomena are presented by the authors. Experimental results on a hysteretic DC-DC converter are also included. >
Epicuticular Lipids from Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) and Their Potential Role in Host Plant Acceptance by Azalea Lace Bug, Stephanitis pyrioides (Heteroptera: Tingidae)

Key Word Index-Rhododendron canescens; Ericaceae: Stephanitis pyrioides; Tingidae: azalea: epicuti­ cutar lipids: scanning electron microscopy; ursolic acid; Ct-amyrin; fl-amyrin. Abstract-Epicuticular lipids of the foliage of four evergreen azalea hybrids (Rhododendron spp.) and one deciduous species, R. canestens (Michaux) Sweet, were extracted and charactem:ed by gas chroma­ tography-mass spectrometry. Each azalea hybrid and the deciduous species had a distinct epicuticular lipid composition. The most dominant epicuticular lipid components were triterpenoids, comprising 19­ 47% of the surface lipids for the five azaleas. For each cultivar and for R. canescens, the major triterpenoid was ursolic acid (11-30% of total epicuticular lipids). Two triterpenoid components, Ct- and ~-amyrin, previously implicated as insect feeding and/or oviposition deterrents. were present in lower levels in cul­ tivars more susceptible to damage by the azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pynoides), a herbivorous pest' of evergreen and deciduous azaleas. Scanning electron microscopy revealed distinct differences between the adaxial and abaxial surfaces of azalea leaves. Wax crystals were only seen on the lower surface of the leaves of 'Hino Crimson', the cultivar most susceptible to the azalea lace bug.
Assessing Forest Health Conditions in Idaho with Forest Inventory Data

Periodic inventory measurements of forest characteristics published by the U.S. Forest Service are used to assess trends in forest conditions in Idaho. Forest species composition, measured by growing stock volume, has changed since 1952. Western white pine and ponderosa pine have declined by 60% and 40%, respectively. True firs (mostly grand fir) increased by 60% lodgepole pine by almost 40%, and Douglas-fir, the predominant species throughout the state, increased by 15%. Measurements of tree mortality across the state and region from 1952 to 1987 establish a baseline regional range for judging current conditions. Recent mortality data from some Idaho national forests are much higher than the upper limit of the baseline regional range. On the Boise and Payette National Forests in southwestern Idaho, annual mortality exceeds annual growth. Recent inventories of national forests in northern Idaho show mature stands have mortality well above the baseline regional range, which projects into a negative net gro...
Effectiveness factors and mass transfer in trickle-bed reactors

Rates of hydrogenation of α-methyl styrene were measured at 40.6°C and 1 atm in a recycle, trickle-bed reactor using a palladium/aluminum oxide catalyst. Data for different hydrogen concentrations in the gas and liquid feed streams suggested that except, at high liquid flow rates, on part of the outer surface of the catalyst the mass transfer limitation was very small, indicating a gas covered type of surface. A procedure was developed for evaluating effectiveness factors for the nonuniform boundary conditions existing when part of the particle surface is covered by gas.
Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Surgery (LESS) in Gynecologic Oncology: Technique and Initial Report

article i nfo Objectives. Recent reports suggest that laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS), also known as single- port surgery, is technically feasible in treating a variety of disease processes. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of LESS for the surgical treatment of various gynecologic cancers or precancerous conditions through both laparoscopic and robotic-assisted approaches. Methods. A single institution retrospective review of patients treated with LESS on the gynecologic oncology service in 2009 was performed. Patients underwent surgery through a single 2-3 cm umbilical incision with a multi-channel SILS™ port for laparoscopic cases or a single-channel Gelport® for robotic cases on the daVinci® Surgical System. Results. Thirteen patients had LESS surgery performed, nine done laparoscopically and four robotically. Procedures included endometrial cancer staging (n= 1), ovarian cancer staging (n= 1), retroperitoneal pelvic lymph node dissection (n= 1), risk-reducing extrafascial hysterectomy/bilateral salpingo-oophor- ectomy (BSO, n= 2) and BSO alone (n= 5), and an ovarian cystectomy (n= 1) and BSO (n= 2) for complex adnexal masses. Median patient age and BMI were 47 years and 28, respectively. Median operating time was 65 min. All procedures were successfully performed via a single incision and no post-operative complications occurred. The majority of patients required no narcotics post-operatively. Conclusion. We present the first series of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery for the treatment of various gynecologic oncology conditions. LESS is feasible in select patients by laparoscopic or robotic-assisted techniques. Further studies are needed to better define the ideal gynecologic procedures for single-site surgery and to assess the benefits of LESS compared with more conventional minimally invasive approaches.
A study of solvent diffusion in thin polyimide films using laser interferometry

Using laser interferometry, we have determined in situ the thickness increase with time of thin supported polyimide films (4–8 μm in initial thickness) immersed in n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a function of NMP temperature (22–120°C). Similar experiments were also performed in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at 22°C with polyimide films of 4.1 μm in thickness. For NMP, the equilibrium fractional thickness increase (about 20%) is independent of initial polyimide thickness and temperature. The time scale for reaching equilibrium sharply decreases with temperature from 2–3 days at 22°C to 30–60 min at 120°C. Compared with NMP, the rate of DMSO sorption is considerably faster, reaching equilibrium swelling of about 28% in about 5 h at 22°C. To describe the transport process, we applied a phenomenological model proposed by Astarita and Sarti1 but reformulated in polymer fixed frame to enable straightforward comparison with the thickness data. Our analysis indicated that the transport of NMP is best described as anomalous, that is, intermediate between diffusion controlled and case II transport. The effective diffusion coefficient Deff and the front velocity U0 at 22°C were found to be 3–6 × 10−12 cm2/s and 8 × 10−9 cm/s, respectively. Our front velocity is in good accord with the value of 6 × 10−9 cm/s obtained for a similar polyimide based on gravimetric measurements.2 Both Deff and U0 show an activation energy of ∼56 kJ/mol. For DMSO, however, the transport is clearly case II. The front velocity at 22°C was found to be about 6 × 10−8 cm/s, which is about four times that obtained by Rutherford back-scattering spectrometry.3
Unwrapping orientalist constraints: Restoring homosocial normativity to Chinese American history

Since the publication of his pathbreaking treatise, Said's theoretical Orientalism itself can be said to loom as large in the fields of literary, postcolonial, and cultural studies as ideological Orientalism. Many Asian American Studies scholars, including myself are indebted to Said, for as American Orientals, we grapple with the same intellectual confinements as does Said, a western-trained Oriental: "In many ways my study of Orientalism has been an attempt to inventory the traces upon me, the Oriental subject, of the culture whose domination has been so powerful a factor in the life of all Orientals." In this article I respond to Said's directive to inventory Orientalism's effects by examining how it has restricted our thinking about Asian Americans. I address the failure of Asian American Studies to understand the bachelor era of Chinese American history on its own terms, as a homosocial community and space, rather than as a discomfiting deviation from heterosexual, family norms.
Acaricidal Activity of Cellulose Polymers

Four water-soluble etherified polymers were found to give good control of a demeton-resistant laboratory strain of the two spotted spider mite ( Tetranychus telarius (L.)) . They were Cellosize® (hydroxyethyl cellulose) WP-4400, Methocel® (methyl cellulose) MC-4000 eps., and CMC® Cellulose Gum (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) 7L, and Ceron® (hydroxypropyl starch) N-4S. Mortality which precedes dry film formation common to all these compounds, is characterized by derangement of the internal components of the mite. This mode of action is evidenced hy all four polymers at the higher concentrations employed (1.0% and 0.5%) and is independent of adhesion of the mite to the leaf. Control is essentially limited to motile forms. Spray applications of Cellosize and Methocel (4 1b. per 100 gallons) on nine rose varieties in commercial greenhouses, effectively reduced mite populations. Phytotoxicity on roses consisted chiefly of distortion attributable to mechanical restrictions imposed by the residual film on developing foliage. However, repeated applications were noted to cause premature abscission and marginal leaf burn on some varieties. Foliar and floral necrosis was observed on a few conservatory plant species treated with Cellosize. All four compounds are commercially produced and possess an extremely low mammalian toxicity. Dispersion in water requires particular attention. Further investigation regarding the nature of these compounds is being undertaken.
Enhancing Lift on a Flat Plate using Vortex Pairs generated by Synthetic Jet

Synthetic jets have been widely used in flow control applications of airfoils to prevent stall or reattach separated flow to enhance lift and decrease drag. In this study, a synthetic jet actuator is utilized as a generator of vortex pairs. Based on the interaction between the vortex pairs of the synthetic jet and a flat plate wing, novel active flow control strategies can be developed to manipulate vorticity generation and distribution in the flow field to realize enhanced lift. The mechanism of these control strategies is inspired by a previous study, which demonstrates that the motion of vorticities in the wake will affect lift production. To verify this idea, a 2D potential flow model is developed to model the flow field around a flapping flat plate wing with vortices in the wake. Moreover, the vortex pairs generated by a synthetic jet actuator are also modeled using point vortices in a potential flow. The validity of these potential flow models is verified through comparison with previous experimental and numerical studies. This flow model of an unsteady flat plate serves as a test case, based on which the vortex interaction and evolution around a flat plate with synthetic jet actuation are simulated. The results of this lift enhancement study indicate that a synthetic jet actuator should be placed close to the leading edge and issued in the direction of the background flow to achieve enhanced lift for low angle-of-attack cases where flow separation has not occurred. This will provide guidance for flight control of micro aerial vehicles (MAVs) during taking off or landing.
Transport of magnetic microparticles via tunable stationary magnetic traps in patterned wires

Remote manipulation of fluid-borne magnetic particles on a surface is useful to probe, assemble, and sort microscale and nanoscale objects. In this paper, fields emanating from magnetic domain walls in zigzag wires as well as from magnetization distributions in notched Co${}_{0.5}$Fe${}_{0.5}$ wires patterned on a silicon surface are shown to act as effective traps for such objects. Weak (\ensuremath{\sim}100 Oe) in- and out-of-plane external magnetic fields modify the energy landscape, allowing for the entrapped objects to be remotely maneuvered along predetermined routes across the surface while the magnetization profiles at the wire vertices and notches remain stationary. In calculating the forces, the net magnetic field and its spatial distribution are determined by modeling the wire magnetization using micromagnetic simulation or by approximating the trap as a point source of fields. The applicability of these models to particle manipulation under the experimental conditions is discussed.
Recent advances in hepatic glucose 6-phosphatase regulation and function.

Areas which we believe merit immediate intensive study include (i) isolation and characterization, chemically and functionally, of all of the individual components of the system; (ii) characterization of possible multiple forms of transport components, as we have done with T2 (24, 25, 36); (iii) optimistically, the reassembly of these components into a functional unit within synthetic biomembranes; (iv) characterization of the impact of components of biomembranes upon function of the various components; (v) cloning of all of the individual proteins of the system; (vi) characterization of mechanisms regulating the biosynthesis of the individual proteins at the transcriptional and translational levels; (vii) demonstration of possible auxiliary functions of translocases other than exclusively with the glucose 6-phosphatase system; (viii) characterization of possible physical associations of some components of the system; (ix) characterization of the glucose 6-phosphatase system from nonhepatic sources; (x) c...
Bioinspired negatively charged calcium phosphate nanocarriers for cardiac delivery of MicroRNAs

Aim: To develop biocompatible and bioresorbable negatively charged calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP-NPs) as an innovative therapeutic system for the delivery of bioactive molecules to the heart. Materials & methods: CaP-NPs were synthesized via a straightforward one-pot biomineralization-inspired protocol employing citrate as a stabilizing agent and regulator of crystal growth. CaP-NPs were administered to cardiac cells in vitro and effects of treatments were assessed. CaP-NPs were administered in vivo and delivery of microRNAs was evaluated. Results: CaP-NPs efficiently internalized into cardiomyocytes without promoting toxicity or interfering with any functional properties. CaP-NPs successfully encapsulated synthetic microRNAs, which were efficiently delivered into cardiac cells in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: CaP-NPs are a safe and efficient drug-delivery system for potential therapeutic treatments of polarized cells such as cardiomyocytes.
Weak Bond Screening System

The most commonly used nondestructive inspection (NDI) technique for adhesively bonded and composite structures is the ultrasonic C-scan technique operating in a pulse-echo or through-transmission mode. They are most effective in detecting disbonds, voids, delamination and foreign inslusions, but are ineffective for the detection of weak bonds at the adhesive points. Weak bonds are mostly caused by improper surface cleaning of substrates. There is no air space at the adhesive joints where the substrate and the adhesive are in intimate contact with each other. This results in a lack of interface for ultrasound reflection required for their detection by conventional ultrasonic NDI techniques. Other ultrasonic techniques such as ultrasonic spectroscopy and ultrasonic resonance testers also suffer from the same disadvantage.
Big data challenges in decoding cortical activity in a human with quadriplegia to inform a brain computer interface

Recent advances in Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have created hope that one day paralyzed patients will be able to regain control of their paralyzed limbs. As part of an ongoing clinical study, we have implanted a 96-electrode Utah array in the motor cortex of a paralyzed human. The array generates almost 3 million data points from the brain every second. This presents several big data challenges towards developing algorithms that should not only process the data in real-time (for the BCI to be responsive) but are also robust to temporal variations and non-stationarities in the sensor data. We demonstrate an algorithmic approach to analyze such data and present a novel method to evaluate such algorithms. We present our methodology with examples of decoding human brain data in real-time to inform a BCI.
Selling Passive Monitoring to Manage Risk in Independent Living: Frontline Workers in a Bind

Passive monitoring systems have been proposed as a way to revolutionize home healthcare. This study examines specific techniques social workers employ to urge older adults to adopt the QuietCare sensor-based passive monitoring system that monitors movements in residents’ apartments. Data were gathered from 49 in-depth semi-structured interviews in six low-income independent living residence apartment buildings where QuietCare had been offered for six years and where 98% of residents who were offered the system declined it. This study reveals how frontline staff members navigate the task of encouraging reluctant independent living residents to subject themselves to continuous sensor-based monitoring. Social workers employed a variety of techniques to pressure adoption and residents made constrained choices. Having to navigate this practice put these workers in a bind, caught between values of independence and risk management . This research suggests that it is important to understand what is at stake in negotiations over passive monitoring adoption and the potential for conflict between values of independence and risk management.
Social and cultural factors are related to colorectal cancer screening attitudes in African Americans

A101 Theoretical models of preventive behaviors like cancer screening, do not typically account for social and cultural factors relevant to African Americans at high risk. Using two structural equation models the following hypothesis was tested: the relationship between socio-cultural (traditional acculturation, group-based medical mistrust, group susceptibility, social support) socioeconomic, and health background variables (physician recommendation of screening, past screening, and personal history of colorectal polyps) and intention to be screened is mediated by perceived benefits of and barriers to colonoscopy. Data from 198 African Americans (Age: M = 59.7, SD = 9.9; 65% female; 44% household income $50,000+) were analyzed using structural equation modeling (LISREL 8.51) with full information maximum likelihood (FIML) estimation. The perceived benefits mediation model exhibited close fit [FIML χ2 (119) = 172.23, p
Ebenezer Hazard and the Promotion of Historical Scholarship in the Early Republic

-At the close of the Revolutionary War a host of newly self-confident and self-conscious American intellectuals engaged in an intensive examination of their newly independent country. The next several decades witnessed an out pouring of curiosity directed to every aspect of life in the new nation. American geography, American society, American language, and American flora and fauna became the objects of intense scrutiny by both the greater and lesser thinkers of the day. Among the most important of these endeavors were the many attempts to preserve a now common past through the collection and publication of histor ical documents and narratives, the formation of historical and antiquarian soci eties, and the writing of narrative histories of the several states and of the new United States itself.
Management of Root-knot Nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) on Pittosporum tobira Under Greenhouse, Field, and On-farm Conditions in Florida.

Root-knot nematodes are important pests of cut foliage crops in Florida. Currently, effective nematicides for control of these nematodes on cut foliage crops are lacking. Hence, research was conducted at the University of Florida to identify pesticides or biopesticides that could be used to manage these nematodes. The research comprised on-farm, field, and greenhouse trials. Nematicide treatments evaluated include commercial formulations of spirotetramat, furfural, and Purpureocillium lilacinum (=Paecilomyces lilacinus) strain 251. Treatment applications were made during the spring and fall seasons according to manufacturer’s specifications. Efficacy was evaluated based on J2/100 cm3 of soil, J2/g of root, and crop yield (kg/plot). Unlike spirotetramat, which did not demonstrate any measurable effects on Meloidogyne incognita J2 in the soil, furfural and P. lilacinum were marginally effective in reducing the population density of M. incognita on Pittosporum tobira. However, nematode reduction did not affect yield significantly. Although furfural and P. lilacinum have some potential for management of M. incognita on cut foliage crops, their use as a lone management option would likely not provide the needed level of control. Early treatment application following infestation provided greater J2 suppression compared to late application, suggesting the need for growers to avoid infested fields.
Potential of BEAMing Technology to Develop Individualized Cancer Care

PL01-02 Non-invasive detection of tumors through the identification of somatic mutations in free circulating tumor DNA present in blood, urine, sputum, saliva, or stool could have a substantial impact on cure, recurrence, and survival. Mutated DNA in these bodily fluids is a specific biomarker for the presence of neoplastic growth as such mutations are not found in normal tissues. However, the detection of mutated DNA requires sensitive assays, as the number of circulating mutant molecules is small compared to the number of normal DNA molecules. We have developed a technology called BEAMing (Beads, Emulsion, Amplification and Magnetics), which provides this sensitivity and at the same time precisely enumerates the fraction of template molecules. Using this approach, we found that mutant DNA can be detected in stool and plasma of patients with early stage colorectal tumors. Furthermore, our results suggest that quantifying the amounts of circulating mutant DNA can be used for monitoring tumor burden. This non-invasive approach would therefore greatly enhance early detection of primary and recurring disease as well as the ability of clinicians to optimize cancer therapy best suited for individual patients.
Reliability-Based Dynamic Analysis of Progressive Collapse of Highway Bridges

Abstract Structural systems optimized to meet member design criteria specified in design standards may not provide sufficient levels of structural robustness to withstand possible local failures that could be caused by unforeseen extreme events. In fact, the sudden failure of an element may result in the failure of another creating a chain reaction that might progress throughout the entire structure or a major portion of it leading to catastrophic collapse. Concerns about possible threats to major bridges instigated interest in developing criteria for evaluating their robustness. Bridge-specific criteria are needed as existing procedures for buildings are not suitable for bridges because of differences in their structural configurations and their dead and transient loads. This paper describes a methodology for assessing the capability of bridges to resist progressive collapse while accounting for the uncertainties in the applied loads and the load carrying capacities of the members as well as the system of damaged structures. The reliability analysis methodology is illustrated using models of a steel box girder bridge and a steel truss bridge subjected to different initial damage scenarios. The paper outlines how the results from reliability-based structural dynamic analyses can be implemented to develop structural robustness criteria that would lead to consistent levels of safety.
Return of money or return on money? Analyzing asset concentration of local government investment pool portfolios

The recent financial crisis provides an opportunity to examine the management of local government investment pools (LGIPs). This study examines asset concentration of current LGIPs to find if investment practices of LGIPs are consistent with the objective of prudent management of public funds. Using cross-sectional data of 72 LGIP portfolios, exploratory factor analysis was conducted. Findings suggest that there are five underlying factors that describe the investment practices of current LGIP portfolios. The findings also suggest that LGIP investment managers considered return on investment when they chose investment instruments. However, LGIP managers put more focus on the safety of investment when they allocated assets in their portfolio.
Truth be told: not all nudging is bullshit

> ‘The fact about himself that the bullshitter hides, on the other hand, is that the truth-values of his statements are of no central interest to him; what we are not to understand is that his intention is neither to report the truth nor conceal it. It is just this lack of connection to a concern with truth—this indifference to how things really are—that is the essence of bullshit.’1 > —Harry Frankfurt In his paper, Nudging, informed consent, and bullshit , William Simkulet accuses doctors of being bullshitters when they knowingly influence patient decision making through means other than argument and reasoning, that is, through ‘nudges.’ In these instances, he contends that they care little about patient understanding or communicating the truth about the options and, instead, care only about presenting alternatives in ways that cause patients to do what the physicians think they should do.2 However, doctors can intend to enhance patient understanding at the same time that they try to influence patients’ choices. Consider a physician who wants her patient to get a vaccine. …
Predicting High School Teacher Use of Technology: Pedagogical Beliefs, Technological Beliefs and Attitudes, and Teacher Training

The current study aims to explore predictors that independently contribute to high school teacher use of technology in general and for different teaching purposes (student-centered and traditional). High school teachers (N = 928) responded to a survey that consisted of measures in several categories: (1) teachers’ background variables, (2) teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, (3) teachers’ attitudes or beliefs towards technology, (4) teachers’ perceived training effectiveness. A series of multilevel models were used to explore the independent effects of these factors on teacher use of technology in general and for different teaching purposes. The results showed that teachers’ technology self-efficacy was a significant predictor of teacher use of technology. More importantly, teachers’ instructional approach, openness towards technology, and perceived teaching training effectiveness were more salient when predicting teacher use technology to support student-centered teaching than when predicting teacher use technology to support traditional teaching. Our findings suggest that teachers’ pedagogical readiness is as important as technological readiness for teachers to integrate technology in teaching to serve more advanced teaching purposes. This study has important implications for organizing professional learning experiences for teachers.
Sleep hygiene among veterinary medical students.

Objective: The objective of this study was to better understand veterinary medical students' sleep hygiene and identify the extent to which sleep hygiene behaviors may result in consequences (either positive or negative) for students. Sample: A total of 187 doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) program students at a large College of Veterinary Medicine in the United States. Methods: The Epworth Sleep Scale and Daytime Sleepiness Scale were administered to 393 students enrolled in the DVM program. Results: About 55.1% of students reported Conclusions: A significant percentage of veterinary medical students exhibit poor sleep hygiene habits that may be detrimental to both their health and academic endeavors.
Interferon-induced augmentation of natural killer cell activity by splenocytes from leukemia virus immunosuppressed mice.

Interactions of Friend leukemia virus (FLV) and immune responsiveness in mice has been studied extensively over the past decade (4). In most circumstances FLV has been shown to depress cellular and humoral immunity. However, the role of these depressed responses in the pathogenesis of this virus infection is not known. In this regard, our laboratory recently began investigation of natural killer (NK) cell activity in FLV infected BALB/c mice.
Racial/Ethnic Minorities and Health

Urban cities are polarized environments combining risks and protective behaviors. This polarization tends to follow the distribution of goods and resources in our society. Racial/ethnic minority groups occupy the lower end of our society and are concentrated in areas with a high level of people living below poverty, high unemployment, high proportion of people on pubic assistance, lack of health insurance, and limited access to health care. Therefore, minorities occupy a higher risk position in our society and particularly so in urban areas. Minority groups’ exposures to health damaging circumstances and promotion of negative health behaviors are a function of their social position. Therefore, to understand the contribution of the urban environment in shaping the health of their residents, the structures and processes driving the racial/ethnic relationships of our society needs to be placed in the context of the historic, economic, and social forces creating and ultimately shaping these relationships in our day-to-day life. Specifically, the historic meaning of race, and more recently ethnicity, needs to be deconstructed to provide equal opportunities to all racial/ethnic groups in our society and to eventually eliminate the health damaging effects of the urban environment.
Tumors of C Cells

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) comprises 5–10 % of thyroid carcinomas. About 25 % of cases are familial; thus, patients are offered RET mutation analysis. MTC occurs in multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A), MEN2B, and familial MTC (FMTC), autosomal dominant disorders due to RET mutations. MEN2A and FMTC are associated with RET mutations of codons 609, 611, 618, 620, and 634. In FMTC, mutations of codons 768, 790, 791, 804, 844, and 891 are associated with less aggressive disease and a later onset. Most MEN2B RET mutations are at codon 918 (>95 %) or 883 (2–3 %). MEN2A is associated with MTC, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid disease. MEN2B is associated with MTC, pheochromocytoma, mucocutaneous neuromas, ganglioneuromatosis, and marfanoid habitus. MTC usually occurs before pheochromocytoma in MEN2A and MEN2B, and preoperative calcitonin levels may help identify MTC and prevent a hypertensive crisis during surgery.
A Weighted Referential Activity Dictionary

The Weighted Referential Activity Dictionary (WRAD) is a dictionary (word list) containing 696 items, with weights ranging between −1 and +1, used for computer modeling of a psycholinguistic variable, Referential Activity (RA), in spoken and written language. The RA dimension concerns the degree to which language reflects connection to nonverbal experience, including imagery, and bodily and emotional experience, and evokes corresponding experience in the listener or reader. RA is primarily indicated by attributes of language style independent of content. High RA language is vivid and evocative; low RA language may be abstract, general, vague or diffuse. RA ratings have been widely used in psycholinguistic and clinical research. RA was initially measured using scales scored by judges; the CRA (Mergenthaler and Bucci, 1999), a binary dictionary, was the first computerized RA measure developed to model judges’ RA ratings. The WRAD, a weighted dictionary, shows higher correlations with RA ratings in all text types tested. The development of the WRAD and its applications are made possible by the authors’ Discourse Attributes Analysis Program (DAAP), which uses smooth local weighted averaging to capture the ebb and flow of RA and similar variables.
From Juke Joints to Jazz Jams: The Political Economy of Female Club Owners

The history of jazz and blues is tied up with the spaces owned and curated by female proprietors. Early jazz making was supported by enterprising women who would host lawn parties at their residences in New Orleans. The blues developed in places known as juke joints, which were and are still often women-owned spaces in the southern United States. Nevertheless, while histories of jazz and blues tend to focus on the musicians and composers of the respective genres, the venues have largely gone unstudied. If venues have been discussed, they are primarily the larger spaces owned by men. The work of club owners is unique, as they also act as club managers and are frequently curators of the music being presented. Club ownership as an occupational category is largely marked as male, with the places and spaces of musical production often seen as being hostile to women. This paper seeks to examine the work of female club owners and reveal the hidden political economy of places and spaces of jazz and blues.
Genotypic and phenotypic variations in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from outpatient, inpatient and nursing homes.

Purpose The epidemiological shift in MRSA distribution from healthcare-related facilities to the general population is distressing and requires continuous monitoring to manage and control the rate of incidences. Method The retrospective relationship between genetic and phenotypic variability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates was determined in respect to the specimen source, patient location, sex and age. A total of 521 MRSA isolates were classified based on SCCmec, mec, agr, pvl and spa genetic markers using three different multiplex PCRs. Results Based on the genetic variability, the isolates were divided into 97 profiles, of which 59% belonged to only two profiles (P17 and P33). P17 was the predominate profile, harbouring SCCmecIVa, ccr2, mecB, agr1, spa413 and pvl markers. P17 was more prevalent among the younger population (average 33.9 years) from outpatient (77%) locations and wound (88%) sources. The second largest profile was P33, harbouring SCCmecII, ccr2+ccr3, mecA, agr2, spa413 and no PVL. P33 was more prevalent in the older population (average 70.7 years) and more common in females (62%) than males (38%). With respect to antibiotic resistance, P33 exhibited a high rate of resistance to penicillins, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones and macrolides, and P17 had a lower resistance to fluoroquinolones. Conclusion This report contributes to the existing understanding of evolutionary epidemiology of antibiotic resistance in MRSA. The diversity of MRSA isolates and unique environmental preferences for each profile highlights the importance of epidemiological knowledge of MRSA distribution to determine the best treatment for patients in both community and hospital settings.
Discovery and Elucidation of Counteranion Dependence in Photoredox Catalysis.

Over the past decade, there has been a renewed interest in the use of transition metal polypyridyl complexes as photoredox catalysts for a variety of innovative synthetic applications. Many derivat...
To what extent does sex, age and BMI impact medical and pharmacy costs? A retrospective cohort study involving employees in a large school district in the USA.

Objective To identify the extent that sex, age and body mass index (BMI) is associated with medical and pharmacy costs. Design Retrospective cohort. Setting A school district in the Western USA involving 2531 workers continuously employed during 2011–2014. Main outcome measures Medical and pharmacy costs and BMI. Results Approximately 84% of employees participated in wellness screening. Participants were 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) times more likely to be women and younger (M=47.8 vs 49.8, p Conclusions Medications associated with higher medical and pharmacy costs among women, older age and underweight or obese individuals are identified. Lowering medical and pharmacy costs requires weight management in older ages, particularly for underweight and obese. Higher pharmacy costs for certain drugs among underweight individuals may be associated with poorer nutrition.
Moving beyond reflection in a hall of mirrors: developing critical reflective capacity in teachers and teacher educators

Using reflection to merely affirm existing beliefs rather than engaging in confrontation and examination of beliefs is like reflecting in a hall of mirrors. This study explores the process of criti...