cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Haemagglutinin/protease expression and mucin gel penetration in El Tor biotype Vibrio cholerae.

Vibrio cholerae of both biotypes produce a soluble Zn 2+ -dependent metalloprotease: haemagglutinin/protease (Hap), encoded by hapA. Hap has been shown to have mucinolytic and cytotoxic activity. These activities are likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cholera and the reactogenicity of attenuated vaccine strains. Production of Hap requires transcriptional activation by the HapR regulator and is repressed by glucose. The present study shows that mucin purified from two sources, bile salts, and growth at 37 ˚ C enhanced Hap protease production. Analysis of hapA and hapR promoter fusions with the lacZ gene showed both promoters to be activated in a cell-density-dependent pattern. Glucose repressed and mucin induced the hapA promoter by a HapR-independent mechanism. Bile had no effect on either hapR or hapA promoter activity. Expression of hapA was required for vibrios to translocate through a mucin-containing gel. These results suggest Hap to play an important role in cholera pathogenesis by promoting mucin gel penetration, detachment and spreading of infection along the gastrointestinal tract.
The Wheel of Law: India's Secularism in Comparative Constitutional Context

The Wheel of Law: India's Secularism in Comparative Constitutional Context. By Gary Jeffrey Jacobsohn. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2003. 344p. $39.50.Since its birth in 1947, India has presented an enigma to many social scientists. A country with a huge population—many living in rather grim circumstances of illiteracy, poverty and despair, bearing a historical legacy of hegemonic rule under the Mughals or the British, and professing a traditional culture marked by deference to authority and hierarchic social arrangements—does not present ideal conditions for democracy to flourish. But India confounded many pundits simply by surviving, indeed succeeding, as a pluralist and constitutional polity. However, one development that may be undermining that confidence is the emergence of an aggressive religious movement coalescing around the sangh parivar (i.e., the cluster of organizations dedicated to the principles of Hindutva), the extremist Hindu identity movement whose electoral success and social agenda is threatening to unravel one of the cherished pillars of India's democracy—its self-conscious and determined commitment to a secular order. Gary Jacobsohn's book explores the challenges this development poses from within a jurisprudential and comparative perspective, including in his analysis references and themes relevant to Israel and the United States as well.
The Case for Independent Software Usability Testing: Lessons Learned from a Successful Intervention

This report presents the lessons learned from a software usability test for an external customer. An initial evaluation with naive users revealed problems in the user interface and that the customer's objectives were not being met. After initial resistance to making changes in the software, the customer decided to delay release of its product to implement some of the recommendations and changed the focus of initial release to experienced users. The results of a second evaluation conducted on the revised product with experienced users were positive.Several lessons can be learned from the above evaluation: (1) Usability evaluation should be incorporated earlier in the software development cycle to minimize resistance to changes in a hardened user interface; (2) Organizations should have an independent usability evaluation of software products to avoid the temptation to overlook problems to release the product; (3) Multiple categories of dependent measures should be employed in usability testing because subj...
Red Blood Cell Partitioning, Protein Binding and Lipophilicity of Six Phenothiazines

Hexane-water partition coefficients, pKa values, protein binding and red blood cell partitioning were studied with six phenothiazine drugs. Red cell partitioning was independent of drug concentration, and there was no correlation between partitioning and physicochemical characteristics. Red cell partitioning could be used indirectly to estimate protein binding, but two potential pitfalls of general importance were found. Failure to consider drug binding of glassware and haematocrit changes were shown to induce incorrect estimates of both red cell partitioning and protein binding, as well as hexane-water partition coefficients.
COMPUTATION OF WALL TEMPERATURE EFFECTS ON THE VISCOUS DRAG OF PROJECTILES

Parabolized Navier-Stokes Codes (PNS) provide accurate data on projectile supersonic viscous drag for trajectory predictions. The PNS Code employed uses an algebraic turbulence model but concern existed regarding its accuracy in predicting the effects of wall temperature on viscous drag. Wall temperature is not usually considered in trajectory calculations except in some special situations where the projectile is significantly hotter or colder than the local ambient temperature. In such cases, the boundary layer heat transfer effects viscous drag and thereby range. Comparisons between PNS predictions of zero pressure gradient skin friction and data correlations show that assuming variable fluid properties in the turbulence model is required for agreement. PNS calculations of the viscous drag are then used in a trajectory simulation to predict wall temperature effects on the range of a typical extended range shell. Nomenclature A+ wall
Uncertainty in Model Predictions of Vibrio vulnificus Response to Climate Variability and Change: A Chesapeake Bay Case Study

The effect that climate change and variability will have on waterborne bacteria is a topic of increasing concern for coastal ecosystems, including the Chesapeake Bay. Surface water temperature trends in the Bay indicate a warming pattern of roughly 0.3–0.4°C per decade over the past 30 years. It is unclear what impact future warming will have on pathogens currently found in the Bay, including Vibrio spp. Using historical environmental data, combined with three different statistical models of Vibrio vulnificus probability, we explore the relationship between environmental change and predicted Vibrio vulnificus presence in the upper Chesapeake Bay. We find that the predicted response of V. vulnificus probability to high temperatures in the Bay differs systematically between models of differing structure. As existing publicly available datasets are inadequate to determine which model structure is most appropriate, the impact of climatic change on the probability of V. vulnificus presence in the Chesapeake Bay remains uncertain. This result points to the challenge of characterizing climate sensitivity of ecological systems in which data are sparse and only statistical models of ecological sensitivity exist.
A seismic model using sound waves in air

For seismic reflections, for example in exploration seismology, the energy returned to the surface must come from a subsurface area of some ten “square wavelengths.” Energy is not returned by a “reflection point,” and it is not returned by a “fault line.” Ray geometry is a poor approximation, and its uncritical use in seismic interpretation causes important error. The seismic interpreter must think always that reflections come from a large area, and such thinking will surely affect the way he maps subsurface topography and faulting. This paper describes various experiments to show that reflected energy must come from a relatively large area. The experiments were made with a laboratory model using sound waves in air. A spark source, a receiver consisting of a three‐inch speaker, and plywood reflectors were used. Wavelengths in air of the order of three inches were used to model typical exploration dimensions. Reflection amplitudes are shown for models of horizontal and dipping layers terminated at a fault,...
Adaptive handoffs through the estimation of fading parameters

Vijayan and Holtzman (1993) and Zhang and Holtzman (1994) outlined a model for analyzing handoff algorithms based on signal strength measurements. Delay in handoff and number of unnecessary handoffs were identified as performance measures. It was further shown that the signal averaging distance and hysteresis level could be chosen so that both performance measures were minimized. Vijayan and Holtzman (1993) pointed out that the optimal parameters were particularly sensitive to the shadow fading standard deviation. It was suggested that using more averaging and less hysteresis would provide some robustness. However, in order to detect jumps in signal strength (street corner effects), less averaging and more hysteresis is required. Thus, there is a conflict of requirements for robustness to shadow fading and jump detection. The present authors suggest estimating the shadow fading standard deviation as a solution to resolve the conflict. A simple scheme is outlined. It is based on using squared deviations of the received signal strength. Several sensitivity studies were performed and the results are included. The use of these estimates in conjunction with maximum Doppler frequency estimates to estimate speed in an adaptive handoff algorithm is specified. >
Intermittent perfusion protects the brain during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest

Abstract Background . Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) has been shown to cause impairment in recovery of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral metabolism (CMRO 2 ) proportional to the duration of the DHCA period. This effect on CMRO 2 may be a marker for brain injury, because CMRO 2 recovers normally after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) when DHCA is not used. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intermittent perfusion during DHCA on the recovery of CMRO 2 after CPB and to correlate these findings with electron microscopy (EM) of the cerebral microcirculatory bed. Methods . Fifteen neonatal piglets were placed on CPB and cooled to 18°C. Each animal then underwent either: (1) 60 minute continuous CPB (control), (2) 60 minute uninterrupted DHCA (UI-DHCA), or (3) 60 minute DHCA with intermittent perfusion (1 minute every 15 minutes) (I-DHCA). All animals were then rewarmed and weaned from CPB. Measurements of CBF and CMRO 2 were taken before and after CPB. A further 9 animals underwent CPB without DHCA (2 animals) or with DHCA (7 animals), under various conditions of arterial blood gas management, intermittent perfusion, and reperfusion time. Results . UI-DHCA resulted in significant impairment to recovery of CMRO 2 after CPB ( p 2 recovery identical to controls, and the EM was normal for both these groups. Conclusions . Intermittent perfusion during DHCA is clinically practical and results in normal cerebral metabolic and ultrastructural recovery. Furthermore, the correlation between brain structure and CMRO 2 suggests that monitoring CMRO 2 during the operation may be an outstanding way to investigate new strategies for neuroprotection designed to reduce cerebral damage in children undergoing correction of congenital cardiac defects.
Multiscale Simulation of Ballistic Composites for Blast Induced Traumatic Brain Injury Mitigation

The effectiveness of helmets in preventing internal damage due to blast waves requires understanding of not just the strength of the helmet material but also its energy absorption characteristics. To understand and develop ballistic helmets with improved protection, it is necessary to develop computational procedures that will enable the accurate modeling of traumatic head injuries as well as the precise measurement of the mechanical properties of composite materials used in helmets. In this study, a multiscale simulation strategy is used to estimate the mechanical characteristics of advanced composite structures with embedded nanostructures in a ballistic material. In most of the previous theoretical works, an analysis dedicated to improving the design of the helmet using composite nano-structures was not included due to a lack of understanding of the interactions of the nano-structures with the matrix materials. In this work, the role of the helmet on the over pressurization and impulse experienced by the head during blast wave is studied. The properties of the nano-composite materials are estimated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and the properties are scaled to the macroscopic level using continuum mechanics formulations. Finally, the analysis is also carried out on an unprotected head to compare the results to those obtained when protected by a helmet containing carbon nanotubes. The developed multiscale model can be used to improve the composition of helmets and the understanding of the traumatic effect of blast shock wave, thereby leading to the mitigation and prevention of traumatic head injuries.© 2014 ASME
Endogenous dendritic cells from the tumor microenvironment support T-ALL growth via IGF1R activation

Primary T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cells require stromal-derived signals to survive. Although many studies have identified cell-intrinsic alterations in signaling pathways that promote T-ALL growth, the identity of endogenous stromal cells and their associated signals in the tumor microenvironment that support T-ALL remains unknown. By examining the thymic tumor microenvironments in multiple murine T-ALL models and primary patient samples, we discovered the emergence of prominent epithelial-free regions, enriched for proliferating tumor cells and dendritic cells (DCs). Systematic evaluation of the functional capacity of tumor-associated stromal cells revealed that myeloid cells, primarily DCs, are necessary and sufficient to support T-ALL survival ex vivo. DCs support T-ALL growth both in primary thymic tumors and at secondary tumor sites. To identify a molecular mechanism by which DCs support T-ALL growth, we first performed gene expression profiling, which revealed up-regulation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (Pdgfrb) and insulin-like growth factor I receptor (Igf1r) on T-ALL cells, with concomitant expression of their ligands by tumor-associated DCs. Both Pdgfrb and Igf1r were activated in ex vivo T-ALL cells, and coculture with tumor-associated, but not normal thymic DCs, sustained IGF1R activation. Furthermore, IGF1R signaling was necessary for DC-mediated T-ALL survival. Collectively, these studies provide the first evidence that endogenous tumor-associated DCs supply signals driving T-ALL growth, and implicate tumor-associated DCs and their mitogenic signals as auspicious therapeutic targets.
Effect of Specimen Geometry on Quantitative EDS Analysis with Four-Quadrant Super-X Detectors

In recent years, X-ray signal collection efficiency in energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) has been significantly improved by incorporating state-of-the-art four-quadrant Super-X detectors in aberration-corrected microscopes [1, 2] and has enabled routine atomic-resolution EDS elemental mapping, as shown in Figure 1a. The breakthrough in detector technology has sparked interest in quantifying the chemical information directly from atomically resolved EDS maps [3-5]. In order to obtain an atomic-resolution EDS map, the specimen however must be tilted to a low index zone axis, resulting in different orientation with respect to each detector. This will inevitably result in different Xray signals arriving at each detector due to their different absorption distances and effective take-off angles. Such a variation could largely affect the ability to accurately quantify the overall EDS spectrum from four Super-X detectors without precautions as evidenced in this work. Therefore, understanding the X-ray signal variation from each detector under tilted specimen condition becomes both experimentally and theoretically important as a starting point for atomic-resolution EDS quantification.
Isomer Content and Other Factors Influencing Captures of Oriental Fruit Moth by Synthetic Pheromone Traps

Factors influencing captures of the male Grapholitha molesta (Busck) by traps baited with its synthetic sex pheromone, ( Z )-8-dodecenyl acetate, and dodecyl alcohol (a synergist) were investigated. Of the 5 trap designs tested, the Zoecon Pherotrap 1, with both top and bottom sections, caught the most moths. Traps at, heights of 3 and 6 ft caught best; comparatively few moths were taken at 9 ft and almost none at ground level. Of 4 concentrations of a 1:10 combination of pheromone + synergist, 0.8 μl pheromone + 8 μl synergist caught the most moths; of 7 combinations of pheromone + synergist, 2 μl each of pheromone + synergist caught best. Addition of ( Z )-8-dodecenyl alcohol to the pheromone + synergist mixture depressed moth captures. Response to the attractant was greatest between 8 and 9 PM, with response continuing at a lesser pace through the night. Most importantly, the addition of a small percentage of the E isomer to the pheromone resulted in enhanced attraction; thus, the mixture of synergist + pheromone containing 1.7% E isomer caught only 20 moths vs. 505 caught by a similar mixture with 6.7% of the E isomer.
Trends in the treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma in the Medicare population.

Objective Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a relatively rare malignancy that is associated with a poor prognosis. The rarity of LMS has led to a lack of consensus regarding appropriate treatment. The goal of this study was to identify the role that chemotherapy and radiotherapy have played in the treatment of uterine LMS in the United States as well as the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment. Materials/Methods We used the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)-Medicare database to gather information on uterine LMS patients older than the age of 66 years diagnosed between 1992 and 2009. Basic demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. A logistic regression model analysis was performed to determine predictors of treatment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify clinical parameters and treatment strategies associated with survival differences. Results Our final study group included 230 patients. We found that the rate of use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with uterine LMS increased over the period investigated. However, we identified no significant survival advantage associated with either mode of therapy. The strongest predictor of survival was stage at diagnosis. The logistic regression model analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, treatment year, stage, and underlying health status were all independent predictors of chemotherapy. Age at diagnosis was also a predictor of radiation therapy. Conclusions The increasing rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy use in this population seem to be unfounded given the lack of survival benefit. Further investigation into alternative treatment regimens is merited. The prognostic significance of stage at diagnosis indicates the importance of improving early detection of uterine LMS.
The Control Method of Body Manufacturing Dimension Quality

Through the introduction of the importance of body manufacturing dimension,analyzes the influence factors of body manufacturing dimension deviation,and take control measures,research manufacture size quality evaluation method and system analysis method,to improve body manufacturing dimension provides the strategies and specific control methods.
Validation of claims-based algorithms for gout flares

Purpose Gout is a common inflammatory arthritis characterized by repeated acute flares. The ability to accurately identify gout flares is critical for comparative effectiveness studies of gout treatments. We developed and examined the accuracy of a claims-based algorithm to identify gout flares. Methods Patients receiving care at an academic medical center between 2006 and 2010 with a diagnosis of gout or hyperuricemia were selected using an electronic medical record-Medicare claims linked dataset. Gout flares were identified by several claims-based algorithms using a diagnosis of gout combined with gout-related medication claims and/or procedure codes for arthrocentesis or joint injection. We calculated positive predictive value of these algorithms based on physician documentation of gout flare in medical record as the gold standard. Negative predictive value of the gout flare algorithm was calculated in a randomly selected subgroup of 200 patients with gout. Results Among 3952 subjects with gout or hyperuricemia, 503 flares were identified using the medication-based algorithm, and 290 were identified using the procedure-based algorithm. The positive predictive value for gout flares ranged from 50–54% for the medication-based algorithms and 59–68% for the procedure-based algorithms. The negative predictive value of the algorithm combining both medication and procedure claims was high (85.2%). Conclusion Use of gout diagnosis codes in combination with medication dispensing or procedure codes did not appear to accurately capture gout flares in patients with gout in a claims database. However, the claims-based flare algorithm could be useful in identifying a cohort of gout patients with no flares. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Blake, the Apocalypse and Romantic Women Writers

As Morton D. Paley trenchantly reminded us in The Apocalyptic Sublime in 1986, apocalyptic subjects were “a permanent and distinctive aspect of Blake’s imagination—a lifelong engagement with the idea of divine revelation penetrating history and bringing it toward a Day of Wrath and Last Judgement.” I need not rehearse Blake’s commitment to a vision of the future that entailed a sudden and radical break with the past. That break could happen either at the level of the individual who comes to perceive his or her absorption into the human form divine, or at the level of an entire social group that is finally empowered, as Blake prophesies at the end of his epic poem Jerusalem, to converse together … in Visionary forms dramatic which bright Redounded from their Tongues in thunderous majesty, in Visions In new Expanses, creating exemplars of Memory and of Intellect Creating Space, Creating Time according to the wonders Divine Of Human Imagination, throughout all the Three Regions immense Of Childhood, Manhood & Old Age [;] (Jerusalem 98, 28–33; Erdman, p. 257)
The role of computed tomography after emergent trauma operation

Abstract Background Although computed tomography (CT) has become the preferred diagnostic modality, immediate surgical intervention is often required for severely injured patients with minimum preoperative radiographic evaluation. The utility of postoperative CT (postop-CT) for the identification of undiagnosed injuries and its impact on patient management remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of postop-CT for the identification of clinically significant injuries in patients who underwent an emergent life-saving procedure. Methods A 5-y retrospective study from 2009 to 2013 was conducted at a high-volume level I trauma center. We included blunt and penetrating trauma patients who underwent an emergent operation (neck exploration, thoracotomy, and laparotomy) without preoperative CT. Postop-CT was obtained within 48 h after the initial operation at the discretion of the attending trauma surgeon. Characteristics of newly diagnosed injuries on postop-CT were analyzed. These injuries were considered clinically significant when the patient required (1) immediate intervention; (2) new consultation from a specialty service; or (3) a higher level of care. Results A total of 89 patients met our inclusion criteria (five neck explorations, 16 thoracotomies, and 74 laparotomies) with the following characteristics: median age of 30 y, 87.6% male, 47.2% penetrating injury, and median injury severity score of 24. New injuries were identified on postop-CT in 59 cases (66%), and clinical management was changed in 51 cases (57%). Patients with an admission Glasgow Coma Scale Conclusions In patients undergoing an emergent operation before having their full diagnostic workup completed, postop-CT often demonstrates clinically significant injuries. Further prospective study to identify the patients who will benefit from postop-CT is warranted.
An Economic Analysis of MAC Versus WALANT: A Trigger Finger Release Surgery Case Study.

Background: There has been recent interest in wide awake hand surgery, also referred to as “wide awake local anesthesia with no tourniquet” (WALANT) surgery. Using a model of single trigger finger ...
Comparison of Laparoscopic Approaches for Dismembered Pyeloplasty in Children With Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction: Critical Analysis of 11-Year Experiences in a Single Surgeon.

Objective The choice of different laparoscopic approaches of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in children remains controversial. We present a comparison of different approaches of LP in children and a critical analysis of 11-year experiences in a single surgeon. Materials and Methods There were 1750 patients (1889 sides) who underwent LP between 2003 and 2014 reviewed. The diagnosis and outcomes of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) were reviewed based on clinical and imaging data. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RPLP) were performed in 451 cases (RPLP group), conventional transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty (CTLP) were performed in 311 cases (CTLP group), transumbilical single-site laparoscopic pyeloplasty (TSLP) were performed in 322 cases (TSLP group), and transumbilical multiport laparoscopic pyeloplasty (TMLP) were performed in 805 cases (TMLP group). We assessed preoperative clinical data and outcomes, and analyzed the transition experience. Data are expressed as medians for continuous variables. Results The start of oral feeding, hospital stay, and the operative time of RPLP group were 1.10 ± 0.10 days, 5.22 ± 1.32 days, and 138.2 ± 20.1 minutes, respectively. Compared with the other 3 groups, the start of oral feeding was the soonest, hospital stay was the shortest, and the operative time was the longest in the RPLP group ( P P Conclusion Although the 4 laparoscopic approaches for LP in children with UPJO are safe and efficient procedures with equivalent success rates, we recommend RPLP or TMLP as a treatment option for children with UPJO.
Acute Hypotonia in an Infant.

Abstract Background Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) is increasing in incidence in the United States and presenting to emergency departments (EDs) across the country. This clinical entity presents as acute paralysis, with magnetic resonance imaging changes in the gray matter only in children younger than 21 years of age. The etiology is unknown, although preceding viral illnesses are common. There are no consensus guidelines regarding treatment. Case Report A 4-month-old girl presented with decreased bilateral arm movement. The history consisted of a recent upper respiratory illness and abrupt decline in movement. She was found to have truncal and peripheral hypotonia, while maintaining her airway. Magnetic resonance imaging found gray matter hyperintensity at C2–C6, with no white matter changes. The patient was positive for enterovirus. Intravenous steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin were given, with slight improvement prior to discharge to an inpatient rehabilitation center. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? AFM was largely nonexistent in the United States after implementation of the polio vaccine, but the incidence has recently increased. Pediatric patients are now presenting to EDs with acute hypotonia, and emergency physicians must recognize how to differentiate this emerging diagnosis from other causes of acute flaccid paralysis. The clinical course of AFM does not seem to change acutely, in stark contrast to disease entities like botulism, which can change in hours. Patients with AFM do not need aggressive ED diagnostic evaluation, but rather transfer to a pediatric hospital for further care. Therefore, discerning the etiology of pediatric hypotonia with history and physical examination alone is important.
Innovations in Community-Based and Interdisciplinary Research: A Network Perspective on Innovation in Social Work Science.

We present a preliminary theory of innovation in social work science. The focus of the piece is two case studies from our work that illustrate the social nature of innovations in the science of social work. This inductive theory focuses on a concept we refer to as transformative innovation, wherein two sets of individuals who possess different expertise and different network connections come together to solve a problem and in so doing transfer ideas from one network and field of expertise to the other. This transfer of ideas inevitably involves the transformation of ideas, such that the final innovation is something new to both groups of people, and as such innovative.
Development of double-pulsed two-micron laser for atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements

A CO 2 lidar double-pulse two-micron high-energy transmitter, tuned to on- and off-line absorption wavelengths, has been developed. Transmitter operation and performance has been verified on ground and airborne platform.
Comparison of immunomagnetic separation beads for detection of six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups in different matrices.

Immunomagnetic separation used with culture based methods has been a useful technique in the detection of pathogens. However, previous studies have not answered many of the necessary questions for real world applications. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of different immunomagnetic separation (IMS) bead types in recovery of the correct serogroup from a mixture of big six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains. To determine the impact of different matrices on recovery, samples of sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS), sterile and non-sterile cattle faeces, ground beef and lettuce were inoculated with 10 CFU per ml mixture of isolates representing the six serogroups. After a 6 h incubation at 37°C, samples were mixed with IMS beads from three different commercial sources and plated on eosin methylene blue agar (EMB). Three suspect E. coli colonies were selected from each EMB plate and multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the serogroup. The rate of correct identification varied with the serogroup, IMS bead manufacturer and matrix. Overall, recovery of the correct serogroup became less likely with increase in matrix complexity, with enrichments containing lettuce having the greatest number of bead types with significantly lower likelihood of correct recovery compared to recovery in PBS. Significance and Impact of the Study The need to accurately and efficiently detect Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145, which have caused outbreaks on numerous occasions, is a major public health and food safety concern in the United States. Detecting these STEC serogroups can be challenging because methods to detect non-O157 serogroups have not been refined as compared to those for O157. Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) has the potential to isolate STEC from a mixture in complex matrices. Our results highlight the need for optimization of IMS-based detection of STEC to effectively recover the targeted serogroup from a variety of sample matrices.
Targeting cellular senescence prevents age-related bone loss in mice

Aging is associated with increased cellular senescence, which is hypothesized to drive the eventual development of multiple comorbidities. Here we investigate a role for senescent cells in age-related bone loss through multiple approaches. In particular, we used either genetic (i.e., the INK-ATTAC 'suicide' transgene encoding an inducible caspase 8 expressed specifically in senescent cells) or pharmacological (i.e., 'senolytic' compounds) means to eliminate senescent cells. We also inhibited the production of the proinflammatory secretome of senescent cells using a JAK inhibitor (JAKi). In aged (20- to 22-month-old) mice with established bone loss, activation of the INK-ATTAC caspase 8 in senescent cells or treatment with senolytics or the JAKi for 2-4 months resulted in higher bone mass and strength and better bone microarchitecture than in vehicle-treated mice. The beneficial effects of targeting senescent cells were due to lower bone resorption with either maintained (trabecular) or higher (cortical) bone formation as compared to vehicle-treated mice. In vitro studies demonstrated that senescent-cell conditioned medium impaired osteoblast mineralization and enhanced osteoclast-progenitor survival, leading to increased osteoclastogenesis. Collectively, these data establish a causal role for senescent cells in bone loss with aging, and demonstrate that targeting these cells has both anti-resorptive and anabolic effects on bone. Given that eliminating senescent cells and/or inhibiting their proinflammatory secretome also improves cardiovascular function, enhances insulin sensitivity, and reduces frailty, targeting this fundamental mechanism to prevent age-related bone loss suggests a novel treatment strategy not only for osteoporosis, but also for multiple age-related comorbidities.
Three-Dimensional, Enzyme Biohydrogel Electrode for Improved Bioelectrocatalysis

Higher loading of enzymes on electrodes and efficient electron transfer from the enzyme to the electrode are urgently needed to enhance the current density of biofuel cells. The two-dimensional nature of the electrode surface limits the enzyme loading on the surface, and unfavorable interactions with electrode surfaces cause inactivation of the enzyme. Benign biohydrogels are designed here to address enzyme degradation, and the three-dimensional nature of the biohydrogel enhanced the enzyme density per unit area. A general strategy is demonstrated here using a redox active enzyme glucose oxidase embedded in a bovine serum albumin biohydrogel on flexible carbon cloth electrodes. In the presence of ferricyanide as a mediator, this bioelectrode generated a maximum current density (jmax) of 13.2 mA·cm-2 at 0.45 V in the presence of glucose with a sensitivity of 67 μA·mol-1·cm-2 and a half-life of >2 weeks at room temperature. A strong correlation of current density with water uptake by the biohydrogel was observed. Moreover, a soluble mediator (sodium ferricyanide) in the biohydrogel enhanced the current density by ∼1000-fold, and citrate-phosphate buffer has been found to be the best to achieve the maximum current density. A record 2.2% of the loaded enzyme was electroactive, which is greater than the highest value reported (2-fold). Stabilization of the enzyme in the biohydrogel resulted in retention of the enzymatic activity over a wide range of pH (4.0-8.0). We showed here that biohydrogels are excellent media for enzymatic electron transfer reactions required for bioelectronics and biofuel cell applications.
Nimodipine and Learning in Aging Rabbits

A major focus of our research has been to describe how neuronal excitability is changed during learning in the young adult brain and how neurons in the aging brain may be impaired in their ability to produce such changes. In our approach we have utilized eyeblink conditioning and the in vivo and in vitro rabbit hippocampus for behavioral, neurophysiological, and biophysical studies of associative learning. We have also investigated the potential contribution of nimodipine in enhancing learning in aging subjects, with a focus on the role of calcium-mediated processes in learning. The hippocampus is known to be important for learning and memory consolidation and to be profoundly affected by aging and Alzheimer’s disease. Hippocampal ablation was shown to block acquisition and/or extinction in eyeblink tasks, with effects most prominent in trace conditioning. Extracellular recordings in vivo have demonstrated increased excitability of hippocampal neurons to the conditioned stimulus in eyeblink conditioning. Experiments in our laboratory indicated that this increased excitability resulted from a conditioning-specific reduction in the post-burst afterhyperpolarization (AHP) of CA1 neurons in hippocampal slices. The AHP is a postsynaptic response regulating neuronal excitability and is generated by an outward calcium-dependent potassium current. This hyperpolarizing response is increased in aging hippocampal neurons, presumably as a result of increased intracellular calcium levels in aging neurons. Consequently, aging neurons are less able to increase their excitability and thus show adaptive change during associative learning. The calcium channel blocker nimodipine facilitated acquisition of trace eyeblink conditioning in the aging rabbit. Convergent data suggest that this learning enhancement may also be mediated by changes in hippocampal neuronal excitability. Nimodipine apparently increases excitability by reducing calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels, with a secondary reduction in the post-burst AHP. The relevance of our findings to potential clinical applications in aging and/or in Alzheimer’s disease is discussed.
From the Sidelines: A Deconstructionist View of Circular 230

Over the past several months, the new written tax advice rules in Circular 230 have engendered a great deal of debate. On one side, tax practitioners have repeatedly voiced their frustration in interpreting the new rules along with their fears that the rules may have a far-reaching and radical impact on everyday tax practice. On the other side, the government has attempted to soothe practitioners' fears while at the same time insisting upon a generally broad interpretation of the new rules. In this short essay, I provide an outsider's perspective of this debate over the meaning of the new written tax advice rules. Viewing the action from the sidelines, I maintain that, in this debate, we are actually watching deconstruction in action. After providing a bit of background on the deconstructionist concept of the liberation of the text from the author, I assert that we are witnessing the free play of the text of Circular 230 following its liberation from its government authors. While I explain that this is quite a normal and natural process, I do express my sympathy for those who must live with the uncertainties inherent in the free play of a text that governs one's own conduct.
Melatonin Action on Oncogenesis

Great strides have been made within the last decade in our understanding of the processes involved in oncogenesis not only at the organismal level but at the cellular-molecular level as well. It has become clear that hormones and growth factors play a prominent role in the mechanisms governing oncogenesis. The importance of the hormonal and growth factor regulation of oncogenesis is particularly evident with respect to cancer of the breasts1.
GENETIC AND STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR ANIMAL HEMOGLOBIN HETEROGENEITY

ABSTRACT. The genetic and environmental basis of animal heterogeneity will be compared to and contrasted with the heterogeneity seen with the human hemoglobins and their abnormal forms. Animal hemoglobin heterogeneity due to multiple, polymorphic and abnormal hemoglobins will be illustrated. The ontogeny of animal hemoglobin will be compared to the well established developmental sequence of the emergence of embryonic, fetal and adult hemoglobin in man. It is quite clear that in certain animal species the genetic basis of hemoglobin heterogeneity is limited to as few as three pairs of alleles for the various hemoglobin polypeptide chain types. In these examples only a single hemoglobin type may be prominent at any one stage of life. On the other hand, the great and remarkable degree of hemoglobin heterogeneity may be due to numerous duplications of genetic material.
Mill's Fallacies: Theory and Examples

In noting contemporary neglect of Mill's work on fallacy, Hansen and Pinto say that his account is tied more closely to scientific methodology than to problems of public discourse and everyday argumentation. This paper re-examines Mill's fallacies from a rhetorical perspective, assessing the extent to which his examples – drawn from the domains of popular superstition, science, philosophy, and public discussion – fit his theoretical structure. In articulating the relationship between Mill's philosophical assumptions and the discursive practices of the fields from which he draws his examples, it will suggest the ambiguities in Mill's mentalistic, rationalistic, inductivist approach and the inescapable rhetoricity of his examples.
Elevation of Stromal-Derived Mediators of Inflammation Promote Prostate Cancer Progression in African-American Men.

Progress in prostate cancer racial disparity research has been hampered by a lack of appropriate research tools and better understanding of the tumor biology. Recent gene expression studies suggest that the tumor microenvironment (TME) may contribute to racially disparate clinical outcomes in prostate cancer. Analysis of the prostate TME has shown increased reactive stroma associated with chronic inflammatory infiltrates in African-American (AA) compared with European-American (EA) patients with prostate cancer. To better understand stromal drivers of changes in TME, we isolated prostate fibroblasts (PrF) from AA (PrF−AA) and EA (PrF−EA) prostate cancer tissues and studied their functional characteristics. PrF−AA showed increased growth response to androgens FGF2 and platelet-derived growth factor. Compared with PrF−EA, conditioned media from PrF−AA significantly enhanced the proliferation and motility of prostate cancer cell lines. Expression of markers associated with myofibroblast activation (αSMA, vimentin, and tenascin-C) was elevated in PrF−AA. In vivo tumorigenicity of an AA patient–derived prostatic epithelial cell line E006AA was significantly increased in the presence of PrF−AA compared with PrF−EA, and RNA-seq data and cytokine array analysis identified a panel of potential proinflammatory paracrine mediators (BDNF, CHI3L1, DPPIV, FGF7, IL18BP, IL6, and VEGF) to be enriched in PrF−AA. E006AA cell lines showed increased responsiveness to BDNF ligand compared with EA-derived LNCaP and C4-2B cells. Addition of a TrkB-specific antagonist significantly reduced the protumorigenic effects induced by PrF−AA compared with PrF−EA. These findings suggest that fibroblasts in the TME of AA patients may contribute to the health disparity observed in the incidence and progression of prostate cancer tumors. Significance: These findings suggest that stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment of African-American men promote progression of prostate cancer by increasing levels of a specific set of pro-inflammatory molecules compared with European-American men. Graphical Abstract:http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/21/6134/F1.large.jpg. Cancer Res; 78(21); 6134–45. ©2018 AACR.
The neural representational geometry of social perception

An emerging focus on the geometry of representational structures is advancing a variety of areas in social perception, including social categorization, emotion perception, and trait impressions. Here, we review recent studies adopting a representational geometry approach, and argue that important advances in social perception can be gained by triangulating on the structure of representations via three levels of analysis: neuroimaging, behavioral measures, and computational modeling. Among other uses, this approach permits broad and comprehensive tests of how bottom-up facial features and visual processes as well as top-down social cognitive factors and conceptual processes shape perceptions of social categories, emotion, and personality traits. Although such work is only in its infancy, a focus on corroborating representational geometry across modalities is allowing researchers to use multiple levels of analysis to constrain theoretical models in social perception. This approach holds promise to further our understanding of the multiply determined nature of social perception and its neural basis.
Using a small, consumer-grade drone to identify and count marine megafauna in shallow habitats

Large-bodied animals, megafauna, are disproportionately threatened and yet, remain relatively difficult to monitor, particularly true in the ocean. Consumer-grade drones have high definition imagery and offer a non-invasive way to monitor a subset of marine megafauna, especially those species that spend part of their life near the water’s surface. However, a key question is the extent to which drone imagery data offer reliable abundance estimates due to potential detection restraints, and the ability to compare data from different locations. Here we tested the efficacy of a quadcopter drone to collect megafauna abundance data in multiple shallow-water habitats in the realistic background variation of shoreline development. On Great Abaco Island, The Bahamas we repeated drone surveys in nearshore habitats from June to August 2015 at three paired high and low human population sites. We tested the drone's detection probability using decoy organisms and found no effect of water quality or benthic characteristics on detectability. In short, the drones appear to work to monitor these species. We also noted patterns in the occupancy of the species on which we focused. We observed three shark, two ray, and two sea turtle species, finding higher abundances of all species in our low human population sites compared to high human population sites. Our results highlight the ability of consumer-grade drones to estimate the abundance and distribution of large-bodied elasmobranchs and sea turtles in shallow water habitats. Further, our study supports their capability to evaluate issues related to the conservation and management of nearshore ecosystems.
Real-Time Radiation Treatment Planning with Optimality Guarantees via Cluster and Bound Methods

Radiation therapy is widely used in cancer treatment; however, plans necessarily involve tradeoffs between tumor coverage and mitigating damage to healthy tissue. Although current hardware can deli...
Toward an ecological aesthetic

The visual appearance of built environments reflects the values of their inhabitants. As a result, socio-ecological practice needs to consider aesthetics. Ecological aesthetics involve sensual connections to natural and cultural processes. The Sustainable SITES Initiative provides an example of the application of ecosystem services that may result in such an aesthetic. Entropy suggests everything moves from order to disorder. Negentropy reverses that tendency. Design and planning may be viewed as tools for negentropy and aesthetics as a visual manifestation of such interventions.
Low Cost and Piezoelectric based Soft Wave Energy Harvester

Wave energy converters have been developed and commercialized in past decades; they have now faced numerous challenges of large volume sizes, environmental hazards, and high costs of deployment, components and maintenance. To address these challenges and make a wave energy converter practically available for various applications at a reasonable cost, we have developed a soft wave energy harvester that integrated low-cost soft material structures and piezoelectric-based Macro Fiber Composite (MFC). This integrated soft wave energy converter has a straightforward fabrication process and structure that can harvest energy from a broad working frequency of waves. The innovative design combined low-cost and commercially available materials and formed a harvester that addressed the aforementioned problems of commercially available harvesters. Additionally, the low cost and simple design are scalable for large energy conversion in the future. The energy conversion performance of the proposed platform has been investigated in a wave flume with low-frequency incoming waves (<2Hz). The soft energy conversion platform is hung like a curtain and produces a maximum 487nW. Also, the low cost and durable encapsulation can protect the electrical properties of MFCs and circuits, and a single harvester can last through all experiment steps without any degradation, which was more than 170 hours.