cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avian scale development: XI. Immunoelectron microscopic localization of α and β keratins in the scutate scale

Epithelial-mesenchymal interactions play important roles in morphogenesis, histogenesis, and keratinization of the vertebrate integument. In the anterior metatarsal region of the chicken, morphogenesis results in the formation of distinct overlapping scutate scales. Recent studies have shown that the dermis of scutate scales is involved in the expression of the beta keratin gene products, which characterize terminal differentiation of the epidermis on the outer scale surface (Sawyer et al.: Dev. Biol. 101:8-18, '84; Shames and Sawyer: Dev. Biol. 116:15-22, '86; Shames and Sawyer: In A.A. Moscona and A. Monroy (eds), R.H. Sawyer (Vol. ed): Current Topics in Developmental Biology. Vol. 22: The Molecular and Developmental Biology of Keratins. New York: Academic Press, pp. 235-253, '87). Since alpha and beta keratins are both found in the scutate scale and are members of two different multigene families, it is important to know the precise location of these distinct keratins within the epidermis. In the present study, we have used protein A-gold immunoelectron microscopy with antisera made against avian alpha and beta keratins to specifically localize these keratins during development of the scutate scale to better understand the relationship between dermal cues and terminal differentiation. We find that the bundles of 3-nm filaments, characteristic of tissues known to produce beta keratins, react specifically with antiserum which recognizes beta keratin polypeptides and are found in the embryonic subperiderm that covers the entire scutate scale and in the stratum intermedium and stratum corneum making up the platelike beta stratum of the outer scale surface. Secondly, we find that 8-10-nm tonofilaments react specifically with antiserum that recognizes alpha keratin polypeptides and are located in the germinative basal cells and the lowermost cells of the stratum intermedium of the outer scale surface, as well as in the embryonic alpha stratum, which is lost from the outer surface of the scale at hatching. The alpha keratins are found throughout the epidermis of the inner surface of the scale and the hinge region. Thus, the present study further supports the hypothesis that the tissue interactions responsible for the formation of the beta stratum of scutate scales do not directly activate the synthesis of beta keratins in the germinative cells but influence these cells so that they or their progeny will activate specific beta keratin genes at the appropriate time and place.
Too Much of a Good Channel in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Great progress has been made in the management and treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the past two decades. PAH is a condition that affects the pulmonary arteries and leads to a progressive increase in vascular resistance, right ventricular failure, and death. It is accepted that patients with PAH have pulmonary endothelial dysfunction, impaired apoptosis, and disorganized angiogenesis, but the basis for these findings remains unidentified. The chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4) is a protein that is essential for normal angiogenesis. The CLIC4 knockout mouse is characterized by a reduced capacity to form collateral blood vessels. CLIC4 is highly expressed in the pulmonary vascular endothelium of patients with PAH, particularly in plexiform formations, which are distinct histopathological lesions that result from misguided angiogenesis. Wojciak-Stothard et al . tested whether the aberrant expression of CLIC4 contributes to the vascular alterations observed in PAH. The authors found higher concentrations of CLIC4 in plasma and circulating endothelial cells of PAH patients as compared with healthy controls. CLIC4 was predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of cultured human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC), where it interacted with cytoskeletal proteins involved in cell motility. Overexpression of this protein was associated with increased HPAEC survival, enhanced angiogenic capacity, and endothelial permeability. CLIC4 was also increased in rat models of PAH, in which it predominantly localized in the pulmonary vascular endothelium. Interestingly, CLIC4 knockout mice did not have as many pulmonary hypertensive changes when exposed to hypoxia. Furthermore, CLIC4 activated the nuclear factor IB, stabilized the hypoxia-inducible factor-1I, and increased downstream production of vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelin-1, which are mediators involved in the pathobiology of PAH. The extensive and thorough investigations performed by Wojciak-Stothard et al. demonstrate the critical role of CLIC4 in the pathobiology of PAH and regulation of pulmonary endothelial function. However, it remains unclear whether therapeutic interventions that decrease CLIC4 expression might be beneficial in human PAH, a condition that continues to be associated with a high morbidity and mortality. B. Wojciak-Stothard et al ., Aberrant chloride intracellular channel 4 expression contributes to endothelial dysfunction. Circulation , published online 6 February 2014 (10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006797). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/early/2014/02/06/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006797
Generation and regulation of CD8(+) regulatory T cells

Research into the suppressive activity of CD4+FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Treg) has defined a sublineage of CD4+ cells that contribute to self-tolerance and resistance to autoimmune disease. Much less attention has been given to the potential contribution of regulatory sublineages of CD8+ cells. Analysis of a small fraction of CD8+ cells that target autoreactive CD4+ cells through recognition of the MHC class Ib molecule Qa-1 in mouse and HLA-E in human has revitalized interest in CD8+ Treg. Here we summarize recent progress and future directions of research into the role of this CD8+ sublineage in resistance to autoimmune disease.
Gold Sodium Thiomalate for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a Patient with Hepatitis B

Objective:To describe a case of gold sodium thiomalate use for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a patient with hepatitis B.Case Summary:A 53*year-old Korean American woman with mild RA and chronic hepatitis B infection was treated for worsening RA symptoms with subcutaneous injections of gold sodium thiomalate for 21 months, with the dosage decreased from the initial 40 mg per week to 40 mg every 3 weeks after 51 weeks of successful treatment. She had undergone treatment for hepatitis B in the past with lamivudine; however, she had not received that medication for at least 1 year prior to initiating treatment with gold sodium thiomalate injections. During the treatment period she achieved remission of RA without a significant elevation of her liver enzyme levels or reactivation of hepatitis B.Discussion:TWO main factors influence drug product selection when considering the subset of RA patients with chronic hepatitis B infection: severity of liver function compromise and treatment status of c...
Microbial Electrosynthesis: Feeding Microbes Electricity To Convert Carbon Dioxide and Water to Multicarbon Extracellular Organic Compounds

The possibility of providing the acetogenic microorganism Sporomusa ovata with electrons delivered directly to the cells with a graphite electrode for the reduction of carbon dioxide to organic compounds was investigated. Biofilms of S. ovata growing on graphite cathode surfaces consumed electrons with the reduction of carbon dioxide to acetate and small amounts of 2-oxobutyrate. Electrons appearing in these products accounted for over 85% of the electrons consumed. These results demonstrate that microbial production of multicarbon organic compounds from carbon dioxide and water with electricity as the energy source is feasible.
Prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases among Hispanic/Latino individuals of diverse backgrounds in the United States.

Results Age-standardized prevalence of CVD risk factors varied by Hispanic/Latino background; obesity and current smoking rates were highest among Puerto Rican participants (for men, 40.9% and 34.7%; for women, 51.4% and 31.7%, respectively); hypercholesterolemia prevalence was highest among Central American men (54.9%) and Puerto Rican women (41.0%). Large proportions of participants (80% of men, 71% of women) had at least 1 risk factor. Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of 3 or more risk factors was highest in Puerto Rican participants (25.0%) and significantly higher (P.001) among participants with less education (16.1%), those who were US-born (18.5%), those who had lived in the United States 10 years or longer (15.7%), and those who preferred English (17.9%). Overall, self-reported CHD and stroke prevalence were low (4.2% and 2.0% in men; 2.4% and 1.2% in women, respectively). In multivariate-adjusted models, hypertension and smoking were directly associated with CHD in both sexes as were hypercholesterolemia and obesity in women and diabetes in men (odds ratios [ORs], 1.5-2.2). For stroke, associations were positive with hypertension in both sexes, diabetes in men, and smoking in women (ORs, 1.7-2.6). Conclusion Among US Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse backgrounds, a sizeable proportion of men and women had adverse major risk factors; prevalence of adverse CVD risk profiles was higher among participants with Puerto Rican background, lower SES, and higher levels of acculturation.
Covariation in regulation of affinity for branchial zinc and calcium uptake in freshwater rainbow trout.

The possible coupling between regulation of the affinities for branchial Zn and Ca influx was investigated in juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss acclimated to relatively hard fresh water ([Ca]=1.0 mmol l-1). The Km for branchial Ca influx was manipulated experimentally by exposing the fish to 2.3 micromol l-1 waterborne Zn for a total of 28 days. This procedure resulted in rapidly increased Km values for both Ca and Zn influx, an effect that remained through the experimental period. There was a significant linear correlation (r=0.88, P
A Decision-Theoretic Rule of Reason for Minimum Resale Price Maintenance:

In holding that minimum resale price maintenance (RPM) is not per se illegal but should instead be evaluated under the rule of reason, the Leegin Court directed lower courts to craft a structured l...
Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Anterior Resection

It is clear that TME type methods are associated with a superior outcome compared with less radical or stringent techniques. Furthermore, it has also been well demonstrated that the experience and the training of the surgeon are critical variables in determining outcome in this setting. Laparoscopic and hand-assisted hybrid operations must conform to the same oncologic standards. It is also critical that surgeons embarking on these operations have sufficient minimally invasive experience obtained by performing resections for benign disease and for colon cancers.
Synthesis of luminescent gold nano-clusters coated by N-acetyl-L-cysteine

New high luminescent thiolate-protected gold nano-clusters have been obtained by using a natural thiol, i.e. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC). These gold nano-clusters were obtained by reacting HAuCl4 with N-acetyl-L-cysteine in ethanol and NH4OH was used to obtain a alckaline pH. Morphological and structural properties of this class of gold nano-clusters have been investigated by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X Ray Diffraction (XRD). Optical properties have been studied by UV-visible spectroscopy and spectrofluorimetry.
Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis

The substrate specificity of enzymes from natural products’ metabolism is a topic of considerable interest, with potential biotechnological use implicit in the discovery of promiscuous enzymes. However, such studies are often limited by the availability of substrates and authentic standards for identification of the resulting products. Here, a modular metabolic engineering system is used in a combinatorial biosynthetic approach toward alleviating this restriction. In particular, for studies of the multiply reactive cytochrome P450, ent-kaurene oxidase (KO), which is involved in production of the diterpenoid plant hormone gibberellin. Many, but not all, plants make a variety of related diterpenes, whose structural similarity to ent-kaurene makes them potential substrates for KO. Use of combinatorial biosynthesis enabled analysis of more than 20 such potential substrates, as well as structural characterization of 12 resulting unknown products, providing some insight into the underlying structure–function relationships. These results highlight the utility of this approach for investigating the substrate specificity of enzymes from complex natural products’ biosynthesis.
Development of a structured observational method for the systematic assessment of school food-choice architecture.

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study is to develop a structured observational method for the systematic assessment of the food-choice architecture that can be used to identify key points for behavioral economic intervention intended to improve the health quality of children’s diets. We use an ethnographic approach with observations at twelve elementary schools to construct our survey instrument. Elements of the structured observational method include decision environment, salience, accessibility/convenience, defaults/verbal prompts, number of choices, serving ware/method/packaging, and social/physical eating environment. Our survey reveals important “nudgeable” components of the elementary school food-choice architecture, including precommitment and default options on the lunch line.
The Transmission of Light in the Atmosphere with Applications to Aviation

The transmission of light through the atmosphere is determined by the absorption and scattering which it suffers. I t is shown that absorption is negligible in the visible spectrum but becomes increasingly strong in the infrared. Scattering is due to suspended particles ranging in size from the air molecules to rain drops. The scattering coefficient changes with the wave length, or color, of the light only when the scattering particles are smaller than the wave length. Since the suspensoids which produce low visibility are large compared to the wave length of visible light and the near infrared, no advantage results from the use of colored lights or the infrared in such cases. Photography in the near infrared is useful in cases when the visibility is limited by small particle haze. Theory shows that the visual range is determined largely by the scattering coefficient of the atmosphere. Since it is often difficult to select suitable marks for the estimation of the visual range, it is suggested tha t an instrument be developed for determining the scattering coefficient.
Scavenging Behavior of Rangeland Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae): Rubidium-Label Studies

Scavenging on grasshopper cadavers by other grasshoppers is a common phenomenon that might provide an efficient mechanism for disease transmission. Field-cage studies were conducted in Montana to quantify the consumption of cadaver tissues by various members of the grasshopper community. Caged grasshoppers were exposed to Rb-enriched cadavers for 24–32 h. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to quantify the concentration of Rb in tissues of the feeding grasshoppers. The probability of feeding on cadavers, the average amount of Rb assimilated (micrograms), and the resultant tissue concentrations of Rb (parts per million) among feeders, increased with the weight of the live grasshoppers. The increase in Rb concentrations indicates that larger grasshoppers consumed more Rb per gram of body weight. These results are consistent with behavioral observations that larger grasshoppers were more likely to find cadavers and defend them against intruders. The implications of these competitive interactions for pathogen epizootiology in grasshopper communities are discussed.
SPLENECTOMY AND THYMECTOMY IN HUMAN RENAL HOMOTRANSPLANTATION.

Five patients with terminal renal failure have been treated with renal homografts. Total body irradiation and cytotoxic drugs were used to prevent rejection. In addition, the thymus and spleen were surgically removed prior to the homotransplantation. Four of the 5 patients are alive with good renal function after 105 to 198 days. The role of thymectomy and splenectomy in conditioning patients for the receipt of homografts is highly speculative at present. However, the early success rate in this group of patients exceeds that generally attained with renal homografts, and appears to justify further clinical evaluation of this approach under carefully controlled experimental conditions. The data are insufficient to allow a recommendation for the general use of these adjuvant procedures. © 1963, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.
Practical Philosophy, Civil Liberties, and Poverty

It is often said nowadays that there has been a great revival of practical philosophy. But the complaint is also sometimes heard that philosophers do not have much practical influence and that, as philosophers, they do too lit tle practical work in public communication and politics. Such statements raise questions about the nature of practical philosophy and about the pro per role of philosophers in social and political practice. In this paper I shall try to throw some light on these questions in three ways. First, I shall analyze some of the different things that are or may be meant by calling philosophy "practical." Second, I shall indicate certain priorities in such practicality so far as it bears on the proper role of philosophers. Third, I shall develop an example of what I regard as the preferred mode of practical philosophy by giving an analysis of a specific but basic practical problem of contemporary American society.
Relationship between weight-related behavioral profiles and health outcomes by sexual orientation and gender.

Objective Examine relationships between weight-related factors and weight status, body dissatisfaction, chronic health conditions, and quality of life across sexual orientation and gender. Methods Two- and four-year college students participated in the College Student Health Survey (n = 28,703; 2009–2013). Risk differences were calculated to estimate relationships between behavioral profiles and weight status, body satisfaction, diagnosis of a chronic condition, and quality of life, stratified by gender and sexual orientation. Four behavioral profiles, characterized as “healthier eating habits, more physically active,” “healthier eating habits,” “moderate eating habits,” and “unhealthy weight control,” were utilized based on latent class analyses, estimated from nine weight-related behavioral survey items. Results Sexual orientation differences in weight and quality of life were identified. For example, sexual minority groups reported significantly poorer quality of life than their heterosexual counterparts (females: 22.5%–38.6% (sexual minority) vs. 19.8% (heterosexual); males: 14.3%–26.7% (sexual minority) vs. 11.8% (heterosexual)). Compared with the “healthier eating habits, more physically active” profile, the “unhealthy weight control” profile was associated with obesity, poor body satisfaction, and poor quality of life in multiple gender/sexual orientation subgroups. Conclusions Interventions are needed to address obesity, body dissatisfaction, and poor quality of life among sexual minority college students.
Comparative bioavailability of sustained-release and uncoated aspirin tablets

Plasma salicylate concentrations during multiple-dose administration of an uncoated and a sustained-release aspirin preparation were compared. Eight healthy adult subjects were given aspirin 2.6 g/day as sustained-release and uncoated tablets in two and four divided doses, respectively, for five-day periods in a crossover design. Treatment regimens were compared on the basis of five plasma salicylate concentrations measured during the fourth and fifth days of drug administration. Although there was considerable intersubject variation, no significant differences in salicylate concentrations (p less than or equal to 0.05) were found between treatments at any sampling time using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test or analysis of variance. Sustained-release aspirin preparations are capable of producing plasma salicylate concentrations comparable with those produced by uncoated aspirin tablets administered more frequently.
Intercultural competency development of health professions students during study abroad in India.

Objective : Short-term international health-related study abroad seminars for health-professions students are increasingly popular because of a focus in higher education on global awareness and intercultural competency. This study describes a study abroad strategy to teach students intercultural communication skills and knowledge, and evaluated the effectiveness of a 3-week health-related study abroad program and intercultural competency curriculum in increasing skills and knowledge of health-profession students. Methods : This was a mixed methods study, with a pretest-posttest, within-subjects design, and content analysis of student reflection journals. The curriculum was designed to increase students’ sensitivity to different cultural worldviews and support attitudes such as curiosity and openness that lead to relational abilities such as flexibility and adaptability. Students completed the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ISS) and Intercultural Effectiveness Scale (IES) both 3 months prior to and immediately following the trip. Means and standard deviations were calculated and a paired t -test was performed. Results : Qualitative analysis of students’ reflections presented evidence of developing awareness of their own cultural worldview, openness to Indian culture, and the use of skills to develop intercultural competence. There was a non-statistically significant improvement in ISS and IES scores. Conclusions : Students’ reflections demonstrated personal growth through the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed for further intercultural competence development. Students indicated that the curriculum helped them make meaning out of their experiences. Short-term health-related study abroad seminars may help students develop self-awareness and cultural openness by providing theoretically based curriculum before departure and while in the host country, including structured reflections and cultural mentoring, engagement with locals, and a balance of challenge with support.
Pediatric Off Site Anesthesia

There is an increase in need for sedation for pediatric patients undergoing procedures and scans outside of the operating room. Overall, sedation is safe if the anesthesia provider is trained in rescuing the patient. Common complications include apnea and airway obstruction. Full monitoring should be provided, including capnometry. It is also crucial to have all emergency supplies and medications on hand. In many cases, propofol sedation is a safe anesthetic in patients who are sedation candidates. Other possible anesthetics include sedation with drugs like ketamine and versed or general anesthesia with an LMA or endotracheal tube.
Rainbows of Resistance : LGBTQ Pride Parades Contesting Space in Post-Conflict Belfast

The article seeks to demonstrate how marchers in the annual LGBTQ Pride Parade strategically contest and reclaim heteronormative public spaces in Belfast, Northern Ireland. There is an exploration of participants adapting transnational symbolic representations and discourses to the distinct national-local cultural milieu in which they are scripted and performed. The discursive frames, symbols, and performances of Belfast Pride are compared to those of sectarian parades in the city. The subaltern spatial performances and symbolic representations of Belfast Pride are depicted as confronting a universalized set of heteronormative discourses involving sexuality and gender identity, while at the same time contesting a particularized set of dominant local-national discourses related to both ethnonational sectarianism and religious fundamentalism in Northern Ireland.
Duodenoscope reprocessing practice patterns in U.S. endoscopy centers: a survey study

Background and Aims After recent outbreaks of duodenoscope-related infections from multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended implementing 1 or more of 4 enhanced reprocessing measures in addition to updated manual cleaning methods and high-level disinfection (HLD). The implementation of these techniques in endoscopy facilities and provider opinions regarding reprocessing priorities remain unknown. Methods Physicians, nurse managers, nurses, and infection control staff at endoscopy units performing ERCP in the United States were surveyed to assess current institutional practices and individual opinions regarding future reprocessing solutions. Results A total of 249 distinct institutions participated in the survey. Of these, 223 (89.6%) implemented at least 1 of the 4 supplemental reprocessing methods after MDRO outbreaks. Overall, 63% of centers used repeat HLD, 53% performed surveillance microbiological culturing, 35% used liquid chemical sterilization, and 12% used ethylene oxide sterilization. Thirty-seven centers (15%) routinely screened patients for MDRO. Forced-air drying after reprocessing was used by 47.8% of centers. Fifty percent of individual respondents, including 58.6% of physicians, believed that redesign of the duodenoscope is the best long-term reprocessing solution. The majority (55.1%) identified efficacy to be the single most important factor in selecting a reprocessing technique. Conclusions Although most endoscopy centers have implemented enhanced duodenoscope reprocessing techniques, there is a large variation in practice. Most providers believe that duodenoscope redesign and identifying reprocessing techniques with maximal efficacy are the long-term priorities. Improved adherence to forced-air drying in duodenoscope reprocessing is needed.
Prologue and Epilogue: The de Sitter Universe

In this final chapter we would like to take one small step beyond the special theory of relativity in order to briefly address two issues that have been conscientiously swept under the rug to this point. These are related, although perhaps not obviously so. The first is the issue of gravitation which we quite explicitly eliminated from consideration very early on. We have proposed Minkowski spacetime as a model of the event world only when the effects of gravity are “negligible”, that is, for a universe that is effectively “empty”, but it is doubtful that anything in our development has made it clear why such a restriction was necessary. Here we will attempt to provide an explanation as well as a gentle prologue to how one adapts to the presence of gravitational fields. Then, as an epilogue to our story, we will confront certain recent astronomical observations suggesting that, even in an empty universe, the event world may possess properties not reflected in the structure of Minkowski spacetime, at least on the cosmological scale. Remarkably, there is a viable alternative, nearly 100 years old, that has precisely these properties and we will devote a little time to becoming acquainted with it.
Conceptual explanations and understanding fraction comparisons

Abstract Explanations are used as indicators of understanding in mathematics, and conceptual explanations are often taken to signal deeper understanding of a domain than more superficial explanations. However, students who are able to produce a conceptual explanation in one problem or context may not be able to extend that understanding more generally. In this study we challenge the notion that conceptual explanations indicate general understanding by showing that – although conceptual explanations are strongly associated with correct answers – they are not employed equally across different contexts, and the highest performing students tend to use more general explanations, which may or may not be conceptual. Overall, our results suggest that explanations of fraction magnitudes follow a learning trajectory reflected in students’ accuracy and explanations: weak students focus on concrete, non-conceptual features, stronger students use concepts to explain their answers, and the highest performers tend to use general (but not necessarily conceptual) rules.
Effects of idea source, goals, and climate on selecting and refining creative ideas

Although the majority of creative ideas are passed on or fail during implementation, little research has examined the creative processes that unfold between idea generation and implementation. This study investigated how the source of ideas, as well as the goals and climate operating in the task environment, influence idea selection, refinement, and overall creativity. Undergraduates completed a complex marketing task that involved generating an initial list of ideas (or reviewing a list of peer ideas), critiquing these ideas, and then developing a final advertising campaign. Participants who reviewed an initial list of peer ideas included more new concepts in their final campaigns. However, participants who generated their own initial idea lists were more likely to refine these ideas. The most creative campaigns were produced by participants who generated their own initial idea lists while focused on originality goals in a collaborative climate. Implications for designing creative work environments are d...
An empirical study of spatial-temporal growth patterns of a voluntary residential green infrastructure program

Voluntary residential green infrastructure (GI) stormwater management retrofit programs can help cities comply with environmental regulations while also improving quality of life. Previous research has identified influential factors in residents’ willingness to adopt GI, but few have simultaneously studied the spatial and temporal dynamics of GI. I use a six-year record of participation in a voluntary residential GI program in Washington DC to explore how neighborhood characteristics and social influence affect GI adoption over time. Statistical regression and Monte Carlo permutation resampling techniques are used to explain the spatial-temporal patterns of growth of the program. I demonstrate empirical evidence that participation location is increasingly determined by the locations of previous participants. These findings suggest that past participants will increasingly influence spatial clustering of GI in the city.
How Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Responds to Elevated As under Different Si-Rich Soil Amendments.

Several strategies exist to mitigate As impacts on rice and each has its set of trade-offs with respect to yield, inorganic As content in grain, and CH4 emissions. The addition of Si to paddy soil can decrease As uptake by rice but how rice will respond to elevated As when soil is amended with Si-rich materials is unresolved. Here, we evaluated yield impacts and grain As content and speciation in rice exposed to elevated As in response to different Si-rich soil amendments including rice husk, rice husk ash, and CaSiO3 in a pot study. We found that As-induced yield losses were alleviated by Husk amendment, partially alleviated by Ash amendment, and not affected by CaSiO3 amendment. Furthermore, Husk was the only tested Si-amendment to significantly decrease grain As concentrations. Husk amendment was likely effective at decreasing grain As and improving yield because it provided more plant-available Si, particularly during the reproductive and ripening phases. Both Husk and Ash provided K, which also playe...
Desensitization and Tolerance of Mu Opioid Receptors on Pontine Kölliker-Fuse Neurons

Acute desensitization of mu opioid receptors is thought to be an initial step in the development of tolerance to opioids. Given the resistance of the respiratory system to develop tolerance, desensitization of neurons in the Kolliker-Fuse (KF), a key area in the respiratory circuit, was examined. The activation of G protein–coupled inwardly rectifying potassium current was measured using whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings from KF and locus coeruleus (LC) neurons contained in acute rat brain slices. A saturating concentration of the opioid agonist [Met5]-enkephalin (ME) caused significantly less desensitization in KF neurons compared with LC neurons. In contrast to LC, desensitization in KF neurons was not enhanced by activation of protein kinase C or in slices from morphine-treated rats. Cellular tolerance to ME and morphine was also lacking in KF neurons from morphine-treated rats. The lack of cellular tolerance in KF neurons correlates with the relative lack of tolerance to the respiratory depressant effect of opioids.
THE USE OF PERCUTANEOUS AXILLARY IMPELLA PLACEMENT FOR PROTECTED PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION (PCI) IN A PATIENT WITH SEVERE ILEOFEMORAL PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE

Arterial access for percutaneous left ventricular assist devices remains challenging in patients with PAD (peripheral artery disease) An 80 y/o male with restrictive lung disease and chronic kidney disease presented with decompensated heart failure (LVEF 20%). He underwent coronary angiography with
Spatial Orientation in the Elderly: The Current Status of Understanding

The present paper shall address the issue of spatial orientation in the elderly. In the information processing model depicted in Figure 1, spatial orientation is considered to be one of a sequence of processes which mediates an individual’s contact with a physical environment and the execution of a response in that environment. Specifically, spatial orientation is defined as that process which determines the relationship between an individual’s perception of the immediate physical environment and the individual’s existing representation of that environment and its surrounds. It therefore, serves as the link between the present and the past. The result of this process is then utilized in the selection of a response to be executed in the environment.
The Murmurator: A Flocking Simulation-Driven Multi-Channel Software Instrument for Collaborative Improvisation

This paper describes the Murmurator, a flocking simulation-driven software instrument created for use with multi-channel speaker configurations in a collaborative improvisation context. Building upon previous projects that use natural system models to distribute sound in space, the authors focus on the potentials of this paradigm for collaborative improvisation, allowing for performers to improvise both with each other and to adapt to performer-controllable levels of autonomy in the Murmurator. Further, the Murmurator’s facilitation of a dynamic relationship be- tween musical materials and spatialization (for example, having the resonance parameter of a filter applied to a sound being dependent on its location in space or velocity) is foregrounded as a design paradigm. The Murmurator’s collaborative genesis, relationship to improvisational and multi-channel acousmatic performance practices, software details, and future work are discussed.
Spatial Organization in Musical Form

Classical Western music theory concerned itself primarily with tonal relationships between notes, while serialism focused instead on temporal relationships of sound events. This work considers the nature of spatially organized music and how a theoretical basis might be formed for understanding the underlying concepts and expectations inherent in spatial composition. Previous examples of spatial organization are considered, and theoretical concepts such as dissonance, consonance, position, inertia, gravitation, and context are applied to spatial music. Practical considerations in achieving such motives are also discussed for real-world rooms and audio formats.
Probiotic potential and biochemical and technological properties of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis strains isolated from raw milk and kefir grains

Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis is one of the most important starter bacteria used in dairy technology and it is of great economic importance because of its use in the production of dairy products, including cheese, butter, cream, and fermented milks. Numerous studies have evaluated the biochemical and probiotic properties of lactococci; however, limited studies on the probiotic characteristics of lactococci were conducted using strains originating from raw milk and dairy products. Characterizing the probiotic properties of strains isolated from raw milk and fermented milk products is important in terms of selecting starter culture strains for the production of functional dairy products. In this study, biochemical properties (including antibiotic sensitivity, lipolytic activity, amino acid decarboxylation, antioxidant activity) and probiotic properties (including antimicrobial activity, growth in the presence of bile salts, bile salts deconjugation, and hydrophobicity) of 14 Lactococcus lactis strains isolated from raw milk and kefir grains were investigated. Strains originating from kefir grains had better characteristics in terms of antimicrobial activity and bile salt deconjugation, whereas strains from raw milk had better hydrophobicity and antioxidant activity characteristics. None of the strains were able to grow in the presence of bile salt and did not show amino acid decarboxylation or lipolytic activities. Biochemical and probiotic properties of L. lactis strains varied depending on the strain and some of these strains could be used as functional cultures depending on their properties. However, these strains did not possess all of the properties required to meet the definition of a probiotic.
Pulmonary effects on exercise testing in tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch.

BackgroundA transannular patch is often used in the contemporary surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. This can lead to significant pulmonary insufficiency and increased right ventricular volumes and ultimately pulmonary valve replacement. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is used to assess exercise capacity in tetralogy of Fallot patients before pulmonary valve replacement. There is only few published literatures on how lung function affects functional capacity in tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch.MethodsA retrospective chart review was done from 2015 to 2017 on patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise testing with cycle ergometry and with concurrent pulmonary function testing. Tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch without pulmonary valve replacement were compared with age, gender, and size-matched normal controls.ResultsIn the tetralogy of Fallot group, 24 out of 57 patients underwent primary repair with a transannular patch. When compared to the normal controls, they demonstrated abnormal predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (79 ± 23.1% versus 90.7 ± 14.1%, p<0.05), predicted maximal voluntary ventilation (74 ± 18% versus 90.5 ± 16.2%, p<0.05) while having low-normal predicted forced vital capacity (80.5 ± 17.2% versus 90.2 ± 12.4%, p<0.05) and normal breathing reserve percentage (50.3 ± 11.3% versus 47.5 ± 17.3%, p = 0.52). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing abnormalities included significantly lower percent predicted oxygen consumption (63.2 ± 12.2% versus 87 ± 12.1%, p<0.05), maximal heart rate (171.8 ± 18.9 versus 184.6 ± 13.6, p<0.05), and percent predicted maximum workload (61.7 ± 15.9% versus 88.3 ± 21.5%, p<0.05).ConclusionsTetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch can have abnormal pulmonary function testing with poor exercise capacity in addition to chronotropic incompetence and impaired muscular power.
Effect of Graphene on Differentiation and Mineralization of Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Poly(4-vinylpyridine) Matrix in Vitro

We have investigated the influence of graphene nanoplatelet scaffolds for dental pulp cells (DPSCs) made from poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) either via spin-casting flat films or electrospinning nano...
Abstract LB-104: Epigenetic and transcriptional alterations as potential vulnerabilities of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG)

A methionine substitution at lysine-27 on histone H3 variants (H3K27M) is present in more than 80% of diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) and inhibits polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in a dominant-negative fashion. We discovered that a number of parameters were involved in H3K27M-dependent inhibition of PRC2, including the ratio between H3K27M and PRC2 present in vivo, an enhanced affinity between H3K27M and the allosterically activated state of PRC2, and the displacement of PRC2 from chromatin containing H3K27M. Following these early events upon an introduction of H3K27M into wildtype cells, the steady-state chromatin manifested a global loss of H3K27 methylation but a gain of H3K36 methylaiton, an antagonistic histone modification associated with transcriptional elongation. These observations suggested that H3K36 methylation may function in displacing PRC2 from chromatin and the oncogenic transcription facilitated by H3K36 methylation could be a vulnerability of H3K27M DIPG. Indeed, ectopic expression of H3K36M in H3K27M DIPG cells depleted global H3K36 methylation and exerted an anti-proliferative effect, implicating a potential strategy in targeting the writer and reader proteins for H3K36 methylation against H3K27M DIPG. Citation Format: Jia-Ray Yu, Gary LeRoy, James Stafford, Chul-Hwan Lee, Danny Reinberg. Epigenetic and transcriptional alterations as potential vulnerabilities of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-104.
Everything I make is a sinkhole

Abstract Written in the form of a travelogue, this paper looks at the holes created by the implosions of casinos and the holes in the desert created by atomic bomb testing to cull psychogeographic meaning. It explores holes through the prism of Las Vegas and its surrounding atomic testing site and relates them to my use in my artwork: drawings and sculptures. It suggests that a darker tourism to Las Vegas is most elucidating. It contributes to understanding of holes in urbanism and its changing contours, the exploitative economy and loss, as well as the degradation of the surrounding landscape for military purposes.
Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Associated With Sodium-Glucose cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are the newest class of anti-hyperglycemic medications used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Their increasing use has been driven by their apparent cardiovascular and renal benefits. They have been associated with a small but significantly increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Many of the cases of DKA associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use present with normal or minimally elevated serum glucose levels, often delaying the diagnosis. A 44-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus presented to our emergency department complaining of 3 days of generalized weakness. The SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin had been added to her medication regimen 4 weeks earlier, and she had stopped using insulin 2 weeks prior to presentation. Laboratory evaluation revealed a metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap and the presence of serum acetone, despite a minimally elevated serum glucose of 163 mg/dL. The patient was treated for euglycemic DKA with intravenous infusions of insulin and dextrose, with resolution of her symptoms in 3 days. The SGLT2 inhibitors are a novel class of anti-hyperglycemic medications that are being used with increasing frequency in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. They are associated with a small but significantly increased risk of DKA. Many of the patients presenting with DKA associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use will have normal or minimally elevated serum glucose levels. This unusual presentation of DKA can be diagnostically challenging.
Predicting Attentional Impairment in Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using Self-Reported and Objective Measures of Sleep.

Study Objectives:There is growing evidence to support sleep impairment as a core feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep impairment in PTSD is associated with severe distress and poo...
G104(P) Why do we send some children for medical photography (MP) in suspected non-accidental injury (NAI) cases and not others? A review of MP in a community paediatric setting

Aims MP can form a valuable part of the medical record and be used in peer review, forensic analysis and child protection (CP) and court proceedings. The RCPCH CP companion suggests that any visible findings in suspected child abuse be photographed. It was observed that only a small proportion of NAI cases were referred for MP. As part of a quality improvement project, the possible reasons why clinicians referred some, but not all, cases for MP were explored. Methods CP reports for all cases of NAI in our community paediatric centre in 2017 were analysed. Data was collected on demographics, consent, size of injury, presence of single or multiple injuries, if an implement was used and if there was parental denial of the accusation. Results Our centre saw 136 cases of suspected NAI. 47 had relevant findings on clinical examination. Only 6 (12.8%) were referred for MP. Cases with the following features were more likely to be referred for MP: Children>10 years old (RR 1.4, OR 1.4) Use of an implement to inflict injury (RR 1.8, OR 2.0) Presence of multiple injuries (RR 3.1, OR 3.5) Parent/carer denial of allegation (RR 2.9, OR 3.5) Injury>2 cm (RR 18750, OR 23077) 5 cases had police photographs prior to review. There were no cases where person(s) with parental responsibility refused MP Conclusion In 2017, our centre did not photograph all injuries found. This implies that the majority of injuries were inadequately recorded in the medical notes, providing potentially inferior supporting evidence for use in CP/legal proceedings. These findings were presented at a departmental meeting. Subsequently, local guidelines were updated encouraging all clinicians to consider the importance of MP in NAI. The MP referral pathway was simplified and made more accessible. It is hoped that these changes will lead to a greater proportion of injuries in NAI cases being referred to MP, based on objective guidance, as opposed to subjective clinical judgement.
A Study of 2 Samuel 13:1–22 as a Solution to Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria

With particular reference to women abuse, this article examines how the Tamar rape narrative can be employed as a solution to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Nigeria. Applying the text in this way, Tamar’s action of mentioning her experience encourages victims of sexual abuse to voice their ordeal as this would expose their assailants and serve as a deterrent to intending abusers. The role of David as a parent and family head reminds every father to aspire to be a good example to his sons as regards attitude to women; it also points to the need to re-awaken those African virtues of old which restricted sex to marriage. In the Nigerian context, the role of David as the custodian of the law relates to the fact that the relevant IPV laws should be updated and adequately applied. A proper investigation of Amnon might reveal that, apart from his family background which might influence his behaviour, he might also be under the influence of certain situational and individual factors.