cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Presynaptic LTP and LTD of Excitatory and Inhibitory Synapses

Ubiquitous forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) are caused by enduring increases or decreases in neurotransmitter release. Such forms or presynaptic plasticity are equally observed at excitatory and inhibitory synapses and the list of locations expressing presynaptic LTP and LTD continues to grow. In addition to the mechanistically distinct forms of postsynaptic plasticity, presynaptic plasticity offers a powerful means to modify neural circuits. A wide range of induction mechanisms has been identified, some of which occur entirely in the presynaptic terminal, whereas others require retrograde signaling from the postsynaptic to presynaptic terminals. In spite of this diversity of induction mechanisms, some common induction rules can be identified across synapses. Although the precise molecular mechanism underlying long-term changes in transmitter release in most cases remains unclear, increasing evidence indicates that presynaptic LTP and LTD can occur in vivo and likely mediate some forms of learning.
Overall Function in Rural Childhood Cancer Survivors The Role of Social Competence and Emotional Health

This study compared the functioning of 20 rural cancer survivors, aged 6 to 16 years, with that of 40 age- and gender-matched school peers. Social competence and emotional health were evaluated, along with academic performance and physical limitations. Eight measures were used: the teacher and parent Child Behavior Check Lists, the Health Resources Inventory, the Vineland Revised Scale of Social Maturity, the Piers-Harris Child's Self-Concept Scale, the Parcel and Meyers' Health Locus of Control, the Moos' Family Environment Scale, and the Functional Status II(r). Cancer survivors and controls had similar attitudes about self-esteem, family conflicts, physical functioning, social skills, independence, and sense of control over health. Both parents and teachers noted poorer social competence among the cancer survivors than among controls, but parents of survivors reported more behavior problems, whereas teachers stressed poorer school performance. Routine screening for emotional health, social competence, and academic performance should be part of the follow-up care of pediatric cancer survivors.
Expression of bar in the Plastid Genome Confers Herbicide Resistance

Phosphinothricin (PPT) is the active component of a family of environmentally safe, nonselective herbicides. Resistance to PPT in transgenic crops has been reported by nuclear expression of a bar transgene encoding phosphinothricin acetyltransferase, a detoxifying enzyme. We report here expression of a bacterial bar gene (b-bar1) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Petit Havana) plastids that confers field-level tolerance to Liberty, an herbicide containing PPT. We also describe a second bacterial bar gene (b-bar2) and a codon-optimized synthetic bar (s-bar) gene with significantly elevated levels of expression in plastids (>7% of total soluble cellular protein). Although these genes are expressed at a high level, direct selection thus far did not yield transplastomic clones, indicating that subcellular localization rather than the absolute amount of the enzyme is critical for direct selection of transgenic clones. The codon-modified s-bar gene is poorly expressed in Escherichia coli, a common enteric bacterium, due to differences in codon use. We propose to use codon usage differences as a precautionary measure to prevent expression of marker genes in the unlikely event of horizontal gene transfer from plastids to bacteria. Localization of the bar gene in the plastid genome is an attractive alternative to incorporation in the nuclear genome since there is no transmission of plastid-encoded genes via pollen.
Religious coping and personality in later life

A stratified random subsample of 100 older adults from long-term participants of the Second Duke Longitudinal Study was interviewed concerning how they coped with three stressful event periods. Responses to open-ended coping questions were categorized as religious or non-religious in nature. Mean scores on 16 personality traits were compared between religious copers. Few differences were observed in personality scores between these groups. Compared with non-religious copers, religious copers scored lower on factor E (less aggressive or hostile, more humble, submissive); there was also a tendency towards being higher on factor G (more responsible, conscientious, and moralistic). Over a six-year period between wave 1 and wave 4, stability or change in personality was not related to coping style. No evidence was found for negative personality traits among older religious copers that have commonly been reported in younger religious individuals.
Causation entropy identifies indirect influences, dominance of neighbors and anticipatory couplings

Abstract Inference of causality is central in nonlinear time series analysis and science in general. A popular approach to infer causality between two processes is to measure the information flow between them in terms of transfer entropy. Using dynamics of coupled oscillator networks, we show that although transfer entropy can successfully detect information flow in two processes, it often results in erroneous identification of network connections under the presence of indirect interactions, dominance of neighbors, or anticipatory couplings. Such effects are found to be profound for time-dependent networks. To overcome these limitations, we develop a measure called causation entropy and show that its application can lead to reliable identification of true couplings.
Comparison of the exoS Gene and Protein Expression in Soil and Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Exoenzyme S (ExoS) is translocated into eukaryotic cells by the type III secretory process and has been hypothesized to function in conjunction with other virulence factors in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To gain further understanding of how ExoS might contribute to P. aeruginosa survival and virulence, ExoS expression and the structural gene sequence were determined in P. aeruginosa soil isolates and compared with ExoS of clinical isolates. Significantly higher levels of ExoS ADP-ribosyltransferase (ADPRT) activity were detected in culture supernatants of soil isolates compared to those of clinical isolates. The higher levels of ADPRT activity of soil isolates reflected both the increased production of ExoS and the production of ExoS having a higher specific activity. ExoS structural gene sequence comparisons found the gene to be highly conserved among soil and clinical isolates, with the greatest number of nonsynonymous substitutions occurring within the region of ExoS encoding GAP function. The lack of amino acid changes in the ADPRT region in association with a higher specific activity implies that other factors produced by P. aeruginosa or residues outside the ADPRT region are affecting ExoS ADPRT activity. The data are consistent with ExoS being integral to P. aeruginosa survival in the soil and suggest that, in the transition of P. aeruginosa from the soil to certain clinical settings, the loss of ExoS expression is favored.
Treatment planning using a dose-volume feasibility search algorithm

Abstract Purpose: An approach to treatment plan optimization is presented that inputs dose–volume constraints and utilizes a feasibility search algorithm that seeks a set of beam weights so that the calculated dose distributions satisfy the dose–volume constraints. In contrast to a search for the “best” plan, this approach can quickly determine feasibility and point out the most restrictive of the predetermined constraints. Methods and Materials: The cyclic subgradient projection (CSP) algorithm was modified to incorporate dose–volume constraints in a treatment plan optimization schema. The algorithm was applied to determine beam weights for several representative three-dimensional treatment plans. Results: Using the modified CSP algorithm, we found that either a feasible solution to the dose–volume constraint problem was found or the program determined, after a predetermined set of iterations was performed, that no feasible solution existed for the particular set of dose–volume constraints. If no feasible solution existed, we relaxed several of the dose–volume constraints and were able to achieve a feasible solution. Conclusion: Feasibility search algorithms can be used in radiation treatment planning to generate a treatment plan that meets the dose–volume constraints established by the radiation oncologist. In the absence of a feasible solution, these algorithms can provide information to the radiation oncologist as to how the dose–volume constraints may be modified to achieve a feasible solution.
The importance of historical Tang dynasty for place branding the contemporary city Xi'an

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the opportunity of utilizing Tang dynasty history, heritage, buildings and names in the effort to place brand the contemporary city Xi'an.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a conceptual framework for place branding cities consisting of two main dimensions. The first describes the continuum of functional versus emotional values within a city; the second measures the degree to which the image of a place is historical or contemporary. The paper then employs historical analysis to examine the meaning and construction of a Tang dynasty brand for place branding twenty‐first century Xi'an.Findings – While Xi'an may possess an illustrious historical identity, the contemporary city is still searching for an image. Xi'an's glorious heritage attracts considerable tourism, but has not yet drawn substantial business, foreign direct investment or talents to contribute to and support economic development of the metropolitan region.Research limitations/impli...
Divergent actions of monomeric, dimeric, and tetrameric concanavalin A on lymphocyte traffic

Abstract The autoradiographic analysis of the localization of [ 3 H]adenosine-labeled cells exposed to concanavalin A (Con A) in vitro has confirmed that the altered migration of Con A-treated lymphocytes is a consequence of their slower rate of migration and delay in normal areas of traffic (5, 6). The mechanisms through which Con A alters cell migration were further investigated by studying the effects of several derivatives of Con A on the distribution of 51 Cr-labeled lymph node cells. The results obtained show that the monomeric and dimeric forms of Con A were unable to modify cell traffic, a condition that was partially reversed when succinyl Con A-treated cells were exposed to divalent antibodies to Con A. This suggests that Con A may alter lymphocyte recirculation by actively modifying the membrane fluidity or the surface lateral transport of the lymphocyte. Whatever the exact mechanisms responsible for the altered migration are, they probably involve complex active processes that can be related to the heterogeneity of Con A receptors, the existence of subsets of cells with different reactivities to the lectin, or simply the result of a passive phenomenon dependent on the presence of Con A on the cell surface.
Nesting Bird “Host Funnel” Increases Mosquito-Bird Contact Rate

ABSTRACT Increases in vector-host contact rates can enhance arbovirus transmission intensity. We investigated weekly fluctuations in contact rates between mosquitoes and nesting birds using the recently described Nest Mosquito Trap (NMT). The number of mosquitoes per nestling increased from <1 mosquito per trap night to 36.2 in the final 2 wk of the nesting season. Our evidence suggests the coincidence of the end of the avian nesting season and increasing mosquito abundances may have caused a “host funnel,” concentrating host-seeking mosquitoes to the few remaining nestlings. The relative abundance of mosquitoes collected by the NMT suggests that significantly more Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Culex pipiens (L.) /restuans (Theobald) sought nesting bird bloodmeals than were predicted by their relative abundances in CO2-baited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light and gravid traps. Culex salinarius (Coquillett) and Culex erraticus Dyar and Knab were collected in NMTs in proportion to their relati...
Implementing the No Child Left Behind Act: Challenges for the States

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) requires states to test specified subjects and grades, to establish minimum performance standards for students, schools and school districts, and to provide assistance and impose sanctions on schools and districts that do not meet performance goals as a condition of receiving federal aid. NCLB builds on earlier federal and state education reform initiatives, and its success depends on the willingness and capacity of states and localities to enact its more stringent provisions. This article examines challenges facing states as they implement the new law and concludes that most lack the human and fiscal resources to support school improvement.
Do stressful events account for the link between socioeconomic status and mental health

Background The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the relationships between socioeconomic status (SES), demographic variables and mental health and to determine whether number of life stressors mediated these relationships. Methods Wave 1 (2001–02) and 2 (2004–05) data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; n ¼ 34 459) were used in the current study. Controlling for wave 1 mental health, a mediation model was tested to determine the relative impact of socioeconomic and demographic variables (all measured at wave 1) on mental health 3 years later (wave 2). The number of life stressors experienced in the 12 months prior to wave 1, assessed at wave 1, was evaluated as the mediator. Results Findings indicated that SES, age, race/ethnicity, gender and marital status independently predicted changes in mental health ratings at wave 2. In addition, the number of life stressors mediated the relation between socioeconomic and demographic variables and mental health. Exposure to life stressors helps to explain commonly reported socioeconomic and demographic disparities in mental health.
Role of short-chain fatty acids in colonic HCO3 secretion

Luminal isobutyrate, a relatively poor metabolized short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), induces HCO3 secretion via a Cl-independent, DIDS-insensitive, carrier-mediated process as well as inhibiting both ...
Genetic aspects of restoring Olympia oysters and other native bivalves: balancing the need for action, good intentions, and the risks of making things worse.

ABSTRACT As interest and efforts in ecological restoration of native bivalve populations grow, the genetic implications of various restoration strategies are often unclear to resource managers and restoration practitioners, even though genetic considerations are vital to the ultimate success or failure of restoration endeavors. In an effort to fill this void, we present an overview of the underlying genetic concepts, a brief review of documented examples of native mollusc populations impacted by hatchery production, and a summary of the potential genetic impacts of restoration activities ranging from eliminating ongoing negative impacts with minimal genetic effects to intentional genetic manipulation of extant populations. We emphasize throughout the importance of understanding how adaptive, quantitative genetic variation is distributed within and among populations and the limitations of studies that address only selectively neutral molecular genetic variation. We also describe a conceptual framework for ...
Neurotoxicity of antiretroviral therapy

The neurological outcome of HIV infection has changed dramatically in the era of HAART. Despite effective suppression of plasma viral load and a substantial decrease in the incidence of HIV-associated dementia, neurocognitive impairment and peripheral neuropathy remain widespread. The neurotoxic side effects of antiretroviral (ARV) agents are among several contributing factors to this continued prevalence. Effective penetration of the CNS by ARV agents is paramount to treating neurological symptoms as well as systemic infection, but may also exacerbate the severity of drug-related neurotoxicity. The neurotoxic side effects of ARV agents vary widely between and within drug classes. The risks and benefits of combination regimens continue to evolve as more effective treatment protocols are developed.
In Vitro Activity of an Oral Streptogramin Antimicrobial, XRP2868, against Gram-Positive Bacteria

The comparative in vitro potency of XRP2868, a new oral semisynthetic streptogramin antibiotic, was evaluated against gram-positive bacteria. XRP2868 inhibited all staphylococci at ≤1 μg/ml and all nonpneumococcal streptococci at ≤0.25 μg/ml and was fourfold more potent than quinupristin-dalfopristin against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium.
Advantage and feasibility of immersion lithography

Immersion lithography has an advantage in the numerical aperture of optics by a factor of refractive index n of the liquid filled into the space between the bottom lens and wafer. In case of 193-nm exposure tools, water (n = 1.44) has been found as the best liquid. It is shown, by using imaging simulations, that ArF (193-nm) immersion lithography (NA = 1.05 to 1.23) has almost equivalent performance to F2 (157-nm) dry (NA = 0.85 to 0.93) lithography. Issues in the ArF immersion exposure tools are discussed with fluid-dynamic and thermal simulations results. In the fundamental issues, there seems to be no showstoppers so far, however, there exist several challenges to realize viable exposure tools.
Bioclastic Turbidite Sedimentation in Columbus Basin, Bahamas

Thirty closely spaced piston cores from Columbus Basin, a 2700-sq mi re-entrant in the southern Great Bahama Bank, were studied in an effort to describe, in detail, the morphologies and lateral changes in faunal and floral composition, texture, internal structures, and mineralogy of individual bioclastic turbidites. Attention was concentrated on the turbidites of a small northern sub-basin, and resulted in the reliable correlation and description of six such sedimentary units. Correlation was based on the color of the pelagic units, the relative and absolute positions of the turbidites in the cores, the absolute ages of the pelagic sediments, the coiling ratios of Globorotalia truncatulinoides, the Globorotalia menardii complex, and the thickness, composition, and texture of the turbidites. Turbidity currents, originating on the upper parts of the steep slopes of the shallow carbonate banks, have flowed a maximum of 15 mi into the basin from two dominant directions, the northeast and the northwest. These flows have occurred with a frequency of about one every 3000 to 6000 yrs and have resulted in turbidites with volumes of the older of 10 8 m 3 . The individual flows are tongue shaped, and there is some indication that the thickest portions are near the head of the flow. Relatively little fine material is deposited in the basin by turbidity currents. The following marked lateral changes were observed with increasing distance of transport from the source as well as distance from the flow axis: (1) decrease in turbidite thickness; (2) decrease in abundance of Halimeda, ooids, and pellets; (3) increase in relative abundance of planktonic forams; (4) decrease in the abundance of high-magnesium calcite and an increase in the abundance of low-magnesium calcite; (5) finer grain size; and (6) more turbidites beginning with the Bouma B unit of horizontal stratification than the Bouma A unit.
Metal artifact suppression from reformatted projections in multi-slice helical CT using dual-front active contours

Metallic implants may cause severe artifacts in CT exams. Suppression of metal artifacts remains to be a very challenging problem, in which metal region segmentation is one of the most important steps. We proposed a novel, semiautomatic segmentation algorithm based on the dual-front active contour model and the boundary mapping strategy to detect the metal regions on reformatted projection data, and to effectively eliminate/suppress metal artifacts on reconstructed images. Experimental studies on clinical hip and shoulder CT exams demonstrated that the proposed method was able to segment multiple metal implants more accurately relative to threshold-based methods. The artifacts caused by dense metal implants were better suppressed.
A biophysical model for cardiac microimpedance measurements

Alterations to cell-to-cell electrical conductance and to the structural arrangement of the collagen network in cardiac tissue are recognized contributors to arrhythmia development, yet no present ...
Collaborative Translations: Designing Bilingual Instructional Tools.

Recognizing the role of collaboration and multilingual literacy as 21st-century skills, the authors used design research methods to present, analyze, and refine a strategic reading approach for bil...
Energy-Based Ligation of Pulmonary Vessels: A Six-Year Experience With Ultrasonic Shears in Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy and Segmentectomy

Background Mechanical staplers are widely employed in minimally invasive anatomic lung resections, but have limitations when managing smaller pulmonary arterial and venous branches. Published data is lacking regarding the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vessel ligation using ultrasonic shears. We describe a single-surgeon experience employing ultrasonic shears for the ligation of pulmonary vasculature during lobectomy and segmentectomy, primarily in the setting of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients, who underwent anatomic resection, between 2008 and 2014. Charts were divided into 2 groups based on method of ligation (energy based or conventional). Dictated operative reports were reviewed and patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and complications were recorded. Results Ultrasonic shears were used for pulmonary vessel ligation (5 to 6 mm) in 82 of 283 anatomic resections. A total of 118 vessels were ligated with ultrasonic shears. The majority of patients (83%) in the energy-based ligation group underwent VATS resection. There were fewer complications in the energy-based ligation group (26% vs 38%; p = 0.05); however, rates of intraoperative transfusion, prolonged air leak, empyema, and return to the operating room were similar across the 2 groups, and no statistically significant difference was found. There were no postoperative complications directly attributable to ultrasonic vessel ligation. Conclusions Energy-based ligation of small-diameter pulmonary vessels is a safe and useful adjunct in anatomic VATS resection and a viable alternative to mechanical stapling. Its narrow profile and thin blades make it ideal for ligation of pulmonary vasculature, particularly where the size and necessary clearance of mechanical staplers prohibit safe dissection.
Cochlear implantation. Practical information for the generalist

The diagnosis and investigation of a patient with bilateral, severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss is presented. The steps toward cochlear implantation, including tests of audition, balance, radiographic imaging, and the pre- and postrehabilitation period, are reviewed. The two major cochlear implants available today, and future developments within the cochlear implant, are presented.
Association of leukocyte telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes with endometrial cancer risk in Caucasian Americans

Telomeres are the protective structure at the ends of each chromosome and play an important role in maintaining genomic integrity. Interindividual variation of telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes has been associated with the risks of developing many human diseases including several cancers. The association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and endometrial cancer risk is still inconsistent. Using a case-control study of endometrial cancer patients (n = 139) and control subjects (n = 139) in a Caucasian population, we assessed the association of relative LTL with the risk of endometrial cancer. We calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using multivariate logistic regression. We also determined the joint effects of LTL with established risk factors of endometrial cancer. The normalized LTL was significantly longer in endometrial cancer cases (median, 0.93; range, 0.19-1.62) than in controls (median, 0.70; range, 0.03-2.14) (P < 0.001). When individuals were dichotomized into long and short groups based on the median LTL value in the controls, individuals with long LTL had a significantly increased risk of endometrial cancer (adjusted OR, 3.84; 95%CI, 2.16-6.85; P < 0.001) compared to those with short LTL. When individuals were categorized into three groups or four groups according to tertile or quartile LTL value in the controls, there was a significant dose-response association between LTL and the risk of endometrial cancer (P < 0.001). Joint effects between LTL and smoking status, body mass index and a history of hypertension or diabetes in elevating endometrial cancer risk were observed. Long telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes is associated with a significantly increased risk of endometrial cancer.
Use of Advanced Mixed-Gas Diving Technology to Explore the Coral Reef “Twilight Zone”

Marine environments harbor an enormously diverse array of organisms. S.A. Earle (1991) wrote, “Although fewer species appear to inhabit the ocean than the land, based on numbers of species currently known, consideration solely of numbers of species can be a misleading measure of diversity. At higher taxonomic levels (Class, Phylum, and various subdivisions of these broad categories), marine ecosystems have a significantly higher degree of genetic diversity.... [I]f the presence of individuals representing various broad categories of life are given somewhat greater weight than the splintery ends of diversity known as species, then the greatest diversity of life is unquestionably in the sea.”
RETHINKING RELATIONS: Interracial Intimacies of Asian Men and Native Women in Alaskan Canneries

By the 1910s, Ketchikan, Alaska emerged as a frontier cannery site and an integral part of the colonial Alaskan economy. Industrialized salmon-canning operations were dependent on the racial and gendered labour stratification of migrant Asian men and resident Native women. Alaskan history obscures narratives of Asian labour, while Asian American studies recuperates stories of union organizing without mention of Native women. In this essay I utilize Lisa Lowe's configuration of colonial intimacy to bring together discourses on Native and Asian cannery workers. The colonial archive, Alaskan history, labour history and ethnic studies highlight traces of Asian men and Native women in Alaskan canneries as negative and/or unproductive. Close readings of Tlingit author Nora Marks Dauenhauer and Filipino writer Carlos Bulosan, however, provide representations of embodied pleasure as strategies for survival or prescriptions for contestational joy within colonial industrialism.
Predictive Power of EEG in Infants with Tuberous Sclerosis

Investigators from University of California- Los Angeles and collaborators from across the country report on the use of prospective EEGs in infants with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) to predict evolution to seizures.
Biochemical Analysis of Meiosis in the Male Mouse

Spermatogenic cells of the mouse have been separated by gravity sedimentation using a modification of a previously published method. Details are given for the collection of purified samples of specific meiotic stages and for the collection of labelled cell fractions following injection of 3H-thymidine. Suppression of semi-conservative meiotic DNA synthesis, essential to the biochemical analysis of pachytene DNA metabolism, has been achieved by in vivo administration of 1 M hydroxyurea.
Distinguishing Homogeneous from Heterogeneous Water Oxidation Catalysis when Beginning with Polyoxometalates

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have been proposed to be excellent homogeneous water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) due to their oxidative stability and activity. However, recent literature indicates that even these relatively robust compounds can be transformed into heterogeneous, metal-oxide WOCs under the oxidizing reaction conditions needed to drive O2 evolution. This review covers the experimental methodology for distinguishing homogeneous and heterogeneous WOCs; it then addresses the “what is the true catalyst?” problem for POMs used as precatalysts in the oxidation of water to O2. These results are also compared to the broader WOC literature. The primary findings in this review are the following: (1) Multiple, complementary experiments are needed to determine the true catalyst, including determination of catalyst stability, speciation, and kinetics under operating conditions. (2) Controls with hypothetical heterogeneous metal-oxide catalysts are required to determine their kinetic competence in the reaction an...
Electron Tomography Analysis of Reaction Path during Formation of Nanoporous NiO by Solid State Decomposition

Using transmission electron microscopy, we have analyzed the structure of nanoporous NiO formed by thermal decomposition of Ni(OH)2. It was found that a tabular single crystal of Ni(OH)2 transforms pseudomorphically to an array of topotaxially aligned NiO nanocubes separated by nanoscale pores at a volume fraction of about 50%. High-resolution electron tomography on NiO produced by ex situ heating combined with direct in situ observation of the transformation under the electron beam revealed a dramatic redirection of the reaction front when pores are closed by consolidation of NiO nanocubes around the perimeter of the tabular crystals. This causes local changes in the density, structure, and connectivity of the pores. Insights from this study are of broader interest for the class of decomposition reactions that result in nanocrystalline materials with highly tailored porosity and are significant for the development of devices with impact in fields as varied as energy storage, catalysis, and sensing.
Moving Forward From the Affordable Care Act to a Single-Payer System

The authors discuss developments in the effort to achieve universal health care in the U.S. in 2016, particularly the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Also cited are the ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the legality of the ACA subsidies, the claim by the Congressional Budget Office that will still be 27 million Americans who will be uninsured under the ACA, and some recommendations to resolve the shortcomings of the ACA in terms of coverage and costs.
Glucose transporters and glucose transport in skeletal muscles of 1- to 25-mo-old rats

It is widely thought that aging results in development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. In this study, we examined the effects of growth and aging on the concentration of the GLUT-4 glucos...
Abstract 3655: Suppression of Plk3 expression by nickel may contribute to lung carcinogenesis

Exposure to nickel (Ni) compounds is known to induce human lung malignancies. Research shows that Ni induces lung cancer mainly through epigenetic and metabolic pathways. Polo-like kinase 3 (Plk3) is a multifunctional protein kinase that involves in tumor initiation and progression. Plk3 −/− mice tend to develop highly vascularized lung tumors at an advanced age. Reduced expression of Plk3 was reported in human lung cancers. In this study, we examined the effect of Ni on Plk3 expression in A549 lung carcinoma cells. Western blot showed that NiCl 2 reduced the Plk3 protein level in a time- and dose-dependent manner. We then treated A549 cells with cycloheximide for various times to examine the effect of NiCl 2 on the half-life of Plk3 protein. We observed a shortened half-life of Plk3 in the presence of NiCl 2 . A reduced level of Plk3 protein was also found in hypoxia-treated A549 cells. In addition, MG132, a specific proteasome inhibitor, could partially reverse the effect of NiCl 2 or hypoxia on the Plk3 protein level. Our cell fractionation experiments showed that majority of the endogenous Plk3 protein is located in the cytoplasm where degradation of Plk3 likely occurs. Transfection of A549 cells with FLAG-tagged ubiquitin (FLAG-Ub) followed by treatment with NiCl 2 and/or MG132, immunoprecipitation (IP) with an anti-FLAG antibody, and Western blot with an anti-Plk3 antibody showed that Plk3 was poly-ubiquitinated and that the ubiquitination was significantly enhanced by NiCl 2 and/or MG132 treatments. The elevated ubiquitination of Plk3 in response to NiCl 2 was further confirmed in 293T cells with co-transfection of Plk3 and FLAG-Ub. Furthermore, overexpression of USP28, a deubiquitinase known to be inhibited by Ni or hypoxia, partially restored the protein level of Plk3 suppressed by NiCl 2 . Moreover, real-time PCR analysis showed that NiCl 2 also reduced the Plk3 mRNA level, in a time- and dose-dependent pattern. Taken together, our data show that NiCl 2 suppresses Plk3 expressions by lowering the Plk3 mRNA level and promoting proteasome-mediated degradation of the Plk3 protein. Given the potential role of Plk3 as a tumor suppressor in the lung, suppression of Plk3 expression likely contributes to Ni-induced lung carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Citation Format: Cen Li, Soyoung Park, Wei Dai, Dazhong Xu. Suppression of Plk3 expression by nickel may contribute to lung carcinogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3655.
The Commitment to Socialist Development

On the eve of the Revolution the economy of Ethiopia was perhaps the most backward in the world. Life was short: indeed life expectancy at birth — 37.5 years for males and 40.6 for females — was the lowest in the world. This short life expectancy was accompanied by a high infant mortality rate (178 per 1000 live births) and a high maternal death rate (20 per 1000 births). Ethiopia had the least favourable ratio of doctors to population (one physician per 75 320 people) and the lowest rate of calorie consumption per capita (1754) of any country on earth.
φ production in π − p collisions near threshold

Using a secondary pion beam from the Argonne Zero Gradient Synchrotron we have studied the process ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\varphi}n$ in the region of the cross-section enhancement near kinematic threshold. For incident momenta between 1.6 and 2 GeV/c, we have determined production and decay angular distributions and extrapolated total cross sections from a sample of about 160 $\ensuremath{\varphi}'\mathrm{s}$ above background. The production and decay distributions are consistent with isotropy over this entire incident-momentum range. The extrapolated total cross section varies between 19 and 25 \ensuremath{\mu}b.
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Toxicity in vivo and in vitro

ABSTRACT 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is the prototype of a group of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, a class of potent toxic and teratogenic compounds. All the compounds 1) are approximate isosteroeomers, 2) produce a characteristic pattern of toxic responses, 3) induce a common set of enzymes, including aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, and 4) compete for a high affinity binding site of a cytosol protein, which is the receptor for enzyme induction. The rank order of binding affinities of the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons for the receptor correspond very well with their toxic potencies as well as their potencies as inducers of AHH activity. The receptor is determined by the Ah locus. C57BL/6J mice which have the high affinity receptor are ten times more sensitive to AHH induction by TCDD than DBA/2J mice which have a lower affinity receptor. Two toxic responses to TCDD, thymic atrophy and cleft palate formation, segregate with the Ah locus. This genetic segregation of toxicity, and the correspondence of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for receptor binding and for toxic potency indicate that toxicity is mediated by the receptor. Although binding to the receptor is necessary for toxicity, it is not sufficient, for no toxic effect of TCDD was observed in twenty-three cultured cell types, including many which have the receptor. TCDD does produce a dose-related keratinization of a cell line derived from a teratoma, and the SAR for the keratinization response corresponds with that for toxic potency. A single cell type in vitro , therefore, is sufficient to produce a toxic response to TCDD.
Using comparison of multiple strategies in the mathematics classroom: lessons learned and next steps

Comparison is a fundamental cognitive process that can support learning in a variety of domains, including mathematics. The current paper aims to summarize empirical findings that support recommendations on using comparison of multiple strategies in mathematics classrooms. We report the results of our classroom-based research on using comparison of multiple strategies to help students learn mathematics, which includes short-term experimental research and a year-long randomized controlled trial using a researcher-designed supplemental Algebra I curriculum. Findings indicated that comparing different solution methods for solving the same problem was particularly effective for supporting procedural flexibility across students and for supporting conceptual and procedural knowledge among students with some prior knowledge of one of the methods, but that teachers may need additional support in deciding what to compare and when to use comparison. Drawing from this research, we offer instructional recommendations for the effective use of comparison of multiple strategies for improving mathematics learning, including (a) regular and frequent comparison of alternative strategies, particularly after students have developed some fluency with one initial strategy; (b) judicious selection of strategies and problems to compare; (c) carefully-designed visual presentation of the multiple strategies; and (d) use of small group and whole class discussions around the comparison of multiple strategies, focusing particularly on the similarities, differences, affordances, and constraints of the different approaches. We conclude with suggestions for future work on comparing multiple strategies, including the continuing need for the development of, and rigorous evaluation of, curriculum materials and specific instructional techniques that effectively promote comparison.
Cell-specific pallidal intervention induces long-lasting motor recovery in dopamine-depleted mice

The identification of distinct cell types in the basal ganglia has been critical to our understanding of basal ganglia function and the treatment of neurological disorders. The external globus pallidus (GPe) is a key contributor to motor suppressing pathways in the basal ganglia, yet its neuronal heterogeneity has remained an untapped resource for therapeutic interventions. Here we demonstrate that optogenetic interventions that dissociate the activity of two neuronal populations in the GPe, elevating the activity of parvalbumin (PV)-expressing GPe neurons over that of Lim homeobox 6 (Lhx6)-expressing GPe neurons, restores movement in dopamine-depleted mice and attenuates pathological activity of basal ganglia output neurons for hours beyond stimulation. These results establish the utility of cell-specific interventions in the GPe to target functionally distinct pathways, with the potential to induce long-lasting recovery of movement despite the continued absence of dopamine.
Chemical Synthesis of Gold Micro-Bars for Optical Circuitry Applications

The aim of this research was to establish a reliable chemical synthesis route to produce plasmonic gold micro-bars. Gold micro-bars have been synthesized through chemical reduction in the presence of surfactants: polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and sodium dodecylsulfonate (SDS), and in the presence of a metal cation. Synthesis was executed by varying the concentration of PVP and SDS, and introducing copper ions, and performing seeded growth. Resulting plasmonic gold micro-bars were viewed under dark field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to visualize the nanoparticle product mixture. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) was used to determine composition of the micro-bars. The results indicate that the copper additive method yields the longest micro-bars.
The clinical presentation of bradyopsia in children

Diagnosing bradyopsia can be challenging in young children because structural ophthalmic examination is typically normal and visual acuity can improve with pinhole despite no significant refractive error. This case series highlights the clinical presentations and features of 5 affected children (3 Arab families) who harbored the same homozygous RGS9 frameshift mutation, which seems to represent a founder effect for the Arabian Peninsula.
Interaction of a magnetic island chain in a tokamak plasma with a resonant magnetic perturbation of rapidly oscillating phase

An investigation is made into the interaction of a magnetic island chain, embedded in a tokamak plasma, with an externally generated magnetic perturbation of the same helicity whose helical phase is rapidly oscillating. The analysis is similar in form to the classic analysis used by Kapitza [Sov. Phys. JETP 21, 588 (1951)] to examine the angular motion of a rigid pendulum whose pivot point undergoes rapid vertical oscillations. The phase oscillations are found to modify the existing terms, and also to give rise to new terms, in the equations governing the secular evolution of the island chain's radial width and helical phase. An examination of the properties of the new secular evolution equation reveals that it is possible to phase-lock an island chain to an external magnetic perturbation with an oscillating helical phase in a stabilizing phase relation provided that the amplitude, ϵ, of the phase oscillations (in radians) is such that |J0(ϵ)|≪1, and the mean angular frequency of the perturbation closely ...
Maternal race/ethnicity as a risk factor for cervical insufficiency

Abstract Background Preterm birth (PTB) affects 1 in 9 pregnancies in the United States. There are well known but poorly understood racial/ethnic disparities in PTB rates. The role that racial/ethnic disparities in cervical insufficiency (CI) may play in the overall disparities in preterm birth rates is unknown. Objective The primary objective of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences in risk of CI. Study design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnant women in 2012 who were members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), excluding elective termination, delivery outside KPNC, and loss to follow-up. The primary outcome was CI; the secondary outcomes included stillbirth, PTB, and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission. We compared rates of these outcomes among women of different racial/ethnic background. Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to assess other potential risk factors for CI, including maternal age, parity, medical co-morbidities, prior cervical procedures, prior pregnancy terminations, and history of PTB. Results A total of 34,173 women who were pregnant in 2012 were included in the study. The racial/ethnic makeup of the cohort was 38.6% White, 25.8% Asian, 25.1% Hispanic, 7% Black, and 3.5% other. Approximately 1% (401) of women were diagnosed with CI. Black women had a significantly higher rate of CI (3.2%) compared to White women (0.9%, P Conclusion Black women had higher odds of CI compared to White women. This disparity may contribute to the significantly higher rate of PTB among Black women nationally. Further investigation of this association may provide important contributions to our understanding of both CI and PTB.
Operative Techniques in Sports Medicine Suprapectoral Biceps Tenodesis

Tendonosis of the long head of the biceps (LHBT) is a common etiology of anterior shoulder pain. Management of LHBT pathology should begin with nonoperative treatment consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, activity modification, and injections. However, operative intervention may be considered in patients who fail conservative treatment. Multiple operative techniques have been described in the literature, but tenodesis procedures have become an attractive option over tenotomy for its improved postoperative cosmesis and strength. The arthroscopic suprapectoral biceps tenodesis technique is a minimally invasive approach in treating LHBT tendonosis while still providing a strong, reliable method of fixation. It has improved upon some of the initial challenges encountered with earlier all-arthroscopic proximal tenodesis procedures by further defining relevant anatomy for bone tunnel placement and methods of fixation. These advancements in the suprapectoral technique have resulted in patient-reported outcomes that are equivalent to other tenodesis procedures. This article will review the arthroscopic suprapectoral biceps tenodesis technique and describe key technical pearls to provide a safe and dependable surgical option for treating LHBT pathology. In addition, the article will discuss risks related to the procedure and patient outcomes after surgery.
Sutureless transscleral fixation of secondary intraocular lenses.

Purpose of review The surgical approach to eyes needing a secondary intraocular lens have evolved rapidly in recent years. Here, we will focus on techniques for scleral-fixation of intraocular lenses (IOLs), and will review the evidence for their safety and efficacy. Recent findings Transscleral fixation of IOLs refers the placement of lens haptics within scleral tunnels to stabilize the lens in eyes that lack adequate capsular support. Various surgical techniques have been reported recently to accomplish this goal. These include the use of a trocar, microvitreoretinal blade, or hypodermic needle to create the scleral tunnels, as well as several methods for placing the haptics through the tunnels. Although long-term data is lacking, each technique has been shown to have good visual outcomes without significant side effects. Summary Surgical approaches for the transscleral fixation of secondary IOLs provide a safe and effective technique for the management of eyes with insufficient capsular support.
Application of Stable Isotopic Studies to Problems of Magmatic Sulfide Ore Genesis With Special Reference to the Duluth Complex, Minnesota

Analyses of the isotopic composition of S, C, O, and H in mafic igneous rocks may provide valuable information regarding the extent of contamination by continental crust material. Partial melting and devolatilization of country rocks are important processes in the generation of many Cu—Ni deposits associated with mafic igneous rocks. Sulfur isotopes provide a means of evaluating the possibility of extraneous sulfur addition to a melt. Variability and distribution of δ 34S values may also provide data relating to the timing and mechanisms of sulfur production and incorporation into the melt. Oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon isotopes also can be sensitive indicators of isotopic contamination, whether by partial melting, devolatilization, or solid state exchange. Zones of contamination within an igneous sequence are likely to be areas where factors that control sulfide solubility (T, fS2, fO2, melt composition) have been perturbed, and are thus key sites for ore generation.