cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symmetric Primary and Tertiary Structure Mutations within a Symmetric Superfold: A Solution, not a Constraint, to Achieve a Foldable Polypeptide

In previous studies designed to increase the primary structure symmetry within the hydrophobic core of human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) a combination of five mutations were accommodated, resulting in structure, stability and folding kinetic properties similar to wild-type (despite the symmetric constraint upon the set of core residues). A sixth mutation in the core, involving a highly conserved Met residue at position 67, appeared intolerant to substitution. Structural analysis suggested that the local packing environment of position 67 involved two regions of apparent insertions that distorted the tertiary structure symmetry inherent in the β-trefoil architecture. It was postulated that a symmetric constraint upon the primary structure within the core could only be achieved after these insertions had been deleted (concomitantly increasing the tertiary structure symmetry). The deletion of these insertions is now shown to permit mutation of position 67, thereby increasing the primary structure symmetry relationship within the core. Furthermore, despite the imposed symmetric constraint upon both the primary and tertiary structure, the resulting mutant form of FGF-1 is substantially more stable. The apparent inserted regions are shown to be associated with heparin-binding functionality; however, despite a marked reduction in heparin-binding affinity the mutant form of FGF-1 is surprisingly ∼70 times more potent in 3T3 fibroblast mitogenic assays. The results support the hypothesis that primary structure symmetry within a symmetric protein superfold represents a possible solution, rather than a constraint, to achieving a foldable polypeptide.
EGF Receptor and Notch Signaling Act Upstream of Eyeless/Pax6 to Control Eye Specification

Abstract The Drosophila compound eye is specified by the concerted action of seven nuclear factors that include Eyeless/Pax6. These factors have been called "master control" proteins because loss-of-function mutants lack eyes and ectopic expression can direct ectopic eye development. However, inactivation of these genes does not cause the presumptive eye to change identity. Surprisingly, we find that several of these eye specification genes are not coexpressed in the same embryonic cells—or even in the presumptive eye. We demonstrate that the EGF Receptor and Notch signaling pathways have homeotic functions that are genetically upstream of the eye specification genes, and show that specification occurs much later than previously thought—not during embryonic development but in the second larval stage.
Evidence-based practice for the busy nurse practitioner: Part three: Critical appraisal process

Purpose: Evidence-based practice (EBP) involves integrating research evidence with clinical expertise to answer clinical practice inquiries. The purpose of part 3 of this EBP series is to provide an introductory overview of the critical appraisal process, relevant clinical measurements, and critical thinking skills that can enhance nurse practitioners’ (NPs’) confidence in the clinical decisionmaking process. Data sources: Scientific literature review, gray literature, PubMed and other online literature databases and resources, and online EBP websites. Conclusions: Critical appraisal skills can assist NPs in interpreting available research, determining its validity reliability, and applicability to their clinical practice. Similarities in the critical appraisal process center around determining a study’s reliability, validity, and applicability to the client(s) in question, while the differences exist in the clinical measurements used within specific research designs. Implications for practice: Because medicine is an evolving field, access to knowledge sources that address diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic questions is essential for the NP in order to maintain best practice skills. Making EBP user friendly for the practicing NP is paramount for utilization of best evidence. Nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice includes diagnosing and treating health conditions unique to a specific patient population. One way NPs maintain current knowledge for best clinical practice is through evidence-based sources that address diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic questions. NPs as decision makers must trade off the benefits and risks associated with the research findings with alternative management strategies including the patient’s values and preferences (Guyatt, Drummond, Meade, & Cook, 2008). How does the NP ascertain the patient’s values and preferences about the scientific results? The NP provides the translation from scientific language into common sense terms that can empower patients with the knowledge they will need to fully participate in the decision making related to their care. However, NPs have to first be able to appraise and judge scientific findings before they can communicate this information to the patient. This process of critical appraisal and judging scientific findings is necessary because even clinical findings from the highest quality evidence are not absolute (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2011). Therefore, the ability to judge and interpret the strength or weakness of findings is essential for applicability to clinical practice. Learning critical appraisal skills is an essential step in the evidence-based practice (EBP) process that requires mastery by the NP.
Loss of FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE Leads to Mediator-Dependent Inhibition of Soluble Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Phenylpropanoids are phenylalanine-derived specialized metabolites and include important structural components of plant cell walls, such as lignin and hydroxycinnamic acids, as well as ultraviolet and visible light-absorbing pigments, such as hydroxycinnamate esters (HCEs) and anthocyanins. Previous work has revealed a remarkable degree of plasticity in HCE biosynthesis, such that most Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants with blockages in the pathway simply redirect carbon flux to atypical HCEs. In contrast, the ferulic acid hydroxylase1 (fah1) mutant accumulates greatly reduced levels of HCEs, suggesting that phenylpropanoid biosynthesis may be repressed in response to the loss of FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE (F5H) activity. Here, we show that in fah1 mutant plants, the activity of HCE biosynthetic enzymes is not limiting for HCE accumulation, nor is phenylpropanoid flux diverted to the synthesis of cell wall components or flavonol glycosides. We further show that anthocyanin accumulation is also repressed in fah1 mutants and that this repression is specific to tissues in which F5H is normally expressed. Finally, we show that repression of both HCE and anthocyanin biosynthesis in fah1 mutants is dependent on the MED5a/5b subunits of the transcriptional coregulatory complex Mediator, which are similarly required for the repression of lignin biosynthesis and the stunted growth of the phenylpropanoid pathway mutant reduced epidermal fluorescence8. Taken together, these observations show that the synthesis of HCEs and anthocyanins is actively repressed in a MEDIATOR-dependent manner in Arabidopsis fah1 mutants and support an emerging model in which MED5a/5b act as central players in the homeostatic repression of phenylpropanoid metabolism.
Temperature-dependent development of the mountain pine beetle (Coleoptera : Scolytidae) and simulation of its phenology

Temperature-dependent development of the egg, larval, and pupal life-stages of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) was described using data from constant-temperature laboratory experiments. A phenology model describing the effect of temperature on the temporal distribution of the life-stages was developed using these data. Phloem temperatures recorded in a beetle-infested lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Douglas) were used as input to run the model. Results from model simulations suggest that inherent temperature thresholds in each life-stage help to synchronize population dynamics with seasonal climatic changes. This basic phenological information and the developed model will facilitate both research and management endeavors aimed at reducing losses in lodgepole pine stands caused by mountain pine beetle infestations.
Mechanical amplification of stimuli by hair cells

Abstract Unlike any other known sensory receptor, the hair cell uses positive feedback to augment the stimulus to which it responds. In the internal ears of many vertebrates, hair cells amplify the inputs to their mechanosensitive hair bundles. Outer hair cells of the mammalian cochlea display a unique form of somatal motility that may underlie their contribution to amplification. In other receptor organs, hair cells mayeffect amplification by hair-bundle movements driven by the activity of myosin or of transduction channels. Recent work has demonstrated the presence of several myosin isozymes in hair bundles, confirmed that bundles display myosin ATPase activity, and shown that the work performed by myosin molecules could account for one aspect of the amplificatory process.
A monolithically integrated detector-preamplifier on high-resistivity silicon

A monolithically integrated detector-preamplifier on high-resistivity silicon has been designed, fabricated, and characterized. The detector is a fully depleted p-i-n diode, and the preamplifier is implemented in a depletion-mode PMOS process which is compatible with detector processing. The amplifier is internally compensated, and the measured gain-bandwidth product is 30 MHz with an input-referred noise of 15 nV/ square root Hz in the white-noise regime. Measurements with an Am/sup 241/ radiation source yield an equivalent input noise charge of 800 electrons at 200 ns shaping time for a 1.4 mm/sup 2/ detector with on-chip amplifier in an experimental setup with substantial external pickup. >
Abstract A150: Molecular mechanisms mediating the pharmacodynamic interactions between oxaliplatin (Ox) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in KRAS mutant colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

Background: Platinum agents are a standard of care for treatment many cancers. Clinical data has shown that patients (pts) with CRC with mutant (MT) KRAS do not respond to EGFR inhibitors (Amado et al 2009). Furthermore, results from phase 3 clinical trials with erlotinib, cetuximab, or panitumumab have shown that pts whose tumors express MT KRAS have shorter progression-free survival and overall survival when an EGFR inhibitor is added to a platinum-containing regimen vs chemotherapy alone (Eberhard et al 2005, Bokemeyer et al 2011, Douillard et al 2010). However, KRAS status is not predictive of outcomes in pts receiving Ox- or irinotecan-containing regimens without an EGFR inhibitor (Richman et al 2009). This negative interaction has not been observed in pts whose tumors express either wild type (WT) KRAS receiving an EGFR inhibitor and chemotherapy or whose tumors express MT KRAS receiving an EGFR inhibitor with irinotecan (Peeters et al 2010, Van Cutsem et al 2009). Our goal was to gain a molecular mechanistic understanding of the negative interaction between EGFR inhibitors and Ox in KRAS MT CRC cells. Methods: To investigate the negative interaction between Ox and EGFR inhibitors, isogenic MT and WT KRAS-expressing HCT116 CRC cells were treated with Ox, SN-38 (the active metabolite of irinotecan), panitumumab, or gefitinib as single agents or in combination for 72 hrs. Viability was measured using an ATPlite assay. To determine the cellular distribution of EGFR, cells were serum-starved, labeled with a fluorescent anti-EGFR mAb, and visualized by a confocal microscopy. To analyze the effects of single agent or combination treatment on downstream phosphorylation of the PI3K or MAPK pathways, cells were treated for 24 hrs and phospho-proteins were detected by Western blotting. To investigate whether negative interaction between Ox and EGFR inhibitors could be reversed, cells were treated with Ox and gefitinib in combination with inhibitors to MEK, PI3K or Src for 72 hrs. Results: Treatment with gefitinib, but not panitumumab, reversed the anti-proliferative effects of Ox in the MT KRAS-expressing CRC cells vs Ox alone (p Conclusion: We developed a preclinical model to further understand the negative interaction between MT KRAS-expressing cancer cells, platinum agents, and EGFR inhibitors. Feedback though AKT may contribute to the increased resistance to Ox in KRAS MT cells. Inhibitors of MEK, PI3K, or Src reversed the negative interaction between the EGFR inhibitors and Ox in a mutant-KRAS genetic background. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A150.
Stress Related Failures Causing Open Metallization

With the ever increasing number of metallization failures caused by voids and subsequent opens, the reliability of narrow Al-Si metal lines has become a crucial factor in very large scale integration (VLSI) integrated circuit (IC) fabrication. The only supporting evidence for void formation in the recent past has been visual inspection of open metallization. Stress-induced void formation can be modeled using nonlinear finite element analysis. Observed failures correlate well with calculated stresses determined by varying intrinsic stress of the passivation, topography, line width, and silicon nodule size. As a result, the model gives physical interpretation for the behavior of voids within Al-Si metallization.
VALVE AND BAND MORPHOLOGY OF SOME FRESHWATER DIATOMS. IV. OUTER SURFACE MUCILAGE OF NAVICULA CONFERVACEA VAR. CONFERVACEA1

The development of the mucilage on the outer surface of Navicula confervacea (Kutz.) Grun., a raphed, filamentous diatom, was studied with scanning electron microscopy. This nonstructural cell wall material, present on the surface after critical-point drying and absent after acid cleaning, was of two types: strands and papillae. Strands were associated with the raphe system, areolae, elongated pores of the mantle, and all girdle sutures. Organic papillae were a common feature of valves, valvo-copulae and pleurae, but their origin and distribution could not be explained since they often occurred between the obvious openings in the frustule. Strands from the raphe and areolae may function in attaching terminal cells to a substrate and adjacent cells to each other. Other strands of the girdle arise from sutures during cell enlargement and continue to lengthen and intertwine until the individual frustules within a filament are obscured. Strands from sutures might originate from the advalvar row of pores of the girdle bands since these pores lie along the suture, but direct observation of this was not made. Secretion between, the bands also cannot be ruled out. Although mucilaginous papillae may sometimes occur at random on the entire surface of frustules, there is also a distinct, narrow multiseriate row of them around the edge of valves without marginal spines.
Memsherlock: an automated debugger for unknown memory corruption vulnerabilities

Software vulnerabilities have been the main contributing factor to the Internet security problems such as fast spreading worms. Among these software vulnerabilities, memory corruption vulnerabilities such as buffer overflow and format string bugs have been the most common ones exploited by network-based attacks. Many security countermeasures (e.g., patching, automatic signature generation for intrusion detection systems) require vulnerability information to function correctly. However, despite many years of research, automatically identifying unknown software vulnerabilities still remains an open problem.In this paper, we present the development of a security debugging tool named MemSherlock, which can automatically identify unknown memory corruption vulnerabilities upon the detection of malicious payloads that exploit such vulnerabilities. MemSherlock provides critical information for unknown memory corruption vulnerabilities, including (1) the corruption point in the source code (i.e., the statement that allows the exploitation of memory corruption vulnerability), (2) the slice of source code that helps the malicious input to reach the corruption point, and (3) the description of how the malicious input exploits the unknown vulnerability. We evaluate MemSherlock with a set of 11 real-world applications that have buffer overflow, heap overflow, and format string vulnerabilities. The evaluation results indicate that MemSherlock is a useful tool to facilitate the automatic vulnerability analysis process.
The policy knot: re-integrating policy, practice and design in cscw studies of social computing

In CSCW and information science research today, the worlds of design, practice, and policy are often held separate, speaking to different audiences, venues, and fields of expertise. But many growing areas of CSCW work, including mobile, cloud, and social computing, run into problems precisely at this intersection. This paper presents a model for understanding processes of change and emergence in social computing in which policy, practice, and design show up in the form of complex interdependencies, or knots, that collectively determine the shape, meaning, and trajectory of shifting computational forms. We then apply this model to two recent social computing controversies: the 2011 privacy scandal surrounding the location-aware mobile app Girls Around Me; and controversies surrounding the 2010 launch of the Google Buzz social network. We argue that better attention to the mutually constitutive relations between design, practice and policy can expand the reach, depth, and impact of CSCW scholarship.
Calculation of the Signal Voltage Induced in a Toroidal Proton-Precession Magnetometer Sensor

The signal EMF induced as a function of time in a proton-precession magnetometer sensor of toroidal shape with an elliptical cross-sectional area is calculated in terms of the magnetic properties of the sensor fluid, polarizing current, orientation of the sensor with respect to the direction of the ambient magnetic field, and geometric proportions of the sensor. It is assumed that the sensor is in a uniform ambient magnetic field; the polarizing current is reduced to zero in a time that is short compared to the period of the Larmor precession of the nuclear magnetic moments in the sensor fluid; the nuclear magnetic moments do not interact; and no significant current flows in the sensor winding during the relaxation process in which the EMF is measured. In the specific case that the sensor winding fills the toroid window and that the polarizing supply is a constant voltage source, the calculations permit a simple comparison of variously proportioned sensors in terms of the signal EMF amplitude.
Effects of strong anchoring on the dynamic moduli of heterogeneous nematic polymers II: oblique anchoring angles

We extend previous work on the linear viscoelastic moduli of heterogeneous nematic polymers in a small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow, focusing on the role of the orientational anchoring conditions at the plates. When tangential or normal anchoring conditions are applied, the Doi–Marrucci–Greco orientation tensor-flow model effectively reduces to the Leslie–Ericksen director-flow model, predicting that director distortions control the dynamic moduli with negligible contributions from tensor-order parameters. In this paper, we examine oblique anchoring angles. We use a combination of analysis and numerical simulation on the generalized tensor-flow system for arbitrary anchoring conditions to show that any oblique anchoring condition induces a nontrivial order parameter contribution to the dynamic moduli, which vanishes only in the limit of tangential or normal anchoring. Our approach reveals that the storage and loss moduli admit an approximate decomposition in terms of two reduced problems that are exactly solvable: the heterogeneous director–flow response plus the monodomain tensor response to an imposed shear. The importance of this result is that we gain scaling properties of the moduli with respect to material parameters and experimental conditions without having to compute and assimilate across the full parameter space. These results provide insight into the relative importance of the distortional vs bulk nematic elastic stress in determining the viscoelastic moduli, predicting that anchoring conditions tune the relative contributions.
Treatment of Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias and Other Primary Headaches

The treatment of the TACs and other primary headaches straddles the spectrum from simple to complex. At the simple end of the therapeutic spectrum is the use of indomethacin for the paroxysmal hemicranias, sexually related, cough, and primary stabbing headaches. More difficult to treat is hypnic headache. Paradoxically, the use of caffeine just prior to going to sleep has been beneficial for hypnic headache; lithium is the next choice. SUNCT/SUNA may respond to lamotrigine and gabapentin. Cluster headache therapy encompasses transitional or bridge therapy, abortive therapy, and preventive therapy. Steroids, in the form of bolus therapy or ipsilateral greater occipital nerve blocks, constitute the commonly used transitional therapy. A variety of acute remedies abort acute clusters, including high flow ­oxygen therapy, non-oral triptans and dihydroergotamine. For prophylaxis, escalating doses of verapamil are prescribed, with or without supplemental melatonin, lithium, topiramate and/or valproate. For the absolutely medication-resistant patient, trials are under way involving deep brain, occipital nerve, and sphenopalatine ganglion stimulation.
In vitro hepatic thyroid hormone deiodination in iron-deficient rats: Effect of dietary fat

The effects of different dietary fats on thyroid indices were studied in weanling iron-deficient rats. Rats were fed one of five different diets (safflower oil with a casein protein source, safflower oil with defatted beef as the protein source, prime rib, beef tallow with casein and stearate with casein). Both dietary fat and iron status (adequate, CN; deficient, ID; or iron-deficient replete, ID-replete) had significant effects on body weight and hemoglobin concentrations. The tallow-fed animals weighed the least relative to animals fed the other fats; ID rats were smaller than CN rats. The tallow- and stearate-fed animals had the highest hemoglobin concentrations. Type of dietary fat affected plasma thyroxine (T4), but not plasma triiodothyronine (T3) or rate of deiodination of reverse T3 (rT3). Iron deficiency decreased plasma concentrations of T3 and T4 and increased in vitro hepatic rT3 deiodination, suggesting that the ID animals tend to metabolize thyroid hormones via deactivating pathways. The alterations in thyroid hormone metabolism associated with iron deficiency are reversible with iron repletion.
Biological and Molecular Effects of Vitamin D on the Kidney

The kidney is essential for the integrity of the vitamin D endocrine system: Normal kidney function ensures adequate serum levels of 1,25-dihyrdroxyvitamin D ([1,25(OH)2D], the hormonal form of vitamin D) and of its precursor, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. In turn, normal serum 1,25(OH)2D and 25(OH)D levels are critical in maintaining normal kidney function and in ameliorating the progression of kidney disease. Research in the last three decades has firmly established that renal conversion of 25(OH)D to 1,25(OH)2D plays a key role in the maintenance of calcium and phosphate homeostasis and skeletal health. 1,25(OH)2D endocrine actions include the coordinated regulation of the synthesis of parathyroid hormone (PTH), the bone phosphatonin FGF23, and its own serum concentrations, and consequently of the hormonal loops and ion fluxes between the parathyroid gland, the intestine, the kidney, and the bone. 1,25(OH)2D tight control of this multi-organ endocrine system is central not only for bone integrity but also in preventing an excess of serum calcium and phosphate predisposing to over-mineralization of bone or ectopic calcification. Importantly, recent epidemiological evidence also suggests that the kidney is essential for the maintenance of normal serum 25(OH)D levels, a requirement for 1,25(OH)2D autocrine actions. Renal uptake of 25(OH)D from the glomerular ultrafiltrate is an active process necessary for both renal and extrarenal 1,25(OH)2D production. Normal renal uptake of 25(OH)D ensures the appropriate delivery of 25(OH)D for its conversion to 1,25(OH)2D by an increasing number of nonrenal cells. Autocrine 1,25(OH)2D actions in 1,25(OH)2D producing cells, which include parathyroid cells, osteoblasts, and cells of the immune and cardiovascular system, appear to mediate the multiple health benefits and the survival advantage conferred to the general population by a normal vitamin D status. This chapter presents the current understanding of the mechanisms mediating renal control of vitamin D metabolism and 1,25(OH)2D endocrine and autocrine actions important in disease prevention, with a special focus on the renoprotective actions of the vitamin D endocrine system that prevent/ameliorate the onset and progression of kidney disease.
Association of Alcohol Misuse With Sexual Identity and Sexual Behavior in Women Veterans

ABSTRACTBackground: Sexual minority women report greater alcohol misuse than heterosexual women in the general population, with more pronounced differences found among younger age groups. It is unknown whether these differences exist among women veterans. Objective: We evaluated differences in alcohol misuse across two dimensions of sexual orientation (identity and behavior) among women veterans, and examined whether these differences were modified by age. Methods: Women veterans were recruited via the internet to participate in an online survey. Participants provided information on their self-reported sexual identity and behavior and responded to the validated 3-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption questionnaire (AUDIT-C). Regression models were used to compare the prevalence of alcohol misuse (AUDIT-C ≥ 3) and severity (AUDIT-C scores) across sexual identity and behavior and to test effect modification by age. Results: Among the 702 participants (36% lesbian/bisexual), prevalence a...
Relationships among protein and albumin concentrations and oncotic pressure in nephrotic plasma

We determined oncotic pressure (pi) by membrane osmometry and assayed total protein (TP) and albumin (Alb) concentrations in plasma of 102 nephrotic subjects and 27 healthy controls. All three quan...
Load, Speed, and Pressure Effects on Passenger Car Tire Rolling-Loss Distribution

Abstract The procedure explained in this paper permits calculation of individual tire region contributions to rolling loss without altering the tire. Many different tire-build configurations can be considered using this technique. Different belt, bead, and subtread materials' contributions to rolling-loss distribution can be studied; different tire shapes and thicknesses can be considered. Only a single tire of each configuration need be built, and it can be retested if necessary. Results obtained here show that the tread region of the tire tested behaves differently than the other regions. Changes in tire pressure, load, and speed lead to changes in the remaining individual tire regions' contributions that are in the same direction as the overall tire loss. A tire design that is altered to accommodate new specifications may lead to an increase in rolling loss that is greater than some designated value. An analysis of the type presented here may show which region of the new tire design should be changed t...
Exergy study on the effect of material parameters and operating conditions on the anode diffusion polarization of the SOFC

In the presented work, a model is created in order to investigate the effect of different material parameters and operating conditions on the anode diffusion overpotential, which influence the exergy and energy efficiency of the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). In this research, it was demonstrated that the anode material parameters and operating conditions of the device components such as porosity, tortuosity, pore diameter, temperature, pressure and current density of the anode have various effects on the anode diffusion overpotential, which consequently affect the exergy and energy efficiency of the SOFC. The model has provided a strong direction on how to optimize the SOFC exergy and energy efficiency, by reducing the anode diffusion overpotential, which is affected by various material parameters and operating conditions.
Cue‐induced craving to paraphernalia and drug images in opioid dependence

Background and Objectives Stimuli that are repeatedly paired with substance use, such as drug paraphernalia, can themselves elicit drug craving. The aim of this study was to examine whether particular cue types elicit greater craving responses than others among individuals with opioid dependence. Methods Participants seeking inpatient treatment for opioid dependence were recruited for a study of cue-induced craving. This sample (N = 50), included 25 primary heroin users, 20 primary prescription opioid users, and 5 users of heroin and prescription opioids equally. Participants completed a cue reactivity task, in which images of drug-related stimuli were presented on a computer screen, each followed by a question assessing state drug craving. Results Overall, participants reported higher craving following paraphernalia stimuli relative to drug stimuli. However, this was moderated by opioid type; there was significantly higher craving in response to images of paraphernalia cues in the heroin group, and higher craving in response to drug cues in the prescription opioid group. Discussion and Conclusions These findings highlight potential differences in cue reactivity to opioid paraphernalia and drug cues, which appears to be moderated by drug type. Scientific Significance Cue-induced craving is an important factor in relapse. This study adds further to the literature on cue-induced craving in opioid dependence, suggesting that craving may vary based on both cue type and opioid type. Future studies designed to discriminate the impact of substance of abuse, route of administration, and cue type will help to further clarify cue-induced craving in this population. (Am J Addict 2016;XX:1–5)
Implementation of Foreman-Delay Surveys

The practice of using surveys of construction foremen to make a qualitative and quantitative determination of the job factors resulting in lost time, and the subsequent use of this information as a management tool for the reduction of the magnitude of these factors and the improvement of worker morale is investigated. The development of this process and the current state-of-the-art are considered. Comparative data from eight construction sites are presented. A comparison of costs with potential benefits is provided. Recommendations are made for the effective use of foreman-delay surveys. Specific instructions for performing foreman-delay surveys are given.
A Randomized Cross-over Exploratory Study of the Effect of Visiting Therapy Dogs on College Student Stress Before Final Exams

ABSTRACTThis exploratory study investigated the effect of visiting therapy dogs on college-student perceived and physiological stress the week prior to final exams. Students (n = 78) were randomly assigned to order of a therapydog intervention and attention-control condition, each 15 minutes long. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a stress visual analog scale (SVAS), and provided saliva for measuring nerve growth factor (sNGF) and alpha amylase (sAA), prior to randomization. Saliva samples and SVAS were again collected after each condition. There was no effect of group order on demographics, PSS, or initial SVAS. Repeated measures models were used to analyze the complete data sets of 57 students. There were no significant differences in sAA between or within students completing the intervention and control conditions. sNGF was not subjected to analysis as most levels were undetectable. Significant differences in SVAS scores were found between the intervention and control condition, with...
Plasma Assisted Flame Holding in Subsonic and Supersonic Flows

In this paper, our recent studies of five different flame configurations which are assisted by nanosecond pulsed discharge (NPD) are summarized. The flow configurations are: methane jets in subsonic coflow and cross flow, supersonic hydrogen jets in cross flow with cavity and unmodified (flat plate) geometries, and laminar fully premixed methane flames. For the subsonic methane jet in coflow, it is shown that i) the flame stability is improved by ten-fold (in terms of coflow speed) with the aid of the NPD and ii) the mixture fraction at which the flame stability is maximized is much leaner than that at the flame base of a naturally stabilized flame. For the subsonic methane jet in cross flow, it is found that the optimal discharge placement rules out a region which has high strain rate and/or high concentration gradient. The preference towards a leaner mixture of the optimal discharge position shown in the jet in coflow configuration is also confirmed here. For the supersonic hydrogen jet in cross flow, a 50 % reduction of ignition delay time is observed with the NPD placed inside of a stabilization cavity. It is also shown that the supersonic flame ignition using an unmodified (flat plate) model is possible with a dual fuel jet configuration. Finally, a simple model (preflame model) of a plasma assisted fully premixed methane flame is proposed, which suggests that the central role of the plasma discharge in this case is as an insitu reformer, not a direct radical source. The verification is carried out by 0-D/1-D discharge/flame simulations along with subsequent experimental validations including GC sampling and hydrogen/air flame analyses.
Calcium fluxes, calcium binding, and adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase activity in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive and Kyoto Wistar normotensive rats.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats and Kyoto Wistar normotensive rats were compared with respect to calcium fluxes in aortic strips, membrane phosphorylation and calcium uptake by microsomes, and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in tissue extracts of aorta. The aortic strips of hypertensive rats accumulated more 45Ca than those of normotensive animals. The calcium content of the aorta increased with age of the animals from 30 days to 1 year and was consistently higher in hypertensive than in normotensive rats. Calcium uptake by the aortic microsomes was significantly decreased in hypertensive ( p < 0.05) compared with normotensive rats in the presence and absence of 1 µM cyclic AMP, as was cyclic AMP-dependent phosphorylation of microsomes. Cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent protein kinase activity in the 27,000 x g supernatant of the aortas of 12-16-week-old hypertensive rats was reduced by 42% and 34%, respectively, using histone as a substrate. Differences both in calcium uptake by microsomes treated with cyclic AMP and in cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity in the tissue extracts were evident at 30 days of age. These observations reflect the importance of impaired membrane phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of hypertension.
Diagnostic performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry in blood bacterial infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

AbstractBackground: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has shown promise in decreasing time to identification of causative organisms compared to traditional methods; however, the utility of MALDI-TOF MS in a heterogeneous clinical setting is uncertain.Objectives: To perform a systematic review on the operational performance of the Bruker MALDI-TOF MS system and evaluate published cut-off values compared to traditional blood cultures.Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed. Studies were included if they performed direct MALDI-TOF MS analysis of blood culture specimens in human patients with suspected bacterial infections using the Bruker Biotyper software. Sensitivities and specificities of the combined studies were estimated using a hierarchical random effects linear model (REML) incorporating cut-off scores of ≥1.7 and ≥2.0.Results: Fifty publications were identified, with 11 studies included after final review. The estimated sensi...
Epidemiological analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis among middle school students in Shapingba district,Chongqing during 2005-2012

Objective To analyze the prevalence and characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis( TB) among middle school students in Shapingba District during 2005-2012,in order to provide specific targeted preventive measures.Methods Descriptive statistical method was applied to analyze the data of TB case registration and management from TB registration and management information system in Shapingba District from 2005 to 2012.Results The average incidence of the pulmonary TB among middle school students in Shapingba District was 51.1 /100 000 and the trend was decreasing( χ2= 79.355,P 0.01).The average incidence in tibetan middle school was 411.5 /100 000,which was much higher than any other type of middle schools( P 0.01).The TB patients were mainly from senior middle school,and 45.97% of the patients were at the ages between 17-18 years old.About32.24% of the middle school patients were non-native.The peak incidence of TB among middle school students was in March and April each year.Conclusion Middle schools are important locations for potential TB infection.Prevention measures should be strengthened among tibetan middle school students,senior high school students and non-native students.A tuberculosis screening questionnaire should be completed before the college entrance examination.
Review of the Transnational Cinemas Special Interest Group panels at the Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 30 March–3 April 2016

This report reviews the panels sponsored by the Transnational Cinemas Special Interest Group (SIG) at the annual Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference that took place in Atlanta, Georgia ...
Computational phase space measurements using multiplexed coded apertures (Conference Presentation)

Phase-space refers to simultaneous space-frequency information (e.g. Wigner functions, light fields), which is directly related to spatial coherence properties (e.g. Mutual Intensity). We introduce a binary pupil masking technique that allows us to computationally reconstruct the phase space distribution of optical beams from a series of images. Previous work has shown phase space to be useful for 3D imaging and localization in a multiple scattering environment. Binary masks are easy to implement compared to gray masks or phase masks and the proposed scheme requires no interferometry. After designing the masks with nonredundant arrays, we measure an intensity image for each aperture mask and reconstruct the phase space through an auxiliary coherence function. We demonstrate experimentally the reconstruction of the phase space of a collection of 3D incoherent sources.
Naturalness Preserved Image Enhancement Using a Priori Multi-Layer Lightness Statistics

The enhancement of non-uniformly illuminated images often suffers from over-enhancement and produces unnatural results. This paper presents a naturalness preserved enhancement method for non-uniformly illuminated images, using a priori multi-layer lightness statistics acquired from high-quality images. This paper makes three important contributions: designing a novel multi-layer image enhancement model; deriving the multi-layer lightness statistics of high-quality outdoor images, which are incorporated into the multi-layer enhancement model; and showing that the overall quality rating of enhanced images is consistent with a combination of contrast enhancement and naturalness preservation. Two separate human observer evaluation studies were conducted on naturalness preservation and overall image quality. The results showed the proposed method outperformed four compared state-of-the-art enhancement methods.
Proteogenomic Re-Annotation of Coccidioides posadasii Strain Silveira.

The aims of this study were to provide protein-based evidence upon which to re-annotate of the genome of C. posadasii, one of two closely related species of Coccidioides, a dimorphic fungal pathogen that causes coccidioidomycosis, also called Valley Fever. Proteins present in lysates and filtrates of in vitro grown mycelia and parasitic phase spherules from C. posadasii strain Silveira were analyzed using a GeLC-MS/MS method. Acquired spectra were processed with a proteogenomics workflow comprising a Silveira proteome database, a 6-frame translation of the Silveira genome and an ab initio gene prediction tool prior to validation against published ESTs. This study provides evidence for 837 genes expressed at the protein level, of which 169 proteins (20.2%) were putative proteins and 103 (12.3%) were not annotated in the Silveira genome. Additionally, 275 novel peptides were derived from intragenic regions of the genome and 13 from intergenic regions, resulting in 172 gene refinements. Additionally, we are the first group to report translationally active retrotransposon elements in a Coccidioides spp. Our study reveals that the currently annotated genome of C. posadasii str. Silveira needs refinement, which is likely to be the case for many non-model organisms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Utilization of Lean Techniques in Pharmacy Residency Training: Modifying the PGY1 Management and Leadership Experience:

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to utilize lean process improvement principles to enhance the health-system pharmacy administration learning experience within a postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) residency program. Summary: The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center adopted the use of lean to improve customer service and workplace efficiency. The Residency Advisory Council, overseeing the 6 pharmacy residency programs, felt that training residents in a proven process improvement technique would benefit the service and assist in developing problem-solving skills. Yellow Belt training was incorporated into the residency programs in 2012, and the Yellow Belt project for the 2014-2015 residency class was the modification of the PGY1 Health-System Pharmacy Administration learning experience. Residents focused on a few key areas as part of their completion plan: educating residents and preceptors on the importance of leadership activities, establishing a list of consistent topic discussions to be held during the...
Simulation as More Than a Treatment-Planning Tool: A Systematic Review of the Literature on Radiation Oncology Simulation-Based Medical Education.

Purpose Simulation-based medical education (SBME) is gaining prominence as a tool to meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–mandated competency-based assessment educational goals. SBME is used in radiation oncology, although the type and extent are not clear. This study reports a systematic literature review designed to clarify the type and extent of radiation oncology SBME. Methods and Materials The systematic review focused on radiation oncology SBME literature. The methods followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The inclusion criteria were identified according to the PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and setting) framework. The population included undergraduate, graduate, and continuing medical education learners. Studies were limited to English-language studies published on or after January 1, 1990, in peer-reviewed journals. PubMed, MedEdPORTAL, and in-press articles were searched. The PubMed search was conducted using predefined search terms. References and similar articles were examined. Medical Subject Headings terms in selected articles were reviewed to ensure relevant terms were included. Results Fifty-four SBME publications met the inclusion criteria. Only 9 of 54 studies (17%) self-identified as SBME. SBME types included screen-based simulators (56%), simulated environments (13%), virtual reality and haptic systems (13%), simulated patients (11%), part-task trainers (6%), and computer-based systems with mannequins (2%). A variety of radiation oncology skill sets were addressed, including contouring (54%), treatment planning (20%), clinical decision making (17%), anatomy and/or radiology (13%), radiation biology and/or physics (13%), communication skills and/or patient education (13%), brachytherapy (13%), and immobilization (11%). A target learning population was defined in 47 studies, including residents (53%), attending physicians (36%), medical students (21%), medical physicists (11%), radiation therapists (9%), nurses (6%), administrative staff (4%), and dosimetrists (4%). Learner feedback was reported in 32 studies. Conclusions Overall, this systematic literature review provides context and guidance for future radiation oncology SBME development. Appropriately framing SBME reports in the radiation oncology literature will facilitate development, implementation, and evaluation of SBME interventions. SBME resources should be centralized to facilitate dissemination and share resources.