cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UV damage-induced RNA polymerase II stalling stimulates H2B deubiquitylation

Histone H2B monoubiquitylation plays an important role in RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) elongation. Whether this modification responds to RNAPII stalling is not yet known. We report that both yeast and human cells undergo a rapid and significant H2B deubiquitylation after exposure to UV irradiation. This deubiquitylation occurs concurrently with UV-induced transcription arrest and is significantly reduced in a DNA damage-bypassing RNAPII yeast mutant. Consistent with these results, yeast deubiquitylases Ubp8 and Ubp10 are associated with the RNAPII complex. Moreover, simultaneous deletion of Ubp8 and Ubp10 leads to a lack of H2B deubiquitylation after UV exposure. Consequently, nucleotide excision repair at an actively transcribed gene locus is decreased, whereas UV-induced RNAPII degradation is increased in ubp8Δubp10Δ mutant cells. These results indicate that eukaryotic cells respond to RNAPII arrest by deubiquitylating H2B to coordinate DNA repair and RNAPII degradation.
Pulsatile Administration of Human Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone in Patients with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency: Restoration of the Normal Cortisol Secretory Pattern

Human corticotropin-releasing hormoen(hCRH) was administered in a pulsatile fashion to eight patients with secondary adrenal insufficiency. These patients were selected on the basis of a normal or exaggerated plasma ACTH response to exogenous ovine CRH, suggesting sparing of the corticotrophs. A continuous 48-h iv infusion of ACTH to restore the adrenal glands to an ACTH-responsive state preceded hCRH administration. Eight 1 μg/kg bolus injections of hCRH were administered in a 24-h period. The time intervals between hCRH injections were selected to resemble the frequency of spontaneously occurring secretory episodes of plasma ACTH and cortisol. Four of the patients underwent a second study, of identicaldesign, in which normal saline injections were administered instead of hCRH. Pulsatile hCRH treatment resulted in a secretory pattern of ACTH and cortisol similar to that in normal subjects. ACTH and cortisol levels during saline administration were low and had no circadian variation. These findings indica...
Visible and Near-Infrared Spectra of the Secondary Combustion of a 152 mm Howitzer

Visible and near-infrared spectra were collected from 53 firings of three different propellants from a 152 mm howitzer. The observable muzzle flashes had 50-100 ms durations and were collected with approximately 0.75 nm spectral and 10 Hz temporal resolutions. Atomic and molecular emissions were primarily limited to contaminant species including K, Na, Li, CaOH, CuOH, and CuO. A relatively strong continuum baseline was observed from hot particulate matter and plume-scattered solar radiation. A radiative transfer model was used to demonstrate self-absorption in an optically thick plume as the likely source of significant broadening of the potassium 4 2P3/2,1/2 - 4 2S1/2 doublet. Indeed, the entire O2 (X-b) absorption band is evident in the blue wing. This feature is used to estimate range to source to within 4-9% for individual firings and 0.5% with multiple observations. Ratios of atomic line intensities were used to differentiate munitions configurations, yielding ratios of between-class variance to within-class variance of 8.6 to 18.2 using 1 to 4 atomic lines. Further reduction of the number of features by characterizing the relative atomic line intensities by a temperature parameter (T = 7900-8900 K) significantly degrades class discrimination.
Deleterious effects of minocycline after in vivo target deprivation of thalamocortical neurons in the immature, metallothionein-deficient mouse brain.

Compared to adults, immature metallothionein I & II knockout (MT−/−) mice incur greater neuronal loss and a more rapid rate of microglia accumulation following target deprivation-induced injury. Since minocycline has been proposed to inhibit microglial activation and associated production of neuroinflammatory factors, we investigated its ability to promote neuronal survival in the immature, metallothionein-deficient brain. Following ablation of the visual cortex, 10-day-old MT−/− mice were treated with minocycline or saline and sacrificed 24 or 48 hours after injury. Using stereological methods, the number of microglia and neurons were estimated in the ipsilateral dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) by an investigator blinded to the treatment. No effect on neuronal survival was observed at 24 hours, but 48 hours after injury an unanticipated but significant minocycline-mediated increase in neuronal loss was detected. Further, while failing to inhibit microglial accumulation, minocycline treatment increased the proportion of amoeboid microglia in the ipsilateral dLGN. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying this neurotoxic response, we identified minocycline-mediated changes in the expression of three potentially pro-apoptotic/ inflammatory genes: growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible gene 45γ (GADD45γ); interferon-inducible protein 1 (IFI1) and cytokine induced growth factor (CTGF). We also observed increased mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 phosphorylation with minocycline treatment. Although minocycline inhibited calpain activity at 12 hours post-injury, this effect was not sustained at 24 hours. Together, these results help to explain how minocycline has a deleterious effect on neuronal survival in this injury model.
Disability and rehabilitation in the dizzy patient

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on prospective studies of vertigo and balance therapy in the past 3 years, including advances in vertigo-habituation exercises for adults, pediatric intervention, and virtual reality techniques, and, in more depth, the literature pertinent to driving motor vehicles. RECENT FINDINGS: Increased support has been generated for the efficacy of a minimal, home-based vertigo-habituation program for adults with peripheral vestibular disorders. Vestibular rehabilitation has been shown to be associated with improvements in independence and dynamic visual acuity. Community-based vestibular rehabilitation has been shown to be efficacious for selected patients, after careful screening, when trained personnel provide intervention. Vestibular rehabilitation has been incorporated into the rehabilitation program for head-injured military personnel who will be returned to duty, and multifactorial balance rehabilitation has been shown to be useful for children with hearing and balance impairments. Virtual reality techniques have made significant advances, so immersive environments have potential for rehabilitation for patients with vestibular disorders and for developing training regimens for astronauts to ameliorate some effects of exposure to microgravity. Driving skill, in general, is affected by use of benzodiazepines. For many patients with vestibular impairments driving is a particularly problematic activity of daily living. SUMMARY: Progress has been made in studies of acute care, community-based, and pediatric vestibular rehabilitation. Work on simulator-based paradigms has moved toward readiness for implementation. Studies of driving have provided some insight into the problems of these patients. More work remains to be done on all of these problems. Language: en
Nanomaterials in PV manufacture: Some life cycle environmental- and health-considerations

The potential benefits of using nanomaterials in PV manufacture triggered a recent surge of research and development in this area. Nevertheless, the environmental- and health-implications of using them are not delineated fully. In this study, we present and discuss the potential life-cycle energy uses and hazards of three photovoltaic (PV) designs based on nanotechnology, i.e., multi-junction amorphous silicon, nano cadmium telluride, and nano silver paste contact. Preliminary estimates indicate that nanotechnology- based PV designs use substantially more energy in producing the material and fabricating the device than do the current methodologies, particularly when coupled with the current immature, laboratory-scale processes. In addition, using nano-size forms of cadmium telluride and silver may introduce new hazards. These preliminary conclusions may change if the processes are scaled up fully for mass production, emphasizing the importance of timely updates on this topic.
Mentoring in a Post-Affirmative Action World

Mentoring can be an effective strategy in improving retention of college students and faculty from fields where historical underrepresentation has occurred. This article reviews the benefits of mentoring in higher education, and identifies components of effective mentoring strategies that promote educational and career advancement. It illustrates how effective programs can be institutionalized and scaled through consortial and national collaborations. Traditional and alternative mentoring models are described through four successful programs designed to increase the academic and professional success of undergraduates, graduate students, and junior faculty. The article concludes with a set of general recommendations and caveats gleaned from the literature and programs reviewed.
Emotion regulation difficulties in anorexia nervosa before and after inpatient weight restoration.

It has been hypothesized that emotion regulation difficulties play a key role in the etiology of anorexia nervosa (AN)1. Studies have found that underweight individuals with AN have more emotion regulation difficulties than healthy controls2–6 and comparable emotion regulation problems as individuals with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, and borderline personality disorder (BPD)2, 3–6. However, it remains unclear how starvation and nutritional rehabilitation impact emotion regulation difficulties in individuals with AN. Two studies have found no association between body mass index (BMI) and emotion regulation deficits for individuals with AN3,7, but one study found that individuals with AN at higher BMIs experienced more emotion regulation difficulties during acute stages of illness6. Further, while one cross-sectional study did not detect differences in emotion regulation between underweight and recovered individuals with AN2, other cross-sectional studies have reported greater emotion regulation difficulties for underweight individuals with AN compared to those in recovery4,8. However, no studies have prospectively examined changes in emotion regulation within the same individuals over the course of weight restoration, making it difficult to determine whether differences in emotion regulation between acute and recovered groups with AN are due to nutritional differences, treatment effects, or dissimilarities between cross-sectional groups (e.g., severity). This is an important question given studies showing that depression and anxiety improve with weight gain9,10. Further, although it is often hypothesized that individuals with AN binge-purge subtype (AN-BP) have poorer emotion regulation relative to those with AN restricting subtype (AN-R)11, few studies have examined subtype differences in emotion regulation. One study found that individuals with AN-BP demonstrated elevated emotion regulation difficulties compared to AN-R only in the domain of emotional impulsivity7. However, this finding has not been replicated and was only detected during acute stages of illness. To address these two gaps in the literature, we examined: 1) The influence of weight restoration on emotion regulation abilities of inpatients with AN; and 2) Differences in emotion regulation between AN subtypes when underweight and weight-restored. We hypothesized that: 1) Although other clinical variables would improve in a statistically and clinically significant manner with weight gain, emotion regulation difficulties would persist and BMI would not be associated with emotion regulation at either time point; and 2) Individuals with AN-BP (versus AN-R) would have greater difficulty with impulsivity, but not other emotion regulation domains, at both time points.
Natural Law & Lawlessness: Modern Lessons from Pirates, Lepers, Eskimos, and Survivors

The natural experiments of history present an opportunity to test Hobbes’s view that government and law are the wellspring of social order. Groups have found themselves in a wide variety of situations in which no governmental law existed, from shipwrecks to gold mining camps to failed states. Yet, despite the wide variety of situations, common patterns emerge among the groups in their responses to their often difficult circumstances. Rather than survival of the fittest, a more common reaction is social cooperation and a commitment to fairness and justice, although both can be subverted in certain predictable ways. These absent-law situations also illustrate the dependence of social order and cooperation on a group’s commitment to justice. The insights from the absent-law situations have implications for several modern criminal justice issues, including the appropriate distributive principle for criminal liability and punishment, restorative justice programs, the movement to promote non-incarcerative sanctions, transitional justice and truth commissions, the limitations on use-of-force rules under international law, fairness procedures promoting the legitimacy of criminal adjudication, and crime-control policies for fighting organized crime and terrorism.
High-accuracy X-ray foil optic assembly

Achieving arcsecond angular resolution in a grazing-incidence foil optic X-ray telescope, such as the segmented mirror approach being considered for the Constellation-X Spectroscopy X-Ray Telescope (SXT), requires accurate placement of individual foils. We have developed a method for mounting large numbers of nested, segmented foil optics with sub- micrometer accuracy using lithographically defined and etched silicon alignment micro-structures. A system of assembly tooling, incorporating the silicon micro-structures, is used to position the foils which are then bonded to a flight structure. The advantage of this procedure is that the flight structure has relaxed tolerance requirements while the high accuracy assembly tooling can be reused. A companion paper by Bergner et al. discusses how our process could be used for the SXT. We have built an assembly truss with a simplified rectilinear geometry designed to experimentally test this alignment and mounting technique. We report results of tests with this system that demonstrate its ability to provide sub- micrometer alignment of rigid test optics.
Dental surgery in pediatric patients with spina bifida and latex allergy.

ABSTRACT Dental rehabilitation is a common outpatient pediatric surgical procedure. It requires the dentist to restore or extract the teeth of children with severe tooth decay or poor dental hygiene. Medical, physical, or emotional problems can make safe treatment in an outpatient setting impossible. These children require sedation or anesthesia for the dentist to gain access to their oral cavities. This article discusses caring for pediatric patients with spina bifida and latex allergy undergoing dental rehabilitation. Perioperative nurses must act as patient advocates in providing a latex-safe environment and also ensure quality care. AORN J 74 (July 2001) 57-72.
Seven-Year Changes in Physical Fitness, Physical Activity, and Lipid Profile in the CARDIA Study

PURPOSE: To relate seven year changes in physical fitness and physical activity in the young adult population to changes in the plasma lipid profile and to examine the influence of weight change on those relationships. METHODS: The participants in this observational study were the 1777 black and white men and women, ages 18–30 at entry into the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) cohort, who completed a symptom-limited graded treadmill exercise test and had an overnight fasting blood draw at both the Baseline (1985–86) and Year 7 (1992–93) exams. CARDIA, a longitudinal study of the relationships of lifestyle and physiological variables to the development of coronary heart disease risk factors, consists of population-based cohorts in Birmingham, Alabama, Minneapolis, Minnesota and Chicago, Illinois and a cohort recruited from the membership of a large, pre-paid health care plan, broadly representative of the population, in Oakland, California. RESULTS: All race/gender groups experienced mean decreases in physical fitness and self-reported physical activity and increases in weight. Decreased fitness was associated with decreased high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and conversely, increased fitness was associated with increased HDL-C. The correlation coefficients of change in fitness with change in HDL-C ranged from 0.17 in white men and black women to 0.24 in white women (P < 0.001 for all race/gender groups). Change in fitness was minimally correlated with change in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in all groups (r ranged from −0.09 in black women to −0.20 in white women), triglycerides (TG) in men and white women (r ranged from −0.10 to −0.15), and total cholesterol (TC) in white men and women (r = −0.11 and −0.15, respectively). The magnitude of these correlations was further reduced with adjustment for weight change. Correlations between change in activity and change in lipid and lipoprotein values were generally weak or nonexistent, except for the suggestion of a small, direct relationship with change in HDL-C in black and white women (r = 0.14 and r = 0.11, respectively). All of the weight change adjusted correlations were essentially unaffected by further adjustment for baseline fitness or activity and other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased fitness during young adulthood is associated with unfavorable changes in lipid profile, explained mostly by increased weight. Lack of association between change in activity and change in lipid profile observed in this study may be due, in part, to imprecision of activity measurement.
An Integrated Morphological and Molecular Approach to a New Species Description in the Trypanosomatidae: the Case of Leptomonas podlipaevi n. sp., a Parasite of Boisea rubrolineata (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae)

Leptomonas podlipaevi n. sp., a new trypanosomatid species, is described herein based on light microscopic, ultrastructural, and molecular phylogenetic data. The organism is pleomorphic both in host and culture, with two predominant forms-a typical promastigote with a long flagellum and a shorter promastigote with a small or barely extending flagellum. Several spliced leader RNA repeat sequences obtained from the original cultures and the clonal lines representing two types of cells were all nearly identical. These sequences formed a tight cluster in the neighbor-joining tree well separated from other trypanosomatid species. Glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase gene sequences were determined for L. podlipaevi and 10 previously described trypanosomatid species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis has demonstrated that the new species is most closely related to Leptomonas seymouri and Leptomonas pyrrhocoris. The analysis has also highlighted the polyphyly of the genus Leptomonas.
Effects of dietary composition on somatomedin activity in growing rats.

Young growing rats were used to evaluate the effect of dietary composition on growth rate, body and organ weights, biochemical composition of brain and liver, plasma growth hormone concentration, and plasma somatomedin ( SM) activity. Young male rats ( 10/group ) were fed four levels of dietary protein (casein: 2.5, 5, 10, and 20%) and three levels of dietary fat (corn oil: 1.2, 10, and 20%) over a 30-day period. Changes in total body and organ weights paralleled increasing dietary protein and were affected to a lesser extent by dietary fat. Liver protein paralleled in creasing dietary protein. Glycogen, protein, DNA, and RNA determinations on the brain were not significantly influenced by dietary manipulation. Plasma growth hormone concentrations were not significantly different due to dietary protein or fat. Plasma SM activity was positively correlated with dietary protein levels (0.80 units/2.5% protein for all fat levels to 1.35 units/20% protein for all fat levels). Plasma SM was suppressed approxi mately 25% with increasing dietary fat in rats fed the 207r protein diets. Furthermore, SM appears to be directly related to food efficiency ( g gain/ 100 kcal) and body weight change. These data suggest that dietary com position has a direct effect on plasma SM activity and that the severe growth retardation associated with protein malnutrition may be related to its additional effect on serum SM. J. Nutr. 109: 613-620, 1979.
Effects of food availability on the distribution of migratory warblers among habitats in Jamaica

Summary 1. Theoretical arguments suggest that distributions of migratory birds in winter should match patterns of food availability, but in reality the match between migrants and their food may be imperfect because, for various reasons, birds may be unable to ‘track’ food resources. We tested the hypothesis that food availability influences the distribution of migratory canopy-foraging insectivorous warblers wintering in Jamaica. 2. Over a wide spatial scale (24 sites on the island), warbler abundance varied signi ficantly among sites and habitats and was significantly dependent on measures of arthro pod biomass. Alternative factors (vegetation characteristics, resident bird competitor abundance, predator abundance) were not correlated with warbler abundance. 3. Over a short temporal scale (about 2 weeks) at a single site, warbler abundance increased as predicted quantitatively after a natural, rapid increase in arthropod biomass. 4. Over a longer temporal scale (the duration of a winter), changes in density and persistence of individually marked American redstarts ( Setophaga ruticilla , L.) on six sites corresponded with concurrent fluctuations in arthropod biomass. 5. These results document a strong association between arthropod biomass and warbler abundance in time and space, suggesting that warblers wintering in Jamaica distribute themselves in response to food resources. 6. We hypothesize that dominance hierarchies and variable movement strategies operate in concert with birds’ responses to food to influence the distribution of wintering warblers at different spatial scales. Whether food availability determines habitat quality remains to be investigated.
Spectral domain OCT at 850 nm and OFDI at 1050 nm for retinal imaging in glaucoma and AMD patients

Purpose: We have realized a 150 fold improvement of the sensitivity over conventional time domain OCT technology allowing video rate in vivo retinal imaging without compromising image quality. Methods: Two different but similar technologies (SD-OCT and OFDI) provide high speed imaging at a wavelength of 850 nm and 1050 nm, respectively. An overview of the latest system developments will be presented. Data processing techniques to extract and quantify features such as retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, drusen volume, CNV size and volume, and subretinal fluid volume will be presented for a number of glaucoma and AMD patients. Results: Ultra-high-resolution video rate SD-OCT at 850 nm and OFDI at 1050 nm offers many advantages in retinal imaging, maintaining high signal to noise while operating at a safe ocular exposure level. Conclusions: The unprecedented speed eliminates motion artifacts and the need to re-align A-lines, enabling accurate 3-D mapping of the retinal topography, and provides a shift from two-dimensional imaging to three-dimensional screening of large retinal volumes.
Spinach Holo-Acyl Carrier Protein: Overproduction and Phosphopantetheinylation inEscherichia coliBL21(DE3),in VitroAcylation, and Enzymatic Desaturation of Histidine-Tagged Isoform I

Abstract Spinach ACP isoform I was overexpressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) using a gene synthesized from codons associated with high-level expression in E. coli. The synthetic gene has extensive changes in codon usage (23 of 77 total codons) relative to that of the originally synthesized plant gene (P. D. Beremand et al., 1987, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 256, 90–100). After expression of the new synthetic gene, purified ACP and ACP-His 6 were obtained in yields of up to 70 mg L −1 of culture medium, compared to ∼1–6 mg L −1 of purified ACP obtained from the gene composed of predicted spinach codons. In either shaken flask or fermentation culture, ∼15% conversion to holo-ACP or holo-ACP-His 6 was obtained regardless of the level of protein expression. However, coexpression of ACP-His 6 with E. coli holo-ACP synthase in E. coli BL21(DE3) during pH- and dissolved O 2 -controlled fermentation routinely yielded greater than 95% conversion to holo-ACP-His 6 . Electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of the purified recombinant ACPs revealed that the amino terminal Met was efficiently removed, but only if the bacterial cell lysates were prepared in the absence of EDTA. This observation is consistent with the inhibition of endogenous Met-aminopeptidase by removal of catalytically essential Co(II) and introduces the importance of considering the catalytic properties of host enzymes providing ad hoc posttranslational modification of recombinant proteins. Stearoyl-ACP-His 6 was shown to be indistinguishable from stearoyl-ACP as a substrate for enzymatic acylation and desaturation. In combination, these studies provide a coordinated scheme to produce and characterize quantities of acyl-ACPs sufficient to support expanded biophysical and structural studies.
All-optical contention resolution with wavelength conversion for asynchronous variable-length 40 Gb/s optical packets

We present a new all-optical technique for resolving contention between asynchronous variable length packets. The approach utilizes a novel all-optical asynchronous latching switch based on cross-coupled injection-locked wavelength converters. We experimentally demonstrate that the scheme resolves contention between variable-length, asynchronous 40 Gb/s packets with a measured bit error rate of better than 10/sup -9/, without an error floor.
Iranian Mystical Leadership: Lessons for Contemporary Leaders

Iran, or Persia as it was known in the West until the early part of the twentieth century, was one of the great empires of antiquity with many celebrated leaders and a rich tradition of science, philosophy, and literature. Starting with Zoroastrian teachings dating back 2,500 years ago, through myths presented in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh (Book of Kings) in the tenth century, and Saadi’s Golestan (The Rose Garden) in the thirteenth century, the leadership themes have remained the same. They present the ideal of the courageous, caring, humble, and moderate leader-hero who rises to save the nation against various supernatural, foreign, or domestic evils, while showing unwavering loyalty to country, king, and family, kindness to the weak and his enemies, and caring for his followers. These leadership themes, their links to current leadership theory and other ancient philosophies, and their applicability to today’s organizations are explored.
HOSPITALITY IS A QUEER THING

This paper reiterates and expands on the ideas I presented in a workshop entitled, "Hospitality is a Queer Thing" at the Annual Meeting of The Society for Pastoral Theology in Atlanta in 2009. At that workshop, I began by asking participants their reaction to the word "queer." Their responses ranged from discomfort at the violent history of the word to an appreciation of the ways in which queer theory, a relatively new field of scholarly inquiry, offered a critical perspective on long-held notions regarding identity and sexuality (though no word of criticism regarding queer theory was offered in the workshop, it is important to note that such criticism has been sharp among some contemporary Christian theologians). As the conversation regarding people's reactions to the word began to wrap up, one of the workshop participants asked, "Can I, a straight man, be queer?" I initially deferred his question, inviting participants to respond, before I gave my perspective: yes, I did indeed believe that my straight colleague could be queer and that the implications of an attempt to live a queer life were important for pastoral care and Christian ethics.
Vibration Analysis for Improving Powertrain Design and Contact Measurements of a Roller Rig

This paper provides two vibration analyses on a scaled roller rig that is under construction at the Railway Technologies Laboratory of Virginia Tech (VT) for evaluating wheel/rail contact mechanics. The scaled vertical rig includes a wheel that is placed on a roller with similar profile of a U.S. 136 weight rail. Two independent AC servomotors enable controlling the relative speed of the disks to a high degree of precision. Linear actuators allow for adjusting the simulated load, wheel angle of attack, rail cant, and lateral position of the wheel with respect to the rail, including flanging. Rotation of each disk is dominated by internal dynamics of the motors, gearheads, couplers, and flexible shafts. As a result, dynamics of each component has direct effect on the relative speed of the wheel and the roller at the contact patch. On the other hand, it is essential to make sure that the measurements are only caused by the particular subject of study, and not any intermittent source of disturbance such as unbalanced rotation. Electromechanical models of the rig components have been developed in previous works of the authors for studying the overall behavior of the coupled drivelines. This study aims to fulfill the previous studies by analyzing the effect of incorporating compliant joints in the drivelines, as well as unbalanced dynamics in the disks. Appropriate consideration is given to providing an accurate mathematical model of each phenomenon. The mathematical models are solved numerically to carry out parametric studies that represent actual working conditions of the rig. The results of these studies indicate that incorporation of constant velocity joints in sensitive instruments like the roller rig, leads to inevitable axial vibrations that affect both driver and driven sides. This paper also provides a tool for filtering the undesired vibrations from the contact measurements due to unbalanced rotation or other sources of the same nature.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Pilot study aiming to support sleep quality and duration during hospitalizations.

BACKGROUND Sleep is a vital part to healing and recovery, hence poor sleep during hospitalizations is highly undesirable. Few studies have assessed interventions to optimize sleep among hospitalized patients. OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of sleep-promoting interventions on sleep quality and duration among hospitalized patients. DESIGN Quasi-experimental prospective study. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS Adult patients on the general medicine ward. INTERVENTION Nurse-delivered sleep-promoting interventions augmented by sleep hygiene education and environmental control to minimize sleep disruption. MEASUREMENTS Objective and subjective measurement of sleep parameters using validated sleep questionnaires, daily sleep diary, and actigraphy monitor. RESULTS Of the 112 patients studied, the mean age was 58 years, 55% were female, the mean body mass index was 32, and 43% were in the intervention group. Linear mixed models tested mean differences in 7 sleep measures and group differences in slopes representing nightly changes in sleep outcomes over the course of hospitalization between intervention and control groups. Only total sleep time, computed from sleep diaries, demonstrated significant overall mean difference of 49.6 minutes (standard error [SE] = 21.1, P < 0.05). However, significant differences in average slopes of subjective ratings of sleep quality (0.46, SE = 0.18, P < 0.05), refreshing sleep (0.54, SE = 0.19, P < 0.05), and sleep interruptions (−1.6, SE = 0.6, P < 0.05) indicated improvements during hospitalization within intervention patients compared to controls. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that there is an opportunity to identify patients not sleeping well in the hospital. Sleep-promoting initiatives, both at the unit level as well as individualized offerings, may improve sleep during hospitalizations, particularly over the course of the hospitalization. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2016. © 2016 Society of Hospital Medicine
An Examination of Edgeworth Price Cycles in the Indianapolis Retail Gasoline Market

Gasoline prices in Indianapolis, Indiana are characterized by significant increases followed by gradual decreases over time. This paper illustrates and extends a stylized graphical model of intertemporal price discrimination. Supplemented with institutional details and empirical evidence, this model explains the Edgeworth price cycle mechanism in the Indianapolis retail gasoline oligopoly. With effective price leadership, stations can extract consumer surplus from customer groups while increasing their variable profits. Policy implications are discussed showing the welfare gains that can be obtained by making consumers aware of these cycles, allowing them the opportunity to re-capture some of their surplus.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with two new case reports.

1. Two patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria are reported. The chronicity of the hemolytic process is stressed. 2. Venous blood pH was found to be generally more alkaline during sleep and we believe that the nocturnal hemolytic process is not due to increased acidity per se. 3. A trial with (1) oral prostigmine bromide for two months, and (2) witin subcutaneous pilocarpine nitrate and pilocarpine hydrochloride showed no evidence of reduced erythrocyte destruction and the anemia was unaffected. 4. There was no effect with hapten upon in vitro hemolysis. 5. The hemoglobin structure of the erythrocyte in this disease is normal as measured by the electrophoretic method.
SU-F-T-187: Quantifying Normal Tissue Sparing with 4D Robust Optimization of Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy

Purpose: To report an approach to quantify the normal tissue sparing for 4D robustly-optimized versus PTV-optimized IMPT plans. Methods: We generated two sets of 90 DVHs from a patient's 10-phase 4D CT set; one by conventional PTV-based optimization done in the Eclipse treatment planning system, and the other by an in-house robust optimization algorithm. The 90 DVHs were created for the following scenarios in each of the ten phases of the 4DCT: ± 5mm shift along x, y, z; ± 3.5% range uncertainty and a nominal scenario. A Matlab function written by Gay and Niemierko was modified to calculate EUD for each DVH for the following structures: esophagus, heart, ipsilateral lung and spinal cord. An F-test determined whether or not the variances of each structure's DVHs were statistically different. Then a t-test determined if the average EUDs for each optimization algorithm were statistically significantly different. Results: T-test results showed each structure had a statistically significant difference in average EUD when comparing robust optimization versus PTV-based optimization. Under robust optimization all structures except the spinal cord received lower EUDs than PTV-based optimization. Using robust optimization the average EUDs decreased 1.45% for the esophagus, 1.54% for the heart and 5.45% for the ipsilateral lung. The average EUD to the spinal cord increased 24.86% but was still well below tolerance. Conclusion: This work has helped quantify a qualitative relationship noted earlier in our work: that robust optimization leads to plans with greater normal tissue sparing compared to PTV-based optimization. Except in the case of the spinal cord all structures received a lower EUD under robust optimization and these results are statistically significant. While the average EUD to the spinal cord increased to 25.06 Gy under robust optimization it is still well under the TD50 value of 66.5 Gy from Emami et al. Supported in part by the NCI U19 CA021239.
The Team Approach to Combined Embolization and Resection of Arteriovenous Malformations

In our series of patients undergoing preoperative embolization and subsequent resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM), we have observed that close coordination between the neurosurgical and endovascular team members results in adaptation of approaches in both. The series consists of 200 embolizations in 139 patients with intracerebral AVMs. Of these, 97 underwent 144 procedures utilizing intracranial catheterization from a transfemoral approach. We reviewed this experience with regard to how the surgical approach is altered, the timing of surgery relative to the embolization, and the physical effect of embolic materials on the achievement of surgical resection.
Games with a Continuum of Strategies

It is not unusual to encounter games where the number of available pure strategies is infinite. Any game where the two players each select a time for action is an example, or a submarine can dive to any depth up to some maximum limit. Intervals of real numbers can of course be artificially subdivided to make the number of strategies finite, but that is merely an approximation technique. Sometimes it may even be enlightening to approximate a subdivided interval by a continuous one. The radio frequency spectrum, for example, contains only finitely many frequencies as far as modern digital receivers are concerned, but there are so many frequencies that for some purposes one might as well think of the spectrum as being continuous. In this chapter we consider games where the choice of strategy is not limited to a finite set.
Advancing Cancer Therapy with Present and Emerging Immuno-Oncology Approaches

Immuno-oncology (I-O) is a young and growing field on the frontier of cancer therapy. Contrary to cancer therapies that directly target malignant cells, I-O therapies stimulate the body’s immune system to target and attack the tumor, which is otherwise invisible to, or inhibiting the immune response. To this end, several methods have been developed: First, passive therapies that enable T-Cells to fight the tumor without direct manipulation, typically through binding and modifying the intracellular signaling of surface receptors. Checkpoint inhibitors, perhaps the most well-known of I-O therapies; are an example of such. These are monoclonal antibodies that block binding of the tumor cell at receptors that inactivate the T-Cell. A variety of small molecules can achieve the same effect by affecting metabolic or signaling pathways to boost the immune response or prevent its attenuation. Drugs originally formulated for unrelated disease states are now being used to treat cancer under the I-O approach. Second, active therapies which often involve direct manipulations that occur in vitro and once introduced to the patient will directly attack the tumor. Adoptive cell transfer is the oldest of these methods. It involves the removal of T-Cells from the body, which are then expanded and genetically modified for specificity towards tumor associated antigens (TAAs), and then reintroduced to the patient. A similar approach is taken with cancer vaccines, where TAAs are identified and reintroduced with adjuvants to stimulate an immune response, sometimes in the context of antigen presenting cells or viral vectors. Oncolytic viruses are genetically modified natural viruses for selectivity towards tumor cells. The resulting cytotoxicity has the potential to elicit an immune response that furthers tumor cell killing. A final active approach is bi-specific T-Cell engagers. These modified antibodies act to link a T-Cell and tumor cell through surface receptors and thereby forcibly generate immune recognition. The therapies in each of these sub-fields are all still very new and ongoing clinical trials could provide even further additions. The full therapeutic potential of the aforementioned therapies, alone or in combination, has yet to be realized, but holds great promise for the future of cancer treatment.
Treg-recruiting microspheres prevent inflammation in a murine model of dry eye disease

Dry eye disease (DED) is a common ocular disorder affecting millions of individuals worldwide. The pathology of DED involves the infiltration of CD4+ lymphocytes, leading to tear film instability and destructive inflammation. In the healthy steady state, a population of immunosuppressive T-cells called regulatory T-cells (Treg) regulates proliferation of immune cells that would otherwise lead to a disruption of immunological homeostasis. For this reason, it has been suggested that Tregs could restore the immunological imbalance in DED. To this end, one possible approach would be to recruit the body's own, endogenous Tregs in order to enrich them at the site of inflammation and tissue destruction. Previously, we have demonstrated a reduction of inflammation and disease symptoms in models of periodontitis corresponding to recruitment of endogenous Tregs, which was accomplished by local placement of controlled release systems that sustain a gradient of the chemokine CCL22, referred to here as Treg-recruiting microspheres. Given that DED is characterized by a pro-inflammatory environment resulting in local tissue destruction, we hypothesized that the controlled release of CCL22 could also recruit Tregs to the ocular surface potentially mediating inflammation and symptoms of DED. Indeed, data suggest that Treg-recruiting microspheres are capable of overcoming the immunological imbalance of Tregs and CD4+ IFN-γ+ cells in the lacrimal gland. Administration of Treg-recruiting microspheres effectively mitigated the symptoms of DED as measured through a number of outcomes such as tear clearance, goblet cells density and corneal epithelial integrity, suggesting that recruitment of endogenous Treg can mitigate inflammation associated with DED.
Effect of Vigorous Shoot-Tip-Removal on Increased Fruiting of Young ‘Western’ Pecan Trees

Tip removal pruning of long vigorous shoots of young ‘Western’ pecans, Carya illinoensis, (Wang) K. Koch, growing in the Rio Grande Valley in El Paso County, Texas, increased lateral buds persisting and growing through the season, decreased growth per lateral bud forced, and increased fruiting of shoots from buds forced from pruned shoots during both years. Total yield per tree was increased the second year. A useful role for tip-pruning in controlling vigor and converting vigorous shoot growth to fruiting shoots is indicated.
Small and large particle limits of single scattering albedo for homogeneous, spherical particles

Abstract The aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) is the dominant intensive particle parameter determining aerosols direct radiative forcing. For homogeneous spherical particles and a complex refractive index independent of wavelength, the SSA is solely dependent on size parameter (ratio of particle circumference and wavelength) and complex refractive index of the particle. Here, we explore this dependency for the small and large particle limits with size parameters much smaller and much larger than one. We show that in the small particle limit of Rayleigh scattering, a novel, generalized size parameter can be introduced that unifies the SSA dependence on particle size parameter independent of complex refractive index. In the large particle limit, SSA decreases with increasing product of imaginary part of the refractive index and size parameter, another generalized parameter, until this product becomes about one, then stays fairly constant until the imaginary part of the refractive index becomes comparable with the real part minus one. Beyond this point, particles start to acquire metallic character and SSA quickly increases with the imaginary part of the refractive index and approaches one.
Organizational Socialization: The Role of Dual Supervisory Relationships in Newcomer Adjustment

Integrating relative deprivation theory and social comparison principals with leader-member exchange (LMX) conceptual foundation, I develop a model to examine the effects of different supervisor-ne...
Pollination Ecology of Three Sympatric Palms of Southern Florida Pine Rocklands

ABSTRACT: Three native palms are dominant features of the pine rocklands understory of peninsular southern Florida: sabal palm (Sabal palmetto), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), and silver palm (Coccothrinax argentata). Despite the abundance of these three palm species, the breeding system and pollination mechanisms need further clarification. We used controlled hand-pollination experiments to investigate the breeding systems of these three species. We also observed and captured floral visitors, as well as examined their bodies for pollen, to determine the pollinator assemblages. Our experiments demonstrated that all three palms are self-compatible, and some flowers may set fruit with no manipulation. Natural (open) pollination treatments yielded more fruit than either cross- or self-pollination, indicating no shortage of pollination and suggesting that multiple visits by many pollinators enhances fruit set. We observed a wider variety of visitors (Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera) to flowers o...
Cytomegalovirus retinitis in the post-cART era.

To review the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in the post-combined antiretroviral era (cART) era. Although cART has dramatically reduced CMVR incidence and morbidity in the HIV population, CMVR continues to cause significant vision loss in both HIV and non-HIV patients, especially among patients without immune reconstitution. Advances in imaging including ultra-widefield fundus and autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, and adaptive optics may reflect CMVR activity; however, the diagnosis remains a clinical one. There have been minimal advances in therapy, with several agents no longer available due to market concerns. Despite reduced incidence and morbidity in the post-cART HIV population, CMVR continues to cause vision loss among HIV and non-HIV patients. Diagnosis remains primarily clinical, and therapy centers upon immune reconstitution along with systemic and/or intravitreal antivirals. Further studies are necessary to determine whether advanced imaging can influence management, and whether novel antiviral agents or adoptive immune transfer have a role in treatment of drug-resistant CMVR.
Label-Free Assessment of Collagenase Digestion on Bovine Pericardium Properties by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

The extracellular matrix architecture of bovine pericardium (BP) has distinct biochemical and biomechanical properties that make it a useful biomaterial in the field of regenerative medicine. Collagen represents the dominant structural protein of BP and is therefore intimately associated with the properties of this biomaterial. Enzymatic degradation of collagen molecules is critical for extracellular matrix turnover, remodeling and ultimately tissue regeneration. We present a quantitative, label-free and non-destructive method for monitoring changes in biochemical and biomechanical properties of BP during tissue degradation, based on multi-spectral fluorescence lifetime imaging (ms-FLIm). Strong correlations of fluorescence intensity ratio and average fluorescence lifetime were identified with collagen content, Young's Modulus and Ultimate tensile strength during collagenase degradation, indicating the potential of optically monitoring collagen degradation using ms-FLIm. The obtained results demonstrate the value of ms-FLIm to assess the quality of biomaterials in situ for applications in regenerative medicine.