Differing genetics of saline and cocaine self-administration in the hybrid mouse diversity panel.

To identify genes involved in regulating the behavioral and brain transcriptomic response to the potentially addictive drug cocaine, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWASs) for intravenous self-administration of cocaine or saline (as a control) over 10 days using a panel of inbred and recombinant inbred mice. A linear mixed model increased statistical power for these longitudinal data and identified 145 loci for responding when saline only was delivered, compared to 17 for the corresponding cocaine GWAS. Only one locus overlapped.

Incidence and effects of anomalies and hybridization on Alabama freshwater fish index of biotic integrity results.

The index of biotic integrity (IBI) is an effective multi-metric tool for assessing biological integrity of aquatic ecosystems and regulating water quality based on fish community surveys. Percentages of individuals with deformity, eroded fin, lesion, and tumor (DELT) anomalies are used in IBIs as a measure of fish health, while the percentage of hybrids reflects changes in reproductive isolation. When rare, these are combined into a joint '% DELT + hybrids' metric.

Safety, Ergonomics and Patient Centered Point-of-Care Ultrasound.

Ultrasound imaging is a safe diagnostic tool that has become ubiquitous, in part due to its portability, effectiveness, and safety record. The latter is aided be adherence to regulatory limits, safety guidelines, and the "as low as reasonably achievable" principle. Operators receive feedback on potential tissue heating and mechanical effects through output display standard that shows the thermal index and mechanical index.

Toll-Like Receptor 2 Attenuates the Formation and Progression of Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in ApoE-/- Mice.

Introduction: We demonstrated Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 in the pathogenesis of angiotensin II (AngII)-mediated abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation. Here, we study TLR2 in the AAA formation.

Methods: Male ApoE-/- and ApoE-/-TLR2-/- mice were treated with AngII.

Using QI to develop a sustainable method for titrating taxane infusions to reduce hypersensitivity reactions.

Objective: To develop a sustainable three-step method for titrating first and second taxane exposures through integration of best practices in patient and environmental safety; and to evaluate the impact on immediate hypersensitivity rates.

Methods: A quality improvement study was initiated at a large, NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center in the U.S.