Dots-on-Plots: A Web Application to Analyze Stress-Strain Curves From Tensile Tests of Soft Tissue.

The calculation of tensile mechanical properties from stress-strain curves is a fundamental step in characterizing material behavior, yet no standardized method exists to perform these calculations for soft tissue. To address this deficiency, we developed a free web application called Dots-on-Plots2 that fully automates the calculation of tensile mechanical properties from stress-strain curves. The analyzed mechanical properties include the strength, strain, and energy at four points of interest (transition, yield, ultimate, and rupture), and the linear modulus. Users of Dots-on-Plots can upload multiple files, view and download results, and adjust threshold settings. This study determined a threshold setting that minimized error when calculating the transition point, where the stress-strain curve "transitions" from a nonlinear "toe" region to a linear region. Using the optimal threshold (2% stress deviation from a linear region fit), Dots-on-Plots calculated the transition strains from twenty tensile experiments of human meniscus to be 0.049 ± 0.007, which nearly matched the known transition strain values of 0.050 ± 0.006 (determined using finite element parameter optimization). The sensitivity of the calculated transition strain to the shape of various stress-strain curves was analyzed using sets of model-generated synthetic data. This free web application offers a convenient and reliable tool to systematically enhance the speed, transparency, and consistency of mechanical analysis across biomedical research groups.

Outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections linked to cucumbers--United States, 2014.

In August 2014, PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance, detected a multistate cluster of Salmonella enterica serotype Newport infections with an indistinguishable pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern (XbaI PFGE pattern JJPX01.0061). Outbreaks of illnesses associated with this PFGE pattern have previously been linked to consumption of tomatoes harvested from Virginia's Eastern Shore in the Delmarva region and have not been linked to cucumbers or other produce items. To identify the contaminated food and find the source of the contamination, CDC, state and local health and agriculture departments and laboratories, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory investigations. A total of 275 patients in 29 states and the District of Columbia were identified, with illness onsets occurring during May 20-September 30, 2014. Whole genome sequencing (WGS), a highly discriminating subtyping method, was used to further characterize PFGE pattern JJPX01.0061 isolates. Epidemiologic, microbiologic, and product traceback evidence suggests that cucumbers were a source of Salmonella Newport infections in this outbreak. The epidemiologic link to a novel outbreak vehicle suggests an environmental reservoir for Salmonella in the Delmarva region that should be identified and mitigated to prevent future outbreaks.

Portable conduction velocity experiments using earthworms for the college and high school neuroscience teaching laboratory.

The earthworm is ideal for studying action potential conduction velocity in a classroom setting, as its simple linear anatomy allows easy axon length measurements and the worm's sparse coding allows single action potentials to be easily identified. The earthworm has two giant fiber systems (lateral and medial) with different conduction velocities that can be easily measured by manipulating electrode placement and the tactile stimulus. Here, we present a portable and robust experimental setup that allows students to perform conduction velocity measurements within a 30-min to 1-h laboratory session. Our improvement over this well-known preparation is the combination of behaviorally relevant tactile stimuli (avoiding electrical stimulation) with the invention of minimal, low-cost, and portable equipment. We tested these experiments during workshops in both a high school and college classroom environment and found positive learning outcomes when we compared pre- and posttests taken by the students.

The 2005 C.T. Rowland Award orthodontic case report.

The C.T. Rowland award is presented annually by the Texas Orthodontic Study Club (formerly "Texas Tweed"). The award was first presented in 1954 in recognition of the group's president, C. T. Rowland. Applicants to the study club, which numbers almost 200 orthodontists from Texas and surrounding states, are required to present five cases for membership. These cases, with before and after records, represent a variety of malocclusions demonstrating the applicants' knowledge and expertise in diagnosing, treating, and finishing cases with quality results. The qualifying committee reviews each applicant's cases and, based on the difficulty of the original malocclusions and the degree of excellence of the finished result, chooses one person to receive their award. The 2005 winner of the C. T. Rowland award is Dr. Kyle Shannon. He is in the exclusive practice of orthodontics in Tulsa, OK.

Control of terrestrial animal rabies in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, after oral vaccination of raccoons (1998-2007).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) project conducted from 1998 through 2007 in Anne Arundel County, Md, for the control of rabies in terrestrial animals. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of surveillance data (1997 through 2007). ANIMALS: Free-ranging raccoons (Procyon lotor) and other terrestrial mammals. PROCEDURES: Vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein recombinant virus oral rabies vaccine-bait units were distributed annually by aircraft and ground teams targeting free-ranging raccoons. Approximately 2 to 4 weeks following the vaccine-bait placement, raccoons were live trapped, sedated, processed, and then released. Serologic samples were tested for the presence of rabies virus-neutralizing antibodies (RVNAs). Bait acceptance was estimated by analysis of tetracycline biomarking of sampled teeth. Rabies incidence was determined by the passive identification of rabid terrestrial animals. RESULTS: The incidence of rabies in terrestrial animals decreased 92% between 1997 (the year prior to the start of the ORV project) and 2007. The mean RVNA prevalence across all years was 33% among trapped raccoons in areas baited with a fish meal polymer bait type, whereas the mean bait acceptance was 30%. Adult raccoons had a seropositivity rate twice that of juvenile raccoons, whereas the bait acceptance rate between adults and juveniles did not differ significantly. For areas baited with a coated sachet bait, adults and juveniles had the same seroprevalence. Juveniles had better seroprevalence when the annual campaign started in September and October, compared with August. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ORV project contributed to a significant decrease in annual incidence of terrestrial animal rabies in Anne Arundel County, Md, during the 10-year project period. For fish meal polymer baits, juvenile raccoons accessed bait at the same rate as adult raccoons but had a significantly lower prevalence of RVNAs. For coated sachet baits, seroprevalence was the same in both age groups. The time of year the bait distribution occurred and the bait type used may be partial explanations for the difference in RVNA seroprevalence between adults and juvenile raccoons.

Changes in the curve of Spee with treatment and at 2 years posttreatment.

The purposes of this study were to determine pretreatment skeletal and dental patterns related to curve of Spee depth, evaluate changes in the curve of Spee with treatment and the effects on dentofacial structures, and determine factors associated with the stability of the curve of Spee after treatment. Lateral cephalograms and dental casts were evaluated for 24 white male and 26 white female patients at pretreatment, posttreatment, and at least 2 years postretention. All patients had mandibular permanent second molars and premolars erupted and in occlusion. The following variables were correlated with increased pretreatment curve of Spee depth: low Frankfort-mandibular plane angle, deep overbite, increased overjet, and Class II molar malocclusion. No significant differences were found in pretreatment curve depth between male and female patients or between right and left sides. Leveling the curve of Spee was accomplished by uprighting the molars, extruding the premolars, and intruding or flaring the incisors. Extraction and nonextraction cases demonstrated no significant differences in the amount of curve relapse. Increased curve relapse was correlated with postretention increases in overbite, irregularity index, and patients given removable retainers. Overall, the curve of Spee was relatively stable after treatment, with only a 16% relapse of the leveled curve.