cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aortoiliac morphologic correlations in aneurysms undergoing endovascular repair

Abstract Purpose The feasibility of endovascular aneurysm repair depends on morphologic characteristics of the aortoiliac segment. Knowledge of such characteristics is relevant to safe deployment of a particular device in a single patient and to development of new devices for use in patients with a broader spectrum of anatomic variations. Methods We evaluated findings on computed tomography scans for 277 patients being considered for endovascular aneurysm repair. Aortic neck length and angulation estimates were generated with three-dimensional trigonometry. Specific centerline points were recorded, corresponding to the aorta at the celiac axis, lowest renal artery, cranial aspect of the aneurysm sac, aortic terminus, right hypogastric artery origin, and left hypogastric origin. Aortic neck thrombus and calcium content were recorded, and neck conicity was calculated in degrees. Statistical analysis was performed with the Spearman rank correlation. Data are expressed as median and interquartile range. Results Median diameter of the aneurysms was 52 mm (interquartile range, 48-59 mm) in minor axis and 56 mm (interquartile range, 51-64 mm) in major axis, and median length was 88 mm (interquartile range, 74-103 mm). Median proximal aortic neck diameter was 26 mm (interquartile range, 22-29 mm), and median neck length was 30 mm (interquartile range, 18-45 mm). The common iliac arteries were similar in diameter (right artery, 16 mm [interquartile range, 13-20 mm]; left artery, 15 mm [interquartile range, 11-18 mm]) and length (right, 59 mm [interquartile range, 50-69 mm]; left, 60 mm [interquartile range, 49-70 mm]). Median angulation of the infrarenal aortic neck was 40 degrees (interquartile range, 29-51 degrees), and median angulation of the suprarenal segment was 45 degrees (interquartile range, 36-57 degrees). By gender, sac diameter, proximal neck diameter, and iliac artery diameter were significantly larger in men. Significant linear associations were identified between sac diameter and sac length, neck angulation, and iliac artery diameter. As the length of the aneurysm sac increased the proximal aortic neck length decreased. Conversely, as the sac length decreased sac eccentricity increased. Mural thrombus content within the neck increased with increasing neck diameter. Conclusions There is considerable variability in aortoiliac morphologic parameters. Significant associations were found between various morphologic variables, links that are presumably related to a shared pathogenesis for aberration in aortoiliac diameter, length, and angulation. Ultimately this information can be used to develop new endovascular devices with broader applicability and improved long-term results.
Programming with generators

Dans cet article le mecanisme d'evaluation d'expressions langage de programmation Icon est etudie
Irregular astigmatism of the eye: effect of correcting lenses

Experiments to test the grating acuity of the eye in different meridians reveal the prevalence of irregular refraction, or astigmatism as it is usually called. Comparisons are made between the ordinary subjective findings and tests made on gratings. The effects of changes of lens power on the acuity in different meridians of the eye are considered. A redistribution of the acuity over the several meridians during accommodation is indicated.
Maternal Education and Measures of Early Speech and Language

The present study was designed to determine whether 4 measures of children’s spontaneous speech and language differed according to the educational level of the children’s mothers. Spontaneous langu...
OspA antibodies inhibit the acquisition of Borrelia burgdorferi by Ixodes ticks

Ixodes ticks are infected by Borrelia burgdorferi when larvae feed on spirochete-infected mice. We studied the acquisition of B. burgdorferi by larval ticks, characterized the production of outer surface protein A (OspA) by spirochetes entering larvae, and examined the effects of OspA antibodies on the establishment of B. burgdorferi infections in ticks. Most larvae were infected by spirochetes 24 to 48 h after placement on mice. OspA antibodies stained the first spirochetes observed in larvae, suggesting that OspA is synthesized early during the colonization of the vector. When OspA antibodies were administered to B. burgdorferi-infected mice and larvae were then placed on the animals, the severity of larval infection and the number of infected ticks (7 of 16) were decreased compared with that of controls (15 of 16). The inhibitory effects of OspA antibodies were observed with passive antibody transfer as well as active host-generated immunity. The lower larval infection rate observed in the presence of OspA antibodies was exacerbated after the larval molt since only 1 of 12 nymphs was infected, and none of the mice that were fed upon by these nymphs became infected with B. burgdorferi. Therefore, an OspA antibody response in mice altered the reservoir competence of the vertebrate host by inhibiting the movement of B. burgdorferi from the host to the vector.
Uncertainty Quantification of Mean-Areal Radar-Rainfall Estimates

Abstract The most common rainfall measuring sensor for validation of radar-rainfall products is the rain gauge. However, the difference between area-rainfall and rain gauge point-rainfall estimates imposes additional noise in the radar–rain gauge difference statistics, which should not be interpreted as radar error. A methodology is proposed to quantify the radar-rainfall error variance by separating the variance of the rain gauge area-point rainfall difference from the variance of radar–rain gauge ratio. The error in this research is defined as the ratio of the “true” rainfall to the estimated mean-areal rainfall by radar and rain gauge. Both radar and rain gauge multiplicative errors are assumed to be stochastic variables, lognormally distributed, with zero covariance. The rain gauge area-point difference variance is quantified based on the areal-rainfall variance reduction factor evaluated in the logarithmic domain. The statistical method described here has two distinct characteristics: first, it propo...
Controlled-potential electrolytic study of the formation of intermetallic compounds in nickel-zinc and gold-zinc amalgams

Summary Amalgams containing zinc together with either nickel or gold were studied using controlled-potential coulometry and stirred-pool-electrode chronoamperometry. The addition of either nickel or gold caused substantial changes in the rate of oxidation of zinc. These changes are ascribed to the formation of intermetallic compounds between zinc and the other metal. Evidence is presented to show that nickel and zinc form two compounds: NiZn, which is insoluble and has Ksp=[Ni][Zn]=(1.0±0.3)×10−8 mol2 1−2, and NiZn3, which is soluble and has Kd=[Ni][Zn]3/[NiZn3]=(6.0±0.7)×10−10 mol3 1−3. Gold and zinc are shown to form one compound, AuZn, which is insoluble and has Ksp=[Au][Zn]=(7.1±0.6)×10−10 mol2 1−2.
Modulation of Hormone-sensitive Lipase and Protein Kinase A-mediated Lipolysis by Perilipin A in an Adenoviral Reconstituted System

Perilipin (Peri) A is a phosphoprotein located at the surface of intracellular lipid droplets in adipocytes. Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) results in the phosphorylation of Peri A and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), the predominant lipase in adipocytes, with concurrent stimulation of adipocyte lipolysis. To investigate the relative contributions of Peri A and HSL in basal and PKA-mediated lipolysis, we utilized NIH 3T3 fibroblasts lacking Peri A and HSL but stably overexpressing acyl-CoA synthetase 1 (ACS1) and fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1). When incubated with exogenous fatty acids, ACS1/FATP1 cells accumulated 5 times more triacylglycerol (TG) as compared with NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. Adenoviral-mediated expression of Peri A in ACS1/FATP1 cells enhanced TG accumulation and inhibited lipolysis, whereas expression of HSL fused to green fluorescent protein (GFPHSL) reduced TG accumulation and enhanced lipolysis. Forskolin treatment induced Peri A hyperphosphorylation and abrogated the inhibitory effect of Peri A on lipolysis. Expression of a mutated Peri AΔ3 (Ser to Ala substitutions at PKA consensus sites Ser-81, Ser-222, and Ser-276) reduced Peri A hyperphosphorylation and blocked constitutive and forskolin-stimulated lipolysis. Thus, perilipin expression and phosphorylation state are critical regulators of lipid storage and hydrolysis in ACS1/FATP1 cells.
Practices to Reduce Failures: Undermining and Underpinning — Suggestions for Minimizing Damage to Adjacent Buildings during Construction

• Recommend that test pits be made to determine the character, depth, and condition of the adjacent foundations. • Request access into the adjacent buildings for the purpose of determining the type of construction, general condition, and depth of the basement and cellars. • Attempt to obtain drawings for the adjacent structures. • Recommend that a preconstruction visual survey of the adjacent properties be performed for the purpose of documenting the condition of the properties. Consider providing a copy to the owners of the adjacent properties. • If underpinning will be needed, identify problematic conditions such as fragile foundations and difficult soils.
Feeding damage by Diuraphis noxia results in a nutritionally enhanced phloem diet

The feeding behavior of Diuraphis noxia Mordvilko (Homoptera: Aphididae) on susceptible hosts causes both ultrastructural and tissue level damage which may affect phloem composition. Genetic evidence suggests that endosymbiotic bacteria in most aphids overproduce limiting amino acids to benefit hosts but that D. noxia depends less on endosymbionts for these nutrients, possibly due to an enriched diet. To determine whether D. noxia feeding damage results in higher concentrations of essential amino acids, stylet exudates were analyzed from wheat (Triticum aestivum) damaged to different degrees. Comparison of samples from undamaged and damaged susceptible wheat revealed changes in amino acid composition and an increase in levels of essential amino acids, indicating a nutritionally enhanced ingesta. The changes in stylet exudates paralleled changes in leaf exudates, indicating that the effects are systemic. Feeding damage is not observed on a resistant wheat host, var. Halt, and leaf exudates from infested Halt did not show changes in amino acid composition. Mean relative growth of nymphs was significantly lower on Halt than on susceptible Arapahoe, indicating that Halt is a less suitable host. Both varieties show similar amino acid levels in non-infested samples, suggesting that D. noxia infestation does not enhance the phloem environment in Halt. This study provides evidence that aphid feeding can generate a nutritionally enhanced phloem diet.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of adjunctive quetiapine SR in the treatment of PMS/PMDD

Objective Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), afflicts 5–8% of reproductive age women and results in significant functional impairment. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive quetiapine in patients with PMS/PMDD who had inadequate response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor/serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor therapy for their symptoms. Methods A PMS/PMDD diagnosis was confirmed by 2-month prospective diagnostic assessment of PMS/PMDD using the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Premenstrual Symptoms (PRISM) calendar. Women were randomized equally to receive quetiapine sustained-release (SR) or placebo (25-mg starting dose) during the luteal phase for 3 months. Outcome variables included the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales, Clinical Global Impression Scale, and PRISM. Results Twenty women were enrolled in the treatment phase. Although the study was underpowered, greater reductions in luteal phase mood ratings were observed in the quetiapine group on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Clinical Global Impression improvement rating, and PRISM daily score. The quetiapine group showed most improvement in symptoms of mood lability, anxiety, and irritability. Conclusion This small double-blind study suggests that adjunctive treatment with quetiapine SR may be a useful addition to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy in women with PMS/PMDD by reducing symptoms and improving quality of life. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Systematic Review of Narrative-Based Language Intervention With Children Who Have Language Impairment:

This systematic review focuses on research articles published since 1980 that assess outcomes of narrative-based language intervention for preschool and school-age children with language impairment. The author conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases and hand searches of other sources for studies using all research designs except nonexperimental case studies. The results of the studies were converted to a common metric using effect sizes. The review yielded nine studies that met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported moderate to large effect sizes for narrative macrostructure and microstructure. Although the results of the studies were generally positive, each of the studies had a limited number of participants, limited experimental control, and considerable variation in the procedures and materials used. Clinicians should be cautious when interpreting the results of these studies. Narrative intervention is at an emerging stage of evidence and needs further investigation.
Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 is upregulated in sera and tumors of ovarian cancer patients

Background New biomarkers that replace or are used in conjunction with the current ovarian cancer diagnostic antigen, CA125, are needed for detection of ovarian cancer in the presurgical setting, as well as for detection of disease recurrence. We previously demonstrated the upregulation of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 (LRG1) in the sera of ovarian cancer patients compared to healthy women using quantitative mass spectrometry.
Antibiased Electrostatic RF MEMS Varactors and Tunable Filters

This paper presents a new approach for substantially enhancing the linearity and reducing the effects of bias noise for electrostatic RF microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. The proposed method relies on applying bias voltages with opposite polarities to cancel the dynamic vibration of the MEMS structures. In this paper, the method has been applied to a shunt RF MEMS varactor and a MEMS tunable evanescent-mode tunable filter. In the first case, the shunt MEMS varactor is split into two identical parts that are biased with opposite voltages. This results in almost complete cancelation of the odd-order modulation components, leading to 20-28-dB linearity enhancement depending on the noise and the design. Analytical results, a computer-aided design model and measurements validate the proposed approach. In the tunable filter case, opposite bias voltages are applied on the tuners of its resonators. Simulated and measured results are also presented in this case. Measurements show a sideband reduction as high as 13 dB. In both cases, the effectiveness of the proposed method in the presence of fabrication uncertainties are also considered.
Polarizing pathways: balancing endothelial polarity, permeability, and lumen formation

The mechanisms underlying cell polarity and lumen formation are well described within epithelial structures of mammalian systems, and invertebrate model organisms. Only recently has the molecular control of endothelial polarity and vessel lumen formation undergone similar investigation. The endothelial layer requires similar organization including a requisite apical-basolateral polarity corresponding to luminal and abluminal membranes. In addition, the endothelium also exhibits features of planar cell polarity traditionally described in drosophila eye and wing discs (1), where in response to flow endothelial cells orient in a planar fashion. Coincident with providing a barrier to flow, the endothelial layer also functions to regulate permeability. Key molecules known to regulate endothelial permeability have been shown to control polarity, suggesting the processes may be linked. The integrity of the polarized endothelial layer becomes paramount when initiating new vascular growth. New vascular sprouts require breaking the existing symmetry within a vascular tube, and the adoption of a migratory phenotype typified by the front-rear polarity previously described in leukocytes (2). We will review the various types of polarity as they apply to endothelial cells. In addition, we will touch upon vascular lumen formation and how polarity plays an integral role in the process.
Detailed gravity‐tide spectrum between one and four cycles per day

Summary. The results of previous work by the authors is used to remove most of the effects of ocean and atmospheric loading from an 18-month Earth gravity-tide record. The remaining signal is examined for additional influence of ocean and atmosphere and for evidence of the frequency-dependence of the response of the solid earth. Variations in time of the measured tides are shown to result from the atmospheric tide at S2 and appear to result from variations in ocean tides at other frequencies. The frequency-dependence of the solid earth response near 1 cycle per siderial day is found to be consistent with the nearly diurnal free wobble. However, the influence of the ocean on the small but crucial Ψ1 tide is uncertain. Anomalous responses are observed at several other frequencies but except for the case of ρ1 it is argued that anomalous ocean tides are plausible and could therefore explain the observations.
Jigsaw: scalable software-defined caches

Shared last-level caches, widely used in chip-multiprocessors (CMPs), face two fundamental limitations. First, the latency and energy of shared caches degrade as the system scales up. Second, when multiple workloads share the CMP, they suffer from interference in shared cache accesses. Unfortunately, prior research addressing one issue either ignores or worsens the other: NUCA techniques reduce access latency but are prone to hotspots and interference, and cache partitioning techniques only provide isolation but do not reduce access latency. We present Jigsaw, a technique that jointly addresses the scalability and interference problems of shared caches. Hardware lets software define shares, collections of cache bank partitions that act as virtual caches, and map data to shares. Shares give software full control over both data placement and capacity allocation. Jigsaw implements efficient hardware support for share management, monitoring, and adaptation. We propose novel resource-management algorithms and use them to develop a system-level runtime that leverages Jigsaw to both maximize cache utilization and place data close to where it is used.We evaluate Jigsaw using extensive simulations of 16- and 64-core tiled CMPs. Jigsaw improves performance by up to 2.2x (18% avg) over a conventional shared cache, and significantly outperforms state-of-the-art NUCA and partitioning techniques.
When policies can be trusted: analyzing a criteria to identify optimal policies in MDPs with unknown model parameters

Computing a good policy in stochastic uncertain environments with unknown dynamics and reward model parameters is a challenging task. In a number of domains, ranging from space robotics to epilepsy management, it may be possible to have an initial training period when suboptimal performance is permitted. For such problems it is important to be able to identify when this training period is complete, and the computed policy can be used with high confidence in its future performance. A simple principled criteria for identifying when training has completed is when the error bounds on the value estimates of the current policy are sufficiently small that the optimal policy is fixed, with high probability. We present an upper bound on the amount of training data required to identify the optimal policy as a function of the unknown separation gap between the optimal and the next-best policy values. We illustrate with several small problems that by estimating this gap in an online manner, the number of training samples to provably reach optimality can be significantly lower than predicted offline using a Probably Approximately Correct framework that requires an input e parameter.
Participatory Research and Grassroots Development: A Case Study from Harlem

This artical documents an anthropologist's experiences in an applied research and development project with elderly minorities in the inner city. How, and to what extent, is collaboration between the anthropologist, professional colleagues, funding agencies, informants, and community groups conducive to grassroots development within the context of the political economy in which the program is being developed? Focusing on the natural history of the project, this study illustrates some of the complexities involved. The implications for participatory research, planned social change, and styles of community development emerge from an understanding of the project as a social process, [participatory research, grassroots development, planned social change]
College Aspirations among Low-Income African American High School Students: Gendered Strategies for Success.

This study examines the gender-specific strategies that 30 African American high school youths developed to remain academically successful and traces their success to participation in an educational reform program, the culture of their families, and the culture of the low-income communities in which they lived. One learns the benefit of examining the interrelatedness of ethnicity, class, and gender when attempting to understand the ways in which academic success is constructed.
Lifetime Fitness in Two Generations of Ipomopsis Hybrids

Various models purporting to explain natural hybrid zones make different assumptions about the fitness of hybrids. One class of models assumes that hybrids have intrinsically low fitness due to genetic incompatibilities, whereas other models allow hybrid fitness to vary across natural environments. We used the intrinsic rate of increase to assess lifetime fitness of hybrids between two species of montane plants Ipomopsis aggregata and Ipomopsis tenuituba planted as seed into multiple field environments. Because fitness is predicted to depend upon genetic composition of the hybrids, we included F1 hybrids, F2 hybrids, and backcrosses in our field tests. The F2 hybrids had female fitness as high, or higher, than expected under an additive model of fitness. These results run counter to any model of hybrid zone dynamics that relies solely on intrinsic nuclear genetic incompatibilities. Instead, we found that selection was environmentally dependent. In this hybrid zone, cytoplasmic effects and genotype-by-environment interactions appear more important in lowering hybrid fitness than do intrinsic genomic incompatibilities between nuclear genes.
Ideas, interest and institutions in policy change: Transformation of India's agricultural strategy in the mid-1960s

Over the last ten years, policy change in the third world has become a matter of considerable intellectual and practical importance. For the theoretically inclined, how one explains changes in the behavior of the state is the main issue. Both Marxian and liberal orthodoxies had a tendency to ‘read off’ state behavior from the power relationships at the level of the society, though differing in the way they conceptualized power. The return of institutional and state-centric explanations over the last decade has attempted to reverse this bias by looking more closely at the power struggles within the state institutions. For the practically inclined, the powerful intellectual rationale behind so many policy recommendations has often been puzzlingly lost in the maze of politics. What ‘interests’ impede the implementation of good ‘ideas,’ what ‘institutions’ block ‘getting policies right’ - these are some of the key questions on the agenda of international development institutions. Responding to these varied concerns, this paper analyzes a particularly successful case of policy change. While most of third world was still experimenting with land reforms and cooperatives as the ways to develop agriculture, India in the mid-1960s switched to producer price incentives and investments in new technology, a change that is widely believed to have turned India from a food-deficit to a food-surplus country. The focus is on how ideas, interests and institutions interacted to produce the change.
Noradrenergic control of central oxytocin release during lactation in rats

Noradrenergic systems regulate the systemic release of oxytocin (OT) in lactating rats. However, a role for norepinephrine (NE) in release of OT within the magnocellular nuclei during suckling has ...
The Foundations of Modern Science in the Middle Ages: THE MEDIEVAL UNIVERSITY

A description of the structure and operation of the medieval universities is essential because of the importance of these institutions for the development of Western science. The universities had emerged as a result of the transformation of society and intellectual life that had occurred in Western Europe by the twelfth century. The highly feudalized Europe of the seventh and eighth centuries was drastically altered by the eleventh century. During the late eleventh and twelfth centuries, political conditions improved dramatically, due in no small measure to French-speaking feudal lords who brought reasonably stable governments to Normandy, England, Italy, Sicily, Spain, and Portugal. The vigor of a revitalized Europe is also evidenced by the reconquest of Spain, which was well underway by the end of the eleventh century. With the establishment of greater security, Europe's economy revived, and the standard of living rose for all segments of society. This was occasioned by significant agricultural improvements, most notably the advent of the heavy plough, to which the horse was now harnessed instead of the ox. This substitution was made possible by the introduction of the nailed horseshoe and the collar harness, which together made horses far more effective agricultural engines than oxen. No less significant was the replacement of the two-field system of crop rotation with the three-field system, which also allowed for a major increase in food production.
Usability problems in patient- and clinician-oriented health information systems: what are they and how do they differ?

This study aimed to identify the usability problems in the eVisits based on the interaction experience of the three target user groups and compare their preferences for usability features. We used think aloud usability sessions with 5 patients, 5 nurses and 5 physicians in a laboratory setting to examine users' interaction with the eVisits. Nielsen's usability heuristic principles were applied to analyze the recorded usability sessions in Morae. Usability feature preferences among three groups were overlapped in the four heuristics. However, each user group had their own perceptions of these criteria specific to their unique needs. Clinicians tended to emphasize the importance of features relevant to their professional activity. Error prevention and aesthetic/minimalist design heuristics were brought up in the comments of physicians while two other groups did not mention anything related to these criteria. Only patients expected the features related to help and documentation heuristic.
Surface acoustic wave based pumping in a microchannel

Pumping and manipulation of liquids in microfluidic channels are important for many mechanical, chemical and biomedical applications. Surface acoustic wave based devices fabricated on high-efficiency piezoelectric substrates have been recently investigated for mixing and separation application within microfluidic channels. In this paper, we introduce a novel integrated surface acoustic wave based pump for liquid delivery and precise manipulation within a microchannel. The device employs a hydrophobic surface coating (Cytop) in the device design to decrease the friction force and increase the bonding. Contrary to previous surface acoustic wave based pumps which were mostly based on the filling and sucking process, we demonstrate long distance media delivery (up to 8 mm) and high pumping velocity increasing the device's application space and mass production potential. Additionally, the device design does not need precise layers of water and glass between substrate and channel, simplifying the design significantly. In this study, we conducted extensive parametric studies to quantify the effects of the liquid volume pumped, microchannel size, input applied power as well as the existence of hydrophobic surface coating on the pumping velocity and pump performance. Our results indicate that the pumping velocity for a constant liquid volume with the same applied input power can be increased by over 130 % (2.31 vs 0.99 mm/min) by employing a hydrophobic surface coating (Cytop) in a thinner microchannel (250 vs 500 µm) design. This device can be used in circulation, dosing, metering and drug delivery applications which necessitates small-scale precise liquid control and delivery.
Identification of SAP as a CTLA-4 Binding Molecule: a Role of SAP in CTLA-4 Signaling Proposed

Background: The precise mechanism by which CTLA-4 regulates T cell immune responses is still not fully understood. Previously we proposed that CTLA-4 could downregulate T cell function by modulating a signaling cascade initiated from the T cell receptor complex. The evidence for this notion comes from our findings that CTLA-4 associated with the T cell receptor zeta (TCR zeta) chain, and hence regulated TCR zeta phosphorylation by co-associated SHP-2 tyrosine phosphatase (1). In this report, we investigated whether any other signaling molecules could be involved in the CTLA-4 signaling pathway. Methods: We have taken biochemical approaches, such as immunoprecipitation followed by autoradiography or immunoblotting, to identify the molecules associated with CTLA-4. To perform these assays, we used activated primary T cells and ectopically transfected 293 cells. Various truncation mutants of CTLA-4 were used to map the interaction site on CTLA-4. Results: We found that in addition to TCR zeta and SHP-2, a recently cloned small adaptor molecule, SAP (SLAM-associated protein), was also able to associate with CTLA-4. We identified the domain of SAP association in CTLA-4 being a motif involving GVYVKM. This motif has been previously found to bind SHP-2 through its phosphorylated tyrosine interaction with SH-2 domain of SHP-2. Indeed, co-expression of SAP and SHP-2 reduced their binding to CTLA-4 significantly, suggesting that SAP and SHP-2 compete for the common binding site, GVYVKM. Thus, by blocking SHP-2 recruitment SAP could function as a negative regulator of CTLA-4. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest the existence of complicate signaling cascade in regulating CTLA-4 function, and further provide evidence that SAP can act either as a positive or negative regulator depending on the nature of the associating receptors. (Immune Network 2002;2(2):72-78)
Toxoplasmosis. II. Intra-Uterine Infection in Dogs, Premature Birth and Presence of Organisms in Milk.

Summary1. Toxoplasma of human, canine, and porcine origin was pathogenic for pregnant bitches and caused abortion or premature parturition. The organism was isolated from 23 of 28 pups born of 5 bi...
More than Just the Breadwinner: The Effects of Fathers' Parenting Stress on Children's Language and Cognitive Development

Despite numerous studies on parenting stress suggesting negative influences on parent–child interactions and children's development, the majority of these studies focus on mothers' parenting stress with little or no acknowledgement of fathers. Using data from the National Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Project, this study examined (i) the effects of fathers' parenting stress during toddlerhood on children's language and cognitive outcomes when children are 3 years old (ii) whether the effects of fathers' parenting stress on children's language and cognitive development vary by child gender? Results from mixed linear models showed fathers' parenting stress predicted children's lower cognitive scores, but there were no gender differences in the effects of fathers' parenting stress on children's cognitive outcomes. In the language domain, boys, not girls, were found to be more susceptible to the effects of fathers' parenting stress. These findings indicated that fathers, in addition to mothers, should be included in early parenting research and interventions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surveillance of Bacillary Dysentery in Yunan Province,2007-2011

Objective To preliminarily analyze the epidemic features of bacillary dysentery in Yunnan province for formulating prevention and control strategies. Methods Epidemic data were collected from the information system of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention,and were statistically analyzed with Excel,mapinfo 4. 5 and SAS9. 2. Results The total number of bacillary dysentery reported in Yunan province during the period was 37 035,with the annual number of 7407; the annual incidence was 18. 69 – 14. 72 /105.The average annual incidence was lower than the national level. Cases mainly distributed in areas of Kunming,Dali,Honghe and Qujing. Diqing had the highest incidence of 80 /105. The incidence peaked in May,and 68. 16% of the cases concentrated in April to August. Preschool children,student and peasants were the vulnerable population. Incidence rate in male under 20-year-old was higher than in female and rate in female over 20-year-old was higher than in male( P0. 05). Four bacillary dysentery outbreaks were reported within the province during the period. Conclusion In general,the epidemic situation of bacillary dysentery in Yunan province stays relatively stable; the peak season is from April to August of the year,and the incidence of the western and northern area is comparatively high; students,preschool children and peasants are the vulnerable population. The outbreaks can easily occur in the schools of rural area and kindergartens.
Abstract 4122: Ceramide is a key factor that regulates the crosstalk between TGF-ß and sonic hedgehog signaling at the basal cilia to control cell migration and tumor metastasis

Recent studies indicate that ceramide species with different fatty-acid chain lengths play diverse biological functions in various cellular processes, highlighting the importance of ceramide synthases (CerS) in these processes. Migration and cell mobility, a part of these processes, also are effected by ceramide metabolism. However, the molecular mechanism of CerS/and ceramide involved is unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of CerS/and ceramide on migration and its related signal pathways in situ and in vivo model. Interestingly, our data show that among CerS only CerS4/ceramide is involved to cell migration and tumor metastasis. Here, we also have generated CerS4-/- mice for in vivo studies. Interestingly, we observed that genetically loss of CerS4 resulted in severe irreversible alopecia, which was associated with hyper-proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Mechanistically, we show here that genetic loss or shRNA-mediated knockdown of CerS4 enhances cell migration by which ligand-independent signaling of TGF-beta receptors I and II in various cell types, including keratinocytes, mouse embryonic fibroblasts and cancer cells. Moreover, we found that ceramide directly interact with Smad7 and this interaction was decreased by shRNA-mediated knockdown of CerS4. Thus, ceramide-Smad7 binding modulates plasma membrane association of TGF-sR1 at primary basal cilia, and inhibits its signaling through Sonic-Hedgehog (Shh) for migration. Furthermore, Ceramide accumulation at the primary basal cilia was decreased by knockdown of CerS4. Thus, these data revealed that CerS4/ceramide signaling plays key roles in the regulation of cell migration and metastasis via controlling the TGF-sR and Shh axis at primary basal cilia. Citation Format: Salih Gencer, Natalia Oleinik, Mohammed Dany, Besim Ogretmen. Ceramide is a key factor that regulates the crosstalk between TGF-s and sonic hedgehog signaling at the basal cilia to control cell migration and tumor metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4122.
Closing the loop: a scalable zero-waste model for apparel reuse and recycling

ABSTRACTShortened lifecycles of apparel products resulting from today’s rapid fashion cycles generate significant amounts of post-consumer textile waste (PCTW) in the form of used or second-hand clothing (SHC). The majority of this waste is not repurposed or recycled, but rather discarded. The present study concentrated on creating an effective, sustainable, and ‘zero-waste’ solution driven by repurposing SHC using both design and production processes to achieve 100% utilisation of PCTW. The steps carried out during the year-long project demonstrated that almost 40% of used clothing waste could be repurposed as new clothing and the remaining waste could be processed further for additional use in non-apparel applications. The proposed solutions represent a closed-loop supply chain that can support new product manufacture, divert textile waste, and enable an additional stream of revenue from reclaimed apparel.
The Back Swamp drainage project, Robeson County, North Carolina: Biopolitical intervention in the lives of Indian farmers

Swamps have played an important role in the lives of American Indians in Robeson County, North Carolina, for centuries. The county’s Lumbee and Tuscarora remember hunting, fishing, trapping, and logging in the swamps, to supplement farm families’ limited cash incomes. The draining of the county’s vast Back Swamp in the early 20th Century lifted farmers out of poverty even while it extinguished a source of livelihood, recreation, and contemplation. Using ethnographic interviews, published documents, and archival sources, I trace the effects of the drainage project on the lives of Indian farmers. Taking the project as part of a fervent nationwide drainage movement that at times adopted the language of a religious crusade, I analyze the project as a biopolitical intervention in Indian farmers’ lives. The Back Swamp drainage project sought to regulate not only human populations but also nature itself. Ethnographic interviews, documents, and archival sources reveal that the project helped to transform water from a substance with the power to envelop and contain into a substance that must be kept in a constant state of flow.
Residential Proximity to Agricultural Fumigant Use and IQ, Attention and Hyperactivity in 7-year Old Children

Objectives Our objective was to examine the relationship between residential proximity to agricultural fumigant use and neurodevelopment in 7-year old children.
Pathogenesis of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Transplant Recipients

Transplant patients are at high risk for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and the associated mortality is high. The purpose of this study is to review the pathogenesis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in transplant patients. The pathogenesis of aspergillosis is multifactorial and results from a complex interplay between the pathogen and host. It is well recognized that Aspergillus causes IPA in immunocompromised patients. Recent studies have shown that Aspergillus might also cause diseases likely attributed to an unmodulated immune response in certain transplant recipients such as bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in lung transplant recipients. This review focuses on two crucial axes of the damage response framework applicable to aspergillosis: (1) Aspergillus virulence attributes that enable it to survive and proliferate in the host (thermotolerance, stress and hypoxic response, secretion of secondary metabolites) and (2) host response with specific focus on innate immunity and angiogenesis.
Physiologic Growth Hormone-Replacement Therapy and Craniopharyngioma Recurrence in Pediatric Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to examine the effect of growth hormone–replacement therapy (GHRT) on the recurrence of craniopharyngioma in children. Methods PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched through April 2017 for studies that evaluated the effect of GHRT on the recurrence of pediatric craniopharyngioma. Pooled effect estimates were calculated with fixed- and random-effects models. Results Ten studies (n = 3487 patients) met all inclusion criteria, including 2 retrospective cohorts and 8 case series. Overall, 3436 pediatric patients were treated with GHRT after surgery and 51 were not. Using the fixed effect model, we found that the overall craniopharyngioma recurrence rate was lower among children who were treated by GHRT (10.9%; 95% confidence interval 9.80%–12.1%; I2 = 89.1%; P for heterogeneity Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrated a lower recurrence rate of craniopharyngioma among children treated with GHRT than those who were not.
Aging & community health: a university–community partnership project

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how university–community partnerships can be utilized to provide affordable and accessible health care for the elderly at community health clinics. A review ...
Pyruvate-enriched resuscitation for shock:

This commentary addresses the recent retraction of an article which reported favorable outcomes in septic patients treated with intravenous pyruvate. The retracted report was cited in the authors' recent minireview on the cellular mechanisms and clinical application of pyruvate to improve cardiac performance. Because the retracted article reports pyruvate-enhanced resuscitation of critically ill patients, the authors wish to inform the readership, especially critical care providers, that this particular clinical application of pyruvate is not now supported by robust evidence. After discussing the retraction's implications for the clinical application of pyruvate-enriched resuscitation for sepsis, this commentary summarizes the extensive preclinical evidence of the efficacy and mechanisms of pyruvate resuscitation in animal models of hemorrhagic and septic shock, which argues for renewed clinical investigation of pyruvate-enriched resuscitation. Impact statement This commentary addresses the recent retraction of a clinical report of significant benefits of intravenous pyruvate resuscitation in septic patients, including sharply lowered mortality and decreased circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, which was cited in the authors' minireview in Experimental Biology and Medicine. The potential implications of the retraction, and the extensive preclinical evidence supporting the use of pyruvate-enriched resuscitation for shock states, are summarized and discussed.
High-temperature testing of glass/ceramic matrix composites

Recent advances in ceramic and other high-temperature composites have created a need for test methods that can be used at 1000 C and above. Present test methods usually require adhesively bonded tabs that cannot be used at high temperatures. This paper discusses some of the difficulties with high-temperature test development and describes several promising test methods. Stress-strain data are given for Nicalon ceramic fiber reinforced glass and glass-ceramic matrix composites tested in air at temperatures up to 1000 C.
Post-transplant head and neck cancers: A prospective analysis of clinical factors for risk stratification.

e18051Background: Transplant recipients experience a 2 to 10-fold increased risk of head and neck cancers (HNC) compared to the general population, with about 10-15% of transplant recipients develo...
We Want to Know: Patient Comfort Speaking Up About Breakdowns in Care and Patient Experience

Objective To assess patient comfort speaking up about problems during hospitalisation and to identify patients at increased risk of having a problem and not feeling comfortable speaking up. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Eight hospitals in Maryland and Washington, District of Columbia. Participants Patients hospitalised at any one of eight hospitals who completed the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey postdischarge. Main outcome measures Response to the question ‘How often did you feel comfortable speaking up if you had any problems in your care?’ grouped as: (1) no problems during hospitalisation, (2) always felt comfortable speaking up and (3) usually/sometimes/never felt comfortable speaking up. Results Of 10 212 patients who provided valid responses, 4958 (48.6%) indicated they had experienced a problem during hospitalisation. Of these, 1514 (30.5%) did not always feel comfortable speaking up. Predictors of having a problem during hospitalisation included age, health status and education level. Patients who were older, reported worse overall and mental health, were admitted via the Emergency Department and did not speak English at home were less likely to always feel comfortable speaking up. Patients who were not always comfortable speaking up provided lower ratings of nurse communication (47.8 vs 80.4; p Conclusions Patients frequently experience problems in care during hospitalisation and many do not feel comfortable speaking up. Creating conditions for patients to be comfortable speaking up may result in service recovery opportunities and improved patient experience. Such efforts should consider the impact of health literacy and mental health on patient engagement in patient-safety activities.
Integrating self-care into clinical practice with trauma clients

Self-care is recognized as an important aspect of social work practice. Beginning in educational settings, developing social workers are encouraged to learn about and practice self-care. However, s...
Canine infectious respiratory disease: New insights into the etiology and epidemiology of associated pathogens

Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) is a syndrome where multiple viral and bacterial pathogens are involved sequentially or synergistically to cause illness. There is limited information regarding the prevalence of pathogens related to CIRD in the United States as well as the role of co-infections in the pathogenesis of the syndrome. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive etiologic and epidemiologic study of multiple CIRD agents in a diverse dog population using molecular methods and statistical modeling analyses. In addition, a novel probe-based multiplex real-time PCR was developed to simultaneously detect and differentiate two species of Mycoplasma (M. canis and M. cynos). Canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, influenza A virus (H3N2 and H3N8), Bordetella bronchiseptica, M. canis, M. cynos and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus were investigated in specimens from clinically ill and asymptomatic dogs received at the Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Results showed low occurrence of classical CIRD agents such as B. bronchiseptica, canine adenovirus and distemper virus, while highlighting the potential role of emerging bacteria such as M. canis and M. cynos. Statistical modeling analyses of CIRD pathogens emphasized the impact of co-infections on the severity of clinical presentation, and showed that host factors, such as animal age, are the most important predictors of disease severity. This study provides new insights into the current understanding of the prevalence and role of co-infections with selected viruses and bacteria in the etiology of CIRD, while underscoring the importance of molecular diagnosis and vaccination against this disease.