cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Psychological Security in At-Risk Youth: Attachment, Emotion Regulation, and PTSD Symptom Severity

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be influenced by attachment insecurities and dysfunctional emotion regulation strategies in children at risk for mental health difficulties, such as children in foster care or in low socioeconomic status (SES) homes. Yet relatively little research exists on attachment and emotion regulation in at-risk adolescents, including in youth with foster care experience. We examined attachment dimensions (attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety) and emotion regulation strategies (expressive emotion suppression and cognitive reappraisal) as predictors of PTSD symptom severity in a sample of 17-year-olds in foster care (n = 146) compared to a low SES sample of 17-year-olds with no foster care experience (n = 83). Greater attachment avoidance and greater attachment anxiety were associated with higher PTSD symptom severity scores regardless of foster care status. Cognitive reappraisal was associated with less severe PTSD symptoms for foster and non-foster youth. Policy and practice implications for at-risk youth’s rights to psychological security are discussed.
A study of the human heart as a multiple dipole electrical source. II. Diagnosis and quantitation of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Using the method previously described, the time-varying strengths of 12 dipoles (representing the depolarization of the ventricles) were calculated from body surface potential measurements. Dipole activities (DA) were obtained for each dipole by time integration of its strength. Seventy-two patients with angiographically determined left ventricular muscle weight (LVMW) were studied. Fifty-two of 53 patients with increased LVMW had increased DA in the left ventricle and septum (LVSDA). Thus, diagnostic sensitivity was 98%. Sixteen of 19 patients with normal LVMW had normal LVSDA (specificity, 84%). The correlation between LVSDA and LVMW was r 2 =86%, and the standard error of the LVMW estimate (see) was±49 g. A subgroup with pure left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) consisting of 27 patients over 25 years of age with isolated aortic valve disease was studied separately. The correlation between LVSDA and LVMW was r 2 =92% and see was ±31 g. After correcting for the uncertainty in the angiographic LVMW measurements, the see for the complete group was reduced to ±37 g. The diagnosis and quantitation of LVH with this method was considerably better than with conventional electrocardiography or vectorcardiography.
2018 : The translational integrator: Facilitating collaboration and bridging the “Valley of Death”

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Translating conventional and regenerative medicine strategies from the research laboratory into the clinic is a complex process that can delay bringing novel therapies to the patient. Navigating the increasingly complex regulation surrounding cell-based and combination product technologies is a major challenge for the translational biomedical scientist. To this end, Mayo Clinic created a new position, the “Translational Integrator,” as part of the cGMP Biomaterials Facility in the Center for Regenerative Medicine. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The Translational Integrator educates investigators about FDA standards and regulatory pathways; determines where the product is on the translational spectrum; works to understand the science behind the product; determines what additional studies may be needed; supports investigators in preparing for FDA communications and submissions; and educates researchers about institutional resources and funding mechanisms needed to move their product into manufacturing and trials. A primary objective is to meet investigators at an early stage in product development to avoid conducting potentially redundant work to meet regulatory requirements. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Robust training in clinical and translational research methodology enables the integrator to facilitate the collaboration necessary between investigators, clinicians, institutional resources, regulators and funders to move products towards FDA IND/IDE approval and first-in-human trials. It is an iterative process using technology/translational readiness criteria, project management and review by subject matter experts that is highly interactive and customized to each project. Current projects include topics in orthopedic surgery and ENT. In creating and refining this position, several key lessons have been learned. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: First, the Translational Integrator must undergo constant reflection and assessment of investigator needs, which requires flexibility and understanding that their role may change in the context of each product. Second, the support that the Translational Integrator provides can shift the mindset of the investigator from being averse to engaging in the translational process to eager to move their product forward. Finally, for the investigator who does not personally want to move their work into first-in-human trials, establishing connections to intellectual property generation and licensing may support movement of their findings into patients.
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: can it cause membranous nephropathy?

A 63-year-old Caucasian female with a history of asthma, hepatitis C infection, and associated vasculitic neuropathy treated in the past, presented to our clinic with chronic dry cough, recurrent s...
Two Age-Class Parasite Model

This model shows how a disease spreads in an insect population, such as asexually reproducing aphids, consisting of two life stages—nymphs and adults. The model has two parts, one for the healthy population and one for the diseased population. Diseased nymphs can infect healthy nymphs and become diseased adults. Diseased adults cannot infect healthy adults or nymphs but can produce infected nymphs. Note how these features are expressed in the model by the appropriate flows and links.
Predictors of sexual victimisation and suicidal ideation among transgender and gender-nonconforming adolescents

To better understand the well-being of transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) adolescents, this study examined the relations among bias-based peer victimisation, sexual harassment, parental su...
Cubic Regularized ADMM with Convergence to a Local Minimum in Non-convex Optimization

How to escape saddle points is a critical issue in non-convex optimization. Previous methods on this issue mainly assume that the objective function is Hessian-Lipschitz, which leave a gap for applications using non-Hessian-Lipschitz functions. In this paper, we propose Cubic Regularized Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (CR-ADMM) to escape saddle points of separable non-convex functions containing a non-Hessian-Lipschitz component. By carefully choosing a parameter, we prove that CR-ADMM converges to a local minimum of the original function with a rate of $O(1 /T^{1/3})$ in time horizon T, which is faster than gradient-based methods. We also show that when one or more steps of CR-ADMM are not solved exactly, CRADMM can converge to a neighborhood of the local minimum. Through the experiments of matrix factorization problems, CRADMM is shown to have a faster rate and a lower optimality gap compared with other gradient-based methods. Our approach can also find applications in other scenarios where regularized non-convex cost minimization is performed, such as parameter optimization of deep neural networks.
Impact of Aliovalent Alkaline-Earth metal solutes on Ceria Grain Boundaries: A density functional theory study

Abstract Ceria has proven to be an excellent ion-transport and ion-exchange material when used in polycrystalline form and with a high-concentration of aliovalent doped cations. Despite its widespread application, the impact of atomic-scale defects in this material are scarcely studied and poorly understood. In this article, using first-principles simulations, we provide a fundamental understanding of the atomic-structure, thermodynamic and electronic properties of undoped grain-boundaries (GBs) and alkaline-earth metal (AEM) doped GBs in ceria. Using density-functional theory simulations, with a GGA+U functional, we find the Σ 3 (111)/[ 1 ¯ 01] GB is energetically more stable than the Σ 3 (121)/[ 1 ¯ 01] GB due to the larger atomic coherency in the Σ 3 (111)/[ 1 ¯ 01] GB plane. We dope the GBs with ∼ 20% [M] G B (M=Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba) and find that the GB energies have a parabolic dependence on the size of solutes, the interfacial strain and the packing density of the GB. We see a stabilization of the GBs upon Ca, Sr and Ba doping whereas Be and Mg render them energetically unstable. The electronic density of states reveal that no defect states are present in or above the band gap of the AEM doped ceria, which is highly conducive to maintain low electronic mobility in this ionic conductor. The electronic properties, unlike the energetic properties, exhibit complex inter-dependence on the structure and chemistry of the host and the solutes. This work makes advances in the atomic-scale understanding of aliovalent cation doped ceria GBs serving as an anchor to future studies that can focus on understanding and improving ionic-transport.
A framework with efficient extraction and analysis of Twitter data for evaluating public opinions on transportation services

Abstract Public opinion is a valuable source for evaluating the performance of transportation services, which can guide management and policy adjustment. In contrast to traditional surveying methods, which are often inefficient and high-cost, social media has become a popular channel to collect public opinion due to its large data volume and accessibility characteristics. However, existing research lack efficient methods to extract and interpret Twitter data for transportation services evaluation. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive framework that enables high-efficient extraction and analysis of public opinions on transportation services from Twitter. The transportation system of Miami-Dade County is chosen as the case study to describe the framework development and validation process. First, Twitter data in a defined area over a certain period are collected and preprocessed to clean erroneous and redundant information. Then, the Twitter data that relate to personal opinions on transportation services (POTS) are filtered hieratically using text classification models trained by manually labeled dataset. Next, timeline analysis using Post Intensity (PI) and Average Sentiment Value (ASV) is implemented on the selected Twitter data to explore the public perceptions towards the transportation-related events. Topic modeling and tokenization techniques are also adopted to extract relevant semantic content needed for data analysis. Significantly, the developed framework can improve the efficiency of Twitter data extraction and analysis. Many manual steps are involved in the development process of the framework while can be avoided when generalized to other applications. The framework can be used as a tool for stakeholders to enable a holistic understanding of public opinions on transportation services and increase the degree of public participation in transportation management.
Letter from the Editors: Dual Pandemics

As we write this letter in early June 2020, we are struck with unrelenting grief over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, and so many more Black individual...
A 5-year-old Snowboarder with Boot Top Tibial Diaphysis Fracture.

ABSTRACT A previously healthy 5-year-old boy presented with an oblique fracture of the midtibial diaphysis at the top border of the snowboarding boot after falling from a standing position with both feet strapped to his snowboard. This case illustrates a snowboarding-specific variant of the torsion-tension boot top injury classically described in skiers. Unlike most snowboarding-related lower-extremity injuries, this fracture occurred in the absence of high-speed trauma or collision.
Residential Mortgage Selection, Inflation Uncertainty, and Real Payment Tilt

This study addresses prime and subprime residential mortgage selection in an inflationary environment. Using data from the Mortgage Bankers Association on the proportion of variable rate mortgages closed for the 1994 through 2007 period, the findings show that higher anticipated inflation held with certainty increases the proportion of adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) originations, while greater inflation uncertainty in the sense of a Diamond-Stiglitz (1974) mean-preserving spread decreases it. Further, the percentage of subprime ARM originations is significantly decreased with greater inflation uncertainty while the impact on prime ARM originations is statistically insignificant. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that prime borrowers hold a valuable exchange option that subprime borrowers do not (i.e., the opportunity to refinance into an alternative mortgage product, if necessary).
High Levels of Psychological Resilience Are Associated With Decreased Anxiety in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression are comorbid disorders with IBD and are associated with poor outcomes. Resilience is an innate but modifiable trait that may improve the symptoms of psychological disorders. Increasing resilience may decrease the severity of these comorbid disorders, which may improve IBD outcomes. The aim of this study was to describe the association between resilience, anxiety, and depression in IBD patients. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study of IBD patients. Patients completed a questionnaire consisting of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), a measure of resilience, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Primary outcome was severity of anxiety and depression in patients with high resilience. Multivariable linear regression analysis evaluated the association between severity of anxiety and depression and level of resilience. RESULTS A sample of 288 patients was analyzed. Bivariable linear regression analysis showed a negative association between resilience and anxiety (Pearson rho = -0.47; P < .0001) and between resilience and depression (Pearson rho = -0.53; P < .0001). Multivariable linear regression indicated that high resilience is independently associated with lower anxiety and that for every 1-unit increase in CD-RISC, the GAD-7 score decreased by 0.04 units (P = .0003). Unlike anxiety, the association between resilience and depression did not remain statistically significant on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS High resilience is independently associated with lower anxiety in IBD patients, and we report a quantifiable decrease in anxiety score severity for every point of increase in resilience score. These findings suggest that IBD patients with higher resilience may have better coping mechanisms that buffer against the development of anxiety.
Hybrid Smart Transformer for Enhanced Power System Protection Against DC with Advanced Grid Support

The flow of DC in AC networks leads to half-cycle saturation of power transformers that causes their internal heating, large draw of reactive power and ultimate grid collapse. Transformerless power electronics-based module integrated between the neutral and substation ground of traditional transformers has previously been proposed that provides power system protection against DC flow in grid along with a variety of advanced grid-support features. The technique has already been tested and verified on a controller hardware-in-the-loop (C-HIL) platform. In this paper, the proposed strategy is evaluated on a laboratory scale hardware prototype utilizing Typhoon power hardware-in-the-loop (P-HIL) strategy. The experimental results verify the promising performance of the proposed scheme in nullifying the effect of DC injection, performing harmonics isolation and voltage regulation. Also, an effective transformer and converter protection scheme utilizing a hybrid AC/DC solid-state switch has been proposed and evaluated in this paper.
V/STOL gets a lift

The concept of a supersonic STOVL that could offer enhanced mission capability, survivability, operational flexibility, and utility over conventional aircraft is presented. Emphasis is currently on design studies, CFD work, small- and large-scale wind tunnel tests, simulation activities, flight experiments, and ground environment experiments. Propulsion system technology centers about the adaptation of existing or off-the-shelf engines. Concepts under study include separate flow in hover, gas-driven lift fan, and shaft-driven lift fan. NASA is examining generic valve and ducting configurations with airflow at ambient temperature and at temperatures up to 1000 F to gather pressure loss and heat transfer data. Advanced civil rotorcraft technologies examined include high-efficiency/dual-mode components such as torque converters; lightweight, quiet transmissions; and variable geometry power turbines; along with dual-function or convertible engines.
Gray Scale Ultrasonography of the Biliary Duct System: Comparison with Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography

Gray scale ultrasound is clearly a useful technique for the non-invasive imaging of the gallbladder, common bile duct, and intrahepatic biliary radicals.1 2 3 4 5 6 Reports of the efficacy of ultrasound of the gallbladder are extensive.5 6 Lesser attention, however, has been paid to the efficacy of gray scale ultrasound in differentiation of obstructive from non-obstructive jaundice. With the introduction of Chiba needle percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, the opportunity is presented for confirmation of ultrasound observations against a standard. This is of particular moment in light of the recent growth of computed body tomography as a non-invasive imaging technique.
Toward a Mathematical Theory of Aeroelasticity

This paper initiates a mathematical theory of aeroelasticity centered on the canonical problem of the flutter boundary — an instability endemic to aircraft that limits attainable speed in the subsonic regime. We develop a continuum mathematical model that exhibits the known flutter phenomena and yet is amenable to analysis — non-numeric theory. Thus we model the wing as a cantilever beam and limit the aerodynamics to irrotational, isentropic so that we work with the quasi-linear Transonic Small Disturbance Equations with the attached flow and Kutta-Joukowsky boundary conditions. We can obtain a Volterra expansion for the solution showing in particular that the stability is determined by the linearized model consistent with the Hopf Bifurcation Theory. Specializing to linear aerodynamics, the time domain version of the aeroelastic problem is shown to be a convolution-evolution equation in a Hilbert space. The aeroelastic modes are shown to be the eigenvalues of the infinitesimal generator of a semigroup, which models the combined aerostructure state space dynamics. We are also able to define flutter boundary in terms of the “root locus” — the modes as a function of the air speed U. We are able to track the dependence of the flutter boundary on the Mach number — a crucial problem in aeroelasticity — but many problems remain for Mach numbers close to one. The model and theory developed should open the way to Control Design for flutt erboundary expansion.
Abstract P428: Effects of Tai Chi on Physical Function and Quality of Life in Chronic Stroke

Background: Poor physical function and quality of life are ubiquitous post-stroke. Effective interventions to improve physical function and quality of life for stroke survivors are critically needed. Objective: Examine the effect of a Tai Chi (TC) intervention on physical function and quality of life. Methods: In a single-blind randomized clinical trial community-dwelling stroke survivors, aged ≥ 50 years and ≥ 3 months post-stroke, were assigned to: Yang style 24-posture TC (n=53), SilverSneakers® (SS, n=44) strength and range of movement exercise, or Usual Care (UC, n=48) for 12 weeks. TC and SS attended a 1-hour class 3 times/week, while UC had weekly phone calls. Standardized measures for Physical Function were the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Fall Rates and 2-Minute StepTest; and for Quality of Life were the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: A total of 145 stroke survivors (47% women, mean age=70 year...
Effects of treating depression and low perceived social support on clinical events after myocardial infarction: the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients (ENRICHD) Randomized Trial.

CONTEXT Depression and low perceived social support (LPSS) after myocardial infarction (MI) are associated with higher morbidity and mortality, but little is known about whether this excess risk can be reduced through treatment. OBJECTIVE To determine whether mortality and recurrent infarction are reduced by treatment of depression and LPSS with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), supplemented with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant when indicated, in patients enrolled within 28 days after MI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Randomized clinical trial conducted from October 1996 to April 2001 in 2481 MI patients (1084 women, 1397 men) enrolled from 8 clinical centers. Major or minor depression was diagnosed by modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria and severity by the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD); LPSS was determined by the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease Patients (ENRICHD) Social Support Instrument (ESSI). Random allocation was to usual medical care or CBT-based psychosocial intervention. INTERVENTION Cognitive behavior therapy was initiated at a median of 17 days after the index MI for a median of 11 individual sessions throughout 6 months, plus group therapy when feasible, with SSRIs for patients scoring higher than 24 on the HRSD or having a less than 50% reduction in Beck Depression Inventory scores after 5 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Composite primary end point of death or recurrent MI; secondary outcomes included change in HRSD (for depression) or ESSI scores (for LPSS) at 6 months. RESULTS Improvement in psychosocial outcomes at 6 months favored treatment: mean (SD) change in HRSD score, -10.1 (7.8) in the depression and psychosocial intervention group vs -8.4 (7.7) in the depression and usual care group (P<.001); mean (SD) change in ESSI score, 5.1 (5.9) in the LPSS and psychosocial intervention group vs 3.4 (6.0) in the LPSS and usual care group (P<.001). After an average follow-up of 29 months, there was no significant difference in event-free survival between usual care (75.9%) and psychosocial intervention (75.8%). There were also no differences in survival between the psychosocial intervention and usual care arms in any of the 3 psychosocial risk groups (depression, LPSS, and depression and LPSS patients). CONCLUSIONS The intervention did not increase event-free survival. The intervention improved depression and social isolation, although the relative improvement in the psychosocial intervention group compared with the usual care group was less than expected due to substantial improvement in usual care patients.
Representations of the pitch of complex tones in the auditory nerve

Previous studies of the coding of the pitch of complex tones in the auditory nerveand cochlear nucleus have documented a robust temporal representation based oninterspike interval distributions (Cariani and Delgutte, 1996; Rhode, 1995; Palmerand Winter, 1993). However, these studies have largely neglected possible rate-place cues to pitch available when individual harmonics are resolved by theperipheral auditory system. Stimuli used in these studies had fundamentalfrequencies in the range of human voice (100-300 Hz), which may produce few, ifany, resolved harmonics in typical experimental animals, which have a poorercochlear frequency selectivity compared to humans (Shera, Guinan and Oxenham,2002). Human psychophysical studies suggest that the low pitch produced bystimuli with resolved harmonics is stronger and less dependent on phaserelationships among the partials than the pitch based on unresolved harmonics(Shackleton and Carlyon, 1994).Here, we investigate the resolvability of harmonics of complex tones in the catauditory nerve, and compare the effectiveness of rate-place and interval-basedrepresentations of pitch over a much wider range of fundamental frequencies (110-3520 Hz) than in previous studies.
Impact of change in delivery practice on neonatal and maternal outcomes in cases of significant congenital heart disease.

Objective Because of data published in 2009 demonstrating improved outcomes among early- vs. late-term infants, practice shifted toward delivering infants at later gestational ages. We examined the effects of this change on neonates with congenital heart disease. Design This was a retrospective cohort study. Neonates with congenital heart disease born between 2004 and 2008 were compared with those born in 2010. Patients born in 2009, considered to be a transitional year, were excluded. Setting Our study was conducted at a tertiary care level 4 neonatal intensive care unit with comprehensive cardiac service. Patients Study subjects consisted of neonates with significant congenital heart disease admitted between 2004 and 2010. Outcome Measures Outcomes measures consisted of mode of delivery, length of stay, neonatal morbidity, and mortality. Results There were 878 infants with congenital heart disease born in 2004–2008 and 124 in 2010. The mean gestational age was higher in 2010 than in 2004–2008 (38.4 ± 1.9 vs. 37.8 ± 2.3 weeks, P = .001), and there were fewer preterm births in 2010 compared with 2004–2008 (P = .003, odds ratio [OR] = 0.4). Mean birth weight was also higher in 2010 (3134 ± 675 vs. 2975 ± 599 g, P = .008). In 2010, less than half as many infants were born via scheduled induction (P < .001, OR = 0.2) or scheduled cesarean delivery (P = .002, OR = 0.4) as in 2004–2008. However, in 2010, there were more urgent inductions (P = .002, OR = 3.1), cesarean deliveries after labor (P = .01, OR = 2.2), and unplanned cesarean deliveries in general (P = .02, OR = 1.7) compared with 2004–2008. In 2010, neonates were less likely to require preoperative vasopressors (P = .002), but there were no differences in 5 minutes APGAR, antibiotic administration, preoperative intubation, median length of stay, or mortality compared with 2004–2008. Conclusions Despite increased gestational age and birth weight following the shift in delivery practice, there was no difference in length of stay, neonatal morbidity, or mortality in infants with congenital heart disease. The resultant increase in urgent cesarean delivery and urgent inductions may confer additional maternal morbidity.
The Politics of Hope and Despair: the effect of presidential election outcomes on suicide rates

Objectives. This article examines the effect of election outcomes on suicide rates by combining the theory of social integration developed by Durkheim with the models of rational choice used in economics.Methods. Theory predicts that states with a greater percentage of residents who supported the losing candidate would tend to exhibit a relative increase in suicide rates. However, being around others who also supported the losing candidate may indicate a greater degree of social integration at the local level, thereby lowering relative suicide rates. We therefore use fixed-effects regression of state suicide rates from 1981 to 2005 on state election outcomes during presidential elections to determine which effect is stronger.Results. We find that the local effect of social integration is dominant. The suicide rate when a state supports the losing candidate will tend to be lower than if the state had supported the winning candidate-4.6 percent lower for males and 5.3 percent lower for females.Conclusion. Social integration works at many levels; it not only affects suicide risk directly, but can mediate other shocks that influence suicide risk. Language: en
Association of the Uterine 17β-Estradiol-Receptor Complex with Ribonucleoprotein in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract The 17β-[3H]estradiol-receptor complex prepared from the cytosol of calf uteri can form a ternary complex with either the 50 S or the 80 S ribonucleoprotein particles of the uterine cell nuclei. This association appears to be limited to a small proportion of the total nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles. Similar ribonucleoprotein particles that bind the estrogen-receptor complex are present in the cytoplasmic fraction, but the cytoplasmic monosome and polysome forms of ribosomes do not bind the estrogen-receptor complex firmly. Ribonucleoprotein particles dissociated from the monosomes and polysomes, however, can bind the estrogen-receptor complex. Escherichia coli ribosomal particles at similar concentrations do not have this receptor binding ability. The [3H]estrone-receptor complex also binds to the nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles, but to a much lesser extent than the 17β-[3H]estradiol-receptor complex. The [3H]progesterone-protein complex of the same tissue and the 5α-[3H]dihydrotestosterone-receptor complex of rat ventral prostate were ineffective. The association of the 17β- [3H]estradiol-receptor complex to the rat uterine ribonucleoprotein particles appears to occur also in vivo.
Food Restriction Reduces Sympathetic Support of Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We tested the hypothesis that food restriction would attenuate the development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Furthermore, we hypothesized that food restriction would reduce the tonic sympathetic nervous system support of blood pressure in the SHR. Male SHR (Charles River, age 5 wk) were randomly assigned to ad libitum (ADLIB, n = 8) or food-restricted (FR, n = 9) groups. ADLIB rats were given free access to nonpurified diet and demineralized water. Food-restricted rats ate 60% of the amount of nonpurified diet consumed by rats in the ADLIB group. After 8 wk of treatment, ADLIB rats were heavier than FR rats (ADLIB = 318 +/- 4 g; FR = 193 +/- 5 g, P < 0.05). Blood pressure and heart rate (HR) were measured after chronic implantation of iliac arterial and jugular venous catheters. Food-restricted rats had lower mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) than ADLIB rats, measured in conscious, unrestrained state 4-6 h after catheterization (ADLIB = 162 +/- 3 mmHg; FR = 142 +/- 3 mmHg, P < 0.05) and measured on the day after surgery (ADLIB = 150 +/- 6 mmHg; FR = 130 +/- 3 mmHg, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in resting HR on either day. Food-restricted rats exhibited augmented cardiac baroreflex-mediated bradycardia (bolus phenylephrine, 0.5-4.0 pg/kg intravenously) as assessed by linear slope of the AHR/AMAP relationship (ADLIB = -0.73 beats/(min x mmHg); FR = -1.62 beats/(min x mmHg), P < 0.05). Sympathetic support of blood pressure quantified by the depressor response to ganglionic blockade (hexamethonium 30 mg/kg; atropine 0.1 mg/kg intravenously), was greater in the ADLIB group (ADLIB: -59 +/- 8 mmHg; FR: -36 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.05). The results support the hypotheses that chronic food restriction reduces the development of hypertension and sympathetic support of MAP in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Effect of random airway sizes on aerosol deposition

A previously developed deposition model is used to determine the total and regional deposition of inhaled aerosols in a population of human lungs by taking into account variability in airway dimens...
Corneal Endothelial Changes from Exposure to Povidone Iodine Solution

Povidone iodine (PI) is a common preoperative antiseptic for eyelid and conjunctival preparation. The corneal endothelium may theoretically be exposed to PI during intraocular surgery or during the repair of a corneal laceration. This study explores the changes in corneal endothelial cell density following exposure to 1%, 2%, and 5% concentrations of PI in a porcine model. Four groups of excised porcine corneas were exposed to 1% (group A), 2% (group B), and 5% (group C) PI and balanced salt solution (BSS, Alcon Labs, Fort Worth, TX) (group D) for a 1-minute exposure. Specular microscopy was used to measure endothelial cell density pre- and post-exposure. Group A (1% PI) had reduction of endothelial cell density from 3870 cells/mm2 to 3604 cells/mm2, group B (2%) 3634 preexposure to 3115 postexposure, group C (5%) 3582 preexposure to 2948 postexposure, and group D (BSS) endothelial cell density was 3639 preexposure to 3741 postexposure. A graded increase in endothelial cell loss is seen with increased pov...
Intactness of the oxygen-evolving system in thylakoids and Photosystem II particles

Photosystem II activity of oxygen-evolving membranes can be quantified by their capacity to do charge separation or their capacity to transport electrons. In this study using flash excitation of saturating intensity, charge separation is measured by absorption changes in the ultraviolet region of the spectra associated with primary-quinone reduction, and electron transport is measured by oxygen flash yield. These methods are applied to thylakoids and three different types of Photosystem II particles. In thylakoids electron-transport activity is 75–85% of charge separation activity. In Photosystem II particles this percentage is 60–70%, except for the BBY type (Berthold, D.A., Babcock, G.T. and Yocum, C.F. (1981) FEBS Lett. 135, 231–234), in which it is only 29%. These estimates of non-functional oxygen-evolving centers agree within experimental error, except for the BBY particle, with the quantum requirement for oxygen evolution measured under light-limited conditions. These reaction centers that are non-functional in oxygen evolution occur during sample preparation and are not a result of inhibition by ferricyanide or quinone acceptor systems. In thylakoids on the first flash, absorption changes at 325 nm do not show significant contributions from oxygen evolution S-state transitions. In the presence of ferricyanide the absorption change at 325 nm does have a significant contribution from Q400 in thylakoids, but considerably less in Photosystem II particles.
Validating existing data in the Environmental Technology Verification Program.

Establishing the credibility of existing data is an ongoing issue, particularly when the data sets are to be used for a secondary purpose, i.e., not the original reason for which they were collected. If the secondary purpose is similar to the primary purpose, the potential user may have little difficulty establishing credibility since the acceptance criteria for both purposes should be similar. If the secondary purpose is different, then data credibility may be more difficult to establish because the experiment generating the data may not have been conducted optimally for the secondary purpose and all of the necessary quality assurance data ("metadata") may not have been collected. In either case, a process will be required to determine the acceptability of the data. For this reason, at the time the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) program was established, similar certification and verification programs run by states or foreign countries routinely used existing data sets, for cost reasons, rather than generate new data by testing. The issue of whether existing data could be used in the ETV program immediately surfaced. In response, a policy and a process that addressed existing data were written and published in Appendix C of the ETV Quality and Management Plan (Hayes et al., 1998). This paper discusses how the ETV program determines the credibility of existing data used to verify the performance of environmental technologies.
WORD LEARNING: CONCRETE VS ABSTRACT ACQUISITION

Concrete vs abstract word learning was investigated in first grade subjects on a trials-to-criterion basis. Eight four-letter words were selected (four concrete, four abstract) from a list of commo...
K-space Navigation for Accurate High-angle Tilting and Control of the TEAM Sample Stage

In this talk we present a new software tool that links the coordinates of double-tilt or tilt-rotation stages to crystallographic coordinates of crystalline samples. The tool has been developed as part of the TEAM stage control program, but its use is more general – it can be run in a stand-alone mode and matched to any goniometer by means of linearizing lookup tables and configurable parameters. The software enables sample tilt via a control sphere that can be moved with mouse drags. The control sphere has the same constraints as the actual stage, and can be set to be of tilt-rotation or double tilt type. The stage limits can be configured and displayed on the control sphere, along with the sample’s crystallographic coordinates for a simple visual display of all crystal orientations accessible for a given experiment. Sample and crystallographic information is fed into the program in CIF (crystallographic information file) format. CIF files for all crystal systems can be downloaded from numerous databases to save the effort of assembling atomic position coordinate files. Once the CIF loader has extracted all atom and symmetry data, the resulting unit cell can be viewed, and remains synchronized with the stage control sphere. The crystallographic coordinates can be displayed on the control sphere as well, while the corresponding simulated kinematic diffraction and Kikuchi line patterns can be invoked in another window. To align the crystal model with the actual sample, an algorithm has been developed that calibrates the major tilt axis in a few easy steps. Once a sample zone axis and azimuth have been aligned, the tilts for any other crystallographic orientation can be calculated with great accuracy, and the resulting tilt coordinates can directly drive the TEAM stage. Structure factor and diffraction contrast visibility add a quantitative aspect, and this software can also be used for manual diffraction pattern fingerprinting. Figure 1 demonstrates the possibilities of this software with recent results from the newly developed TEAM stage, using an array of Pt-Pd cubes with a size of around 30 nm [1]. This and other examples will be used to illustrate the capabilities of the software and the stage for a number of demanding experiments in electron microscopy.
Metallicity and Kinematics of M31's Outer Stellar Halo from a Keck Spectrocscopic Survey

We present multislit CaII near-infrared triplet spectroscopy with the Keck 10-m telescope/LRIS of 99 M31 halo red giant candidates in the apparent mag range 20 0.6 dex, spans the full 2dex range over which [Fe/H] measurement methods are calibrated, and has a mean/median value around =-1.9 to -1.1dex and possibly higher since the high-[Fe/H] end of the distribution is not well constrained by our sample. Our data on M31 field halo giants suggest that they are more metal-rich than their Milky Way counterparts, similar to M31 and Milky Way globular clusters, consistent with a scenario in which the halo is built from accretion of small stellar subsystems. There are 4 stars in the secure M31 sample with unusually strong Ca lines (>~solar [Fe/H]) at a common velocity of -340km/s close to M31's systemic velocity, similar to what might be expected for M31 disk giants on the minor axis. The M31 disk would have to be large and/or warped to account for these stars. More likely, these stars are metal-rich debris from a past accretion event in M31's halo.
HTLV-I Tax and Cytokeratin: Tax-Expressing Cells Show Morphological Changes in Keratin-Containing Cytoskeletal Networks.

Human T cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) has been linked to the development of an aggressive lymphoproliferative disorder (adult T cell leukemia), a chronic neurodegenerative presentation (HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis) and numerous less well-defined inflammatory conditions. The viral regulatory protein Tax has been implicated in cellular transformation events leading to the onset of adult T cell leukemia. Details on the stepwise processes through which Tax induces morphological changes in cells are poorly understood. We show here that Tax can bind to a class of intermediate filaments, the cytokeratins (Ker). Tax interacts with the 1B helical coil of keratin 8, a domain critical for higher-order intermediate filament matrix formation. Expression of Tax in epithelial cells visibly altered the structural pattern of the Ker network. In a T lymphocyte cell line, induction of Tax expression resulted in increased cellular adherence/invasion of Matrigel filters. We propose that one aspect of Tax function is the induction of morphological changes in cellular cytoskeletal structures. This finding for Tax-expressing cells might be one factor contributing directly to the pathogenesis of HTLV-I disease(s).
Global health research collaborations: lessons from the Fogarty International Center

The Fogarty International Center at NIH has the mission of supporting training and research in global health with a focus on problems in low and middle income countries. Our programs provide research opportunities in both infectious and chronic diseases that link investigators and institutions in the United States with groups in the developing world. The value of these long term investments is evident by their ability to support cutting edge research while training local investigators to develop independent streams of funding and support. The presentation will provide examples of our activities that might have application within the network of the Institut Pasteur.
Simple purification of small RNAs from seeds and efficient detection of multiple microRNAs expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the development of animals and plants. Characterizing the stage- and tissue-specific expression of miRNAs that potentially regulate target transcription factor expression is becoming more important for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of critical events during plant development. A simple method for purifying small RNAs from seeds is described, as well as an efficient non-radioactive labelling system for making miRNA probes. In Arabidopsis thaliana seed extracts, low molecular-weight (LMW) RNAs (e.g. 5S rRNA, tRNA and miRNA) were separated from high molecular-weight (HMW) nucleic acids (e.g. 28S and 18S rRNA, mRNA and genomic DNA) by fractionation using isopropanol. HMW RNAs precipitated in 20% isopropanol, while most LMW RNAs remained in the supernatant. The purified LMW RNAs were used successfully for RNA gel blotting to detect miRNAs expressed in Arabidopsis and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) seeds. To increase the detection sensitivity of the microRNA probes, additional digoxigenin-labelled uridine triphosphates (UTPs) were incorporated into the miRNA probes by designing template oligo DNAs with three extra adenines (A) at each end of their sequence. These DNA oligomers were used to make double-stranded DNA templates for miRNA probe synthesis. This probe (termed AAAPLUS) exhibited stronger signals than normal probes. A technique was also developed to quickly screen expressed miRNAs in seeds using a miniblot system, which enabled simultaneous examination with multiple miRNA probes. This method provides a simple alternative to microRNA microarrays to identify the major miRNAs expressed in seeds.
Unique Method for Liquid Nitrogen Precooling of a Plate Fin Heat Exchanger in a Helium Refrigeration Cycle

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the method for liquid nitrogen precooling of a plate fin heat exchanger in a helium refrigeration cycle. The principal tasks are to permit a rapid cool down to 80 K of the plant, to increase the cooling power of the plant in low temperature operation and to increase the rate of pure liquid production. The advent of aluminum plate fin heat exchangers in the design of helium refrigerators has made this task more complicated because of the potential damage to these heat exchangers. The solution is unique as it uses helium in all parts of the heat exchanger, thus avoiding the problems associated with nitrogen. Helium is circulated in a semi-closed loop through a liquid nitrogen bath and is then sent via a short transfer line to the liquid nitrogen inlet on the main plant. The inlet to the system is tied to the helium return line from the main plant, providing a constant source of low pressure helium gas to the precooler system. This also prevents the intrusion of air into the system because the low-pressure side is always maintained above atmospheric pressure by the main system. It provides the needed cooling power for SLAC E-158 and has the ability to be expanded to give more cooling power should the need arise in the future.
Does personality moderate the relationship between stress and health behavior? Expanding the nomological network of the five-factor model

Abstract The present study tested the hypothesis that personality would moderate the stress to health behavior relationship. Using a community sample, 706 adults (Mean age = 37 years) were administered a set of five-factor model adjective rating scales, measures of stress and distress (i.e., negative life stress, physical symptom intensity, negative mood), health behaviors, as well as a demographic questionnaire. Using hierarchical multiple regression, Openness to Experience, Extraversion, and Neuroticism were found to moderate the stress to health behavior relationship. Supplementary analyses were conducted to determine if the five-factors would also moderate a life event to distress relationship. While several main effects were found, Conscientiousness was found to buffer the stress to distress connection. The factors that may influence both moderator models, suggestions for integration, and future research are discussed.
Visual signaling in virtual world-based assessments: The SAVE Science project

In this paper we describe a study into the impact of visual signaling techniques used in a virtual world-based assessment of science inquiry and content on (1) student cognitive load and (2) assessment efficiency. The study, run with 7th grade students in the United States, found that use of visual signaling was significantly associated with lower levels of student self-reported cognitive load versus students in a no-signaling version of the assessment. Further, the efficiency of the virtual world-based assessment was significantly higher, as measured by in-world object interaction rates, for students in the visual signaling version of the assessment than for those in the no-signaling treatment. In the paper, we discuss the results and their meaning for the design of virtual world and game-based assessments.
Conditioning of Fluorine-Containing Polyimides. 2. Effect of Conditioning Protocol at 8 Volume Dilation on Gas-Transport Properties

The impact of conditioning on the permeability and permselectivity of CO2 and CH4 is discussed for two polyimide isomers that have been conditioned with carbon dioxide using several conditioning protocols. Partial depressurization conditioning at pressures that would induce approximately 8% volume dilation; resulted in up to 50% increases in the permeability, diffusivity, and solubility coefficients of the polyimide isomers. The para-connected isomer, 6FDA-6FpDA, exhibited a greater conditioning effect following partial depressurization conditioning with CO2 at 8% volume dilation than did the meta-connected isomer, 6FDA-6FmDA. Conditioning of 6FDA-6FpDA followed by an exchange with an equimolar mixture of CO2 and CH4 resulted in an increase in the methane permeability and a slight decrease in the permselectivity relative to the film prior to conditioning.