cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(1-34) Parathyroid Hormone Infusion Acutely Lowers Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Concentrations in Adult Volunteers

Summary Background and objectives Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) regulates phosphorus and vitamin D metabolism. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) infusion for 24 hours stimulated FGF23 secretion in healthy volunteers. The extent to which this was due to a direct stimulatory effect of PTH versus an indirect effect of increasing 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH) 2 D] levels was unclear. Design, setting, participants, & measurements Changes in FGF23 in 26 adults undergoing 6-hour (1-34) PTH infusion were examined, focusing particularly on the effects of PTH on FGF23 in the early period of infusion before sustained increases in 1,25(OH) 2 D. Results FGF23 levels declined in parallel with serum phosphate during infusion ( P 2 D levels during the first hour and a significant increase in 1,25(OH) 2 D from baseline after 6 hours ( P P =0.04 for interaction), with a higher rate of increase in fractional phosphate excretion in blacks than in whites. Conclusions During short-term (1-34) PTH infusion, FGF23 levels decreased in parallel with serum phosphate levels and despite significant increases in 1,25(OH) 2 D. When coupled with the results of prior longer-term infusion studies, these findings suggest that acute increases in PTH initially act to suppress FGF23 secretion, perhaps to mitigate urinary phosphate losses, before the stimulatory effect of 1,25(OH) 2 D on FGF23 eventually begins to predominate.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Enhances the Expression of Muscle-Specific Ubiquitin Ligases Despite Its Activation of IGF-1/Akt Signaling in C2C12 Myotubes

Two muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases (UL), muscle atrophy F box (MAFbx) and muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1), are crucial for myofibrillar protein breakdown. The insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) pathway inhibits muscle UL expression through Akt-mediated inhibition of FoxO transcription factors, while AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) promotes UL expression. The underlying cellular mechanism, however, remains obscure. In this study, the effect of AMPK and its interaction with IGF-1 on ubiquitin ligases expression was investigated. C2C12 myotubes were treated with 0, 0.1, 0.3, and 1.0 mM 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) in the presence or absence of 50 ng/ml IGF-1. IGF-1 activated Akt, which enhanced phosphorlytion of FoxO3a at Thr 318/321 and reduced the expression of UL. Intriguingly, though activation of AMPK by 0.3 and 1.0 mM AICAR synergized IGF-1-induced Akt activation, the expression of UL was not attenuated, but strengthened by AMPK activation. AICAR treatment decreased FoxO3a phosphorylation at 318/321 in the cytoplasm and induced FoxO3 nuclear relocation. mTOR inhibition increased basal MAFbx expression and reversed the inhibitory effect of IGF-1 on UL expression. In conclusion, our data show that AMPK activation by AICAR stimulates UL expression despite the activation of Akt signaling, which may be due to the possible antagonistic effect of FoxO phosphorylation by AMPK on phosphorylation by Akt. In addition, AMPK inhibition of mTOR may provide an additional explanation for the enhancement of UL expression by AMPK.
Evaluation of the sample needed to accurately estimate outcome-based measurements of dairy welfare on farm.

Abstract Dairy welfare assessment programs are becoming more common on US farms. Outcome-based measurements, such as locomotion, hock lesion, hygiene, and body condition scores (BCS), are included in these assessments. The objective of the current study was to investigate the proportion of cows in the pen or subsamples of pens on a farm needed to provide an accurate estimate of the previously mentioned measurements. In experiment 1, we evaluated cows in 52 high pens (50 farms) for lameness using a 1- to 5-scale locomotion scoring system (1=normal and 5=severely lame; 24.4 and 6% of animals were scored ≥3 or ≥4, respectively). Cows were also given a BCS using a 1- to 5-scale, where 1=emaciated and 5=obese; cows were rarely thin (BCS ≤2; 0.10% of cows) or fat (BCS ≥4; 0.11% of cows). Hygiene scores were assessed on a 1- to 5-scale with 1=clean and 5=severely dirty; 54.9% of cows had a hygiene score ≥3. Hock injuries were classified as 1=no lesion, 2=mild lesion, and 3=severe lesion; 10.6% of cows had a score of 3. Subsets of data were created with 10 replicates of random sampling that represented 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, and 3% of the cows measured/pen. In experiment 2, we scored the same outcome measures on all cows in lactating pens from 12 farms and evaluated using pen subsamples: high; high and fresh; high, fresh, and hospital; and high, low, and hospital. For both experiments, the association between the estimates derived from all subsamples and entire pen (experiment 1) or herd (experiment 2) prevalence was evaluated using linear regression. To be considered a good estimate, 3 criteria must be met: R 2 >0.9, slope=1, and intercept=0. In experiment 1, on average, recording 15% of the pen represented the percentage of clinically lame cows (score ≥3), whereas 30% needed to be measured to estimate severe lameness (score ≥4). Only 15% of the pen was needed to estimate the percentage of the herd with a hygiene score ≥3, whereas 30% to estimate the prevalence of severe hock lesions. Estimating very thin and fat cows required that 70 to 80% of the pen be measured. In experiment 2, none of the pen subsamples met our criteria for accurate estimates of herd prevalence. In conclusion, we found that both a higher percentage of the pen must be sampled to generate accurate values for relatively rare parameters and that the population measured plays an important role in prevalence estimates.
PDE8A genetic variation, polycystic ovary syndrome and androgen levels in women

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by excessive theca cell androgen secretion, dependent upon LH, which acts through the intermediacy of 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). cAMP signaling pathways are controlled through regulation of its synthesis by adenylyl cyclases, and cAMP degradation by phosphodiesterases (PDEs). PDE8A, a high-affinity cAMP-specific PDE is expressed in the ovary and testis. Leydig cells from mice with a targeted mutation in the Pde8a gene are sensitized to the action of LH in terms of testosterone production. These observations led us to evaluate the human PDE8A gene as a PCOS candidate gene, and the hypothesis that reduced PDE8A activity or expression would contribute to excessive ovarian androgen production. We identified a rare variant (R136Q; NM_002605.2 c.407G > A) and studied another known single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs62019510, N401S) in the PDE8A coding sequence causing non-synonymous amino acid substitutions, and a new SNP in the promoter region (NT_010274.16:g.490155G > A). Although PDE8A kinetics were consistent with reduced activity in theca cell lysates, study of the expressed variants did not confirm reduced activity in cell-free assays. Sub-cellular localization of the enzyme was also not different among the coding sequence variants. The PDE8A promoter SNP and a previously described promoter SNP did not affect promoter activity in in vitro assays. The more common coding sequence SNP (N401S), and the promoter SNPs were not associated with PCOS in our transmission/disequilibrium test-based analysis, nor where they associated with total testosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels. These findings exclude a significant role for PDE8A as a PCOS candidate gene, and as a Las major determinant of androgen levels in women.
Distributed resource and service management for large-scale dynamic spectrum access systems through coordinated learning

We develop resource and service management techniques to support spectrum users (SUs) with quality of service requirements in large-scale distributed dynamic spectrum access (DSA) systems. The proposed techniques empower SUs to seek and exploit spectrum opportunities dynamically and effectively, thereby maximizing the long-term service satisfaction levels that SUs receive from accessing and using the DSA system. Our techniques are efficient in terms of optimality, scalability, distributivity, and fairness. First, they enable SUs to achieve high service satisfaction levels by quickly locating and accessing available spectrum opportunities. Second, they are scalable by performing well in systems with small as well as large numbers of SUs. Third, they can be implemented in a decentralized manner by relying on local information only. Finally, they ensure fairness among SUs by allowing them to receive equal amounts of service.
Impact of the simulation algorithm, magnitude of ergodic fluctuations and number of realizations on the spaces of uncertainty of flow properties

Geostatistical simulation algorithms are routinely used to generate conditional realizations of the spatial distribution of petrophysical properties, which are then fed into complex transfer functions, e.g. a flow simulator, to yield a distribution of responses, such as the time to recover a given proportion of the oil. This latter distribution, often referred to as the space of uncertainty, cannot be defined analytically because of the complexity (non-linearity) of transfer functions, but it can be characterized algorithmically through the generation of many realizations. This paper compares the space of uncertainty generated by four of the most commonly used algorithms: sequential Gaussian simulation, sequential indicator simulation, p-field simulation and simulated annealing. Conditional to 80 sample permeability values randomly drawn from an exhaustive 40×40 image, 100 realizations of the spatial distribution of permeability values are generated using each algorithm and fed into a pressure solver and a flow simulator. Principal component analysis is used to display the sets of realizations into the joint space of uncertainty of the response variables (effective permeability, times to reach 5% and 95% water cuts and to recover 10% and 50% of the oil). The attenuation of ergodic fluctuations through a rank-preserving transform of permeability values reduces substantially the extent of the space of uncertainty for sequential indicator simulation and p-field simulation, while improving the prediction of the response variable by the mean of the output distribution. Differences between simulation algorithms are the most pronounced for long-term responses (95% water cut and 50% oil recovery), with sequential Gaussian simulation yielding the most accurate prediction. In this example, utilizing more than 20 realizations generally increases only slightly the size of the space of uncertainty.
A Paracrine Role for IL6 in Prostate Cancer Patients: Lack of Production by Primary or Metastatic Tumor Cells

Correlative human studies suggest that the pleiotropic cytokine IL6 contributes to the development and/or progression of prostate cancer. However, the source of IL6 production in the prostate microenvironment in patients has yet to be determined. The cellular origin of IL6 in primary and metastatic prostate cancer was examined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using a highly sensitive and specific chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) assay that underwent extensive analytical validation. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that benign prostate tissues often had higher expression of IL6 mRNA than matched tumor specimens. CISH analysis further indicated that both primary and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma cells do not express IL6 mRNA. IL6 expression was highly heterogeneous across specimens and was nearly exclusively restricted to the prostate stromal compartment--including endothelial cells and macrophages, among other cell types. The number of IL6-expressing cells correlated positively with the presence of acute inflammation. In metastatic disease, tumor cells were negative in all lesions examined, and IL6 expression was restricted to endothelial cells within the vasculature of bone metastases. Finally, IL6 was not detected in any cells in soft tissue metastases. These data suggest that, in prostate cancer patients, paracrine rather than autocrine IL6 production is likely associated with any role for the cytokine in disease progression.
The Normal EEG in an Adult

When an experienced electroencephalographer sits down to review an EEG, whether obtained on a pen/ink-based analog machine or from the cathode ray tube screen of a digital device, a number of mental integrations take place seamlessly. This chapter addresses the “normal” EEG observed in people older than 18 yr of age. Topics to be covered include the normal waking background rhythm (alpha rhythm); beta activity; mu, theta, and lambda waves; activation effects on the EEG; and features of normal sleep.
The effect of temperature dependence of viscosity on a Brownian heat engine

We modeled a Brownian heat engine as a Brownian particle that hops in a periodic ratchet potential where the ratchet potential is coupled with a spatially varying temperature. The strength for the viscous friction γ(x) is considered to decrease exponentially when the temperature T(x) of the medium increases (γ(x) = B e − AT(x)) as proposed originally by Reynolds [O. Reynolds, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London 177, 157 (1886)]. Our result depicts that the velocity of the motor is considerably higher when the viscous friction is temperature dependent than that of the case where the viscous friction is temperature independent. The dependence of the efficiency η as well as the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator P ref on model parameters is also explored. If the motor designed to achieve a high velocity against a frictional drag, in the absence of external load f, we show that Carnot efficiency or Carnot refrigerator is unattainable even at quasistatic limit as long as the viscous friction is temperature dependent A ≠ 0. On the contrary, in the limit A → 0 or in general in the presence of an external load (for any A) f ≠ 0, at quasistatic limit, Carnot efficiency or Carnot refrigerator is attainable as long as the heat exchange via kinetic energy is omitted. For all cases, far from quasistatic limit, the efficiency and the coefficient of performance of the refrigerator are higher for constant γ case than the case where γ is temperature dependent. On the other hand, if one includes the heat exchange at the boundary of the heat baths, Carnot efficiency or Carnot refrigerator is unattainable even at quasistatic limit. Moreover, the dependence for the optimized and maximum power efficiencies on the determinant model parameters is explored.
The solidification structures in submicron droplets of FeCo alloys

Abstract Iron-cobalt alloys and pure cobalt have been processed in vacuum by electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHD) to produce submicron droplets. Pure iron was processed in previous work. Analytical electron microscopy is used to study the as-solidified spheres to determine the microstructure, composition, size, and crystal structure of the 10–300 nm diameter spheres. It is argued that homogeneous nucleation must be the predominant nucleation mechanism in EHD droplets. The crystal phase determinations show that bcc is produced as an alternative crystallization phase in alloys of up to 90 at.% cobalt content phase is, however, observed in Fe-60, 80 and 90 at.% Co and its proportion increases with cobalt content and droplet size. These findings are shown to be consistent with calculations based on classical nucleation theory. It is also found that under these extreme conditions of high cooling rate and very small volume, the smallest droplets solidify from the melt as an amorphous phase. The observed fraction of amorphous spheres in each size range are used as experimental input to an analytical simulation to determine the glass transition temperature of the metals. The calculated fraction of spheres that will solidfy to an amorphous structure agrees well with experimental findings.
Action Experience Changes Attention to Kinematic Cues.

The current study used remote corneal reflection eye-tracking to examine the relationship between motor experience and action anticipation in 13-month-old infants. To measure online anticipation of actions infants watched videos where the actor’s hand provided kinematic information (in its orientation) about the type of object that the actor was going to reach for. The actor’s hand orientation either matched the orientation of a rod (congruent cue) or did not match the orientation of the rod (incongruent cue). To examine relations between motor experience and action anticipation, we used a 2 (reach first vs. observe first) x 2 (congruent kinematic cue vs. incongruent kinematic cue) between-subjects design. We show that 13-month-old infants in the observe first condition spontaneously generate rapid online visual predictions to congruent hand orientation cues and do not visually anticipate when presented incongruent cues. We further demonstrate that the speed that these infants generate predictions to congruent motor cues is correlated with their own ability to pre-shape their hands. Finally, we demonstrate that following reaching experience, infants generate rapid predictions to both congruent and incongruent hand shape cues—suggesting that short-term experience changes attention to kinematics.
1181 BACTERIAL ENDOTOXIN PROTECTION FROM PULMONARY OXYGEN TOXICITY

We have discovered that treatment with small doses of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin)(approx. 1/100th LD50) affords marked protection against O2-induced lung damage and lethality in adult rats exposed to hyperoxia. Whereas the untreated adult rat normally succumbs to 95+% O2 exposure after 72 hours(66/201= 30% survival) with survivors showing evidence of severe lung injury (pulmonary edema and/or hemorrhage), rats treated with daily i.p. doses of endotoxin exhibit tolerance to O2 lethality(265/274=97% survival) and lung damage (approx. 85% without evidence of pulmonary edema or hemorrhage). In addition to investigating possible mechanisms to explain the marked protective action of endotoxin treatment (↑lung antioxidant enzyme activity, p<.05; ↓ number of potentially detrimental alveolar macrophages, p<.05), preliminary attempts have been made to determine if endotoxin will offer similar protection from 02 toxicity in other species and other age animals. To date, endotoxin treatment appears to be protective only in the adult rat and rabbit(75% vs. 0% survival in 95+% 02). Initial experiments have been done in neonatal guinea pigs(55% vs. 13% survival, but only 18% free of lung pathology); neonatal hamsters(21% vs. 17% survival); and, adult mice(57% vs. 50% survival). Whether there is a true species(and/or age) specificity for endotoxin protection, or whether ideal dosage schedules in the other species have not yet been determined, remains to be resolved. (NIH# 1F 32 HL05415, GM 12675).
An Analytic Structure for the Feasibility Analysis on the Research Infrastructure Projects for the ICT Device Industry Reliability

The research infrastructure project of ICT device industry reliability is aimed to secure and establish the reliability of ICT device industry, reinforce the competitiveness of domestic ICT device companies and expand their growth power. The purpose of this study is to construct the analytic structure of the feasibility study on this project.
Relative Performance of Non-Local Cultivars and Local, Wild Populations of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in Competition Experiments.

The possibility of increased invasiveness in cultivated varieties of native perennial species is a question of interest in biofuel risk assessment. Competitive success is a key factor in the fitness and invasive potential of perennial plants, and thus the large-scale release of high-yielding biomass cultivars warrants empirical comparisons with local conspecifics in the presence of competitors. We evaluated the performance of non-local cultivars and local wild biotypes of the tallgrass species Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass) in competition experiments during two growing seasons in Ohio and Iowa. At each location, we measured growth and reproductive traits (plant height, tiller number, flowering time, aboveground biomass, and seed production) of four non-locally sourced cultivars and two locally collected wild biotypes. Plants were grown in common garden experiments under three types of competition, referred to as none, moderate (with Schizachyrium scoparium), and high (with Bromus inermis). In both states, the two “lowland” cultivars grew taller, flowered later, and produced between 2x and 7.5x more biomass and between 3x and 34x more seeds per plant than local wild biotypes, while the other two cultivars were comparable to wild biotypes in these traits. Competition did not affect relative differences among biotypes, with the exception of shoot number, which was more similar among biotypes under high competition. Insights into functional differences between cultivars and wild biotypes are crucial for developing biomass crops while mitigating the potential for invasiveness. Here, two of the four cultivars generally performed better than wild biotypes, indicating that these biotypes may pose more of a risk in terms of their ability to establish vigorous feral populations in new regions outside of their area of origin. Our results support an ongoing assessment of switchgrass cultivars developed for large-scale planting for biofuels.
The Creation and Evolution of a Co-Teaching Community: How Teachers Learned to Address Adolescent English Language Learners' Needs as Writers.

ABSTRACTThis article reports findings from a four-year formative experiment (Reinking & Bradley, 2008) investigating a summer writing institute for ninth graders entering an urban high school. Intended as enrichment, not remediation, for a heterogeneous group of students, and as a learning experience, not just a teaching opportunity, for practitioners, the institute was grounded in multiliteracies (New London Group, 1996) and scholarship on inclusive schooling (Udvari-Solner, 1997). Its essential elements included (1) composing by students in both print and digital genres, (2) a small set of instructional approaches effective for heterogeneous populations, and (3) co-teaching and co-planning by institute staff. This article focuses on teachers' efforts to support the writing development of English Language Learners (ELLs), who represented 20–30% of institute participants each year. Findings revealed that as teachers made adjustments to the institute model over time, their efforts to support ELLs' particip...
Effect of Culture Techniques In Vitro and Different Factors on Rumen Epithelial Cells

This article concentrating on rumen epithelial cells in vitro culture technique and the research prog-ress of its application field in ruminants rumen epithelial cells were reviewed.
Measurement and Control of Bankrupty Risks

Bankrupty risks have obvious different from general risks,whose objective of the research project are the organizations composing of enterprises and individuals.The factors effecting bankurpty risks have quantitative and qualitative characters.On the basis of the paper[1],this paper studies the distinguishing,measuring and of bankrupty risks by means of the combination of qualitative distinguishing and model calculating kits forward how to deduce bankrupty probability by using the classification of parameter distribution and fuzzy distinguishing.Distributive function of the business life is established At builds the tendency model of bankrupty probability distribution according to produce function and gives the linger programming model of bankrupty risks control a simulation of evolution plan is given.
ADP causes subsecond changes in protein phosphorylation of platelets.

We developed a general quenched-flow approach to study platelet function as early as 0.3 seconds after stimulation. Phosphorylation of 20- and 47-kiloDalton (kD) proteins was analyzed during the first 5 seconds of platelet response to ADP from 0.5 to 10.0 mumol/L and compared with the progress of aggregation. The onset time for aggregation and phosphorylation of both proteins was less than 1 second; 20-K phosphorylation was increased greater than 200% and 47-K phosphorylation was increased 50%. The ADP sensitivity of 20-K phosphorylation was greater than that of 47-K phosphorylation (P less than .025), and of that of aggregation (P less than .01), with Ka values of 0.7, 1.0, and 1.2 mumol/L of ADP, respectively. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin had no effect on aggregation, but inhibited both phosphorylations. Its inhibition of 20-K phosphorylation was greater than that of 47-K phosphorylation. Platelet activation by ADP thus induced biochemical changes well before 1 second. The quenched- flow approach may help to reveal relationships between phospholipase activation, calcium fluxes, and protein phosphorylation during these early periods of platelet activation.
Suggestion of a role for calmodulin and phosphorylation in regulation of rabbit ileal electrolyte transport: effects of promethazine

Suggestion of a role for protein phosphorylation in the regulation of intestinal active NaCl transport was found by studying the effects of low concentrations of promethazine on Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein phosphorylation of ileal microvillus membranes and on active ileal electrolyte transport. Ca2+-CaM increased the phosphorylation of six microvillus peptides (Mr 137,000, 116,000, 77,000, 58,000, 53,000, and 50,000) in a concentration-dependent manner. Promethazine inhibited the Ca2+-CaM-induced increases in each of these phosphorylations. The effect of promethazine was concentration dependent, with concentrations of 5-12 microM (mean 8 microM) causing 50% inhibition. Promethazine also caused a concentration-dependent increase in net Cl absorption and decrease in the ileal short-circuit current, with 9 microM promethazine causing a change in short-circuit current 50% of maximum. The promethazine effect on microvillus membrane phosphorylation was specific, since neither cAMP- and cGMP-induced phosphorylation in the microvillus membrane nor the stimulation by Ca2+-CaM of myosin light chain kinase phosphorylation of myosin light chain were affected by promethazine. The similar, and unusual sensitivity to low concentrations of promethazine on ileal microvillus membrane phosphorylation increased by Ca2+-CaM and on ileal electrolyte transport is consistent with Ca2+-CaM-dependent microvillus membrane phosphorylation being involved in the regulation of active electrolyte transport in ileal absorptive cells.
Cocoa Flavanols: A Magic Potion for Protecting the Endothelium in Kidney Failure?

ESRD is a most vexing condition for the cardiovascular (CV) system. The risk for CV death in this population (43 per 1000 person-years) is nine times higher than that observed in the general population ([1][1]), and no meaningful improvement in CV prognosis has been registered during the last 20
Wall of Wind Research and Testing to Enhance Resilience of Civil Infrastructure to Hurricane Multi-Hazards

The Wall of Wind (WOW) research facility at Florida International University (FIU) allows large- and full-scale testing of buildings and infrastructure, and is capable of simulating up to Category 5 hurricane wind speeds, making it the largest and most powerful university research facility of its kind. The WOW facility has made a significant impact on the mitigation of hurricane damage to civil infrastructure through extensive research conducted by the wind engineering team at FIU’s International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE). Since roofs are known to be the most vulnerable component of low-rise buildings, they have been the subject of many research projects conducted at the WOW. In this chapter, two large-scale studies performed on low-rise building roof coverings are reported and discussed. The first study discusses the results of full-scale wind testing on hip, ridge, and eave perimeter tiles and reveals how much valuable information can be assessed by full-scale modeling of building elements and details. In the second study, an experimental investigation conducted at WOW with the objective of evaluating the structural performance of standing seam metal roofs under high wind speeds is presented. Full-scale investigations, including wind-induced roof surface pressure measurements and roof panel deflection measurements, were conducted. The observed failure modes under realistic wind loading conditions were different from what is typically observed with standard uniform pressure testing methods. These experiments revealed new aspects of roof responses to high wind speeds and highlighted the importance of large- or full-scale modeling of buildings and structures that can incorporate realistic component and connection details and architectural features.
Tumor vessel normalization after aerobic exercise enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy

Targeted therapies aimed at tumor vasculature are utilized in combination with chemotherapy to improve drug delivery and efficacy after tumor vascular normalization. Tumor vessels are highly disorganized with disrupted blood flow impeding drug delivery to cancer cells. Although pharmacologic anti-angiogenic therapy can remodel and normalize tumor vessels, there is a limited window of efficacy and these drugs are associated with severe side effects necessitating alternatives for vascular normalization. Recently, moderate aerobic exercise has been shown to induce vascular normalization in mouse models. Here, we provide a mechanistic explanation for the tumor vascular normalization induced by exercise. Shear stress, the mechanical stimuli exerted on endothelial cells by blood flow, modulates vascular integrity. Increasing vascular shear stress through aerobic exercise can alter and remodel blood vessels in normal tissues. Our data in mouse models indicate that activation of calcineurin-NFAT-TSP1 signaling in endothelial cells plays a critical role in exercise-induced shear stress mediated tumor vessel remodeling. We show that moderate aerobic exercise with chemotherapy caused a significantly greater decrease in tumor growth than chemotherapy alone through improved chemotherapy delivery after tumor vascular normalization. Our work suggests that the vascular normalizing effects of aerobic exercise can be an effective chemotherapy adjuvant.
Mortality Estimates for Red Snapper Based on Ultrasonic Telemetry in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

AbstractWe used the Vemco Positioning System (VPS) to estimate mortalities from the fine-scale movements (~1-m accuracy) of Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus on four artificial reef sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico in 2012, 2013, and 2014. Additional receivers on surrounding reef sites validated emigrations of tagged Red Snapper from the VPS-monitored sites. We tagged and released 86 Red Snapper and tracked 59 fish for extended periods (17 to 1,096 d). Telemetry tracking patterns identified fish status as active, emigrated, caught (F), or dead (M) at monthly intervals. At the end of the study, 17 fish had emigrated, 24 were caught by fishers, and 18 were active on VPS-monitored reef sites. For all years combined, annual fishing mortality was F = 0.44 (0.27–0.65, 95% confidence limit). In 2012, F = 0.72 (0.35–1.31) and was higher than other years, but the number of fish available for recapture at the start of the sportfishing season was low (n = 15). In 2013, F = 0.18 (0.07–0.42; n = 30), and in 2014, F...
Fighting science denial

Ahead of this autumn's US presidential election, Robert P Crease proposes five ways to encourage a responsible discussion of scientific issues
Faster than Nyquist interference assisted secret communication for OFDM systems

Physical layer security techniques have emerged as promising candidates in order to achieve perfect secrecy in wireless communication systems. In this framework, an approach is proposed to enhance secrecy, taking advantage of topological and mobility asymmetries between a legitimate user and potential eavesdroppers. As a specific example, an Alamouti Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system with distributed mobile transmitters is investigated for underwater acoustic and radio frequency applications. The mobile transmitters independently emit pre-equalized - in terms of Doppler shifts - Alamouti OFDM symbols. As a result, the legitimate receiver effortlessly receives Doppler shift free copies of the OFDM symbols with standard diversity gains. On the contrary, eavesdroppers experience diversity gain compression and cross-symbol interference. A positive ergodic secrecy capacity is achievable even in the absence of an SNR advantage at the legitimate user.
An analysis of consumer preferences for bed and breakfast in the eco-agritourism activities

This study evaluatesthe socio-economic demographic, as well as the preferences and behavioral characteristics of consumers who participate in bed and breakfast agritourism activity. The results from the logit model indicate that those who consumed a wider variety of fruits in the past 5 years, those who learn about agritourism from sign at market, those who consider that the facility at agritourism sites are important, those who have children under the age of 17, those who are retired from the job, and whose income range between $60,000 to $79,000 are more likely to be willing to participate in the bed and breakfast agritourism activity. However, those who learn about agritourism from newspapers, those who have two year collage education, male, homemakers, and whose income range from $20, 000 to $39,000 are less likely to be participate in bed and breakfast agritourism activity in Mid-Atlantic Region. SAARC J. Agri., 14(2): 162-173 (2016)
A randomized controlled trial of a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) video decision support tool for seriously ill hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.

7 Background: Discussing CPR preferences with patients with advanced cancer who are hospitalized is a critical component of end-of-life decision making. However, these discussions are challenging and often avoided by clinicians. We examined the impact of a CPR video decision tool on patients’ choices and knowledge about CPR, and their comfort with watching the video. Methods: We conducted a multi-center randomized controlled trial of 116 patients with advanced cancer hospitalized at two academic oncology centers. We randomized patients to either a 3-minute video describing CPR (n = 52) or standard-oncology care (n = 64). The primary outcome was participants’ preferences for CPR (immediately after viewing the video in the intervention arm). Secondary outcomes included patients’ knowledge (using 5-item questionnaire with higher score reflects greater knowledge), and intervention participants’ comfort with watching the video. Results: The mean age was 66 years (SD = 12); 50% were women, 84% were white, and 4...
Outcomes for Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (URD-HCT) for Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Using Fractionated Total Body Irradiation (FTBI) and Etoposide (VP16).

Although treatment outcomes for adult ALL remain stagnant at 35–40% 5 yr event free survival (EFS), allogeneic transplant particularly from unrelated donors has frequently been reserved for patient beyond first complete remission (CR 1 ) with the exception of patients with a t(9;22) or Philadelphia (Ph+) cytogenetic abnormality. Between 4/1/2001 and 11/14/2007, 67 patients with ALL received URD-HCT; disease status at HCT was (CR 1 ) in 27 pts (40%), CR 2 in 20 pts (30%) and advanced disease (AD) which included induction failure, relapse or CR 3 in 20 pts (30%). Age ranged from 2–58 yrs with median age of 29.5 yr. One third of the patients were Ph+. An additional 18 pts had high or very high risk cytogenetics abnormalities. The majority (≥75%) of Ph+ patients had received Gleevec prior to HCT. The conditioning regimen was FTBI 1320 Gy given as 11 fractions over four days followed by VP-16 60 mg/kg. Graft vs. host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis was tacrolimus (FK) and methotrexate (MTX) in 20 pts; sirolimus (Siro) was added to this regimen in 15 pts. Other GVHD regimens used were FK, MTX and Cellcept (12 pts) FK and siro (4 pts) and anti thymocyte globulin was added in 11 pts. Graft source was marrow in 12 pts and peripheral blood stem cells in 55 pts. Median time to ANC > 500 was 17 days (range 11–36d) and for platelets was 24 days (range 15–218d). Three patients died prior to day 18 of infectious complications and were considered unevaluable for engraftment. The incidence of acute GVHD Grade II-IV was 57% with Grade III-IV in 18%. Chronic GVHD occurred in 52% of 56 patients at risk. Treatment related mortality was 16% at 100 days and 28% at 1yr. At two years the event free survival (EFS) was 58% for CR 1 pts vs 23% for CR 2 and 17% for AD. Relapse rates were 18%, 24% and 40% respectively EFS was 62% at 2 yrs for Ph- pts and 50% for Ph+ in CR 1 vs 19% for pt > CR 1 who were Ph-and 40% for Ph+ (p=0.31). Remission status (CR 1 vs > CR 1 ) was a significant predictor of survival (p=0.01) and EFS (p=0.03) in multivariate analysis while age and Ph+ status had no impact on survival end points. Conclusion: The preparative regimen of FTBI and VP16 offers 2 yr EFS rates of 50–60% in patients receiving URD-HCT in CR 1 , including patients with Ph+ and other high risk cytogenetic risk groups. These results are comparable to those reported with sibling donor transplants and provide a curative option for patients in CR 1 lacking a family donor.
Humboldt’s Cosmography

This chapter addresses the ideological shift introduced in travel writing by Alexander von Humboldt. Between 1799 and 1804, Humboldt traveled extensively throughout the Americas exploring, measuring, drawing, and describing the continent in great detail while endowing his work with a scientific imprint. He was one of the first major figures to map the Americas in such a way that he encouraged artists, scientists, and independent travelers alike to explore the “New Continent.” Underscoring his emphasis on both the visual and written text, the chapter analyzes several of his illustrations, his Personal Narrative, and his Political Essay on Mexico—where he spent a year—to highlight the impact of his work on Fanny Calderon de la Barca and Elizabeth Cary Agassiz.
“Violent propensity, strain, and violent intentions: a test of Agnew’s revised conditioning hypothesis”

General Strain Theory’s (GST) mediating and conditioning hypotheses suggest that emotions mediate the strain-crime relationship and that personality traits condition the effects of strain. Individu...
The impact of thromboelastography on resuscitation in pediatric liver transplantation

Although TEG directs effective resuscitation in adult surgical patients, pediatric data are lacking. We performed a retrospective comparative review of the effect of TEG on blood product utilization and outcomes following pediatric liver transplantation in 38 patients between 2008 and 2014. Diagnoses, laboratory values, fluid and blood product use, and outcomes were examined. Nineteen patients underwent liver transplantation prior to the implementation of TEG, and 19 had perioperative TEG. The most common indications for transplant were BA (n = 14), HB (n = 7), and metabolic disorders (n = 7). Intraoperative blood loss, urine output, fluid and blood product use were similar between groups. However, the use of fresh frozen plasma decreased significantly in TEG patients within the first 24 hours (29 vs 0 mL/kg, P < .01), and between 24 and 48 hours (12 vs 0 mL/kg, P = .01) post-operatively. The total use of fresh frozen plasma during hospitalization was markedly reduced (111 vs 17 mL/kg, P < .01). Four patients in the TEG group had thromboembolic graft complications, including portal vein or hepatic artery thrombosis, and underwent retransplantation. The decreased use of fresh frozen plasma since implementation of TEG is an important finding for resource utilization and patient safety. However, the increased incidence of thromboembolic complications requires further investigation.
3D printing of shape memory polymer (SMP)/carbon black (CB) nanocomposites with electro-responsive toughness enhancement

In this work, a simple approach to 3D printing of carbon black based shape memory polymer nanocomposites (SMP/CB) with toughness improving capabilities during programing stage using electrical stimulus is reported. Conductive SMP/CB nanocomposites, consisting of commercial SMP filled with conductive CB nanoparticles, were fabricated using solvent casting and single screw extrusion processes. Subsequently, material extrusion (ME) technique was used to 3D print dog bones type IV specimens for tensile test and electrical stimulus. It was found that SMP/CB electrical conductivity can be tuned by the filler fraction. In addition, electrical current passing through SMP/CB nanocomposites causes temperature increments and changes on material strength condition. Temperature profiles at various electrical current levels are reported. Moreover, Young's modulus and toughness of the 3D printed specimens subjected and not subjected to electrical current are presented. It was observed that conductive SMP/CB specimens responded to electrical current stimulus by increasing their toughness four times higher than with no current applied during tensile test. This paper is a reference for rheological and conductive properties of SMP/CB nanocomposites fabricated by ME 3D printing process.
Leistungsfähigkeit und Grenzen von Spacemanagementsystemen

Seit einigen Jahren setzen immer mehr Handels- und Industrieunternehmungen Spacemanagementsysteme zur Optimierung der Regalflache und der Verkaufsaggregatbelegungen ein. Mit Hilfe dieser Systeme ist es moglich geworden, den iterativen Optimierungsprozes flexibler, komfortabler und insbesondere schneller durchzufuhren. Neben den moglichen Nutzungspotentialen dieser Systeme mussen jedoch auch die Grenzen des Einsatzes und Restriktionen bei der Analyse des Optimierungsprozesses berucksichtigt werden. Der nachfolgende Beitrag soll beide Aspekte aufzeigen, um damit einer objektiveren Beurteilung von Spacemanagementsystemen Rechnung zu tragen.
Internetbasierte Befragung — ein Instrument für den Weg in eine aktive Bürgergesellschaft?

Die Frage nach den gesellschaftlichen und politischen Konsequenzen des eineinhalb Jahrzehnte wahrenden unaufhaltsamen Einzugs der neuen Informationsund Kommunikationstechnologien (IuK-Medien) in alle Bereiche des privaten wie offentlichen Lebens ist so alt wie das Medium selbst. Als — auf den ersten Blick — prinzipiell teilnahmeoffenes, durch die verschiedenen Dienste (E-Mail, world wide web (WWW), Newsgroups u. a.) theoretisch sowohl Reziprozitat als auch Diskursivitat ermoglichendes Medium ist es in der Lage, traditionelle Sender- Empfanger-Strukturen aufzubrechen: Burger haben die Moglichkeit, ohne hohe Kosten sowohl als Sender wie als Empfanger politisch in Erscheinung zu treten und die in der politischen Kommunikation dominierende one-to-many-Struktur durch many-to-many-, many-to-one- oder one-to-one-Kommunikation zu erweitern (Welz 2002). Die in der internetbasierten Kommunikation angelegten Moglichkeiten hierarchiefreier Kommunikation, der freien Artikulierung von Interessen und nicht zuletzt auch der Schaffung von kritischen demokratischen Gegenoffentlichkeiten werden dabei als zentrale Elemente eines erhofften demokratiestarkenden Potenzials des Internets gesehen. Seit ihrem rasanten Aufstieg wurde mit der internetbasierten Kommunikation die Hoffnung verbunden, dass diese sich nicht lediglich als Plattformen neuer Formen der Unterhaltung und des online-Einkaufs entwickeln werde, sondern dass sie auch in der Lage seien, der Demokratie neues Leben einzuhauchen, indem sie neue Beteiligungsformen fur die Burger eroffneten oder gar zu der Entwicklung neuer Formen des basisdemokratischen politischen Aktivismus’ beitrugen.
Gender Disparities in Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Among Privately Insured Patients with Alcohol-Associated Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND The burden of alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) is high, and though alcohol cessation improves mortality, many patients fail to engage in alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment and continue drinking. Our aim was to determine rates, predictors, and outcomes of AUD treatment utilization in AC patients with private insurance. METHODS We collected data from persons with AC (diagnosed by ICD-9/ICD-10 codes), aged 18 to 64 years, enrolled in the Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database (2009 to 2016). We determined rates and predictors of substance abuse treatment visits as well as rates of alcohol relapse prevention medication prescriptions, weighted to the national employer-sponsored insured population. Effects of AUD treatment utilization on decompensation rates were calculated using proportional hazards regression with propensity score adjustment. RESULTS A total of 66,053 AC patients were identified, 32% were female, and mean age at diagnosis was 54.5 years. About 72% had insurance coverage for substance abuse treatment. Overall, AUD treatment utilization rates were low, with only 10% receiving a face-to-face mental health or substance abuse visit and only 0.8% receiving a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved relapse prevention medication within 1 year of index diagnosis. Women were less likely to receive a face-to-face visit (hazard ratio [HR] 0.84, p < 0.001) or an FDA-approved relapse prevention medication (0.89, p = 0.05) than men. AC patients who had a clinic visit for AUD treatment or used FDA-approved relapse medication showed decreased risk of decompensation at 1 year (HR 0.85, p < 0.001 for either). CONCLUSIONS AUD treatment utilization is associated with lower decompensation rates among privately insured patients with AC. Women were less likely to utilize AUD treatment visits. Efforts to reduce gender-specific barriers to treatment are urgently needed to improve outcomes.
Circadian and circannual timescales interact to generate seasonal changes in immune function.

Abstract Annual changes in day length enhance or suppress diverse aspects of immune function, giving rise to seasonal cycles of illness and mortality. The daily light–dark cycle also entrains circadian rhythms in immunity. Most published reports on immunological seasonality rely on measurements or interventions performed only at one point in the day. Because there can be no perfect matching of circadian phase across photoperiods of different duration, the manner in which these timescales interact to affect immunity is not understood. We examined whether photoperiodic changes in immune function reflect phenotypic changes that persist throughout the daily cycle, or merely reflect photoperiodic shifts in the circadian phase alignment of immunological rhythms. Diurnal rhythms in blood leukocyte trafficking, infection induced sickness responses, and delayed-type hypersensitivity skin inflammatory responses were examined at high-frequency sampling intervals (every 3 h) in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) following immunological adaptation to summer or winter photoperiods. Photoperiod profoundly enhanced or suppressed immune function, in a trait-specific manner, and we were unable to identify a phase alignment of diurnal waveforms which eliminated these enhancing and suppressing effects of photoperiod. These results support the hypothesis that seasonal timescales affect immunity via mechanisms independent of circadian entrainment of the immunological circadian waveform.