cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An experimental examination of the influence of energetic condition on the stopover behavior of a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory songbird, the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

ABSTRACT Late arrival on the breeding grounds has been associated with reduced fitness in migratory birds. Because migratory stopover accounts for the majority of time spent on migration, how individuals respond to both exogenous and endogenous factors associated with stopover will influence the pace of migration and arrival timing on the breeding grounds. Among the most important endogenous factors, body condition (i.e. fat stores) is expected to influence both movement behavior and departure decisions of individual migrants during stopover. In a novel experiment, we manipulated the condition of after-second-year (adult) male American Redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla) captured during spring migratory stopover and radio-tracked all individuals after release using a passive automated telemetry array and conventional hand tracking. After accounting for the positive effect of tailwind and capture date on departure probability, we demonstrated that body condition influenced both the movement behavior of individ...
Telehealth with remote blood pressure monitoring for postpartum hypertension: A prospective single-cohort feasibility study

Abstract Objective Investigate feasibility of telehealth with remote blood pressure monitoring for management of hypertension in postpartum women at risk of severe hypertension after hospital discharge. Methods In a single-center, prospective single-cohort feasibility study, women with hypertension in pregnancy participated in a postpartum telehealth intervention for blood pressure management after discharge. The primary feasibility outcome measures were recruitment and retention through 6 weeks postpartum. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of severe postpartum hypertension and/or need for blood pressure treatment after discharge, participant satisfaction, and 6-week hospital readmission. Participants received a tablet and equipment to transmit vital signs to a central monitoring site daily. Participants participated in telehealth or telephone visits with a nurse at 48 h and as needed. Results Among 1413 deliveries 263 (19%) women had hypertension in pregnancy and 55/124 (47%) of women approached were consented. The retention rate was 95%. Among study participants, the incidence of severe hypertension after discharge was 9 (16%). 29 (53%) of participants required treatment due to exacerbations in blood pressure after discharge, in which 9(16%) were severe. There were no hospital readmissions. Overall 39 (86%) participants were satisfied with the remote monitoring. Conclusions Feasibility and participant satisfaction were demonstrated. The incidence of severe hypertension and need for blood pressure treatment after discharge and during 6 weeks postpartum was 16% and 53%. Our results indicate telehealth is a promising strategy for postpartum hypertension management to decrease maternal morbidity and hospital readmission.
Parent-Perceived Stress and Its Association With Children's Weight and Obesity-Related Behaviors.

Introduction Psychosocial stress is associated with obesity in adult and pediatric populations, but few studies have examined the relationship between parent-perceived stress and risk of child obesity and related behaviors. Methods We studied 689 pairs of parents and children aged 2 to 12 in Massachusetts with a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile. Recruitment occurred from June 2014 to March 2015, and data collection ended in March 2016. We asked parents about their perceived stress and categorized responses as low, moderate, or high. We examined associations of parents' stress with children's BMI, expressed as a percentage of the 95th percentile (%BMIp95), and obesity-related behaviors by using multivariable regression models adjusted for child and parent characteristics. We stratified results by race/ethnicity, annual household income, and the child's age. Results In fully adjusted models, the association between high versus low parent-reported stress and children's %BMIp95 remained significant only for children in low-income households (β = 5.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-9.30) and for non-Hispanic black children (β = 7.76; 95% CI, 1.85-13.66). Parents with high or moderate stress versus low stress were less likely to report that their children met recommendations for fast-food consumption (high stress, prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.79; 95% CI, 0.65-0.96; moderate stress, PR = 0.70; 95% CI, 0.59-0.82), but parents with high versus low stress were more likely to report meeting daily physical activity recommendations (PR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.01-1.45). Conclusion Among children with overweight or obesity, parent-perceived stress was associated with fast-food consumption and physical activity. Parent-perceived stress was associated with child %BMIp95 among children in low-income households and non-Hispanic black children. Obesity interventions should consider parent-perceived stress and potential differences in the nature of stress experienced by parents of different racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Made in contemporary China: exploring the national identity of Chinese international undergraduate students in the US

Given the critical dynamics between students’ national identity and study abroad experiences, this study explores the meanings Chinese international students in the US make of national identity wit...
Using plasma proteomic analysis for venous thromboembolism risk stratification in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers.

e21153 Background: Cancer patients represent 15-20% of the estimated 900,000 annual cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the U.S., and thrombotic complications are the second most frequent caus...
Trends of changes of flight data recorders in the field of their utilization

In the article were described the possible directions of further development of the flight data recording systems installed on aircraft. This was done based on the analysis of the course of development of on-board aircraft recorders, the evolution of the attitude to recording parameters during the flight and the use of collected data with the factors of the changes. The analysis was made based on the experience of experts of the Air Force Institute of Technology in developing recorders and software analyzing the collected data and share in the utilization of this data recorded in the on-board recorders built on aircraft operating in the Air Forces.
Natural Language Processing of Clinical Notes for Improved Early Prediction of Septic Shock in the ICU

Sepsis and septic shock are major concerns in public health as the leading contributors to hospital mortality and cost of treatment in the United States. Early treatment is instrumental for improving patient outcome; to this end, algorithmic methods for early prediction of septic shock have been developed using electronic health record data, with the goal of decreasing treatment delay. We extend a previously-developed method, using a gradient boosting algorithm (XG-Boost) to compute a time-evolving risk of impending transition into septic shock, by combining physiological data from the electronic health record with features obtained from natural language processing of clinical note data. We compare two different methods for generating natural language processing features, with the best method obtaining improved performance of 0.92 AUC, 84% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 49% positive predictive value, and a median early warning time of 7.0 hours. This degree of early warning is sufficient to enable intervention many hours in advance of septic shock onset, with the improved prediction performance of this method resulting in fewer false alarms and thus more actionable predictions.
Strategic Planning and Business Planning

Strategic planning is focused on viewing the internal and external environments, discovering opportunities for future business goals, and then setting a plan to accomplish the goals. A business plan is a detailed plan for expansion of services or for a new business venture to include both a conceptual and a financial plan. There are some commonalities among these processes. They all review the history and current status of your company and then look into the future state of your company based on your mission, vision, and goals. The future could include new ideas for expansion, business relationships, and new projects for businesses. Each of these processes will be reviewed with examples, including a business plan for a new venture.
How the Structure of Egocentric Facebook Networks is Associated With Exposure to Risky Content for Maltreated versus Comparison Youth.

Abstract The current study examined the size and connectedness of egocentric Facebook networks as predictors of exposure to risky content among a sample of maltreated and comparison youth (n = 118). Social network measures (i.e., size, density, average degree, percent of isolates) were computed from the mutual friend list. A content analysis of posts by friends captured references to alcohol use, marijuana use, partying, and sexual content. Multiple-group path models showed that the larger size of the Facebook network and higher average degree predicted references to marijuana use only for comparison youth, whereas for maltreated youth a higher percent of isolates predicted more references to sexual content by Facebook friends. Structural measures of online networks may have potential utility for identifying those at risk.
Vasodilatory and vascular mitochondrial respiratory function with advancing age: evidence of a free radically mediated link in the human vasculature

In human skeletal muscle feed arteries, the well-recognized age-related fall in endothelium-dependent vasodilatory function is strongly linked to a concomitant fall in vascular mitochondrial respir...
Multirater assessment of young children's social and emotional learning via the SSIS SEL Brief Scales – Preschool Forms

Abstract Interest in social and emotional learning (SEL) skills is growing rapidly with all 50 states adopting SEL standards for preschool children. However, data on these types of skills for young children are limited due to a paucity of psychometrically-sound assessments. Further, most available assessments are lengthy and minimally aligned with widely used SEL frameworks such as the model proposed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). Thus, the current study focused on the development of valid and time-efficient rating scales of young children's SEL skills using teachers and parents as informants. We used item response theory to select items from the SSIS Social Emotional Learning Edition (SSIS SEL; Gresham & Elliott, 2017 ) using the national standardization sample of the measure. We then examined initial evidence of score reliability, validity, and fairness for the SSIS SEL Brief Scales – Preschool Forms resulting from this process. Results provide initial evidence for score reliability, validity, and fairness for both the Teacher and Parent versions of this measure.
Robust Estimation of Truncation-Induced Numerical Uncertainty

Truncation error is ubiquitous in computational sciences, yet, rarely quantified and often ignored altogether. By definition, it is the difference between the exact-but-unknown solution of continuous equations that one wishes to solve, such as conservation laws, and what the computational software (finite elements, finite volumes, etc.) calculates. We contend that the commonly-accepted representation of truncation error as a single-term power-law (i.e., e(∆x) = β · ∆xp where ∆x is the level of mesh resolution in the calculation and p is the accuracy of the numerical method) is inadequate and can lead to an erroneous quantification. The remedy proposed is to model this error as a series expansion of integer-valued powers (i.e., e(∆x) = β1 · ∆x + β2 · ∆x2 + … + βN · ∆xN where the expansion order N is unknown and potentially infinite). This representation is consistent with the theoretical form of truncation error derived from Modified Equation Analysis. Because N and the regression coefficients βk are not known, we further propose to use an info-gap model to numerically derive bounds of truncation error. These bounds, ‖yExact − y(∆x)‖ ≤ U(∆x), would express the worst-case error between what is calculated at resolution ∆x and what is exact but unknown. Reporting such bounds is essential to assess the quality of a numerical simulation, much like an experimental uncertainty should accompany a measurement. The discussion proposed is, for the most part, conceptual and future efforts will focus on the numerical implementation of these ideas.
Adversity Interpreted: A Scoping Review of Adversity Appraisal Measurement:

Although evidence suggests that individuals' appraisals (i.e., subjective interpretations) of adverse or traumatic life events may serve as a mechanism accounting for differences in adversity exposure and psychological adjustment, understanding this mechanism is contingent on our ability to reliably and consistently measure appraisals. However, measures have varied widely between studies, making conclusions about how best to measure appraisal a challenge for the field. To address this issue, the present study reviewed 88 articles from three research databases, assessing adults' appraisals of adversity. To be included in the scoping review, articles had to meet the following criteria: (1) published no earlier than 1999, (2) available in English, (3) published as a primary source manuscript, and (4) included a measure assessing for adults' (over the age of 18) subjective primary and/or secondary interpretations of adversity. Each article was thoroughly reviewed and coded based on the following information: study demographics, appraisal measurement tool(s), category of appraisal, appraisal dimensions (e.g., self-blame, impact, and threat), and the tool's reliability and validity. Further, information was coded according to the type of adversity appraised, the time in which the appraised event occurred, and which outcomes were assessed in relation to appraisal. Results highlight the importance of continued examination of adversity appraisals and reveal which appraisal tools, categories, and dimensions are most commonly assessed for. These results provide guidance to researchers in how to examine adversity appraisals and what gaps among the measurement of adversity appraisal which need to be addressed in the future research.
Metabolomic Expression of Laryngeal and Hindlimb Muscles in Adult versus Senescent Rats.

OBJECTIVES (1) Determine the feasibility of obtaining a global, unbiased metabolomic profile on laryngeal muscle in a rat model; (2) evaluate the impact of biological aging on the laryngeal metabolome; and (3) characterize biochemical expression differences between aged and non-aged laryngeal and hindlimb muscle. METHODS Thyroarytenoid laryngeal muscle and plantaris hindlimb muscle were harvested from 5 young adult (9 months old) and 5 older adult (32 months old) F344BN rats. Tissue was processed and analyzed using LC-MS methods. Detected metabolites were compared to widely used metabolite databases and KEGG pathway enrichment was performed on significant metabolites. RESULTS The greatest differences in metabolite expression were between laryngeal and limb muscle with 126 different metabolites found between laryngeal and limb within the young group and 149 different metabolites within the old group. Significant hits between muscle groups highlighted amino acid differences between these tissues. There were more robust differences with age in limb muscle compared to laryngeal muscle. CONCLUSIONS Amino acid metabolism is a key difference between muscles of the limbs and larynx. Due to the number of differentially expressed metabolites between the 2 muscle groups, caution should be exercised when applying skeletal limb muscle physiology and biology concepts to the vocal muscles in both aged and non-aged musculoskeletal systems. Mechanisms underlying less robust effects of age on laryngeal muscle compared to limb muscle require elucidation.
Effect of Antimicrobial Interventions on the Oral Microbiota Associated with Early Childhood Caries.

Purpose The aim of this systematic literature review was to identify research-based evidence for an effect of antimicrobial therapeutic approaches on the cariogenic microbiota and early childhood caries (ECC) outcomes. Additionally, we reviewed methods used to perform microbial assessments in clinical studies of ECC.
Prevailing interstitial pressures in the lower limbs.

Subcutaneous interstitial pressures were measured in the normal and oedematous human lower limb employing a “null point” procedure according to the criteria of McMaster. It was determined that the mean average tissue pressure for normal healthy male and female adults measured in the supine position was of the order of 2·5+0·2 mms. Hg. 96% of the healthy normal general population could be anticipated to fall within this group (2 S.D.). Individuals with marked clinical oedema demonstrated elevated tissue pressure consistently outside those of the control normal population.
A Comparison of Microphone and Speech Recognition Engine Efficacy for Mobile Data Entry

The research presented in this paper is part of an ongoing investigation into how best to incorporate speech-based input within mobile data collection applications. In our previous work [1], we evaluated the ability of a single speech recognition engine to support accurate, mobile, speech-based data input. Here, we build on our previous research to compare the achievable speaker-independent accuracy rates of a variety of speech recognition engines; we also consider the relative effectiveness of different speech recognition engine and microphone pairings in terms of their ability to support accurate text entry under realistic mobile conditions of use. Our intent is to provide some initial empirical data derived from mobile, user-based evaluations to support technological decisions faced by developers of mobile applications that would benefit from, or require, speech-based data entry facilities.
Microscopic Analysis of Ethanol Damage to Rat Gastric Mucosa After Treatment With a Prostaglandin

The striking reduction or absence of macroscopic necrotic lesions in rat stomachs exposed to necrotizing agents after treatment with prostaglandins has been described as "cytoprotection." However, the morphologic features of this effect have not been published. We have quantitatively evaluated in semithin sections the amount and depth of gastric mucosal damage to rat stomachs exposed to absolute ethanol with and without prostaglandin (16,16-dimethyl PGE2) pretreatment. Our findings are: (a) Control rats given prostaglandin or 5% ethanol (vehicle) had less than 5% of the mucosal surface damaged and the disruption was limited to superficial, luminal cells. (b) All rats receiving absolute ethanol, with or without prostaglandin treatment, had about 78% of their stomach surface damaged. (c) Prostaglandin treatment reduced the depth of damage by about 20% and virtually eliminated necrotic lesions. (d) Necrotic lesions were found to be regions with deep gland damage accompanied by hemorrhage and hyperemia.
Studies with antibodies to gastrin. Radioimmunoassay in human serum and physiological studies.

A double antibody radioimmunoassay technique for measuring gastrin in human serum is described. The results of these studies indicate the requirement for inclusion of ethylenediaminetetraacetate in the immune incubation mixtures. In addition, heat inactivation of the serum prior to radioimmunoassay was required for authentic measurement of serum gastrin levels in human serum. Results of these studies indicate that the proteinase and peptidase inhibitor, Trasylol, which is required in the radioimmunoassay of glucagon, is not required for inclusion in this radioimmunoassay method for measurement of gastrin. Since heparin produced no systematic effects on immunoassayability of gastrin, gastrin levels were measured in serum rather than plasma. Under the conditions of elevated temperature utilized in these studies immunoreactivity of gastrin was found to be thermostable. Fasting serum gastrin levels in 14 normal young adult male volunteers were found to range from immeasurably low to 162 pg per ml with a mean value of 48 pg per ml (sd = 42 pg per ml). Increased levels of serum gastrin were detected and measured in response to stimulation of gastrin release using normal adult male volunteers by feeding a steak-containing meal, as well as following in gestion of glycine and sodium bicarbonate solutions. Elevations in serum gastrin levels in response to stimulation were observed in some, but not all, members of each experimental group. When peak elevations of serum gastrin were detected they occurred from 30 to 45 min following application of the stimulus. Peak responses to stimulation range from 100 to 600 pg of gastrin per ml. Appropriately diluted sera from a patient with hypergastrinemia associated with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and hypergastrinemia in a normal adult male volunteer following ingestion of a steak-containing meal yielded radioimmunoassay calibration plots indistinguishable from radioimmunoassay plots derived using dilutions of authentic human gastrin I in fasting normal human serum.
Disulfide bond formation in the regulation of eIF-2 alpha kinase by heme.

Abstract The inhibition of the autophosphorylation of the heme-regulated eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)-2 alpha kinase (HRI) by hemin is very similar to that produced by thiol oxidation by diamide. The results obtained from the analysis of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of unphosphorylated and phosphorylated HRI under reducing and nonreducing conditions indicate that hemin promotes disulfide formation in HRI. Hemin-promoted disulfide formation in HRI occurs under quasi-physiological conditions, i.e. 30 degrees C, 10 min at hemin concentrations of 5-10 microM. Under nondenaturing conditions, unphosphorylated HRI, phosphorylated HRI, hemin-treated unphosphorylated HRI, and hemin-treated prephosphorylated HRI are all eluted identically on Sephacryl S-300 column chromatography with an apparent molecular mass of 290,000 daltons. It appears, therefore, that the disulfide formation promoted by hemin occurs within the unit of 290,000 daltons. In addition, hemin treatment of phosphorylated HRI results in the appearance of a disulfide-linked form of higher molecular mass when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under nonreducing conditions. A similar high molecular mass form is observed when HRI is treated with 1,6-bismaleimidohexane, a double sulfhydryl cross-linker agent, and the autophosphorylation of HRI and the phosphorylation of eIF-2 alpha by HRI are greatly diminished; these effects are similar to the effects of hemin on HRI. We conclude that disulfide formation by hemin provides a likely mechanism by which hemin prevents the activation and inhibits the activity of HRI.
Proposed frame and preamble structure for MIMO narrowband power line communications

Narrowband power line communications (NB-PLC) operating in the 3–500 kHz frequency band is proposed as a solution to support the emerging Smart Grid applications that aim to optimize the efficiency and reliability of the power grids. PLC is attractive for Smart Grid communications as it can be deployed over the existing power grids without any additional infrastructure. However, PLC suffers from impulsive noise and frequency-selective channels which degrade the system's reliability and data rate. Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) PLC is a promising technology to increase the data rate and provide robustness against the PLC interference. In this paper, we consider the design of a MIMO frame and preamble structure that can be efficiently used to perform initial receiver synchronization while ensuring backward compatibility with current NB-PLC standards.
Birth of the infant gut microbiome: moms deliver twice!

The infant gut is rapidly colonized by microbes shortly after birth. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Backhed et al. (2015) shed new light on the assembly of the infant gut microbiome early in life, and how diet and delivery mode shape this community in a western human population.
Electrophysiology of airway nerves

Several different electrophysiological approaches have been used to study the pharmacology of the afferent, central, and efferent nervous systems in airways. This unit describes electrophysiological methods used to study nerves in these pathways and includes: (1) extracellular recording of afferent nerve activity in vivo and from the isolated airway in vitro, (2) intracellular and patch clamp recording of identified airway sensory neurons, (3) patch clamp recording of secondary afferent central nervous system neurons, (4) in vitro and in vivo intracellular recording of intact parasympathetic ganglionic neurons, and (5) patch recordings of dissociated parasympathetic ganglionic neurons.
Tolerance for Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Experimental Animals and Humans

There is no good evidence for establishing branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) tolerance levels for humans. With pigs, chicks, and rats, data are available concerning excessive intake levels of BCAA, but most of the information is for growing animals instead of for adults. Estimates of maintenance requirements for (high-quality) protein and BCAA in pigs weighing between 43 and 140 kg are 350 mg . kg(-1) . d(-1) for protein and 28.7 mg . kg(-1) . d(-1) for total BCAA. In contrast, human adult maintenance requirement estimates are much higher, i.e., 660 mg . kg(-1) . d(-1) for good quality protein and a range of 68 to 144 mg . kg(-1) . d(-1) for total BCAA. The human maintenance BCAA requirement estimates range from 10.3 to 22% of the maintenance protein requirement. Whole-body protein of 45-kg pigs contains 14.2 g BCAA/100 g protein, but the maintenance requirement (based on nitrogen balance) for total BCAA is only 8.2% of the total maintenance protein requirement. Conversely, sulfur amino acid (methionine + cysteine), threonine, and tryptophan maintenance requirements of pigs as a percentage of the maintenance protein requirement are much higher than whole-body protein levels of these amino acids. This suggests that the efficiency of using absorbed amino acids of dietary origin or of reusing endogenous amino acids arising from body protein catabolism may vary considerably among the indispensable amino acids. Additionally, work with pigs points to the conclusion that whole-body amino acid concentrations are poor predictors of both maintenance requirements and ideal amino acid profiles. Based on studies with young experimental animals, a rather large dietary excess (above requirement) of an individual BCAA is well tolerated when consumed in diets containing surfeit levels of protein and the other 2 BCAA.
Dropping Out of High School among Mexican-Origin Youths: Is Early Work Experience a Factor?

In this article, Anane Olatunji examines the effects of work experience on early high school attrition among Mexican-origin adolescents. He proposes a theoretical model that takes assimilation into account as a potential predictor of the consequences of work for this group. In order to estimate the effects of eighth-grade work experience on dropping out of school in 1990, he analyzed data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey of 1988. He begins this article with a brief review of literature on high school dropouts and youth employment. He argues that this topic is particularly salient for Mexican-origin youths because they not only comprise the majority of Hispanics, the nation largest ethnic minority group, but also exhibit an alarmingly low high school completion rate. Overall, the results support conventional models that researchers have used to predict outcomes of teenage employment. Among Mexicanorigin adolescents, however, girls were three and a half times more likely than boys to leave sc...
SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF A PERI-OPERATIVE PROTOCOL FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES TREATED WITH CONTINUOUS SUBCUTANEOUS INSULIN INFUSION WHO ARE ADMITTED FOR SAME-DAY SURGERY

ABSTRACT Objective: The number of people with diabetes using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusions (CSII) with an insulin pump has risen dramatically, creating new challenges when these patients are admitted to the hospital for surgical or other procedures. There is limited literature guiding CSII use during surgical procedures. Methods: The study was carried out in a large, urban, tertiary care hospital. We enrolled 49 patients using insulin pump therapy presenting for 57 elective surgeries. We developed a CSII peri-operative glycemic management protocol (PGMP) to standardize insulin pump management in patients admitted to a same-day surgery unit (SDSU). The purpose was evaluate the safety (% capillary blood glucose (CBG) <70 mg/dL and/or pump incidents) and efficacy (first postoperative CBG ≤200 mg/dL) of the CSII PGMP. We determine the contribution of admission CBG, type of anesthesia, surgery length, and peri-operative steroid use on postoperative glycemic control. Results: Overall, 63% of patient...
Problemas en el diagnóstico diferencial del coma irreversible

Based on 100 fatal cases of coma, in which autopsy was performed in 88 of them, we can say that the irreversible coma is characterized by fixed pupils, inert to strong light stimulus, absent corneal reflexes, absence of reflex response to stimulation of upper and lower airway, absence of labyrinthine reflexes, respiratory irregularities and progressive decrease in blood pressure.
Homer protein-metabotropic glutamate receptor binding regulates endocannabinoid signaling and affects hyperexcitability in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome.

The Fmr1 knock-out mouse model of fragile X syndrome (Fmr1−/y) has an epileptogenic phenotype that is triggered by group I metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation. We found that a membrane-permeable peptide that disrupts mGluR5 interactions with long-form Homers enhanced mGluR-induced epileptiform burst firing in wild-type (WT) animals, replicating the early stages of hyperexcitability in Fmr1−/y. The peptide enhanced mGluR-evoked endocannabinoid (eCB)-mediated suppression of inhibitory synapses, decreased it at excitatory synapses in WTs, but had no effect on eCB actions in Fmr1−/y. At a low concentration, the mGluR agonist did not generate eCBs at excitatory synapses but nevertheless induced burst firing in both Fmr1−/y and peptide-treated WT slices. This burst firing was suppressed by a cannabinoid receptor antagonist. We suggest that integrity of Homer scaffolds is essential for normal mGluR–eCB functioning and that aberrant eCB signaling resulting from disturbances of this molecular structure contributes to the epileptic phenotype of Fmr1−/y.
Monopropellant droplet burning at low Reynolds numbers

Abstract A theoretical investigation is made on the combustion of a pure liquid monopropellant droplet burning in its own combustion products at low Reynolds numbers. For adiabitic burning, the results indicate that the burning rate is not influenced by the flow until the Reynolds number exceeds a value NRef at which point the flame zone is located at the outer extremity of the boundary layer. For Reynolds numbers greater than this, the chemistry no longer influences the process and the burning rate is equivalent to the evaporation rate at the same ambient temperature. A simple correlation was obtained for this behaviour which allows calculation of the burning rate for a moving droplet from data or theoretical estimations of motionless droplet burning. These trends are substantially the same for burning with ambient temperatures below the adiabatic flame temperature except in the range 0·01 to 1 NRe? where the flow causes a reduction in burning rate due to increased heat loss from the flame.
Dispersion and Toxicity of Selected Manufactured Nanomaterials in Natural River Water Samples: Effects of Water Chemical Composition

Experimental conditions that mimic likely scenarios of manufactured nanomaterials (MNs) introduction to aquatic systems were used to assessthe effect of nanoparticle dispersion/solubility and water chemical composition on MN-toxicity. Aqueous suspensions of fullerenes (C60), nanosilver (nAg), and nanocopper (nCu) were prepared in both deionized water and filtered (0.45 microm) natural river water samples collected from the Suwannee River basin, to emphasize differences in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and solution ionic strengths (I). Two toxicity tests, the Ceriodaphnia dubia and MetPLATE bioassays were used. Results obtained from exposure studies show that water chemistry affects the suspension/solubility of MNs as well as the particle size distribution, resulting in a wide range of biological responses depending on the type of toxicity test used. Under experimental conditions used in this study, C60 exhibited no toxicity even when suspended concentrations exceeded 3 mg L(-1). MetPLATE results showed that the toxicity of aqueous suspensions of nCu tends to increase with increasing DOC concentrations, while increasing I reduces nCu toxicity. The use of the aquatic invertebrate C. dubia on the other hand showed a tendency for decreased mortality with increasing DOC and I. MetPLATE results for nAg showed decreasing trends in toxicity with increasing DOC concentrations and I. However, C. dubia exhibited contrasting biological responses, in that increasing DOC concentrations reduced toxicity, while the latter increased with increasing I. Overall, our results show that laboratory experiments that use DI-water and drastic MN-suspension methods may not be realistic as MN-dispersion and suspension in natural waters vary significantly with water chemistry and the reactivity of MNs.
Effect of the 1997–1998 ENSO-related drought on hydrology and salinity in a micronesian wetland complex

The potential effects of global climate change on coastal ecosystems have attracted considerable attention, but the impacts of shorter-term climate perturbations such as ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) are lesser known. In this study, we determined the effects of the 1997–1998 ENSO-related drought on the hydrology and salinity of a Micronesian mangrove ecosystem and an adjacent freshwater swamp. A network of 9 piezometer clusters installed at the study site served as sampling points for continuous and manual measurements of salinity and water level. During the drought period from January through April 1998, mean water table levels in the mangroves and freshwater swamp were approximately 12 and 54 cm lower, respectively, than during May through December when precipitation returned to near normal levels. At the peak of the drought (February 1998), the most dramatic result was a reversal in groundwater flow that sent groundwater from the mangroves upstream toward the freshwater swamp. Flow nets constructed for this period and immediately after illustrate the strong hydrological linkage between the two systems. This linkage was also illustrated by measurements of groundwater salinity in the piezometer network. Ninety-six percent of the salinity measurements taken in the mangroves during the study were at least 10‰ less than the salinity of sea water, indicating that the mangroves were consistently receiving freshwater flows. An analysis of variance of groundwater salinity measurements during and after the drought showed that salinity levels in the 0.5 and 1.0 m depth piezometers were greater during than after the drought. In a comparison of salinity values in 0.5-m wells during low tide, mean salinity was approximately twice as high during the drought than after (14.7‰ versus 6.2‰, respectively). This study demonstrates that short-term climate perturbations such as ENSO can disrupt important coastal processes. Over repeated drought cycles, such perturbations have the potential to affect the structure and function of mangrove forests and upstream ecosystems.
Infrared Spectra of Water Sorbed on Synthetic Zeolites

The infrared spectra of water sorbed on several synthetic zeolites is discussed in terms of the molecular species present. Three different sets of bands are observed for water as the water content on the zeolite is varied. Evidence for surface OH groups for synthetic zeolites is presented. A technique for reducing the scattered light of zeolite powders by wetting them is suggested. It is possible to study surface OH groups by this technique using D2O as the wetting agent. A mechanism whereby surface OH groups can form in sodium and ammonium zeolites is given. The results obtained for water sorbed on sodium zeolites differs to some extent from those reported previously.
Male biased sex ratio of poached elephants is negatively related to poaching intensity over time

Poaching and habitat loss has caused a massive decline in the number and range of African elephants over the past few decades, with the greatest post ivory ban losses occurring since 2006. Poaching targets the largest individuals for their greater tusk sizes. This should also bias poaching towards males. We hypothesized that elephant sex ratios from heavily poached populations will initially be strongly male biased, but become progressively less male biased in heavily poached areas over time. This will occur because large, older female matriarchs will eventually provide the next source of large tusks once the largest males are killed. In this paper, we examined the sex ratio of ivory samples from very large ivory seizures (0.5−6.5 tons) made between 2002 and 2013. Origins of these large seizures were independently determined and in most cases, consisted of individuals poached in the same or nearby location. Our results indicate a male-biased sex ratio among these large ivory seizures. The earliest and largest seizure (6.5 tons seized in 2002) from Zambia was 4−6 times more male biased than later seizures. However, male bias progressively declined in samples that originated from that same, heavily poached area over time, indicating a rise in female targets. These trends are likely to have negative implications on elephant recovery given the importance of female matriarchs to elephant social structure and population growth.
Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Abstract Background: The etiology of abdominal cocoon (a rare cause of intestinal obstruction) is unknown. It has occurred in adolescent girls, cirrhotic patients after peritoneal-venous shunting, and patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. We report our experience with patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Methods: Five patients (4 male, 1 female, aged 16 to 57 years) underwent OLT (3 whole liver, 2 right lobe grafts) and subsequently developed abdominal cocoon. Results: All developed pyrexia by 66 ± 21 hours posttransplant. Additional symptoms (epigastric discomfort and intermittent vomiting) occurred 12 ± 10 days later. Bacterial peritonitis was confirmed by microbiology in 2 cases and diagnosed by exclusion in the others. C-reactive protein levels were persistently elevated in all patients (35 to 82 mg/L). While abdominal CT consistently demonstrated marked ascites with the small intestine confined to a particular area of the abdomen, intestinal contrast studies and ultrasound were not diagnostic. All patients underwent surgical removal of the cocoon membrane by 58 ± 22 days after transplant. Conclusions: Sclerosing peritonitis may complicate liver transplantation and occurs because of low-grade intra-abdominal sepsis.
Responses to conspecific and heterospecific olfactory cues in the swordtail Xiphophorus cortezi

Abstract Female Xiphophorus cortezi responded to olfactory cues from both conspecific males and heterospecific X. nigrensis X. montezumae males when given a choice between the stimulus and water. When given a choice between the conspecific and heterospecific cues, however, females demonstrated a strong preference for the conspecific stimulus. Of the two heterospecific species, females responded more strongly to their close relative X. nigrensis than they did to the more distantly related X. montezumae Mate recognition in northern swordtails is evidently not a simple process based upon a response to one variable, but the outcome of complex responses to information from at least both visual and olfactory cues.
Transfer of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis by serum from thyroidectomized donors.

When rabbits were injected with 10.0 mg rabbit thyroglobulin in complete Freund's adjuvant, the earliest thyroid lesions were seen on day 5 and uniformly severe thyroid lesions were seen by day 14; these observations were not significantly different from the thyroid lesions observed at 1 and 2 months post-immunization. Pooled sera were obtained from immunized, thyroidectomized, and nonthyroidectomized donors on various days and transferred to normal recipient rabbits in different experiments. Successful transfer of thyroid lesions was seen when serum containing early antithyroglobulin antibody obtained from thyroidectomized donor animals at various times after immunization was injected into normal recipients in a sequential manner. Immunofluorescent studies of recipient thyroid glands showed focal fixation of rabbit γ-globulin and s1C complement in thyroid follicles. When purified antibody to rabbit thyroglobulin obtained from thyroidectomized donor sera was transferred sequentially as above, significant thyroid lesions were seen in recipient rabbits. In contrast, no thyroid lesions were seen in recipient animals injected with rabbit sera containing late antithyroglobulin antibody from thyroidectomized donors or hyperimmune sera from guinea pigs. No thyroid lesions were seen in recipient animals injected either with sera from donors given complete adjuvant without thyroglobulin or with globulin fraction of pooled sera containing early antithyroglobulin antibody obtained on various days from nonthyroidectomized donors. Similarly, rabbits rendered unresponsive to guinea pig γG-globulin and periodically injected with guinea pig anti-rabbit thyroglobulin showed no thyroid lesions.
H- formation in a barium-seeded hydrogen discharge.

It has been found that the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ output current from a multicusp source can be substantially increased if the hydrogen plasma is seeded with cesium or barium. Experimental results demonstrate that, for a pure-hydrogen discharge, the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ions extracted from a multicusp source are indeed produced in the plasma volume. However, if barium is mixed with hydrogen in the source discharge, the majority of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ions are generated on the anode walls.
Evaluation of the role of phosphatidylserine translocase activity in ABCA1-mediated lipid efflux.

The following two theories for the mechanism of ABCA1 in lipid efflux to apolipoprotein acceptors have been proposed: 1) that ABCA1 directly binds the apolipoprotein ligand and then facilitates lipid efflux and 2) that ABCA1 acts as a phosphatidylserine (PS) translocase, increasing PS levels in the plasma membrane exofacial leaflet, and that this is sufficient to facilitate apolipoprotein binding and lipid assembly. Upon induction of ABCA1 in RAW264.7 cells by cAMP analogues there was a moderate increase in cell surface PS as detected by annexin V binding, whereas apoAI binding was increased more robustly. Apoptosis induced large increases in annexin V and apoAI binding; however, apoptotic cells did not efflux lipids to apoAI. Annexin V did not act as a cholesterol acceptor, and it did not compete for the cholesterol acceptor or cell binding activity of apoAI. ApoAI binds to ABCA1-expressing cells, and with incubation at 37 °C apoAI is co-localized within the cells in ABCA1-containing endosomes. Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching demonstrated that apoAI bound to ABCA1-expressing cells was relatively immobile, suggesting that it was bound either directly or indirectly to an integral membrane protein. Although ABCA1 induction was associated with a small increase in cell surface PS, these results argue against the notion that this cell surface PS is sufficient to mediate cellular apoAI binding and lipid efflux.
Common value auctions with buy prices

Risk aversion and impatience of either the bidders or the seller have been utilized to explain the popularity of buy prices in private value auctions. This paper, using a pure common value framework, models auctions with "temporary" buy prices. We characterize equilibrium bidding strategies in a general setup and then analyze a seller's incentive to post a buy price when there are two bidders. We find that, when bidders are either risk neutral or risk averse, a risk neutral seller has no incentive to post a buy price. But when the seller is risk averse, a suitably chosen buy price can raise his expected payoff when the bidders are either risk neutral or risk averse. Since expected seller revenue is lower, bidders' expected payments are likely to be lower in a common value buy-price auction. This paper thus gives a possible explanation for the popularity of buy-price auctions with both bidders and sellers.
Point defect clusters in wüstite

Abstract Powder diffraction patterns from Fe 1 − x O at high temperatures obtained with a pulsed neutron source have been analyzed with the Rietveld technique. This yields considerably improved precision over previous measurements for the ratio of cation vacancies to cation interstitials, ρ. This quantity has been measured both as a function of temperature and composition. From the results a distinction can be made among the many cluster models proposed for wustite. The 4:1 cluster exists at high temperatures or at Fe-rich compositions and 7:2 and 10:3 clusters form as the temperature or Fe content decreases. From the temperature dependence of the interstitial iron concentration, the enthalpy of the change in iron location, tetrahedral to octahedral, in the presence of a defect cluster, is −0.3 eV.
Noninvasive imaging of retinal morphology and microvasculature in obese mice using optical coherence tomography and optical microangiography.

PURPOSE To evaluate early diabetes-induced changes in retinal thickness and microvasculature in a type 2 diabetic mouse model by using optical coherence tomography (OCT)/optical microangiography (OMAG). METHODS Twenty-two-week-old obese (OB) BTBR mice (n = 10) and wild-type (WT) control mice (n = 10) were imaged. Three-dimensional (3D) data volumes were captured with spectral domain OCT using an ultrahigh-sensitive OMAG scanning protocol for 3D volumetric angiography of the retina and dense A-scan protocol for measurement of the total retinal blood flow (RBF) rate. The thicknesses of the nerve fiber layer (NFL) and that of the NFL to the inner plexiform layer (IPL) were measured and compared between OB and WT mice. The linear capillary densities within intermediate and deep capillary layers were determined by the number of capillaries crossing a 500-μm line. The RBF rate was evaluated using an en face Doppler approach. These quantitative measurements were compared between OB and WT mice. RESULTS The retinal thickness of the NFL to IPL was significantly reduced in OB mice (P < 0.01) compared to that in WT mice, whereas the NFL thickness between the two was unchanged. 3D depth-resolved OMAG angiography revealed the first in vivo 3D model of mouse retinal microcirculation. Although no obvious differences in capillary vessel densities of the intermediate and deep capillary layers were detected between normal and OB mice, the total RBF rate was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in OB mice than in WT mice. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that OB BTBR mice have significantly reduced NFL-IPL thicknesses and total RBF rates compared with those of WT mice, as imaged by OCT/OMAG. OMAG provides an unprecedented capability for high-resolution depth-resolved imaging of mouse retinal vessels and blood flow that may play a pivotal role in providing a noninvasive method for detecting early microvascular changes in patients with diabetic retinopathy.