cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
cis-acting elements in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNAs direct viral transcripts to distinct intranuclear locations.

Two distinct intranuclear locations were identified for alternatively spliced RNA transcripts expressed from the pNL4-3 infectious molecular clone of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. Multiply spliced HIV RNA encoding tat was detected within the nucleus in large clusters; immunostaining and colocalization studies using laser-scanning confocal microscopy revealed that these structures contained the non-small nuclear ribonucleoprotein RNA processing factor, SC35. In contrast, unspliced gag RNA was detected in much smaller granules distributed throughout the nucleus, with little or no association with SC35-containing granules. Analyses of nuclear RNA expressed from recombinant plasmids encoding gag (pCMVgag-2) alone or tat (pCMVtat-2) alone revealed distributions corresponding to those obtained with pNL4-3, indicating that expression within the context of the HIV provirus was not required for the distinct RNA locations detected for these transcripts. The presence of unspliced gag RNA in small granules was confirmed in infections of H9 T-lymphocytic cells, indicating that gag localization was not restricted to transient expression systems. The intranuclear distribution of gag RNA was dependent on specific RNA sequences. Deletion of a portion of the gag gene of pCMVgag-2, containing a cis-repressing inhibitory region, resulted in redirection of unspliced gag RNA from small granules into large SC35-containing clusters. The addition of the Rev-responsive element, RRE, to the deleted pCMVgag-2 construct resulted in RNA transcripts which were no longer associated with SC35. We also identified a cellular intron, rabbit beta-globin-intervening sequence 2 (IVS-2) which, when introduced into pCMVgag-2, redirected unspliced gag RNA into SC35-containing granules and permitted rev-independent Gag expression. These findings suggest that redirecting intranuclear RNA localization may influence gene expression. Color micrographs from this article are available for view at http//128.231.216.2/lmmhome.htm.
The effects of mergers on price and output: Two case studies from the airline industry

The literature on industrial organization contains very little direct evidence on the effects of actual mergers. This study estimates the effects of two recent airline mergers approved by the Department of Transportation over the objection of the Department of Justice. The merger of TWA and Ozark appears to have caused a slight increase in fares and a far greater reduction in service on city pairs out of St Louis. The merger of Northwest and Republic appears to have caused a significant increase in fares and a significant reduction in overall service on city pairs out of Minneapolis-St Paul.
Interobserver concordance in implementing the 2010 ASCO/CAP recommendations for reporting ER in breast carcinomas: a demonstration of the difficulties of consistently reporting low levels of ER expression by manual quantification.

Objectives: Endocrine therapy reduces recurrence risk by 30% to 50% in estrogen receptor (ER)–positive breast cancer. The ER-positive threshold recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists is 1% based on studies using the ER-6F11 antibody. ER-SP1 antibody has a higher sensitivity and is more widely used. Methods: We report interobserver concordance manually measuring ER in 264 breast cancers using ER-SP1 and 1D5 and 2 scoring methods (H-score and Allred score). Results: With both antibodies, 3% to 4% of cases have a low level of ER expression (1%–10%), more than previously reported (<1%). We find a high level of paired observer concordance with both antibodies and scoring methods (κ = 0.892–0.943) with no significant difference with method of scoring. Despite excellent concordance, positive/negative discordance was almost 5% among 3 observers using either antibody, an underappreciated clinically significant rate. Conclusions: Discordance overwhelmingly reflected differing opinions recording the proportion of tumor cells positive with low levels of expression (<10% staining; 12/13 cases).
Visual detection of objects in a robotic work area using hand gestures

A system for rapidly developing industrial robotic applications with visual hand gestures and voice commands is being developed. This paper reports on the hand gesture recognition component of the system which has been designed and implemented in C# using OpenCV. Seventy two test subjects interacted with the hand gesture component of the system and the empirical results of these experiments are reported. Screenshots of the hand gesture component are presented as well as known system limitations.
Dynamic power management based on continuous-time Markov decision processes

This paper introduces a continuous-time, controllable Markov process model of a power-managed system. The system model is composed of the corresponding stochastic models of the service queue and the service provider. The system environment is modeled by a stochastic service request process. The problem of dynamic power management in such a system is formulated as a policy optimization problem and solved using an efficient "policy iteration" algorithm. Compared to previous work on dynamic power management, our formulation allows better modeling of the various system components, the power-managed system as a whole, and its environment. In addition it captures dependencies between the service queue and service provider status. Finally, the resulting power management policy is asynchronous, hence it is more power-efficient and more useful in practice. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our policy optimization algorithm compared to a number of heuristic (time-out and N-policy) algorithms.
Evaluation of quality of life in children with heart disease

Abstract Due to recent advances in pediatric cardiovascular therapy, mortality rates for children with heart disease (HD) have decreased dramatically. Despite these advances, however, survivors suffer from morbidity resulting from their circulatory abnormalities and the medical and surgical therapies they have received. These morbidities significantly impact the child's neurodevelopmental, psychosocial, and physical functioning and diminish their quality of life (QOL). As a result, outcome assessment focusing on QOL has become increasingly important in this high risk population. QOL may be described as a child's ability to function in situational contexts and derive personal satisfaction from doing so. This paper will delineate health measurement definitions including QOL and health-related QOL (HRQOL), identify inherent difficulties in HRQOL measurement in the pediatric HD population, discuss salient aspects of HRQOL instrument evaluation In addition, this manuscript will describe existing generic and disease-specific HRQOL measures that may be used to assess HRQOL in the pediatric HD population, what research on HRQOL in the pediatric HD population has shown, and the extent to which HRQOL evaluations are being fully utilized in clinical practice. Finally, a research and clinical agenda are proposed to harness the potential applications of HRQOL assessment.
Analytic accounting for carrier velocity overshoot in advanced BJT's for circuit simulation

An analytic model for electron velocity overshoot in advanced silicon-based bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) is presented. The model, which characterizes an effective saturated drift velocity in the collector space-charge regions, is intended for circuit simulation and has been implemented in MMSPICE. The model is based on a nonlocal augmented drift-velocity formalism that involves a length coefficient derived from Monte Carlo simulations. A phenomenological representation of the associated velocity relaxation is defined to be consistent with the overshoot analysis. Demonstrative MMSPICE device and circuit simulations show that effects of velocity overshoot in contemporary silicon BJTs produce only small performance enhancements, but can be exploited to optimize design tradeoffs in scaled technologies. >
Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes: drug discovery and safety pharmacology

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can provide potentially unlimited quantities of a wide range of human cell types that can be used in drug discovery and development, basic research and regenerative medicine. In this review, the authors describe the differentiation of hESCs into cardiomyocytes and outline the properties of hESC-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs), including their cardiac-type action potentials and contractile characteristics. In vitro cellular assays using hESC-CMs, which can be genetically engineered to create target-specific reporters as well as human disease models, will have applications at multiple stages of the drug discovery process. Furthermore, cardiac safety pharmacology assays evaluating the risk of proarrhythmic side effects associated with QT prolongation may be enhanced in their predictive value with the use of hESC-CMs.
Focus on: Comorbid mental health disorders.

Research advances over the past four decades have demonstrated that a significant proportion of people with alcohol use disorders also suffer from a comorbid mood or anxiety disorder. This article briefly reviews the associations among alcohol dependence, major depressive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Dysregulation of the brain’s and body’s stress system (i.e., the limbic–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis) might serve as a common mechanistic link to explain some of the relationships among these frequently comorbid conditions. Finally, the article examines the role of sex differences in stress circuitry. These differences may explain why men and women differ in their risk for developing comorbid alcoholism and stress-related disorders.
Get In, Get Out, Come Back! What the Relationship Between Pavement Roughness and Fuel Consumption Means for the Length of the Resurfacing Cycle

Pavement roughness affects the subjective quality of the ride for the traveler and also affects the cost of operating the vehicle. Less frequent resurfacing will reduce the owner agency's maintenance cost and the motorist's delay cost and will increase the motorist's vehicle operating cost. Analysis of a sample of Virginia Department of Transportation pavements indicates that the roughness of a pavement surface deteriorates—that is, increases—by about 1.23 in. per mile per year from the time it is placed until the time it is resurfaced. Recent reports from the WesTrack facility in Nevada, the Florida Department of Transportation, and the National Center for Asphalt Technology pavement test track in Alabama suggest that a gradual increase in roughness will mean a gradual reduction in fuel economy for the vehicles that use the road. Synthesis of these findings makes it possible to compare the maintenance cost to the owner agency against the travel time and operating costs to the motoring public, for mainten...
Hridaya A tele-medicine initiative for cardiovascular disease through convergence of grid, Web 2.0 and SaaS

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death among humans. Rehabilitation after survival from a CVD is a long term process that includes frequent hospital visits, which could be avoided by the use of Hridaya on personal digital assistant (PDA) and mobile phones. These devices along with Hridaya could be used by the patients to report about their health to the physicians on a schedule basis who in turn can review their health conditions. List of clinical checkups would be similar in most cases of CVD and hence the objective of the study is to suggest Hridaya, a software as a service (SaaS) application, which would incorporate a decision support system along with some of these clinical routines.
Introduced grazers can restrict potential soil carbon sequestration through impacts on plant community composition.

AbstractGrazing occurs over a third of the earths land surface and may potentially inﬂuence thestorage of 10 9 Mg year )1 of greenhouse gases as soil C. Displacement of nativeherbivores by high densities of livestock has often led to overgrazing and soil C loss.However, it remains unknown whether matching livestock densities to those of nativeherbivores can yield equivalent soil C sequestration. In the Trans-Himalayas we foundthat, despite comparable grazing intensities, watersheds converted to pastoralism had49% lower soil C than watersheds which retain native herbivores. Experimental grazer-exclusion within each watershed type, show that this difference appears to be driven byindirect effects of livestock diet selection, leading to vegetation shifts that lower plantproduction and reduce likely soil C inputs from vegetation by c. 25 gC m )2 year )1 . Ourresults suggest that while accounting for direct impacts (stocking density) is a major step,managing indirect impacts on vegetation composition are equally important ininﬂuencing soil C sequestration in grazing ecosystems.KeywordsBiodiversity, carbon dioxide, climate change, ecosystem function, ecosystem services,human natural ecosystems, land use change, livestock production, rangelands, wildlifeconservation.Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 959–968
The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study: evaluation of cataract morphology in eyes with monocular cataracts

Purpose To describe a video-documented assessment of cataract type in the eyes of patients with monocular infantile cataract who were enrolled in the Infant Aphakia Treatment Study. Methods The Infant Aphakia Treatment Study is a randomized clinical trial in which the investigators compared intraocular lens (IOL) versus contact lens correction in 114 infants, aged 28 days to Results Nuclear cataract was present in 45 of 83 eyes (54%). Posterior capsule plaque was observed in 73 eyes (88%). All eyes with fetal nuclear cataract had associated posterior capsule plaque. Cortical cataract without nuclear involvement was seen in 21 eyes (25%). Posterior bowing of the posterior capsule was noted in 4 eyes (5%). Evidence of persistent fetal vasculature (PFV) was present in 18 eyes (22%). PFV was the only finding in 5 eyes but was also seen in combination with nuclear (7 eyes) and cortical cataracts (6 eyes). The entire lens was white in 3 eyes (4%), whereas the lens was partially resorbed in 7 (8%) eyes. Anterior capsule fibrosis was noted in 5 eyes with advanced cataract (1 with total cataract, 4 with partially resorbed lens). Conclusions Nuclear opacities were common, but many different cataract types presented in infancy. PFV occurred in isolation or in association with cataract. Posterior capsule plaque was frequently noted, especially when a nuclear cataract was present.
Putting mixed signal vlsi technology into the curriculum

The author explains the importance of VLSI technology to engineering and technology curricula and defines the subject of "mixed signal" VLSI. A recommendation is made to replace traditional electronic design courses with a course of study in mixed signal VLSI. A two-semester course of study followed by an optional semester elective is proposed. The proposed curriculum change can be accomplished without requiring any additional credits of the student. >
The metabolism and 24-hour plasma concentrations of androsterone in man.

A radioimmunoassay for free androsterone permitting facile analysis of plasma taken at 20 min intervals over 24 h has revealed a curve of varying concentrations which formed a pattern similar to curves of cortisol and dehydroisoandrosterone, both being primary adrenal secretory products and the latter being the major precursor of androsterone. The mean of the average 24 h concentration of androsterone in men was 55 ± 14 ng/dl (n = 8). Such temporally related behavior requires rapid production and removal of both 17-ketosteroids, processes which have been confirmed by tracer studies where it has been shown that in a two compartment system, androsterone has a t½ of 25 ± 9 min for the fast component and a metabolic clearance rate of 4050 ± 1315 L per day (n = 10). The data are in accord with an approximate production rate of androsterone which is consistent with values reported for its urinary excretion.
A Novel Capability for Monitoring Cerebral and Systemic Hemodynamics, ECG and Actigraphy During Sleep (I3-1.001)

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of recording and comparing cerebral hemodynamics, actigraphy and electrocardiography (ECG) features during continuous monitoring in wakefulness and sleep using a novel near-infrared neuromonitoring (NIN) device developed in our laboratory. BACKGROUND: Comparison of physiological features during wakefulness and sleep are important in the study of sleep and circadian cycles. Existing technologies, however, cannot simultaneously record cerebral hemodynamics and actigraphy continuously during normal daily activities including sleep. NINscan 4a technology enables such monitoring. DESIGN/METHODS: Cerebral and systemic hemodynamics (NIN), actigraphy (tri-axial accelerometer), and 3-lead ECG were recorded continuously for 24 hours on a male subject (36 years) using NINscan 4a. The NIN sensor was located over International 10-20 position F4. The subject pressed event button to time-register activities to written logs. RESULTS: The average heart rate during sleep was 43 bpm, 20% less than during wakefulness (p<<0.05) and correlated with actigraphy (r=0.78, p<<0.05). The total hemoglobin concentration was 39.04±10.22 microMol during wakefulness, and 31.78±14.41 microMol during sleep (p<<0.05). Cerebral oxygenation level was 68.01±5.04% during wakefulness and 69.27±3.98% during sleep (n.s.). Interestingly, a transient event was recorded, where the subject woke up in response to environmental noise. The subject’s heart rate, cerebral blood volume and oxygenation dramatically increased approximately 4 minutes prior to awakening, with heart rate increase from 41bpm to 60 bpm, accompanied by cerebral hemodynamic fluctuations. The elevated heart rate, cerebral blood volume and oxygenation (both in magnitude and dynamic fluctuation) continued following awakening. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility and promise of multimodal physiologic monitoring of brain function, cardiac activity and actigraphy during wakefulness and sleep. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 24 hour cerebral and systemic hemodynamic (blood perfusion and oxygenation) recording that includes an individual’s entire sleep cycle. Study Supported by: NSBRI-SMST-02801 “Multi-Use Near-Infrared Spectroscopy System for Spaceflight Health Applications”. Disclosure: Dr. Ivkovic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Strangman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhang has nothing to disclose.
Behavioral Responses of a Dietary Specialist, the Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata), to Potential Chemoattractants Released by Its Prey

Abstract Queen Snakes (Regina septemvittata) are extreme dietary specialists, feeding nearly exclusively on freshly molted crayfish. To elucidate specific cues that mediate prey detection and foraging behavior in R. septemvittata, we examined the response of R. septemvittata and the dietary generalist Nerodia sipedon sipedon, to chemical compounds produced by crayfish during the molting cycle. Ingestively naive neonate snakes were presented with 20-hydroxyecdysone, ecdysone, methyl farnesoate, ponasterone A, xanthurenic acid, and distilled water. Their response was measured using a modification to the tongue-flick attack score. Regina septemvittata exhibited an elevated tongue-flicking response to ecdysone, whereas N. s. sipedon exhibited no differential responses to these same arthropod molting chemicals. In a second experiment, R. septemvittata showed a two-fold higher tongue-flicking response to intermolt crayfish extract that contained ecdysone than to intermolt crayfish extract alone, whereas N. s. s...
Sonographically guided obturator internus injections: techniques and validation.

Objectives The primary purpose of this investigation was to describe and validate sonographically guided techniques for injecting the obturator internus (OI) muscle or bursa using a cadaveric model. Methods A single experienced operator completed 10 sonographically guided OI injections in 5 unembalmed cadaveric pelvis specimens (4 female and 1 male, ages 71-89 years with body mass indices of 15.5-24.2 kg/m2). Four different techniques were used: (1) OI tendon sheath (4 injections), (2) OI intramuscular (2 injections), (3) OI bursa trans-tendinous (2 injections), and (4) OI bursa short-axis (2 injections). In each case, the operator injected 1.5 mL of diluted yellow latex using direct sonographic guidance and a 22-gauge, 87.5-mm (3½-in) needle. Seventy-two hours later, study coinvestigators dissected each specimen to assess injectate placement. Results All 10 OI region injections accurately placed latex into the primary target site. Two of the 4 OI tendon sheath injections produced overflow into the underlying OI bursa. Both OI intramuscular injections delivered 100% of the latex within the OI. All 4 OI bursa injections (2 trans-tendinous and 2 short-axis) delivered 100% of the latex into the OI bursa, with the exception that 1 OI bursa trans-tendinous injection produced minimal overflow into the OI itself. No injection resulted in injury to the sciatic nerve or gluteal arteries, and no injectate overflow occurred outside the confines of the OI or its bursa. Conclusions The results of this investigation demonstrate that sonographically guided injections into the OI or its bursa are feasible and, therefore, may play a role in the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with gluteal and "retrotrochanteric" pain syndromes.
A 68-Year-Old Musician With Cough, Wheezing, and a Lung Mass

A 68-year-old man was referred to the pulmonary clinic for evaluation of cough and a 5-cm right upper lobe mass. He was in his usual state of health until 1 year prior when he developed intermittent cough, wheezing, and sinus congestion. He denied any sputum production or hemoptysis. He also denied any fevers, chills, or weight loss. He had received various treatments within the prior 6 months, including short courses of oral prednisone, levofloxacin, and bronchodilators, without any relief of his symptoms.
Water immersion aging of polydicyclopentadiene resin and glass fiber composites

We present an investigation of the effect of long-term water immersion aging on the thermal/mechanical properties of a ruthenium-catalyzed polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD) polymer and associated composites, using an epoxy resin system as a benchmark. The pDCPD neat polymer showed low-level water absorption after one year of aging due to inherent hydrophobicity. No plasticization was observed for pDCPD, while significant plasticization occurred for the epoxy. Salt water aging and deionized water aging had identical effects on pDCPD and composites, while epoxy materials aged in salt water showed less water absorption compared to aging in deionized water. We also measured the fiber-interface strength before and after aging of composites using single-fiber push-out tests. Aging caused decreases in interface strength, and these decreases led to a decline in composite fatigue strength.
A Vision for an International Multi-Sensor Snow Observing Mission

Discussions within the international snow remote sensing community over the past two years have led to encouraging consensus regarding the broad outlines of a dedicated snow observing mission. The primary consensus - that since no single sensor type is satisfactory across all snow types and across all confounding factors, a multi-sensor approach is required - naturally leads to questions about the exact mix of sensors, required accuracies, and so on. In short, the natural next step is to collect such multi-sensor snow observations (with detailed ground truth) to enable trade studies of various possible mission concepts. Such trade studies must assess the strengths and limitations of heritage as well as newer measurement techniques with an eye toward natural sensitivity to desired parameters such as snow depth and/or snow water equivalent (SWE) in spite of confounding factors like clouds, lack of solar illumination, forest cover, and topography, measurement accuracy, temporal and spatial coverage, technological maturity, and cost.
Disparities in firearms ownership and storage practices in North Carolina.

OBJECTIVE: Because household firearms pose a risk to children, this study examined firearms accessibility in North Carolina households with children. METHODS: In 2008, parents completing the North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program survey were asked how many firearms they owned and their firearms storage practices. Weighted analyses provided estimates of ownership and storage practices and examined variation by sociodemographics. RESULTS: A total of 37% of 2885 parents reported owning firearms. Whites (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.9 [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.9-5.2]), households with income >200% of the federal poverty level (aOR 1.7 [95% CI 1.2-2.5]) and married parents (aOR 2.4 [95% CI 1.8-3.4]) were more likely to own firearms. Ownership of more than one firearm was greater among whites (aOR 2.2 [95% CI 1.4-3.4]) and married parents (aOR 1.8 [95% CI 1.5-2.8]) than other groups. The number of firearms owned increased with children's age. Although most parents reported keeping firearms locked and unloaded (57%), many reported unsafe storage practices, which varied by race/ethnicity. Whites were more likely (45%) to store firearms unlocked and/or loaded than other groups (35%). CONCLUSIONS: Many North Carolina youth have access to household firearms, with white youth being more likely to have firearms, a greater number of firearms, and less safely stored firearms than other race/ethnicity groups. Further interventions and policies to reduce youth access to household firearms are needed. Future research should examine and address why whites, married couples, and those with socioeconomic advantages are more likely than individuals not belonging to these groups to own household firearms and store them unsafely. Language: en
Tensor-Guided Hex-Dominant Mesh Generation with Targeted All-Hex Regions

In this paper, we present a method for generating hex-dominant meshes with targeted all-hex regions over closed volumes. The method begins by generating a piecewise-continuous metric tensor field over the volume. This field specifies desired anisotropy and directionality during the subsequent meshing stages. Meshing begins with field-guided tiling of individual structured hexahedral fronts wherever suitable and in regions of interest (ROI). Then, the hexahedral fronts are incorporated into an existing hex-dominant meshing procedure, resulting in a good quality hex-dominant mesh. Presently, many successful hex meshing methods require significant preprocessing and have limited control over mesh directionality and anisotropy. In light of this, hex-dominant meshes have gained traction for industry analyses. In turn, this presents the challenge of increasing the hex-to-tet ratio in hex-dominant meshes, especially in ROI specified by analysts. Here, a novel three-part strategy addresses this goal: generation of a guiding tensor field, application of topological insertion operators to tile elements and grow fronts towards the boundary, and incorporation of the fronts into a hex-dominant meshing procedure. The field directionality is generated from boundary information, which is then adjusted to specified uniform anisotropy. Carefully placed streamsurfaces of the metric field are intersected to shape new elements, and the insertion operators maintain mesh integrity while tiling new elements. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated with a non-linear, large deformation, finite element analysis.
COARCTATION MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH MORE RAPID AORTIC DILATION IN INDIVIDUALS WITH BICUSPID AORTIC VALVE: INSIGHTS FROM THE GENTAC REGISTRY

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is associated with thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The prevalence of aortic coarctation is increased in patients with BAV. We hypothesize that patients with coarctation are at increased risk for aortic complications compared to those with isolated BAV and may
Effects of Oxygen Content on the Behavior of the Dielectric Barrier Discharge Aerodynamic Plasma Actuator

Atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma actuators are experimentally investigated. The temporal force characteristics and dielectric surface charging are determined using interferometry and split electrode techniques. The experiments are conducted at atmospheric pressure in diminishing levels of oxygen content in order to investigate the effects of oxygen ions. The results show that the force production is dominated by oxygen ions down to a level of 2-5% oxygen content. Temporal force measurements show that the plasma accelerates the air twice during the bias cycle for all oxygen levels including pure nitrogen. Surface charging measurements show that, for oxygen content levels above 5%, a positive voltage region builds up on the dielectric downstream of the actuator. In the absence of oxygen, no such build up is observed. The temporal force production characteristics in the pure nitrogen discharge appear to be greatly affected by the dielectric surface charging. Finally, at a 20% oxygen content level, the majority of the force is produced by the actuator while the exposed electrode is negative. When all of the oxygen is removed, the majority of the force is produced while the exposed electrode is positive.
Zoot Suit: Latino/a youth inclusion and exclusion on Texas stages

ABSTRACTThough Latino/as currently comprise the majority of Texas public school students, Latino/a bodies and stories are underrepresented and excluded in school theatre programs throughout the state. In 2011, the Texas Education Agency reported that Hispanic students accounted for 50.2 percent of the state’s 4.9 million children enrolled in public schools, including pre-kindergarten and early childhood education. However, the theatre produced in school theatre programs representing Latino stories and characters is staggeringly disproportionate to the number of Latino youth attending Texas public schools. In May 2014, Edinburg North High School, the one school from the Rio Grande Valley included in the state meet, presented their production of Zoot Suit at the competition, which takes place annually on the University of Texas at Austin campus. This article explores Latino/a youth inclusion and exclusion and how the inclusion of this production of Zoot Suit has opened the door to more Latino stories being ...
Abstract P247: Trends in Obesity Prevalence and Predictors of Significant Weight Loss in a Large, Diverse Employee Population: The Baptist Health Employee Study

Background: Obesity has become a significant problem in the workplace, impacting health care costs to employers and employee productivity. As a result, employers have adopted various strategies to improve obesity among their employees. In this study, we examine the changes in obesity distribution in a cohort of employees of a large healthcare organization over a 3-year period and examine characteristics of employees who lost significant weight. Methods: Employees of Baptist Health South Florida (BHSF), a large not-for-profit healthcare organization, participated voluntarily in an annual Health Risk Assessment between 2012 and 2014. Only employees who participated in all 3 consecutive years were selected for this study. Height and weight from which body mass index was calculated, as well as other biometric measures were collected. The HRA also assessed current lifestyle behaviors, as well as intentions/ readiness to improve these lifestyle characteristics and behaviors including diet, exercise and weight. Obesity was categorized according to BMI as Results: A total of 7357 employees (76% females, 56% Hispanic) participated in all 3 years of the HRA under study. Five percent (n=362) of participants shifted to a lower obesity category over 2 years. After 1 year, about 10% (n=703) of participants had a 5% reduction in BMI, while at 2 years, almost 15% (n=1061) achieved a reduction in BMI of at least 5%. Over 20% of participants with a BMI > 35 lost significant weight (≥5% BMI reduction). Participants who lost significant weight were more likely to have reported an intention to lose weight (OR=1.7; 1.5 - 2.0), an intention to improve their diet (OR=1.3; 1.2 - 1.5) or physical activity (OR=1.2; 1.1 - 1.4) Conclusion: Our findings suggest that intentions to improve lifestyle may be as important as improving lifestyle itself. It also highlights the need for, and the opportunity to create motivational strategies to encourage individuals to pursue healthier lifestyles.
The Split Second Effect: The Mechanism of How Equinus Can Damage the Human Foot and Ankle.

We are currently in the process of discovering that many, if not the majority, of non-traumatic acquired adult foot and ankle problems are caused by a singular etiology: equinus or the isolated gastrocnemius contracture. There is no question that this biomechanical association exists and in time much more will be uncovered. There are three basic questions that must be answered: why would our calves tighten as we normally age, how does a tight calf, or equinus, actually cause problems remotely in the foot and ankle, and how do the forces produced by equinus cause each individual resulting specific pathology in the foot and ankle? The purpose of this paper is to address the second question: how does a tight calf mechanically cause problems remotely in the foot and ankle? There has been little evidence in the literature addressing the biomechanical mechanisms by which equinus creates damaging forces upon the foot and ankle and as a result a precise, convincing mechanism is still lacking. Thus the mere concept that equinus has anything to do with foot pathology is generally unknown or disregarded. The split second effect, described here, defines exactly how the silent equinus contracture creates incremental and significant damage and injury to the human foot and ankle resulting in a wide variety of pathological conditions. The split second effect is a dissenting theory based on 30 years of clinical and academic orthopaedic foot and ankle experience, keen clinical observation along the way, and review of the developing literature, culminating in examination of many hours of slow motion video of normal and abnormal human gait. To my knowledge, no one has ever described the mechanism in detail this precise.
Synthesis, characterization, and binding affinity of hydrosulfide complexes of synthetic iron(II) porphyrinates.

The binding and reactivity of the hydrosulfide ion (HS-) to iron(II) porphyrinates has been examined for several synthetic meso-tetraphenylporphine (TPP) derivatives. In all cases, HS- coordinates to the iron centers in a 1:1 stoichiometry with formation constants (Kf) that reflect the electronic characteristics of the porphyrinate ligands. In the case of the F8TPP ligand (F8TPP=dianion of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-difluorophenyl)porphine), an intermediate complex proposed as the hydrosulfide bridged dimer, (Bu4N)[Fe2(μ-SH)(F8TPP)2], was identified by NMR spectroscopy en route to formation of (Bu4N)[Fe(SH)(F8TPP)]. A robust procedure is reported for the synthesis and isolation of the parent hydrosulfide adduct, (Bu4N)[Fe(SH)(TPP)], which has permitted a detailed examination of its spectroscopy and chemical reactivity. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that [Fe(SH)(TPP)]- is oxidized reversibly at a potential of -0.832V (vs ferrocene/ferrocenium) consistent with other iron porphyrinates containing sulfur-based ligands. Despite this fact, chemical oxidation of (Bu4N)[Fe(SH)(TPP)] with ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate produced only [Fe(TPP)] indicating that the putative iron(III) hydrosulfide adduct, [Fe(SH)(TPP)], decomposes rapidly. Treatment of (Bu4N)[Fe(SH)(TPP)] with other biologically relevant molecules such as NO and 1,2-dimethylimidazole resulted in simple displacement of the HS- ligand as governed by the relative Kf values of the added ligands. The solid-state structure of one hydrosulfide adduct, (Bu4N)[Fe(SH)(F8TPP)], was determined by X-ray crystallography and found to display the expected five-coordinate geometry about iron with an Fe-S distance of 2.323(1) A. The relevance of the hydrosulfide chemistry with synthetic iron porphyrinates is discussed in terms of the possible reactivity for H2S and its derivatives at heme sites in biology.
Tunable Graphene Metasurfaces with Gradient Features by Self‐Assembly‐Based Moiré Nanosphere Lithography

Patterned arrays of graphene nanostructures, also referred as graphene metasurfaces, have proven to be capable of efficiently coupling with incident light by surface plasmon resonances. In this work, a new type of graphene metasurfaces with moire patterns using cost-effective and scalable moire nanosphere lithography (MNSL) is demonstrated. A large gradient in feature size (i.e., from sub-200 nm to 1.1 μm) of the graphene nanostructures exists in single metasurfaces. The in-plane quasi-periodic arrangement of the graphene nanostructures can be easily tuned to form a variety of moire patterns. The experimental measurement and numerical simulations show that the graphene moire metasurfaces support tunable and multiband optical responses due the size and shape dependences of surface plasmon resonance modes of graphene nanostructures. It is also demonstrated that the multiband optical responses of graphene moire metasurfaces can be tuned from mid-infrared (MIR) to terahertz (THz) regimes by choosing polystyrene spheres of different sizes for MNSL. These findings provide a cost-effective and scalable strategy to achieve ultrathin functional devices, including multiband light modulators, broadband biosensors, and multiband photodetectors, which feature tunable and multiband responses in wide range of wavelengths from MIR to THz.
Optimizing CT technique to reduce radiation dose: effect of changes in kVp, iterative reconstruction, and noise index on dose and noise in a human cadaver

For assessment of the effect of varying the peak kilovoltage (kVp), the adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction technique (ASiR), and automatic dose modulation on radiation dose and image noise in a human cadaver, a cadaver torso underwent CT scanning at 80, 100, 120 and 140 kVp, each at ASiR settings of 0, 30 and 50 %, and noise indices (NIs) of 5.5, 11 and 22. The volume CT dose index (CTDIvol), image noise, and attenuation values of liver and fat were analyzed for 20 data sets. Size-specific dose estimates (SSDEs) and liver-to-fat contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were calculated. Values for different combinations of kVp, ASiR, and NI were compared. The CTDIvol varied by a power of 2 with kVp values between 80 and 140 without ASiR. Increasing ASiR levels allowed a larger decrease in CTDIvol and SSDE at higher kVp than at lower kVp while image noise was held constant. In addition, CTDIvol and SSDE decreased with increasing NI at each kVp, but the decrease was greater at higher kVp than at lower kVp. Image noise increased with decreasing kVp despite a fixed NI; however, this noise could be offset with the use of ASiR. The CT number of the liver remained unchanged whereas that of fat decreased as the kVp decreased. Image noise and dose vary in a complicated manner when the kVp, ASiR, and NI are varied in a human cadaver. Optimization of CT protocols will require balancing of the effects of each of these parameters to maximize image quality while minimizing dose.
Linear Systems of Differential Equations

In previous chapters, we have discussed ordinary differential equations in a single unknown function, y(t). These are adequate to model real-world systems as they evolve in time, provided that only one state, that is, the number y(t), is needed to describe the system. For instance, we might be interested in the temperature of an object, the concentration of a pollutant in a lake, or the displacement of a weight attached to a spring. In each of these cases, the system we wish to describe is adequately represented by a single function of time. However, a single ordinary differential equation is inadequate for describing the evolution over time of a system with interdependent subsystems, each with its own state.
TMOD-11HBEGF ACTIVATES EGFR AND AXL TO FORM MALIGNANT GLIOMAS IN THE CONTEXT OF Ink4a/Arf AND Pten LOSS

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF) is a ligand for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the most frequently amplified receptor-tyrosine kinase in malignant gliomas. About 30% of high-grade gliomas express HBEGF, and it is also commonly upregulated in tumors that express the EGFR mutant, EGFRvIII. HBEGF has been associated with the progression of many solid tumors including breast, ovarian, bladder, and pancreatic. To date, HBEGF has not been evaluated for its ability to promote the development of high-grade gliomas in vivo. Using a retroviral method for somatic cell gene transfer, we show that HBEGF cooperates with loss of tumor suppressors Ink4a/Arf and Pten to form malignant gliomas in vivo. These mouse tumors share many characteristics found in human high-grade gliomas including necrosis and nuclear atypia. No tumors were seen with loss of two of the most common tumor suppressors altered in malignant gliomas, Ink4a/Arf and Pten. Our preliminary studies in astrocytes in vitro suggest that HBEGF activates not only EGFR but also AXL, a member of the TAM (Tyro3, AXL, Mer) family of RTKs. This cross activation may explain some of the inefficacy of targeted EGFR therapies that have been tested in malignant gliomas – even in those that have amplification of EGFR which would otherwise predict increased sensitivity to EGFR inhibition. Although unreported in the context of HBEGF or gliomas, a role for AXL in mediating EGFR signaling has been cited as a mechanism of resistance against targeted EGFR therapies in other solid tumors. Our ongoing research seeks to define the mechanism by which HBEGF activates AXL and EGFR to initiate high-grade gliomas.
Is Going Green Worth It? Assessing Fan Engagement and Perceptions of Athletic Department Environmental Efforts

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which environmentally themed activities within an intercollegiate sport context impact fan engagement. A total of 557 fans responded to an online survey measuring fan connection to the athletic department, environmental values, expectations for environmental activities, event and at home environmental behaviors, perceptions of profile enhancement, and recall of environmental sponsors and major initiatives. Results found that fans expected athletic department environmental action and they help with favorable perceptions about the athletic program and university and influenced at event and home behaviors. Cluster analysis identified two clusters based on high pro-environmental and low pro-environmental perceptions. The high proenvironmental cluster was skewed female, had lower connection to the athletic program, and had higher recall of official environmental sponsors and athletic initiatives. The results provide a fundamental and foundational understanding of how environmental activities impact fan engagement and the value of such efforts.
Upgrading pyrolysis bio-oil to biofuel over bifunctional Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst in supercritical methanol

Abstract The role of catalyst is essential in processes of upgrading biomass pyrolysis bio-oil into hydrocarbon biofuel. While the majority of heterogeneous catalytic processes are conducted in the presence of gas (nearly ideal) or liquid phase, a growing number of processes are utilizing supercritical fluids (SCFs) as reaction media. Although hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is proven a promising process for pyrolysis bio-oil upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuel, catalyst efficiency remains a challenge. Integrating heterogeneous catalysts with SCFs in a bio-oil HDO process was investigated in this study. Bifunctional Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts were firstly used to upgrade bio-oil to biofuel in supercritical methanol. The loading of Co and Zn did not change HZSM-5 crystalline structure. Physicochemical properties of biofuel produced by Co and/or Zn loaded HZSM-5 catalysts such as water content, total acid number, viscosity and higher heating value improved. Bimetallic Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts showed enhanced reactions of decarboxylation and decarbonylation that resulted in higher yields of CO and CO2. Bimetallic Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts were more effective for bio-oil HDO than monometallic Co/HZSM-5 or Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst, which was attributed to the synergistic effect of Co and Zn on HZSM-5 support. Bimetallic Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts increased biofuel yields and hydrocarbons contents in biofuels in comparison with monometallic Co/HZSM-5 and Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts. 5%Co15%Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst generated the highest biofuel yield at 22.13 wt.%, and 15%Co5%Zn/HZSM-5 catalyst produced biofuel with the highest hydrocarbons content at 35.33%. Hydrogenation and esterification are two dominant reactions in bio-oil HDO over Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts in supercritical methanol. The energy efficiency of biofuel product was 30.99–58.80% for Co-Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts. Co-Zn/HZSM-5 is a promising catalyst to produce biofuel with high quality in bio-oil HDO.
In Vitro Assembly and Stabilization of Dengue and Zika Virus Envelope Protein Homo-Dimers

Zika virus (ZIKV) and the 4 dengue virus (DENV) serotypes are mosquito-borne Flaviviruses that are associated with severe neuronal and hemorrhagic syndromes. The mature flavivirus infectious virion has 90 envelope (E) protein homo-dimers that pack tightly to form a smooth protein coat with icosahedral symmetry. Human antibodies that strongly neutralize ZIKV and DENVs recognize complex quaternary structure epitopes displayed on E-homo-dimers and higher order structures. The ZIKV and DENV E protein expressed as a soluble protein is mainly a monomer that does not display quaternary epitopes, which may explain the modest success with soluble recombinant E (sRecE) as a vaccine and diagnostic antigen. New strategies are needed to design recombinant immunogens that display these critical immune targets. Here we present two novel methods for building or stabilizing in vitro E-protein homo-dimers that display quaternary epitopes. In the first approach we immobilize sRecE to enable subsequent dimer generation. As an alternate method, we describe the use of human mAbs to stabilize homo-dimers in solution. The ability to produce recombinant E protein dimers displaying quaternary structure epitopes is an important advance with applications in flavivirus diagnostics and vaccine development.