cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Fusarium virguliforme FvTox1-Interacting Synthetic Peptides for Enhancing Foliar Sudden Death Syndrome Resistance in Soybean

Soybean is one of the most important crops grown across the globe. In the United States, approximately 15% of the soybean yield is suppressed due to various pathogen and pests attack. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is an emerging fungal disease caused by Fusarium virguliforme. Although growing SDS resistant soybean cultivars has been the main method of controlling this disease, SDS resistance is partial and controlled by a large number of quantitative trait loci (QTL). A proteinacious toxin, FvTox1, produced by the pathogen, causes foliar SDS. Earlier, we demonstrated that expression of an anti-FvTox1 single chain variable fragment antibody resulted in reduced foliar SDS development in transgenic soybean plants. Here, we investigated if synthetic FvTox1-interacting peptides, displayed on M13 phage particles, can be identified for enhancing foliar SDS resistance in soybean. We screened three phage-display peptide libraries and discovered four classes of M13 phage clones displaying FvTox1-interacting peptides. In vitro pull-down assays and in vivo interaction assays in yeast were conducted to confirm the interaction of FvTox1 with these four synthetic peptides and their fusion-combinations. One of these peptides was able to partially neutralize the toxic effect of FvTox1 in vitro. Possible application of the synthetic peptides in engineering SDS resistance soybean cultivars is discussed.
Remembrance of Things Past: Antitrust, Ideology, and the Development of Industrial Economics

What it is that economics can, does, or should bring to antitrust is a topic that turns up fairly often in the literature.2 The question of what antitrust has brought to industrial economics has received less attention, and it is that question to which I devote myself in this essay. Stigler (1982, p. 6) has noted the income redistribution consequences of antitrust for the economics profession. Such transfers accrue to individual members of the profession, and are not my topic. Closer to what I have in mind is the invaluable role of antitrust as a rich source of raw material for industrial economists (Coase, quoted in Kitch, 1983, p. 193): I think you can often learn more about how the economic system works by reading law books and cases in law books than you can be reading economics books because you do get descriptions of actual business practices which are difficult to explain.
The Line Between Us: Teaching About the Border and Mexican Immigration, by Bill Bigelow

Bill Bigelow's 2006 book, The Line Between Us: Teaching About the Border and Mexican Immigration, is part curriculum guide, part narrative, and part history lesson—and a timely, much-needed resourc...
Gadoxetate Disodium enhanced spectral dual-energy CT for evaluation of cholangiocarcinoma: Preliminary data

Abstract Purpose Evaluate Gadoxetate Disodium enhanced dual-energy CT for visualization of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma by exploiting the hepatobiliary uptake of Gadoxetate Disodium and viewing images at the k-edge of gadolinium on the spectrum of simulated monoenergetic energies available with Dual Energy CT. Material and methods In this prospective, IRB-approved study in patients with suspected cholangiocarcinoma, subjects who underwent a clinically indicated Gadoxetate Disodium liver MRI were immediately scanned without further IV contrast administration using rapid kVp-switching dual energy CT (rsDECT). Initial Gadoxetate Disodium dose was the FDA approved clinical dose, 0.025 mmol/kg; after additional IRB/FDA approval, 10 subjects were scanned with 0.05 mmol/kg. Both 50 keV and 70 keV simulated monoenergetic images as well as gadolinium(-water) material density images were viewed qualitatively and measured quantitatively for gadolinium uptake in the hepatic parenchyma and any focal lesions identified. Results Of 18 subjects (mean age 55 years, 10M, 8F, weight 84 kg), eight were scanned with 0.025 mmol/kg (Group 1) and 10 with 0.05 mmol/kg Gadoxetate Disodium (Group 2). Five patients had cholangiocarcinoma (all in Group 1). On synthetic monoenergetic images using standard and double Gadoxetate Disodium dose, the liver parenchyma did not appear enhanced qualitatively. Comparison of mean hepatic parenchymal HU at 50 and 70 keV showed a measurable increase in attenuation at the lower viewing energy, which corresponded to the k-edge of gadolinium. No statistically significant difference was observed on quantitative gadolinium measurement of hepatic parenchyma for single versus double Gadoxetate Disodium dose using rsDECT gadolinium material density images. Of the five cholangiocarcinomas, the tumor to nontumoral hepatic tissue HU differences were 51.1 (32.2) (mean and std dev) and 49.0(26.5) at 50 and 70 keV, respectively. Conclusion In this small pilot population, evaluation of potential hilar/perihilar cholangiocarcinoma using dual energy CT at both the single FDA-approved dose and double dose of gadolinium demonstrated observed differences in attenuation between the hepatic parenchyma and lesions. However, small sample size and heterogeneity of lesions warrants further investigation.
A Review of “The Politics of Religion in South and Southeast Asia”

Most Western discussion of political Islam, particularly in popular media outlets, focuses on a relatively small number of North African and Middle Eastern countries, plus Pakistan, Afghanistan, an...
Epizootic of Newcastle Disease in Pigeons and Studies on Transmission of the Virus

Abstract AS EARLY as 1927 Doyle in England reported that the pigeon was susceptible to Newcastle disease. He suggested that the susceptibility of the pigeon to intramuscular injection be used as a character in distinguishing Newcastle disease virus from that of fowl plague. Susceptibility of pigeons to the virus introduced by intravenous or intramuscular routes has been repeatedly shown (Picard, 1928; Cooper, 1931; Kylasamaier, 1931; Acevedo, 1933; Dobson, 1934; Kuppyswamy, 1937; Crawford, 1930; Manninger, 1936; and Pomeroy, 1948). Age has been reported to be a factor in susceptibility to infection, young pigeons being more susceptible than older birds (Picard, 1928). However, relative susceptibility of various types of doves as well as pigeons has been only superficially studied. Kaschula (1950) infected the laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis (Stigmatopelia senegalensis) by intramuscular route but was unable to infect the ring dove Streptopelia capicola. Contact infection or infection by feeding virus has been reported in . . .
The Lag RST Turbulence Model Applied to a Vortex Flow

A turbulent line vortex, also known as a q-vortex, is computed using the Reynoldsaveraged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and a slightly modified version of the lag Reynolds stress transport (RST) turbulence model proposed by Olsen and Coakley. The lag RST model is based on Wilcox’s k-ω two-equation equilibrium turbulence model. However, it attempts to model the behavior of non-equilibrium turbulence with the addition of a “lag” or “relaxation” equation for the Reynolds stress tensor. The results are compared to the direct numerical simulation (DNS) data of Qin and additional results obtained using other turbulence models. The results show that the lag RST model captures the misalignment between the principal axes of the Reynolds stress tensor and those of the strain rate tensor, which is seen in Qin’s DNS data. This misalignment is a result of the Reynolds stresses requiring time to react to changes in the mean flow. However, the lagging feature of the lag RST model comes at the expense of underpredicting Reynolds stress peak magnitudes. The model also does not predict the transition of peak turbulent kinetic energy from the vortex core edge to the vortex centerline when turbulence begins to decay as observed in the DNS. Although there are problems with the lag RST model in predicting this turbulent vortex flow, it does capture the non-equilibrium lag effect that linear eddy-viscosity models cannot.
Influence of plastic deformation heterogeneity on development of geometrically necessary dislocation density in dual phase steel

Abstract The present investigation examined the evolution of geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) structure following tensile deformation in a commercially produced dual phase steel, DP 590. GND measurements were made using electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD). The average GND density increased with imposed macroscopic strain, however the rate of increased slowed with increasing strain. GND density was found to be influenced by the ferrite grain size and orientation of the ferrite grains. Small ferrite grains generally had a higher GND density. For this steel the highest GND density was measured for {011}[111] orientations. Analysis of these data using the classical Ashby model for GND content shows that GND density is increasing linearly with strain. The discrepancy between measured and predicted GND density is attributed to the plastic deformation of martensite reducing the requirement of compatibility between ferrite and martensite and dynamic recovery of the dislocation structures decreasing the rate of GND storage with strain.
Moss antheridia are desiccation tolerant: Rehydration dynamics influence sperm release in Bryum argenteum

Premise of the study Free-living sperm of mosses are known to be partially desiccation tolerant. We hypothesized that mature moss antheridia should also tolerate desiccation and that rehydration to partial turgor (prehydration) or rehydration to full turgor (rehydration) before immersion in water is required for full recovery from any damaging effects of prior desiccation. Methods Bryum argenteum (silvery-thread moss) was grown in continuous culture for several months, produced mature perigonia (clusters of antheridia), and these were subjected to a slow rate of drying (∼36 h from full turgor to desiccation) and equilibration with 50% relative humidity. Perigonia were prehydrated (exposed to a saturated atmosphere) or rehydrated (planted upright in saturated media) for 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, and 1440 min, then immersed in sterile water. Time to first sperm mass release, number of antheridia releasing sperm masses, and the integrity of the first sperm mass released were assessed. Key results Rehydration of dried antheridia for at least 3 h before immersion in water resulted in antheridia functioning similar to control undried antheridia. Compared with rehydration, prehydration was not effective in the recovery of antheridia from desiccation. Conclusions For the first time, moss antheridia are shown to be fully desiccation tolerant at a functional level, capable of releasing fully functional sperm following a slow drying event provided the antheridia are allowed to rehydrate at least 3 h before immersion in water.
Chemolysis of Cystine Calculi

Abstract Historically, cystine stone chemolysis has been approached with 2 different categories of compounds—alkalizing agents (sodium bicarbonate and tromethamine) and, more recently, protonated thiols and disulfide compounds ( α -mercaptoprionylglycine, N-acetylcysteine and penicillamine). To establish the relative efficacy of these agents an in vitro model was devised that simulates the clinical setting. The optimal molar concentrations for sodium bicarbonate, N-acetylcysteine and tromethamine were determined initially and then compared at these strengths. Lastly, a variety of solution combinations were made to determine if a synergistic effect could be demonstrated. Results of this study demonstrate that the combination of acetylcysteine, a protonated thiol, with the strong alkalizing agent sodium hydroxide yields the most effective solution for chemolysis of cystine stones. The mechanism of action is believed to occur by a synergistic combination of the pH dependent increase in cystine solubility, with a simultaneously occurring thiol disulfide interchange.
Effect of Stem Cell Factor With and Without Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor on Neonatal Hematopoiesis: In Vivo Induction of Newborn Myelopoiesis and Reduction of Mortality During Experimental Group B Streptococcal Sepsis

Neonatal hematopoiesis and host defense are developmentally immature and under states of increased demand predispose the newborn to peripheral cytopenias and depletion of bone marrow storage pool reserves. We have previously demonstrated that recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) can significantly modulate neonatal rat granulopoiesis and act synergistically with antibiotic therapy to reduce the mortality rate during experimental group B streptococcal sepsis. Stem cell factor (SCF) has been shown to stimulate early hematopoietic progenitor cells and, in the presence of lineage-specific CSFs, enhance committed progenitor cell proliferation. In the present study we examined the in vivo neonatal hematologic effects of recombinant rat (rr) SCF (14 days), simultaneous rrSCF + rhG-CSF (14 days), and sequential combination of rrSCF (7 days) + rhG-CSF (7 days). Sprague-Dawley newborn rats (less than or equal to 24 hours) were injected intraperitoneal (IP) x 14 days with the above combinations. rrSCF (0 to 200 micrograms/kg/d) had a negligible effect on the peripheral platelet count and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) but the diminution in the hematocrit during the first 10 days of treatment was less pronounced (P = .0001). However, the simultaneous use of rrSCF + rhG-CSF synergistically increased the circulating day 6 to 13 ANC (P = .001). Similarly, sequential rrSCF + rhG-SCF also had a synergistic significant effect during the second week of therapy on the circulating ANC (P = .01). The bone marrow neutrophil storage and proliferative pools were also significantly increased in newborn rats treated with rrSCF + rhG-CSF versus rhG-CSF (P = .02). The bone marrow and liver/spleen CFU-GM pool was unchanged; however, the CFU-GM proliferative rates were significantly increased in the rrSCF + rhG-CSF group (P = .04). rrSCF also induced a significant increase in the bone marrow and liver/spleen mast cell pool (P = .002). Lastly, rrSCF x 14 days +/- rhG-CSF significantly reduced the mortality rate at 48 and 120 hours after experimental group B streptococcus sepsis (P = .03 and .05, respectively). These data suggest that combination SCF + G-CSF therapy compared with G-CSF alone significantly increases the neonatal rat peripheral neutrophil count, bone marrow myeloid pools and proliferative rates, and induces a reduction in the mortality rate during experimental bacterial sepsis. SCF therapy may have future potential applications in the modulation of human neonatal hematopoiesis and host defense.
Accurate p–ρ–T Data for a Synthetic Residual Natural Gas Mixture (0.95 CH4 + 0.04 C2H6 + 0.01 C3H8) at Temperatures between (135 and 500) K at Pressures to 200 MPa

This paper reports p–ρ–T (pressure, mass density, temperature) data measured for a mixture with molar composition (0.95039 methane + 0.03961 ethane + 0.01000 propane) using a high-pressure, single-sinker, magnetic-suspension densimeter (MSD) and high- and low-pressure automated isochoric apparatus at temperatures from (135 to 500) K and pressures to 200 MPa. The composition is representative of a residual natural gas in pipelines, but the range of conditions covers conditions possibly encountered in production and processing. The k = 2 relative uncertainty for the density measurements using the MSD is 5 × 10–4·ρ based upon an uncertainty analysis for the instrument. The isothermal densities measured in the MSD in combination with the low- and high-pressure isochoric data determine additional density data with essentially the same estimated relative uncertainty as the MSD in the high temperature range (above 300 K) and a relative uncertainty of 3 × 10–3·ρ at lower temperatures. The measured densities range...
In Vitro Cytotoxicity Testing of Potentially Active Anti-HIV Drugs with Cultured Cells

This study compared the ability of two continuous cell lines to predict the cytotoxicity of potentially active anti-HIV drugs. Human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL1) and CD4+ T-lymphocytes (CEM-IW) we...
Structural fat grafts: the ideal filler?

Since the nineteenth century, physicians have experimented with injections of a wide variety of substances to alter the surface contours of human faces. The ideal substance still eludes us, but fat grafting through a blunt cannula seems to be the safest of all the fillers used, and in skilled hands, can give long lasting results. A technique of harvesting, refining, and infiltrating fat is presented, along with a discussion of the qualities of this transplanted fat that make it one of the most ideal fillers available.
Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3)-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution of chlorobenzene with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) and the accompanying auto-redox in sulfur to give diaryl sulfides (Ar2S): Comparison to catalysis by aluminum chloride (AlCl3)

The Lewis acids MCl3 (M = Fe and Al)-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic (ArH) substitution reactions with thionyl chloride (SOCl2) have been shown to give diaryl sulfoxide (Ar2SO) and the reduced dia...
Modeling Strong‐Motion Recordings of the 2010 Mw 8.8 Maule, Chile, Earthquake with High Stress‐Drop Subevents and Background Slip

Strong‐motion recordings of the M w 8.8 Maule earthquake were modeled using a compound rupture model consisting of (1) a background slip distribution with large correlation lengths, relatively low slip velocity, and long peak rise time of slip of about 10 s and (2) high stress‐drop subevents (asperities) on the deeper portion of the rupture with moment magnitudes 7.9–8.2, high slip velocity, and rise times of slip of about 2 s. In this model, the high‐frequency energy is not produced in the same location as the peak coseismic slip, but is generated in the deeper part of the rupture zone. Using synthetic seismograms generated for a plane‐layered velocity model, I find that the high stress‐drop subevents explain the observed Fourier spectral amplitude from about 0.1 to 1.0 Hz. Broadband synthetics (0–10 Hz) were calculated by combining deterministic synthetics derived from the background slip and asperities (≤1 Hz) with stochastic synthetics generated only at the asperities (≥1 Hz). The broadband synthetics produced response spectral accelerations with low bias compared to the data, for periods of 0.1–10 s. A subevent stress drop of 200–350 bars for the high‐frequency stochastic synthetics was found to bracket the observed spectral accelerations at frequencies greater than 1 Hz. For most of the stations, the synthetics had durations of the Arias intensity similar to the observed records.
Incorporating Surface Water Operations in an Integrated Hydrologic Model: Model Development and Application to the Lower Republican River Basin, United States

AbstractFew river systems remain unaltered by engineered water management structures. Yet research investigating the interdependence between natural and engineered components of a hydrologic system...
A cryptosystem with noncommutative platform groups

This paper presents a new public key cryptosystem that uses noncommutative groups as platform group. The underlying hard problem of the proposed cryptosystem is a combination of discrete log problem and conjugacy search problem. Due to use of noncommutative platform groups, it is expected that the presented cryptosystem provides higher levels of security against known attacks. Some important issues regarding the choice of platform and parameters of this cryptosystem are addressed. Further, a brief analysis of security aspects is also presented.
Measurement-based performance profiles and dynamics of UDT over dedicated connections

Wide-area data transfers in high-performance computing and big data scenarios are increasingly being carried over dedicated network connections that provide high capacities at low loss rates. UDP-based transport protocols are expected to be particularly well-suited for such transfers but their performance is relatively unexplored over a wide range of connection lengths, compared to TCP over shared connections. We present extensive throughput measurements of UDP-based Data Transfer (UDT) over a suite of physical and emulated 10 Gbps connections. In sharp contrast to current UDT analytical models, these measurements indicate much more complex throughput dynamics that are sensitive to the connection modality, protocol parameters, and round-trip times. Lyapunov exponents estimated from the Poincare maps of UDT traces clearly indicate regions of instability and complex dynamics. We propose a simple model based on the ramp-up and sustainment regimes of a generic transport protocol, which qualitatively illustrates the dominant monotonicity and concavity properties of throughput profiles and relates them to Lyapunov exponents. These measurements and analytical results together enable us to comprehensively evaluate UDT performance and select parameters to achieve high throughput, and they also provide guidelines for designing effective transport protocols for dedicated connections.
Desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon for treatment of chronic deep digital flexor tendinopathy in three Quarter Horses

Summary Effective treatments for horses diagnosed with severe deep digital flexor (DDF) tendinopathy are limited. In this study, three Quarter Horses diagnosed with severe bilateral DDF tendinopathy underwent bilateral desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the DDF tendon after failing to respond to conservative therapy. Lameness markedly improved in all three horses. Given that severe DDF tendinopathy is typically associated with persistent or recurrent lameness, desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the DDF tendon might be a treatment option to alleviate lameness in horses with DDF tendinopathy. This treatment option appears promising; however, a larger number of cases is necessary to support the results in these three horses.
Rehabilitation of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation for layered materials

The structural and energetic properties of layered materials present a challenge to density functional theory with common semilocal approximations to the exchange-correlation energy. By combining the most widely used semilocal generalized gradient approximation (GGA), the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) one, with the revised Vydrov--van Voorhis nonlocal correlation functional (rVV10), both excellent structural and energetic properties of 28 layered materials have been recovered with a judicious parameter selection. We term the resulting functional PBE+rVV10L, with the ``L'' indicating that it is for layered materials. Such a combination is not new, and only involves refitting a single global parameter. However, the resulting excellent accuracy suggests such a dispersion-corrected PBE for many aspects of theoretical studies on layered materials. For comparison, we also present the results for PBE+rVV10 where the parameter is determined by 22 interaction energies between molecules.
Health care, immigrants, and minorities: lessons from the affordable care act in the U.S.

By the twenty-first century, the number of people migrating across international borders had grown substantially, spurred by ongoing economic, political, and environmental change in the Global Sout...
Sociodemographic Predictors of Sex Offender Stigma: How Politics Impact Attitudes, Social Distance, and Perceptions of Sex Offender Recidivism.

Stigma toward general criminal offenders has been found to be particularly salient among community members who identify as politically conservative; however, less is known about how political identification relates to stigma toward sex offenders. This is a particularly important area of inquiry, given that criminal jurisprudence and politics legitimatize stigmatizing labels attributed to sex offenders through laws and policies that apply specifically to this group. A nonrandom sample (N = 518) of participants living in the United States was recruited for this survey study. Findings indicated that a specific aspect of conservative political ideology—right-wing authoritarianism (RWA)—significantly predicts negative attitudes and intended social distancing behavior toward sex offenders, even when controlling for other important predictors, such as education and prior contact. RWA was found to be the strongest predictor of negative attitudes and estimations of sex offender recidivism, and also significantly p...
Reaction phenotyping to assess victim drug-drug interaction risks.

INTRODUCTION Reaction phenotyping provides critical information regarding the fraction metabolized (fm) of drug candidates. It has become increasingly important in drug discovery and development as it can be used to assess victim drug-drug interaction potential, guide structural modification to reduce fm, inform clinical study design, predict individual variability in pharmacokinetics, and evaluate the impact of genetic polymorphisms. Areas covered: The currently available in vitro and in vivo methods for reaction phenotyping are summarized along with their advantages, limitations and timings for application during the different stages of drug discovery and development. Challenges of reaction phenotyping for low clearance compounds, non-Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, extrahepatic contribution and atypical kinetics are highlighted and various approaches are discussed. Expert opinion: Certain areas of reaction phenotyping remain challenging with the current state of the science. In order to better define fm in this challenging space, there needs to be future advances in selective inhibitors and specific substrate reactions for non-CYP enzymes, availability of high quality and low cost recombinant enzymes, tissue distribution and in vitro-in vivo correlation, scaling factors for extrahepatic enzymes and the next generation of low clearance tools.
Federal Experience in TOPICS

TOPICS, or Traffic Operations Program to Increase Capacity and Safety, was initiated to assist urban areas in relieving traffic congestion. Emphasis is on achieving maximum efficiency quickly by means of low cost construction at bottleneck locations which prevent full utilization of existing capacity along the remainder of the route. Guidelines are written to encourage use of new and innovative concepts to obtain quick results in relieving traffic congestion and hazards. Congress has authorized $600,000,000 to date, which must be matched on a 50-50 basis with State or local funds in the same manner as federal-aid urban funds. The program has not advanced at the rate anticipated; so, in an effort to accelerate much needed improvements, federal procedures have been modified to the maximum extent consistent with existing legislation. Experience to date strongly indicates the program is responsive to a broad spectrum of traffic operation needs, resulting in reduction of accidents and improved mobility in urban areas.
A Clear Speech Approach to Accent Management

Purpose A 5-session twice-weekly clear speech protocol with daily home practice was developed to enable Spanish-accented speakers of English to code-switch for increased listener ease of understand...
Immunization effects of a communication intervention to promote preteen HPV vaccination in primary care practices.

Abstract Objectives HPV vaccination at the recommended ages of 11–12 is highly effective yet has stalled well below the goal of 80% of the population. We evaluated a statewide practice-based communication intervention (tools: brochures, posters, online training for providers and resources for parents, video game for preteens) to persuade parents, preteens and providers to vaccinate against HPV. The 9-month intervention started May 1, 2015. Methods We compared vaccine initiation and completion rates over three 9-month periods (baseline, intervention, post-intervention) between practices enrolled in the intervention and a comparable comparison group. All practices reported to the North Carolina Immunization Registry (NCIR) and had at least 100 11- and 12-year-olds who had not completed the HPV vaccine series. Of 175 eligible practices, the 14 intervention practices included 19,398 individuals and the 161 comparison practices included 127,896 individuals. An extended Cox model was used to test the intervention effect. Results The intervention had a significant effect on both initiation and completion during the intervention and post-intervention periods; the estimated hazard ratio (HR) for initiation was 1.17 (p = .004) during the intervention and 1.11 (p = .005) post-intervention. Likewise, completion during the intervention period was 17% higher in intervention practices, after controlling for baseline differences. This effect increased in the post-intervention period to 30% higher (p = .03). Conclusions Individuals in the intervention practices were 17% more likely to initiate and complete HPV vaccination than in the comparison practices during the intervention period and the effect was sustained post-intervention. This intervention is promising for increasing rates of HPV vaccination at ages 11–12.
Impacts of forest-based bioenergy feedstock production on soil nitrogen cycling

Abstract We investigated impacts of simultaneous production of biomass for biofuel and quality timber on soil nitrogen (N) cycling in a poorly drained forest soil of eastern North Carolina, U.S.A. Treatments included traditional loblolly pine (PINE) and pine-switchgrass intercropping (PSWITCH). Treatments were replicated three times on 0.8 ha plots drained by parallel open ditches which were 1.2 m deep and spaced 100 m apart. Net N mineralization (Nm) and nitrification (Nn) rates were measured in the field using sequential in-situ technique over two years with multiple measurements in each year and laboratory by incubating soil samples for one-, two-, eight-, and thirteen weeks. Soil incubation in-situ or sample collection for laboratory incubation was conducted at nine sampling points within a 30 × 40 m subplot at each plot center and 20 cm from the soil surface. Soil samples were composited by location including near tree (NT), between two trees on the same bed (BT), and in the middle of four trees on two adjacent beds (M4T). Composite samples from NT and BT were categorized as tree-bed (BED), while those from M4T were grouped as interbed (INT). Field results showed that total soil N availability and its temporal variations over two years were not significantly affected by PSWITCH. However, it significantly reduced Nn rates, particularly in the INT. The plot-level mean Nm rates in PINE were 0.21 and 0.26 mg N·kg soil−1 d−1, while in PSWITCH they were 0.10 and 0.21 mg N kg soil−1 d−1 in 2011 and 2012, respectively. The plot-level mean Nn rates in PINE were 0.09 and 0.10 mg N kg soil−1 d−1 in 2011 and 2012, respectively, while in PSWITCH they remained at 0.03 mg N kg soil−1 d−1 across these two years. At the INT, mean Nn rates in PINE were 0.11 and 0.12 mg N kg soil−1 d−1 in 2011 and 2012, respectively, while in PSWITCH, Nn rate remained at 0.02 mg N kg soil−1 d−1 over two years. Laboratory results indicated that change in litter quality inputs (changing from mixed species to switchgrass) in the INT did not significantly affect Nm rates. Results of this study contributed to a better understanding of the changes in soil N cycling due to loblolly pine-switchgrass interactions, which is important in sustainable nutrient management of this new land use. Further, the results suggested that growing switchgrass as intercrop to managed loblolly pine has positive water quality implication since ammonium N is less mobile in soil than nitrate N.
Positive direct antiglobulin test result in dialysis patients resulting from antiformaldehyde antibodies.

Patients on chronic hemodialysis who are treated with reusable dialyzers sterilized with formaldehyde are known to have antibodies develop with N-like specificity. These sera have been shown to also react with formaldehyde-treated N-negative cells. This latter specificity has been referred to as antiformaldehyde (anti-Form). Because anti-Form develops presumably in response to formaldehyde-treated cells that gain access to the patient’s circulation, the authors reasoned that recipient anti-Form once established might be capable of binding to cells exposed to formaldehyde during dialysis, resulting in a positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) result and an eluate reacting only with formaldehyde-treated reagent cells. The authors studied 96 patients on chronic hemodialysis who were exposed to formaldehyde-sterilized equipment. Both anti–N-like and anti-Form specificities were found. Anti-Form was detected in the serum of 16% of patients when tested against 0.37% (w/v) formaldehyde-treated cells. Nineteen percent of patients demonstrated a positive DAT result. The presence of a positive DAT result was significantly associated with the presence of anti-Form in the patien’s serum ( P < 0.05). Red blood cell eluates from two patients with a positive IgG DAT result and serum anti-Form demonstrated anti-Form in the eluate. Increasing the concentration of formaldehyde treatment of red blood cells resulted in increasing strength of reactions with anti-Form serum, suggesting that the sensitivity of serum and eluate testing could be modified by the method of cell preparation. As expected, the reactivity of anti-Form with formaldehyde-treated cells could not be neutralized by formaldehyde. The authors conclude that patients treated with formaldehyde-sterilized reusable dialysis equipment may on occasion have a positive DAT result and have an eluate that is nonreactive with the use of standard reagent cells but reactive with formaldehyde-treated cells.
Racial Variation in the Proximal and Distal Femur: Heritability and Forensic Utility

The femur has been studied successfully by physical anthropologists for many years. Such traits as femoral head diameter and bicondylar width have been examined extensively and are of great value to forensic anthropologists and other skeletal biologists in sex identification. A number of studies over the past decade by the author and his former students have shown marked racial differences in the shape of the proximal femur and in at least one trait of the distal femur—intercondylar notch height. Anteriorposterior (AP) diameter of the proximal femur is much greater among Whites and Blacks than among East Asians and American Indians. Blacks have slightly greater intercondylar notch height than Whites. Other features, such as torsion, also differ between the major geographic racial populations. Current analysis suggests that the East Polynesians fall close to the American Indians and East Asians in the degree of flatness of the proximal femur. One study has tracked the degree of change in flatness during individual development, and finds little change within major populations from the youngest to the oldest individuals. Temporal changes within populations are likewise minimal. Two studies have examined sex differences within populations, which are also found to be very slight. Racial differences, on the other hand, are quite significant, and individuals of admixed ancestry fall intermediate between the two parental populations. Such suggestions of high heritability in the shape of the proximal and distal femur make these traits very useful in assessing ancestry in forensic contexts.
Stress management: MHC class I and class I-like molecules as reporters of cellular stress

The evolutionarily ancient intracellular stress response protects cells from the effects of external and internal forces which perturb cellular metabolism. Members of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like superfamily act as cell surface indicators of the intracellular stress response. Cellular immunity employs these indicators as a cue for elimination of damaged, infected, and malignant cells, promoting the health of the individual and the evolutionary success of the species.
Parental Problem Recognition and Help-Seeking for Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Millions of children across the USA have unmet mental health needs. When these include the disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs)-oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-this can mean significant long-term consequences. Since children rarely seek treatment themselves, parents are central to the help-seeking process. This paper reviews research on the rates of problem recognition and help-seeking for DBDs, and on perceptual barriers that might hinder service engagement. Most children with DBDs are neither identified as such nor engaged in treatment, although this may be less true for ADHD than ODD or CD. Factors associated with DBDs that may reduce service engagement include seeing the behaviors as "normative," interpreting the symptoms as willful, and expecting to be blamed for the child's problems. Implications of these findings are discussed with particular focus on the widespread dissemination of evidence-based information about DBDs.
Journey of a Lifetime

As I work with medical students and family medicine residents at the University of Virginia (UVA) School of Medicine, I remind them that they are where I was four decades ago, and I am where they will be in four decades. Our combined careers, which will probably exceed eight decades, will see many
Validation of the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS) and development of the Brief-MSCS among hospice and healthcare professionals: a confirmatory factor analysis approach to validation.

OBJECTIVE In the emotionally intense field of healthcare, the ability to peacefully inhabit one's body, maintain good boundaries, and be fully present during care is essential. This study aimed to validate the recently developed Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS) among hospice and healthcare professionals and develop a brief version of the 33-item MSCS. METHOD A sample of hospice and healthcare professionals from all 50 states (n = 858) was used. A confirmatory factor analysis was run using a rigorous methodology for validation and item reduction to develop a brief version of the 33-item MSCS. The brief MSCS (B-MSCS) was developed by identifying items for exclusion through examination of conceptual overlap, descriptive statistics by detecting sources of improvement model fit using confirmatory factor analysis. Model modifications were done sequentially and with regard to theoretical considerations. RESULT The existing model, 33-item MSCS with six subscales, had good fit to the data with all indicators in acceptable ranges (chi-square/df = 3.08, df (480), p < 0.01, root mean square error of approximation = 0.059, comparative fit index = 0.915, Tucker and Lewis's index of fit = 0.907). Nine items were excluded on the basis of very low loadings and conceptual and empirical overlap with other items. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS The final 24-item, B-MSCS model was consistent with the original conceptual model and had a closer fit to the data (chi-square/df = 1.85, df (215), p < 0.01, root mean square error of approximation = 0.041, comparative fit index = 0.961, Tucker and Lewis's index of fit = 0.955). In addition, the reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the MSCS and B-MSCS were in the acceptable and good ranges, respectively. Mean and standard deviation of the MSCS and B-MSCS scores were similar; B-MSCS mean scores well approximated the MSCS scores. Informal mindful self-care, in the process of everyday life, was practiced more regularly and associated with increased wellness and reduced burnout risk than formal mind-body practices.
Staphylococcal Protein Secretion and Envelope Assembly

The highly cross-linked peptidoglycan represents the rigid layer of the bacterial envelope and protects bacteria from osmotic lysis. In Gram-positive bacteria, peptidoglycan also functions as a scaffold for the immobilization of capsular polysaccharide, wall teichoic acid (WTA), and surface proteins. This chapter captures recent development on the assembly of the envelope of Staphylococcus aureus including mechanisms accounting for immobilization of molecules to peptidoglycan as well as hydrolysis of peptidoglycan for the specific release of bound molecules, facilitation of protein secretion across the envelope and cell division. Peptidoglycan, WTA and capsular polysaccharide are directly synthesized onto undecaprenol. Surface proteins are anchored by Sortase A, a membrane-embedded transpeptidase that scans secreted polypeptides for the C-terminal LPXTG motif of sorting signals. The resulting acyl enzyme intermediate is resolved by lipid II, the undecaprenol-bound peptidoglycan precursor. While these pathways share membrane diffusible undecaprenol, assembly of these molecules occurs either at the cross-walls or the cell poles. In S. aureus, the cross-wall represents the site of de novo peptidoglycan synthesis which is eventually split to complete the cell cycle yielding newly divided daughter cells. Peptidoglycan synthesized at the cross-wall is initially devoid of WTA. Conversely, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) synthesis which does not require bactoprenol is seemingly restricted to septal membranes. Similarly, S. aureus distinguishes two types of surface protein precursors. Polypeptides with canonical signal peptides are deposited at the cell poles, whereas precursors with conserved YSIRK-GXXS motif signal peptides traffic to the cross-wall. A model for protein trafficking in the envelope and uneven distribution of teichoic acids is discussed.
Lipid Dynamics at Contact Sites Between the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Other Organelles

Phospholipids are synthesized primarily within the endoplasmic reticulum and are subsequently distributed to various subcellular membranes to maintain the unique lipid composition of specific organelles. As a result, in most cases, the steady-state localization of membrane phospholipids does not match their site of synthesis. This raises the question of how diverse lipid species reach their final membrane destinations and what molecular processes provide the energy to maintain the lipid gradients that exist between various membrane compartments. Recent studies have highlighted the role of inositol phospholipids in the nonvesicular transport of lipids at membrane contact sites. This review attempts to summarize our current understanding of these complex lipid dynamics and highlights their implications for defining future research directions.
Miniaturized Intracavitary Forward-Looking Ultrasound Transducer for Tissue Ablation.

Objective: This paper aims to develop a miniaturized forward-looking ultrasound transducer for intracavitary tissue ablation, which can be used through an endoscopic device. The internal ultrasound (US) delivery is capable of directly interacting with the target tumor, resolving adverse issues of currently available US devices, such as unintended tissue damage and insufficient delivery of acoustic power. Methods: To transmit a high acoustic pressure from a small aperture (<; 3 mm), a double layer transducer (1.3 MHz) was designed and fabricated based on numerical simulations. The electric impedance and the acoustic pressure of the actual device was characterized with an impedance analyzer and a hydrophone. Ex vivo tissue ablation tests and temperature monitoring were then conducted with porcine livers. Results: The acoustic intensity of the transducer was 37.1 W/cm 2 under 250 Vpp and 20% duty cycle. The tissue temperature was elevated to 51.8 °C with a 67 Hz pulse-repetition frequency. The temperature profile in the tissue indicated that ultrasound energy was effectively absorbed inside the tissue. During a 5-min sonification, an approximate tissue volume of 2.5 × 2.5 × 1.0 mm 3 was ablated, resulting in an irreversible lesion. Conclusion: This miniaturized US transducer is a promising medical option for the precise tissue ablation, which can reduce the risk of unintended tissue damage found in noninvasive US treatments. Significance: Having a small aperture (2 mm), the intracavitary device is capable of ablating a bio tissue in 5 min with a relatively low electric power (<; 17 W).
Beating-Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Indications, Advantages, and Limitations

To purchase reprints, contact The InnoVision Group, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656. Phone, (800) 899-1712 or (949) 362-2050 (ext 532); fax, (949) 362-2049; e-mail, reprints@aacn.org. Murray (1952), Sabiston (1963), and Garrett (1964). However, the invention of beating-heart or offpump CABG surgery is often attributed to Kolessov, who, in 1967, used a minithoracotomy incision, anastomosing the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Later pioneers of the off-pump technique include Favoloro, Garrett, and associates (in the United States); Trapp and Bisarya (in Canada); and Ankeney (in the United States)—all of whom performed off-pump CABG surgery from 1968 to 1975. However, the off-pump procedure was abandoned with the development of the cardiopulmonary bypass machine and cardioplegia and the routine use of these techniques, which afforded access to all areas of the heart. In the 1980s and 1990s, Benetti and colleagues in Argentina and Buffolo and his colleagues in Brazil reintroduced off-pump CABG surgery. This reinstitution in South America was partly due to economic reasons and limited healthcare resources. Yet, despite the existence of o f f p u m p C A B G s u r g e r y f o r Beating-Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Indications, Advantages, and Limitations
Relationship between nocturnal blood pressure patterns and end organ damage and diastolic dysfunction in heart transplant recipients.

Background We assessed the relationship between circadian blood pressure (BP) patterns and clinical outcomes in a contemporary cohort of adult heart transplant recipients. Methods This retrospective, cross-sectional study included adult heart transplant recipients at least 6 months post-transplant. Ambulatory BP measurements were recorded over 24 hours. Nondippers were defined as a decline in average nighttime BP ≤ 10% compared with daytime. Primary outcomes were the presence of end organ damage, that is, microalbuminuria, chronic kidney disease, and/or left ventricular hypertrophy. Secondary outcomes were measures of diastolic dysfunction (ie, mitral valve deceleration time, e/e', E/A, and isovolumetric relaxation time), microalbumin/creatinine ratio, eGFR, interventricular septal thickness, and left ventricular posterior wall thickness. Results Of 30 patients, 53.3% (n = 16) were systolic nondippers and 40% (n = 12) were diastolic nondippers. Diastolic nondippers had three times higher urine microalbumin/creatinine ratios than diastolic dippers (P = .03). Systolic nondippers had 16.3% lower mitral valve deceleration time (P = .05) than systolic dippers, while diastolic nondippers had 20.4% higher e/e' (P = .05) than diastolic dippers. There were no significant relationships between BP dipping status and any of the primary outcomes. Conclusions These data suggest that systolic and diastolic nondipping BP patterns are associated with subclinical kidney damage and diastolic dysfunction in heart transplant recipients.