cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Occurrence of N-nitrosamines in U.S. freshwater sediments near wastewater treatment plants.

In the present study, 40 freshwater sediments collected near 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the United States were analyzed for eight N-nitrosamines by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Three N-nitrosamines were detected for the first time in freshwater sediments in units of ng/g dry weight at the specified detection frequency: N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA; 0.2-3.3; 58%), N-nitrosodiphenylamine (NDPhA; 0.2-4.7; 50%), and N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR; 3.4-19.6; 18%). At least one N-nitrosamine was detected in 70% (28/40) of sediments analyzed. Non-detect values in units of ng/g dw were obtained for N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA; 0.05). This is the first report on the occurrence of the carcinogenic N-nitrosamines NDBA, NDPhA, and NPYR in U.S. freshwater sediments. Discovery of this phenomenon warrants further research on the compounds' origin, environmental persistence, aquatic toxicity, and risks posed.
A generalized three-electrode grounding resistance measurement method

In contrast to the present ground resistance measurement methods recommended by national standard,this paper proposes a generalized three-electrode measurement method,in which the voltage measurement electrode can be arbitrarily located on a circle.Based on the impedance formulas of the three-electrode measured electrode system,the center location and the radius of this circle are given.To verify the validity of the proposed method,the grounding resistances of single vertical and combined grounding electrodes are measured by the straight line method,the triangle method and the proposed method.The results from all these methods shows that the proposed method is practical in engineering measurement of grounding resistances.Furthermore,the location of the electrode in the proposed method is flexible and convenient for wire layout.
Saturation Effect of Electroabsorption Modulator on Analog Link Gain and Linearity

The linearity and link gain performance of analog fiber-optic links based on electroabsorption modulators operating at high optical power is analyzed. The negative feedback attributed to the photocurrent generation improves the modulator linearity at high optical power while causes the link gain to saturate. Potential schemes to improve both will be presented.
Efficiency and efficacy of the electrogastrogram

The efficiency and efficacy of the electrogastrogram (EGG) involve a few practical factors, including recording length, sample size, and the characteristics of subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these factors on the accuracy of EGG analysis. Gastric myoelectrical activity was recorded using electrogastrography in 24 subjects (ages 22-91 years) for 1 hr in the fasting state and 2 hr after a test meal. Computerized spectral analysis was performed to compute EGG parameters, including dominant frequency, dominant power, and the percentage of 2-4 cycles per minute (cpm) slow waves. A parameter called misinterpretation was defined to investigate the effect of recording length. The results were as follows: (1) Using the recording length of 1 hr in each state as a gold standard, the misinterpretation for the recording length of 30 min was 27% for the dominant frequency and 17% for the dominant power. When the recording length was reduced to 15 min, the misinterpretation increased to 61% for the dominant frequency and 38% for the dominant power. (2) With a sample size of 10 subjects and a recording length of 60 min, a statistically significant postprandial increase was observed in the dominant frequency and power, and a trend in the postprandial increase of the regularity of the EGG was noted. When the sample size increased to 24 subjects, a significant postprandial increase was found in all these parameters. (3) None of the EGG parameters exhibited any significant difference between the younger and older subjects or between men and women. In conclusion, a recording length of 30-60 min seems to be appropriate and produces reliable and predictable results. Age and gender do not affect any of the EGG parameters.
Epigenetic Profiling Reveals a Developmental Decrease in Promoter Accessibility During Cortical Maturation in vivo

Axon regeneration in adult central nervous system (CNS) is limited in part by a developmental decline in the ability of injured neurons to re-express needed regeneration associated genes (RAGs). Adult CNS neurons may lack appropriate pro-regenerative transcription factors, or may display chromatin structure that restricts transcriptional access to RAGs. Here we performed epigenetic profiling around the promoter regions of key RAGs, and found progressive restriction across a time course of cortical maturation. These data identify a potential intrinsic constraint to axon growth in adult CNS neurons. Neurite outgrowth from cultured postnatal cortical neurons, however, proved insensitive to treatments that improve axon growth in other cell types, including combinatorial overexpression of AP1 factors, overexpression of histone acetyltransferases, and pharmacological inhibitors of histone deacetylases. This insensitivity could be due to intermediate chromatin closure at the time of culture, and highlights important differences in cell culture models used to test potential pro-regenerative interventions.
Journalism and mnemonic practices in Chinese social media: Remembering catastrophic events on Weibo:

This study examines how collective memories of a public event, along with various journalistic practices, take shape in social media as the event develops. By analyzing messages posted during the f...
E-093 Embolic stroke of undetermined source: the role of the nonstenotic carotid plaque

Cryptogenic stroke, or stroke of undetermined cause, presents a remarkably challenging dilemma for the treating physician as there are limited therapeutic options to prevent recurrence. Roughly one third of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and ischemic strokes are classified as cryptogenic, with an even greater proportion in young patients.1 While classification systems have been successfully used in trials to refine therapeutic approaches specific to subtype, there has been little progress made in secondary prevention of cryptogenic stroke.2–3 The Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group recently proposed a new entity under the realm of cryptogenic stroke called embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).3 This clinical construct emerged from data suggesting thromboembolism as the primary etiology of cryptogenic strokes.3 Three ongoing trials are evaluating the use of novel oral anticoagulants in the prevention of recurrent ESUS, while others are identifying the burden of covert atrial fibrillation in this population.4–8 While current trials are addressing covert atrial fibrillation as a significant source of embolism, more recent population data has called this hypothesis into question and illustrated the heterogeneity, and often multiplicity, of etiologies (embolic sources).3,8–15 Arteriogenic emboli have long been considered minor-risk potential cardioembolic sources.3 As part of the required diagnostic workup to define ESUS, carotid imaging, and advances therein, provides a unique opportunity to prospectively determine a subset of patients who may benefit from aggressive medical therapy or endovascular interventions in the prevention of recurrent ESUS.3 Here we review the role of the nonstenotic, and potentially vulnerable, carotid plaque in ESUS. Disclosures: Z. Bulwa: None.
Risk level problems affecting microtunneling projects installation

Microtunneling is a complex trenchless excavation process. Efficient microtunneling methods is necessary to identify risk level problems that often require the integration of supporting equipment and personnel. A clearer understanding of risk level problems will facilitate the enhancement and modeling of risk assessments for future microtunneling projects. This study investigates 12 different factors to assess risk level problems in microtunneling projects. The factors and factors’ weight are collected using a questionnaire sent to microtunneling-industry specialists. A risk level prediction model is developed using the clustering analysis technique and the analytical hierarchy process to consider the qualitative factors involved in the microtunneling process. The model is then validated, which shows reasonable results with 89% average validity percent. The main objective of the developed model is to assist contractors in the bidding and operation phases of microtunneling projects by providing reasonably ...
Mothers Consistently Alter Their Unique Vocal Fingerprints When Communicating with Infants

The voice is the most direct link we have to others' minds, allowing us to communicate using a rich variety of speech cues [1, 2]. This link is particularly critical early in life as parents draw infants into the structure of their environment using infant-directed speech (IDS), a communicative code with unique pitch and rhythmic characteristics relative to adult-directed speech (ADS) [3, 4]. To begin breaking into language, infants must discern subtle statistical differences about people and voices in order to direct their attention toward the most relevant signals. Here, we uncover a new defining feature of IDS: mothers significantly alter statistical properties of vocal timbre when speaking to their infants. Timbre, the tone color or unique quality of a sound, is a spectral fingerprint that helps us instantly identify and classify sound sources, such as individual people and musical instruments [5-7]. We recorded 24 mothers' naturalistic speech while they interacted with their infants and with adult experimenters in their native language. Half of the participants were English speakers, and half were not. Using a support vector machine classifier, we found that mothers consistently shifted their timbre between ADS and IDS. Importantly, this shift was similar across languages, suggesting that such alterations of timbre may be universal. These findings have theoretical implications for understanding how infants tune in to their local communicative environments. Moreover, our classification algorithm for identifying infant-directed timbre has direct translational implications for speech recognition technology.
K-20: Examining The Critical Connections Of Racism And Whiteness Within Educational Policy

The author, a White gay man, utilizes a critical race theory lens to analyze historical precedents of race based educational policy as a way to further expand his understanding of the systemic nature of racism within the context of the American educational system and to make connections between his lived experiences in a low performing, high poverty public high school. Tracing policies from Plessy v. Ferguson to Gratz v. Bolinger, the author presents a historical analysis of policy to create a framework through which he analyzes and makes connections to present day affirmative action practices in higher education admission policies. Detailing the resegregation of America’s school systems through white flight and gerrymandering, the author examines concepts of Whiteness and the ways in which Whiteness is coded as racially neutral within policies. Concluding, the author argues that more attention should be paid to the connections between K-12 policies and higher education admissions policies that are centered upon race.
A Framework to Tackle Risk Identification and Presentation Challenges in Sepsis.

Introduction Sepsis trajectories, including onset and recovery, can be difficult to assess, but electronic health records (EHRs) can accurately capture sepsis as a dynamic episode. Methods Retrospective dataset of 276,722 clinical observations (4,726 unique patients) during a two-month period in 2015 were extracted from the EHRs. A Cox proportional hazard model was built to test hazard ratios of risk factors to the first sepsis episode onset within 72 hours for patients with presumed infection. Predisposition, infection, response, and organ failure (PIRO) score-based framework was used in a logistic regression to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality within the sepsis population. Results 47.54% of patients with an infection episode experienced at least one sepsis episode (N=1,044 out of 2,196) within 72 hours of admission. The mortality rate was higher for patients with sepsis episodes (7.24%) compared to patient with only organ dysfunction episodes (4.84%) or only with infection episodes (3.96%). Analysis identified factors associated with the first sepsis episode onset and those associated with in-hospital mortality. Discussion Our study addresses identification of infection, organ dysfunction, and sepsis as dynamic episodes utilizing EHR data and provides a systematic approach to detect risk factors related to sepsis onset and in-hospital mortality.
Coupling Photon Spin with Electron Spin in Integrated Photonic Chips

We present two types of opto-spintronic devices. In the first device, single optical pulses can directly switch the free layer in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) on a sub-picosecond time scale. In the second device, the TM optical mode of a waveguide generates a directional, spin-polarized surface current in a topological insulator.
SIRS/Sepsis/Septic Shock/MOSF

The systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and multiple organ failure (MOF) refer to a spectrum of physiologic changes resulting from a dysfunctional immune response to infection or tissue injury. Sepsis and septic shock refer to conditions due specifically to the host’s response to infection. In the mildest form, this dysfunctional immune response manifests as SIRS. More severe states progress to end organ dysfunction and failure which have been characterized by a numerous definitions and scoring systems, each with particular advantages and disadvantages.
Structural Changes of the Interphotoreceptor Matrix in an Inherited Retinal Degeneration: A Lectin Cytochemical Study of Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration

Purpose. In the retinal disorder progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd) in miniature poodle dogs, the photoreceptor layer degenerates slowly in the course of 5 to 7 years. Components of the interphotoreceptor matrix form a continuous extracellular lattice around photoreceptors. The purpose was to study the photoreceptor cell-matrix interactions during the disease and degeneration phases. Because degeneration rate was slower in cones, the authors also wanted to investigate whether there was a link between the degeneration and the photoreceptor-specific interphotoreceptor matrix domains. Methods. Rod- and cone-specific interphotoreceptor matrix domains were examined during two periods: before morphological signs of disease had appeared and during the degenerative stages. Two lectin probes were used; wheat germ agglutinin and peanut agglutinin. By their affinity for terminal carbohydrates, the lectins visually separated the two photoreceptor-specific domains and allowed follow-up of the fate of the rod and cone matrices separately. Results. Before and during the course of disease, the lectin distribution in rod and cone domains remained normal, however, in the degenerative phase of the disease, there were structural changes in the matrix domains. The matrix connections between the individual domains was disrupted and single domains were formed. Cone domains and, to a lesser degree rod domains, were thickened around the inner and outer segments. Conclusions. The changes occurring in the photoreceptor-specific domains were indicative of structural adaptation to cell death and to degenerative conditions. There was no evidence of an active involvement of the interphotoreceptor matrix components studied in the disease process. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1993;34:3056-3067.
Engineering the Future of Civil Engineering in the U.S.

Traditional pride of U.S. civil engineers in their work increasingly competes with negatives. Examples of the latter are growing frustration with lack of appreciation and respect, the “shortage” of civil engineers, low compensation, reduction in academic preparation, “slippage” relative to essentially all other professions, encroachment of other professions and entities into the traditional CE arena, and absence from the political arena and public media. This paper critiques the U.S. CE education-experience-licensure-certification-continuing professional development process. It advocates a new paradigm consistent with the essentiality and complexity of infrastructure development and environmental protection in society. Civil works will always be in demand—that is unquestionable. To be decided, however, is who will lead the planning, design, construction and operation of civil works and protection of the environment; civil engineers or others? U.S. civil engineers are faced with a leadership and management challenge. They must engineer their future or others will engineer it for them.
Solubility enhancement of nucleosides and structurally related compounds by complex formation

Water-soluble vitamins, amino acids, and nontoxic pharmaceutical excipients were studied as solubilizing agents for poorly water-soluble adenine (nucleic acid base), guanosine (nucleoside), and structurally related drugs (acyclovir and triamterene). The apparent solubility of the substrates (adenine, guanosine, acyclovir, or triamterene) was appreciably increased by forming complexes with the ligands (vitamins, amino acids, or other ligand). Apparent association constants (K a ) values were measured at 25°C in pH 7 phosphate buffer using phase solubility analysis. The effect of combination ligands on substrate solubility was also studied. Additive solubility enhancement was obtained for several ligand pairs.
Permutation Tests for Phase III Clinical Trials

The opinions and assertions expressed in this chapter are the private views of the authors. No endorsement by the Food and Drug Administration or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is intended or should be inferred.
Robust Inference Progress from Independent to Longitudinal Setup

In practice one may not have always smooth data. When bulk of the data are smooth but the complete data set apparently contains a few contaminated observations or outliers, one encounters difficulties to choose an inference technique because of the fact that the traditional inference techniques developed for smooth data analysis may no longer provide unbiased and consistent estimates for the desired parameters such as regression parameters in linear or generalized linear models (GLMs) setup. In this paper, we first briefly review some of the widely used bias corrected techniques in linear model setup. But, as opposed to the linear models in normal or other continuous exponential family based variables, the robust inference for discrete data in the GLMs setup, such as for count and binary data, is, however, not adequately discussed in the literature. The advantages and drawbacks of an existing outliers resistant Mallow’s type quasi-likelihood (MQL) estimation approach in GLMs setup are reviewed in brief. We then discuss a recently proposed fully standardized MQL (FSMQL) approach that provides almost unbiased estimates ensuring its higher consistency performance. One encounters further challenges when the data in GLMs setup are repeatedly collected over a period of time. This is mainly because one then requires to modify the FSMQL type estimation approaches such that the modified approach also accommodates the correlation structure of the repeated data. A recently proposed robust generalized QL (RGQL) approach is reviewed for the purpose.
EXTRACTION OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES FROM PLANTS

Abstract This research was designed to evaluate the extraction efficiency of 14C pesticides applied in commercial formulation to crops. Experimental variables included: Ten pesticides representing three chemical classes (organophosphates, organochlorines and carbamates); three extracting solvents (acetone, acetonitrile and methanol); two blenders (Polytron Homogenizer and Lourdes blender); three plant types (radish, strawberry and mustard greens); and three harvest intervals post application. Extractions were performed by blending followed by leaching and then Soxhlet extraction. 14C content was measured in each fraction collected as well as in the remaining plant tissue. Subsequently the plant tissues were subjected to acid hydrolysis (0.25N HCl, reflux, 1 hour) in an effort to release any bound residues. Thin layer chromatography separations were made of both organic and aqueous soluble extracts to separate metabolites and quantify actual toxicant levels. A comparison of blenders revealed no statistical difference in percent 14C extracted or toxicant levels. The three solvents often showed statistically significant differences in extractions of 14C. Although variability did exist, the most consistent and efficient solvent was methanol, followed by acetonitrile, with acetone being the least effective. One example of this phenomenon was dimethoate applied to mustard greens; at the 7 day harvest interval, 97% of the 14C was extracted using methanol, 91% using acetonitrile and 88.3% using acetone. Another difference between solvents was noted. After extracts were collected, the extracts were concentrated using a rotary evaporator to remove the organic solvent, and the remaining aqueous phase was then partitioned with methylene chloride. In a number of cases, the partitioning of the acetonitrile extracts resulted in a smaller proportion of the 14C in the methylene chloride compared to extracts made with acetone and methanol. When one compares the three plant species, strawberries were generally extracted most efficiently, mustard greens were next and radishes were the most difficult to extract. One example of this may be seen in the case of propoxur applied to the three crops, all being harvested 14 days post application; the percent 14C extracted from strawberries was 98%, from mustard greens, 94% and from radishes, 86%. Generally, the unextractable or bound 14C increased with increasing harvest interval. For example, 15, 34 and 42% were bound at 3, 10 and 21 days, respectively, after carbofuran had been applied to radishes. Acid hydrolysis of solvent extracted tissues released varying quantities of 14C. In the case of carbofuran applied to radishes and harvested 21 days post application, 12% of the bound 14C (42% of the total 14C was bound) was solubilized; for captan applied to radishes and harvested at 14 days, 62% of the bound material (11% total 14C was bound) was released.
Toward a Theory of Engineering Professorial Intentions: The Role of Research Group Experiences

This article advances the Theoretical Model of Engineering Professorial Intentions to explain why individuals do or do not choose to pursue faculty careers. A 13-month ethnographic study of members...
“Do I Really Belong Here?”: The Stigma of Being a Community College Transfer Student at a Four-Year University

Students who begin their educational journeys in community college face many obstacles trying to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Much research has been dedicated to identifying academic factors ...
Following the Fate of Facilitated Migration In A Small Desert Spring

Human modification of the environment can result in the fragmentation and isolation of natural populations. If isolated populations are small, they may experience higher probabilities of extirpation from genetic, demographic, and environmental effects. One approach for managing fragmented and isolated populations is facilitated migration in which individuals are moved between habitat fragments. Here we report on a study of a single system in which we followed the genetic and population consequences of facilitated migration. We moved a small number of pupfish (Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis) from one small spring into another small spring that had become isolated as a consequence of human modification of surface hydrology. We followed the fate of immigrant, resident, and admixed fish over multiple generations using molecular identification of individuals and mark-recapture methods. The mark-recapture data revealed that survival probabilities for admixed individuals were about 20% greater than those for the original resident fish. Furthermore, there was a steady increase in the proportion of admixed individuals, suggesting that immigrant alleles spread through the population consistent with the estimate of relative fitness. Overall, the results suggest facilitated migration can have restorative effects over the course of very few generations, and these results, in the context of other studies, suggest facilitated migration is likely to be an effective strategy for managing populations that have become isolated as a consequence of human modification of landscapes.
Leadership Book Reviews

Combined review of Leadership by Engineers and Scientists: Professional Skills Needed to Succeed in a Changing World by D.W. Hess John Wiley & Sons. 240 pp. ISBN-13: 978-1119436591. Amazon: eTextbook: $51.19; Hardcover $63.51 and Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by J. Carreyrou Picador. 339 pp ISBN-13: 978-1524731656. Amazon: Kindle: $13.99; Hardcover $16.77; Paperback $21.40
Childhood language development and later alcohol use behaviors.

Abstract Background Studies have shown a correlation between language abilities and alcohol use; however, results are inconsistent. A recent study using a discordant twin design showed an association between early child language development and later alcohol use behaviors; i.e., the twin with more advanced language abilities was more likely to try alcohol earlier in adolescence (Latvala et al., 2014). The authors suggested that this could result from better socialization of individuals with greater language abilities, which could lead to more opportunities for alcohol experimentation. The findings by Latvala et al. raise interesting questions, but the study has limitations, and replication is needed. Method We aimed to replicate and build upon these results utilizing 488 same sex twin pairs from the Colorado Longitudinal Twin Study, a longitudinal sample with quantitative measures of language abilities starting when the twins were 14 months old. Results We found no significant correlations between a latent measure of child language abilities or measures of general cognitive ability at ages 14, 20, and 24 months and a latent alcohol use variable at ages 17 and 22 years. Conclusion Our results did not replicate the association between early language ability and later alcohol use reported by Latvala et al. Possible reasons for differing results across samples, including varying cultural norms as well as differences in educational attainment, peer influences, and novelty seeking, were discussed.
Ultra Low-power Inductively Coupled Wearable ECG Sensor Design with Inkjet Printed Dry Electrodes

Wearable Electrocardiogram (ECG) devices cannot be used for long duration due to power requirement (on a single charge) and electrode degradation. A new extremely low power wearable ECG sensor device is proposed in this work that minimizes power consumption by eliminating digitization and wireless data transfer with a zero power analog inductive coupling and long duration inkjet printed (IJP) dry electrodes. The prototyped device can operate on a coin cell for 140 hours consuming only 1.6 mA. Ability to collect ECG data at home for long duration can largely improve capabilities of mobile health (mHealth) towards Smart and Connected Communities (SCC).
AdaOja: Adaptive Learning Rates for Streaming PCA.

Oja's algorithm has been the cornerstone of streaming methods in Principal Component Analysis (PCA) since it was first proposed in 1982. However, Oja's algorithm does not have a standardized choice of learning rate (step size) that both performs well in practice and truly conforms to the online streaming setting. In this paper, we propose a new learning rate scheme for Oja's method called AdaOja. This new algorithm requires only a single pass over the data and does not depend on knowing properties of the data set a priori. AdaOja is a novel variation of the Adagrad algorithm to Oja's algorithm in the single eigenvector case and extended to the multiple eigenvector case. We demonstrate for dense synthetic data, sparse real-world data and dense real-world data that AdaOja outperforms common learning rate choices for Oja's method. We also show that AdaOja performs comparably to state-of-the-art algorithms (History PCA and Streaming Power Method) in the same streaming PCA setting.
Comparative radiographic study of human and animal long bone patterns

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that certain radiographic features can be found to distinguish between human and animal long bone fragments, and therefore would be useful as an adjunct in forensic science identification. Using proposed radiographic criteria, 13 archeologists and 12 dentists were asked to identify 20 radiographic samples as representing human or animal bone. Results showed that archeologists correctly identified 86.8% of the samples, and dentists correctly identified 81.9%. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that radiographic interpretation of long bone fragments may be a useful aid in a forensic science investigation of human and animal remains.
Longitudinal Reciprocal Relationships Between Discrimination and Ethnic Affect or Depressive Symptoms Among Chinese American Adolescents

Discrimination plays an important role in the development of ethnic minority adolescents. However, previous studies have often adopted a unidirectional model examining the influence of discrimination on adolescent development, thus leaving the potential reciprocal relationship between them understudied. Moreover, there is a dearth of studies on Chinese Americans in the discrimination literature. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the reciprocal relationships between discrimination and two measures of adolescent outcomes (i.e., ethnic affect and depressive symptoms) from early adolescence to emerging adulthood in Chinese Americans. Participants were 444 adolescents (54 % female), followed at four-year intervals, beginning at 7th or 8th grade (M age.wave1 = 13.03) in 2002, for a total of three waves. An examination of cross-lagged autoregressive models revealed two major findings. First, in contrast to the rejection–identification model, perceived discrimination at early adolescence negatively related to ethnic affect at middle adolescence. Conversely, ethnic affect at early adolescence also negatively related to discrimination at middle adolescence. These results held the same direction but became insignificant from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood. Second, perceived discrimination positively related to depressive symptoms across the studied developmental periods, and depressive symptoms positively related to perceived discrimination from middle adolescence to emerging adulthood. The strength of these longitudinal relationships did not change significantly across developmental periods or gender. These findings highlight the bidirectional relationship between perceived discrimination and adolescent outcomes; they also demonstrate the value of studying the discrimination experiences of Chinese Americans.
Mechanisms of Social Influence: A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Social Information on Female Mate Choice Decisions

Social learning about mate choices is taxonomically widespread, and is a potentially important mechanism of social evolution that may affect the strength of sexual selection in a population. We used a meta-analytic approach to estimate the effect of mate-choice copying on reproductive decisions. We evaluated effect sizes across 103 experiments from 40 studies that experimentally measured female mate-choice copying in non-human animals representing Arachnida, Insecta, Malacostraca, Aves, and Actinoperygii. Our goals were to quantify the magnitude of the effect of this form of social influence, and the extent to which it is modified by observer experience, model age relative to the observer, attractiveness of prospective mates, and testing conditions (laboratory vs. free-living). Across all studies, females that observed others choosing a male were on average 2.71 times more likely to mate with that male, or with a phenotypically similar individual, compared to females with no social information (odds ratio 95% credible interval: 1.60-4.80). After corrected for publication bias, this effect remained significant (corrected odds ratio: 1.92, 95% credible interval 1.13-3.40). We found little evidence for phylogenetic effects in the occurrence of mate-choice copying. Indeed, some studies herein found evidence for mate-choice copying in a broad cross-section of species, while others rejected it in their sister taxa. Social information from observed mate choices of others had a considerably stronger effect on mate-choice in free-living subjects than in captive individuals. Inexperienced (virgin) females were more likely to copy mate choices than were experienced females, but the relative age of the model was unrelated to whether copying occurred. Finally, females were more likely to copy the mate choices of others when social information counteracted the observing female’s personal or genetic mating preference. We note the need for increased taxonomic representation in tests of mate-choice copying, given the robust demonstration of effects in taxa studied to date. Such broader information will provide additional insight to the drivers of the differences identified here in tendency to copy mate choices of others.
The Role of Nonenzymatic Post-translational Protein Modifications in Uremic Vascular Calcification

Considerable technological advances have enabled the identification and linkage of nonenzymatic post-translationally modified proteins to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with kidney failure. Through processes such as the nonenzymatic carbamylation reaction as well as the formation of advanced glycation end products, we now know that protein modifications are invariably associated with the development of CVD beyond a mere epiphenomenon and this has become an important focus of nephrology research in recent years. Although the specific mechanisms by which protein modifications occurring in kidney failure that may contribute to CVD are diverse and include pathways such as inflammation and fibrosis, vascular calcification has emerged as a distinct pathological sequelae of protein modifications. In this review, we consider the biological mechanisms and clinical relevance of protein carbamylation and advanced glycation end products in CVD development with a focus on vascular calcification.
Can Infants Use the Sonicguide? Two Years Experience of Project VIEW!:

The first two years of a project investigating the use of binaural sensory aids with four congenitally blind children, ages 6 - 30 months, is described. Preliminary results indicate the device is u...
Capturing the Added Value of Participatory Evaluation

Narrative case studies have shown that, when people are involved in an evaluation of a program they are part of, it can change how they experience the program. This study used a quasi-experiment to...
Key indicators of repetitive overuse-induced neuromuscular inflammation and fibrosis are prevented by manual therapy in a rat model

We examined the effectiveness of a manual therapy consisting of forearm skin rolling, muscle mobilization, and upper extremity traction as a preventive treatment for rats performing an intensive lever-pulling task. We hypothesized that this treatment would reduce task-induced neuromuscular and tendon inflammation, fibrosis, and sensorimotor declines. Sprague-Dawley rats performed a reaching and lever pulling task for a food reward, 2 h/day, 3 days/week, for 12 weeks, while simultaneously receiving the manual therapy treatment 3 times per week for 12 weeks to either the task-involved upper extremities (TASK-Tx), or the lower extremities as an active control group (TASK-Ac). Results were compared to similarly treated control rats (C-Tx and C-Ac). Median nerves and forearm flexor muscles and tendons of TASK-Ac rats showed higher numbers of inflammatory CD68+ and fibrogenic CD206+ macrophages, particularly in epineurium, endomysium and epitendons than TASK-Tx rats. CD68+ and CD206+ macrophages numbers in TASK-Tx rats were comparable to the non-task control groups. TASK-Ac rats had more extraneural fibrosis in median nerves, pro-collagen type I levels and immunoexpression in flexor digitorum muscles, and fibrogenic changes in flexor digitorum epitendons, than TASK-Tx rats (which showed comparable responses as control groups). TASK-Ac rats showed cold temperature, lower reflexive grip strength, and task avoidance, responses not seen in TASK-Tx rats (which showed comparable responses as the control groups). Manual therapy of forelimbs involved in performing the reaching and grasping task prevented the development of inflammatory and fibrogenic changes in forearm nerves, muscle, and tendons, and sensorimotor declines.
Recovery of Latent HIV-1 from Brain Tissue by Adoptive Cell Transfer in Virally Suppressed Humanized Mice

Defining the latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) burden in the human brain during progressive infection is limited by sample access. Human hematopoietic stem cells (hu-HSCs)-reconstituted humanized mice provide an opportunity for this study. The model mimics, in measure, HIV-1 pathophysiology, transmission, treatment, and elimination in an infected human host. However, to date, brain HIV-1 latency in hu-HSC mice during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) was not studied. To address this need, hu-HSC mice were administered long acting (LA) ART 14 days after HIV-1 infection was established. Animals were maintained under suppressive ART for 3 months, at which time HIV-1 infection was detected at low levels in brain tissue by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) test on DNA. Notably, adoptive transfer of cells acquired from the hu-HSC mouse brains and placed into naive hu-HSC mice demonstrated viral recovery. These proof-of-concept results demonstrate replication-competent HIV-1 reservoir can be established in hu-HSC mouse brains that persists during long-term ART treatment. Hu-HSC mice-based mouse viral outgrowth assay (hu-MVOA) serves as a sensitive tool to interrogate latent HIV-1 brain reservoirs.
Effect of peripherally restricted PEGylated Neuromedin U on cardiovascular function (837.14)

Background: Administration of NMU agonists have been shown to regulate smooth muscle contraction, stress, analgesia, and metabolism. Central NMU receptor activation has been shown to increase heart rate in rodent models. To further examine the effect of peripheral NMU receptor activation on cardiovascular function, a long acting pegylated (40Kda) neuromedin U analog (PEGNMU) was designed and its effect on cardiovascular function examined in rats and cynomolgus monkeys. Methods: cynomolgus monkey NMU receptors were cloned and expressed in HEK293 cells. The activity of NMU peptides was characterized in receptor binding and FLIPR based functional assays. Cardiovascular function was assessed by telemetry in instrumented rats and cynomolgus monkeys. Results: Cynomolgus monkey NMU (cNMU) receptors were >95% homologous to human receptors. NMU peptides activated both human and cynomolgus monkey receptors with similar potency and selectivity. PEGNMU was found to be a potent full agonist at both cNMU receptors and ...
Fiber optic sensors based on orbital angular momentum

Fiber optic sensors based on orbital angular momentum (OAM) have unexplored potential. We propose a design for an OAM-based fiber sensor and analyze its ability to measure changes in strain and temperature.
Increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure in anesthetized dogs affected with X-linked muscular dystrophy after cisatracurium administration: a retrospective study.

Summary Background: Most patients affected with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) present with arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. Drugs which potentially may induce tachycardia or hypertension could precipitate acute cardiac failure in these patients and should be avoided. Methods: Thirty anesthesia records of five experimental male golden retriever cross-bred dogs affected with X-linked muscular dystrophy (GRDM), a model of DMD, were retrospectively reviewed (DMD group). Anesthesia records were compared with those of 10 golden retriever dogs not affected with muscular dystrophy (control group). Records were excluded if dogs received anticholinergics or vasoactive amines. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl followed by propofol, both intravenously. After orotracheal intubation, all dogs’ lungs were mechanically ventilated. Anesthesia was maintained with infusion of fentanyl and propofol (DMD group) or isoflurane in oxygen (control group). Pure O2 was provided to the DMD group. Cisatracurium (0.1 mg·kg−1) was administered intravenously to all dogs. Five-min interval recordings of HR and systolic blood pressures (SAP) were obtained. Results: Immediately after the administration of cisatracurium, absolute values for HR and SAP significantly increased by 78.3 ± 37.0 b·min−1 (115.4 ± 64.9%) and 33.0 ± 28.3 mmHg (33.5 ± 31.2%), respectively, in all DMD dogs and remained significantly increased for 10 and 30 min, respectively. Dogs in the control group did not show significant increases in HR or SAP after cisatracurium administration. All dogs recovered from anesthesia without complications. Conclusion: In this report, increases in HR and SAP could be associated with the administration of cisatracurium in individuals affected with X-linked muscular dystrophy. These cardiovascular changes deserve further investigation.
Se Exafs Study of the Elevated Wurtzite to Rock Salt Structural Phase Transition in Cdse Nanocrystals

High pressure Se EXAFS data has been obtained on 2.7 nm radius CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals. This system is observed to undergo a solid-solid phase transition at 6.5 GPa which is approximately twice the reported value for bulk CdSe. In combination with high pressure optical absorption experiments, EXAFS data can be used to identify the high pressure phase structure as rock salt. EXAFS data can be fit with equations of state to yield pressure volume curves. The resultant values of the bulk modulus and its derivative with respect to pressure are Bo = 37 ± 5 GPa and Bo’ = 11 ± 3. A thermodynamic model for the data is presented in which the internal energy in each phase is modified by a surface energy term. Differences in surface energy are used to explain the elevation in phase transition pressure. The model can be used to estimate a value for the surface energy in the rock salt phase. A value of 1.9 ± 0.3 N/m is obtained in comparison to 0.9 ± 0.1 N/m for the wurtzite phase.
First Year of Maryland's New CRP Statute in one State Hospital

The first year of Maryland's new Clinical Review Panel (CRP) statute in one state psychiatric hospital is reviewed. CRPs provide a nonjudicial means to administer medication to an involuntarily committed psychiatric patient refusing medicines in a nonemergency situation. While the statute adds appropriate formal procedural protections and while the CRP process "works," the statute also adds the possibility of unnecessary legal proceedings. Clinical decisions about medications should be made by psychiatrists and not by lawyers or judges.
Body size perception among African American women.

Objective To assess body size perception among African American women using cultural definitions of body size terms. Methods Sixty-nine African American women classified Body Image Scale figures as overweight, obese, and too fat, and independently selected the figure they considered closest to their current body size. Results Body size classifications of figures did not vary by participant weight status. Overweight figures were not considered too fat. For 86% of overweight (body mass index [BMI], 25-29.9) women and 40% of obese (BMI > 30) women, the self figure was not defined as overweight, obese, or too fat. Among participants with BMI ≥ 35, 65% did not classify their self figure as obese and 29% did not classify their self figure as overweight. Conclusions and implications The difference between cultural (folk) and medical definitions of body size terms may serve as a barrier to effective communication between patients and providers about health effects of excess adiposity.
Dietary and metabolite effects on trivalent chromium retention and distribution in rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine if diet or various metabolites alter chromium (Cr) uptake and distribution in rats. Radioactively labeled Cr was detected within 15 min of oral administration to rats, and the total amount retained remained relatively constant from 1 to 24 h. Dietary Cr intake did not alter Cr retention or distribution. The majority of the Cr was retained in the carcass. However, when the amount of labeled Cr was expressed per gram of tissue, the highest amounts of Cr were found in the kidneys, spleen, and pancreas. Pharmacological doses of insulin, epinephrine, glucagon, and dibutyryladenosine-3’ −5’ cyclic monophosphate, prostaglandins A1, A2, B1, B2, E1, E2, F1α, and F2α did not significantly influence Cr retention. Glucose, sucrose, nicotinic acid, glutathione, and other metabolites administered orally in conjunction with labeled Cr also did not significantly alter Cr retention. These data indicate that most nutrients and metabolites do not alter Cr retention and distribution. The regulation of Cr homeostasis appears to be at the level of excretion.
In vitro frog sciatic nerve as a peripheral nerve model for studies of the mechanism of action of low energy lasers: Part one

Background and Objective There have been numerous reports of modulation of peripheral nerve action potential characteristics through application of low energy laser irradiation (LELI), although no mechanism has yet been advanced to explain these observations. In order to investigate the mechanism of LELI effects in peripheral nerve tissue, a well-characterized, reliable, and robust peripheral nerve preparation is required. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro frog sciatic nerve as a candidate model for future LELI mechanism studies. Materials and Methods Following 60-minute baseline recordings of compound action potential (CAP) amplitude, latency, depolarization rate, and repolarization rate, helium-neon (HeNe) laser irradiation (632 nm, 15 min, 1–7 J, 44–320 J/cm2) was delivered to one of two sites on the nerve. Laser-induced changes in CAP parameters were analyzed during irradiation and for 60 minutes post-irradiation using a repeated measures linear regression model. Results In the treatment group that received 7 J of HeNe energy over the recording electrode, CAP latency increased relative to nonirradiated controls during the postirradiation period. No other treatment group demonstrated laser-induced changes in CAP characteristics at any time during the experiment. Conclusion HeNe irradiation demonstrated limited ability to alter the CAP under these conditions. As such, the in vitro frog sciatic nerve is an inappropriate model for mechanism of action studies. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:32–41, 1997 © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Overcoming backpressure problems during solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides

During solid-phase synthesis of oligonucleotides in packed-bed reactors a substantial pressure build-up is observed during acid deprotection and subsequent solvent washing as the length of the supp...