Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Divergence of thermal physiological traits in terrestrial breeding frogs along a tropical elevational gradient

Abstract Critical thermal limits are thought to be correlated with the elevational distribution of species living in tropical montane regions, but with upper limits being relatively invariant compared to lower limits. To test this hypothesis, we examined the variation of thermal physiological traits in a group of terrestrial breeding frogs (Craugastoridae) distributed along a tropical elevational gradient. We measured the critical thermal maximum (CT max; n = 22 species) and critical thermal minimum (CT min; n = 14 species) of frogs captured between the Amazon floodplain (250 m asl) and the high Andes (3,800 m asl). After inferring a multilocus species tree, we conducted a phylogenetically informed test of whether body size, body mass, and elevation contributed to the observed variation in CT max and CT min along the gradient. We also tested whether CT max and CT min exhibit different rates of change given that critical thermal limits (and their plasticity) may have evolved differently in response to different temperature constraints along the gradient. Variation of critical thermal traits was significantly correlated with species’ elevational midpoint, their maximum and minimum elevations, as well as the maximum air temperature and the maximum operative temperature as measured across this gradient. Both thermal limits showed substantial variation, but CT min exhibited relatively faster rates of change than CT max, as observed in other taxa. Nonetheless, our findings call for caution in assuming inflexibility of upper thermal limits and underscore the value of collecting additional empirical data on species’ thermal physiology across elevational gradients.
The Myth that Insulating Boards Serves Long-Term Value

According to an influential view in corporate law writings and debates, pressure from shareholders leads companies to take myopic actions that are costly in the long term, and insulating boards from such pressure serves the long-term interests of companies as well as their shareholders. This board insulation claim has been regularly invoked in a wide range of contexts to support existing or tighter limits on shareholder rights and involvement. This paper subjects this view to a comprehensive examination and finds it wanting. In contrast to what insulation advocates commonly assume, the existence of short investment horizons and inefficient market prices does not necessarily mean that board insulation can be expected to serve long-term value. While board insulation may produce some beneficial long-term effects, this paper shows that it can also be expected to produce significant long-term costs. Furthermore, the available empirical evidence provides no support for the claim that board insulation increases overall value in the long term. To the contrary, the evidence favors the view that board insulation at current or higher levels does not serve the long-term interests of companies and their shareholders. The paper concludes that policymakers and institutional investors should reject the arguments made for board insulation in the name of long-term value. ————A response to this article by Chief Justice Leo Strine — Strine, “Can We Do Better by Ordinary Investors? A Pragmatic Reaction to the Dueling Ideological Mythologists of Corporate Law,” Columbia Law Review, Volume 114, 2014, pp. 449-502 — is available on SSRN at:http://ssrn.com/abstract=2421480
SU-G-IeP3-04: Effective Dose Measurements in Fast Kvp Switch Dual Energy Computed Tomography.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was two-fold: (a) to test a new approach to approximating organ dose by using the effective energy of the combined 80kV/140kV beam in dual-energy (DE) computed tomography (CT), and (b) to derive the effective dose (ED) in the abdomen-pelvis protocol in DECT. METHODS A commercial dual energy CT scanner was employed using a fast-kV switch abdomen/pelvis protocol alternating between 80 kV and 140 kV. MOSFET detectors were used for organ dose measurements. First, an experimental validation of the dose equivalency between MOSFET and ion chamber (as a gold standard) was performed using a CTDI phantom. Second, the ED of DECT scans was measured using MOSFET detectors and an anthropomorphic phantom. For ED calculations, an abdomen/pelvis scan was used using ICRP 103 tissue weighting factors; ED was also computed using the AAPM Dose Length Product (DLP) method and compared to the MOSFET value. RESULTS The effective energy was determined as 42.9 kV under the combined beam from half-value layer (HVL) measurement. ED for the dual-energy scan was calculated as 16.49 ± 0.04 mSv by the MOSFET method and 14.62 mSv by the DLP method. CONCLUSION Tissue dose in the center of the CTDI body phantom was 1.71 ± 0.01 cGy (ion chamber) and 1.71 ± 0.06 (MOSFET) respectively; this validated the use of effective energy method for organ dose estimation. ED from the abdomen-pelvis scan was calculated as 16.49 ± 0.04 mSv by MOSFET and 14.62 mSv by the DLP method; this suggests that the DLP method provides a reasonable approximation to the ED.
Daily intragroup contact in diverse settings: implications for asian adolescents' ethnic identity.

This study examined the daily-level association between contact with same-ethnic others and ethnic private regard among 132 Asian adolescents (mean age = 14 years) attending four high schools ranging in ethnic composition diversity. The data suggest a positive daily-level association between contact with same-ethnic others and ethnic private regard for adolescents, who were highly identified with their ethnic group and who attended predominantly White or ethnically heterogeneous schools. In addition, using time lag analyses, contact with same-ethnic others yesterday was positively related to ethnic private regard today, but ethnic private regard yesterday was unrelated to contact with same-ethnic others today, suggesting that adolescents' identity is responsive to their environments. The implications of these findings for the development of ethnic identity are discussed.
Myocardial lipid accumulation in patients with pressure-overloaded heart and metabolic syndrome[S]

We evaluated the role of sterol-regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1c/peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-&ggr; (PPAR&ggr;) pathway on heart lipotoxicity in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) and aortic stenosis (AS). Echocardiographic parameters of heart function and structural alterations of LV specimens were studied in patients with (n = 56) and without (n = 61) MS undergoing aortic valve replacement. Tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H and E) and oil red O for evidence of intramyocyte lipid accumulation. The specimens were also analyzed with PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemical analysis for SREBP-1c and PPAR&ggr;. Ejection fraction (EF) was lower in MS compared with patients without MS (P < 0.001); no difference was found in aortic orifice surface among the groups. H and E and oil red O staining of specimens from MS patients revealed several myocytes with intracellular accumulation of lipid, whereas these alterations were not detected in biopsies from patients without MS. Patients without MS have low levels and weak immunostaining of SREBP-1c and PPAR&ggr; in heart specimens. In contrast, strong immunostaining and higher levels of SREBP-1c and PPAR&ggr; were seen in biopsies from the MS patients. Moreover, we evidenced a significative correlation between both SREBP-1c and PPAR&ggr; and EF and intramyocyte lipid accumulation (P < 0.001). SREBP-1c may contribute to heart dysfunction by promoting lipid accumulation within myocytes in MS patients with AS; SREBP-1c may do it by increasing the levels of PPAR&ggr; protein.
CD133 Expression Pattern Distinguishes Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms From Ductal Adenocarcinomas of the Pancreas

Objectives: The rate of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) progression is much slower than that of invasive ductal adenocarcinomas. The identification of a clinicopathological marker to distinguish IPMNs from ductal adenocarcinomas is important for understanding the molecular mechanisms of pancreatic cancer. Methods: We examined the expression pattern of the cell surface marker CD133, which has been used to identify putative cancer stem cells from solid tumors, in adult pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (n = 10) and IPMNs (n = 34). Results: CD133 expression was detected in the centroacinar region and intralobular ductal cells of normal pancreas. CD133 expression was also observed in ductal adenocarcinomas. In contrast, CD133 expression was not observed in the mucin-producing epithelial cells and carcinoma cells on IPMNs. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the expression of CD133 is down-regulated in IPMNs, suggesting that loss of CD133 expression might be a useful clinicopathological marker distinguishing IPMNs from ductal adenocarcinomas.
Lead exposure induces changes in 5-hydroxymethylcytosine clusters in CpG islands in human embryonic stem cells and umbilical cord blood

Prenatal exposure to neurotoxicants such as lead (Pb) may cause stable changes in the DNA methylation (5mC) profile of the fetal genome. However, few studies have examined its effect on the DNA de-methylation pathway, specifically the dynamic changes of the 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) profile. Therefore, in this study, we investigate the relationship between Pb exposure and 5mC and 5hmC modifications during early development. To study the changes in the 5hmC profile, we use a novel modification of the Infinium™ HumanMethylation450 assay (Illumina, Inc.), which we named HMeDIP-450K assay, in an in vitro human embryonic stem cell model of Pb exposure. We model Pb exposure-associated 5hmC changes as clusters of correlated, adjacent CpG sites, which are co-responding to Pb. We further extend our study to look at Pb-dependent changes in high density 5hmC regions in umbilical cord blood DNA from 48 mother-infant pairs from the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort. For our study, we randomly selected umbilical cord blood from 24 male and 24 female children from the 1st and 4th quartiles of Pb levels. Our data show that Pb-associated changes in the 5hmC and 5mC profiles can be divided into sex-dependent and sex-independent categories. Interestingly, differential 5mC sites are better markers of Pb-associated sex-dependent changes compared to differential 5hmC sites. In this study we identified several 5hmC and 5mC genomic loci, which we believe might have some potential as early biomarkers of prenatal Pb exposure.
Psychological Vulnerability Among Overweight/Obese Minority Adolescents

Depression is associated with obesity among adolescents, with racial/ethnic variability noted. Psychological correlates that may influence this relationship have not been adequately explored. The primary objective of this secondary analysis was to compare levels of stress, self-esteem, coping, social support, and depressive mood between normal weight and overweight/obese minority adolescents (as defined using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards). Adolescents (n = 101) aged 14–18 years who were largely minority (87%) were recruited from two Midwestern-area high schools. Using a descriptive comparative design, individuals were grouped into normal weight (>5th to <85th percentile) and overweight/obese (≥85th percentile) for comparison on measures. Self-reported levels of stress, coping, self-esteem, social support, depressive mood, and body mass index were obtained. Obese/overweight adolescents reported significantly lower self-esteem than did those with normal weight (p < .05). Although stress was a significant predictor of depressive mood in both groups (p < .001), low self-esteem was also a significant predictor of depressive mood in the overweight/obese group (p = .001). Strategies to manage stress and improve self-esteem may help alleviate depressive mood in high school adolescents.
Dosimetric discrepancies caused by differing MLC parameters for dynamic IMRT

Radiotherapy patients will from time to time be treated on another linac than originally planned due to service or logistical challenges. For patients treated with dynamic intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), extra care should be taken to make sure the delivered dose remains as planned. Four linacs with the same type of dynamic multileaf collimator (MLC) were compared to find a general prediction of the potential dosimetric error caused by treating IMRT patients on another linac without recalculating the treatment plan. The MLC parameters, transmission and dosimetric leaf separation (DLS) were measured for all four linacs. The dynamic fields that were measured to find the DLS value were imported into the treatment planning system to compare the calculated and measured doses. Measured values of transmission and DLS were used directly in the calculations to obtain dose differences of less than 1% between the calculated and measured doses at the reference setup. The dosimetric discrepancy between the linacs was acceptable for all but one linac. Recalculation of the treatment plan therefore remains as standard procedure for this linac when a planned patient must switch linac during the course of treatment. The depth and field size dependences of the MLC parameters were also tested, finding dose differences of up to 4%.
Calibration of the DRASTIC Ground Water Vulnerability Mapping Method

Ground water vulnerability maps developed using the DRASTIC method have been produced in many parts of the world. Comparisons of those maps with actual ground water quality data have shown that the DRASTIC method is typically a poor predictor of ground water contamination. This study significantly improved the effectiveness of a modified DRASTIC ground water vulnerability map by calibrating the point rating schemes to actual ground water quality data by using nonparametric statistical techniques and a geographic information system. Calibration was performed by comparing data on nitrite plus nitrate as nitrogen (NO2+ NO3‐N) concentrations in ground water to land‐use, soils, and depth to first‐encountered ground water data. These comparisons showed clear statistical differences between NO2+ NO3‐N concentrations and the various categories. Ground water probability point ratings for NO2+ NO3‐N contamination were developed from the results of these comparisons, and a probability map was produced. This ground water probability map was then correlated with an independent set of NO2+ NO3‐N data to demonstrate its effectiveness in predicting elevated NO2+ NO3‐N concentrations in ground water. This correlation demonstrated that the probability map was effective, but a vulnerability map produced with the uncalibrated DRASTIC method in the same area and using the same data layers was not effective. Considerable time and expense have been outlaid to develop ground water vulnerability maps with the DRASTIC method. This study demonstrates a cost‐effective method to improve and verify the effectiveness of ground water vulnerability maps.
Use of Nanosilica in Silicone Rubber Coatings for Ceramic Insulators in Coastal Areas - Field Results

Field experiments were performed to study the relative performance of nano size silica filler (nanosilica) and micron size silica filler (microsilica) as fillers in silicone rubber as coatings for ceramic or glass insulators in coastal areas. Leakage current was measured and recorded for 45 days of exposure to a coastal environment that is recognized by the utility as critical. After field exposure, the insulators had their surface contamination evaluated. The results indicate that nanosilica filled silicone rubber had lower leakage current values than microsilica filled silicone rubber coated insulators due to less surface contamination.
Evolving Concepts of Spatial Channels in Vision: From Independence to Nonlinear Interactions

By the 1960s it was evident from neuroanatomy that there were extensive recurrent interactions, both excitatory and inhibitory, among visual cortical neurons. Nevertheless, the psychophysical discovery of ‘spatial-frequency channels’ gave rise to a decade in which parallel, independent channels were thought to subserve early spatial vision. Recent work, however, has clearly demonstrated that early visual channels do not perform a Fourier or wavelet decomposition of the image. Instead, they interact through a variety of nonlinear pooling mechanisms. Such nonlinear interactions perform important computations in texture perception, stereopsis, and motion and form vision.
PRELIMINARY VALIDITY OF “INTEGNEUROTM”: A NEW COMPUTERIZED BATTERY OF NEUROCOGNITIVE TESTS

The purpose of this study was to examine the preliminary validity of a newly developed battery of computerized cognitive measures, IntegNeuroTM. This standardized and semi-automated computerized battery assesses sensori-motor function, attention, new learning and memory, language fluency, executive function, and estimated intelligence. A total of 50 healthy individuals (aged 22–80 years) were included in the study. Correlational analyses revealed highly significant associations between the two cognitive batteries. These results support the use of IntegNeuroTM as a computerized cognitive system. Additional studies are needed to examine the clinical utility of the battery.
Early experience in high-resolution MRI for large vessel occlusions

Background Large vessel occlusions are an important cause of ischemic stroke. Imaging goals center on identifying the site of occlusion, the size of the ischemic core and the size of the ischemic penumbra. The etiology of the occlusion is typically inferred by history and demographics, or subacutely during investigation for shunt, hypercoagulable state or other causes. Current generation vascular imaging is based primarily on lumenography. Contours of the vessel lumen on lumenography may suggest the presence of atherosclerosis, dissection or thrombus. High-resolution MRI (HRMRI) techniques can characterize wall morphology in the presence of an occlusion, which may affect clinical care by better definition of intra-occlusion wall characteristics as well as downstream vasculature normally confounded by the lack of antegrade flow. Methods The HRMRI databases of Cleveland Clinic and Beijing Tiantan Hospital were reviewed to identify patients with large vessel occlusions on lumenography, performed with a diagnostic quality HRMRI. Clinical data were reviewed for each patient and images were analyzed by experienced neuroradiologists at both institutions. Where possible, conventional angiography/lumenography was reviewed for comparison. Results Nine patients with large vessel cerebral artery occlusions were identified in whom HRMRI characteristics were reviewed and categorized. Images were correlated with demographics, risk factors and the working diagnosis of each case. Conclusions HRMRI of vascular occlusions can identify wall characteristics and characterize the course and caliber of the vasculature distal to the occluded segment. This information may be useful in determining preferred approaches for endovascular revascularization.
Fear extinction and BDNF: translating animal models of PTSD to the clinic

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most studied neurotrophin involved in synaptic plasticity processes that are required for long‐term learning and memory. Specifically, BDNF gene expression and activation of its high‐affinity tropomyosin‐related kinase B (TrkB) receptor are necessary in the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex for the formation of emotional memories, including fear memories. Among the psychiatric disorders with altered fear processing, there is post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is characterized by an inability to extinguish fear memories. Since BDNF appears to enhance extinction of fear, targeting impaired extinction in anxiety disorders such as PTSD via BDNF signalling may be an important and novel way to enhance treatment efficacy. The aim of this review is to provide a translational point of view that stems from findings in the BDNF regulation of synaptic plasticity and fear extinction. In addition, there are different systems that seem to alter fear extinction through BDNF modulation like the endocannabinoid system and the hypothalamic–pituitary adrenal axis. Recent work also finds that the pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide and PAC1 receptor, which are upstream of BDNF activation, may be implicated in PTSD. Especially interesting are data that exogenous fear extinction enhancers such as antidepressants, histone deacetylases inhibitors and d‐cycloserine, a partial N‐methyl d‐aspartate agonist, may act through or in concert with the BDNF–TrkB system. Finally, we review studies where recombinant BDNF and a putative TrkB agonist, 7,8‐dihydroxyflavone, may enhance extinction of fear. These approaches may lead to novel agents that improve extinction in animal models and eventually humans.
The Role of Peptide Hormones in Insect Lipid Metabolism

Lipids are the primary storage molecules and an essential source of energy in insects during reproduction, prolonged periods of flight, starvation, and diapause. The coordination center for insect lipid metabolism is the fat body, which is analogous to the vertebrate adipose tissue and liver. The fat body is primarily composed of adipocytes, which accumulate triacylglycerols in intracellular lipid droplets. Genomics and proteomics, together with functional analyses, such as RNA interference and CRISPR/Cas9-targeted genome editing, identified various genes involved in lipid metabolism and elucidated their functions. However, the endocrine control of insect lipid metabolism, in particular the roles of peptide hormones in lipogenesis and lipolysis are relatively less-known topics. In the current review, the neuropeptides that directly or indirectly affect insect lipid metabolism are introduced. The primary lipolytic and lipogenic peptide hormones are adipokinetic hormone and the brain insulin-like peptides (ILP2, ILP3, ILP5). Other neuropeptides, such as insulin-growth factor ILP6, neuropeptide F, allatostatin-A, corazonin, leucokinin, tachykinins and limostatin, might stimulate lipolysis, while diapause hormone-pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide, short neuropeptide F, CCHamide-2, and the cytokines Unpaired 1 and Unpaired 2 might induce lipogenesis. Most of these peptides interact with one another, but mostly with insulin signaling, and therefore affect lipid metabolism indirectly. Peptide hormones are also involved in lipid metabolism during reproduction, flight, diapause, starvation, infections and immunity; these are also highlighted. The review concludes with a discussion of the potential of lipid metabolism-related peptide hormones in pest management.