cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Internet-Based Dengue Query Data: Google Dengue Trends

Dengue is a common and growing problem worldwide, with an estimated 70-140 million cases per year. Traditional, healthcare-based, government-implemented dengue surveillance is resource intensive and slow. As global Internet use has increased, novel, Internet-based disease monitoring tools have emerged. Google Dengue Trends (GDT) uses near real-time search query data to create an index of dengue incidence that is a linear proxy for traditional surveillance. Studies have shown that GDT correlates highly with dengue incidence in multiple countries on a large spatial scale. This study addresses the heterogeneity of GDT at smaller spatial scales, assessing its accuracy at the state-level in Mexico and identifying factors that are associated with its accuracy. We used Pearson correlation to estimate the association between GDT and traditional dengue surveillance data for Mexico at the national level and for 17 Mexican states. Nationally, GDT captured approximately 83% of the variability in reported cases over the 9 study years. The correlation between GDT and reported cases varied from state to state, capturing anywhere from 1% of the variability in Baja California to 88% in Chiapas, with higher accuracy in states with higher dengue average annual incidence. A model including annual average maximum temperature, precipitation, and their interaction accounted for 81% of the variability in GDT accuracy between states. This climate model was the best indicator of GDT accuracy, suggesting that GDT works best in areas with intense transmission, particularly where local climate is well suited for transmission. Internet accessibility (average ∼ 36%) did not appear to affect GDT accuracy. While GDT seems to be a less robust indicator of local transmission in areas of low incidence and unfavorable climate, it may indicate cases among travelers in those areas. Identifying the strengths and limitations of novel surveillance is critical for these types of data to be used to make public health decisions and forecasting models.
Adaptive-size meshes for rigid and nonrigid shape analysis and synthesis

A physically based modeling method that uses adaptive-size meshes to model surfaces of rigid and nonrigid objects is presented. The initial model uses an a priori determined mesh size. However, the mesh size increases or decreases dynamically during surface reconstruction to locate nodes near surface areas of interest (like high curvature points) and to optimize the fitting error. Further, presented with multiple 3-D data frames, the mesh size varies as the data surface undergoes nonrigid motion. This model is used to reconstruct 3-D surfaces, analyze the nonrigid motion, track the corresponding points in nonrigid motion, and create graphic animation and visualization. The method was tested on real range data, on simulated nonrigid motion, and on real data for the left ventricular motion. >
Phthalic acid and pyridine dicarboxylic acids as catabolic analogs

The prevalence of bacteria in the environment that catabolise synthetic phthalic acids (PAs) might be related to the natural occurrence of pyridine dicarboxylic acids (PDCAs). However, the bacterial metabolism of o-phthalic acid (phthalic acid) and its PDCA analogs was mostly exclusive. An exception was the oxidation of 2:3 and 3:4-PDCAs by a marine bacterium (Strain OP-1) when grown on phthalic acid. The metabolism of PDCAs by Strain OP-1 was induced by phthalic acid and, as for phthalate catabolism, the metabolism of 2:3-PDCA required Na+ ions.
Capturando Valor en las Universidades y Centros Tecnológicos. Hacia la Definición de Estrategias, Políticas y Procedimientos de Apropiabilidad, Protección Legal, Explotación y Transferencia Tecnológica de Resultados de Proyectos de I+D+I en Chile.

Article in Spanish The universitary institutions and the national technology centres, have principally public economic support, and invest a significant amount of these resources in research and development projects, creating significant results with a potential industrial applicability. Until now, the public policy has followed the US model established from 1980 Bayh-Dole Act. Although the use of this scheme suppose an analysis that is not included in this article, if it is followed in the correct way, this entities must set suitable policies of intellectual property and use of the results raised from that research, using the institutions of intellectual and industrial property. In this article it is reviewed supperficially, comparing with the American experience, the elements that support the present Chilean public policy in research and development matter, as well as the contract responsibilities of the institutions with the economic support agencies, elements that make mandatory the establishment of intellectual property policy development for each University, with the main objective to kept properly the benefits of the results obtained from the execution of these projects.
Effect of Antioxidants on Lipid Stability in Restructured Beef Steaks

Two natural antioxidant formulations–containing mixed tocopherols, ascorbyl palmitate and citric acid–and TBHQ were evaluated in restructured beef steaks formulated to contain 18% fat and 0.75% NaCl. Lipid oxidation was monitored over 12 months of frozen storage. TBHQ significantly (p < 0.05) lowered TBA numbers in raw and freshly cooked samples and in samples that were cooked and held 4 hr at 4°C. Natural antioxidants provided significant (p <0.05) protection in freshly cooked meat and were as effective as TBHQ in retarding lipid oxidation. Sensory evaluation and GC quantitation of hexanal were also used to monitor oxidation but the correlation between the three methods was not significant.
Impact of military deployment on family relationships

The purpose of this study was to investigate how an active duty member's increased time away from home (deployments, temporary duty assignments, and trainings) affects family stress as reported by the dependent spouse. Specifically, this research focused on the impact of increased time away from home on the parent-child relationship within the military family. This research analyzed Parenting Relationship Questionnaire (PRQ) and Parenting Stress Index (PSI) scores as reported by the military dependent spouse. Results revealed that extended time away from home can cause the dependent spouse to detach from the parent-child relationship. Mental health professionals and educators working within a community that supports the armed forces must be sensitive to the unique needs of military families during these times of transition.
Conflict Competence in the Workplace

© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/ert.21430 Is conflict inevitable in the workplace? If you are like most leaders, your answer will be “yes.” Once that threshold is crossed, the only issue left is whether conflict will lead to good or bad results. Most people view conflict as something negative to be avoided. When asked, they readily agree that this approach rarely works and usually leads to unproductive outcomes. So, what does it take to address conflict competently? Conflict management involves a complex range of skills that are not inborn—they need to be learned. In this article, we examine the importance of developing the competence of leaders, managers, and employees to be able to deal with this inevitable part of work life. We review the costs of managing conflict poorly and the benefits of dealing with it effectively, because adults will not put effort into developing skills unless it results in benefits they care about. Most importantly, we will look at the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and normative skills that need to be employed to help people become competent in getting the best out of conflict while at the same time avoiding its most challenging aspects.
Community-University Partnerships: Achieving continuity in the face of change

A challenge that community-university partnerships everywhere will face is how to maintain continuity in the face of change. The problems besetting communities continually shift and the goals of the university partners often fluctuate. This article describes a decade-long strategy one university has successfully used to address this problem. Over the past ten years, a community-university partnership at the University of Massachusetts Lowell has used summer content funding to respond creativity to shifting priorities. Each summer a research-action project is developed that targets a different content issue that has emerged with unexpected urgency. Teams of graduate students and high school students are charged with investigating this issue under the auspices of the partnership. These highly varied topics have included immigrant businesses, youth asset mapping, women owned businesses, the housing crisis, social program cutbacks, sustainability, and economic development and the arts. Despite their obvious differences, these topics share underlying features that further partnership commitment and continuity. Each has an urgency: the information is needed quickly, often because some immediate policy change is under consideration. Each topic has the advantage of drawing on multiple domains: the topics are inherently interdisciplinary and because they do not “belong” to any single field, they lend themselves to disciplines pooling their efforts to achieve greater understanding. Each also has high visibility: their salience has meant that people were often willing to devote scarce resources to the issues and also that media attention could easily be gained to highlight the advantages of students, partners, and the university working together. And the topics themselves are generative: they have the potential to contribute in many different ways to teaching, research, and outreach. This paper ends with a broader consideration of how partnerships can implement this model for establishing continuity in the face of rapidly shifting priorities and needs.
Organization of the outer synaptic layer in the retina of the larval tiger salamander.

The organization of the outer synaptic layer in the salamander retina was studied electronmicroscopically in serial sections of tissue prepared by conventional techniques or stained by the method of Golgi. Rod cell pedicles make ribbon junctions on cone cell processes, and rod cell processes invaginate cone pedicles without otherwise making any specialized contact with them. Horizontal cells make ribbon and distal junctions with the photoreceptor cell pedicles; a single horizontal cell may contact both rods and cones. Bipolar cells were observed to make either ribbon or basal junctions with the photoreceptor cell pedicles; in addition, certain processes believed to belong to bipolar cells make both ribbon and basal junctions with the same or different pedicles. A single bipolar cell may make contact with both rods and cones. Horizontal cells synapse on bipolar cell dendrites and on certain unidentified processes which in turn are also presynaptic to bipolar cells. Ascending branches of these processes invaginate deeply the rod and cone pedicles without otherwise engaging them in any junction. Horizontal cell processes are linked by two kinds of junctions: close membrane appositions, and contacts analogous to the distal junctions between horizontal cells and rod pedicles.
Helcococcus, a New Genus of Catalase-Negative, Gram-Positive Cocci Isolated from Clinical Specimens

Clinical data from 10 patients whose cultures yielded Helcococcus kunzii are reviewed in order to investigate a possible clinical role for this recently described catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus
Characteristics of lightning flashes with exceptional illuminated areas, durations, and optical powers and surrounding storm properties in the tropics and inner subtropics

[1] Twelve years (1998–2009) of Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) observations are used to characterize lightning flashes by illuminated area, duration, and optical power, particularly for exceptional flashes defined as those above the 90th percentile of each parameter. Statistics of lightning are summarized over land, ocean, and coastal regions of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite's domain extending from 36°S to 36°N. The degree to which optical flash parameters are interrelated is discussed, as well as coincident environmental properties and the overall characteristics of parent thunderstorms. LIS flashes over the southern United States are also collocated to National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) observations, and relationships between LIS optical flash properties and corresponding NLDN strengths are discussed. Daytime (nighttime) oceanic flashes are shown to be 31.7% (39.4%) larger and 55.2% (75.1%) brighter in terms of maximum event pixel radiance. At the same time, daytime (nighttime) coastal flashes have 22.1% (7.8%) longer durations than flashes over land and 15.6% (11.4%) longer durations than oceanic flashes. Particularly, large and bright flashes observed by LIS are typically centered in weak storm regions, but thunderstorms with exceptional flashes are, themselves, more intense overall than those with only small and dim flashes. Diurnally, the top 10% brightest lightning flashes peak about 2 h earlier than the top 10% largest and long-lasting flashes over land, implying that lightning flash characteristics vary with the life cycle of thunderstorms. Larger and more radiant flashes are also shown to be associated with stronger NLDN flashes of positive and negative polarity.
How Should Suburbs Help Their Central Cities? Growth- and Welfare-Enhancing Intrametropolitan Fiscal Distributions

Cities are the location of the great majority of economic activity in the United States and produce a disproportionate share of output. It is thus critical for the economy’s long-term growth that cities operate efficiently. In this article, the authors review the basic determinants of output growth, with a focus on productivity growth in cities. The authors then explore the effects of a particular distortion in politically fragmented metropolitan areas. After documenting the interdependence of the suburbs and central city of a metropolitan area, the authors develop a model that embodies many of the empirically verified aspects, including agglomeration economies and public goods. After calibrating the model to outcomes for Philadelphia, the authors use it to simulate various policy changes. The authors conclude that, under the model, some kinds of fiscal redistributions can provide benefits in both cities and suburbs.
Krylov subspace techniques for reduced-order modeling of large-scale dynamical systems

In recent years, a great deal of attention has been devoted to Krylov subspace techniques for reduced-order modeling of large-scale dynamical systems. The surge of interest was triggered by the pressing need for efficient numerical techniques for simulations of extremely large-scale dynamical systems arising from circuit simulation, structural dynamics, and microelectromechanical systems. In this paper, we begin with a tutorial of a Lanczos process based Krylov subspace technique for reduced-order modeling of linear dynamical systems, and then give an overview of the recent progress in other Krylov subspace techniques for a variety of dynamical systems, including second-order and nonlinear systems. Case studies arising from circuit simulation, structural dynamics and microelectromechanical systems are presented.
Analysis of two-dimensional incompressible flows by a subsurface panel method

A new approach to panel methods is explored for two-dimensional steady incompressible flows. The method uses linear distributions of sources and vortices on straight-line panels, but satisfies boundary conditions on the actual body surface, at nodes that are also end points of the panels. The result is continuity in body-surface velocity distribution, without recourse to numerical quadrature for the velocity influence coefficients. The method is unusually sensitive to the distribution of the nodes. For example, it almost always fails to give acceptable results when the nodes are distributed randomly. However, the continuity of the velocity distribution makes possible a unique node redistribution scheme, which may be iterated to give accurate results reliably.
The C. elegans gene lin-36 acts cell autonomously in the lin-35 Rb pathway.

The Caenorhabditis elegans gene lin-36 acts to antagonize Ras-mediated vulval induction in a pathway that includes genes with products similar to the mammalian retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and the Rb-binding protein p48. We report that lin-36 encodes a novel protein of 962 amino acids. We demonstrate that lin-36 functions in and is expressed in the vulval precursor cells, establishing that the lin-36 pathway is involved in intercellular signaling. We also report that the lin-36 pathway and/or another pathway that is functionally redundant with the lin-36 pathway antagonize a ligand-independent activity of the receptor tyrosine kinase/Ras vulval induction pathway. SUMMARY
Relationship between blood lead and dietary iron intake in preschool children: A cross-sectional study

The relationship between dietary iron intake and blood lead levels in urban preschool children was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 299 children from 9 months to 5 years old. Mothers of children attending the University of Maryland Pediatric Ambulatory Clinic volunteered for the children and themselves to join the study. The data collected included nutritional status, socioeconomic status, medical history, and potential sources of lead exposure. Blood samples from all participants were evaluated for levels of blood lead, serum iron (ferritin), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, calcium, and hematocrit. The average blood lead level (standard deviation) in the studied population was 11.4 (7.3) micrograms/dL. With multiple linear and logistic regression analyses to adjust for covariates, a negative association (P = 0.03) between blood lead and dietary iron intake was found. This finding is consistent with similar results from experimental studies. It is concluded that there is evidence that higher dietary iron intake is associated with lower blood lead among urban preschool children in the studied population.
Beyond lymph node staging: molecular predictors of outcome in breast cancer

This article briefly reviews the exciting, yet unproven, reports of alternate methods of predicting outcomes in breast cancer and highlights new molecular methods of diagnosing, classifying, and treating this disease. The author starts by reviewing well-known factors in breast cancer with which all alternate methods of staging and predicting outcomes must be compared prospectively.
Levels of leptin during hydrocortisone infusions that mimic normal and reversed diurnal cortisol levels in subjects with adrenal insufficiency.

Levels of leptin throughout the day follow a circadian pattern, with a trough in the late morning/early afternoon and a peak at midnight. This pattern of appearance of leptin correlates inversely with the circadian appearance of cortisol. Pharmacological doses of cortisol increase leptin messenger RNA expression in vitro and raise plasma leptin levels in animals and humans. To determine whether the circadian appearance of leptin might be accounted for by delayed effects from physiological cortisol secretion on fat cells, seven subjects with confirmed adrenal failure were admitted to the Clinical Research Center, on three separate dates, to receive 48-h infusions of: continuous normal saline (NS), a normal daily amount and diurnal pattern of cortisol (ND), and a normal daily amount but reversed diurnal pattern of cortisol. Blood samples were taken every 15 min during the second 24 h of infusion and pooled for hourly measurements of leptin. The circadian pattern of leptin appearance was unchanged during all...
Angular Distribution Models for Top-of-Atmosphere Radiative Flux Estimation from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System Instrument on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite. Part II; Validation

Top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative fluxes from the Clouds and the Earth s Radiant Energy System (CERES) are estimated from empirical angular distribution models (ADMs) that convert instantaneous radiance measurements to TOA fluxes. This paper evaluates the accuracy of CERES TOA fluxes obtained from a new set of ADMs developed for the CERES instrument onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM). The uncertainty in regional monthly mean reflected shortwave (SW) and emitted longwave (LW) TOA fluxes is less than 0.5 W/sq m, based on comparisons with TOA fluxes evaluated by direct integration of the measured radiances. When stratified by viewing geometry, TOA fluxes from different angles are consistent to within 2% in the SW and 0.7% (or 2 W/sq m) in the LW. In contrast, TOA fluxes based on ADMs from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) applied to the same CERES radiance measurements show a 10% relative increase with viewing zenith angle in the SW and a 3.5% (9 W/sq m) decrease with viewing zenith angle in the LW. Based on multiangle CERES radiance measurements, 18 regional instantaneous TOA flux errors from the new CERES ADMs are estimated to be 10 W/sq m in the SW and, 3.5 W/sq m in the LW. The errors show little or no dependence on cloud phase, cloud optical depth, and cloud infrared emissivity. An analysis of cloud radiative forcing (CRF) sensitivity to differences between ERBE and CERES TRMM ADMs, scene identification, and directional models of albedo as a function of solar zenith angle shows that ADM and clear-sky scene identification differences can lead to an 8 W/sq m root-mean-square (rms) difference in 18 daily mean SW CRF and a 4 W/sq m rms difference in LW CRF. In contrast, monthly mean SW and LW CRF differences reach 3 W/sq m. CRF is found to be relatively insensitive to differences between the ERBE and CERES TRMM directional models.
Spatial patterns of seed dispersal and predation of two myrmecochorous forest herbs

Hepatica acutiloba and Trillium nivale are spring—flowering deciduous forest herbs whose seeds are dispersed by ants. We studied patterns of seed dispersal by ants and seed predation by rodents of these two herbs at three spatial scales: (1) among three woodlots that differed in density and size of Hepatica and/or Trillium populations, (2) between two sites within each woodlot located inside and outside a natural population, and (3) between replicate quadrats within each site. We estimated ant numbers and rodent presence using baits. In contrast to other studies done on other ant—dispersed species, seed predation by rodents was rare or nonexistent for both species even though rodents were present at all sites. Seed removal rates by ants were quite patchy at the scale of a few square metres within sites, but generally were slower where seed populations were dense and extensive. This indicates that ants become satiated during and immediately after seeds are released from parent plants growing in dense populations. Hence, seed dispersal is often ant—limited within well established populations of myrmecochores. Edaphic—topographic factors also play an important indirect role in seed dispersal through their effect on local ant numbers. The evolutionary role of seed predation on myrmecochory, and the demographic implications of density—dependent seed dispersal are discussed.
A perinatal health framework for women with physical disabilities.

Abstract Background Studies suggest that women with disabilities experience health and health care disparities before, during, and after pregnancy. However, existing perinatal health and health care frameworks do not address the needs and barriers faced by women with physical disabilities around the time of pregnancy. A new framework that addresses perinatal disparities among women with physical disabilities is needed. Objective To propose a framework for examining perinatal health and health care disparities among women with physical disabilities. Methods We developed a perinatal health framework guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the integrated perinatal health framework by Misra et al. Results The proposed framework uses a life span perspective in a manner that directly addresses the multiple determinants specific to women with physical disabilities around the time of pregnancy. The framework is based on longitudinal and integrated perspectives that take into account women's functional status and environment over their life course. Conclusion The perinatal health framework for women with physical disabilities was developed to inform the way researchers and health care professionals address disparities in perinatal health and health care among women with physical disabilities.
Coping-Skills Training: A Brief Therapy Approach for Students with Evaluative Anxiety

A rationale is presented for using a coping-skills training approach with many student mental health clients who are relatively well integrated and face important environmental demands. While stude...
Isothiocyanates and plant polyphenols as inhibitors of lung and esophageal cancer

A group of arylalkyl isothiocyanates were tested for their abilities to inhibit tumorigenicity and DNA methylation induced by both the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, NNK, in A/J mouse lung and the esophageal-specific carcinogen, NMBA, in F344 rat esophagus. In addition, ellagic acid was tested for its ability to inhibit NMBA-induced esophageal tumorigenesis. In the strain A lung tumor model, PEITC effectively inhibited NNK-induced lung tumors at a dose of 5 μmol, but was not inhibitory at lower doses. PPITC, PBITC, PPeITC, and PHITC were all considerably more potent inhibitors of NNK lung tumorigenesis than PEITC, and PHITC was the most potent inhibitor of all. Thus, in the strain A lung tumor model, there was a trend of increased inhibitory efficacy among arylalkyl isothiocyanates with increased alkyl chain length. In the F344 rat esophageal tumor model, PPITC was clearly more potent than PEITC, BITC and PBITC had little inhibitory effect on esophageal tumorigenesis, and in a separate experiment, PHITC actually enhanced esophageal tumorigenesis. Thus, the structure-activity relationships for inhibition of tumorigenesis by arylalkyl isothiocyanates were considerably different in the two animal models. However, the effects of the isothiocyanates on tumorigenesis were well-correlated to their effects on DNA adduct formation in either model. The most likely mechanism of inhibition of tumorigenesis by these isothiocyanates is via inhibition of the cytochrome p450 enzymes responsible for activation of NNK in mouse lung or NMBA in rat esophagus. Ellagic acid was an effective inhibitor of esophageal tumorigenesis, although not as potent as PEITC or PPITC. Like the isothiocyanates, ellagic acid inhibits cytochrome p450-mediated activation of NMBA.
Oxygen isotope fractionation in mantle minerals

The increment method is adopted to calculate oxygen isotope fractionation factors for mantle minerals, particularly for the polymorphic phases of MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4. The results predict the following sequence of18O-enrichment:pyroxene (Mg, Fe, Ca)2Si2O6>olivine (Mg, Fe)2SiO4 > spinel (Mg, Fe)2SiO4> ilmenite (Mg, Fe, Ca) SiO3>perovskite (Mg, Fe, Ca) SiO3. The calculated fractionations for the calcite-perovskite (CaTiO3) System are in excellent agreement with the experimental calibrations. If there would be complete isotopic equilibration in the mantle, the spinel-structured silicates in the transition zone are predicted to be enriched in18O relative to the perovskite-structured silicates in the lower mantle but depleted in18O relative to olivines and pyroxenes in the upper mantle. The oxygen isotope layering of the mantle might result from differences in the chemical composition and crystal structure of mineral phases at different mantle depths. Assuming isotopic equilibrium on a whole earth scale, the chemical structure of the Earth’s interior can be described by the following sequence of18O-enrichment:upper crust>lower crust>upper mantle>transition zone>lower mantle>core.
Dose-Response for Radiation-Induced Cancer in Rat Skin

Skin has been extensively utilized to study the carcinogenic effects of environmental and industrial agents (1), Compared to internal organs, skin is relatively easy to manipulate, and tumors are detectible at earlier times. The skin contains a comparatively large variety of cell types many of which are susceptible to the action of carcinogens. For example, rat skin exposed to radiation develops a variety of tumor types including, squamous carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, sarcomas, and sebaceous cell tumors, each of which presumably arises from different cell populations in the skin. Rat skin is sensitive to a number of environmentally-important carcinogens, including radiation, where perhaps the most extensive comparison of animal results with human epidemiological data are available (2, 3). Rat and mouse skin have proved to be sensitive and reproducible systems for studying the dose-response and time-response characteristics of radiation carcinogenesis and for investigating the mechanism relating to how the absorption of the radiation by the cells leads to cancer (4). The following chapter will describe and summarize these studies many of which have been carried out at the Institute of Environmental Medicine at New York University.
The HMGB1-MD-2 axis as a novel therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases (CCR5P.210)

Innate immune cells express receptors for pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP e.g. LPS) as well as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP e.g. HMGB1), and orchestrate inflammatory responses to both infection and sterile injury. Secreted by activated immune cells or passively released by damaged cells, HMGB1 is subjected to redox modulation that distinctly influences its extracellular functions. Previously, it was unknown how the TLR4 signalosome distinguishes between HMGB1 isoforms. Here we demonstrate that the TLR4 adaptor molecule, myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2), binds specifically to the cytokine-inducing disulfide HMGB1 isoform, to the exclusion of other isoforms. Screening of HMGB1 peptide libraries identified a tetramer (FSSE, designated as P5779) as a specific MD-2-antagonist preventing MD-2/HMGB1 interaction and subsequent TLR4 signaling mediating cytokine and chemokine release. Moreover, P5779 does not interfere with LPS-induced cytokine production, thereby preserving PAMP-mediated TLR4-MD2 responses. P5779 conferred protection in animal models of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, chemical toxicity and sepsis. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel mechanism by which innate systems selectively recognize specific HMGB1 isoforms and suggest strategies to attenuate DAMP-mediated inflammatory responses while preserving anti-microbial immune responsiveness.
Integration-differentiation and gating of carotid afferent traffic that shapes the respiratory pattern.

The phase-dependent plasticity of carotid chemoafferent signaling was studied with electrical stimulation of a carotid sinus nerve during either inspiration or expiration in anesthetized, glomectom...
Continuous Thoracocervical Epidural Analgesia for Management of Perioperative Pain in an Adolescent with Osteosarcoma: A Case Report.

Osteosarcoma, an aggressive spindle-cell neoplasm, is the most common bone malignancy in children and young adults, with an incidence of 1 in 100,000 persons1. The presenting symptoms are pain and swelling of the affected extremity. The cause of pain is twofold: mass effect limiting motion and direct nerve involvement of the proximal neurovascular bundles. Osteosarcoma causes complex unrelenting pain, resulting in high opioid requirements. Because the treatment of osteosarcoma is neoadjuvant chemotherapy and resection, it is understandable that adequate pain control is an integral component of the multidisciplinary care required by these patients. There are multiple modalities to address upper-extremity cancer pain, including continuous systemic opioids, peripheral nerve blocks, and cervical epidural anesthesia, each with unique benefits and drawbacks. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been identified that addresses the early intervention (longer than seventy-two hours) of cervical epidural analgesia for preoperative pain control in this population, with continued use during and after surgery. We present a case in which we used cervical epidural anesthesia with 0.375% bupivacaine without opioids to provide effective perioperative pain control in a pediatric postpartum patient scheduled for a forequarter amputation because of osteosarcoma of the left humerus. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and she provided consent. A fifteen-year-old girl (gravida 1, para 0 in the third trimester) presented to the emergency room with left shoulder and arm pain. A radiograph identified a mass in the left humerus. The patient was lost to follow-up and subsequently returned to the hospital late in her third trimester with progression of pain and an evident shoulder mass. She was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the proximal part of the humerus with brachial plexus involvement, but there was no evidence of metastasis. During this hospitalization, the …
Facial Plastic Surgery

Americans spend nearly 11 billion dollars annually on cosmetic procedures. Of that total, almost $6.6 billion is spent on surgical procedures [1]. Beauty is often characterized by a combination of factors that involve symmetry and aesthetically pleasing proportions and relationships. An understanding of the proportions, angles, measurements, and relationships that are considered the standards for the attractive face give the surgeon an appreciation for what is askew when a face characteristic is outside the considered normal range and the patient is dissatisfied with his or her appearance.
Visualization of Molecular Events from Dopamine-Binding to -Release by Human Dopamine Transporter

Dopamine transporter (DAT) controls neurotransmitter dopamine homeostasis by pumping excess extracellular (EC) dopamine into presynaptic neurons to prevent neurotoxicity. The process is assisted by co-transport of two sodium and one chloride ions. Malfunction of DAT has been implicated in many diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Significant advances have been made in the characterization of the structure and dynamics of a prokaryotic orthologue, LeuT, although the molecular mechanism of dopamine translocation through human DAT (hDAT) remains elusive. Recently, the first eukaryotic DAT structure was resolved from Drosophila melanogaster, in the outward-facing open (OFo) state. Using homology modeling and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations, we elucidated the sequence of molecular events involved in dopamine translocation by hDAT, including the uptake from the EC medium, closure of the EC gates upon dopamine binding, passage over a holo-occluded intermediate temporarily stabilized via concerted changes in the relative orientations of the TM helices, subsequent opening of the intracellular vestibule, release of co-transported ions, and succeeding discharge of dopamine upon weakening the electrostatic attractions by aspartates near the binding-site. The transport events revealed by these hDAT simulations show striking consistency with those disclosed in recent investigation of LeuT transport cycle (1, 2). The study sheds light for the first time at the mechanism of DAT functioning at the atomic level and provides insights into methods for modulating its interactions with drugs and other substrate proteins.1. Cheng, M.H. and I. Bahar. 2014. Complete mapping of substrate translocation highlights the role of LeuT N-terminal segment in regulating transport cycle, PLoS Comput Biol. in press.2. Cheng, M.H. and I. Bahar. 2013. Coupled global and local changes direct substrate translocation by neurotransmitter-sodium symporter ortholog LeuT, Biophys J. 105:630-9.
Aspects of Eective Visualization of Multidimensional Design Spaces

Discrete information visualization techniques such as scatterplots that display information at isolated points have been studied for decades and extensively applied to design problems. Recently, advances in computing power have enabled new types of continuous visualization techniques that use a design analysis code to create and visualize data interactively on-the-y. Such techniques have become widely available in visualization tools used by the aerospace design community, and these techniques are gaining popularity. However they are often perceived as novel techniques designed to ll a particular niche. In this paper, we attempt to show that the available techniques are actually, in many ways, fundamental methods of continuous visualization suited to the structure of the design problem. This becomes apparent by considering the functional relationship between the design variables and the response metrics of a design problem, a distinction in roles that is unnecessary for discrete visualization techniques, but is a driving factor in choosing continuous visualization techniques. We additionally present some new techniques for creating continuous visualizations in the response space, which has previously been treated as the exclusive domain of discrete visualization techniques. Finally, we show how discrete and continuous visualization techniques can be used within a single graph to simultaneously provide a global view of the data and local details.
Determination of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) in Animal Tissue via Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection

Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, has several medical applications and has been widely used as a growth-promoting agent in livestock and poultry production. Concern over the latter use stems from the possible deleterious estrogenic and carcinogenic effects that may result when DES-contaminated meat is consumed by humans. Several methods for determination of DES residues have appeared in the recent literature (1-9). Unfortunately, an unwieldy extraction procedure limits reasonable gas chromatographic and liquid chromatographic techniques by decreasing sample throughput. In addition, the derivatization process required for GC analysis of DES may constitute a problem caused by formation of the cis isomer of the normally trans compound. The cis formation dictates data normalization to account for "total DES" monitored. For the present investigation, a simple liquid-liquid extraction procedure has been coupled to a liquid chromatographic system with electrochemical detection (LCEC) (10) to determine DES at the ppb level.
Phonon scattering rates and atomic ordering in Ag 1 − x Sb 1 + x Te 2 + x ( x = 0 , 0.1 , 0.2 ) investigated with inelastic neutron scattering and synchrotron diffraction

The phonon dispersions and scattering rates of the thermoelectric material ${\mathrm{Ag}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{1+x}{\mathrm{Te}}_{2+x}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}(x=0,0.1,0.2)$ were measured with inelastic neutron scattering, as function of both temperature $T$ and off stoichiometry $x$. In addition, detailed measurements of diffuse scattering were performed with both neutron and synchrotron x-ray diffraction. The results show that phonon scattering rates are large and weakly dependent on $T$ or $x$, and the lattice thermal conductivity calculated from these scattering rates and group velocities is in good agreement with bulk transport measurements. We also find that the scattering rates and their temperature dependence cannot be accounted for with common models of phonon scattering by anharmonicity or point defects. The diffuse scattering measurements show a pervasive, complex signal, with several distinct components. In particular, broad superstructure reflections indicate a short-range ordering of the Ag and Sb cations on their sublattice. Single-crystal Bragg peak intensities also reveal large static atomic displacements, compatible with results from Rietveld refinement of neutron powder diffraction data. Our results indicate that a complex nanostructure, arising from multiple variants of nanoscale anisotropic superstructures of cations, and large atomic displacements, is likely responsible for the strong phonon scattering.
Anatomic Factors Associated With Truncal Valve Insufficiency and the Need for Truncal Valve Repair

Purpose:Truncus arteriosus is a complex and heterogeneous form of congenital heart defect. Many of the risk factors from several decades ago, including late repair and interrupted aortic arch, have been mitigated through better understanding of the entity and improved surgical techniques. However, truncal valve dysfunction remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomic factors associated with truncal valve dysfunction and the need for truncal valve surgery.Methods:This was a retrospective review of 72 infants who underwent repair of truncus arteriosus at our institution. The median age at surgery was nine days, and the median weight was 3.1 kg. Preoperative assessment of truncal valve insufficiency by echocardiography revealed no or trace insufficiency in 30, mild in 25, moderate in 10, and severe in 7. The need for truncal valve surgery was dictated by the severity of truncal valve insufficiency.Results:Sixteen (22%) of the 72 patients underg...
Single-crystal growth of VO2 by isothermal flux-evaporation

Single crystals up to 1 cm×5 mm×5mm of VO2 have been grown by utilisation of the isothermal flux-evaporation principle. The “flux” used is V2O5 which results in the formation of a low-melting eutectic with a composition between V2O5 and VO2. Best growth was achieved at 1210° C at a pO2 of 10−3.8, yielding crystals up to 2×2×0.5 cm. The formation of a new oxy-carbonate of vanadium is reported and serves as an illustration of the dangers involved in contamination from “controlled atmospheres”.
Teaching the foundational principles of rehabilitation psychology.

Objective Wright (1983) described 20 "value-laden beliefs and principles" that form the foundational principles of rehabilitation psychology, and the education and training of rehabilitation psychologists necessitates that they acquire the specialty-specific knowledge and attitudes/values related to these principles. This article addresses 2 questions about how these principles can be taught in rehabilitation psychology training: (a) What are the core theories and evidence supporting these foundational principles, and what should be the content of a "core curriculum" for teaching these?; and (b) What is known about the most effective methods for teaching these foundational principles, including questions of how to teach values? Method The foundational principles were grouped into 3 categories: individual psychological processes, social psychological processes, and values related to social integration. A literature review was conducted in these 3 categories, and the results are summarized and discussed. Results A core curriculum is discussed for teaching about disability-specific individual psychological processes, social psychological processes, and values related to social integration, including methods to reduce group prejudice and promote values relevant to the foundational principles. Specific suggestions for training program content and methods are provided. Conclusions It is hoped that effective teaching of Wright's (1983) value-laden beliefs and principles will help rehabilitation psychology trainers and trainees focus on the key knowledge and attitude-value competencies that are to be acquired in training.
Diversity in in Vitro Adherence of C. Jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most commonly isolated organisms in diarrhoeal diseases throughout the world. Natural C. jejuni infection in humans and experimental animal infection results in colitis, giving rise to the diarrhoeal symptoms including bloody stool and mucous in some cases2,5. Although adherence, invasion, and a role of toxins have been proposed as virulence factors7,16,17,19–21,27–29 precise mechanisms in the pathogenesis of C. jejuni disease are not well understood. Similarly, immunity against C. jejuni infection has been observed in natural and experimental infections without elucidation of the underlying mechanisms3,29,31,33. Flagellin and several other C. jejuni proteins have been shown to be involved in the in vitro adherence to cultured cells and in in vivo colonization22. Invasion and transcytosis have been documented with multiple C. jejuni strains including strain 81–176 isolated from a milk-borne diarrhoeal patient17,28. We have described the expression of several novel proteins by C. jejuni strain 81–176 during in vivo growth in rabbit ileal loops24. Using human volunteer sera we also demonstrated that two of the in vivo-expressed proteins may be involved in providing protection against diarrhoea caused by the homologous strain24. In this study, we examined the adherence pattern of media grown and in vivo modified C. jejuni to cultured Caco-2 cells.
Spirituality and Contemplative Education

I will begin with an overview of spirituality and its relationship to contemplative spirituality. I will then detail an array of “contemplative capacities,” including reflective, emotional, imaginative/creative, ethical, intuitive/mystical, and religious. Next, I will discuss these capacities in relationship to education, with a particular emphasis on “mindfulness education.” Finally, I will critically examine implications of current approaches to contemplative education and possible directions for future research.
Familial Influences on Dating Violence Victimization Among Latino Youth

Despite theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that the family environment plays a central role in Latino youth development, relatively little is known about how family processes influence dating violence victimization among Latino adolescents. To address this gap in the literature, we used data from 210 Latino parents and their 13- to 15-year-old adolescents to examine associations between several different family processes, including both parenting practices (parent monitoring, parent-adolescent communication) and aspects of the family relational climate (family cohesion, family conflict, acculturation conflict) and psychological, physical, and sexual dating violence victimization. Consistent with expectations, lower levels of family cohesion and higher levels of family and acculturation conflict were associated with risk for dating violence victimization, although associations varied depending on victimization type. In contrast, neither parental monitoring nor parent-adolescent communication was significantly associated with any type of dating violence victimization. In addition, we found that parent, but not teen, Anglo-American acculturation was associated with higher dating violence victimization risk. Findings suggest that family-based dating abuse prevention programs for Latino youth should seek to increase family cohesion and decrease family conflict, including acculturation-based conflict.