cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caspase-1 activation in macrophages infected with Yersinia pestis KIM requires the type III secretion system effector YopJ.

Pathogenic Yersinia species utilize a type III secretion system (T3SS) to translocate effectors called Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) into infected host cells. Previous studies demonstrated a role for effector Yops in the inhibition of caspase-1-mediated cell death and secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in naive macrophages infected with Yersinia enterocolitica. Naive murine macrophages were infected with a panel of different Yersinia pestis and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis strains to determine whether Yops of these species inhibit caspase-1 activation. Cell death was measured by release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for secreted IL-1β was used to measure caspase-1 activation. Surprisingly, isolates derived from the Y. pestis KIM strain (e.g., KIM5) displayed an unusual ability to activate caspase-1 and kill infected macrophages compared to other Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis strains tested. Secretion of IL-1β following KIM5 infection was reduced in caspase-1-deficient macrophages compared to wild-type macrophages. However, release of LDH was not reduced in caspase-1-deficient macrophages, indicating that cell death occurred independently of caspase-1. Analysis of KIM-derived strains defective for production of functional effector or translocator Yops indicated that translocation of catalytically active YopJ into macrophages was required for caspase-1 activation and cell death. Release of LDH and secretion of IL-1β were not reduced when actin polymerization was inhibited in KIM5-infected macrophages, indicating that extracellular bacteria translocating YopJ could trigger cell death and caspase-1 activation. This study uncovered a novel role for YopJ in the activation of caspase-1 in macrophages.
Pharmacokinetics and comparative nephrotoxicity of fixed-dose versus fixed-interval reduction of gentamicin dosage in subtotal nephrectomized dogs.

There is presently no consensus as to the relative safety of fixed-interval/reduced dose (FI) vs fixed-dose/increased interval (FD) dosage adjustment regiments for use in renal insufficiency. This study compared their nephrotoxic potential using gentamicin in beagle dogs with renal insufficiency secondary to subtotal surgical nephrectomy. Pharmacokinetic analysis in six dogs showed that this surgical procedure resulted in a decreased total body clearance of drug and a marginally contracted volume of the central compartment. An allometric analysis of gentamicin disposition in different species was used to derive a human-equivalent maximum canine nontoxic dose of 9 mg kg−1 day−1. Nephrotoxicity was detected by histopathologic analysis and changes in the pre- and post-drug treatment, creatinine clearance, and daily drug elimination rate constants. This allometric dose did not produce clinical toxicity in a control group of six dogs with intact kidneys given drug for 14 days. Dosage adjustments within the FI and FD groups were based on serum creatinine concentrations 10 days after surgery. Statistical analysis of morphological and functional parameters indicated that the FD method was significantly less toxic than the FI regimen.
Absence of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide Expression in Hematopoietic Cells Enhances Th1 Polarization and Antiviral Immunity in Mice

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) induces regulatory dendritic cells (DC) in vitro that inhibit cellular immune responses. We tested the role of physiological levels of VIP on immune responses to murine CMV (mCMV) using VIP-knockout (VIP-KO) mice and radiation chimeras engrafted with syngenic VIP-KO hematopoietic cells. VIP-KO mice had less weight loss and better survival following mCMV infection compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. mCMV-infected VIP-KO mice had lower viral loads, faster clearance of virus, with increased numbers of IFN-γ + NK and NKT cells, and enhanced cytolytic activity of NK cells. Adaptive antiviral cellular immunity was increased in mCMV-infected VIP-KO mice compared with WT mice, with more Th1/Tc1-polarized T cells, fewer IL-10 + T cells, and more mCMV-M45 epitope peptide MHC class I tetramer + CD8 + T cells (tetramer + CD8 T cells). mCMV-immune VIP-KO mice had enhanced ability to clear mCMV peptide-pulsed target cells in vivo. Enhanced antiviral immunity was also seen in WT transplant recipients engrafted with VIP-KO hematopoietic cells, indicating that VIP synthesized by neuronal cells did not suppress immune responses. Following mCMV infection there was a marked upregulation of MHC-II and CD80 costimulatory molecule expression on DC from VIP-KO mice compared with DC from WT mice, whereas programmed death-1 and programmed death ligand-1 expression were upregulated in activated CD8 + T cells and DC, respectively, in WT mice, but not in VIP-KO mice. Because the absence of VIP in immune cells increased innate and adaptive antiviral immunity by altering costimulatory and coinhibitory pathways, selective targeting of VIP signaling represents an attractive therapeutic target to enhance antiviral immunity.
Sadistic Personality Disorder and Comorbid Mental Illness in Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients

Sadistic personality disorder (SPD) is a controversial diagnosis proposed in the DSM-III-R, but not included in the DSM-IV. Few studies have focused on this disorder in adolescents. This article describes the results of a study that sought to determine the presence of sadistic personality characteristics in psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents and of comorbid Axis I or personality disorder patterns in those youth with SPD or SPD traits. Fifty-six adolescents were assessed for sadistic and other personality disorders with the Structured Interview for DSM-III-R Personality Disorders-Revised (SIDP-R). Axis I disorders were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents, Adolescent Version (DICA-R-A) and portions of the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School Age Children, Epidemiologic (K-SADS-E). The youth were divided into those with SPD and SPD traits, the Sadistic Group (n = 18), and the Nonsadistic Group (n = 38). A significant proportion of the adolescents in this study met full DSM criteria for SPD (14%). The Sadistic Group (32%) had significantly more Axis I and personality pathology than did the Nonsadistic Group. However, all but one in the Sadistic Group met criteria for other personality disorders, confounding the interpretation of these findings and consistent with adult literature studies. Subjects with sadistic personality characteristics were identified in this adolescent inpatient sample, and they had more extensive Axis I and II psychopathology than the comparison group. The validity of this disorder in younger populations requires further study. Future studies should also explore the impact that the mandatory use of the pleasure/gratification criterion has on the validity of the SPD diagnosis and whether the requisite presence of this criterion decreases the overlap currently noted between SPD and other Axis II diagnoses.
Molecular determinants of disease and resistance in interactions of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and rice

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae is the causal agent of rice bacterial blight disease. Numerous genes critical for virulence have been identified. This article reviews current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of X. oryzae pv. oryzae virulence.
Pyrite formation and the measurement of sulfate reduction in salt marsh sediments1

A new method was used to study the formation of pyrite plus elemental sulfur during 35S0,2reduction experiments in salt marsh sediments: the reduction with chromium(I1) of pyrite and elemental sulfur to hydrogen sulfide. It is both more specific and more sensitive than our previous method, the oxidation of pyrite and elemental sulfur to sulfate by aqua regia, which measures the formation of refractory organic sulfur compounds as well as pyrite and elemental sulfur. A direct comparison of the two methods in salt marsh sediments in Georgia and in Massachusetts showed that they compare very well. The chromium(I1) reduction method, combined with our previous results, conclusively shows that pyrite is the major product of 35S0,2- reduction measurements in these sediments. The agreement between the two methods indicates that the formation of 35Slabeled, refractory organic matter is a minor process if it occurs at all. Our results suggest that both the aqua regia oxidation method and the chromium(I1) reduction method, if used with care, are suitable for measuring incorporation of 3sS into pyrite and elemental sulfur during 35S0,2- reduction measurements in salt marsh sediments. Failure to explicitly measure the formation of 35S-labcled pyrite can result in the rate of sulfate reduction being underestimated by 2-fold to lo-fold or more.
Regulation of gene expression in gastric epithelial cell populations of fetal, neonatal, and adult transgenic mice

Little is known about lineage relationships and differentiation programs of various epithelial cells present in mouse gastric units. We have previously used rat liver fatty acid binding protein/human growth hormone (L-FABP/hGH) transgenes to define epithelial cell lineages relationships in the small intestine of fetal and adult mice and to examine regulation of their terminal differentiation programs along the crypt-to-villus and duodenal-to-ileal axes. We have now used these transgenes to explore similar issues in the stomach. Immunocytochemical studies of fetal and adult transgenic L-FABP/hGH animals and their normal littermates revealed that the intact endogenous mouse L-FABP gene (Fabpl) is not expressed in gastric epithelium. Nucleotides-596 to +21 of the rat L-FABP gene direct "inappropriate" expression of hGH in the gastric epithelium as early as fetal day 15. From 1 to 13 mo, L-FABP-596 to +21/hGH expression occurs only in surface mucous cells of zymogenic and mucous gastric units; the reporter is not detectable in the enteroendocrine, parietal and chief cell populations of zymogenic glands. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry revealed that hGH is directed to apical secretory granules in surface and pit mucous cells expressing the transgene. hGH levels vary widely among surface mucous cells both within single pits and between gastric units in a given animal. The heterogeneity noted in reporter expression suggests that there are marked differences in the regulatory environments of individual cells of a single type within a given gastric unit. This raises the possibility that cell differentiation programs in the stomach may not be as tightly coupled to cellular translocation as in the small intestine. Finally, the lack of expression of L-FABP-596 to +21/hGH in gastrin- and serotonin-immunoreactive cells of the stomach contrasts with its efficient expression in comparable cell types located in the duodenum; providing a model system for examining differential regulation of gene expression in terminally differentiated cell types represented in both gastric and intestinal epithelium.
Determination Of Slope Displacement Mechanisms And Causes

Virtually every hillside composed of soil or loose rock is susceptible to mass movements. In many areas, the displacements pose no real human threat because they are imperceptibly slow or occur in remote regions. However, many slopes are in areas where displacements of soil or rock could destroy lives and property, disrupt utilities and transportation routes, create conditions for point source pollution, and disrupt the beauty of the landscape. A task of the civil engineer or engineering geologist is to assess the prospects for these displacements before they happen and to suggest methods of circumventing potential damage if movements are in progress.
Opposite effects of a singlet oxygen quencher on photochemical degradation of dicyano-substituted poly(phenylenevinylenes) with different side chains

Abstract RO-diCN-PPV and C8-diCN-PPV, poly(1,4-phenylene-1,2-dicyanovinylene) with alkoxy and octyl side chains, have recently been shown to photodegrade via a singlet oxygen mechanism, and RO-diCN-PPV is seven times more stable. To improve photostability, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), a singlet oxygen quencher, was used as a dopant. To our surprise, DABCO exhibited opposite effects on their photodegradation. With 15 mol% DABCO, degradation rate of C8-diCN-PPV decreased by 65%, while that of RO-diCN-PPV increased by 246%. The DABCO content in C8-diCN-PPV film remained unchanged during 20 min of illumination, but mostly disappeared in RO-diCN-PPV in only 5 min due to decomposition. IR and MW analysis results suggest that DABCO slowed down degradation of C8-diCN-PPV without altering the mechanism, but accelerated RO-diCN-PPV photodegradation by initiating a radical process. C8-diCN-PPV's HOMO energy is lower than that of DABCO by 1.78 eV, a gap too wide for efficient electron transfer to happen. On the other hand, the HOMO of RO-diCN-PPV is only lower by 1.14 eV, allowing DABCO to donate electron to photoexcited RO-diCN-PPV to initiate a radical process that damaged the polymer and destroyed DABCO itself. It was also found that, in RO-diCN-PPV, radical decomposition takes very different paths from those of RO-PPVs and produce very different products.
A high order finite difference solver for massively parallel simulations of stably stratified turbulent channel flows

Abstract Investigation of stably stratified turbulent flows in the atmosphere is challenging owing to its nonstationarity and heterogeneity, especially in very stable conditions. In recent years, numerical simulation has become a powerful tool to complement the understanding of fundamental characteristics of strongly stratified flows. Owing to its highly accurate representation of small-scale turbulence structures, direct numerical simulation (DNS) is shown to be the most effective numerical approach for strongly stratified flows. However, due to the limitation of the traditional parallel strategy, existing DNS studies on stratified channel flows are limited to relatively low Reynolds numbers. In order to make the DNS studies more relevant to the atmospheric boundary layer flows, in this paper, a high-order finite-difference DNS solver is developed for simulating stably stratified turbulent channel flows at relatively high Reynolds numbers. Utilizing the advanced two dimensional domain decomposition technique, the DNS solver is shown to be competent for petascale simulations with excellent scalability tested up to 32,768 CPU cores. Using this newly developed solver, two stably stratified open-channel simulations are conducted with the highest Reynolds number being approximately 105. The fundamental characteristics of strongly stratified turbulent flows, e.g., spatio-temporal variation of global intermittency, are compared with those previously reported at relatively low Reynolds numbers, and their similarities and discrepancies are also discussed. In addition, the DNS-based Monin–Obukhov similarity relationships are compared with those proposed based on observational data to evaluate their relevance to atmospheric flows. The source code and the simulation results are available at http://sites.google.com/site/scdnscode/ .
Structure, function, and differentiation of the keratinocyte

Ce travail expose les connaissances acquises concernant la differenciation des Keratinocytes et decrit ce qu'on sait au sujet de la fonction des macromolecules cle exprimees lors de la differenciation des Keratinocytes
Intravenous Angiography Using Digital Video Subtraction: X-ray Imaging System

An x-ray imaging system, using digital subtraction techniques, has been developed. The system requires: (1) high output generation equipment; (2) an image intensifier capable of receiving high output exposures, 1 mR (2.58 × 10−7 C/kg) at the face of the intensifier, without loss of either contrast or resolution; (3) a precision digital video camera; (4) processing computer with sufficient storage capacity; and (5) digital image storage. With this system it is possible to visualize the major arteries after intravenous contrast injection. The system, angiography technique, and early results are described.
Epitaxial Growth of CdTe on (100) GaAs/Si and (111) GaAs/Si Substrates Using Molecular Beam Epitaxy and Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

CdTe is a very important semiconductor with versatile applications extending from solar energy conversion to optoelectronics. In addition, both the close lattice match between CdTe and HgCdTe and the immunity of CdTe to autodoping of the HgCdTe make CdTe the substrate of choice for the growth of HgCdTe. However, CdTe is extremely difficult to grow and the nonavailability of good quality, large area, inexpensive, single crystal CdTe has slowed the development of HgCdTe detectors. Infrared device processing requires large areas of single crystal material and the problems associated with CdTe have called for alternative substrates for growing HgCdTe.
A half-century of prevention--the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

In 1964, after a vaccination program against polio, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis began, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices was created to advise the U.S. government on vaccination activities. The ACIP remains influential domestically and globally.
History of Disaster Medicine.

SUMMARY Erik Noji, mentioned, tongue in cheek, Noah as the first disaster manager during a lecture in 2005. The canonical description of “The Genesis Flood” does describe Noah as a master planner and executer of an evacuation of biblical proportions. After gaining knowledge of a potential catastrophic disaster he planned and executed an evacuation to mitigate the effects of the “Genesis Flood” by building the Ark and organizing a mass exodus. He had to plan for food, water, shelter, medical care, waste disposal and other needs of all the evacuees. Throughout history, management of large disasters was conducted by the military. Indeed, the military still plays a large role in disaster response in many countries, particularly if the response is overseas and prolonged. The histories of emergency preparedness, disaster management and disaster medicine have coevolved and are inextricably intertwined. While disaster management in one form or another existed as long as people started living together in communities, the development of disaster medicine took off with the emergence of modern medicine. Similar to disaster management, disaster medicine also has roots in military organizations.
Ion Activation Methods for Peptides and Proteins

Mass spectrometry is well-established as one of the primary methods used to characterize peptides and proteins. New advances in instrumentation and innovative analytical workflows have continued to expand the range of applications of mass spectrometry for proteomics. The ability to determine sequences, pinpoint modifications, and quantify vast numbers of peptides or proteins remains the key mission of mass spectrometry-based proteomics. There also remains great fundamental interest in understanding the intrinsic properties of peptides and proteins in the gas phase, such as mechanisms of charging, conformations, and reactivity. One of the cornerstones of the comprehensive analysis of peptides and proteins by mass spectrometry is the utilization of ion activation methods, primarily in the context of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), to cause informative dissociation of the ions of interest. An array of activation methods has been developed to energize ions and promote reproducible fragmentation in a way tha...
Synthesis and properties of peptide nucleic acid labeled at the N-terminus with HiLyte Fluor 488 fluorescent dye

Fluorescently labeled peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are important tools in fundamental research and biomedical applications. However, synthesis of labeled PNAs, especially using modern and expensive dyes, is less explored than similar preparations of oligonucleotide dye conjugates. Herein, we present a simple procedure for labeling of the PNA N-terminus with HiLyte Fluor 488 as the last step of solid phase PNA synthesis. A minimum excess of 1.25equiv of activated carboxylic acid achieved labeling yields close to 90% providing a good compromise between the price of dye and the yield of product and significant improvement over previous literature procedures. The HiLyte Fluor 488-labeled PNAs retained the RNA binding ability and in live cell fluorescence microscopy experiments were brighter and significantly more photostable than PNA labeled with carboxyfluorescein. In contrast to fluorescein-labeled PNA, the fluorescence of PNAs labeled with HiLyte Fluor 488 was independent of pH in the biologically relevant range of 5-8. The potential of HiLyte Fluor 488-labeling for studies of PNA cellular uptake and distribution was demonstrated in several cell lines.
Quality Measure for Screening for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea by Primary Care Physicians.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent condition which remains under-diagnosed and under-treated. Untreated OSA is associated with several chronic medical conditions, a reduction in qu...
Antithrombin activity during the period of percutaneous coronary revascularization: Relation to heparin use, thrombotic complications and restenosis

OBJECTIVES This study evaluated changes in antithrombin (AT) activity around the time of percutaneous transluminal coronary revascularization (PTCR) with unfractionated heparin anticoagulation and the effects these changes had on major thrombotic complications of PTCR. BACKGROUND Heparin is used during PTCR to prevent thrombosis. However, heparin, a cofactor for AT, causes AT activity to fall. AT activity 20 h after heparin discontinuation. Pre-PTCR use of heparin led to lower AT activity in proportion to duration of heparin use. There was no relationship between AT activity and restenosis. CONCLUSIONS Low AT activity may contribute to major thrombotic complications of PTCR. The way heparin is used before and after PTCR is important to development of low AT activity.
Cross-sectional analysis of intermittent versus chronic caloric restriction in the TRAMP mouse model of prostate cancer

B3 Caloric restriction has been shown to prevent the development of cancer in rodent models. With respect to prostate cancer Lobund-Wistar rats subjected to 30% chronic caloric restriction (CCR) developed prostate adenocarcinoma at lower rates (Cancer 64: 686-690, 1989) and had increased survival and lower rates of prostatitis compared to those fed ad libitum (AL) (J Gerontol 45: B52-58, 1990). When CCR and intermittent caloric restriction (ICR) were compared in two mouse transgenic mammary tumor models, tumor incidence was dramatically decreased in ICR mice compared to CCR or ad libitum (AL) fed mice (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 11: 836-843,2002; Nutr Cancer 44: 162-168, 2002). Recently we found that transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice undergoing ICR had extended tumor latency and survival times compared to AL or CCR mice (submitted manuscript). Here, we used TRAMP mice to provide a cross-sectional perspective of the protective mechanisms of ICR vs CCR during the development of prostate cancer. Male C57BL6 TRAMP mice were assigned to 1) AL (free access to AIN-93M diet), 2) ICR (2-wk of 50% caloric restriction using AIN-93M diet with 2x protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals followed by 2-wk of 100% AL consumption of AIN-93M for each corresponding 2-wk), or 3) CCR (fed a diet mixture to match calorie and nutritent intake for each four week ICR cycle which equaled ~75% of AL consumption) groups. Protocols were initiated at 7 wk of age and mice were sacrificed at predetermined ages of 16, 18, 28, 30, 40 and 42 weeks. The two-week separation between time points in a cycle distinguished mice euthanized at the end of a restriction period (ICR-Rest) and those euthanized at the end of a refeeding period (ICR-Refed) within the ICR cohort. As expected, body weights fluctuated in response to calorie intake and were significantly different among the dietary groups (P
The Multiple Myeloma Genomics Portal

Current integrative genomics projects are enabling new discoveries in cancer research through the ability to combine multiple modalities of data, e.g. gene expression, copy number, RNAi, exon resequencing, and epigenetics. However, the tools to access and analyze this data have traditionally been out of the reach of clinicians and research biologists, due to the widely distributed nature of the available data and the significant learning curve required to use the analytical tools. This problem is particularly relevant to the multiple myeloma research community because of the heterogeneity of genomic aberrations underlying this disease and lack of a central repository of multi-modal multiple myeloma data. To address these problems, the Broad Institute has created a pilot Multiple Myeloma Genomics Portal, http://www.broad.mit.edu/mmgp, which serves as an interface between biologists (and clinical investigators), analytical tools, and multiple myeloma datasets. The Portal provides access to a number of advanced gene expression, gene set enrichment, and copy number analyses and visualizations within an easy to use Web interface. These analyses can be performed on the datasets hosted on the Portal, which include previously published curated, high quality genomic multiple myeloma datasets as well as a new reference collection of multiple myeloma samples. The Portal is continuously updated with new datasets, data types, and analytical capabilities as they become available. The Portal’s accessibility allows it to serve as a significant venue for investigators from other fields, engaging a broader range of investigators in exploring these data, and its design is readily adaptable to integrative genomics studies of other cancer types.
“What Do People Do If They Don't Have Insurance?”: ED‐to‐ED Referrals

Objective Up to 20% of patients seen in public emergency departments (EDs) have already been seen for the same complaint at another ED, but little is known about the origin or impact of these duplicate ED visits. The goals of this investigation were to explore 1) whether patients making a repeat ED visit are self-referred or indirectly referred from the other ED and 2) gather the perspective of affected patients on the health, social, and financial consequences of these duplicate ED visits. Methods This mixed-methods study conducted over a 10-week period during 2016 in a large public hospital ED in Texas prospectively surveyed patients seen in another ED for the same chief complaint. Selected patients presenting with fractures were then enrolled for semistructured qualitative interviews, which were audiotaped, transcribed, and independently coded by two team members until thematic saturation was reached. Results A total of 143 patients were identified as being recently seen at another local ED for the same chief complaint prior to presenting to the public hospital; 94% were uninsured and 61% presented with fractures. A total of 27% required admission at the public ED and 95% of those discharged required further outpatient follow-up. Fifty-one percent of patients completed a survey and qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 fracture patients. Fifty-three percent of patients reported that staff at the first hospital told them to go the public hospital ED, and 23% reported referral from a follow-up physician associated with the first hospital. Seventy-three percent reported receiving the same tests at both EDs. Interview themes identified multiple health care visits for the same injury, concern about complications, disrespectful treatment at the first ED, delayed care, problems accessing needed follow-up care without insurance, loss of work, and financial strain. Conclusions The majority of patients presenting to a public hospital ED after treatment for the same complaint in another local ED were indirectly referred to the public ED without transferring paperwork or records, incurring duplicate testing and patient anxiety.
Inactivation of pure bacterial biofilms by impaction of aerosolized consumer products containing nanoparticulate metals

The ability of nanotechnology-enabled consumer sprays to inactivate bacteria has direct health implications. This research investigated the ability of six nanosilver-based consumer sprays to inactivate bacteria. We determined the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the products by an agar dilution method, collected particles released from sprays onto bacterial films using impactors, and determined metal concentrations in the products using ICPMS. Also, the size of silver nanoparticles in the products' suspensions was determined using single particle (sp)ICPMS. Two of the six nanoproducts inhibited growth of Escherichia coli and Bacillus atrophaeus bacteria (MICs of 40 000 and 160 000 ppm). Collection of particles aerosolized from these two products onto films of the same bacteria inhibited bacterial growth; however, the mass concentration deposited onto bacterial films was lower than the MICs. Furthermore, these two nanoproducts had the lowest silver concentrations compared to the other four nanosilver products. Yet, they had the smallest nanosilver particles: mean size of ∼20 to 30 nm vs. ∼45 nm for the other products. Their suspensions were more acidic (pH ∼3–5) and had higher concentrations of zinc and magnesium compared to other products. This research illustrates that some consumer nanoproducts have antibacterial potential and may affect our microbiota. Yet, the inactivation potential cannot solely be presumed based on the nanosilver presence and concentration in the product; the final nanoproduct's form, including its matrix, must be considered. As nanomaterials are increasingly incorporated into consumer goods, this research highlights the need to investigate final-form consumer nanoproducts and their potential to affect our microbial environment.
Am I Expected to Be Ethical? A Role-Definition Perspective of Ethical Leadership and Unethical Behavior:

Prior studies have demonstrated that leaders’ ethical behaviors have an impact on followers’ unethical behaviors, and yet the explanatory mechanisms in this relationship have not been fully explored. To further explicate the relationship between ethical leadership and unethical employee behavior, we adopted a role-based perspective and introduced the concept of role ethicality. That is, we explored the impact that leaders’ actions and voice behaviors, particularly regarding ethical issues, have on perceptions of ethical role requirements and in turn the effect such perceptions have on unethical behavior. In a field study involving 394 employees and 68 supervisors and a randomized experiment conducted with 121 working professionals, we find that as predicted, leaders’ behaviors and ethical voice have a significant influence on role ethicality, which in turn impacts unethical behavior. Based on our empirical findings, we describe the implications, limitations, and future directions relevant to this study.
Algebraic Ideas in Fundamental Physics from Dirac-Algebra to Superstrings

It is suggested that algebraic methods are especially appropriate for the introduction of new physical concepts in physical theories. Examples are given to illustrate this procedure. It has been previously been used to introduce para statistics and supersymmetry. It is proposed here that a deep connection exists between Kac-Moody algebra’s, Clifford algebras strings, and integrable systems.
Censuses: Demographic Issues

This article describes the essential features and general content of a census of population—a complete counting of the number of persons in a country (or region) at a given point in time—within the framework of a complete demographic data system including vital events of registration and general demographic, social, and economic sample surveys. Key demographic issues surrounding the collection and use of census data include defining and measuring both the completeness of census coverage and the accuracy of the data collected with demographic and statistical techniques. Examples drawn from the United States illustrate basic demographic tools for census evaluation. Because of the primacy of age as a demographic variable and the further importance of sex and race/ethnicity, a variety of specialized techniques have been developed for assessing the accuracy of these factors. The article describes the principal types of errors encountered in age data and discusses demographic techniques for assessing the quality of data on age, sex, and race/ethnicity.
Enhancing a Culture of Preparedness for the Next Cascadia Subduction Zone Tsunami

Experts are predicting a major rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) sometime within the twenty-first century. When that happens, it will cause an offshore earthquake at a magnitude of 9.0+. After the tremors subside (about 5 min), a powerful tsunami will strike land. Oregon is known for its strong sense of community and grassroots-style initiatives. When the CSZ events occur, it will take that culture of resilience to cope with the disaster. When it comes to tsunamis, minutes matter. This chapter presents work by the coauthors related to tsunami evacuation and Oregon preparedness. An important dimension to mitigating the impact of coastal hazards is local ecological knowledge of land and seascapes. We describe the utility of agent-based modeling to assess likely tsunami scenarios and, through the participation of local community volunteers and coproduction of local ecological knowledge, use the information to inform community members and emergency planners on how to improve readiness strategies. The results of this research advance a culture of individual and community-level preparedness, thereby enhancing overall local community resilience.
Glycemic control outcomes of adults using the MiniMed™ 670G hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system: A single-center study

Abstract Purpose MiniMed™ 670G hybrid closed-loop (HCL) insulin pump system offers Auto Mode basal insulin delivery based on patient’s sensor glucose readings. The primary outcome of this study is to determine the correlation between Time in Auto Mode and Sensor Glucose Time in Range (SG-TIR) of 70–180 g/dL. Other secondary outcomes focusing on pump behavior characteristics were also assessed. Methods A retrospective cohort study via chart review was conducted. Adult patients with either type 1 diabetes mellitus or Latent onset Diabetes in Adults (LADA) at an academic medical center endocrinology clinic who were switched to the MiniMed™ 670G HCL System either from multi-dose daily insulin injections (MDII) or another insulin pump with or without a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) were included. Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r) was used to assess the correlation between variables in question within 9 months of switching. The level of statistical significance was set at α Results 12 patients with average baseline HbA1c of 8.2% (66 mmol/mol) were included. Time in Auto Mode correlated non-significantly but positively with SG-TIR (r = 0.478, p = 0.116). Positive correlations at various degrees were observed for secondary outcomes in question with a statistically significant reduction in HbA1c from baseline (−0.61%, CI 0.25–0.97) (−17 mmol/mol, CI 0.25–0.97) (p = 0.003). Conclusion The MiniMed™ 670G HCL system Auto Mode functionality is beneficial for glycemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus or LADA. The overall benefit may vary based on baseline characteristics such as HbA1c.
How We See Art and How Artists Make It

This article provides an overview of an article entitled How humans consciously see paintings and paintings illuminate how humans see that I published in 2017 in the journal ART & Perception with my graduate student Lauren Zajac and then gave a lecture about at the 2017 conference about Your Brain on Art in Valencia, Spain. This chapter illustrates how the paintings of visual artists activate multiple brain processes that contribute to the conscious perception of their paintings. Different artists and artistic movements may focus on different combinations of brain processes to achieve their aesthetic goals. These distinct emphases allow viewers to identify the artist or artistic movement with considerable accuracy. The article summarizes how neural models of how advanced brains consciously see have characterized these processes, and uses the models to explain why paintings of Jo Baer, Banksky, Ross Bleckner, Gene Davis, Charles Hawthorne, Henry Hensche, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Jules Olitski, and Frank Stella look the way that they do. Paintings by Rembrandt, Graham Rust, Georges Seurat, and Sean Williams are also mentioned along the way. These paintings illustrate brain processes that range from discounting the illuminant and lightness anchoring, to boundary and texture grouping and classification, through filling-in of surface brightness and color, to spatial attention, conscious seeing, and eye movement control. The current article provides a commentary for a refinement of my previous lecture, with the simpler title How we see art and how artists make it, as a way to vividly summarize highlights of my archival article with Lauren.
Case-control comparison of "in-the-groove" and lateral-row arthroscopic biceps tenodesis with concomitant rotator cuff repair.

Background Lateral-row (LR) arthroscopic biceps tenodesis (BT) has been described as a technique using an LR rotator cuff repair (RCR) anchor for biceps fixation. This technique has not been compared with other BT techniques. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a suprapectoral "in-the-groove" arthroscopic BT and patients treated with an LR tenodesis performed in conjunction with arthroscopic RCR. Methods Patients undergoing arthroscopic BT in the setting of an arthroscopic RCR were evaluated preoperatively and at a minimum of 12 months' follow-up. Patients who underwent an in-the-groove BT were matched 1:1 to patients who underwent an LR BT based on age at surgery and size of the rotator cuff tear using the Patte classification. Comparisons made included age, sex, body mass index, patient-reported outcome measures, range of motion, and patient satisfaction. Results There were 82 patients (41 in each group) who met the inclusion criteria, with an average follow-up period of 33 months and average age of 61 years. By use of the Patte classification, there were 20 matched pairs with stage 1 tears, 11 matched pairs with stage 2 tears, and 10 matched pairs with stage 3 tears. Comparisons of the 2 cohorts revealed no differences in preoperative or postoperative motion, patient-reported outcome measures, or patient satisfaction. Furthermore, no differences were found in overall improvements in motion or outcome measures, as well as overall satisfaction. Conclusions Patients undergoing simultaneous RCR and BT demonstrate similar patient-reported and objective outcomes for both LR tenodesis and in-the-groove tenodesis techniques.
Dextran sulfate sodium mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease evaluated for systemic genotoxicity via blood micronucleus and Pig-a gene mutation assays

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an important risk factor for gastrointestinal cancers. Inflammation and other carcinogenesis-related effects at distal, tissue-specific sites require further study. In order to better understand if systemic genotoxicity is associated with IBD, we exposed mice to dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) and measured the incidence of micronucleated cells (MN) and Pig-a mutant phenotype cells in blood erythrocyte populations. In one study, 8-week-old male CD-1 mice were exposed to 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4% w/v DSS in drinking water. The 4-week in-life period was divided into four 1-week intervals-alternately on then off DSS treatment. Low volume blood samples were collected for MN analysis at the end of each week, and cardiac blood samples were collected at the end of the 4-week period for Pig-a analyses. The two highest doses of DSS were observed to induce significant increases in reticulocyte frequencies. Even so, no statistically significant treatment-related effects on the genotoxicity biomarkers were evident. While one high-dose mouse showed modestly elevated MN frequencies during the DSS treatment cycles, it also exhibited exceptionally high reticulocyte frequencies (e.g. 18.7% at the end of the second DSS cycle). In a second study, mice were treated with 0 or 4% DSS for 9-18 consecutive days. Exposure was continued until rectal bleeding or morbidity was evident, at which point the treatment was terminated and blood was collected for MN analysis. The Pig-a assay was conducted on samples collected 29 days after the start of treatment. The initial blood specimens showed highly elevated reticulocyte frequencies in DSS-exposed mice (mean ± SEM = 1.75 ± 0.10% vs. 13.04 ± 3.66% for 0 vs. 4% mice, respectively). Statistical analyses showed no treatment-related effect on MN or Pig-a mutant frequencies. Even so, the incidence of MN versus reticulocytes in the DSS-exposed mice were positively correlated (linear fit R2 = 0.657, P = 0.0044). Collectively, these results suggest that in the case of the DSS CD-1 mouse model, systemic effects include stress erythropoiesis but not remarkable genotoxicity. To the extent MN may have been slightly elevated in a minority of individual mice, these effects appear to be secondary, likely attributable to stimulated erythropoiesis.
Does green transportation promote accessibility for equity in medium-size U.S. cites?

Abstract The link between accessibility and social equity attracts much attention for promoting sustainability. However, there is no comprehensive approach to elevate the role of accessibility in evaluating transportation system over social equity by considering the variety of urban opportunities and population groups from green transportation perspective. Our goal is to develop such a framework to evaluate transportation equity by focusing on accessibility via transit and cycling. Applying the framework to Fresno, California, and Cincinnati, Ohio with different development patterns, we delineate service areas at block-group level with five time-thresholds. The service area is used to count the number of urban opportunities: jobs, dining, churches, libraries, parks, multi-use paths, schools. We then use statistical comparison and geographical mapping to identify accessibility gap to these opportunities between advantaged and disadvantaged groups defined by income, property value, education, vehicle ownership, race, and age. The results indicate the extent of differences in accessibility is sensitive to threshold specification of grouping population. The findings suggest that the efficiency of transit service needs to be improved to reach the same level of cycling, while they do help with the accessibility for economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Considering school enrollment, the accessibility to opportunities in Fresno performs differently while students in Cincinnati benefit from good accessibility to most resources. The results of accessibility to multi-use paths highlight the need of providing more efficient green transportation facilities for less wealthy neighborhoods. Variation in accessibility between groups underscores the importance of developing policies to meet the needs of diverse social groups.
Temporal Trends and Familial Clustering of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in Parents and Offspring Over the Life Course: An Investigation Using The Framingham Heart Study.

Background Evidence suggests familial aggregation and intergenerational associations for individual cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics. Over a 53‐year life course, we examined trends and associati...
Fracture toughness evaluation for Zr-4 clad tubing structure with pellet inserts

Abstract Applying fracture mechanics approach to spent nuclear fuel (SNF) system reliability investigation is warranted due to the inherent flaws and hydride structures existed in a SNF system after nuclear reactor operation. However, none of the existing fracture toughness data deal with fuel cladding specific geometry or spent fuel material conditions, such as cladding structure with the pellet-inserts and the associated pellet clad mechanical interactions induced mixed-mode damage mechanisms. Thus, the development of an intrinsic fracture mechanics approach that is suitable for SNF materials is needed. Due to thin wall and small dimension of clad tubing structure, the spiral notch torsion test (SNTT) method of small specimen approach was used to estimate the clad tubing structure fracture toughness. The estimated fracture toughness for Zr-4 cladding with alumina-pellet inserts are presented in this report. For SNTT samples with a short or medium crack length, between 5.4-mm and 8-mm, the estimate JIQ upon fracture initiation for the baseline Zr-4 cladding is at 50 kJ/m2 with 2-sigma uncertainty of 3.26 kJ/m2, and the associated KIQ is at 67.46 MPa√m. For SNTT samples with a long crack length, around 13-mm, the crack initialization is deviated from that of the Mode-I tensile fracture and appears to be a mixed-mode fracture of Mode I – tensile stress and Mode III – out of plane shear stress; the estimated JMQ is at 18.9 kJ/m2, the associated KMQ is at 41.4 MPa√m.
Expanding the Contours of Forensic Consulting

Forensic psychiatry as a subspecialty discipline is presently experiencing a broad and essentially constructive conversation concerning its foundations and their implications for teaching and practice. The essay by Griffith and Greenidge proposes developing the art of consultation to include bringing out the contextual realities often invisible at first to the quarreling parties. Often enough they can thus be spared embarrassment as they come to recognize that their shared values matter more than any differences. This outcome may prove especially broadly true in the religious arena.
Temperature dependence of London penetration depth anisotropy in superconductors with anisotropic order parameters

We study the effects of anisotropic order parameters on the temperature dependence of London penetration depth anisotropy ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}(T)$. After ${\mathrm{MgB}}_{2}$, this dependence is commonly attributed to distinct gaps on multiband Fermi surfaces in superconductors. We have found, however, that the anisotropy parameter may depend on temperature also in one-band materials with anisotropic order parameters $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(T,{\mathbit{k}}_{F})$; a few such examples are given. We have also found that for different order parameters, the temperature dependence of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(T)/\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(0)$ can be represented with good accuracy by the interpolation suggested by Einzel [J. Low Temp. Phys 131, 1 (2003)], which simplifies considerably the evaluation of ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}(T)$. Of particular interest are mixed order parameters of two symmetries for which ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}(T)$ may go through a maximum for a certain relative weight of two phases. Also, for this case we find that the ratio ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}}_{max}(0)/{T}_{c}$ may exceed substantially the weak-coupling limit of 1.76. It, however, does not imply strong coupling; rather, it is due to significantly anisotropic angular variation of $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$.