cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental studies of the plasma-propellant interface for electrothermal-chemical launchers

A plasma-propellant interaction experiment "PIPE" has been constructed to investigate the plasma-propellant interface physics, and plasma augmentation to the propellant burn rate of electrothermal-chemical launchers. The experimental facility consists of an electrothermal plasma source that injects plasma to the surface of solid or liquid propellants. The source is powered by a 340 /spl mu/F Maxwell capacitor (17 kJ at 10 kV, up to 100 kA, 400 /spl mu/s pulse duration) via a pulse forming network. Experiments with JA2 granular solid propellant under vacuum operation (20 Torr base pressure) showed incomplete burn of the propellant. However, the overall chamber pressure is a factor of two higher than that without propellant. Preliminary measurements showed that the burn rate with plasma injection has been increased by a factor of three at a pressure of 0.7 kbar compared to conventional ignition. >
Teachers’ perceptions toward curriculum reforms and teacher training programs in Chinese agricultural schools

As Chinese agricultural schools have gradually transferred from ineffective academic institutions to vocational education, the need for renewing teachers’ attitudes, knowledge, and skills to implement the curriculum innovations is evident. The purpose of this study was to describe teachers’ perceptions toward teacher training and reforms of curriculum and instruction in agricultural schools in China. The population for the study was teachers in 12 agricultural schools. A systematic random sampling technique generated a sample of 398 teacher participants. The results revealed that teachers supported curriculum reforms and they were interested in trying new ideas in their teaching practice. They believed that high quality of teacher training and professional development programs would help them to carry out the reform initiatives in curriculum and instruction. They also thought that knowledge and skills of teachers, attitudes of teachers, and new facilities and equipment were important factors affecting the process of curriculum reforms in agricultural schools. Therefore, policy makers and administrators should seize this opportunity to develop effective teacher education programs and address the needs of teachers in the process.
Haemodynamic stability and ketamine-alfentanil anaesthetic induction.

We have determined if alfentanil could obtund the haemodynamic instability commonly seen at induction of anaesthesia with ketamine. Five groups of ASA I and II patients received ketamine 1 mg kg-1 i.v., preceded by saline (group 1) or alfentanil 10, 20, 30 or 40 micrograms kg-1 (groups 2-5, respectively). Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (AP), postoperative patient complaints and dysphoria were noted. All groups showed increases (P
Use of the Coccidioides posadasii Δchs5 Strain for Quality Control in the ACCUPROBE Culture Identification Test for Coccidioides immitis

Coccidioides posadasii Δchs5 is a strain that is excluded from the select agent list. Sixteen assays using test reagents from three different ACCUPROBE Coccidioides immitis culture identification test lots had an average of 132,998 relative light units (RLU), which is well beyond the 50,000-RLU positive cutoff value for the test. Coccidioides posadasii Δchs5 is a satisfactory quality control isolate in the ACCUPROBE culture identification test for Coccidioides immitis.
Systematic optimization of ion-pairing agents and hexafluoroisopropanol for enhanced electrospray ionization mass spectrometry of oligonucleotides.

RATIONALE New methods to enhance the electrospray ionization (ESI) signals are essential for low-level analysis of oligonucleotides. We report a systematic evaluation comparing 13 ion-pairing agents with and without hexafluoroisopropanol to understand their effect on the ion abundance of hetero-oligonucleotides. METHODS A Waters Synapt G2 HDMS quadrupole time-of-flight instrument was used to compare oligonucleotide signal intensity with 13 alkylamine ion-pairing agents at varying concentrations. The alkylamines that yielded the highest signal intensity were further evaluated with hexafluoroisopropanol at concentrations between 5 and 100 mM. The chemical properties of the solution components and analytes were evaluated to identify key factors in predicting optimal mobile phase conditions for different classes of oligonucleotides. RESULTS We identified a series of optimized mobile phase systems using diisopropylamine, tripropylamine, dimethylbutylamine, methyldibutylamine, and dimethylhexylamine along with 25 to 50 mM hexafluoroisopropanol that yielded significantly higher MS signal intensity for both siRNA and DNA compared with the traditionally used triethlyamine/hexafluoroisopropanol system. We explored charge state reduction, adduct formation and ESI mechanisms and identify the Henry's Law constant k aq/g as a key chemical property in predicting alkylamines that will increase oligonucleotide ion intensity. We also find that the hydrophobicity of the oligonucleotide plays a major role in choosing ion-pairing agents that will increase ion abundance. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive and systematic optimization finds that the hydrophobicity of the oligonucleotide was a key factor in choosing alkylamine ion-pairing agents to increase ESI abundance. We identified that diisopropylamine and tripropylamine combined with lower concentrations of hexafluoroisopropanol yielded the highest signal intensity for these oligonucleotides. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EP News: Basic and Translational

E A p i E c 2 m g d s i d t j e a t i Structure and function of ryanodine receptors Tung et al (Nature 2010;468:585, PMID 21048710) show the 2.5-A resolution crystal structure of a region spanning three domains of RyR type 1 (RyR1), encompassing amino acid residues 1–559. The domains interact with each other through a predominantly hydrophilic interface. The authors pinpoint the exact locations of more than 50 disease-associated mutations in full-length RyR1 and type 2 (cardiac) RyR (RyR2). The mutations can be classified into three groups: those that destabilize the interfaces between the three amino-terminal domains, disturb the folding of individual domains, or affect one of six interfaces with other parts of the receptor. The authors propose a model whereby the opening of an RyR coincides with allosterically coupled motions within the N-terminal domains. This process can be affected by mutations that target various interfaces within and across subunits. Another study by Shan et al (J Clin Invest 2010;120: 4388 PMID 21099118) reported the mechanisms of RyR2 regulation during the classic “fight-or-flight” stress responses. Catecholamines activate protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates RyR2 required for muscle contraction. Mice harboring RyR2 channels that cannot be PKA phosphorylated (RyR2-S2808A / mice) exhibited blunted heart rate and cardiac contractile responses to catecholamines, leading to impaired exercise capacity. RyR2S2808A / mice were protected against chronic catcholaminergic-induced cardiac dysfunction. These studies identify new roles for PKA phosphorylation of RyR2 in both the heart rate and contractile responses to acute catecholaminergic stimulation.
Genome-wide prediction, display and refinement of binding sites with information theory-based models

We present Delila-genome, a software system for identification, visualization and analysis of protein binding sites in complete genome sequences. Binding sites are predicted by scanning genomic sequences with information theory-based (or user-defined) weight matrices. Matrices are refined by adding experimentally-defined binding sites to published binding sites. Delila-Genome was used to examine the accuracy of individual information contents of binding sites detected with refined matrices as a measure of the strengths of the corresponding protein-nucleic acid interactions. The software can then be used to predict novel sites by rescanning the genome with the refined matrices. Parameters for genome scans are entered using a Java-based GUI interface and backend scripts in Perl. Multi-processor CPU load-sharing minimized the average response time for scans of different chromosomes. Scans of human genome assemblies required 4–6 hours for transcription factor binding sites and 10–19 hours for splice sites, respectively, on 24- and 3-node Mosix and Beowulf clusters. Individual binding sites are displayed either as high-resolution sequence walkers or in low-resolution custom tracks in the UCSC genome browser. For large datasets, we applied a data reduction strategy that limited displays of binding sites exceeding a threshold information content to specific chromosomal regions within or adjacent to genes. An HTML document is produced listing binding sites ranked by binding site strength or chromosomal location hyperlinked to the UCSC custom track, other annotation databases and binding site sequences. Post-genome scan tools parse binding site annotations of selected chromosome intervals and compare the results of genome scans using different weight matrices. Comparisons of multiple genome scans can display binding sites that are unique to each scan and identify sites with significantly altered binding strengths. Delila-Genome was used to scan the human genome sequence with information weight matrices of transcription factor binding sites, including PXR/RXRα, AHR and NF-κB p50/p65, and matrices for RNA binding sites including splice donor, acceptor, and SC35 recognition sites. Comparisons of genome scans with the original and refined PXR/RXRα information weight matrices indicate that the refined model more accurately predicts the strengths of known binding sites and is more sensitive for detection of novel binding sites.
The association between chronic exposure to video game violence and affective picture processing: an ERP study

Exposure to video game violence (VGV) is known to result in desensitization to violent material and may alter the processing of positive emotion related to facial expressions. The present study was designed to address three questions: (1) Does the association between VGV and positive emotion extend to stimuli other than faces, (2) is the association between VGV and affective picture processing observed with a single presentation of the stimuli, and (3) is the association between VGV and the response to violent stimuli sensitive to the relevance of emotion for task performance? The data revealed that transient modulations of the event-related potentials (ERPs) related to attentional orienting and sustained modulations of the ERPs related to evaluative processing were sensitive to VGV exposure.
The Planetary Data System. A Case Study in the Development and Management of Meta-Data for a Scientific Digital Library

The Planetary Data System (PDS) is an active science data archive managed by scientists for NASA's planetary science community. With the advent of the World Wide Web, the majority of the archive has been placed on-line as a science digital library for access by scientists, the educational community, and the general public. The meta-data in this archive, primarily collected to ensure that future scientists would be able to understand the context within which the science data was collected and archived, has enabled the development of sophisticated on-line interfaces. The success of this effort is primarily due to the development of a standards architecture based on a formal model of the planetary science domain. A peer review process for validating the meta-data and the science data has been critical in maintaining a consistent archive. In support of new digital library research initiatives, the PDS functions as a case study in the development and management of meta-data for science digital libraries.
Polarimetric microfacet scattering theory with applications to absorptive and reflective surfaces

We investigate the polarimetric scattering properties of highly absorbing and highly reflective rough surfaces in the IR. We obtain Muel- ler matrix measurements from these surfaces and compare the data to a Fresnel model. From the data, we determine that a rough, highly absorb- ing surface has a higher degree of polarization compared to a rough, highly reflective surface. In addition, we present a full polarimetric ver- sion of the microfacet model and discuss its properties. This closed-form result for the polarimetric bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) is derived from the microfacet model. © 2002 Society of Photo-Optical
Fine Particulate Air Pollution and Total Mortality Among Elderly Californians, 1973–2002

Fine particulate air pollution has been associated with increases in long-term mortality in selected cohort studies, and this association has been influential in the establishment of air quality regulations for fine particles (PM2.5) .H owever, this epidemiologic evidence has been questioned because of methodological issues, conflicting findings, and lack of an accepted causal mechanism. To further evaluate this association, the long-term relation between fine particulate air pollution and total mortality was examined in a cohort of 49,975 elderly Californians, with a mean age of 65 yr as of 1973. These subjects, who resided in 25 California counties, were enrolled in 1959, recontacted in 1972, and followed from 1973 through 2002; 39,846 deaths were identified. Proportional hazards regression models were used to determine their relative risk of death (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) during 1973‐2002 by county of residence. The models adjusted for age, sex, cigarette smoking, race, education, marital status, body mass index, occupational exposure, exercise, and a dietary factor. For the 35,789 subjects residing in 11 of these counties, county-wide exposure to fine particles was estimated from outdoor ambient concentrations measured during 1979‐1983 and RRs were calculated as a function of these PM2.5 levels (mean of 23.4 µg/m 3 ). For the initial period, 1973‐1982, a small positive risk was found: RR was 1.04 (1.01‐1.07) for a 10-µg/m 3 increase in PM2.5 .F or the subsequent period, 1983‐2002, this risk was no longer present: RR was 1.00 (0.98‐1.02). For the entire follow-up period, RR was 1.01 (0.99‐1.03). The RRs varied somewhat among major subgroups defined by sex, age, education level, smoking status, and health status. None of the subgroups that had significantly elevated RRs during 1973‐1982 had significantly elevated RRs during 1983‐2002. The RRs showed no substantial variation by county of residence during any of the three follow-up periods. Subjects in the two counties with the highest PM2.5 levels (mean of 36.1 µg/m 3 ) had no greater risk of death than those in the two counties with the lowest PM2.5 levels (mean of 13.1 µg/m 3 ). These epidemiologic results do not support a current relationship between fine particulate pollution and total mortality in elderly Californians, but they do not rule out a small effect, particularly before 1983.
Aqueous drainage device surgery in refractory pediatric glaucomas: I. Long-term outcomes

Purpose To determine the long-term outcomes and complications of aqueous drainage device surgery in children with congenital and aphakic glaucoma. Methods Chart review of consecutive children treated with aqueous drainage device surgery at Duke University Eye Center from 1995 to 2006, recording demographic, glaucoma-related, and anterior segment examination findings. Results Included are 30 children (38 eyes) with congenital glaucoma and 32 children (41 eyes) with aphakic glaucoma. Median follow-up was 5.5 years (0.5-10.5) in the congenital glaucoma group and 3.5 years (0.5-13.8) in the aphakic glaucoma group. Pre–aqueous drainage device median intraocular pressure (IOP) was 29 mmHg in the congenital glaucoma group and 36 mmHg in the aphakic glaucoma group. Post–aqueous drainage device median IOP was 14 and 15 mmHg in the congenital and aphakic glaucoma group, respectively (p Discussion Aqueous drainage device surgery is moderately successful in children with refractory congenital and aphakic glaucoma. Common complications include corneal touch and cataract; iris abnormalities occur less commonly.
Virtual electrode hypothesis of defibrillation.

Despite significant research efforts of investigators in academia, medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry, no effective pharmacological alternative to defibrillation by electric shock has been developed. Thus, defibrillation has evolved to become the only effective therapy against sudden cardiac death. Highly detailed knowledge of ion channel biophysics and cell signaling cascades has allowed for the development of numerous specific agonists and antagonists, but as of now has failed to deliver safe and effective antiarrhythmic therapy. In contrast to this approach, electrotherapy is steadily improving its efficacy and safety.
Leucine-stimulated mTOR signaling is partly attenuated in skeletal muscle of chronically uremic rats.

The branched-chain amino acid leucine stimulates muscle protein synthesis in part by directly activating the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, leucine, if given in conjunction with resistance ex...
Betty Tillman, a remembrance of times long ago

It was in 1962 that Betty Tillman started working for Jim Buchanan. I moved to Charlottesville to start graduate school in 1963, so my memories of Betty and of Jim span 50 years. In these remarks I shall focus on the first ten or so years, for it was then that my impressions of her were formed and which remained with me ever after. Those impressions were rooted in warmth, graciousness, and generosity. Betty came into my life even before I met her. Before my wife and I left Los Angeles for Charlottesville in late August, Betty dropped me a note saying that I should get in touch with her once I arrived in Charlottesville. That I did and was glad to have done it because she put us in touch with a real estate agent who found my wife and I the place we lived in for the next three years. While my three years in Charlottesville were that of a harried graduate student who was eager to finish the program, Betty frequently offered friendly words of encouragement. Betty’s work space was at the end of a corridor in the basement of Rouss Hall, where the suite of offices of the Thomas Jefferson Center was located. Jim Buchanan’s and Gordon Tullock’s offices flanked Betty’s space, and when you entered the Center she invariably had cheerful words for you, offering a nice respite from the arduous work that the faculty typically assigned to students. Her cheerfulness was matched by her generosity. The University of Virginia offered only a June graduation at that time, and also required students to march in Commencement to receive their degrees. I had accepted a job at the University of California, Irvine, and did not want to return to Charlottesville to graduate in 1967. So I had to graduate in 1966, which meant that I had to submit my dissertation by the first Friday in May as I recall. Over the preceding few days, my wife and I worked in shifts keeping our IBM Selectric going in a frantic rush to submit my dissertation on time. Betty knew my situation, and either that Thursday evening or the Friday morning, she called to see how I was doing. When I told her that I just didn’t think I could submit it before five, she asked if I thought it could be ready before noon on Saturday. I said yes. She then said she would wait for me to give it to
Growth of Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) in an Agriculturally Fragmented and a Contiguously Forested Habitat

Abstract: Habitat loss and fragmentation threaten Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) populations in contiguous, mature forests of eastern North America, yet information regarding the life history of C. horridus in fragmented habitats is sparse. In this study, we used mark–recapture data on body size and rattle morphology to compare the size at birth and per ecdysis growth rates of C. horridus from a fragmented habitat in west-central Missouri (MO) with those from a closed-canopy forest in northwest Arkansas (AR). The MO population is typically exposed to a shorter frost-free period than the AR population, so individuals may have less time to acquire prey. At birth, snakes in the MO population were significantly shorter than those from AR, but MO snakes increased in length more rapidly than AR snakes through their first eight ecdyses. Sexual size dimorphism was apparent in the MO population when males and females diverged in size between the fifth and sixth ecdyses, whereas growth trajectories of AR m...
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in copper deficiency. I. Antiinflammatory activity of aspirin.

The effect of nutritional copper (Cu) deficiency on the antiinflammatory activity and pharmacokinetics of aspirin (ASA) was investigated in rats. Male, weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a Cu-deficient (CuD) or Cu-sufficient (CuS) diet for 49–50 d. The antiinflammatory activity of ASA was studied using the carrageenan-induced paw edema (CPE) test. ANOVA analyses of edema volumes at 2, 3, 4, 5, and 21 h postcarrageenan indicated significant differences between groups. The percent inhibition of edema due to ASA treatment in CuS was lower than that in CuD rats at 5 h, AUC5h, and AUC21h. ASA was found to be significantly more effective in inhibiting the CPE in CuD rats when compared to the CuS rats. Thus, we hypothesized that the increase in ASA's antiinflammatory activity in CuD rats was a result of a decrement in its elimination during nutritional Cu deficiency. The elimination of ASA in CuD and CuS rats was studied using an iv dose of 200 mg/kg. Concentrations of ASA and salicylic acid (SA) were determined in blood; whereas the concentrations of SA, salicylic phenol-glucuronide (SPG), and salicyluric acid (SUA) were determined in urine by HPLC. The results of the pharmacokinetic analyses from blood and urinary data indicated no significant differences in the disposition of ASA between CuD and CuS rats. For instance, the total body clearance for ASA (mean±SD, mL/min/kg) was 37.9±9.4 and 38.5±13.9 (p>0.05); and the volume of distribution (Vd) for ASA (mean±SD, mL/kg) was 385.5±110.3 and 397.1.1±137.9 (p>0.05) for CuD and CuS groups, respectively. Thus, contrary to our hypothesis, the enhanced antiinflammatory activity of ASA in CuD rats does not appear to be mediated via a decrement in the elimination of the drug. In addition, plasma ASA-esterase activity was found to be independent of Cu nutritional status.
MRI Findings in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) Compared with Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (CVT) (P07.267)

Objective: To compare MRI findings suggestive of elevated ICP in IIH patients with transverse sinus stenosis (TSS) versus CVT patients. Background Numerous publications have emphasized that IIH patients often have MRI findings suggestive of raised ICP in addition to TSS on vascular imaging. Design/Methods: Among 240 patients who underwent standardized contrast-enhanced brain MRI and contrast-enhanced MRV at our institution between 9/2009 and 9/2011, 60 with abnormal imaging findings on MRV were included: 29 patients with definite IIH, and 31 with definite CVT. Medical records were reviewed, and imaging studies were prospectively evaluated by the same neuroradiologist to assess for presence or absence of TSS, site of CVT if present, orbital findings of posterior globe flattening, optic nerve sheath dilation/tortuosity, and the size/appearance of the sella turcica. Results: 29 IIH patients (28 women, 19 African-Americans, mean-age 30.6, mean-BMI 35.2) had bilateral (28) or unilateral (1) TSS. 31 CVT patients (19 women, 13 African-Americans, mean-age 45.6, mean-BMI 28.6) had thrombosis of the sagittal (3), sigmoid (3), cavernous (1), unilateral transverse (7), or multiple (16) sinuses or cortical veins (1). 14 CVT patients presented with raised ICP, 15 had focal symptoms, 2 were asymptomatic. IIH patients had larger sella turcicas than CVT patients (p Conclusions: Although abnormal imaging findings involving the globes, optic nerves, and sella turcica are more common in IIH patients with TSS than in CVT patients, these findings are not specific for IIH and are found in patients with raised ICP from other causes such as CVT, along with other signs suggestive of raised ICP. Disclosure: Dr. Ridha has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saindane has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bruce has nothing to disclose. Dr. Riggeal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kelly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Newman has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec. Dr. Biousse has nothing to disclose.
Effect of Stroke Ratio and Duty Cycle on Propulsive Efficiency of a Pulsed Jet Underwater Vehicle

PP , η η ) as L St increased and L/D decreased. For most cases ss P P , η η was found to be less than 1, indicating better performance of steady jets, but for short L/D and high L St , ss P P , η η > 1 appears to be achievable. It was also found that the changes in L St had a larger effect on propulsive efficiency when compared to changes in L/D.
The Protein Poison of the Tonsil

In 1913, Dick and I found that the extracts of tonsils were, in many instances, acutely toxic for animals when injected intravenously.1 This toxic action manifested itself clinically like the reaction obtained in anaphylaxis. Bacteriological examinations showed that typical hemolytic streptococcus colonies could be obtained in the flora of the highly toxic tonsils whereas this organism was present in only 10 percent of the relatively non-toxic tonsils. It was noted, among other things, that, unlike the anaphylatoxin of Friedberger, the toxicity of these extracts was not destroyed by heating to 65 C., but that it was diminished without rendering them entirely non-toxic. A further consideration of this point has led me to believe that the toxicity of these extracts is dependent upon more than one factor. That the toxicity of these extracts is dependent, in part, upon an anaphylatoxin of bacterial extraction is not improbable. The nature of the heat resistant portion, however, is open to question. With this in view a further study of tonsil extracts was undertaken. The tonsils were obtained through the courtesies of Dr. A. A. Hayden and Dr. Lillian E. Taylor. From a study of Table 1, it will again be seen that, in a large majority of the extracts of greatest toxicity, the streptococcus hemolyticus was present, and that it was usually absent or, at most, not the prevailing organism, in the tonsils from which the less toxic extracts were obtained. From a gross examination of the tonsils, it was noted that tonsils with well-defined crypts, and especially those containing caseous plugs, were almost uniformly severely toxic. It was also observed, in most
ORGANIZATION AND ALTERNATIVE SPLICING OF THE MURINE PHOSPHOLIPASE D2 GENE

Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyses the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, generating phosphatidic acid and choline. Mammalian PLD activity derives from a family of membrane-associated enzymes that are activated by a wide variety of signal transduction events. cDNA species encoding human, mouse and rat PLD1 and PLD2 have recently been reported. In this study we undertook to determine the organization of the mouse PLD2 gene. We report that the gene spans 17.1 kb and contains 25 exons. Mouse PLD2 is notable for a relatively GC-rich and large 5' untranslated region. Proximal promoter sequences upstream of the first exon contain several consensus SP1 sequences (GGGCGG) but lack TATA and CAAT boxes. Finally, alternatively spliced cDNA species identified for PLD1 and PLD2 are discussed in the context of the PLD2 genomic organization.
The Effect of the Injection Rate and Permeability on Recovery by Steam Flooding after Polymer Flooding

In order to explore the effect of the injection rate and permeability on recovery by steam flooding after polymer flooding in thin oil reservoirs,after the water flooding and polymer flooding under 45℃,using the natural cylindrical cores and simulated oil of Daqing Saertu oil field,the experimental study of steam flooding of 3 groups of permeability and 4 steam injection rates of total 24 cores in the two temperature field conditions was conducted.The results show that:at the same temperature of steam injection,when steam injection rate is low,the steam drive oil recovery would increase constantly as steam injection rate raised.And when steam injection rate is high,the fingering phenomenon intensifyed which caused the steam drive recovery tend to be mild,so there would be no practical value if the steam injection rate is too high and therefore the appropriate rate is 0.2mL/min in this experiment;the increase of permeability contributed to the increase of steam flooding oil recovery after polymer flooding,but it would intensify the rush of steam when permeability outranged 1 μm2,which had no benefits to EOR.With regard to medium permeability cores,raising the temperature of steam injection can significantly improve the steam drive oil recovery,but,for high permeability cores,it has little effect.
QTL analysis on copper-resistant at germination stage in rice(Oryza sativa L.)

A rice double haploid(DH) population,derived from a typical Indica-japonica cross(CJ06/TN1) F1 population via the anther culture,and its parents were treated with 100 μmol/L CuSO4,respectively.By analyzing copper resistance in DH population and its parents,mapping of quantitative trait loci(QTL) using an available molecular linkage map,twenty-three QTLs were detected,seven of which were related to the copper resistance and localized on rice chromosome 1,2,3 and 7,respectively.Among them,one QTL with the greatest contribution(14.60%) was qTGR-2.One additive allele was originated from TN1,whereas another additive allele related to shoot weight,qTSW-2 was resulted from CJ06.The remaining additive alleles were derived from TN1.Meanwhile,it was detected a QTL on chromosome 3,which demonstrated the degree of inhibition of copper stress affected on germination rate.
Zero-rating in emerging mobile markets: Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero in Ghana

Despite widespread controversy surrounding zero-rating---that is, the practice of subsidizing mobile data---the field suffers from a lack of inquiry into user understanding of and experience with zero-rated services. This paper explores how Ghanaian mobile users interact with zero-rated mobile applications Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero. Based on semi-structured interviews with users and non-users of the applications, I discuss how mobile phone users perceive Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero, what motivates them to use or not use the applications, and how the availability of the applications influences their data-buying strategies. Findings suggest that respondents, including those who did not actively use the applications, understood and experienced Free Basics and Wikipedia Zero in ways divergent from the providers' aim of expanding access to online content and services.
Abstract 2672: Recurrent patterns of DNA copy number alterations in tumors reflect metabolic selection pressures

Copy number alteration (CNA) profiling of human tumors has revealed recurrent patterns of DNA amplifications and deletions across diverse cancer types. These patterns are suggestive of conserved selection pressures during tumor evolution but cannot be fully explained by known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. Using a pan-cancer analysis of CNA data from patient tumors and experimental systems, here we show that principal component analysis-defined CNA signatures are predictive of glycolytic phenotypes, including FDG-avidity of patient tumors, and increased proliferation. The primary CNA signature is enriched for p53 mutations and is associated with glycolysis through coordinate amplification of glycolytic genes and other cancer-linked metabolic enzymes. A cross-species comparison of CNA identified 21 conserved altered DNA regions containing 13 enzymes in the glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathways in addition to known cancer driving genes. Furthermore, exogenous expression of hexokinase and enolase enzymes in an experimental immortalization system altered the copy number status of the corresponding endogenous loci, supporting the hypothesis that these metabolic genes act as drivers within the conserved CNA amplification regions. Taken together, these results demonstrate that metabolic stress acts as a selective pressure underlying the recurrent CNAs observed in human tumors, and further cast genomic instability as an enabling event in tumorigenesis and metabolic evolution. Citation Format: Nicholas A. Graham, Aspram Minasyan, Heather R. Christofk, Ingo K. Mellinghoff, Thomas G. Graeber. Recurrent patterns of DNA copy number alterations in tumors reflect metabolic selection pressures. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2672.
Radiative transfer with delta-Eddington-type phase functions

The radiative transfer equation (RTE) arises in a wide variety of applications, in particular, in biomedical imaging applications associated with the propagation of light through the biological tissue. However, highly forward-peaked scattering feature in a biological medium makes it very challenging to numerically solve the RTE problem accurately. One idea to overcome the difficulty associated with the highly forward-peaked scattering is through the use of a delta-Eddington phase function. This paper is devoted to an RTE framework with a family of delta-Eddington-type phase functions. Significance in biomedical imaging applications of the RTE with delta-Eddington-type phase functions are explained. Mathematical studies of the problems include solution existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence on the problem data: the inflow boundary value, the source function, the absorption coefficient, and the scattering coefficient. Numerical results are presented to show that employing a delta-Eddington-type phase function with properly chosen parameters provides accurate simulation results for light propagation within highly forward-peaked scattering media.
Improvements in SEC Economic Analysis Since Business Roundtable: A Structured Assessment

Several D.C. Circuit decisions that remanded regulations to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) between 2005 and 2011 provide a natural experiment that permits researchers to identify the correlation between judicial review and the quality of regulatory agencies’ economic analysis and its use in regulatory decisions. Subsequent to the D.C. Circuit decisions, the SEC staff in 2012 issued new guidance for economic analysis. This paper offers a structured assessment of the economic analysis accompanying a sample of post-2012 SEC regulations, using the evaluation method developed for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University’s Regulatory Report Card. SEC economic analysis improved substantially following the 2012 guidance. Improvement occurred on all major elements that the SEC staff identified as important in its guidance: explanation of the justification for the rule, clear definition of the baseline against which to measure the rule’s economic impacts, identification and discussion of reasonable alternatives, and analysis of the benefits and costs of the proposed rule and the principal alternatives. The improvement occurred both on criteria that address “conceptual” economic analysis and on criteria that require quantification of benefits or costs to receive full credit. Although substantial room for improvement still exists, the court decisions appear to have motivated the SEC, in just a few years, to close the gap between the quality of its economic analysis and the average quality of economic analysis produced by executive branch agencies.
Size-selective opening of the blood-brain barrier by targeting endothelial sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1.

The vasculature of the central nervous system (CNS) forms a selective barrier termed the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Disruption of the BBB may contribute to various CNS diseases. Conversely, the intact BBB restricts efficient penetration of CNS-targeted drugs. Here, we report the BBB-regulatory role of endothelial sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor-1, a G protein-coupled receptor known to promote the barrier function in peripheral vessels. Endothelial-specific S1pr1 knockout mice (S1pr1iECKO ) showed BBB breach for small-molecular-mass fluorescence tracers ( 10 kDa). Chronic BBB leakiness was associated with cognitive impairment, as assessed by the novel object recognition test, but not signs of brain inflammation. Brain microvessels of S1pr1iECKO mice showed altered subcellular distribution of tight junctional proteins. Pharmacological inhibition of S1P1 function led to transient BBB breach. These data suggest that brain endothelial S1P1 maintain the BBB by regulating the proper localization of tight junction proteins and raise the possibility that endothelial S1P1 inhibition may be a strategy for transient BBB opening and delivery of small molecules into the CNS.
Exploring ribosome composition and newly synthesized proteins through proteomics and potential biomedical applications.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Protein synthesis is the outcome of tightly regulated gene expression which is responsive to a variety of conditions. Efforts are ongoing to monitor individual stages of protein synthesis to ensure maximum efficiency and accuracy. Due to post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms, the correlation between translatome and proteome is higher than between transcriptome and proteome. However, the most accurate approach to assess the key modulators and final protein expression is directly by using proteomics.Areas covered: This review covers various proteomic strategies that were used to better understand post-transcriptional regulation, specifically during and early after translation. The methods that identify both regulatory proteins associated with translational components and newly synthesized proteins are discussed.Expert commentary: Emerging proteomic approaches make it possible to monitor protein dynamics in cells, tissues and whole animals. The ability to detect alteration in prote...
Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) MRI with CO2 challenge: A technical review.

Abstract Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) is an indicator of cerebrovascular reserve and provides important information about vascular health in a range of brain conditions and diseases. Unlike steady-state vascular parameters, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV), CVR measures the ability of cerebral vessels to dilate or constrict in response to challenges or maneuvers. Therefore, CVR mapping requires a physiological challenge while monitoring the corresponding hemodynamic changes in the brain. The present review primarily focuses on methods that use CO2 inhalation as a physiological challenge while monitoring changes in hemodynamic MRI signals. CO2 inhalation has been increasingly used in CVR mapping in recent literature due to its potency in causing vasodilation, rapid onset and cessation of the effect, as well as advances in MRI-compatible gas delivery apparatus. In this review, we first discuss the physiological basis of CVR mapping using CO2 inhalation. We then review the methodological aspects of CVR mapping, including gas delivery apparatus, the timing paradigm of the breathing challenge, the MRI imaging sequence, and data analysis. In addition, we review alternative approaches for CVR mapping that do not require CO2 inhalation.
Stigma of Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature regarding health-related stigma in adolescents and adults living with sickle cell disease (SCD). Four domains were identified from 27 studies: (1) social consequences of stigma; (2) the effect of stigma on psychological well-being; (3) the effect of stigma on physiological well-being; and (4) the impact of stigma on patient-provider relationships and care-seeking behaviors. Current literature revealed that SCD stigma has detrimental consequences. Methodological issues as well as research and practice implications were identified. Future research should further examine the impact of health-related stigma on self-management of SCD.
Activation of calcineurin by the trivalent metal terbium.

As a possible probe for metal activation of calcineurin, Tb3+ was tested for effects on calcineurin activity. Calcineurin was activated by Tb3+ with the following kinetic parameters estimated: kcat = 0.78 ± 0.02 sec−1, Km(pNPP) = 32.6 ± 1.8 mM, and Kact(Tb3+) = 0.08 ± 0.03 mM. Terbium luminescence was demonstrated in the presence of the heterodimer of calcineurin and exploited to localize the binding of exogenous metal to the enzyme active site. Exogenous Mn2+ reduced luminescence, although the affinity of calcineurin for Tb3+ seemed to be greater. Putative active-site ligands, such as para-nitrophenol and a synthetic peptide from the autoinhibitory region, reduced the luminescence of terbium. Collectively, these data suggested that Tb3+ was binding directly at the active site of calcineurin, with the corollary that exogenous activating metal (Mn2+) binds at the active site of the enzyme. These data support the hypothesis that activating, exogenous divalent metal participates directly in catalysis.
Abstract TP385: A Mobile-Friendly Website to Reduce Stroke Caregiver Burden: A Qualitative and Pilot Study

Background: Researchers estimate the prevalence of stroke caregiver burden to be 25-50%. Currently, there are no feasible, user-centered interventions in practice to improve stroke caregiver burden. Objectives: To refine the Stroke Caregiver Support System, a mobile-friendly website, with feedback from structured interviews, and to test the feasibility of the Stroke Caregiver Support System with a small pilot study. Methods: We employed a user-centered design framework for the development of our intervention, which includes 9 topical modules with brief introductory videos and curated resources from publically available sources. To refine the intervention, we used feedback from structured qualitative interviews with stroke caregivers for each aspect of the intervention. We then enrolled 8 stroke caregivers in a pilot study to measure baseline caregiver burden and depressive symptoms and test the feasibility of the intervention. All descriptive statistics were computed using SAS 9.4. Results: In structured qualitative interviews (N=4), stroke caregivers were aged 53-59 years; 3 of these caregivers were daughters of stroke survivors, and 2 identified as Hispanic/Latino. The main criticisms of the website included: a) low volume on videos, b) the need for more specific information for the physical challenges of caregiving, and c) the need to improve the language to make it less “scientific.” Generally, caregivers found the modules relevant and the content useful. The pilot study included 8 caregivers (mean [SD] age = 45 [17]), including 7 females, 5 who identified as Hispanic/Latino, and 6 who had a college education or greater. These caregivers had a mean (SD) Zarit burden score of 17 (8) and mean (SD) 10-item CES-D score of 14 (5). In general, caregivers found the website content and organization helpful, but the design and layout needed improvement. Caregivers emphasized that each “caregiver journey” was different, so tailored intervention is needed. Conclusions: Caregivers provided important feedback for the design of this mobile-friendly, educational intervention. Post-intervention measures will give insight into the feasibility and potential efficacy of the Stroke Caregiver Support System to attenuate caregiver burden.
Identification of epsilon toxin-producing Clostridium perfringens strains in American retail food.

Abstract Food samples (n = 216) from New York city were tested for the presence of C. perfringens via PCR for specific toxin genes. Thirty-four (16%) samples were positive for C. perfringens. Of these 34, 31 (91.2%) were type A or E, one (2.9%) was type B, and two (5.9%) were type D.
The relationship of cervical microbiota diversity with race and disparities in preterm birth.

Objective Pregnant non-Hispanic blacks (NHB) have increased vaginal microbiome diversity compared to non-Hispanic whites (NHW) which may contribute to increased preterm birth. Cervical microbiome diversity is poorly characterized in pregnancy, therefore our objective was to correlate cervical microbiota diversity with cervico-vaginal inflammation by race and delivery timing. Study design Pregnant women were recruited in the first and second trimesters. A sterile cervical swab and saline lavage were collected at a single time point. Using 16S rRNA sequencing, Chao1 and Shannon Diversity (SDI) indicies were measured and compared by race and delivery timing (preterm vs. term delivery). Cervico-vaginal inflammatory markers were also compared by race and delivery timing. Spearman correlation coefficients between cervical microbiome diversity and cervico-vaginal inflammatory markers were calculated. Results Of the 51 subjects, 39 (76%) were NHB and 12 (24%) were NHW. Cervical microbiota SDI was significantly higher in NHB compared to NHW (0.5 vs. 0.1; p = 0.03). However, there were no difference in Chao1 diversity or cervico-vaginal inflammatory markers by race or delivery timing. Conclusion Our findings suggest the cervical microbiota diversity during pregnancy differs by race. Larger cohort studies will further determine if altered cervical diversity is part of the pathogenesis of PTB and explains race disparities.
Emerging role of precision medicine in biliary tract cancers

Biliary tracts cancers (BTCs) are a diverse group of aggressive malignancies with an overall poor prognosis. Genomic characterization has uncovered many putative clinically actionable aberrations that can also facilitate the prognostication of patients. As such, comprehensive genomic profiling is playing a growing role in the clinical management of BTCs. Currently however, there is only one precision medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of BTCs. Herein, we highlight the prevalence and prognostic, diagnostic, and predictive significance of recurrent mutations and other genomic aberrations with current clinical implications or emerging relevance to clinical practice. Some ongoing clinical trials, as well as future areas of exploration for precision oncology in BTCs are highlighted.
TRANSITIONS TO FAMILY CAREGIVING OVER A 12-YEAR PERIOD IN THE NATIONAL REGARDS STUDY

AbstractMost studies of family caregiving use convenience samples of persons who are already caregivers before enrollment. Population-based studies of those who prospectively transition into family caregiving roles are rare and needed. Participants in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study were asked on two occasions if they were providing care to a family member or friend with a chronic illness or disability: at the REGARDS baseline telephone interview and at a 2nd interview 9–14 years later (M = 12 years). Those who transitioned into a significant caregiving role were recruited to participate in the Caregiving Transitions Study (CTS), which is examining health and serum biomarker responses to caregiving. Of 9,863 REGARDS participants who were not caregivers at baseline, 1073 (11%) transitioned into a family caregiving role. Of these caregivers, 251 (23%) met eligibility criteria for the CTS and were enrolled along with 251 demographically-matched noncaregiving controls. Enrolled caregivers are 65% female; 36% African American; 69.1 + 7.8 years of age; caring for a spouse/partner (52%), parent (25%), or another person (23%); and 46% are caring for a person with dementia. Initial longitudinal comparisons reveal that depressive symptoms increased (d = 1.12 standard deviation units (SDUs), p < .0001) and health-related quality of life decreased (d = 0.35 SDUs, p < .0001) over the 12-year period for those who became caregivers. A unique sample of incident caregivers and matched controls has been assembled and analyses are currently examining changes on self-report and serum biomarker indicators of health.