Root resistance to cavitation is accurately measured using a centrifuge technique.

Plants transport water under negative pressure and this makes their xylem vulnerable to cavitation. Among plant organs, root xylem is often highly vulnerable to cavitation due to water stress. The use of centrifuge methods to study organs, such as roots, that have long vessels are hypothesized to produce erroneous estimates of cavitation resistance due to the presence of open vessels through measured samples.

Independent validation of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score and identification of regional variation in patient risk within England.

The Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) was developed to assess the risk of death following a fracture of the hip, based on pre-operative patient characteristics. We performed an independent validation of the NHFS, assessed the degree of geographical variation that exists between different units within the United Kingdom and attempted to define a NHFS level that is associated with high risk of mortality. The NHFS was calculated retrospectively for consecutive patients presenting with a fracture of the hip to two hospitals in England.

p62 is required for stem cell/progenitor retention through inhibition of IKK/NF-κB/Ccl4 signaling at the bone marrow macrophage-osteoblast niche.

In the bone marrow (BM), hematopoietic progenitors (HPs) reside in specific anatomical niches near osteoblasts (Obs), macrophages (MΦs), and other cells forming the BM microenvironment. A connection between immunosurveillance and traffic of HP has been demonstrated, but the regulatory signals that instruct the immune regulation of HP circulation are unknown. We discovered that the BM microenvironment deficiency of p62, an autophagy regulator and signal organizer, results in loss of autophagic repression of macrophage contact-dependent activation of Ob NF-κB signaling.

Culturally informed views on cancer screening: a qualitative research study of the differences between older and younger Somali immigrant women.

Background: Somali women are infrequently screened for breast or cervical cancer, and there is a paucity of evidence-based interventions to increase cancer screening in this community. In order to create a culturally relevant intervention for Somali women living in Minnesota, we sought to understand what Somali immigrant women know about breast and cervical cancer, what are the attitudes toward screening and what cultural barriers are there to screen as well as cultural factors that would facilitate screening.

Methods: In partnership with a community-based organization, New American Community Services (NACS), focus groups were conducted to explore the issues described above.

MicroRNA induced cardiac reprogramming in vivo: evidence for mature cardiac myocytes and improved cardiac function.

Rationale: A major goal for the treatment of heart tissue damaged by cardiac injury is to develop strategies for restoring healthy heart muscle through the regeneration and repair of damaged myocardium. We recently demonstrated that administration of a specific combination of microRNAs (miR combo) into the infarcted myocardium leads to direct in vivo reprogramming of noncardiac myocytes to cardiac myocytes. However, the biological and functional consequences of such reprogramming are not yet known.

Interactions of "bora-penicilloates" with serine β-lactamases and DD-peptidases.

Specific boronic acids are generally powerful tetrahedral intermediate/transition state analogue inhibitors of serine amidohydrolases. This group of enzymes includes bacterial β-lactamases and DD-peptidases where there has been considerable development of boronic acid inhibitors. This paper describes the synthesis, determination of the inhibitory activity, and analysis of the results from two α-(2-thiazolidinyl) boronic acids that are closer analogues of particular tetrahedral intermediates involved in β-lactamase and DD-peptidase catalysis than those previously described.

Abi3bp regulates cardiac progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Rationale: Cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) are thought to differentiate into the major cell types of the heart: cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. We have recently identified ABI family, member 3 (NESH) binding protein (Abi3bp) as a protein important for mesenchymal stem cell biology. Because CPCs share several characteristics with mesenchymal stem cells, we hypothesized that Abi3bp would similarly affect CPC differentiation and proliferation.

Excising stem samples underwater at native tension does not induce xylem cavitation.

Xylem resistance to water stress-induced cavitation is an important trait that is associated with drought tolerance of plants. The level of xylem cavitation experienced by a plant is often assessed as the percentage loss in conductivity (PLC) at different water potentials. Such measurements are constructed with samples that are excised underwater at native tensions.

1α,25(OH)2D3 differentially regulates miRNA expression in human bladder cancer cells.

Bladder cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and eighth leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. Epidemiological and experimental studies strongly suggest a role for 1α,25(OH)2D3 in cancer prevention and treatment. The antitumor activities of 1α,25(OH)2D3 are mediated by the induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, differentiation and the inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis.

Addressing perinatal depression in a group of underserved urban women: a focus group study.

Background: Perinatal mental health problems are common complications of pregnancy that can go undetected and untreated. Research indicated that mental health complications are more prevalent in women from disadvantaged communities, yet women from these communities often experience barriers to accessing treatments and interventions. Untreated depression during pregnancy can lead to poor self-care, increased substance abuse, poor obstetrical outcomes, developmental delay in children, and increased risk of postpartum depression.

The standard centrifuge method accurately measures vulnerability curves of long-vesselled olive stems.

The standard centrifuge method has been frequently used to measure vulnerability to xylem cavitation. This method has recently been questioned. It was hypothesized that open vessels lead to exponential vulnerability curves, which were thought to be indicative of measurement artifact.

The effect of triclosan coated sutures on rate of surgical site infection after hip and knee replacement: a protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Background: 187,000 hip and knee joint replacements are performed every year in the National Health Service (NHS). One of the commonest complications is surgical site infection (SSI), and this represents a significant burden in terms of patient morbidity, mortality and cost to health services around the world. The aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to determine if the addition of triclosan coated sutures to a standard regimen can reduce the rate of SSI after total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR).

What influences contraceptive behaviour in women who experience unintended pregnancy? A systematic review of qualitative research.

One in five pregnancies in the UK ends in abortion. The great majority of those pregnancies are unintended, resulting from incorrect, inconsistent or non-use of contraception, rather than contraception failure. We undertook a synthesis of qualitative research with women who have unintended pregnancies as a new approach to understanding contraceptive behaviour.

Neutral β-Lactams Inactivate High Molecular Mass Penicillin-Binding Proteins of Class B1, Including PBP2a of MRSA.

The targets of β-lactam antibiotics are bacterial DD-peptidases (penicillin-binding proteins). β-Lactam SAR studies over many years have demonstrated the importance of a specifically placed negative charge, usually carboxylate, on these molecules. We show here that neutral analogues of classical β-lactam antibiotics are of comparable activity to the originals against β-lactam-resistant high molecular mass DD-peptidases of the B1 class, a group that includes PBP2a of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Molecular phylogeny, biogeography, and habitat preference evolution of marsupials.

Marsupials exhibit great diversity in ecology and morphology. However, compared with their sister group, the placental mammals, our understanding of many aspects of marsupial evolution remains limited. We use 101 mitochondrial genomes and data from 26 nuclear loci to reconstruct a dated phylogeny including 97% of extant genera and 58% of modern marsupial species.

Understanding cancer screening service utilization by Somali men in Minnesota.

This study examined factors that influence use of cancer screening by Somali men residing in Minnesota, USA. To better understand why recent immigrants are disproportionately less likely to use screening services, we used the health belief model to explore knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes surrounding cancer screening. We conducted a qualitative study comprised of 20 key informant interviews with Somali community leaders and 8 focus groups with Somali men (n = 44).

Trends in tuberculosis - United States, 2013.

In 2013, a total of 9,588 new tuberculosis (TB) cases were reported in the United States, with an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 population, a decrease of 4.2% from 2012.

Combined dyslipidemia in obese children: response to a focused lifestyle approach.

Background: Combined dyslipidemia (elevated triglyceride [TG] ± non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [non-HDL-C] ± total cholesterol [TC] ± low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] ± reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) is seen in >40% of obese children. Primary recommended treatment is weight loss with limited reports of any other approach.

Objective: In children with combined dyslipidemia, evaluate the response to a clinical protocol focused on diet composition change and increased activity with no direct weight loss approach.

Clinical evaluation of pertussis vaccines: US Food and Drug Administration regulatory considerations.

The resurgence of pertussis in the United States has stimulated considerable public health interest in developing new vaccination strategies to improve control of pertussis. The purpose of this article is to review the US Food and Drug Administration's regulatory framework for the prelicensure clinical evaluation of preventive vaccines and the clinical approaches that have been used to demonstrate effectiveness of US-licensed vaccines containing an acellular pertussis component.

Impact on staff of improving access to the school breakfast program: a qualitative study.

Background: Project BREAK! was designed to test the efficacy of an intervention to increase student participation in the reimbursable School Breakfast Program (SBP). Two schools developed grab-n-go menus, added convenient serving locations, and allowed eating in the hallway. This follow-up study investigated faculty and staff perspectives of how the SBP changes influenced schools.

Characterization of acoustic noise in a neonatal intensive care unit MRI system.

Background: To eliminate the medical risks and logistical challenges of transporting infants from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to the radiology department for magnetic resonance imaging, a small-footprint 1.5-T MRI scanner has been developed for neonatal imaging within the NICU. MRI is known to be noisy, and exposure to excessive acoustic noise has the potential to elicit physiological distress and impact development in the term and preterm infant.

Precision control of multiple quantum cascade lasers for calibration systems.

We present a precision, 1-A, digitally interfaced current controller for quantum cascade lasers, with demonstrated temperature coefficients for continuous and 40-kHz full-depth square-wave modulated operation, of 1-2 ppm/ °C and 15 ppm/ °C, respectively. High precision digital to analog converters (DACs) together with an ultra-precision voltage reference produce highly stable, precision voltages, which are selected by a multiplexer (MUX) chip to set output currents via a linear current regulator. The controller is operated in conjunction with a power multiplexing unit, allowing one of three lasers to be driven by the controller, while ensuring protection of controller and all lasers during operation, standby, and switching.

Mortality of resprouting chaparral shrubs after a fire and during a record drought: physiological mechanisms and demographic consequences.

We examined postfire regeneration of chaparral shrubs during an intense drought. This study focused on the demography and physiology of shrub species that resprout from a basal lignotuber following fire. We found significant levels of resprout mortality when intense drought occurred in the year following fire during the period of shrub recovery.

MRI in the neonatal ICU: initial experience using a small-footprint 1.5-T system.

Objective: The objective of our study was to develop a small 1.5-T MRI system for neonatal imaging that can be installed in the neonatal ICU (NICU) and to evaluate its performance in 15 neonates.

Subjects And Methods: A 1.